Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 14-02-2022

MONDAY 14th February, 2022

No.106634

Over 30 businesses to be on show at duty-free benab

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More disposable income, secure future –– young people laud government for placing affordable insurance within the reach of more Guyanese

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President Dr Irfaan Ali on Sunday afternoon was given a guided tour of the US$100M Pegasus Suites and Corporate Centre by proprietor Robert Badal. The President was joined by Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Oneidge Walrond and Go-Invest Chief Executive Officer, Dr Peter Ramsaroop (Office of the President photos) Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips welcomes the Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Amor Mottley to Guyana on Sunday. The Barbados Prime Minister arrived with a delegation of 14 persons to participate in this week’s International Energy Conference and Expo: Guyana.

She was received at the Eugene F. Correia International Airport, Ogle, with a Guard of Honour from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) (Office of the Prime Minister photo)

Trio launches space for women entrepreneurs 04

Several projects to transform farmers' lives this year

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, February 14, 2022

More disposable income, secure future

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, February 14, 2022

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–– young people laud government for placing affordable insurance within the reach of more Guyanese

By Tamica Garnett COGNISANT of the importance of putting provisions in place for unforeseen circumstances, the government in the 2022 National Budget has placed affordable medical and life insurance within the reach of more Guyanese by making premiums deductible from their chargeable incomes.

The government has implemented for taxpayers, “a deduction from their chargeable income for premiums paid for life and medical insurance up to a maximum of 10 per cent of their income or $30,000 monthly whichever is lower.”

Many young people, those with existing policies and those without, are looking forward to now being able to capitalise on this new initiative and get coverage for life’s unexpected events.

Priya Persaud, a mother of four, who currently has life and health insurance policies with Assuria, sees the new initiative as important protection for her family.

“With the high costs at the private hospitals, having financial coverage in the event of a serious illness or accident, health insurance

Priya Persaud

Jason Benn

Onecia Bacchus

is very important. With the life insurance I also see it as something important because my family gets an amount of money if I die, and that can help them with any expenses, especially my kids’ future education expenses,” she told the Guyana Chronicle.

Health insurance covers the cost of medical care, while life insurance involves a sum of money that is paid to beneficiaries following the death of the policy holder or after a set period. Health insurance is considered particularly pivotal, as it provides coverage for medical expenses including surgeries, medications, tests and doctors’ visits that are done at a private medical facility.

The government’s insurance deduction will now reduce the amount of taxable income and ultimately the tax payable by the taxpayer, while at the same time guaranteeing that long-term health care needs and the needs of relatives in the event of death are met.

This measure is projected to cost approximately $1.1 billion in the budget, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, had explained during his budget speech.

Notwithstanding that Guyana has a public healthcare system, many persons prefer private services. Additionally, when a service

is not available at a public facility, patients have to go to a private facility which will require them to pay. These expenses can at times run into hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Persaud, who is a supervisor at the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), said that she had signed up for insurance because it was being offered by her workplace. It was following the birth of her first child that she began to truly appreciate the benefits of having health insurance coverage.

“When I got my first child my insurance allowed me credit facility and covered my hospital bill. I didn’t [have] the burden to pay the entire

bill at once,” she added.

She recently delivered a baby at a private hospital, and was able to have $100,000 of her expenses covered by her insurance. She welcomes the government’s initiative that will now mean lower payments for her and more disposable income that she can use in other areas of her life.

“I think it’s a good initiative, not just for me, but now other people as well will get help with a health plan at lower cost,” she said.

Meanwhile, Onecia Bacchus, a mother of two, also recognises the importance of health insurance to her family. She has life and health insurance policies with GTM, which is also catered for through her work place.

“At some point, we will need medical care that comes with a cost. We do not know when, where, at what point or what our financial situation might be when it happens. So, in order to cushion some expenses, health insurance is a great asset to turn to,” Bacchus commented.

Thirty-one-year-old business owner Jason Benn does not currently have any existing policies, but he noted that getting insurance is some-

thing he has been meaning to put in place, particularly life insurance.

“It’s something I’ve wanted for a long time but have procrastinated on, but I want to get it done at least for the life insurance. Insurance is something very beneficial and a good move because at the end of the day you never know what is going to happen tomorrow,” he commented.

With hopes to start a family someday, he sees it as a good measure for his family life.

“With the life insurance it will be a great assistance if I have children and something happens that you don’t plan for, the life insurance would be able to deal with a lot of the issues, and cover certain expenses that they won’t have to deal with like burial and such, and with the money left over it can go to the beneficiaries,” he said.

He too welcomes the initiative and plans to take full advantage of it.

“That’s something that I always welcome; anything to help the public I will always welcome it. At least you not just paying taxes all the time, you can get back this benefit,” he said.

Aruca Investment to develop $200M local fuel-bunkering operation

WITH Guyana’s emerging oil and gas sector continuing to grow, local businessman Lloyd Baharally will soon establish a $200 million fuel-bunkering operation in Region One (Barima-Waini) and Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

Bunkering is defined as the supply of fuel for use by ships, including the logistics of loading and distributing the fuel among available shipboard tanks.

The plan is to have both sites fitted with the necessary infrastructure before the commencement of operations, to facilitate docking, transferring, and access by the relevant authorities.

“The bunkering operation will consist of the following: (i) Diesel fuel imported by Aruca Investment will be transported using the Triton Freedom.

This diesel fuel will then be transferred into the Paloma 2 which will then deliver same to customers. (ii) Paloma 2 will deliver diesel fuel to customers who will be collecting same using fuel cargo boats or fuel trucks. (iii) Paloma 2 will deliver diesel fuel to ships for customers who are in the shipping industry,” the company said in a project summary seen by the Chronicle.

The company disclosed that its vessels, the Triton Freedom and the Paloma 2 have storage capacities of 700,000 litres and 140,000 litres respectively.

Aruca Investment is the holder of several petroleum licences issued by the Guyana Energy Agency, including Importing / Wholesale Licence; Retail Licence; Bulk Transportation Carrier Licence; Bulk Transportation Carrier Li-

The Paloma 2, which will be used for the proposed fuel-bunkering operation cence; and Bulk Transportation Carrier Licence.

The $200 million investment has a projected annual turnover of $1 billion.

In its initial stages, Aruca Investment will be creating jobs for 15 persons; 10

full-time workers for the Triton Freedom and five for the Paloma 2.

Prior to 2004, the business operated the Aruca Stationery and Variety Store in the Mabaruma and Santa Rosa locations.

MORE LOCALS INVESTING This multibillion-dollar investment is another instance of Guyanese investors taking up the opportunity to invest at home.

With Guyana positioned to become a hub for major investments, the government is keen on keeping its promise of allowing locals to benefit from the vast opportunities available here.

Elaborating on the point of local content, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Office for Investment (Go-Invest), Dr Peter Ramsaroop, said in a recent interview that about 65 per cent of the private investments made in 2021 that were approved

by Go-Invest, were from locals.

The CEO pointed out

that the government has been implementing systems to provide incentives to all investors, whether large or small.

According to Dr Ramsaroop, outlined in the government’s plans, are opportunities for persons to become investors and benefit from opportunities across several sectors.

Even as the government continues to encourage local investors to take advantage of the available opportunities, Dr Ramsaroop said that systems have been implemented to train and equip Guyanese with the necessary tools that would allow them to reap the benefits of any investment.

He said too that several private sector organisations are also offering free training sessions to prepare local investors to enter various sectors.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, February 14, 2022

Trio launches space for women entrepreneurs

By Naomi Parris

IN response to the demand for more collaborative efforts to promote small businesses across Guyana, a trio of friends, Loyette Williams, Saskia Tull and Tiffini Lyken, have birthed the idea of ‘Her Paradise,’ a collaborative space and community for women en-

trepreneurs.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle on Sunday, Loyette Williams, one of the founders of ‘Her Paradise,’ stated that the initiative came to life when the trio, who are all owners of small businesses themselves, wanted to collaborate to expand their businesses from digital platforms and open physical

stores.

“After interacting with them [small businesses] and having my own business, I realised that many of them don’t have a psychical location and more so to own or purchase or even find a location itself is time-consuming and also very costly,” Williams said.

Together, the trio began

discussions of creating a space not only for themselves, but also for the many other women entrepreneurs who may be just starting their businesses or looking to expand same.

‘Her Paradise,’ Williams said, aims to provide women with the necessary tools to promote, host, and help small-business owners to reach their customers.

The initiative, she said, also promotes a sisterhood for women in business.

