Guyana_Chronicle_Epaper_12_18_2020

FRIDAY 18th December, 2020

' No.106217

US$100M HOTEL

WITH HELIPAD COMING

US$100M HOTEL

–– expected to create over 150 jobs; will cater for foreigners and locals

SEE PAGE 02

Nandlall, Jonas and Jamela Ali 03 conferred with ‘Silk’ PAGE

US$4M ‘Jagsville’ to feature 09 171 modern houses PAGE

An artist’s impression of the proposed El Dorado Hotel

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 18, 2020

US$100M hotel with helipad to be built –– will create over 150 jobs; will cater for foreigners and locals, investors say

By Navendra Seoraj THE Golden City, El Dorado, may be fictitious but the concept of elegance is one which Artsunac, a local business services company, is looking to mimic with its proposed US$100 million Hilton-branded “El Dorado Hotel”. The investment is expected to create over 150 jobs and cater for every citizen and traveller.

Although a location for this facility has not yet been finalised, the investors are confident that the proposed 17 to 20-storey hotel will be ‘iconic’ and ‘magnificent.’

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the construction of this hotel was signed by the investors and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Office for Investment (Go-Invest), Dr. Peter Ramsaroop, on Wednesday.

Managing Partner of Artsunac, Alleyne and Alleyne Business Practitioners,

Managing Partner at Alleyne and Alleyne Business Practitioners, Gavin Alleyne

Gavin Alleyne, said the US$100 million hotel will feature 90 executive suites and two ultra-luxury rooms, a helipad and other amenities, which both foreign and local visitors would enjoy.

Not only will the facility serve as an attraction, it will create over 150 direct jobs, said Alleyne, adding that a further 400-500 jobs will be created in the construction phase.

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An artist’s impression of the proposed El Dorado Hotel

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 18, 2020

Nandlall, Jonas and Jamela Ali conferred with ‘Silk’

By Rabindra Rooplall ATTORNEY-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall and Attorneys-at-Law Timothy Jonas and Jamela Ali were on Thursday conferred the status of Senior Counsel by President, Dr Irfaan Ali under the Baridi Benab, State House.

President Ali, who acknowledged the lawyers’ high standards of excellence in the legal profession, elevated them with effect from October 30, 2020.

The honour of ‘silk’ is conferred on distinguished lawyers. This status is recognised by the courts, and gives recipients privilege and respect.

Since members wear silken gowns of a specific design, the Senior Counsel are usually referred to as having attained ‘silk’.

“Today, I am pleased, as President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, to confer the title of Senior Counsel on three eminent members of the legal profession. Their records of excellence and sterling service exemplify the high standards to which the legal profession aspire. The conferment of Senior Counsel on these three legal luminaries is meritorious and deserving,” President Ali said.

Reminding the new Senior Counsel that their title has long been associated with standards of distinction, the president said: “The conferment of silk is a mark of quality, and thereby a means of enhancing public trust in our legal system. Such appointments will repose greater confidence in the efforts to ensure a more efficient and effective system.”

The Head-of-State noted, too, that public confidence in the administration of justice will only be enhanced by the presence of persons who embody the high standards and traditions of excellence and service, within the legal

President, Dr Irfaan Ali and Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards with the new Senior Counsel

system.

Such standards, he stressed, are therefore reinforced by such appointments, which are based on merit, and which can inspire greater respect for and confidence in the legal system.

The President added that an effective and efficient legal system is essential to the social contract between citizens and society, who look to the legal system to secure peace, to deter violations of the law, and to protect their individual rights.

He said that without such guarantees, society would be disorderly and unstable.

“It therefore remains an obligation of all; government, citizens and particularly members of the legal profession, to work to ensure an effective and efficient legal system, where justice must be affordable, accessible, swift and fair.

These are the foundational principles which should and must guide justice administration in Guyana, and which will enhance public confi-

dence in our justice system,” he explained.

President Ali congratulated the newly-sworn in Senior Counsel, and wished them continued success in their careers, as he presented them with their instruments of appointment.

TRANSPARENT Reacting to the conferment, Jonas praised President Ali for acting transparently, and consulting the Chancellor of the Judiciary for confirmation of his appointment.

He explained that when he was told in October that he was nominated for Senior Counsel, he had indicated to the Head of State that he would not accept the honour unless the judges gave their imprimatur.

“To my surprise, he called me the next day, and he said he had received written confirmation from the Chancellor that the judges had approved my nomination, and therefore I told him that I was willing to go again, subject to the

pending litigation.”

Jonas added that in December 2018, he was “appointed and disappointed”, after he had received a call indicating that he was nominated for silk by the previous administration. The decision was, however, quickly rescinded after A New and United Guyana (ANUG) was formed, a political party which he serves as chairman.

“That kind of political interference is unacceptable.

This President has demonstrated that he is better than his predecessor, because he knows I do not support him politically, and yet he was willing to accept the advice of the Judiciary and do the right thing. I will give him credit for that,” Jonas said.

Jonas further noted that while he is happy to finally attain the prestigious honour, he is disappointed that his mentor, Miles Fitzpatrick, is not alive to witness it.

HALLMARK Meanwhile, the Attor-

ney-General also related that he was ecstatic to finally be able to reach the “hallmark of any lawyer’s career”.

“It is a point that establishes that the lawyer has reached a particular level of competence recognised by his peers, by the bench and by society. And that is a remarkable achievement; it is what every law student aspires to, and what every lawyer aspires to. So it’s great reaching this status,” he noted.

Nandlall added that he was also confident of one day becoming Senior Counsel, but that confidence was backed up by hard work.

“So it's the culmination of years of hard work, but I am also cognisant of the responsibilities that are now upon my shoulders. Silk has certain responsibilities: To carry oneself in a particular manner; to display a certain level of rectitude and decorum; to be able to guide the junior lawyers; to be able to give pro-bono public legal advice to the less fortunate, who can’t have

access to justice like the rich and the powerful, and these are obligations which I plan to discharge to the best of my ability,” he explained.

The Attorney-General is anxious to embark on this new phase of his career.

Jamela Ali also echoed similar sentiments, saying that it makes her “absolutely happy” to be conferred the title of Senior Counsel after 31 years of service.

“I am going to continue to do the work that I do; give my best legal services, continue with my work in mediation in order to improve the administration of justice as well as arbitration, and to continue publishing and do the best I can in the legal profession,” she added.

The appointments follow a ruling by High Court Judge Nareshwar Harnanan on Thursday that the President has the authority to appoint lawyers as Senior Counsel.

US$100M hotel with helipad to... “… at the time of the opening, we estimate that we will hire about 300 persons… we believe that this hotel has the potential to become a massive economic driver, allowing for world-class businesses to come back and help with development,” said the investor during a press briefing on Thursday.

Construction of this hotel is expected to commence in the first quarter of next year

and, based on expert estimations, would be completed within 24 months.

Artsunac’s interest to bring this hotel to Guyana is due mainly to the recent surge in economic activities “Our firm has a proven record of leadership within fortune 100 companies that extends from operational leadership, audit, banking and compliance, engineering & IT, marketing and advertising,

legal and regulatory advisory, healthcare, and brokerage and logistics, among others,” said the company.

The company’s exposure has allowed them to transition into emerging markets and provides competitive and world-class services.

It was reported that close to US$1 billion (G$215B) will soon be injected into Guyana’s economy in the form of world-class hotels which

will be constructed across the country to cater for the anticipated increase in visitors, who are being attracted by the nation’s burgeoning oil and gas sector and its spill-off benefits.

A business-friendly climate supplemented by the anticipated economic ascension is being credited for the attraction of major players in the hotel industry, such as Sheraton, The Element, Delta

Marriott, Best Western Hotels and Resorts, the H-Tower Luxury Hotel, the Marriott Courtyard, the Hyatt Hotels Corporation, the Radisson Hotels, and the Hilton Hotels and Resorts, among others. According to a study by Oxford Economics, hotel operations and guest spending, support eight million jobs across the US alone.

The same study found that a typical hotel with 100 occu-

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pied rooms per night supports 230 local jobs every year. And the nation’s hotel and lodging industry bring other important benefits to local communities.

These businesses are a cornerstone for local economic activity, providing increased tax revenue, capital investment, tourism-related development and promotion, civic leadership, charitable contributions and sponsorship.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 18, 2020

Granger acted lawfully in appointing Senior Counsel High Court Judge Nareshwar Harnanan

By Clestine Juan HIGH Court Judge, Nareshwar Harnanan, on

Attorney General and Minster of Legal Affairs Senior Counsel Anil Nandlall

Thursday, dismissed the application filed by Attorney-at-law, Timothy Jonas, challenging the legality of

Friday December 18, 2020 –– 4:30 HRS

Senior Counsel, Jameela Alli

Senior Counsel, Mursalene Bacchus

the four Senior Counsel (SC) appointments made by former President, David Granger, last year.

Justice Harnanan further ruled that the President, as Guyana’s supreme executive authority, is vested with the exclusive prerogative to confer legal practitioners with silk.

Jonas, an Executive Member of A New and United Guyana (ANUG) has asked the court to grant an Order of Certiorari to quash the SC appointments of Attorneys-at-law Jamila Ali, Roysdale Forde, Mursalene Bacchus and Stanley Moore.

The Judge; however, refused to grant such orders, stating that the court does not find the complaints of the applicant to be “meritorious”.

“There are no issues of unconstitutionality in the appointment process as currently exists. The orders prayed for are therefore refused,” the judge said in his ruling.

Attorney-General, Anil Nandlall, was named as the respondent in the matter while the Bar Association of Guyana and Attorney-at-law, Hari

Senior Counsel, Roysdale Forde

Ramkarran SC were permitted to intervene, amicus curiae in the case.

The judge, in his ruling, sided with the submissions made the Attorney-General, who contended that proceedings like these give rise to novel issues in Guyanese jurisprudence, not previously canvassed in a significant way.

He argued that the President, as the supreme executive authority, is vested with the exclusive prerogative and such a power was never vested in the Judiciary of Guyana.

Additionally, he said that the President’s prerogative to confer Silk does not infringe on judicial independence, nor is it unconstitutional in any other way.

