Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 15-10-2021

FRIDAY 15th October, 2021

' No.106515

Guyana outperforms Caribbean at CSEC, CAPE PAGES

03&09

Former Coalition ministers could soon face criminal charges 02 PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 15, 2021

Former Coalition ministers could soon face criminal charges

By Derwayne Wills

A NUMBER of senior officials from the former David Granger-led Coalition Government could face criminal charges in connection to the transfer of State assets well after the passage of historic December 2018 no-confidence motion.

Attorney-General and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall, S.C., in an interview on Thursday, bemoaned that while it is the intention of the current Peoples’ Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government to pursue development of the country and its people, there is still a commitment to ensuring the actions of the former A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Government are examined.

“There are a number of transactions that were done under the previous government that will be subjected

to investigations,” the Attorney-General said, adding that “charges may flow if those investigations yield those charges based upon the advice of the Director of Public Prosecution”.

Stressing that this is an ongoing process, the Attorney-General said there are other things which have diverted the attention of the Guyana Police Force, but his party remains committed to the promise of investigating the former APNU+AFC Government’s transactions.

“The police will begin their investigations. The files have been assembled already and they are on their way to the police,” Minister Nandlall remarked.

More specific to the matters under investigation, Nandlall said former Finance Minister, Winston Jordan has been implicated in a number of questionable transactions which the current government intends to send to the

Attorney-General, Anil Nandlall Guyana Police Force and to other law enforcement agencies.

The Attorney-General disclosed that one such matter involves the sale of several vehicles by the Guyana

Revenue Authority, without due process.

Additionally, the Attorney- General relayed that a number of State properties valued millions of United States dollars were sold be-

low market value, without public procurement, between the period of the passage of the no-confidence motion in December 2018 and the conclusion of the 2020 General and Regional Elections on August 2, 2020.

“I don’t think that we’ve even touched the tip of the iceberg,” Nandlall cautioned reservedly, referring to the disposal of State lands under the former David Granger-led government.

Noting there are hundreds of questionable transactions, the Attorney-General disclosed that these lands are particularly essential for Guyana’s oil and gas sector as they are high-value lands located along the ocean front and on the banks of Guyana’s rivers.

“What we are focused on are simply a few [of those lands] in the vicinity of Ogle and along the East Bank of Demerara,” Nandlall said,

noting: “but a large part of those transactions have not been handed over to the investigative arm of the State.”

Returning to a previous debacle involving the former APNU+AFC Government’s attempt to conceal a US$18 million signing bonus paid to the Government of Guyana by ExxonMobil in 2016, Nandlall said this matter is also ripe for consideration.

He noted further that not only was the money deposited in a Central Bank account authorised by former Finance Minister Jordan, in writing, but it is now unclear where the money has gone.

“I want to assure the public that this is not something we have swept under the carpet,” the Attorney-General emphatically stressed, adding: “We will continue to persevere in ensuring that these promises are delivered.”

$100M road works in St. Ignatius progressing well LOCAL Government and Regional Development Minister, Nigel Dharamlall, has expressed satisfaction with the quality and progress of the $100 million road works ongoing in St. Ignatius, Region Nine.

The project is a partnership between the Ministries of Public Works and Local Government and Regional Development.

Speaking with the Department of Public Information (DPI) recently, the minister said one of government’s commitments is to enhance the infrastruc-

ture of every community.

He noted that for years, hinterland communities had been neglected in the areas of health, education, and infrastructure. This, Minister Dharamlall said, must be addressed.

“We expect that project to be finished in the next few weeks and then, later on, we also intend to do more investments in road works in this community as this is a huge Amerindian village which takes account of over 2,000 residents.

“While we are doing this village, we are also doing the same in Santa

Rosa, building concrete roads in those areas and we are currently in Aishalton with those road upgrades.

Next year, we expect to intensify this programme for the betterment of the people.”

Similar works are also being undertaken by the Public Works Ministry from Karasabai to Yarong Paru/ Monkey Mountain Road to the tune of $110.5 million. Another is underway from Lethem to Annai, North Rupununi at an approximate cost of $85million and is set to be completed in 2022.

Local Government and Regional Development Minister, Nigel Dharamlall The minister reiterated the government’s plan to link the hinterland communities to provide access to resources, to boost the region’s economic activities.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 15, 2021

Guyana tops in 20 of 33 CSEC subjects offered by CXC GUYANA has topped in 20 of the 33 subjects at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations being offered by the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC).

At an official ceremony hosted at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre on Thursday, Dr. Nicole Manning, Director of Operations at CXC, gave a detailed breakdown of the results, in which she said that Guyana has outperformed the rest of the region.

However, in her presentation, Dr Manning divulged the average pass rates for only 12 subjects in comparison to the pass rates obtained by Guyana in those subjects she mentioned.

In her presentation, which was streamed live across the region, Dr. Manning said the 2021 examinations were plagued by high levels of absenteeism as well as requests for deferrals.

She outlined that performance in English A recorded a 74 per cent pass rate, which represents a decline when compared to 2020 and 2019, but an increase from the 2018 results. In this instance, Guyana’s grades fell below the regional average at 68 per cent.

Similarly, examination grades for English B also suffered an overall decline, recording a 61 per cent regional pass rate, while Guy-

ana’s stood at 54 per cent.

Dr. Manning indicated that only nine per cent of those who wrote the CSEC English B attained a grade one. This represents a 10 per cent decline when compared to the 19 per cent recorded in 2020.

As it relates to Integrated Science, the regional average showed an increase from 62 per cent in 2019 to 66 per cent in 2021. This was below Guyana’s average pass rate of 69 per cent.

Guyana also recorded a solid 93 per cent pass rate in Biology, while the average for the rest of the region remained at 89 per cent. This, according to Dr. Manning, is a consistent average, as Biology, over the past few years, has recorded pass rates in the early 90-percentiles.

Chemistry, on the other hand, declined slightly, recording a regional average of 63 per cent, while Guyana recorded 61 per cent.

Another decline was recorded in Physics, which had a regional pass rate of 66 per cent, as compared to Guyana’s 62 per cent. In 2019, the regional average was pegged at 73 per cent.

Dr. Manning admitted that while not outlined in her presentation, Guyana had improved results in the area of CSEC Mathematics.

She said that the change to reflect the true figures will be made publicly, but overall, she said that there has been a general decline in the subject area across

the region. The records show that for 2021, CSEC candidates had more grade ones as compared to 2019 but less compared to 2018.

In the area of Electronic Document Preparation and Management (EDPM), the regional pass rate stood at 87 per cent, while Guyana attained 88 per cent passes.

Human and Social Biology, according to Dr. Manning, recorded improvement, moving from 62 per cent in 2020 to 68 per cent in 2021.

In this subject area, Guyana’s pass rate was at 77 per cent. “That’s a significant jump,” Dr. Manning opined.

She went on to point out that examination results for Principles of Business (PoB) declined with the region achieving a 79 per cent pass rate as compared to the 82 per cent recorded in 2018 and 2019. Guyana’s PoB pass rate was 75 per cent.

As for Social Studies, this saw a slight decline across the board, with a regional pass rate of 54 per cent, while Guyana’s pass rate was 53 per cent.

Grades recorded for Information Technology (IT) remained consistent across the region with an 89 per cent pass rate as compared to the 93 per cent recorded in Guyana. “That’s five per cent more than the region,” Dr. Manning emphasised.

She said that performances for Office Administration showed a decline,

The portal for persons to check their CXC results will be opened from midnight, tonight (Elvin Croker photograph) recording a 79 per cent pass rate regionally, and an 80 per cent pass rate in Guyana. “Overall, Guyana’s performance would have been better than the region,” Dr. Manning said as she wrapped up her presentation.

Meanwhile, reflecting on the results of the examinations, Guyana’s Education Minister, Priya Manickchand, said that with the protracted closure of schools, authorities had to contend with a range of issues that affected students

and teachers, stemming from poor diets and food insecurities to reduced physical activities and numerous psychosocial and personal challenges.

She said that considerable emphasis must be placed on both preserving and expanding school capacities to be safe havens to provide the nurturing and care which children may need.

“Days of operating in respective silos must come to an end and our best practices, and lessons learned

can serve to make the Caribbean education a true reflection of the concepts underpinning the creation and sustainability of CXC,” Minister Manickchand said.

She also spoke of an inaugural CXC Ministers’ Summit which is planned for November of this year.

“As we revamp, retool and recover sustainably from our recent and ongoing challenges, we must do so armed and assured of the support of sister territories,” Minister Manickchand surmised.

Gunman sentenced, fined for carjacking, robbing couple THIRTY-two-year-old John Blair was on Thursday sentenced to over four years’ imprisonment for the recent armed carjacking committed on a couple at Industry, East Coast Demerara.

Blair, of Melanie Damishana, also on the East Coast, appeared before Magistrate Alisha George at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court for armed robbery and possession of a firearm and ammunition.

He pleaded guilty to the

charge, which alleged that on October 10, at Industry, while being armed with a gun, he robbed Joel Prince and Otisceia Innis of a motorcar valued $2.3M, two gold chains valued $234,000, along with $3,000 cash.

He also admitted that on the same day in question, he had a Taurus .32 pistol, along with five matching rounds.

Magistrate George sentenced Blair to four years, six months imprisonment, along with a fine of $100,000.

According to reports, on the day in question, Prince

borrowed his uncle’s motorcar, PYY 9631, and went to Industry, where, after parking and securing it on the southern side of the main road, he and his girlfriend went for a short stroll across the way to relax a bit and enjoy some fresh air.

According to the police, Prince told them that he noticed a silver car drive past and immediately reverse, and that no sooner did two identifiable males exit the vehicle, than the one carrying a silver-and-black handgun held he and his girlfriend hostage,

while his accomplice robbed them.

Not satisfied with whatever little pickings they got from Prince and his girlfriend, the men then went across the road for the victim’s car, but, unfortunately, as they were about to make good their escape in it, a police patrol came out of nowhere.

The victims, who by this time gotten over their initial fear, quickly alerted the police, who gave chase behind the robbers. Blair, who apparently

was the one behind the wheel, lost his nerve and drove headlong into an unfinished bridge in the vicinity of Plaisance, on the Railway Embankment, where he remained, immobile, until the police caught up with him. His accomplice, on the other hand, somehow managed to escape.

When a search was carried out on the getaway vehicle, the loaded silverand-black handgun with which Blair held his victims hostage was found in the front passenger seat.

John Blair

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 15, 2021

CXC strengthening capacity to enhance performance

By Nafeeza Yahya

THE Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) is working closely with several organisations and governments both regionally and internationally towards building their capacity to enhance performance and gain international recognition.

This was among several announcements made on Thursday at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre by CXC Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Wayne Wesley, as he fielded questions following the announcement of the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) and Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) results.

As part of the capacity-building efforts, greater emphasis is being placed on making more informed decisions as it relates to the curriculum. Dr. Wesley explained that the trajec-

tory on policy decisions is being changed and a research and development department is being set up to harness available data that would set the course for whatever tweaks or changes are necessary to set students on course to align themselves with their career paths in existing and new sectors.

“In setting up this research and development department, we are actually constituting what we call a Research Advisory Committee which will be made up of individuals regionally as mentioned -University of Guyana, University of the West Indies -- right across the region to help inform based on the research conducted, what we should be focusing on and that will help to drive areas of development,” he said.

Dr. Wesley added that data is being collected and analysed that will help advance the curriculum de-

Friday, 15 October 04:00hrs - 05:30hrs

CXC Registrar and CEO, Dr. Wayne Wesley

velopment of new subjects.

“From the data we are gleaning from how students are performing in certain areas and how that can influence what area we move into, to what universities are doing. Scholars in the area are actually unearthing in respect of new areas of development and training, so bio engineering is one; we are looking at artificial intelligence, robotics and all those areas we are developing right now to help advance curriculum development.

One of the things I

mentioned is the issue of content; so apart from the newness of the syllabus, is, do we need such a long syllabus or should we shorten that content to create what I call the critical body of knowledge that students should master in order to perform in any area, so the research will be from what we do in CXC with our data.”

ANNUAL EVENT Meanwhile in response to a call by Minister of Education, Priya

Manickchand, for the establishment of a formal means to facilitate greater collaboration between ministries and education systems, Dr. Wesley noted that the inaugural CXC ministerial summit initiative will now become an annual event that will address assessment and education transformation.

In addition, he stated that efforts are being made to digitise the data of the Research and Development Department so that it can be easily accessible by ministries.

“We are currently working on creating a large data project at CXC where all our data will be digitised so that we can have access immediately to information that will help to drive policy decision-making. In fact, the team is currently working on assiduously creating online data portal that will link all ministries together to be able to have a common platform for discussion and decision-making going forward. So yes, the Ministerial Summit will be one forum or platform which we will galvanise consensus as well as our research platform to inform regional decision-making on education.”

Meanwhile, Dr. Wesley

highlighted that the age-old issue experienced by many students that migrate to North America and European countries of not having their qualifications recognised and having to redo the course work is being addressed by CXC to bring international credence to their qualifications.

“We are working with several international organisations right now and universities across the world to ensure that our qualifications are still accepted and recognised and that is why sometimes it is very difficult to just change something because it has global implications.

