Guyana_Chronicle_Epaper_13_04_2022

wednesday 13th april, 2022

Big boost for agriculture

No.106692

–– 18,000 acres of land for cultivation in Region Six, $13.3B for roads

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–– gov’t willing to fund 10,000 scholarships in the region, says VP Jagdeo 03 Guyana, on Tuesday, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC), with the aim of enhancing the commercial relationship between the two nations (Adrian Narine photo)

Guyana, Canada enhance business 02 relationship PAGE

$569M contract signed for dredging of Pomeroon River mouth 17 PAGE

Financial support for heart 07 patients under consideration PAGE

New Starbucks for 08 Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago PAGE

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Guyana, Canada enhance business relationship

By Tamica Garnett

GUYANA, on Tuesday, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC), with the aim of enhancing the commercial relationship between the two nations.

The MoU was signed, on Tuesday, by Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh and Canada’s Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, Mary Ng, during a simple ceremony witnessed by the President of Guyana, Dr. Irfaan Ali, and other officials.

Founded in 1946, CCC acts as prime contractor for foreign government purchases from Canada. The agency has international experts helping Canadian exporters succeed in government procurement markets.

As prime contractor, every

contract signed by the CCC has the legal effect of being signed in the name of the Government of Canada, providing foreign government buyers with the assurance that the contract will be delivered per the agreed terms and conditions guaranteed.

“It offers unique assurance.

CCC is a gem in Canada because, essentially, the government guarantees the contract.

This means that Canada stands behind the companies, which go through rigorous due diligence processes,” Ng said.

Ng noted that the agreement’s aim is to ensure that trade relationships between Guyana and Canada are mutually beneficial to everyone in the respective societies.

She complimented the longstanding relationship between Guyana and Canada and highlighted that it was just last month that the two countries celebrated 58 years of diplomatic relations.

Making brief remarks during the ceremony, Dr. Singh also commended the strong, longstanding relationship between Guyana and Canada.

That relationship, Dr. Singh said, was rooted in the two countries’ shared commitment to democracy, the rule of law, and shared values, including recognising the importance of economic and social development and ensuring it is realised for the benefit of all of the countries’ people.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 13, 2022

— with signing of new co-operation agreement

Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, (left) and Canada’s Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, Mary Ng, signing the Guyana/CCC MoU (Adrian Narine photo)

“Canadian investors, business and commercial institutions have been present in the Guyanese economy for decades and have contributed significantly to the economic evolution of Guyana. Given where Guyana is today and the sharp economic transformation we are embarking on, we see this as a special opportunity for those relationships to evolve with the same speed with which the Guyanese economy is changing,” Dr. Singh said.

He related that the signing is a step towards laying the foundation for closer economic ties between Canada and Guyana.

“We see it as but one step in a journey of many more steps we would like to take,” Dr. Singh said.

According to its website,

the CCC offers commercial advocacy, collaborative project development and foreign contracting expertise to help Canadian exporters secure international contracts with government buyers around the world.

CCC signs a sub-contract and flows the contractual commitments through to the qualified Canadian exporter. As the Canadian exporter fulfils its obligations under the contract, CCC takes on all performance oversight and financial administration of the contract, the website further noted.

The corporation, since being founded in 1946, has facilitated trillions of dollars in exports and foreign investment by Canadian companies.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 13, 2022

Big boost for agriculture — 18,000 acres of land for cultivation in Region Six, $13.3B for roads — gov’t willing to fund 10,000 scholarships in the region, says VP Jagdeo

By Tajeram Mohabir SOME 18,000 acres of land in Region Six are expected to come under cultivation as government strengthens focus on agriculture to increase production, create jobs and enhance income for residents of the region.

Tw e l v e t h o u s a n d acres of those lands will be put under cultivation in Skeldon by scores of private cane farmers who were forced to close shop when the Skeldon Estate was closed by the APNU+AFC Govern-

A group of these farmers, who met with Vi c e - P r e s i d e n t , D r Bharrat Jagdeo at the Classic International Hotel and Resort in Skeldon on Monday, lamented that the estate’s closure brought them to their knees and they are yet to recover. Many of them who took bank loans to fund cultivation of their lands have found themselves in a position where they could not meet or honour their bank payments.

Interest on these loans has also been accumulating over the years, and

thus far, said Vice-President Bharrat Jagdeo.

He said the government will engage the banks that are owed by the farmers with the aim of getting these banks to write off the accumulated interest owed by the farmers.

And in a bid to get the farmers to return to some level of financial stability and to pay off their debts, he said that assistance will be given to the farmers to cultivate some 12,000 acres of land.

Some of the cane farmers present at the

Vice-President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo speaks to residents at the Line Path Community Centre ground on Monday (DPI photo)

legal to cultivate on an industrial scale.

Chief Executive Officer of GuySuCo, Sasenarine Singh told

Vice-President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo responding to a question raised by a resident at the community meeting at the Tagore Memorial Secondary School

ment in 2017.

Aside from the 1,700 sugar workers who lost their jobs when the estate was closed, scores of private cane farmers who supply GuySuCo were put out of operation.

according to the farmers, it brought them great distress since many of them are still looking for jobs.

Some 400 of the 1,700 workers at the Skeldon Estate who lost their jobs have been re-employed

meeting expressed an interest to return to sugar cane cultivation while others were interested in planting hemp, a lucrative crop, often mistaken for marijuana that government will soon make

Vice-President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo interacting with residents during the community meeting at the Line Path Community Centre ground (DPI photo)

the Guyana Chronicle that all options will be explored. A ministerial team comprising Minister with Responsibility for Finance in the Office of the President, Dr Ashni Singh and Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha will report to Vice-President Jagdeo on a technical assessment of the land and other matters in two weeks.

EXPLORING ALL OPTIONS “Let us get the technical people to explore all the options. It is about getting the lands that were originally designated in the original plan when this area was being developed to do Private/ Public Partnership with the private farmers in cane cultivation to get

that private element of the land into cane cultivation again,” he told this publication.

The lands to be re-cultivated are owned by several co-op societies and are very fertile, according to Singh, but will require investments from all stakeholders to be redeveloped, while pointing out that the private cane farmers were producing much more efficiently than the industry which indicates they are better managers of the lands.

Following the closure of the Skeldon Estate, the idea of taking the canes to the Albion Estate was explored but it was found to be not feasible.

When the APNU+AFC closed the Skeldon, Rosehall, Enmore and Wales estates in 2017, against a recommendation of a commission it had set up to inquire into the state of GuySuCo, some 7,000 sugar workers lost their jobs.

Hundreds of private cane farmers across the sugar belt also lost income as they could no longer supply canes to GuySuCo. At the Wales Estate, parts of the factory were sold off as scrap iron, rendering the estate inoperable. Some 2,000 workers lost their jobs and 1,000 private cane

farmers who supplied the estate were also left without an income.

Dr Jagdeo, speaking at a separate meeting at the Line Path Community Centre ground, told residents of surrounding communities that in an effort to address the woes brought to the Wales workers by the APNU+AFC Government, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Administration will be building the gasto-shore project in that community.

The project is expected to generate 200-250 megawatts of power and will supply electricity to the entire country. It is expected to come on stream in 2024 and cut electricity cost by 50 per cent.

PROTEIN AND FERTILISER PLANTS “It that area, we will probably build a protein plant, a fertiliser plant using the gas that we will bring on shore from the pipeline,” he said while pointing out that in West Demerara, a company won an Exxon bid to open a Shore base facility there. These investments, he said, will create thousands of jobs in the Wales area to absorb the number of people who were laid off by the Coalition Government. Many of the laid off workers at Wales have been employed due to the massive scale of investments in Region Three.

Over at Enmore, about 700 workers were laid off when the factory was closed. Dr Jagdeo said the government, in addressing the situation there, decided to shift the Enmore packaging plant to Blairmont and Albion.

At Enmore, there will be Continued on page 26

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guyana CHRONICLE wednesday, april 13, 2022

Manhunt underway for gunman in NYC subway shooting that injured at least 23

(Reuters) - POLICE mounted an intense manhunt on Tuesday for a gunman who set off two smoke bombs and opened fire in a New York subway car, injuring more than 20 people in a morning rush-hour attack that prompted new calls to fight violence in the city’s transit system.

Police said the gunman was believed to have acted alone and immediately fled the crime scene. The attack unfolded as a Manhattan-bound subway train on the N line was pulling into an underground station in Brooklyn’s Sunset Park neighborhood.

Ten people were hit directly by gunfire, including five hospitalised in critical but stable condition, authorities said.

Police said 13 more people suffered from smoke inhalation or were otherwise injured in the chaos as panicked riders fled the smoke-filled subway car. Some collapsed to the pavement as they poured onto the platform of the 36th Street Station. The fire department

said two of those hurt were treated at the scene.

All of the victims were expected to survive their injuries, police said.

New York Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Keechant Sewell said a U-Haul van believed to be connected to the shooting was later located in Brooklyn, but the perpetrator remained at large several hours after the shooting.

At an early evening news briefing, police named a “person of interest” in the investigation as Frank James, who investigators believed had rented the U-Haul vehicle.

Police said they recovered the key to the van at the crime scene and it had been rented in Philadelphia. James had addresses in Philadelphia and Wisconsin, officials said. Attempts

by Reuters to reach any of the phone numbers associated with James were unsuccessful.

The subway assailant was described by police from eyewitness accounts as a man of heavy build, wearing an orange vest, a gray sweatshirt, a green

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Commuters stand on a platform in Times Square Station, after a shooting at a subway station in Brooklyn borough, in Manhattan (REUTERS) helmet and surgical mask.

The commissioner said the attack began in the train car as it was about to enter the station. The gunman removed two canisters from his bag and opened them, sending smoke throughout the train car.

Police said the man then fired 33 rounds from a Glock 9 mm semi-automatic handgun, which was later recovered along with three extended ammunition magazines, a hatchet, some consumer-grade fireworks and a container of gasoline.

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Sewell said earlier that the shooting was not immediately being treated as an act of terrorism.

There was no known motive for the attack, but investigators found a number of social media posts linked to an individual named Frank James that mentioned homelessness and the New York City mayor, Sewell said.

SUBWAY VIOLENCE RISING New York City has seen a sharp rise in violent crime during the pandemic, including a string of seemingly ran-

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dom attacks on its subways.

The transit violence has included a number of attacks in which passengers were pushed onto the tracks from platforms, including a Manhattan woman whose murder was seen as part of a surge in hate crimes against Asian Americans.

Mayor Eric Adams, a former NYPD captain and Brooklyn borough president who took office in January, has vowed to improve subway safety by increasing police patrols and expanding mental health outreach programs.

Speaking to CNN, Adams said Tuesday’s incident “was a senseless act of violence” and pledged to double the number of officers on subway patrol.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul pledged “the full resources of our state to fight this surge of crime, this insanity that is feeding our city.” The White House said President Joe Biden had been briefed on the incident.

Outside the 36th Street Station, in an area known for its thriving Chinatown and

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views of the Statue of Liberty, authorities cordoned off the immediate vicinity with crime-scene tape, while nearby schools were placed under security lockdowns.

John Butsikares, a 15-yearold who passed through the 36th Street subway stop soon after the incident, said the conductor of another train that pulled into the station ordered everyone still on the station platform to get aboard.

“I didn’t know what happened.

It was a scary moment. And then at 25th Street (the next station) we were all told to get off. There was people screaming for medical assistance,” said Butsikares, who was going to school.

Brooklyn resident Yayha Ibrahim said he saw people running from the 36th Street Station, and decided to walk down into it to see what was happening.

“I saw a lady, she was shot right in her leg and she was screaming for help,” he said. Rescue workers “did a good job of coming quick and fast, and the ambulance came in and they took her.”

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GRA constructing new $220M Licence Revenue Office

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 13, 2022

TO support the expansion of operations and offer more effective and efficient systems and services to the public, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has commenced construction of its new Licence Revenue Office situated at Smyth and Princess Streets, Georgetown.

The estimated cost of this new facility is $220 million, and construction is slated for completion within the first half of 2023.

The modern facility will provide all licences, facilitate all motor vehicle-related transactions and offer a

Artist impression of the new Licence Revenue Office at Smyth and Princess Streets

more efficient and comfortable office space for both staff and taxpayers.

In the interim, opera-

tions have been relocated to GRA’s Parking Lot, Lamaha Railway Embankment.

