Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 16-06-2022

THURSDAY 16th JUNE, 2022

President Ali in Region 7

No. 106755

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500 homes to be built

Region to be national hub for TVET Registration opens for ‘children living with disabilities’ cash grant President, Dr Irfaan Ali (inset) addresses Region 7 residents at the Bartica Community Centre Ground on Wednesday (DPI photo)

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Doctors hopeful Aden can NWD’s ‘larger, faster’ Three hotels for Liliendaal; continue brain tumour new ferry takes long 2,000 jobs to be created, treatment in Guyana journey to Guyana says VP Jagdeo SEE PAGE

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Local economy remains on course to doubling this year

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-World Bank says

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 16, 2022

NWD’s ‘larger, faster’ new ferry takes long journey to Guyana

PRAISED as the largest vessel plying the north-western region of Guyana which could cut down the transit time between destinations by half, the MV Ma Lisha was launched in Kolkata, India, on Wednesday and is en route to Guyana.

The ferry will travel some 11,000 nautical miles from its launch site in Kolkata to Georgetown, Guyana.

According to a press release from the High Commission of India in Georgetown, Public Works Minister, Juan Edghill, led

a delegation to India for the launch.

Guyana’s delegation included High Commissioner of Guyana to India, Charrandass Persaud; Chair of the Transport and Harbours Development Board, Rosalinda Rasul; and Chief Transport Planning Officer, Patrick Thompson.

Mrs Joan Edghill, wife of Minister Edghill, performed the ceremonial “breaking of coconut” which launched the new ferry.

The ferry vessel, an ocean-going cargo and pas-

Minister Edghill addresses the gathering at the launch ceremony

senger carrier, was built for Guyana by M/s Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd. “Minister Edghill surprised the audience by beginning his address in the Bhojpuri language and highlighted the similarities between Indian and Guyanese people,” the release said.

Minister Edghill acknowledged the heavy transportation demand in Guyana’s northwest along riverine and coastal routes.

“This ferry is being built as part of Government of India’s USD 12.77 million Line of Credit-cum-Grant project,” the High Commission’s statement said, plugging that the event was well attended.

India’s High CommisThe launched MV Ma Lisha

sioner to Guyana, Dr K J Srinivasa was highly commended at the event for “resuscitating this prestigious project and ensuring proper progress of the ferry building despite the challenges posed by the pandemic”.

The ferry is propelled by two diesel engines, the release noted, with capacity for 294 passengers, 14 cars, two trucks, 14 containers, and other cargo. With this full load, the ferry advance to a maximum speed of 15 knots.

During his visit to the Indian sub-continent, Minister Edghill also met India’s minister for civil aviation, Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia. The two ministers discussed collaboration in aviation and trade between the two countries.

Minister Edghill also met with India’s minister of power, new and renewable energy, Shri Raj Kumar Singh on “current collaboration projects especially the installation of solar energy in 30,000 households in Guyana under Government of India’s USD 10 million Line of Credit”.

Future partnerships were discussed.

F i n a l l y, w i t h I n d i a reaching 10 per cent ethanol blending in petrol before its 2025 deadline for 20 per cent, Minister Edghill stopped in at the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC).

Recognising Guyana’s track record in sugar production, the release said IOC executives discussed ways of sharing technology with Guyana.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 16, 2022

500 homes to be built in Region 7

By Tamica Garnett

SOME 120 acres of land have been earmarked in Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni Mazaruni), to build approximately 500 houses.

This was announced by President, Dr Irfaan Ali, on Wednesday, during an outreach held at the Bartica Community Centre Ground.

The President said there was focus on ensuring that resources from within the Region were used during the development of the project.

“We have just gotten 120 acres of land, and we are going to work with the people in Bartica: the skilled men and women of Bartica, the small contractors, the skilled contractors in Region Seven,” President Ali noted.

According to the President, the project is expected to begin before the end of the year.

“Very soon, before the end of August, the Minister [of Housing and Water] will come to meet with you

because we want to use that 120 acres of land to build at least 500 homes here using the labour and contractors of Region Seven,” Dr Ali continued.

The project is expected

to have a ripple effect on the Region, particularly Bartica. Surrounding areas will benefit.

“This will not only deliver housing but create tremendous opportunities

in the value chain for hardware resources, skilled labour, [and] transportation services. All of this will be created with this one project,” the Head of State explained.

In addition to the development of the 120 acres of land, the government is also working on an infrastructure transformation plan which will see all the communities on the outskirts

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of the region being linked to central Bartica, further opening up development.

The President highlighted that Region Seven has the potential for development in the services, agriculture and tourism industry which government plans to advance.

“We need to create a service hub in Region Seven in a very structured way.

We already have a lot of investment catering to the service industry but it’s not structured,” the President said.

Additionally, Dr Ali hopes there will be more focus on food production.

“We have to work on using technology and increase our ability to produce more food in this region,” the President added.

“This area must not only be looked at as a mining area but it has potential to become a major logistic operation for the mining sector. In order to do that, you must be able to provide food and provide services,” President Ali said.

Region 7 to be national hub for technical, vocational training, President Ali confirms … Upgraded schools, increased feeding programme planned

SEVERAL schools in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) are scheduled for upgrades including expansion of school kitchens, as the government sets its sights on raising the quality of educational institutions and transforming the region into the national hub for Technical & Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

President, Dr Irfaan Ali made the announcement during a community outreach at the Bartica Community Centre Ground, Region Seven, where he also

said the Bartica Secondary School is likely to host the TVET hub.

During his visit to the region, President Ali visited a number of schools where he met learners and teachers.

With Region Seven focused heavily on mining as a main economic activity, Dr Ali highlighted the need for a TVET centre to better train persons for technical jobs associated with the sector.

“This region must be a focal point for TVET. And I want the Ministry of Edu-

cation to come here and do an assessment, so that we can do a full-fledged TVET centre to support Region Seven so that we can build the skills necessary,” the President noted.

“We are going to team up with the private sector to get them to work with us through the mining industry,” Dr Ali continued.

The President Ali-led People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C)-government has placed emphasis over the last two years on the increased need for technical labour in Guyana’s oil and

gas and other sectors.

In 2022, $3.6 billion was allocated toward developing various TVET areas.

Included in this was $2.5 billion for strengthening programmes at the post-secondary level.

In addition to the establishment of the TVET Centre for the Bartica Secondary School, President Ali said the Two Miles Secondary School is on schedule to have its roof replaced, while it will also see an expansion of the school’s kitchen, which is used to prepare meals for the school- feed-

ing programme.

The Future Builders Nursery also approached the President for an expansion of their kitchen; Dr Ali pledged support for this.

The requests for kitchen expansion follows the increasing demand for school-feeding programmes across the country.

The school-feeding programme has been credited as a contributing factor to the increased participation of students and improvement in their health.

“These are the things that matter; delivering to

people, giving them an opportunity, giving them a shot at life,” the President said.

There are other planned upgrades for schools in the region. St John the Baptiste Primary school will have a land-filling exercise done at the school compound.

New furniture will also be purchased.

A d d i t i o n a l l y, Tw o Miles Primary School received a commitment from His Excellency that a new photocopying machine will be procured. (Tamica Garnett)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 16, 2022

Three hotels; 2,000 jobs for Liliendaal, says VP Jagdeo

By Shamar Meusa

AS three hotels are expected to be constructed on the outskirts of the capital city, Vice-President Bharrat Jagdeo said some 2,000 jobs will be created as a result of the planned development.

T h e Vi c e - P r e s i d e n t made these remarks during a press conference on Wednesday at the Office of the President, Shiv Chanderpaul Drive, where he was clarifying recent positions that were made in sections

of the media about the shift of land initially designated for GRA’s new head office to hotel development.

To this end, Dr Jagdeo noted that in the planning process, the use of the lands for this type of development project is important.

As such, Dr Jagdeo said that the government realised that there was a need to bring hotels closer to the city. Resulting from this, a decision was made regarding lands at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown, to instead house three hotels.

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Pasha Global Hotel, a hotel to be constructed by overseas-based Guyanese, and a third hotel connected

to a Barbados-based company are among the intended developments, the VP told the media corps.

Against this backdrop, he indicated that the site for the new GRA office would be along a major four-lane road.

He said, “So the idea is not to take away land from GRA, but the government services have to be done in a manner where they are accessible to the majority of our people.”