At no time we want to put our candidates at a disadvantage when they are assessed by international bodies. So we are working with those, we are also working to align our qualifications with the international qualifications.

So we have the regional qualifications and we are looking to make sure we are aligned with the European qualifications framework as well as what obtains in the US and other parts of the world. So we are partnering with those entities through those organisations to ensure that CXC remain relevant within the global space.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 15, 2021

The world needs a global accelerator for jobs and social protection –– International Labour Organisation

TO ensure a human-centred recovery from the pandemic and empower people to navigate the challenges of a rapidly changing world of work, ILO Director-General, Guy Ryder, has called on countries to back the Global Accelerator for Jobs and Social Protection launched by the UN Secretary-General, jointly with the ILO, during the General Assembly last month. It would increase investments in universal social protection, decent work and a ‘green’ and just transition.

In a statement to the IMF and World Bank Group annual meetings, Ryder recalled how the pandemic has been particularly devastating for the most vulnerable, especially women, workers in the informal economy and children, and underlined that they face a very different

future depending on where they live.

“The recovery is deeply uneven, spurred by vast differences between advanced and developing economies in access to vaccines, the fiscal capacity and ability of governments to respond, a growing digital divide and the threat of a looming debt crisis. This is creating a great divergence, which puts the recovery itself at risk and undermines trust and solidarity,” said Ryder.

An estimated 8.8 per cent of total working hours were lost globally in 2020, he said.

The equivalent to the hours worked in one year by 255 million full-time workers.

Governments across the world have implemented an unprecedented employment and social protection response to protect people’s health, employment and incomes, but these measures

are insufficient to mitigate the full impact of the crisis and have left 53.1 per cent of the global population unprotected – some 4.14 billion people, declared Ryder.

The ILO Director-General encouraged countries to take a “high road” to social protection by investing in universal, comprehensive, adequate and sustainable social protection systems, in line with human rights principles and international social security standards.

Without adequate financing and political will, governments could fall back on a “low road” turn, marked by minimal benefits and wide coverage gaps, emphasised Ryder.

TIME TO SHOW SOLIDARITY “It is time to show solidarity and to increase investments in universal so-

Stolen cellphone helps ‘nab’ elusive robber A 32-year-old man was on Thursday remanded to prison for the armed robbery of a businesswoman and her friend at La Bonne Intention (LBI), East Coast Demerara.

Kashief Peters, of Republic Park, East Bank Demerara, appeared before Magistrate Alisha George at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court for armed robbery and possession of a firearm and ammunition.

He denied that on October 11, at LBI, while being armed with a gun, he robbed Melanie Leung and Joanna DeOliveira of an iPhone valued $300,000, 75 grams of raw gold valued $750,000, $55,000 in cash and two handbags valued $20,000.

He also denied that on the same day, he had a Taurus .32 pistol, along with one .32 round of ammunition and six 9mm

rounds in his possession when he was not a licensed firearm holder.

Magistrate George remanded Peters to prison until December 1.

According to reports, on the day in question, the victims were seated in a motorcar outside a boutique on the LBI Public Road after making a drop off at the Ogle Airport, when Peters approached, and pointing a gun at them, demanded that they hand over all their valuables.

After taking possession of the ‘booty’, Peters reportedly made good his escape in a silver Toyota Premio motorcar, which is how the police were able to track him down, using an app on the businesswoman’s stolen cellphone.

The car was spotted by a mobile patrol in the vicinity of Industry, a few miles from where the robbery took place, and even-

Kashief Peters tually intercepted at Industry Crown Dam, after it collided with a parked van.

On realising that the game was up, Peters reportedly threw the firearm into a nearby drain and attempted to flee, but was not fast enough.

He was arrested, and the firearm retrieved, while a search of the vehicle yielded the stolen articles.

cial protection, decent work and gender equal societies,” he said.

The advances made through the Financing for Development Initiative need to be taken forward and to scale not just to address the imminent debt crisis, but to unleash investment in an inclusive, sustainable and resilient recovery, rechannelling the IMF’s unprecedented allocation of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) of US$650 billion to those countries and purposes that need it most, said Ryder.

He also talked about fighting climate change by creating decent work. “A ‘green’ and just transition holds massive potential for all countries, particularly by

investing in more sustainable and diversified economies, as well as in the creation of new productive employment opportunities,” said Ryder.

Ryder recalled the key initiatives the ILO has taken to lead a recovery that leaves no one behind.

These are: at the 109th International Labour Conference in June 2021, representatives of governments, employers’ and workers’ organisations of the ILO’s 187 Member States adopted a Global Call to Action for a human-centred recovery from the COVID-19 crisis that is inclusive, sustainable and resilient; during the General Assembly, the UN Secretary-General launched, jointly with the

ILO, a Global Accelerator for Jobs and Social Protection with the aim of creating at least 400 million jobs by 2030, primarily in the ‘green’ and care economies, and extending social protection floors to over four billion people currently not covered; and in the first half of 2022, the ILO will be convening a multilateral forum with a view to reviewing progress and to scaling up commitments in support of member states’ human-centred recovery strategies, including through joint initiatives and enhanced institutional arrangements among international and regional institutions, the statement said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 15, 2021

Getting Ready

GUYANA is in the process of finalising its presentation for the Glasgow Climate Conference scheduled for October 31 in Glasgow, Scotland.

Under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC), each country is required to make an updated submission every five years. Guyana’s first submission was made in 2016 under the then APNU+AFC Coalition Government which turned out to be a disappointment and embarrassment to Guyana because of it unrealistic commitments.

In preparation for this important conference, the Office of the President, on Monday last, convened a stakeholder engagement session to discuss the revision of Guyana’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Under the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement, countries are required to prepare and submit NDCs outlining their commitments to take action to address climate change.

The approach taken by the PPP/C administration to garner stakeholders’ input is quite

in contrast to that of the previous Granger-led administration when no meaningful consultations were done on the way forward for Guyana as it relates to climate mitigation measures.

One consequence of such an ill-conceived submission was that it was completely at odds with current realities, which, as mentioned before, proved highly embarrassing to the country. Emission targets were set which were clearly unattainable and out of sync with policy guidelines as contained in our Low Carbon Development Strategy and the country’s National Development Strategy.

The consultation process currently underway is much more consultative and participatory in terms of stakeholders’ participation.

It saw the participation of a wide range of stakeholders including those from civil society, Amerindian organisations, conservation organisations, the private sector and other government agencies, all of whom provided useful perspectives on the issue of climate change.

The political opposition was also invited but their participation was largely cosmetic

without any concrete ideas other than attacks on the government and its efforts to reduce carbon emissions. It should be recalled that the then APNU+AFC administration in its submission of Guyana’s first NDC committed the country to move to a position of 100 per cent renewable energy by 2025, a mere four years from today, something no other country in the world had undertaken. This was clearly an unattainable target to reach given the current energy configuration in the country.

Despite such unrealistic commitments, the government made little attempt to realise such a commitment and instead aborted previous initiatives by the PPP/C administration such as the Amalia Falls Hydropower Project to reduce carbon emissions.

Following the consultation exercise, a draft revised NDC will be put to the public for stakeholders review and inputs ahead of the UNFCCC (COP 26) Climate Change Conference.

The fact is that Guyana is a new kid on the block in terms of the petroleum business which meant that it has to thread carefully with respect to carbon emission targets. This

is why it is so important to have broad consultations with all stakeholders and interest groups in order to arrive at targets that are attainable and realistic.

The challenge facing Guyana is how best to optimise our oil and gas resources within the context of a decarbonised world. This is indeed a delicate balance and expert advice and guidance is needed. Thankfully, we have the benefit of several persons both at the technical and professional levels who can be relied on to represent our best interests.

This is why it is so important to have a coordinated position with other oil producing nations, especially those which are similarly positioned, as in the case of neighbouring Suriname. A meeting towards this end was recently held in Suriname in which Vice-President, Dr. Bharat Jagdeo, and Natural Resources Minister, Vickram Bharrat, represented Guyana.

Guyana has committed itself to a low carbon development path to development and has, in fact, been very proactive in reducing the country’s dependence on fossil fuel.

Navratri among Guyanese in New York and in Guyana Dear Editor, GUYANESE Hindus are observing the auspicious festival of Navratri in Guyana and in the diaspora.

It is nine nights of worshipping in addition to daytime prayers. Hindus also make special offerings in the mornings in their homes at their special altars or mandirs in their yard. I have been fortunate to observe the festival in Guyana and in several parts of the Guyanese Hindu diaspora (New York, Florida, Trinidad, London, India) on countless occasions.

The observance in the diaspora is a duplicate or an almost exact copy cat of that in Guyana. The rituals, traditions, festivities, feeding of worshippers, puja, etc. have been transplanted and duplicated from Guyana into the diaspora.

Guyanese have their own mandirs in

several parts of the diaspora including but not limited to New York, New Jersey, Minnesota, Houston, Dallas, New Jersey, Atlanta, Orlando, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Tampa and West Palm, etc. Their mode of worshipping, as it is in Trinidad and Suriname, is almost the same in every temple and in every Guyanese Hindu home. There are over 50 Guyanese Mandirs in NY. During this time of the year, being the most auspicious in the Hindu calendar, Hindus usually invite the pandit into their home for special puja dedicated to the Devis (Durga, Laxmi, Saraswati) in addition to Lord Rama, Lord Krishna, Hanuman, and Ganesh, among other deities. Hindus believe there is only one God but he takes many forms. God can be male or female – no discrimination in Hindu form of worshipping. Hindus pray to the Gods and Goddesses. That tradition is still practiced

in the diaspora among Guyanese. Several jhandis or flags are raised during this period in their homes or yards or mandirs.

Also, as I observed in Guyana, temples host nightly Ramayana discourse during the entire nine nights. I attended several mandirs hosting discourses or katha during this period. In New York, almost every Guyanese mandir has been hosting a nightly discourse on the holy Ramayana. The same is done in other parts of the diaspora.

Special oblations and offerings are made during the nightly service as well as during daytime puja. This includes special leaves and flowers as well as special fruits such anar and sugar cane and clothing to the Gods and Goddesses. In NY, almost every item or paraphernalia used in the oblations and purification ceremonies is available. In fact, New York has greater availability than Guyana of the items used

in the worshipping.

In Guyana, mandirs conduct aartee after the puja. The same is done in New York and elsewhere in the diaspora. Guyanese mandirs served a packaged meal as devotes leave the temple. The same is done in the diaspora. The tradition has been to serve a full buffet style dinner.

But in light of COVID-19, almost every temple offers a package to go in Guyana and in the diaspora.

I note that in both at home and diaspora, worshippers are paced out observing COVID-19 protocols.

One difference is that in New York, mandirs are packed with congregants.

In Guyana, the mandirs are sparsely attended.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 15, 2021

GWI has a diversity of senior and junior female managers Dear Editor, GUYANA Water Incorporated has taken note of the October 13 letter to the editor in Kaieteur News titled “GWI’s management team, parallel directorates elsewhere”, written by E.B John.

The company wishes to state that the composition of GWI’s Corporate Management Team (CMT) reflects a hiring process that occurred over a period of time. This

means that the CMT was not formed at one given time.

It should be restated that there is no exclusionary rule or policy for sex, race, religion, or political affiliation during the hiring process for CMT members, or any other position within the company. Instead, candidates are specifically shortlisted and employed based on qualifications, experience and overall merit. Additionally, of the 11 CMT members, only three were

Coalition has a history of telling fiction to its supporters Dear Editor, OVER the last year under the PPP/C Government, we have seen massive development throughout the country despite the pandemic and other forces being at play.

The government has been working assiduously to fulfill their manifesto promises and thus far, they have done just what they promised to do. Such is an indication of great things that are yet to come under the PPP/Cled administration. However, despite the government working towards developing the nation and bettering the lives of the people, we see the opposition APNU+AFC trying very hard to derail progress almost every day. One thing is made clear through their behaviour; the Coalition will do anything for political mileage even if it means stooping to the lowest point possible. I cannot say that better is expected from them because that’s just in their nature and it has been that way from the inception. However, I write today to express how badly I feel for the APNU+AFC supporters who continue to be lied to and abused by the so-called “opposition” on a daily basis.

Mr. Editor, the Coalition has a history of lying to their supporters. They have lied so many times that it would be impossible to keep track of all the lies. I wish to point out that prior to the 2020 elections; the APNU+AFC started what I would call their “campaign of lies” beginning with the appointment of Justice Patterson as the Chairman of GECOM. They lied to their supporters saying that his appointment was constitutional when in actuality, it was not. They lied saying that the no-confidence motion brought before them would not succeed but in actuality, it did. They then lied saying that 33 is not a majority of 65 when even a school dropout would be able to tell you that it is indeed a majority. They also

managed to come up with some very creative lies during the elections period like saying that the Russians were trying to rig the paper-based election. That just showed the level of stupidity that was emanating from their camp. Lies upon lies they fabricated during that very period to say that they won the elections. In fact, they told so many lies that they couldn’t keep their story straight. First, they said that they won the elections, but as we all know, they were trying to alter the results in their favour using their destructive elements. When their rigging attempts were brought to light, they then lied to their supporters to say that the recount would prove that they have more votes.

