Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 12-10-2021

TUESDAY 12th October, 2021

No. 106512

Pastor Howell rebukes Burke, others for duplicitous behaviour

SEE PAGE

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Coalition’s ‘unconscionable’ wrong to sugar workers being corrected SEE PAGE

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-Vice-President

‘StoryBoard Initiative’ launched with 25 girls SEE PAGE

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Human Services Minister, Dr. Vindhya Persaud took on the girls with this jump on Monday, as she launched the “StoryBoard Initiative” that will see girls from vulnerable groups across Guyana telling their stories and getting them published -- the proceeds of which will go towards furthering their careers and helping to make their dreams a reality

Westminster Secondary finally throws its doors open SEE PAGE

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SEE PAGE

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Better Hope gets $25M refurbished health centre

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday October 12, 2021

‘Storyboard Initiative’ launched with 25 girls -stories written by them to be published, proceeds to help further careers

TWENTY-FIVE girls who are members of vulnerable groups across Guyana, now have an opportunity to write their stories and get them published under a brand new project by the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security called, “The Storyboard Initiative.”

Launched at the Guyana Women’s Leadership Institute (GWLI) at Cove and John, East Coast Demerara, on Monday, the initiative was conceptualised during a conversation with subject minister, Dr. Vindhya Persaud and one of her team members, Anuradha Persaud.

The idea is to impart creative writing skills along with functional literacy to develop storyboards written by girls who had difficult lives, but surmounted those challenges.

Six teachers have signed on to assist the girls with their creative writing skills, along with

six journalists of the Guyana Press Association who will volunteer as mentors.

The inspirational stories that come out of this initiative will be published and the proceeds will be used in the interest of these very girls. In fact, a series of inspirational books is intended to be published over time with more girls in the programme.

At the launch on Monday, each girl was provided with a creative survival kit which includes a tablet, hygiene products, toiletries, stationery supplies and a backpack to motivate and support them.

“We wanted to ensure that International Girls Day was not just marked by a message or something we said, but we wanted to do something that would make an impact on you; something transformative… something that can change your lives,” Minister Persaud told the participants during her address.

According to her, the girls will be given the opportunity to share their stories “exactly as they are.”

The proceeds from the books that are published will go right back to helping them build their careers and make their dreams into a reality, she said.

“We’re going to help you do more than just dream; we’ll help you make those dreams come through. Dreams do not have to remain dreams because you have a supportive network of all of us right behind you,” Dr. Persaud expressed.

Childcare Director Ann Greene, also present at the launch, pointed out that the whole initiative was part of occupational therapy. “It will help you to deal with any issues that you have as young people. It’s a way of expressing yourself, especially if you cannot get anyone to hear you, so I want to encourage you to make full use of it,” she

Minister Persaud presents a creative survival kit to one of the girls urged.

Greene told the girls that while the ministry can light the spark, it was up to them to ensure that they keep the fire burning and remain motivated.

One of the teachers who will be helping is Christine Jaipaul of Tutorial Academy Secondary School, who has been in the teaching profession for the past

Director of Childcare Services, Ann Greene

20 years. “From my understanding of the programme, I will be teaching them to write short stories over a period of six weeks; each week we’ll look at a different element. It’s a great initiative as I always advocate for young girls in need,” she shared.

Meanwhile, Dr. Persaud also used the occasion to launch the

At the launch of the Storyboard Initiative and Youth Unfiltered at GWLI, Cove and John

Youth Unfiltered TV programme that will be aired from this coming weekend. The programme features young influencers who will discuss timely topics on the ministry’s social media platforms, to help ignite health discussions among girls across the country, and heighten awareness of their challenges.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday October 12, 2021

Coalition’s ‘unconscionable’ wrong to sugar workers being corrected -Vice-President Jagdeo

By Derwayne Wills CORRECTING what he called an “unconscionable” wrong, Vice-President Bharat Jagdeo in a video interview published on Facebook stoutly defended the announced distribution of $250,000 each to thousands of sugar workers who were severed during the tenure of the A Partnership for National Unity+ Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) government.

Acknowledging the APNU+AFC’s claim that public servants received 70 per cent in increased salaries between 2015 to 2020, VicePresident Jagdeo pointed out that sugar workers did not benefit from this.

“The sugar workers used to enjoy the annual production incentive,” he continued, noting that even this was also taken away from them.

The decision of the PPP/C Government is expected to benefit more than 7,000 sugar workers.

“We take our promises seriously,” the Vice-President commented, as he contrasted the work of the Peoples’ Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government against its predecessor, the APNU/AFC. PROMISE DELIVERED The Vice-President, bemoaning the posture of representatives of the opposition APNU+AFC who challenged the decision on

social media, reminded that some of these sugar workers have worked in the industry for 25 years, but were still not afforded their severance.

“I had promised the sugar workers that the callous way they were treated… was not grounded in economics,” Jagdeo asserted, contending that the arguments from the Coalition “has nothing to do with economics.”

Reflecting on his party’s re-entry into government after the APNU+AFC’s five-month-long attempt at stymying democracy, VicePresident Jagdeo recalled the extent of measures required to re-energise the economy and increase disposable income.

“For Guyana to prosper,”

Vice-President, Dr. Bharat Jagdeo he recounted, “we had to reverse the massive amounts of taxes that APNU [and the AFC] had placed on people.”

“By the time they left office,” the Vice-President

continued, “they had increased the tax burden by over $40 billion more per annum…. In the first budget, we reversed most of those taxes.”

Jagdeo acknowledged that his government’s budget planning allowed citizens “to keep $40 billion more in their pockets than APNU [and the AFC] was taking in higher taxes.”

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS Addressing the issue of how the government will afford this approximately $1.7 billion promise to sugar workers, the Vice-President said, “we have cut expenditure on administration significantly by billions of dollars.

So, it has eliminated a lot of waste and extravagance.”

Commenting on other achievements of the PPP/C

Government to date, the Vice-President said “we have returned the grant to the school kids that they [the APNU+AFC] said they couldn’t afford… [and] returned it to even more than what it was before. We’ve extended that to children going to private school.”

With the monies available to the government, the Vice-President committed to increasing the number of benefits to citizens, including increasing the education grant up to $50,000 per child per year by 2025 and doubling the current 5.5 per cent increase to the old-age pension.

“We promised 20,000 scholarships,” he continued, noting that “this year 6,000 has been given”.

“We are fulfilling our promises,” he said.

Supplier was informed of defective laptops -but no further action was taken by Coalition Gov’t, Public Accounts Committee hears

By Rehana Ahamad

WHEN the Coalition Government assumed office in 2015, it refashioned its predecessor’s ‘One Laptop Per Family’ initiative into the ‘One Laptop Per Teacher’ programme. As part of that programme, 9,609 computers were procured at the approximate cost of $1.6 billion. When the laptops were delivered in February 2015, it was found that 2,959 of the devices, valued at $495 million were defective, and even after five years, the country has not been compensated for these significant losses.

On Monday, the matter engaged the attention of the bipartisan Public Accounts Committee (PAC) which heard that, under the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Government, the supplier was informed of the faults, but no further actions were taken.

Further, the PAC was told by the General Manager of the National Data Management Authority (NDMA), Francis Simmons, that the quality of the laptops was “extremely poor” and that they were damaged largely due to heat and the length of time they were being stored. The constitutional committee was informed, too, that the possibility exists that the

laptops were already damaged when they were delivered.

Appearing before the 17th PAC meeting on Monday was the former Permanent Secretary of the then Ministry of Public Telecommunications, Derrick Cummings, who attempted to provide some answers.

He explained that the purchase of the laptops was made by the E-Governance Unit, which was, at the time, under the purview of the Ministry of the Presidency. When the supplies were delivered, the unit had been transferred to what was then the newly established Ministry of Public Telecommunications.

However, Cummings explained that even though the unit had been transferred, some of the responsibilities took time to be transitioned over to the ministry.

As the PAC began to seek further clarity on the issue, the matter attracted more questions than answers, forcing government representative of the PAC, Dharamkumar Seeraj, to call for a detailed technical report on how and when the computers were damaged.

His colleague, Juan Edghill, also the Minister of Public Works, interjected to ask that several questions relating to the purchase be answered and submitted to the PAC in a writ-

The PAC has given the former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Telecommunications two weeks to submit a detailed report on the defective devices ten format.

MUST PROVIDE CLARITY The responses, according to Edghill, must provide clarity on when and where the laptops were delivered; which agency handled the acceptance and distribution of the laptops; where they were stored; when the damages were discovered and what the circumstances were that led to the discovery, etcetera.

Additionally, Edghill also wants a copy of the report which was presumably compiled when the damages were detected in 2016, as well as evidence of meetings, or correspondences which were sent to the sup-

plier, stating the damages to the devices.

“Did the report ascribe culpability? What is the current position of the recovery of the sums and where are the current damaged laptops being held?”

Edghill queried APNU+AFC Member of Parliament and Chairman of the PAC, Jermaine Figueira, agreed to give PS Cummings two weeks to have the lingering questions answered. Figueira went further to seek clarity on the matter pertaining to the 2014 theft of 103 laptops which were purchased for the One Laptop Per Family initiative 2014. The

stolen devices were valued at $17 million.

He was informed that the matter of the stolen computers was reported and is still being investigated by the police. This was much to the annoyance of Opposition PAC Member, David Patterson, who lamented the need for a detailed police report to be submitted, updating the PAC on the status of the case.

“At minimum, it’s over six years; has the police responded on the status of the investigation?

Who was charged? What actions were taken? Has it ever [even] reached the courts?” Pat-

terson questioned.

His colleague APNU+AFC member, Ganesh Mahipaul, also decried the manner in which the laptop ‘inquests’ were handled, referencing the fact that year after year, the matters continued to be flagged in the Auditor General’s reports, with no resolution. “It seems as though we don’t care about government money,” Mahipaul determined. Ironically, it was the APNU+AFC which had been in office throughout the period 2015-2020, when, ideally, the matter should have been resolved.

