Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 10-02-2022

THURSDAY 10th FEBRUARY, 2022

No. 106630

More than 7,800 adolescent COVID-19 cases recorded to date

‘False’, ‘fabricated’ - Chinese Embassy, businessman say of allegations of corruption by Vice News journalist

Enhancing international partnerships, networking critical to local authorities

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Vice-President Bharrat Jagdeo, on Wednesday, engaged Canadian High Commissioner, Mark Berman on several issues of mutual interest to Guyana and Canada. The Canadian diplomat was accompanied by Jake Thomas, Senior Trade Commissioner and Jessica Teasdale, Head of Co-operation

Speaker suspends opposition’s Sherod Duncan for defying orders SEE PAGE

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Several Region One communities to get first-time electricity

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 10, 2022

Enhancing international partnerships, networking critical to local authorities -President Ali says, as Guyana welcomes UK trade mission

PRESIDENT Dr. Irfaan Ali has underscored the importance of strong international partnerships at both the public and private sector levels, and related the significance of their linkages to creating a dynamic environment for growth and prosperity.

The Head of State said this, on Tuesday, during his address at a networking reception held in honour of a visiting UK Trade Mission at the British High Commissioner’s Residence in Bel Air Gardens.

The nine-member British delegation includes representatives of companies that invest in education, manufacturing and infrastructure.

They are expected to meet with government and private sector representatives over the next few days to discuss investment opportunities in several areas including infrastructure, food

President Dr. Irfaan Ali and British High Commissioner, Jane Miller, with other Guyanese officials and representatives of the UK Trade Mission, at High Commissioner Miller’s residence, on Tuesday (Office of the President photo) and drink, agriculture, manufacturing, ICT and renewable energy.

The companies are Grove Group, Concrete Canvas, DAR, Nectar Group, One

True Maverick Vodka, Signature LLP and Woollard and Henry.

President Ali welcomed the delegation and related his government’s drive to develop Guyana.

“I want to thank you for your interest in Guyana. I

want to assure you of our seriousness in creating an environment for partnership and networking, and I want to assure the local private sector that their future becomes brighter every time new investors come into the country,” Dr. Ali said.

The President described networking as one of the “most successful tools” employed in the corporate world to enhance business opportunities. He then called on those gathered to reflect on the outcome of the TURN TO PAGE 3

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 10, 2022

‘False, fabricated’

BOTH the Chinese Embassy and businessman, Su Zhi Rong, have condemned allegations of corruption made by a journalist attached to United States-based Vice News, during her interview with the Vice-President of Guyana, Bharrat Jagdeo.

The journalist who reportedly appeared to have a pre-determined agenda, questioned the Vice-President on the purported “massive award” of projects to China and his affiliation with Rong, who allegedly served as a conduit between the senior government functionary and Chinese companies for infrastructural projects.

Responding first to the allegations made by the journalist was the Chinese Embassy, which, in a statement, said: “Recently, when a journalist from Vice News interviewed Hon. Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, she was found to come to Guyana with a pre-determined agenda and tried to smear and attack China-Guyana co-operation, as well as Chinese

companies.

“The Chinese Embassy is strongly dissatisfied with and firmly opposed to such violation of professional ethics.”

Owing to the structure and types of questions, Vice-President Jagdeo himself was convinced that the journalist had a pre-determined agenda, but he used the opportunity to clarify that Guyana does not favour Chinese investors nor has the country been privileged to special loans from the Asian nation.

The Vice-President,

during a press briefing, on Tuesday evening, was keen on stating that Guyana believes in having friends once the country stands to benefit from the relationship. Specifically, he said the relationship Guyana shares with China and the United States of America will remain cordial and mutually beneficial. “…we do not want to be caught up in a cold-war type of atmosphere with China and the US,” Jagdeo said, adding: “The government will not be caught up in an anti-Chinese hysteria.”

FROM PAGE 2 partnerships.

To this end, he said: “We are not really supportive of gaff sessions anymore; we are not supportive of wasting people’s time. It is either there is an opportunity or there is not. And if there is an opportunity, how do we build that opportunity together, how do we add value to each other and bring value to all the stakeholders involved in the partnership.”

OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL President Ali said that while the country is open for business and welcomes foreign investments, the partnerships must resonate with benefits for all stakeholders.

“We are absolutely, without a doubt, open for foreign investment… We are without a doubt part of a regional integration movement, but we are also without a doubt responsible to ensure that the local private sector and

the people benefit from the opportunities that come,” the Head of Sate said.

He added that while there are challenges ahead, those could be averted to create a market of opportunity and competitiveness.

Further, President Ali outlined his government’s plans to address the cost of energy, diversify the energy portfolio, build human capacity, invest in infrastructure, modernise the legal architecture, safeguard foreign and local investments and support integration, partnership and networking.

The government will be guided by its enhanced Low Carbon Development Strategy, since creating a balance between development and environmental conservation remains paramount.

Equally important, according to the President, is to ensure that all Guyanese benefit from the country’s growth.

President Ali said: “We

want to create the balance; we are going to ensure that people of this country are treated fairly, that the country is treated fairly. We don’t want to be in a partnership where we are barking every day…instead, we want to work together to get the best possible outcome for the people of the country.”

The President, who said that he was “very impressed” with the diverse portfolio of the representatives, called on them to make their own assessments of the opportunities that exist.

He said too that the country is already in possession of amazing ideas, project documents and project proposals and that the next step was accessing the needed resources.

“So welcome to the land of opportunity, a land of great talent and a land in which the future is built on partnerships to create nothing but win-win scenarios,” Dr. Ali related.

(Office of the President)

Enhancing international...

Guyana, like 180 countries, including the United States and countries within Europe, subscribes to the “One China” policy, but it does not restrict the country from building relationships with other nations.

“The Chinese side highly appreciates that the Government of Guyana upholds the one-China principle and keeps developing cordial relations with China,” the Chinese embassy stated.

The China-Guyana friendly co-operation, featuring equality, mutual benefit, innovation, openness, and benefits for the people, is in accordance with the interests of the two countries and two peoples, not against any third party, nor should it be influenced by a third party.

The embassy was clear that Chinese companies operating in Guyana are following the local laws, international practices, and market rules while participating in big projects through open and fair competitions; this is beyond reproach.

This was in direct response to allegations that Chinese companies would pay a bribe to the VicePresident in order to secure projects.

Rong, who was accused of being the facilitator of the alleged corrupt arrangement, categorically denied that he solicited any bribe/inducement from any company or individual for himself or any government official.

ABIDING BY THE LAW

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- Chinese Embassy, businessman say of allegations of corruption

by Vice News journalist

“I have read the insinuations by the VICE News network and others and wish to deny any wrongdoing including influencepeddling. I have been a businessman in Guyana for many years and I have always conducted myself in accordance with local and international laws and standards,” he said in a statement on Wednesday.

Rong went on to state: “I wish to refute strongly any suggestion that I acted on behalf of any government official, that I presented myself as a representative of anyone, or that I promised any favour or business-related reward. I have already engaged with my legal representatives on these false reports and fabrications.”

Despite the supposed falsehood, Leader of the People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R), Aubrey Norton, had leveraged the interview to call on Vice-President Jagdeo to disclose his earnings and assets.

In a direct response to the leader of the PNC/R, Vice-President Jagdeo, during a press briefing on Tuesday evening, said: “I will excuse his unfamiliarity with the law… I will excuse his ignorance of the law.”

The law he was referring to is the Integrity Commission Act, which stipulates that every person in public life must submit a declaration of their finances on or before June 30, every year.

“From 1999-2015 [and

even after], the government and officials [of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic] have submitted, every year, their statements of income and assets to the Integrity Commission,” VicePresident Jagdeo related.

Should the assets of a public official far exceed his/her income, it could trigger an investigation and there could even be a penalty of a year imprisonment for false or no declaration.

Unlike successive People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) governments, Vice-President Jagdeo said officials of the former A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) administration did not submit statements to the Integrity Commission.

He described the Coalition’s record in this regard as sordid and maintained that PPP/C officials have submitted their statements consistently and in accordance with the law.

Although noting that he consistently submits his statements to the Integrity Commission, the Vice-President went a step further to say that he has two local bank accounts and documents to justify his acquisition of assets.

