Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 15-07-2022

FRIDAY 15th July, 2022 PRICE

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No.106784

$3B for hinterland 03 development

Demerara Bank expands 03 base to ‘West Side’

–– authorities to approach National Assembly for supplementary financing for projects in areas of health, agriculture, education

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–– turns sod for new $160M facility at Leonora

Toshaos to engage domestic airline 05 operators on high airfares PAGE

–– through intervention of President Ali

Barbados: Trade 09 opportunities with Guyana ‘ripe for the picking’ PAGE

150 inmates 12 graduate from training courses PAGE

President, Dr. Irfaan Ali along with Senior Minister within the Office of the President, Dr. Ashni Singh and senior officials of Demerara Bank turn the sod for the construction of the bank’s new branch at Leonora, West Coast Demerara (Office of the President photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 15, 2022

$3B for hinterland development

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 15, 2022

–– authorities to approach National Assembly for supplementary financing for projects in areas of health, agriculture, education

By Jared Liddell

THE government is set to approach the National Assembly at the upcoming sitting next Thursday, for the approval of $3 billion in supplementary financing to make further investments in Amerindian and hinterland development, according to President Dr. Irfaan Ali. Financing, according to the President, will go towards investments in projects related to agriculture, health and education.

In just under two years, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government has already expended close to $10 billion on developmental projects targeting various Amerindian communities.

But President Ali said a decision was taken to seek supplementary funds after village leaders compiled a list of needs for their various communities.

Addressing toshaos during the ongoing National Toshaos’ Conference on Thursday, President Ali said that a portion of the fund would be dedicated to the establishment of hinterland-centered health and education programmes that would allow residents to be trained in health and education.

He noted that this will not only allow for the advancement of human resources, but will also play a pivotal role in bringing back jobs to the community.

“We are going to take every single eligible candidate

President Dr. Irfaan Ali speaking at the National Toshaos Conference (NTC) 2022 at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre on Thursday (Office of the President photo) from hinterland communities who can be trained to become health workers, nurses, teachers, teaching assistants, and teaching aids… we’re going to take those persons and develop a comprehensive programme to provide training for all of them so that they can have the required skills to serve their communities,” President Ali said.

Further, the Head of State said that of the $3 billion allocation, some $250 million

will be set aside for the development and implementation of youth projects.

He said that while systems must be implemented to benefit the entire community, youths have to be at the forefront of those initiatives.

President Ali reminded persons that the affairs of Guyana’s Indigenous peoples have been high on the agenda of successive People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) governments, noting that the

Vice-President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo during Day four of the National Toshaos Conference (NTC) 2022 government remains steadfast in its belief that all Guyanese regardless of their geographical location must benefit from developmental initiatives.

Meanwhile, Vice-President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, echoed the sentiments of President Ali and noted that the government remains committed to the development and advancement of hinterland communities and Amerindian people, and has been investing significantly in improving the lives of the citizens in all hinterland communities.

In highlighting his point,

the Vice-President made reference to expenditures on several initiatives that were launched by the government to bring relief to the Amerindian people. On this note, he said some $4.2 billion was invested in the first half of this year.

The government has already invested directly into the lives of the Amerindian people through $25,000 per household cash-grant initiative for riverine and hinterland communities, which was set up to cushion the rising cost of living.

The Vice-President stated

that this initiative, which was launched in May 2022, came as the President recognised that the cost of living impact is disproportionately harsher in riverine hinterland communities than on the coastland.

This measure is expected to put an additional $800 million in disposable income back into the hands of ordinary Guyanese and will add to the other plethora of welfare measures that the government has implemented over the past three years as the world faced back-to-back global hardships, which have skyrocketed inflation across developed and developing nations.

Another initiative that was launched by the government to give back to Amerindians is the $49.7 million Ministry of Human Services and Social Security’s “Empowerment Fund.”

This massive project was set up to support persons from hinterland regions who are either already in business or are considering the feasibility of investing in any commercial activity.

The Empowerment Fund is a collaborative effort between the ministry and the World Food Programme (WFP), which seeks to help persons expand or start a business with $50,000. To date, some 995 persons from various communities have benefitted from this initiative.

Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) had the largest number of beneficiaries, with some 367 persons across two phases.

Demerara Bank expands base to ‘West Side’ –– turns sod for new $160M facility at Leonora

By Jared Liddell THOUSANDS of Region Three residents stand to benefit from the ease of access to the types of services offered by the Demerara Bank, which on Thursday turned the sod for the construction of a $160 million branch at Leonora, on the West

Coast of Demerara (WCD).

The massive solar-powered facility is expected to be completed in 18 months, and is set to target the estimated 75,000 residents of the surrounding WCD communities, according to the Bank’s Chief Executive Officer Pravichandra Dave.

Speaking about the necessity of such a massive investment in Region Three (Essequibo Islands– West Demerara), Dave said that banks and other financial institutions are supposed to be the catalysts of development.

Located some 30 kilometers away from the region’s seat of adminis-

tration at Vreed-en-Hoop, and another 16 kilometers away from Parika, the new facility is expected to be completed in 2023, and will be the company’s ninth branch, the eighth of which was recently opened at Mahaica, at the confluence of Regions Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and Five (Mahaica-Berbice).

As to the kind of impact the company is perceived to have on the lo-

cal economy, Dave said that Demerara Bank represents $9.5 million of all the monies loaned to the agriculture sector countrywide, which, in essence, is 50 per cent of the combined $17 billion ploughed into that particular economic activity by all the local banks.

And, besides representing 57 per cent of the loans made to the mining sector, Dave said that Demerara

Bank not only takes its role of being a catalyst for development seriously, but is also committed to providing financing to small and medium enterprises in other sectors.

“Our share is 40%; if I go to some other areas like transfer, transport, and communication, our share is 97%. And we are aggressively working on See page 4

Demerara Bank expands base ...

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 15, 2022

From page 3

it,” Dave said, adding: “If you look at our deposit advances in 2017, it was around $23 billion; now it is $54 million…”

It was noted that between 2016 and 2021, the bank’s loan advances portfolio doubled from 23 million to 46 billion, while its deposits grew by 75%.

TIMELY AND NECESSARY President Dr. Irfaan Ali lauded this massive investment, calling it timely and necessary.

The president re-

minded those at the sod-turning exercise that the location of the new facility directly correlates with the government’s vision of creating a massive hub of development in Region Three.

“Understanding the direction in which the country is going; understanding the development agenda of the country, Demerara Bank created a vehicle to support that development agenda,” President Ali said, adding: “And it is in this context that I really want to congrat-

July 13, 2022

G 03 07 14 17 19 28 25 July 06, 2022

M 08 09 20 23 25 27 17

ulate you. Moving here also shows that you are actively working in sync with the development agenda of the country and the government.”

The Head of State reminded his audience of the usefulness of such a facility, in terms of ease of access, given the many multi-million-dollar projects being undertaken within the region that will provide opportunities for investment for Guyanese.

Noting that the government has long been looking at ways in which to work with the

14/07/22 - 01, 07, 08, 10, 16

local banking sector in a more innovative way, President Ali explained that easily assessable banking options enable viable options for collaboration with foreign companies that are likely to come to Guyana seeking investments, and as such Guyanese must have access to financing to benefit from expansion and partnership opportunities.

Senior Minister within the Office of the President Dr. Ashni Singh noted that the financial sector is not only a bystander, stating, “The

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financial sector is and should be an active participant and contributor to economic growth and transformation, and that requires a particular posture in relation to facilitation and ease of credit. The provision of competitively available, readily and competitively available credit is an essential part of any modern economy, and financial institutions have an important role to play in ensuring the ready access to and affordable access to credit.”

Dr. Singh noted

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that with the massive transformation of the Guyanese economy, the choice of West Demerara is a particularly strategic choice for which the bank is to be complimented.

“You would know that as a result of several deliberate policy choices, our government, under President Ali’s leadership, we’ve embarked on not only a sectoral diversification of economic growth, but a geographical and spatial diversification of economic growth,” he stated.

12/07/22- 8, 9, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 15, 2022

Toshaos to engage domestic airline operators on high airfares — through intervention of President Ali

By Naomi Parris

A TIMELY intervention

by President, Dr Irfaan Ali, has afforded toshaos of various hinterland communities the opportunity to engage domestic airline operators on rising airfares.

President Ali on Thursday committed to convening a meeting with toshaos and airline operators following a discussion with indigenous leaders during the ongoing National Toshaos Conference at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.

In highlighting their concerns, many village leaders told the President that the high airfares are contributing to a significant increase in the price of basic commodities.

Lemmel Thomas, Toshao for Kamarang, Region Sev-

Lemmel Thomas, Toshao of Kamarang

en, said the prices of basic commodities have increased continually over the past few weeks.

As of Thursday, Thomas

Toshao of Annai, Micheal Thomas

said the price of a loaf of bread, for example, has been increased to $1000 while flour is $500 per-pound.

“The only way to reach

Kamarang is by air and the only airlines operating are the private ones and so they have full control over their pricing and rate,” Thomas said, adding: “What is happening is, whatever food stuff that goes there by the business people, the prices increase every week …once it increases in Georgetown and the rates goes [sic] up, it increases here.”

This, he said, affects everyone in the community, noting: “This is affecting the business people the miners, the farmers and general employees and so it is a situation where it is like you cannot control it.”

Thomas also said that communities have not been able to plant their farms due to the ongoing torrential rainfalls and previous floods.

“The situation in regard to agriculture, many of the farms that were cleared and cropped since last year, they not been burnt because of heavy rains. There is no planting being done, so whatever crops that exist in previous farms not too long they will be exhausted,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Toshao of Annai, Region Nine, Micheal Williams, said while his community has a well-paved airstrip, there are no frequent flights to his community.

In this case, persons have to source goods either travelling by bus or using a taxi, all options which are equally expensive.

“We have an airstrip that was updated, but there are no scheduled flights, only chartered flights would land there and it’s very expensive,” Williams said.

He said that while flights are frequent to the township, it is a challenge to travel to

and from Annai to Lethem.

