Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 17-02-2022

THURSDAY 17th FEBRUARY, 2022

No. 106637

Investors eyeing Takutu Basin for oil exploration

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US$35M fabrication facility for Enmore SEE PAGE

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500+ jobs to be created, company will be tracked to ensure locals benefit adequately

NTS Amega Atlantic Guyana opens

‘Duty Free Shop’ boosting small businesses

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NTS Amega Atlantic Guyana at Houston, East Bank Demerara officially opened by President, Dr Irfaan Ali, on Wednesday. The establishment provides precision manufacturing and repair services for the oil and gas sector and is expected to directly support over two dozen jobs (Office of the President photo)

US$20M O&G training centre to be established at Lusignan SEE PAGE

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Ghanaian O&G expert advises against annual grants SEE PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 17, 2022

Investors eyeing Takutu Basin for oil exploration

By Jared Liddell

HAVING unmasked Guyana’s offshore potential for oil and gas activities, investors are now turning their eyes to the possibilities that exist onshore in Guyana’s Takutu Basin, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).

In 1982, the Karanambo-1 well in the Takutu Basin was drilled by Home Oil Inc., and tests conducted confirmed that oil of good quality was found.

However, the commercial future of the find did not materialise.

“Due to the infrastructure at the time and the lack of the type of equipment that we have today, exploration activities were halted at that time. There has been interests recently on the Takutu Basin, which is something that our government is discussing presently [with respect to] how we move forward with that along with the other blocks offshore,” Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat said during his

Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat address to stakeholders on day two of the International Energy Conference and Expo at the Marriott Hotel.

It was reported, recently, that ExxonMobil started production at Guyana’s second offshore oil development on the Stabroek Block, Liza Phase Two, bringing the total production capacity to more than 340,000 barrels per day in only seven years since the country’s first discovery.

In January, ExxonMobil had reported two new oil finds, which added

to the over 10 billion oil equivalent barrels that exist within the Stabroek Block, offshore Guyana.

The latest finds at the Fangtooth and Lau Lau wells bring the total discoveries within the Stabroek Block to 28.

Just Tuesday, Chairman of ExxonMobil, Darren Woods, said Guyana accounts for more than 11 per cent of the world’s oil finds since 2015.

He described the progress in local oil and gas sector as “unmatched success,” noting that this success could even be greater in the near future since parts of the local basin remain unexplored, and are still considered frontier locations.

DON’T MISS THE BOAT As Guyana continues to be recognised for its major opportunities for investments, Minister Bharrat has advised local investors to “be opened” to the idea of partnerships within the oil and gas sector to ensure that they benefit from the

vast opportunities available here.

Minister Bharrat told the gathering that, while the budding oil and gas sector has seen some level of healthy competition, local investors should take advantage of the opportunities for partnerships which would greatly benefit their operations.

“Our local private sector and Guyanese are very competitive in nature, but I want to tell the private sector that we need to start looking at each other as partners and not as competitors, if we continue to do so the ship might set sail without us,” Minister Bharrat said.

He related that one of the major obstacles faced by local businesses is access to large funding, but he advised stakeholders to join forces, pool together their resources and capitalise on the opportunities that exist.

Speaking on the newly enacted local content legislation, Minister Bharrat reiterated that the government has designed the legislation to benefit locals while, at the same, not dis-incentivizing foreign investors.

“We need foreign investment in Guyana. One of our major problems in Guyana is access to capital, so we need foreign investment in our country, but all we are saying is the local con-

tent legislation is there to help our people benefit or gain somewhere or the other from the oil and gas sector through the investments that are coming into our country,” Minister Bharrat said.

Map showing the Takutu Basin onshore Guyana (OilNOW photo)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 17, 2022

US$35M Enmore fabrication facility to create over 500 jobs

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President Ali says progress of company will be tracked to ensure locals benefit adequately -

By Tamica Garnett

President Ali, during his address, said the initiative is GUYANA’S GuySons Engi- a result of the government’s neering has teamed up with holistic approach to developUS-based K&B Industries ments within the oil and gas to construct a US$35 mil- sector. lion fabrication facility at The President related that Enmore, East Coast Deme- the development is indicative rara, paving the way for the of how high-level engagecreation of over 500 jobs. ments and discussions, such The joint venture com- as those taking place at the pany, GK+B Industries, will International Energy Conbe offering tubular goods, ference and Expo, result in premium threading and ac- initiatives that benefit the cessory services as well as ordinary Guyanese, even at turn-key manufacturing so- the grassroots level. lutions.

“For the benefits to come, This latest development we must do what we do at was announced, on Wednes- the high level, at the techniday, during a press confer- cal level… we have to meet ence held at the Marriott the ambassadors, we have to Hotel, where the 2022 Inter- meet the international invesnational Energy and Expo is tors because that is where ongoing. the hard work of negotiating Present at the ceremony the opportunities is at. Then were President Dr. Irfaan Ali; ultimately who benefits? It is Senior Minister in the Office the people in these communiof the President with respon- ties,” the President said. sibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Though 500 jobs will be Singh; GK+B’s Chief Execu- created over the next five tive Officer, Faizal Khan and years, the company is comFounder of GuySons Engi- mitted to immediately emneering, Kadim ‘Kads’ Khan. ploying 150 persons this

year, with an initial investment of US$7.5 million for the creation of a processing facility.

