Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 13-06-2022

monday 13th june, 2022

No.106752

Small-business conference to put focus on ‘turning setbacks into comebacks’ 03 PAGE

Small contractors must ‘get a bite’ PAGE

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–– Minister Indar urges them not to be discouraged, intimidated by ‘big’ contractors

A stelling at Skeldon that is utilised mostly by the residents of Orealla who transport goods and agricultural produce to and from their community

MMA land charges to be waived 11 PAGE

Group to be formed US$50B to accelerate to support 09 climate action in Latin 02 single fathers America, the Caribbean PAGE

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guyana CHRONICLE monday, june 13, 2022

US$50B to accelerate climate action in Latin America, Caribbean –– IDB reaffirms leadership in climate and ‘green’ financing, in partnership with other institutions THE Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has reaffirmed its leadership in climate and ‘green’ financing, and signed an agreement with regional development partners to make US$50 billion available, through 2026, to support ambitious climate action in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The agreement, announced at the Ninth Summit of the Americas, is part of a collaborative effort among the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF), the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), and the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI), a release from the bank said.

The IDB’s ambitious target of 40 per cent climate and ‘green’ finance by 2025, and its commitment to align its operations to the Paris Agreement by 2023 make it a climate-action leader among regional development banks. In 2021 alone, the IDB and its private-sector arm, IDB Invest, delivered a record total of $6 billion in climate finance.

“We are excited to continue carrying out the work we announced at COP26 last year, including our commitment to lead with US$24 billion in climate and ‘green’ finance to Latin America and the Caribbean through 2025. We look forward to leading on expanded partnerships, raise ambitions regionally and globally, and open the doors for critical private resources. Investing in a ‘green’ transition today is an investment in the future itself,” said President Mauricio Claver-Carone.

The IDB’s work supports efforts to mitigate disaster and climate risk, and ensure

public policies address these actions. This year, the bank will launch a new platform for ministries of finance in the region, enabling the exchange of knowledge and approaches to climate policy, regulatory reform, budgeting, and fiscal reform for climate action.

The bank said it will continue to build towards delivering US$1 billion for the Amazon Initiative at the request of the countries of the Leticia Pact. These funds will support sustainable land use, the bioeconomy, human capital, and sustainable cities and infrastructure, while transversally addressing forest conservation, gender, diversity and institutional strengthening.

The IDB, the release said will continue supporting and promoting sovereign and non-sovereign sustainability and green-bond emissions.

“Our work includes expanding our award-winning Green Bond Transparency Platform, which already covers 73 per cent of the region’s bond emissions, worth US$26.8 billion,” the release noted.

Climate Change is a priority area of Vision 2025, the IDB’s roadmap for achieving recovery and sustainable, inclusive growth in Latin America and the Caribbean.

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Small contractors must ‘get a bite’

guyana CHRONICLE monday, june 13, 2022

–– Minister Indar urges them to bid for gov’t projects

–– not to be discouraged, intimidated by ‘big’ contractors WITH the recent boom in the local construction sector, Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar, is encouraging small contractors to take up the many opportunities that have now become available.

The minister made this remark during a recent edition of the Guyana Dialogue, where he noted that while the big contractors have access to more resources and have been bidding on both large and small contracts, government is committed to ensuring that the small contractors also benefit from projects.

“We have told publicly other people, to get into the business so that they can come and pick up some of the smaller contracts, because, if you

drill down on the problem, what you have is some large contractors sometimes bid for the small jobs and they choke out the small men. So, what we’re trying to do now is bring in small people into the system, so that they can develop capacity,” Minister Indar said.

One of the points of concerns regarding the big contractors that was noted by the minister, is their inability to meet deadlines due to their resources being spread too thin across too many projects.

Minister Indar stated that many of these contractors have been known to be simultaneously bidding for projects to build roads, bridges and schools in both the coastland and hinterland regions, making it difficult for them to have resources and machinery

at the various project sites.

He related that after coming into government, his ministry was forced to issue ultimatums to several contractors who were not honouring their contractual obligations.

He said that on many occasions after receiving complaints from citizens on delayed infrastructural works, the ministry has had to take stringent action including informing the national tender board about the contractors’ poor performance.

“They [the citizens] will tag you in posts and all kinds of things [and] you’ll see what’s going on. It’s unfair to the citizenry to have something that’s supposed to be done in three months taking six months. At that point, obviously, the engineer would have had multi-

ple conversations with a contractor. But sometimes contractors have different excuses for different things. Sometimes it’s the weather and then you’re not getting enough crusher-run stone. There’s always some issue, but sometimes it is just poor management,” Minister Indar said.

In June 2021, President, Dr Irfaan Ali had instructed Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, to “Immediately review all service and maintenance contracts within the sphere of the Government of Guyana, and the entire state structure, in relation to drainage pumps, sluices, kokers and drainage and irrigation, generally,” President Ali had ordered that the Attorney-General “enforce any

penalty clause against contractors who are in breach of their obligations under these [servicing and maintenance] contracts”.

In instances where the penalty clauses are absent from the contracts, Minister Nandlall was asked to ensure that such contracts are renegotiated for the purpose of inserting penalty clauses, which can be activated when contractors fail to discharge their duties.

Even as he encouraged small contractors to bid, Minister Indar reminded all contractors, big and small, not to spread themselves too thin as this could lead to ineffective execution.

“If a person has a huge job over in the Housing Ministry, and they win maybe two, three other big jobs in our ministry, and

Small-business conference to put focus on ‘turning setbacks into comebacks’

Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar local government, clearly you will have to assess the contractor’s ability to execute multiple jobs,” the minister said.

As part of the major changes within the ministry to increase the efficient undertaking of projects, Minister Indar disclosed that a large percentage of the recent projects were awarded to small contractors, many of whom have never worked with the ministry before.

– set for July 15-17; over 30 businesses, 200 persons to attend

By Jared Liddell IN an effort to expand the reach of the local private sector, the Together We Win Business Network (TWWBN) will be launching its first annual Small Business Conference and Exhibition on July 15 – 17, 2022, at MovieTowne Guyana.

The conference and ‘expo’ will be held under the theme, “Run Together, Win Together: Turning Setbacks

into Comebacks”.

The conference is expected to facilitate some 200 participants and 30 local exhibitors, according to the business network’s Founder and President, Marlon Joseph.

He told the Guyana Chronicle that the conference is expected to feature a line-up of several private sector business experts, who will provide practical knowledge to the participants on a variety of business-related

topics, including how to generate sales, negotiation skills, safety and health in small businesses, agro-processing in 2022, emotional intelligence in business, and overcoming start-up hurdles faced by women and youth in business.

Joseph said that as part of the network’s vision of innovation in business, the conference will see the transformation of one of the MovieTowne theatres into the main conference room for

the three-day event.

He disclosed that at the end of the conference, participants will have a basic understanding of how to create, manage and sustain a business, while being linked with support resources.

Further, he explained that businesses will be sectorised and participants will get specialised attention to address challenges and provide solutions. These businesses will also create activities to help generate financing

for their businesses while implementing networking and collaborative principles learned. These sector activities will also promote compliance at various levels while measuring programme effectiveness.

He added that at the conference, the network is looking to further boost the capacity of its members and the participants through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Guyana Bank for Trade and

‘Together we win’ Founder and President Marlon Joseph Industry (GBTI).

“At the end of the conference, persons will be linked with resources. For instance, we’re currently see page 13

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guyana CHRONICLE monday, june 13, 2022

US senate moves towards limited gun control measures

A cross-party group of US senators have agreed a framework for potential legislation on gun safety, following a spate of mass shootings.

This would include support for tougher checks for buyers aged under 21 and cracking down on illegal gun purchases.

Crucially, the proposals are supported by 10 Republicans, meaning they have the numbers to be voted into law.

President Biden said the plans were “steps in the right direction” but they fall far

short of what he called for.

Previous attempts to tighten gun laws failed to get the required support in Congress.

Tens of thousands of protesters rallied across the US on Saturday to call for stricter gun laws in the wake of two mass shooting “Today, we are announcing a common sense, bipartisan proposal to protect America’s children, keep our schools safe, and reduce the threat of violence across our country,” the Senate group said in a statement.

“Families are scared, and

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Women embrace at a memorial to those killed in the Uvalde mass shooting (BBC/Reuters photo)

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it is our duty to come together and get something done that will help restore their sense of safety and security in their communities.”

The senators also called for increased investment in mental health services and school safety resources, as well as including domestic violence convictions and restraining orders in the national background check database for people buying firearms.

President Biden urged lawmakers to pass the proposals quickly, while making clear that they did not go as

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far as he wanted.

The president has pushed for far bigger reforms - including a ban on assault rifles, which were used in the Texas and Buffalo mass shootings - or at least an increase in the age at which they can be purchased.

“Obviously, it does not do everything that I think is needed, but it reflects important steps in the right direction, and would be the most significant gun safety legislation to pass Congress in decades,” he said in a statement. (BBC)

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guyana CHRONICLE monday, june 13, 2022

Improved infrastructure, consolidated log yard among plans for forestry sector

MINISTER of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat has discussed plans for the acquisition of 30 acres of land on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway for the first model of a consolidated log yard to benefit those in the forestry sector.

This is according to a press release from the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) following a meeting the minister had with its President Rafeek Khan; Chairman of Extractive Industries, Denish Bisessar; Board Member Mohindra Chand, and Executive Director Nizam Hassan on Thursday.

The release noted that the idea behind the setting up of the consolidated log yard was to benefit small loggers in their marketing process, as a response to the emergence of the many challenges linked to climate change such as adverse weather pattern, which has been affecting the local log mining operations.

