26th August, 2022 FRIDAY No.106826 $100PRICEVATINCLUSIVE PAGES 05&10 see stories on ' PAGE 03Visitors can use int’l driver’s licence for 60MisscrownedREVIEW:daysKingasourWorldqueen!MeettheAllis:pageantenthusiastsworkingwithyouth$8.5M IDPADA-Gnowinhouses‘prefab’builtsixweeksavailabledodging public audits? Ogle incident:plane PAGE 03 The prefabricated house on display at Hits and Jams Entertainment Georgetown headquarters on Thursday (Delano Williams photo) PAGE 17 PAGE 16 –– ‘It’s fake news’ - Barbados PM Office –– ‘Landing was safe’ -- GCAA PAGE 02
In an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle on Thursday, IDPADA-G Chair man, Vincent Alexander, was questioned about the organisation’s registration status as a private company over being registered as an“WeNGO.feel more comfortable as a private company than as a friendly society. There is greater scope for interference in the business of friendly societies,” Alexander said. In Guyana, the operations of NGOs are governed by the Friendly Societies Act, which requires that the organisations must have membership, a constitution, members’ meeting with minutes submitted, and all actions must be within the confines of the agreed constitution approved by the general membership.FriendlySocieties are registered under the Friendly Societies Act, which also enables the Director of Friendly Societies, housed at the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security (MoHSSS), to support the smooth functioning of those organisations through enhanced accountability to the public. The Director may also support with inter nal conflicts in specific circumstances.
CONTRACTS for construc tion of the much-needed Crane to Schoonord fourlane highway on the West De merara will soon be signed, as the contracts have al ready been awarded through the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB). Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, while speaking on the sidelines of an event in Essequibo earlier this week, noted that with the contracts already awarded, the ministry was looking to have the contracts signed as soon as possible.Theproject has been divided into eight lots, which have been awarded to eight separate compa nies for a total of $11.81 billion. The alignment for the new highway is approximately three miles long. The larg est contract, worth $2.6 bil lion was Lot Four, which was awarded to Guyamerica Con struction.L’heureus Const. & Ser vices Inc. has Lot Three for $2.1 billion.
IDAPA-G was created as the local co ordinating mechanism for activities under the United Nations resolution dedicating a decade (2015 – 2024) to addressing the chal lenges confronting people of African Descent globally.Theorganisation is registered as a private limited liability company, with the principals including Vincent Alexander and Dr. Norman T. Ng-A-Qui.
The organisation consists of the General Assembly, a Co-ordinating Council, a Secre tariat and Sub-committees, and is expected to promote economic advancement and empow erment of Afro-Guyanese.
(File photo) IDPADA-G dodging public audits? –– ‘We’re comfortable as a private company’ - Chairman Alexander
Friendly societies receiving government subventions are usually subject to auditing by the Audit Office of Guyana. It remains to be seen how the public audit office would have engaged IDPADA-G as a private company receiving government fund ing. The funding amounted to approximately $468 million over a period of 2018 to 2022.
On Monday the organisation held a press conference; however it failed to fully address how the organisation utilised the close to half a billion dollars in government funding over the five-year period. During the press conference, members of the organisation confirmed that a large portion of the organisation’s budget goes to overhead expenses, with $42 million covering just the staff expenses in 2020. In addition to this, in 2020 the organisa tion’s spending included conference expenses, $4.5 million, travelling and transportation $2.8 million, advertisement $2 million, office material and expenses $9 million, building rental and utilities $5 million.
REGISTERING as a private company instead of as a friendly society, which is typical for non-governmental organisations (NGO), potentially enabled The Interna tional Decade for People of African Descent - Guyana (IDPADA-G) organisation to dodge many of the accountability measures required of civil society organisations.
Further asked about the IDPADA-G mak ing its audited statements public, Alexander noted that while the company will not publish its report, persons can go to the organisation and request a copy of the statement to read. “It is a public document because we have to submit them to the registrar of companies. We would allow persons to see it in office. I don’t know if the registry of companies makes copies of it,” Alexander said.
Of the remaining lots, JS Guyana Inc. has been awarded Lot Eight to the tune of $927 million.Puran Brothers Disposal Inc has been awarded Lot Sev en to the tune of $1.07 billio; Vals Construction has been awarded Lot Six which costs $1.3Lotbillion.Five, which costs $1.8 billion has been awarded to AJM Enterprise. Avinash Con tracting & Scrap Metal Inc. has Lot Two for $992 million, and VR Construction has Lot One for $849 million. A total of 32 bids had been sub mitted for the massive infrastructur al work. Construction is expected to last for 16 months per lot. The highway is part of continued efforts to reduce the build-up of traffic along the West Bank and West Coast of DemeraraPresident,corridors.DrIrfaan Ali had announced plans for the new highway in late April 2022, noting that the increased traffic along that corridor has necessitated the construction of a channel for traffic flow. The increased traffic was due to the many housing schemes developed in that region. This highway will pre cede the planned construction of a four-lane highway from Schoonord to Parika on the East Bank of Essequibo (EBE). The road links are expect ed to open thousands of acres of lands for housing, agricul ture and agro-related projects, tourism, and other related activities.Theconstruction of this particular road, however, is merely a component of a broader plan to modernise the country’s infrastructure and create myriad alternative and more convenient linkages. At the centre of those plans is the intended construction of a new ‘fly-over’ Demerara Harbour Bridge, which will stretch from Nandy Park on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) to La Grange, WBD. The new four-lane, highspan bridge, once complet ed, will replace the existing structure which was built in 1976, over four decades ago. route for the planned Schoonord-Parika highway
IDPADA-G has been facing questions about its transparency and accountability , since last week when Vice-President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, called on the organisation to explain how Afro-Guyanese have benefitted from the $468.438 million that it has received from the Createdgovernment.in2018,the IDPADA-G, in the national budget, through the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, received $68.438 million in 2018 and $100 million in each successive year, including the 2020, 2021 and 2022 budgets under the PPP/C Government.
2 GUYANA CHRONICLE F riday, August 26, 2022
$11B in contracts to be signed shortly Crane-Schoonord Highway… FLASHBACK: A technical team surveying the
Dr. Jagdeo raised questions about the organisation as he addressed accusations of discrimination of Afro-Guyanese under the PPP/C, by several of the principals of IDPADA-G, who are listed as speakers at an upcoming event to be held by the Cuffy 250 Committee titled “Resisting the emerging apartheid state”.
Alexander confirmed that IDPADA -G previously rented a building on Regent Street, owned by Charles Corbin, who serves alongside Alexander as opposition-nominat ed Commissioners on the Guyana Elections CommissionIDPADA-G(GECOM).isnow currently housed at a building on North Road that is the former home of former President, Desmond Hoyte. In other expenses noted during Monday’s press conference, IDPADA-G’s Chief Exec utive Officer, Olive Sampson, stated that for capacity-building exercises the organisation expended $22,386,555 in 2018; $44,324,848 in 2019; and $11,762,671 in 2020. Meanwhile, as it relates to the scholar ships and tuition assistance for secondary and tertiary levels, the organisation expended $1,879,036 in 2018; $2,083,751 in 2019; and $1,846,140 in 2020. However, the figures still leave ques tions on who exactly benefitted from the programmes carried out. When asked for the exact number of persons that those activities reached, Alexander said those statistics were with the IDPADA-G secretariat.
SEEKING to meet the de mands of the current con struction boom in Guyana, Hits and Jams (HJ) En tertainment on Thursday launched a new company, Steel Buildings Inc., which will specialise in the con struction of prefabricated homes. The new company was officially launched on Thursday at Hits and Jams’ head office in Queenstown, Georgetown, where one of the prefab housing units was on display. This housing unit was constructed in just over three weeks. Delivering feature re marks at the ceremony was Minister of Housing and Wa ter Collin Croal who hailed the launching as one that is significant for the future development of Guyana, more specifically towards the transformation and enhance ment of homeownership. “This venture the team is embarking on is an indica tion of the rapidly changing dynamics in the housing programme, because, here you are witnessing a team of local entrepreneurs who are responding to the new de mands for housing options,” Croal said. This, he said, augurs well for the economy and the rap id expansion of the housing sector in the country over the last two years. The current expansion in the housing sector that is be ing seen, Minister Croal said, is part of the vision being led by President, Dr. Irfaan Ali and the aggressive policies that the government has put in place since entering office two years ago. The housing minister added that with stakeholders like Steel Buildings Inc., it sparks new life into the sector. While noting that the government recognises the demand in the sector, he added that they cannot respond alone. As such, he told those gathered that the support and investors in the sector is necessary to see the further development of same. “This bold step by Hits and Jams team is the kind of support that will move development further and rapidly,” Croal expressed. He then congratulated the team for answering the call and supporting the government’s development agenda.
The amended law also notes that the person must be the holder of a valid driver’s licence issued by a competent authority in the country of their residence, along with documents to establish their date of entry into Guyana. Previously, visitors en tering Guyana who were desirous of driving would have had to obtain a per mit from the GRA.
GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 26, 2022 3
According to Ferguson, the dream of the organiza tion is to have young people be responsible and to aim to owning their own homes. He said, “This is our gift
–– As HJ launches new initiative
Visitors can use int’l licencedriver’sfor60days
–– President Ali announces By Shamar Meusa
“We know that persons want to get into a new home as fast as possible, [and] in six weeks we can get you into your new home,” Bollers expressed. With that, HJ Chief Ex ecutive Officer, Rawle Fer guson added that persons should take note of the slo gan: “Durable, affordable, fashionable, in six weeks.”
$8.5M ‘prefab’ houses in six weeks now available
Meanwhile, HJ Director Kerwin Bollers stated that with this new venture, this method of construction is timely and one that will cater to the current construction demand here He added that as it relates to the current housing mar ket, lots of persons are eager to build and get into their homes as fast as possible. This method, he noted, will allow for that without com promising quality.
built
EFFECTIVE from today, visitors entering Guyana will be able to drive a mo tor vehicle in the country without having to acquire a driving permit from the Guyana Revenue Authori ty (GRA) to do so. This comes as a result of changes being made to Guyana’s Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act. The announcement was made via a Facebook post from President, Dr. Irfaan Ali’s officialAccordingpage. to the amend ed law, a person who is not resident in Guyana shall be permitted to drive on a road for a period of sixty days after entry into Guyana without a driver’s licence as required by section 23 (1) of the Act.
The structure, which was on display in the Hits and Jams compound was a two-bedroom, one-bathroom home which was constructed on a three-and -a-half-inch frame of galvanized steel and costs $8.5 Million. It was noted that all the materials that were used for the internal and external of the construction were non-combustible.Accordingto Technical Engineer Nicholas Belle, there are many advantages to these types of construction, including the speed of com pletion, and the lowered risk portfolio for the insurance sector among other things. With the structure, Belle added there are low, mid, and high-end struc tures available.