Against this backdrop, Nandlall pointed out that Jonas, in his submissions, claims that the court has an inherent jurisdiction to confer Silk.

“This is emphatically denied, and the applicant has not provided evidence of this,” the AG argued in his submissions.

He noted that the power to appoint Queen’s/King’s Counsel originated with the Monarch,

Senior Counsel, Timothy Jonas

and in Guyana’s case, was exercisable by the Governor, who was the Queen’s representative in British Guiana.

The powers of the Queen were exercisable by the Governor-General by virtue of the Guyana Independence Ordinance 1966, which powers included the prerogative to appoint Silk.

Additionally, the Common Law of England, which included the prerogative of the Monarch to confer Silk became the common law of Guyana since 1917 by virtue of the Civil Law of Guyana Act. The Republic Act then captured the, inter alia, prerogatives of the Queen, and vested same in the President of Guyana in 1970.

The President, he reiterated has the power to confer Silk as part of his prerogative to confer honours. “It is respectfully submitted that the dignity of Silk has become, by evolution of the convention, an honour. If we accept that the dignity of Silk is an honour conferred upon Attorneys-at-law as a mark of distinction, then it must be accepted that the President of Guyana, as the fountainhead of honours in Guyana has the power, or prerogative, to confer Silk as an honour,” the AG said in his submission.

The AG had cited Article

Senior Counsel, Stanley Moore

193 (Vii) of the Constitution of Guyana which contemplates the power of the President to bestow honours.

SHALL NOT INVESTIGATE The Article states, “The Ombudsman shall not investigate any such action, or action taken with respect to any such matter, as is described hereunder: the grant of honours, awards or privileges within the gift of the President.”

Before parting, the judge said that there is a need for increased transparency and the required criteria for the bestowing of Silk.

“It cannot go observed that the manner of appointment is somewhat opaque.

This may lend itself to the perception that persons were undeserving of this esteemed honour may benefit because of some patronage or another.

Having said that, this court must also say that there is nothing unsavoury in their manner of appointment as it follows on the traditions which have flowed from the exercise of that Royal prerogative,” the judge stressed.

Justice Harnanan further highlighted that it is time for reform of the process of appointment of senior counsel.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 18, 2020

Security guard kills relative over sex a quantity of Vodka before visiting Singh, and that the woman, upon letting him in, became annoyed by his drinking. The accused said that he then “held onto” Singh, and as she was walking backwards, she fell onto the bed. Ramdeen said that he then took off the woman’s clothes, after which they became intimate, and that “after he finished, they lie down.”

The man told police that as Singh was attempting to “get up”, he pulled her back onto the bed, causing her to hit her head. Ramdeen claimed that Singh then shouted his name twice, after which he “choked her and went home”.

Neighbours hosting a vigil for the late Marilyn “Jean” Singh

By Rehana Ahamad RAVINDRA Ramdeen, called “Ravin”, has confessed to killing 53-year-old Marilyn Singh, the South Cummings Lodge woman who was found dead, naked on her bed on Friday, December 11, 2020. Ramdeen, a security guard, is the reputed husband of Singh’s step-niece, Surita Brigemohan. Bridgemohan, 28, is the same relative who was charged for brutally beating and wounding Singh with a spade back in June.

According to the police, 47-year-old Ramdeen con-

The now deceased Marilyn ‘Jean’ Singh

fessed to strangling Singh after she refused to have sex with him a second time on Thursday night. He claimed that he and Singh, well known in her community as Jean, shared an intimate relationship, and that the woman had invited him to ‘sneak over’ that night.

Singh, along with Ramdeen, his wife and other relatives, shared the same home; however, after Singh filed assault charges against her step-niece, both she and her husband (Ramdeen) were asked to move.

Ramdeen told investigators that he had consumed

Granger acted lawfully in appointing ...

Against this backdrop, the judge added that the challenge before the court did not seek to verify any of the appointments as being undeserving of the dignity of Senior Council but rather a challenge on the manner and process of appointment.

“There is a need for increased transparency of the requirement criteria and the nomination and selection process of deserving counsel to be stored the corner of taking silk,” the judge said as he welcomed the remarks by the Attorney-General, who during his oral arguments, indicated that a review of the manner of appointments is near.

Jonas in his grounds of application has said, “The power and discretion to admit persons at the Bar of Guyana, to preside over such persons, to discipline, suspend and disbar such persons is conferred by the provisions of the Legal Practitioners Act and common law on the High Court of the Supreme Court of Judicature of Guyana.”

DISCRETION

He noted that the Full Bench of the High Court, had, from time to time, exercised a discretion to confer on attorneys-at-law who have practised with distinction before the court, the dignity of ‘Senior Counsel’. As such, he is of the opinion that Granger’s announcement last December that Forde, Ali, Bacchus, and Moore be appointed SC with effect from January 1, 2020 was unlawful.

“There is no statutory or other power conferred on the President of Guyana whether as President or otherwise to make such a decision or to appoint attorneys-at-law to the dignity of Senior Counsel, and the decision by the President as communicated in the said publication is entirely void and of no effect,” Jonas submitted to the court.

He added: “Insofar as the (former) President, a member of the executive, purports to make a decision within the province of the inherent discretion of the High Court, his trespass into the realm of the judiciary violates Article 122 of the Constitution and is

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illegal and void.” In October, the Office of the President (OP) announced that Nandlall and Jonas will be appointed Senior Counsel with effect from October 30. The announcement, OP said followed consultations between Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag), Yonette Cummings and President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali. “Their appointments are due to their demonstrable knowledge of, and learning in the law, and on account of their exemplary erudition and diligence in the practice of the law, and, by virtue of their distinguished contributions to the growth and development of Guyana’s jurisprudence and constitutional democracy,” the OP statement noted.

On Thursday, Anil Nandlall, Timothy Jonas and Jamela Ali were presented with their instrument of appointment at State House by the President.

A neighbour told the police that she heard the woman’s faint screams around 02:26 hrs on Friday morning.

“She was screaming saying, 'Ravin! Ravin! What you doing?’” the neighbour related.

The neighbour related that she “peeped around,” but saw nothing.

Singh’s neighbour, Madonna Ghanie does not believe that “Ravin” and Singh shared an intimate relation.

“Anybody in the village would tell you that Jean never liked him; they don’t ever get along,” Ghanie related.

It was Ghanie who used her Facebook page to highlight “the constant abuse” that Singh faced, at the hands

of her step-neice, Ramdeen’s reputed wife.

The alleged abuser, Bridgemohan, is expected to make an appearance at the Sparendaam Magistrates’ Court today, December 18, to answer to assault charges.

After being allegedly beaten by Bridgemohan with a spade, Singh was badly wounded, with her teeth piercing through her chin.

“Jean”, who would have celebrated her birthday on Sunday, seemed to have been well-loved in her community. Every night since her death, neighbours have come together to host wakes and a nightly vigil.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 18, 2020

Tajeram Mohabir

Building an inclusive Guyana ONE would expect that the Opposition Coalition, especially its main driver, the People's National Congress (PNC), would welcome the reaching out of President Irfaan Ali to all former Heads of State to engage in conversation on the future of this promising nation. Alas, it is not to be, as Brigadier David Granger refused to show up for the presidential meeting. To their credit, former Presidents Samuel Hinds, Bharrat Jagdeo, and Donald Ramotar congregated at the round table with President Ali, and agreed to form a national elders' Think Tank that meets quarterly to brainstorm and mind-map crucial strategies for security, electoral reform, constitutional reform, climate change, and other developmental issues.

Citizens would be watching the actions of Brigadier Granger and the PNC, which he is leader of, and the Coalition, to see how genuinely sincere and authentic are opposition leaders in achieving unity, togetherness, and cooperation as Guyana ramps up its socioeconomic development. One is nonplussed and speechless at the disappointing noshow of Brigadier Granger. If this is the sort of leadership he wants the other opposition leaders to emulate, Guyanese would be questioning how wise an elder statesman he is, and how committed is he to national unity, cooperation, and contributing positive, proactive, progressive

ideas and views to the development process.

The People's Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) demonstrates, with emphatic confidence, its commitment to include citizens of every political persuasion in the process of developing this nation. The party appointed members of the small Opposition parties as members of Boards at State organisations and at positions within ministries, and enrolled leader of the Amerindian-aligned Liberty and Justice Party, Lenox Shuman, as Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, and continues to reach out to Guyanese everywhere to partner with the Government in this exciting phase of the country's history.

President Ali's leadership in this magnanimous engagement with civic society causes Guyanese to feel engaged and valuable in being able to have a voice at the highest level of State. This is real democracy at work; it is in this spirit that Government reached out to Brigadier Granger. Alas, the former President decided he would play small; be myopic, and ignore overtures of cooperation, unity, and togetherness.

Worst of all, Brigadier Granger refused to contribute his views and ideas to the process of national development. One is hard- pressed to find good sense in this non-engagement policy of the Opposition.

The Opposition cannot, in good faith, complain about any action of this Government, if they adapt this

approach of non-engagement.

Thankfully, the PPP/C Government embodies a cadre of sensible, thinking, patriotic leaders who so care about this country that they would selflessly give of their time, experience, and ideas in the cause of national development. All Guyanese applaud Bharrat Jagdeo, Samuel Hinds and Donald Ramotar for meeting with President Ali, and committing to quarterly meetings.

Every Guyanese would be inspired and happy to see this initiative, and to know that this group is working in the interest of Guyana, moving forward.

Much is on the table for them to lend their wisdom to, with electoral reform and constitutional reform having far-reaching and profound impact on future generations. It is also laudable that the Heads of State placed security on the agenda. Not only does Guyana need to clean up the streets of Georgetown from pickpockets and petty thieves and armed robbers, but even at the national level, as development ramps up and wealth increases, the State needs to implement a thorough Intelligence Service. An Intelligence Service would go a long way in preventing and dealing with organised crime, potential crimes against the State such as treason, and corruption within the public and private sectors.

The Guyana Police Force lacks the track record to be handed this important task, to gather intelli-

gence and information regarding white collar crimes. Guyana cannot become a global standout success without taking into consideration the potential of attracting criminals from the global underworld. Even locally, some elements may fancy their chances to operate criminal undertakings that would perpetuate violence and damage to the social fabric. As seen in developed societies, once wealth increases in a society, ambitious criminals fancy their chances to try for illicit gain.