“There are flights to Lethem but there are no regular flights to Annai and it’s very expensive… we have to take taxi or bus to go to Lethem and then Lethem to go to Georgetown which is very expensive,” Williams explained.

He believes that if there are regular flights to transport goods to the community, it will cut back on the cost of having to travel by car or bus.

“If regular flights are introduced back to Annai, we could cut the cost of going to Lethem. I know we can’t cut the cost of the fare, but I hope that we can have scheduled flights. This will cut back on about $8,000 in travelling expenses,” Williams said.

In March, the government had slashed the excess tax on gasoline and diesel, in a bid to cushion the impact of rising fuel prices on the world market.

tors.

“Both parties are looking forward to expanding their presence in Guyana and are excited about the new range

of affordable cleaning products that will now be available to the Guyanese market,” the release said.

Supreme Distributors expanding market presence

Managing Director of Premier Agencies Caribbean Limited, Indar Maharaj (left) and Mohamed Faizoul, Managing Director of Supreme Distributors during the signing of the agreement on Thursday

SUPREME Distributors is now the exclusive distributor for Premier Agencies Caribbean Limited in Guyana, the company said in a release on Thursday.

According to the release, Supreme Distributors will be selling the Premier and Ever Green brands of household and commercial cleaning products.

The agreement between the two companies was signed on Thursday in Trinidad and Tobago between Indar Maharaj, Managing Director of Premier Agencies Caribbean Limited and Mohamed Faizoul, Managing Director of Supreme Distribu-

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 15, 2022

Planning for Population Protection

THE United Nations (UN) says the world’s population will reach eight billion on November 15, with India replacing China as the most populous country on Planet Earth.

A report entitled ‘World Population Prospects 2022’ was released on July 11, World Population Day; and this year’s theme is, ‘A World of Eight Billion: Towards a Resilient Future For All - Harnessing Opportunities and Ensuring Rights and Choices For All’.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has said that despite 2022 being “a milestone year” for global population, the population growth rate fell below one per cent in 2020, and is growing at its slowest pace since 1950.

Looking way ahead, the report also says that the world’s population could potentially reach 8.5 billion in 2030, 9.7 billion in 2050, and 10.4 billion by the 2080s, but is “projected to remain steady at 10.4 billion until 2100”.

More than half of the population growth by 2050 is predicted to come from Africa, the world’s fastest-grow-

ing continent, despite a slowing of global fertility rate, but the current world population stands at 7.9 billion.

The UN report’s figures are naturally about births; nothing about the increasing deaths likely from the current global food and health crises already affecting Africa and India in ways like never before, or the incalculable number that can mount from hunger and starvation as Ukraine War sanctions continue to affect global wheat distribution from source nations, and food production in every country depending on fertiliser imports.

Guyana and the rest of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) didn’t await the UN’s report to start preparing for population growth.

Half of the region’s population is below age 31, requiring fundamental shifts in planning for today, tomorrow and beyond, as the global food and cost-of-living crises have long caused regional leaders to quickly shift-andchange gears, and fast-track plans for ensuring food production and security.

The region’s aim to cut food imports by 25 per cent by 2025 is achievable, and progress in that regard is measurable.

With responsibility for regional Food Safety and Security, Guyana is also showing its constant readiness to ‘lead from in front’ by investing in significantly improving all aspects of food production, directly assisting traditional farmers, and encouraging them to embrace new changes, as well as opening wide the new doors for youth with innovative, agro-entrepreneurial ideas to start-up new initiatives.

Even with projections for continued emigration, current economic and social improvements at home are also likely to see many Guyanese returning from abroad, with the population by 2025 still remaining below one million in a vast land of 83,000 square miles, or 215,000 square kilometers.

There’s always enough land to feed Guyana and the rest of the Eastern Caribbean, and enough people to work the land in old and new ways, combining

traditional and modern techniques to better old practices, and introduce new approaches.

And in 2025, there’ll also be over 70,000 young Guyanese ready to cast their votes for the first time.

They will have grown up in 21st Century Guyana, and be in a position to assess how the winds of change affected them between 2,000 and the present, to decide which elected administrations have served Guyana better after the general elections under their watch, and since the discovery and development of Oil and Gas. But until then, the immediate task continues to be one of the current PPP/C administration -- under President, Dr Irfaan Ali, with the wise counsel of Vice-President Bharrat Jagdeo, and demonstrably strong leadership of Prime Minister, Brigadier Mark Phillips -- ensuring continuity in delivery of goods and services, while planning for a better future for all Guyanese, at home and abroad.

Judges’ decisions are not sacrosanct; their decisions can be criticised

Dear Editor,

ANY lingering doubt or indecisiveness as to whether Judges’ decisions should be subject to public criticism has been further eroded with the relentless barrage of criticisms and demonstrations that erupted with the overturning of the 1973 Roe vs Wade decision that had made abortion a right.

The US Supreme Court’s majority holds that abortion is not a federal constitutional right and that abortion should properly be a matter for the state and its voters to regulate.

Demonstrators and social rights’ activists have categorically condemned the July 2022 ruling, claiming that it would damage the reproductive rights of women, including their right to privacy. Their revulsion has also been shared by top Democrats who regard the US Supreme Court’s ruling as exceeding its power. US President Joe Biden blasted the decision and referred to the conservative judges of the Court as ‘extreme.’ In defiance, he has issued an Executive Order to work around the ruling, but experts doubt whether that would mitigate the problem.

And Liberal Democrat and Senate Majority Leader Mr Chuck Schumer joined the picketers outside the Supreme Court to launch a trenchant critique on the judiciary, singling out the conservative judges with his vitriolic onslaught. Another Liberal Democrat ,Pete

Buttigieg, the US Transportation Secretary, defends the right to criticise judges’ rulings, but cautions that protests should be peaceful.

He asserts that public officials [inclusive of Judges] will “never be free of criticism or peaceful protest” from individuals exercising their rights to freedom of speech.

In the land that is regarded as the bastion of democracy, the leader of the free world, and the centre of capitalism, citizens are allowed to criticise the decisions of the judiciary and to display their disenchantment at peaceful protests. Given that Guyana is more aligned to the US than the UK in terms of democratic norms and ideals, the logical question then is: “shouldn’t Guyanese equally show their disapproval through criticisms and demonstrations for judges’ rulings, especially in public-interest cases (such as abortion; capital punishment; constitutional violations; infringement of fundamental rights; etc.) that they perceive or regard as repugnant?” The answer could be unlocked with a review of two significant constitutional cases.

Why should Guyanese citizens remain silent when someone was unilaterally appointed in October 2017 as GECOM chair in defiance of the Carter-Price constitutional formula, that has worked well for over 22 years? Had it not been for the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) that over-ruled in June 2019, the decision of the Guyana Court of Appeal, Guyana would

have fallen prey to another PNC dictatorship.

In another glaring constitutional aberration, the Guyana Court of Appeal ruled in March 2019 that 33 is not a majority of a 65-House Chamber. That decision stunned not only legal scholars but also mathematicians, as well as the common person. In June 2019, the CCJ overturned the Guyana Court of Appeal’s decision, indicating that 33 is a majority of 65.

Again, the CCJ had to save Guyana’s fragile democracy. When judges cannot determine that 33 is a majority of 65, don’t the public have a right to question their judgment and demonstrate their disgust?

This is the age of reason, logic, egalitarianism, and accountability. All institutions, including the judiciary, are required to strive towards equity and accountability. And who better than the public to demand equity and accountability from the court? Sovereignty belongs to the people (Chapter II Article 9) and not the judges. The impending changes in the country’s legal and constitutional architecture that would work through the existing Law Reform Project and the Standing Committee on Constitutional Reform, are not radical, but evolutionary in nature.

The significance of legal/constitutional change has been beautifully captured by Karl Marx at his conspiracy trial in Cologne in 1849 captured this forcefully: “Society is not based on law, that is a legal fiction, rather, law must

be based on society; it must be the expression of society’s common interests and needs, as they arise from the various material methods of production.... The Code Napolean which I have in my hand, did not produce modern bourgeois society. Bourgeois society as it arose in [the] 18th century and developed in the 19th, merely finds its legal expression in the Code. ...You cannot make old laws the foundation of a new social development, any more than these old laws created the old social conditions.”

Hopefully, all these potential changes would lead to the development of a coherent system of judicial philosophy. Such basic questions as: “what constitutes justice” have not been satisfactorily answered. “Is justice done or seem to be done” when there are so many disparities in sentencing?

No institution in the modern world is insulated from change. Criticising judges’ rulings or having demonstrations, would not necessarily undermine the independence of the Judiciary. The Constitution (Chapter XI 122 A (1)) does not explicitly prohibit public criticism or demonstrations against judicial decisions. Indeed, criticisms would allow judges to apply greater analytical rigour to decision-making and to arrive at good judgments.

Judges’ decisions are not sacrosanct.

Their decisions can be criticised.

Dr Tara Singh

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 15, 2022

MMA-ADA now better to serve farmers

Dear editor,

PLEASE allow me space in your letter column to give my view on the topic above.

As many may say, do not compare the past with the present, but I will speak as to the APNU+AFC five years in office and about the PPP\C in office presently for about 20 months.

Editor, during the five years of the former government (APNU+AFC) rule, the MMA-ADA was almost destroyed and brought down to nothing, all because of the AFC Executive member who was put to head the agriculture ministry, which is one of the most important ministries in government here in Guyana.

Agriculture is the backbone of our economy and

all of Guyana depends on it for survival. It employs tens of thousands and feeds our nation. It sees billions and billions of dollars being poured into this sector by private investors.

Under the APNU+AFC term in office, hundreds of farmers almost became crippled in their investments.

Why? The then Minister of Agriculture had no vision to enhance the sector or to do anything to better the work of the MMA-ADA. Many times, calls were made by farmers for assistance, be it in D&I works or for aid in reduction in taxes, rates and VAT on agricultural products and machinery. But those calls went unanswered.

The dams and drains within the scheme of the MMA-

ADA were going very bad and MMA-ADA could not have done anything, because there was no equipment available to assist the farmers.