It was then that he noted that the idea is to have the new GRA along the fourlane road which was just started in the Ogle area, which he noted would see

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Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

more citizens having access to the services without having to come into the city.

Dr Jagdeo said the infrastructure will ensure that there is better connectivity.

He indicated that several road projects are aiming to connect the various regions.

Furthermore, Dr Jagdeo said that government services should not always occupy all prime properties in the country, as he indicated that these lands must also be used to create other employment opportunities.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 16, 2022

Registration opens for ‘children living with disabilities’ cash grant

By Naomi Parris REGISTRATION for the $100,000 cash grant for children living with disabilities began, on Wednesday at several locations across the country.

Children under the age of 18 are required to register with the National Commission on Disability (NCD) in order to receive the grant.

Speaking with this newspaper shortly after completing the registration process, Anne Marie Rockcliffe, a parent whose child lives with a disability, said the grant will be of great assistance to her and her son.

“I think this is very good.

These children are really special and they need good and

A parent registering a child

Anne Marie Rockcliffe and her son, Raheem (Samuel Maughn Photos)

Caregivers visited various registration sites across the country on Wednesday

attentive care, so that money will really come in handy to give them more vitamins and supplements they need,” Rockcliffe said.

Caring for a child living with a disability is no easy task, she continued, noting that it can be challenging, physically and financially.

She believes more support is needed for children living with disabilities, especially those who have been diagnosed with disabilities such as autism.

“Children with autism don’t get treat good. [My son’s] autism? I learnt about it recently. But for him, a part of his brain didn’t fully develop; so his speech, he can’t speak properly and there is [sic] the

muscles in his fingers [which] gives [sic] him a hard time to write,” Rockcliffe explained.

Another parent, Tracie (only name given), a mother to a 13-year-old autistic girl, praised how simple the registration process was.

“It was normal,” she expressed, adding, “All I had to do was bring my child [sic] school form, [and get the] birth certificate photocopied.”

The woman noted that she completed the process within minutes of arriving at the site.

Meanwhile, another parent, Graceann Johnson said that while she too is grateful for the assistance, she believes the grant should be distributed more regularly as caring for a child with a disability is not easy.

“It’s a great initiative that the government is giving back to the children that are differ-

ently-abled. I am so happy,” she said.

President, Dr Irfaan Ali, in

early June announced a oneoff $100,000 cash grant for children living with disabilities during a meeting hosted at State House, Main Street, where persons living with disabilities and their caregivers were present.

Among the announcements then were plans for an automatic public assistance for children living with disabilities, transportation for each institution representing persons with disabilities, and $120M for a modern business centre, which will be spearheaded by the First Lady’s Office.

The government has allocated $200 million in this year’s budget to offer direct support to persons living with disabilities. From the allocation, new and improved healthcare facilities will be

constructed to assist persons living with disabilities, among other things.

The registration exercise for prospective recipients of the cash grant will continue until June 24. Registration opens from 08:00hrs to 16:00hrs on weekdays, and from 09:00 hrs to 13:00hrs on Saturdays.

Parents and guardians are advised to walk with their identification documents, their child’s birth certificate, and school form or a medical certificate.

Full details on distribution sites across the country are available on Page 2 of the Wednesday, June 15 edition of the Guyana Chronicle, or on the Facebook page of the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 16, 2022

Pathways to Progress and Prosperity

IT’S become habitual for critics and cynics from the left, right and centre to always expect and even predict the worst every time Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders plan and talk for the best; the latest being the Caribbean’s participation in last week’s the 9th Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles.

Many regional analysts at home and in the Diaspora wrongly read the tea leaves regarding CARICOM leaders’ indication back in March that they were prepared to boycott the summit if Washington decided to exercise its right as host to decide who to invite.

Up to the day the June 6-10 summit started, it was

being predicted that CARICOM leaders would not ‘boycott’ the meeting and concluded that attendance by any regional leader would somehow amount to evidence of the mistaken view that regional leaders cannot unite – on anything.

As it turned out, some Caribbean leaders attended and some didn’t, but the Heads of Government and CARICOM got across their overall messages about inclusion and exclusion in more mature ways than their Caribbean critics credited them for.

C A R I C O M C h a i r, Prime Minister of Belize John Briceno, spoke for all and individual Caribbean leaders each addressed separate crucial regional issues

not directly on the summit’s agenda, but needing to have been.

Leaders with lead responsibility for agenda issues communicated regional positions and CARICOM Secretary-General, Dr Carla Barnett addressed the multilateral issues affecting the region that also needed the summit’s attention.

As it turned out, it was a win-win situation for all sides: the US had its way; and the Caribbean and Latin American leaders also had their clear say, including those who stayed away.

Aware of its growing and widening responsibility as the region’s most-stable and the hemisphere’s fastest-growing economy, Guyana looked beyond its

boundaries and borders and called for leaders of North, South & Central America and the Caribbean to “put political and ideological differences aside” and have “frank and fact-based discussions” to uplift the people of the hemisphere to a position of prosperity and to resolve systemic issues.

President, Dr Irfaan Ali, on an important futuristic note, indicated that the region “has the potential to be fully energy secure, bring prosperity to every home, have the greatest access to natural resources, abundant land and access to water resources to ensure food security” and “enough rain forests and technology to make a meaningful contribution to climate change

and enough access to finances to bridge inequality and support sustainable development for all.”

With Guyana’s economy projected to double in size within two years, President Ali said the nation belongs to the family of humanity and stands ready to make its contribution to its well-being, but he also forewarned that “We cannot be reckless and we will not be irresponsible in managing these resources in the interest of the world and in the interest of this region.”

The President envisioned that Guyana’s resources, along with the potential of Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and possibilities of investment in gas exploration in Barbados,

“the region can be made energy secure.”

As such, he urged the Hemisphere’s leaders to “have the conversation that defines a pathway to energy security for the region” because “not only does the potential exist, but all available tools and assets are also available and can and should be used in order to reach the potential.”

He called for the conference to “define a pathway for integration of infrastructure, people and economies”—as well as for “that conversation on how we’re going to integrate our people, our economy and our infrastructure.”

Better words are hard to come by!

Minister Edghill responds to inaccuracies and falsehoods of Annette Ferguson

Dear Editor,

I RESPOND forthwith to a letter published on June 13, 2022 in the Kaieteur Newspaper captioned “An attempt to erase the legacy of the Coalition Government because of political immaturity.”

I must say, this is indeed another failed attempt by the author of the letter to bring some redemption to a former administration which can only be remembered for its blatant attempt to trick the Guyanese people.

In the author’s first line “Sometimes it bothers me to comprehend the level a few Political Leaders will stoop to propagate lies to confuse the minds of Guyanese.”

I believe that line best suits the former administration, to which the author belongs.

Editor, I will not respond line for line, but I bring to your attention documented evidence by way of records from the Transport and Harbours Department in response to the accusations made by Ms. Ferguson in her letter.

1. People’s Progressive Party Civic Government, failed to address high costs of vehicular fares for

residents of Mahaica-Berbice and East Berbice-Corentyne Regions., 2.

The People’s Progressive Party Civic Government, under President Donald Ramotar did not lower the tolls for the Berbice Bridge Crossing and 3.

Former Minister of Public Works, Robeson Benn, was adamant in opposing the calls for fare reductions.

All of which, she stated occurred on or before May 17, 2014.

Editor, here are those documented records from T&HD operations in Regions Five and Six. -From March 2012 to January 2013, Shanti (contracted) and Alford’C’ (MARAD speed boat) provided service to residents of both regions.

-From March 5th 2012 to January 25th 2013, the M.B. Sandaka operated between New Amsterdam and Rosignol.

-And from 2013 to 2015, the M.B. Bonasika operated between New Amsterdam and Rosignol Now, let me remind Ms. Ferguson that on April 6, 2020, that it was the CARETAKER APNU Government which restricted the movement of citizens from those regions when it callously instructed that the T&HD

Berbice operations be suspended.

Editor, the evidence has been laid out and it will show that there can be no attempt to erase any legacy of anything or anyone, especially that Ms. Ferguson’s accusations are riddled with inaccuracies and falsehoods.

Editor, this statement, “On taking office in August 2020, without any justifiable reason, the Ministry of Public Works pulled the water taxis, returning hardship and challenges to those who benefitted from the services.” Again, I must refer Ms. Ferguson to the records of the T&HD. Those records show clearly that it was the CARETAKER APNU Government, to which she belongs who brought hardship on the Guyanese people when it suspended the Berbice Ferry Service.