With increased flow of wealth, Guyana must implement sound, professional, foolproof national systems to guard against corruption, unpatriotic excursions such as treason and threats against Government and the State, and organised criminal gangs. This would even mean securing the once porous borders with neighbouring countries and South America from criminals and people of the underworld entering Guyana illegally.

The complexity of governing this nation as it becomes a global success story will eventually show up with stark reality. And the Opposition seems clueless of the new horizon the country is entering into.

So, it is admirable that President Ali recognises the value of accessing the experience and wisdom of past Presidents, and to establish a formal national conversation with them.

In a politically polarising environment where the leader of the main Opposition party and the

Coalition Opposition in Parliament refuses to engage in national dialogue, every effort must be made to nip potential political angst in the bud. How does one deal with a non-cooperating political force that only sees hatred, enmity, and maybe even jealousy and envy? This past week, social media saw a trending post of a former Minister, now an Opposition Member of Parliament, commenting that Guyana needs civil unrest. Such draconian irresponsibility and hatred must be dealt with, with emphatic decisiveness.

Also, a lawyer came out with social media posts that could easily incite racial tensions, with accusations that police harassed a family because of race. Such forces do Guyana no good.

This is why this Presidential confab is so important. It is a crucial platform that forms a nucleus where solutions and thought leadership could flow out into the society, for a national confab of former Heads of State would be able to objectively pronounce on even sensitive issues, with a national voice of united elderly wisdom. The entire Guyana hopes that the PNC, the Coalition, and Brigadier Granger make sober-minded decisions when it comes to such weighty matters as engaging in a national voice of reason, elderly wisdom, and presidential experience.

PNCR expresses condolence on passing of former Linden Mayor THE People's National Congress Reform (PNCR) extends sincere condolences on the passing of Mr. Stan Smith, former Mayor of Linden and businessman within the Linden community. He was the Managing Director and Chief Exec-

utive Officer (CEO) of Jacs Restaurant and Diner, which is situated at Republic Avenue, Mackenzie.

Mr. Smith served as Mayor of Linden between the years 1996- 2003. His belief in conflict resolution and welcomed views

from all who wanted to contribute to the betterment for the living standards of residents in Linden made him a beloved figure in the Linden community.

The PNCR wishes to express deepest sympathies to the family and community

of Linden during this difficult time.

Amna Ally General Secretary People’s National Congress Reform

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 18, 2020

The ERC has been a complete failure

Dear Editor,

IF the article published in Stabroek News that the one-term former APNU+AFC Minister of Public Telecommunications, Cathy Hughes is being probed by the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) over her incendiary social media post “calling for an undesirable and dangerous action which can potentially impact negatively on ethnic relations” is accurate, then a thorough investigation is warranted.

However, it begs the question as to what the ERC means by an “investigation”. Since its formation as part of the Herdmanston Accord, brokered by CARICOM on January 17, 1998 and assented by President Bharrat Jagdeo on August 11, 2000, the ERC has accomplished very little, if any success. The ERC was

founded in the aftermath of the People’s National Congress (PNC)-induced protests and riots following the 1997 General Election, which they claimed was fatally flawed. It was officially launched in 2003, and was supposed to be independent and autonomous, but is it? Its performance since then can hardly be described as satisfactory, but more like a failure.

The ERC’s mandate, as adumbrated in Article 212A of the Constitution, is wide-ranging and includes the widest possible participation of Guyanese civil society, defined broadly to include non-governmental organisations, religious Christian, Hindu and Muslim groups, labour unions, the private sector, youth groups, women’s organisations, and Afro and Indo-Guyanese, and Indigenous/Amerindian bodies. Its primary goal is

to identify and analyse factors that have inhibited the attainment of harmonious relations among ethnic groups, particularly the barriers to their participation in any social, economic, commercial, financial, cultural and political endeavours, and make recommendations to the National Assembly how these factors should be overcome.

After a hiatus of eight years, between 2010 and 2018, the ERC was reconstituted by the APNU+AFC government in 2018, with the promise to finally address the ethnic and racial divide and fears that drove the political system in Guyana, especially during elections. It never did.

Truth be told, the ERC, like so many organisations established by the Government, is like tigers without teeth, which means they are either powerless to act, or they are reactive instead of being proactive. Simply put,

the ERC has been a complete failure, in that it will inform the public that it has launched an investigation, but would not reveal its findings to the public, or if it has completed the investigation. It must be concluded that the ERC never really fulfilled the promise of its formation, and blame should be laid squarely at the feet of the two main political parties for selfish, bigoted and partisan political reasons that are well known to the public.

During the five-month combative warfare waged by the APNU+AFC to remain in office through rigged elections, the ERC had numerous opportu-

nities to intervene in the racially-charged environment created by social media and some politicians, but it never did. The ERC should have also intervened and prevented the racially- charged violence that ensued in the aftermath of the brutal slaying of the Henry cousins at Cotton Tree, West Coast Berbice, and the vicious murders of Haresh Singh and Prettipaul Hargobin, but it did not. The ERC is a status-quo organisation to show-case the Government’s stance against racism and inequality, but there is not one iota

of evidence to justify its existence. It is time for the Government to re-evaluate the role and functions of the ERC, to make sure that it is worth spending more than $200 million of the taxpayers’ hard-earned money annually on an organisation that continues to malfunction, if not irrelevant in society. It is not worth it.

It is our opinion, as well as many in the public that the government should stop the wasteful usage of the taxpayers’ money to prop up the functionless ERC. Yours Truly, Dr. Asquith Rose.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 18, 2020

US$17.4M to improve Internet connectivity in 200 communities PRIME Minister, Brigadier (ret'd) Mark Phillips reaffirmed government’s commitment to equitable development and in reassuring Region Nine residents noted that US$17.4M is earmarked to improve Internet connectivity to 200 communities throughout Guyana.

He made these statements on Wednesday at a community meeting in Katoka Village.

The Prime Minister is currently leading a team of ministers on a three-day outreach to the region to oversee the disbursement of the $4,000 uniform grant, to listen to the concerns of residents and to distribute Christmas presents to children in outlying villages.

“We want to ensure that all Guyanese benefit from the

revenue that will come from oil and gas, the money will not be spent only in Georgetown and on the coastland, the money will be spent in this region and every region in Guyana… as Prime Minister, I commit myself to ensuring that happens," he said.

The Prime Minister noted that the Government will be working assiduously to develop the hinterland and already has a range of initiatives planned.

“We have US$17.4M that is earmarked for improving Internet connectivity to 200 communities throughout Guyana, here in the hinterland and in poorer communities along the coast, so we are going to roll out that project next year. We also want to distribute better solar panels to 35,000 households and most of the households will

be in the Hinterland.”

He added that the government will also be upgrading all regional hospitals.

Additionally, the PM explained that the government understands the severe financial impact that COVID-19 has had on families, and decided to disburse the uniform vouchers although children are not formally in school.

“We know the money would normally go to buy uniforms, but because of COVID-19 schools have been closed, but we still want to give the money to the parents so you can utilise it. We are still doing school from home and we understand that the children still have essential needs.”

Residents of Katoka Village were pleased with the visit. Collectively they noted that it has been a long time

Prime Minister Phillips gifts a child in an outlying village a Christmas package during the outreach

since such a high-ranking government official has visited them.

Toshao Grennison Rogers echoed similar sentiments.

“I am very proud of the Prime Minister for visiting

the community and listening to our concerns, because nobody came to listen to us for years and I am confident that he will deliver on his promises… I know the school children will use the grant to buy their books and pencils

and other materials,” he said.

Also present during the outreach was Regional Chairman of Region Nine, Bryan Allicock, and Regional Education Officer, Devendra Persaud.

ERC panelists included advocates of elections rigging

By Rabindra Rooplall THE recent two-day virtual Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) meeting held on Monday comprised persons who were part of a process to derail democracy, President, Dr. Irfaan Ali said on Thursday.

Emphasising that the ERC was not only silent during the attempted rigging of the 2020 elections, the President said, “in the midst of the ERC discussion, persons who were part of a process to derail democracy were present.” “How did they arrive at the names for the panel?” he asked.

At the ERC virtual meeting, several panelists and participants made presentations under the theme: “How can we improve ethnic relations in Guyana?”

“One of the pressing issues we faced over the last five months was that of an elections, where democracy was under threat, every single stakeholder in Guyana agrees that democracy was under threat, but the ERC did not issue a single statement. The ERC went into hiding. The ERC has a responsibility to the country to stand up and to recognise when there is

wrong, and I did not see this from the ERC,” President Irfaan Ali said The Head of State said he is aware that there have been many discussions in the public domain on the functioning of the ERC, issues surrounding the minority reports and disagreements among commissioners.

These are among several other issues that the body needs to sort out internally before dealing with external issues, he contended.

“These are things that they have to sort out and then you have a function organised by the ERC. Through what mechanism did they determine who were making the presentation? The same questions the Guyanese people are asking: how did they determine who would make the presentations? You can’t just pop up names, there have to be some sort of consultation, some sort of dialogue,” the President pointed out.

President Ali said he has a Minister of Governance and Parliamentary Affairs who the ERC did not have the courtesy of contacting.

However, he was contacted via email but decided not to participate because of the aforementioned reasons.

“I have been leading this country in a manner in which I have been reaching out, in a manner in which I am consulting and I think all stakeholders need to understand this,” the President added.

The ERC, in a bid to address the country’s long-standing issues surrounding race and ethnic relations, on Monday opened a national discussion on the factors that impede ethnic harmony.

The ERC is expected to collect all recommendations made and put them into a formal document to be submitted to the National Assembly and relevant stakeholders for consideration and implementation.