This temporary office

Housing Minister to address concerns of Crabwood Creek residents H O U S I N G a n d Wa t e r Minister, Collin Croal, has committed to addressing a number of issues in several communities within the Crabwood Creek area, Region Six. Accompanying the minister were a number of senior technical officers from the Ministry of Public Works, the Guyana Water Incorporated and the local Neighbourhood Democratic Council.

Residents complained of limited access to potable water, the deplorable state of roads within their community and the need for timely processing of ownership documents for lands.

Consequently, Minister Croal committed to addressing the water woes in the area, forthwith. As early as today, a team from the Guyana Water Incorporated will be meeting with residents who have their necessary documentation in place, in a move to commence the process of service connections.

Also, the local NDC will be asked to submit a list of street names that are in dire need of repairs, to the Ministry of Public Works for its intervention.

For land issues that fall under the Ministry of Housing and Water, Central Housing and Planning

Housing and Water Minister, Collin Croal, listens to the issues of residents within the Crabwood Creek area

Authority, Minister Croal said that already steps were being taken to expedite the

processing of transport and titles for Region Six.

facilitates registration, transfer, and examination of various categories of motor vehicles. Other services, such as the issuance of driver’s and miscellaneous licences are processed at the GRA Headquarters, Camp Street.

“GRA wishes to remind the general public that payments for services provided by the Licence Revenue Office can be facilitated through MMG, Bill Express, and we continue to encourage customers to

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utilise the internet/online bill payment services at any of the following banking institutions; Demerara Bank, Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry and Republic Bank,” the revenue authority said.

The authority said it intends to continue its efforts to provide services to taxpayers in a conducive business environment to encourage and foster compliance with Guyana’s tax laws.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 13, 2022

Government for the People

THE PPP/C administration has embraced a principle of governance for the people and by the people. This is manifested by the number of outreaches made by President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali; Vice-Presi d e n t , D r. B h a r r a t Jagdeo and the entire PPP/C administration to all the 10 administrative regions of Guyana.

It is consistent with an approach to governance by the PPP/C administration which essentially is people-driven and the involvement of the masses of people in the development processes.

On his swearing-in as the 10th Executive President of Guyana, President Ali declared that he would be the President of all Guyanese, regardless of voting preferences. Guy-

ana is a politically plural society and it is only natural for people to vote in accordance with their individual voting preferences. At the end of the day, it is the party that garnered the majority of the votes that really matters as the winning party is constitutionally mandated to form the government; in this current instance, the PPP/C under the Presidency of Dr. Ali. The fact that the APNU+AFC Coalition has been making all manner of wild and unsubstantiated statements regarding the fairness of the electoral process is not material insofar as the constitutionality and legality of the PPP/C administration is concerned. President Ali was duly elected and sworn in as the country’s Executive President and

from all indications he has been true to his word to govern in the interests of all Guyanese regardless of their political affiliation.

In his inauguration speech, President Ali had made a solemn pledge to serve every Guyanese ‘with affection, without discrimination and with every attention to fairness and equity’.

President Ali and his entire Cabinet has been displaying a high level of political and administrative energy. Almost on a daily basis, the President and other Cabinet members are in the field, interacting with citizens and listening to their concerns. Indeed, it is fair to say that the PPP/C has been a good ‘listening’ administration and as far as the President is concerned, no individual is

too small to get a listening ear from the President and his team of ministers and government officials. This is in sharp contrast to the previous APNU+AFC administration where the President, ministers and senior government functionaries were, in the main, inaccessible.

This is indeed commendable and an excellent way of connecting government with the people and the people to government. It is also important from an accountability perspective, as government is held accountable in a direct way to citizens for promises made or for some perceived shortcoming on the part of government officials at the local level in the execution of their duties.

In all of the outreaches, there was one com-

mon denominator: that of finding ways to enhance the material and cultural quality of life of the Guyanese people. In his recent visit to Region Six, President Ali said that the region is slated for massive transformation across all sectors. According to President Ali, the government is creating a macro-vision that will transform the region beyond recognition, create opportunities for new jobs, bring sustainable jobs and empower people to participate in a greater way in the economy of this region. The government, he said, has been working on a pathway to prosperity for every citizen in the country.

Among the several new projects announced by the President are the construction of a new

national stadium, new state of the art modern hospitals, upgrading of the Canje/Rose Hall aerodrome to make it a municipal airport, upgrading of the Port Mourant Training Institute to facilitate training in the rapidly growing oil and gas sector. All of that, according to President Ali, to prepare the ground to supplement the possibility of oil refineries and other related projects.

The development train is reaching all the regions of Guyana, into the villages and in the process touching the lives of Guyanese in positive ways. In this regard, the PPP/C administration has been even-handed and fair to the people of Guyana.

Many commentators do not engage in fact-based analysis

Dear Editor,

OBSERVERS and commentators alike are quick to look at everything the government does through racial or some form of discriminatory lens without any analysis and logical reasoning whatsoever. This is an unfortunate reality in our society.

To this end, I have seen some criticisms that the

government announced 800-part time jobs for Region Two, another 800-part time jobs for Region 10, and some 3,000-part time jobs for Region Six. The question by observers is what is so special about Berbice (Region Six) to be getting almost three times more part-time job opportunities than Regions Two and 10.

Well, the answer is simple: nothing is special

and there is absolutely no discrimination here for the following simple, logical reason: According to the last census (2012), the population of Regions Two, Six and 10 are as follows: Region Two - 46,810; Region Six - 109,431 and Region 10 - 39,452.

Clearly, Region Six population is about three times the population size of Regions Two, and 10.

Region Six also may have a higher unemployment rate given the closure of sugar estates a few years ago and the lack of investment over the years in that region.

Region Two is a predominately rice farming region, not as badly affected as the people in Berbice with the closure of the sugar estates and Region 10 has subsidised electricity where the residents of that

region enjoy cheaper electricity rates than residents across the country, thus, a competitive advantage of Region 10 for light if not heavy manufacturing activities, attractive for investments of these nature.

In short, the fact that Region Six is highly likely to have a higher unemployment rate and a larger population than Regions Two and 10, almost three times the

population size of those regions, then to benefit from three times the amount of part-time jobs than Regions Two and 10 could only be fair and equitable given the unique situation of each region, and taking into consideration the population size of each region.

Yours sincerely, J.C. Bhagwandin Financial Analyst

Financial support for heart patients under consideration

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 13, 2022

THE government is looking to offer financial support for heart patients to undergo live-saving surgery, Vice-President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo told a community meeting at the

ysis Support Programme, which gives each patient up to $600,000 per annum for treatment.

A long-time advocate of government support for dialysis patients, Faye Abigail

burden of this astronomical treatment cost,” she said.

For persons suffering from kidney failure, dialysis works as an artificial kidney.

Vice-President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo listens to concerns from residents during a community meeting at the Line Path Centre Ground on Monday (DPI photo)

Line Path Centre Ground, Region Six, on Monday.

The Vice-President was at the time responding to a matter raised by a resident, who said he is a heart patient and flagged the high cost to undergo critical surgery.

The cost to perform a heart surgery in Guyana is below $3M and overseas the cost his higher, which either way is outside the reach of many Guyanese.

Mr Jagdeo said the government is placing priority on healthcare and would explore offering financial assistance to heart patients, similar to the assistance package it allocated to patients on dialysis in the 2022 national budget.

Hundreds of Guyanese suffering from end-stage renal disease or ‘kidney failure’ and needing the life-saving weekly dialysis treatment are breathing a sigh of relief with the government’s announcement of the Dial-

Yong, praised the government for hearing the cries of the people and coming to their assistance in Budget 2022.

Many patients suffering from kidney failure need between two to three dialysis sessions per week; however, with dialysis costing between $12, 000 to $15,000 per session, the cost to patients ranges between $1.248 million to $2.34 million per year.

“Personally, I’m very appreciative and grateful. Dialysis is a life-saving treatment and we cannot be on it without money, so without money we die. The government and President [Dr Irfaan] Ali are giving us a great assist from the burden of our everyday existence,” Yong had told the Guyana Chronicle.

“I’m happy that the government has listened to the plight of the dialysis patients. I’ve been lobbying for two years for relief from the

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 13, 2022

New Starbucks for Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago

(Jamaica Observer) AFTER starting its Caribbean expansion nearly a decade ago, Starbucks Corporation will see the addition of four new licensed stores in Trinidad and Tobago during 2022, and Guyana’s first store to be opened between September to November by Trinidadian-based Prestige Holdings Limited (PHL) which won the development rights for the country.

Starbucks currently has a presence of more than 70 stores across 10 markets in the Caribbean. In the English-speaking Caribbean, Caribbean Coffee Traders Limited (CCTL) — a joint venture between Ian Dear and Adam Stewart — has the rights to develop stores in Jamaica, Barbados, Turks and

Caicos, the Cayman Islands and Panama. CCTL opened its 12th location in January at Drax Hall, St Ann, and expects to achieve its 15th location by the end of 2023. Half-WayTree is the next location set to be opened in Jamaica.

Guyana continues to see an unprecedented level of interest by various companies across the region as its oil income begins to flow through the economy. NCB Financial Group Limited, Supreme Ventures Limited, Dolla Financial Services Limited and Massy Holdings Limited have all opened subsidiaries or began operations in the South American country. First Citizens Financial Group Holdings Limited is attempting to complete the acquisition of Scotiabank’s

Guyana operation.

PHL is a restaurant management company which has the development rights for the TGI Fridays brand in the Caribbean, along with the rights to Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), Pizza Hut, Subway and Starbucks in Trinidad and Tobago. There are eight Starbucks locations in Trinidad and Tobago, with the additional locations set to take it to 12 by the end of its 2022 financial year (November 30). There are more than 34,300 company operated and licensed Starbucks locations across 84 markets as of January 2.

PHL’s two newest Starbucks locations in T&T feature mobile order pickup and an e-commerce portal to facilitate their orders. The locations are

also equipped with the Masterna 2.0 Expresso machines.

Although PHL’s revenue for the first quarter improved by five per cent to TT$246.38 million ($5.75 billion), its gross margins were further eroded from 32.88 per cent to 31.61 per cent as global supply chain disruption put more pressure on the company’s operational costs through food inflation and additional logistics disruptions.

Gross profit was flat for the period at TT$77.87 million.

PHL earned TT$256.57 million in revenue and TT$84.97 million in gross profit during Q1 2019. PHL closed a Subway location during the quarter, which reduced its store count to 128 locations, inclusive of the TGI Fridays location in Jamaica.

“The removal of the COVID-19 restrictions is cause for optimism, though much work must now be done to

return our business to pre-pandemic levels and beyond. As we look forward we remain positive about the ability of our people and brands to deliver improved results in 2022 and beyond,” stated chairman of PHL Christian E. Mouttet in the shareholder report.

As a result of those cost pressures, PHL reduced its other operating and administrative expenses to TT$50.92 million and TT$16.77 million, respectively.

These cost-cutting measures, along with the growth in digital, delivery and drivethrough sales, resulted in PHL generating a net profit of TT$2.01 million ($46.92 million). This is far from the Q1 2020 and Q1 2019 net profit figures of TT$8.23 million and TT$5.65 million, respectively.

Total assets for PHL declined by five per cent to TT$733.69 million ($17.11 billion) as property, plant and

equipment, along with its right of use assets, declined.

Cash and cash equivalents improved to TT$58.91 million ($1.37 billion) at the end of the quarter. Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity ended the period at TT$474.13 million and TT$259.56 million, respectively.

Starbucks exceeded market expectations with revenue of US$8.05 billion in its first quarter (January 2) but missed on earnings per share (EPS) targets which came in at $0.72 versus the $0.80 consensus.

The company attributed this fall to higher costs in its supply chain and more employees using their sick leave allotment. The company revised its guidance for 2022 to see global revenue fall between US$32.5 billion to US$33 billion, global operating margin of 16.5 per cent, and a four to six decline in generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) EPS. The stock price remains down 30 per cent year to date at US$81.48, with market capitalisation of US$93.70 billion.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 13, 2022

CCJ President praises Guyana’s ‘hybrid legal system’

PRESIDENT of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Justice Adrian Saunders, has praised Guyana’s commitment to strengthening its “hybrid” legal system to promote the rule of law.

Justice Saunders was, at the time, delivering the keynote address at the Guyana Bar Association (GBA)’s dinner, which was held on Saturday, April 9, at the Marriott Hotel.