Many times, farmers would request the lowering of their rates and taxes, so that they can take care of the drainage and irrigation within their farmlands, but nothing was given. Instead, the minister and his ministry along with the APNU+AFC imposed a rise in the rates and taxes on the farmers.

Farmers refuse to pay the sums because nothing was done to better their drainage canals and dams by MMA, which had no equipment. The ministry and central government paid no heed to the farmers; instead, they demanded what they wanted from the

farmers.

I can go on and on, but in a nutshell and we all know, and there is no doubt in this that the entire APNU+AFC Government, and in particular the Agriculture Ministry, failed Guyana and the farmers who are the ones who feed the nation.

The PPP government was elected to office about 20 months now and the MMAADA and the farmers within the region are very much pleased and appreciate the many positives done by the Ministry of Agriculture headed by the Hon Zulfikar Mustapha, MP, so that they can continue farming.

The MMA-ADA is now equipped with several pieces of machinery to the tune of about a 100 million Guyana

dollars. Farmers already see their drainage system and dams within the scheme being better. Yes, there will be some who will complain, but all the drains and dams can’t be done at the same time.

Farmers benefitted from free fertilisers and the waiving of land fee rental due to the heavy rainfall that left them to suffer by losing their crops. Farmers also benefitted from the removal of VAT on agricultural products and machinery.

Ministerial visits in the past few months by the Hon Zulfikar Mustapha outnumbered those by his predecessor’s five years in office. Officials from the MoA are very much more visible in the region and technical assistance is being given to farmers.

Farmers’ concerns are now being addressed in a timelier manner and moreover, MMA-ADA officials can now better function in executing their duties and services to those within the authority.

Farmers now feel a sense of expanding and investing more in their farmlands than during the APNU+AFC’s years in office.

I talk to farmers in this region daily and they are praising the government for their inputs in the sector.

Many thanks to the Minister of Agriculture for his vision for this sector and for ensuring that the MMAADA is better equipped to serve.

ONE of Guyana’s leading telecommunications services providers, Digicel, on Thursday launched its summer promotion, “Cash Vault,” which gives customers a chance to win up to $3

million in cash.

Through the promotion which begins today and ends on August 25, Digicel customers will be able to qualify for the cash prize by collecting each letter of the word

“CASH” after topping up their phones with $1,000 or more. Persons could keep track of their letters by texting “GRAB” to 1144. There will be two draws, one on August 6 and another on

August 27.

At the launch of the company’s grand promotion, four media workers who were randomly selected had an opportunity to enter the vault and “grab” as much

cash as they could within 60 seconds.

Videographer at the National Communications Network (NCN), Kester Pompey, and reporter at Kaieteur News, Renay Sam-

bach, both won $50,000, while another Kaieteur News reporter, Allyiah Allicock, won $42,000 and Assistant Editor at the Guyana Chronicle, Navendra Seoraj, secured $18,000.

Yours respectfully, Abel Seetaram

Digicel launches ‘Cash Vault’ promotion

Digicel’s Marketing Manager Ramesh Roopchand (first from left) and media workers who won cash prizes during the launch of Digicel’s ‘Cash Vault’ promotion on Thursday (Adrian Narine photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 15, 2022

There are some who will not change for the better

Dear Editor,

FOR whatever the salt in the ocean is worth, there are many Guyanese who will remain racist down to the core and they will not change for the better.

Guyana’s political analyst, Freddy Kissoon, sums it up well when he said that, “There has been an evident attempt by sections of society to stir trouble in society using an ethnic criteria, simply because they perceive the government is not of their culture of ethnic liking.”

The recent violent spate of lawless incidents at Mon Repos involving looting, stealing, beating, plundering, molesting, burning, and vandalism, confirms that the act of prejudiced behaviour is very much alive and its flame will continue to be fanned by those perpetrators who are inclined to incite the continuous attacks on one communi-

ty to gain cheap political mileage.

Guyana’s ethnic history is well documented and the monstrosities of all the atrocious mishaps dating back to the 60s, are well captured, catapulted and communicated to all and sundry, including the younger generation, on a perpetual basis. This unfortunate rambunctiousness is only too well practised and promulgated, and, it pertains to one constant race over another particular race, on an ongoing basis. It penetrates the core of society, other races are left flabbergasted and helpless to offer resistance and/or remedy, effectively. The shameless hooliganism of defaulters in no way circumvents the leader of the pack to reprehend the violators, nor in any way, own up to the guilt to help the law to reprimand the accusers.

Facebook followers are reminded by a Stanley Hamilton post, “What a

visionary! Cheddi decoded the PNC’s DNA since 1961. A-G-C-T (Arson-Guns-Corruption-Terrorism) West On Trial.

We have seen how his foresight, with an in-depth understanding of the strategic players of his time were thinking and their plans for the future to arm themselves and followers with the only tool to use in order to get the dirty job done. He wasn’t wrong and his words and writings afford the inconvenience of truth to be denied and to annoy all those on trial with forked tongues and fangs of raping claws. This chagrin hangs like an albatross around the necks of all the culprits, some wearing it with pride and dignity, proud of being branded bandits and a member of the dark force!

As a significant voice in the opposition purported, “Black youngsters go to a commercial bank for

a loan and they are denied. An East Indian person, the same age, got the same thing like the young black man, go to the same commercial bank, but he getting the loan… that is the reality of the country.

You go to predominantly East Indian villages in this country and you would see rapid development, nice roads, nice street lights… but you go predominantly the African villages… bad roads, poor drainage, no street lights, no recreational facilities for them…. That is the reality of the country.”

“For the five years, that the PNC/APNU+AFC was in government, Christopher Jones did nothing to empower Afro-Guyanese, whom he now falsely claims, are being discriminated against by banks, etc.,” the lawful voice of Guyana’s Attorney General, the Honourable Mr Anil Nandlall remarked. His Excellency, President Dr

Irfaan Ali has warned about spreading hate and racism and those who refuse to abstain, but continue to undermine the peace, will be dealt with the full force of the law.

Guyanese Sir Ronald Sanders, currently Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States of America, wrote, “Respect for rights is obvious when a political party loses office in a general election. Power is handed over peacefully and orderly to the political party that wins the elections through the ballot box.” Guyana’s transition of power from Granger’s APNU+AFC party to Ali’s PPP/C party was in contradiction to Sir Sanders’ advocacy. The five months of prolonged wait squashed any respect for the law and the national, regional and international communities. As a result, the East Coast killing of a young East Indian in 2020 undermined an unrest.

Inciters at the West Coast Berbice wake for the Henry boys, influenced the turmoil which resulted in East Indians being at the mercy of attackers. All Guyanese and non-Guyanese at home and abroad need to read, digest and reflect on a well-articulated and eloquent article (“If we don’t heed the call against racism, disaster awaits us all), written by a letter writer, Denise Murray, in the Stabroek News newspaper, dated 9th July,2022. The frame of mind was sober, conscientious and free of any biasness. Guyana needs to move forward and unite in support of the President’s “One Guyana” initiative.

The visit of Sadh Guru must have been lost. Sri Ravi Shankar is here. Will he make a difference to the offenders of peace, love and tranquility?

Respectfully Yours, Jai Lall

Barbados: Trade opportunities with Guyana ripe for the picking

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 15, 2022

(Barbados Today) BARBADIANS are being urged to take advantage of the emerging trade opportunities with Guyana in the area of agriculture, as the region continues to battle supply chain issues and continued price increases.

Representative for the Guyana Office for Investment, Gavin Bovell, told Barbados TODAY that, with unabated price increases threatening the region’s food and nutrition security, it was not the time for complacency.

Bovell said there were also opportunities for Barbadians and Guyanese to partner in several business ventures across agriculture and manufacturing.

“We need to be able to sustain ourselves. We are small island developing states and we are vulnerable to climate change and global economic shocks because of how much we import and how much we depend on the international

visitor,” he said.

He added: “We have also recognised that we have our own capabilities within our neighbourhood, so how can we leverage our capabilities to become more resilient? --Because we are not going to get rid of the external shocks.

They are going to continue to happen. These supply chain challenges and disruptions are not going to stop; we have to develop the competencies to become more resilient and we need to have more visibility.”

Bovell, a university lecturer in logistics and supply chain management, pointed to several opportunities that are now ripe for the picking, in light of the recent signing of the St Barnabas Accord, which speaks to cooperation between Barbados and Guyana in several areas.

“It speaks to a lot of opportunities, not only for combating the food security issues that we face in the region but also for generating tan-

gible exports out of the region,” he said.

Last week, Prime Minister, Mia Mottley, and the President of Guyana, Dr. Irfaan Ali, signed the accord, clearing the way for further dialogue and cooperation in specific areas including agriculture, tourism and international transport, energy, manufacturing, mining and quarrying, trade and business development, security, education, and bilateral integration measures.

Describing it as timely, Bovell said the St Barnabas Accord was a catalyst for deepening the relationship between Georgetown and Bridgetown.

Lauding the two leaders for their drive toward trade and economic integration, he said there has certainly been a lot of movement and commitment over the last few months.

Bovell contended that with Guyana’s capacity for agricultural production and lower labour

costs, coupled with the global reach Barbados has developed over the years through tourism, the two countries had the opportunity to boost food production, add value and increase exports.

He said there were opportunities for investment and research in the agriculture sector, as he pointed to the need for greater private sector involvement.

“The private sector plays a critical role in pushing this through.

While the governments create the environment, [those in] the private sector are the ones to invest,” Bovell argued.

“When we sit down and think about ‘where can I open a business?’ the thought shouldn’t just be ‘should it be in St Michael or St Philip?’

It should be, ‘should it be in Guyana, should it be in Suriname, what

are my options?’ These relationships that have been put in motion are so that these nations can develop together.”

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has set a target to reduce the region’s food import bill by 25 per cent by 2025.

As part of the St Barnabas Accord to help achieve this, the Barbados Government has already broken ground on a seven-acre parcel of land at Lears, St Michael for the construction of a purpose-built facility to accommodate up to 40 containers, a reservoir holding about 20 million gallons of water, and land for crop production.