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Pastor Howell rebukes Burke, others for duplicitous behaviour PA S T O R o f G r a c e Christian Church, Dr. Reynold Howell, said his church was in the business of meeting people’s needs and pointedly declared that the Guyanese American Chamber of Commerce doing business with Guyana Forum is on today.

The pastor ’s comments came in wake of calls by Coalition supporter, Rickford Burke,

Rickford Burke to boycott the muchanticipated forum in Brooklyn, New York.

“When Guyana Caribbean Institute of Democracy (Rickford Burke’s Organisation) needed our church’s facilities to rally with the last APNU+AFC dignitaries, including the honourable PM Moses Nagamootoo and others, we honourably accommodated them multiple times.

“Now, in similar fashion, the Guyanese American Chamber of Commerce approached us with their need for meeting space and our catering services, to host the current PM, the honourable Mark Phillips, other government dignitaries and about 60 people from the diaspora, and we consented to do so, in the tradition of hosting two honourable PMs, Hamilton Green and Moses Nagamootoo,” Pastor Howell said in a statement.

He noted that, as a non-profit religious organisation, Grace Christian does not discriminate, and is now cast in a position to promote dialogue and healing in Guyana. “ We u n d e r s t a n d there will be some protest, as the pain index is high. Hopefully it will be peaceful and honourable and in the spirit of the golden rule. Beyond protest, let’s seize opportunities to communicate meaningfully to heal the hurts, and reach solutions to make Guyana “One People, One Nation, One Destiny,” his statement concluded.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday October 12, 2021

Cyclist killed on Tuschen Public Road, driver arrested

ALFRED Premnarine, 38, of ‘C’ Field Leonora, West Coast Demerara, was, on Monday, killed after an unlicensed motorcar driver lost control and struck him down while he was riding a bicycle on the Tuschen Public Road, East Bank Essequibo.

Reports indicated that motorcar PNN 5543 was proceeding west along the Tuschen Public Road, allegedly at a fast rate of speed, when the driver lost control of the motorcar and struck the cyclist who was proceeding in the opposite direction.

After hitting the pedal cyclist, the motorcar collided with the left side of motor lorry GYY 3980 which was parked on the southern parapet.

The 38-year-old pedal cyclist, who received injuries to the head and body, was picked up in an unconscious state by the police and taken to the Leonora Cottage Hospital where he was pronounced dead on

The motorcar involved in the accident arrival by a doctor.

The body was then escorted to the Ezekiel Funeral Parlour where it is awaiting a post mortem.

The driver was arrested and remains in custody at the Leonora Police Station as investigations continue.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday October 12, 2021

22 ‘cops’ to receive accountancy training THE Guyana Police Force, on Monday, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Cacique Accounting College, paving the way for the training of ranks in accountancy.

The MoU was signed by acting Deputy Commissioner (Administration), Calvin Brutus and Accounting Assistant of Cacique Accounting College, Suzanna Das, at Police Headquarters, Eve Leary, Georgetown.

Deputy Finance Officer, Bharat Persaud, in brief remarks, welcomed the initiative and stated that it was the first of its kind to be introduced to the Guyana Police Force.

He noted that the main objective of the course was to equip the ranks in finance, in order to develop their skills and knowledge, in having a better understanding of international standards and the government accounting system.

Twenty-two ranks, mainly from the Force’s Finance Office, are expected to undergo the 15-month training, which will commence in November 2021.

Man arrested for alleged rape of three ‘teen’ brothers THREE brothers, all teenagers, were allegedly raped by a 39-year-old man in Berbice, police have reported.

Police said the brothers, aged 15, 16, and 17 are known to the suspect. According to the victims, the suspect is known to them personally and they would often get permission from their parents to go to his house to do chores.

On several occasions, separately, the victims were threatened at knifepoint

by the suspect who then committed the acts on them against their will and consent.

Police said that the teenagers did not tell anyone since they were threatened, but it became intolerable and the first victim told a family member what had transpired.

As a result, a report was made to the police and investigations led to the arrest of the suspect on Sunday last. He is currently in custody assisting the police with an investigation.

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Acting Deputy Commissioner (Administration), Calvin Brutus, exchanged the signed MoU with Accounting Assistant of Cacique Accounting College, Suzanna Das. He was flanked by two senior police ranks

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday October 12, 2021

Domestic Violence

DOMESTIC violence is the deliberate act of inflicting harm on someone, usually within a family setting. In most of the cases, the victims are women. Guyana has a relatively high incidence of domestic violence with roughly one out of every two women between ages 15 and 60 having been abused by their husbands, spouses or partners at some stage in their lives. This is higher than the global average, which is roughly one out of three women within that age cohort having experienced domestic violence at one time or another.

According to statistics released by the Guyana Police Force, in 2019, there were 1, 499 reports of domestic violence out of which there

were 918 cases and 261 convictions. In 2020, there were 1672 reports, 893 cases and 112 convictions. For the first half of this year, there have been 896 cases, 439 cases and 85 convictions. For the corresponding period last year, there were 733 reports of which there were 370 cases and 85 convictions.

These are all alarming statistics, especially as they relate to the relatively low rate of convictions. Part of the problem has to do with the fact that a significant number of victims declined to lead evidence against perpetrators. This view was shared by the Chancellor of the Judiciary, who saw the failure to report incidents of domestic violence as a major hurdle.

This does not speak well

of us as a society. The records showed that domestic violence cuts across all ethnicities, regions, occupations or religious beliefs. The law prohibits domestic violence, gives women the right to seek prompt protection and there are strong penalties for those found guilty. Penalties for violation of protection orders include fines and imprisonment. Several pieces of legislation are in place to deal with domestic violence and violence against women.

Why then, one may ask, is domestic violence still so widespread in Guyana?

There is no simple answer as the reasons can be several, such as failure by victims to report such cases to the police, lack of adequate policing, insensitivity of law enforcement agencies to-

wards domestic violence and, in some cases, out-of-court settlement. It is not often that government will prosecute cases in which the alleged victim or family members agreed to drop the case in exchange for an out-of-court settlement, which in some ways helps to embolden perpetrators and potential perpetrators.

The government for its part is doing everything possible to bring an end to this scourge, but so often such efforts are stymied by failure of the responsible agencies to enforce domestic violence laws. This is especially so in rural and hinterland communities where the police do not have a strong presence and courts do not meet as regularly as in coastal areas.

There are, however, some

encouraging news. Domestic violence training is now part of the curriculum of the police training college. Only recently, the Police Force established domestic violence units and there are special rooms at police stations where reports are made and follow action taken in a much more conducive environment. In addition, separate rooms at two magistrates’ courts were constructed for victims to testify privately and have their hearings done virtually. The two magistrate courts are Leonora and Wales. The units were constructed with assistance from UNICEF which has been partnering with the Ministry of Human Services to deal with issues of domestic violence, especially as it relates to women and girls.

These are indeed laudable initiatives by the legal system to deal with the issue of domestic violence.

Our women need all the protection they can get against domestic violence, especially in this stressful Covid-19 environment. The government is doing its part at the policy level in terms of putting in place the necessary legislative framework and in providing some limited relief at the Help and Shelter facility. In the final analysis, it is the changing attitude towards women by society as a whole and the extent to which those found guilty are dealt with swiftly and in accordance with the law that will be the main determinants in reducing the incidence of domestic violence.

Coalition seems tormented by positive direction of sugar industry

Dear Editor, THE Alliance For Change (AFC) leader is again in Berbice delivering the Coalition’s old message that ‘sugar is dead’ and monies are once again being thrown down a ‘dark hole.’

Perhaps he failed to come to realisation that it was the Coalition’s closure of the sugar industry which threw them down the ‘dark hole’ and reinforced the ‘dead meat’ status of the AFC. Ramjattan and his cronies must understand that mechanisation of the industry will make it viable once again and the government is making the necessary investments. He has made a few ridiculous assumptions that the ‘soil and weather patterns’ will not allow for mechanization, but he failed to realise that GuySuCo is already partly mechanised in terms of planting, harvesting and

loading of canes. The labourshortage gap is already being addressed. This has proven to be cost-effective; hence, the move to full mechanisation which will be done within the next six years.

Sugar will once again be the bedrock of the economy and this government will prove Ramjattan and his ilk wrong.

Mr Ramjattan must accept the fact that the panoramic destruction unleashed by the Coalition on the closed estate has necessitated this government spending huge sums of monies to correct the disaster which the Coalition created. He should ask what has happened to the $30 billion bond.

I was also shocked that Ramjattan and David Patterson vehemently attacked the reopening of Rose Hall Estate, which has so far provided employment for nearly 700 persons and which has

been employing persons, both severed and new employees, on a daily basis.

This is done without an iota of racial discrimination or political affiliation. These persons are incessantly expressing gratitude to the PPP/C Government for giving them an opportunity to live with dignity once again.

David Patterson emphasised the conditions of the factory as being ‘derelict and unsafe’ and the ‘boilers and equipment are dangerous.’ I am glad that the Coalition can accept responsibility for the state in which they have rendered a grinding sugar estate, which was the only estate to be awarded a medal of service for its high production and productivity. They had transformed this estate into a literal junk yard. The former Finance Minister had spent over $17 billion to keep the factories in ‘mothball condi-

tion’ so that they could be sold. Do you remember this statement, Patterson?

Mr Patterson made a damning allegation on the basis of one person reporting to him that the ‘workers are being forced to work under unsafe conditions.’ He went on to say that the government does not care about the lives of workers and are just pushing ahead with its campaign promises. I could recall that the AFC’s 2015 campaign promise was to give the sugar workers a 20 per cent increase in wages and not to close any of the estates which they reneged on, but are now barefacedly attacking the PPP/C for keeping its promise. Let me assure Mr Patterson that Occupational Health and Safety is a priority not only at Rose Hall, but throughout the industry.