The dinner ended a week of activities held by the association in celebration of the inaugural Law Week under the theme, “Advancing the rule of law under the new normal.”

“Our [CCJ] role as your final court of appeal is particularly humbling because this country is truly special.

Your land space can easily swallow up all of the rest of CARICOM. You are one of a few states in the region with a hybrid legal system,” Justice Saunders said.

specific and due regard to the aspirations of young people and, importantly, to the status of women.

“Importantly, Guyana is also the only CARICOM Constitution that so fulsomely assures its citizens of what some refer to as second generation human rights. And today, while many developing states may only aspire to the full satisfaction by the state of those economic and social rights, Guyana is now blessed with the wherewithal to realise them,” he said.

Justice Saunders added that, in 2018, when the CCJ delivered its landmark ruling in the famous ‘Third Term Case’, it paid tremendous credit to the Guyana constitution reform exercise which

President of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Justice Adrian Saunders

He explained that Guyana has the most advanced Constitution of the English-speaking

countries in the Caribbean and goes out of its way to pay

was completed in 2001 under the leadership of the then Speaker of the National Assembly, Ralph Ramkaran.

“Many CARICOM states have commissioned constitution reform exercises, but Guyana is one of the few states where such an exercise was carried right through to a successful conclusion. So, yes, we are proud to be of service to Guyana,” he said.

The CCJ President also spoke highly of the legal reform system, which he said is now “dynamic, responsive and innovative” since it has established sexual offences, juvenile, and drug treatment courts.

“It is a fact that over the last ten or so years we have been witnessing a series of

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steady reforms in the administration of justice of this country. The trajectory is certainly trending in an excellent direction,” he said.

To attest to the legal reform in Guyana, Justice Saunders highlighted the recent commissioning of the $37.8 million Kwakwani Magistrate’s Court and the electronic case management system, which is expected to be installed soon. “… I am optimistic about the future. I can confidently say to Guyana, to the judiciary of Guyana and in relation to the administration of justice in this country, we all have this in common. The road ahead looks bright. Our best years are ahead of us…” he said.

$1.3B in contracts inked to enhance agri infrastructure

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AS part of efforts to improve the country’s agriculture infrastructure, 35 contracts totalling $1.3 billion were awarded for the purchase of equipment and the execution of several projects.

In brief comments at a signing ceremony held in the Ministry of Agriculture’s boardroom on Tuesday, subject minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, noted that the contracts were in keeping with the ministry’s work programme for 2022.

“These contracts are a result of the infrastructure that we are putting in place so we can enhance and improve our agriculture infrastructure. We know for a fact that Guyana is now leading the agri-food system in the Caribbean,” he added.

The minister added that Guyana will soon be in the limelight for investors and so it is critical that the country’s infrastructure is up-to-date.

“We will be hosting an Agri-investment forum not so long from now …that means

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 13, 2022

Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha and other officials of the ministry with persons who signed contracts

a lot of investors will be coming to Guyana to invest in the agriculture sector, so we have to have the infrastructure in place. So many of the works that are being signed as contracts, are works that we have to enhance,” Mustapha said.

Of the 35 contracts, three were signed for the procurement of two long-reach hydraulic excavators, one new tractor and the rehabilitation of the seed processing facility at the Mahaica Mahaicony Abary - Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ ADA).

Meanwhile two contracts were signed for the supply and delivery of land levelling equipment and a single stage steam turbine under the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).

Four contracts were inked for the delivery of agro-pro-

cessing equipment for the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC).

One contract was inked for the supply and delivery of HDEPE pipes for the brakish water shrimp project under the fisheries department, while the remaining contracts were inked for the construction and rehabilitation of several pump stations and drainage structures, the procurement of critical machinery, and the maintenance of several canals across the country along with the dredging of the Pomeroon River in Region Two, under the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA).

Minister Mustapha said that the projects were critical and urged the contractors to execute the works according to the contractual specifications.

Crime Chief attends AMERIPOL conference

CRIME Chief, Wendell Blanhum, attended the XIII Conference of AMERIPOL and Council of Directors of the Community of Police of the Americas, which was held on the April 7 and 8, 2022, in Barranquilla, Colombia.

AMERIPOL is an internationally integrated organisation whose purpose is to promote and strengthen police co-operation in scientific and technical training, as well as to streamline the sharing of information utilised for intelligence purposes.

The organisation aims to co-ordinate and enhance efforts in criminal investigations and increase judicial assistance between the police and its counterparts in America.

Further, during the voting process at the conference, the International Red Cross Committee was elected and welcomed as the newest observer agency to AMERIPOL.

Crime Chief, Wendell Blanhum, engaging President of the Republic of Colombia, Ivan Duque Marquez, at the AMERIPOL Conference

guyana CHRONICLE wednesday, april 13, 2022

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 13, 2022

Small businesses need continuous support — GCCI CEO says at launch of online marketplace

THE Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI)’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Timothy Tucker, on Tuesday, emphasised that small businesses will need lots of support to ensure they survive.

“They will need technical assistance, assistance for certifications. Most importantly, the biggest one is access to finance,” Tucker said during

the launch of Stabroek Online Marketplace.

He shared that access to finance is a small business’ nightmare worldwide.

Tucker noted that even though this is sad, it is even more challenging for medium-sized businesses to acquire finance as they are too large to receive grants.

“Medium-sized businesses are too large for grants and don’t have the equity

or the infrastructure and, in the case of Guyana, where you need to have immovable assets… you can’t borrow against moveable assets in Guyana,” Tucker said.

He noted that this is a barrier which needs to be addressed urgently and changed.

“So, the big thing is because medium-sized businesses don’t have capital or access to equity that they GCCI CEO, Timothy Tucker

can leverage at the bank, it makes it very difficult for them to find avenues in which they can borrow or go to get financing,” Tucker said.

He said that over the weekend, GCCI’s small business week saw lots of businesses which operate

in residential areas, bottom houses, out of the city and more. This raises the conversation of these small businesses acquiring lands to carry on their businesses.

“They have good products, good business ideas, but they just need access to land,” he said.

He added: “Part of it is on us as a business community to ensure getting land is just not to flip it and that they are going to really use the land for meaningful business ideas, meaningful businesses and I think maybe one of the suggestions would be for it to be a lease with option to buy and to cater for smaller plots of land for businesses and setting up incubator hubs.”

He also shared that GCCI is willing to work with the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) to formulate a plan to have an industrial park.

“We need to capitalise and really grow our stock exchange…we would have indicated to government that more lands need to be available. With all the housing development going on in Region Four, we need to have more industrial areas and more industrial areas that are allocated for small businesses,” he said.

Additionally, he said, GCCI is supportive of a local oil refinery as this will help to fill the demand in the local market and control the prices better.

“If we are able to have a refinery locally, we would be able to fill your demand in the local market and we would be able to control the prices a little better than it is, and, of course, there are so many byproducts of a refinery that can be done,” Tucker said.

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Fisherman stabs wife to death, flees scene

APPROXIMATELY three decades of marriage ended tragically early Tuesday morning, when Vijay Raj, a fisherman, stabbed his wife, Savitrie Raj, to death.

According to police reports, the incident occurred around 1:00am at the couple’s Lot 563 Fifteenth Street, Foulis, East Coast Demerara home.

Recounting the incident, the couple’s son said that he was in the lower flat of the two-storey house when he heard his mother scream.

Alarmed, the boy rushed upstairs and found his mother lying on a bed with blood on the body.

He subsequently saw his father flee the scene through a window within the room.

The Guyana Police Force has since issued a wanted bulletin for the fisherman.

Savitrie Raj and her husband in happier times An emergency medical technician attached to the Melanie Fire Station was summoned and responded immediately, but the victim was pronounced dead on the scene.

The body was escorted to Jerrick’s Funeral Home where a post-mortem examination will be conducted.

Police said checks were made in the area for the suspect, but up to press time, he was not apprehended.

Reports are that the couple were reportedly having problems in their marriage and recently the wife filed a complaint against the husband with the police after he physically assaulted her with a bottle.

The man was charged last week but released on bail and the two continued to live together. He was slated to return to court this week for the continuation of the assault case.

Persons who may have information about the man’s whereabouts are asked to contact the police on 229-2700, 229-2219, 2292557, 226-6978, 225-8196, 911 or visit the nearest police station.

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guyana CHRONICLE wednesday, april 13, 2022

Virtual platform launched for marketing of local products

By Tamica Garnett

STABROEK Online Marketplace (SOMP), a new platform that will be creating a space for local products to garner international attention, was launched on Tuesday during a ceremony held

at the Marriott Hotel.

Chief Executive Officer of SOMP, Althea Toney, said that the e-commerce platform, which will officially become open to the public on May 19, will be efficient and transparent.

“We have diverse cat-

egories dictated by Guyanese businesses featuring products that enrich culture and improve quality of life. Stabroek ONLINE MARKETPLACE is open to early registration for sellers who will receive free subscription for 30 days after the platform

out the region,” Toney said.

Once launched in May, sellers on the platform will pay a fixed fee of US$40 in addition to a percentage of the sales, which will vary depending on the products.

President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Timothy Tucker, who was at the launch of the online platform, conveyed the GCCI’s full

goes live,” Toney said.

The platform will be equipped with international payment options.

Toney said the overarching aim of the platform is to work with local companies to optimise business transactions locally, increase their visibility

Chief Executive Officer of SOMP, Althea Toney both locally and internationally, increase market share and increase revenue opportunities.

“Stabroek Online Marketplace will be able to provide products unique to Guyana’s culture as well as the Guyanese tourism products,” Toney said.

The business will also have a travel agency section, Stabroek Travel, which will be promoting Guyana’s local tourism

President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Timothy Tucker product.

The platform will also place emphasis on marketing Guyana’s agricultural products and support Guyana’s goal to be part of reducing the Caribbean food import bill by 25 per cent by 2025.

“Stabroek Online Marketplace is positioned to be a conduit for our agricultural products through-

Director of Business at the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, John Edghill support for SOMP, noting that it will play a significant role in helping to promote small businesses in Guyana.

Tucker called the initiative timely given the current celebration of National Small Business Week.

“It goes without saying, it is part of the GCCI mandate to promote, support and help to market local entrepreneurs and local manufacturers. So this initiative is completely supported by the Chamber,” Tucker said.

Director of Business at the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, John Edghill, in his remarks, called on the developers of the platform to ensure that it focuses on decentralised businesses, and includes businesses from the interior region and does not focus only on businesses on the coastland.

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guyana CHRONICLE wednesday, april 13, 2022

Local authorities engage Indian investors

PRESIDENT, Dr. Irfaan Ali, and several Cabinet Ministers, on Tuesday, engaged a group of Indian investors, among whom was legendary Indian cricketer, Kapil Dev, who is also the Chairman of Dev Group of Companies.

The group, led by Dr Ajeenkya Patil, Chairman of the Ajeenkya D Y Patil

Group, also included Chinta Sasidhar, Chairman of the Viswa Samudra Group and owner of the Krishnapatnam Port and Rajesh Puri, CEO of Dev Features Pvt Ltd. President Ali was accompanied by Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh; Minister of Housing and

Site identified for new multimillion-dollar Skeldon hospital

By Jared Liddell A SITE has been identified for the construction of a new multimillion-dollar Skeldon Hospital, as part of the government’s plan to improve accessibility

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony and efficiency in the public healthcare system.

This was according to Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, who was at the time addressing residents of Region Six during a Cabinet outreach on Monday.

According to Dr. Anthony, the five-acre site for the new Skeldon Hospital sits just one mile away from the current hospital.

The Health Minister related that this new facility will replace the old facility and will offer patients a wider range of services.

“That hospital would have an impatient facility with about 75 beds, two operating theaters, it would have an imaging sector that would do digital x-ray and ultrasound along with a host of modern imaging equipment,” Minister Anthony said.

Added to that, the Health

Minister related that the facility would be equipped with a modern accident and emergency unit.

Speaking to the timeline of the project, Dr. Anthony said that the Health Ministry is currently conducting a site assessment before disclosing a direct timeline for the project. He noted, however, that works are expected to commence in late 2022.

The Health Minister disclosed that this project is part of the government’s plans to construct or rehabilitate health facilities at Diamond, East Bank Demerara; Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo; Bath Settlement and No. 75 Village in Region Six. He said health facilities across the country will be retrofitted to provide better accommodation for patients.

The government will also be working to ensure adequate medical equipment are available and a new electronic medical record system is in place to provide better service to citizens.