“My earnings are accounted for whether it comes from government pension, income from rental… the statements are with the bank… all of my assets have gone through the banking system,” Vice-President Jagdeo related.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 10, 2022

Women Wellness Centre launched in Berbice

IN keeping with the government’s mandate to provide quality healthcare for every citizen, women will now be able to access a range of services at the Bohemia Health Centre located at Number 19 Village, in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

The wellness centre for women, which was opened on Tuesday, is the first if its kind in the region. The centre will focus primarily on women’s health with emphasis on VIA screening, general counseling, breast examination, and a regular

medical clinic. It will be managed by Dr. Shellon Toppin.

Regional Chairman, David Armogan, in declaring the facility officially open, noted that the occasion is quite significant and is in keeping with the vision of the region and government to ensure women have a space where they can receive medical attention and be comfortable. “ Wo m e n We l l n e s s Centres are important because sometimes women are hesitant to go to other facilities. So once there is a facility specifically

Regional Chairman, David Armogan (third from right); Director of Regional Health Services, Dr. Vishalya Sharma (fourth from right) and team at the commissioning of the Women Wellness Centre health budget for 2022 Dr. Sharma related designed for the care of Crabwood Creek and to upgrade all the health that because of the overwomen and their issues Williamsburg will be upcentres in Region Six to whelming response, a dethen they are more likely graded so that specialised ensure that the citizens cision was made to conto visit the health facility,” care could be offered to receive the best quality tinue the exercise in varihe said. women. healthcare. ous parts of the region.

Armogan said that Further, he said an Meanwhile, Director “In the region, one in addition to this facil- additional $97 million of Regional Health Ser- of the things we have ity, the health centres at was requested in the vices, Dr. Vishalya Shar- been doing is to enhance ma, during brief remarks, healthcare. To strengthen urged women across the primary healthcare delivregion to utilise the ser- ery would contribute to vices that are being of- the overall improvement fered. She noted that in of the health sector and observance of Cervical the residents,” she said.

Awareness Month, a cerSharma also exvical screening exercise pressed gratitude to the was held and over 100 hardworking team that women benefited. Women has been working asin communities such as siduously to ensure that Orealla, Siparuta and Ba- services are delivered to racara were screened. the people of the region.

The Women’s Wellness Centre that was commissioned at the Bohemia Health Centre

February 09, 2022

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 10, 2022

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Speaker suspends Gov’t ministries, agencies to be housed in high-rise complexes opposition’s Sherod Duncan for defying orders - with $2.6B allocation under Public Works Ministry

Opposition MP, Sherod Duncan, defying the orders of the Speaker of the National Assembly (DPI photo) SPEAKER of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir, has suspended Opposition Member of Parliament, Sherod Duncan, after he repeatedly failed to adhere to orders on Wednesday.

Duncan walked into the Committee of Supply during the consideration of the budget estimates of Region Five (Demerara-Mahaica) and began lambasting government parliamentarians. He was heard repeating the word “nasty” and even accused the Speaker of being prej-

udicial.

Calls by the Speaker for him to be seated went unheeded. Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira, then moved a motion that Duncan be suspended for the next four sittings.

Votes were cast in this regard.

Wednesday’s outburst follows similar behaviour and defiance recently by opposition Parliamentarians in the House.

In a previous sitting in December, when Senior Minister in the Office

of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, opened the debate on the Natural Resource Fund (NRF), he was swarmed by whistle-blowing Opposition Members.

After they failed t o p re v e n t M i n i s t e r Singh from speaking, Opposition parliamentarian, Annette Ferguson, attempted to cart off the Mace, to no avail. The move was labelled “treacherous” by the Speaker.

(DPI)

THE government has taken the first step to relocate government ministries, their departments, and agencies under one roof.

The sum of $2.6 billion was approved by the Committee of Supply for the construction of high-rise office complexes in Budget 2022.

Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill, in defending this allocation, said the money caters for geotechnical studies, designs, supervisory services and advance payment for civil works.

The Ministry of Public Works is the first ministry that will undergo this transformation. The ministry has under its purview, the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), the Work Services Group, and the Transport and Harbours Department, among several others.

“The modern Guyana that we are talking about will see us putting all our offices into a multi-storey office complex and that will be duplicated several times over around the government service.

“So, what you will see is we have to do the geotechnical studies, we have to do the designs, we have to get

the supervisory services and ultimately the advance payment for civil works, so this is what this allocation is to facilitate,” Minister Edghill said.

He added that the intention is to have the complex in the vicinity where the current building is housed.

When asked what the government intends to do with the current buildings

once they become vacant, Minister Edghill said the established process will be followed. He noted that the buildings are located along the bank of the Demerara River, a strategic location for investors.

With that, the minister made it clear that Guyana’s development is strategic, purposeful and will not be left to chance. (DPI)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 10, 2022

Towards a Centre of Excellence

THE University of Guyana Foundation (UGF) was recently launched with the objective of creating a substantial long-term endowment fund for the institution. Currently, the university gets most of its funding by way of government subvention and student-fees but the financial allocation to the university is still lagging behind what is required to transform the university into a centre of excellence, both in terms of teaching and research profile.

Established in 1963 under the PPP administration, the university is today the premier tertiary institution with campuses at Turkeyen, Georgetown and Tain, Berbice. It was the brain-child of former President, Dr. Cheddi Jagan, aimed at meeting the human resources needs of the country which was still at the time under British colonial rule. There were many who

were critical of the establishment of the university but the visionary ideas of Dr. Jagan and the PPP prevailed in the end, and the University of Guyana remains one of the flagship projects undertaken by the PPP Government.

The then PNC opposition dubbed the university as “Jagan Night School” as many of the courses initially were done in the evenings to facilitate working students.

Prior to the establishment of the University of Guyana, only a limited number of students benefitted from university education. These included those students who benefitted from the limited number of government scholarships or those with financial means to study at universities abroad. Most of the managerial and technical skills to meet the developmental needs of the colony had to be procured from overseas at much cost to the government. The establish-

ment of the university can therefore be seen as the first attempt by the PPP administration to democratise tertiary education, which became available to all Guyanese who met the eligibility criteria.

To say that the university has done well since its establishment in 1963 would be an understatement. The university has surpassed all reasonable expectations since its establishment and has broadened its course offerings over the decades to include several post-graduate studies.

Thousands of Guyanese have graduated in a wide range of disciplines including law and medicine. Over 50,000 persons graduated from the university since its establishment, most of whom have gone on to serve at the highest levels, both nationally and internationally. This year, alone over 2,200 students graduated from the university in over 50 academic disci-

plines, a significant injection of human resources to propel the transformative developmental programmes currently underway.

Under the previous PNC administration, the university was badly under-resourced both in terms of money and staffing. Many of the buildings were in a state of disrepair. It was not uncommon for classes to be suspended during heavy downpours due to leaking roofs. Basic furniture was in short supply and the general sanitary conditions left much to be desired. And to add insult to injury, the PNC-dominated governing council took actions to deny employment to qualified Guyanese who were perceived to be critical of the regime. Notable among those were Dr. Walter Rodney, a brilliant historian who was eventually assassinated for standing up against the Burnham dictatorship.

The PPP/C administra-

tion has recognised the importance of tertiary education and has been putting significant sums of money to upgrade the physical infrastructure of the university and the quality of its teaching and research. The majority of students access student loans provided by the government under the Student Revolving Loan Agency.

Regrettably, a significant number of students fail to honour loan repayments upon graduation which puts the agency under severe financial stress.

The administration must be commended for seeking to garner additional funding through extra-budgetary means. As pointed out by the Vice-Chancellor of the university, the institution needed to raise funds through its own efforts and notwithstanding the government’s subventions and student-fees, there still remains a significant funding gap in its financial

needs.

And, as observed by Education Minister, Priya Manickchand, the university is ideally positioned to have a transformational impact on the lives of Guyanese and further the country’s ability to meet its developmental objectives.

President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali had indicated that in an attempt to further democratise tertiary education, his administration is working to provide free university education and to create a 21st century education system in the country. The University of Guyana is earmarked to benefit this year from $3.5B to meet the operational costs of its two campuses and to facilitate an expansion of its online scholarships in keeping with the President Ali’s mandate to accelerate the development of the country’s human capital.

A Gotcha-type interview fishing for a headline story?