While Guyana is to serve as the main food production location, Barbados will act as a hub to transship the agricultural produce to the rest of CARICOM. Bovell said this was critical, especially now

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Representative OF the Guyana Office for Investment, Gavin Bovell given the existing shipping challenges.

He said he was confident of the region’s ability to reach its food import bill reduction target within the tight timeframe.

Bovell acknowledged that there were still some trade barriers in the region and a need to improve labelling and sanitary and phytosanitary measures in some cases. He disclosed that talks were scheduled to take place with private sector organisations and manufacturing groups on those matters.

He also noted that affordable and frequent transportation was key for the countries achieving the objectives of the St Barnabas Accord.

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$88.4M in cash, prizes for honoured police ranks –– ‘Top Cop’ announces 15 per cent decline in serious crimes

By Clestine Juan

FOR exceptional service over the year, some police officers were awarded $88.4 million in cash and prizes, on Thursday, at the Guyana Police Force’s (GPF) 183rd Awards Ceremony, held at the Tactical Services Unit (TSU), Eve Leary, Georgetown.

The ranks were awarded for their outstanding performances in the areas of criminal investigation; counter-drug trafficking; recovery of firearms and other illegal items, and generally, good police work.

The ceremony saw police ranks from the various divisions being rewarded for

their performances in their different districts.

Additionally, members of the Community Policing Groups (CPGs) were considered for awards since they, too, aid in the fight against crime, and collaborate closely with the GPF. Ranks from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) headquarters were awarded for their handling of several high-profile cases, for which charges were eventually instituted against arrested persons.

The cases include the recent case of Reonol Williams, who was struck down and killed along the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) in May by a driver who alleged-

Superintendent of Police Nigel Stephens receives the award on behalf of his CID team from Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs, Mae Toussaint Jr. Thomas (GPF photos)

ly dumped Williams’ body to conceal the crime.

Commissioner of Police (ag) Clifton Hicken, while delivering the featured address at the ceremony, said that the force has recorded a 15 per cent decline in serious crimes compared to the same period last year.

He disclosed that there is currently ongoing transformational change occurring in the GPF driven by the force’s 2022-2026 Strategic Plan.

“The plan guides our strategic direction of being modernised, diversified and accountable as we prepare to meet contemporary challenges demanded by the public.

“The plan is governed by six pillars which are: operational priority, partnership, developing our people, infrastructure, performance, professionalism and accountability,” he said.

According to Mr Hicken, these pillars are critical for any developing organisation, especially one that is designed for continuity, like the GPF. He added that the force has established a Community Relations Department and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Guyana, Cacique Inc., Nations University, Texila American University, Government

Technical Institutes, and the Board of Industrial Training for the purpose of capacity building.

Additionally, recruitment of a Therapist/Counsellor to provide psychotherapy for ranks is also being considered.

Hicken said that over 375 ranks completed training in courses such as elementary prosecuting; human resource management; occupational health and safety; critical thinking, a Train-the-Trainer programme, Domestic Violence prevention, and foreign language training.

Additionally, the service men and women will also benefit from sponsorship for their skill upgrading.

According to Hicken, in each regional police division there will be ZARA Computer Centres, which will facilitate the writing of the online theoretical driver’s examination.

Added to that, classes in Mathematics and English Language for Caribbean Examination Council (CXC)-related examinations will also be brought on stream.

“The programme will have certified training instructors and, of course, it will help to prepare the youths in terms of a focus for exams,” he said.

The Police Commissioner

Commissioner of Police (ag) Clifton Hicken at the ceremony (ag) highlighted that there will soon be more police command centres across all the regional police divisions which better enable police to have real-time information and quicker responses to crime.

Hicken said that while there are many successes, this is simultaneously accompanied by challenges such as inadequate human resources, budget constraints, and emerging security threats, among others.

For him, there is still much work to be done if the Force is to properly meet the demands of the public.

“We want the public to be more involved in what the police force is doing and want them to be more involved in our day-to-day work.

“By doing so, they can be our eyes and ears and dispel rumours about a police force,” he underscored.

Zeroing in on professionalism, the Commissioner of Police (ag) urged the ranks to recommit themselves to working beyond the call of duty and engage with members of the community.

He added that the GPF is working diligently to improve its mission of transparency, accountability, and professionalism “We must pat ourselves on the back for all our accomplishments thus far.

Henceforth, I would like to urge all members of the Guyana Police Force to strengthen your commitment to the oath you took to ‘Serve and Protect’ as we remain resolutely on the path of reform.

“And you must continue to ensure service to the nation with the highest level of professionalism, trust and integrity,” Hicken said to the ranks at the ceremony.

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Market transparency, policy coordination critical to reducing uncertainty in agri-food markets

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 15, 2022

–– FAO Director-General says

(FAO) GLOBAL food security is threatened in many and often overlapping ways, including the impact of COVID-19, conflicts and persistent extreme climate conditions, a situation that makes market transparency and policy coordination critical, QU Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), said Wednesday.

“It is essential that countries stop using trade measures that add to price increases and extreme price volatility, and harm those that depend on global markets for their food security,” Qu stressed.

He made the remarks at the opening of the 75th Session of the Committee on Commodity Problems (CCP), FAO’s longest-es-

tablished technical committee. The CCP reviews global issues that affect the production, trade, distribution, consumption, and prices of food and agricultural products. It deliberates key issues, examines the effects on food security, and makes policy recommendations.

Qu referred to the recently published 2022 edition of The State of Agricultural Commodity Markets (SOCO) that focused on the structural changes in the global agrifood markets, and on the role of trade measures in addressing environmental impacts.

“In spite of the current tendency to trade mostly within regions, multilateral trade remains the most efficient way to promote market access and economic growth for all, and only multilateral collabo-

ration can effectively address global environmental challenges such as climate change,” the FAO Director-General said.

He also underlined the important role that trade can play for global food security and sustainability as it promotes food security and nutrition by linking food surplus regions with those in deficit.

MULTIPLE THREATS TO GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY Qu pointed to a variety of challenges facing the world and their impact on food security, noting that: * The ongoing conflicts, including the war in Ukraine, are causing increases in the prices of food, feed, fuel, and fertilisers.

* The FAO Food Price Index reached a record high in March 2022 of almost 160 points and has only decreased slightly since then. * The 2022 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report, released on 6 July, shows that up to 828 million people suffered chronic hunger in 2021. This represents an increase of 150 million since the outbreak of the pandemic.

Qu was clear about the key role trade must play in solving these problems and in achieving the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals.

TRANSPARENCY AND POLICY COORDINATION The Director-General noted that FAO continues to provide valuable support to inform and guide policy decisions, by providing up-to-date and objective information on markets, monitor-

ing policy developments, promoting dialogue, and proposing policy recommendations.

In this context, the G20 Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS), hosted by FAO, continues to play a leading role.

He also referred to the 2022 edition of the joint OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook report, which focuses on assessing the medium-term prospects for agricultural commodity markets for the next decade, 2022 to 2031.

Noting that the global food import bill is on course to hit a new record high of $1.8 trillion in 2022, due to higher prices and transport costs, rather than volumes, the Director-General pointed to FAO’s proposed Food Import Financing Facility to provide balance-of-payment support to the most affected countries.

CCP AGENDA The CCP is, this year, celebrating its 75th Session, which runs from 13 to 15 July 2022.

The agenda includes a focus on developments in international agricultural commodity markets and an update on the World Trade Organization (WTO) agricultural negotiations and developments in regional trade agreements related to agriculture.

It also covers FAO’s programme of work in commodity markets and trade under the FAO Strategic Framework 202231, The State of Agricultural Commodity Markets (SOCO) 2022, and the Global Information and Early Warning System on Food and Agriculture (GIEWS).

The CCP is open to all FAO Members, plus observers. The CCP normally meets once every two years, or at the request of its members.

150 inmates graduate from training courses 12

SOME 150 inmates from the Camp Street and New Amsterdam prisons recently graduated from various training programmes facilitated by the Guyana Prison Service (GPS), which are aimed at preparing them for reintegration into society.

In a statement, the Prison Service said the areas of training were in anger management, literacy, drugs and alcohol prevention, tailoring, culinary arts, agriculture, electrical insulation, and digital skills training.

During remarks at the graduation ceremonies

held recently, Director of Prisons (ag), Nicklon Elliot, said rehabilitation was a central goal of the correctional system.

He underscored that the programme was aimed at creating an opportunity for inmates to make a smooth reintegration into society, a programme that has been

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 15, 2022

successful to date.

The Director also affirmed the Prison Service’s commitment to providing inmate rehabilitation initiatives and programmes that equip them for successful re-entry into society.

“The Guyana Prison Service remains commit-

ted to rehabilitating inmates so that they can have productive lives and not return to prison upon release,” he said.

Meanwhile, Officer-in-Charge of Prisons’ Welfare and Corrections, Marielle Bristol-Grant, disclosed that over 700 inmates had completed var-

ious training programmes for the first half of 2022.

Such, she said, was a commitment by the Government of Guyana and the Guyana Prison Service to rehabilitate inmates, hence the variety of programmes being made available across the various locations.

(Seated from left) Superintendent of Prisons, Olivia Cox; Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Empower Guyana Consultancy, Amar Panday; Director of Prisons (ag), Nicklon Elliot; Officer-in-Charge of Prisons’ Welfare and Corrections, Marielle Bristol-Grant; and Tessa McGarrell with eight inmates (GPS photo)

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Ex-GDF rank, accused of attempted murder of girlfriend, remanded GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 15, 2022

SENIOR Magistrate Fabayo Azore, on Thursday, remanded a 26-yearold former Guyana Defence Force (GDF) rank to prison for attempting to murder his girlfriend.

James Cadogan of Haslington, East Coast Demerara (ECD), appeared at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court and was not required to plead to the charge.

Particulars of the charge alleged that Cadogan, on

July 5, 2022, at Paradise, ECD, wounded 24-yearold Zenida April, with intent to commit murder.

He was remanded to prison until September 19.