The recount debunked that lie in front of the international community. They then went on to lie, saying that they would be back in office within three months of winning the election petition. Did they? No, because they just continue to embarrass themselves as if they were clutching to straws at that point. They continue to lie simply because they have to keep their supporters believing in something even if that something is a big fat lie. That just shows how low the Coalition will stoop to serve their own interest at the expense of their supporters who they continue to use as pawns.

I can go on and on about the lies that they have been telling from last year to now but there is no need for that since we all can clearly distinguish truth from lies.

Mr. Editor, at this rate, I have no doubt that the APNU+AFC Coalition would remain in opposition for years to come. It is time for their supporters to wake up and say enough is enough. It is time that they stand up and reject the lies being peddled to them by the very people who claim to represent them.

The time is now.

Yours very truly, Anson Paul

recently appointed (i.e. in 2021), all of which were dominated by male applicants.

Prior to the current makeup of the CMT, there existed female members who served the company on both a permanent and temporary basis. This included the Director of Human Resources Management & Development for the period 2006-2018 and the acting Director of Commercial Services and Customer Relations during the period of 2014-2016. Women also acted in the areas of Information and Communication Technology and Procurement.

Further, GWI has within its employ, a diversity of senior and junior female managers in key areas such as Water Resources Management, Climate Adaption and Resilience, Sanitation, Well Drilling, Well Maintenance, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Architecture, Revenue Management, Corporate Law, Finance,

Procurement, Hydrology, Public Relations, Human Resources, Training, Customer Relations, Billings, Customer Collections and Information and Communication Technology. These managers, along with many others, are making significant contributions towards the achievement of the company’s goals.

Meanwhile, as it relates to the structure of the company’s Board of Directors, which is public knowledge, females account for one third of the total members.

It is with this in mind that the company wishes to assure the public that it is an equal opportunity employer and practices no exclusionary rule or policy during its hiring process.

Yours sincerely, Guyana Water Incorporated

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 15, 2021

GPSU rethinks decision to take State to court –– for penalising striking Min. of Health employees

THE Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) on Wednesday withdrew its Notice of Application (NOA)

against the State for an injunction restraining the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health from making

deductions from the salaries of employees of the Ministry for their ‘‘Absenteeism and persistent unpunctuality.’’

On Wednesday, when the case came up again before Justice Damone Younge at the Demerara High Court, the GPSU’s attorney conceded to the State’s submissions on the “point in limine” that an injunction cannot be granted against the State.

The attorney then sought leave of the Court to withdraw and discontinue the NOA for the injunction, which application to withdraw

by GPSU was granted. However, the substantive matter seeking declaratory orders against the State is yet to be heard.

On June 24, 2021, the GPSU instituted proceedings in the High Court, by way of a Statement of Claim, against the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Attorney-General Anil Nandlall, S.C., seeking, amongst other things, a Declaration that the deductions for “Absenteeism and persistent unpunctuality” from the wages and salaries of the employees of the Ministry of Health were unlawful, illegal, and a nullity.

According to a re-

lease from the AG’s Chambers, these deductions were made after said employees, most of them nurses from the Linden Hospital Complex, refused to turn up to work, and were engaged in a strike, which the Ministry of Health considered to be ‘‘illegal and premature.’’

The ministry had, however, previously notified employees by way of a Memorandum dated March 10, 2021 that monies would be deducted from their salaries for absenteeism and persistent unpunctuality at work.

At a court hearing held on September 20, on behalf of the AG, the State raised as a “point in limine”, that injunctions cannot be granted against the State.

The State submitted that according to Section 23 (1) of the High Court Act Cap. 3:02 of the Laws of Guyana, the High Court is vested with powers to grant injunctions where the court finds it to be convenient.

However, this power is circumscribed by the provisions of Section 16 of the State Liability and Proceedings Act Cap. 6:05 of the Laws of Guyana, which prohibits the Court from granting injunctive/coercive orders against the State. Section 16(6) provides that: “Where in any proceedings against the State any relief is sought as might in proceedings between citizens be granted by way of injunction or specific performance, the Court shall not grant an order declaratory of the rights of the parties.”

Further, Section 16(8) of the said Act provides that: “The Court shall not in any civil proceedings grant any injunction, or make

Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall any order against an officer of the State, if the effect of granting the injunction or making the Order would be to give any relief against the State which would not have been obtained in proceedings against the State.”

The Attorney-General had submitted that, in essence, these provisions prohibit injunctions that are prohibitory or mandatory, and also a decree of specific performance against the State, in any proceedings.

Notably, these provisions were interpreted by the Honourable Chief Justice, Mr. Justice Ian Chang, S.C., who, in the case of the Guyana Softball Association v the Attorney-General of Guyana refused injunctive remedies sought against the State, on the basis that “there can be no rational basis for the existence of a jurisdiction or power to grant an interim or interlocutory injunction when, in the final analysis, a final injunction cannot be granted to a plaintiff.”

“Therefore, it would go against the grain and policy of Parliament to grant coercive orders against the State.

On October 13, 2021, Counsel for the Guyana Public Service Union conceded to the State’s submissions, on the point in limine, and sought leave of the Court to withdraw and discontinue the Notice of Application for the injunction, which application to withdraw

by GPSU was granted,” a release from the AG’s chambers said.

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Guyana outperforms Caribbean at CAPE

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 15, 2021

By Rehana Ahamad

WHEN it comes to academics, Guyana continues to be a topper within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and even amid a global pandemic, this year is no different.

Director of Operations at the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC), Dr. Nicole Manning, said Guyana’s performance at this year’s Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE) has been “marginally higher” when compared to the rest of the region.

Dr. Manning was at the time providing a breakdown of the results of a

number of regional examinations, including the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC).

“Notably, we had 16 units in which 100 per cent of candidates from Guyana received acceptable grades one to three,” Dr. Manning explained during the announcements of the results which was streamed live across the region, from the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Liliendaal, Georgetown.

It was explained that Guyana recorded an 88 per cent pass rate, as compared to the regional average of 87 per cent.

In her presentation, Dr. Manning gave insights into the performances per

subject. She said that for Caribbean Studies, the regional pass rate stood at 95 per cent, with pupils achieving acceptable grades from one to five.

This indicates a decrease when compared to 98 per cent passes in 2020 and 97 per cent passes in 2019 and 2018.

Guyana’s performance in Caribbean studies stoop below average at 92 per cent passes.

In Communications Studies, the rest of the Caribbean recorded a 93 per cent pass rate, while Guyana’s was pegged at 97 per cent.

In Sociology Unit One, the rest of the region secured 90 per cent passes,

while Guyana achieved 96 per cent. Similarly, Sociology Unit Two saw Guyana’s pass rate reaching 96 per cent, as against the regional average of 94 per cent.

Dr. Manning said that performances in Law Unit One remained relatively consistent, with the regional pass rate being recorded at 89 per cent.

This can be compared to Guyana’s notable 95 per cent passes.

Performances in Law Unit Two were also quite similar with the region recording an 87 per cent pass rate, while Guyana’s stood at 96 per cent.

The CXC official, in her presentation, said that

Dr. Nicole Manning, Director of Operations at the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) (Ministry of Education photo) the regional performance average for Law Unit Two saw a decline in 20192021, but was consistent with results from 2018.

According to Dr. Manning, Grade One passes in Law Unit Two even increased by a notable 10 per cent.

Overall performances in Integrated Mathe-

matics saw a slight reduction, with Guyana achieving an 80 per cent pass rate as compared to the regional average of 64 per cent.

Meanwhile, Pure Mathematics Unit One recorded a pass rate of 73 per cent, as compared See page 10

Guyana outperforms ...

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 15, 2021

From page 9

to Guyana’s 59 per cent.

Despite Guyana’s lower performance, Dr. Manning said that this year, the subject has recorded its highest number of Grade One passes, which accounted for 32 per cent of all those who passed.

This trend did not continue with Pure Mathematics Unit Two, as the number of Grade Ones declined to 26 per cent.

However, overall, the subject recorded an 87 per cent pass rate, with Guyana falling back at lower 75 per cent.

As for Chemistry Unit

One, the results reflect a 92 per cent regional pass rate as compared to Guyana’s 84 per cent. Performances in Chemistry Unit Two was pegged at 95 per cent, with Guyana being on par with the rest of the Caribbean.

Results from the Biology Unit One examinations for 2021 remained consistent with that of previous years, recording a 90 per cent pass rate regionally, and in Guyana.

In Biology Unit Two, Guyana surpassed the regional 94 per cent pass rate, recording a 97 per

cent passes.

LOWEST COHORT Dr. Manning in her report acknowledged that the examinations were taken at a time when the world, particularly the region, was faced with many hindrances including natural disasters and the deadly coronavirus pandemic.

“This would have been our lowest cohort for the last four years,” Dr. Manning said, as she highlighted the 27,750 entries made to sit the CAPE subjects.

Dr. Manning said that as part of its psychosocial component, CXC was also accommodating to the hardships being faced by students, leading up to the various examinations.

As CAPE 2021 approached, Dr. Manning said that there was a 400 per cent increase in hardships being recorded, and that these were all dealt with at the level of the examinations’ council.

“Some of it directly affected the candidates and some of it affected their parents,” Dr. Manning said.

Education Minister, Priya Manickchand (Elvin Croker photo) She indicated that during the examinations period, CXC received reports from candidates who had lost parents and guardians to the novel coronavirus.

“We took this into consideration and none of these candidates would have been disadvantaged.

We made sure that we took care of that,” Dr. Manning assured.

She said that candidates across the region were all afforded the choice of deferring their examination dates to 2022, if they felt ill-prepared.

“They [pupils sitting the examinations] could have done it [the examinations] over two periods – January 2022 as well at June 2022,” Dr. Manning said.

Meanwhile, Education Minister, Priya Manickchand, emphasised how important it is for regional officials to be candid about “the harsh realities the pandemic has forced us to confront”.

STARK SOCIOECONOMIC REALITIES She said that one of the most significant realities that must be addressed relates to the “stark socioeconomic realities within our societies”.

“The digital divide and other similar equity issues were brought into sharp focus as the deep fissures between those possessing the wherewithal to adapt and those ill-equipped to undertake such adjustments became very pronounced,” Minister Manickchand recognised.

She said that it is therefore vital that “as we examine strategies and ap-

proaches for the advancement for education within the region, equal attention is given to addressing the structural and systemic barriers that inhibit those from effectively participating and benefitting”.

Another area that requires attention, according to the Education Minister, is the extent to which the region has modernised its education system and the degree of internal flexibility that exist in order to withstand external shocks.

“The pandemic caught us at widely different levels of readiness for the unprecedented demands and new modes of education delivery,” the minister admitted.

She said that equally notable is the fact that internally, countries responded to the disruption with varying degrees of alacrity.

“It is vital that we create sufficient institutional, organisational and individual capacity for crisis risk management,” Minister Manickchand noted.

She further emphasised that “we should fully embrace the important role that education can play in mitigating, in the first place, the impact of disasters and building our resilience.”

To this end, Minister Manickchand said that regional systems need to be retooled with the required safeguard against such future occurrences.

“The vital role our schools play in the lives of our nation’s children have been reinforced and amplified,” she stressed. Top students for both CAPE and CSEC will be released online at midnight, tonight.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 15, 2021

FAO calls for more, better agri-food investments to fight hunger

TRANSFORMED and inclusive ‘agri’-food systems are needed to end hunger around the world and drive responses to other global challenges such as the climate crisis, QU Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), told global private-sector leaders on Friday at the Business 20 (B20) summit.

The COVID-19 pandemic affected economic activities worldwide and

tor of UN Women; Seth Berkley, CEO of GAVI, the worldwide vaccine alliance, and Michael Kremer, winner of the 2019 Nobel Prize in economics, who has contributed to FAO’s efforts to shift focus from results to impacts.

The B20, set up in 2010 as a venue for dialogue between the G20 and the global business community, is composed of representatives of more than 6.5 million businesses, including leading multinational corporations, and

FAO Director-General, QU Dongyu also contributed to the largest single-year increase in global hunger, adding as many as 161 million people to those facing food insecurity, Qu noted.

“The most destructive effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on food security and nutrition were due to the unprecedented scale of economic downturns,” he said. He warned that a major risk now is “the uneven pace of recovery” with some countries continuing to face significant food and nutrition insecurity beyond 2021. The Director-General spoke at the closing panel of a two-day B20 meeting, geared to reshaping the future, defeating the pandemic, alleviating poverty and promoting gender equality. He was joined by Pramila Patten, Acting Executive Direc-

aims to develop consensus-based policy proposals to the G20 and to international organisations and institutions.

During the meeting, B20 Chair Emma Marcegaglia, handed over the B20’s final declaration to the G20 President, Prime Minister Mario Draghi of Italy, who gave closing remarks along with President Joko Widodo of Indonesia.

Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, also spoke via a video link to the B20 summit, noting that technologies have delivered notable improvements for human life while emphasising the need to restore nature.

“We have more solutions to tackle the challenges,” the Director-General agreed. He also emphasised the importance of a clear, long term inter-

governmental strategy as well as action at a national level. “We have to get all the stakeholders to work together,” he said.