It is expected that the small loggers will store their timber products at the facility which will be a central location for easy access to buyers.

Meanwhile, Minister Bharrat has been consistently meeting with all stakeholders including sawmill operators to discuss measures for improvement in the sector.

According to the release, the forest production at present is less than one-third of its allowable cut, which is approximately only one per cent of the country’s total forest.

The GMSA noted that in addition to this new initiative, several other measures were recommended to the minister to cushion the effects of raw materials and the growing demand for timber, with the decision being taken to reassess the challenges and of the operators in the next six months.

“Due to the overall challenges beyond control for many operators, it was agreed that we access the situation in the next six months which should be sufficient time for production to increase,” the release added.

According to the release, the many constraints regard-

From left are: GMSA Executive Director Nizam Hassan; Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat; GMSA President Rafeek Khan; GMSA Board Member Mohindra Chand; and Chairman of Extractive Industries Denish Bisessar following the meeting (GMSA photo) ing the supply and demand of raw materials to wood-based manufacturers to support the growing construction sector, were, also highlighted during the meeting. Areas regarding the boosting of production in the forestry sector were expounded on by Minister Bharrat, who reiterated the government’s unwavering commitment to ensuring greater production within the sector.

The GMSA noted that one of the main challenges to increasing production, has been

limited access to the forest due to “poor” road conditions over the past year.

“Several large-scale forest concessionaires were unable to extract timber in areas such as Puruni where there are vast resources and under-producing for over a decade,” the GMSA noted.

Minister Bharratt revealed that government will be upgrading and building new roads and bridges to benefit concessioners.

He noted that the government is collaborating with

stakeholders to upgrade the Puruni road and are also in discussions to build a bridge across the Puruni River which will facilitate greater access on a 24-hour basis.

It was also noted by the minister that there would be no tolls at the bridge since the company will assist the government with the provision of the infrastructure, which the state will maintain after its completion. These measures will ensure all infrastructural needs are in place to push towards meeting the local

demand and satisfying the export needs.

Speaking directly about the gap in semi-skilled and skilled workers in the extractive sector, the release noted that there will be a joint skills training initiative to tackle this.

“Upon discussion with the subject minister, specific skills training will be [pro-

vided] as a joint initiative between the GMSA and MNR to benefit young people across the country and fill the gaps at present. GMSA has endorsed and will work to ensure this idea becomes [a] reality.

The forestry sector will benefit tremendously from this initiative for the enhancement of skills within the sector.”

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guyana CHRONICLE monday, june 13, 2022

The Trauma of War

WE often hear of the psychological trauma of soldiers returning from war. At the top of this list is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Soldiers who experience this suffer a host of problems, often reliving or remembering, vividly, scenes of combat.

Many veterans never adapt to civilian life and in extreme cases still feel that they are in a war zone, when triggered by loud sounds reminiscent of gunfire or bombs exploding on the battlefield.

Others miss the camaraderie of military life and the purpose they feel when on a mission and never get over the loss of a friend, particularly if they witnessed that person’s death.

The spectre of lives lost in battle and the violence of war remains with them all, making them feel separate and apart as civilians and emotionally detached from their families.

The stories veterans tell can be gruesome, sometimes heart-breaking and always revealing of the fact that no one who has not had this kind of experience

can really understand how devastating it can be.

In an interview, one soldier who had been deployed to Afghanistan, talked about his depression over friends who “didn’t make it,” his guilt over things he had done, and his constant anger at everyone.

He resorted to drinking, “picking fights for no reason” and even self-harm before finally confiding in a friend who let him know that he was not alone and persuaded him to get professional help.

However, though PTSD is normally associated with the military and members of the police force, it is by no means confined to these groups; it can happen to anyone who has been exposed to a traumatic event.

The family of victims and witnesses to the recent school and other mass shootings are likely to suffer from PTSD, as are victims of sexual assault.

And recently, in commenting on the war in Ukraine, a spokesman for the World Health Organisation (WHO) drew attention to the fact that civilians, especially children, caught in a war zone often

suffer from severe mental health issues, including PTSD. In a United Nations report two children shared how the war affected them.

The boy, Illia, recounted the story of how his vision blurred and later became worse, when a shell hit his home and the girl, Afina, remembered running away when a tank drove along their street. She has since been diagnosed with diabetes resulting from “conflict-related stress.”

According to Dr Amir Khan, writing for Aljazeera, “Nearly a quarter of the world’s children are estimated to live in countries affected by armed conflict or disaster.” He also stated that PTSD and depression were “the most common mental health disorders in the aftermath of war for both adults and children.”

Serhii Lukashow, the director of SOS Children’s Villages in Ukraine, wrote that, “The legacy of this war will be a traumatised generation.” But this comment does not apply only to the Ukraine but also to countries such as Afghanistan and Yemen, where there is a huge humanitarian crisis, and where children live with the constant threat of

shelling, bombing, losing loved ones or their own lives and have little or no access to food, potable water and health care.

Dr Paul Wise, a professor of paediatrics at Stanford University told ABC News, “Children are extremely vulnerable to insecurty, not only physical trauma but the psychological trauma, and it can reverberate and have repercussions for a long time.”

While symptoms for PTSD vary, sufferers may exhibit feelings of helplessness, anger, intense fear, sadness, horror, or even denial and can develop physical symptoms such as stomach aches and headaches.

Others have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep and develop ‘a kind of emotional numbing’ called dissociation.

Whatever the symptoms and whether in the Ukraine, Syria, Yemen or Aghanistan, Dr Amir Khan tells us: “Children have been the innocent victims in so many conflicts. What they see, hear and feel will have longterm consequences for them as they develop into adults.”

Commitment made and commitment kept

Dear Editor,

I RECALL quite vividly that President, Dr Irfaan Ali in his maiden address to the National Assembly, did make a commitment to publish the particulars of all revenues and expenditures of Guyana’s oil sector in the Official Gazette.

And true to this commitment, this was done. In perusing the news, I noted that the government published all the data on earnings from the oil- and-gas sector, and this must be commended, as too many have already become accusers and judges of the

current administration, and this with nothing to go on.

In terms of a breakdown of all oil revenues deposited into the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) to date, the government made public its first notification of receipts from proceeds as per the Natural Resource Fund Act, which came into effect last December. So, “Pursuant to Section 33(2) of the Natural Resource Fund Act 2021, notification (was) given of the receipts of all petroleum revenues paid into the Natural Resource Fund, during the period from 01-Jan-2022 to 31-Mar2022…” This means that the

public can now read the notice from the 25th April, 2022 Official Gazette, that was laid in the National Assembly.

As I see it, it is that “As at the end of March 2022, the Bank of Guyana had the total amount in the NRF pegged at US$719,525,975.50.”

At the time of this maiden address, the President did expound that, “The revenues from the sector, like all other sectors, are the peoples’ money; they are entitled to know how much money is earned, how much is spent and on what it is spent,” and this official declaration, accessible to all, proves that there is

nothing untoward happening within this sector. Yet many are preaching, without evidence, that ‘all is not fair and transparent.’

Let’s recall that this kind of act is in keeping with the government’s commitment to transparency and accountability in its management of the country’s oil-and-gas resources. How different is all of this when contrasted with what the APNU+AFC did at the very onset of happenings within this all-important oiland-gas sector. I speak here in terms of the US$18M signing bonus from ExxonMobil for close to two years.

We all remember the acts of subterfuge of former Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, who after a few years of pressure had to ‘save face’ and so he “… doubled down on his previously [initial] expressed public position, that the US$18M had from ExxonMobil Guyana in 2016, when his administration inked a Production Sharing Agreement (PSA), was a gift and not a signing bonus, and that the administration was in fact misled by the negotiator.” Yet he could not name this negotiator. He further embarrassed himself by his attempt at extenua-

tion, when he detailed that “… US$15M of that money was earmarked for the border case between Guyana and Venezuela ….”

Transparency and accountability are the utmost fundamental principles on which a government must operate. “We are the custodians of the people’s assets,” the President said in that first address, “and we will account to them for all that we do.”

So far so good, and this kind of behaviour really augurs well for the nation.

Yours truly, Erin Northe

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guyana CHRONICLE monday, june 13, 2022

Interventions by government have helped to stabilise the upward trend in prices

Dear Editor,

AN opinion poll conducted by this writer for NACTA late last month revealed that the cost of living is the leading problem facing the nation with the bulk of the population crying for relief from ever-rising prices of basic goods and even transport services.

They expressed appreciation for the assistance provided over the last 22 months, but they urge the government to take interventionist measures to lower or cushion the cost of living, including further tax relief and higher wages.

The government has responded to public appeals with reduction in various taxes and in giving out subventions to food producers (farmers) and grants to the poorer sections of society.

Prices are determined by market forces; the government has done virtually everything it can to address rising prices, short of levying price controls as the Burnham dictatorship did during the 1970s and 1980s. Some of the causes of inflation are beyond the control of the government.

Almost everyone in the opinion survey stated that inflation or rising cost of living or sudden increase in the prices of goods and services are the main problems facing the nation. It is indisputable that prices have been going up and consumers or families have been feeling the pressure as household incomes have not gone up commensurately.

The public has been crying aloud about rising prices since the May flood of 2021. The poor or those unemployed or those who lost their jobs during the coalition’s tenure or the COVID-19 pandemic; or those on fixed incomes (such as retirees or NIS recipients), have been affected the most. The government recognised the pains of the public and took interventionist measures such as giving cash grants, increasing the number of items that are VAT-free, and lowering taxes (including VAT) to make more money available to consumers. Last year and earlier this year, government announced a series of changes to the duty-tax structure levied on imports

(using the previous transportation costs) to keep prices down on essential commodities.