Dear Editor, I am not sure of the purpose, intent, objective, and goal of the Vice Media interview (Feb 1) with Vice-President Jagdeo.

The VP probably thought it provided an opportunity to promote investment in Guyana and agreed to it.

As we learn from analysing the excerpt of the interview that was released, the VP and many in the public domain that I conversed with feel there was an ulterior motive of the reporter.

Several of the VP’s supporters that I interviewed describe the interview as a kind of an ambush designed to implicate the VP and the government in questionable activities.

Jagdeo handled himself quite well in spite of per-

sistence of the reporter on making unsubstantiated allegations. Some of the reporter’s ‘facts’ are not accurate.

The VP was heard expressing concern to the interviewer that it was ‘a gotcha type’ (my description) of an interview in which the interviewer was looking for response for a headline story. He has since castigated the reporter for what came across as an interview for what those of us who did journalism would call ‘sensational news’ or reporting or interviewing.

In journalism, it is called a fanciful tale, fishing for a story. Some may even call it ‘tabloid journalism’. These kinds of stories sell well and are featured on front pages of papers looking to increase

sales and garner more Ads. The VP was also heard responding to the questions that were related to allegations as amounting to hearsay. Indeed, they were. In court, it would be called hearsay and disallowed as evidence while in journalism it is called unsubstantiated concoctions.

There were allegations but no evidence to back the questions. Was the reporter fishing for news for a major story? Guyana will be getting a lot of oil money and international media may want to sensationalise what is happening with the oil proceeds.

I wish to applaud the VP for agreeing to the interview. Engaging the media or the public is one of his strengths as a politician

although he does not have time for “a gyaffe”. He never evaded a reporter or a public question. In my encounters as a reporter or media operative with Jagdeo since 1999, I witnessed him being kind to critics and known opponents in entertaining questions at press conferences in New York.

After picketing exercises outside without justifiable reasons, several would enter the hall and asked Jagdeo questions. When the chair of events refused to allow them to ask questions, Jagdeo would overrule the chair and say “let him or her to ask”. He recognises their democratic right to peaceful protest. He does not avoid hard questioners or those who disagreed with him. And he does not sup-

port media censorship or the idea of blocking people from questioning him on any issue just because they are opponents.

Jagdeo concluded that the Vice Media reporter came with a pre-determined agenda. Yet he did not dodge questions. And he answered all her questions – for that he must be saluted. That is the hallmark of a politician not afraid of the press. He even told her to support allegations with evidence and he would have them investigated. He has nothing to hide and not afraid of an independent query into his conduct.

The VP pointed out that her facts on trade relations with and investors from China are not accurate. There were several contracts that

she stated were given to Chinese when in fact they were given to non-Chinese.

Clearly, there was a concern with Guyana’s relations with China. But Guyana does not have a pro-China policy although it has a one-China policy not much different from the West. Guyana has a pro-US policy.

With regards to corruption allegations, the VP suggested to the reporter that she brings evidence and that the Integrity Commission can conduct an investigation into them. He assured her that through his political life, he consistently complied with the law in declaring his assets with the Integrity Commission.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 10, 2022

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Vice News’ hatchet job on Jagdeo is part of an anti-China hysteria

Dear Editor, THE Vice News interview of Bharat Jagdeo is clearly a classical hatchet-job, a clumsy attempt at character-lynching and character-assassination. Bharat Jagdeo does not need to defend himself, neither does he need anyone of us to defend him. The ugly attempt to link him to bribery on a make-up allegation is transparent and obvious.

It was nothing more than an attempt to introduce another of a long list of made-up corruption stories, with no evidence, real or circumstantial. But the motivation and intention were clear – the obvious objective is to pressure the government to abandon the One China Policy. Guyanese must stand up to Vice News and let them know that we are not stupid. They must know that we may have our differences, but we will not permit them to use us in their wars and battle. Guyana’s foreign policy is based, has always been based, on a non-aligned trajectory.

The One China Policy in Guyana is not new, has been in place for decades, across different governments. Guyana is not unique in the region or around the world in maintaining a One China Policy.

Most CARICOM countries have sustained a One China Policy for decades now. Most of the world has done so for decades, the most recent count being more than 180 countries. The US has recognised the One China Policy since 1979. Guyana’s practice and support for the One China Policy dated back way beyond Bharat Jagdeo’s entry into government. The incident of reversing a decision to allow Taiwan to establish an office in Guyana soon after the PPP assumed office again in 2020 was due to an unauthorised decision. The reversal was a recall of permission to formally establish a Taiwanese office, there was never a reversal of the One China Policy, a reversal that could only be made by Cabinet.

The Vice Reporter was clearly obsessed by an antiChina hysteria. The narrative that a Chinese national had made allegations that Bharat Jagdeo takes bribes from Chinese companies is an obvious

hatchet job, implemented with the fervour of a lynch-mob.

She had no tangible evidence and the circumstantial argument the Vice News reporter used was not just clumsy; they were completely wrong, absolutely incorrect. The Linden to Mabura Road, the first part of completing the road to Brazil, was a project that the PPP Government has publicly discussed for more than a decade. It is funded by the Caribbean Development Bank. Nothing was done during the 2015-2020 period to advance this project. The PPP completed all the preliminary work since it came back to government and there was an international public tender in accordance with Guyana’s laws and with the rules and regulations of the CDB. There were a number of bidders, mostly from international contractors, mostly from China. After a thorough evaluation process, an award was made to a Brazilian firm to construct the road from Linden to Mabura. The Vice News Reporter ignored these facts, although she must have known them because all of this information is public knowledge, widely reported in Guyana. The reporter clearly had ulterior motives.

A second project that the Vice News Reporter flagged in which bribery is alleged is the Demerara River Bridge.

This project has been on the table and in the news since before 2013. The project went through several corrupt transactions during 2015 and 2020.

The PPP has advanced the project, a tender process was in place and a number of bidders were evaluated. A Chinese firm was selected and the Minister of Infrastructure has indicated that the negotiations have stalled and the government is considering moving to the second-ranked bidder. The Vice News Reporter ignored these facts which have been widely published.

The third and fourth projects the Vice News reporter alleged that Bharat Jagdeo was bribed for have not yet been tendered and awarded, not even close to this stage.

The Schoonard to Parika Road in Region Three is one that the PPP has planned. It has not yet been designed, not yet tendered and, therefore, to say the Chinese got this

contract and that Jagdeo was bribed is nonsense and classical character-assassination.

The same for the Annandale to Mahaica extension project.

Just these examples show that Vice News was not interested in accuracy, they had a plan to inject suspicion because they know that many people, especially the usual suspects, will jump on the story. They knew before hand that there is nothing in the way of concrete evidence, even circumstantial, but they sought to start a controversy. They are counting on the usual suspects.

Aubrey Norton has jumped on the bandwagon created by Vice News of the USA. He has called for a “matching of Jagdeo’s earnings and assets”. Bharat Jagdeo has lived and worked in Guyana all his life, except when he was studying abroad.

Bharat Jagdeo has been a public servant since he was a teenager, except when he was studying abroad. During his time as Minister of Finance, as President of Guyana and as Opposition Leader, his opponents have accused him of being a dictator, of being arrogant, of helping his friends and have called him

all kinds of despicable names.

But they have never been able to point their fingers against him for personal corruption.

One of the main purposes for SARA was to go after Jagdeo.

APNU+AFC expended more than $1B and could not come up with anything.

Now Vice News decided to interview Jagdeo and, without any basis, had the temerity to ask him if he takes bribes from Chinese companies.

They had no specific allegations, other than the streetlike hearsays. He answered them. All he could say is that any story of him being bribed is false. He could not deny any specific allegation because there was none presented. Vice News did not have any evidence of bribery, other than hearsay. But Bharat Jagdeo agreed to an interview and answered all questions posed to him, calmly, without being angry. The local news headline is “Jagdeo denied taking bribes”, clearly implying there is a real story there.

There is none.

No present politician in Guyana has had a longer period in submitting financial and asset information to the Integrity Commission

as Bharat Jagdeo and Gail Teixeira. Jagdeo’s Integrity Commission forms have been submitted since Cheddi Jagan had established the Integrity Commission, in 1997, first headed by Bishop George.