According to reports, the couple was living together in Paradise. April is a serving member of GDF. It is alleged that, on July 4, April and Cadogan had an argument and it was then that he threatened to kill her with a knife.

The woman became fearful for her life and escaped to her mother’s home.

The next day, April along with several family members went back to her home to move out her belongings since she wished to end the relationship with the man.

While at the home, April was confronted by Cadogan, who was armed with a knife. It is alleged that he dealt her several

stabs about her body.

The victim’s mother reportedly rushed to her rescue and was allegedly injured by Cadogan, who later made good his escape.

April and her mother were rushed to the hospital and treated for their injuries. According to the police, April is still hospitalised.

Cadogan was later arrested and charged.

James Cadogan and Zenida April

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Single mothers reaping produce from Region 10 gardening competition

PARTICIPANTS of the Region 10 ‘Queen of gardening’ competition have begun reaping produce from the seedlings and

agriculture inputs they received from the administration’s agriculture and market day committees.

Joylyn Thegg on

Wednesday told the Guyana Chronicle that while she had encountered some challenges due to torrential rainfall, she was able to see

the fruits of her labour.

“I had some challenges with the weather. With the planting, I had to treat it like a child. I had to be covering

it up with branches because you know the plants can only take so much of rain,” Thegg said.

She added that she has

been able to reap lettuce, pak choy and celery. The woman who is a single parent also disclosed that she is looking forward to reaping

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 15, 2022

A freshly harvested batch of lettuce from one of the participants in the ‘Queen of gardening’ competition some tomatoes in the near future.

“It has been good so far…to God be the glory.

All my plants survived. I did some reaping last Saturday,” she said.

Meanwhile, Shemekia Griffith, a livestock farmer, said that she, too, had been able to see fruitful produce.

Griffith intends to utilise the support given through the ongoing competition to expand her small-scale farm.

“Although I do some farming, I am not recognised on the forefront and so I decided to take up the competition.”

Griffith supports herself and family with the little earnings she gets from her farm.

“I did Agriculture Science in school but I had to drop out of school in Form Four but I continued doing agriculture even though I don’t have a certificate or whatever. I continued planting and that is what I do to maintain and sustain my family,” she said.

In a previous interview with this newspaper, the

agriculture committee’s chairman, Mark Goring, had explained that the competition is expected to target 40 single mothers, providing them with the technical support needed to become entrepreneurs in the region’s growing agriculture sector.

The project will run for eight weeks; at the end of which the women will be given space at the Linden Market Day event to sell what they had reaped.

The regional agriculture committee organised the monthly farmers’ market in a bid to provide farmers and other stakeholders in the agriculture sector with a safe place to sell their goods.

According to Goring, the gardening initiative builds on the region’s push for agriculture to be its main income-earning activity.

Wismar Market Square is the site for the farmers’ market.

The event is expected to attract cash crop and livestock farmers, agro-processors and other entrepreneurs.

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Nine vying for ‘Miss

Jamzone’

as summer fest returns bigger

By Shamar Meusa

WITH the return of the ‘Jamzone Summer Break Festival’, organiser, Hits and Jams Entertainment, has also revived its Miss Jamzone pageant with nine women contesting for the crown this year.

This was revealed by the

company in a press release which announced that the August event which was on hiatus for a number of years is returning.

The nine delegates are Delegate No. 1, Anngelila Corbin; Delegate No. 2, Brianca Lester; Delegate No. 3, Jasmaine Assanah; Delegate No. 4, Jade Mercurius; Delegate No. 5, Shaniya Decosta;

Delegate No. 6, Amel Griffith; Delegate No. 7, Phelicia Adams; Delegate No. 8, Omaiah Hall; and Delegate No. 9, Jada Jones.

These nine contestants were chosen out of a bevy of other potential contenders.

According to the organising company, the pageant this year will focus heavily on tourism as each delegate

is expected to represent one of Guyana’s townships.

“The aim of the pageant is to create opportunities for tourism, promote societal connections and encourage self confidence among young women,” the release said.

With that, the competition is expected to feature national costume, talent costume and swimwear seg-

ments.

Bragging rights aside, the crowned queen will walk away with a brand new motor car, while the first runner-up will receive a cash prize of $500,000. The second runner-up gets a $250,000 cash prize.

Currently, the delegates are in training to build their modelling and public speak-

ing skills, and are even being trained in other areas like fitness and dieting.

The returning Jamzone Summer Break event will now be hosted at the Kingston, Georgetown beach front at the end of July.

Beach games and performances from local artistes are planned for the event.

Delegate No. 1, Anngelila Corbin

Delegate No. 2, Brianca Lester

Delegate No. 3, Jasmaine Assanah

Delegate No. 4, Jade Mercurius

Delegate No. 5, Shaniya Decosta

Delegate No. 6, Amel Griffith

Delegate No. 7, Phelicia Adams

Delegate No. 8, Omaiah Hall

Delegate No. 9, Jada Jones

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 15, 2022

‘Link Show 36’ returns this weekend with two-year ‘jokes’ backlog

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The Link Show 36 cast

By Tamica Garnett LINK Show 36 is back by popular demand with two held-over shows on Saturday and Sunday at the National Cultural Centre (NCC).

The show, which first started in November 1981 and missing a few years from then to now, just wrapped up its 36th production which was held from July 1 to July 4, 2022.

Speaking with BUZZ recently, the show’s co-produc-

er Gem Madhoo-Nascimento said the decision to continue the show for another weekend came as many persons approached the production team noting that they were not aware the popular show had been held this year.

This was Link Show’s first staging since the COVID-19 pandemic started in early 2020.

“Quite a number of people told cast members and the Director that they didn’t know about the first run.

“It could’ve been due to the fact that Link Show

doesn’t normally happen this time of the year, it’s normally in February,” the co-producer said.

“So, we decided to give it a try and come back and hopefully those who didn’t get to see it or didn’t know about it would have an opportunity to see it now,” Madhoo-Nascimento expressed.

The show’s co-producer was adamant, however, that this will be the last weekend to be entertained by vibrant cast of more than 20 well-experienced actors. Due to challenges with venue, this will

be the only hold-over. “[W]e don’t have any other dates for the Cultural Centre. So, we wouldn’t be able to repeat that… if people miss it now then that’s it,” she said.

Madhoo-Nascimento is encouraging theatregoers to ensure they secure their tickets for the satirical stage play.

Tickets cost $2500 and $2000 and are available exclusively at the National Cultural Centre (NCC). Curtain goes up at 20:00 hrs.

Link Show is the longest-running show in Guy-

ana’s contemporary theatre, attracting large audiences over the years.

Produced by the Theatre Company and GEMS Theatre Productions, Link Show is directed by veteran broadcaster and theatre buff, Ron Robinson. The show also features new faces to theatre in Guyana.

The lineup includes Mark Kazim, Mark Luke Edwards, Sean Thompson, Sean Budnah, Paul Budnah, Stephen Asif Mohamed, Lee Leung, Rovindra Persaud, Travis McKenzie, Carlvin Burnett

and veteran link show actor since 1981, Andre Wiltshire.

Sonia Yarde, Simone Dowding, Sheron Cadogan Taylor, Makini Thompson, Marissa Morgan, Alicia Charles and new comer La Tisha DaSilva are also part of the star line-up.

“There has been an abundance of materials over the last two years to satirize in this upcoming production,” co-producer Madhoo-Nascimento told BUZZ.

Amy Winehouse biopic in the works, Sam Taylor-Johnson to direct (REUTERS) - A FEATURE film about late British singer Amy Winehouse is in the works, with “Fifty Shades of Grey” director Sam Taylor-Johnson at the helm of the biopic, production and distribution company, Studiocanal, has said.

Called “Back to Black”, the film will look at the life and music of the six-time Grammy Award winner, who died from alcohol poisoning at her north London home on July 23, 2011.

Winehouse, who struggled with drink and drug problems through much of her career, was 27 years old.

“Studiocanal is gearing up to make Back to Black.

Project is advancing with

Sam Taylor-Johnson attached to direct the feature film on the life and music of Amy Winehouse,” Studiocanal said, adding that a script had been written for the film.

“Back to Black is being made with full support from the Amy Winehouse estate.”

British filmmaker Taylor-Johnson is known for directing the first “Fifty Shades of Grey” film, an adaptation from the hit book trilogy, drama “A Million Little Pieces” as well as episodes for television series “Gypsy” and “Solos”.

Considered one of the most talented singers of her generation with hits including “Rehab” and “Back to Black”, Winehouse’s un-

timely death shook the music world.

Several documentaries about her have been made, the most recent narrated by her mother and airing on Britain’s BBC in 2021 to mark 10 years since the singer’s death.

A 2015 documentary “AMY” about Winehouse won director Asif Kapadia an Oscar Award, although at the time the singer’s father Mitch Winehouse called it misleading and said the family had disassociated itself from the film.

Industry publication, Deadline, said the search for the actor portraying Winehouse in the film would start in coming weeks.

British singer Amy Winehouse performs at the Brit Awards at Earls Court in London February 20, 2008. REUTERS/Alessia Pierdomenico/File Photo

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Judge rejects Amber Heard bid for new trial with Johnny Depp

(REUTERS) - “Aquaman” actor, Amber Heard, lost a bid for a new trial in her defamation case with ex-husband Johnny Depp, on Wednesday, when a judge rejected her lawyers’ argument that one of the jurors had served improperly.

In June, Heard was ordered to pay Depp $10.35 million in damages when a jury in Fairfax County, Virginia, ruled she had defamed the “Pirates of the Caribbean” star in a newspaper opinion piece.

Her attorneys had asked the judge in the case to throw out the decision and declare a mistrial, arguing that one of the jurors on the case should not have been eligible to serve because his summons was intended for his father, who had the same name and lived at the same address.

Judge Penny Azcarate ruled that there was “no evidence of fraud or wrongdoing” by the juror and that the jury’s verdict should stand.

She also noted that both sides had questioned and accepted all jurors at the start of the trial.

“Due process was guaranteed and provided to all parties in this litigation,” Azcarate wrote.