“With growth and a little perseverance, it is best for all of us to eventually own our own space, but for now and with the demand from a lot of small businesses emerging in Guyana in this moment, I think our collab space plays a vital role because we are not just hosting women in business, but we are hoping to create a community for women to lift each other up.” Williams said.

However, the journey to bringing their idea to life was no easy one, as the women also had to manage their own businesses and other commitments.

EXCITED After long hours and perspiration, the trio over the weekend opened the doors to their first location on Hadfield Street, Georgetown, and are excited for their venture in the world of entrepreneurship.

“It has been a lot that in a sense that it took a lot of dedication and work from the three of us, seeing that we are all gainfully employed elsewhere. We wanted to launch this collab space in a very short time, because we started planning to have this space in January and we knew we wanted to launch it somewhere around Valentine’s Day or sometime leading up to Valentine’s Day,” Williams said, adding: “It took a lot of afterhours and

of course to make money you have to spend money.

The most important thing for us is putting the work in and having that dedication.”

Additionally, Williams stated that the outpouring of support they received from other females along the way made the entire process much easier and, in the end, a great success.

The overall aim, she reiterated, is to lend support to the many women in business who have just started or who need assistance.

“I think with the advent or the introduction of the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of us realised the importance of having something of your own; we would have [sic] come to realise or appreciate the importance of entrepreneurship and during that period to know we have seen such a growth in that field and most of the persons who have started that business during that period are mostly women.”

In the future, the trio hopes to expand their services outside of the capital city and provide their services to various regions of the country and eventually the entire Caribbean.

Persons who are interested in the services being offered at ‘Her Paradise’ can visit their website at herparadisehp.wixsite. com/website or their social media platforms at herparadise.hp, or call 649/7708.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, February 14, 2022

Several projects to transform farmers’ lives this year –– multi-door sluice in Region Six to be built; pump stations for Adventure, BBP –– Mustapha underscores need for strengthening country’s drainage capacity

REGION Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) farmers will soon benefit from massive agricultural development and opportunities as the government gears up to commence its 2022 work programme.

Last Thursday, the government passed the $552.9 billion national budget, making way for a number of transformative initiatives, with the agricultural sector

“Since the PPP/C Government resumed office in 2020, we’ve seen the allocation to the agriculture sector increase tremendously. In 2020, $18.6 billion was allocated as part of our Emergency Budget.

In 2021, that was increased to $24.8 billion. This year we have $28.7 billion for the sector. As a government, we recognise the importance of the sector. We’ll be expending $13 billion to strengthen

told the farmers that this year works are scheduled to commence, making way for the construction of a multi-door sluice, similar to the structure located at the Hope Canal in Region Four.

“During the last flood, the most affected community in the region was Black Bush Polder. There were many open lands where water was allowed to lodge. The Cookrite Savannah is a basin that normally discharges water through the cultivation and the housing area in Black Bush Polder. The established canals could not drain the land effectively and in a timely manner, which resulted in severe flooding in that area.

We recognise the need to have such a large structure built in the region. We are working aggressively to get that project up and running.

We’ve already started with the consultancy aspect of the project to identify the best area for the structure and the NDIA has also engaged farmers and other stakeholders,

so rest assured, that project will commence this year. A similar structure will also be done in Region Five around the Dantzig area and Region Three [sic] at Hope,” the minister added.

Acknowledging that the government cannot prevent flooding due to Guyana’s geographical location and the impacts of climate change, Minister Mustapha assured farmers that the government will continue to put mitigating measures in place to not only reduce instances of flooding, but also to improve the country’s drainage capacity.

FARMERS’ CONCERNS The Agriculture Minister also used the meeting as an opportunity to listen to farmers’ issues. Those present shared similar concerns and sought the minister’s urgent intervention.

One farmer from the area told the minister and his team that there were several canals in the area that need mainte-

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha nance works. These canals, he noted, were blocked with vegetation and required digging and routine maintenance.

Another farmer said he was still being affected by flooding in the Cokrite Savannah. He also told the minister that he needed assistance with fencing and developing his land to better tend to his cattle.

A farmer raising an issue at the meeting benefiting from a $28.7 billion allocation.

On Saturday, while meeting with farmers from Bushlot Village, Central Corentyne, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha disclosed that the government will this year embark on a series of large and transformative projects aimed at furthering the government’s developmental agenda for the sector.

According to a release, Minister Mustapha informed farmers that, as part of the government’s 2022 work programme, extensive work will be done to strengthen the country’s drainage capacity.

our drainage and irrigation systems across the country.

Through the NDIA (National Drainage and Irrigation Authority), we will be procuring 34 new pumps to ensure we work towards having an effective drainage system.

Two new pump stations will be constructed on the Corentyne Coast, one will be constructed at Adventure and the other will be constructed at Black Bush Polder,” Minister Mustapha said.

WORK TO COMMENCE The release noted that Minister Mustapha also

A section of the farmers who attended the meeting (Ministry of Agriculture photo)

A farmer from Black Bush Polder who attended the meeting, also said that a machine was needed in the area to carry out constant upgrades to dams.

Another farmer also informed the minister that saltwater intrusion has been affecting farmers in Number 35 Village.

Minister Mustapha committed to having those issues resolved. He informed the farmers that machines will be made available in the coming weeks to address those issues.

While responding to a farmer who is being affected by the intrusion of saltwater into his rice field, Minister Mustapha said he was made aware of the issue earlier in the day and that a pump would be made available to drain the land the next day (Sunday).

He also told the farmers that the ministry will try to assist those who suffered losses with seed paddy, through the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB).

A machine will also be made available to assist farmers in the Cokrite Savannah, the release noted.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, February 14, 2022

Moving On

IT is already two years since the coronavirus was diagnosed as a global pandemic.

No other pandemic since the Spanish Flu over a century ago has resulted in so many deaths, with close to six million deaths and nearly half a billion infections by the COVID-19 virus, not to mention the billions of dollars in terms of economic losses due to lockdowns and economic contraction. Guyana has already recorded over 60,000 cases of COVID infections and over 1,200 deaths.

The effects of the pandemic however, went beyond the loss of lives and economic hardship. There is hardly any area of social life that was spared the debilitating effects of the pandemic. The education system was forced to adopt new and creative ways of delivering education due to the closure of schools; many workers were either laid off or were forced to work from

home and there is generally a significant disruption of the social and cultural life of the Guyanese people Make no mistake about the virus. It will not go away any time soon and from all indications, we are in for a long haul insofar as the longevity of the virus is concerned. In fact, the virus has displayed a remarkable ability to mutate as in the case of both the Delta and Omicron variants, both displaying higher levels of transmissibility.

What all of that is saying to us, is that in dealing with the virus we have to, as it were, learn to hit the ground running; that is, being able to continue with our individual and national lives while at the same time taking all the necessary precautions to avoid being infected by the virus. The good thing is that the vaccines are available in Guyana for the full cohort of the adult population and eligible teenagers. According

to Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony, over 850,000 doses of the vaccines have already been administered. This compares favourably with many countries in the Region and the world as a whole. Guyana is gradually moving in the direction of herd immunity, having already vaccinated a critical mass of Guyanese against the deadly virus.

It is in the above context that a decision was taken by the Guyana Government to make some changes to the Emergency COVID-19 Measures, which allowed for the lifting of the curfew with immediate effect. According to a release from the National COVID-19 Task Force Secretariat, the curfew has been lifted with effect from Friday, 11 February, in keeping with a directive by President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali to the Prime Minister to revisit the issue of the curfew in keeping with global trends and the current

state of the pandemic in the country.

The decision to lift the curfew was done with the national good in mind and in the best overall interest of the Guyanese people. The measure has been welcomed by the Guyanese people in general and the private-sector bodies in particular. The business community was severely affected by the lockdowns and curfews which have resulted in a slowing down of business activities and, in many cases, the laying off of workers.

The lifting of the curfew is expected to bring great relief to the hundreds of workers in the tourism and hospitality sector, which has been particularly affected by the lockdowns.

As to be expected, there will be those who will have contrary views and opinions on the decision to lift the curfew, some with political axes to grind. There may also be the well-meaning few who

may see the decision as a bit hasty, but in the final analysis, it is the overall economic and social life of the society as a whole that is of overriding consideration.

For one thing: the lifting of the curfew does not mean that the other preventative measures will be put on hold.

Guyanese are urged by President Ali, the Health Ministry and the COVID-19 Task Force to continue to take all necessary measures to safeguard themselves and their families against the virus, which continues to pose a health risk to the population. Besides, there is no empirical data to show any correlation between the imposition of the limited curfew and the reduction of infection rates.