Minister of Housing and Water Collin Croal (first left); Hits and Jams CEO Rawle Ferguson (second left); Hits and Jams Director, Kerwin Bollers (second right); and Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water Susan Rodrigues (first right) cut the ceremonial ribbon to the model prefab house (Delano Williams photo) from Hits and Jams to our young people in our country to have their own homes in six weeks, and at very, very affordable prices.”
The FBI search was part of a probe into the potential mishandling of documents. Mr. Trump has denied wrongdoing, and insists the classified files that inves tigators say were found at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach had already been declassi fied by himself.
On Thursday, US Mag istrate Judge Bruce Reinhart ordered the affidavit to be released with redactions by noon (16:00 GMT) on Friday.Hesaid prosecutors had demonstrated a “compelling reason” to black out parts of the document, which would reveal the identities of witnesses, law enforce ment agents and uncharged parties, as well as “the in vestigation’s strategy, di rection, scope, sources and methods”.Hisruling came shortly after the justice department confirmed that it had sub mitted to the judge a copy of the affidavit with proposed redactions.Thewarrant itself was released on 12 August alongside an inventory of recovered items that showed 11 sets of classified files were removed from the estate. Several news organisa tions have applied for the affidavit to be unsealed, citing public interest given the historic nature of the search of a former presi dent’s home. The Department of Jus tice, however, had resisted the move, arguing that its release could cause “ir reparable damage” to its ongoing investigation. It also said the necessary re dactions would render the document “meaningless”.
4 GUYANA CHRONICLE F riday, August 26, 2022 22/08/22 - 01, 02, 10, 12, 14 22/08/22- 2, 4, 7, 11, 13, 15, 2122/08/22 - 6 1 3 22/08/22 - 1 7 1August 20, 2022 August 17, 2022 03 04 10 14 19 21 25 02 03 07 24 25 28 13MH (BBC) - A US judge has ordered investigators to release a redacted version of court papers used to justify a search of ex-Pres ident Donald Trump’s Florida home. The public version of the affidavit, a court docu ment that includes evidence presented by prosecutors, could reveal new details about the inquiry. The Department of Jus tice opposed releasing an un-redacted version amid its ongoing investigation.
Mr. Trump and his law yers, who have character ised the Mar-a-Lago search as politically motivated and unlawful, have called for the un-redacted affidavit to be released.Aspokesman for Mr. Trump, Taylor Budowich, said that efforts to “hide” its contents were “cynical”, and could be used to “hide government corruption”. Earlier this week, Mr. Trump’s legal team asked that the investigation be frozen, and that an indepen dent third-party attorney, known as a special master, be brought in to oversee the documents that the FBI took during the search. The search warrant indi cates FBI agents wanted to see if Mr Trump committed a crime by improperly han dling government records when he took them from the White House to Mar-a-Lago as his administration ended. US presidents are re quired to transfer docu ments and emails to the National Archives when they leave office.
Trump: Judge orders release of redacted search court papers
Barbados denies PM Mottley was in plane incident in Guyana
(St. Lucia Times)PRIME Minister Phil ip J. Pierre, just back from the Agri- Invest ment Forum and Expo II in Trinidad and To bago, has told reporters that Saint Lucia’s ag riculture is doing well. “ Saint Lucia is do ing very well as far as our agriculture is con cerned,” Pierre disclosed when a reference was made to the Trinidad and Tobago event. In this regard, the Castries East MP noted that Caribbean Commu nity (CARICOM) figures indicate that Saint Lucia had surpassed its fruit THE Barbados Government, on Wednesday, de nied reports that Prime Minister Mia Mottley was aboard an aircraft in Guyana that slipped off a runway at the Eugene F. Correia “Ogle” Interna tional Airport on Sunday. In an official statement attributed to Roy Morris, Director of Citizen En gagement and Media Rela tions in the Prime Minister of Barbados’s office, the claims made by media outlets were described as “fakeThenews”.full statement reads: “The Prime Min ister’s Office wishes to make it absolutely clear to Barbadians that at no time during her recent overseas trip was Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley on a plane that was involved in any“Itaccident.isfake news!” the Prime Minister said to night.“On Tuesday and yesterday, a number of news reports in local and regional media outlets reported that a plane carrying Prime Minister Mottley and Guyana Pres ident, Irfaan Ali, skidded off the taxiway after land ing, prompting a response from emergency person nel.“However, the Prime Minister has explained that it is normal procedure for emergency appliances, including fire crews, and official vehicles that trans port the president and his guests, to meet the plane on the tarmac.
“What occurred at the Eugene F. Correa In ternational Airport when she was there earlier this week was no different from what occurred on previous visits, the Prime Minister said.”
GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 26, 2022 5
Prime Minister Mia Mottley (Photo credit: GIS Barbados)
Pierre says Saint Lucia agriculture doing well and vegetable quota. “ It wasn’t our fig ures,” Pierre asserted, adding that the disclosure represented good news.
“What was revealing is the value-added prod ucts on the raw agricul ture products. There were soaps, there were creams – a number of products can be manufactured,” he told“Therereporters.is cassava. There’s a big market for cassava,” Pierre ob served.And he declared that there’s great potential for agriculture.Nevertheless, Pierre explained that to make agriculture attractive there must be a market and finance. “ And to get into the market we have to con vert the raw products into value-added goods,” he said.“We have been pri mary producers,” Pierre noted.On the question of youth involvement in the sector, Pierre said a large component of young people involved in value-added agriculture was notable. “The use of computers – the use of technology,” he stated.“InSaint Lucia, our youth economy merges very well with that so we are looking forward to our young people getting involved as far as agricul ture is concerned,” Pierre, also responsible for Fi nance, told reporters. He spoke on Monday on the side-lines of a meeting of the Cabinet as CARICOM intensi fies efforts to reduce the region’s US$5 billion food import bill by 25 percent come 2025.
St Lucia Prime Minister Philip Pierre (Photo cred it: St. Lucia Times)
Guyana can make a marked contribu tion to the production and marketing pro cesses for greater export, but like in all other cases, with a commensurate level of interest and participation, particularly by the nation and region’s youth. However, by its established record since 2020, this PPP/C administration has steadily proven its commitment to regional integration and trade, cooper ation and collaboration, in true CAR ICOM sense and spirit; and President, Dr Irfaan Ali cannot but be overly com mended for the leadership and steward ship he’s brought to agriculture, arguably the most important sector at home and across the Caribbean. He deserves another salute!
At the same forum – the second of its kind in three months since Guyana host ed one last May attended by CARICOM Leaders – President, Dr Irfaan Ali, with responsibility for Agriculture and Food Security in CARICOM, reported that the region is on target to cut its food-import bill by the agreed 25 per cent. He delivered a Guyana report card with positive marks for livestock and poultry; new investments and interven tions, projects and advanced projections and reported on several new develop ments in the regional agricultural arena, including closer Guyana-Trinidad & Tobago cooperation.
Jai Lall
The President also repeated an open invitation for more regional public and private sector investment and coopera tion in and with Guyana, in pursuit of common goals, especially relating to development of the new infrastructure necessary to drive and widen agricultural production and consumption regionally. But COVID, Ukraine and continuing global supply-chain disruptions have also had the positive effect of encour aging more Caribbean people (and governments) to realise the importance of local foods. St Vincent & The Grenadines’ flour and arrowroot-based products are more appreciated today in the aftermath of the grain shortages from the world’s two largest producers, Russia and Ukraine; Dominica is depending more on Vincen tian flour and Guyana rice; an inter-is land banana market is developing; Guy ana is experimenting with different vari eties of wheat for eventual domestic and regional consumption and export; Saint Lucia has hosted separate banana, mango and breadfruit festivals – and with St Vincent & The Grenadines-identified selected fruit and vegetable crops that boost body immunity, while promoting exhibitions of the many unknown uses of apricots, citrus, bananas, breadfruit and breadnut, cherries, golden apples, guavas, mangoes, pineapples, soursop and other popular and largely wasted Caribbean fruits.
Dear Editor, THE call for ethnic balance in the Public Service and its agencies has provided provoking, perplexed and petrified re sponses, especially since the introduction of a “What Guyana looks like” term. Commissioner of Enquiries, pre-colonial and post-colonial periods, have all found and recommended the need for equating the imbalances. To date, no serious approaches have com menced to adhere to this recommendation and the issue has survived to this day, unre solved. The conversation recently revolved around GECOM’s staff which comprises over 75 per cent of one ethnicity. Incidentally, this is a reflection of most other agencies and the Public Service. The demographics of Guyana show the following: Indian descent – 39 per cent; African descent – 29 per cent; Mixed -20 per cent; Amerindians -11 per cent and others – one per cent (Portuguese, Chinese andSocialWhite).media is the electronic medium, engineering variable platforms to pour and spill grievances, opinions, remarks, com plaints, news, views, interviews and nuanced innuendoes. At the tip of the finger, the world congregates to accommodate the flash of a reflection or deflection, whether accurate or inaccurate, and, a response, whether appro priate or Manyinappropriate.tooktoFacebook to express their endorsement on the subject of ethnic im balances, some questioned the meaning of the induced terminology, and a few are dis gruntled over the uncomfortable topic, while others are annoyed with the discussion. One contributor suggested hiring more individuals from the minority composition. This idea was received with immediate rebuttal with a “that’s how you get One Guyana? By firing Afro-Guyanese parents? Most of you don’t realise how one sided you are. That means you can only see things from your perspec tive, due to lack of empathy. The Public Service had more Afro-Guyanese during British rule than it has now. Being mostly Afro- Guyanese is not the cause of the PNC. You need to learn Guyanese history.” A walk down memory lane will show the period 1964 to 1992 and 2015 to 2020, saw the impetus of PNC card holders (in particu lar of one race) dominating and domineering the employment of public servants and gov ernment agencies, especially in the 70s and 80s. Employment was primarily based on race, face, party membership, one’s religion and one’s English name. The educational qualification became subservient and played second fiddle. As it is currently, it’s not a process of wanting to fire anyone with a replacement, but, going forward and implementing a bal anced system to employ those who have been denied for generations to make it look more like a “true Guyanese representation and not a one-faced Guyana.” Guyanese history cannot be re-written to change the course of history. Rather, history has engrained the sad, diabolical and damaging effects of the Burnham era which has left devastating and demonic repercussions, most of which many are ashamed to acknowledge and accept because of their atrocities and monstrous nature. Historians have already captured and recorded who have been really and truly: bias, unilateral, prejudiced; ill-conceived, conceited, discriminatory, violent; those who have rigged elections; those who are fraudsters, raped the Treasury; those who have indulged in corruption and crime; those who have mismanaged the economy to lead the country to bankruptcy; those who have squandered funds; those who are guilty of being suppressors, oppressors, depressors and dictators; those who have violated law and order; those who have disobeyed rules and regulations; those who have disregarded the Constitution; those who have used the state machinery for party, personal and private use; those who have abused power; those who have created poverty and misery; those who have deliberately caused dishonesty, deception and degradation to derail the moral dignity of Guyana. Again, on the contrary, historians do pro vide the glowing records of the men, women and children who have uplifted Guyanese from the bottom of the pit to emerge to the pedestal of pride once again and enjoy the freedom of independence to lavish in peace, progress and prosperity. Guyanese are no longer put to shame and history is being made to show the world that in the annals of the library, it is people of dignity and honour who are responsible for lifting this nation and its people to highlight the worth of Guyana and Guyanese in the true text and nature of the greatness of this land. History will reflect that the national, regional and in ternational communities are in advocacy and agreement with those who have been elected and not selected to legally govern this land legitimately, effectively and efficiently. The continuous outpouring of support and the perpetual injection of investors from overseas are overwhelming. This confirms the confi dence of the risk-bearers and the belief that the management of Guyana is in the right and capable hands. The harsh reality of truth is always difficult to face and even more strenuous to swallow.Yoursrespectfully,
Needs are also creating new oppor tunities for Caribbean exports to be ex panded to new neighbouring and global destinations as the region seeks to better balance its trade balance with the rest of the world and improve its ability to more and better manufacture, consume and export more of its local foods, vegetables and fruits.