Editor, I implore Ms. Ferguson to get her facts straight, as the PPP/C Administration never stopped the Berbice Ferry Service, maybe the former minister believes that a lie spoken over and over can become truth.

Russian novelist, Fyodor Dostoevsky said, “Above all, don’t lie to yourself. The man who lies to him-

self and listens to his own lie comes to a point that he cannot distinguish the truth within him, or around him, and so loses all respect for himself and for others.

Editor, the PPP/C Administration, under the leadership of President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, will continue to engage citizens and form policies for the benefit of every man, woman and child in this great nation.

If Ms. Ferguson desires to be credited as the first to commission the water taxies, then by all means, take that credit, as I have no desire to receive such credits, but only to work for the people of Guyana, who have placed their confidence in the PPP/C Administration when they voted us into office. I believe service to people is service to God, and that I will continue doing.

Allow me time to also update Ms. Ferguson, even if she refuses to acknowledge this truth. Since coming into office, the PPP/C Administration has been focused on ways to better the lives of Guyanese: In 2020, over $50 billion in disposable income returned to citizens by way of reversal of measures which caused much hardships to citizens.

VAT on data was removed, VAT on water and electricity was removed.

Government also reduced the cost of licensing and permits annually in 2020 as well.

In 2021, $2.6 billion was set aside to assist pensioners, persons benefitting from public assistance and persons living with disabilities.

A one-off cash grant of $25,000 for over 65,000 pensioners and an additional 25,000 for public assistance recipients and persons living with disabilities.

This year, $1.8 billion in relief measures was allocated for persons living in hinterland communities, as well as for farmers. $1 billion worth of fertiliser was set aside for free distribution to farmers for use in their planting and replanting activities.

The mining community also received relief to the tune of $2 billion.

In the area of transport and infrastructure development: In 2021, a US$12.7 million ($2.6 billion) contract was signed with Garden Reach Shipbuilders Engineers Limited (GRSEL) for an ocean-going passenger and cargo vessel for the Barima-Waini (Region One) route, which has been completed and will

be delivered in the coming months.

In 2022 - $96.1 billion was allocated to this sector; $76.7 billion for development of roads and bridges; $8.3 billion to facilitate upgrade of the highway from Palmyra to Moleson Creek and construction of the Corentyne River Bridge; $6 billion to commence work on the Linden-Mabura Hill Road; $4.1 billion for re-construction of several bridges along the Kurupukari to Lethem corridor; $2.3 billion for the East Bank-East Coast Demerara Road linkage between Ogle and Eccles; $2.1 billion to commence the widening and paving of the East Bank Highway from Grove to Timehri; $2.6 billion for the rehabilitation of the entire Soesdyke-Linden Highway and $15.2 billion to upgrade urban roads.

These are only a few of what the PPP/C Administration has planned for the country’s development, and there is no time wasting in getting our work done.

Yours sincerely, Bishop Juan Edghill, Minister of Public Works

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 16, 2022

Beyond the Jubilee AS President, Dr Irfaan Ali and Prime Minister Boris Johnson prepare to lead their respective national delegations to next week’s Commonwealth Heads of Governments Meeting (CHOGM) in Rawanda, the migrants deal between London and Kigali has started creating new headaches for the British leader, while President Ali and fellow Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders also prepare for their equal share of bad headlines in Africa.

Britain’s plan to ship refugees to Rwanda after crossing the channel from France has been opposed at home ever since Home Office Minister Pritti Patel earlier this year unveiled the 125 million pounds deal aimed at “disincentivizing” channel crossings by migrants, mainly from African and Middle-East nations, as well as from Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria.

Strong joint measures

by France and Britain haven’t stopped or slowed the flow of asylum seekers who paid fortunes to get to Britain’s doorstep in Calais, but PM Johnson campaigned heavily on keeping immigrants at bay and the Rwanda deal is his way of delivering today.

But refugees arriving from Ukraine are welcomed with wide-open arms by Britons going heads-overheels to provide the lookalike fellow European refugees with subsidised housing and access to finance, as well as to soup-kitchens and free food stands.

The New York Times, in an article on Tuesday (June 14) called the UK-Rwanda Plan a “hardline policy” that “aligns Mr Johnson’s immigration stance more closely with one of his predominant arguments for Brexit, which he pledged would enable Britain to ‘take back control’ of its borders.”

However, aid groups say the plan deepens the uncertainty for people who were already in precarious situations and would violate Britain’s commitment to the UN’s 1951 Refugee Convention, which requires that asylum seekers not be forcibly sent to unsafe areas.

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees also denounced the policy through its Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, Gillian Triggs, who said in April that “People fleeing war, conflict and persecution deserve compassion and empathy” and “should not be traded like commodities and transferred abroad for processing.”

But UK Home Office figures report that in 2021, over 28,500 people arrived in Britain in small boats crossing the English Channel, up from 8,466 in 2020.

The London-Kigali pact gained headline currency at home and abroad over the weekend when Prince Charles was quoted as having said, in private, that he found it appalling.

Opponents at home include 25 top Church of England Bishops who voiced their views in a letter to The Times on Tuesday, describing the plan as “immoral,” “disgusting” and unhelpful.

Foreign Secretary Liz Trust’s argument that the plan will defeat the people smugglers’ operations is also disputed by a range of charities, hell-bent on legally stalling the migrant flights to Kigali.

The London-Kigali flight problems have come just as Rwanda prepares to host the CHOGM, starting June 23.

The bi-annual meeting, delayed for two years by COVID-19, will bring together leaders and delegations from 54 Commonwealth member-states, with Prince Charles representing Queen Elizabeth.

The British press is already speculating the presence of both PM Johnson and Prince Charles in Kigali will prompt media speculation alongside other issues at home such as the government’s handling of the Northern Ireland post-Brexit protocols, deaths and capture of Britons in Ukraine – and now, Russia’s ban of British journalists reporting in the Donbas region, accusing them of spreading misleading propaganda.

But while the British press will be keeping PM Johnson busy in Kigali, President Ali and fellow CARICOM leaders will,

once again, witness and endure the discomfort of being seen as again unable to agree over which Caribbean candidate should be the next Commonwealth Secretary-General.

The majority of CARICOM member-states had declared support for the current Secretary-General, Dominica’s Dame Patricia Scotland, to serve an unchallenged second term -- until Jamaica (at virtually the last minute) indicated its intention to field its Foreign Affairs Minister Kamina Johnson-Smith.

But while keeping an eye on the election sideshow in Kigali, President Ali will also have the lead responsibility to seek and encourage African support for and cooperation with CARICOM in pursuit of common agricultural and food-security goals, as well as meeting with fellow Commonwealth nations also involved in oil and gas and energy.

New terms of trade between North and South can no longer be based on or measured by old East and West yardsticks, but on the new global factors that together impede and threaten humankind, including (but not limited to) Climate Change, food and fuel insecurity and the general effects of the Ukraine war everywhere.

Britain will continue to tweedle-dee and tweedle-dum on if and when to make a full and formal apology to Caribbean and African nations for slavery and to India for indentureship, but today’s new realities have reversed historical tradition and most of the poorer ex-British colonies within the Commonwealth are better-placed now to help overcome the current

grave global food crisis by taking new approaches to old problems and replacing competition for excessive profiteering with cooperation for basic and common human survival.

Britain is still counting the costs of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations at home and across the Commonwealth Kigali – and now London must brace for the bill to follow next week’s CHOGM. Kigali, therefore, will

Part 4: The Kigali Factors

be more than just another CHOGM, or even the last one with the Queen as head of all her realms, or just another battleground for CARICOM. Instead, it’ll be yet another opportunity for Britain’s ex-colonies to do more than just knock elbows and discuss revolving agenda items, but to also take a common look at how best they can deepen Commonwealth multilateral cooperation in better and more

equal ways, including of more benefits to the Caribbean.

The Caribbean, Africa and India will also have an opportunity to share ideas on common approaches to calls for reparations from Britain and European states that built empires off proceeds from centuries of genocide, slavery and ensnared indentureship in the British, French and Dutch West Indies and The Americas.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 16, 2022

Procurement Commission to be appointed; Bid Review Committee working – Minister Teixeira says PARLIAMENTARY Affairs and Governance Minister Gail Teixeira maintained that the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) will be appointed, but the Bid Review Committee provided for in the Procurement Act already addresses issues pertaining to the public-tendering process raised by contractors.