The company has already started the process of capacity building for its local workforce, including training of staff at facilities in the USA and Trinidad and Tobago.

President Ali said that the progress of the company will be monitored, as it has given particular commitments to contribute to the development of surrounding communities.

“The company has signed on to a number of commitments and milestones that have to be met as we move forward. The jobs, the investments that has to be done, the types of changes we have to see this graduate. So, it’s going to be monitored by NICIL, by the Ministry of Finance and Go-Invest,” President Ali said.

Minister Singh, in his remarks, said that the partnership is a manifestation of collaborations between local

Chief Executive of GK+B, Faizal Khan and international companies that the government has been constantly encouraging.

“This partnership represents a good example of what can be achieved through the spirit of the local content framework that we have established, leveraging local and overseas capital expertise. This partnership is what we would like to see multiplied and replicated many times over,” Dr. Singh said.

In 2017, GuySons Engineering formed GuySons Oil and Gas to capitalise on the abundance of op-

K&B’s Vice-President of Sales, Nick Becnel

portunities locally. In 2019, the company secured two contracts with ExxonMobil for engineering and staffing services, while the partnership with K&B Industries was formulated in 2020.

K&B Industries, which was founded in 1974, supplies OCTG tubular threading services, machining, manufacturing and assembly services for the oil and gas industry, and is also a global supplier of highprecision machining, manufacturing and assembly services for the aerospace and

semi-conductor industries.

Speaking on behalf of K&B Industries, VicePresident of Sales, Nick Becnel, said: “We are very grateful and honoured to be a part of the next chapter of Guyana’s growth.

Through our partnership with GuySons, we are now committed to offering incountry solutions to support Guyana’s growing energy sector for decades to come… to be successful, we plan to invest in the community and more specifically the Guyana people.”

US$20M O&G training centre to be established at Lusignan

THE East Coast Demerara (ECD) community of Lusignan is set to be transformed with the establishment of a US$20 million oil and gas training centre.

According to a press statement, three companies, 3t EnerMech, Orinduik Development and Windsor Technologies will be partnering to make this centre a reality.

The new 3t EnerMech Guyana Training Centre of Excellence will support incountry skills, safety training and certification for local offshore workforce.

This venture will provide an industry-leading and internationally accredited facility, which is in alignment with the recently enacted local content legislation.

Established to empower and provide Guyanese with key skills and training certifications that are required to work in the offshore environment, the new 3t En-

erMech Guyana Training Centre of Excellence combines expert instructors, inclassroom training facilities, blended learning software and technology, as well as fully immersive simulators for high hazard-activity learning.

EnerMech, the global integrated solutions specialist, is half of the 3t EnerMech strategic alliance which draws from EnerMech’s experience and track record, complemented by 3t Energy

Group’s world-renowned training capability, learning technology solutions and training management services, to deliver best-inclass learning experiences specifically tailored for its clients.

The 3t EnerMech Guyana Training Centre of Excellence is set to become the first regional Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) internationally accredited training provider in Guyana.

It will also deliver the country’s first OPITOapproved, Basic Offshore Safety Induction and Emergency Training (BOSIET) certification, as well as provide a controlled environment to deliver scenariobased firefighting emergency response training when relevant accreditations are secured early in 2022.

Resident representative of EnerMech, Joseph Lichon, said: “It’s our mission to develop local content globally and to help create safer, smarter, more sustainable workforces. Until now, Guyana nationals working in the oil and gas sector would be required to travel to Trinidad and Tobago, the US or Canada, for accredited training, making it very costly and time consuming.

This is compounded by the logistical challenges of the pandemic including travel restrictions, additional requirements, and limited

flight availability.”

Paul Knowles, representative of the 3t Energy Group, added: “With Orinduik constructing the 3t EnerMech Guyana Training Centre of Excellence, coupled with our expertise, technologies, and programmes, we are providing a full package to help support the country’s personnel to excel in the oil and gas sector. We are very proud to play a critical role in Guyana’s future and enhance its economic prosperity by making accredited skills and safety training available in country for the first time.”

Orinduik is also in the process of building Guyana’s first commercial heliport as part of a wider complex which will incorporate the new training centre, an aviation/marine Polytechnic School as well as a hotel and business centre.

The 3t EnerMech Guy-

ana Training Centre of Excellence will be located in Lusignan, in close proximity to the East Coast Highway, approximately 10km east of Central Georgetown, and placed strategically for easy access for both local and international delegates working in the offshore market.

Chairman of Orinduik, Harrychand Tulsi, said: “Construction of the Training Centre is expected to be completed in June 2022 and we are very excited to be partnered with 3t EnerMech in delivering world class training and certifications as we build a skilled and safe local workforce for the expanding offshore market. This demonstrates our support and alignment with the Government’s commitment to training and employment of Guyanese in key positions in this sector.”