Progressive Leadership
The truth is difficult to face and even more strenuous to swallow
For example, Johnson & Johnson has decided to do away with talc as the base for its powders and will now switch to corn starch and countries most affected by the Ukraine war are rethinking and reorganising their trade and supply ar rangements to better survive for much longer down the road.
6 GUYANA CHRONICLE F riday, August 26, 2022
AWARE that this may very well be the last chance to get it right and create correct conditions for serious ly addressing the accumulated (old and new problems) that still hinder regional integration, Guyana and its Caribbean Community (CARICOM) partners have been taking decisions at every recent annual regional summit to hasten the pace of enhancement of regional cooperation.
Addressing the Agri-Investment Fo rum in Port of Spain, Trinidad & Toba go, on August 19, CARICOM Chair and Suriname President Chandrikapersad Santokhi announced that Paramaribo is making lands available to regional farmers to support the region’s plan to reduce its food- import bill by 25 per cent by 2025.
By Earl Bousquet CLIMATE change is driv ing the world mad, with daily rude awakenings for big nations and continents now experiencing what have long been norms for small and developing nations. Floods and fires, heat waves and droughts, re cord-breaking tempera tures, unprecedented and unexpected weather and climate events are baking large parts of Europe and burning across France. Water is running low; rivers are sinking to bottom depths; people are walking across riverbeds; sunken World War II battleships are closer to the surface in shallow waters of dry ing rivers and the sunken ‘Spanish Stonehenge’ is now within plain sight and reach. Forest fires across Eu rope this year have also blazed an amazing equiva lent of 16 football fields per minute to date in 2021 – the size of feringyearcanneighbouringtionalalsosightweekenderbedstatuesshrinesectionfastworld’sChina’salsothedanbreakingIndiafloodsjustingyears.ofrecordingEurope,mayhemButRomania.thehot-and-coldisn’tlimitedtoeventhoughstillthereverberationsitsworstdroughtin500AfricaandAsiaarefeelthechangingclimatethesame,asmonsoonarealsodrowningandPakistan,whileriverbanksinSuandZimbabwe,whilenewglobalheatwaveisdryinguptheYangtse,longest--andthethirdlongest.ChinaisdryingupasasEuropeandinoneoftheYangtse,awiththreeBuddhaburiedontherivfor600years,lastmadethelightofbyday.LaNinaandElNinoarewreakingitsowntradihavocinMexicoandSouthAmeriregions,butworsethisthanever.AndCaliforniaissufscorched-earthand ferocious fires, registering its worst drought in over 160 years, with 97 per cent of the state suffering one dangerous and unprecedent ed degree of scorched earth and fires, or another. But as with every chal lenge, new opportunities also come with the search for solutions giving rise to new and innovative measures everywhere to day – such as Germany introducing speed limits on highways, while seeking to import natural gas from Canada to help it through an expectedly harsher-than-ev er 2022 winter. The energy-deficiency blowback being suffered by Europe as it painfully tries to wean itself off Russian oil has been accentuated by price increases and pro duction costs caused by the floods and fires and crip pling of supply chains as rivers dry up. But energy realignments and adjustments are easier for some and harder for others -- like in Hungary that depends on Russia for over 80 per cent of its oil and over 60 per cent of its gas and unable to transition to new sources as fast as expected to by the European UnionPoland(EU).is also facing a grim situation: having reduced its dependence on Russian oil and gas, it’s now almost entirely de pendent on coal, which has become unavailable due to supply and delivery prob lems, resulting in truckers charging 100 per cent the cost of each load delivered to every household. In the US, President Biden passed the nation’s biggest climate-related bud getary allocation of over $350 billion, while Cali fornia has allocated some $58 billion in keeping with the administration’s policy of what Climate czar John Kerry describes at the COP26 climate change summit in Glasgow as ‘monetising ClimateClimateChange.Change knows no boundaries and the dam age done so far has taken lives and destroyed homes and livelihoods worldwide.
Chronicles of a ChronicChroniclerGuyana
devastatinginducedwhichcomehasmeasuressionimprovementarecreativitytunatethatinfrastructuralnitygagingmechanisms,disaster-preparednessbutalsoenindirectcommueducationandsmartinterventionslearnedfromtheunforexamplesofothers.Now,likeneverbefore,andinnovationmostneededalongsideandexpanoftried-and-tested–andnowherecomeupwithaswelasolutionasChina,earlierthismonthraintofightthescorched-earth effects of the droughts af fecting millions after the Yangtse’s lowering levels affected hydroelectricity plants along its tributar ies, affecting supply chains across China and changing the lives of people on its banks.China was forced to close factories, reduce of fice hours and even shut off the trademark colourful night lights in Shanghai, but its decision to actually make rain is perhaps the most-in genious and least-acknowl edged response today to the vast nation’s worst droughts in 50Beijingyears.revived its longheld scientific and techno logical ability to actually make clouds rain -- a tech nology reported on back in the 1970s and obviously kept in reserve for times such as now.
Making Rain to Fight Drought!
Think of it again: making rain to combat drought isn’ t something the world’s scientists have been known to have been exploring, but apart from again highlighting the su perior level of China’s ever-advancing scientific and technological capac ities, it’s demonstrated ability to make clouds that rain also underlines the eternal truth in the wise old saying that: ‘Ne cessity is the Mother of Invention.’
est nations face worst-ever inflation rates, while star ing recessions in the face; and workers are reacting to the effects of steadily rising prices on frozen wages, with railway and dock strikes in the UK, as well as by airline pilots and cabin staff, demand ing higher wages while employers cut jobs and shortenAccustomedworkdays.to living with hurricanes and trop ical storms, earthquakes and volcanoes, floods and droughts, rising coastal ero sion and lowering tides, the Caribbean has also been ex periencing the new weather and climate phenomena over time – from El Nino and La Nina in the 1990s, to the Climate Changes of the first quarter of the 21st Century.Butwhile (luckily) no catastrophic weather or climate event has taken place since the most recent hurricanes tore through the Caribbean island-chain before COVID-19 arrived in 2020, the region can not wait for red flags and hurricane warnings to start undertaking out-of-the-or dinary steps to beef up not only
A 21st Century China Example of Necessity
By Earl Bousquet
GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 26, 2022 7
The
Invention
The combined effects have also made it more difficult for hundreds of millions more to survive, particularly in developing countries where poverty was always a daily factor before COVID, Ukraine and the current economic, weather and climate ca tastrophes.Noone is left untouched anywhere by the rising prices as governments and people in the world’s rich as Mother of
Over 300 students, 27 staff benefiting
Teachers from the Kamwatta Primary School who received training on the operation and maintenance of the Solar PV System (DPI photo) Solar PV array (3.16kWp) installed on the roof of the Kamwatta Primary School facing the southern end (DPI photo) and twenty-eight (328) stu dents and twenty-seven (27) staff, including teachers and ancillary staff. Also, its operation will result in the avoidance of an estimated 2,715 kg of CO2 emissions annually. The teachers present at the time of the solar PV system’s installation ex pressed their gratitude for the initiative, stating that it will allow them to better utilise the Primary School’s services and provide better learning opportunities for the students. GEA’s Engi neers provided training to two (2) male and two (2) female teachers at the fa cility on the operation and maintenance of the system. (DPI)
The items for the installa tion at the Kamwatta Primary School were provided by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to sup port Government’s sustain able energy interventions at community/public buildings in theKamwattaHinterland.is a riverine satellite village of Santa Rosa/Moruca located along the Moruca River, in Region One. GEA conducted an En ergy Needs Assessment earli er in 2022 in the village with the objective of providing en ergy for the Primary School. The Guyana Energy Agency, in exercising its mandate, provided support to the Primary School for the transportation and installation of the solar PV and battery energy storage systems. This initiative will pro vide a renewable, stable and reliable electricity supply to the Primary School for its daily activities, benefiting approximately three hundred
8 GUYANA CHRONICLE F riday, August 26, 2022
THE Guyana Energy Agen cy (GEA) in July installed a 3.16kWp Solar Photovoltaic (PV) system along with a 19.2kWh Lead-AcidValve-Regulated(VRLA)Battery Energy Storage System ( BESS) at the Kamwatta Primary School in Region One (Barima-Waini).
Region One school equipped with solar power ––
GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 26, 2022 9
WITH hopes of boosting tourism in the hinterland community of Rockstone, Region 10, the Village Council will host its first ever fishing extravaganza in October. The community is known for hosting an inaugural fish festival yearly, however, due to the restriction cause by the coronavirus (COVID-19) and the effects of torrential rain fall and flooding, the com mittee was unable to host the event over the last few years.
“I think the population is looking forward for a day of fun; we will also have some time to enjoy the outside atmosphere, enjoying the outdoors and, of course, lots to eat and drink.”
He also noted that all safety protocols will be in place to cater for the day’s activity. “Of course, we want to make sure that we have all the necessary safety proto cols involved, because it’s a riverside activity.”
There will be many prizes to be won, said Carter, who noted that “emphasis will be placed on the largest catch; there is going to be an adult, a senior and junior category.”
By Naomi Parris
THROWBACK: Scenes from a previous fish festival Rockstone’s Toshao, Flagan Carter Head of Region 10 Tourism Committee, Devin Sears
He explained that the es tablishment of an eco-lodge in the community makes room for further develop ment.“With the eco-lodge, we are thinking that it would provide employment for those people up there. The eco-lodge would be good for there, the plan is to have 12 rooms. The Village Council has reached out for support, but it’s slow, and it takes a little while,” Sears said. Meanwhile, Carter dis closed that the village has been making strides in trying to establish its own ecolodge.“The Village Council would have reached out to several agencies; we would have engaged Go-Invest, the Tourism Minister, the Ministry of Amerindians Affairs in regards of having eco-tourism established in the community to target visitors that are coming in, and to provide jobs for the members of the community, especially the women to ensure that we have a sustainable system where we can finance the village and commerce and directly wholesale logging, because that is our primary way of income” Carter said. Rockstone has a variety of scenery, geological gems and access to waters ways and many wild life to be one of the country’s ideal eco-tourist destinations.