Depp, 59, had sued Heard and argued that she defamed him when she called herself “a public

Amber Heard leaves Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse after the jury announced split verdicts in favour of both her exhusband Johnny Depp and Heard on their claim and counterclaim in the Depp v. Heard civil defamation trial at the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse in Fairfax, Virginia, U.S., June 1, 2022. REUTERS/Tom Brenner/File Photo

figure representing domestic abuse” in an opinion piece published in The Washington Post.

Depp denied hitting Heard, 36, and said she was the one who turned violent in their relationship.

Heard countersued, saying

Depp smeared her when his lawyer called her accusations a “hoax.” The jury awarded Heard $2 million in damages on one of her counterclaims.

Heard said she only struck Depp in defence of herself or her sister.

Country goes reggae

(Jamaica Observer) - MUSIC icon Dolly Parton is among a cadre of artistes who are being featured on a soon-tobe released album of country music set to a reggae beat.

The project, ‘Country Goes Reggae’, is being produced by Christian and Frank Berman (The Berman Brothers) and partner Ron Oehl, and draws on the musical talents of a set of Jamaican musicians and sound engineers called Positive Vibrations, which includes Ian “Beezy” Coleman, Devon Bradshaw, Guillaume “Stepper Sax” Briard, and Henry “Matic” Tenyue.

According to the Berman Brothers, the idea for ‘Country Goes Reggae’ came on a trip to Negril, Jamaica, in 2019.

The brothers were said to be sitting at a sunset, beach bar listening to reggae classics as a car passed by blasting US country songs.

Hearing the blend of different styles and cultures, they knew the two worlds would blend perfectly together.

The project is said to embody the musical elements of reggae, such as the thumping bass and drums, blended with staccato horn arrangements.

The album’s rock and soul upbeat aesthetic flows throughout the record, making it the perfect summertime jam.

The upcoming project re-imagines well-known country classics, including Dolly Parton’s ‘Two Doors Down’, Alabama’s ‘Pass It On Down’,

Dolly Parton (Photo retrieved from: Jamaica Observer)

Rascal Flatts’ ‘I Like the Sound of That’, Toby Keith’s ‘Red Solo Cup’, Uncle Kracker’s ‘Smile’, Randy Houser ’s ‘Boots On’, Jimmie Allen’s ‘Make Me Want To’, and more.

P a r t o n ’s ‘ Tw o D o o r s Down’ and ‘Eyes on You’ from Chase Rice are being released as the preview singles for the album, which will drop on July 22.

Parton’s track was initially written and recorded in 1978 and was released on her album, ‘Here You Come Again’.

The song is written about rebounding with a man from a party two doors down from her apartment.

This is not the first time these two genres are being merged on a project. In 2011,

VP Records released ‘Reggae Gone Country’, which took some of Jamaican’s favourite classic American country songs and set them to a reggae beat.

The tracks were mixed by Errol and Shane Brown, then sent to Nashville where they were embellished with country instrumentation.

Among the reggae acts who were part of the project were Romain Virgo, Luciano, Richie Stephens, Etana, Tarrus Riley, Duane Stephenson, Beres Hammond, and Tessanne Chin.

Among the country classics on this album were ‘The Gambler’, ‘Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue’, ‘El Paso’, ‘Crazy’, and ‘He’ll Have to Go’.

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Disappointment for hosts as USA win Rising Stars U-19 crown

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – Hosts Trinidad and Tobago suffered a massive disappointment in their quest to win the Women’s Rising Stars Under-19 Cricket Championship when they slumped to a seven-wicket defeat to United States in the crucial final-round match here Wednesday.

In a contest between the only two unbeaten teams in the tournament, the United States easily chased down an inadequate 94 to complete victory with 23 deliveries to spare at Brian Lara Stadium and to lift the inaugural title.

The visiting side finished on

22 points from five wins and a no-result, with T&T ending four points behind in second.

“It feels so good and I’m so proud of my team and how far we’ve come. This tournament has been amazing for us to improve,” USA captain Geetika Kodali said.

“The quality of the tournament was good and very well organised. I think these kinds of competitions are great to encourage girls to take up the sport and the number of wonderful opportunities that are available for girls in cricket is amazing, and this is a sign to work harder.”

Sent in, T&T got a top score of 34 not out from Djenaba Joseph as they marched to 93 for five off their 20 overs.

The hosts were struggling on 36 for three in the 11th over before Joseph struck four fours

in a 27-ball knock, in a 45run, fourth-wicket stand with Aniaya Roberts (15) to rescue the innings.

Kodali led her side’s attack with two for eight from her three overs.

In reply, T&T’s hopes were lifted when new-ball bowler Samara Ramnath (2-13) removed both USA openers Chetnaa Prasad (12) and Laasya Mullapudi (5) cheaply to reduce the run chase to 20 for two in the fourth over.

However, Anika Kolan came to her side’s aid, hitting an unbeaten 46 from 45 deliveries with four fours to power the USA to an easy win.

Crucially, Kolan put on 72 for the third wicket with Lisa Ramjit (14) in a partnership which put paid to any hopes of a T&T comeback.

In the other match at the venue, Windward Islands finished strongly with a four-wicket victory over Guyana.

Realeanna Grimmond struck an unbeaten 50 off 79 balls with eight fours to propel Guyana to 84 for four off their 20 overs, after they were asked to bat.

And the Windwards reached their target with two balls to spare, Jannillea Glasgow top-scoring with 24 to help the run chase to defy Guyana’s bid.

Windwards finished third with 14 points while Barbados and Jamaica, both of whom had their campaigns wrecked by the weather, finished on ten points apiece.

Guyana ended one from bottom on eight points while Leeward Islands failed to win a single game and finished on two points.

From page 32 the feedback received for the two officials had been “amazing”.

“In a nutshell, both referees were exceptional, on and off the field of play,” Da Costa said. “They officiated the finals – and that speaks volumes. I want to congratulate the football association for keeping these officials interested in the game.”

Abel was praised for his superb personality, good foul recognition, and very good movement. “I would like to see him as a FIFA referee for futsal by the end of the year,” Da Costa

explained.

“That is the impact he made on myself and on the UEFA instructor from France.”

Peart was singled out for his expertise and knowhow.

“Peart is someone who leads futsal in your country,” Da Costa said.

GFF Head of Refereeing and Executive Committee member Dion Inniss said he was extremely proud of the two officials.

“We are particularly happy with the performances of Colin Abel and Lenval Peart,” Inniss said.

“From all reports, they

have acquitted themselves exceptionally well, and this augurs well for our match officials for future appointments.”

“We would like to encourage other match officials who have an interest in becoming a futsal referee to step forward,” he added.

“We will do our best to create opportunities. We are hopeful that other opportunities will present themselves in the near future.”

The inaugural 2022 Caribbean Games in Guadeloupe featured seven disciplines, including futsal.

GFF referees excel during first Caribbean Games...

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27

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 15, 2022

Cummins: Innings defeat a ‘good reality check’ … Australia captain said collapse from 2985 on second morning was “an opportunity missed”

Dimuth Karunaratne and Pat Cummins pose with the Warne-Muralitharan Trophy, which they shared (AFP/Getty Image)

THEY won an attritional series in Pakistan, and dominated Sri Lanka in what was essentially a twoday win last week. But this loss in Galle, by an innings and 39 runs, might be a “reality check” for an Australia team intent on improving their long-form cricket in Asia.

So said captain Pat Cummins, after the second Test hurtled to a conclusion on the fourth evening - Australia collapsing to 151 against spin inside 41 overs.

“Some batters went out with a really clear plan, and you just get a ball with your name on it earlier than you would’ve liked,” Cummins said. “It’s a good reality check for people touring over here that it’s really hard.

So many positives out of last week that we did find methods that work One small hiccup doesn’t mean you have to change everything. And it makes for more learning than after a win.

“I think half our batting line-up and half our bowling line-up haven’t played a lot over here in the subcontinent.

So the experience on these two vastly different wickets (in the two Tests), I think we got a lot of lessons out of it to take to India next year.”

Cummins pointed to the second morning as a session

in which Australia let the match slip. Although they had won the first day, ending at 298 for 5 at stumps, they then lost their last five first-innings wickets for 35 runs, finishing at 364 all out.

This was after Steven Smith and Marnus Labuschagne had hit hundreds, and while Smith remained at the crease, the wickets fell at the other end.

“That was probably an opportunity missed. The way we set up the game on day one, we were hoping to get 400-plus, which history suggests here puts you in a really good position,” Cummins said. “Unfortunately none of us hung around with Smith long enough to get up to the 400-plus, which meant even if we were out there for 180 overs you were kind of level at the turn.”

Australia’s second-innings collapse took less than two sessions, after they started 190 runs behind. Usman Khawaja and David Warner put on 49 to begin, suggesting the surface remained decent for batting. But then they lost 10 wickets for 101.

“Certainly as the game went on the footmarks started to react a bit more,” Cummins said. “A fresh bowling side always makes a bit of a difference as well. So it all happened pretty quickly, and unfortunately we were on the

wrong side.

“The plan had been to just bat. It was still close to five sessions left in the game.

I think if we were behind by just over 100 we were still in the game, but 200 probably put it beyond us. We were trying to bat for the rest of the day then come up with a plan for tomorrow.”

Australia’s tour has come in the backdrop of a crippling economic crisis and a major political crisis in Sri Lanka.

Cummins and the Australia team have made efforts to reach out and understand the situation better, even making appeals for fundraisers. On day two of this Test, large protests were seen on the fort overlooking the ground, and at the central intersection at Galle, which is right outside the stadium.

“We’ve got protests round the ground, it really hits home how lucky we are to be travelling the world but also in some ways it’s more than just being here to play cricket; you can see the impact it can have. It hasn’t been lost on our group, something we speak about quite a bit.

“You couldn’t escape the protests on Saturday.