Ghanaian O&G expert advises against annual grants

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 17, 2022

- says oil revenues better spent on skills training, educational programmes

By Jared Liddell GHANAIAN oil and gas expert, George Owusu, has advised the Government of Guyana that while it

is important to invest in social programmes, annual distributions of cash grants should not be part of the development plans.

Quoting the well-known proverb, “If you teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime,” Owusu said major investments in skills training, capacity building and education would serve the nation better.

Speaking on the sidelines of the ongoing International Energy Conference and Expo, the O&G expert said investing in education and skills training would boost the marketability of

each individual and would create an avenue for increased income levels.

“I don’t believe in subsidies and giving people cash, you have to work for it.

I’d rather spend the money on training so that their income level would go up.

If you’re a welder and you don’t have any training and you’re trained and certified, automatically your pay goes up instead of sitting at home and getting paid.

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Ghanaian Oil and Gas expert, George Owusu “If you have to send them overseas for training fine, if you have to bring trainers to train them fine, now whatever you do when you improve the quality of the person’s skillset, you’d be able to make the money instead of just sitting down and somebody giving you money,” Owusu said.

EDUCATION INVESTMENTS In the government’s milestone $552.9 billion budget for this year - the first budget which is partly funded by oil revenues - a sum of $1.3 billion was approved for the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL).

This initiative paves the way for Guyanese learners to have access to several internationally recognised institutions, such as the University of the West Indies Open Campus, the University of the Southern Caribbean, the University of Applied Sciences in Germany, as well as the Indira Gandhi National Open University, the JAIN University, and the Sherlock Institute of India.

At no cost to them, Guyanese applicants had the opportunity to choose from over 104 available programmes. As part of the GOAL platform, 20,000 online scholarships would be awarded over the next five years, while another 4,500 students are expected to benefit from online scholar-

ships in 2022.

The government has allocated a total of $74.4 billion for the education sector in the 2022 budget, and this will cover an increase in education grants for school children, laptops for teachers, and the expansion of the National School Feeding Programme, among other things.

The allocation represented a 22.6 per cent increase from 2021, and accounts for 13.5 per cent of the overall $552.9 billion 2022 budget.

Additionally, $295.7 million has been set aside to purchase laptops and other devices for 425 teachers.

Other measures included in the Ministry of Education’s budget allocation include $1.2 billion for the purchase of textbooks for public school learners, over $20 million for the purchase of 2,000 micro-science kits, $3.5 billion for the University of Guyana (UG), and $6.6 billion for the construction, rehabilitation, extension, and maintenance of educational facilities.

The $6.6 billion for works on educational facilities caters for the construction of the longawaited Prospect Secondary School, as well as the reconstruction of the North Ruimveldt and North West Secondary Schools, which were severely damaged by fire in 2021.

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Trade, commerce between Guyana, Barbados to increase GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 17, 2022

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- as Go-Invest signs MoU with Invest Barbados, Export Barbados

THE Guyana Office for Investment (Go-Invest), Invest Barbados and Export Barbados, on Tuesday, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at boosting and promoting investment opportunities and interrelated business approaches between the two countries.

The signing took place on the sidelines of the International Energy Conference and Expo 2022, ongoing at the Marriott hotel, Georgetown.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Go-Invest, Dr. Peter Ramsaroop, said the agreement not only strengthens the existing relationship between the two countries, but fulfils the government’s promise to improve the lives

of all Guyanese.

“I am proud to represent the Guyana Government and with my colleagues from Barbados to be able to see this agreement in place, we hope to see the private sector delegates heading to Barbados in April.

“We have a large delegation from Barbados here.

You have heard the President and the PM talk about joint tourism partnerships and training and construction and we are excited to be able to facilitate these new developments between our two countries,” he said.

CEO of Invest Barbados, Kaye-Anne Brathwaite, said the agreement will present countless opportunities for both countries.

She added: “continue the collaboration between

the two entities and obviously, the governments of Guyana and Barbados to ensure that there is a lot of co-operation to building partnerships and relationships in various sectors across the two countries.”

CEO of Export Barbados, Mark Hill, added to what Brathwaite said, noting: “There are a number of projects that we are delivering on together.

Specifically, we are looking at relationships as far as gold…bio-mass as well and other forms of technology in terms of how we collaborate so it is not only a MoU but making things happen in the short, medium and long- term.”

Invest Barbados is an economic development agency that works closely with all government ministries. It provides access to administrative information including laws, standards, regulations, incentives and business conditions. Export Barbados is a valuecreating agency which help its exporters to reach their global goals.

The partnership is one of many investments generated by Go-Invest.

Of the investments fa-

Go-Invest’s CEO, Dr. Peter Ramsaroop (first from left); CEO of Invest Barbados, Kaye-Anne Brathwaite (centre) and CEO of Export Barbados, Mark Hill sign an MoU cilitated, 30 per cent were agriculture-based, 32 and 36 per cent were from the services and manufacturing sectors respectively, while the remaining fall within the forestry, energy and mining sectors.