Fishing extravaganza billed for Rockstone in October
“The village is going ahead with a fishing extrav aganza on its own, and since there is no fish festival on the calendar that has been written for, it will encompass some of those activities and the likes,” the village’s Toshao Flagan Carter told the Guy ana Chronicle on Thursday. The event, he said, will feature a few similar activi ties from the inaugural event that is usually held, however, it will be bigger and grand er, as residents are eagerly awaiting to have an activity of such a kind hosted again.
Head of the regional com mittee, Devin Sears, in a recent interview said dis cussions are being held with investors and other key stake holders to secure funding for the promotion of community tourism in Region 10. “What we are pushing for is to promote community tourism in all the communi ties. We have to start some where, and Rockstone is easy to tackle, because a lot of tourists would go there for bird watching,” Sears said. While tourism is nothing new to the community, he believes that with greater emphasis, much more can be earned from the sector. “With Rockstone given its strategic location, we have over a thousand species of birds, and that would be the right place. Even if you’re passing by Rockstone, head ing to Sherima Crossing to go over to Bartica, you can always crash there for the night.”
PUSH FOR ECO LODGE While the community is hoping to get some trac tion with the event, the Village Council, in collab oration with the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) through the regional tour ism committee, is hoping to push for more tourism development.
“The clinical picture may not be very different. However, with Clade II, we have observed that mortal ity is higher. Generally, all the signs and symptoms are the same,” he explained.
He also explained that there are two types of monkeypox virus: namely, Clade I and Clade II.
He urged persons to take the necessary precau tions to protect themselves against the virus. Currently, there are roughly 45,000 monkey pox cases and 13 deaths in some 96 countries around the world. Guyana has recorded one case so far. (DPI)
10 GUYANA CHRONICLE F riday, August 26, 2022
Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony, M.P
HEALTH Minister Dr Frank Anthony said on Thursday that only per sons considered to be high-risk will be eligible for the monkeypox vac cine. Guyana is expected to receive its first set of ‘Im vamune’ vaccines for the viral infection by the end of September from Canada, through the Pan Ameri can Health Organisation (PAHO). ‘ Imvamune’ protects against orthopoxvirus in fections such as monkey pox and Speakingsmallpox.during his COVID-19 update, Dr Anthony explained that persons who have been exposed to the virus will be the first to be vaccinated. “If someone is at highrisk, meaning that you would have been in close contact with somebody who has monkeypox, then your chances of getting monkeypox would be quite high.“The criterion to admin ister the vaccine would be that the person must have been exposed, and be at high risk for getting mon keypox,” Minister Anthony said.The Health Minister said Imvamune is a modi fied vaccine and the health ministry will be working to see how protective it is against monkeypox. He said that similar to the COVID-19 vaccine, there may be some tempo rary side-effects from the monkeypox vaccine. These include swelling or redness at the vaccina tion site, headaches and some muscle pain.
GCCA: Aircraft carrying President Ali, Barbados’ PM landed safely
“The GCAA would like to make it clear that the air craft landed safely and was taxiing very slowly off the main runway. While turning off the main runway unto the taxiway, the nose gear rolled across the grass at the edge of the taxiway. The aircraft was immediately stopped on the taxiway,” the release said The release added that it was important to note that the entire aircraft remained firmly positioned on the taxiway with only the nose gear slightly in the grass. “All the passengers dis embarked the aircraft safely and calmly through the nor mal exit. There were no dam ages to the aircraft; the aircraft was pushed back and proceeded on its next leg of flight into the Ched di Jagan International Airport (CJIA), totally serviceable,” the release said.
THE Guyana Civil Avi ation Authority (GCAA) said that, contrary to re ports, the aircraft carrying President, Dr. Irfaan Ali and Barbados’ Prime Min ister, Mia Motley, together with their party, landed safely at the Eugene F. Correia Airport last Sun day.
Only high-risk persons eligible for monkeypox vaccine
Guyana applauds China-CELAC co-operation –– aimed at tackling disaster risk management
Representatives of the People’s Republic of China, Emergency Management Ministry at the first ministerial forum of the China-CELAC cooperation on disaster risk management held on ThursdaySee page 12
Speaking during the first ministerial forum held on Thursday, Director-General of the Guyana Civil Defence Commission (CDC), Colonel Retired Nazrul Hussain said the country welcomes the cooperation.TheCDC Director point ed to other regional forums for disaster risk manage ment under the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) and Mercosur (Southern Common Market), but said this new mechanism will help to streamline coun tries in mitigation and risk reduction.
“It is our belief that the strategic and material in put of China in this forum will inject an increased spirit of cooperation and guide the CELAC countries in the right direction. Guy ana applauds the efforts of China, and stands resolute with the CELAC countries
By Samuel Sukhnandan in Beijing GUYANA is among 33 countries in the Communi ty of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) set to benefit directly from a new China-CELAC co operation on disaster risk management.
GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 26, 2022 11
Guyana applauds China-CELAC
ChinaofwithanAmericaoutWangManagementChina’sMANDEmergencyMinister,Xiangxi,pointedthatnotonlytheLatinandtheCaribbe(LAC)regionisfacedincreasingthreatsnaturaldisastersbutaswell,explaining that the ‘COVID’ pan demic has increased the complexities of a response to some disasters. Minister Xiangxi told the meeting that “strength ening international coop eration in disaster man agement has become a common demand of the international community”. As such, during the last ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC forum, the China-CELAC joint action plan for cooperation was adopted. Disaster manage ment was listed as a key area of “Chinacooperation.isready to sup port this mechanism with the Latin American and Caribbean side to share ex periences and practices in disaster management, learn from each other, and jointly improve the capacity of natural disaster prevention and control,” he remarked, making reference to the 2021 launch of the Belt and Road International Cooper ation Framework for Natu ral Disaster Prevention and Emergency Management.
CDC HussainColonelDirector-GeneralRetiredNazrul in promoting this plat form for disaster man agement cooperation in the region,” he told the virtual meeting. Hussain said Guyana, like other Caribbean coun tries, is extremely vulner able to natural disasters. These risks include coastal flooding and sea level rise, flooding due to excessive rainfall, and even drought. In addition to that, Guyana, a new oil producing nation, is also faced with the poten tial risk of an oil spill.
“The impact of ‘COVID’, along with the climate emergency, has highlighted the need for in creased solidarity to tackle our common challenges. That is why we welcome the convening of this forum to enhance transbound ary cooperation along the important priorities of the UN framework. And I commend the inclusion of disaster risk reduction as a priority within the China-CELAC joint action plan.”At the conclusion of the meeting, a joint Chi na-CELAC statement was adopted by all the speakers who participated, including representatives from var ious Caribbean countries, including Antigua and Bar buda, Dominica, Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname, among others. A special fund has also been established to assist with responding to natural disasters in CELAC coun tries. Argentina and Mexico are the first two countries to donate to the fund, which will be managed by a spe cial committee of LAC countries.Recently, China do nated a cheque valued at US$50,000 to the Govern ment of Guyana aimed at tackling disaster relief and risk management coun trywide. The funds were received by the CDC Di rector-General, and was presented by the Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Guo Haiyan. (NCN Editor, Samuel Sukhnandan is currently in Beijing on the Chi na International Press Communication Centre (CIPCC) 2022 Fellowship at the invitation of the China Public Diplomacy Association (CPDA)
12 GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 26, 2022
...pageFrom 11
With the active partic ipation of United Nations (UN) agencies and devel oping countries, China’s Emergency Management Minister said his country also welcomes the partic ipation of LAC to make new contributions to the development of a global disaster prevention mit igation and relief mech
COMMON DE
As a percentage of each country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), seven of the top 10 countries are in the Caribbean region.
centters,nomicLACthatMizutori,terRepresentativeretaryaddressedanism.TRANSBOUNDARYCOOPERATIONThemeetingwasalsobytheUNSecGeneral’sSpecialforDisasRiskReduction,Mamiwhorevealedinthelast20years,hadthehighestecolossesfromdisasaccountingfor45perofgloballosses.
GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 26, 2022 13
Richmond Hill resi dent Romeo Hitlall, de scribed as ‘the Hanooman of the community’ by Raj kumar and Pandit Lakram, speaking on behalf of Fed eration of Hindu Mandirs, said they have received “extraordinary love” from faith leaders in the Sikh, Jewish and Muslim com munities. “Hindus are inclusive, peaceful and loving. The Gandhi statue may be gone but we will carry Gandhi’s message of peace, love and hope to our City, State and our country.”Pandit Lakhram Ma haraj, formerly of Canje, East Berbice, founder of Shri Tulsi Mandir and spiritual leader, thanked everyone locally and abroad for their outpour ing of support follow ing the desecration of the mandir. “Our skin colour might be different, but the blood that runs through our veins is the same,” Maharaj said. “Our re ligion may be different but we are worshiping the same God. Hate does not have any role in this community, and in this country.”Lakhram Maraj, said the 106th Precinct has ramped up security fol lowing the attack, com forting regular temple go ers afraid to return to wor ship. The Mayor told the gathering that he would not tolerate hate aimed at religious establishments, or hurting people based on their “way of life”, highlighting hatred aimed at the Asian American and Pacific Islander, Muslims, and Jewish communities. The mayor urged the city to embrace Gandhi’s beliefs of love, tolerance, peace, and non-violence.
Religious and political leaders of New York condemn the destruction of the statue of Gandhi at the Shri Tulsi Mandir
“Hate crimes against Hindus have gone up by more than 100 per cent over the last couple years. We are at a time of crisis as hate crimes are up 125 per cent. Hate Crimes against Asian Americans are up 100 per cent, and that includes anti-Hindu hate,” said Rajkumar. She noted that members of the Sikh, Muslim, and Hindu community that have been attacked for their faith in her district.
NO PLACE
“Hate has no place in Richmond Hill. Hate has no place in New York City. Hate has no place in our country. We are not going to stand back and allow at tacks on our houses of worship. They play a cru cial role in closing the gap between Government and the needs of people. We will not allow an individ ual to participate in this hate going un-apprehend ed.” He said the City will also follow another road that goes far beyond the law enforcement arm. The goal is not only respond ing to hate but preventing hate. We’re going to zero in on classes in schools. We are going to encourage you to participate in our ‘Breaking Bread, Building Bonds’ one thousand din ners across the City with people coming from a dif ferent background, talking to each other, sharing who we are, why we do what we Thedo.” Mayor said he visited India years ago and visited the last steps where Gandhi walked before he was fatally shot. He said: “The bullet that took his life – it is con tinuing the emotional path of attempting to rip apart our communities. Today, we stand together as Jews, Christians, members of Sikh communities, Hin dus, and all the other com munities that are a part of us to say that bullet is not going to continue to rip us apart”.An elected Korean American City Councillor reported “a surge in hate crimes against Asians. Hate crimes against Asians have gone up by some 300 per cent in re cent years”.