We got lots of messages from back home, just saying ‘How is it? Hope you’re ok.’ And we felt totally fine.” (Cricinfo)

28

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 15, 2022

Chandimal makes the Hassan decides on 5,00010,000 metres double most of extra Test lives AMSTERDAM, (Reuters) - Dutch Olympic champion Sifan Hassan will attempt to reprise her 5 000 metres and 10 000 metres gold medal success from last year’s Tokyo Games when she runs at the World Athletics Championship in Eugene, Oregon, which starts today.

Hassan also won bronze in the 1500 metres in Tokyo but is only running two events this time round, after several months away from training, and was not sure of which dis-

Dinesh Chandimal’s career looked close to over when he last played a Test series against Australia.

Three years on, his sensational double ton landed the knockout blow in Galle

THE last time Dinesh Chandimal played a Test series against Australia he was captain of a sinking ship and about to be thrown off without a life jacket.

Struggling for form and leading a team in crisis, Chandimal scored just 24 runs across four innings in 2018-19 and didn’t pass 15 in an innings.

When Sri Lanka’s players boarded a flight for South Africa and their next Test series, days after the final match in Canberra, Chandimal was told not to bother.

Instead, placed on a different plane back home to Colombo, Chandimal was forced to start again.

On Monday, he did that and more, smashing an unbeaten 206 against Australia in Galle to set up the hosts’ innings and 39-run victory.

“I’m over the moon,” Chandimal said “I just wanted to be proactive against the spinners and at the same time rotate the strike.

That’s what I did, and finally it worked.”

Chandimal’s turnaround is emblematic of his career.

He has been dropped countless times, routinely brought in and out of Sri Lanka’s team since his debut in 2011.

As recently as last year he considered giving up on Test cricket to play county cricket after being handed the most recent of his setbacks.

Even in this Test in Galle, the right-hander needed his fair share of persistency.

He could have been out on both 10 and 30, firstly when Alex Carey missed a tough stumping off Nathan Lyon and when Australia’s lack of reviews meant an edge went undetected.

But the right-hander fought hard enough to bring up his century off 195 balls on Sunday, doing so when he tapped and ran off Nathan Lyon.

The latest iteration of a more attacking Chandimal was on show on day four.

The 32-year-old began

by sweeping Nathan Lyon for boundaries twice early in the morning, giving Sri Lanka the ascendancy and limiting any chance of a close first-innings margin Then he rammed home the advantage. In the space of 10 minutes, he hit Mitchell Starc three times back over his head for six, including one that landed on the road behind the ground and bounced into a pedestrian.

Another ball was cut over point for six off Pat Cummins, by far the classiest shot of his 16 boundaries and five sixes By the time he ran out of partners he had the highest score by a Sri Lankan against Australia, and the ship had well and truly been steadied.

“I’ve been in the side, not in the side, but your family and wife are always there,” Chandimal said.

“I also want to thank my teammates, who’ve always been there as well as my support staff and the fans.” (AAP)

Netherlands’ Sifan Hassan

tance to combine with her preferred choice of the 5 000 metres.

But her management company said the 29-yearold had decided to go for the 10 000m, which is

being run tomorrow.

She will then attempt the double, starting with the 5 000 metres heats next Wednesday. The final is on Saturday, July 23.

Coach Donaldson hoping to secure permanent spot with Reggae Girlz

JAMAICA Reggae Girlz coach Lorne Donaldson remains guarded regarding future plans for the national team as his agreement with the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) will only be in place until the end of the CONCACAF Women’s Championship.

Donaldson was given the position in June following a messy split between the team and their former head coach Vin Blaine who stepped down from the post after just a few months in charge. He has, however, previously been a part of the national programme as a former assistant coach, the

Reggae Girlz coach Lorne Donaldson

last time the Reggae Girlz qualified, under then-coach Hubert Busby.

The coach has, however, confirmed that he will be heading back to the negotia-

tion table following the conclusion of the tournament.

“I can’t talk about future plans, whatever I have contractually just leads up to this tournament,” Donaldson told members of the media on Wednesday.

“Hopefully we can keep the same coaching staff and move on. Currently, we have some good people in place taking care of our players. Going forward we have to sit down with the JFF and Cedella Marley, who has been tremendous in our making, and go forward with what we are doing,” he added.

(Sportsmax)

29

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 15, 2022

Bartica Summer Splash Regatta launched in style at Aruwai Resort White H2O … The quest is to drive this Tourism Product to new heights - BBDC Chairman, Baboolall

FANS in Bartica and those planning to visit for the August or Summer holidays will be in for an exciting time as plans for the Bartica Summer Splash Regatta 2022 were unveiled in splendour last Sunday afternoon at one of Guyana’s finest

BBDC is founded upon the aim of promoting the development of businesses within our town, through education, strategic collaborations and the organising of big social events - like this one -.. heavily geared towards our athletes showcasing their talents.”

Government of Guyana to join hands with us in making this event a remarkable success.”

The launch incorporated a mouth-watering fashion display, organised by international and local-renowned fashion designer, Bartica’s own, Dr Sonia

BBDC Chairman, Chunilall ‘Vulture’ Baboolall (4th left), Regional Representative to the Prime Minister, Mr Ewrin Ward (4th right) and Power Boat icon Dave Scott (right) pose with the models, following the launch last Sunday

resorts, Aruwai Resort White H2O. It was an afternoon of frolic and entertainment as the organiser of the event, the Bartica Business Development Committee (BBDC), sought to give patrons and fans a snippet of what they can expect during the week of activities leading up to the eagerly anticipated powerboat racing Chairman of the BBDC, businessman and proprietor of Aruwai Resort White H2O, Chunilall ‘Vulture’ Baboolall, in his address at the launch said that the BBDC is an association of business persons from the community whose vested interest is to see the continued growth of the town.

“As the name suggests,

Residents, as well as visitors, will be afforded the opportunity to witness numerous sport activities including football, cricket, grass track, river swim, road race, and the marquee, power boat races at the famous Golden Beach Racing Circuit.

It was also revealed that those persons with the ability to sing will have the chance to prove the same when the karaoke competition is held. A night of comedy will also take place, featuring some of the best comedians in Guyana.

“For such a young committee, this is quite an ambitious undertaking.

However, we have placed great faith in our corporate partners, friends, the community of Bartica, and the

Noel and Soca artiste Jomo ‘Rubber-waist’ Primo. The event was chaired by comedian, Lyndon ‘Jumbie’ Jones.

Also sharing remarks was Regional Representative to the Prime Minister, Mr Ewrin Ward, who congratulated BBDC on behalf of His Excellency President Dr Irfaan Ali and the Government of Guyana which he said is in full support of the event as it complements the ‘One Guyana’ initiative.

At stake in the multievent activity is $12M in prizes. The cricket final is set for July 17, Karaoke competition for July 19, Comedy Explosion July 21, Football final July 22, Grass Track July 23 and Power Boat Races, July 24.

30

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 15, 2022

Topley takes record 6-24 as England level ODI series

REECE Topley starred with the ball as England dug in to level their one-day international series against India with a 100run victory in the second match at Lord’s.

Topley took 6-24 - the best figures for England in a men’s ODI - as the hosts expertly defended 246.

He removed openers Rohit Sharma for a duck and Shikhar Dhawan for nine before Rishabh Pant chipped a Brydon Carse full toss to mid-on on nought.

When Virat Kohli’s poor form continued - he edged David Willey behind for 16 - India were 31-4.

Suryakumar Yadav halted England’s charge with 27 and Hardik Pandya threatened with 29 but Topley returned to bowl Suryakumar via the inside edge and Moeen Ali had Hardik caught at the deep to effectively end India’s hopes.

Topley added the wickets of Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal and last-man Prasidh Krishna to eclipse Paul Collingwood’s 6-31, England’s previous best ODI figures. India were bowled out for 146.

Despite slipping to 102-5, England scrapped to 246 all out in 49 overs, largely thanks to Moeen’s 49.

David Willey, who was crucially dropped on one, also made 41 after leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal had knocked over England’s powerful top order with 4-47.

The result ensures England, back at Lord’s three years to the day since their World Cup win, hit back from their crushing defeat in the first ODI. The decider takes place on Sunday at Emirates Old Trafford from 11:00 BST. TOPLEY BREAKS RECORD AS BOWLERS IMPRESS Only two bowlers - Collingwood and Chris Woakes who has done so twice - had taken six wick-

Reece Topley did not allow the Indian batters to settle into a rhythm as he walked away with six wickets (Getty Images)

ets in an ODI for England.

Topley, a player whose career was almost ended by injury, joined them with a fine display with the new ball and later in the innings to cap an impressive England bowling performance.

Topley took the new ball with Willey and they began India’s chase with a maiden each. In the second over, the 28-year-old Surrey quick pinned Rohit in front for a duck.

Willey was rewarded with the key wicket of Kohli, who pushed at a wide ball and nicked through to Buttler as the former captain’s 32-month wait for an international century in any format goes on.

Then, the game not completely done, Topley returned - his mid-innings effort just as impressive.

Suryakumar hit 117 from 55 balls in the third T20 but Topley found a hint of bounce to remove him before he could reinvigorate another chase.

He added the wicket of Mohammed Shami with a clever

slower ball before seeing off the last two with perfect line and length.

Topley has had multiple stress fractures and in 2018 considered quitting cricket. This was a memorable reward for perseverance at cricket’s historic home.

MOEEN DRAGS ENGLAND TO A SCORE England were thrashed in the first ODI on Tuesday, a defeat which came on the back of two heavy losses in the three-match Twenty20 series.

At The Oval, there were four ducks in the top five as England were dismissed for 110. This time, against a similarly impressive new-ball spell, Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root and Ben Stokes all reached double figures but when each fell in the first 25 overs, plus captain Jos Buttler for four, another small total was possible.

Chahal varied his pace to outfox the top order - Bairstow bowled on the sweep for 38, Root out lbw for 11 playing the same

shot and Stokes also trapped in front playing the reverse.

The difference, though, was the ability to eke out a score something Buttler called for after Tuesday’s defeat - and luck.

Moeen put on 46 with Liam Livingstone, only for the Lancashire batter to wastefully pull to deep square leg for 33.

NEXT CAME THE FORTUNE. With the score 152-6, Willey top-edged to fine leg but Prasidh Krishna spilled a simple catch at fine leg.