(DPI)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 17, 2022

Supporting Local Prosperity THE International Energy Conference and Expo Guyana which opened on Tuesday last, has grabbed the headlines of all the leading newspapers in Guyana and for that matter the entire media including social media; and for good reason.

Oil and gas is a big deal for Guyana and its several stakeholders both within the country and overseas.

The conference provided an opportunity to have an open conversation on the future of oil and the impact oil can have on the future development of the country and for that matter the entire region. As to be expected, there will be differences in perspectives and in some cases divergent views but at the end of the day it is the greater good of the society that is of overriding concern.

This could very well be Guyana’s moment. The conference is taking place at a time when the country is continuing to discover large deposits of hydro-carbons which could change the geostrategic importance of the country as a key and influential player on the global petroleum stage. But at a more fundamental level, it could transform our historical destiny as a supplier of raw materials with all the accompanying disadvantages as ‘price takers’ and a historical victim of the so-called dependency syndrome.

Our oil resources belong first and foremost to the Guyanese people. It is part and parcel of our national patrimony. Our fore-parents came to Guyana as slaves and indentured labourers to toil in the sugar plantations, having never dreamt of a

day when oil could become another lynch-pin of the economy and overtake sugar as a major source of foreign exchange.

This is why the benefits of oil must first and foremost be to the advantage of Guyanese, a point emphasised

by President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, who during his address to the conference made it abundantly clear that while the foreign capital is welcomed in Guyana, it must come at the right price and that the government’s focus is fuelled by long-term development of energy with the benefits of its citizens being paramount.

One way of ensuring that Guyanese benefit from the proceeds of oil is by way of the recent local content legislation, which in effect stipulated that locals must benefit from existing and future

development projects and plans. According to President Ali, “local content is not about not welcoming investors; we welcome investors from Exxon, be it the international investor Hess, every single stakeholder, whether you are regional or international, we welcome you... but all we are saying is that space for technological transformation, collaboration, local growth and competitiveness, increased productivity must be built into the system to be of benefit to the people of the country.”

This would require, as Barbadian Prime Minister Mottley observed, some difficult conversations which requires maturity and a commitment to frankness. President Ali has demonstrated that when it comes to protecting the national interests and that of the Guyanese

people, no effort is too much and no opportunity will be spared. For all of that, we owe a debt of gratitude to our President for putting Guyana first while at the same time working collaboratively to advance the regional integration movement.

The President could not have been any clearer when it comes to the position of the PPP/C administration on the issue of local content. “We are going to state directly the narrative. There is no need for any interpretation; that is the narrative. We are pursuing this path; we know of the responsibility we speak about. We welcome investors, but we believe that local opportunities, the private sector and every single Guyanese and regional stakeholder must be part of the prosperity and benefit from the prosperity.”

Similar sentiments were expressed by the Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, who supported the idea of protected opportunities for citizens of a country to participate in their national patrimony. According to her, “the day that we do not provide opportunity for our citizens who participate in active citizenship of being able to benefit from the patrimony of our country is the day we sow the seeds of destruction of our nation and invite destruction.”

These are indeed deep and profound thinking on the part of our leaders and speaks to a concern that it is not possible to speak of human development unless the riches of the country are shared in a fair and equitable manner by those that matter most, the Guyanese people.

The PNC-dominated Coalition must stop contaminating the land with divisive politics

Dear Editor, What has the Opposition offered apart from wantonly and shamelessly criticising and condemning the 2022 Budget? The Coalition presented ‘The Good Life’ Budget to this nation year after year since 2015 but it was the mother of all irony that they viciously snatched away the good life which Guyanese enjoyed under the PPP/C Government for 23 years. Now that Guyanese are once again enjoying the good life, the Opposition and some biased commentators are once again singing the corruption mantra. The Opposition needs to review their dismal and disgraceful performance record which reeked of corruption and mismanagement.

The Coalition Members

of Parliament should review the constructive debate presentations which were done in Parliament from 2015 by the PPP/C Parliamentarians. The PPP/C MPs not only exposed the many flaws in the Coalition’s budgetary allocations and inherent policies but also provided alternatives with clear courses of action to be taken and the pitfalls were highlighted which, if implemented, would have been counterproductive to our socio-economic development.

Monies were snatched away from transformational projects and plugged into areas which were non-productive and resulted in massive wastage and theft. These pitfalls and inherent weaknesses were eventually substantiated by the downward spiral of the economy and the massive corruption which had ensued

is well documented by the Auditor General’s Report year after year, yet the Coalition did nothing to correct its subsequent budgets and put a halt to the multitude of corrupt practices which pervaded every strata of its governance. The corruption is well documented. Now they want us to believe that the PPP/C Government is corrupt.

The Coalition MPs flaccid arguments and age-old cries of corruption are laughable when the undeniable fact is that their period of governance was riddled with corruption, mismanagement and deliberate wastage. The Coalition’s presentation in Parliament exposed to the Guyanese public that they will never be able to govern this country and is incapable of constructive arguments.

It exposed that all they are capable of is violence, vulgarity and uncouth behaviour coupled with lies and deceit.