Lastly, the AFC leaders decry the payment of

the $250,000 cash grant announced by the Vice-President. At this point I could recall the agony of the sugar workers when they closed the estates and when the workers literally begged for the restates to continue operating. I will ask the AFC and the opposition as a whole to consider the emotional trauma which these workers suffered for more than three years. Some have died and a few committed suicide.

I will quote from a Rose Hall worker, Glen McLeod, in 2017: “For us of Rose Hall, closure can be seen as a death knell for so many hardworking people and their families. For us of Rose Hall, closure means that our plans for life, our dreams for a better tomorrow, and our aspirations for our children and grandchildren have all but been dashed. For us of Rose Hall, closure will bring

about uncertain times and many difficult, misery-filled days ahead. For us of Rose Hall, closure brings about real questions like where would our next meal come from, how would our children and grandchildren go to school, and how would we earn and meet our obligations. For us of Rose Hall, closure means difficult choices have to be made: would we eat or would we pay the electricity bills?; would we send the children to school or would we buy clothes?; would we starve or do we have to do something not necessarily right to put food on the table.” ? Money cannot buy what these people lost and we must show some compassion for these workers.

They deserve their fair share.

Let the Coalition know that GuySuCo is not dead and will never be!

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday October 12, 2021

Better Hope gets $25M refurbished health centre

Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony, unveiling a plaque to commemorate the opening of the newly refurbished Better Hope Health Centre on Monday

By Richard Bhainie THE East Coast Demerara corridor will be able to benefit from a wealth of free medical services now available at the Better Hope Health Centre as the medical facility was refurbished to the tune of $25M and reopened on Monday.

The easily accessible facility can be spotted while traversing the East Coast Demerara Public Road and is located a stone’s throw away from the Better Hope Community Centre Ground; it is now equipped with a Maternal and Child Health Centre, as well as other major improvements.

Speaking at a simple ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday, Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony, said the facility represents “money well spent”, as he is impressed with the quality of work that was executed through a “team effort”.

The move to refurbish the health facility was initiated by the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government after they resumed office in 2020 and observed that the facility was in a dilapidated state after it was abandoned in 2017.

“We thought that it is an important landmark for this community and we need to do something about resuscitating it and making sure that we can deliver quality health service from this facility,” Dr. Anthony said.

The health centre was previously owned and operated by the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and its assets were managed by the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), which officially handed over owner-

ship of the facility to the Ministry of Health in October 2020.

The requisite funds to transform the facility were not available in the 2020 Emergency Budget, and only the fence was constructed in a bid to protect the premises. The following budget saw the necessary funds being allocated to complete the works for the facility to be fully operational.

“Completing the building, fixing it up, putting in furniture, that is just one part. The other aspect is to make sure that we have healthcare personnel who will be working here and ensure that they deliver good quality service,” Dr. Anthony said.

To ensure the facility delivers quality service, a doctor will be available at the premises on a full-time basis, accompanied by other relevant medical personnel, as well as a pharmacist to dispense medication prescribed by the doctor.

Along with a doctor’s examination room and a

Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony, being given a tour of the Better Hope Health Centre by Region Four Regional Health Officer, Gavin Persaud

fully stocked pharmacy, the facility is also equipped with a Maternal and Child Health section which will serve as a clinic for mothers, pre-and post-natal, and a section of the building will be dedicated to the administration of COVID-19 vaccines.

The Health Minister took the opportunity to remind persons who attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony that the deadly COVID-19 virus still has a high transmissibility rate along the East Coast Corridor and encouraged them to take the vaccine as a means of protecting themselves and those around them.

Also at the ribbon-cutting ceremony was Minister within the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Anand Persaud, who commended the efforts of the parties involved in the resuscitation of the facility.

Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony, inspecting some of the medication available at the Better Hope Health Centre

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday October 12, 2021

October’s COVID-19 death toll climbs to 45 TWO more unvaccinated persons have died after contracting COVID-19, taking October’s death toll to 45 and the country’s overall figure to 842.

The Ministry of Health said that the latest fatalities are an 88-yearold man from Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara) and a 63-year-old woman from Region Four (Demerara -Mahaica). Both persons died on October 10, 2021, while being treated at a Ministry of Health facility.

Additionally, there are currently 3,905 active COVID-19 cases in Guyana, following the addition of 52 new cases on October 10, 2021, from the 752 tests that were conducted.

The new cases were

recorded in Regions One, Two, Three, Four, Six, Seven and 10.

Region Four accounted for 21 of the new cases, while Region One recorded two new cases; Region Two, 10 cases; Region Three, eight cases; Region Six, five; Region Seven, two cases and Region 10 recorded four cases.

The country has now recorded a total of 33,748 confirmed cases since the first COVID-19 case was reported in March 2020.

Of the active cases, 29 persons are at the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the National Infectious Diseases Hospital, Liliendaal; 145 are in institutional isolation; 3,728 are in home isolation, and three are in institutional quarantine.

Many of the persons

infected with the virus are said to be asymptomatic, that is, they are not exhibiting symptoms.

The updated COVID-19 Emergency Measures are in force until October 31, 2021. They may be extended or amended by notice of the Minister of Health, after an assessment of the prevailing public health conditions of the pandemic.

As per the current measures, all persons are required to wear face masks when leaving their homes, and physical distancing and adequate sanitisation are recommended. The current curfew is 22:30hrs to 04:00hrs.

Persons with symptoms of COVID-19 are asked to call the COVID-19 hotline numbers: 231-1166; 226-7480; or 180/181 for assistance.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday October 12, 2021

Vice-President ‘raps’ Opposition MPs for ‘disruptive’ behaviour

Vice-President Bharrat Jagdeo speaking at the national stakeholder forum on Monday THE national stakeholder consultation aimed at engendering dialogue among a wide cross-section of society on a matter of critical national importance was ‘disrupted’ by Opposition elements on Monday.

During the consultation, APNU+AFC parliamentarians Amanza Walton Desir and Tabitha Sarabo-Halley took to the podium and delivered a presentation in which they spoke dimly on constitutional compliance, support for Guyana’s indigenous people, women and youths before staging a walkout.

The Guyana national stakeholder consultation sought to update Guyana’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) ahead of the convening of the United Nations (UN) COP26 Summit to be held in the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) in Glasgow, UK, from October 31 to November 12, 2021.

Vice-President, Bharrat Jagdeo, who was at the forum held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown, in response, told the gathering that the Coalition’s “newfound love” for the Constitution is convenient.

He noted that it is

ironic that the Coalition is talking about constitutional compliance, pointing out that just over a year ago, when the Coalition was in power, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) had to fight its constitutional abuses ranging from the appointment of a GECOM Chairperson to the holding of elections three months after the successful passage of a no-confidence motion.

He also noted the Coalition’s concerns on matters including land titling for Amerindian communities were never addressed by the former APNU+AFC Government when it was in office.

The Vice-President, on that matter, underscored that it was the PPP/C Government, which, through the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) earned money from Norway, to advance the Amerindian Land Titling programme.

In addition, Mr Jagdeo contended that the Coalition’s representation for women and youths was abysmal while stressing that its political grandstanding at Monday’s forum resulted in it making no meaningful contribution to the discussion on updating Guyana’s NDCs.

A section of the gathering at the national stakeholder consultation

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Teen drowns in Bonasika Creek

SWEDEL Williams, 18, a labourer of Moruca, North West District, allegedly drowned while swimming on Sunday in the Bonasika Creek, along the Essequibo River.

According to the police report, Williams went to work on a farm in the area, about a week ago, with 10 other workers. On Sunday,

at about 15:00hrs, Williams went for a swim in the creek and never returned.

As a result, police said another worker observed that he was missing and went in search of him. While checking the creek he observed Williams floating in the river face down.

Police said the worker raised an alarm and, with

assistance from residents, Williams’ body was fished out of the creek. Police said no marks of violence were observed on the body.

The body was first escorted to the Leonora Cottage Hospital and pronounced dead and later taken to the Ezekiel Funeral Home where it is awaiting an autopsy.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday October 12, 2021

Suspected bandit who opened fire on police killed KEVIN Andries, 34, of Grove Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara (EBD), was shot dead by police in the wee hours of Monday after law enforcement responded to a report that he and another suspect were in motor vehicle PVV 5380 with stolen items.

“About 02:50hrs Monday, police ranks came under gunfire at Golden Grove, EBD, during efforts to apprehend two male suspects. The police returned fire, fatally wounding one of the men who has been identified as a known character,” police headquarters noted in a statement.

Dead: Kevin Andries According to the police, ranks were on mobile patrol duty on East Bank Demerara when they responded to a report received, via the radio communications network, in relation to a motor vehicle bearing registration plate PVV 5380, with suspected stolen items.

The suspected vehicle was subsequently seen in the Diamond, EBD area and was pursued by the ranks.

The vehicle, police said sped away into an access street at Golden Grove,

EBD, where two men exited, one of whom opened fire on the police.

The police returned fire hitting Andries. The other man escaped while Andries was taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre where he succumbed while receiving medical treatment.

A .32 spent shell was recovered by the police and motor vehicle PVV 5380 has been taken into police custody as investigations continue.

The vehicle that was taken into police custody

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Westminster Secondary finally throws its doors open -its sheer grandeur rendering first batch of students almost speechless

By Tamica Garnett

THE long-awaited opening of the US$4.7M stateof-the-art Westminster Secondary School in Region Three (Essequibo Islands- West Demerara) officially occurred on Monday, when its Grade 10 students turned out for classes.

The students, many of them coming from lowerlevel secondary schools, could not stop gushing about the facility’s many amenities, and how it will help them in the development of their education.

“Most of the things that the other schools don’t have it have right here.