By Vishnu Bisram NEW York City Mayor Eric Adams on Wednes day afternoon addressed a press conference cum rally of local politicians, community leaders, and the public at the spot in front of the Indian Caribbean Shri Tulsi Mandir where Gandhi’s statue was destroyed on August 16. People of all ages turned up at the event to give solidarity to the mandir and the community. The Mayor and other public figures, as well as community leaders, uttered statements of con demnations of the brazen attack on Gandhi’s statue, a global icon of peace and non-violence, and the fa ther of free India. Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Jain, and Sikh leaders, in an in credible show of solidari ty, joined in the condem nation. The Mayor vowed to give his full support to the Hindu-American com munity, saying he would marshal all the resources at his disposal to locate and arrest the perpetrators. The statue stood for over six years in front of the door of the mandir where mostly Guyanese and Trinidadians worship in Little Guyana, Rich mond Hill, Queens. The area is home to over a dozen Guyanese and Trin idadian mandirs, and half a dozen Sikh Gurudwaras. The press conference was called by State Assembly member Jenifer Rajku mar, the first and only Hindu and Indian-Amer ican woman elected to Albany. She was joined by community leaders and otherOnpoliticians.themorning of Au gust 16, right after In dia’s independence, six men, one with a sledge hammer, were seen walk ing towards the statue. In addition to destroy ing the statue, the thugs spray-painted derogatory remarks on the broken body, and on the temple grounds. The police de partment’s Hate Crimes Task Force described the attack as a hate crime, and is investigating it. A similar incident happened a week earlier where three Hispanics were seen in a video toppling the statue, and breaking its arms. There has been a pat tern of attacks on Hindus, including Guyanese, and other Asians in New York and across the US. There is no motive for the latest attack, but the police have posters of the faces of the van dals and are looking for them.ANIMOSITY DE BeforeCRIEDthe Mayor spoke, Rajkumar, who is the elected represen tative for the area, re marked that since the targeting of the Gandhi statue and the mandir, community leaders have re-doubled efforts to combat anti-Hindu hate in communities. Rajkumar, the first Hindu member of New York State Assembly, and other politicians as well as leaders of Hindu organisa tions specifically decried animosity toward Hindus.
“This kind of hate will not happen in my district, not in my backyard, and not on my watch. Gand hi always said that love will overcome hate. With the outpouring of support today from leaders across the city and nation, I know that Gandhi is crimes”.ti-HindugatingSewellCommissionerMayorRajkumarright.”thankedAdamsandNYPDKeechantfor“investitheserecentancrimesashateCommandingOf ficer, Andrew Arias of the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force told the gathering that NYPD is working together with its public and private partners to en sure justice is achieved in the strongest prosecution possible. “Seasoned in vestigators are analysing all of the evidence, devel oping leads and utilising technology to steer the investigation to successful closure.”
Nikunj Trivedi, pres ident of the Coalition of Hindus of North Ameri ca, said there is a surge in “Hinduphobia and anti-Hindu hate crimes, including the desecra tion of Gandhi statues and attacks on Hindu public officials in multi ple tativeJoeplaces”.SOLIDARITYYussuf,represenoftheGuyana
‘Breaking Bread, Building Bonds’
–– 1,000 dinners, dialogue, conversations in the classrooms to tackle race hate in New York
14 GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 26, 2022
A section of the gathering on Wednesday
And no matter what, I will stand with you – in front of you, in back of you, on either side of you – fighting hatred. Because hatred can only be fought with love, and that’s what we see here,” AriolaThesaid.Consulate Gen eral of India to NYC, Shri Randhir Jaiswal, was also present for the programme condemning the attack that came on the night after India’s 75th independence an niversary. There were dozens of Guyanese and Trini Hindu lead ers from the commu nity including Pandit Latchana (Baya) Narine of Black Bush. Indian nationals Ragbir Singh, Harpreet Tour, and Dr. Nita Jain, Mohammed Ali of Bangladesh com munity, Mohamed Khan a community patrol cop, and Jewish scholar Abni Poznik were also among the many others who ap peared in person to give remarks condemning the attack on Gandhi. The temple is fund raising to replace the sev en-foot statue with a new one that will stand 12 to 15 feet high. Several individu als and organizations have pledged contribu tions. Berbician Ameri can Ashook Ramsaran, President of the Indian Diaspora Council, said his organisation pledges a contribution.
GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 26, 2022 15
Consulate in New York, uttered a message from Guyana President, Dr Irfaan Ali condemning the attack and offering the Government of Guy ana solidarity with the temple, its executive, and the community. Local elected officials such as City Council Member, Joann Ariola, Senator James Sanders Jr. and Assemblyman, Khaleel Anderson also delivered remarks at the press conference denounc ing hate crimes and this attack.“When you come and you desecrate a symbol of faith, it doesn’t cause people to stop praying. It makes people pray more. It doesn’t cause us to have fear, it makes us stronger. It doesn’t cause us to separate, it makes us bind together. So your mission is a failure. And it will be further a failure when you are caught, arrested, prosecuted, and incarcerated. I have been blessed at this temple.
By Naomi Parris WITH the red carpet rolled out and foyer chandelier lit, The National Cultural Centre (NCC) last Sunday evening ushered in a crowd of exuber ant spectators for the return of the Miss World (Guyana) 2022 pageant. The event which, returned after a three-year hiatus, was promoted to be the pageant of the season with 10 brilliant beauties vying for the highly coveted, newly designed bejew elledTheheadwear.show was certainly not one to miss, but if you did, we got the all the BUZZ of the night’s unfolding. Of course, before we dive into the proceedings of the night, we must introduce the queen who copped the Regia Lily crown and will be representing Guyana on the international stage.Andrea King, the 25-yearold project manager at telecom munications company, GTT, hail from Region Four (Demer ara-Mahaica).Theholder of a bachelor’s degree in Business Adminis tration and Management, and former student of The Bishops’ High School, it was King’s night to beGreetedcrowned.with thundering applause, King, who was already set to win a number of side prizes including most popular delegate on social media, graced the stage donned in a baby pink blush rhinestone gown, with what appeared to be chiffon draping. This was her moment. Her coronation. Her crown. Surely the envy of the stage that night, King entered the NCC a princess, and exited a queen, copping also the prizes for the Multimedia Challenge, the Head-to-Head Challenge, and the Talent Segment. Delivering a rousing keynote address, King, with fist thrusted into the air, issued a battle cry of patriotism, stirring up the NCC crowd in a moment that appeared to transcend the grace and poise usually associated with this leg of the competition, but still meeting the moment. King was brought to tears on stage as she reflected on her journey, her support system, and why she was taking on a chal lenge that would undoubtedly catapult her to the world stage. Her platform? Financial literacy for the nation’s youth- not the novelest idea, but certainly still relevant.Itwas her strategic approach to networking with financial technocrats that set her idea aside as one of the better thought out. However, did it capture the prize?Not against delegate num ber five, Naina Pai who copped the “Beauty with a Purpose” prize for her books-on-wheels initiative to increase literacy in Region Five $1competitorsespeciallywhichformawho,numberstillconceptthree,posedthenumbersSurprisingly,(Mahaica-Berbice).twodelegates,threeandsix,surprisedcrowdatadwiththeirproprojects.FordelegateMalindaHo-A-Lim,theof“genderdecorum”hassomepersonsbaffled.Itwas,however,delegatesix,ShannanSooklallastonishingly,didnotraisesingledollarforherplatproject–anannouncementleftthecrowdstunned,sincesomeofherhadraisedclosetomillion.
The 10 delegates of the Miss World Guyana 2022 pageant (Delano Williams photo)
16 GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, August 26, 2022
FAN FAVOURITES
While King was crowned the queen, she surely did have a tough competition as there were some fan favourites of the pag eant who were well supported by their pockets of supporters in the NCCChantsauditorium.andscreams flooded the floor, and rained down from the balcony as delegate number seven, Arian Richmond, and 10, Trevlind Harry made their appearances.Itwasnot surprising that King, Richmond, and Harry were named the top three dele gates by the extended panel of judges. Harry later emerged as the winner of the pageant’s Top ModelThecompetition.crowd,in-person and on social media, was lukewarm to many of the fashion choices. But there was one delegate that stood out, unfortunately for missing the mark of the con cept behind the Evening Gown segment.Relating to ‘she-who-shallnot-be-named’, it’s relating im portant for high intensity events like pageants to have strong support systems. This could, perhaps, avoid the conflating of “gown” and “cocktail dress”. There’s always next year. Stay strong,Thegirl!fashion aside, while certain sections of social media were ecstatic that King was crowned, others were edge and were prepared to die, figurative ly speaking, on the Richmond hill.Certainly, Arian Richmond deserves credit for her excep tional delivery, her concise mes sage, and her clever appeal to emotion during her final speech. Nothing less is expected from the daughter of one of our nation’s well known English teachers.There’s also no doubt that her platform project will be con tinued as she has already done that level of children’s advocacy and support for years.
PLOT TWIST? In usual pageant fashion, when a queen is crowned, first and second runners up are also named.Many of us know the “if the queen cannot perform her func tions…” advisory that is typical for pageant winner declarations. This year’s competition, how ever, only saw the crowning of the queen.Thereason?
King crowned as our Miss World queen!
The newly crowned, Miss World Guyana, Andrea King (Delano Williams photo)
Based on an announcement by the pageant’s director on coronation night, if the queen cannot continue her reign for whatever reason, her shoes will be filled by any of the other nine women so decided by the organisation.Aftercarrying out a tiring three-year reign, certainly no fault of her own, Joylyn Conway can now rest her head as she hands the crown and the throne to a new queen—a King, Andrea King. May her reign be uninter rupted and glorious!
Arian Richmond, a top three finalist and fan favourite (Delano Williams photo) Linden’s Trevlind Harry (Delano Williams photo)
Finally shifting to pageantry, he continues in that field even today.In an interview with BUZZ, he reflected that it all started for him as a child when he was a dancer in a youth group at Little Dia mond, East Bank Demer ara (EBD). The group was housed under the Hindu tem ple he attended. As for Melicia, 34, she recalls a love for the industry. “I really love the glitz and glams. Growing up, I always admired this industry; enter tainment, pageantry and the whole works,” she shared. She and her husband knew each other for approx imately 10 years before they married. When they eventual ly joined forces, they already knew how to maintain both their professional and per sonal lives. “I had already formed Nachle Productions, but she came and brought the touch that was missing,” Hashim explained.“Shecompleted me and I feel like together, we are a force to reckon with,” he said, adding, “What we have is something very special. Over the years, we have de veloped an understanding that helps us to progress.” The Allis, now parents of a four-year-old son, still engage the arts through their weekly television pro gramme, Bollywood Hits, which is broadcast on the National Communications Network (NCN). Their radio show, Bollywood Masala, is alsoCommentingthriving. on some of their accomplishments in the pageant world so far, Hashim related: “We brought the only international pageant title in 2017 - the Miss Global Inter national Pageant winner. That was under our directorship. “We were also able to debut many beauty queens, including the most recent Beauty Razack. I founded the Mr. India Guyana pageant; I worked on that project for four years and launched it in 2020.” Hashim said he finds fulfilment in seeing young people grow and accomplish their dreams. “If I can create a platform to have them ac knowledged or promoted, I would have done my share of good,” he said. Mr Alli noted that young entertainers may be able to achieve much more if people show, by their actions, that they are supportive of them.
GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, August 26, 2022 17
Hashim and Melicia Partab-Alli
pageant enthusiasts working with youth
The couple on their wedding day in 2016 Finding enjoyment in entertainment for many years
Melicia feels the same way as she was not one to be given the ‘push’ she needed as a young person in the industry.“Ihad to kind of do it on my own. So, when you see a young person with a unique talent and with the ‘it’ factor and know you can mould them, you don’t want to lose the opportunity of helping them,” she said. Melicia and her husband take great delight in helping youngsters to see their true potential.Hashim and Melicia, both being creatives, have their days when their ideas clash and when they both feel strongly about their way of doing things. This is one of the challenges that come from working together in the industry.
Meet the Allis:
“Too many times, people only say that they are sup portive,” he observed.
HASHIM ALLI and his wife Melicia Partab-Alli both had an interest in the entertainment industry for as long as they can remem ber. Even as youngsters, they’d always have an in clination to one aspect of entertainment or another. It was certainly not surprising to see them pressing on in that regard to this day. Side by side, they are building a name for themselves in the industry.Hashim, 35, started off when he was just about 10 years old as a dancer. Fol lowing this, he took up acting and eventually became a televisionHashimpersonality.madehistory for launching the first ever re make of a Bollywood hit single by local entertainers.
“If you don’t work through the issues, you’re going to be working at each other. But we look to see how we can merge our ideas and keep both parties hap py,” Melicia shared.
Lin Manuel Miranda during a performance of Hamilton in July 2016 (Photo credit: GETTY Images; retrieved from BBC)
18 GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, August 26, 2022 (BBC) – FETTY WAP faces prison after pleading guilty to a drug charge in the US. He admitted to being part of a Long Island-based net work that ferried more than 100kg of drugs including cocaine between US states. The charge against the 31-year-old rapper, whose real name is Willie Junior Maxwell II, carries a manda tory five-year sentence. He is currently in jail for breaking his bail conditions after being accused of threat ening to kill a man.
A US church has apologised to Hamilton creator Lin Manuel Miranda for an unauthorised, Bible-themed rewrite of the popular mu sical. The rendition from The Door church in McAllen, Tex as changed Hamilton’s lyrics to include references to Jesus and TheChristianity.changes were con demned by Mr Miranda, who earlier this month vowed to Hamilton: US church apologises for modified rendition of hit musical
Continued on page 19
The Trap Queen artist, who pleaded guilty to distrib uting and possessing cocaine, was first arrested at a stadi um in New York in October 2021.He was detained last year alongside five other members of the alleged trafficking ring.They are accused of transporting, distributing and selling more than 100kg (220lbs) of cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and crack cocaine across state lines between June 2019 and June 2020. The rapper’s plea deal al lows him to avoid a jury trial and potential life sentence. He remains in custody to await sentencing. A few weeks ago, he was accused of flashing a gun and yelling “Imma kill you and everybody you with” during a FaceTime call in December 2021.Prosecutors say it hap pened about two months after his arrest in the drugs case. Under his bail terms, he had agreed not to violate any laws or possess a gun or other weapon.Fetty Wap’s debut single Trap Queen reached number two in the US in 2015. It was also a Top 10 hit in the UK that year, and was nominated for two Grammy Awards.
Fetty Wap was detained last year alongside five other members of the alleged trafficking ring (Photo credit: GETTY Images; retrieved from BBC)
Fetty Wap: Rapper faces jail time after admitting drugs charge
Hamilton: US church apologises for modified... From page 18
‘Poor and Boasy’ pleads guilty to fraud ‘Poor and Boasy’ (Photo credit: Jamaica Observer) take legal action. The church will now pay unspecified damages. In addition to invoking Jesus Christ, the church’s rendition added a scene in which Alexander Hamilton repents as well as a sermon inviting those “struggling” with substance abuse and homosexuality to turn to God for help.Following the show earli er this month, the team behind the original production of Hamilton lodged a protest and filed a cease-and-desist letter. A spokesman for Hamilton also said that the production team “stands for tolerance, compassion, inclusivity and certainly LGBTQ rights”. Mr Miranda thanked those who informed him about the Texas play and said he would “let lawyers do their work”. In an Instagram post on Tuesday, the church acknowl edged that it had never re ceived permission to “pro duce, stage, replicate or alter” Hamilton.“Ourministry will use this moment as a learning oppor tunity about protected artistic works and intellectual proper ty,” the statement added. The church vowed to nev er perform the show again. It said it would destroy any re cordings and images and pay unspecified damages.
GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, August 26, 2022 19
‘POOR and Boasy’, 2009 winner of the Magnum Kings and Queens of Dancehall talent competi tion, pleaded guilty to fraud when he appeared in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court in Half-WayTree on Tuesday. The entertainer pleaded guilty to conspiracy to de fraud, uttering forged docu ment, and obtaining money by means of false pretence. He is to return to court in November. A social enquiry report is also expected to be presented.According to court doc uments, ‘Poor and Boasy’ — whose given name is Omar Johnson — is alleged to have collected US$1,000 to convert to Jamaican cur rency from a deejay who had returned from overseas. It is further alleged that the entertainer gave the dee jay the converted cash of JD$70,000 in a sealed enve lope. On inspection, it was revealed that all the bills had the same serial number. A report was made to the police and the entertainer was arrested and charged. No stop order was placed on the entertainer who has an upcoming show in the twin-island republic of Trin idad and Tobago. He has to, however, report to the HalfWay-Tree Police Station on a weekly basis. In 2009, ‘Poor and Boasy’ and ‘Tiki’ won JD$1 million each on Mag num Kings and Queens of Dancehall talent contest. The contest ended in 2018, after 11 years. (Jamaica Observer)
A spokesman for Hamil ton quoted by the New York Times said that the damages would be donated to the South Texas Equality Project, a co alition of organisations that supports the LGBTQ com munity and LGBTQ-friendly businesses in South Texas. Hamilton, which made its debut in 2015, tells the story of US founding father Alexander Hamilton. The show - which also made its UK debut in London’s West End in 2017 - has since won dozens of awards. A filmed stage produc tion of the show released by Disney+ in 2020 became one of the most-streamed films of the year. (BBC)
20 GUYANA CHRONICLE F riday, August 26, 2022
GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 26, 2022 21
22 GUYANA CHRONICLE F riday, August 26, 2022
Guyana will host 11 games from September 21 to September 30, including the semi-finals and the final.
NOVAK Djokovic says he will be unable to travel to New York for the US Open, which begins on DjokovicMonday.did not defend his Australian Open title in January because his COVID-19 vaccination status led to his deportation from the country. Since October 2021, the United States has banned non-vaccinated visitors.
Ashley Khalil wins gold for Guyana at Senior Squash Championships
Roshon Primus then opened his shoulders to blast 41 from 23 balls with four fours and two sixes, inspiring a 49-run, sixth wicket partnership with Matthew Forde (12) but Kings came up just short.
English Racing Tips Goodwood 12:05 hrs Bibulous 12:35 hrs Sir Laurence Graff 13:10 hrs Mostly Cloudy 13:45 hrs Misty Dancer 14:15 hrs Just Amber 14:45 hrs Street Life 09:0008:25NewmarkethrsEximoushrsVerrfaux Eagle 09:25 hrs Classic 10:10 hrs Yantarni 10:45 hrs Cemhaan 11:20 hrs Simply Sounder 11:54 hrs The Green Man 08:45Thirskhrs She’s Hot 09:20 hrs Kitty Karma 09:55 hrs Abate 10:30 hrs Equiann Springs 11:00 hrs Wheal Kitty 11:30 hrs On The River 12:05 hrs Lord Caprio Canadian Racing Tips RaceWoodbine1Snow Squall Race 2 Chairman Fox Race 3 Owen’s Souper Moon Race 4 High Heat Race 5 Sailor’s Passion Race 6 Skinny Dippin Race 7 Ronnie Radar Race 8 Tickle Her Toe American Racing Tips RaceSaratoga1Macie Half Mel Race 2 Photon Race 3 Price Discipline Race 4 Chulligan Race 5 Venti Valentine Race 6 Lisa’s Vision Race 7 Acousticave South Africa Racing Tips 08:15Fairviewhrs Var’s Boy 08:50 hrs Crown Plaza 09:25 hrs Jean’s Man 10:00 hrs Keepingthepeace Irish Racing Tips Down Royal 11:40 hrs Bringbackmemories 12:15 hrs Come Du Berlais 12:50 hrs Doyenna 13:25 hrs Finnythemagician 14:00 hrs Ronald Pump 14:30 hrs Supreme Vinnie 15:0o hrs Jetara RACING TIPS Djokovic unable
IN 2019, it was Nicolette Fernandes, and three years after, the Caribbean Area Squash Association (CASA) Senior Championships re turned, another star of the soil, Ashley Khalil, lived up to the expectations and won the gold medal. She had to defeat team mate Taylor Fernandes in the women’s final in Kington, Jamaica, on Tuesday evening. Khalil came from behind to win her first Senior CASA title 9-11, 11-5, 11-2, 11-4. In the third-place playoff, two other Guyanese clashed and it was Ashley DeGroot who held off Akeila Wiltshire in a five-set thriller, 12-10, 11-7, 7-11, 6-11, 11-3, to cop bronze.Additionally, Nyron Jo seph and Jason-Ray Khalil won gold by defeating Barba dians Khamal Cumberbatch and Shawn Simpson 11-10, 11-10, while Ashley Khalil and DeGroot topped Cayma nians Jade Pitcairn and Mi chaela Rensburg 11-6, 11-8, for the second doubles gold for Guyana.However, in the mixed doubles, Daniel Ince and Fernandes went down to Cayman’s top mixed doubles duo of Marlene West and Cameron Stafford 3-11, 7-11. More so, Alex Arjoon lost his singles semi-final to eventual 10-time champion Chris Binnie 2-11, 8-11, 4-11. The team segment is currently on. Guyana are the defending champions.