In any event, the decision to lift the curfew does not mean that it cannot be reviewed should the situation so warrants. Guyanese were urged to demonstrate responsible behaviour, especially in

light of the upcoming Mashramani celebrations. As noted

by President Ali, ‘what is needed at this stage of dealing with the pandemic is ensuring that all the agencies have sanitation devices and ensuring that we continue to educate about the vaccination programmes and ensuring that the guidelines and protocols are observed.’

The inescapable truth is that, at least for the time being, we have little option but to continue to move on with our lives, even as we face the challenges of an existential threat. This is true for us in Guyana as it is for the rest of the world. The best-case scenario by the World Health Organisation (WHO) is that the acute phase of the virus could end by the end of this current year, provided that the 70 per cent vaccination target is achieved by the middle of the year. Given current trends, that target appears highly ambitious.

The name Lata Mangeshkar will remain indelible in the hearts of millions

Editor,

PLEASE permit me to echo the sentiments expressed on the late Lata Mangeshkar.

It will take much more than a column in the dailies to write about Lata, but, the essay by G.H.K. Lall is especially worthy of mention, as it is more eloquent, and fitting. The reports showed that Lata sang for over seven decades and recorded more than 30,000 songs.

That’s more than 428 every year, 35 every month, eight every week, and one every day. That is amazing and beyond belief. There were many popular American,

English, and Latino singers who included, among others, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, the Beatles, and Selena Gomez, but, I think Lata may have recorded more songs than all of them combined. Songs play an important part in Bollywood movies and Lata sang for most of the Bollywood actresses beginning in the 40s. Hundreds of her songs were hits.

I was 11 in 1951 when my elder brother made me aware that Indian movie songs were sung by playback singers. The lip syncing was so good it fooled me.

My favourite singer then

was Shamshad Begum, who had a unique voice. Lata also recorded songs performed by male singers, including Mohamed Rafi, “Suhani Raat” (The beautiful night) from the 1949 popular movie, “Dulari”, Kishore Kumar’s “Koi Humdum Na Raha” (I have no support) from the 1961 movie, “Jhumroo,” and Mukesh’s “Kabhi Kabhi” (Sometimes) from the 1976 movie with the same name. It is truly amazing that the majority of those who love Bollywood movies and songs do not know Hindi and cannot appreciate the lyrics.

Lata was blessed with the voice of a nightingale and

many have tried to imitate her golden voice. But, her singing was a gift from God, and, although there are many other talented female singers, she dominated Bollywood for decades. Lata was humble and shy, yet, resolute and unswerving. She outlived many other popular Bollywood playback singers, male and female, that included Mukesh, 1923-1976; Mohamed Rafi, 1924-1980; Kishore Kumar, 1929-1987; Noor Jehan, 1926-2000 and Shamshad Begum, 1919-2013.

Lata has left behind two sisters, Asha, 87, with over 11,000 recordings and Usha, 86, with over 600 recordings.

There are many other great female Bollywood playback singers, including Anuradha Paudwal, 67; Alka Yagnik, 55; Shreya Goshal, 37, and Neha Kakkar, 33, but the name Lata Mangeshkar and her songs will remain indelible in the hearts of millions, in every corner of the world.

Her state funeral was earned and most deserving. Lata was kind and generous as she shared her gift with thousands of her overseas fans, including Guyanese (1980).

Several Bollywood singers also toured Guyana, including Mohamed Rafi (1965), Mukesh (1967), Alka Yagnik, and Udit Narayan (2013).

Select YouTube from your Smart Phone and play her rendition of the sad, soothing, and soul-searching song originally sung by Kishore Kumar from the movie, Jhumroo, “Koi Humdum Na Raha, Koi Sahara Na Raha… Hum Kisi Ke Na Rahe Koi Hamara Na Raha” (I have no support nor soulmate. I belong to no one and no one belongs to me).

Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Allah we shall return (Holy Quran, 2:156).

Yours sincerely, Mohamed Majeed Florida

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, February 14, 2022

JB’s Insight: Economic & Finance Issues

Part 1

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Budget 2022 Review & Analysis, and Review of 2021 Economic Performance Summary

Background Budget 2022 is the largest in Guyana’s history and the first to unlock the resources from the Natural Resource Fund (NRF). The massive $553B budget represents 30.1 per cent of 2021 real GDP, 62 per cent of Guyana’s pre-oil GDP (2018), and a 37 per cent increase over the previous fiscal year of 2021.

The budget was presented under the theme “steadfast against all challenges, resolute in building our one Guyana”.

Discussion and Analysis Review of 2021 Performance Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for 2021 is estimated to have grown by 20 per cent, while non-oil GDP is estimated to have grown by 4.6 per cent in 2021. Notably, this positive performance of the non-oil sector represents marked improvement as a result of the policies implemented through budget 2021. The non-oil economy contracted in 2020 owing to the five month’s elections saga coupled with the adverse impact to the economy by the COVID1-19 pandemic.

Sectorial Performance In 2021, the agriculture, forestry and fishing sector contracted by approximately 10 per cent in 2021. This is largely due to reduced output in the sugar, rice and other crops subsector which was affected by the devastated floods in 2021.

Despite this, all the other sectors recorded improved performance over the period 2020 where the mining and quarrying sector grew by 27 per cent, the manufacturing sector grew by three per cent, the construction sector grew by 23 per cent and the services sector recorded 11 per cent growth over the corresponding period.

Inflation

Inflation rate in 2021 increased to approximately six per cent compared to 0.9 per cent in 2020. This outturn is largely on account of rising food prices driven by global supply chain disruption and rising shipping cost due to the economic impact of the global pandemic.

Budget 2022 contains fiscal measures to cushion inflationary pressures in 2022 such as the reduction in excise tax on fuel from 50 per cent to 35 per cent in February 2021 and from 35 per cent to 20 per cent in October 2021. In January 2022, a further reduction was implemented from 20 per cent to 10 per cent.

In addition, the extension of the freight cost adjustment to pre-pandemic levels, the allocation of $5 billion to meet cost of living interventions, and the increase in the income tax threshold from $65,000 to $75,000; altogether are geared towards cushioning inflationary pressures in 2022.

Financial Market Selected Indicators

In 2021, the agriculture, fishing and forestry sector accounted for 14 per cent of GDP, while the mining and quarrying sector accounted for 51 per cent, the manufacturing sector accounted for three per cent, the construction sector accounted for five per cent and the services sector accounted for 24 per cent.

See page 8

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, February 14, 2022

Budget 2022 Review & Analysis, and Review ...

From page 7

The Bank of Guyana total assets moved from a position of $259 billion in 2012 to approximately $500 billion by the end of 2021 or by 93 per cent, an average annual growth rate of 9.3 per cent. During the same period, commercial banks total assets moved from $378 billion in 2012 to $709 billion by the end of 2021 or by 88 per cent, an average annual growth of 8.8 per cent.

Bank of Guyana International Reserve

Bank of Guyana International Reserve stood at US$751 million in 2013 and by the end of 2021, increased to US$811 million or by per cent. However, of interest to note though is that the international reserve position in 2013 represented almost five months import cover and up to 2016, the bank’s international reserve position represented about four months import cover – above the three months benchmark. This trend changed in 2018 when the bank’s international reserve position represented three months import cover and in 2019-2020, represented less than two months import cover. In 2021, the Bank of Guyana’s international reserve position improved relative to import cover, where in 2021 it represented just over three months import cover. This trend is expected to continue into 2022 onwards on account of increased oil production.

During the period 2013 – 2021, private sector loans and advances moved from $128 billion to $191 billion by the end of 2021 or by 49 per cent. During this period, it was observed that the highest growth rate for private sector loans and advances was recorded in 2014 of 14 per cent. In 2014, with a handicapped minority government, growth was more or less stagnated, generally; loans and advances grew by seven per cent and four per cent in 2014 and 2015 respectively. In 2017 and 2018, the growth rate for loans and advances recorded were a measly one per cent. It should be mentioned that this period was characterised as a paradigm shift in the underlying philosophy of public policy by the Administration at that time. To this end, the public policies pursued arguably inhibited private sector growth, inter alia, increasing the cost of doing business and the implementation of a web of burdensome tax measures. In 2018 and 2019, credit to the private sector started to recover with a four per cent growth in 2018 and 10 per cent growth in 2019 – largely owing to increased activities in the oil and gas sector. This trend was short-lived in 2020 when growth fell to two per cent on account of the pro-longed political impasse in that year coupled with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite this, with a shift in the public policy philosophy once again to a more business friendly environment, credit to the private sector recorded its highest growth rate in 2021 of 13 per cent since 2013. continued in tomorrow edition

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, February 14, 2022

Children watching pornography

IF your child is between 9 and16 years of age, it is likely he/she has come across pornography on the internet.