It was under Bharat Jagdeo as President after 1999 that the Commission benefited from increased budgetary allocation so that it could effectively carry out its mandate.

Bharat Jagdeo has submitted his Integrity Commission forms every single year since then. His bank accounts have been scrutinised by the APNU+AFC Government.

In the Caribbean, no politician has been subjected to as much scrutiny. After more than 30 years in the political limelight in high positions, no one has been able to point their fingers at him with any real evidence of corruption.

What we do know is that a number of officials have consistently refused or have not been in compliance with the Integrity Commission rules.

Most of these non-compliant officials are APNU+AFC leaders. Jagdeo and the PPP ministers and officials have nothing to hide.

When he was President,

one of the corruption practices that existed was engineers or other officials working with contractors to give the engineers’ estimates for projects. Thus, some contractors were able to provide project costs that were close to the engineer’s estimates and have an advantage of submitting winning bids. As President, he recommended a change in policy that required the publication of the engineers’ estimate, prior to the tender process. This was to remove any unfair advantage anyone would have.

Every single day, investors from Guyana, CARICOM, the US, Canada, the UK, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, India and China come to Guyana.

One of their stops is Bharat Jagdeo. Are all of them bribing Jagdeo? Why is it only the Chinese who are accused? This is brutal anti-China hysteria, nothing more, nothing less. We must reject this ugly attempt by a reporter from Vice News to drag Guyana into America’s competition with China.

Yours sincerely, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy

The Vice-President is a man of honour, integrity and a ‘no nonsense’ leader

Dear Editor, I feel compelled to respond to the wild allegations and insinuations made against the Vice- President of Guyana, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo.

To attack a person’s integrity whom the interviewer of Vice don’t know is gutter journalism. Undoubtedly, the interviewer was schooled first with misleading and distorted information from political opponents. But no amount of lies and deception could alter the truth that our VP is a man of honour, integrity and a “no nonsense” leader. Don’t even dare to bribe him; it would be at your own peril.

Our “Champion of the Earth”, who has received several honorary doctorates for his outstanding climate change leadership, has his heart imbedded in Guyana,

and he wants all Guyanese to share in the wealth of the nation.

Hon. Dr Bharrat Jagdeo has the political experience, academic brilliance and sharp intellect to deal with people and their challenging situations. He is one of a kind I ever had the privilege to meet. I have learned so much from him. If we happen to go out for coffee, for example, he takes out his money and pay for it.

He has injected tremendous energy into the PPP/C that also allows members, including ministers, to carry government to people at the grass root level across Guyana. His vision for the country is unparalleled. This is what stirs the envy of opposing forces.

The VP can retire in comfort and travel the world making tonnes of money on

speeches, consultancies, etc but he has correctly decided to make immeasurable sacrifice to serve unconditionally his country of his birth.

For anyone to accuse the VP of bribery is the most ridiculous of the ridiculous. There are many critics around who are lofty in rhetoric and allegations but devoid on evidence.

I had the honour to meet the VP at an energy show in Texas last year and he was suffering with foot pain and I then suggested that he “take it easy” to which he said that he has to forget his pain because he had to cover so much programmes at the conference. This is a man who cares deeply about the welfare of his country and to place his personal health issues in the background. I can’t say this about too many other leaders.

Several years ago, attorney Kawal Totaram took me to State House to meet Dr Jagdeo. He literally had thousands of mails that he personally opened and read.

Some critics want to tarnish his image and undermine his leadership but his integrity is impregnated like a rock.

I know that he causes critics and opposition forces to have sleepless nights.

What is unfolding is their terrible nightmares. The VP is more than capable of defending his reputation against reckless allegations and fabrications, so I don’t need to defend his reputation. However, I feel it necessary to rebuke the interviewer for trying to carry out a hatchet job on one of the leading stalwarts in Caribbean politics.

Yours sincerely, Dave Narine

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 10, 2022

Judge to sum up evidence in Black Bush triple murder today TODAY, Justice Sandil Kissoon is expected to sum up the evidence in the trial of Tameshwar Jagmohan, who is accused of the gruesome triple murder at Black Bush Polder in July 2016.

Jagmohan, called “Guana” had denied that, on July 21, 2016, at Mibicuri Creek Savannah, Black Bush Polder, he unlawfully killed Pawan Chandradeo, 37, called “Suresh” and “Jug Up”; his son Jaikarran Chandradeo, 16, called “Kevin” and his brother-in-law Naresh Rooplall, 35, called “Teeka Bai” and “Mice.”

On Wednesday, the prosecution and defence gave their closing statements following which, the judge adjourned the case until today, for its summation.

Following the summing up at the Berbice High Court, the judge will hand over the case to the 12-member jury for the consideration of the verdict.

Jagmohan was initially charged with three others: Carlton Chetram called “Lieman”, his son Jairam Chetram called “Ryan” and his employee, Rakesh Karamchand called “Go to Front”.

However, the three men pleaded guilty to the crime.

Jairam is expected to be sentenced today, while the two others will know their fate later this month.

The Guyana Chronicle had previously reported that, on the day in question, the three victims had gone on a fishing trip in the Black Bush Polder backlands in an area called Cookrite Savannah, some three miles from Mibicuri, where they were allegedly gunned down by the quartet.

The men, each with a single gunshot wound, were found lying in a rice field belonging to Sudama Jagmohan, who made the gruesome discovery.

The youngest victim was found next to his father. He had a gaping hole to the back of his head and a ‘salt bag’ with fish and a fishing net strung around his neck.

Rooplall’s body had a hole in the neck and the fishing net was strung over his shoulder, while the older Charandradeo had his fishing net in his hand.

It is alleged that the men, while on their fishing trip, stumbled upon “Lieman” and his crew who were allegedly stealing diesel fuel in the said field.

It was reported that Jairam, who was armed with

his father’s firearm, fired two shots in the air and the fishermen ran towards the dam and fell. Jairam then shot the victims to their heads at point blank range.

When arrested, Jairam told police that he killed the men to get rid of the evidence. “Meh na been want leff no evidence so I shoot them,” Jairam had said in his caution statement to the policeman.

Gov’t looking to procure two more COVID-19 treatment pills

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 10, 2022

AS part of its continued fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, government has signalled its intention to procure two additional antiviral pills that will be used to treat patients.

The drugs being sought are the Pfizer’s Paxlovid COVID-19 pill and the Merck & Co Inc. and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics’ molnupiravir COVID-19 pill.

“What we are working on currently is to make sure we can secure both the Merck drug and the Pfizer drug…we have been trying to work with different companies to see if we can get that into Guyana,” Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony said on Wednesday.

The pills which were approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2021 are said to be useful in the treatment of persons who have tested positive for

the virus.

Even as efforts to procure the pills continue, Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony has indicated that medical personnel attached to the National Infectious Diseases Hospital, Liliendaal, continue to yield positive results from the use of remdesivir and baricitinib.

Speaking during his COVID-19 update on Friday, the minister said that both drugs are “antiretrovirals” and have the main use of interrupting the life cycle of the virus.

He noted that health facilities treating local COVID-19 patients have been utilising the medication for the past two months and have seen “very good results.”

“We’ve been using it for the last two or three months at the Ocean View hospital and for most of the patients that [sic] have received it, they got better outcome[s].

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So, we will continue to do so. It’s now part of our guidelines and we were very pleased,” said Dr. Anthony.

The incorporation of the two drugs into the local COVID-19 treatment plan comes just a month after the WHO recommended baricitinib for treating the disease.

A statement by the WHO on January 14, 2022, stated, “Baricitinib is strongly recommended for patients with severe or critical COVID-19.

It is part of a class of drugs called Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors that suppress the overstimulation of the immune system. WHO recommends that it be given with corticosteroids.”

OTHER TREATMENTS Meanwhile, Minister Anthony noted that other treatment options are also being explored at the COVID-19 treatment facilities across the country, including the use of monoclonal antibod-

ies, which was one of the leading treatments for COVID-19 patients.

Monoclonal antibodies are laboratory-made proteins that mimic the immune system’s ability to fight off harmful pathogens, such as, viruses like COVID-19.

Dr. Anthony noted, however, that since the virus can and has continued to mutate over time, certain treatments using the monoclonal antibodies have proven less effective, especially against the more recent Omicron variant.