Some of the persons making presentations on the issue of race relations were Attorney, Nigel Hughes; UG Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Paloma Mohammed-Martin; Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Lenox Shuman; Professor David Hinds; ROAR activist, Ravi Dev; Public Relations consultant, Christopher ‘Kit’ Nascimento and independent consultant, Renata Chuck-a-Sang.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, December 18, 2020

US$4M

‘Jagsville’ to feature 171 modern houses

―50% of the allottees to come from CH&PA’s system

By Navendra Seoraj

THE Cinderella County, as the Essequibo region is widely known, has been identified as the next hub for economic transformation, with local investor, S. Jagmohan Hardware Supplies and Construction Services, gearing to pump US$4 million (G$800 million) into the development of a new housing scheme at Windsor Castle.

This project is being undertaken at a time when Guyana is experiencing an unprecedented increase in economic activities and investor interest, all motivated by the country’s nascent oiland- gas sector.

ago, but that in light of the rising interest in Guyana these days, he thought that this is an opportune time to move to the next phase, which is the execution aspect of it.

The investor said the project was approved by the Anna Regina Town Council three years ago, but that the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), which falls under the Housing Ministry, was required to grant approval as well.

“We revisited this project within months of the new government, and we were able to receive the permission for this project on or around December 10 of this year…

If we want to have develop-

housing, will also create hundreds of jobs for the residents of Essequibo. “[It is] a very important investment for the people of Essequibo and Guyana; it’s important because while you have investments at the government level, equally important is investment by private sector. And that is why we welcome this initiative,” Minister Croal said, adding: “Once all of that is developed, it means a lot for this community of Essequibo, because a lot of jobs will be created; employment as well as wealth generation.”

Access to adequate housing is viewed as a basic human , and is considered to be an integral factor for the At Thursday’s sod-turning ceremony are, from left, Minister of Housing and Water Mr. Collin Croal; Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Ms. Susan Rodrigues; Principal of Jagsville, Mr. Tamesh Jagmohan; S. Jagmohan Hardware Supplies and Construction Services representative, Mr. Suresh Jagmohan; and Region Two Chairman, Ms. Vilma Da Silva

The entrance to ‘Jagsville’ (DPI photos)

The ultimate result of increased investor interest and a possible return of many Guyanese from abroad, is an increase in the demand for housing. And, while the County of Demerara has been the known hub for infrastructural advancement and development over the years, S. Jagmohan Hardware Supplies and Construction Services has widened the scope for development, taking their investment across the Mighty Essequibo River to Anna Regina, seat of administration for Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

Breaking ground to initiate the project on Thursday were Minister of Housing and Water, Mr. Colin Croal; Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Ms. Susan Rodrigues; Principal of the project, Mr. Tamesh Jagmohan; and Region Two’s Regional Chair, Ms. Vilma Da Silva and other regional officials.

Jagmohan was quoted as saying that the project was conceptualised a long time

ment in this country, we have to have speed; three years for a simple approval can really dampen one’s spirit… We could have already had families installed in those homes,” said Jagmohan.

The investor, since being granted approval, has mobilised equipment, procured raw materials, and engaged all agencies and stakeholders, including financial institutions.

“We are days away from serious movement and action,” Jagmohan said, adding that the housing scheme will have lots ranging from 5,00043,560 square feet, and will feature manicured landscaping, access to a playground, a swimming pool, as well as a lawn tennis court.

Minister Rodrigues said that in a way, the project would be a Private-Public Partnership, because 50 per cent of the allottees will come from the ministry’s database.

Minister Croal, as reported by the Department of Public Information (DPI), said the project, in addition to creating access to adequate

enjoyment of other economic, social and cultural rights.

And, with Guyana’s economy poised to grow significantly in the coming years, the government will be moving to ensure that its people, especially from the low and middle-income brackets, have access to adequate housing. Housing units will eventually be constructed across all administrative regions, and the authorities are already working to identify and acquire lands for this purpose.

Minister Croal has said that with approximately 70,000 applications for housing in the CH&PA’s system, the ministry of housing is actively looking at ways of addressing the backlog, even as the number of applications continues to grow with new applicants daily.

Word is that the ministry is seeking US$250 million (approximately G$52.5 billion) in financing to support its housing development plans for the next five years.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 18, 2020

MSMEs in forestry sector get support to operate sustainably

By Ruslin Richards

MICRO, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) make up approximately 80-90 per cent of the forestry sector in Guyana. Many MSMEs in Guyana involved in timber production operate through the Community Forest Organisation/Associations.

However, they have challenges meeting the social, environmental and fiscal requirements of the European Union Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (EU FLEGT) Voluntary Partnership Agreement

(VPA). These challenges are further compounded by limited knowledge of administrative and business standards and procedures.

As part of international efforts to address illegal logging and its associated trade, Guyana began negotiations with the European Union on

the EU FLEGT VPA. This trade agreement between Guyana and the EU work with partner countries to develop and in Guyana’s case, improve tracking systems to ensure legal harvesting, processing and trade of timber. The VPA also contributes to Guyana’s sustainable forest management

plans, including safeguarding forest resources for future generations.

With the initialing of the VPA in 2018, an essential step to implementation was the development of a Joint Implementation Framework (JIF). This multi-stakeholder process was supported by the

Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) EU FLEGT Programme. The JIF focuses on the needs of all stakeholders (Civil society, government, private sector, and forest sector operations). These needs include, capacity building, institutional strengthening, governance reforms and VPA monitoring structures as required for the FLEGT licence scheme.

Focused on activities agreed to in the JIF, the FAOEU FLEGT Programme has supported MSMEs including Community Forestry Organisations and Indigenous Communities/Amerindian Villages in collaboration with partnering government agencies.

SUPPORT TO MSMES Today MSMEs have the skills necessary to apply correctly for, and obtain, environmental authorisations, required for harvesting. These skills also ensure that the forest operations of MSMEs are authorised, in line with the Environmental Protection Act Cap 20:05. Specifically, over 300 community forestry organisations representatives across eight regions of Guyana were engaged and benefitted.

“I knew it was necessary for gas stations, but I never saw the connection between the Environmental Authorisation and Forest Operations.

Today I was informed about that very clearly,” said Naomi Smith, Aroaima Forest and Agricultural Producer Association (AFAPA), Region 10.

"Learning on the way to go today is a plus. We can go back to our community and enlighten our villagers on what needs to be done in regard to environmental safeguards," expressed David Wilson, Akawaini Loggers Association, Region Number Two. From the capacity building and awareness sessions, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has received increased applications for environmental authorisation for MSMEs. EPA has noted that this is a step in the right direction and will continue to support efforts to address the limitations that hindered the application for environmental authorisation.

Additionally, 500 representatives from 69 community forestry organisations now have the technical tools to comply with Guyana Revenue Authority’s (GRA) Corporation and income tax requirements, National Insurance Scheme’s (NIS) National Insurance and Social Security requirements and the Ministry of Labour’s requirements including legal employment age, non-discrimination policy, occupational health and safety and payment of wages.

These agencies now have a new influx of Forest Sector Operators approaching their offices which they can engage with and relieve their fears

about tax and NIS requirements.

REGISTER WITH NIS “I ‘fight bad’ with my members for them to register with NIS and GRA. One month after our training, I take in all our documents to NIS,” said Edmundson. Approximately one month after the training, Edmundson worked assiduously to get all her members to register with NIS and GRA and was successful.

With increased awareness and capacity building to meet the requirements of the VPA, forest sector operators will be in a better position to comply with the Guyana Timber Legality Assurance System (GTLAS).

The FAO-EU FLEGT also supported sustainable forest management in Amerindian Villages. Members of the National Toshao’s Council (NTC) and village representatives were trained in forest management, administration, monitoring and evaluation, project management and financial management. Youths were the target group for the forest management training to encourage greater appreciation and direct involvement in forest conservation and management as the future of forest management relies on their understanding and participation.

Effective community monitoring of Amerindian forests is critical for forest management, and as such, a pilot initiative was carried out in the Village of Bethany in Region Number Two. The village received technical support to design, develop and test approaches to community-based monitoring which ensures legal compliance in timber supply chains. Technical support also included the designing and testing of a Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) protocol for obtaining the consent of Amerindian Villages in forest management in the context of the Guyana VPA process.

FPIC will ensure that the rights of Indigenous villages are respected and protected, through internationally recognised standards and agreements such as the VPA. “FPIC is something that could be vital, and it could be beneficial to our community, it will benefit our community. Monitoring our resources would help us greatly, and the villagers are happy about it,” said Harold Marslow, Bethany Village.

The FAO-EU FLEGT programme recognises that although much work has been done with MSMEs, there is still more support required. In this regard, we continue to support the priorities identified in the JIF for the implementation of the VPA process through the support of Government agencies, private sector and civil society.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 18, 2020

Mothers leading perpetrators of all abuses –– CPA reports child abuse decreased by 26.5 per cent to children. It does not carry the stigma of 'domestic violence', but it is exactly the same thing. It is violence by the stronger against the weaker,” Jonas asserted. He lamented the fact that society often times enable violence.

“If we cannot interact without violence, without instilling into our loved ones

CPA Director, Ann Greene

By Rehana Ahamad FOR the period January 2020 to October 2020, a total of 2,761 cases have engaged the attention of the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA). This is compared to 3,757 cases in 2019 and 4,368 cases in 2018. This 26.5 per cent decline in reported cases may seem like good news, but it is actually quite troubling.

“This, by no means signal a decrease in child abuse; it is more of under reporting due to children being more confined to the home environment,” said Ann Greene, Director of the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA), addressing a virtual staff conference on Wednesday.

Year after year, schools have played a critical role in identifying and reporting cases of children being abused. As most schools remain closed due to the deadly COVID-19 pandemic, the school system has been eliminated as a critical partner in the fight against child abuse.

Meanwhile, an analysis of the figures show that an average of seven children are being abused daily, with Region One leading the charts of an abuse rate of 17.8 per cent, a figure which encapsulates all forms of abuse including sexual. It should be noted that Region Eight was the only region with an abuse rate of zero, but again, this does not mean that there are no victims in that region.

It means that no cases were reported.

Most of the young victims are between the ages of eight and 13, representing 12.4 per cent of every 1,000 children. Children ages four to seven account for 10.6 per

cent of all victims, followed by teenagers reflecting 9.5 per cent, and toddlers being 8.8 per cent.

Neglect continues to be the leading form of abuse committed against children, with toddlers being most affected. This is followed by sexual abuse.