In an interview with government’s communications arm, the DPI, the minister said dissatisfied contractors in public-procurement processes can file complaints

Minister Gail Teixeira

to the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), which must

then set up a Bid Review Committee to hear the contractors’ claims and make decisions.

Pending review activated by a dispute, the contract award is put on hold until the work of the Bid Review Committee concludes.

Minister Teixeira was at the time responding to statements made last Monday in the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) by the committee’s chair, Jermaine Figueira, and member from the APNU+AFC, Ganesh Mahipaul.

Mahipaul had claimed

that in the absence of the Public Procurement Commission (PPC), there were contractors who were dissatisfied but could not have their complaints addressed.

The parliamentary affairs and governance minister disagreed with Mahipaul.

“This is laughable, as this committee is established when there is a complaint.

And the individuals on the committee may not be the same as in the case of a permanent committee,” Minister Teixeira explained.

“This has never been brought to light publicly.

The parents of the boys are heartbroken. One of the boys’ father resides in Guyana. Both boys reside in the greater Little Guyana community of Richmond Hill. The tragedy has been the talk among every New York Guyanese and other City dwellers. The tightly knit Guyanese community in Richmond Hill has been in mourning with prayers offered at mandirs on Sunday

morning.

Wake was held at the home of victim, Daniel Persaud on Saturday evening and a prayer vigil held for both boys on Monday evening at the bay where they reportedly drowned. Police cordoned off the Howard beach area to facilitate the prayer programme which was attended by a large gathering of Guyanese, school staff and others.

Reports say that Ryan

[Maybe] it was the imagination of Mahipaul, [but] that has never been said publicly by anybody or reported in the press by anybody that people have no confidence in the Bid Review Committee,” the minister is quoted as saying in a DPI interview.

Turning attention to a previous meeting of the PAC where the matter was raised, Minister Teixeira said: “[the Bid Review] Committee has to answer within two weeks when the claims by the contractor are valid. If the contractors go to the PPC, it is most likely that the award

has already been signed.”

“This is a blatant attempt

by Mahipaul and other members of the opposition to misinform and detract from what is unfolding at every PAC meeting and that is the instances of gross corruption found in the 2016, 2017 and 2018 Annual Audit Reports of the Auditor General under the APNU+AFC Coalition Government,” Teixeira plugged.

The minister said the President, Dr Irfaan Ali-led government is committed to transparency.

Two Guyanese boys drown in Rockaway Bay, New York

By Vishnu Bisram

TWO 13-year-old boys of Guyanese parentage reportedly drowned last Friday in Rockaway Bay, New York while at an unauthorised outing. The boys were supposed to be in school but the duo and a few other boys did not attend classes and decided to go to the beach.

Others from the group

were reportedly helped ashore by emergency responders. The boys attended the prestigious Heroes Junior Academy, MS 137, in Ozone Park. The school has been in mourning with staff and learners attending the wake and funeral services.

The area is known for dangerous rip currents that took many lives over the years. Signs posted on the beach warn ‘no swimming’.

Daniel Persaud

Wong and Daniel Persaud were standing on a sandbar in Jamaica Bay near Beach 96th Street and Cross Bay Boulevard around 11:40 hours Friday when it apparently collapsed and they went underwater. Their surfboard got pulled underwater by the strong rip current.

The fire department and police department and aviation wing were summoned for a search and rescue operation. Nine police and fire department divers went searching for the boys over a lengthy period and pulled out the two motionless boys who were rushed to Jamaica Hospital where they were declared dead.

The mothers of both boys wrote fondly of them. Wong’s mother Gloria wrote on Facebook: ‘Rest In Peace little Ryan I love you. You will forever live in our hearts.’

Persaud’s heartbroken mother Samantha Singh took

to Facebook early Saturday.

“Our son you left us today. I am lost for words and my soul is bleeding and our hearts are shattered,” she wrote, adding: “Oh God, I don’t know how we will live past today or any other day … my son, my handsome smart son, Daniel Persaud, you left your family my son … sleep high my prince Daniel, mommy loves you so much. You were only 13 years old and went out to a beach to have fun and it carried you away from us.”

Daniel Persaud reportedly liked building computers and technology. Family members say everyone is in shock. The family is devastated.

Councilwoman, Joann Ariola (R-Ozone Park), the elected City representative for the area, wrote on social media Friday night: “Tonight we grieve the loss of two young students from our district. Our thoughts and prayers are with their family, friends and school community.”

Viewings for Wong were held on Tuesday and Wednesday at Leo F. Kearns Funeral Home in South Richmond Hill from 17:00 hours to 21:00 hours. The funeral will be Thursday morning.

A viewing for Persaud took place at Bergen Funeral Services in South Ozone Park on Tuesday from 18:00 hours to 21:00 hours. His funeral service was held on Wednesday at 11:00 hours.

‘We’re in the big league’

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 16, 2022

… Business Director says, as NAMILCO gets ‘Made in Guyana’ branding

By Clestine Juan

THE National Milling Company of Guyana Inc. (NAMILCO), on Wednesday, became the fourth manufacturing company in the country to receive the ‘Made in Guyana’ certification mark from the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS).

The local milling giant will carry the mark on two of its flour packages – the self-rising Maid Marian flour and the Thunderbolt wheat flour.

“We’re in the big league.

It is no longer business as usual. This mark is therefore a small, but giant move towards standards and sends a strong signal that our country is making progressive steps towards international expectations,” the Director of Business at the

NAMILCO’s Managing Director, Roopnarine Sukhai (left) and Head of GNBS, Andrea Mendonca, hold the signed certificate that gives the milling company permission to use the ‘Made in Guyana’ mark on its products (Adrian Narine photo)

Karan, told the gathering that the certification will be added to NAMILCO’s existing ISO 9001: 2015 Quality Management Standard.

“Soon we will see many

The ‘Made in Guyana’ certified Maid Marian and Thunderbolt flours

Ministry of Tourism, Industry, and Commerce, John Edghill said during the certification ceremony, which was held at Parc Rayne, Rahaman’s Park.

Edghill noted that the “voluntary programme” is available to all local manufacturers that are desirous of receiving the mark.

“We would have set out the targets initially for this programme, and the response has been overwhelming. In fact, … I would have learned that the number of applications has already surpassed our initial target,” he said.

He added that the government supports initiatives which foster the competitiveness of local companies and is extremely pleased with the progress made by local businesses.

“As we’re all aware, we have the oil and gas resource and that has placed Guyana in a global spotlight, and international companies are constantly seeking trade environments and investment opportunities.

However, this places us on the world stage, not just for prominence, but this esteemed level demands greater expectations of our companies’ processes and standards,” he said.

Meanwhile, GNBS’ Acting Executive Director, Ramrattie

other products using the ‘Made in Guyana’ mark,” she said before adding that before certification is given, companies have to meet a number of requirements.

The mark provides recognition to locally manufactured products on the local and international markets.

Under the established criteria for the programme, manufacturers must use at least 60 per cent of local raw materials in their production and 70 per cent of their staff must be Guyanese.

“This helps to increase the value-added products produced locally and drive the use of local content…,” Karan said.

While delivering brief remarks, the Quality Manager of NAMILCO, Taigwattie Williams, explained that ever since the local market opened up for imports, flour has been entering Guyana from regional as well as extra-regional countries.

However, this has led to low-quality flour entering local markets, often with misleading labelling.

“Some of these flours are packaged and made available for sale with just a minimum of information on the packaging…less than is required by law; expiration date and

ingredients information are often missing, or misplaced [and] the country of origin is also questionable,” she said.

Williams highlighted a case where an address for a flour product was given as Coverden, East Bank Demerara. However, it was later discovered that a “cake shop,” owned by a private individual was located at the address.

“In many cases, the flour is repackaged in thin plastic bags and sold for a few dollars less by the company, but when weighed it is actually less than the 454 grams which is equivalent to a pound,” she added.

She said that even though the metric system became the legal system of measurement in Guyana, food and other items are still being sold by the pound resulting in consumers being exploited.

“Because NAMILCO is the only flour mill in Guyana, consumers often assume the flour is milled and packaged

by NAMILCO. They are easily misled into believing the flour is made in Guyana and expect to hold NAMILCO liable when quality or safety issues arise,” Williams said.

However, the quality manager said the risks to food safety that are inherent in the repackaging activity, warrant the attention of the regulatory bodies.