“Monoclonals have been useful for some categories of patients, but what we have noticed with Omicron and this is globally, is that it is not as effective against

Omicron or at least some of the older combinations.”

Minister Anthony noted that currently medical researchers are coming up with newer combinations that are expected to boost

its effectiveness at tackling the Omicron variant.

Further, he disclosed that should this combination be successful, the government will seek to purchase the treatment.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 10, 2022

Several Region One communities to get first-time electricity

-funds approved for construction of schools, other major infrastructural works

Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall

HUNDREDS of residents of Wauna, Tobago, Parakese and Yarakita, Region One, are set to receive electricity for the first time this year, as the sum of $85 million has been approved for the provision of electricity distribution networks in Mabaruma.

Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall, M.P, made this announcement during the consideration of budget estimates on Wednesday.

He said that the sum caters for the expansion of the existing electricity distribution network at Mabaruma.

“For the first time the village of Parakese will have electricity with their own generator set and, for the first time for some residents in Yarakita, they will also have up to 2,000 feet of additional network that will be constructed with an addition-

al generator set,” Minister Dharamlall related.

This new expansion, he said, will supplement a new generator set which was procured to improve electricity supply services to the residents within Mabaruma.

The initiative, he related, is a commitment of President Dr. Irfaan Ali to ensure equitable services are provided to hinterland residents.

Further, $128.5 million has been budgeted for the construction of new schools and teacher quarters, while over $100 million was set aside for road and other infrastructural works in Region One. Those are some of the transformative capital projects contained in the over $4.6 billion budget for the Region.

Under this budget, there will be the construction of primary schools at Oronoque, Arawansa and Corasima,

while the Santa Rosa Primary School will be rehabilitated, and teachers’ quarters will be built at Wallaba and Corasima and at Oronoque.

The Port Kaituma TVET building is also scheduled to be built. The region’s education sector got the biggest cut of the budget, with $2.021 billion.

This is followed by health services which has been allocated $1.642 billion, and includes $300 million for drugs and medical supplies.

The $651 million allocated for public works includes $35 million for the construction and rehabilitation of bridges, $85.1 million for road works at Hosororo and Wanaina, and $29 million for revetment at Mora and culverts at Matthew’s Ridge. Another $46.8 million was allocated for agriculturerelated works in the region.

$18.5M budgeted for workplace safety campaign

By Naomi Parris

IN a bid to target workplace accidents and deaths, the Ministry of Labour has budgeted $18.5 million for a rigorous countrywide public relations campaign.

Responding to questions on his ministry’s allocations during the consideration of budget estimates in the Committee of supply, on Tuesday, Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton, said there will be an aggressive sensitisation programme this year, focused on labour relations and workers’ safety, in an effort to reduce work-related deaths in Guyana.

“We will roll out a PR and communication strategy to deal with the issue of safe work because we have been aggressively dealing with issues of health and safety and just for reference, because of the work that was done by that department., we have decreased workplace deaths in our first full year in office by 16 per cent,” Minister Hamilton said.

For the year 2021, Guyana reported a 16 per cent reduction in the number of workplace fatalities compared to the previous year.

The Labour Ministry, in a report last year, stated that 32 workplace fatalities were recorded in the year 2020 across all sectors with mining being

Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton the number one contributor. ing the capacity of its OSH The decrease was cred- and labour departments. Ofited to a rigorous campaign ficers were also recruited and with local businesses that placed in the 10 administrawas spearheaded by the Oc- tive regions. cupational Safety and Health Minister Hamilton said (OSH) Department and sup- that the officers within those porting agencies. departments were not only Outreaches and public able to sensitise workers and awareness activities were con- employers within the private ducted in mining communities and public sectors, but they in Regions One, Seven, Eight were also able provide reland Nine. Further, health and evant training. Those efforts, safety messages were aired Minister Hamilton noted, on the radio and television must continue for the benefit channels and there was the of the working class. widespread distribution of The minister, in a previbrochures, flyers and posters. ous interview with the GuyThose efforts will be boosted ana Chronicle, had said that in 2022 as part of the upcom- the fundamentals of the caming public relations campaign. paign will enlighten, inform Additionally, the minister and edify the nation about said that the positive change is safe work practices and envias a result of the government’s ronments. new and improved approach The minister further to the issue of workers’ rights said that the campaign will and safety. not only target mining and Over the past year, the construction worksites, but ministry has been strengthen- also offices as well.

Court rules M&CC has no power to increase cost of compliance

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 10, 2022

TWO years after the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) introduced a 0.5 per cent increase in the cost for a certificate of compliance, High Court Judge Gino Persaud, on Tuesday, said that the council acted unlawfully as it had no statutory power to raise the fee.

Justice Persaud, who sits at the Demerara High Court, ruled in favour of a judicial review application filed by the Guyana Bar Association (GBA) against the Town Clerk of Georgetown.

The application stemmed from a public notice filed by the Town Clerk on June 20, 2019, to inform the public that the cost for the compliance certificate was being increased by 0.5 per cent of the current market valuation of properties.

A certificate of compliance is required by law under Chapter 5:01of the Deeds Registry Act, to certify that the payment of rates and taxes for a subject property is up to date and not in arrears.

However, according to the GBA, the requirement for the certificate was aimed at ensuring tax compliance and was not in itself intended to be a revenue earner as the M&CC had appeared to be doing.

M&CC’s decision resulted in the cost being increased from a flat fee of $10,000 to hundreds of thousands of dollars depending on the valuation of the property.

Aggrieved, the GBA wrote to the Town Clerk on two occasions requesting reasons for their decision, but was ignored. Subsequently, the GBA moved to the court and filed the public interest litigation to challenge the M&CC’s decision.

The GBA had prayed for several orders from the court including an order of certiorari quashing the decision to raise the fee for the certificate. The association had also asked the court to grant a declaration that the M&CC’s decision was unauthorised and outside of their jurisdiction.

The M&CC, in its defence to the court, said that the decision was a “policing” one to prevent fraud in applications for declarations of title by ascertaining that the persons to whom certificates of compliance are issued have a legal

High Court Judge, Gino Persaud interest in the property.

The council also contended that its power to request the submission of personal documents is an implied or ancillary power or discretion flowing from sections 16A of the Deeds Registry Act and that courts are not to substitute their views on how much discretion is exercised.

In arriving at his decision, Justice Persaud said that in 2019, the M&CC instituted a “double levy” on the ratepayer which coincidentally was also a fixed percentage on the value of the property.

“Such verification by issuing a piece of paper in writing (certificate of compliance) is purely a ministerial function and cannot cost 0.5 per cent of the value of the property to be transferred,” he said.

According to the judge, the M&CC is expressly empowered to raise revenue to carry out its statutory mandate and its fiscal provisions guide its income, expenditure, and financial reporting in the interest of accountability. It is also expected to manage its financial affairs so as to break even.

Justice Persaud went on to state that the M&CC is not empowered to raise additional revenue by increasing the cost for the issuance of a certificate of compliance which is exactly what it was doing to the ratepayers.

“It is also an established principle that a local authority owes a fiduciary duty analogous to that of a trustee to ratepayers to have regard to their interests…Its duty in this regard is not to overcharge

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ratepayers. Fees for the provision of administrative services must be reasonable and not exploitative,” the judge said in his ruling.

He also found that the M&CC undoubtedly breached their fiduciary duty owed to ratepayers with the double levy in a single year when a property is intended to be transferred.

“There is no doubt in my mind that the increased fee is a heavy penalty. It is a penal blow to ratepayers. It is a double burden on the ratepayer who has to pay off all outstanding rates and taxes before transferring his property and then pay an increased fee to obtain a certificate of compliance based on a fixed percentage of the current market value of the property. This is undoubtedly a serious financial injury to the ratepayer,” the judge said.

The M&CC did not present evidence in their affidavit to show when the impugned decision was made for the increase or by whom.

This, the judge said, made it difficult not to conclude that the purpose of the increased cost was to raise revenue and this is “ultra vires” since they did not have that power to raise revenue in such an“arbitrary” and “capricious” manner.

“In the premises, I have no reservations in holding that the decision of the M&CC went beyond their statutory powers and is in excess of jurisdiction and null and void. The decision of the M&CC published by way of notice on June, 20, 2019, was ultra vires the Act and lacked any statutory legitimacy. It cannot be allowed to stand and must be quashed,” the judge ruled.