“Factors for child abuse in COVID-19 are stress, anxiety, economic uncertainty, (poor) mental health and addiction,” the CPA Director asserted.

MOTHERS ARE LEADING PERPETRATORS The leading perpetrators of abuse in all forms continue to be mothers who account for 51 per cent of all perpetrators, followed by fathers at 26 per cent. Strangers account for only one per cent of all perpetrators, reinforcing the fact that children are often abused by those they hold dearest.

“To think of a man setting fire to the house where his wife and two lovely young daughters are inside and burning them alive; I have not yet wrapped my head around that. Then to learn of the child that is fighting for her life in the hospital after being lashed on the head and tossed in the swamp, reportedly by her mother… these are the latest of the number of horror stories that gripped our attention during the year,” Greene pointed out.

Prominent attorney-at-law, Timothy Jonas, took to his Facebook page to point out the aforementioned cases and criticise the abuse of children being disguised as corporal punishment.

“Corporal punishment is a sanitised label for violence

fear of us, we are no different from the slave masters who once kept us in fear, and cowed us into obedience by the threat and application of violence. All are equal. All must be afforded dignity and freedom to live without fear,” Jonas maintained.

Meanwhile, Director Greene said that her agen-

cy, along with the entire Ministry of Human Services and Social Security has recognised the need for increased services and assistance for children and families at the community level. Such programmes, she noted, will be placed prominently on the Ministry’s 2021 agenda.

The CPA staff conference was hosted this year under the theme “We are in this together: working

with children and families in the New Normal for 2021.”

Greene commended her staff for their unwavering commitment towards the children of Guyana, even amid a pandemic.

It is hoped that the recent launch of the 914 hotline would inspire more persons to report cases of violence, especially those committed against children.

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Much-needed help for Clonbrook farmers

By Naomi Parris

FARMERS from the East

Coast Demerara village of Clonbrook will soon benefit from improved farm-to-

market roads and a number of other agriculture projects following a meeting

with Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, on Wednesday.

The meeting saw farmers from the area voicing their daily struggles in their respective farmlands to the

koker in Clonbrook is in dire need of maintenance.

On the other hand, Nat-

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, interacting with fishermen and farmers (Adrian Narine photo)

minister.

Calls were made for issues regarding livestock, markets for produce, infrastructure, and accessibility to dams and farm-to-market roads to be addressed during the meeting.

Chandpual Ramsaroop, Chairman of the Clonbrook farmers group, told the minister and his team that the farmers in the area are in urgent need of a farm-to-market road to get better access to the backlands where majority of the farms are located.

Additionally, the chairman also made a request for farming equipment and tools to be made accessible to farmers, since many of them cannot afford to purchase tools out of their own pockets.

Ramsaroop explained if more tools are provided, farmers will be able to expand their farms to circulate more income and make room for more food security in the area.

“We planting plenty cash crops at the back here and coconuts and for me I planting 40 acres of cassava and I supply for cassava bread and all them tools [expensive] and if we get it we gone expand more…. not all farmers can afford to but that’s why I request tools,” the man said, adding: “We talk to him about three weeks ago and he promised we that he will come and today he come and we feel proud that he come and all the promise, we get all the tools that we request and we gone happy about it.”

While no concerns were raised about drainage and irrigation in the area, Ramsaroop noted however, that the

eram Balkarn, who is a livestock farmer, expressed concerns about the need for more feed and by products for livestock farmers in the area.

Balkarn said: “One of my issues is livestock, I am a livestock farmer, sometimes you got to the mills, you pay $600 a bag today and next month you go back they raise it to a $100 dollars more or $50 and it’s a strain for farmers in Clonbrok, Anns Grove and Behive area here.

He added: “A lot of people do livestock farming and a lot of people does come by me to get feed because when I go to the mills I normally buy 50-60 bags and when people see the bag now they does come to me.”

In response to the concerns that were made, Minister Mustapha told the farmers that a team from the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC), Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) and the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) will return to the area to do an assessment and address the concerns that were raised during the meeting.

Additionally he told the farmers, that while the newly-developed oil and gas sector will contribute the country’s development, one must not forget the agriculture sector as it is a bedrock of the economy.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 18, 2020

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, December 18, 2020

― This Saturday!

Programme Director for the festival Gavin Mendonca

IMAGINE this - the smell of roast meat tickling your nose, a bonfire flickering in the background, live music resonating in your bones, so much so, that you can’t help but to tap your feet or shake your hips under a blanket of stars painted across the skies of the Rupununi grasslands, all while sipping a nice cold Banks Beer or Shandy.

This exact scenario, says local rock and folk musician Gavin Mendonca, has been something to look forward to over the years at the Rupununi Music and Arts Festival which had its first two editions in 2014 and 2015 at Rock View Lodge, Annai.

The festival then brought a taste of the event to Georgetown in 2017 and 2019, all the while finding a marvellous new home in 2018 at Manari Ranch, where the festival was planned last November.

“The only World Music Camping Festival in Guyana – it takes young and old

out of the busy city life and away from technology for a weekend - to camp and live under the stars with new friends,” Gavin said.

Due to COVID-19, these plans were all scrapped. Life for musicians, creatives and festival goers was turned upside down, and this festival, along with every other major social event around the entire world was just shut down.

“What a blow to society that has been - since events like festivals serve many purposes especially when it comes to fostering community, preserving culture and the various art forms, as well as offering people a human experience like none other.”

With the option to host a live festival this year out of the picture, the festival team could not just let the year end without doing anything, especially since every year the festival has Gavin, who is the festival’s Programme Director and an artiste him-

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, December 18, 2020

‘

’ all set to release new

‘

P E R H A P S h i s i n t e rest in the music world sprang from watching his grandfather sing while he was growing up at Little Abary, Mahaicony, a small community in Region Five (Mahaica/ Berbice).

’ Chutney song

second song is my ‘Johnny Walker,’ a hit in Guyana, Trinidad, Suriname even New York.”

The Coronavirus Pandemic has been especially challenging for Remesh as he did not know what his next steps were once everywhere started going on lockdown. But he continued writing songs.

Remesh Brijnauth, known as ‘Tony Cuttz’

Or it could have been his experiences in church some years ago that grew his interest in music?

Whatever the case, Remesh Brijnauth is doing a well in the chutney arena here in Guyana.

Known by his stage name, “Tony Cuttz,” he is also a barber on the side.

He told The Buzz this week that he wants to continue putting out more songs so that he can “take Guyana places” through his music. In fact, at the moment, he is working to put out his new song soon called, “Let We Go”, that should be released before the end of the year.

Born in Suriname, Remesh grew up in Guyana as his parents are both Guyanese. He moved to live in Trinidad and Tobago in 2006 and stayed there for 12 years before returning to Guyana.

“I grow up seeing my grandfather sing…and when I moved to Trinidad, I got into church and started singing gospel and playing the keyboard. When I moved to Guyana, I started

doing chutney and soca,” he related.

One day, Remesh had a life-changing experience that he is thankful for to this day. He was at work, he recalls, when a guy by the name of Shazam Ramjohn heard him singing and playing his guitar and loved what he heard.

“He take out money and said ‘I am sponsoring you to go to the studio and do a song,’” Remesh said.

“I decided to go record my first song at BKVJ Studio which is Bunty Singh; then my second song, where I went to Shakti Strings Studio which is Avinash Roopchan,” he explained.

He was then hired to sing with Shakti Strings Band, after which he decided to participate in the Chutney Monarch. Even though being his first time in the competition, he came off with third place.

Remesh said he has two popular songs that are out since he has been in the public a little over a year now. “I sang ‘neighbour roti’ which I bring third in chutney monarch and my

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, December 18, 2020

Leeanna Allen

‘Mixed Essence’

Leeanna Allen, the artiste who is known for her angelic voice and striking poetry, is making her way back to the music with a new project called ‘Mixed Essence’.

Allen had gotten her big break in 2015 with her album “Labeled Loved”. The 31-year-old, though a Christian, finds that the songs do not fit the traditional mould of what we define as gospel music.

Initially a poet who has done and published a lot of spoken word pieces, Allen revealed that she is ready to re-enter the music arena after a small hiatus.

“I had put down the songwriting for some time and I was just focused on the spoken word poetry. And only last year I started writing music heavily again,” the young woman told The Buzz The new project, she added, will feature many diverse sounds and artistes and give them a platform and opportunity to showcase their talent.

“The intention is to do collaborative projects with other singers to song write for them, and give them the opportunity to be able to showcase their vocal ability,

also that is a part of the journey that I am on right now,” she said.

The young woman noted that she is hoping to execute her new project within the New Year.

“Next year there should be a lot of work coming out from me but also work coming out from various artistes. My intention is to brand the body of work that I write under the banner called ‘Mixed Essence’ given that it will be a mixture of relationship with God songs and relationship with people,” she added.

Allen disclosed that while she has been singing for approximately 15 years now, she is hoping that her new project will highlight her talents not just as a singer and poet but also as a songwriter.

“Under that banner, there will be a number of artistes that I will be produci n g

music for where all the songs will be written by me,” she said. “I write Christian songs well I won’t necessarily call it gospel, relationship with god songs and also songs about love and marriage. I am passionate about marriage and winning at relationships and especially living in the culture that we do.

It’s so easy to give up when things get hard.”

― For December 25 release PRIYANKA Chopra, known for breaking barriers and stereotypes in the entertainment world, being one of the first Bollywood actresses to embed her name in Hollywood, is all set to thrill her fans with her new movie “We Can Be Heroes”, directed by Robert Rodriguez.

The plot revolves around the alien invaders who kidnap earth’s superheroes, causing their children to team up and work together to save their parents and the world.

The initial release date is fixed for December 25 and will be streaming on Netflix on New Year’s Day. “Power comes in all sizes and it arrives on Christmas Day! These amazing kids have a secret weapon – Teamwork,” Chopra said in an Instagram post.

“So while you wait for Santa, it’s time to sit back and let these incredible kids show you how to be a HERO! Are you in?” she continued.

“I had the best time shooting this movie, especially with Robert Rodriguez and these amazing super kids!! Loved playing their nemesis.... who do you think is going to win, them or me?!” the actress further posted.