Government also gave grants to farmers who suffered losses from the flood of May 2021. It gave an education and school uniform grant and several other grants to households and those on fixed incomes.

It helped hinterland people with an additional transfer of $25k for each family. Also, it removed fuel tax to shield consumers from rising prices in the fight against rising inflation. Rising fuel costs result in higher costs for all goods and services.

Government measures have helped to stabilise the upward trend in prices.

But a sharp spike in prices of fruits, vegetables and ground provisions – key ingredients in every kitchen – will keep inflation elevated. Crop yields are rising with government assistance and the hard work of farmers, but high transportation costs attributed to fuel price increases keep prices for foods high.

Middle men also drive prices up – purchasing produce directly from the farmers and putting a high markups, especially in markets far from the farms.

The public is calling for more assistance to address the cost of living.

There is only so much the government can do. Imported items have gone up considerably – but government has no control over it. Government can’t lower production costs in other countries for basic goods or for international transport; it cannot direct sellers at what prices to sell to consumers. Prices have gone up in Guyana primarily because of international transport costs, the pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war, natural disasters, rising fuel prices and bottlenecks in the movements of goods, among other causes.

Fuel prices are determined by the international market and there is growing demand for fuel, which is driving up prices. The war does not make it easy for a developing country such as Guyana. Wheat prices have gone up because Russia and Ukraine were the largest exporters of wheat, sales of which have been blocked; the latter is also among the larg-

est exporters of sunflower cooking oil. Neighbouring Belarus is the largest exporter of fertilisers, the prices of which have gone up because the country is affected by sanctions, resulting in higher prices for

fertilisers in Guyana.

Government responds positively with relief anytime prices go up.

The government is providing fertilisers to farmers to reduce the costs of food production, which should

bring down the costs of rice, fruits, and vegetables in the near-term.

The working class appreciates all the help from the government but seeks further relief, such as an increase in wages to cope

with inflation and consideration for a month’s taxfree incomes, as well as an increase in the minimum wage.

Yours sincerely, Dr Vishnu Bisram

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guyana CHRONICLE monday, june 13, 2022

Stop majoring in minors and get on board the development train

Dear Editor,

ALONG with the frenetic pace of development and opportunities in Guyana, come unprec-

edented challenges, the management of which will call on every ounce of human capital available.

There is a heavy leg-

islative agenda underway with much more waiting to get into the pipeline.

And the Public Service, which is the administrative link in the chain, is

facing a torrent of myriad developmental and social projects to implement, regulate and monitor. This is on top of the already heavy load it is carrying.

The private sector is also moving into uncharted territory with new types of business activities, business models and forms of ownership, requiring new rules and clear guidelines that allow them to carry on efficient and profitable activities within defined boundaries and with clear, legal compliance.

There are roads and bridges to build, which apart from the economic benefits, brings people closer physically and socially. Creative and equitable poverty-reduction programmes are being conceived and rolled out.

The economy is being diversified and agriculture is being given renewed focus. There are initiatives in health care, education, housing and many other areas.

In addition to this busy developmental and social agenda, the country is faced with an array of external and internal challenges in the forms of territorial claims; drainage, irrigation and sea defences; violent crime, safety, security and policing; sanitation; fiscal management; trans-shipment of drugs; environmental concerns -- the list of issues is long and demanding.

Navigating these challenges and transitions could be made a lot more manageable, given the political will. But this requires that all hands, including the political opposition, be on board Against this backdrop, it was disappointing to see recently that the opposition said that they have no time when presented with the opportunity to consult

and nominate board members to the commissions for Integrity, the Judiciary, Police and Teaching.

This is irresponsible and runs counter to national interests to say the least. It is obstructive and a disservice to the country. In addition, it is unsupportive of the voices of the very constituency the opposition claims to represent.

CONSTRUCTIVE OPPOSITION While the role of the opposition is to question government actions, to present alternatives to government positions, and to represent a viable alternative to the government, the privileges and funding for performing the role of the official opposition also come with duties and obligations.

It is expected that they oppose policies thought to be wrong or counterproductive. But the opposition also has a duty to advocate policies and programmes that contribute to thoughtful and beneficial development of the country, including areas such as supporting the strengthening and enhancement of depth and quality of the Public Service.

Enhancing and sustaining the administrative and oversight architecture is key to the country’s functioning. But as mentioned, the opposition unfortunately did not consider the effort to work on the commissions mentioned worthwhile.

It is shortsighted to strategise that without representation on commissions, which in itself reflects a lack of support for enhancing the Public Service in general, will force government initiatives to stall out. And that there is some political

advantage to be gained from this.

This type of short-term political expediency is counter to the interests of the country, including the interests of the very communities the opposition claims to represent.

It is detrimental to all Guyanese, and may well backfire as people see it for what it is.

HUMAN CAPITAL, OPPORTUNITIES, INITIATIVES, AND CHALLENGES Any country’s management puts strains on its government.

This is true even under normal circumstances.

Guyana’s unprecedented accelerated trajectory multiplies the demands several fold.

But Guyana’s challenges come with great opportunities to the benefit of the country and the people. The country has long been recognised for its great potential and the collective talents, abilities, generosity and hospitality of its people.

In response, a large number of initiatives are in the pipeline or are in various states of development -- initiatives such as social programmes to assist people setback by dislocations in the economy, and efforts to make electricity costs lower for industry and individuals.

The time is here, the opportunity is here, and the need is here to harness and deploy all the human capital the country possesses to get the necessary work done to the benefit of the entire country.

The road forward for all Guyanese is greater collaboration, and engendering a sense of national pride and cohesion.

Yours sincerely, Ron Cheong

guyana CHRONICLE monday, june 13, 2022

Group to be formed to support single fathers

By Carl Croker

HUMAN Services and Social Security Minister Dr Vindhya Vasini Persaud on Sunday made a call for the establishment of a “single-fathers support group” following a walk organised by social activist, Randy Shepherd.

The walk dubbed, “It’s ok to say you’re not ok,”

them seeing it,” the minister said.

She noted that men shared the concern that they are expected to have everything wrapped up in one human being, which is causing them much pressure.

The minister pointed to a number of training sessions being conducted across the country, in every region.

She said the ministry also

into these support groups so that they can benefit from every level of support that we are offering, whether it’s counselling, whether it’s financial support,” the minister said.

In addition, she noted that the ministry will be launching a few other programmes which will focus on parenting for both men and women.

Randy Shepherd (second left) with persons who took part in the walk (Carl Croker photo) spearheaded by Shepherd who heads an organisation called “Men helping men, hearing men, healing men,” commenced at the Bank of Guyana and ended at the National Cultural Centre, where a number of speakers, including the minister, addressed those present.

Men helping men, hearing men, healing men, aims to address issues affecting men in society.

To this end, the minister informed the gathering at the end of the march, that her ministry, at the height of COVID-19 started a programme called a ‘Virtual Men’s Hangouts,’ which was intended to be a safe space where men could bond, share their views and perspectives without being judged, and get experiences from other men and experts who sat on a panel.

After six months of the Virtual Men’s Hang Out, she noted that the ministry was able to get men to speak on things that matter to them.

“One of the things I put as a topic was ‘expectations unrealistic,’ because I’ve heard it coming out without

started men’s groups across all 10 regions and noted that the issues facing men were the same in every region.

Anger management and conflict-resolution courses are available to men at the Gender Affairs Bureau through the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, Minister Persaud informed.

The minister recalled that at the last international men’s day forum, many men from across the spectrum of civil society had raised many concerns just as the ones raised on the walk.

COMMITMENT “I gave a commitment which I will hold myself to, that we will have a single father-support group.

That is something that is necessary because I believe, here again, men need help.

We are willing to provide it. Get men who are single fathers together so we can launch the first one and it will influence and inspire more men out there or perhaps a little reluctant or perhaps a little shy, to get

One of the programmes, ‘Partnership in Peace programme,’ focuses on relationships and specifically young people.

It is geared towards helping them to respect themselves, other people, and learning to have dialogue and conversations.

It is intended to be able to culture language, to craft responses and to control emotions.

Another programme the ministry will embark on is the ‘Batterers Programme,’ a United Nations programme that will be integrated into the ministry’s structure where work on rehabilitation will be done working with men who are perpetrators of violence, ensure that they are able to have that second chance to be able to deal with core issues that got them there in the first place.

The ministry is also working on a huge initiative that will be launched in a couple of months, whereby men can get help in places that they usually frequent.

Whether it is the bar or whether it is the sports club.

She noted that the min-

istry had crafted a programme for men called ‘Engagement’ at the launch of the last International Men’s Forum. This was done with the view to engaging men in many creative ways.

“We have to break this confines that keep men locked up in this thing that we should not ask for help, we should not seek help or we should not say we need help, and this has to come with more men like Mr Shepherd,” the minister said.

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Human Services and Social Security Minister, Dr Vindhya Vasini Persaud, speaks at the event on Sunday (Carl Croker photo)

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guyana CHRONICLE monday, june 13, 2022

Parents – Are you aware?

THE more we understand and know about the

stages and growth of children, the more equipped

we are to guide them.

Most adults have heard

or seen the message, ‘Parents are a child’s first teachers’. Indeed, they are, and although they know this, it never stops certain people from doing what they like in front of children. ‘Cussing’, swearing, fighting and exhibiting improper behaviour - none has prevented child abuse.