He later declared that the decision was null and void and awarded $150,000 in cost to the GBA. Attorney-at-law Kamal Ramkarran represented the GBA, while Roysdale Forde, S.C., represented the M&CC. This ruling is similar to one that was recently delivered by High Court Judge, Navindra Singh, in the case Gerald Bhoodram et al v Town Clerk of Georgetown.This case was filed after the GBA matter.

- Bar Association welcomes decision In that case, the judge had also quashed the decision of the M&CC to impose the aforesaid fee of 0.5 per cent and ordered the return of the fee from July 8, 2015.

The GBA, in a press release issued on Wednesday, said that it welcomes the decision of the court as it grants much relief to the property owners in the city

of Georgetown who have had to suffer staggering costs and an unnecessary and complicated process, which resulted in hardship and financial loss.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 10, 2022

Clothes vendor stabbed to death

A 40-year-old clothes vendor has died after being stabbed twice to the chest during a fight that ended in a drain between Norton and D’Urban Streets, on Tuesday night.

According to reports, Aubrey Baird, of Lot 22 E Hardina Street, Georgetown, and the 46-year-old suspect were seen scuffling in a drain before the victim dealt a blow to the suspect with a piece of wood.

Subsequently, the suspect who was armed with a knife, dealt Baird two stabs to his left side upper chest.

He then attempted to make good his escape on a pedal cycle, but was apprehended by public-spirited citizens and subsequently handed over to police.

The injured man was picked up by an electrician and his son and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, where he was pronounced dead at approximately 21:40 hrs while receiving treatment from a doctor on duty. An autopsy is expected to be done shortly, as investigations continue.

The suspect was also escorted to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where he was admitted a patient in stable condition under police guard.

Dead: Aubrey Baird

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 10, 2022

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More than 7,800 adolescent COVID-19 cases recorded to date

EVEN as the government continues to implement strategic systems to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, some 7,831 children have tested positive for the deadly virus since the first case was confirmed in March, 2020.

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, made this disclosure during his daily COVID-19 update on Monday.

He stated that while most of the cases have been mild and did not require hospitalisation, parents are still advised to take the necessary precautions to protect their children from contracting the virus.

Minister Anthony noted that, in addition to 55 children being hospitalised, 17 deaths were recorded.

He reminded that children, like adults, need to take the necessary precautions, which include sanitising, social distancing, and vaccination, to protect themselves from the effects of the virus.

The government, since August 2021, has been rolling out an aggressive vaccination programme for children ages 12-17, who are eligible to receive the American-manufactured Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.

The Pfizer vaccine, in 2021, became the first COVID-19 vaccine to receive the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval and became the first vaccine approved for distribution among children under the

age of 18.

Currently, approximately 32,978 adolescents or 45.2 per cent of Guyana’s population have received their first dose, while 23,528 or 32.3 per cent have received both doses.

CHALLENGES Even as the vaccination numbers for this age group continue to increase daily, Minister Anthony is pleading with parents to get their children vaccinated. He highlighted that vaccination minimizes the effects of the virus.

He used the opportunity to remind parents that control over adolescent vaccination lies completely in their hands since proof of parental approval has to be shown or given before the vaccine is administered to a child.

“I’m hoping that parents understand the seriousness of getting their children immunised so that we could protect them from COVID. We still have children who would get infected and when they get infected a minority of them can have the severe form of the infection and some of that can be fatal so we really need people to remain protected. We have the means of protecting people which is vaccines but we have to encourage people to get them,” said Minister Anthony.

Meanwhile, the minister noted that the government is currently assessing ways to procure vaccines for children ages five to 11.

“We have been work-

ing through a couple of mechanisms to try and get vaccines for children between 11 and five.

One such mechanism is through CARICOM and they have been having discussions with the folks at Pfizer to see whether or not the Caribbean region would be able

to access vaccines. We have made known how much of these vaccines we would need for our population and were anxiously waiting for those negotiations to be completed for us to get an understanding of when we can access those vaccines,” he added.

Minster of Health Dr. Frank Anthony

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 10, 2022

Murder convict’s 80-year sentence reduced to 35

BALRAM Singh, who, in 2015 was sentenced to serve 80 years’ imprisonment for the brutal murder of taxi driver, Bhomeshwar Sukh-

deo, on Wednesday, had his sentence reduced to 35 years by the Guyana Court of Appeal.

Singh was found guilty

by a 12-member jury for the murder of Sukhdeo, who was killed between January 19 and January 27, 2010.

He was sentenced by Justice

Navindra Singh at the Demerara High Court.

Singh, through his attorney, Nigel Hughes, later appealed the conviction and

sentence, arguing that the trial was unfair and that the judge erred in law.

He also argued that the trial judge failed to sufficiently put his defence to the jury.

The appeal was heard

by Chancellor (ag), Yonette Cummings-Edwards, and Justices of Appeal Dawn Gregory and Rishi Persaud.

The state was represented by Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Dionne McCammon.

Justice Cummings-Edwards, while delivering the ruling, noted that the court allowed the appeal in relation to the sentence, but not his conviction.

The court found that the previously imposed sentence

was manifestly excessive, taking into consideration the life expectancy as outlined by the United Nations’ sentencing guidelines, and its previous rulings.

As such, the court reduced Singh’s sentence to 35 years.

The Guyana Chronicle had reported that the taxi driver was last seen alive on January 19, 2010.

Subsequently, a search was launched for him and his car.

On January 27, 2010, his car was found at a vehicle body workshop in Herstelling New Scheme, East Bank Demerara (EBD). His burnt body was later discovered at Mocha Arcadia Access Road, EBD.

Woman found dead in Yarrowkabra yard - police suspect murder

THE body of a 48-year-old housewife was found in her yard at Yarrowkabra, Soesdyke-Linden Highway, on Wednesday.

According to police reports, the woman’s husband related that he and his wife were imbibing with several neighbours on Tuesday.

The woman was last seen alive at 00:30 hrs on Wednesday, consuming alcohol. At that time, her husband and a male associate left her there and decided to retire to bed.

Police said that at 04:00 hrs, the male guest woke up the woman’s reputed husband to indicate that he was departing, and after acknowledging, the husband went back to sleep.

The man told the police

that he woke up two hours after and discovered his wife’s body on a mango tree, in the yard.

Her body was uplifted and escorted to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, where she was pronounced dead on arrival by a medical doctor.

The body was then transferred to Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, where a post-mortem examination will be conducted.

Police related that the positioning of her body, when they found it, suggests that she was murdered and her body was placed at the scene.

The male guest who overnighted, has not been found for questioning as yet, as investigations continue.

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Chelsea to meet Brazilian side Palmeiras in World Cup final

(BBC) - Chelsea will meet Brazilian side Palmeiras in the Club World Cup final after edging past Al-Hilal at the Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium in

Abu Dhabi.

Romelu Lukaku scored the only goal in the first half.

The Blues will now look to lift the only trophy that has evaded them across Roman Abramovich's 19-year ownership of the club.

Boss Thomas Tuchel missed the game as he was isolating after testing positive for COVID-19.

Chelsea dominated from the start against the Saudi Arabian side, and their breakthrough came from Lukaku just after the half-hour mark.

Kai Havertz's left-wing cross was inadvertently headed into the Belgian's path by Yasser Al Shahrani, and he rifled home from point-blank range.

It was Lukaku's ninth goal of the season and ended a six-game drought, after he missed a couple of opportunities earlier in the match.

Two minutes after the break, Havertz burst

Lukaku scored his first goal for six games in Abu Dhabi

through on goal and clipped the post from a tight angle, despite having Lukaku and Hakim Ziyech for support in the area.

Asian champions Al-Hilal barely threatened

until Mohamed Kanno shot over from distance after combining well with former West Bromwich Albion midfielder Matheus Pereira.

Chelsea keeper Kepa

Arrizabalaga then denied Moussa Marega from eight yards out, while Odion Ighalo and Kanno saw shots blocked as Chelsea struggled to put the game to bed.

But the European champions held on in the end and, in Saturday's final, will have the chance to avenge defeat in this competition a decade after their last appearance.

FIA aware of Masi’s radio messages (BBC) - The FIA says it knows about radio messages from the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix that have raised fresh questions about last year's title-decider.