In the government’s 2022 budget, $16.1 billion was allocated for the improvement of infrastructure and the expansion of health facilities across the country.

It was reported that some $12.4 billion of the budget will be used for the design and construction of a stateof-the-art pediatric and maternal hospital, as well as the upgrading of the West Demerara and Bartica regional hospitals.

Further, $1 billion has also been allocated to upgrade health centres across Guyana, with an additional $2 billion budgeted for medical and non-medical equipment.

Water, Collin Croal; Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill; Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond and Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar.

Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Office for Investment (Go-Invest), Dr. Peter Ramsaroop and Director of Projects at the Office of the President, Mrs. Marcia Nadir-Sharma also participated in the meeting.

President, Dr. Irfaan Ali and his team of high-level officials engage a group of Indian investors who are in Guyana to explore the opportunities that exist (Office of the President photo)

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Stronger partnership between police, Kuru Kuru residents discussed –– as Deputy Commissioner Budhram, senior officers engage residents

DEPUTY Commissioner ‘Operations’ (ag), Ravindradat Budhram, over the weekend, visited the community of Kuru Kuru on the Soesdyke Highway, where he and his team interacted with residents and members of the Interim Manage-

ment Committee (IMC) of the New Highway Producers Cooperative Society.

Members of the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) and other senior officers of the Guyana Police Force are currently engaged in a fan-out

exercise in various communities across all twelve of the Regional Police Divisions, as part of a committed effort by the force to strengthen the existing bonds of friendship and partnership and to forge new bonds with residents of the various

(From right seated) Deputy Commissioner ‘Operations’ (ag) Ravindradat Budhram; Commander of Regional Division 4 ‘B’, Superintendent Denise Griffith; Second-in-Charge of Operations, Senior Superintendent Ewart Wray, other ranks of the GPF and members of the IMC at Kuru Kuru communities.

Budhram was accompanied on the outreach exercise by Second-inCharge of Operations, Senior Superintendent Ewart Wray, and Commander of Regional Division 4 ‘B’, Superintendent Denise Griffith.

During the interactive engagement, members of the IMC raised several pertinent issues and concerns relating to the Kuru Kuru and Swan communities and their development.

One of the points highlighted by the Committee’s Chairman, Paula Nicholson, was that the residents within the neighbourhood are requesting that a police station be built there, so that there could be a reduction of crime in the community and, essentially, security and comfort.

Budhram welcomed the initiative and assured the committee members that his team will work diligently to have that in place after consultations with the appropriate agencies.

The Deputy Commissioner of Operations further mentioned that he planned to meet with the residents more frequently and also wished to formulate youth and scouts

groups within the community.

Further, Budhram told residents that the force was very committed to pushing and promoting youth and community development.

He also stressed the need for collaboration and partnership between the community and the police in crime prevention.

Commander Griffith, who also addressed the gathering, urged the residents and members of the committee to be vigilant and ensure that every crime and every suspicious behaviour were reported.

Budhram and his team were given a guided tour of the area and its immediate surroundings, including where the police station could be built.

Senior Superintendent Wray, in his remarks, applauded the residents for a well-kept environment and urged them to maintain a good relationship with the police.

The IMC members and residents of the Kuru Kuru community were very appreciative of the outreach visit and pledged their support to helping the police maintain peace, provide security and create a safer community.

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guyana CHRONICLE wednesday, april 13, 2022

$569M contract signed for dredging of Pomeroon River mouth

FARMERS from Region Two will soon benefit from improved drainage facilities after several contracts were signed that will see the mouth of the Pomeroon River being dredged and farmlands along the Pomeroon River and Supenaam Creek being empoldered.

During a contract-signing exercise, on Tuesday, in the Ministry of Agriculture’s boardroom, the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) signed a $569,300,000 contract with Gaico Construction and General Services Inc. for the dredging of the mouth of the Pomeroon River.

The authority also signed several other contracts with A&S General Store, Adamantium Holdings, Arabzee Trading, and S&J Services and Supplies to empolder farmlands in the lower and upper Pomeroon and Supenaam Creek areas at a cost of $186 million.

For years, farmers from villages along the Pomeroon River have been affected by inadequate drainage due to extreme siltation at the mouth of the river.

Once completed, it is expected that farmers will be able to benefit from better drainage on their farms and vessels will have better access to the river during both the low and high tides.

While offering remarks at the signing, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha said that the contracts were being signed to make way for critical works and infrastructure that the government is putting in place to improve the lives of farmers across the country.

“All of the contracts being signed today are for works that are necessary to enhance our agriculture sector. The dredging of the Pomeroon River mouth is a major project. You know the Pomeroon is very prone to flooding. When those works are done, coupled with the continued block-drainage programme that continues this year, flooding in this area will be mitigated,” Minister Mustapha said.

Last December and again in February this year, farmers from several farming communities along the Pomeroon River were severely affected by flood-

ing as a result of extensive rainfall, compounded by the overtopping of the Pomeroon River.

This resulted in farmers, who were just beginning to return to the land following severe floods in 2021, suffering tremendous losses once more.

Minister Mustapa further said that the ministry was also looking to have similar works done on the three main rivers in Region Five, namely the Mahaicony, Mahaica, and Abary Rivers. These works, he added, should commence sometime this year.

The minister said that with MMA being the largest rice-growing area in the country, it was critical for the scheme to have an efficient drainage and irrigation system in place.

The Mahaica Mahaicony Abary – Agriculture Development Authority (MMA – ADA) also signed contracts for the rehabilitation of its seed processing facility as well as the supply and delivery of two super long reach hydraulic excavators and one tractor amounting to $115,063,642.

The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) also signed contracts amounting to $196,638,923 for the supply and delivery of a number of critical equipment, including two complete sets of land leveling equipment for the Albion Estate. These equipment are expected to contribute to the estate’s modification in which 50 per cent of lands are earmarked to be converted over a four-year period.

The equipment will comprise a scraper box that is attached to the tractor along with a laser leveling device to grade/level the cane fields. The primary objectives of these machines are to create layouts that will favor mechanical harvesting and to improve the current harvesting capacity of the Estate.

The New Guyana Marketing Corporation (New GMC), the Fisheries Department, and the National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) also signed contracts for the supply and delivery of critical equipment and the execution of several key infrastructural and rehabilitation works across the country.

A section of the expansive Pomeroon River

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Acting Police Commissioner plans to resuscitate local scout groups

guyana CHRONICLE wednesday, april 13, 2022

(From left) Deputy Commissioner ‘Administration’ (ag) Calvin Brutus; Chief Commissioner of Scout Association, Andrew Ramcharritar; Commissioner of Police (ag), Clifton Hicken and Deputy Commissioner ‘Operations’ (ag), Ravindradat Budhram following a meeting COMMISSIONER of Police (ag), Clifton Hicken, said that the Guyana Police Force (GPF) was pushing for the resuscitation of scout groups in all regions across Guyana.

To that end, he met with Chief Commissioner of the Scouts Association of Guyana, Andrew Ramcharritar, and Assistant Scout Coordinator, Sergeant Argile.

The Top Cop said that every effort must be made to revamp existing scout groups and establish new police scout groups in all 12 of the Regional Police Divisions across Guyana.

Hicken said that the skills acquired through the Scouts Association will benefit the youths, by making them more marketable and aid them in gaining positive employment.

The anticipated re-

vamped Police Scout groups will attract and enable youths (both males and females) from all communities to acquire knowledge and the skills needed to develop themselves into good citizens, while effectively addressing the challenges that currently exist in their respective communities.

Hicken urged Ramcharritar and Sergeant Argile to ensure that there are weekly activities being conducted by scout groups.

In addition, the Top Cop emphasised the importance of scout members wearing appropriate attire and uniform.

Ramcharritar has assured the Police Commissioner (ag) that he will work alongside the Police Commanders in all divisions to have representation in all regions.

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guyana CHRONICLE wednesday, april 13, 2022

Region Nine gets first nursing programme

AS Guyana embarks on the massive expansion of its healthcare services, Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, on Tuesday, launched the Nursing Assistant Programme at the Lethem Training Annex in Region Nine.

This programme is the first of its kind in the region, and, according to Director of Health Sciences, Dr. Seraiah Validum, 28 students from

our health centres, our health posts, district [and] regional hospitals…and at the same time ensure we have…the things needed so that we can improve the quality of care,” Dr. Anthony noted.

Minister Anthony outlined the government’s plans to fully transform Guyana’s healthcare sector, saying that the development of the country’s human resource is most important to the sec-

Some of the nursing students at the launch of the programme (DPI photo)

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony at the launch of the Nursing Assistant Programme in Region Nine (DPI photo) Region Nine, along with five from Region Eight are being trained to be qualified nursing assistants.

Regional Vice Chairman, Bertie Xavier, described the launch of the programme as a historic one and encouraged the students to go above and beyond with the opportunities being provided.

“Rise beyond the limit… we will continue to support you at the level of the [Regional Democratic Council], and we will support you in whatever way you so deserve,” Xavier said.

Delivering the feature address at the well-attended ceremony, Dr. Anthony said Guyana’s massive economic development will require a significant upgrade in the health sector, citing the enormous resources allocated in the 2022 National Budget for this purpose.

“These investments were not made by accident. We have to invest in developing

tor’s transformation. “[Human resources are] the most important component. So, if we are doing the other things, the infrastructure and the equipment, and we are not improving the human resources, then we would still not be able to deliver the kinds of care that we want,” he said.

The minister congratulated the batch of students for being “a pioneering group”, and encouraged them to blaze the trail so that others would easily be able to follow.

“You are a historic group, you are a pioneering group, and therefore we want to see and we are invested in your successes… use this as an appetizer so that you can go research and learn more,” Dr. Anthony said.

The Ministry of Health is embarking on 16 different programmes to train and upskill people in healthcare services. (DPI)

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Hundreds of Region Six residents to access BIT training this year

guyana CHRONICLE wednesday, april 13, 2022

Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton interacting with residents of Region Six MINISTER of Labour, Joseph Hamilton, has said that some $33 million will be expended to upskill human resources in Region Six, through the ministry’s Board of Industrial Training (BIT) programme.

The minister announced that a remedial programme has also been established to assist persons in English and Mathematics.

The ministry’s plans were outlined by Minister Hamilton during several community engagements along the Corentyne coast, on Monday.

“The focus is on people who might have left school earlier than they should have. We have in the programme a remedial programme that we do for two to three weeks, English and Mathematics because if we train you to do fabrication and welding you have to know how to pull a tape, you have to know inches and foot, we do also basic English classes,” Minister Hamilton said.

This year, BIT will be offering technical and vocational training (TVET) to over 300 residents in the region. This comes as a result of the unprecedented growth experienced as the country moves into the oil and gas economy.

BIT offers a wide variety of training courses ranging from heavy-duty equipment, welding, and

garment construction, and is tailored to the demographic need of a community. These programmes are offered to both genders from age 16, free of cost.

During the outreach, Minister Hamilton encouraged community leaders to provide training programmes in addition to the ones already being offered that can aid in residents’ and the community’s development.

“We go as far as to practically have you recommend to us a trainer from your village so that when we pay persons some of the money will stay in the village. We look to you to say to us these are the best types of programmes that we think will help young people to develop themselves,” Minister Hamilton said.

Additionally, the minister outlined a number of initiatives rolled out by the ministry such as the ‘job bank’ which will facilitate easy employment for persons graduating from BIT programmes, as well as other citizens. The online platform is comprehensible and creates an avenue for prospective employees to interact with employers before an interview.

The outreach in Bond Yard, Port Mourant, Manchester and Alness was part of a ministerial outreach aimed at providing on-the-ground resolutions to issues to improve the livelihood of citizens. (DPI)

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Fulfil a major country's responsibility to maintain peace by playing constructive role After more than 40 days, the Ukraine Crisis continues.

It is regrettable and pitiful to see that countries have come to the point of meeting on the battlefield. Sanctions have expedited the spillover effect of the crisis and brought serious negative impacts to global economic recovery. Why did the crisis break out? How to prevent further damage in time? Can we avoid similar crisis in the future? It is worth thinking about by all.

To de-escalate the situation in Ukraine and secure ceasefire as early as possible is the earnest expectation of the international community as well as the strong desire of China. China has been consistently upholding an independent foreign policy of peace.