Have the Coalition’s MPs ever apologised for their lawless and indecent behaviour in Parliament? No! That is how they debate! The PNC rigged all the elections from 1968 to 1985, have they ever apologised? They have attempted to blatantly rig the 2020 Elections, have they apologised? The PNCdominated Coalition continues to contaminate this land with their divisive political agenda about marginalisation and corruption.

It is becoming increasingly manifested that the Vice President, Dr Jagdeo, is again being targeted in the press and the interview

by Vice News has that unmistakable agenda to aid the

Opposition to stimulate and nurture the perception of corruption which the PNC and certain commentators used to perfection prior to the 2015 Elections to destabilise the PPP/C Government. Where was Vice News during the tenure of the Coalition?

Where was Vice News when Mr Trotman signed the Exxon’s PSA in 2016? In 2018, the-then Minister of Natural Resources, Mr Trotman had said that there is no legal basis to challenge the PSA between his Government and Exxon yet there was no interview by Vice News, why? Then the mystery of the US$18 Signing Bonus, why did Vice News not interview the-then Finance Minister? And the list goes on. There are documented acts of corruption against the Coalition Government

yet Vice News and others are going after perceived corruption and hearsay. Is this the modus operandi of a responsible media house? No wonder media and business analyst, Mr Rick Edwards of the Poynter Institute described Vice News journalism as ‘raw and tasteless and more akin to personal essays than balanced journalism’.

Vice News, upon a bit of investigation would have known that VP Jagdeo and other members of the PPP Government do submit their financial statements to the Integrity Commission on an annual basis and it was just as simple to contact Mr Su and verify the veracity of the allegations. But then that would not have satisfied its agenda. Furthermore, it would seem that the new TURN TO PAGE 7

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 17, 2022

Over 24 jobs created with opening of NTS Amega Atlantic Guyana

President Dr Irfaan cuts the ceremonial ribbon to officially open NTS Amega Atlantic Guyana at Houston, East Bank Demerara PRESIDENT, Dr Irfaan Ali, on Wednesday evening, praised the grand opening of NTS Amega Atlantic Guyana at Houston, East Bank Demerara, describing it as a strategic piece of the right mix for development.

NTS Amega Atlantic Guyana is a joint venture be-

tween the globally-renowned manufacturing and repairing company — NTS Group and local company Atlantic Marine Supplies Inc. The establishment, which will be providing precision manufacturing and repair services for the oil and gas sector, is expected to directly support over two dozen jobs.

NTS Group has locations in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, the USA, Canada and Norway.

Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, and the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-INVEST) CEO, Dr Peter Ramsaroop were also at the opening ceremony.

The President is passionate in his mission to transform Guyana

Dear Editor, “YOU don’t need to second guess us. You don’t need to read between the lines,” was the emphatic words of President Ali at the opening of the International Energy Conference and Expo 2022, as he proudly outlined the vastness of our natural resources and willingness to foster bilateral engagements and cement strategic relationships with international investors.

If there were any doubts about this administration’s

seriousness and commitment to diversifying and opening our economy to the world for the benefit of all Guyanese, then the President’s speech sought to pacify those concerns.

Make no mistake, Guyana is open for business.

But more importantly, the President outlined a new business-enabling development strategy that is also multi-faceted which will utilise advancement in the Oil-and-Gas Sector to support the development of our

low carbon agenda aimed at economic sustainability and diversification.

Such a comprehensive development strategy will ensure our traditional sectors remain viable and competitive, meanwhile allowing for the creation of newer areas of opportunity and growth, thus ensuring job security for Guyanese.

All for your consideration.

Yours sincerely, Erin Northe

The PNC-dominated...

FROM PAGE 6 Opposition Leader was awaiting an opportunity to display his ignorance and establish himself as an incompetent leader, and at the same time certain media house cannot resist the temptation to publish the ‘juicy news’.

Can you imagine that Mr Norton was reported as saying that the PPP Government Officials ‘have mastered the art of keeping their tracks clean’. Is this an admission that the Coalition’s officials

stole but are unable to cover their tracks? It is quite an allegation by the Opposition Leader when there are no evidence but simply conjectures and suppositions.

In conclusion, the PNCdominated Coalition must come to realisation that Guyanese will no longer fall for this corruption mantra, they were deceived once by this and the many false promises but not again.

The Coalition must do the hard work to be a re-

sponsible opposition and do some sanitising within their ranks, as it is they will never again be trusted to form any government.

At the same time, media houses must ensure that they do the hard work and do investigative journalism when reporting certain sensitive issues, they owe the public that responsibility.

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 17, 2022

What next for the Caribbean with COVID-19 after SARS-CoV-2 and Deltacron?

By Earl Bousquet

IT’S a question asked every day for the past two years and is still as relevant today as yesterday or yesteryear, as the pandemic starts feeling like having established a permanent presence everywhere, even as it continues spreading invisibly and remains impossible to predict, at every turn throwing-up new challenges faster than older ones are understood.

So far in 2022, SARSCoV-2 and the Delta and Omicron variants have changed life for all -- and it’s just impossible to keep pace.