“We [NAMILCO] implore them to vigilantly investigate and address these practices, as we work very hard to maintain the quality and standards which have to be verified by two audits each year. With the ‘Made in Guyana’ certification mark, customers are provided with independent assurance about the safety and nutritional content of the food purchased.

In doing so, public health and safety are enhanced,” she said.

Meanwhile, Vice-President of the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA), Ramsay Ali, used the opportunity to call on local companies to join the programme as he pledged his support.

Attorney Devindra Kissoon; Director of Business, John Edghill; GNBS Executive Director, Ramrattie Karan and GNBS Certification Department Head, Andrea Mendonca. Also pictured are NAMILCO’s Managing Director, Roopnarine Sukhi (sixth from left) and Quality Manager, Taijawattie Williams (second from right) and well-wishers

Local economy remains on course to doubling this year

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 16, 2022

— World Bank says in latest report on global economic prospects

GUYANA’S economy remains on course for significant growth this year and in 2023, despite the existing global economic conditions, according to the World Bank in a report published this month titled, Global Economic Prospects.

According to the report, Guyana is projected to grow 47.9 per cent in 2022 and 34.2 per cent next year.

“…Guyana’s economy is forecast to double in size in 2022-2023,” the World Bank said, noting that this is on account of the rapid development of the country’s oil and gas sector.

ExxonMobil is the key stakeholder in most of the ongoing oil and gas activities within Guyana’s waters.

As it is now, the company has four sanctioned projects

offshore Guyana. Of those, Liza Phase One is producing approximately 130,000 barrels per day, using the Liza Destiny floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel, while the Liza Phase Two, which started production in February, is steadily ramping up to its capacity of 220,000 barrels per day, using the Liza Unity FPSO vessel.

The third project, Pa-

yara, is expected to produce 220,000 barrels per day; construction of its production vessel, the Prosperity FPSO, is running approximately five months ahead of schedule, with start-up likely before year-end 2023. The fourth project, Yellowtail, is expected to produce 250,000 barrels per day when the One Guyana FPSO comes on stream in 2025.

Guyana’s economy remains on course to grow significantly this year and in 2023

ExxonMobil is also moving ahead with plans for its fifth development project in the Stabroek Block, Uaru, which is expected to produce up to 250,000 barrels of oil per day.

Owing to those and other developmental projects, Guyana, though being susceptible to various economic shocks that are affecting countries across the world, is positioned to maintain a positive economic growth.

In addition to the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had reported that the economic prospects for Guyana remain positive at the close of the first quarter of 2022.

This remains the case for Guyana although growth in even the emerging market and developing economies (EMDEs) has been downgraded to 3.4 per, according to the World Bank.

The World Bank reported that the war in Ukraine is leading to high commodity prices, adding to supply disruptions, increasing food insecurity and poverty, exacerbating inflation, contributing to tighter financial conditions, magnifying financial vulnerability, and heightening policy uncertainty.

Despite the negative shock to global activity in 2022, there is essentially no rebound projected next year: global growth is forecast to edge up only slightly to a still-subdued three per cent in 2023, as many headwinds—in particular high commodity prices and continued monetary tightening—are expected to persist.

“Moreover, the outlook is subject to various downside risks, including intensifying geopolitical tensions, growing stagflationary headwinds, rising financial instability,

continuing supply strains, and worsening food insecurity.

“These risks underscore the importance of a forceful policy response. The global community needs to ramp up efforts to mitigate humanitarian crises caused by the war in Ukraine and conflict elsewhere and alleviate food insecurity, as well as expand vaccine access to ensure a durable end of the pandemic,” the World Bank reported.

Guyana has proven in recent times that it is capable of remaining resilient amidst global economic challenges.

The World Bank, after assessing the economic performance of countries during the period 2019-2021, had announced that Guyana recorded the highest cumulative economic growth in the Caribbean and Latin American region.

The international financial institution determined that the country recorded cumulative economic growth of 72.03 per cent, and the closest nation behind Guyana was Nicaragua, which recorded cumulative economic growth of 7.53 per cent. With this rate of overall growth, Guyana ranks among the fastest growing economies worldwide.

“Our economy is becoming stronger; it is rebounding from the two-year-long effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

Businesses, both local and foreign, are capitalising on the unfolding opportunities and, in the process, generating jobs and providing incomes for our citizens,” President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, had said in a recent address to the nation.

Based on Budget 2022– the country’s largest to date — the government intends to enhance its approach to stimulating growth in various economic sectors.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 16, 2022

Cop on $100,000 bail for allegedly stealing ‘ganja’ from police station

ELFANNANDO Newman, a police sergeant, was on Wednesday released on $100,000 bail for allegedly stealing a quantity of cannabis from the Timehri Police Station. The cannabis was being kept as evidence following a drug “bust.”

Newman, of Herstelling, East Bank Demerara, appeared before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Diamond/ Golden Grove Magistrate’s Court charged with larceny by a public officer.

Newman denied that between February 27, 2021, and March 1, 2021, at the Timehri Police Station, while being employed by the Guyana Police Force he stole three large bulky parcels of cannabis sativa weighing 3,122 grams, which were received or taken

ruary 27, 2021, ranks stationed at the Highway Police Patrol Base searched a motor car that had three occupants, two males and a female, and found three large parcels of leaves, seeds, and stems suspected to be narcotics

Police Sergeant Elfannando Newman

into possession by him by virtue of his employment.

The matter was adjourned until July 8, 2022.

According to a report from the special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), on Feb-

Man gets three years, $2.3M fine for trafficking ‘ganja’; coaccused remanded A 27-year-old man was on Wednesday sentenced to four years behind bars and fined $2.3 million after he pleaded guilty to trafficking cannabis, while his co-accused was

to him.

Magistrate Latchman after considering Marks’ plea, sentenced him to serve four years in prison together with a fine of $2.3 million. Henry was

JAILED: Ryan Marks

Akeem Henry

remanded to prison.

Ryan Marks, who has no fixed place of abode and co-accused Akeem Henry, 25, of Bent Street, Werk-en-Rust, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court virtually before Principal Magistrate, Judy Latchman.

Marks pleaded guilty to the charge which alleged that on June 14, 2022, at Orange Walk, Bourda, he had 2.650 kilograms of cannabis in his possession for the purpose of trafficking. Henry pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read

remanded to prison until July 20, 2022.

According to reports, Marks and Henry were arrested during an operation carried out at Orange Walk by ranks of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU.) The two were intercepted with a bag containing five “brick-like” parcels of suspected cannabis and were arrested then escorted to CANU headquarters.

The suspected narcotic was tested positive for cannabis and has a street value of $800,000.

and weighing about 45 to 50 pounds.

One of the males who was the driver of the car offered the rank who found the narcotics, $2 million and three ounces of gold, but the rank refused the offer.

The narcotics and three suspects were escorted to the Timehri Police Station and handed over to Detective Sergeant Newman, who weighed the narcotics and claimed that it was 3,122 grams.

Newman reportedly

failed to lodge the narcotics that were handed over to him. As a result, SOCU launched an investigation which revealed that Newman had allegedly stolen the narcotics. He was arrested and later charged.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 16, 2022

Doctors hopeful Aden can continue brain tumour treatment in Guyana

By Cassandra Khan

DIAGNOSED with a rare brain tumour, six-year-old Aden Persaud of Blairmont, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), is nearing treatment completion in the United States of America.

According to an official post on the Saving Hands Emergency Aid (SHEA) organisation’s Facebook page, doctors are hopeful that once the first phase is completed, little Aden will be able to do the follow-up

treatments in Guyana.

“His doctors are optimistic that once this initial phase is completed, Aden can have all of his follow-up treatments in Guyana, as the tumour has responded well to proton therapy,” the post stated.

SHEA shared that Aden was in great spirits and was spreading his infectious positivity to everyone he came into contact with.

“This positively has so far been a catalyst in persevering through challenges and setbacks he’s encoun-

tered to this point and will continue to see him through his ordeals,” SHEA said.

Aden arrived in the US on February 26 and has had many appointments to meet with his medical team, including doctors, nurses, therapists, social workers, and other support personnel.

“He has also had several tests, scans, and general appointments to prepare him for treatment. During one of the routine scans, it was discovered that a cyst had formed next to the tumour in his brain.