Some adults bring children into the World, unprepared to make the necessary sacrifices for their upbringing; they don’t want children to spoil their fun or way of life. They try to combine child-rearing with fulfilling their immature desires or continue with their ill-fitting conduct, rather than focussing on their young ones and aiming to impact their lives positively. Of course, as a result of distracted parenting, children suffer.

Every day is a learning day for children - they are watching, imitating, forming and internalising the behaviour of others. From family to television, peers to those with whom they socialise; their experiences help create the person they become.

Adults who understand child development can help children stay focused and teach them lifelong skills to cope better with life’s challenges. However, the lessons can only be effective if grown-ups practise what they preach. A father who physically or emotionally abuses his wife cannot advise his son to ‘never hit a woman’ and ‘treat women with respect’. Likewise, mothers who dress provocatively or consume excessive alcohol cannot teach their daughters refinement and decorum.

Before parents can help their young ones they must first learn to exercise control and regulate their behaviour, not just in front of children, but because it is the right thing to do anyway. When grown-ups reflect on what they say, do and how they react to situations, they are taking the first steps towards regulating their behaviour.

Reflecting means asking yourself questions about your behaviour or conduct. Was it necessary to lose your cool and ‘cuss’

a stranger who accidentally jammed you? What does your child think when he/ she sees you flirting with a neighbour? Or when he/she witnesses you tell a blatant lie or hear you ‘creeping about’ on your phone? Certain people believe adulthood gives them licence to act how they choose, regardless of how many impressionable children they affect.

Children may not say anything to parents about their quirks, bad habits, or negative behaviour, but they do notice. When they are young, children are not judgemental or critical about it; unbeknown to them, and quite naturally, they will inherit the same traits unless, by adolescence, they are wise enough to decide and choose alternate behaviour.

Learning to reduce emotional outbursts can save energy and reduce stress levels in adults. Everyone gets angry, discouraged, irritable or exhausted with things that happen occasionally, but learning to cope with varied emotions as they arise is good practice. Emotions shouldn’t always get the better of adults or lead to stress.

A good de-stressor to whatever happens in life, and things WILL HAPPEN, because that is what life’s about, is to remind yourself of these three words, ‘I’ve got this!’ In other words, whatever comes along can be handled. It is a fact that problems sort themselves out sooner or later. Sometimes there is a process that takes time, and deep emotions need to surface and subside before things get better.

But in most cases, energy is expended through shouting, angry after-thought, stressing, and going on and on about a problem, instead of seeking a sensible solution.

If parents want to raise confident, productive, well-rounded children, they must teach the ‘why’ to the behaviour they employ and not force children to do as they say because ‘they say so’. Children are more likely to adopt behaviours they understand rather than those they were forced into or had thrust

upon them for no apparent reason.

Apart from being role models to their young ones, parents should explain why it is wrong to steal and why it is always better to tell the truth - these fundamental values should lie at the heart of households. Children are bound to fall short in several areas as they learn to navigate this earthly terrain. But adults must remember that mistakes are no more than learning curves. Some children take longer than others to learn, therefore, patience should be exercised for successful results.

Adults throwing their weight around, or bullying children for any reason, can create either an antagonistic or passive relationship – and some teenagers will rebel during adolescence. The objective is to assist children in developing coping strategies for life and not teach (subtly or otherwise) ignorance such as - always needing to be right to prove someone else wrong; how to ‘cuss’ the loudest and intimidate others; or how to deceive skilfully.

Reading stories that contain morals and consequences to actions is a subtle way of explaining to pre-schoolers that actions and reactions have outcomes. There is space to stop and think before reacting to a situation. There is also room for contemplation and making improvements to one’s habits where necessary.

It is never too early to start children on the road to enhance their life outcome, though it takes a bit of planning and considerate parenting.

When children know their parents have their best interests at heart and can relate to, and respect them, they are compliant, understanding and trusting.

If you are concerned about the welfare of a child, call the CPA hotline on 227 0979 or write to us at childcaregy@gmail.com A MESSAGE FROM THE CHILDCARE AND PROTECTION AGENCY, MINISTRY OF HUMAN SERVICES AND SOCIAL SECURITY

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Relief for farmers …

MMA land charges to be waived

FARMERS in the Mahaica, Mahaicony, Abary (MMA) Scheme will soon benefit from a waiver on land charges as the government continues its efforts to cushion the effects of the rainy season, and the rising cost of living throughout the country.

The announcement was made last Wednesday by the Vice-President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo during a meeting with rice and cash-crop farmers at Onverwagt, in

than the selling price. We used to pay $4,000 a day for labour; it gone to five and six. Fertiliser $4,500; now $13,000, $11, 000,” the farmer said, adding: “Over 50 per cent of the land is inaccessible, and we are kindly asking the Minister of Agriculture and MMA authority that the land that cannot be cultivated to waive the charge.”

The government recently allocated $1B in free fertilisers to farmers throughout

Vice-President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice).

During the meeting, farmers raised several issues, one of them being the land and drainage and irrigation charges they have to pay.

One farmer said that he is finding it difficult to make his payments, especially during the during the rainy season, since he has suffered extensive losses.

“We have weather what we cannot control; excessive rainfall. And due to the losses of our crop, I am planting mostly in the Abary; the MMA area. We lost some rice; the minister knows. We had some help, but from since then, we land never dry.”

The farmer explained that following the devasting floods of 2021, and the ongoing rainy season, over 50 per cent of the lands in the MMA scheme have seen an excess accumulation of water on farms, making it hard to cultivate.

He noted that some farmers are also having difficulty accessing their farms, and despite this, they still have to pay land charges.

“Production is higher

the country, and more than $7B to those affected by heavy rains last year, in addition to millions of dollars worth in planting materials, technical support, as well as the removal of VAT on agriculture inputs, machinery, and the reversal of unjust increases in drainage and irrigation charges to farmers.

Vice-President Jagdeo, in noting the concerns that were raised, said the government will waiver the land charges.

“I understand what you are saying now; how hard it is. We will assist through this period you asked for the charges to be waived on those lands, and so will move forward,” he said.

The Vice-President also noted that outside of the installation of several pumps to enhance the country’s drainage system to manage more water, the government will continue to invest in higher-yielding varieties.

“On the agricultural side, we have to find higher-yielding varieties. One way of getting you the cost of production is to get greater productivity of the sector.

If you can reduce input

cost by new technology, you can enhance output, which is higher levels production through new varieties or better yielding varieties,” the Vice-President told farmers.

An aerial view of the MMA/ADA scheme (DPI photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, June 13, 2022

Grounding with the people Vice-President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, meeting with residents of Region Three, last Friday, to listen to their concerns and inform them about government’s plans for the region and the country as a whole. The Vice-President, who was described by the residents as an “action man”, was accompanied by Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha and Local Government and Regional Development Minister, Nigel Dharamlall, among several other ministers of government. He was warmly received at all the meetings. The meetings were held on the Canal #1 Tarmac, Crane and Zeelugt (Office of the Vice-President photo)

guyana CHRONICLE monday, june 13, 2022

Minister Edghill in India for launch of passenger vessel PUBLIC Works Minister Bishop Juan Edghill is on an official visit to India for the launching ceremony of the ocean-going cargo-cum-passenger ferry vessel being built for Guyana by M/s Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited as part of a Government of India’s Line of Credit-cum-Grant project.

According to a release, the ministerial delegation comprises of Joan Edghill, spouse of the minister, who will actually launch the ves-

sel into the water; Rosalinda Rasul, Chairperson, Transport and Harbours Development Board, and Patrick Thompson, Chief Transport Planning Officer, Ministry of Public Works.

The delegation arrived in New Delhi on Sunday, and will depart New Delhi for Kolkata on Tuesday to lead the launch ceremony. As per the programme, the delegation will be in New Delhi for two days, during which time Minister Edghill will be meeting senior Government

Small-business conference to put... from page 3 in discussion with GBTI and we’re looking to sign an MoU so that our members and the people that participate in our conference can access loans in partnership with the Small Business Bureau at six per cent interest rates,” he said.

Joseph noted that the network is also negotiating a similar agreement with the International Development Bank (IDB) that is set to also benefit those participating in the three-day conference.

Speaking about partnerships, Joseph noted that the conference will also facilitate partnerships with Surinamese business persons and investors.

BOOST LOCAL BUSINESS CAPACITY In March 2022, TWWBN and the Alliance of Business Associations in Suriname, signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) to boost local business capacity, while significantly promoting joint investment opportunities.

Joseph noted that the network will be tapping into this newly established agreement during the conference to ensure that Guyanese business persons have easier access to the Surinamese business sector.

“We’ve extended an invitation to our colleague organisation from Suriname and we expect to give exposure to a new set of local small businesses to those Surinamese companies and this will allow the local businesses to go into joint ventures, or talk with business and investment persons from Suriname to get their products exported. Additionally, we know the Surinamese will be looking to see who they can partner with here too, so that’s an added benefit,” Joseph stated.

The Together We Win Business Network is an umbrella body for small and medium-sized businesses in Guyana with the primary objective of establishing a strong professional network through collaborative interactions and the forging of a support system that will engender economic development. The current membership stands at 99.

Joseph told this publication that in order to boost the efficiency of the conference, TWWBN is currently seeking additional sponsors.

“Together We Win Business Network needs support from both public and private institutions through sponsorship. We believe that this is the most opportune time for organisations to pledge and demonstrate their unwavering support for the development of small businesses within Guyana,” he said.

Over the three days, business development areas will be simplified in the most common form so that persons can understand and implement systems while being innovative within their businesses.

of India ministers, namely Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia, Minister of Civil Aviation; and Shri Raj Kumar Singh, Minister of Power, New and Renewable Energy.