World Health Organisation (WHO) chief, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreye-

sus, says COVID’s impact “will be felt for decades, even as the spread of the virus is slowing down globally,” with vulnerable groups hit worst -- and the longer the pandemic drags on, the worse the impact will be.

He notes that only 42 per cent of ‘Commonwealth countries’ have received double-dose vaccinations, with ‘African Commonwealth’ nations at just 23 per cent, with a wide disparity between countries globally.

“Bridging that gap,” Dr Tedros says, “is an urgent priority for WHO, not only for bringing the pandemic under control and saving lives, but also for protecting livelihoods and supporting sustainable recovery”.

He has also warned that, as the virus evolves with more problematic challenges globally, vaccines may need to evolve as well, saying “Variants of SARSCoV-2 may continue to escape neutralising antibodies induced by vaccines against prior variants…”

The Caribbean, like every other region, has had its similar and different experiences facing and fighting COVID-19 since 2020.

The Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) says that, since January 19, 2022, the wider region had almost 1.57 million deaths (28.2 per cent of deaths worldwide) and COVID-19 infections were increasing in most countries due to Omicron, which

spreads easier and faster and can be lethal for the immunocompromised and the unvaccinated.

PAHO’s Director, Dr Clarissa Etienne, continues to express concern about the poor and other vulnerable groups at greatest risk, including those living in the Amazon Basin, particularly Indigenous Communities, Women (who comprise 70 per cent of the health workforce), People of African Descent, Migrants in Temporary Settlements and Prisoners in crowded jails.

As of January, too, more than 60 per cent of the population of Latin America and the Caribbean had been fully vaccinated, but 10 regional countries had vaccination rates of less than

40 per cent, the lowest being Haiti (less than one per cent), Jamaica (20 per cent) and St. Vincent and the Grenadines (almost 24 per cent).

The United Nations’ COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) Facility reaches 22 countries, through PAHO. In addition, 10 countries -- Bolivia, Dominica, El Salvador, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines -- are eligible to benefit from the related Vaccines Advance Market Commitment (COVAX AMC), launched by GAVI (the Vaccine Alliance) to provide donor-funded vaccines for low-and middle-income economies.

As of January, over 96 million vaccine doses had been delivered or were in transit through COVAX, with over 26 million provided through country donations.

As for the economic impact of COVID-19, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) reported a seven per cent economic contraction for Latin America and the Caribbean in 2020.

However, Caribbean nations dependent on tourism had deep economic recessions (several with

estimated economic declines over 15 per cent in 2020) and several South American nations hard-hit by the pandemic registered economic contractions over 10 per cent.

In 2021, many of the region’s economies began modest recoveries, with the IMF estimating a regional growth rate of 6.3 per cent.

Nevertheless, many relying on global investment, trade and tourism -- all of which have been negatively affected by the pandemic – will witness slow recovery.

The wider regional economic contraction in 2020 increased poverty and exacerbated income inequality.

Modest economic recoveries are projected by the World Bank for the Caribbean in 2022 and 2023, but the effects of Supply Chain problems and resulting increases in oil-and-gas prices and cost-of-living generally higher everywhere, growth sounds, for many CARICOM states, more like a dream than a likely possibility.

Like every global encounter, the COVID challenge has shocked the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the rest of the TURN TO PAGE 9

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 17, 2022

What next...

FROM PAGE 8 world into several realities, most unfortunate and negative, but many also positive from the standpoint of exposing vulnerabilities and drawing-out positive responses from those on the frontline of the war against what’s already the worst pandemic anyone alive has seen.

Most-exposed are the inefficiencies of national health services to handle such emergencies and the unpreparedness of too many governments to act early and quickly instead of slowly and overly cautious.

The regional private sector, which has borne the brunt of the COVID pressure for the past two years, is also understandably up-in-arms about the harmful effects of some protocols on their ability to revive earlier than later with hotels and travel industry groups complaining that people are being affected more by bad handling of protocols than by the virus.

But here again, the virus has brought governments, health, public and private sectors closer in the common fight and forced creation and/ or activation of cooperation arrangements of a do-or-die nature that were hitherto ig-

nored or underutilised.

The region’s economic recovery depends heavily on three elements: the course the pandemic takes, governments’ responses and the availability and distribution of vaccines.

CARICOM governments are, however, starting to accept having to ‘Live with COVID’, even while hoping it either dies a natural death, or scientists do eventually develop the All-in-One vaccine.

Or, that the virus becomes so much the dominant part of the New Normal it has created that its status is downgraded to the equivalent of a global Common Flu. At any rate, affected sectors, like affected persons everywhere, are increasingly opting to take action where they have lagged up-to-now, private and public sectors engaging governments like never before, including the region’s hotels and other tourism operators deciding to go to the meat of the matter and directly engage with CARICOM leaders on how they see the next steps in the continuing war against the common invisible enemy.

CGX deep-water port could increase rice exports

THE CGX deep-water port being developed in Berbice is being touted as an avenue to boost the exportation of rice.

This is according to Co-Chairman of CGX Energy Inc. (Guyana), Professor Suresh Narine, who provided an update on the project during day two of the International Energy Conference and Expo at the Marriott Hotel.