“This discovery caused his doctors to pause his initial treatment plan to focus on removing the cyst. On Thursday, March 17, Aden underwent a semi-major procedure to drain the fluid build-up in the cyst and have it removed,” SHEA related.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle earlier this year, the child’s mother, Alicia Persaud, said that Aden was diagnosed with Craniopharyngioma, a rare type of tumour near the pituitary gland, after experi-

Six-year-old Aden Persaud (Photo retrieved from SHEA)

encing persistent headaches and vomiting.

According to the U.S. National Cancer Institute, Craniopharyngiomas are usually part solid and part fluid-filled cysts, which are usually benign and not cancerous, as they do not spread to other parts of the brain, nor to other parts of the body.

“However, they may grow and press on nearby parts of the brain or other areas, including the pituitary gland, the optic chiasm, optic nerves, and fluid-filled spaces in the brain.

“Craniopharyngiomas may affect many functions of the brain, such as the hormone-making process, growth, and vision,” the Institute says.

Prior to developing this condition, Alicia said her son was very active and jovial, and would often spend a lot of his free time playing cricket.

Several failed attempts to get him the treatment he

needs here in Guyana had left the parents with no other option but to seek financial assistance to send Aden overseas for medical care.

The Saving Hands Emergency Aid Inc. (SHEA) foundation had stepped in to mobilise support for the child.

SHEA had said that, due to the severity and urgent nature of Aden’s condition, he needed immediate surgery and extensive hormone replacement therapy.

“Unfortunately, the advanced treatment and technology necessary to save this young child are not yet available in Guyana.

Therefore, SHEA charity has accepted his case, and we are working with doctors in the United States to coordinate lifesaving treatment for Aden,” the organisation said in a post on its Facebook page.

Aden had secured a medical visa earlier this year for travel to the U.S. for treatment.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 16, 2022

CDB calls for President Ali’s agricultural development vision to be fast-tracked

Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh speaks at the Caribbean Development Bank’s (CDB) 2022 Annual meeting in the Turks and Caicos on Wednesday

PRESIDENT of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), Dr Hyginus ‘Gene’ Leon has reiterated the call by CARICOM Heads of Government for President, Dr Irfaan Ali’s agricultural developmental vision to be fast-tracked.

Dr Leon made the appeal while delivering the feature address at the Caribbean Development Bank’s (CDB) 2022 Annual meeting in the Turks and Caicos on Wednesday.

President Ali’s vision was part of the featured discussion recently, at the Agriculture Investment Forum and Exposition held in Guyana which was attended by several CARICOM (Caribbean Community) Heads of Government. It focused on reducing the region’s food imports by 25 per cent by 2025.

“As a region we must therefore focus on building a modern, competitive inclusive and resilient agricultural sector in which food and nutrition security have primacy of place

and the potential for wealth creation as an attraction to young ‘agripreneurs’.

At the recent agri-investment and food forum in Guyana, CARICOM Heads of Government expressed grave concern about food shortages, the high prices of imported food, fertilisers and other agricultural inputs and the limited options for transportation of agricultural products within the region.

They have stressed the need for urgent action to take forward the vision for agricultural development championed by President Irfaan Ali of Guyana that targets a reduction in food import bill by 25 per cent by 2025,” the CBD President emphasised.

Senior Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, representing the Government of Guyana at the forum, reminded that the battle with COVID-19 is far from over since over the past seven days, 3.3 million new cases were reported worldwide, of which 2.3 million came from Europe and the Americas.

According to a release, he also noted the impact the pandemic has been having on global production, supply chains and shipping costs.

“The war in Ukraine has further dislocated supply of key commodities.

For example, wheat prices have gone up by as much as 60 per cent, given that Russia and Ukraine account for 30 per cent of global wheat exports. The result is a delayed recovery from the pandemic, with sharp downward revision in growth forecasts and even sharper upward revision in inflation forecasts, raising the risk of stagflation. For us in the Caribbean, the vulnerabilities which we all knew prior to COVID-19 have now been laid bare,” Dr. Singh told the forum.

HEAVY DEBT BURDEN Dr. Singh noted that simultaneously, the Caribbean continues to carry a heavy debt burden with 13 of its countries ending 2021 with a debt to GDP ratio of more than 60 per cent, and four

countries ending the year with a ratio of above 100 per cent.

“The result is that our prospects for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals are even dimmer today than they were three years ago. The implication of all this is that the Caribbean needs the CDB – our bank – now more than ever as we tackle the longstanding problems of economic diversification, infrastructure gaps particularly in transport and energy, human capital development, access to basic social services, food security and, of course, climate vulnerability,” the minister said.

During the statement, Minister Singh said that the Caribbean needs the CDB now more than ever as it tackles the longstanding problems of economic diversification, infrastructure gaps particularly in transport and energy, human capital development, access to basic social services, food security and, of course, climate vulnerability.

In this regard, the release noted that he further highlighted three main issues for special focus by the bank including resource mobilisation and intermediation, which is a core function in the bank’s original mandate as he further commended the bank for the 2021 success in securing $383 million replenishment for the 10th Cycle of the Special Development Fund, along with its partnership with the United Kingdom on the Caribbean Infrastructure Fund.

STRONG RECORD Secondly, Minister Singh urged that the bank pursue actively and aggressively, the maintenance of a strong record of project approvals and disbursements.

Thirdly, the minister urged that the bank use its incomparable convening authority in the region to support regional initiatives such as the commitment by the bank made at the Agriculture Investment Forum that it will use its best efforts to mobilise resources in sup-

port of a regional initiative to establish adequate and sustainable regional transportation, a historical impediment to regional trade, especially in agricultural produce.

Upon concluding, Minister Singh, on behalf of the Borrowing Member Countries (BMCs), thanked the distinguished Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands, and the government and people of the country for their warm welcome and hospitality.

Also in attendance at the meeting were other officials including Nigel John Dakin, Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands; Charles Washington Misick, Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands; Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB); other Governors of the CDB and President of the African Development Bank, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, the release said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 16, 2022

Spin-off benefits from local content could amount to US$700M annually, VP says

WITH the recent implementation of Guyana’s local content legislation, the country can possibly benefit from US$700 Million annually as part of the spin-off benefits.

This is according to Vice-President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo who made these remarks during a press conference on Wednesday, where he said that many foreign companies are trying to bypass the local content law.

Dr Jagdeo stated that

with implementation of the local content law, Guyanese will be able to fully realise these benefits.

As such, the Vice-President said that foreign companies such as oil companies, can only rent buildings from locals for offices and dwelling spaces. Additionally, they can only hire transportation and procure security services from local companies.

It was then that the Vice-President stated that a number of businesses have

Vice-President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo

been trying, through various means, to bypass this piece of legislation.

“A lot of people are trying to beat the law. We have a big battle with some of them trying to… change the way they incorporate and [also] trying to use legal means to bypass the preferences we have given only to Guyanese,” Dr Jagdeo said.

As a result, he mentioned that the government has a strong position against this as he mentioned that the pub-

lic may see the government going to court with a few of these companies.

“We’re not allowing this to happen,” he stressed.

Speaking on some of the ways that businesses have tried to beat the system, Dr Jagdeo noted that some of these businesses have created shell companies and are trying to include or use persons with Guyanese heritage to incorporate their companies here.

economy. With a strong presence in sourcing and manufacturing products for the construction industry, NHL’s vision is to provide quality services that exceed the expectations of their valued customers,” the release noted.

The DO IT BEST Super Store, which is 10,000 square feet in size, also has a warehouse facility of 4,000 square feet. A variety of items will be made accessible to consumers ranging from building materials and hardware items, construction items, plumbing and household items,

electrical fittings and most notably, replacement parts for plumbing and electrical items.

This DO IT BEST Super Store is unique in that it is a 100 per cent self-service store, and it offers items that are of the highest international standards. National Hardware is a member of the internationally recognised “Do it Best” Co-op enabling them to deliver a long-standing history of strength and stability interlinked with industry-leading efficiency, the release said.

National Hardware opens $400M ‘DO IT BEST’ Super Store

NATIONAL Hardware Limited (NHL) opened the doors of its $400M ‘DO IT BEST’ Super Store at its Ruimveldt, Industrial Site location, Georgetown, on Wednesday.

The National Hardware Group was founded by the Boyer family in 1971.

“We are proud to be embarking on this venture which will positively impact Guyana, especially now given its growth trajectory.

NHL has always been focused on serving our country,” Founder/Chairman, Eddie Boyer said in a release.