EXXONMOBIL Guyana announced yesterday that it is the exclusive sponsor of Guyana Amazon Warriors for the 2022 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) tournament. It is the sixth consecutive year that the company has been sponsoring the Guyana Amazon Warriors and this year it will be the exclusive sponsor for both the men’s and women’s teams. This is the first year ExxonMobil Guyana will be sponsoring the women’s team, who are participating in the 6IXTY.President of ExxonMobil Guyana, Alistair Routledge, noted that this year’s sponsorship was recognition of the importance of cricket to Guyanese and the exciting opportunity to host the semifinals and final. “We are thrilled to be part of this year’s tournament in such a tangible way. The many benefits of sport are well-known, and we take our role as a part of the Guyanese community very seriously. That’s why we support sports at the youth level as well as raising our sponsorship of the Warriors.”
Guyana
GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, August 26, 2022 23
“I’ll keep in good shape and positive spirit and wait for an opportunity to compete again,” Djokovic added.
travel to New York for US Open
SEE YOU SOON, WORLD!TENNIS Djokovic was on the US Open entry list as recently as Monday and, in a social media post on July 30, wrote “I am preparing as if I will be allowed to compete”.TheUSCenter for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - the nation’s health protection agency - had reviewed some of its rules for unvaccinated citizens in recent weeks, but Djokovic’s apparent withdraw al suggests travel restrictions will continue to apply. His absence at Flushing Meadows may benefit Spain’s Nadal, who seeks a 23rd Grand Slam title, with world number one Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, looking to defend the title he won for the first time in 2021. (BBC Sport) to
ExxonMobil renews sponsorship of Amazon Warriors
BASSETERRE, St Kitts, (CMC) – West Indies pow er-hitter Odean Smith starred as Guyana Ama zon Warriors opened their campaign in the Men’s Sixty with a seven-run win over St Lucia Kings here Thursday. Smith lashed an unbeat en 36 from 24 balls as Ama zon Warriors recovered from a middle order collapse to reach 111 for five off their ten overs at Warner Park. Amazon Warriors were given a flying start, Shai Hope (19) and Chandrapaul Hemraj (18) putting on 41 off 16 deliveries for the first wicket.When four wickets tum bled for 14 runs to leave Amazon Warriors tottering on 55 for four in the fifth over, Smith arrived to belt two fours and three sixes in a 48-run, sixth wicket with captain Shimton Hetmyer (13), to revive the innings. In reply, Kings slumped to 55 for five at the end of the sixth over after 20-yearold Afghan left-arm spinner Waqar Salamkheil (3-16) ripped through the top order.
Serb Djokovic had hoped to compete, but wrote on Twitter yesterday: “Sadly, I will not be able to travel to NY this time for USTheOpen.”35-year-old won his 21st major title with victory at Wimbledon in July, leaving him one behind Rafael Nadal’s all-time men’s record, but will miss out on another chance to add to his tally.
Smith powers Amazon Warriors win
TWO young boxers will represent St Lucia at the fifth Winfield Braithwaite Caribbean Schoolboys & Junior Boxing Tourna ment, which will be held in Guyana from August 26-28. Lightweight boxer Herve Charlemagne, 14, and mid dleweight boxer Kevert Similien, 17 are two who de parted the island on Wednes day to join National Boxing Coach, Conrad Fredericks, in Guyana.According to a release, the tournament will be held at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall and the other visiting countries will be the Baha mas and Trinidad and To bago.President of the St. Lucia Boxing Association (SLBA), David ‘Shakes’ Christopher, stated in a release to the media: “This tournament has been a major stomping ground for the St. Lucia Box ing Association, especially for boxers like Nathan Fer rari, Kareem Boyce, Gilchrist Medard, to name a few.” “Most of the young box ers who came through the ranks went to this tourna ment, where they really de veloped their craft. We’ve also always won medals at this championship. This is a very good stepping stone for our young boxers. So we want to wish our two young boxers the best at the tourna ment”, he Nationaladded.Head Boxing Coach, Conrad Fredericks, said young St. Lucian boxers have always shown great effort at the Guyana tourna ment over the years. “In the last year we com peted in the tournament, we had two boxers and placed third overall among sev en teams,” Fredericks said. “Only three of those coun tries won gold medals, in cluding Saint Lucia, which won one gold and one silver medal.”Fredericks added: “It’s a very tough tournament, but I always appreciate our young boxers competing because the standard is high. Our two boxers representing the island this year are relatively new to the sport, and it’s their first tournament. However, we will try our best to medal at theAssistanttournament.”Coach, Hilary Dalson, said the two young sters show great promise and he’s confident that they will give a good account of themselves in Guyana. “He is very technical, and, in the ring, he uses all the technical skills that Coach Conrad and I train him to use. Kevert is more of a brawler-type fighter. So I’m expecting great things from them in this tourna ment,” Dalson explained.
Two young boxers to represent St. Lucia at Caribbean Schoolboys & Juniors tournament
Herve Charlemagne (centre) flanked by Coach Conrad Fredericks (left) and Coach Hilary Dalson (right) at the Vigie Boxing Gym in St. Lucia
24 GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, August 26, 2022
Dalson noted that the boxing programme at the Vigie Boxing Gym caters to male and female boxers –both juniors and seniors. He issued a call for more people to take up the sport. “I wish more youths would show up at the box ing gym,” Dalson said. “We don’t have that many youths showing up consistently. But it’s a very good boxing programme we run here and you’ll see the fruits of it at this tournament. We also definitely need more female fighters coming to the gym. Whether they want to par ticipate or not, we provide the training they need for the sport.”Meanwhile, Charlem agne, the younger of the two boxers, stated that he gets inspiration from former British boxer Naseem Hamed alias Prince Naseem, who competed from 1992 to 2002, and held multiple feather weight world championships, including the WBO title from 1995 to Charlemagne2000. joined the gym in November last year and is anxiously looking for ward to his first bout. “So far, I think I’m more physically fit and have seen much improvement com pared to when I first joined the gym,” he said. “For this tournament, I’m just looking to go out and do my best. I want to win, but also want to give a great performance.” St. Lucia Boxing Asso ciation offered thanks to everyone who has made their participation possible at the event.
Los Angeles County offi cials argued that the “severe and emotional and mental injuries” were not caused by the county or the photos but by the crash
GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, August 26, 2022 25 (REUTERS) - A jury has awarded Vanessa Bryant $16M in damages among a $31M judgment in the ‘invasion of privacy’ lawsuit she and another brought against Los Angeles County. Fellow plaintiff Chris Chester, who lost his wife and daughter in the January 2020 helicopter crash, was awarded $15M. A group of nine jurors deliberated for roughly 3½ hours before reaching their decision.The lawsuit stemmed from photos that were tak en of the crash scene that showed the remains of Kobe Bryant and Gianna Bryant, amongVanessaothers.Bryant filed suit in U.S. District Court in Sep tember 2020 seeking damages amid claims that members of the Los Angeles County sheriff’s and fire departments shared gruesome images of the crash in unofficial set tings, including to patrons in a bar.“Mrs Bryant feels ill at the thought that sheriff’s deputies, firefighters, and members of the public have gawked at gratuitous images of her deceased husband and child,” the lawsuit states. “She lives in fear that she or her children will one day con front horrific images of their loved ones online.”
Plaintiffs’itself.attorneys asked the jury for damages of up to $42.5M for Bryant and $32.5M for Chester.
Kobe Bryant, his 13-yearold daughter Gianna, Ches ter’s wife Sarah and daughter Payton and five other people perished in the crash in Cala basas, Calif., on January 26, 2020. Kobe Bryant was 41 when he died. He would have celebrated his 44th birthday on Tuesday. The Los Angeles Lakers great and 18-time All-Star won five NBA championships and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2020.
CAMEROON Football Board has arranged two friendly matches in South Korea as Africa’s five World Cup qualifiers final ise their preparations for Qatar. The Indomitable Lions will face Uzbekistan on Sep tember 23 and South Korea four days later in Seoul. Meanwhile, Senegal will meet Bolivia on September 24 in Austria, and the Teranga Lions are also expected to faceLastIran. week five-time World Cup winners Brazil announced they will play World Cup-bound Ghana and Tunisia in warm-up friendlies in September.
The Confederation of Af rican Football has postponed 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, which were sched uled next month, to allow its five World Cup qualifiers to prepare for the tournament.
The World Cup kicks off on November 20 when hosts Qatar face Ecuador, with the final on December 18. There is only a one-week window of preparation for the 32 countries competing in Qatar, with players joining up with their national teams from November 13. Last month Morocco ar ranged fixtures against Chile and Paraguay, which will both be held in Spain on September 23 and 27 respec tively.Cameroon have been drawn alongside Brazil, Ser bia and Switzerland in Group G and Senegal, who became continental champions for the first time in February, are in Group A with host Ecuador and the Ghana,Netherlands.whowillalso face Switzerland in November before the finals kick off, will play Portugal, South Korea and Uruguay in Group H. Tunisia are in Group D with holders France, Aus tralia and Denmark while Morocco take on Belgium, Canada and Croatia in Group F. (BBC Sport)
Kobe Bryant’s widow awarded $16M over crash site photos
The venues for those matches are yet to be decided.
Vanessa Bryant claimed that members of the Los Angeles County sheriff’s and fire departments shared gruesome images of the crash in unofficial settings
Cameroon beat Algeria on the away goals rule to win their play-off in March and qualify for the 2022 World Cup
World Cup-bound African sides confirm friendlies
Former England spinner Vic Marks on TMS: “That is the best 17 not out Zak Crawley has scored. He has occupied the crease which is very important.” (BBC Sport)
Anderson, Broad dismiss Proteas for 151 on first day
Ex-South Africa bowler Vernon Philander on BBC Test Match Special: “With the team South Africa have gone with, they had to bat first. When you’re in England you look at overhead conditions, and they probably said bowl first this morning.“They’ll be more disappoint ed with a couple of soft wickets that got them into a really bad spot before Englandlunch.”bowler Stuart Broad speaking to TMS: “We fancied having a bowl. We felt the clouds would help the ball move a little bit. I wasn’t that disappointed to lose the toss. I was amazed how much the ball nipped today.”