Like at L’Aventure; some ‘labs’ don’t be there, so you have to go to other

parts to get to test out stuff for assignments. But here, they have the ‘labs’; and that’s good,” said 17year-old Ariane Khan, who previously attended L’Aventure Secondary School, which, like Westminster, is also located on the West Bank Demerara, but further up the road, at Number One Canal.

Khan spoke with the Guyana Chronicle during her lunch break, and said that the school has already left a lasting impression on her. Besides being in love with the facility, she shared that she has also already started to enjoy her classes.

“I had Office Administration classes this morning, and the teacher was really good; we need more

teachers like her,” Khan said as she smiled.

Fifteen-year-old Akeem Albert is an aspiring engineer who is in the “Technology Stream” of Grade 10. He believes that being at a school that has state-of-the-art equipment will help him in his pursuits.

“I am so excited to do my work, and compare notes with my teachers and laugh and talk with my friends. I am very grateful for the school and the teachers,” the budding scientist said.

Albert is a former student of the La Grange Primary-Top Secondary School. Here in Guyana, a “primary-top school” is the secondary school department of a Primary

Westminster Secondary Grade 10 student, Akeem Albert School, where those students who did not gain a place at a regular secondary school are placed.

Also from La Grange Primary-Top and now at Westminster Secondary is 15-year-old Mathias Ignatius, who was very impressed with how large the school space was compared to his previous school.

“It’s bigger and it’s better here; the place feels really nice. It was not really nice there, but here it’s different; you can get to do social distancing, and you get a whole spot to yourself. And people are friendly,” Ignatius said.

LOCALE Situated on approximately six acres of land, Westminster Secondary boasts such facilities as an elevator, multi-purpose hall, music room, dance studio, and laboratories for Chemistry, Physics and Biology. The school is the first to be completed under the Guyana Secondary Education Improvement Project (GSEIP), which is being funded with financing from the World Bank.

Construction on the school began in October 2018, and was completed and handed over to the Ministry of Education (MoE) earlier this year.

The school was reo-

Westminster Secondary Grade 10 students, Ariane Khan and Mathias Ignatius pened on Monday, with a turnout of 91 students.

Only those in Grade Ten will be attending school, since secondary schools across the country have not yet been reopened to face-to-face learning for Grades 7 – 9 students due to the rigours of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The school was built to accommodate up to 1,000 students, making it a Grade ‘A’ school. It will also be a List ‘B’ school, which speaks to its quality.

Regional Education Officer (REDO), Devendra Persaud said the school will go a long way in alleviating the overcrowding of schools in Region Three.

“Over the years, we would have had overcrowding in some of our schools, and now with COVID-19, that would’ve been a real threat to us. By having a school built to accommodate 1000 students, it’s a plus for us. So I am very happy. I also feel very motivated as a REDO, knowing that we have a state-of-the-art secondary school in Region Three,” the veteran educator said.

Persaud noted that aside from the physical facilities, every effort has also been made to ensure that the school is also equipped with all the nec-

essary personnel.

“We have a full-time school’s welfare officer here, and, since May of this year, we did a lot of initial planning, where we did a lot of training with our teachers. I’m very, very happy about that at the moment,” the REDO said.

The school has 50 teachers thus far.

Persaud and Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand did a tour of the facility on Monday.

During the tour, Minister Manickchand couldn’t help but remark how glad she was that the realisation of the school will help to facilitate the closure of primary-top secondary schools all across the region.

“That is not a proper or optimum way to educate children. There are three ‘primary tops’ in this region closed completely, and those children are now coming to a secondary school with proper facilities. And I guarantee you, we are going to see them doing better, because education delivery is dependent not only on the actual attendance at school, but the quality of education students receive. And you can’t receive a proper secondary education at those schools,” Minister Manickchand said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday October 12, 2021

Benefits outweigh side effects -Minister Anthony urges pregnant and breastfeeding women to take COVID-19 vaccine

HEALTH Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony, is again calling on pregnant and breastfeeding women to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as the benefits of taking the vaccine far surpass the side effects.

Speaking during Monday’s COVID-19 update, the Health Minister stated that all the scientific data available shows that the vaccines are safe to be taken at any stage of pregnancy.

“Whether it’s the first three months, second three months or the last three months, it is safe throughout the

Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony

pregnancy. So, at what point you choose to get the vaccine, it doesn’t

matter; you can get the vaccine, so as to protect yourself,” he said.

Pregnant women are more at risk at becoming seriously ill with COVID-19. Taking any of the COVID-19 vaccines available – AstraZeneca, Sinopharm, Sputnik V or the Pfizer BioNtech, reduces the chances of getting infected, hospitalised and dying.

Minister Anthony said, in addition to these benefits, “when the baby is born, and you’re breastfeeding the baby the antibodies that your body would have produced would also pass through the breast milk so that the baby would have some form

of immunity as well.”

Last Thursday, in an effort to reduce the number of positive COVID-19 infections in pregnant and breastfeeding women, the Ministry of Health rolled out a targeted vaccination campaign.

Previously, the ministry was offering the AstraZenca, Sinopharm and Sputnik V vaccines; however, following a survey, the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine has been added to the list of those offered to women in this category.

Dr. Anthony said that, since then, there

has been an increase in the interest shown to get vaccinated against the disease.

“A lot of women have been showing interest in getting vaccinated. They’ve been asking a lot of questions and as we roll it out to different regions. I expect that we will have higher uptake. We have also been working with the private hospitals and the doctors of those hospitals have been promoting for pregnant women and breastfeeding women to get vaccinated,” he said.

Series of activities billed for National Quality Week

NATIONAL Quality Week (NQW) is observed from October 10 to 15, and to mark the occasion, the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) has planned a number of exciting and engaging activities for stakeholders.

This week of celebrations surrounds World Standards Day, which is commemorated annually on October 14.

According to a release, the theme chosen for the 2021 observances by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is, “Standards for SDGS – our vision for a better world”.

In a combined message, the aforementioned international standards organisations stated that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are pro-

jected to address social imbalances, develop a sustainable economy, and slow the rate of climate change, are highly ambitious.

However, collectively, they believe that achieving these goals will require the cooperation of many public and private partners, and the use of all available tools, including international standards and conformity assessment.?

“The intense battle against a persistent global pandemic revealed the absolute necessity of addressing the SDGs in an inclusive way to strengthen our societies, making them more resilient and more equitable. Today, we are asking you to

join us on a mission that affirms the importance of the SDGs to build back better. In this pursuit, standards are more relevant than ever,” they said.

Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister, Oneidge Walrond, in her message to mark the occasion, said, “Goals Nine and Twelve focus on industry, innovation and infrastructure, and responsible consumption and production, respectively. These SDGs are directly related to business and commerce, and the Government of Guyana continues to take a comprehensive approach to support business sustainability in Guyana, regardless of their type and size.”

According to Minister Walrond, “We want to see more businesses grow in numbers and size, and, in a considerable way, the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce and its sub-agencies have been offering direct support towards making this a reality.”

Meanwhile, in his message, the Chair of the National Standards Council (NSC) Vladim Persaud emphasised that the New Council will pay particular attention to the GNBS’ response and support to the rapidly developing oil-and-gas sector.

ALL HANDS ON DECK According to the Chair, “It is crucial that all hands be on deck to

ensure that the requisite measurement systems are in place, and that crucial internationally recognised standards are adopted for use in the sector.” He further encouraged the Bureau to continue to train and offer support to spinoff businesses which are inclined to offer their products and services to oil-and-gas companies.

On her part, Executive Director (ag) of the GNBS, Ramrattie Karan noted that, “Standards are the key to guaranteeing sustainability to safeguard the benefits for future generations.” She assured that the GNBS would continue to work with stakeholders in every sector to improve and implement standards for the benefit of all. She added that the GNBS looks forward to new and sustained partnerships with regional and global standards’ organisations as it joins in creating a ‘Shared vision for a better world’.

Karan took the op-

portunity to express thanks and appreciation to all members of staff at the GNBS for their committed efforts to provide the standards and services stakeholders need. She also congratulated those staff members who would be receiving long serving awards during National Quality Week 2021.

The GNBS has planned a number of activities in observance of National Quality Week 2021, including radio programmes, a free food safety training for small food handlers and agroprocessors, the National Quality Awards Ceremony, social media engagements, and its long serving awards and staff appreciation ceremony.

The GNBS is encouraging the Guyanese public to be engage in the activities of National Quality Week 2021 and beyond to learn how its services and standards impact businesses and the life of every individual.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday October 12, 2021

Police Force signs agreement with Nations University for prosecutorial training

THE Guyana Police Force last Friday signed a firstof-its-kind Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with Nations University to undertake prosecutorial training for police ranks.

The MoA was signed

by Commissioner of Police (ag), Clifton Hicken at Police Headquarters, Eve Leary and Director of Nations University, Pamela O’Toole.

According to a release, Hicken in brief remarks stated that the Guyana Police Force’s Strategic Plan focuses on human-resource development, which is vital in the ability to prosecute cases.

Thirty ranks from various regional divisions across Guyana have been selected to undergo the first tertiarylevel tuition in effective court prosecuting, while an additional 30 will undertake the second batch of training slated for mid-2022.

Deputy Commissioner ‘Administration’ (ag) Calvin Brutus, welcomed the

Director of Nations University Pamela O’Toole and Commissioner of Police (ag), Clifton Hicken, in the presence of others, display the signed agreement initiative and noted that it need for effective prosecu- acknowledging that such initiative to increase police rank will receive an internatraining is in keeping with prosecutors in the judicial tionally accredited certificate is the first of its kind to be tors in the courts. introduced to the Guyana He expressed the ur- the force’s Strategic Plan to system and stated that Na- from the United Kingdom.

Also present at the Police Force. He expounded gency for in-depth compre- develop all of its members. tions University looks forthat though the force was en- hensive training of police Brutus stated that the GPF ward to working together for event were Deputy Officcountering challenges in the ranks involved in prosecu- looks forward to engaging in the next six months with the er-in-Charge of Finance, courts, aided by a depletion torial duty, given the dy- other training programmes course outline that has been Assistant Superintendent developed.