Priyanka is also starring in “The White Tiger” an upcoming drama film. From writer-director Ramin Bahrani, the film is an adaptation of The New York Times Bestseller and the 2008 Man Booker prize-winning novel by Aravind Adiga.

The film, which also stars Adarsh Gourav in his first lead role and Rajkummar Rao, will release via Netflix on January 22, 2021.

Commenting on this film, Priyanka said: “You believe

your destiny is what was bred in you... till you find a way to break free. I’m so proud to be part of this project.”

The former winner of the Miss World 2000 pageant, Chopra is one of India’s highest-paid and most popular entertainers. She is working on yet another project, her book titled “Unfinished” that is expected on February 9, 2021.

“I’ve loved writing for as long as I can remember. As a child I used to write poetry and write in my diaries. There is something so healing and cathartic when putting your emotions and ideas on paper,” Priyanka, also a singer and film producer, has said publicly.

“Ironically, I named this memoir years before I started writing it. Having been a public person now for 20 years, with so much life to live and a long list of things to check off my list personally and professionally, I am very much #Unfinished.

BUT the funny thing about writing a memoir is that it forces you to look at things differently, reconciling so many things you thought you had put to bed. In doing so I’ve realized that being ‘unfinished’ has deeper meaning for me, and has in fact been one of the most common threads of my life,” the actress expressed.

She said over the past two decades, she was blessed to have had the opportunity to write for various publications, with each piece slightly reflecting the stages in her journey, opening up to the world a little more each time. ???

“I’m excited and nervous to let you in to my world more than I ever have before with my book, #Unfinished.

I can’t wait for you all to read it,” the actress with almost 60 million Instagram followers said.

Priyanka Chopra

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, December 18, 2020

TURN FROM PAGE 16 self, said with this in mind, the festival team decided to host a special virtual edition of the festival on December 20 from 16:00hrs-18:00hrs.

The festival will consist of highlights from previous years and showcase perfor-

George Simon - world-renowned painter and archaeologist and founder of the Moving Circle of Artists.

The event will stream from 16:00hrs sharp on the festival’s YouTube Channel and Facebook Page and will

The festival’s campsite in 2018

A performance at one of the past festivals

The festival affords the opportunity to meet new people from across the world

mances from local and international artistes, including Dave Martins, The Mighty Gabby, Keith Waithe, Tujay, and Iryna who is from Ukraine.

This launch event will also feature interviews with Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett (Permanent Representative of Guyana to the United Nations), Frank Willisen (TGA), Carlton Joao (Banks DIH) and others, as well as special tributes to two dearly departed patrons Diane McTurk, also known as ‘Mother of the Otters’ of Karanambu Lodge and

have a special donate button so that persons can contribute to the festival. The donations will go directly to local and indigenous creatives for further online programmes.

“Join us – ‘go like the Facebook page’, subscribe to Rupununi Music and Arts Festival on YouTube, and join in on a wonderful trip down memory lane, and join in the prayers to be back at Manari Ranch in November 2021. Visit www.rupununifestival. com for more info,” Gavin urged.

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WI players not hungry enough ―

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) - Fast-bowling legend Sir Curtly Ambrose has questioned the hunger and desire shown by West Indies on the recent tour of New Zealand.

The 57-year-old, a former assistant coach with the Caribbean side, said urgency among the players had been lacking and was seen in the way the team fielded and batted in both Tests.

West Indies lost each Test by an innings inside four days to extend their dire record of not having won a Test series on New Zealand soil in a quarter of a century.

“The guys are not looking

hungry enough. I could be totally wrong – I’m just talking from what I have seen – but they don’t look hungry,” said Sir Curtly, who dominated his era with 405 wickets from 98 Tests.

“They don’t seem to have that type of passion and the pride and the will to win. It seems as if they just go out there, hoping that New Zealand will just fall apart and we can win the game. It doesn’t work like that.

“You have to go out there and command respect, you have to show New Zealand we’re in for business, and I don’t really see that. We sit back and just

wait for something to happen, and that’s not the way we West Indians play cricket. We like to be in control.”

POWERLESS Despite bowling first on well-grassed pitches in both Tests, West Indies bowlers were powerless to prevent the hosts from piling up 519 for seven in Hamilton and 460 in Wellington.

In contrast, the visitors were rolled over for 138 in the first innings in Hamilton and 131 in the first innings in Wellington, and passed 250 only once – when they piled up 317 in the second Test, which they

eventually lost by an innings and 12 runs.

Sir Curtly said while the bowlers had played their part, the fielding left a lot to be desired, especially in the second Test when Henry Nicholls was dropped five times en route to a career-best 174.

Jermaine Blackwood was the only West Indies player to score a hundred in the Test series, finishing with 216 runs to be the only specialist batsman to pass 150 runs.

Seasoned opener Kraigg Brathwaite (55), Shamarh Brooks (53), leading lefthander Darren Bravo (32) and middle-order mainstay Roston

Chase (17) all failed miserably.

Against the backdrop of the tour, Sir Curtly said changes should be expected.

“In all sports and you keep using several players and they keep underperforming or they keep failing, then you leave the selectors no choice but to try other players,” he stressed.

“That’s the reality, because you can’t keep playing the same set of players over and over and over, and they keep failing over and over and over. We have to try something different until we find the right combination and be hopeful that they can bring success.”

GFF inks 2021 marketing deal with Alabanquima THE Guyana Football Federation (GFF) will partner with Brazilian business and marketing consultancy Alabanquima to expand and tap into commercial

opportunities for the Golden Jaguars brand of the Guyana senior men’s national team.

The Golden Jaguars have achieved global recognition in

recent years, qualifying for Guyana’s first appearance at the men’s CONCACAF Gold Cup and performing in front of millions of viewers around the world on

live television during the 2019 tournament.

The team is set to grace the Gold Cup stage again in 2021, competing in the newly-created

preliminary rounds in the United States in July.

The partnership with Alabanquima will last for an initial 12 months. The Brazilian firm is run by Flavio Waltz and Marcelo De Paulos, who have more than 25 years in combined experience in the field, including working with Brazilian drinks giant Ambev, state-owned oil company Petrobas, former Brazilian football star Ronaldo’s 9ine company and the legendary Botafogo football club.

“The Golden Jaguars continue to make all of Guyana proud and, in the process, they have lifted the profile and visibility of our beautiful country. It is only fitting that we now endeavour to capitalise on this success by pursuing every opportunity to commercialise the programme,” said GFF president Wayne Forde.

“Our partnership with Alabanquima is one additional chapter in our ongoing efforts to fully professionalise the GFF national team programme. We are very excited about what the future holds for our beloved Golden Jaguars and we stand prepared to work closely with our new partner to unleash their true potential,” he said.

Under the agreement, the goal of the Brazilian firm will be to secure partners and sponsors to support the men’s national team during the 2021/22 season, with a particular focus on its second consecutive appearance at the Gold Cup as well as the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Alabanquima is honoured with the great opportunity to work with the Guyana Football Federation and with the chance to improve the Guyana-Brazil partnership,” said Alabanquima Managing Director Flavio Waltz: “During our first meeting, it was possible to acknowledge the Golden Jaguars’ great potential and the truly inspirational leadership of Wayne Forde and his board of directors.”

“Alabanquima’s team is going to dedicate our best efforts to help the World Cup dream come true, stepby-step, like a long-distance run. Finally, it is not only about football. It is about Guyana. It is about the people. And it is about working for the development of a wonderful country,” he said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, December 18, 2020

Industrious Kohli rescues India in Adelaide examination (REUTERS) - India captain Virat Kohli forged two half-century partnerships to rescue his side against Australia before falling victim to an almighty mix-up on an attritional opening day of the day-night first Test at Adelaide Oval yesterday.

The right-hander sacrificed flair for efficiency in his industrious 74 as the tourists reached 233-6 at stumps after opting to bat in the series-opener.

Wriddhiman Saha, on nine, and Ravichandran Ashwin, who is 15 not out, will return today hoping to continue India’s march towards the 300-mark.

Earlier, Mitchell Starc removed the scoreless Prithvi Shaw with the second delivery of the day and Pat Cum-

mins castled fellow opener Mayank Agarwal (17) later in the opening session to give Australia a strong start to the four-match series.

Cheteshwar Pujara, Australia’s nemesis when India won their first series Down Under two years ago, proved more difficult to dislodge and eked out 43 runs from 160 deliveries before falling to Nathan Lyon.

“For a 300-plus total, it’s important to play well in the first two sessions,” Pujara said to explain his dour batting.

“The wicket was fresh, the bowlers were fresh, so you could not play your shots so early ... it was important to be patient at that stage.”

The usually aggressive Kohli proved he could be an

excellent accumulator too as he followed his 68-run partnership with the obdurate Pujara with an 88-run collaboration with deputy Rahane before being sold down the river.

Rahane’s indecision over

a single resulted in Kohli being run-out after a resolute knock which included eight fours.

On a day when boundaries were scarce against Australia’s disciplined bowling, Kohli had looked determined

Ajinkya Rahane was involved in a terrible mix-up with Kohli, resulting in the run-out of the India skipper (Getty)

to make his mark on the series in his only Test before he returns to India for the birth of his first child.

It triggered a mini-collapse with Rahane, who made 42, and Hanuma Vihari (16)

joining Kohli in the hut as the hosts struck with the new ball in front of a restricted crowd of 21 000.

All-rounder Cameron Green debuted for Australia in the match.

SCORECARD INDIA 1st innings Prithvi Shaw b Mitchell Starc 0 Mayank Agarwal b Pat Cummins

17 Cheteshwar Pujara c Marnus Labuschagne b Nathan Lyon 43 Virat Kohli run-oot Josh Hazlewood 74 Ajinkya Rahane lbw Mitchell Starc

42 Hanuma Vihari lbw Josh Hazlewood

16 Wriddhiman Saha not out

9 Ravichandran Ashwin not out

15 EXTRAS: (b-2, lb-7, nb-7, w-1)

17 TOTAL: (six wkts, 89.0 overs)

233 Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-32, 3-100, 4-188, 5-196, 6-206.