Some children are exposed to porn accidentally; they may innocently click on something while browsing and get more than they bargained for, while others, mostly young males, deliberately seek out porn because friends and older peers encouraged them.

It is not surprising that children browse the internet looking for images their peers discuss covertly; their curiosity gets the better of them - children will be children. They want to fit in and be part of the clique. Where parental supervision, guidance and protection on the internet are lacking, children can witness things that some grown-ups cannot begin to imagine. And once they have watched pornography, their minds cannot undo the images; there is no way back.

Parents need to protect children from the damaging effects that pornography can have on their lives. Young minds are fertile and developing. The last thing they need is the bombardment of sexual images, frolicking in a mass of sexual confusion, which has nothing to do with their education, sense of well-being or childhood.

Some adults do not realise that pornography is addictive. Like most addicts, they fervently deny their addiction. But once their mind becomes wired to accept and enjoy the sexual content, it is hard for them to reverse the compulsion. Their brains are negatively affected by what they see, and nothing positive comes out of their past time. However, viewers may experience self-loathing, pangs of guilt, and even regret and shame in the aftermath of their activity.

If the picture is bleak for adults who watch porn, imagine the impact on children and how it affects their emotional, physical

and sexual development. Sadly, pornography may be the extent of sex education for some youngsters whose parents fail to teach sexual health. What can children learn from watching porn? It does not prepare adolescents for meaningful relationships. It is well-known that pornography leads to men disrespecting women and vice versa.

The excessive watching of pornography does the opposite by giving youngsters a warped idea about sex and their sexuality.

Porn can shape sexual behaviour and preferences leading to unsafe sexual practices (not using condoms) and experimentations (wanting to imitate staged sexual scenes), and sexual and domestic violence (primarily against women). But most damaging of all is the link between watching porn and the significant rise of erectile dysfunction in young men.

Adults must accept that the internet is an essential part of children’s day-to-day lives and future - they need the internet to feel connected. In addition, children are naturally adept in navigating the cyber world with ease - they run rings around the average internet-savvy adult.

Yet they need to be monitored, guided and protected from harmful material, predators and other ills, such as radicalisation and grooming. Adults have many things to consider daily to provide for their families.

How will they monitor the content to which their children are exposed?

The way parents view and use the internet will determine whether their children have a healthy online presence or become lost in the limitless extremities of the cyber world.

Parents consumed by their phones or laptops spend hours scrolling and browsing as a pastime. Either for entertainment or to look for outrageous and even fictitious stories, subliminally encourage children to follow

their negative example. Some people are so obsessed with what the virtual world offers they find it difficult to separate it from reality.

Parents have the authority and responsibility to make sure children use the internet wisely. There needs to be rules and stipulations that govern what they do, what they can watch and for how long. If screen time is limited when children are very young and monitored as they grow, parents will find it easier to supervise content. When children are old enough, around 7 – 8 years old, depending on their intellect, parents need to talk openly (age appropriately) about the ills they can inadvertently come across online and what to do if it happens.

The conversation needs not be dramatic or fill children with dread and fear. But children need to know that If they see, hear or read anything of a sexual nature or something disturbs them online and makes them feel uncomfortable, they must tell an adult. Therefore, adults must be approachable and understanding enough to listen, guide and protect their children’s online environment. A valuable tool for children online is the art to think critically about the content that bombards them. Let

them question and reflect on the messages behind porn and other adverse conduct.

Some young people are gullible enough to accept everything they see online as ‘normal’ - they lack parental input, care and support.

Adults can talk to children about their online experiences and reinforce safety messages consistently - STAY SAFE ONLINE. Parents should not be afraid to ask their children what they do online or check the history to see if their replies are accurate. It is a parental duty to keep children safe, physically, psychologically, sexually, morally; in other words, parenting is a full-time job with no room for slack.

Young people deserve to discover the joys of intimacy naturally, in their own time in their way - pornography robs them of that experience. Parents -play an integral role in your child’s digital life today.

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

Over 30 businesses to be on show at duty-free benab

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, February 14, 2022

By Tamica Garnett

President Dr Irfaan Ali (centre) with GMSA President, Rafeek Khan and GMSA First VP, Ramsay Ali during his tour on Saturday

THIRTY-NINE businesses and agencies involved in Guyana’s manufacturing and services sector are scheduled to have their products on display at a ‘Benab Duty-Free Shop’, from February 12 - 18 at the Umana Yana, to complement the 2022 International Energy Conference and Expo.

The pop-up duty-free shopping area, which is open only to foreign del-

egates of the conference, is located a stone’s throw away from the Marriott Hotel where the conference and expo will be held from February 15 - 18.

The event is being managed by the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) with support from the government and the Private Sector Commission (PSC).

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle on Sunday, GMSA President Rafeek Khan, explained that the shop was created following encouragement from President Dr Irfaan Ali. He said it will give the Guyanese businesses in the sector an opportunity to advertise their products, build capacity and attract investors.

“This is an excellent opportunity for us to really have a specific targeted approach to those coming into the country to do business with Guyana,” Khan explained to this publication.

“We would like to encourage the businesses that are coming to Guyana to consider pursuing capacity building for some of our manufacturers. Access to capital is limited, so these are opportunities that will give our small producers opportunities to meet potential investors for their businesses,” he said.

A number of international delegations will be in

Guyana for the conference.

Barbados, Suriname, and Ghana are among the countries that will be represented.

The businesses that will be taking part in the dutyfree zone range from the well-established entities to new and small-scale businesses.

“Forestry, agro processing, and arts and craft are some of our key products that will be on display. We have companies that have been in business for a long time to those who are up and coming. We have Banks DIH, Sterling, Beharry, Ricks and Sari, Umami, to name a few. While this a private sector initiative we also invited the Guyana Marketing Corporation to showcase some of their products that they have been promoting.

Also, we have invited the Guyana Forestry Commission to showcase some of our wood products,” Khan shared.

A model prefabricated home that was built by DuraVilla Homes will also be on display.

Khan underscored the significance of this initiative, given that it will provide a more practical platform for smaller businesses in Guyana that are not directly related to the oil and gas sector, and would not be able to take part directly in the larger energy conference.

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President Dr Irfaan Ali greets Joan Winter and her daughter Sunita Persaud, at their booth at the duty-free benab

International athletes and stress GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, February 14, 2022

By Vanessa Cort

WHEN Mikaela Shiffrin skied off course twice on the slopes of the Winter Olympics now being held in Beijing, China, it highlighted once more the tremendous pressure under which international athletes operate.

Shiffrin, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, was devastated and so shaken up that she reportedly sat on the snow for half an hour after the second mishap.

Known for extraordinary balance and her many relaxation methods prior to a race, the world-class skier, in an interview, actually questioned her abilities and even her future in the sport.

She also told of the many unkind and sometimes brutal social media comments on her disappointing performance. But she is not alone in being on the receiving end of negative comments and harsh criticism from some of the very fans who praised and cheered her on previously.

Star figure skater, Nathan Chen, top-seeded tennis player, Naomi Osaka and world-acclaimed gymnast, Simone Biles are just some of the others who have succumbed to pressure and have been both praised and criticised by fans and fellow athletes alike.

Of course it does not stop there. Entire teams in sport, such as our own West Indies cricket team,

have received their share of negative comments through the years, often with particular players being targeted.

But what do we know of the stress under which our international sportsmen and women operate?

As fans and supporters we may experience the pleasure of a good performance and the joy of seeing a win. But we know little of the ‘blood, sweat and tears’ spilled by these athletes in preparation for performance in their given sport.

One study by ‘Firstbeat’, a company which looks at stress in professional sports, says that “stress is an inescapable part of sport at the elite level and it is a doubleedged sword”. The study goes on to say that if harnessed correctly it can “propel you to perform at your peak when it matters most and allow you to thrive under the highpressure of game day”, but “a struggle to balance stressors with appropriate recovery”, or the failure to take them into account can lead to “mental errors and physiological issues”.

Stress affects athletes both physically and mentally and has been placed into three categories – competitive, organisational and personal – and each in its own way has an impact. A combination can lead to athletic burnout, depression and even suicidal tendencies.

West Ham United foot-

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baller, Michael Antonio, is quoted as saying: “Imagine you had a bad day and then you had thousands of fans telling you you’re terrible. There is a massive stress in the game when you have to constantly be your best.”