Qu stressed that for agrifood systems, that means making sure that produc-

ers, traders and consumers are included in the decision-making processes, driving sustainable transformation. Agri-food systems are a cornerstone to the Sustainable Development Goals and must be made

“more efficient, more inclusive, more resilient and more sustainable,” he said.

Director-General Qu also addressed the Seventh G20 Parliamentary Speakers’ Summit (P20) in the Italian Sen-

ate in Rome where he stressed the transformative power parliamentarians have to address pressing global challenges by developing appropriate policies and legal instruments. (FAO)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 15, 2021

Full Court reserves judgement in Jagdeo challenge against $20M lawsuit

THE Demerara Full Court on Thursday reserved its judgment in the challenge filed by Vice-President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo against the decision of High Court Judge, Madame Sandra Kurtzious, to grant a default judgement in a lawsuit filed by former Minister of Communities Annette Ferguson.

Following a Zoom hearing, Chief Justice Roxanne George and Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry instructed the parties involved to lay over outstanding submissions. Following a brief hearing, the Chief Justice announced that notices would be sent to the parties when the decision is ready.

In the Notice of Appeal

filed on June 21 by his lawyer, Devindra Kissoon, Dr. Jagdeo is asking the court to have the judge’s decision set aside and reversed in its entirety.

The Vice-President is seeking an Order setting aside the default judgement issued against him on March 11, 2021.

He is also seeking an Order from the court allowing him leave to file a defence to the action within seven (7) days of the date of the granting of his application, and extending the relevant case management timelines to allow him to properly defend the claim.

Lastly, Dr. Jagdeo is asking the court to grant an Interim Order, staying the

enforcement of the decision and default judgement, pending the hearing and determination of the appeal.

In his grounds for appeal, Dr. Jagdeo, who’s the appellant in the matter, is contending that Justice Kurtzious erred both in law and in fact by finding that he had no real prospect of defending the claim against Ferguson.

Another ground is that the learned judge not only erred, but also misdirected herself, in law, by entering a default judgement against the Vice-President, without considering all of the grounds of his defence, including, but not limited to, the defence of justification.

In the circumstances, Dr.

Jagdeo is claiming that the judge erred in law by failing to appreciate the overriding objective of the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR) in ensuring justice between both parties.

Among other things, the

Former Minister of Housing Annette Ferguson appeal seeks to argue that Justice Kurtzious erred in law and in fact by attempting to assess the evidence, and conduct a mini-trial, as opposed to merely find-

ing that the appellant had a real prospect of success, overlooking and failing to assess the facts averred in his pleadings which would be proved at trial.

On Wednesday, June 16, Justice Kurtzious affirmed her awarding of the default libel judgement against Dr. Jagdeo.

The judge, at the time, was ruling on an application filed

by Dr. Jagdeo to set aside the default judgement.

The judge said that Dr. Jagdeo presented no evidence to satisfy the court on why his application should be granted. However, she recanted the $20M previously granted, and was expected to assess a new quantum of damages with the parties involved, come July 28, 2021.

In March, Justice Kurtzious had rendered the default judgement in the libel proceedings filed by Ferguson, who’d served under the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (AFC) administration.

The proceedings resulted from statements reportedly

Vice-President Bharrat Jagdeo made by Dr. Jagdeo in December 2019, alleging that Ferguson had acquired significant wealth in only two years of being the housing minister, and used her public office to acquire several plots of land at Eccles, on the East Bank Demerara on which she was constructing a mansion.

That story was published in the Guyana Times newspapers, against which a libel proceeding is still ongoing.

Ferguson and her team of attorneys made the move to apply for default judgement after Dr. Jagdeo failed to file a defence within the prescribed time outlined in the CPR. In addition to the $20M default judgement, Ferguson was also awarded costs in the sum of $75,000.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 15, 2021

FDA’s decision on J&J second dose COVID-19 vaccine being monitored

THE Ministry of Health is monitoring the United States Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) deliberations on a possible second dose of the US made Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine.

The FDA is also reviewing the possibility of a third dose for the Moderna vaccine and will review the Johnson and Johnson jab on Friday.

Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony, said it is important that the ministry pays attention to the outcome on the deliberations

for the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.

“These are new developments in terms of the regimen of how we use the vaccine, and we are paying keen attention at least for the J&J because we have been using that in Guyana, and if we have to give a second dose now, we’ll have to go back and encourage those persons who would have received it to come and get that booster shot.”

In August, Guyana received 34,000 doses of the Johnson and Johnson

vaccine. The distribution of the vaccine was mainly done in hinterland communities.

Meanwhile, Dr. Anthony said the country’s overall COVID-19 vaccination campaign has been progressing well with more than 300,000 persons taking the first dose of any of the vaccines offered.

“We now have 371,007 persons who would have received a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine so that takes our percentage up to 72.3 per cent of our adult population receiving a first

dose vaccine. In terms of second dose vaccine, we have had 228,262 persons who would have received the second dose vaccine or would have been fully immunised.

“That would now put the percentage at 44.5 per cent. In terms of the Pfizer vaccine for children, we have 26,130 persons receiving a first dose; that’s about 35.8 per cent of

that population and for a second dose, it’s 15,879, which would be about 21.8 per cent that age cohort, receiving both doses.”

The Ministry of Health rolled out an aggressive COVID-19 immunisation campaign last March. The vaccines being used are the AstraZeneca, Sinopharm, J&J, and Sputnik V. The Pfizer BioNTech vaccine is being offered

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Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony to adolescents between the ages of 12 to 17, along with pregnant and breastfeeding women.

(DPI)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 15, 2021

Man wanted for series Businesswoman found of alleged fraud dead in home, reputed

KEVON Lloyd Lagodou, 28, called “Yusuf Ali Lagodou” or “Shaykh Yusuf Ali Ibn Lagodou,” is wanted by the Guyana Police Force for questioning in relation to a series of reports of obtaining money allegedly by false pretence and reportedly by fraud in Georgetown.

Police said that his last known addresses are Lot 11 and 222 Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara.

Anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of Kevon Lloyd Lagodou is asked

husband arrested

WANTED: Kevon Lloyd Lagodou to contact the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) on 225-3079, 225-3084 or the nearest police station.

BUSINESSWOMAN Denise Vieira, 47, was, on Wednesday, found dead in her home at Pepper Hill, Mahdia, Region Eight.

Police have held her reputed husband, who is a 33-year-old pork knocker.

He is currently a suspect in the murder investigation.

Reports indicate that Vieira resided in a flat concrete structure and operated a small grocery shop in the said building while the

suspect, who is her reputed husband, resides in the said yard in a wooden structure.

Information received states that the suspect and the businesswoman shared a relationship for the past eight years and due to an ongoing domestic dispute between them for some months, the she decided to build the concrete structure and live by her herself about three months ago.

Further information received from her neighbour revealed that on Wednesday, at about 13:15 hours, the neighbour was at home when she overheard the businesswoman saying loudly, “Get out my (expletive) place, leff me alone.”

Reports indicate that around 13:30 hours, the suspect left his house and

proceeded next door and was socialising with some friends when at about 13:45 hours, a customer visited the businesswoman’s shop to purchase some items but she was not seen and did not respond to calls.

This was communicated to the suspect who went over and was seen making checks around the yard and in her shop.

The suspect then proceeded into his house via the back door and indicated to the customer that he discovered the businesswoman on the kitchen floor motionless and appeared to be dead.

Blood was oozing from her mouth, nose and face.

He attempted to revive her by shaking her but she was unresponsive and he put her to lie on her back. A

Dead: Denise Vieira report was then made to the police by neighbours.

The body of the businesswoman was examined for marks of violence which were recorded by the police.

Her body was taken to the Mahdia District Hospital and placed in the mortuary awaiting post mortem.

The suspect was contacted, told of the allegation and cautioned, but he denied involvement. He was arrested and placed into custody as investigations continue.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 15, 2021

Ex-policemen get 25 years each for raping woman at station

CONVICTED ex-police constables Delon Chapman and Leon Ashby were on Thursday sentenced to 25 years imprisonment for raping a woman in 2018, when she went to report a matter at the Turkeyen Police Station.

The men were sentenced

by Justice Jo-Ann Barlow in the Sexual Offences Court of the Demerara High Court.

In September, a jury found them guilty of engaging in sexual penetration with the woman on January 1, 2018, in the County of Demerara.

During the sentencing hearing on Thursday, the men’s attorney, Ravindra Mohabir pleaded with the court to consider that both of his clients are fathers and have families to support.

The lawyer said that Chapman, 29, and Ashby,

35, are still young and can be rehabilitated.

However, Chapman and Ashby, during their address to the court, maintained their innocence and claimed that they were not given a fair trial.

Chapman told the court, “I just want to say that I am innocent, and if this matter ever retry again, I just want y’all to understand that none of this happened.”

Meanwhile, Ashby has signalled his intention of appealing his conviction and sentence.

State Prosecutor Sarah Martin urged the judge to consider the seriousness and prevalence of sexual offences in today’s society, along with the fact that the crime was committed by then law enforcement officers who were supposed to “protect

and serve” citizens.

Justice Barlow, in her sentencing remarks, told the court that she took into consideration the circumstances, such as the breach of the victim’s trust.

The judge also said she considered the traumatic impact the incident had left on the victim, and also the fact that the ex-cops showed no remorse for their actions.

Justice Barlow then sentenced the convicts to 25 years in prison, and ordered that they be exposed to counselling for sex offenders.

According to reports, on the day in question, the victim went to the police station to file a report, and while there, she asked to use the washroom, and was taken to the facility by Chapman.

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Delon Chapman (left) and Leon Ashby It was while she was using the washroom that she was attacked by Chapman, and later joined by Ashby,

who took her into a room with a mattress and raped her.

The matter was report-

ed to the other ranks on duty, and the two men were later arrested and charged.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 15, 2021

One week extension for distribution of $25,000 –– voucher must be cashed by Nov. 30, says Minister Persaud cash grant vouchers

BY the end of today, the distribution of the $25,000 one-off cash grant vouchers and pension books will be completed in Regions Five and Six, except for a few remote locations which will be wrapped up over the weekend.

According to a release, as far as Georgetown is concerned, 75 per cent of the distribution has been completed, and an extra week will be provided at the end of this month for those who missed the distribution exercise last week.

As for residents on the East Coast and East Bank Demerara who missed collection, they are being urged to visit the regular distribution sites in their respective areas.

Subject Minister, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, has visited many of the distribution sites in Regions Four, Five and Six so far, and is gear-

ing up to visit Regions Two and 10 next week, and then Region Three the following week.

She reminded that while the 2022 pension book will be available throughout the year, the voucher is time bound, as it has to be cashed by November 30.

Providing an update on the exercise, Minister Persaud said: “There have been hiccups in a few locations, but we have quickly dealt with those. No system is perfect but every time we find an issue, we try to fix it so that by the next day, we don’t have that happening.

We are trying our best to facilitate the shut-in patients as early as possible, so once the general distribution is completed, those shut-in persons will be dealt with. We are also doing the direct delivery system. That has commenced already and will continue in all of the regions.”

She added: “What makes it all worthwhile is to see persons leaving with happy smiles and pensioners extremely delighted to receive their 2022 booklets this early. It is a wonderful initiative and I think what makes us want to do these things is that we understand that people are struggling and the support is needed.”

The ministry has also been doing complementary programmes like hamper distributions and similar support initiatives. In fact, last Tuesday, Dr. Persaud and team distributed approximately 500 hampers to villages across Region Five, especially as many residents have been affected by heavy rains and flooding recently.

Residents were happy for the support and interest shown by the ministry, some of which have been visited and helped in this way for the first time.

Minister Vindhya Persaud with retired teacher, Joylyn Nicholson, along with Region Five Vice- Chairman, Rion Peters (left) and Member of Parliament, Faizal Jaffarally

A pension and voucher distribution site in Region Five

Minister Persaud receives a warm welcome at Trafalgar Village, Region Five One resident of Trafalgar, West Coast Berbice, Joylyn Nicholson, was extremely pleased on Tuesday when the ministry showed up with hampers for dozens of persons in her community.

“I’m particularly pleased and heartened to see we weren’t left behind.

I am so heartened because many felt that it’s only the supporters of the government would receive assis-

tance but the President has proven his words that he is a President for all Guyana,” Nicholson expressed.

She also said that she was pleased with the pension and voucher process in the region and lauded Minister Persaud for her work among women, elderly and children. She was proud that she was a woman in government who cares about all people and

ensured that they benefit in so many ways.

Another resident of Burma, Dolly Satram, suffered heavy losses recently with flooding but continues to be grateful and appreciative for whatever efforts are being made to help the farmers at this time.

“I appreciate every little thing that the government is doing,” Satram expressed.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 15, 2021

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 15, 2021

Craig, Garden of Eden farmers urged to work together –– ministry to work with communities to develop farmers groups; NDIA to continue infrastructural works on communities’ D&I systems

AGRICULTURE Minister Zulfikar Mustapha on Wednesday met with farmers of Craig and Garden of Eden on the East Bank of Demerara.

During the meetings farmers from both villages

raised a number of concerns with the minister related to farming in their communities.