Persaud, and Officer-inof staff, there is an urgent namics which unfold, while with the university.

Director of Nations UniDirector O’Toole re- Charge of the Strategic versity, Pamela O’Toole, vealed that at the conclusion Planning Unit, Assistant was very delighted with the of the course each graduating Superintendent Kendall.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday October 12, 2021

SoRs, SoPs to be handed over to electoral fraud accused

By Clestine Juan

A TRUCKLOAD of certified copies of Statements of Poll (SoPs) and Statements of Recount (SoRs), was on Monday presented to the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and will eventually be distributed to seven of the persons charged with electoral fraud.

Region Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo; PNC/R Chairperson, Volda Lawrence; Coalition political activist, Carol Smith-Joseph and Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) employees Sherfern February, Enrique Livan, Denise Bobb-Cummings and Michelle Miller are before the court for allegedly defrauding the electors of Guyana by declaring a false account of votes for the 2020 General and Regional Elections.

A team of special prosecutors which includes attorneys-at-law Darshan Ramdhani, QC, Glen Hanoman, Mark Conway, Ganesh Hira, Arudranauth Gossai, and George Thomas, is presenting the state’s case. The defendants are being represented by attorneys-at-law Nigel Hughes, Eusi Anderson, Roynald Daniles and Konyo Sandiford.

During his address to the court, Ramdhani said that each defendant along with the court will receive four boxes of SoPs and SoRs for the 10 regions.

He told the court that due to the number of boxes, the evidence had to be transported in a truck to the court. Also, to lessen the paper load and to save time and space, Ramdhani said that documents can be uploaded to a flash drive.

Statements and discs containing video evidence were added to the list of evidence during Monday’s hearing.

The chief magistrate later adjourned the case until December 17, when a date is expected to be fixed for the case manage-

PNC/R activist Carol Smith-Joseph; former minister, Volda Lawrence, and former Returning Officer for Region Four, Clairmont Mingo

ment hearing.

Mingo, Lawrence and Smith-Joseph are before the court on fraud-related charges. According to particulars of the first charge, it is alleged that on March 5, 2020, with intent to defraud, Lawrence and Mingo uttered a report purporting to be a true declaration of all votes cast in District Four (Demerara-Mahaica) for the March 2, 2020, General and Regional Elections, knowing the same to be forged.

It is further alleged that on March 13, 2020, Mingo and Smith-Joseph uttered a forged document purporting to be a true report of all votes cast in the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections, knowing that said report was forged.

It is also alleged that on the said date, SmithJoseph conspired with Mingo and others to declare a fraudulent count of votes for District Four.

They were each released on $100,000 bail.

Additionally, it is alleged that between March 2 and August 2, 2020, at Georgetown, Mingo, conspired with Volda Lawrence, Carol SmithJoseph, Sherfern February, Enrique Livan, Denise Bobb-Cummings, Michelle Miller and others to defraud the electors of

Guyana by declaring a false account of votes for the elections.

Recently, Mingo, along with Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield, and his deputy, Roxanne Myers, had their employment terminated by the Guyana Elections Com-

mission (GECOM).

Lowenfield and Myers have similar matters pending in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

It is alleged that they inflated or facilitated the inflation of results for Region Four, the country’s largest voting district,

GECOM staffers, Sherfern February and Enrique Livan to give the APNU+AFC Coalition a majority win at the polls when, in fact, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) had won by 15,000 votes.

Those who rejected the results filed several legal challenges which ended up before the Car-

ibbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Guyana’s highest appeal court. A lengthy recount of the votes eventually declared victory in favour of the PPP/C, and Dr. Irfaan Ali was sworn in as the President of Guyana on August 2, 2020.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday October 12, 2021

Caribbean people must urgently acknowledge, assess and tackle climate change

OVER 25 Caribbean and international partners from across the globe came together from October 12-15 to address the public health challenges of climate change at the virtual Conference on Climate Change and Health in Small Island Developing States: Focus on the Caribbean. After over 50 thematic sessions, there was agreement that Caribbean people must urgently acknowledge climate change as a present concern, assess its effects, and tackle it actively.

As noted in the powerful opening remarks of Professor Michael Taylor of the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, this Region must acknowledge that it is already experiencing hotter, drier weather overall, more severe storms, flooding, and rising sea levels and recognise that it will face even hotter and drier times, and higher sea levels that will erode beaches and negatively impact

tourism. Furthermore, these changes will have profound social, economic, environmental, and health implications for a Region where most people live in low-lying coastal areas or on steep slopes.

Sessions included discussions on food and water insecurity; extreme heat and health; informing and empowering youth; air quality; the greening of cities; the role of multisectoral cooperation; engaging youth, as well as the community; public private partnerships; creating a climate-educated health workforce; strengthening research capacity and communicating climate change and health.

Speaking at the closing ceremony under the theme, “Looking Ahead, Moving Forward and Building a Brighter Future,” PAHO/WHO Subregional Programme Director for the Caribbean, Dean Chambliss, noted that one of the immediate successes of this

conference was the wide array of perspectives presented from public and private sectors, the inclusion of civil society and the indigenous community, to name just a few.

“The health and non-health sectors present this week have a shared responsibility for prevention and preparedness. The health sector has a critical role in addressing climate change and health, through promoting sound adaptation and mitigation tools. In the words of Dr Michael Taylor: “The health sector needs more mitigation champions in the Caribbean, as the co-benefits to people’s health bring extraordinary value.” Indeed, the multisectoral approach in this conference has effectively demonstrated the interconnected nature of health, environment, climate change, and economic prosperity,” he said.

Chambliss highlighted that this conference represents a crucial step towards the 2030

vision of Caribbean health systems that are resilient to climate variability and change.

He pledged that PAHO will continue to support Caribbean countries in their United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) commitments to develop climate-resilient and sustainable, low-carbon health systems.

In closing the conference, Founder of the EarthMedic and EarthNurse Foundation for Planetary Health, Dr James Hospedales, noted that the organisation’s top priority is to mobilise health professionals worldwide to tackle the effects of climate change. He described the conference as a “feast of information” and outlined the next steps as including advocacy; increased dissemination of information; the professional development of health care professionals in climate and health education; health diplomacy; negotiating and partnership skills; and

increased collaboration with non-health sectors.

Other speakers at the closing included Dr Robert Dubrow, Professor of Epidemiology, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, and Faculty Director, Yale Center on Climate Change and Health, Yale School of Public Health, who spoke of the need to honour those who die and suffer from the impacts of climate change; Therese Turner-Jones, General Manager, Country Department Caribbean Group (CCB), Inter-American Development Bank; Professor Rose-Marie Belle Antoine, Pro Vice-Chancellor - Graduate Studies and Research, The University of the West Indies;

and The Right Honourable Patricia Scotland QC, Commonwealth Secretary-General.

Over the past 20 years, PAHO has played a significant role in addressing the health implications of climate change in the Caribbean. More recently, the development of the Caribbean Action Plan on Health and Climate Change, as well as the EU CARIFORUM Climate Change and Health Project and an upcoming project with the Green Climate Fund, are aligned with many of the recommendations generated at this week’s Conference.

Just over 1200 people registered for the conference. (PAHO)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday October 12, 2021

Oil and gas companies encouraged to hire laid-off sugar workers

THE government is encouraging companies in the oil industry to seek out areas that would allow persons laid off by the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) to be employed.

Minster within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar, made the call during Sunday’s job fair held by Guyana Shore Base Inc (GYSBI) at the Uitvlugt Community Centre, Region Three.

Minister Indar said the GYSBI had approached government for advice on areas where it should focus its searches.

“I said the best place is the catchment area where GuySuCo lost workers because GuySuCo lost a lot of technical people, a lot of technical education. They had good welders, good mechanics…”

Positions available with GYSBI include warehouse supervisors, crane operators, field technicians, mechanics, equipment maintenance technicians and fuel facility operators.

The minister said the best place to find those workers would be in areas like Uitvlugt, Enmore and Wales.

The Uitvlugt fair is one of three to be held by GYSBI, in a bid to add 150 workers to its staff pool of almost 500. The first fair was held at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence, on Sat-

urday, and the last will be at Enmore Martyrs’ Monument Ground next Saturday.

As for Wales, the government is banking on the Wales Development Zone (WDZ) to scoop up severed sugar workers in the coming years. Vice-President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, had visited the Wales Community Centre last Wednesday and told residents that the new industrial zone will create more new jobs for persons laid off in the sugar industry.

Minister Indar said that individuals wondering how their communities will benefit from the oil industry should look to job fairs and other initiatives by oil companies to hire Guyanese, and ensure they take advantage of those opportunities.

“The event really is to draw persons into the pool…. This is an opportunity. Right here is an opportunity for 150 persons to benefit from that process.”

He explained that government did its part to ensure opportunities are available for locals by granting permits expeditiously to oil support companies.

“When we came in government in August 2020, there were a number of permits held up for GYSBI… So, when we came in, we sat down with the operators and we went through the permitting process. GYSBI received about 16 permits within three months of our coming into office.”

Minister within The minister said the thoseMinistry of Public Works, Deodat Indar (left), greets a Guyana Shore Base Inc. Director, Robin projects amounted to US$16 Muneshwar, at one of the career day fairs held last weekend (DPI photo) million in investments.

With the progress of its operations, GYSBI said that it has already achieved 97 per cent local content with 500 employees.

Its Government Liaison Officer, Rabin Chandarpal, said “our people take pride in their work and understand their impact on the local community. As one of the largest employers in oil and gas in Guyana, with a 97 per cent local workforce, we are proud to showcase Guyanese talent.”

Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh and Chief Executive Officer of the Board of Industrial Training (BIT), Richard Maughn also attended.