The release noted that currently, five Lines of Credit from the Government of India, that is, on road infrastructure (US$ 50M for the East Coast-East Bank road) and renewable energy (US$ 10M solar energy) installation are under process in Guyana, along with the Ferry (US$ 12.77M), installation of

drainage pumps (US$ 4M) and renovation of three hospitals (US$ 18M).

Minister Edghill is also scheduled to visit an Ethanol Blending Facility for petroleum, belonging to the Oil Public Sector Enterprise Indian Oil Corporation, which could be of importance to Guyana, since Guyana is a major sugarcane-producing country, and is very active in climate change mitigation efforts, the release said.

High Commissioner

of India to Guyana Dr. KJ Srinivasa noted that “India-Guyana bilateral cooperation are expected to receive another important boost with this visit, which closely follows on the heels of the recent visit of Hon’ble Hugh Hilton Todd, Minister for Foreign Affairs for the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi, followed by extensive bilateral engagements with Indian Prime Minister, His Excellency Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister

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Public Works Minister Bishop Juan Edghill Hon’ble Dr. S Jaishankar and others. Multiple engagements in other sectors, including healthcare, education, and finance are also in the works.”

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FAO: Conflict bolsters case for transforming agrifood systems

ACKNOWLEDGING a “very complicated” global scenario, QU Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), urged countries in the Mediterranean to work together to mitigate food-security risks that have been further exacerbated by the war in Ukraine.

“We must keep our global food trade system open and ensure that agrifood exports

are not restricted or taxed,” he said at the recent Ministerial Mediterranean Dialogue on Food Crisis, an event convened by Italy’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Luigi Di Maio, which drew ministers and government participants from more than 24 countries.

Qu outlined four major axis across which cooperative efforts should be made: (i) More investment in countries that are severely affected by the current increase in food prices; (ii) reduction of

food loss and waste; (iii) better and more efficient use of natural resources, especially water and fertiliser; and (iv) a focus on technological and social innovations that can significantly reduce market failures in agriculture.

“Food insecurity and high prices can become a trigger for instability,” the Director-General warned.

“It is high time to transform agrifood systems for people, peace and prosperity, by working together in partner-

ship.”

All farmers, big and small, need to be enabled to apply risk-management tools to handle their production and supply-chain risks, while stronger social protection and targeted assistance is needed for those most affected by the crisis, he added.

Minister Luigi di Maio opened the dialogue, noting that seldom has hunger had such a high profile on the public agenda and emphasising the importance of sustain-

guyana CHRONICLE monday, june 13, 2022

FAO Director-General QU Dongyu, left, and Italian Foreign Affairs Minister Luigi Di Maio (FAO photo) able agrifood systems.

“We are facing the worst food crisis in decades,” said Svenja Schulze, Germany’s Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development and cochaired of the event.

TOMORROW’S HARVESTS High prices for fertilisers and fuels, both key agricultural inputs, are urgent matters for global food security, participants agreed.

“The increase in energy and fertiliser prices is putting at risk the next harvest globally,” Qu said. “The lack of access to key agricultural inputs represents a particular risk for countries where low natural soil fertility means that chemical fertiliser is often essential for food production.”

The Mediterranean Sea region includes 22 countries on three continents, each with diverse natural resources, agricultural traditions and production potential. While agriculture supports many livelihoods across the region, and some countries have strong agricultural sectors, many rely on cereal imports to feed their populations, and most countries in the region had shown an increasing food-import trend to meet domestic consumption needs even prior to the war in Ukraine, the Director-General said.

Ukraine was a major source of those imports, yet it is now logistically difficult to get the country’s farmers output to international markets.

Finding alternative suppliers takes time and entails higher transportation costs, an extra burden as the FAO Food Price Index reached an all-time high in March of this year and remains at elevated levels.

FOOD-IMPORT FINANCING FACILITY

Qu noted that FAO has proposed the Food Import Financing Facility to provide balance-of-payment support to the low-income countries most reliant on food imports.

He urged FAO members to support the plan and for international finance institutions to take ownership of it.

At the same time, sustainable solutions require concerted efforts to support the transformation of agrifood systems.

The Director-General noted that policy-makers today have a common language to articulate road maps, going forward.

“We must work together for better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life for all, leaving no one behind…

Let’s do our best.”

Sustainably increasing agricultural productivity and production is critical, he noted. Reducing food loss and waste has large potential and is supported by a broad consensus.

More efficient and effective utilisation of water and fertiliser is also essential, particularly in the Mediterranean region, which has considerable opportunities to develop alternative inputs such as green ammonia, he said.

Qu congratulated the Government of Italy for its strong leadership in a difficult and challenging time. He participated in a brief press point with Minister Di Maio, who emphasised that food security remains a cornerstone of his country’s political agenda.

Both he and FAO’s Director-General pointed to global support for that as evidenced by the signing last year, before the war in Ukraine broke out, of the Matera Declaration, at which G20 members pledged action in pursuit of zero hunger. (FAO)

guyana CHRONICLE monday, june 13, 2022

Labour Ministry to lead child-labour campaign in secondary schools

IN an effort to curb child labour across Guyana, the Ministry of Labour in partnership with several stakeholders will soon kickstart a rigorous campaign across 20 secondary schools in the country.

Subject minister Joseph Hamilton on Sunday told the Guyana Chronicle that the campaign is part of a wider initiative by the ministry to address child

labour.

He explained that throughout the year, the ministry will be sending out a number of teams to schools to educate learners and teachers about child labour.

“We have two programmes that we want to do in schools; it will be done jointly with the Human Services and Ministry of Education to educate children and teachers

about the whole issue of child labour.”

Minister Hamilton noted that the campaign will also target fifth and sixth form students.

“The second programme we want to do is a programme preparing fifth form and sixth form students who are leaving school, so they can be prepared for the world of work. In my view they are unprepared.”

Meanwhile, the minister in a message to observe World Day Against Child Labour on June 12, 2022, said the elimination of child labour in all its forms is a top priority for his ministry.

Hamilton noted that the ministry will continue to lead the way to provide the necessary supportive environment that promotes and facilitates effective coordination, collaboration

and cooperation of all partners to effectively prevent and eliminate child labour in all its forms.

“I fervently believe our children are our nation’s most valuable and we must pursue measures and initiatives that foster their creativity and development. Therefore, protecting our children against child labour is [a] national priority,” Hamilton said, adding:

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Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton “The elimination of child labour in all its forms is imperative and we are committed to doing what is necessary to ensure we prevent a scourge of child labour.”

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Nabi, Farooqi and...

FROM PAGE 20 “game-changer”.

Farooqi’s Player-ofthe-Match award enhances his T20 reputation: he has played only 11 T20s so far, but already has gigs in the IPL, BPL and the T10 league under his belt.

Nabi himself had made a significant contribution to Afghanistan’s victory, following up his unbeaten 22-ball 43 with 1 for 18 in two overs.

When Nabi had walked out to bat, Afghanistan were wobbling at 88 for 4 in the 13th over, with Darwish Rasooli also having retired hurt on 12.

Nabi had a slow start - he was on 7 off 8 balls at one point - but cranked up the tempo to hit three sixes and a four off his next six balls to give Afghanistan’s innings the final push it needed.

Nabi clubbed another six in the last over, bowled by Tendai Chatara, to drag Afghanistan up to 170 for 5. He struck up a 70-run stand with Najibullah off a mere 40 balls. Najibullah raised his second successive half-century and seventh overall in T20Is. Thirty-eight of his 57 came against spin.

Despite the early loss of Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Afghanistan were aggressive at the top, shellacking 51 runs in the powerplay.

Hazratullah Zazai was responsible for 28 off those, which came a strike rate of 215.38.

Chatara and Luke Jongwe made inroads into the line-up before Nabi and Najibullah took center stage.

Legspin-bowling allrounder Burl was Zimbabwe’s most economical bowler, returning 1 for 15 from his three overs a day after he had claimed 3 for 14 in the last match.

Zimbabwe, however, ultimately slid to their fourth consecutive defeat, which has put their prep for next month’s T20 qualifier in some disarray.

(Cricinfo).

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, June 13 , 2022

Ecuador still in World Cup as FIFA rejects Chile complaint

SANTIAGO, Chile (AFP) — Ecuador kept their place in the Qatar World Cup after football governing body FIFA on Friday closed an inquiry sought by non-qualifying Chile into the eligibility of a key player.

The FIFA disciplinary committee said in a statement it had decided to “close the proceedings” against the Ecuador Football Federation (FEF) after Chile disputed the nationality of full-back Byron Castillo.

If Chile had been successful, they would have leapfrogged Ecuador into direct World Cup qualification.

The Chilean football federation (FFCh) said it would appeal the decision all the way to the Court of Arbitration for Sport if need be.

“The eloquent and substantiated evidence we showed was not enough.

Surprisingly the ruling was not in our favor,” FFCh President Pablo Milad told reporters in Santiago.

Root & Pope superb tons...

FROM BACK PAGE is exhausting all the superlatives. This was his 10th century since the beginning of last year and second in as many Sundays.

It was a carefree hundred - at 116 balls the fastest of his 27 in Tests. As a result, there were loose moments on 27 he burst the hands of second slip Tim Southee and could have been caught on 52 when a top-edged slogsweep at Southee landed between the wicketkeeper and long leg.

There were also the classic Root characteristics.

Rhythmical footwork, urgent running and sweet off drives.

When he reached three figures by inside-edging Daryl Mitchell, his first reaction was to laugh.