Farmers at Craig related that the co-op was not being managed properly.

They noted that some farm-

ers were afraid to voice their grievances over fears of being victimised by the co-op’s chairman.

One farmer from Craig who spoke out at the meeting said due to the current operations of the co-op, ag-

riculture in the community cannot progress.

“They occupy land with the intent of planting it, but they are not planting it or giving farmers the opportunity to plant it. I went to the co-op office in Georgetown and lodged a complaint. I came to meetings again and felt victimised. We are not progressing as a group

One of the farmers who raised an issue (DPI photo) in terms of farming,” the farmer said.

The Chairman of the Co-op, who was also present at the meeting, denied claims that he victimised individuals, highlighting that the body has rules which members need to follow.

Another farmer said works need to be conducted to give farmers access to their lands.

“The machine that was sent was a brand-new machine and it was working perfectly. Around the sec-

ond of August, the machine was moved without anyone’s knowledge. Between the sixth and the 10th of August, a next machine came back to the area but that machine couldn’t walk the path. We got another machine to pull it out. It came out from the hole and is still there waiting for the mechanic to look after it while the farmers suffer. We have a reasonable amount of drainage because of the work the ministry has done so far, but some of the trenches are blocked up because of the big trees and so that is around it. Cutting the trees is not a problem, but African bees are all over those trees. As soon as you start the machine you have to run for cover,” the farmer said.

Meanwhile, farmers from Garden of Eden complained about the drainage and blamed the operators for not opening the sluices on time.

However, two of the sluice operators in question who were at the meeting, denied the claims. They noted that the structures were operated on the basis of the tide.

On both occasions, Minister Mustapha called for farmers to work together. He also encouraged them to create farmers’ groups so that they can collaborate closer with the ministry.

“Those groups will be registered under the Ministry of Agriculture and

Minister Zulfikar Mustapha our agencies will work with those groups to try and solve all of the farming issues faced in your communities. A team from the ministry will be coming back to these communities within a week to work on developing a programme of works for the community,” Minister Mustapha said.

He also told farmers that the machine that has been inoperable in the community will be fixed and another would soon be sent to the communities to complete the drainage works. The machine will also aid in the execution of community projects. The farmers’ groups are expected to provide an outline, detailing what works are needed in the communities, so that the ministry can work along with them.

The Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development would also be engaged to address issues relating to the operation of the sluices in the areas. (DPI)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 15, 2021

CPGL funding 18 rapid energy upskilling scholarships at UG CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited (CPGL) is supporting the University of Guyana’s Institute for Energy Diplomacy (IED) to fund 18 scholarships for Professional Executive Energy Training.

According to a release, this initiative is part of UGIED’s aim to deliver energy upskilling in line with local content requirements and CPGL’s long-term commitment to help develop the technical capacity of Guyana and its people.

The 18 scholarships, to

Liu remarked, “This signal of support is the beginning of a long-term partnership and a relationship between CPGL and the University of Guyana. We view these scholarships in alignment with our philosophy of teaching our Guyanese counterparts how to fish.

We envision that this programme will continue to grow.”

GREAT SIGNIFICANCE UG’s Vice-Chancellor XI, Mohamed Martin, in expressing appreciation to

shipping. UGIED’s portfolio of courses are expected to expand with additions in oil and gas project planning and management, energy project investment and finance, and oil and gas contract law and negotiations, among others.

The university’s energy executive courses are 100 per cent online and are taught over two weeks by internationally respected experts and academics. Persons may opt for an exam or no exam mode. The certification and costs of the two options differ.

Nine of the 18 scholarships are being awarded to applicants from the Amerindian tribes and areas outside of the Georgetown area be coordinated by the Institute of Energy Diplomacy, will enable individuals from remote areas of Guyana to undertake upskilling in energy economics, finance, management and law.

Nine of the 18 scholarships are being awarded to applicants from the Amerindian tribes and areas outside of the Georgetown area. This is in keeping with a fundamental aim of CNOOC International’s Corporate Social Responsibility policy - to support the education, training, and development of Indigenous communities, locally and internationally.

The grant was presented by the President of CNOOC, Mr. Liu Xiaoxiang at the company’s Georgetown office and received by Founding Director, UGIED Alex Armogan; UG’s Vice-Chancellor XI, Professor Paloma Mohamed Martin; and Director of UG’s Berbice Campus, Professor Subramanian Gomalthinayagam. At the handing over ceremony, President

CNOOC, underscored, “the great significance the university attaches to international and partner support in helping the national university meet its enormous mandate of rapidly supporting the creation of the talent needed to fulfill local content mandates”.

This kind of support not only supports the national thrust, but allows more of our people to get involved more quickly so that they can begin to benefit from the industry.

Alex Armogan, the founding director of UGIED, said the importance of establishing a long-term, sustainable relationship between CPGL and UGIED is to educate and to prepare local students for jobs in the nation’s oil and gas industry.

The Institute for Energy Diplomacy launched its Professional Executive Training programme in June 2021 and currently offers courses in oil and gas value chain, energy markets, crude oil trading, and energy transport and

The main difference is that those taking the exams for course credits will have the option of adding these to other offerings with The University of Guyana for a postgraduate diploma in the future, based on the modular framework of courses offered through the Institute for Energy Diplomacy.

EXCELLENT ACCELERATED PRODUCTION Professor Mohamed Martin has noted that Guyana, a new producer of oil and gas, has lost valuable upskilling time in key areas of the industry due to the excellent accelerated production from the Stabroek licence.

Cutting time from discovery to production from an average of seven years to four years, a remarkable and beneficial leap for Guyana, has however, created a temporary training gap and a steep learning curve in a complex

industry that is completely new to the country. The university, along with several other players, are working assiduously to fill this gap in similar record time.

The university, whose national mandate is to equip the nation with the workforce needed for national development, is responding through a number of initiatives, one of which is the Institute for Energy Diplomacy and also a Masters in Supply Chain Management.

The institute offers critical short courses to augment other undergraduate and post-graduate degree offerings in the university’s faculties.

CNOCC has been one of the university’s solid international partners in its quest for addressing key training and national needs at this critical juncture. According to the university, the company’s funding to the Institute for Energy Diplomacy Energy Executive Course Scholar-

ships will have a nationwide capacity-building impact and specifically, an impact on energy education in Indigenous and underserved areas.

Interested persons can visit www.ugied.com or contact the institute directly at ied@uog.edu.gy or +592 613 5776 for more information. Apply and register to the Institute for Energy Diplomacy’s Executive Courses via UG’s SRMS (https://turkeyenonline.uog. edu.gy/srms).

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 15, 2021

Guyana delegation visits BioSense Institute

LABOUR Minister Joseph Hamilton and the accompanying Guyana delegation paid a visit to the BioSense Institute of Serbia on Thursday.

The institute is a member of the Novi Sad University and one of the first public research institutes which specialises in digital/ precision agriculture in Europe.

During the visit, the Guyana delegation was provided with an overview of the institute and its achievements in the use of science and technology to transform the agricultural sector in Serbia. Since its inception almost 15 years ago, the institute has successfully consolidated the use of nano and microelectronics, robotics, big data, artificial intelligence,

and remote sensing to maximise crop yields and profits, by taking into account crop rotation, environmental impact and cost of operations.

Minister Hamilton took the opportunity to express Guyana’s interest in collaborating with partners such as Serbia to develop its agricultural sector, in view of the country’s development goals and efforts aimed at advancing the food-security agenda in the Caribbean region.

It was acknowledged that there was much to be gained through further engagement with the institute to explore advantages that could be taken with regard to research techniques to bolster Guyana’s agricultural sector.

Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton and members of the Guyana delegation with officials of the BioSense Institute of Serbia on Thursday

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 15, 2021

24 small business owners receive food safety training

THE Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS), in observance of World Standards Day, recently hosted a free food safety training for 24 small business owners.

The training was conducted by technical officers of the Business Development Department, at the GNBS Head office, Sophia Exhibition site, George-

tips were shared on what materials to avoid in the kitchen and the importance of resisting the urge to reuse food stored for long hours.

“The GNBS believes in making quality and safety accessible to all and by offering this training free of cost,” GNBS Technical Officer, Breana Wilson said.

Participants of the train-

that was particularly interesting for me was learning about the bacteria and how they grow and how prevalent they can be in a food environment. I feel very good for the training as it was very informative.”

According to Head of the Business Development Department, Omesh Balmacoon, the training was only opened to small-scale

Technical Officer, Breana Wilson conducts the food safety training on Thursday at the GNBS’ Quality Hall, Sophia Exhibition Site, Georgetown town.

World Standards Day is being observed under the theme “Standards for SDGS – our vision for a better world.”

According to a release, the food safety training was offered to small agro-processors and vendors that handle, prepare and provide food products for sale. It highlighted some of the basic food safety requirements that ensure the end products are safe for human consumption. In addition,

ing were all pleased with the experience, which they said would help them to produce food items of a higher standard.

One participant, Carolina James, noted that “the training was conducted with a lot of knowledge we did not have before and since we are food vendors, we are interested in the way to up keeping standards in conducting our daily work.”

Kiven Pierre, another food vendor said, “one thing

food producers.

A certificate was provided to the participants, which can be used to increase customer confidence in their products. However, these persons are still required to be in possession of a food handler’s certificate.

With the expansion of their businesses, participants were also encouraged to pursue certification to local and international standards, the release concluded.

Participants, along with Technical Officer, Breana Wilson (right) and head of the Business Development Department, Omesh Balmacoon (left) with their certificates following the one-day training

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday October 15, 2021

‘Is We Ting!’ set for Sunday - to feature impressive line-up of local artistes

THE Rupununi Music and Arts festival will be hosting a special ‘Total Local’ virtual edition of its iconic concert this Sunday. The event is poised to feature all local artistes, providing a platform for them to maintain creative exposure to not only their local fans, but also among an international audience as well.

The festival, which, prior to the coronavirus pandemic, was a highly-anticipated show, will also provide an avenue for local artistes to capitalise on an income, at a time when physical events are almost non-existent.

“Is We Ting!” premiers live from 4 p.m. sharp on Facebook and YouTube. It will feature performances from a number of captivating local artistes such as Trevaun Selman, Tujay, the Poet, Gavin & Chucky, Herbie Marshall and Keith Campbell, A/TayJAH, as well as performances from the Rupertee Cul-

One of the performances will be by the Rupertee Cultural Group.

tural Group, and a number of Guyanese living abroad, including ‘Rawle The Doll’ and international Roots/Reggae artiste, Arkaingelle.

Going strong for seven years now, the festival, birthed at Rock View Lodge, Annai in 2014, is an outdoor camping music event that usually takes place on the savannah of the Amazon for three days – Friday to Sunday. It has been a routine event for those who are particularly enthralled by the wonders of nature.

“When the pandemic hit, though it put a strain on the Arts and the Cultural and Creative Industries.

Live music and entertainment was totally cancelled for the first time, and this significantly impacted society and artists alike,” one of the organisers and performer Gavin Mendonca said during an engagement with the Buzz this week.

Determined to keep the festival alive, he noted that

he and the other organisers - Bob Ramdhanie, Denis DeAgrella and Luke Johnson - immediately started to think of ways to continue to host the festival in a safe way.

“And so, the concept of virtual festivals was born. Since December 2020, the team has been hosting bi-monthly virtual editions of the festival on their Facebook page and YouTube channel,” Mendonca explained.

The festival is said to offer more than just entertainment, with the organisers often referring to it as an all-in-one treat for the nature and music lovers.

Over the past years, the festival has captured the attention of many who see it as having the potential of becoming “de tourism product” that the country has to offer when it comes to adventure tourism, entertainment and cultural preservation.

As such, the intention, according to the organisers,

The show, consisting of local talents only will stream live from 4 PM. is to develop a dedicated festival site in the Rupununi – an iconic and fu-

ture-facing cultural space.

They see this becoming a reality, owing to the support from a series of tangible partnerships that have been established over the years with the government, private sector, local and international volunteers, among others.

The concept is to create an environmentally sustainable, eco-friendly ‘benab-style’ village which could possibly feature a main performance stage (thatched); flexible spaces to accommodate meetings and small performance; an area for camping using (benabs, tents and yurts etcetera; seating areas outfitted with stalls for food, arts and crafts; and a major central dome with local plants, flowers and sculptured totem poles – a breath-taking, eco-haven created using locally sourced materials and labour.

“The Rupununi is a most beautiful area of Guyana and establishing a permanent base there would highlight the region as a destination site and put Guyana solidly on the map for both cultural and experiential arts, culture and tourism,” Bob Ramdhanie had said in a previous interview with the Buzz.

“We see ourselves as enablers, not just in the cultural arena but also within training, youth development, promoting high-quality Guyanese arts and crafts; collectively wishing to take Guyanese culture to new places globally; also bring to Guyana new arts and musical experiences,” he added.

Persons can visit www. rupununifestival.com to learn more and find links to watch the stream this Sunday.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday October 15, 2021

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One Guyana concert oozes patriotism Our National Motto: ‘One People, One Nation, One Destiny’, was on full display last Sunday night, as some of Guyana’s most celebrated artistes took to the stage and sang their hearts out.