(DPI)

Man sentenced in 2018 arrested on conviction warrant

BRYAN Dhanpat, 31, who was sentenced in June 2018 for the unlawful and malicious wounding of Nicholas Herrinandan in September 2015, was captured at Smythfield, New Amsterdam, Berbice, on Sunday.

The police said around 16:00hrs, a party of police officers executed a warrant on the suspect for alleged robbery under arms and he was positively identified as being sentenced in 2018 by Magistrate Alex Moore to six months imprisonment for unlawfully and maliciously wounding Nicholas Herrinandan on November 15, 2015, at Nursevill, New Amsterdam, Berbice.

Dhanpat was taken to the Central Police Station and later transferred to the New Amsterdam Prison to serve his sentence.

Arrested: Bryan Dhanpat

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‘Green Machine’ scores $1.2M NSC support for RAN 7’s THE Green Machine, on Monday, scored $1.2M in support from the National Sports Commission (NSC), as they prepare to depart Guyana on Thursday for Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, with the aim of reclaiming the Rugby Americas North 7’s title.

Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle, made the presentation to the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) at his Middle Street office, where he highlighted the NSC’s pleasure in being able to support one of the country’s most successful sport teams – the Green Machine.

“Rugby is one of our 12 Core Sports disciplines. And not because it is a core sport; we would want to assist as many sports disciplines as possible. We understand that this is a very important tournament and that is why we

try to muster as much support as possible,” Ninvalle said.

According to Ninvalle, “this is not the last that we (the NSC) will be lending support to the GRFU. We do wish them well and hopefully they can come back with the highest accolade.”

Meanwhile, the GRFU’s Assistant/Secretary Treasurer, Tiffany Spencer, lauded the NCN for the timely support, calling it a “great assistance” towards the Green Machine.

The GRFU said they were in a deficit of approximately US$19,000 to make the team’s participation possible, and, as Spencer pointed out, the NSC’s contribution “will assist the team a great deal.

We only have a little more to go, which we can handle. But we’re grateful for the assistance and we will be coming back again.”

The ‘new-look’ Green Machine will ‘scrum off’ their quest to reclaim their RAN 7’s title against Belize on Saturday, October 16.

Organisers released the tournament’s fixtures ahead of this weekend’s showdown which will feature nine countries vying for the coveted title.

The two-day tournament, set for the Meridian Fields in Providenciales, will see Guyana in Group C alongside Bermuda and first-time participants, Belize.

Three-time winners Jamaica were placed in Group A with the British Virgin Islands (BVI) and the Turks and Caicos, while in Group B, Mexico will come up against Barbados and Curacao.

The Green Machine, seven-time winners of the prestigious tournament, will send

a 12-man squad blended with both youth and experience.

Jamal Angus will lead Coach Theodore Henry’s team of experienced players which includes Godfrey Broomes, Osei McKenzie, Rondel McArthur, Lancelot Adonis, Avery Corbin and Peabo Hamilton.

Phibian Joseph, Tyresse Prescod, Oniel Charles, Jonathan Garnett and Lionel Holder are the other players on the team that will seek to return the RAN 7’s trophy to Guyana since Guyana surrendered the title to Jamaica in 2017.

This year’s tournament marks the return of international rugby to the Caribbean for the time since the COVID-19 global pandemic began in 2020 and also acts as a qualifier for next year’s World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series.

'Specific roles' for Chris Gayle as Windies eye third T20 world title ‒ Coach Simmons West Indies head coach, Phil Simmons, has revealed that Chris Gayle will be entrusted with specific roles for the West Indies once the ICC T20 World Cup begins later this month.

Gayle, 42, was a controversial pick by the West Indies selectors with detractors citing his prolonged poor form and age as factors why he should not have been selected.

However, the head coach said Gayle’s experience and leadership were intrinsic factors that made him an asset for the Caribbean side looking to win their third T20 world title on the trot, having won in 2012 and 2016.

During a media session from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Monday, Simmons indicated that more will be asked of the ‘Universe Boss’ in his final World Cup campaign.

“We have specific roles we have put on Chris and we trust that he is going to be ready and in-form, and having had a short rest from the game and from the bubble, he is going to come back fresh and ready to do what we ask him to do,” Simmons said of Gayle, who left the IPL bubble last month citing bubble fatigue and the need to refresh

himself for the world cup.

"Over the last few months, I have been a part of the CWI bubble, CPL bubble followed by the IPL bubble, and I wish to mentally recharge and refresh myself," Gayle said in a statement last month. "I want to refocus on helping the West Indies in the T20 World Cup and would

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My thanks to the Punjab Kings for giving me the time off. My wishes and hopes are with the squad always. All the very best for the games coming up."

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday October 12, 2021

Mbappe strikes late as France beat Spain to win National League final KYLIAN Mbappe fired a contentious winner as France came from behind to beat Spain and become the second team to win the Nations League.

Mbappe was adjudged to be onside when he slid the ball under Unai Simon after Karim Benzema's stunning equaliser at Milan's San Siro.

Spain had taken the lead through Mikel Oyarzabal, who shrugged off defender Dayot Upamecano to beat Hugo Lloris.

Lloris produced two late saves to ensure victory for the world champions.

He first denied Oyarzabal

Kylian Mbappe (left) and Karim Benzema (AFP Photo)

before acrobatically keeping out Yeremi Pino's effort in stoppage time, as France

became the competition's second winners after Portugal in 2019.

But Mbappe's winner will prove to be a moment of debate, with the goal standing even though the Paris St-Germain striker was in an offside position when Theo Hernandez played the initial through ball.

Spain defender Eric Garcia touched the ball in his attempt to clear the danger before it came to Mbappe, and the rules state "a player in an offside position receiving the ball from an opponent who deliberately plays the ball... is not considered to have gained an advantage".

France, who reached the

final by coming from 2-0 down to beat neighbours Belgium 3-2 on Thursday, had to fight back again and did so in a game that came alive after an hour of technical but sedate action.

Didier Deschamps' side's resilience was on full display again as Benzema cut in on his right foot to curl the ball over Simon, less than two minutes after Oyarzabal's opener for Spain.

And even though France had less possession (36%), they constantly looked a threat on the counter-attack as Mbappe struck the deci-

sive - and perhaps fortunate - blow.

Benzema, who returned to the international fold before Euro 2020 in the summer, told French television channel M6: "I really wanted to win a trophy with France, and now it's done.

"We showed strength of character, because this team is very strong, never gives up and we have proven it today.

"It is the sign of a great team not to panic, to be patient and to wait for the right opportunity." (BBC Sport)

Brazil points for the first in their World Cup qualifying campaign BRAZIL dropped points for the first time in their World Cup qualifying campaign with a 0-0 draw in Colombia.

The Copa America runners-up had won all of their previous nine qualifiers for Qatar but were nowhere near their best in Barranquilla on Sunday.

Brazil had the best chances but efforts from Manchester United's Fred, Leeds winger Raphinha and Ajax's Anthony all failed to register.

The result means Brazil are nine points clear at the top of the group.

Colombia remain in fifth

place 13 points behind.

Brazil looked the more likely to get on the scoresheet, especially after the introduction from the subs bench of the lively Raphinha after an hour for his second cap.

The best chance of the match fell to Anthony after a superb cross from Raphinha with five minutes to go. A fizzing inswinging cross from the right was met by the 21-year-old, who forced an athletic save from Napoli keeper David Ospina.

Brazil had been on top in the first half with Paris St-Germain star Neymar

dropping deep and dictating many of their best moves.

But the second half was a scrappy affair with both sides failing to keep their shape.

Colombia had two main chances to get on the scoresheet in the second half, but Juan Quintero's well-hit drive from long range was saved

by Liverpool's Alisson before Raphael Borre blazed over with seconds to go.

Colombia host Ecuador on Thursday while Brazil play Uruguay on Friday in Manaus. The top four sides in the group qualify automatically for the World Cup. (BBC Sport)

Mexico move to top of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying MEXICO moved top of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying with a comprehensive 3-0 defeat of 10-man Honduras on Sunday.

It was not a routine fixture for Mexico, who lost at home to Honduras during qualifying for the 2014 and 2008 World Cups, but El Tri were up to the challenge at Azteca Stadium.

The victory put Mexico on 11 points through five matches, three points clear of the United States and Panama after the USA's shock defeat in Panama City earlier on Sunday.

Sebastian Cordova opened the scoring in the 18th minute,

Sebastian Cordova opened the scoring for Mexico in the 18th minute

driving home a shot from seven yards out with Honduras goalkeeper Luis Lopez out

of position after a scramble around the goal.

Four minutes into the second half, Honduras saw any realistic hopes of a comeback dashed when Maynor Figueroa drew a straight red card for a challenge on Raul Jimenez.

Rogelio Funes Mori provided a welcome cushion in the 76th minute, collecting a rebound from an Edson Alvarez shot that went off the post and driving it home for Mexico's second goal.

Hirving Lozano sealed the win 10 minutes later as Mexico poured it on through the final whistle on the road to Qatar 2022. (Sportsmax)

29

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday October 12, 2021

Narine leads KKR to eliminator win over RCB

Sunil Narine took the key wickets of Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers and Glenn Maxwell.

KOLKOTA Knight Riders (KKR) all-rounder Sunil Narine put in a stunning performance to lead his side to a four-wicket victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Indian Premier League eliminator.

Off-spinner Narine took 4-21 to restrict RCB to 138-7 off 20 overs.

He then smashed 26 off 15 balls as KKR reached 139-6 with two balls to spare despite a late wobble in Sharjah.

KKR face Delhi Capitals in tomorrow’ssecond qualifier for a spot in the final.

The winner of that tie will play Chennai Super Kings on Friday for the 2021 IPL title.

KKR have now won six

out of eight games since the delayed tournament resumed in the United Arab Emirates, while RCB are eliminated in Virat Kohli's final match as captain of the franchise.