ENGLAND POUNCE ON SOUTH AFRICA GIFT
BRITAIN’S Emma Raducanu has been handed a tough start against France’s Alize Cornet when she returns to New York to defend her US Open title. Raducanu, seeded 11th, stunned the world last year by winning the major as a little known 18-year-old qualifier. Cornet, ranked 37th in the world, is an experienced and tal ented player with some notable results at the majors.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MEN’S DRAW British men’s number one Cameron Norrie is seeded sev enth and plays Frenchman Ben oit Paire, while 2012 champion Andy Murray starts against Argentine 24th seed Francisco Cerundolo.Norrie, who reached the Wimbledon semi-finals last month, cannot face a high er-ranked opponent until the quarter-finals as a result of his elevated seeding. The 26-year-old left-hander is projected to play Spain’s 22time major winner Rafael Nadal, who is coming back from an ab dominal injury and starts against Australian wildcard Rinky Hijik ata, in the last eight. Kyle Edmund, the former British number one who is still at the start of a comeback after almost two years out with a knee injury, has been drawn against Norwegian fifth seed Casper Ruud.One of the most eye-catch ing first-round matches in the men’s draw pits Australia’s Nick Kyrgios against his doubles partner and good friend Thanasi Kokkinakis. Defending men’s champi on Daniil Medvedev starts his bid to retain the trophy against American world number 110 Stefan Kozlov. (BBC Sport)
ENGLAND pounced on South Africa’s decision to bat first by bowling the Proteas out for 151 on the first day of the second Test at Old Trafford. On a day when 13 wickets fell, England saw off some eve ning pressure to reach 111-3, 40 behind.South Africa, who picked two spinners, gambled on com ing through a murky morning, but instead were hustled out. Stuart Broad and James An derson took three wickets each, the latter claiming two in two balls on his home ground, while captain Ben Stokes chipped in with a Despitecouple.batting in sunshine, England found themselves 43-3 and were in danger of repeating the collapses that caused their downfall in the first Test at Lord’s.But under-pressure opener Zak Crawley added an unbroken 68 with Jonny Bairstow. Craw ley is 17 not out having soaked up 77 balls, with Bairstow un beaten on Victory38.would give South Africa an unassailable lead in the three-Test series, which con cludes at The Oval in September.
ENGLAND EDGE AC TION-PACKED DAY
CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Friday August 26, 2022) COMPLIMENTS OF CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158)
Chan-A-SueRamonreturnedunopposedasCASApresident
Guyana-born Ramon Chan-A-Sue
Second Test at Old Trafford
Today’s Quiz: (1) What is the highest score made by a WI player in the recent ODI series against NZ? (2) What is the highest score made by a NZ player in the series?
Stuart Broad (left) struck twice in his first three overs after being bumped off the new ball (AFP/Getty Images)
26 GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, August 26, 2022
Defending champion Raducanu gets tough US Open draw … Serena Williams plays Danka Kovinic Twelve months after her stunning US Open win, Emma Raducanu is ranked 11th in the world
GUYANA’S Ramon Chan-A-Sue was returned un opposed as president of the Caribbean Area Squash Association (CASA) during the association’s Annual General Meeting held at the Liguanea Club in Kings ton on Wednesday. Janet Sairsingh of the Cayman Islands was elected vice-president while Kevin Hannaway of St Vincent and the Grenadines was elected secretary. Bermuda’s Nick Kyme is the treasurer. Each of the eight-member countries will appoint a director before October 2022. During the AGM it was decided that the junior and senior championships will be held in 2023. However, a host nation will be selected by October 2022. At those championships a doubles category will be added for the juniors, while women over 60 will play in the senior championship. (Sportsmax)
Serena Williams will play Danka Kovinic as she begins what is set to be the final tour nament of her career. The American great, who turns 41 next month, could face second seed Anett Kontaveit in the second round if she beats the Montenegrin.However, 21-time major champion Novak Djokovic is not in the men’s singles draw after pulling out of the tournament earlierDjokovic,yesterday.35, is unvacci nated against COVID-19 and the United States will not allow visitors, who have not had the jab, into the country. The US Open main draw starts on Monday at Flushing Meadows in New York.
Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Jason Holder-7 wickets (2) Trent Boult-8 wickets
Even if England were given ideal circumstances in which to bowl, they still had to exploit them, which they did with skill and a little good fortune. Though it was Anderson and Broad who ended with the most success, more impressive was the returning Ollie Robinson, unlucky to take only one wicket in his first Test since January. After Anderson and Broad had removed the top three, the back of the batting was broken in Stokes’ first two overs, both with a slice of luck. Aiden Markram horribly top-edged a filthy short ball, while Rassie van der Dus sen was on the wrong end of a marginal lbw Anderson,decision.bowling from the end that carries his name, elec trified Old Trafford by trapping Harmer and Keshav Maharaj in front with successive balls. Stout resistance came from Kagiso Rabada, who made 36 in adding 35 for the ninth wicket with Anrich Nortje as England dabbled with the short-ball tac tics they have favoured against tail-enders all summer. When Robinson pitched it up with the first ball after tea, his deserved success came in the shape of Nortje being pinned leg-before, while Rabada was last out trying to smear spinner Jack Leach out of the ground.
This was a curious, ac tion-packed day that suggested another swift conclusion follow ing South Africa’s three-day win in the first Test. The intrigue began at the toss, when South Africa chose off-spinner Simon Harmer over all-rounder Marco Jansen, mean ing they were compelled to bat first despite the cloud cover on a damp morning in Manchester. The hope was that they would survive long enough to take advantage when the sun shine arrived later in the day, but by that time England, who want ed to bowl, had run through the majority of the tourists’ line-up. Even with the better batting conditions, England were put under extreme pressure by the superb South Africa pace attack - the home top three were got out rather than guilty of loose strokes.Still, the hosts came through to have the better of the day, and they may take confidence from knowing at some point they will be chasing a target. Their four successive wins at the beginning of the summer all came batting second.But any pursuit could mean a battle on a pitch that is already showing signs of turn and un even bounce.
Answers in tomorrow’s issue
ACTION in the group stage of matches in the ExxonMobil U14 Boys and Girls Football tournament continued at the Ministry of Education ground on Wednesday, with wins for several big teams. In the first game of the afternoon on pitch one, Dol phin Boys registered an 8-0 win against St Winefride’s Secondary thanks to a hattrick from Jason Sandiford. Sandiford netted in the 14th, 39th and 48th minutes and a brace from Tyshawn James in the 1st and 6th, sin gle strikes from Damani Har dy (10th), Malakai Gowan (24th) and Kellon Alleyne (36th) assisted the score line. Over on pitch two, East Ruimveldt were victims of a ‘stick-up’ by Lodge, the later winning 4-0. thanks to a goal each from Emmanuel Tinch (6th), Samuel Tinch (18th), Melchezedec Holder (40th) and Cleon La Rose (42nd). Patentia were also win ners by a huge 5-0 margin over New Central High with Omarion Dawson’s brace (30th, 39th) leading the way. Devon Anderson (16th), Tristan Roberts (22nd) and Shawn Griffith (24th) were the other Plaisancescorers.Bosco went down to Ann’s Grove 5-0, thanks to Selwyn Fraser in the 5th, 7th and 38th min utes while there were single strikes from Isaiah Pellew (3rd) and Devon Chance (10th)West Ruimvedlt were the other big winners against Westminster, winning 9-0, thanks to four goals from Donovan Welcome (2nd, 6th, 11th, 12th) and Wayne Sol omon (26th, 28th 29th 31st) while Mark Johnson scored one goal in the Cummings37th.Lodge 3-0 win over Tucville was due to Nicholas Watts’ 39th and 42nd-minute braces along with one goal from Duquan Thom in the Charlestown18th.edged past Freeburg 2-1 thanks to goals from Nicholas Nieuelder (10th, 40th). Freeburg had Jerimiah Lawrence (48th) on target. North Ruimveldt were 3-2 winners over New Campbellville Second ary, thanks to goals from Joshua Augustine (6th), Dalon Wray (30th) and Jarel Smith (39th). Dwayne Wallace (34th, 40th) scored both of New Campbell ville’s goals.
BASSETERRE, St Kitts, (CM)C – Fabian Allen’s first appearance in three months resulted in a victory for Jamaica Tallawahs, as they thrashed St Kitts and Nevis Patriots by 55 runs in the second game of the Men’s Sixty. The 27-year-old left-arm spinning all-rounder, whose last outing came in the Indian Premier League last April, top-scored with a sizzling 18-ball 45 which helped Tall awahs to 139 all out in the final over. He lashed two fours and five sixes, receiv ing support from West Indies all-rounder Ray mon Reifer who made 38 from 19 deliveries and Rovman Powell, whose 32 required just 13 Playingballs. at Warner Park here Thursday, Tallawahs were stumbling at 42 for three in the fourth over before Allen orchestrated an 80-run fourth wicket stand with Reifer who lashed a four and four sixes. Facing a required run rate of 14 runs per over, Patriots buckled despite the presence of veteran Chris Gayle (9) and Evin Lewis (15), and were dismissed for 84 in the eighth over. They were slumping badly at 36 for four in the fourth over before Dewald Brevis struck 34 from 11 balls with five sixes, in a 45-run, fifth wicket partnership with Darren Bravo (11) to revive the innings. However, off-spinner Jamie Merchant (2-8), along with fast bowlers Migael Preto rius (2-9) and Nicholson Gordon (2-16) all claimed two wickets each to keep Tallawahs on top.
Federer highest paid player in 2022 despite year-long absence - Forbes
Fabian Allen pulls during his cameo knock for Jamaica Tallawahs
20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer has not featured since Wimbledon last year
GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, August 26, 2022 27
ExxonMobil U14 Boys & Girls Football Wins for Dolphin, Lodge, West Ruimveldt
Tallawahsguidevictory
Nicholas Watts (right) scored a brace (39th, 42nd) for Cummings Lodge while his teammate Duquan Thom netted once (REUTERS) - Former world number one Roger Federer retained his place at the top of the list of the world’s highest paid tennis players for a 17th year despite not playing a match for nearly 14 months, Forbes has revealed. Federer, 41, has not featured since Wimble don last year, after he had another operation on his knee, which has bothered the Swiss great in the twilight of his career.However, the 20-time Grand Slam champion still raked in an estimat ed $90M before taxes and agents’ fees over the last 12 months to top the list, with the money coming from “endorse ments, appearances and other business endeav ours.”Japan’s Naomi Osa ka, who has won four majors, is second on the list after making around $56.2M in the past year. The 24-year-old launched a new media company in partnership with four-time NBA champion LeBron James and a new sports agency in June.She is the high est-paid female tennis player, earning more than 23-time Grand Slam winner Serena Wil liams, who is set to retire after the U.S. Open that begins next $35.1MWilliamsweek.hasearnedthisyear,edg ing former men’s num ber ones Rafael Nadal ($31.4M) and Novak Djokovic ($27.1M). U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu made her debut on the list after she shot to stardom last year when she became the first qualifier in the Open Era to capture a Grand Slam title. The British teenager is sixth on the list with $21.1M while men’s U.S. Open champion and world number one Daniil Medvedev is seventh with $19.3M. Kei roundslosSpanisheighthWilliams($13.2M)NishikoriandVenus($12M)areandninthwhilesensationCar-Alcaraz($10.9M)offthetop10.
Allen returns to
28 GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, August 26, 2022 Two young boxers to represent St. Lucia 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 26, 2022 Ashley Khalil wins gold for Guyana at Senior Squash Championships Proud Guyanese! Senior women’s Caribbean Squash champion, AshleyStoryKhalil on page 23 ExxonMobil Guyana renews sponsorship of Amazon Warriors Smith powers Amazon Warriors win ExxonMobil Guyana has renewed partnership with Amazon Warriors for a sixth season Odean Smith goes on the attack for Amazon Warriors Story on page 23 Story on page 23 Story on page 24