The ‘One Guyana’ concert hosted by the Government of Guyana oozed of patriotism, and as the virtual event began, our national colours which decorated the almost-empty

Guyana National Stadium, flooded the screens of our television sets, phones, laptops and tablets.

But even as the coronavirus prevents us from Turn to page 26

Danielle and Quanisha

Tannist Darius

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday October 15, 2021

One Guyana concert oozes...

From page 25 rejoicing and celebrating our heritage in physical unison, the event provided a clean, safe, and virtual space for us to come together and enjoy just some of what makes us a truly unique people.

The line -up of the per-

formers was keen enough to pay tribute to not only the common and vibrant identity that we share today, but to our heritage, incorporating the sounds of our ancestors who came from Europe, Africa, Asia and China; it

featured various genres of music and various artistical displays.

Many also called it a night of nostalgia as it captivated the interest of not only young, energetic Guyanese, but also older citizens who

cKush were able to sit back in comfort and enjoy some of the more soulful performances.

The concert brought together, Guyanese from all walks of life, both in and out of Guyana who joined via social media.

Steven Ramphal More than just music, hype and dance, the performances also delivered powerful messages of unity, love and overcoming even the darkest of nights, in anticipation of a brighter day that may be on the horizon.

U n f o r t u n a t e l y, t h e Ministry responsible for hosting the event has not uploaded any images, but we share with you, some imagines of the artistes who warmed our hearts last Sunday.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday October 15, 2021

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Kate Walsh to return to Grey’s Anatomy

On the ABC medical drama’s Thursday, Oct. 14 episode, Dr. Addison Montgomery was back at Grey Sloan Memorial, marking Kate Walsh’s reappearance after leaving as a series regular at the end of season three.

The big reunion with Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) came quickly, with Addison telling Richard (James Pickens Jr.) once the hospital’s air filtration system went out, “Get me Meredith Grey.”

After Addison and Meredith teamed up for a successful transplant surgery, they were in an elevator together when the neonatal surgeon tearfully broke down over her grief from the loss of ex-husband Derek Shepherd, played by Patrick Dempsey.

“I thought coming back here—to Seattle, to Grey Sloan—that he’d be here, that I would be able to feel that he was still here in the city that he loved, with the people he loved, but he isn’t,” Addison lamented. “And it’s real—he’s not here.”

This led Meredith to comfortingly reply, “Addison, he is here, and he’s in his children, and they are

very real. And I would love for you to come and meet them.”

Toward the end of the episode, Addison got to enjoy some ice cream with youngsters Zola and Bailey as Ellis rested upstairs. After introducing herself as their dad’s friend, she explained, “I’m Addison, but he called me Addie.”

Later, she adorably told the kids, “Guess what? I’m falling more in love with you every second.”

Following the episode, Kate took to social media to acknowledge its heartfelt moments. “Well excuse me while I go shed a few tears,” the actress tweeted. “Wow! Thank you all for making this night so special!

Feels like I never left. Hope you all loved the episode as much as I did.”

Earlier in the day, Kate gave an exclusive interview to E! News’ Daily Pop, where she teased what’s to come between the two doctors and friends.

“There’s some great professional and personal things that transpire between Addison and Meredith, which I think the fans will be very excited by, satisfied by and surprised by, as well,” the Private Practice alum shared. (EOnline.com)

The Meredith Grey and Addison Montgomery team up has us excited (cheatsheet photo)

SRK’s son arrested in drug bust, not granted bail

Filmmaker Rahul Dholakia and actress Swara Bhasker react to Aryan Khan’s bail plea (Indian Express photo)

Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan was arrested on October 3 following a raid on a Goa-bound cruise ship and is presently in judicial custody, and has so far, not been granted bail.

A special NDPS court has reserved the order on Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan’s bail plea until October 20. In the meantime, some notable names in Bollywood have been rallying support for the young Khan, calling for him to be granted bail.

More specifically, filmmaker Rahul Dholakia and actors Swara Bhasker and Ranvir Shorey have expressed their disappointment with the court’s decision.

Dholakia, who directed

Shah Rukh starrer Raees, tweeted, “I respect and support people doing their job, unfortunately this is not seeming to be about that.

Disappointed with the decision of extending Aryan’s jail time. #AryanKhanBail.”

Swara Bhasker, who has earlier expressed solidarity with SRK, also shared on Twitter, “#AryanKhan #AryanKhanBail Pure harassment!”

Similarly, Ranvir Shorey expressed his views on the decision as he tweeted “#NoteToSelf. It is the old habit of the society to give punishment or benefits for the deeds done by the parents to their children.”

(Indian Express)

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Guyana Olympic Association president wants land for Rugby

Guyana Olympic Association president, K.A Juman-Yassin THE Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU), a core sport listed by the Minis-

try of Culture, Youth and Sport, has for years been without a home of its own.

Generally, they have used the National Park to train and host tournaments but K.A Juman-Yassin, president of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA), feels now is the time that the Government allocates a plot of land to the Union, so they can develop.

Juman-Yassin comments came at a recent handing over funds to the GRFU for participation in the Rugby Americas North Championship this weekend in Turks and Caicos. “At this stage, I call upon the Government of Guyana to ensure that land is given to Guyana Rugby

so that they can have a home of their own,” the GOA boss stated.

He went on to say, “for many years, they have been asking, pleading, begging but it has not materialised; they need it because without that they really cannot do everything they wish to do and being in the National Park it is causing inconvenience maybe to other sports and persons who use that ground.”

Senior GRFU Vice-President, Joshua Griffith indicated that some discussions have occurred, but nothing

definitive.

In January, GRFU Executives met with the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr. President Ryan Dey informed the Minister of the current state of the rugby pitch in the National Park and requested that it be properly fitted to accommodate rugby once again.

In May, the GRFU and Campbellville Community Development Organisation (CCDO) signed a long-term agreement, giving Guyana’s Rugby access to the Camptown ground.

Chase eyes anchor role in Windies powerful batting line-up

DUBAI, (CMC) – Roston Chase said he was ready to play the anchor role in the swashbuckling West Indies batting order during the ICC Men’s Twenty20 World Cup, starting this Sunday in the United Arab Emirates and Oman.

Chase admitted his game was not built around the raw power of many of the other batsmen in the Windies top order, so he could play a role like what he does for St Lucia Kings in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), which helped him to earn

a place in the 15-member squad.

“I see myself playing a similar role,” Chase said during a virtual media conference from the West Indies training base in Dubai on Thursday.

“I played for the St Lucia franchise for the past two years where I come in mostly after the Powerplay and knock it around and pick up the ones and twos and the occasional boundary when the ball is in my area to score so it’s an easy role for me.

“I like that role and

with the power-hitting guys that we have, my role is just to give them the strike and let them do their thing but if the ball is in my area I will put it away.”

Chase was among the leading scorers in this year’s CPL in St Kitts with 446 runs at an average of 49.55 and strike rate of 144.33.

“Early on in this year’s CPL, the pitches were a bit difficult,” he said. “They had a lot of grass, but the grass was kind of spongy. It wasn’t like even grass for the ball to slide on.

Travis Head makes history...

From page 34 runs at an average of 63.11 and a phenomenal strike-rate of 121.75, with three centuries and six half-centuries. His love affair with Karen Rolton Oval continues as well, averaging 95 in 11 innings there across Marsh Cup and Sheffield Shield cricket including three scores in excess of 163.

He entered with the score at 1 for 22 in the fourth over following the loss of Alex Carey. Head began his assault on the Queensland bowlers immediately and never relented.

He raced to his century off just 65 balls, bringing it up with a six over square leg.

His second hundred took

49 balls with the only thing to halt his progress being a short burst of rain that cost the Redbacks two overs.

Head scored all around the ground but was particularly savage on anything short, clubbing sixes over square leg and point. He was fearless with his footwork to the spinners smashing them repeatedly down the ground.

He finally holed out at long on in the 47th over.

He got great support from Jake Weatherald who made 97 in their 244-run stand. Weatherald missed out on his century when he was caught off a leading edge at mid on from the bowling of Gurinder Sandhu. The right-armer took

4 for 73 on his Queensland debut having played previously for New South Wales and Tasmania.

Queensland made an excellent start to the chase racing to 2 for 132 in the 17th over thanks to Heazlett’s electrifying innings. But unlike Head, he was unable to keep it going, running wildly down the track to Pope only to be deceived which left him stumped by a mile.

Matt Renshaw and Michael Neser made half-centuries, Neser’s coming off 25 balls batting at No. 8, but Doggett and Pope kept taking wickets at regular intervals to leave the Bulls well short. (Cricinfo).

“The ball was bouncing a bit; that was a bit hard, so I just thought that after the first couple of matches I was trying to go at the ball a bit too hard. It was a pitch that you needed time to get in first and then it became easier.

“So that is what I told myself after the first couple of games, just give myself a bit of time at the crease and then let my stroke play take over from there.”

Chase said he might have to make similar adjustments for the pitches in the UAE. “We’ve had three training sessions so far, and basically, the pitches have been coming on pretty good,” he said.

“The only issue I see with the pitches is that

they’re keeping low, so you probably have to stay low when you’re executing your shots and that should work, but the pitches are coming on a lot nicer than the ones we usually get in the CPL, so it should be a bit easier to get some runs.”

Two-time champions West Indies open their title defence against England on October 23 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in a rematch of the 2016 final.

They have been drawn in Group 1 and will also play group matches against recent opponents South Africa and Australia, as well as two teams that advance from qualifying round in the first week of the tournament.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Friday October 15, 2021) COMPLIMENTS OF CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) India (2) Shahid Afridi (PAK) Today’s Quiz: (1) Who were declared ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2009?

(2) Who won the Man of the Tournament Award?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday October 15, 2021

Namibia’s golden generation ready to make waves after 18-year absence from the big stage

IT’S been 18 long years since Namibia featured at an ICC World Cup. If the current generation of players have anything to say about it, the Eagles are here to stay this time around.

Gerhard Erasmus was only seven years old when Namibia last played in an ICC World Cup. Taking part in the 2003 Cricket World cup, they went winless across the six games.

You suspect they will fare better this time around, with the current generation of Namibian cricketers considered by many as their best yet. And while the class of 2003 may not have won a match at the Cricket World Cup, they inspired the generation that has come through.

A generation that plays teamfirst cricket and has no fears over the prospect of taking on the game’s best over the next month in their maiden ICC T20 World Cup campaign.

“We’re really excited for it now, so imagine the night before,” Erasmus, the Namibia captain, said following the release of the tournament fixtures.

Eighteen years on from their global tournament debut, Namibia are firm contenders to make it out of a hyper-competitive First Round group that features Sri Lanka, the Netherlands and Ireland.

The team’s recent rise to prominence can be traced back to the changes made in late 2018,

following a disappointing World Cricket League 2 campaign, which saw them miss out on a spot at the Qualifier for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019.

Appointing former Leicestershire coach Pierre de Bruyn, and bringing former South African international Albie Morkel in as his assistant, Namibia re-grouped and won World Cricket League 2 in 2019 to attain ODI status.

Full-time contracts ensued for the playing group, and a strong pool of national team players has formed a steely team culture akin to their Full Member foes.

In the middle of this topto-bottom change in Namibian cricket, from the grassroots up

to the high-performance levels, coach de Bruyn was still faced with difficult decisions when it came to finalising the squad for this month’s T20 World Cup. That is further testament to this generation’s quality. They come to the T20 World Cup not only with high hopes but the balance of an outfit capable of pushing on.

The same year they attained ODI status, the Namibians also qualified for the upcoming T20 World Cup. It was a bumpy ride with Erasmus’ side suffering an early stumble at the ICC T20 World Cup Qualifier 2019, as they tasted defeats to the Netherlands and Papua New Guinea in the group stage. But overall, the Eagles produced strong performances at the tournament, epitomising team-first cricket, with several players stepping up in key situations to ultimately achieve the objective: T20 World Cup qualification.

Winning a near do-or-die match-up against a heavily favoured Scotland outfit, Namibia pressed on with emphatic victories over Bermuda, Kenya and Singapore. Rocketing to third at the end of the round-robin phase, Namibia carried the momentum into the playoff stages, defeating Oman by 54 runs to book their ticket to the upcoming tournament.

Skipper Erasmus led from the front with the bat, making three half-centuries in the campaign, only bettered by Ireland’s Paul Stirling in terms of tournament runs. All-rounder JJ Smit struck 190 runs at a strike rate of 168, with the dependable Craig Williams and Stephen Baard providing valuable runs at the top.

With the ball, it was death by left-armers for Namibia’s adversaries. Smit and Jan Frylinck’s angles worked with great effect with the new ball, while the finger-spin of Bernard Scholtz suffocated opposing players in the middle overs, with his round-arm action leading to plenty of bowled and lbw dismissals.

Despite the retirements of Zhivago Groenewald and JeanPierre Kotze, Namibia’s team include a bulk of their squad from the qualifier. They are further bolstered by the inclusion of David Wiese, a former South African international now competing under the Namibian flag.