The messages seem to be further evidence of race director Michael Masi reacting to Red Bull's suggestions as to how to end a safety-car period.

And Masi echoes Red Bull's language in a response he gives to Mercedes.

A spokesman for Formula 1's governing body said: "We are aware of this and it is part of the investigation."

In the radio messages, Red Bull sporting director Jonathan Wheatley is heard advising Masi on how to deal with lapped cars that are on track between the leaders as he attempts to organise a restart before the laps run out.

At the time, Red Bull's Max Verstappen was on new tyres behind Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton on old rubber, which meant that if the race was resumed Verstappen would have a huge advantage and would likely win the race and championship.

Wheatley says: "Those lapped cars; you don't need to let them go

Race director Masi was involved in controversial decisions at the final race of last season

right the way around and catch up with the back of the pack. You only need to let them go, and then we've got a motor race on our hands."

Masi replies: "Understood."

After the race, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff gets on the radio to tell Masi that what he has done is "not right".

Masi replies: "Toto, it's called a

motor race, OK?" The radio transmissions are not new - they were on a video released

by Formula 1 on December 16, four days after the race - but the one from Wheatley appears to have missed general circulation in the storm that followed.

Their emergence into the public arena - they were trending on Twitter

yesterday with the hashtag #F1xed has come days before the FIA is due to reveal the outcome of its inquiry into Abu Dhabi to a meeting of the F1 Commission next Monday.

And it fits an impression of Masi acting in Red Bull's favour during the race and against Mercedes' interests.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner had previously said to Masi: "Why aren't we getting these lapped cars out of the way? You only need one racing lap."

It is widely acknowledged within F1 that Masi failed to follow the rules correctly in Abu Dhabi, and that in doing so he had a direct effect on the outcome of the world championship.

The FIA inquiry was set up to analyse how the mistakes at Abu Dhabi were made, and to put in place protocols to try to prevent them happening again.

The FIA has access to all team radio from Abu Dhabi for the inquiry they are conducting into the race.

And the outcome could have significant consequences - Hamilton, who lost the championship in the controversial ending of the race, will not decide whether to return to F1 this year until he has seen the results of the FIA inquiry.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 10, 2022

Grip for knuckle-ball mistaken for ball-tampering – Bopara

(ESPNCRICINFO) - Sylhet Sunrisers captain Ravi Bopara has had his penalty for "changing the condition of the ball" reduced from a three-match ban to a fine of 75% of his match fee and three demerit points.

The incident had occurred during Sylhet's game against Khulna Tigers on February 7, and, initially, match referee

Debabrata Paul had imposed the ban. But following Bopara's appeal on February 8, the BPL technical committee reduced the match referee's ruling.

Later at a press conference, Bopara claimed that his grip for the knuckle ball was mistaken for ball-tampering.

Bopara brought a ball to the press conference room antici-

pating the question. Showing how he bowls the knuckle ball, he explained that he grips it in a particular way if the ball is wet.

"I bowl a knuckle ball where I run in hiding the ball," he said. "Sometimes I run in holding it like this and that (displays his grips). It is not easy to get this grip, especially with the wet ball. You have to

find the best part of the ball to put it. Otherwise, if the ball is wet, it can fly and you can bowl no-balls (for height).

"I think there was a mistake there. It is disappointing but this is life."

Bopara was caught on camera running his finger over the ball during the ninth over of the Khulna innings.

The on-field umpires Mah-

fuzur Rahman and Prageeth Rambukwella duly stopped play and changed the ball during the over, and docked Sylhet five runs. They had brought the charge against Bopara to the match referee, relating to changing the condition of the ball which is a breach of clause 41.3 of the BPL's match-playing conditions.

A BCB statement on Friday read: "The technical committee reversed the suspension and executed the fine in accordance with the authority awarded to it in Article 8.2.3.4 of the (tournament's) code of conduct which states that ‘the Technical Committee shall have the power to increase or decrease, amend or otherwise substitute a new decision on the appropriateness (or otherwise) of the sanction

Ravi Bopara at Sylhet, yesterday (BPL)

imposed at first instance’. It is further confirmed as per Article 8.2.3.6 that, 'Any decision made by the Technical Committee under this Article 8.2, shall be the full, final and complete disposition of the matter and will be binding on all parties'."

If Bopara gets another demerit point during this tournament, he will get a one-match suspension.

Every four demerit points translate into a one-match suspension as per Article 7.5 of the code of conduct.

Rauf, Masood listed for Pakistan’s host series against Australia (ESPNCRICINFO) - Pakistan have called up rightarm quick Haris Rauf, while opening batter Shan Masood, who played a Test in January 2021, has been recalled in the 16-member squad for the three home Tests against Australia. Off-spinner Bilal Asif, who was part of the squad for the series against Bangladesh, has been dropped.

Rauf, who has played ODIs and T20Is for Pakistan but is uncapped in the longest format, was earlier called up for the Tests against South Africa and Zimbabwe in 2021 but did not debut. Masood meanwhile replaces Abid Ali, who is currently in rehabilitation after being diagnosed with a heart condition last December.

Pakistan have also named five reserves - Yasir Shah, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Mohammad Abbas, Naseem Shah and Kamran Ghulam - for the Tests, which are set to begin in Rawalpindi on March 4.

According to a PCB release, the players named in the Test squad, who are not involved in the ongoing season of PSL will assemble in the National Stadium in Karachi on February 16 for a training

camp.

"We have opted for consistency for the important home series against Australia and changes have only been made where absolutely necessary," chief selector Muhammad Wasim said. "This is to give the boys confidence, reward them for their impressive performances in the longer version of the game in 2021 and continue to build the side for the future.

"These are the best available, most talented and in-form players in the domestic circuit.

I am confident they will put up an impressive performance against a formidable Australia side."

The second and the third Tests are scheduled to be played in Karachi from March 12 and in Lahore from March 21 respectively.

Pakistan squad: Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Abdullah Shafique, Azhar Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Fawad Alam, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Imamul-Haq, Mohammad Nawaz, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, Zahid Mahmood Reserves: Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Abbas, Naseem Shah, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Yasir Shah

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 10, 2022

West Indies concede series to India

(ESPNCRICINFO) - India's hit-the-deck bustle trumped West Indies as the hosts defended 237 to wrap up the ODI series, with one game left.

Prasidh Krishna led the way for India, returning extraordinary figures of 4 for 12 in nine overs and reminding everyone why he was picked ahead of Deepak Chahar once again.

On an Ahmedabad track that offered extra bounce and zip throughout the game, Prasidh relentlessly dug the ball into it and discomfited a Kieron Pollard-less West Indies lineup. Thirty-six of the 54 balls he bowled were short or short of a good length, according to ESPNcricinfo's logs.

Shardul Thakur, too, regularly pounded the deck and was rewarded with the wicket of Jason Holder.

Holder spliced a shoulder-high short ball from Thakur, which left West Indies 76 for 5 in the 22nd over.

Akeal Hosein and Fabian Allen rallied briefly with a 42-run stand and then Odean Smith gave India a mini-scare at the death before Prasidh, fittingly, sealed the deal for India with a wicket-maiden.

The final exchange was a game of cat and mouse.

Smith, who is amongst the biggest hitters in the CPL, muscled Thakur for back-toback sixes and shovelled a full toss from Siraj for four.

He took the chase deep, with at least two overs from either Washington Sundar or Deepak Hooda yet to come.

When Washington returned to the attack for

Prasidh Krishna reacts after dismissing Brandon King, vs West Indies, 2nd ODI, Ahmedabad, yesterday (BCCI)

the 45th over, West Indies needed 48 from 36 balls with two wickets in hand.

Washington bowled a nerveless three-run over while also having Smith caught at deep midwicket. He bowled into the pitch and hid the ball away from the swinging arc of Smith.

The start, too, had been fairly positive for West Indies. Brandon King and Shai Hope hit four boundaries in six balls off Thakur and Siraj to take them to 31 for 0 in seven overs.

Prasidh came into the attack in the next over and struck with his third ball when he gleaned extra bounce to have King nicking off for 18 off 20 balls. In his next over, he got a length ball to kick up and seam away, to also have Darren Bravo edging behind. He then returned to the attack to hit an in-between length

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Thursday February 10, 2022)

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(2) Which IND batsman has compiled most T20 Int’l runs against the WI to date?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

and have stand-in captain Nicholas Pooran caught by Rohit at wide slip for 9.