The stand with Pope saw

runs flow at nearly 4.5 an over and, after Jonny Bairstow gloved Boult behind, Root’s time with Stokes bordered on carnage.

The captain ran down the pitch to the pace bowlers and launched Bracewell for a huge six, only to then hole out looking for another maximum. Sixty-one runs had been added in 56 balls.

There was still time for Root to share another 68 with Foakes, who overturned being given caught behind on eight and was dropped by Will Young at deep square leg on nine.

Root continued to attack right up to the close.

His fetch from outside off stump to whip Southee through mid-on was perhaps the most audacious stroke of a remarkable day.

SCOREBOARD NEW ZEALAND Ist innings 553 England 1st innings o/n 90 for 1 Alex Lees c Daryl Mitchell b Matt Henry 67 Zak Crawley c Tom Blundell b Trent Boult 4 Ollie Pope c Matt Henry b Trent Boult 145 Joe Root Not Out 163 Jonny Bairstow c Tom Blundell b Trent Boult 8 Ben Stokes c Trent Boult b Michael Bracewell 46 Ben Foakes Not Out 24 Extras 12b 3lb 0nb 0pen 1w 16 Total (114.0 overs) 473-5 Fall of Wickets : 1-6 Crawley, 2-147 Lees, 3-334 Pope, 4-344 Bairstow, 5-405 Stokes To Bat : Potts, Leach, Broad, Anderson Bowling : Tim Southee 28 - 1 - 119 - 0 (1w),Trent Boult 26.3 - 5 - 89 - 3, Matt Henry 27 - 5 - 128 - 1, Kyle Jamieson 16.3 - 3 - 66 - 0, Michael Bracewell 14 - 2 - 48 - 1.

“We are 1-0 down, but there is still the second half.”

The FFCh last month lodged a complaint with FIFA against Ecuador over what it claimed was the “use of a fake birth certificate, false declaration` of age and false nationality” in the case of Castillo.

Ecuador full-back Byron Castillo

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, June 13, 2022

Bavuma hails Klaasen ‘value’ as South Africa go 2-0 up against India

Cuttack (India) (AFP) – Wicketkeeper-batsman, Heinrich Klaasen, smashed 81 off 46 balls to lead South Africa’s tricky chase as they beat India by four wickets in the second Twenty20 international on

Sunday.

Needing 149 for victory on a hot and humid day in Cuttack, South Africa rode Klaasen’s fourth T20 half-century to achieve their target in 18.2 overs and lead the five-match

series 2-0.

South Africa’s bowlers, led by pace spearhead,Kagiso Rabada, set up victory after they kept India to 148-6 after deciding to field first.

The tourists suffered a pre-

match blow when wicketkeeper-batsman, Quinton de Kock, was ruled out with a hand injury but Temba Bavuma’s side kept up the momentum from their opening win.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar put South Africa in trouble at 29-3 inside six overs on a seemingly tough batting pitch before Klaasen and Bavuma, who made 35, put on 64 runs to put the chase back on track.

“It was a tricky chase,” said Bavuma. “They got the ball to talk with the new ball, it was tricky. I was just trying to hold in and allowed Klassen to come and do what he does best.”

Kumar, who returned figures of 4-13, took down Reeza Hendricks and Dwaine Pretorius in his first two overs and then bowled previous match hero, Rassie van der Dussen, who made 75 in his team’s opening win.

Klaasen soaked up the pressure and the humidity with his clean hitting.

He raised his 50 in 41 balls and took apart the Indian attack to make the target look simple with the in-form David Miller for company.

Klaasen hit seven fours and five sixes before departing, but the job had been done and the left-handed Miller hit the winning runs to finish with 20

Heinrich Klaasen on his way to a match-winning 81 against India in Cuttack (Dibyangshu SARKAR AFP) not out.

Rabada’s 50th T20 scalp Klaasen came in ahead of Miller, who played a key part with his 64 in the opener, at number five but Bavuma said his batsmen justified their positions.

“David, we can use him at five or six. Him obviously being a left-hander, it helps in the end. Klaasen is someone who can, with a couple of balls, do a lot of damage,” said Bavuma.

“Klaasen has showed there he adds a lot of value to our batting. It’s about whatever you role is, whatever the situation is, execute as well as you can.”

Earlier, Rabada sent back Ruturaj Gaikwad for one to bring up his 50th T20 wicket for South Africa and returned

figures of 1-15.

Left-handed opener Ishan Kishan (34) and Shreyas Iyer (40) then attempted to rebuild the innings in a 45-run partnership that was broken by fast bowler Anrich Nortje, who took two wickets.

Left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj sent back skipper Rishabh Pant in his first over and soon Hardik Pandya’s wicket off Wayne Parnell made India slip further.

But Dinesh Karthik hit an unbeaten 30 off 21 balls to give the team a late push during his 36-run unbeaten stand with Harshal Patel but the effort was not enough.

The third match is in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday.

Nabi, Farooqi and Rashid help Afghanistan sew up T20I series against Zimbabwe AFGHANISTAN overcame a late dash from Sikandar Raza to successfully defend 170 and sew up the T20I series 2-0, with one game to go, in Harare.

Rashid Khan, who had an off day until the final exchanges, dismissed the big-hitting Raza for 41 off 21 balls and Ryan Burl for a duck in a decisive 18th over that cost just seven runs.

Zimbabwe were left needing 35 off the last 12 balls, which proved well beyond their reach. Left-arm seamer Fazalhaq Farooqi and Nijat Masood, who had impressed on debut on Saturday, coolly closed out the game for the visitors.

(Scores:Afghanistan 170 for 5 (Najibullah 57, Nabi 43*, Chatara 2-33) beat Zimbabwe 149 for 7 (Kaia 54, Raza 41, Rashid 2-32, Farooqi 1-19) by 21 runs) Zimbabwe opener Innocent Kaia scored his first T20 fifty, but needed 52 balls for the landmark as he struggled to find a higher tempo through his innings.

When Raza joined Kaia, Zimbabwe were 66 for 3 in the 11th over, with the asking rate ballooning towards 11. Raza briefly pricked it by launching four sixes - all in the arc between

Mohammad Nabi’s big hits pushed Afghanistan to a defendable total • (ICC via Getty) deep midwicket and wide longon. The sequence even included a swiped maximum off Rashid.

After managing a run-aball 2, Rashid dropped a fairly straightforward catch at deep midwicket to reprieve Tadiwanashe Marumani on 3.

Marunami added 27 to his

tally before Mohammad Nabi had him skying a return catch.

Rashid then ended up leaking 17 runs in an action-packed 15th over that also contained two reprieves by Azmatullah Omarzai for Kaia.

Returning to the attack in the 18th over, Rashid saw Kaia hoick him over midwicket for four. Three balls later, Rashid unleashed a fizzing wrong’un that castled an advancing Raza.

When Burl holed out, the game was all but up for Zimbabwe.

It was Farooqi who shut down the chase after Raza forged a 70-run partnership with Kaia.

With a delightful cocktail of wide yorkers, stump yorkers and slower bouncers, Farooqi hiked the asking rate, forcing Raza and Kaia to take undue risks against Rashid. Farooqi came away with figures of 1 for 19 in his four overs. It could have been 2 for 19 had Najibullah Zadran held onto a catch offered by Regis Chakabva in the 19th over.

Earlier, Farooqi had made the first breakthrough by pinning Wessley Madhevere in front with a slower cutter. Captain Nabi singled out Farooqi for special praise at the post-match presentation, calling him the

TURN TO PAGE 18

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Verstappen wins Azerbaijan GP as Leclerc suffers engine failure MAX Verstappen won the Azerbaijan Grand Prix and took control of the World Championship after an engine failure on Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari.

Leclerc’s second engine-related retirement from the lead in three grands prix leaves him trailing Verstappen by 34 points, despite six pole positions in eight races.

And it continues the impression that Ferrari’s season is falling apart after such a promising start, as Leclerc’s team-mate Carlos Sainz also failed to finish following a hydraulic failure.

Verstappen led teammate Sergio Perez to a Red

briefly down to third following his stop, Verstappen soon closed in on Perez and passed for the lead on lap 15, after the Mexican was told “no fighting”. Perez stopped the next time around, and Verstappen two laps later.

After the Red Bull drivers’ stops, the race looked set to boil down to whether Leclerc, in the lead, could hold off the challenge of the Red Bulls, who would have a significant grip advantage.

And that question would have been made all the more intriguing by a second virtual safety car when Kevin Magnussen’s Haas suffered a failure in his Ferrari engine.

trol. Verstappen comfortably had the measure of Perez and the two cars cruised to the flag.

Hamilton’s fightback Russell had a lonely race, inhering fourth place when Sainz retired and then third after Leclerc went out, to keep up his record of being the only driver to finish in the top five in every race this season in his first year with Mercedes.

The two Mercedes drivers stopped together under the first virtual safety car, and the slight delay to Hamilton, who was forced to wait behind his team-mate, meant he dropped back to

Max Verstappen won the 25th race of his career Bull one-two, as George Russell took third for Mercedes, with team-mate Lewis Hamilton fighting back to finish fourth.

Leclerc immediately lost the advantage he had earned with a dazzling pole position lap as Perez dived for the inside into Turn One after a good start.

The Ferrari then came under pressure from Verstappen, but was able to hold the Dutchman off until a virtual safety car period on lap nine caused by Sainz parking up in a run-off area.

Ferrari leapt on the opportunity to pit for fresh tyres, which Red Bull did not, hoping that it would vault Leclerc into the lead – which a few laps later it did.