“The group of compa-

Tourism Minister, Oneidge Walrond and others look on as National Hardware Group Chairman, Eddie Boyer assists his grandson in cutting the ribbon to officially open the Super Store at Industrial Site

nies, firmly established as a robust and diverse trading

group, is well-positioned to expand its footprint in new

business opportunities given Guyana’s rapidly growing

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CWI Confirms change in Super50 tournament

CRICKET West Indies (CWI), today, confirmed a change in the schedule for the CG United Women’s Super50 Cup. Due to recent wet weather in Guyana, the tournament schedule had been switched around, with the T20 Blaze being played first, allowing the various grounds earmarked for the CG United Women’s Super50 Cup more time to prepare for the matches.

However, the weather situation in Guyana has meant that difficult ground conditions persist and so

CWI, in consultation with the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), has reformatted the tournament.

The new format will see the teams divided into two zones based on their positions in the previous CG United Women’s Super50 Cup played.

The teams that placed first, third and fifth are in Zone A and second, fourth and sixth are in Zone B. Each team will play two group stage matches, with the top two team from each group advancing to the semi-finals, with the

final on Saturday June 25.

There will also be a play-off for the fifth and sixth placed teams. All matches start at 09:30 hours (08:30 hours Jamaica Time).

CWI Director of Cricket, Jimmy Adams, said: “It is unfortunate that the weather in Guyana has continued to have an impact on the Women’s T20 Blaze and the CG United Super50 Cup tournaments.

However, huge credit must be given to CWI and the GCB which have done a tremendous job work-

ing together to arrive at a solution which will enable our best regional female players to engage in competitive cricket. Having this tournament is critical, given that we are hosting women’s cricket for the first time since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The tournament was originally scheduled to be played from 7-17 June in a round-robin format, with the winner being the team with the most points. CWI has put every effort into ensuring the tournament can go ahead to ensure that competitive Women’s cricket is played and to ensure high-level regional competition.

The CG United Women’s Super50 Cup precedes an important schedule of West Indies Women’s international cricket coming in the next 6 months, as well as the Commonwealth Games and the new Women’s CPL in August and September.

Each CG United Women’s Super50 Cup match to be played at the National Stadium in Providence will be live-streamed on the Windies’ Cricket YouTube channel. Live ballby-ball scoring will also be available on the www. windiescricket.com Match Centre.

CG United Women’s Super50 Cup Zones Zone A (Barbados, Jamaica, Windward Islands) Zone B (Trinidad & Tobago, Guyana, Leeward Islands) CG United Women’s Super50 Cup Schedule June 16 - Barbados vs Windward Islands (09:30 hours Eastern Caribbean/ 08:30 hours Jamaica time) June 17 - Trinidad & Tobago vs Leeward Islands (09:30 hours Eastern Caribbean/ 08:30 hours Jamaica time) June 18 - Jamaica vs Barbados (09:30 hours

Eastern Caribbean/ 08:30 hours Jamaica time) June 19 - Guyana vs Trinidad & Tobago (09:30 hours Eastern Caribbean/ 08:30 hours Jamaica time) June 20 - Jamaica vs Windward Islands (09:30 hours Eastern Caribbean/ 08:30 hours Jamaica time) June 21 - Guyana vs Leeward Islands (09:30 hours Eastern Caribbean/ 08:30 hours Jamaica time) June 22 – Semi-Final 1 (09:30 hours Eastern Caribbean/ 08:30 hours Jamaica time) June 23 – Semi-Final 2 (09:30 hours Eastern Caribbean/ 08:30 hours Jamaica time) June 24 - 5th vs 6th (09:30 hours Eastern Caribbean/ 08:30 hours Jamaica time) June 25 - Final (09:30 hours Eastern Caribbean/ 08:30 hours Jamaica time)

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Thursday June 16, 2022)

COMPLIMENTS OF CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Shai Hope-152 runs (2) Babar Azam-199 runs Today’s Quiz: (1) Which WI made the highest individual score in the recent ODI series versus Pakistan?

(2) Who made the highest individual score for Pakistan?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue …………………………………………………………………………

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Red-Letter day at the GOA

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 16, 2022

- Today’s GOA special AGM to decide Yassin’s fate for re-elections bid Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica.

Institution of terms limits for serving presidents was a motion brought up at the last

last term or ability to contest would be 2024.

The executives of the GOA are Kalam Juman-Yassin (President), Dr Karen

Pilgrim (Vice-President), Godfrey Munroe (Vice-President), Charles Corbin (Vice-President), Garfield Wiltshire (Honorary Trea-

surer), Hector Edwards (Secretary-General), Deion Nurse (Asst Secretary), Tricia Fiedtkou (Asst. Secretary-Treasurer).

Kalam Juman-Yassin – GOA president THE Guyana Olympic Association (GOA), one of the biggest stakeholders in Sports, will be hosting a special Annual General Meeting (AGM) today at its Lilliendaal headquarters, to ratify its new constitution as proposed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Expected to be of importance is the adaptation of the IOC’s recommendation for an age limit for anyone serving on the Executive Committee of the important sports institution.

The current president of the GOA, Kalam Juman-Yassin, is the longest-serving sports administrator in Guyana, having held the position since December of 1996.

Yassin is seeking re-election, even though it was recommended by the IOC, that the Association’s IOC-ratified constitution has an age limit of 70.

Yassin, a former Chief Magistrate, just celebrated his 75th birth anniversary, while insisting that there should be no age limit.

Jerome Poivey, the IOC’s Associate Director, Institutional Relations and Governance of the NOC Relations Department, said he had carefully examined the GOA’s draft given the Olympic Charter and the basic principles of good governance.

It is understood that several countries have already adopted the IOC’s position, including Haiti, Suriname,

GOA Executive Members (L-R), Kalam Juman-Yassin, Hector Edwards, Garfield Wiltshire, Charles Corbin, Dr Karen Pilgrim, Godfrey Monroe, Tricia Fiedtkou and Deion Nurse AGM held in 2016 by Guyana Squash Association and unanimously agreed on by the General Council.

It was agreed that the term limit position should be retroactive from 2012.

However, Yassin, in recent times had indicated that his position was not backdated which would mean that his

All systems in place for ‘Unfinished Business’

ALL systems are in place for the staging of the Magnum Tonic Wine ‘Unfinished Business’ Futsal Championship, which will be hosted at the National Park Tarmac on Saturday evening.

This was confirmed by Magnum Brand Manager Jamaal Baird, as well as tournament coordinator Edison Jefford, following an official release yesterday ahead of the event’s launch ceremony today at the Ansa McAl headquarters at Beterverwagting.

The tournament, which will last for the duration of one evening, will feature the top four teams from the previous contested Magnum Independence Cup. They are defending champions Back Circle, runners-up Sparta Boss, third-place finisher Gold is Money, and Bent Street.

The winner of the mini championship will pocket $300,000, while the second, third and fourth place

sides will walk away with $150,000, $100,000, and 50,000 respectively.

Baird, the brainchild of the tournament, said that the event was born out of the overwhelming support and clamouring by the fans for a final resolution given the thrilling and unpredictable conclusion of the semi-final stage and eventual finale.

According to Baird, all systems have been finalised for what is expected to be a momentous, and monumental night of action, adding that the competing sides emanate from historically proud football communities, which have supported the brand fervently.

He revealed that the brand, which has a growing influence in the communities, and grassroots movements, prides itself on listening to its constituents, which gave rise to the idea and eventual reality of staging the tournament dubbed ‘Unfinished Business.’

Meanwhile, Jefford stat-

ed, “The feedback that the tournament officials and sponsors received from patrons regarding the conclusion of the semi-final section and the grand finale necessitated a one-day event to officially settle the outcome and proverbial ‘bad blood’ between these hyper-competitive and storied teams. We believe that these experiences should be relieved given the sea-saw of emotions experienced by the respective fandoms.”

He further said, “At the moment, all systems and structures are in place for the staging of the event.

The tournament was created out of this idea and concept of providing the fans with another opportunity to support their teams, to witness a replay of the semi-final round and the possible finale on one evening. That is how the idea of ‘Unfinished Business’ was created. It was simply done with the teams and fans in mind.”

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The GCB congratulates Motie on his maiden Test call-up

Gudakesh Motie THE Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) congratulates Gudakesh Motie

on his maiden call-up for the West Indies Test team.

West Indies will play Bangladesh in a Two-Test series from June 16 to 28, 2022.

The 27-year-old Motie who hails from Albion earned his call-up following outstanding performances for Guyana in all formats, during the past year.