Prasidh also bothered Shamarh Brooks with a sequence of prancing deliveries. Brooks, however, weathered that hostile spell and was more fluent against spin, taking Yuzvendra Chahal and Washington for 34 runs off 37 balls. Brooks looked to line up Hooda too but ended up holing out to long-on to give him his first international wicket.

Earlier in the afternoon, India's batters were given similar treatment by the West Indies seamers. Kemar Roach, who sprayed the ball around in the first ODI, tightened up in the second using the crease and seam

movement on offer to his advantage. He also found substantial extra bounce, having Rohit nicking off for 5 in his second over.

Smith, who got a game in the niggle-enforced absence of captain Pollard, seized his opportunity by dismissing both Rishabh Pant and Virat Kohli in the same over.

The returning KL Rahul and Suryakumar Yadav, who made his second ODI half-century, then struck up a 91-run fourth-wicket partnership to drag India to a total they could defend.

With Rahul returning to the team after missing the series-opener because of a family commitment, India rejigged their batting line-up. While Rahul was slotted in at No. 4, Pant was bumped up to open with Rohit. After surviving potent opening spells from

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Roach and Alzarri Joseph, Pant tried to swing his way out of trouble against Smith.

After carving a short ball for four, he took on another short ball, only to sky a pull to Holder who snagged it near square leg.

Smith - and Joseph - had similarly tested Kohli with lifting deliveries, but the all-rounder ultimately bested him with a length ball.

Kohli went for a drive, lost his shape and nicked off for 18 off 30 balls. India were 43 for 3 in 12 overs at that stage.

It could have been 64 for 4 had wicketkeeper Hope not dropped a regulation catch to reprieve Rahul, when he was on 4, in the 18th over. Rahul broke free when Hosein bowled a half-tracker first ball, which was clattered over midwicket for six. Rahul then charged at Hosein, pump-

ing him over his head for six. From being on 7 off 23 balls, he moved to 49 off 47 balls before running himself out in the 30th over.

As for Suryakumar, he kept milking the spinners and passed fifty. However, when he looked to hit a higher gear, he misjudged the length of an Allen dart and top-edged a sweep to short fine-leg for 64 off 83 balls. Allen combined with Hosein to tighten the screws on India, despite a late cameo from Hooda (29 off 25 balls).

Hosein and Allen bowled five overs between them in the last ten while giving away only 22 runs for the wicket of Washington.

Washington, however, had the final say as India secured an unassailable 2-0 lead.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 10, 2022

Beharry receives financial gift from LBI teammates ahead of Sri Lanka tour

FORMER Berbice youth player, Aaron Beharry, was in receipt of a gift in the form of cash from his LBI teammates in recognition of his selection to the Ontario Cricket Academy youth team.

The team will tour Sri Lanka from March 11 to 21 and will include matches in the T20, 40 overs and 50 overs categories.

This is the 14th international tour for the OCA, 6th to Sri Lanka since 2010. The team includes three players who represented Canada Under-19 team in the recently concluded Youth World Cup in the Caribbean.

Beharry, who bowls rightarm off-spin and is a solid middle-order right-handed batter, represented Berbice two years each at the Under-15 and Under-19 levels.

Yuraj Khemraj (left) presents the envelope to Aaron Beharry in the presence of his teammates

He is currently a member of the historic Everest Cricket

Club (ECC) in Georgetown, LBI Cricket Club on the

East Coast of Demerara and Young Warriors Cricket Club (YWCC) in Berbice.

Academically, Beharry is also pursuing a Degree in Economics at the University of Guyana and is in his fourth and final year.

At a simple presentation held recently at LBI facility, Beharry, Canadian-born and son of former Berbice Senior Inter-County all-rounder and current executive of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), Anil Beharry, said that he

was pleasantly surprised with the gesture and he is very grateful for the thought of his teammates. He promised to do his best to make them and everyone proud.

He added that the recent exposure gained at the national Senior Trials has given him a different view of the game and appreciates what it takes to reach the highest level.

He also thanked OCA coach Tribhawan Jagessar, formerly of East Canje, Berbice but who now lives in Canada, for his recommendation.

The cash was presented

by Yuraj Khemraj, president of LBI Cricket Club in the presence of the team.

He said that LBI CC will always support their players and observed recently the improved level of Beharry’s maturity, intense training and commitment to the game. Khemraj also wished him a safe trip along with good and consistent performances.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 10, 2022

Paul, Motie and Permaul strike, but Volcanoes fight back … 277-9 at end of day one

GUYANA Harpy Eagles and Windward Islands Volcanoes are locked in an intense battle after day one of their first-class match at the Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad.

Inserting themselves, Volcanoes reached stumps 277-9, and while fluent half-centuries from Alick Athanaze and Devon Smith gave them early momentum, it is an unbroken last-wicket stand of 62 between bowlers Preston McSween and Shermon Lewis which kept Eagles in the field for the entire day.

McSween has struck four fours and two sixes in his 54-ball knock of 47 - his joint-highest first-class score - while Lewis is solid on 12 from 56 balls.

Spinners Gudakesh Motie (3-61) and Veerasammy Permaul (3-75) took wickets while seamer Keemo Paul had 3-63.

The 40-year-old Smith after a shaky start, grew in stature with some lusty blows off Permaul, and reached his 64th first-class half-century, just before Paul met his demise on 52 (9x4).

Smith and Athanaze pro-

duced a proactive partnership of 49 and the latter, a former West Indies Under-19, looked in sweet touch, good enough for a triple-figure score.

However, after the 23-year-old got his fourth half-century, he brought his own undoing trying a reverse sweep off Permaul to be adjudged leg-before for 68 (5x4).

The left-hander and Keron Cottoy (34) had added 63 for the third wicket, and his dismissal was part of a double-wicket bowl, with Paul trapping Denis Smith

Manchester City extend lead atop Premier League table

Mahrez scored his seventh Premier League goal this season

(BBC) - Pep Guardiola said Manchester City "are not the best in the world" despite extending their lead at the top of the Premier League to 12 points following victory over Brentford.

Riyad Mahrez scored his eighth goal in seven games as they moved further away from second-placed Liverpool, who play Leicester today.

But Guardiola said he "does not care" for "stupid things" like praising his side for being better than the rest.

"In so many ways I'm impressed with [the players' attitude," he added. "They still have the desire in every game to do their jobs.

"Normally they are being complimented, being praised - 'you are the best team in the world' - these stupid things. You can be confused, but we are still normal.

"We are not the best team in the world.

The best team in the world is Chelsea, the best team is Palmeiras. We are not the best and I don't care."

European champions Chelsea, who currently sit third in the table, play Brazilian side Palmeiras in the Club World Cup Final on Saturday.

That is a trophy Manchester City have

never competed for because they have not won the Champions League in order to qualify.

City were deserved winners against Brentford despite a tough opening. Mads Roerslev's rash tackle on Raheem Sterling then presented Mahrez with the opportunity to score and he sent David Raya the wrong way from the penalty spot.

Kevin de Bruyne doubled City's lead after 69 minutes when he finished off the rebound after Raya had rolled the ball straight to Sterling on the edge of the area, then denied the England man with a save he could not hold.

For Brentford, who did not include new signing Christian Eriksen even though the Dane started training with them this week after signing a six-month contract, the harsh realities of life in the top flight are beginning to become evident.

Thomas Frank's men have now lost six in a row in all competitions for the first time since 2006. Then, Oldham and Cheltenham were among the teams who beat them when they were in League One. Now it's Liverpool, Manchester United and defending champions City.

(10) next ball.

From 190-4, Volcanoes slipped to 195-6 when Motie

bowled Kimani Mileus for three after he resumed his innings from a concussion.

Action resumes today at 10:00hrs.

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West Indies concede series to India

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 10, P A 2022 GE

25

Prasidh Krishna reacts after dismissing Brandon King, vs West Indies, 2nd ODI, Ahmedabad, yesterday (BCCI)

Gudakesh Motie took 3-61 on day one for Guyana Harpy Eagles

Paul, Motie and Permaul strike, but Volcanoes fight back Alick Athanaze

… 277-9 at end of day one

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022