To safeguard peace is deeply rooted in the spirit of the Chinese people. On Ukraine issue, China has always been advocating that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries should be respected, that the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter should be upheld, that the legitimate security concerns of all countries should be taken seriously, and that all efforts conducive to a peaceful settlement of the crisis should be supported. China has been firmly practising these advocacies and tirelessly playing a constructive role in promoting the ease of the Ukraine situation in its own way.

China always supports settling disputes peacefully through dialogue and negotiation and has put magnificent efforts on it.

Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed that Russia and Ukraine should conduct peace talks as early as possible when he had a telephone conversation with Russian President Putin on the next day of the outbreak of the conflicts, and got a positive response. President Xi then exchanged views with many heads of states to promote the resolution of the crisis in a proper way. State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi has also communicated frequently with his counterparts of various parties including EU, the US, Russia and Ukraine. There were positive signals from both Russian and Ukrainian sides during the peace talks. China calls on the international community to continue to focus on facilitating dialogues and negotiations, remain rational and strengthen unity, until the two parties have reached consensus peacefully. On the contrary, some international forces are intentionally circulating disinformation and keen to provide military aids, which have no difference with adding fuel to the fire.

China always insists that to mitigate the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine is a matter of urgency and has proposed a six-point initiative on this, calling on the international community to prevent further humanitarian crisis together. China is among the first countries to provide humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and has already sent three batches of emergency aid supplies to Ukraine.

However, the escalation of all-dimensional and indiscriminate sanctions has created new humanitarian issues. The developing countries, which make the majority of the

world and are not parties to the conflict, are forcefully dragged into this geopolitical conflict and great power competition. Their people have to bear the consequences of the soaring prices of oil, food, among others and an even harder life in the COVID-19 situation. It is not fair. In addressing international and regional hotspot issues, there cannot be only two options, namely the use of force and sanctions.

China always advocates for common, comprehensive, co-operative and sustainable security. The security of all countries is indivisible and the security of one country should not come at the expense of the security of other countries. Respect for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all countries is a basic norm governing international relations that applies to all countries. There should be no exceptions, still less double standards. A world of lasting peace can only be achieved when all parties discard the Cold-War mentality, stop bloc confrontation, and form a balanced, effective and sustainable global and regional security mechanism through dialogues. Those practices of talking loudly about peace on the one hand but obsessing with bloc confrontation on the other hand are quite dangerous and worrying and should be rejected resolutely.

As a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and a responsible major country, China always takes an attitude of objectivity and impartiality and decides its position and policy on the basis of the merits of the issue.

China is willing to work with all peace-loving countries including Guyana to facilitate dialogue and communication, create opportunities for peace and prospects for negotiation, and continue to contribute to safeguarding peace and stability of the world.

Brief Introduction of the 131st Canton Fair

The 131st China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair) will be held online from April 15 to April 24. Themed facilitating the "dual circulation" of domestic and overseas markets, the exhibition offers an online display platform, business matchmaking services, and a cross-border e-commerce zone. Exhib-

itors and Products, Global Business Matchmaking, New Product Release, Exhibitors on Live, VR Exhibition Hall, News & Events, Services & Support and other columns are set up on the official website, with 16 product categories in 50 exhibition sections displayed. More than 25,000 overseas and domestic exhibitors will take part in. Among them are companies from formerly poor regions, which will display products in the Rural Vitalization zone.

Focusing on improving the effectiveness of trade connection and user experience, the 131st Canton Fair has taken multiple measures to further optimize and enhance the functions of the online platform, and facilitate the interaction between exhibitors and sourcing companies, as well as stimulate trade transactions. We welcome companies and buyers at home and abroad to participate in, share business opportunities, and seek common development.

China Import and Export Fair, also known as Canton Fair, was established in the spring of 1957. Co-hosted by the Ministry of Commerce of PRC and the People's Government of Guangdong Province and

Guo Haiyan, Chinese Ambassador to Guyana organised by China Foreign Trade Centre, it is held every Spring and Autumn in Guangzhou, China. As a comprehensive international trading event with the longest history, the largest scale, the most complete exhibit variety, the largest buyer attendance, the broadest distribution of buyers' source country and the greatest business turnover in China, Canton Fair is hailed as China’s No.1 Fair and the barometer of China’s foreign trade.

To learn more about the Canton Fair, please visit the official website (https:// www.cantonfair.org.cn/) and start the online tour immediately.

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Vibrant poultry feed sector being developed 23

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 13, 2022

— Minister Anand Persaud says, encourages Region Six residents to position themselves to tap opportunities

MINISTER within the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Anand Persaud, has urged residents of Region Six to position themselves to absorb opportunities from the burgeoning poultry feed sector which is being developed by the government.

“We are investing heavily in agriculture, but I made the point that just at Ebini, in a year and a half from now, Guyana will be self-sufficient in producing poultry, pigs and various other feeds for animals and I am asking the people in Region Six to look at diversifying into that area because there will be a market for it,” Minister Persaud said in his address to residents, during a Cabinet outreach to Region Six on Monday.

The minister clarified that the plan is not only for poultry feed to be utilised locally, but also for products to be packaged and exported.

“If you look at developing our agricultural sector in a big way, with Guyana being the bread basket of the Caribbean, we have to look at agro-processing and once we get involved in growing agro processing coupled with cheap electricity Guyana is good to go,” Minister Persaud said.

In 2021, Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, had said that some 250 acres of land were being prepared in Tacama, Region 10, to cultivate corn and soya bean locally for livestock feed. The project, according to Minister Mustapha, was conceptualised to reduce the high import cost on this necessity.

“Over the years, we have been importing to Guyana corn and soya and it’s almost close to US$30 million; it will help us to save that foreign exchange and help us have regular protein for the poultry industry and not only the poultry industry, but the fishing industry,” Minister Mustapha said, adding: “We will be self-sufficient in producing all the proteins for the poultry and fishing industry in Guyana.”

Six local companies and a regional firm had joined together to undertake the

private sector to increase to 2,700 acres of land for commercial trials in 2022. This will result in 1,500 tonnes of soya bean and 3,000 tonnes

Minister within the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Anand Persaud

massive project that could set Guyana on the path to becoming self-sufficient in corn and soya bean production over the next few years.

The owners of Guyana Stock Feed Limited, Royal Chicken, Edun Farms, SBM Wood, Dubulay Ranch and Bounty Farm Limited, along with the Brazilian-owned N F Agriculture, have partnered to produce soya bean and corn for both the local and regional markets.

“We have had a number of investors who have indicated their interest of coming into that part of production, so this trial will be very important to us and there are a number of persons who are involved from the private sector; they are like me, very optimistic that we will have a very good trial run and then go into full production,” Minister Mustapha said.

To support the growth of this major venture, the government, in its 2022 budget, took the initiative to rehabilitate 47 kilometers of a vital farm-to-market road – the Ituni-Tacama road – starting from the junction of the Linden-Ituni road and heading east, towards the Berbice River.

Upon completion, this project will open up approximately 61,000 hectares of prime farmland in the Tacama, Wiruni, and Ebini Savannahs on the eastern side of the Berbice River.

Essentially, that will create space for the expansion of the corn and soya bean cultivation, which has so far produced positive results.

The success of this trial has led to a decision by the

of corn being harvested in the second half of this year.

With the anticipated success of the commercial trial, cultivation is expect-

ed to ramp up to 12,500 acres in 2023, 25,000 acres in 2025 and 56,000 acres in 2028. To this end, $102 million was expended in

2021 and a further $426 million is budgeted in 2022 to complete the road to facilitate the expansion of the project.

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Telemedicine trial to begin at new Nappi Village health post

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 13, 2022

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, cuts the ceremonial ribbon to declare the new Nappi Village Health Post open (DPI photo)

MINISTER of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, along with several other key officials from the Ministry of Health, on Tuesday, officially opened a $13.6 million health post in the village of Nappi, Region Nine.

The new facility will provide medication and other forms of treatment for persons suffering from diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and several other health issues.

In his brief remarks at the simple opening ceremony, Dr. Anthony said this facility forms part of the PPP/C government’s

in Georgetown, and that doctor will work with the CHW or the nurse that is stationed here, to be able to make a diagnosis, and then offer treatment,” Dr. Anthony said.

He also took the opportunity to encourage youngsters in the community to enroll in the Nursing Assistant Training Programme in Lethem.

Meanwhile, Toshao of the village, Samuel Fredericks welcomed the facility, explaining that the health post will help the village to save finances, since transportation cost will be reduced.

The new Nappi Health Post (DPI photo)

larger vision of improving the healthcare sector, and providing easier access to these services.

Within this vision is the intention to establish a telemedicine system.

Once implemented, the mechanism will allow for doctors in the capital city to easily contact Community Health Workers (CHW) in rural communities, to offer assistance when necessary.

“We can use the internet to be able to communicate with a doctor

“It will benefit us in many ways. Firstly, it will cut the cost from going to Lethem to seek the services that Lethem provides. It will now be done here in Nappi, so in terms of money it will cut down on that, and time,” Fredericks detailed.

The new healthcare facility is expected to provide around 215 health interventions for Nappi and the surrounding communities.

(DPI)

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Protecting plant health on front burner guyana CHRONICLE wednesday, april 13, 2022

A key meeting on measures to protect plant health has been held amid heightened advocacy efforts and moves to set global plant health standards, helping to protect human health and food security.

The Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM), the governing body of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), recently held 16th session.

In her opening remarks, Beth Bechdol, Deputy Direc-

and e-learning courses for use by phytosanitary practitioners around the world,” Bechdol noted.

Plant pests and diseases cause food crop losses of up to 40 per cent, according to FAO estimates and the damage they cause to agriculture exacerbates the major issue of growing world hunger and threatens rural livelihoods.

PLANT HEALTH Against this background, ongoing work on

Plant pests and diseases cause food crop losses of up to 40 per cent, according to FAO estimates (FAO photo) tor-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), spoke of “crucial opportunities ahead of us” for raising the profile of plant health issues, with the first celebration of the International Day of Plant Health to be organised by FAO on 12 May and the first International Plant Health Conference, to be hosted by the United Kingdom in September this year.

Bechdol thanked Finland for its leadership in implementing the International Year of Plant Health, which came to a close in July 2021 and Zambia for championing the declaration of an annual International Day of Plant Health, which was decided on by the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly last week.

The last year also saw increased cooperation with the Comité de Liaison Europe-Afrique-CaraïbePacifique, resulting in a Memorandum of Understanding “that will trigger the development of advocacy materials

the adoption of IPPC standards will help countries as they seek to put in place best practices in plant health and safe trade.

“The current challenges we are witnessing today leave us with no option but to join our efforts and show full commitment towards the mitigation of the effects of the risks by adopting the IPPC standards and applying them at country and regional levels,” Lucien Kouame Konan, the CPM Chairperson said.

The meeting this week marks the first under the tenure of Osama El-Lissy as IPPC Secretary, who said: “The safe trade of healthy plants and plant products across borders form the basis of the food value chain and the fight against world hunger. Without plant production, there will be no food for humans or feed for animals.” El-Lissy added: “The IPPC has an essential role in providing the required knowledge and polices to secure the safe movement of billions of plants and plant

products across borders, and consequently to support the Sustainable Development Goals and leave no one behind.”

With a total of 184 contracting parties, the IPPC is

celebrating its 70th anniversary as the only international or UN entity mandated for setting standards to protect plants and plants products across borders and facilitate safe and efficient plant trade globally.

Among the significant developments since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the IPPC ePhyto Solution, has helped 106 countries to exchange digital phytosanitary certificates to expedite safe, efficient and low-cost trade in plants and plant products.

Meanwhile, Phytosanitary Capacity Evaluation has helped over 80 countries on all continents to improve their phytosanitary systems and revise their phytosanitary legislation through trained facil-

itators. The process aims at modernizing the countries’ phytosanitary legislation and ensuring confidentiality and protecting countries’ sovereign rights.

The IPPC Secretariat is also committed to engage in setting up a global pest outbreak alert and response system to assist countries to prepare for and respond to emerging pests to protect their territories and their access to export markets.

(FAO)

Big boost for...

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 13, 2022 From page 3

two major investments as well as the building of an industrial estate at Foulis, which is next to Enmore. Together, these projects will create over 3,000 jobs.

At the Rose Hall Estate, Jagdeo said work has restarted but there are some difficulties in cultivating the fields as tractors and equipment ordered are taking a longer-than-expected time to arrive in Guyana due to the slowdown of the global supply chain as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“About 900 persons there who lost their jobs, about 600 have been rehired… we are hoping to increase the production there, maybe bring in some private partners to keep sugar going there,” said.