His words can no doubt be echoed by members of any international sports team or any individual participant in international sport, whether it be a golfer, a tennis player or a figure skater.

And lecturer in sports coaching and expert in endurance sports, Andy Kirkland Ph.D, underlines that an athlete’s well-being and performance “are not separate”.

So I would urge fans and supporters to show greater understanding for our sportsmen and women, particularly when they are on a losing streak or simply having a bad day.

Even one of the greatest swimmers of all time, American Michael Phelps, has talked openly about his mental health challenges such as depression and suicidal thoughts in an interview, giving rise to the phrase, ‘It’s okay not to be okay’.

And in recent good news, skier Mikaela Shiffrin has rejoined the competition and is back on the slopes of the Beijing Winter Olympics.

In a public statement she thanked those fans who remained loyal to her for their outpouring of love and support.

Over 30 businesses...

FROM PAGE 10 “This is important because many of the non-oil sector businesses won’t be participating in the [energy] expo because it’s costly. You have to pay to get a booth and many of the small and medium-sized companies can’t afford to participate and sometimes they don’t see the value because they are not really directly involved in the energy sector,” Khan said.

The foreign delegates will be able to access the duty-free zone free of cost, as entrance will be covered under the ticket purchased to attend the energy conference.

“They will have to have certain credentials to be at the benab. It will not be

widely opened because it’s a tax-free zone and we have to have enforcement there to ensure we are following protocols with customs regulations,” Khan added.

On Saturday, President Ali visited the duty-free shop and took time to engage with the local exhibitors.

According to a GMSA statement, President Ali during his visit noted that the wide range of products on display would intrigue the delegates.

The Head of State was accompanied by Khan and First Vice-President of the GMSA, Ramsay Ali. President Ali commended the efforts of the GMSA in ensuring that local manufactures and small business-

es are given the opportunity to market their products to the new and emerging oil and gas sector.

A small business booth

by St Ignatius resident Joan Winter, the proprietor of Joan’s Craft Shop, captured the President’s attention during his visit.

Winter’s business centres on indigenous craft items such as clothing, jewellery and hammocks from locally sourced sustainable materials. The President was impressed specifically with the quality of the hammocks and encouraged the businesswoman to continue to make exceptional products as a true representation of the initiative and culture of Guyanese people.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.com

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, February 14, 2022

Provisions made to hire specialists to advance agriculture sector

Minister Mustapha examines one of the young soya bean plants (Ministry of Agriculture photo) AGRICULTURE MINISTER, Zulfikar Mustapha, has reported that, in the 2022 budget, the Ministry of agriculture has made financial provision for specialists to be employed to advance several new initiatives that will be spearheaded by the ministry.

He made the announcement last Tuesday during

the consideration of the Estimates & Expenditure for the Ministry of Agriculture.

While responding to questions from the other side of the House, the Government Member of Parliament disclosed that the Agriculture Ministry had previously engaged the Ministry of Public Service to ensure the required personnel is employed to

fill these very important positions.

“When I spoke at the budget debates, I said that the ministry is embarking on a number of new programmes. We are also looking at specialised personnel to fill these vacancies. The ministry has since been working very closely with the Ministry of Public Service so that we can have specialised persons to fill these positions. We have aquaculture as an emerging specialised industry so we’ll need specialised personnel. We have new crops that were never grown in Guyana like corn and soya bean and other non-traditional crops.

We are also concentrating on high-value crops so we need specialised people.

We have been working assiduously to ensure we have these persons em-

A section of the trial plot for soya bean in the Tacama Savannah (Ministry of Agriculture photo) ployed so that the ministry commence infrastructural seeks to give budding agrican be prepared to diver- works in the area to fa- culturalists an opportunity sify and increase produc- cilitate the trial exercise to contribute to the growth tion over the next year,” that was undertaken by the and development of GuyMinister Mustapha said. group. ana’s agriculture sector, Minister Mustapha furThat included the cul- while earning substantial ther stated that the process tivation of 111 acres of remuneration given the is ongoing and will contin- soya bean, and five acres high market value of these ue until the most qualified of corn, which yielded ap- crops. candidates are employed. proximately 2.3 tonnes per This year, 25 shadeThe government, during hectare. houses will be constructed its 2020 and 2021 budget The initial aim of the as part of the first phase presentations, highlighted government is to facilitate of the initiative. As the the need to have new pro- the cultivation of 56,000 programme advances, up grammes added to advance acres or 22,400 hectares to 300 shadehouses will the productive sectors. One to be able to satisfy the be constructed across the such programme which local demand, after which, country. falls part of the govern- cultivation for export to Construction of five ment’s agenda to advance markets in the region will model shadehouses is the agriculture sector, be targeted. currently ongoing at the while reducing the import Additionally, the gov- National Agriculture Rebill for proteins used in the ernment has also embarked search and Extension Inlivestock sector, was the on introducing large-scale stitute’s (NAREI’s) Mon corn and soya bean project. production of high-value Repos farm. These model In 2021, the govern- crops like broccoli, cauli- shadehouses will be used ment had partnered with a flower and carrots. to guide the beneficiarteam of local investors who President Dr. Moham- ies on best practices and began cultivating corn and med Irfaan Ali recently good crop husbandry to soya bean in the Tacama launched the Agriculture ensure they get the best Savannah. In 2021, $500 and Innovation Entrepre- results out of the project. million was allocated to neurship Programme which (Ministry of Agriculture)

A section of one of the model shadehouses being constructed at NAREI (Ministry of Agriculture photo)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, February 14, 2022

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New Amsterdam’s oldest resident dies months before 102nd birthday

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, February 14, 2022

By Jeune Bailey Van Keric

MAUD Olga Williams, the centenarian who was known for her breadmaking skills, died peacefully at her Lot 49 Stanleytown, New Amsterdam home on Saturday morning.

H e r g r a n d d a u g h t e r, Yvette Williams, informed this publication that she passed away just before 08:00 hrs.

Retired Town Clerk Angela Collins, a neighbour, said, “Miss Williams lived a full life. May her soul rest in peace.”

“Cousin Maud”, “Miss Williams”, “Neighbour Maude” or “Neig”, as she was fondly referred to, would have celebrated her 102nd birthday on May 8.

During her lifetime, the widow prepared the mixture for bread and other baked goodies, and ensured that she kept abreast of current affairs, including the recently concluded budget debate.

She did crotchet, read the newspapers daily, and also made time for playing a game or two of checkers with her neighbour, Shirley Adams, and former caregiver Yvonne Lambert.

The centenarian, at the time of her death, was the longest living resident of Lot 49 Stanleytown, a place she had called home for almost 70 years.

Her neighbours had planned and celebrated her 100th and 101st birthdays with her, since her overseas-based children could not be here with her due to ‘COVID’–related travel restrictions.

In celebration of those milestones, helium-filled balloon arches with 100 and 101 signs were placed at her gate, while groups of women sang spiritual hymns and songs as she walked onto her patio to greet the well-wishers. She was thankful for the gesture.

At her last celebration, Reverend Tyrone Sulker,

now deceased, and a team of church members had paid a visit and held a thanksgiving service for the centenarian.

During an interview following that celebration, she had expressed the belief that in order for persons to adequately maintain their respective families, their income must be supplemented.

She had supplemented her husband’s income by crocheting and sewing, and cultivating a kitchen garden.

Although she was no longer tending to her kitchen garden, ‘Cousin Maud’ would view her fruit plants from her windows, and could tell when there was need for special care.

She was born to Antonita Lyken and Samuel Ellis on May 8, 1920 at the New Amsterdam Hospital, which was a landmark located at Charles Place and Main Street in the Berbice township.

Her earlier years were spent at Lot 43 Stanleytown with her mother, siblings

and relatives. During that period, she’d attended the All-Saints Anglican School.

Following her school years, she was sent to learn to sew and crotchet.

She was married to the late Eugene Williams, who, in order to care for a growing family, was employed as a carpenter, farmer and security guard. Together, they raised seven children, three of whom were girls.

Although her life was consumed with innovative ways to enhance the quality of life of her children, she was keen on learning about what was happening outside her home.

It was that eagerness to know that resulted in her reflecting on the famed American aviator Art Williams.

“It was in the 1930s he flew his plane over New Amsterdam; it was a sight for all to see, as he was doing aerial stunts which captured the breath of the viewers,” she had told the Guyana

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New Amsterdam centenarian Maud Olga Williams Chronicle with a twinkle in her eyes.

Art Williams was an American pilot who’d come to the then British Guiana and became a pioneer of aviation locally.