Narine bamboozles RCB big names Narine's all-round display was one of the finest in IPL history - there are not many bigger wickets to take in T20 cricket than Kohli, AB de Villiers and Glenn Maxwell, while he gave KKR much-needed impetus with the bat.

RCB made a strong start before KKR's spinners took hold, with Narine bamboozling the batters with his changes of pace, immaculate length and sharp turn.

After removing Srikar Bharat, Narine then

bowled both Kohli and De Villiers with beautiful deliveries, each one foxing the star batter and finding a gap between bad and pat.

Once Narine also had Maxwell miscuing a big shot to Lockie Ferguson, RCB's hopes of posting a massive total had completely subsided.

The game was in the balance when Narine arrived at 79-3 off 11 overs but three sixes off the first three legal deliveries he faced from Dan Christian put KKR on top.

West Indies opted not to select Narine for the upcoming T20 World Cup in Oman and the UAE because of concerns over his fitness - this performance suggests they could rue that decision.

(BBC Sport)

Panama stun U.S. 1-0 in World Cup qualifier (REUTERS) - Panama won their first-ever World Cup qualifying match against the United States in Panama City on Sunday, picking up a 1-0 victory in CONCACAF qualifying for the 2022 World Cup. The U.S. side couldn't find its rhythm and a header from midfielder Anibal Godoy following a corner kick in the 54th minute gave Panama the advantage to roars from the home crowd.

Godoy was taken off on a stretcher in the 67th minute with an injury and a collision between American Kellyn Acosta and Panamanian Armando Cooper late in the second half led to an extended stoppage of play as medical trainers tended to each on the pitch.

Moments later, Panama midfielder Christian Martinez was also taken off the field with an apparent leg issue.

"It was clear we didn't have our best stuff," coach Gregg Berhalter told reporters. "I think we came up short in a number of areas."

Berhalter said the focus would pivot now to "regrouping" for Wednesday's match

Sebastian Lletget of the U.S. in action with Panama’s Eric Davis REUTERS/Erick Marciscano

against Costa Rica.

"Overall, we performed below the expectations we have for ourselves," he added.

The match took place four years to the day since the United States suffered a humiliating 2-1 defeat to Trinidad & Tobago that caused them to miss the 2018 World Cup, the first time they failed to reach the tournament since

1986.

The loss on Sunday dropped the United States to second in the qualifying table, after opening the round with two draws and beating Honduras and Jamaica.

The top three teams qualify automatically for Qatar 2022 with the fourthplaced finisher going into an intercontinental playoff for another spot.

Veterans Ruiz, Borges rally Costa Rica past El Salvador SAN JOSE, Costa Rica.Costa Rica fought back from a goal down to secure its first victory of the final round of World Cup qualification in the CONCACAF region, beating El Salvador 2-1 at the Estadio Nacional in San Jose on Sunday.

Jairo Henriquez opened the scoring for the visitors in the 12th minute when Joaquin Rivas placed a pass into Henriquez’s path, allowing the attacker to run up and lash a long shot past Costa Rica GK Keylor Navas for a 1-0 lead.

In the 36th minute, the home side had a chance to draw level with Joel Campbell putting in a free kick that Celso Borges headed on target, but El Salvador GK Mario Gonzalez was able to deny the shot.

Costa Rica found the 1-1 equalizer in the 52nd minute, with Campbell passing to Borges, who then played a ball for Ruiz at the back post

Bryan Ruiz and Celso Borges celebrates after scoring against El Salvador on October 10 2021, at the Estadio Nacional in San Jose, Costa Rica.

and the captain headed in past Gonzalez.

Gonzalez was beaten again six minutes later, as the Salvadoran goalkeeper was whistled for bringing down FW Jose Ortiz and Borges converted the spot kick to make it 2-1.

El Salvador finished the match with 10 men, with Nar-

cisco Orellana shown a red card in the 85th minute after a tackle he attempted ended with his foot coming down on Campbell’ Achilles.

Next up for Costa Rica is a journey to face the United States, while El Salvador returns home, hosting Mexico at the Estadio Cuscatlán.

(Concacaf.com)

30

Werner helps Germany become first team to qualify for World Cup in Qatar GERMANY became the first team to join hosts Qatar at the 2022 World Cup with a thumping victory in North Macedonia.

Former England youth international Jamal Musiala opened his account for the Germans, running in on goal and stroking home a confident finish.

Kai Havertz claimed the first goal in the second half, slotting in from Thomas Muller's unselfish pass.

Timo Werner smashed home the second following Muller's superb flick and also curled in a delightful third.

The Germans could have had more, but Chelsea forward Werner rattled the post with a thumping low drive on the stroke of half time, but managed to score twice as his side got the job done with clinical finishing in the second period.

It will be a night to remember for 18-year-old ex-Chelsea academy gradu-

Jamal Musiala scored his first Germany goal on his ninth cap.

ate Musiala, who played 19 times for various England youth teams but declared to play for Germany through his mother, as he netted a first senior goal on his ninth cap.

Hansi Flick's men, who are four-time world cham-

pions, reach the tournament for the 20th occasion, with only Brazil (21) appearing more times.

They did it with two games to spare, with meetings against Liechtenstein and Armenia to come next month. (BBC Sport)

Messi makes South American history with 80th international goal LIONEL Messi became the first South American to score 80 international goals as his Argentina side beat Uruguay in World Cup qualifying.

Captain Messi opened the scoring for his side with a floated cross that somehow evaded the goalkeeper.

Rodrigo de Paul doubled Argentina's lead before half-

time, with Lautaro Martinez adding a third after the break.

"We played a great game.

Everything worked out perfectly," said Messi.

"Uruguay wait for you and they generate danger.

Once we got the first goal we started to find space and the goals appeared."

Argentina are now 24

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Tuesday October 12, 2021)

COMPLIMENTS OF CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD 83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Darren Sammy-4/16 (Trinidad, 2011) (2) Deepak Chahar-3/4 (Providence, 2019) Today’s Quiz: (1) Which WI wicketkeeper has effected most dismissals against IND in T20 Int’l cricket?

(2) Which IND wicketkeeper has effected most dismissals against the WI in T20 Internationals?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday October 12, 2021

England name strong Ashes squad for Test tour to Australia ENGLAND will take their strongest available squad to Australia for the 2021-22 Ashes Test series.

Joe Root will captain the side, with wicketkeeper Jos Buttler vice-captain for the five-match series which begins in Brisbane on 8 December.

All 17 players have been capped at Test level.

"I am delighted that all of our available players have committed to the tour," said England head coach Chris Silverwood.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) had only announced on Friday that the tour would go ahead following player concerns over Covid protocols.

Rory Burns, Dawid Malan, Haseeb Hameed, Zak Crawley and Jonny Bairstow join Root as the frontline batters.

James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Mark Wood, Craig Overton and Ollie Robinson are among England's pace bowling options, with Jack Leach and Dom Bess the spinners.

Dan Lawrence, who can also bowl spin, will contest a spot in the middle order alongside Ollie Pope, Buttler and all-rounder Chris Woakes.

All-rounder Ben Stokes is not included as he recovers from surgery on an index fin-

England captain Joe Root

ger having taken an indefinite break from cricket in July to protect his mental health.

Fast bowlers Jofra Archer and Olly Stone are also absent, as they recover from elbow and back injuries respectively, along with left-arm seamer Sam Curran. All-rounder Moeen Ali recently retired from Test cricket.

Broad, who will be on a fourth Ashes tour, is still recovering from a torn right calf but "making excellent progress", the ECB said.

"We are under no illusions about how difficult the task is going to be," said Silverwood.

"Australia have been strong at home in the past, and there is an expectation on them to win this series.

However, from our point of

view, there is genuine excitement and belief that we can do something special."

The players will be shadowed by a yet-to-be-selected England Lions squad who will provide cover for the two months during the tour.

Both squads will head to Australia on 4 November, while players on Twenty20 World Cup duty in the United Arab Emirates will join the tour after their tournament commitments.

England are looking to regain the Ashes after Australia retained them in England following a 2-2 draw in 2019.

ENGLAND SQUAD FOR ASHES TOUR OF AUSTRALIA Joe Root (Yorkshire) captain, James Anderson (Lancashire), Jonathan Bairstow (Yorkshire), Dom Bess (Yorkshire), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Rory Burns (Surrey), Jos Buttler (Lancashire) wk, Zak Crawley (Kent), Haseeb Hameed (Nottinghamshire), Dan Lawrence (Essex), Jack Leach (Somerset), Dawid Malan (Yorkshire), Craig Overton (Somerset), Ollie Pope (Surrey), Ollie Robinson (Sussex), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire), Mark Wood (Durham.

(BBC Sport)

Russell `close enough to fitness’, says Windies head coach

Lionel Messi made his international debut in 2005, scoring his first international goal the year after.

games unbeaten and their latest win keeps up the pressure on Brazil in South America's World Cup qualifying group.

The victory narrows the gap between Brazil and second-placed Argentina at the top of the 10-team group to six points, after Brazil drew 0-0 with Colombia earlier on Sunday.

(BBC Sport)

DUBAI, (CMC) – Injured West Indies all-rounder, Andre Russell, is recovering well and is “close enough to fitness”, head coach Phil Simmons said on Monday, indicating he was not concerned the star player would not be ready for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The 33-year-old Jamaican, who was named in the regional side’s 15-man squad for the World Cup that begins later this month, suffered a hamstring injury while fielding for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on the boundary against Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL) last month and has missed all of KKR’s matches since.

There had been speculation he may have returned to bat for KKR in Monday’s eliminator against Royal

Challengers Bangalore in Sharjah; Russell continued to sit out as he recovers.

At a virtual press briefing from Dubai on Monday, Simmons said he was not concerned that Russell’s injury would prevent him from contributing to West Indies’ title defence in the UAE and Oman.

“We’ve been in constant contact – between our medical and KKR’s medical – and he’s been batting in the nets, he’s been running to a certain level; so he’s close enough to fitness,” the head coach said.