The left-arm spinner has played 34 First-Class matches for Guyana and West Indies ‘A’ teams taking 117 wickets with best figures of 6-20.

In the recently concluded

West Indies Championship, Motie struck his maiden First-Class century against eventual champions Barbados, a shot-filled 110 to showcase his improving batting prowess.

Motie made his international debut when he played a T20 international against Pakistan at Karachi on December 16, 2021.

The President and Executive members of the Guyana Cricket Board would like to extend best wishes to Motie as he looks to make his mark in Test cricket.

Forrester’s cements support for Slingerz FC

Slingerz FC players and administrators, along with representatives from Forrester’s Lumber and Building Complex FORRESTER’S Lumber and Building Complex, located at Stewartville, West Coast Demerara, became the first business entity to cement its support for Slingerz Football Club on its quest to regain supremacy in Guyana’s football.

The former National Club Champion, known for their dominance during their 2013 – 2016 reign, announced their reappearance to local football on Tuesday, promising a return to the throne they once sat on as Elite League Champions.

However, Club president, Javed Ali, said this will not be achieved without the assistance of corporate Guyana, since the aim of Slingerz FC is to allow their players to focus entirely on playing the ‘beautiful

game’.

Forrester’s, known for its supply of building materials and other services on the ‘West Side’, said their motto, ‘supporting development, providing support’, also speaks to helping in the area of sports and Slingerz FC provides the perfect opportunity for them to give back to the country’s athletes.

According to the company, Slingerz FC, which is based in Vergenoegen, is a product of the ‘West Side’ and during the club’s three years in existence, they have brought recognition to West Demerara and East Bank Essequibo.

The company said they will continue to support the Club’s president, Javed Ali, and his push in helping to

create jobs for local athletes using football.

Ali thanked the company for its support, calling it “the start of a long partnership with Slingerz FC.” “We welcome Forrester’s to the club as one of our sponsors, and I’m making a call on others to align their businesses with the club.

Slingerz FC is here to stay (this time). We endeavour and pride ourselves in being a professional club and one which has shown that we are capable of helping to elevate the status of the game in Guyana,” Ali said.

Slingerz FC will once again compete in the West Demerara Football Association (WDFA) League - the same league which they had won back-to-back in 2013 and 2014.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 16, 2022

Marics on board with GCF for Olympiad participation

MARICS and Co Ltd is the latest corporate entity to support the national chess team to participate in the 44th FIDE Chess Olympiad, which will be hosted in Chennai, India in late July, early August.

The company contributed $100,000 towards the trip.

According to information from the Guyana Chess Federation, the donation would go towards the hosting of the fundraising dinner which is set for June 25 at the Ramada, Princess Hotel.

Marketing Manager of Marics, Anjanie Hackette wished the team well during the cheque presentation ceremony.

A mixture of senior players and up-and-coming juniors will attend the biggest chess event globally, which is expected to attract participants from over 150 countries.

Marics representative Khemraj Jaikarran hands over the sponsorship cheque to GCF Secretary Marcia Lee The squad will include first-ever team to include the likes of former national a player with a disability, champions CM Taffin Khan through deaf chess player and FM Anthony Drayton, Anaya Lall, who beat a numalong with Roberto Neto, ber of far older and more exLoris Nathoo and Ethan Lee perienced players to earn her who will play in the Open spot. She is also the youngest member of the team at 12 Category.

Pooja Lam, Sasha Shar- years old.

Team Mohamed, Piniff, Anaya Lall, Jessica Callender and Nellisha Johnson nacle Business Services will be playing in the Wom- and Jade’s Wok have also thrown their support been’s Category.

Notably, this is Guyana’s hind the national team.

Roach added to West Indies test squad

(ESPNCRICINFO) - KEMAR Roach has been included in the West Indies squad for the first test match against Bangladesh at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.

The experienced fast bowler passed a fitness assessment and was added as the 13th player ahead of the start of the Padma Bridge Friendship Test Series, presented by Walton.

The match bowls off on Thursday June 16.

The first ball will be bowled daily at 10:00 h0urs (09:00 hours Jamaica).

Roach has made a full recovery from an injury sustained while playing for Surrey in the English County Championship.

Roach is the highest ranked West Indies bowler in the ICC rankings and is West Indies’ leading current wicket-taker in Test matches.

He brings a wealth of knowledge and skill to the bowling attack with an impressive record of 242 wickets in 72 Test matches at 27 runs apiece and he is also the leading wicket-taker at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium with 43 wickets.

His career best figures of 6-48 came against Bangladesh in 2009, while his best figures at the venue are 5-8 which also came against Bangladesh in 2018.

Head Coach Phil Sim-

mons said: “It’s brilliant that he’s fit for the Test match.

He’s always an inspiration for the younger players we have here and he’s ready to go. With 250 wickets around the corner, we’re happy with

Kemar Roach what he brings to the table, not just on the field but in the dressing room as well.

I’m glad he’s fit and looking forward to seeing him getting out there and doing what he does so well.”

Fans can purchase tickets for the two match Series via the new WINDIES TICKETS service presented by Mastercard, at www.tickets. windiestickets.com.

Tickets start from US$6/ EC$15 for mounds/grounds entry with general admission seating available for just US$15/EC$40. In addition to being able to choose

and pay for your seats in advance, the service allows fans to save their purchased tickets to their device for ticket scanning at the venue, avoiding the need for queues and travel to the box offices.

Fans registered for the WI Insider fanmail and on the WINDIES TICKETS service will receive promotional discounts when they buy tickets online for this Series as well as forthcoming T20I and ODI games in the Caribbean.

FULL SQUAD Kraigg Brathwaite (Captain), Jermaine Blackwood (Vice Captain), Nkrumah Bonner, John Campbell, Joshua Da Silva, Alzarri Joseph, Kyle Mayers, Gudakesh Motie, Anderson Phillip, Kemar Roach, Raymon Reifer, Jayden Seales, Devon Thomas Reserves, Tagernarine Chanderpaul, Shermon Lewis MATCH SCHEDULE Padma Bridge Friendship Test Series, presented

by Walton June 16-20: 1st Test – Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua. Local start time 10:00 hours/09:00 hours Jamaica time.

June 24-28: 2nd Test – Daren Sammy Cricke t G ro u n d , S t L u c i a .

Local start time 10:00 hours/09:00 hours Jamaica time.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 16, 2022

GABF to withdraw U15 National Team from the FIBA Centrobasket in Puerto Rico

GABF President explaining the visa situation to parents and U15 players THE Guyana Basketball Federation (GABF) has announced the pending withdrawal of the Guyana Basketball U15 National Team from the FIBA Centrobasket U15 Championship scheduled for June 18-22 in Gurabo, Puerto Rico.

The withdrawal is due to US Embassy in Guyana being unable to accommodate expedited interviews for seven members of the delegation.

The request for the expedited interviews followed the process of team selection.

The US Embassy in Georgetown has, on previous occasions, facilitated the expedited interviews for national basketball teams but was unable to do so on this occasion.

While the Embassy did offer to interview the delegation members at a later date

there is only a window of one day remaining for the team to make it to Puerto Rico in time for the first game against the Bahamas.

After several interventions by the offices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) America’s Regional Office, the GABF remains unsuccessful in securing appointments before the end of the week.

The 14-member delegation is already in possession of roundtrip airline tickets, as they must arrive two days before their matches, which begin on June 18, and will depart the US Territory on June 23, 2022.

The National Teams were previously placed in pairs taking into account their Nike

Youth Ranking position. Then the teams and their spot were drawn to define the matchups.

The competition will be held at the Fernando “Rube” Hernandez Colosseum. The top two teams from each group will advance to the Semi-Finals while the rest will compete for the fifth to eight spots.

In the semi-finals, the top two teams from each group will face the second team of each opposing group (1A vs 2B and 1B vs 2A). The semi-final winners will qualify for the gold medal game, while the losers will play for third place and the bronze medal.

The three best teams at the end of the tournament will qualify for the FIBA U16 Americas Championship in 2023.

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GABF to withdraw U15 National Team from the FIBA Centrobasket in Puerto Rico

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 16, 2022

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GABF President explaining the visa situation to parents and U15 players

The GCB congratulates Motie Red-Letter day on his maiden Test call-up Gudakesh Motie

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at the GOA

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Kalam Juman-Yassin – GOA president

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| THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2022