She had used the opportunity to express concern about youths who are not academically inclined, and are seemingly wasting their

lives.

“There is something they can do; they can learn a trade. It is always good to earn an honest living...,” she had said.

The late centenarian is survived by her children: Winston, Barbara, Brenda and Wynette; 15 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, February 14, 2022

The Leonora Strike and Riots of 1939 (Part One)

By Tota C. Mangar

FEBRUARY 2022 marks the 83rd Anniversary of the 1939 Leonora Strike and Riots. At that juncture of our country’s history (1939), Plantation Leonora on the West Coast of Demerara was one of the 27 functioning sugar estates in colonial British Guiana.

During the first half of the 19th Century, ownership of Plantation Leonora was in the hands of McInroy, Sandbach and Company. Following the dissolution of that conglomerate in 1854, Plantation Leonora was transferred to Sandbach, Tinne and Company, the London and Liverpool-based parent company of Sandbatch Parker, and this situation was to persist for some time.

Subsequently, in 1891, all of Sandbach’s plantation holdings in the then British Guiana came under direct control of the Demerara Company.

In addition to Plantation Leonora, the company also owned and controlled Plantations Diamond, Farm, Providence, Ruimveldt and Cornelia Ida. Of the remaining 21 sugar plantations in the late 1930s, 15 were under the control of Booker Brothers, McConnell and Company Limited, while three each were in the hands of Curtis Campbell and S. Davson, respectively.

The strike and riot of 1939 at Plantation Leonora emerged against the background of the Great Depression of the 1930s, which was particularly due to the impact of World War I. By the 1920s and 1930s, workers’ wages were depressingly low in the face of an alarmingly high cost of living; there was acute poverty, the unemployment rate was high, and diseases and malnutrition were rife. It was not surprising, therefore, that the Caribbean region, including colonial British Guiana, was swept by a wave of unprecedented labour unrests, including strikes and disturbances, in the 1930s.

This period of upheaval against social and economic distress had also witnessed the emergence of several trade unions in the Caribbean, and more particularly, British Guiana. The British Guiana Labour Union, our oldest trade union, had by this time emerged under the dynamism and influence of Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow, and it had begun

Historian, Tota Mangar to make an impact on the Working Class. Moreover, it influenced the formation of other trade unions in the country at this crucial period of our history.

In the sugar belt, the ManPower Citizens’ Association (MPCA) was formed under the leadership of Ayube Edun, a goldsmith and publisher of The Guiana Review newspaper, and Mr. C. R. Jacobs, a successful merchant and member of the Legislative Council. The MPCA was officially registered on November 5, 1937, and it concentrated its energies on organising primarily among workers in the sugar industry.

WELL-KNOWN At the same time, The British Guiana Workers’ League also solicited members in the industry, with emphasis on factory and clerical workers. By 1939, labourers at Plantation Leonora were already well-known for their militancy. For example, Leonora workers were among the earliest to resist the indentured system when they protested in August 1869 against an arbitrary reduction in wage rates. Furthermore, in 1909, Leonora workers demonstrated over a wage rate dispute, and, as recently as 1938, many of them downed tools over the low level of pay for loading punts.

It is against this background of workers’ struggle in the sugar industry that the strike and subsequent riot at Plantation Leonora in February 1939 has to be considered.

The protest in February 1939 at Leonora has variously been labelled by interest groups and scholars to connote the view in which it was held; as a strike, a riot, a disturbance, or even an uprising. Regardless of whatever description is involved, one fact is inescapable, that is, the protest or unrest possessed almost all the elements one would normally associate with a struggle between the forces

of capital and labour; hence, a conflict between two contending classes in society.

INADEQUATE Leonora sugar workers, like workers in other sectors of the economy, were prepared to vent their feelings against the acute social and economic hardships they were experiencing. Commenting on the Leonora crisis, The Daily Argosy, in February 1939, acknowledged, “The general complaint is that earnings are inadequate and not commensurate with the work done.”

The first sign of discontent at Plantation Leonora was evidenced on Monday, February 13, 1939 when 10 estate firemen staged a half-day strike protesting the rather lengthy working day of eleven-and-a-half hours, and requested an extra hour’s pay. The firemen were employees retained to stoke the wood-burning furnaces.

Their grievance was lodged with Mr. Prentice, the overseer, who promised to refer the matter to Mr. Leonard Lywood, the then Estate Administrative Manager. Lywood subsequently deferred taking a decision on the matter in order to consult with the manager of the neighbouring Uitvlugt Estate. Referring to the issue, the Administrative Manager, himself, admitted, “That was the first indication we had that trouble was brewing.” A representative group of concerned firemen met Mr. Lywood and repeated their demands on Thursday, February 14. They resumed work following a promise by the manager to review the issue. Nonetheless, the protest action by the firemen apparently led other groups on the estate to seek redress for either outstanding or current issues. For example, the same morning, about 80 to 90 members of Shovel Gang No.2 refused an offer of eight and nine cents per bed for work on a field at Groenveldt, some distance from their homes.

DEMAND A small delegation of these field workers met manager Lywood and demanded 12 cents per bed, instead of the original offer. Lywood promised to inspect the field the following day, but he withheld the prospect of upping the pay rate, claiming that he considered nine cents a sufficiently good price.

This merely served to infuriate the members of shovel gang, who then conveyed TURN TO PAGE 19

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Youth can transform agrifood system

- Food and Agriculture Organisation THE cultivation of pulses, combined with the power of young people, can help achieve a transformation in the global agrifood systems, said QU Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), at a virtual event held to mark World Pulses Day. “Our agrifood systems need a paradigm shift,” said Qu, stating that “a focus on pulses can help us achieve this transformation, and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”

World Pulses Day seeks to raise awareness of the role of pulses in addressing foodsecurity challenges and their contribution to achieving a healthy and balanced diet.

The theme for this year’s

celebration is “Pulses to empower youth in achieving sustainable agrifood systems.” Currently, there are 1.8 billion young people in the world between the ages of 10 and 24, who have the creativity and energy for renewing perspectives and opportunities and, as Qu affirmed, “it’s a potential we must tap into,” an FAO release said.

“Pulses contribute to creating livelihood opportunities and equity, which are essential for sustainable agrifood systems. FAO strongly supports the youth to become drivers of positive change,” Qu said.

Young people can bring added value to the promotion of pulses by shedding light on new business opportunities along the value

chain, including by driving innovations to transform agrifood systems and boosting pulse-based sustainable production. Young people are the best stewards for pulse innovation and their receptiveness to innovation can trigger real change.

The event kicked off with keynote speeches from Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Naoko Yamamoto, Assistant Director-General for Healthy Population at the World Health Organisation (WHO); Nevzat Biri?ik, Director-General of Agricultural Research and Policies at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of the Republic of Turkey and Cindy Brown, President of the Global Pulse Confederation (GPC).

FROM PAGE 18 their displeasure to the District Superintendent of Police, Mr. Webber.

Eventually, a meeting was arranged among Lywood, the District Commissioner of Labour, Mr. Gray, and a workers’ delegation. Unfortunately, the intervening discussion did very little to resolve the issue.

Lywood stuck to the original price offer, and Gray openly acknowledged his effectiveness at the negotiations.

The workers, for their part, restated their dissatisfaction, and requested that the MPCA boss, Mr. Ayube

Edun, be involved in the discussions. This latter request found favour with the Commissioner of Labour, but not with the Administrative Manager of Leonora Estate.

Perhaps, it is worthwhile to point out that the MPCA, as a union, was still not yet officially recognised by the Sugar Producers Association (SPA) as the bargaining agent for sugar workers.

Such a situation, undoubtedly, contributed to the unrelenting attitude of the Estate Management. Clearly, an explosive situation was at hand at Plantation Leonora in February 1939.

With a stalemate in talks in relation to the payrate controversy, workers took a bold decision to travel to the City of Georgetown to air their grievances before the then visiting West Indian Royal Commission in an apparent belief that the Commissioners would be sympathetic to their cause. According to Dwarka Nath, “They were, no doubt, influenced by some strong remarks made by Sir Walter Citrine against some employees in the course of evidence given before the Commission.”

The Leonora Strike...

Pulses and legumes contribute to the sustainability of food systems and are two of the main enablers of healthy diets. They are essential for diversifying agricultural production systems, thereby contributing to better production, and are particularly important for sustainable crop production due to their ability to trap atmospheric nitrogen and improve the turnover of

phosphorous, enhancing soilnutrient cycles and a better environment.