Professor Narine said Berbice produces about 30 to 65 per cent of the rice grown in Guyana, noting that it takes about 20 hours for grains to get to the city, putting rice millers at a disadvantage.

He said the port will ensure that grains are handled safely and rapidly.

This will be facilitated through a multipurpose terminal being developed at the port with a 2023 completion date.

“Part of a component of this port will be purpose built to ensure that grains can be handled rapidly, safely and can be quality controlled at the port so

that pricing as a function of quality can be done seamlessly,” the Co-Chairman said.

Professor Narine also said that talks are advancing with a consortium in Brazil to get rice exported from Guyana into the country. He said the route from where the port is located is one of the shortest into Brazil.

“It was not by design, but it has become a great focus of the port to look at grains,” he said about the construction of the port, adding that the multipurpose terminal will also cater for containerised traffic.

He pointed out that containers heading to Berbice have to go to the Georgetown port and then by road into Regions Five and Six. “So, we have looked at

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Co-Chairman of CGX Energy Inc. (Guyana), Professor Suresh Narine (DPI photo) a radius from our port to better service those consumers with containerised transport mainly as a way of reducing the cost to those consumers and as a result, a small component of the cargo side of the port will be focused on containerised traffic,” Professor Narine related.

The construction of a deep-water port, the CoChairman said, is advancing well without any major hiccups.

In December 2021, President Dr. Irfaan Ali commissioned a bridge linking the access road leading to the deep-water port. (DPI)

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COVID-19 self-test kits to be rolled out across Guyana

AS the fight against the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic rages on, Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, has said that home/ self-test kits will soon be rolled out across the country.

“Right now in Guyana, we are introducing that and there are some people who would buy kits and would follow the guidance,” Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, said during Wednesday’s edition of the COVID-19 update.

The minister said selftests are a way for persons who are at home, to determine whether they have

COVID-19 without visiting a testing facility.

He advised that persons who would be utilising the self-test kits should be responsible enough to report to the Ministry of Health’s surveillance system if they test positive for the virus.

The minister said during the update that when those persons report their status, authorities will determine whether a second test needs to be done.

“When that report is made, we would then determine whether we need to do a second test or not but at that point that determination would be made. So, if

somebody would have used a self-testing kit and they are positive they should report it so we would have it in our count,” he said.

Meanwhile, when asked whether officials will accept COVID-19 home kit results as a form of clearance for travel to Guyana, the Health Minister said that the country’s travel requirements are very explicit.

To this end, he said that they will only be accepting antigen tests, from reputable institutions or laboratories along with PCR tests and now rapid PCR tests.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 17, 2022

Woman being tested for COVID-19 at one of the Ministry of Health’s testing sites

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 17, 2022

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‘Duty Free Shop’ boosting small businesses

By Tamica Garnett

CREATED with the purpose of giving Guyanese small manufacturing businesses an opportunity to advertise their products, and attract investors, the Duty-Free Shop at the Umana Yana has been hitting all the right marks in providing opportunities for small businesses.

The shop complements the 2022 International Energy Conference and Expo being held at the Marriott.

The businesses there were eager to share their stories with the Guyana Chronicle.

Ricks and Sari is one of the first booths patrons encounter as they enter the Umana Yana compound.

The company’s Sales Representative, Ronald Seepersaud, said business was bright.

“So far the exhibition has been really pushing sales. We have spoken to a lot of people who are interested; they’re taking numbers and we are receiving feedback already from the customers who want to go ahead and place orders,” shared Seepersaud.

With over 40 years in the business, Ricks and Sari employs about 100 persons.

Seepersaud noted that, given the vast marketing platform provided by the exhibition, the company also utilised the opportunity to launch a number of its newer products, including a line of all-purpose grind seasoning and powdered chowmein and cook up seasonings, as well as its own ketchup.

Loreann Baptiste, of local laundry detergent company “Tidy Up”, said her company was more focused on the networking and marketing aspect of the exhibition and had already begun to see the fruits of the initiative.

Though appreciative of all the visitors at their booth, the company was most grateful for a visit from Barbados’ Prime Minister, Mia Mottley, who checked out the booth as she took a walk around the venue on Tuesday, when the conference and expo opened.

“She encouraged us to spread our wings regionally and internationally and I reminded her that’s why we are here,” Baptiste told the Guyana Chronicle.

Aside from Mottley’s

visit, Baptiste said the booth had really been attracting a lot of attention given its unique service of offering laundry detergent refills, which contribute to reducing waste of plastic containers.

“We are focused on reduce, reuse and refill. Persons are excited to know that they can refill laundry and fabric softener instead of having to spend a lot of money to purchase sealed products. A lot of money goes into the packaging so we are able to offer a product that’s a lot cheaper but it’s not cheapening the quality of the product,” Baptiste explained.

“Tidy Up” was established in 2016 when the founder developed skin issues from using the regular detergents available on the market. What started as a personal product eventually ballooned into a full blown Guyanese-owned commercial company.

“Ever since the business has just been expanding and we decided to launch out into the market, that’s how it came about,” Baptiste related.