A domestic T20 maverick in recent years, Wiese last represented South Africa in 2016, taking 24 T20I wickets at an economy of 7.60 in 20 international matches. Striking at

Namimbia’s captain Gerhard Erasmus 143.52 across his T20 career, ago in the UAE. he’ll provide another headache With the addition of Wiese for opponents in the final overs into the team, Smit could well with both bat and ball. move up the batting order. He Namibia’s squad has also is also likely to play a big part seen an injection of youth. on the bowling side, given his Leg-spinning all-rounder Nicol ability to swing the new ball or Loftie-Eaton is one young player push it away from right-handed to keep an eye on, while Mi- players. chael van Lingen only made his Key player international debut this month.

Gerhard Erasmus Twenty-three-year-old Ruben If Gerhard Erasmus isn’t the Trumpelmann joins Smit and best batter in Associate cricket, Frylinck in a left-arm trio of the right-hander is certainly in quicks, while off-spinner Mau- the conversation. Technically ritius Ngupita joins the team as gifted, and with a textbook of a travelling reserve. shots all around the ground, The squad Erasmus shone at the 2019 QualGerhard Erasmus (c), Ste- ifier, with only Paul Stirling phen Baard, Karl Birkenstock, notching more runs than his tally Michau du Preez, Jan Frylinck, of 268.

Zane Green, Nicol Lofie-Eaton, Averaging a tick under 35 Bernard Scholtz, Ben Shikongo, with the bat at a strike rate of JJ Smit, Ruben Trumpelmann, 140.70 in his first 22 T20Is, Michael van Lingen, David while leading his team to an Wiese, Craig Williams, Picky impressive record, Erasmus is Ya France set to face his sternest test at the Reserves: Mauritius Ngupita upcoming tournament.

Their fixtures It would be remiss not to 18 Oct – v Sri Lanka acknowledge his successes thus 20 Oct – v the Netherlands far. On top of qualifying for this 22 Oct – v Ireland year’s World Cup, Erasmus also Tournament history led Namibia back to ODI status Best finish: N/A (Tourna- in 2019, winning World Cricket ment Debut) League 2 at home with both his After heartbreaking exits at nous as a leader and his talent the last three T20 World Cup with the bat.

Qualifiers, Namibia make a Erasmus may lean on his long-awaited debut in the com- own off-spinning services with petition. Finishing third with the ball, and provides energy only two available spots in the with athleticism in the field.

2012 Qualifier, they were also Big match the best of the rest at the 2015 The Netherlands - 20 Octournament. tober Look out for After a tough opener against JJ Smit Sri Lanka, Namibia will turn A devastating all-rounder, their attention to their second JJ Smit stands as a pivotal figure group game against the Nethin the Namibian line-up, with erlands, a likely make-or-break match-winning ability with both fixture in their hopes of a Super bat and ball.

12 berth.

A good player of both spin The Netherlands were and pace, Smit is quick on the 44-run winners in their match short ball, though also adept at back at the Qualifier, though hitting over the off-side, with a the Namibians’ were self-adnumber of memorable drives hit mitting slow starters in their into the stands during Namibia’s first match at the tournament. qualification campaign two years (ICC Media)

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday October 15, 2021

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Diedhiou fires hat-trick as Senegal, Morocco book final-round places JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AFP) — Famara Diedhiou scored a hat-trick for Senegal as they and Morocco won Wednesday to become the first nations to secure places in the final African World Cup qualifying round.

Turkey-based Diedhiou overshadowed teammate and Liverpool star Sadio Mane with his treble, which earned Senegal a 3-1 away win over Namibia and maintained a 100 per cent Group H record after four rounds.

The first goal from the 28-year-old Alanyaspor forward was cancelled out before half-time by Peter Shalulile, but the Senegalese struck early and late in the second half to ensure maximum points.

Senegal, who beat Namibia 4-1 three days ago, have scored 16 goals in four World Cup qualifiers against the southern African country.

Namibia were forced to stage the fixture in Soweto

Senegal’s Famara Diedhiou hit a treble against Namibia near Johannesburg because they lack an international-standard stadium.

Togo surprised hosts Con-

go Brazzaville 2-1 in the same section to rise from last to second, eight points adrift of two-time World Cup qual-

Kyrie Irving ‘being true’ to himself by not getting vaccinated

Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving (REUTERS)-Kyrie Irving said he was “being true to what feels good” by choosing not to get vaccinated after the Brooklyn Nets decided he will not be allowed to practice or play with them until he complies with New York City’s coronavirus vaccine mandate.

A New York mandate requires proof of at least one

shot of the vaccine to enter large indoor spaces. The NBA has said players who are unable to compete due to local mandates will miss out on pay.

“It is not about being anti-vax or about being on one side or the other. It is just really about being true to what feels good for me,” ESPN quoted the Nets

guard as saying on Instagram Live on Wednesday, October 13.

“If I am going to be demonized for having more questions and taking my time to make a decision with my life, that is just what it is. I know the consequences of the decisions that I make with my life. I am not here to sugarcoat any of that.”

“The financial consequences, I know I do not want to even do that. But it is the reality that in order to be in New York City, in order to be on a team, I have to be vaccinated. I chose to be unvaccinated and that was my choice and I would ask you all to just respect that choice.”

NBA players who are not vaccinated will have to comply with a long list of restrictions to take part in the upcoming season, according to a memo obtained by Reuters last month.

The 2021-2022 season is set to begin on October 19.

ifiers Senegal.

Substitute Selim Amallah scored twice as Morocco took advantage of playing an away match at home to overwhelm Guinea 4-1 in Rabat.

Ayoub el Kaabi and Sofiane Boufal notched the other Moroccan goals as they chalked up a fourthstraight win in Group I, where their rivals have been handicapped by not being able to host qualifiers.

Fifa considers Guinea unsafe after a military coup toppled President Alpha Conde while no stadium in Guinea-Bissau or Sudan, the other two nations in the group, is deemed fit for international football.

Algeria trounced Niger 4-0 in Niamey to stretch an African record unbeaten run to 31 matches and regain first place in Group A from Burkina Faso on goal difference.

Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez triggered the

rout with a goal midway through the first half. Islam Slimani doubled the lead before half-time.

Niger fell four goals behind within nine minutes of the restart as AC Milan midfielder Ismael Bennacer and Baghdad Bounedjah netted.

South Africa clung to a one-point Group G lead over Ghana after both claimed 1-0 victories, over Ethiopia and Zimbabwe respectively.

An early own-goal by Captain Getaneh Kebede condemned Ethiopia to defeat in Johannesburg while Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey scored the match winner in Harare.

A crowd of 2,000 was permitted to watch South Africa — the first time spectators have attended a sport event in the republic since the coronavirus pandemic struck early last year.

Only fully vaccinated supporters were given access and they had little to cheer as South Africa la-

boured against opponents who had more possession but were let down by weak finishing.

The other eight places in the play-offs next March will be decided during the final two matchdays next month.

Algeria, Tunisia, Nigeria, Mali and Egypt look set to progress while the battles between Ivory Coast and Cameroon, and South Africa and Ghana are seem likely to go down to the wire.

Only two points separate surprise leaders Tanzania, Benin and the Democratic Republic of Congo in the other mini-league, where even bottom team Madagascar have a mathematical chance.

A seeded draw will split the 10 group table-toppers into five pairings with the winners of the two-leg ties representing Africa at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

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34

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday October 15, 2021

Tributes pour in for Kenya’s Agnes Tirop …’She was humble, focussed and smiling’ TRIBUTES have been pouring in for Kenya’s Agnes Tirop, who was found dead on Wednesday, with her former athletics captain Julius Yego among those leading the way.

The 25-year-old was found stabbed to death at her home, with police naming her husband as a suspect.

When Tirop, who finished fourth in this year’s Olympic 5,000m final, won 10,000m bronze at the 2019 World Athletics Championships, Yego was her team captain.

“She was an amazing young girl who was really working hard to be one of the top athletes in the world,” Yego told the BBC World Service’s Newsday programme.

“She wanted to be the best and it was only a few weeks ago that she broke the world record for the 10km.

Her successful career was still being crafted but unfortunately, someone decided the whole story cannot be written.

During her career, Tirop had success as both a junior - winning 5,000m bronze at world championships in 2012 and 2014 - and as a senior, winning the World Cross Country championships in

2015.

At the World Athletics Championships in 2017 and 2019, Tirop won bronze in the 10,000m before finishing 0.75 seconds outside the medal places at the Tokyo Games two months ago.

Last month, she set a new world record of 30 minutes and one second, in Germany, for the 10km road race.

On Thursday, Athletics Kenya - the country’s governing body - suspended all athletics competition for two weeks as a mark of respect for Tirop’s death.

“We just lost a great talent. She was such a strong woman and committed to what she was doing,” said Yego.

Asked how he would remember, the Olympic javelin silver medallist replied: “A young lady who was so peaceful, so humble, always smiling.

“You would never know when she was sad or angry,” he said, adding she was incredibly “focussed on her training and her career”.

“We had a difficult day yesterday - it is still shocking. When you check on social media or TV, it is the sad news of Agnes. We are still collecting ourselves.”

‘Such a friendly soul’

Hellen Obiri (right) beat compatriot Agnes Tirop in the Tokyo Olympics 5,000m final Eunice Sum, an 800m world champion in 2013, was a close friend of Tirop who saw her body when visiting her home on Wednesday.

Like many in Kenya, including President Uhuru Kenyatta, she called on police to find those responsible for her death.

“Agnes was a jovial, ever-smiling lady and I was looking forward to seeing her running in the near future because she was so talented, even in road races,” Sum told BBC Sport Africa.

“Seeing her body was so hurtful for us. I hope Agnes

Hemraj blasts unbeaten ton in Atlanta Open T20 League

N AT I O N A L c r i c k e t e r Chandrapaul Hemraj blasted an unbeaten century to spur Samp Army to an eight-wicket victory against Brampton Pacers on the opening day of the 2021 Atlanta Open T20 League on Thursday in Atlanta, Georgia.

Former West Indies Test cricketer Assad Fudadin and national cricketer Akshay Homraj were also in the side, but only Hemraj had a chance in the middle.

Bampton Pacers won the toss and opted to bat, with Jamaican cricketer Paul Palmer leading the charge.

The 29-year-old, who batted at number three, belted seven fours and six sixes for a 56-ball unbeaten 98.

Chandrapaul Hemraj belted 14 sixes and four fours in his 40-ball 113.

He might have reached his century if his teammates supported him. Only former West Indies Test cricketer Chadwick Walton with 20 (2X6s) from 17 balls and Carlos Brown (11 runs from 18 balls), reached double digits scores. This lull in the

latter stage of the innings restricted the side to 160-7 from their allotted overs.

Saurab Netravalker led the bowling attack for the winners with 3-28 from four overs, while Raymond Refeer took 2-35 from four overs.

In the chase, Hemraj asserted his dominance with a blistering 113 from 40 balls. The 28-year-old, who scored an aggressive half-century last Sunday in the New York National Cricket League, Cricket Zone T20 Cup, continued his belligerent hitting yesterday. In his innings, he struck 14 huge sixes and four fours, which helped to skyrocket the side to 163-2 in 12 overs.

gets justice. Rest in peace Agnes.”

Hellen Obiri, one of Tirop’s rivals on the track, also had high hopes for Tirop.

The 31-year-old won Olympic 5,000m silver in Tokyo two months ago, beating Tirop in the race, yet she was fully expecting her compatriot to take her distance mantle as she moves up to

road running.

“It was shocking news to me that Agnes is no more,” Obiri told BBC Sport Africa. “I have raced with Agnes in so many races - recently in Tokyo.”

“I was hoping Agnes would take over from me (as the next track star) but it was an untimely death for her. May she rest in eternal peace.”

Messages of tribute and sympathy have come in from around the globe, as well as closer to home.

“We are deeply shocked to hear the sudden death of our fellow athlete Tirop Agnes,” Halima Nakayi, Uganda’s 800m world champion, posted on social media. “I send my condolences to her family, friends and the Kenyan athletics community.”

“It’s not easy to say goodbye to your ever smiling face,” said fellow Ugandan middle distance runner Winnie Nanyondo. “I can’t believe that you’re no more

- such a friendly soul. It’s so painful.”

Global reaction

On Wednesday, both the president of World Athletics, Sebastian Coe, and his counterpart at the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, spoke about the loss of Tirop.

Former double Olympic champion Coe described Tirop as “one of the world’s best female distance runners over the past six years”.

“Athletics has lost one of its brightest young stars in the most tragic circumstances,” he added. “This is a terrible blow to the entire athletics community, but especially to her family, her friends and Athletics Kenya.

“I send them all our most heartfelt condolences.”

Meanwhile, Bach hailed Tirop as an inspiration in a post on Twitter.(BBC Sport)

Travis Head makes history hammering 230 in big Marsh Cup win

…Left-hander makes fastest-ever List A double-century off 114 balls SOUTH Australia captain Travis Head became just the third player - and first Australian - to score two double-centuries in List A cricket after hammering 230 to set up a comfortable win over Queensland at Karen Rolton Oval in Adelaide.

Head joined India’s Rohit Sharma, who has scored three in ODI cricket, and Englishman Ali Brown, who has the highest score in List A cricket, as the only men to have managed multiple double-centuries, with Head adding to the 202 he scored against Western Australia in the Marsh Cup in 2015.