Pulses are also an affordable source of protein for a large proportion of the world’s rural populations, who may have limited access to diversified diets. These species are also nutrientdense, providing substantial amounts of vitamins and minerals that are important

for good health, thereby contributing to better nutrition.

The United Nations General Assembly designated 10 February as World Pulses Day after the success of the International Year of Pulses in 2016, which was implemented by the FAO. The initiative has since been supported by many member countries.

(FAO)

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Australia win super-over thriller against Sri Lanka

(ESPNCRICINFO) - There’s no way Sri Lanka had a shot in this, right? With four overs left, they were five down needing 50.

With three overs left, they were six down needing 46. Pathum Nissanka was playing the best innings of his T20 international career, but that career was only 14 matches old.

But with the help of Wanindu Hasaranga, Nissanka lurched Sri Lanka forward in the 18th over, bowled by Pat Cummins. Hasaranga hit two fours - one an intentional uppercut behind square, the other a thick outside edge.

Nissanka then walloped Cummins over deep midwicket for six, and by the end of the over, Sri Lanka had brought the requirement to 29 off 12 balls.

But Josh Hazlewood kept the runs in check in the 19th over, giving away only 10, and he would thwart Sri Lanka

Australia celebrate another Josh Hazlewood wicket © Getty Images again, later.

T h e f i n a l o v e r, bowled by Marcus Stoinis, seemed to be going Australia’s way, when Nissanka was caught at deep backward square, and Sri Lanka still needed 12 off the last three balls, with only tailenders on strike.

Perhaps buoyed by the news of their big IPL contracts, though, Maheesh Theekshana and Dushmantha Chameera hit the boundaries that levelled the scores and force a Super Over. Theekshana bashed his first ball over deep midwicket, where Steven Smith almost pulled off a stunning save, but didn’t quite manage to prevent a six.

Last ball of conventional play, Dushmantha Chameera smoked one down the ground for four to tie the scores. If the ball in between, a fullish ball way outside off stump, had been called a wide as it should have been, Sri Lanka might have won the game there.

The visitors did well to force the match into overtime, but that is where their fight ran out.

Australia won it easy, in the end.

The Super Over

Although Nissanka had played perhaps the innings of the game, captain Dasun Shanaka, who had also struck the ball cleanly in his 34 off 23, chose to open in the company of Dinesh Chandimal. It didn’t go well. Shanaka tried to scoop Hazlewood over his shoulder first up but didn’t make contact.

Then he played and missed a wide yorker outside off stump. Third ball, he missed again, and when they tried to run on the overthrow, Chandimal was run out at the non-striker’s end.

Nissanka hit a two and a single in the two balls he got to face, but a Super Over score of 5 was never going to be enough.

With Hasaranga bowling, Stoinis hit two fours off balls two and three to finish the match.

Hazlewood’s match-winning turn Aside from the excellent Super Over, Hazlewood was outstanding all through Sri Lanka’s innings. He removed Danushka Gunathilaka in the first over, the batter smoking one straight to cover. He then had Avishka Fernando caught at

cover as well - his figures read 2 for 9 from his two Powerplay overs. He only gave away three runs in his third over - the 12th of the innings - and kept his last to 10. All up (including the Super Over), he sent down five overs and conceded only 27.

Nissanka’s slow-burn knock Josh Inglis produced an excellent 48 off 32 to set Australia’s total up, but Nissanka produced the innings of the evening, progressing steadily while Sri Lanka lost wickets in the early overs (they were 25 for 3, then 67 for 4), before moving up the gears alongside Shanaka, with whom he shared a partnership worth 48 off 31. In the death overs, Nissanka cleared the boundary twice, to bring Sri Lanka close when they had seemed out of contention for much of the chase’s duration. He will be annoyed at the ball he got out to - a knee-high full toss from Stoinis, which he slapped straight to deep backward square in the final over. Nevertheless, his 73 off 53 encapsulated much of Sri Lanka’s fight.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, February 14, 2022

History of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup

THE inaugural edition of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup marked the first time a tournament of its nature was held, with the men’s tournament following two years later.

Its conception is a story in itself, with talks taking place between English businessman, Jack Hayward and cricketer, Rachael Heyhoe Flint, in their home city, Wolverhampton.

In 1971, Hayward and

Heyhoe Flint stayed up all evening brainstorming a tournament that the latter would skipper England to victory two years later.

The Women’s Cricket World Cup 1973 was contested by seven teams including a Young England side. The format was different to what we see today, with teams battling for 60 overs – not 50 – and a league table deciding the winners instead of a knock-

out competition.

H o w e v e r, t h e f i n a l round-robin match saw the top two square off as England took on Australia in a repeat of the first-ever international women’s game.

Enid Bakewell hit 118 and Heyhoe Flint compiled a half-century as England won by 92 runs to seal the title by three points from their rivals.

India hosted and made their debut in the 1978 tourna-

ment, and they were joined by Australia, England and New Zealand.

The final match was again a de facto final, but this time Australia triumphed over the holders as tens of thousands of Indian cricket fans flocked to the Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium in Hyderabad to watch.

1982 saw the introduction of a final, as New Zealand hosted five teams, the four from 1978 plus an Interna-

Karen Rolton tional XI. Each side played the others three times, with the top two advancing to the showpiece.

It was a familiar match in the final as an unbeaten Australia took on England and the contest went down to the penultimate over before Australia emerged victorious by three wickets.

They defended their trophy in 1988, again beating England in the final, but then failed to reach the 1993 final – the first time they missed out.

The tournament returned to England that year and Denmark and the West Indies made their bow in an eight-team championship, following Ireland and the Netherlands’ debut in 1988.

Jan Brittin’s 48 was the top score in the final as England earned their second World Cup title by defeating the previously unbeaten New Zealand at Lord’s.

Australia were back on their perch in 1997 as a record 11 teams featured and Pakistan, Sri Lanka and South Africa joined for the first time.

The teams were split into two groups and four from each progressed to the quarter-finals, with Australia and New Zealand marching all the way through the show-

piece again.

Australia won the match by seven wickets but New Zealand returned to win the title on home soil in 2000, beating Australia by just four runs in the year the tournament moved to 50 overs a side.

2005 was a landmark year, South Africa had the honour of hosting for the first time in 2005 and India reached their first final but Australia were again too strong, as Karen Rolton’s unbeaten 107 steered them to a 98-run win.

The next three editions saw Australia and England trade the trophy, first England defeated Australia in 2009 before Australia again beat a first-time finalist in 2013, this time in the shape of the West Indies.

In 2017, England were back on home soil and triumphed once again, beating India in a dramatic conclusion at Lord’s to ensure they head to New Zealand as holders.

Seven teams will hope to depose them this time, including Bangladesh, who will make their debut. Each side will play each other once to determine qualification to the semi-finals, with the final scheduled for April 3. (ICC Media)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, February 14, 2022

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80% occupancy for Kensington Oval during England/WI Apex series CMC – More cricket fans will get the opportunity to attend the second match of the Apex Test Series between West Indies and England at Kensington next month, with officials increasing the allowed capacity at the stadium to 80 per cent, still with only fully vaccinated spectators.

Minister of Health, Ian Gooding-Edghill, made the announcement at a press conference on Saturday, saying that public health officials had indicated that outdoor openair events would not pose a significant threat to public health once COVID-19 protocols were followed.

The change was one of several that will take effect on Monday, including the removal of the existing midnight to 5 a.m curfew.

Kensington Oval operated at 50 percent capacity for the five-match Betway

T20I series which West Indies won 3-2.

England return to the West Indies in March for the three-match Apex Test Series as the teams play for the newly minted Richards-Botham Trophy, named in honour of legends, Sir Vivian Richards and Lord Ian Botham.

The series opens at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua, March 8-12, followed by the second contest at Kensington Oval in Barbados, March 16-20. The final match is scheduled for March 24-28 at the National Stadium in Grenada.

All three Tests are part of the ICC World Test Championship, with West Indies and England vying for points to challenge for qualification for the World Test Championship final in 2023.

Cricket West Indies (CWI) had deemed the

January 22-30 Betway series – the first series to be played in Barbados since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 – a success, saying it was pleased with the safe return of fans in large numbers.

An average of 4,300 fans attended each match, with capacity restricted to a maximum of just under 5,500 fans with distancing between groups, although there was controversy over fans not wearing face masks in keeping with the required COVID-19 protocols. Just over 22,500 persons in total attended the five matches.

All persons attendi n g t h e g a m e s w e re fully vaccinated, with their vaccination status checked and verified by Ministry of Health and Wellbeing officials at the point of entry, as will be the case for the Apex series.