As Leclerc dropped

But by the time the Dane pulled off, Leclerc was long out of the race, a cloud of smoke erupting behind his car towards the end of lap 21.

“I am more than frustrated,” Leclerc said. “The first stint we weren’t particularly strong at the beginning but then I was catching back Checo. I think pitting was the right choice. We were leading and then I was managing the tyres well. We just had to manage the tyres to the end and we were in the best position to do that. Another DNF. It hurts.

“It is more than significant. I don’t really have the words. It is just a huge disappointment and I hope we can jump back from it and be on top of those things.”

From that moment on, Red Bull were in total con-

11th place.

He inherited a place when Aston Martin’s Sebastian Vettel ran wide trying to pass Esteban Ocon’s Alpine, who Hamilton then passed a few laps after.

Hamilton then had to pass both Alpha Tauris of Yuki Tsunoda and Pierre Gasly to take a well-earned result, despite complaining that the car’s bouncing on the straights was “killing my back”.

Gasly took fifth, followed by Vettel, Alpine’s Fernando Alonso, the McLarens of Daniel Ricciardo and Lando Norris – who were together for much of the race on different strategies and had a bit of radio needle as to who should be allowed to pass who – and Ocon. (BBC Sport)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, June 13, 2022

Reyes, Martin goals help Mexico get off to winning start

TORREON, Mexico – First-half goals from Israel Reyes and Henry Martin helped pace Mexico to a 3-0 triumph over Suriname in Group A of League A of the 2019-20 CONCACAF Nations League, on Saturday night, at the Estadio Corona in Torreon, Mexico.

El Tricolor were keen to get off to a quick start and the first goal went their way in the 4 minute when Suriname failed to clear their lines on a corner kick and Reyes steered home a half-volley through a sea of legs for a 1-0 Mexico lead.

Mexico continued with the pressure and a strong effort from Diego Lainez in the 39’ resulted in a foul deep in the Suri-

name area and a penalty for the home side. Martin them stepped up and fired home the spot kick, making it 2-0 to Mexico in the 40’.

Mexico were just as strong at the other end, with Santos Laguna goalkeeper, Carlos Acevedo, thrilling the home fans with a diving save to deny Ryan Donk on a freekick in first-half stoppage time.

Suriname improved in the second half and were able to get more into the Mexican half, but it was still the home side in control and they had several chances to extend their lead, namely a Lainez shot in the 56’ that was parried wide by Suriname GK Warner Hahn.

Mexico looked to tack

on a late insurance goal via the penalty spot after Orbelin Pineda was taken down in the Suriname area in the 83’, but Marcelo Flores’ penalty attempt was saved by Hahn.

Nevertheless, the 3-0 final scoreline would arrive in the final seconds, with Erick Sanchez squeezing a shot past Hahn in the 90+4’ to cap Mexico’s night.

With the result, Mexico earned their second win in as many tries against Suriname and pulled the 2019-20 CNL Final runner-up to within a point of first-place Jamaica ahead of their Tuesday date in Kingston. (Concacaf)

Israel Reyes #15 being congratulated by his Mexican teammates after scoring the opening goal against Suriname at the Estadio Corona in Torreon, Mexico on June 11, 2022. (Photos by Mexsport/ Concacaf)

Indian cricket media rights bidding war spills over to Monday Federer ‘definitely’ planning on Tour return in 2023

Former World number one Roger Federer (REUTERS)-Swiss tennis star Roger Federer said he is “definitely” intending to return to top-level tennis in 2023, but he added that he had not made any concrete plans beyond his sched-

uled appearances at the Laver Cup and his home tournament in Basel later this year.

The former world number one, who will be 41 in August, has not played since

July last year, when he was knocked out of Wimbledon in the quarterfinals.

Earlier this year Federer confirmed his plans to team up with Spaniard Rafa Nadal at the Laver Cup in London, before competing at the Swiss Indoors tournament.

“Yes, definitely,” Federer told the Tages-Anzeiger newspaperExternal link when asked if he wanted to return to the ATP tour in 2023. “How and where, I don’t know yet. But that would be the idea,” he said.

“I haven’t planned more than the Laver Cup and Basel yet. After Basel, the season is over anyway. It’s important for me to get fit again so that I can train fully.

Once I’ve done that, I can choose how many tournaments I play and where. The Laver Cup is a good start, I don’t have to play five matches in six days. In Basel I have to be able to do that. But I’m hopeful. I’ve come a long way. I’m not far [from coming back]. The next three or four months will be crucial.”

MUMBAI/NEW DELHI (Reuters) – Disney , Sony (NYSE:SONY) and India’s Reliance will vie on Sunday for media rights to Indian Premier League (IPL), the world’s richest cricket league, expected to fetch up to $6 billion.

The IPL, counting top Indian industrialists and Bollywood stars such as Shah Rukh Khan among its franchise owners, is often seen as a surefire ticket to high TV ratings and growth in India’s booming online streaming space.

But while the digital and television rights for 2023 to 2027 are expected to more than double the 163.48 billion rupees ($2.09 billion) that Star India, now owned by Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS) Co, paid in 2017 for the rights through this year, some observers say caution may be setting in.

“There is also a global shift toward saner valuations, where investor expectations have shifted from ‘growth-at-any-cost’ to ‘growth-with-profitability’,” said Mihir Shah, vice president of consultants Media Partners Asia.

India’s cricket board (BCCI) will begin the on-

line bidding for the rights from 05:30 GMT on Sunday, treasurer Arun Singh Dhumal told Reuters. Results are expected later on Sunday.

“IPL is the hottest property in cricket and it has just been expanded to a 10-team tournament, which means there will be more matches,” Dhumal said.

“All of it should reflect in the value of the new media rights, which we expect to be significantly higher than our previous deal.”

Gujarat Titans, owned

by European buyout firm, CVC, won the 15th edition of the league, beating Rajasthan Royals in the May 29 final in front of more than 100,000 fans in Ahmedabad.

The glitzy T20 league draws the planet’s best cricket talents for two months of fast-paced matches played to packed stadiums with cheerleaders and live music.

But in a sign of potential limits to the boom, Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:AMZN) pulled out of the bidding process on Friday, saying it did not think it was viable growth option for the company in India.

Reliance Industries Ltd will bid through its broadcasting joint venture, Viacom 18. Sony Corp (TYO:6758)’s India unit and local broadcaster, Zee Entertainment, are in merger talks but will bid separately.

“Viacom 18 will probably be the most aggressive of the three main players, because this builds into their long-term plans, including upping valuation for a possible Jio IPO in the future,” a source with knowledge of the company’s plans told Reuters.

The e-bidding process will be for broadcast rights, digital rights, a bespoke package that includes rights for high-value matches as well as rights to broadcast in foreign territories.

Last time, Star India won a consolidated bid that gave it broadcasting rights on both television and digital platforms.

“At renewal value of five to six billion dollars or more, the rights would require the winner to attain significant scale in the $20 billion competitive streaming and TV industry,” Shah said. ($1 = 78.098 Indian rupees)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, June 13 , 2022

Windies fall short again to taste whitewash in ODI series

Shadab Khan hit 86 with the bat, and took four wickets with the ball (PCB) MULTAN, Pakistan, (CMC) – Captain Nicholas Pooran and Akeal Hosein excelled in unfamiliar roles but neither could save West Indies from a 53-run defeat in the final One-Day International and yet another whitewash to Pakistan here yesterday.

Hoping to avoid the ignominy of a second straight clean sweep on Pakistani soil following a similar fate last December in Karachi, West Indies managed to restrict Pakistan to 269 off nine in a contest reduced to 48 overs due to a dust storm which halted the host’s innings after 33 overs.

Pooran, more known for his attacking stroke-play, twirled his previously unrenowned offbreaks to pick up four for 48 and spearhead his side’s attack

while fast bowling all-rounder Keemo Paul claimed two for 57 in his first appearance of the series.

As a consequence of Pooran’s 10-over magic spell – he had previously bowled only three balls in international cricket – Pakistan found themselves floundering at 117 for five in the 25th over but Manof-the-Match Shadab Khan bailed the innings out with a counter-attacking 86 off 78 deliveries.

West Indies then quickly slumped to 129 for six at the half-way stage of the innings before Hosein arrived to blast an entertaining career-best 37ball 60 and provide a glimmer of hope.

However, Shadab intervened again, this time with his

more favoured leg-spin, snatching four for 62 to send West Indies reeling to 216 all out in the 38th over and condemn them to their third series defeat of the year.

Nicholas Pooran celebrates one of his four wickets during Sunday’s final ODI against Pakistan.

“The [last] two games were disappointing for us. We did poorly, especially with the bat.

We take that,” Pooran said.

“Looking at the first game, we thought we did really good as a team and going forward, I think that’s our template.

“There are a lot of positives from this series. We learnt a lot as a team so we’re looking forward.”

Man-of-the-Series Imamul-Haq struck 62 off 68 balls

at the top of the order to mastermind an opening stand of 85 with Fakhar Zaman who made 35.

Imam-ul-Haq counted seven fours and a six in his third straight half-century of the series and his sixth consecutive score of fifty or more in his last six ODI innings.

Pooran proved an inspired change, however, the right-armer accounting for both openers in a slide that saw five wickets perish for 32 runs.

With the pendulum having swung in West Indies’ favour, Shadab countered for Pakistan, lashing four fours and three sixes to inspire an 84-run, sixth wicket stand with Khushdil Shah (34) and a further 40 for the eighth wicket with Mohammad Wasim (6).