Head made 230 from 127 balls - the sixth-highest List A score - with 28 fours and eight sixes to help set up South Australia’s total of 8 for 391 from 48 overs, with two overs lost to rain.

Queensland were set 397

for victory under DLS and chase fell well short with Brendan Doggett taking 4 for 75 on South Australia debut against his old side, while Lloyd Pope bagged career-best List A figures of 4 for 78, tripling his career wicket tally. Pope took the key wicket of Sam Heazlett with a brilliant wrong ‘un after the left-hander kept the Bulls chase alive with a blistering 93 from 59 balls.

(Scores: South Australia 9 for 391 (Head 230, Weatherald 97, Sandhu 4-73) beat Queensland 312 (Heazlett 93, Doggett 4-75, Pope 4-78) by 67 runs (DLS method) Head’s innings was the second-highest score in Marsh Cup history behind D’Arcy Short’s 257, as well as the fastest List A double-hundred (off 114 balls).

The team total was South Australia’s second-highest in

Travis Head made the second double hundred of his one-day career .

(Getty Images) competition history.

Head last played ODI cricket for Australia in 2018 when he was dropped after three single-figure scores in a series against South Africa.

Since then in 21 List A innings, he has made 1136 Turn to page 31

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday October 15, 2021

35

Raging KKR eye third IPL title against calm and settled CSK

WHEN the IPL came to a halt in May, Kolkata Knight Riders were gripped by COVID, gripped by the fear of losing their wickets, gripped by opponents’ bowlers in the powerplay and gripped by surfaces that didn’t aid their game. Their approach was far from the blueprint Brendon McCullum was trying to imbibe.

Needing to win virtually every game in the second half, they hoped they would be able to invoke the spirit of 2014, where they went on a bull run - going from two wins from seven to winning every single game from there on - to lift the trophy.

They haven’t come close to winning the cup since, but four weeks into the UAE leg, they are a step away from the miracle they were trying to draw crumbs of comfort from, after being isolated in their hotel rooms in Ahmedabad in May. Their opponents, Chennai Super Kings, have been there and done that so many times now that approaching a final doesn’t seem new anymore. The hurt of having not qualified for the playoffs for the first time, in 2020, seems to have been a big turning point in terms of the direction they have taken.

From the chop-change of last year to change-only-ifneeded mantra, they look as settled and calm as a side can come during a knockout, knowing very well how to put together all the pieces of their jigsaw blindfolded.

Deepak Chahar: new ball. Ruturaj Gaikwad: anchor. Faf du Plessis: enforcer. Robin Uthappa: aggressor. Dwayne Bravo: death bowling. Josh Hazlewood: hard lengths. MS Dhoni?

Clash of heavyweights: CSK led by MS Dhoni (left) has won both of its matches against KKR (captained by Eoin Morgan in the group stage of the IPL. – (BCCI/IPL photo) Magic. Of the kind from four days ago, when he got the better of Avesh Khan when it came to a one-on-one battle, under pressure, of the kind he has thrived on for so many years. This being the last game before the mega auction is sure to elicit emotions. The “Dad’s Army” will possibly be playing together for one final time. There won’t be a better way to go out than with the cup.

It’s a game between a side that hasn’t lost a final against one that makes so many that they treat all of them like just another game. It’s a contest between two World Cup-winning captains who have been far from their best with the bat. Dhoni provided glimpses of the old Dhoni earlier in the week. Will an out-of-form Eoin Morgan have the last laugh here?

Shakib Al Hasan, a two-time IPL winner with Knight Riders, will be available for the game. His participation needed some sort of a sign-off from the BCB, given he will have to leave for Oman, where Bangladesh open their T20 World Cup campaign against Scotland less than 48 hours after the IPL final. The only call Knight Riders may have to make is picking between Shakib and Andre Russell, if fit.

For Super Kings, Suresh Raina may continue to sit out after having an indifferent tournament with the bat. Robin Uthappa, who hit a sparkling half-century in the previous game, is expected to retain his place in what could be an unchanged XI. Likely XIs Kolkata Knight Riders: 1 Venkatesh Iyer, 2 Shubman Gill, 3 Nitish Rana, 4 Rahul Tripathi, 5 Eoin Morgan (capt), 6 Dinesh Karthik (wk), 7 Shakib Al Hasan, 8 Sunil Narine, 9 Shivam Mavi, 10 Varun Chakravarthy, 11 Lockie Ferguson Chennai Super Kings: 1 Ruturaj Gaikwad, 2 Faf du Plessis, 3 Moeen Ali, 4 Robin Uthappa, 5 Ambati Rayudu, 6 Ravindra Jadeja, 7 MS Dhoni (capt, wk), 8 Dwayne Bravo, 9 Shardul Thakur, 10 Deepak Chahar, 11 Josh Hazlewood.

(CricInfo)

Reggae Boyz get historic first win in final round of CONCACAF qualifiers MIAMI, Florida, (CMC) – Jamaica Reggae Boyz ended the search for their first win in the final round of CONCACAF qualification for the FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar in style with a historic 2-0 win over Honduras on Wednesday night.

Mexico remained on the top of standings with a 2-0 win over El Salvador, a string of second goal carried Canada past Panama 4-1 and the United States grabbed a 2-1 win over Costa Rica in the other matches.

The results meant that the Jamaicans have five points and have moved out of the basement of the standings to sixth ahead of El Salvador thanks to goal difference, and the Hondurans, on three points.

The Mexicans still lead the table with 14 points with the Americans in second on 11, the Canadians in third on 10 followed by the Panamanians on eight and Costa Rica on six.

The top three teams from the CONCACAF qualifiers move directly into the World Cup and the fourth-placed team enters an intercontinental playoff for another shot to reach Qatar 2022.

In San Pedro Sula, Honduras:

Kemar Roofe and Oniel Fisher scored on either side of halftime and revived the hopes of Theodore Whitmore’s side, as the Jamaicans landed their first win on Honduran soil at the Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano.

Roofe, who plays for Scottish Premiership giants Rangers, scored his debut goal for the Reggae Boyz in the 38th minute

when he redirected a shot from inside the box by Shamar Nicholson past Honduras goalkeeper Luis Lopez to give the visitors the lead.

Jamaica goalkeeper Andre Blake and his defence held firm under wave after wave of attacks from the Hondurans before Fisher, who plays for the Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer in the U.S., doubled the Reggae Boyz’s lead in the 80th minutes.

The on-rushing centre back met a pass, charged into the Honduran box, and took a hard shot that beat a despairing dive from Lopez.

from just outside the box.

In Toronto, Canada: Canada conceded early when Rolando Blackburn scored his third goal in the final round of World Cup qualification after five minutes at BMO Field, connecting on a low cross from Michael Murillo.

But the Canadians got the equaliser before the half when Murillo sent a header into his own goal from an Alphonso Davies corner kick.

Canada added three goals in the second half from Davies, Tajon Buchanan and Jonathan David.

Davies finished a solo effort with a left-footed shot in the 66th minute, Buchanan rose in the middle of the box to nod in service from Richie Laryea in the 71st minute and David directed a long cross from Davies toward the back post to round out the scoring in the 78th minute.

In San Salvador, El Salvador:

Mexico found the opening goal at the Estadio Cuscatlan in the 31st minute when Hector Moreno headed in a goal from a corner kick and Raul Jimenez, who came off the bench in the 63rd minute, finished things off by scoring a penalty in stoppage time, after he was brought down in the box.

In Columbus, Ohio (USA): The Americans rallied from a goal down inside two minutes at Lower.com Field to win after Sergiño Dest set up Timothy Weah, whose shot ricocheted off Leonel Moreira, hit the post and dribbled past Costa Rican goalkeeper Kaylor Navas in the 66th minute.

Keysher Fuller gave the visitors the early lead when he volleyed a cross from Ronald Matarrita past U.S. goalie Zack Steffen before Dest drew the Americans level in the 25th minute with a left-footed bullet past Navas

Adrian Mariappa (left) of Jamaica and Alberth Elis of Honduras battle for possession during a Concacaf World Cup qualifier match at Estadio Olimpico, Honduras on Wednesday night.

36

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday October 15, 2021

Five players graduate from GFF/MACORP partnership

THE first five footballers to take part in a ground-breaking Guyana Football Federation (GFF)/MACORP industrial scholarship scheme have successfully graduated from the programme, each receiving level one certification as excavator operators.

The first-of-its-kind partnership between the GFF and MACORP, the sole distributor of Caterpillar products in Guyana, will ultimately see ten footballers receive expert training in excavator operation in the first year of the programme, as the two organisations strive to support more players as they transition into the world of work.

Horicia Adams (19), Charles Darrel (26), Kevin Dundas (25), Micah Erskine (29) and Sasha James (24) completed 120 hours of training, including safety instruction, simulator drills, examinations and practical exercises in order to qualify from the programme.

“I am happy to say that we have successfully completed this first batch,” said MACORP CEO Guillermo Escarraga. “I am sure that companies are taking note of their newly-acquired skills in this market where there is high demand – that’s what makes the whole effort worthwhile.”

“I want to congratulate you on achieving this certification and I wish you success in your new careers,” he told the players at a graduation ceremony at MACORP’s headquarters in Providence, next door to the GFF National Training Centre.

“We look forward to continuing this support with the Guyana Football Federation. If there might be some other way in which we can collaborate – we have taken note of your goal to reach the World Cup – anything we can help you with, we will be more than happy to do so.”

The second batch of participants in the scholarship programme commences training with MACORP next week.

“While the GFF is developing football for all, in doing so, we cannot forget the human element of our responsibilities,” said GFF President Wayne Forde.

“What we are doing here together, the GFF and MACORP, is really demonstrating to this entire nation that we care deeply about the welfare of our young people not only when they are in the prime of their life, but when they are also in the twilight of their sporting careers.”

“We would like to see players transition to productive lives and we would like to see them access employment opportunities that will allow them to invest in their children. We would

Football players that graduated from the GFF/MACORP partnership programme like to see them contributing to the building of this nation, and the skills these players have acquired through this programme will put them at the forefront of the construction boom that has already started,” Forde added.

Lady Jags and Fruta Conquerors defender Sasha James said the course was a “new beginning and a chapter” in her life.

“Being around the course made me realise that, even if you are a woman, you can still do things that people say you cannot do,” she said. “This course has brought so much to me, and it’s opened my eyes to bigger opportunities that will be coming – it’s another step into the world of work.”

“I would like to thank the GFF for this opportunity,” she

added. “They have given me the push to move forward in life, not just in football.”

Golden Jaguar and Santos FC defender Kevin Dundas said the experience had opened his “mind up to a whole new world of work”.

“It was really exceptional,” he said. “My future plan is to widen my knowledge around the field of excavator operation and to help others in the field where I can. I felt comfortable and at home in this field, and I am eager to see what it holds. I want to thank the GFF and MACORP for making this a huge success and for giving us this opportunity. They are taking steps to see that we have a future after football.”

Title sponsor GTT injects $3M into 2021 Guyana Open

Orson Ferguson, GTT’s Chief Operations Officer for Business Solutions, said that the telephone company has made a number of investments in local sport this year.

GUYANA’S premier golf tournament, the Guyana Open, was given a boost today with the announcement of a $3M investment by the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT).

Chief Operations Officer of Business Solutions in GTT, Orson Ferguson said that the investment is a reaffirmation of the company’s commitment to local sport.

“This specific game demonstrates a number of lessons like precision, practice and commitment, and focus even in tough conditions. GTT is pleased to make yet another investment in the sports sector and we look forward to a successful two-day tournament.”

A release from the company noted that GTT has made a number of investments in local sport.

PARTICIPATION Up to yesterday afternoon, 26 golfers (both local and overseas players) had confirmed their participation for this year’s

tournament, which is scheduled from October 30-31.

The club, which extended an invitation to golfers from Suriname, the Caribbean and North America, is hoping to attract approximately 70 golfers with a maximum number of 80.

Persons will have until Thursday, October 28 to register for the event.

On Friday, October 29, golfers will take part in a practice round, before the 36-hole competition begins on Saturday morning and concludes on Sunday afternoon.

The battle will include four categories in the male division, the 0-9 handicap, the 10-18 handicap, the 19-28 handicap and a Senior Division for 70-year plus players.

The female players will battle in a 0-36 handicap category.

Although there will be a number of competitions within the tournament, the main will be for the gross champion or best players (both male and female) over the two days.

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In the female division, Christine Sukhram, if she plays, will look to defend her title, but the likes of former champions Joaan Deo and Shanella Webster could upstage her.

MALE BATTLE Avinash Persaud is favourite to win his 11th title this year. Not only is the 30-yearold the best golfer in the country, but he has played quality golf in his last few rounds, including back-to-back below-par performances.

A few persons could surpass him, including the likes of former winner Avinda “Ganguly” Kishore. The younger brother of Persaud, won the title in 2013 as an 18-yearold. In that tournament, he was able to hold his nerve under the spotlight to produce a quality second-day performance.

To upstage Persaud again, Kishore would have to dig deep.

The entrance fee for the tournament is G$15,000 for members and G$20,000 for non-members.

FRIDAY,OCTOBER 15, 2021