Meanwhile, at Skeldon, he said the government has been having a hard time reopening the estate and generating jobs but sugar production will return to the area but on a smaller scale.

Some of the lands will be utilised for highend aquaculture, shrimp farming and processing of shrimp as well as hemp cultivation. These investments will create thousands of jobs, said Dr Jagdeo.

In addition, he said the government will be extending the road to Orealla by an additional mile, which will open up some 6,000 acres of land for farming.

“We are going to do that road, we promise to extend the road to open up more lands,” he said, noting that the government will work with farmers to put the lands under cultivation.

Most of his comments at the community meeting at the Line Path Centre ground were repeated at anther community meeting held about three hours after at the Tagore Memorial Secondary School.

During the Cabinet outreach in Region Six on Sunday, the government announced a number of interventions for

the region.

INTERVENTIONS These include, 3,000 part-time government jobs for residents to supplement family income; 400 small business grants ranging from $200,000 - $250,000 for persons with viable business proposals; co-investing in the construction of an agro-processing factory at Black Bush Polder; construction of a new national stadium and urban centre at Palmyra; development of lands formerly owned by the Guyana Sugar Corporation at Palmyra; upgrading of the aerodrome at Rose Hall, Canje to a municipal airport to support increased tourism activity; $160 million for first phase of oil and gas hospitality training centre at Port Mourant; $50 million to equip the New Amsterdam Technical Institute to provide necessary skills training; high end aquaculture project, working with swamp shrimp farmers to increase production to one million kilogrammes (four times the current amount) to create employment; textbooks for secondary school children countrywide; $33 million to upskill human resources in the region through the Board of Industrial Training (BIT); Technical Vocational and Education Training (TVET) for 300 residents; feasibility study for new drainage canals to drain the water directly from the Savannahs to the Atlantic Ocean to safeguard against flooding; US$30 million state-of-the-art hospital to replace the Skeldon Hospital and upgrading of the New Amsterdam Hospital; willingness to invest in 10,000 online scholarships for persons in the region; $8.3 billion to commence works on the main highway from New Amsterdam to Moleson Creek; over $1 billion in farm-to-market roads for the region; and $4 billion for community roads.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 13, 2022

Dr. Vishnu Doerga cops Best Business Influencer 2022 award CHAIRMAN of ActionINVEST Caribbean Inc., Dr. Vishnu Doerga, was named Best Business Influencer 2022 at the BIZ X Conference and Awards ceremony at Planet Hollywood, Las Vegas, on April 3.

The BIZ X Awards, presented by ActionCOACH, attracted more than 450 attendees and had over 400 nominees in 30+ categories with over 150 finalists from North America, South America and the Caribbean.

Speaking about his achievement, Dr. Doerga said: “I love serving growth-oriented individuals through being a positive and educational influence in their lives. This award serves as an affirmation of the need for more positive influencers in all our lives which can contribute to a more abundant Guyana, Caribbean and World.”

ActionCOACH is the world’s largest and most successful business coaching franchise in the world with coaches in 70 countries.

It was established and founded in Brisbane, Australia,

CHAIRMAN of ActionINVEST Caribbean Inc., Dr. Vishnu Doerga, after being awarded at the Biz X Conference and Awards ceremony in Las Vegas

by Brad Sugars in 1993, when the concept of business coaching was still in its infancy.

Since franchising the company in 1997, ActionCOACH has helped business coaching become more mainstream and the company has nearly 1,000 coaches in more than 70 countries working with approximately 18,000 businesses weekly to improve results.

ActionCOACH specialises in coaching small to medium-sized businesses as well as executives, and their teams.

The company maintains its growth and strategic alliances by continual development of cutting-edge innovative technology, proven business processes, and systems to add value, satisfaction and additional income streams for its franchisees.

“The Biz X Awards recognize excellence and the work, results and growth our coaches and their clients have achieved. As the lifeblood of any local community, we recognise the power and contributions small businesses make every day,” Sugars said.

The Biz X Conference and Awards is an annual event powered by ActionCOACH, which attracts business-minded professionals to listen to some of the most enterprising thought-leaders present new ideas and strategies for success.

The speakers at this year’s conference were Donald Miller, Molly Bloom, Ken Schmidt, Dr. Michelle Rozen, Dr. Tony Alessandra, Terri Broussard Williams and Sugars.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday April 13, 2022

Women’s hockey team bags $3M support from NSC for CAC qualifiers THE National Sports Commission (NSC) recently presented $3M to the country’s female national hockey team, heading off to this year’s Central American and Caribbean Games qualifying tournament in Hamilton, Bermuda.

Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle, made a simple presentation to members of the team recently and wished the players the best of luck on behalf of the NSC and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport.

Guyana will be hoping to be one of the two teams to advance from the April 14-17 tournament and will flick off their campaign on the event’s opening day against Puerto Rico.

After facing the tournament’s highest-ranked team, Guyana will play Bermuda

on April 16 and close their participation on April 17 against Jamaica.

According to the tournament rules, the top two teams after the round-robin play will qualify for the 2022 CAC Games Hockey, San Salvador, El Salvador, in May 2023.

Guyana last competed in the CAC games back in 2018 when the team finished in seventh place out of eight.

Seven players remain from the team that contested the last CAC Games which incidentally was the last time Guyana competed internationally.

Those players are goalkeeper Alysa Xavier, Trisha Woodroffe, Marzana Fiedtkou, Samantha Fernandes, Princessa Wilkie, Captain Gabriella Xavier and the recently recalled defensive

stalwart Ulrica Sutherland.

Meanwhile, coach Phillip Fernandes said he’s excited about the new additions to this strong core of players.

Making their international outdoor debut would be speedy strikers Sarah Klautky, Abosaide Cadogan, and Claysa Bobb, midfielder Madison Fernandes and defenders Kezia Chinian, Makeda Harding, Mickelly Rahaman and Kirsten Gomes.

Fernandes was particularly pleased also with the return from injury of striker Aliyah Gordon, who is a key playmaker for the team.

Apart from receiving support from the NSC, the team is sponsored by GTT, John Fernandes Group of Companies and the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA).

Munroe says Cuban table... (From back page) used to prepare the players to improve their skills for upcoming international events.

He said that the aim is to “transition the correct knowledge, approach, discipline, culture and concepts towards

training”.

This will be Mr Garcia’s second stint in Guyana. In 2019 he completed a oneyear stint here.

Coach Garcia is a graduate from the Universidad

de Sancti Spiritus José Marti Pérez (UNISS), in Cuba. He graduated with a degree in Sports Science and Physical Education and a diploma in High-Performance training.

Blatter, Platini to face Swiss... (From back page) client was innocent and that the case should have been dropped long ago.

The court said that Blatter and Platini are accused of having unlawfully obtained, to the detriment of

FIFA, the payment of 2 million Swiss francs (US$2.15 million) and social security contributions worth around 229 000 francs for Platini.

"Among other things, Michel Francois Platini

'Out of my...

13:40 hrs Vallres 14:10 hrs Ofalltheginjoints

(From page 37)

doing that. I'll have to take it season-by-season. If the England call doesn't come, I will still play here this season. I have never looked too far ahead in my career.

It's always game-by-game and series-by-series and season-by-season."

Anderson added that, following Chris Silverwood’s departure in February, hiring a "really good" new head coach would be crucial for England ahead of the new season.

"They (England) just need a really good coach," he added. "It's not about me (but) the team needs a coach in place ASAP. It's not that far until the start of the international summer so I think the sooner the better."

England are set to play New Zealand from June 2, with the first Test at Lord’s. (ICC Media)

had submitted to FIFA in 2011 a presumably fictitious invoice for an (allegedly) still existing claim for his consulting activities for FIFA in the years 1998 to 2002," it said.

Newmarket 08:15 hrs Ameynah 08:50 hrs Robjon 09:25 hrs Francesco Clemente 10:00 hrs Ebro River 10:35 hrs Native Trail 11:10 hrs Adous Huxley 11:45 hrs Tylos Cheltenham 08:30 hrs Wharsupwithyou 09:05 hrs Manofthemountain 09:40 hrs Call Of The Wild 10:15 hrs Mint Condition 10:50 hrs Chambard 11:25 hrs Lisnagar Oscar 12:00 hrs Lord Of Cheshire Kempton 11:40 hrs 12:10 hrs 12:40 hrs 13:10 hrs Ronnie

Technological Name In Lights Terresita Rockstar

South Africa Racing Tips Kenilworth 08:25 hrs Cider House 09:00 hrs Sudden Song 09:35 hrs Captaiin Tatters 10:10 hrs Ntinga 10:40 hrs Que Shiraz American Racing Tips Keeneland Race 1 Olczyk Race 2 Tricolour Race 3 Russian Roulette Race 4 Ride The Plan Race 5 Varatti Race 6 Arabian Prince Race 7 Milatarist Race 8 Santa Elena Irish Racing Tips Gowan Park 11:15 hrs Cyclamen 11:50 hrs Thatif 12:20 hrs Helpmeout 12:50 hrs Plunkett 13:20 hrs Zaniyka 13:50 hrs Tall Story 14:20 hrs Sultanov Swing

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday April 13, 2022

CSK get on board after Dube-Uthappa show IT was supposed to be all about Faf du Plessis (and Josh Hazlewood) coming up against his former team Chennai Super Kings (CSK)- it's like playing brothers, he said at the toss - but it was Shivam Dube and Robin Uthappa who absolutely pulverised their former team, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), taking 156 off the last 10 overs and turning an ordinary start into a formidable total of 216 to set up their first win in five matches this IPL. It was almost like 2007 all over again: vintage Uthappa walking at fast bowlers and flat-batting them over their head or into the leg side, and Dube invoking Yuvraj Singh with his languid free-flowing hits. Between them, they hit 17 sixes to go with 12 fours in the innings; while both posted their highest IPL scores, Dube came within a six of a hundred and Uthappa fell short by 12.

In response, some dropped catches and questionable choices of bowlers towards the end produced tense moments even after Royal Challengers had been 50 for 4 and 146 for 8. It was

only when Dinesh Karthik got out for the first time in this IPL, with 46 required off 17 that Super Kings could finally breathe easy.

RCB STIFLE CSK AT THE START Ruturaj Gaikwad's poor IPL continued as he fell to the machine-like lengths of Hazlewood with the new ball.

Moeen Ali was run-out by sharp fielding from debutant Suyash Prabhudessai, making it 36 for 2 in the seventh over.

With the early spin of Glenn Maxwell, Royal Challengers somehow managed to keep the quickest powerplay batter of this IPL, Uthappa, down to 23 off 22 in the first 10 overs.

All hell breaks loose Royal Challengers delayed the introduction of Wanindu Hasaranga probably because of the presence of a left-hand batter, but in the 11th over, he was brought on.

Dube immediately launched into him, hitting him for a six and a four. In the 12th over, he hit the left-arm spin of Shahbaz for another six. Not to be left behind, Uthappa sent Maxwell into the bigger leg-side boundary for three sixes in the 13th over.

The assault was well and

Shivam Dube (left) and Robin Uthappa created a new record in the IPL (Photo IPL)

truly on, and Royal Challengers, the worst bowling side at the death this tournament, didn't have any answers in the absence of Harshal Patel, missing this match because of the death of his sister.

The hitting was so clean that Super Kings didn't worry about hitting into the bigger boundary. Uthappa played a couple of cute ramps, but Dube just sat deep in the crease and smoothly punished errors in length. And there were errors a-plenty.

When Mohammed Siraj had Uthappa caught at the end of the 17th over, it turned out he had overstepped.

Akash Deep caught the worst of the punishment but

no one was spared. Hazlewood's back two went for 12 and 15, Siraj conceded 18 off his final over, and Hasaranga cost 13, 13 and 14. From starting at a run-aball, both players were set for hundreds, but Uthappa found deep midwicket trying to go from 88 to 94 in the 19th over. Dube began the final over on 80, got to 94 with the last ball to go, but managed to send a low full toss straight to long-off.

RCB'S POOR START Royal Challengers have been the second-slowest side in the powerplay this IPL, preferring to set themselves up for acceleration in the

middle and death overs, but they didn't have that luxury in the chase of 217. Super Kings played their matchups perfectly, giving them a healthy dose of spin early on.

When Maheesh Theekshana began the third over at 11 for 0, somebody had to take a chance. du Plessis did, but Theekshana was good enough to cramp him up and produce a catch for long-on.