In reply, Kyle Mayers (5) slashed debutant pacer Shahnawaz Dahani low to point in the fourth over to deal West Indies an early blow and fellow opener Shai Hope followed in the tenth over after hitting four fours in 21 off 25 balls, picking out the boundary rider at mid-wicket off fast bowler Hasan Ali (2-29).

With no runs added at 52 for three, in the next over, Shamarh Brooks played on to Wasim for 18 and the subsequent demise of Pooran (11) and Rovman Powell (10) left West Indies with a mountain

to climb.

Entered Hosein, the lefthander belting two fours and half-dozen sixes and posting 36 for the sixth wicket with Keacy Carty (33) and 49 for the eighth wicket with Romario Shepherd

(16), to temporarily raise hopes of a Windies comeback win.

But once Hosein was deceived in flight and stumped off Shadab in the 35th over, West Indies’ chances disappeared with him.

SCOREBOARD PAKISTAN Fakhar Zaman b Pooran 35 Imam-ul-Haq c wkp Hope b Pooran 62 *Babar Azam lbw b Walsh 1 Mohammad Rizwan c wkp Hope b Pooran 11 +Mohammad Haris c Hosein b Pooran 0 Khushdil Shah b Hosein 34 Shadab Khan b Seales 86 Mohammad Nawaz c Hosein b Paul 8 Mohammad Wasim b Paul 6 Hasan Ali not out 8 Shahnawaz Dahani not out 4 Extras (b1, lb2, w9, nb2) 14 TOTAL (9 wkts, 48 overs) 269 Fall of wickets: 1-85 (Fakhar Zaman), 2-88 (Babar Azam), 3-113 (Imamul-Haq), 4-113 (Mohammad Haris), 5-117 (Mohammad Rizwan), 6-201 (Khushdil Shah), 7-217 (Mohammad Nawaz), 8-257 (Mohammad Wasim), 9-263 (Shadab Khan) Bowling: Seales 6-1-39-1 (w1, nb1), Paul 9-0-57-2 (w3), Shepherd 3-0-13-0, Walsh 10-0-66-1 (w1), Pooran 10-0-48-4 (w1), Hosein 10-043-1 (w1, nb1) WEST INDIES +S Hope c Khushdil Shah b Hasan Ali 21 K Mayers c Imam-ul-Haq b Shahnawaz Dahani 5 S Brooks b Mohammad Wasim 18 K Carty st Mohammad Haris b Shadab Khan 33 *N Pooran c Khushdil Shah b Mohammad Nawaz 11 R Powell c Fakhar Zaman b Shadab Khan 10 A Hosein st Mohammad Haris b Shadab Khan 60 K Paul c Mohammad Haris b Mohammad Nawaz 21 R Shepherd c Babar Azam b Hasan Ali 16 H Walsh lbw b Shadab Khan 3 J Seales not out 0 Extras (b8, lb4, w5, nb1) 18 TOTAL (all out, 37.2 overs) 216 Fall of wickets: 1-25 (Mayers), 2-52 (Hope), 3-52 (Brooks), 4-69 (Pooran), 5-93 (Powell), 6-129 (Carty), 7-155 (Paul), 8-204 (Hosein), 9-216 (Walsh), 10-216 (Shepherd) Bowling: Hasan Ali 5.2-0-29-2 (w2, nb1), Shahnawaz Dahani 6-0-36-1 (w2), Mohammad Wasim 7-1-21-1 (w1), Mohammad Nawaz 10-1-56-2, Shadab Khan 9-1-62-4.

Man-of-the-Match: Shadab Khan.

Man-of-the-Series: Imam-ul-Haq.

Root & Pope superb tons keep England in Trent Bridge Test

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SCINTILLATING centuries from Joe Root and Ollie Pope kept England in the second Test with New Zealand on a riotous third day at Trent Bridge.

Root, in form far beyond anyone else in the world, is 163 not out, while Pope vindicated his selection at number three with 145.

After Alex Lees fell for 67, Root and Pope flayed the New Zealand bowling in a third-wicket stand of 187.

But that was nothing compared to the entertainment provided by England captain Ben Stokes, who crashed 46 from only 33 balls.

Calm was only restored late in a day when England added 383 runs, the home side ending 473-5, 80 behind New Zealand’s 553.

There is still work to do for England, but they should be looking to first get level

Joe Root consoles Ollie Pope after he fell for 145 . Root was still unbeaten on 163 at the close of the third day. • (Getty Images) with New Zealand, then build a handy lead.

‘Bazball’ gets England back in it This was the day when the influence of new England Test coach Brendon McCul-

lum has been most obviously on show.

At 90-1 overnight, 463 behind, it would have been typical of England to wilt.

Instead, they attacked from the outset, with every batter

the competition, by 36 runs in a tense battle with the Leeward Islands in the last match of the day. .

Batting first, Trinidad and Tobago made 108-7 thanks to a 53-run sixth wicket partnership between Lee-Ann Kirby (26) and the debutant, Djenaba Joseph (23).

Leewards bowlers, Tiffany Thorpe (2-10) and Rozel Liburd (2-14), snatched two wickets each in a decent bowling performance.

In reply, Leewards ended on 72-6 in 20 overs. Jenison

Richards (24) and interim captain, Saneldo Willett (19) were the only players to reach double figures.

Spinners Karishma Ramharack (3-4) and Steffie Soogrim (2-17), strangled the opposition, as the Trinidadians won comprehensively.

Meanwhile, Guyana will be seeking a win, something they definitely need especially with the tournament coming to its end and they being tournament host.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, June 13, 2022

looking to get after the New Zealand bowling.

Aided by a true surface and lightning-fast outfield, this was England playing ‘Bazball’ to devastating effect. The scoreboard rattled along to the delight of the energetic Trent Bridge crowd.

New Zealand did not help themselves - they missed catches off Root twice and gave a life to Ben Foakes to go with reprieves handed to Lees and Pope on Saturday, while off-spinner Michael Bracewell was underused.

The Black Caps also had to deal with a back injury to fast bowler Kyle Jamieson.

But this was an exhilarating assault by England, one that has brought this Test to life and set up the possibility of a thrilling final two days.

For England to win they will have to wind a way of

dismissing New Zealand in their second innings - a big ask given the nature of the pitch.

Still, McCullum will ask them to believe that anything is possible.

Pope repays faith Pope had not batted at number three in first-class cricket before this series, but was recalled because new captain Stokes was adamant he wanted the Surrey man in his team.

Pope repaid the faith with his second Test century and, curiously, the first of his 14 in first-class cricket made at a ground north of the River Thames.

After being dropped on 37 the previous evening, Pope resumed on 51 and, along with Lees, was determined to pressure the New Zealand bowling on Sunday

morning.

The intent led to a number of nervy moments for both men and was Lees’ undoing when he flashed to first slip after making his maiden Test half-century, but Pope grew in stature, peppering the boundaries square of the wicket on both sides.

His hundred, reached by pushing Matt Henry through the covers, came from 160 balls. At one stage, with the same bowler packing the leg side, Pope backed off to play an outrageous cut for four.

Pope was eventually undone after a lengthy break to change a damaged pad. He top-edged a pull off Trent Boult to long leg and was given lengthy congratulations from Root as he departed.

Root is so prolific that he TURN TO PAGE 19

Solozano misses Blaze continues today out but McSween at Providence Stadium entertains in draw

Fourth round action in CWI Women’s T20

FOURTH round action in the CWI Women’s T20 Blaze is set to continue today at the National Stadium , Providence with a mega clash between points leaders, Barbados and Jamaica, from 10.00hrs, followed by Windard Islands versus Trinidad and Tobago from 14: 30 hrs; then Guyana vs Leeward Islands from 19.00hrs.

Barbados and Jamaica secured wins on Saturday while Trinidad and Tobago earned their first victory in

ST JOHN’S, Antigua, (CMC) – Opener Jeremy Solozano fell short of triple figures but captain Yannic Cariah and tail-ender Preston McSween added fifties of their own to thwart Bangladesh on the final day of the three-day tour match here yesterday.

Resuming on 83 with the CWI President’s XI on 201 for four, the left-handed Solozano perished for 92, after facing 218 deliveries in 5-½ hours and striking 11 fours.

Cariah, unbeaten overnight on 21, made 56 while McSween, a specialist leftarm swing bowler, entertained himself with a cavalier unbeaten 50 from 62 balls which contained eight fours and a six.

Colin Archibald, batting at number eight, produced a dashing unbeaten 40 from 44 balls as the President’s XI piled up 359 for eight declared in reply to Bangladesh’s 310

Preston McSween … made an unbeaten 50 for seven declared.

In a second time at the crease, the Asian reached 47 for one to complete a predictable draw in the encounter at Coolidge Cricket Ground.

Solozano, who made his Test debut last year against Sri Lanka but never batted after being injured in the field, stretched his fifth wicket stand with Cariah to 66 before be-

coming the first casualty of the day, lbw to recently recalled seamer Mustafizur Rahman (3-34).

Two balls later, Mustafizur accounted for Jeremiah Louis without scoring but Bangladesh’s hope of wrapping up the hosts’ innings quickly were soon dashed by a string of frustrating partnerships.

First, Cariah put on 35 for the seventh with Archibald who played with gay abandon, striking half-dozen fours and two sixes.

When the left-handed Cariah became Mustafizur’s third victim after hitting four fours and a six off 119 balls, McSween entered to add 25 with Archibald and a further 66 in an unbroken ninth wicket stand with Jomel Warrican (21 not out).

West Indies face Bangladesh in the opening Test starting next Thursday at the Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium.

Windies fall short again to taste whitewash in ODI series Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

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| MONDAY, JUNE 13, 2022