Bowling: Mitchell Starc 19-4-49-2, Josh Hazlewood 20-6-47-1 (nb-2), Pat Cummins 19-7-42-1 (w-1, nb-3), Cameron Green 9-2-15-0 (nb-2), Nathan Lyon 21-2-681, Marnus Labuschagne 1-0-3-0 .

West Indies cricket lacks structure Russia’s Olympic doping ban halved, but flag barred from next two Games investment not talent - Simmons/Pollard

By Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber MOSCOW, Russia (Reuters) - Russian athletes will be barred from competing at major international events, including the Olympics, under the country’s flag until 2022 after a Swiss court yesterday upheld doping sanctions but halved the original four-year ban.

The ruling will leave Russian athletes without their flag and national anthem at next year’s Tokyo Olympics, the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and at the 2022 soccer World Cup in Qatar, a severe blow to Russian sport which has been tarnished in recent years by a string of doping scandals.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) had originally banned Russia from the world’s top sporting events for four years in December 2019, but the sanctions could not be implemented until the end of the appeal process.

The Lausanne-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said the sanctions, which also bar Russia from hosting or bidding for major sporting events, came into force yesterday and will end on December 16, 2022.

Russian government officials or representatives will be banned from attending events such as the Olympics and world championships in major sports for a two-year period.

Russians will also not be able to be appointed to or sit on committees or serve as board members at organisations that must abide by the WADA code.

Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin said it was wrong to broaden the sanctions to cover Russian officials, RIA news agency reported.

WADA had accused Rus-

sia of planting fake evidence and of deleting files linked to positive doping tests that could have helped identify drug cheats.

Russian authorities, who said before the ruling that they hoped CAS would fully take the country’s interests into account, said the inconsistencies in the data were purely technical and not the result of tampering.

Mikhail Bukhanov, acting Director General of Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA), (REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov)

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said it would now carefully evaluate what the ruling meant for competitions at the next two Olympic Games and consult with international federations and the International Paralympic Committee on how to implement the CAS decision.

NOT SATISFIED Russian anti-doping agency RUSADA said it was not fully satisfied with the decision in a statement after the ruling.

But Mikhail Bukhanov, the agency’s acting head, later described the outcome as a “victory for Russia”.

“CAS did not restrict clean athletes’ right to compete at the Olympic and Paralympic Games, as well as at world

championships,” he told reporters.

WADA president Witold Banka said the agency was disappointed the court had not endorsed all of its recommendations.

“These are still the strongest set of consequences ever imposed on any country for doping-related offences and the award clearly endorses the resolute, process-driven approach taken by WADA in dealing effectively with this case,” he said.

“This sends a clear message that institutionalised cheating and concerted efforts to subvert the global anti-doping system will not be tolerated.”

But Travis Tygart, CEO of the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), called the ruling a “weak, watered-down outcome.”

“To once again escape a meaningful consequence proportional to the crimes, much less a real ban, is a catastrophic blow to clean athletes, the integrity of sport, and the rule of law,” he said in a statement.

Russia’s doping woes have snowballed since a 2015 report commissioned by WADA found evidence of mass doping among the country’s track and field athletes.

Many Russian athletes were sidelined from the past two Olympics and the country was deprived of its flag at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Games as punishment for state-sponsored doping at the 2014 Sochi Games in southern Russia.

Russia, which has in the past acknowledged some shortcomings in its implementation of anti-doping policies, denies running a state-sponsored doping programme.

THE West Indies does not lack talent in cricket but a lot more is needed for the team to rise from the doldrums and become a respected force once more.

These sentiments were expressed by head coach Phil Simmons and white-ball captain Kieron Pollard in the aftermath of losing another series, this time in New Zealand, where the West Indies lost the T20 series and Test series by 2-0 margins.

are some things that have to go with the talent. “There’s teaching, there’s understanding, there’s learning how to play different games in all different formats.

“There is a lot to be done still. We have to put together everything else in the Caribbean that goes with the talent to make it a successful unit again.”

Pollard, one of the best T20 players in the world and who has played with-

West Indies head coach Phil Simmons (left) and white-ball captain Kieron Pollard

Since then, debate has swirled around the failings of the West Indies and what, if anything, can be done to bring about a reversal of fortunes.

Simmons and Pollard are of the view that a lot needs to be done administratively and by the players, if things are to change for the better.

“We are never, in the Caribbean, wanting for talent,” Simmons said in a video from CWI posted on YouTube on Wednesday.

“But now is the time for us to realise that all the talent we have hasn’t taken us anywhere and that there

in some of the best T20 leagues across the globe, while agreeing with the head coach, opined that until structures can be put in place for the West Indies to make full use of the talent, the current crop of players need to shoulder a greater share of responsibility. This, he said, would likely inspire the administrators to do more.

“We talk about fixing cricket and wanting to take it forward but I think as individuals, the hard work needs to be put in and I just believe that sometimes you look at it, it needs to start at the administration level,” Pollard said.

“In this case, I think we can be the driving force on the field; with the group of guys we have at present, we can continue to show that we have the drive and the determination and desire to go forward and push forward, and also put ourselves in uncomfortable positions in order for this vehicle to go forward. Then it would transcend onto the administration and they will realise that we need to pull our socks up.

“When you look at it, we are not wanting for talent.

Talent, pound for pound, we are always there and sometimes a lot better than we have seen around the world; but what they have around the world is structure. What they have is people investing in the cricket, investing in themselves.”

Pollard believes the West Indies have remained in the doldrums for a long time because of a willingness to accept mediocrity, suggesting that, unfortunately, it is part of Caribbean culture.

He said with a renewed effort to move forward, hopefully the effort will attract the type of investment needed in regional cricket.

“There is still a long way to go in terms of playing in proper facilities.

Pitches in the Caribbean, in all honesty, are not at a great standard. Things that we call world-class, when you go away you see world-class and those are the things we need to see as individuals and from an administration point of view.”

26

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, December 18, 2020

Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir retires citing ‘mental torture’

PAKISTAN fast bowler Mohammad Amir has retired from international cricket, PCB has confirmed. Amir represented Pakistan in 36 Tests, 61 ODIs and 50 T20Is, and recently played in the inaugural Lanka Premier League for runners-up Galle Gladiators.

“Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief executive Wasim Khan spoke with Mohammad Amir this afternoon following reports that the fast bowler had announced his retirement from international cricket.

The 28-year-old confirmed to PCB chief executive that he has no desire or intentions of playing international cricket and as such, he should not be considered for future international matches,” a PCB statement said. “This is a personal decision of Mohammad Amir, which the PCB respects, and as such, will not make any further comment on this matter at this stage.”

The statement serves as another reminder of the extent to which relations between Amir and the current team management have broken down. It came off the

back of an interview he gave to Samaa TV earlier yesterday, in which Amir claimed he had been “mentally tortured” by the team management, taunted frequently and was being deliberately sidelined by them.

“I am leaving cricket for now because I’m being mentally tortured. I don’t think I can bear such torture. I’ve borne lots of torture from 2010 to 2015, for which I served my time. I’ve been tortured by being told the PCB invested a lot in me. I’ll just say two people invested in me a lot: (former PCB chairman) Najam Sethi and (former Pakistan captain) Shahid Afridi.

“They were the only two.

The rest of the team were saying, ‘We don’t want to play with Amir’. Recently, the atmosphere that’s been created means I get taunted all the time by being told I don’t want to play for my country.

Who doesn’t want to play for his country? Every two months, someone says something against me. Sometimes the bowling coach (Waqar Younis) says ‘Amir ditched us’. Sometimes I’m told my

workload is unsatisfactory.

Enough is enough.”

Discontent had been simmering for a while before finally coming to a head yesterday. Amir, who retired from Test cricket last year, had found himself excluded from PCB’s list of central contracts earlier this year, and omitted from Pakistan’s 35-man squad to New Zealand last month.

Mohammad Amir last played for Pakistan in August this year in England

Upon that squad announcement, Amir said on Twitter “only Misbah” could explain why he hadn’t been included, before criticising

US Open T20 Cup ...

Sinclair, Motie eager to showcase their talent

By Rajiv Bisnauth

On the other hand, Motie, the left-arm spinner, pointed out that the tournament has offered a timely opportunity for his career.

Both players are also keen to use the tournament to ensure their fitness

bowling coach Waqar Younis for talking about his workload. That, coupled by Amir’s frequent praise of former Pakistan head coach Mickey Arthur, at one point saying he would “love to play under Arthur for any side in the world”, offered insight into how he viewed his relations with the current coaching staff. That he singled Sethi out for praise in his statement is unlikely to

Nedd, Sherfane Rutherford, Anthony Bramble, Christopher Barnwell and Derwin Christian.

The tournament, which is being played at the Central Broward County Stadium in Florida, will offer young American players the chance to rub shoulders with some of the big names in the game.

The 12th edition, which is being sanctioned by the International Cricket

TWO Guyanese cricketers, Kevin Sinclair and Gudakesh Motie, who are part of this year’s US Open T20 Cup, see their participation in the five-day tournament, as another opportunity to showcase their rich talent.

Speaking to Chronicle Sport via social media yesterday, both Berbicians expressed their desire to make it count, adding that the eagerness to showcase their prodigious talent to the cricketing world remains top priority.

Sinclair, the off-spin- Gudakesh Motie Kevin Sinclair ning all-rounder, who rose to prominence during last year’s Regional Super50 stays on par despite the cur- Council (ICC) will see the top where he played a significant rent lack of on-field activi- two teams from each group role in helping West Indies ties, due to the COVID-19 progress to the semi-finals.

Emerging Players to title pandemic.

Eight teams – 22 Yards honours, is keen on ensuring Apart from the duo, other Sultan, US All Stars, Somerhis goals are met.

Guyanese players who will set Cavaliers, Samp Army, “I have goals for this take part in the tournament Brampton Pacers CC, Attournament which is to per- are: left-handed batsman As- lanta Param Veers, Punjab form well in any role that I sad Fudadin, leg-spinner De- Blues and Afghan Zwanan am given. My plans are to vendra Bishoo, fast bowler CC – will compete over five perform in any task that Ronsford Beaton, Chandra- days for the trophy, with will benefit the team,” he paul Hemraj, Paul Wintz, as many as three matches stressed.