Kohli tried to hit out against Mukesh Choudhary in the fourth over, but found long leg. Theekshana ended the powerplay by trapping Anuj Rawat lbw with a carrom ball.

Maxwell's entry made way for Ravindra Jadeja to bowl, who duly proceeded to get Maxwell for the seventh time in 13 innings. Five of those dismissals have been bowled, the highest for any bowler against any batter in all T20 cricket.

PRABHUDESSAI, SHAHBAZ DELAY THE INEVITABLE Prabhudessai continued his impressive debut as he and Shahbaz rebuilt the innings with a 60-run partnership in 5.3 overs. Prabhudessai started off with boundar-

ies through midwicket and extra cover, but also showed off his reverse-sweep and the ramp. Shahbaz was more industrious and had to work harder for his runs.

THEEKSHANA ALMOST SEALS THE DEAL Theekshana came back to take the wickets of both Prabhudessai and Shahbaz, and did enough to get a fivefor, but Choudhary dropped a sitter from Karthik, his third miss of the night. In prime touch, Karthik proceeded to give Super Kings some nervous moments, especially when they chose to give the 17th over to Choudhary when they had enough left from Bravo and Chris Jordan. Karthik took 23 off that over, bringing the requirement down from 71 to 48.

Finally, in the 19th over, a catch stuck as Bravo made Karthik hit into the bigger leg-side boundary at the edge of which was captain Jadeja. He will be relieved his side is finally on the board, but Super Kings could have easily won by 50-60 more, which can have a big impact on the net run-rate. (Cricinfo)

Kim Clijsters retires from tennis Commander Pareshram for third time donates sports gear to Police KIM Clijsters has announced her retirement from tennis for the third time.

The Belgian, who first retired in 2007 to start a family, returned in 2009 and won three more Grand Slams before her second retirement in 2012.

She returned to tennis in 2019 but only played five matches as her return coincided with the Covid-19 pandemic.

Clijsters won 41 WTA titles and spent 20 weeks as world number one in her two previous spells.

She won two doubles Grand Slam titles and the US Open in 2005 before having her first child, returning to the sport to win two more US open titles as well as the Australian Open in 2011.

The 38-year-old retired again in 2012 and had two more children before her return to the tour in 2019 Her last official match was in October last year,

Youth Group in Haslington

Commander Pareshram is seen handing over footballs to the Police Youth Group

Kim Clijsters has four singles Grand Slam titles and two doubles titles

when she lost to Katerina Siniakova in the first round at Indian Wells.

Clijsters posted on so-

cial media to say retirement would enable her to focus more on family life.

(BBC Sport)

AS the Guyana Police Force (GPF) continues to strengthen its relationship with citizens, across the country, Commander of Regional Division 4 'C', Senior Superintendent Khali Pareshram, on Saturday.

April 9 2022 met with the leaders and members of the Haslington Young Ambassadors Police Youth

Group.

The meeting was held at the Haslington Play Field on the East Coast of Demerara where the commander handed over a quantity of sports gear to the youth group.

Some of the items donated included three footballs, 16 Under-18 uniforms, 11 Under-10 uniforms, 16 pairs of socks and eight softballs.

Pareshram said this is another step towards empowering our youths and strengthening disciplined minds through sports.

The commander expressed sincere thanks to the donors Mr Shan Seejattan and Mr Omar Zafarally for their kind contribution to the Force’s Social Crime Prevention activity.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday April 13, 2022

Orin O’Neil is new OMSCC president

Executive members: From left are Mohan Singh, Indira Singh, Orin O’Neil, Kim Sue and Amit Bacchus

ORIN O’Neil is the new president of the Ontario Masters Softball Cricket Clubs (OMSCC). At last Sunday’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), held at the Scarborough Civic Centre, Ontario, Canada, O’Neil was elected unopposed and was one of only two members returning from the previous executive body.

O’Neil served as treasurer in the previous executive but acted as vice-president following the resignation of Jas Mathura in October last year.

An active player of both Toronto Blizzards and Rebels in the OMSCC Over50 and Over-40 Divisions respectively, O’Neil was joined by Indira Singh who retained her post as Player Administrator/Statistician.

The other executive members elected on Sunday were secretary Amit Bacchus, treasurer Kim Sue and Over-50 coordinator Mohan Singh.

The members failed to elect a vice-president, umpires coordinator and an assistant secretary/treasurer, the latter introduced for the first time as an additional

executive, thereby making it eight instead of the previous seven. These positions are expected to be filled at a later date.

The Disciplinary Committee members are Hardatt Ramcharran, Daren Mahase, Jeewan Darshanand, Bobby Ramlagan, Rabindra Diaram and Patrick Shivrattan.

Outgoing president Paul Jaman and umpires coordinator Ganesh Ramraj did not seek re-election. Over-50 coordinator Terry Mathura and appointed secretary Frederick Halley were ineligible for election since they are executive members on the Scarborough Cricket Association (SCA) and Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL) respectively.

Based on the OMSCC Constitution: ‘No elected official from another cricket organisation in Ontario will be allowed to hold any Executive Committee position in the OMSCC’ New president O’Neil thanked the members for having placed the faith in him to lead the association which was founded some 22 years ago. He called on both the executive members

and players to preserve the legacy of the OMSCC. In a passionate and emotional report, outgoing president Jaman pleaded with members to exercise more discipline when using grounds since the league had been deprived of permits for grounds under the aegis of the Toronto & District School Board (TD&SB) for the 2022 season based on reported indiscipline displayed by some members.

Members also observed a minute’s silence for those members and their relatives who had passed on during the ensuing period, including the late stalwart cricket administrator and player Vish Jadunauth and Lakhram ‘Mike’ Singh who died recently in Florida while participating in the South Florida Softball Cricket League (SFSCL) tournament. Singh also donned colours in previous Toronto Cups.

The 2022 season is scheduled to commence on May 28 with matches in the Over-50 category while the Over-40 (Divisions One and Two) get underway the following day. (Frederick Halley)

GCC, DCC register strong wins as GCA first division cricket continues

… Forrester headlines with superb 175 for GCC at Bourda STRONG victories by the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) and Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) headlined this past weekend's action in the GISE Star Party Rentals and Trophy Stall 1st division two-day tournament.

At Bourda, the home team Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) walked away with a massive 130-run win over Malteenoes.

GCC managed just 129 in their first innings, after electing to take first strike.

Only all-rounder Ronaldo Ali Mohamed top-scored with 33, while Winston Forrester supported with 30.

Malteenoes bowling was led by Nichosie Barker who snatched 4-46 and Diquan Murray who chipped in with 3-30. But in reply the visitors were kept to a meagre 126 all out in reply to GCC's 129.

Barker showed his skill with the bat after returning to top-score with 38. Jermiah Scott was the next best scorer with 33, after Stephon Wilson helped stem the flow of runs with figures of 4-22 while veteran Leon Johnson duly supported his teammate with 2-14.

But GCC in their second innings at the crease were indebted to a superb century from Forrester, who assaulted the Malteenoes, smashing a blistering 175. He smoked

GCC’s Winston Forrester stroked a superb 175

25 fours and 2 maximums as his record knock came off 165balls.

Johnson supported again, stroking 65 with 10 fours and two sixes, as GCC piled on 302-4.

Spinner Daniel Ross grabbed 2-37 for Malteenoes, who stumbled in reply

making just 175 in their second innings. Mervin Permaul withstood the carnage from the GCC bowlers to finish with 47 after Johnson wrecked the lineup with second-inning figures of 5-31, ending with match figures of 7-45.

Over at Police Ground, Eve Leary, the officers were eventually arrested by the boys from Demerara Cricket Club (DCC), who secured a 4-wicket, Duckworth/Lewis victory on the road.

After being restricted to a first-innings score of 184 all out, courtesy of some fine bowling from national spinner Steven Sankar who snatched 4-70, DCC piled on 193 with senior all-rounder Chris Barnwell hitting 46 with 2 sixes and 3 fours.

Left-arm spinner Anthony Adams snared 4-49 bowling for the lawmen. Second innings witnessed a complete implosion by the cops who were shot down for 77.

Sankar returned to capture 3-19 while Barnwell and off-spinner Raj Nanan had two wickets apiece.

DCC were then undone by some pace from Dwayne Dick, who finished with 5-31 bowling for Police.

Veteran DCC opener Trevon Griffith ended with 16 not out as his team finished on 70-6, thus completing a solid win on the road.

'Out of my control' – Anderson focuses on bowling amid England limbo JAMES Anderson, the England veteran and pace-bowling great, feels his "body is up to the challenge" of continuing to play Test cricket, despite a lack of clarity about what the future has in store for him.

Anderson was omitted from England's squad for the tour of West Indies in March, where England suffered a 1-0 defeat in the three-match Test series. Fellow veteran Stuart Broad was also overlooked, as the management opted for a fresh approach.

In an interview with Manchester Evening News, Anderson stated that his selection in England’s Test squad is "out of my control" and that his focus would remain on "bowling as well as

he possibly can".

"I've stopped trying to make sense of it and just put it to one side," said Anderson. "It was completely out of my control. I've got to focus on what I can control and that is bowling as well as I possibly can.

"It feels a bit strange at the minute. I'm still centrally contracted but I've not had too much feedback from them because a lot is up in the air in terms of director of cricket and head coach.

I have just been working with Glenn (Chapple, Lancashire's head coach) and Sam (Byrne, physio) here, just trying to figure out what the best way forward is."

The pacer, who will turn 40 in July this year, became the third-highest wicket-tak-

er in Test history in August last year, surpassing India's Anil Kumble. He remains committed to continuing his playing career, and despite reaching the point in his career where he has to carefully manage his workload, is not yet thinking too far ahead.

"For the last few years, I have been thinking about that (life after cricket) anyway; it is just natural to think about that when you get to a certain age," he said. "People keep asking you the question of how long you are going to go on for. I don't think that has changed much really.

"My focus has always been, if I can still perform and my body is up to the challenge then I will keep (Turn to page 35)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday April 13, 2022

Australia's dominance in women's cricket is no fluke … The way the women's game has developed in the country is a lesson for the rest of the world

By Ian Chappell

THE highly successful Australian women's cricket team has rightly joined an elite group of winning sides. In recent times that group includes the Australian men's team from around 1999 to the mid2000s and the West Indies side of the eighties through to the mid-nineties. Both those teams achieved lengthy success and dominated their sport.

The Australia women's team, brilliantly led by Meg Lanning, have put together an incredible run of 40 victories in 42 ODIs since dramatically losing the 2017 World Cup semi-final to India.

Australia capped their skilful performance in this year's tournament by clinching a spectacular 71-run victory in the final. They set England an enormous chase by scoring 356 batting first.

This exceptional tally - almost equalling the men who

made 359 in the 2003 World Cup final - was anchored by Alyssa Healy's scintillating knock of 170.

Healy is a famous Australian cricket name but she is only one of a number of star players. The team's ongoing success has been built around Lanning's strong leadership, bolstered by the individual brilliance of many.

Healy's slickness with the gloves is not surprising because she has inherited the keeping skills of her uncle Ian. However, when she bats, it's a different story.

Where Ian was highly competitive but slightly unorthodox with the bat, Alyssa is a fleet-footed stroke-maker.

She uses her feet to get into position and then guides the shot in her preferred direction with subtle use of the wrists. When I chatted with Healy and her father, Greg, over a beer, I realised she also has inherited the cheeky Healy character.

She scored a re-

Meg Lanning and Alyssa Healy were the pivots around which Australia's 2022 title-winning machine turned (CA/Cricket Australia/Getty Image)

cord-breaking 170 in the final and she also provided a substantial platform for Australia's semi-final win, with a century. Producing big scores in crucial games is a sure way to underline your importance in the team.

Lanning is a high-achieving leader who maintains her standing with continual success.

The thing that strikes you

about her batting is her technique. Not only is it built on traditional lines, it also provides her with ample time to play her chosen shot. Her technique is as good as most.

The other aspect is her ability to produce match-defining scores at crucial times.

This was again highlighted during the World Cup, with her 135 not out after Australia lost an early wicket in

the vital round game against South Africa.

Lanning now has ten centuries in winning ODI chases. That kind of successful consistency will help cement any leader's position.

In addition to her batting ability, she has been a good and studious leader.

Her captaincy has evolved and she handles a capable but varied attack and injury setbacks comfortably.

The improved depth and quality of the squad will be pleasing to her.