“There was talk…he might have been up to play today as a batsman but they’ve gone against that and we’ll see how he moves forward, but he’s been progressing really well.”

The Kieron Pollard-led team will begin their campaign for a third T20 World

Cup win with a match against England on October 23 in Dubai.

The other members of the squad are: Nicholas Pooran, Fabian Allen, Dwayne Bravo, Roston Chase, Andre Fletcher, Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, Evin Lewis, Obed McCoy, Lendl Simmons, Ravi Rampaul, Andre Russell, Oshane Thomas, and Hayden Walsh Jr. Former West Indies captain Jason Holder, Darren Bravo, Sheldon Cottrell and Akeal Hosein are the reserves.

Simmons said that the players who arrived in Dubai from the Caribbean are on their final day of quarantine and once they get negative COVID-19 test results on Monday night, they will begin practise on Tuesday.

He said the mood among the squad so far has been “good”.

31

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday October 12, 2021

Dassie and Friends Inter-county softball

Demerara thrash defending champions Berbice

By Frederick Halley AFTER failing to reach the final of the 2019 tournament, Demerara exacted revenge on defending champions, Berbice, when the fourth edition of the Dassie and Friends softball tournament climaxed at Keele Top, North York, Canada on Sunday.

Postponed because of a heavy downpour when the competition was first played in late August and with Berbice in the ascendancy, Demerara benefited from the replayed fixture, thrashing their opponents by a 10-wicket margin in a low-scoring affair.

Batting first, after the game was reduced to 12 overs because of threatening clouds, Berbice were shot out for a meagre 50 in their allotted overs. Demerara duly reached the required target in 5.4 overs with openers, Amit Rukhram and Avinash Sookdeo unbeaten on 21 and 20 respectively.

The left-handed Rukhram struck two fours and a six while Sookdeo, who enjoyed an extremely productive 2021, counted two fours

The victorious Demerara side.

and a six in an entertaining cameo.

Earlier, the Berbice innings were in ruins from the onset and they never recovered from a horrible start. Apart from Skipper Looknauth Ramsuchit who hit a topscore of 18, no other batter reached double figures and showed little inclination of permanency at the crease.

Sookdeo, who was later named as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the game, crowned a fine all-round performance, grabbing three for

10 from his three overs. He received admirable support from Sunil Ramkissoon (two for eight), Rukhram (one for nine) and Mahendranuth “Bobby”Parasnauth (one for 12).

Apart from copping the Trophy Stall (Canada) trophy, Demerara also took home $2500(Can) for their efforts while Berbice collected a trophy and the $500 (Can) runners-up prize. Players from both teams were also the recipients of medallions.

Skipper Rukhram collect-

ed a prize for registering the most runs in the tournament while Sookdeo claimed the leading wicket-taker trophy.

The 2019 final saw Berbice defeating Essequibo in the 20-over final on the back of a fine knock of 85 from Yadram “Lara” Bhoj which carried the Berbicians to a formidable 210 for three in their allotted overs. Essequibo were restricted to 138 for seven when their overs expired.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the tournament

MVP Avinash Sookdeo is rewarded for his efforts.

was put on hold in 2020.

At Sunday’s impressive presentation ceremony, organiser Damodar Daesrath, former Guyana captain, expressed sincere thanks to the several sponsors which included Ambico, JDG Tooling, Canadian Surplus Guyana, I&R Contracting Services, B-Boy Transportation Services, 24-Hours Glass System, Santa Maria Restaurant , Caribbean

Lyme Restaurant , Jazzy Trading LTD, Dent Wizard, Stem CAM , One-Stop Auto Services, Lil Taste of Guyana, PGI & Platinum Cleaning Services , SJ Cleaning Services, Flourish Lashes, K Energy, T&S Enterprise LTD, Two Brothers Door Finishing, Yashi Sports and York Cricket Club, Mohan Contraction and Alarm Techz and Trophy Stall-Canada.

GFF-donates bus to help ‘accelerate’ football development in Region 9 THE Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has funded and delivered a 19-seater minibus for use by the Rupununi Football Association (RFA) to enable enhanced and affordable participation in football competitions and development programmes across the remote hinterland of Region 9.

The Toyota Hiace bus, the first large-group transportation vehicle provided to a regional football association in the 120-year history of the GFF, will create immediate and considerable cost-savings and remove a significant barrier for the participation in football among remote communities.

“We have to make it possible for football to be played more often and in more places across this beautiful coun-

GFF president, Wayne Forde, cuts the ceremonial ribbon on the minibus the GFF has funded for the Rupununi.

try. In order to achieve this, It is important that every young boy and girl must have equal access to the game and its developmental resources,” said GFF president Wayne Forde.

The bus, funded through the GFF’s ground-breaking Members Financial Assistance Programme (M-FAP), was handed over to the RFA at a ceremony in St. Igna-

tius on Saturday, followed by matches involving male and female players from the region.

“With the introduction of the M-FAP programme in

2020, the GFF is now able to provide unprecedented support to the entire fraternity,” Forde said.

According to Forde, “The RFA Executive Committee has delivered remarkable success despite the unique challenges the geography of the region poses. This minibus will now allow the RFA to access every corner of the region, play more games, scout more talent. This is one additional step in our determined effort to improve hinterland football by creating a clear pathway to the national teams of the GFF.” RFA president, Rayan Farias, said the bus would vastly accelerate his organisation’s efforts in developing football across the Rupununi and praised the GFF for the creation of the M-FAP initiative, which is modelled

on FIFA’s financial distribution model for supporting its members.

“Back in 2015, when the football mantle was taken up under the administration of Mr. Wayne Forde, today’s reality was just a dream,” said Farias. “It is indeed an honour to express our gratitude to the Guyana Football Federation for their continuous support. We want to thank the Federation for allowing this for our youth and senior players.”

The Rupununi, on the southern border with Brazil, has a renowned passion for football, with girls and boys taking up the beautiful game from an early age and community male and female teams often embarking on long, arduous journeys to compete against rival villages.

Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle (L), handing over the NSC’s cheque to the GRFU’s Assistant/Secretary Treasurer, Tiffany Spencer.

‘Green Machine’ scores $1.2M NSC support for RAN 7’s

Table Tennis player Van Lange earns ‘wild card’ pick for Junior Pan-Am Games

PAGE

27

Amy Hunter becomes world's youngest ODI centurion on her 16th birthday IRELAND's Amy Hunter has become the youngest player to score an ODI century, hitting an unbeaten 121 and taking her side to a win against Zimbabwe on her 16th birthday.

Hunter overtook the record previously held by India's Mithali Raj, who scored 114 not out against Ireland at the age of 16 years and 205 days in June 1999.

Shahid Afridi is the youngest man to hit an ODI century. He was 16 years and 217 days old when he scored 102 against Sri Lanka in 1996.

Hunter is also younger than any man or woman who has Ireland's Amy Hunter became the youngest ODI centurion on her scored a century in T20Is. 16th birthday. (Zimbabwe Cricket) Playing just her fourth ODI on Monday, Hunter's knock came Having managed just seven runs off 127 balls and included eight fours.

It was the highest score by a batter for across her previous three innings - all Ireland Women, passing Karen Young's against Zimbabwe - Hunter's latest performance helped her side to a total 120 made in 2000 against Pakistan.

Scores: Ireland 312-3 (50 overs): of 312 for 3 from their 50 overs in the fourth and final ODI in Harare, the Hunter 121*, Lewis 78, Delany 68 Zimbabwe 227-8 (50 overs): Nkomo highest team total by Ireland Women in ODI cricket. Ireland won the match 66, Ndiraya 38; Granger 2-53

by 85 runs to seal the series 3-1.

"It feels really good, it's a bit surreal right now," Hunter said.

"When I was coming up to my fifty, I just wanted to stick by and get there, then when I came to my hundred I didn't know what to do, take my helmet off or keep it on, but it was unbelievable.

"I felt more nervous for my fifty. I didn't do so well in the first three games so I was just delighted to be out there and get that first four away and from there it kind of flowed. From fifty to a hundred felt like it went much quicker than from nought to fifty."

Hunter shared a 143-run stand for the third wicket with captain Laura Delany. Delany, who scored 68, was in the middle when Belfast schoolgirl Hunter brought up her ton.

"Del's so supportive of me and she always backs me and tells me to back myself and back my skills so it was unbelievable," Hunter said.

(Cricinfo)

Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

Junior National Table Tennis player, Jonathan Van Lange

TABLE Tennis player, Jonathan Van Lange, has gained qualification to the inaugural Junior Pan-American Games scheduled for November 25 – December 5 in Cali, Colombia.

He joins fellow countryman, Miguel Wong.

This announcement was made by the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) on Monday, which indicated, “PanAm Sports outlined that given the central concept for the institution and implementation of the Junior Pan American games being to develop the next generation of athletes in the Americas, they decided to open up an additional wild-card slot for athletes who were unable to attend qualification events due to COVID and travel restrictions as well as for those from nations that normally do not participate in many disciplines.”

The Cali 2021 Junior Pan American Games is a multisport Junior Olympic cycle event, which is intended to promote and develop the next generation of athletes in the Americas.

“In this regard, the Guyana Table Tennis Association and the Guyana Olympic Association nominated and submitted Jonathan as one of its talented prospects for the available wild card positions”, the release further stated.

The GTTA said that after careful analysis and the cooperation of the respective Pan American Sports confederations among other factors, Van Lange was selected as a qualifier among the list of talented prospects in the Americas region.

“An exceptional talent who has great prospects for regional and international success if given the correct support and nurturing in the ideal environments for growth, Jonathan’s qualification for participation at this event provides a great platform for him to register and commence his quest for qualification at the Junior Olympic Games, Junior South American Games 2022, Junior Commonwealth Games, among other Junior Olympic cycle and key international events within the junior realm,” the GTTA concluded.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2021