That allowed a sensible stand of 62 to guide England past 200 Moeen largely curbed his attacking instincts, although he did flick one leg-side six out of the ground.

It kept England in the game with a total that still looked below par.

Although the pitch was trickier than it first appeared, it still took a Topley-inspired performance to level the series.

(BBC Sport)

Pidcock claims first stage win with Chris Froome third

TOM Pidcock won his maiden Tour de France stage in style with a solo victory atop the iconic Alpe d’Huez. Four-time Tour champion Chris Froome and fellow Briton Pidcock were part of a five-man breakaway during stage 12.

And Pidcock, making his Tour debut aged 22 for Ineos Grenadiers, became the youngest winner on the Alpe d’Huez.

It sent the world cyclo-cross champion and Olympic mountain bike champion back into the top 10 overall, as Jonas Vingegaard retained the yellow

jersey.

Froome, 37, was challenging for a stage win for the first time since suffering severe injuries in a crash in 2019.

Pidcock is only the second Briton to win on the Alpe d’Huez after Geraint Thomas in 2018, when a stage last ended there.

“It’s not bad that, is it?

If I get dropped every other day, I don’t care,” Pidcock joked.

“It was one of my best experiences in cycling, it was unreal - slaloming through people’s flags and fists (on the final climb, which was packed with rau-

Olympic champ Andre De Grasse eyes podium at worlds

CANADIAN Olympic gold medallist Andre De Grasse said a less-than-ideal season has not dented his confidence as he looks for a podium finish in the 100 and 200 metres at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon.

He took weeks to get back up to speed after an early season foot injury, finishing last at the Prefontaine Classic in the 100 metres in May before winning a month ago at the Bislett Games.

COVID-19 then kept him from the track in the weeks leading up to worlds and he was unable to produce a finish under 10 seconds in the 100 metres and under 20 seconds in the 200 metres this year before arriving in Eugene.

“You just want to be able to, you know, run under 10 seconds, run under 20 seconds. That’s what your competition is doing. That’s what it’s going to take to win,” he told news agency Reuters.

“My plan is to do it there when it counts. So that’s kind of how I look at it. I just kind of have that faith in myself and have that confidence in myself that I can do it.”

The 27-year-old won the 200 metres at the Tokyo Games, a game changer after years spent chasing Jamaican legend Usain Bolt before his retirement. In the 2016 Rio Games, he took home bronze and silver in the 100 and 200 metres, respectively.

“It’s kind of a relief, I

guess,” he said. “For so long, I wanted to try to win ... (you) work so hard for this moment and you always come up a little bit short.”

His next goal is taking the top of the podium at worlds, after collecting a trio

Olympic gold medallist Andre De Grasse

of bronze medals and a silver. Among those standing in his way are Americans Fred Kerley, the 100 metres world leader who also produced the third-fastest time of 2022 in the 200 metres, and Noah Lyles, who bested him by .12 seconds in the Doha 200-metres final.

“Getting that (Olympic) gold medal kind of took it to the next level to say, like, you know, ‘I can do it’,” he said. “It’s just about just having that patience.” The world championships will run from July 15 to 24. (Zeenews)

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Friday July 15, 2022)

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Thousands of fans lined the route as Tom Pidcock led the way up Alpe d’Huez

cous spectators).”

Thomas, who went on to win the Tour in 2018, finished seventh yesterday to leave the 36-year-old Welshman third overall.

Two-time defending champion Tadej Pogacar finished fifth on the stage to

move from third to second overall after losing the yellow jersey to Vingegaard on stage 11.

Both Pogacar and Thomas are now almost two-and-a-half minutes adrift of the Dane. (BBC Sport)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) 1977-Albion (WI vs PAK) (2) Clive Lloyd & Asif Iqbal Today’s Quiz: (1) Which WI made his ODI debut in the first match of the current WI/BANG series?

(2) Which Bangladeshi player made his ODI debut in the same game?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

31

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 15, 2022

Ben Stokes ‘better than I Everest ever thought’ as England Test congratulates captain, says Rob Key trio for U-17

DIRECTOR of cricket Rob Key says Ben Stokes has been “better than I ever thought” he would be as England’s Test captain.

After taking over in May, Stokes led England to a 3-0 win over world champions New Zealand before a stunning victory over India last week.

It comes after Stokes and new coach Brendon McCullum, both Key appointees, implemented a new, attacking approach.

“I never thought it would work like this,” Key said.

“There will be times when it won’t work, but for now it’s been fantastic to see.”

Key himself took over in April with England on a run of one win in 17 Tests.

The turnaround since Stokes and McCullum took charge has been instant.

England have aggressively chased down fourth-in-

Jonny Bairstow (right) has been one of the players to flourish under Stokes (left) with four hundreds in his past three Tests

nings targets in excess of 270 in all four of their Tests, including their record chase of 378 against India, leading to their new approach being nicknamed ‘Bazball’ in the media.

“I’m not mad on Bazball the phrase,” Key told BBC Test Match Special.

“It’s not something I particularly enjoy because it devalues what Ben and Brendon have done.

“They’ve been so preme-

diated almost and methodical in the way they’ve spoken to people and that’s what’s made the difference and let them get to this point which is so much more than, ‘oh, we’re just going to go out there and look to be positive and play a few shots’.

“Brendon will at times on purpose say to one of the players like Ollie Pope “I can’t get to the ground, give us a lift” and that’s when he’s doing his work with them.

CASA Junior Championships

“There have been all these moments when they have made sure that they’ve used the right terminology and that’s what’s bred the confidence.”

Former New Zealand captain McCullum was appointed despite having never coached a first-class team.

“I saw it as though I had two choices,” Key said.

“Did the England team, the Test team in particular, need someone who was going to be like a drill sergeant, a real hard taskmaster who’s going to be really tough on them and try and drive them in that way?

“I felt they needed someone to just take the pressure off them a little bit.

“I wanted someone who, with the talented players that we had, just freed them up a bit and got them out there to be the best players they can possibly be.” (BBC Sport)

Guyana make winning start in hunt for team title

BOTH Guyana Boys and Girls teams secured wins in their opening rounds of the team segment of the Caribbean Area Squash Association (CASA) Junior Championships.

Guyana toppled British Virgin Islands 3-2 in the opening round as Shomari Wiltshire and Nicholas Verwey delivered wins while Samuel Ince-Carvalhal and Ben Phang got default victories.

They will play their next match against Trinidad and Tobago from 09:00hrs today ahead of the conclusion tomorrow.

The girls also lead with wins over the Cayman Islands and the British Virgin Islands. It was a clean 5-0 sweep against Cayman Islands, compliments of wins

by Abosaide Cadogan, Paige Mendonca, and Safirah Sumner then a 4-1 triumph over Bermuda.

The ladies have three more scheduled matches and would be hoping to improve the standings in a bid for Guyana to secure the overall title.

Compliments of Shomari Wiltshire, Avery Arjoon, and Nicholas Verwey, hosts Guyana won three out of the 10 gold medals up for grabs in the individual segment.

selection

THREE members of Everest Cricket Club (ECC) Anthony Khan, Nityanand Mathura, and Golcharran Chulai - have been selected to the National Under-17 squad for the upcoming Regional Tournament from July 17 to 28 in Trinidad and Tobago.

According to a release to the media, the club stated,

From left: Anthony Khan, Golcharran Chulai and Nityanand Mathura have been selected to the National Under-17 squad for the upcoming Regional Tournament from July 17 to 28 in Trinidad and Tobago

“It is a great joy seeing members from our youth programme progress into the National setup, and we wish them well along with their teammates for a successful tournament”.

The Camp Road institution already boasts of having several players in the senior Guyana Harpy Eagles setup, and some currently in the West Indies squads.

The club, which has some of the better facilities in the country, has created a fluid policy for youth cricketers to join and be given a platform to showcase their talent.

The Everest trio is encamped with the squad at the La Bonne Intention Cricket Facility, East Coast, Demerara.

The Boys team got a 3-2 win over the British Virgin Islands (Photo: Caribbean Squash Championships)

32

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, July 15, 2022

Disappointment for hosts as USA win Rising Stars U-19 crown Story on page 26

Team USA, winners of the West Indies Women U-19 Rising Stars T20 Championship pose with their coach, West Indies legend Shivnarine Chanderpaul, fifth from right, back row, T&T Cricket Board president Azim Bassarath, left back row, and TTCWA Ann Browne-John, right back row, at Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, San Fernando, yesterday (Photo by Daniel Prentice).Trinidad Guardian photo)

Usain Bolt awarded honorary doctorate

by Brunel University London

JAMAICAN eight-time Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt has been awarded an honorary doctorate by Brunel University London.

The 100m and 200m world record holder, who retired in 2017, trained at Brunel many times during his career, including in the lead-up to the 2012 London Olympics where he won three gold medals.

“I want to thank Brunel University for this honorary degree. I really appreciate it,” said Bolt while accepting his award via video.

“I have only fond memories of training at Brunel. You guys really helped me conquer the world, and I must say I really appreciate that,” Bolt added.

The 11-time world

Eight-time Olympic gold medallist Dr Usain Bolt

championships gold medallist also addressed Brunel University London graduates gathered inside the Indoor Athletics Centre in Uxbridge.

“I want to say to the graduates, hard work does

pay off, just remember that the road won’t be easy, there will be ups and downs, and you will fail,” he said.

“But always remember, learn from your failure and try again. Never

give up on your dream, because as a young man I never knew I’d be this great. Always work hard, dedicate yourself, and remember, anything is possible, don’t take limits,” Bolt added. (Sportsmax)

GFF referees excel during first Caribbean Games Futsal tourney

Futsal referees who participated in the inaugural Caribbean Games

TWO Guyanese referees impressed FIFA and UEFA futsal instructors during the inaugural Caribbean Games in Guadeloupe, culminating in their selection as part of the match offi-

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cial team for the final of the competition.

Colin Abel and Lenval Peart were singled out for praise by FIFA futsal instructor Wilson Da Costa, who said Continued on page 26 FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2022