Trevon Griffith, Ashmead being played every day.

have played too well in front of his successor Ehsan Mani or CEO Wasim Khan, further condemning Amir to international exclusion.

The 28-year-old is still widely sought after in T20 leagues around the world, for which his complete international retirement should allow more time.

Though his specific attacks on this management suggests he would be open o a return should things at the board change, for now Amir appears to have put to bed a tumultuous international career that appeared to have been sabotaged just as it began in 2010, before a promising second coming, following a five-year ban that ended up fizzling out.

Even so, the highs Amir enjoyed in a curtailed international career would exceed most complete careers.

Bursting onto the international scene in 2009, he played a pivotal part in the 2009 T20 World Cup final against Sri Lanka, dismissing Player-of-the-Tournament Tillakaratne Dilshan in the first over as Pakistan clinched the title.

He would go on to take five wickets in the Boxing Day Test later that year, and continued to torment

Australia in England in 2010, taking seven wickets at Leeds as Australia were skittled out for a first-innings 88, and Pakistan won their first Test against that opposition in 15 years. He took five wickets at Lord’s against England next before the spot-fixing scandal erupted.

Following his comeback, he was never quite at that scintillating best, though glimpses of that outrageous talent were obvious from time to time.

The spell with the new ball in the 2017 Champions Trophy final may be his most famous, as he removed Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan to set up a romping 180run win. Largely, however, he had reinvented himself as more a white-ball specialist than an out-and-out swing bowler, affording him more opportunities to play in T20 leagues across the world.

Amir last played for Pakistan in the T20Is in England in August this year.

He ends his international career with 259 wickets - 119 in Tests, 81 in ODIs and 59 in T20Is. (Cricinfo)

United’s Cavani charged with misconduct by FA over racial term

(REUTERS) - Manchester United striker Edinson Cavani has been charged with an aggravated breach of the Football Association’s (FA) rules for using the word ‘ne-

and/or ethnic origin.”

United issued a statement defending the striker, saying there was no malicious intent behind Cavani’s message.

“Manchester United and

Manchester United’s Edinson Cavani celebrates scoring their second goal v Manchester United - St Mary’s Stadium, Southampton, Britain - November 29, 2020 (Pool via REUTERS/Mike Hewitt)

grito’ in an Instagram post last month.

The 33-year-old Uruguayan had apologised for the post, which he sent after Manchester United beat Southampton 3-2 on November 29, saying it was an affectionate greeting to a friend.

“It is alleged that ... a comment posted on the Manchester United FC player’s Instagram page was insulting and/or abusive and/or improper and/or brought the game into disrepute.

“It is further alleged that the comment constitutes an ‘Aggravated Breach’... as it included a reference, whether expressed or implied, to colour and/or race

all of our players are fully committed to the fight against racism and we will continue to work with the FA in that regard,” the club said here.

“Edinson and the club were clear that there was absolutely no malicious intent behind the message, which he deleted and apologised for, as soon as he was informed that it could have been misconstrued.

“The player and the club will now consider the charge and respond to the FA accordingly.”

Cavani, who is back in training after a muscle injury but is still doubtful for United’s Premier League trip to Sheffield United on Thursday, has until January 4 to respond to the charge.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER FRIDAY, December 18, 2020

COMPLIMENTS OF XTRA ENERGY DRINK – STABROEK BAZAAR (Tel: 683-9500) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD – 83 Garnett street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) ANSWERS TO YESTERDAY’S QUIZ:

(1) Kyle Jamieson (NZ) (2) 2014 (WI won by 10 wickets in Port-of-Spain)

TODAY’S QUIZ:

(1) Who scored most runs for the WI in the just-concluded Test series against NZ? (2) Which NZ player made most runs in the series?

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday, December 18, 2020

27

Adherence to strategic plan the right approach, says CEO Grave

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) – Cricket West Indies (CWI) chief executive Johnny Grave has warned there is “no easy fix” for the Caribbean side’s decline but has backed the board’s “clear strategic plan” to revive their fortunes over the long term.

Stressing that West Indies cricket had deteriorated gradually over the last decade, Grave said only hard work “on and off the field” and continued “honest conversations” among all stakeholders in coming years would see West Indies return to the pinnacle.

West Indies’ woes were brought sharply into focus again when they slumped to a 2-0 whitewash on the recent tour of New Zealand, losing both Tests inside four days.

“I think it is hard work at all levels. I think we’re going through a transformation of Cricket West Indies – we’ve got a clear strategic plan,” Grave told Starcom Radio’s Mason and Guest cricket show.

“This isn’t an overnight thing that’s happened with West Indies cricket and I think we’ve got to continue to have honest conversations throughout the whole system.

“This isn’t a recent decline.

We went there (New Zealand) in 2017 and had exactly the same (results). We lost the T20s, ODIs and the Test matches by similar margins in many respects and we’ve been ranked ninth in the world for nearly half a decade.

Producing the best talent is one of the aims of the CWI strategic plan.

“So this isn’t something that has suddenly happened.

We haven’t gone from the top of the world before the New Zealand tour to ninth. New Zealand, probably back in 2014, were in a similar position on and off the field and it’s taken hard work, it’s taken a clear strategic plan and vision to get New Zealand cricket from that point to where they are today, and Cricket West Indies need to do exactly the same.”

He continued: “We’ve got a plan to transform the organisation on and off the field that we’re implementing.

Clearly COVID-19 pandemic has been difficult for us and a setback on many fronts but the hard work continues and that’s what it’s going to take.

“There’s no easy fix, there’s no silver bullet that suddenly means we’re going to be number one in the world tomorrow. It’s going to take hard work throughout the entire system, all stakeholders working together to get CWI and our teams back to the top of the world.”

Grave said CWI had already started the rebuild with the overhauling of the entire selection process at all levels, to ensure the best calibre of player was chosen to represent the international teams.

Additionally, the Englishman said investments were continuously being made in coaching development, sports science and fitness while, organisationally, the board had undertaken reviews of his financial, human resource and information technology structures in order to become more efficient.

Referencing the recent

Wehby Report, Grave also explained it was the board’s hope that the governance structure of CWI could also be addressed.

Singling out the area of player fitness, Grave said CWI would continue to pay special attention to this aspect of player development.

“We need to continue to push the whole sports science and medicine programme within the West Indies system,” Grave pointed out.

“Not just at the international level but at the franchise level to ensure that we have our best players available for our selectors, that we are appropriately managing injury prevention and recovery and continuing to drive fitness standards throughout the region.”

He continued: “Our facilities, if we’re honest, are not on par with other international teams so our players are not playing and practising in the best facilities, as other modern international players would, so we know we’ve made a massive investment in buying the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua.

“We want to develop it into our world-class high performance centre and that’s a big part of our strategic plan.

“None of these plans is suddenly going to be a magic wand for improvements overnight but it’s going to take continued investment, real focus on the strategic plan on what we need to do to get back to the top, to produce better players, to produce winning teams and that’s what we need to focus on.”

WI players not hungry enough WI players not hungry enough - Sir Curtly

The West Indies’ Kraigg Brathwaite walks off after being dismissed by New Zealand’s Trent Boult on day three of the first Test match in Hamilton, New Zealand, on Saturday, December 5

―

PAGE 24

Lewandowski beats Messi, Ronaldo to FIFA Best Player Award

ZURICH, Switzerland (Reuters) - Bayern Munich forward Robert Lewandowski was named The Best FIFA Men’s Player 2020 yesterday, beating off competition from last year’s winner Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Lewandowski, who won the German league and cup double as well as the Champions League with Bayern, finished as top scorer in all three competitions and won the award for the first time.

The 32-year-old also led

Poland to Euro 2020 qualification and was named the 2019-20 UEFA Men’s Player-of-the-Year in October.

“To win such an award and share this title with (previous winners) Messi and Ronaldo, is unbelievable and means so much to me,” Lewandowski said.

“I am very proud and happy. This is a great day for me, and also for my club and colleagues.

“This award also belongs to my colleagues, the coach and Bayern in general. It is an incredible

feeling, a lot of emotions.”

Manchester City full back Lucy Bronze won the women’s best player award, becoming the first female English player to take the prize.

“I don’t have the words right now to explain how I’m feeling,” Bronze said.

Juergen Klopp was named The Best Men’s Coach for the second successive year after guiding Liverpool to a first Premier League title in 30 years. Lewandowski’s Bayern team mate Manuel Neuer was named The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper.

Tottenham Hotspur’s

The awards are voted on by selected members of the media, national team captains and coaches as well as fans.

FIFPro World XIs Men’s – Alisson Becker (Liverpool, Brazil), Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liv-

tina), Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich, Poland), Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus, Portugal) Women’s - Christiane Endler (PSG, Chile), Lucy Bronze (Manchester City, England), Wendie Renard (Lyon, France), Millie Bright (Chelsea,

GFF inks 2021 marketing deal with Alabanquima PAGE 24 The nominees for The Best FIFA Men’s Player, Cristiano Ronaldo, Robert Lewandowski and Lionel Messi look on with FIFA president Gianni Infanttino (Photo: Reuters) GFF president Wayne Forde

SEE PAGE 27

“If there’s anything, 2020 has taught us to appreciate every moment you’ve got, not look too far ahead and live in the here and now.

“I appreciate it more than ever. I’ll remember this moment forever, for the rest of my life.”

Elsewhere, in the men’s categories, Liverpool’s

Son Heung-min won the Puskas Award for Goalof-the-Year for his individual strike in a Premier League game against Burnley last December.

Netherlands’ Sarina Wiegman was named The Best Women’s Coach and Sarah Bouhaddi was awarded The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper.

erpool, England), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool, Netherlands), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid, Spain), Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich, Canada), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich, Germany), Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City, Belgium), Thiago Alcantara (Liverpool, Spain), Lionel Messi (Barcelona, Argen-

England), Delphine Cascarino (Lyon, France), Barbara Bonansea (Juventus, Italy), Veronica Boquete (AC Milan, Spain), Megan Rapinoe (OL Reign, USA), Pernille Harder (Chelsea, Denmark), Vivianne Miedema (Arsenal, Netherlands), Tobin Heath (Manchester United, USA).

Adherence to strategic plan the right approach, says CEO Grave

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