Australia's dominance is no fluke. The demanding nature of the competitions Australia play, from inter-state series to the highly competitive WBBL, and the way salary escalation has been implemented are lessons to all concerned.

The improvement in women's cricket is obvious from the enormous increase in team totals. While the rapid improvement is visible in Australia's dominance, the increase in scoring rates -

improved by nearly two runs per over in three decades - has been apparent throughout the women's game.

The other area where rapid development has been made is fielding. Not only is the ground work much improved but the standard of catching and throwing has risen quickly. The BCCI is now recognising the value of developing the women's game and intends to hold an expanded IPL competition soon.

Along with these rapid improvements have come increased prize money and greater attendance, as indicated by the near capacity crowd at the MCG for the 2020 women's standalone T20 final.

Other teams now need to raise their standard to meet the demanding challenge set by Australia. This will be a tough assignment, especially while the strong-minded Lanning is in charge.

(Cricinfo)

Rob Key is favourite for England men's cricket managing director role MARCUS North has withdrawn from the role of managing director of England men’s cricket, leaving Rob Key as the heavy favourite to assume the job.

North, the former Australian Test opener who is currently director of cricket at Durham, was a strong can-

didate for the job. But he has withdrawn from the running for family reasons.

Key is now considered the strong favourite for the job. Since retiring from playing in 2015, Key has been a popular commentator for Sky Sports. But he has publicly said that he has applied for

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Wednesday April 13, 2022) COMPLIMENTS OF CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD 83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Rajasthan Royals (2) Chennai Super Kings Today’s Quiz: (1) Who was declared Man of the Match in the first IPL final?

(2) Who was declared Man of the Tournament in IPL 2008?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

the role.

Interviews for the role of managing director have already begun. An appointment is expected by the end of the month, although the process could be accelerated with North out of the running.

During his career, Key played 15 Test matches for England. He was a longstanding and highly regarded captain of Kent.

While the bulk of his post-playing career has been devoted to broadcasting, Key has also had a stint on the ECB’s cricket committee, which advises the governing body's board on playing matters, and is regarded as deeply knowledgeable about the English game. Aged 42, he might be viewed as a good age for the managing director’s job, and young enough to still be in-touch with the sport.

Andrew Strauss is currently filling the managing director position on an interim basis, but has repeatedly said that he has no wish to

Rob Key played 15 Tests for England

return to the role he previously did between 2015 and 2018 because of his family circumstances. Instead, Strauss is leading the search for a replacement.

The new managing director will face a busy in-tray.

England do not currently have a head coach, with separate head coaches for the red and white-ball sides likely, and have also been

without a national selector since Ashley Giles, the former managing director, abolished the role last year.

Key has previously indicated that he believes that England should have both split head coaches and a separate national selector.

"In this new era, we will probably go for a split coaching set-up with one coach for Test cricket and one for white-ball cricket, while we'll probably have some form of selection panel back,” Key said on Sky Sports in January.

He was heavily critical of Giles’s decision to invest so much power in Chris Silverwood, who combined being head coach in both formats with the selector, saying that Silverwood was “given an impossible task”.

A series of strong candidates for the role have either withdrawn, as in the case of North, or declined to apply, as in the case of Alec Stewart, Ed Smith and Mike Hesson.

This has left Key as the

strong favourite, barring a surprise candidate emerging late on in the application process.

Although the job could be done by a figure from beyond the sport, the recruitment process has indicated a clear preference for those with a cricket background.

Consultants at SRI Executive are leading the recruitment process, with the job specifications describing "international and/or first-class county playing experience" as "desirable".

The new managing director will be strongly involved in the forthcoming high-performance review of English cricket, led by Strauss.

"There's a lot of speculation around ... there's a lot of jobs up for grabs in English cricket," Key said when asked about the role of managing director recently. He joked: “The thing I have is that you have to weigh up how much golf you can get in doing some of these.” (The Telegraph)

39

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday April 13, 2022

Hard Rock Cafe on board 'Road to ‘Redemption' boxing event … Ninvalle praises support from incoming sponsors HARD Rock Cafe yesterday touched gloves with the promoters of the 'Road to Redemption' boxing event, Nexgen Global Marketing, Jack Bharat and Dharry Promotions, becoming the latest premier sponsor to hop on board.

With full support from The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Government of Guyana, the April 23 fight card is set to break new ground for the country.

During the official press conference held at Hard Rock Café, located at the MovieTowne Mall, featured General Manager Bernard Chavez indicated his fondness for the sport while declaring his support for the local sports fraternity going forward.

Hard Rock announced that the entity will provide all food and beverages for the VVIP, VIP, Ringside and

President's Pavilion along with its top notch service.

"Once in a while a major event such as this double WBC International title fight comes along and we realised that this is a first for Guyana and wanted to ensure that Guyanese and the world are treated not only to the best in boxing but the best in food, drinks and service." said Chavez.

The Elton Dharry/Dexter Marques fight card, which brings international attention to Guyana's sports development has been given the full support of the government with Vice-President Jagdeo, Prime Minister Phillips and Minister Ramson all demonstrating their commitment and providing massive resources to ensure the success of the event.

The fight will be broadcast locally and internationally according to the head of NCN, Neaz Subhan, "We have done several events

with the Guyana Boxing Board and are confident that Devon and our team will deliver excellent quality. Companies can advertise with us at extremely competitive rates on the 23rd."

In addition to the packed action in the ring, there will be a halftime show put on by HJ Entertainment featuring top local artistes and dance to showcase Guyanese talent to the world.

Many major sponsors and new companies in Guyana such as Demerara Mutual Life Insurance, Comfort Sleep, Samtronix, Morgan's Investment, Hand in Hand Insurance, Unique Electrical, Caribbean Motor Spares, HRTN Consulting, Darthan Investments, Turbo Energy Drink, SuperBet, Demerara Distillers Ltd (DDL) along with dozens of overseas-based Guyanese companies are supporting the event.

Tickets, priced as low

(From left) Demerara Mutual Sales & Marketing Coordinator Raymond Govinda, head of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control Peter Abdool, Hard Rock Cafe boss Bernard Chavez and Guyanese fighter Dexter 'The Kid' Marques share a friendly fighter’s pose, followed by NSC Director Steve Ninvalle and head of Nexgen Promotions Aleem Hussain (Clifton Ross photo)

as $1 000 for this amazing event, are on sale at Giftland, MovieTowne, Am-

azonia Malls, all Assuria General Insurance offices nationwide, The Locals

Restaurant in Vreed-enHoop and Fagoo's General Store in Parika.

Holders Chelsea exit Champions League Nigel Hinds Financial Services supports Magnum Futsal tournament CHELSEA'S reign as Eu- after Rudiger slipped inside dients which were missing NIGEL Hinds Financial Services (NHFS) continued its usual support of sport by donating an undisclosed sum of money to the organisers of the Magnum Futsal Tournament that confirmed its kick-off date as Easter Monday.

The Magnum-sponsored tournament will make its long-anticipated return to the futsal arena after a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nevertheless, with the organisers confirming the kick-off date, CEO of NHFS, Nigel Hinds, immediately jumped on board with the event noting that he was “happy” to see the return of one of the most exciting tournaments in futsal.

Organiser of the tournament, Edison Jefford, thanked Nigel Hinds for his contribution to the tournament, guaranteeing another exciting and endearing finals come May. “We are happy that NHFS came on board.

When persons understand the importance of grass-

Representative of NHFS, Kamari John, (extreme right) hands over a cheque to organisers Edison Jefford (extreme left) and Esan Griffith (second right) during a simple handing-over ceremony at NHFS Headquarters on Croal Street

roots sports, it only contributes to development, and Nigel understands the need for development. This tournament will be major because we know the players have been longing for its return and we are just happy to provide the play-

ers with a platform to showcase their skill and ability,” Jefford stated at the simple handing-over ceremony.

Twenty-eight teams have already been confirmed for the tournament with action set to kick off at 19:00hrs on April 18.

ropean champions came to an agonising end despite beating Real Madrid on a night of high drama at the Bernabeu Stadium.

In a Champions League epic, Mason Mount's wonderful finish and Antonio Rudiger's powerful header wiped out Real's 3-1 firstleg advantage and brought the quarter-final tie level in Spain's capital.

Thomas Tuchel's side were outstanding throughout and Timo Werner's clever finish from an angle put them ahead for the first time on aggregate and within sight of a place in the semi-finals.

But substitute Rodrygo forced extra time with a volleyed finish before Karim Benzema, hat-trick hero in the first leg at Stamford Bridge six days ago, headed the decisive goal in the 96th minute to send Real through 5-4 on aggregate.

Benzema, who had earlier headed against the bar on a rollercoaster night, was unmarked when he scored to break Chelsea's hearts

the box.

Even after what turned out to be the clincher, Hakim Ziyech, Kai Havertz and Jorginho went close to forcing a penalty shootout.

In the end Chelsea, who played superbly, were made to pay for their first-leg performance as Tuchel's side just fell short of producing one of the great comebacks in the competition.

CHELSEA JUST FALL SHORT IN CLASSIC Many of Chelsea's players slumped to the ground at the end of 120 gripping minutes after pushing Real - who will face Manchester City or Atletico Madrid in the last four - all the way.

Tuchel had said on the eve of this game that Chelsea's progression into the semi-finals would be akin to the best Hollywood script.

His players came close to producing a blockbuster in their first game at the Bernabeu in European competition as they showed incredible fight and belief - ingre-

from their poor performance in the first leg.

This breathless game had everything and more, including a Marcos Alonso goal at 2-0 ruled out by the video assistant referee for handball.

While Tuchel will be delighted with the way his players responded, there will be concern at how much the energy-sapping 120 minutes has taken out of them.

Chelsea do not have long to recover from going out of Europe as they prepare to make a second visit of the season to Wembley.

They face Crystal Palace in an FA Cup semi-final on Sunday (16:30hrs BST) - a competition that offers them their last chance of landing a major domestic trophy.

Despite enjoying success in the FIFA Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup, they lost a penalty shootout to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final and are 12 points behind leaders Manchester City in the Premier League with just eight matches left.

Gabriella Xavier receives the NSC’s support for the CAC hockey qualifying team from Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle, in the presence of her teammates

Women’s hockey team bags $3M support from NSC for CAC qualifiers

PAGE

35

Munroe says Cuban table Blatter, Platini to face Swiss corruption trial in June tennis coach to provide elite training for national teams

Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini were two of the most powerful figures in world football

President of the GTTA, Godfrey Munroe, (right) and coach Osdani Garcia

THE Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) has acquired the services of Cuban high-level coach, Osdani Romero Garcia, for a period of three months to assist the association with fortifying and rebuilding the national team training structure.

According to president of the GTTA, Godfrey Munroe, “the fortifying and implementation of structured national team training is a critical and strategic element for the

development of our athletes and the sport”.

Munroe noted that the coach is expected to provide high-quality training to members of the Guyana national team at the Cadet, Junior and Senior levels, while working with local coaches.

During the three months, local players are expected to improve their technical, tactical, physical and psychological development.

The GTTA head also pointed out that the stint will be TURN TO PAGE 35 ►

ZURICH, Switzerland (Reuters) - Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter and ex-UEFA president Michel Platini will go on trial in June to face Swiss corruption charges over a US$2 million payment that world football's governing body made to Platini, the court announced yesterday.

Both Blatter and Platini have repeatedly denied wrongdoing in the past over the incident, for which Swiss prosecutors indicted them last November.

Prosecutors allege that Blatter improperly arranged the payment to Platini, who captained France to victory in the 1984 European Championship in 2011, for consulting work. Blatter and Platini said that the payment was for backdated salary.

Both are suspected of fraud and other

charges amid what became part of the biggest corruption scandal to shake FIFA. Blatter who led FIFA for 17 years resigned in 2015, followed by Platini in 2016.

Both were handed six-year bans for ethics violations.

The trial before the Swiss Federal Criminal Court is due to start on June 8 and last until June 22, the court said on its website.

The office of Blatter's attorney declined comment. At the time of his indictment, Blatter said: "I look forward to the trial before the Federal Criminal Court with optimism, and I hope that this story will come to an end and that all the facts will be dealt with properly."

Platini's Swiss lawyer was not immediately available for comment. In the past, he has said that his TURN TO PAGE 35 ►

Hard Rock Cafe on board 'Road to ‘Redemption' boxing event … Ninvalle praises support from incoming sponsors 39 PAGE

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2022