American Racing Tips

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10:30 hrs Justforthree-

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12:40 hrs Gaot

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13:30 hrs The First Hurrah

09:00 hrs Shoughall’s Boy

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Race 3 Warrior’s Dream Race 4 Tramore Bay Race 5 Kid Russel Race 6 You Name It Race 7 Play Ball

South Africa Racing Tips Greyville 08:10 hrs Roy’s Command 08:45 hrs Without Doubt

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Kensington Oval will operate at 80 per cent capacity for next month’s Apex Test Series, up from the 50 per cent allowed during the Betway T20I series

26

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, February 14, 2022

ECB names Under-15 squad

The players that were selected pose with president of the Essequibo Cricket board, Daleep Singh THE Essequibo Cricket Board has named its fifteen (15) member Under-15 squad and five reserves to contest the GCB Under-15 inter-county tournament which will be held in March in the city of Georgetown.

The selection was made after a three-day trial at

the Imam Bacchus Cricket ground, Affiance, Essequibo Coast.

Initially, forty-eight (48) young cricketers from seven area committees affiliated to the ECB attended this trial.

The coach, manager, captain and vice-captain will be named before the team

departs for the tournament.

Players selected are: Omarion smith, Ethan Silas, Ravid Fredricks, Earo Benjamin, Nazaam Mohamed, Bomesh Lall, Virendra Pooran, Krishna Gobardhan, Videsh Rooplall, Rakesh Kellawan, Zandon Rose, Hemant Sukdeo, Nicholas

Lovell, Elisha Ramdatt, Christopher Williams.

Reserves are: Rondel Singh, Jadesh Shadeo, Ian Kanhai, Mondel Edwards and Khemol Harakram.

President of the Essequibo Cricket Board, Deleep Singh, said that he has confidence in those players that

were selected. He said that with good coaching, he is

confident that the team will make Essequibo proud.

Appeals system for direct red cards to be Shepherd joins million introduced by CONCACAF

dollar IPL Club

CMC – Romario Shepherd joined the million-dollar club at the Indian Premier League after Sunrisers Hyderabad picked up the Guyana and West Indies all-rounder on the second day of the mega auction here Sunday.

The 27-year-old, who has played just 14 Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), sparked a bidding war before Sunrisers beat out challenges from Lucknow Super Giants, Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, and Rajasthan Royals, in a deal worth US$1.03 million.

Shepherd was one of several West Indies players to find franchises, with fast bowling all-rounder Odean Smith, batsmen Rovman Powell, Evin Lewis and Kyle Mayers, fast bowlers Alzarri Joseph, Dominic Drakes and Obed McCoy, along with left-arm spinning all-rounder Fabian Allen, also seeing lucrative deals.

Barbados-born England pacer, Jofra Archer, also tasted a million-dollar payday thanks to Mumbai Indians while Chris Jordan, another Barbados-born England international, went to Chennai Super Kings for US$478 000.

There was no such luck for West Indians Akeal Hosein, Kennar Lewis, Roston Chase and Sheldon Cottrell, all of whom went unsold.

It was Shepherd who snatched a share of the headlines from the upscale affair in the southern Indian city, tasting his first overseas franchise contract.

A sharp fast bowler and a powerful lower-order striker of the ball, Shepherd has had limited opportunities at the international level but did enough to get the attention of scouts.

His unbeaten 44 from 28 balls against England last month nearly earned West Indies an unlikely victory in

the second T20I, the innings coming on the heels of a rapid half-century against Ireland a week earlier.

Shepherd also shone in last year’s Caribbean Premier League with 18 wickets for Guyana Amazon Warriors but was then snubbed by selectors for the Twenty20 World Cup in United Arab Emirates.

Smith, meanwhile, was handed the opportunity to flaunt his skills for Punjab Kings when they claimed him for US$800 000, edging out Super Giants, Sunrisers, and Royals, all of whom chased the Jamaican’s services.

The 25-year-old Smith, with eight T20Is and five One-Day Internationals (ODIs) under his belt, is inexperienced at the international level but has already showcased his impressive skills with electrifying cameos against India in the just-concluded ODI

series and against Ireland last month.

Rovman Powell was bought by Delhi Capitals for US$373 000 while left-handed opener Evin Lewis went to Super Giants for US$266 000 despite not playing international cricket in nearly four months.

Joseph (US$320 000) and Dominic Drakes (US$146 000) were picked up by new franchise Gujarat Titans, McCoy joined Shimron Hetmyer at Rajasthan Royals for US$100 000 while Allen was nabbed by Mumbai for US$100 000 and Mayers went to Super Giants for US$66 000.

On Saturday’s opening day of the mega auction, the West Indies trio of Nicholas Pooran, Jason Holder and Shimron Hetmyer also landed million-dollar contracts.

The 2022 edition of the cash-rich IPL is set to bowl off in April.

CMC – The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) has introduced an appeals system for direct red cards for its senior competitions, starting with the 2022 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League which begins this week.

Participating teams will now have the opportunity postmatch to request a review of direct red cards by a newly created CONCACAF Independent Review Panel, the regional governing body for football said in a statement.

“Any club or senior national team which intends to appeal a direct red card awarded in a CONCACAF competition must inform the Confederation of their intention to do so no later than two hours after the end of the relevant match. This must be followed by a full written appeal submitted to CONCACAF within the next 48 hours,” it said.

“Provided these requirements are met, three independent members of a new CONCACAF independent panel will consider the appeal and determine if it should be upheld.”

There are three possible outcomes of an appeal: a successful appeal when all three members of the panel unanimously decide to overturn the on-field decision of a red card; an unsuccessful appeal where there is no unanimous decision and the direct red card decision is therefore upheld; and an unsuccessful appeal deemed frivolous, in which the three-member panel unanimously decides to uphold the decision and unanimously deem the appeal to be frivolous.

In the latter case, the player in question will receive an additional one-match suspension.

CONCACAF said the decisions of the review panel will be final and are not subject to further appeal.

No other on-field decisions, including yellow cards, can be reviewed by the CONCACAF Independent Panel and this will only apply for CONCACAF senior (women’s and men’s) competitions.

Haiti’s Cavaly AS, the 2021 CONCACAF Caribbean Club Championship winner, is the only club from the Caribbean in the 2022 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, February 14, 2022

27

Franklin still the best in Guyana - seals his fourth consecutive National TT Singles title

Shemar Britton finished as runner-up

MANY table tennis pundits thought the era of Christopher Franklin would have come to an end this year and the reign of Shemar Britton would have begun—but they did not take several factors into consideration, the most obvious being that the 37-yearold knows how to win.

Christopher Franklin stroked his way to his fourth consecutive National Table Tennis Singles title last evening at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall; there was no flamboyance in his execution, he was calm, calculated and in control.

At the other end, the future king of the sport, Britton, was again left short—his fluency and execution which he flawlessly displayed in the early rounds were on the backburner against one of the better table tennis players Guyana has ever produced.

Franklin won the opener 11-4, but Britton was able to answer his shots in the second game to win 11-8. The see-saw battle between the two continued with Franklin showing his finesse with an 11-5 rebound in the third.

Again, Britton answered. He went up 4-0 in the fourth and had some testy spells against his nemesis, but triumphed nevertheless 11-7.

Despite the match being tied, Britton was always mentally in second place. His body language gave away his nervous-

ness and Franklin being a master tactician pounced on it.

Game five was won

by Franklin 11-8 after he made the necessary adjustments. He had moments of outbursts when he won games or scored crucial rallies, but almost instantly he re-focused and regained his composure.

The 14-year age difference between the two was not obvious in the movements at the table, but it was clear in the brilliance of shot selections and impeccable placement.

Britton had a few positive moments in the sixth game and had his fans cheering him on, but Franklin showed no mercy to seal the win 11-7.

Prior to that clash, Franklin had defeated Miguel Wong 4-2. Although Wong played solid table tennis, Franklin was able to rise to the occasion. In the other semi-final clash, Britton defeated another future star, 15-year-old Jonathan Van Lange 4-1.

Wong and Van Lange were adjudged joint third place finishers.

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80% occupancy for Kensington Oval during England/WI Apex series

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, February 14, 2022

SEE PAGE

25

Kensington Oval will operate at 80 per cent capacity for next month’s Apex Test Series, up from the 50 per cent allowed during the Betway T20I series

Shepherd joins million dollar IPL Club SEE PAGE

Franklin stil the best in Guyana

26

SEE PAGE

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Christopher Franklin saved his best table tennis for the championship clash Romario Shepherd 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

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2022