The business line of product includes laundry detergent, fabric softener, antibacterial hand soap, alcohol-based hand sanitisers and multi-purpose cleaners. Baptiste shared that the business’s attendance at the Duty-Free Shop was strategic given the emergence of its newest line of industrial grade degreaser, which is suitable for use in the oil and gas sector, particularly in the cleaning of machinery.

Also looking to capitalise on networking opportunities at the DutyFree Shop was 32-yearold Andrew Campbell, founder of the “Ebesowàna Natural Foods” line of products. This company manufactures dark chocolate, hydrated foods and powder spice products.

A new manufacturing company, Campbell started the experimenting with creating food products in 2018 and got his manufacturing licence in 2020.

“What I wanted most from this expo is more exposure and meeting with potential clients overseas. I’m really looking to have partnerships with local companies.

Foreign investors are good but partnership with locals is a great way to move forward,” Campbell said.

Sales Representative, Ronald Seepersaud (second from left) and other staff at Marketing Manager, Loreann Baptiste (right) and another staff the Ricks and Sari booth at the Duty-Free Shop (Delano Williams photo) at the “Tidy Up” booth (Delano Williams photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 17, 2022

‘Lieman’ and ‘Go to Front’ to be sentenced today

TWO men, who have confessed to the brutal killing of three persons at Black Bush Polder in July 2016, will today know their fate.

They will be sentenced

by Justice Sandil Kissoon, who is presiding over the matter at the Berbice High Court.

Earlier this month, Carlton Chetram called “Lieman” and his employee, Rakesh Karamchand called “Go to Front” who were charged for the capital offence of murder, opted to plead guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter.

Carlton and Karamchand admitted that, on July 21, 2016, at Mibicuri Creek Sa-

vannah, Black Bush Polder, they unlawfully killed Pawan Chandradeo, 37, called “Suresh” and “Jug Up”; his son Jaikarran Chandradeo, 16, called “Kevin” and his brother-in-law Naresh Rooplall, 35, called “Teeka Bai” and “Mice.”

They will be sentenced following the presentation of probation reports.

Last week, Carlton’s son, Jairam Chetram called “Ryan” who was also charged in connection with the crime was sentenced to three terms of life imprisonment. He had pleaded guilty to three counts of murder.

Meanwhile, co-accused

Dead: Pawan Chandradeo, called “Suresh”

Dead: Jaikarran Chandradeo, called “Kevin”

Dead: Naresh Rooplall, called “Teeka Bai”

Carlton Chaitram called ‘Lieman’ and Rakesh Karamchand called ‘Go to Front’ Tameshwar Jagmohan, called “Guana” was handed three death sentences after the 12-member jury found him guilty of the capital offence.

After listening to the testimonies of the state witnesses, Carlton and Karamchand opted to plead guilty to manslaughter.

The Guyana Chronicle had previously reported that, on the day in question, the three victims had gone on a fishing trip in the Black Bush Polder backlands in an area called Cookrite Savannah, some three miles from Mibicuri, where they were shot dead.

The men, each with a single gunshot wound, were found lying in a rice field belonging to Sudama Jagmohan, who made the gruesome discovery.

The youngest victim was found next to his father.

He had a gaping hole to the back of his head and a ‘salt bag’ with fish and a fishing net strung around his neck.

Rooplall’s body had a hole in the neck and the fishing net was strung over his shoulder, while the older Charandradeo had his fishing net in his hand.

It is alleged that the men,

while on their fishing trip, stumbled upon “Lieman” and his crew who were allegedly stealing diesel fuel in the said field.

It was reported that Jairam, who was armed with his father’s firearm, fired two shots in the air and the fishermen ran towards the dam and fell. Jairam then shot the victims to their heads at point blank range.

When arrested, Jairam told police that he killed the men to get rid of the evidence. “Meh na been want leff no evidence so I shoot them,” Jairam had said in his caution statement.

Coen Jackson’s rape trial begins FORMER Bishops’ High School teacher, Coen Jackson, on Wednesday, pleaded not guilty to four counts of sexual activity with a minor by abusing a position of trust, when his trial commenced at the Sexual Offences Court of the High Court.

The matter is being heard by Justice Priya

Sewnarine-Beharry and a 12-member jury. Due to its sensitive nature, the trial is being heard incamera.

Jackson is being represented by attorneysat-law, Nigel Hughes and Jerome Khan. Prosecutors Muntaz Ali, Nafeeza Baig and Latifah Elliot are on record for the state.

Accused: Former teacher, Coen Jackson

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 17, 2022

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Judge to sum up evidence in EBD schoolboy’s murder trial

TODAY, Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall is expected to sum up the evidence in the trial of Shannon Cox, who is accused of the 2017 murder of 16-year-old Brian Charles Yearwood.

Cox,24, is currently on trial before the Demerara High Court for the capital offence of murder. He has denied that on April 29, 2017, he murdered Yearwood during a school concert at Covent Garden, East Bank Demerara (EBD.) Following the summing up today, the judge will hand over the case to the 12-mem-

ber jury for the consideration of the verdict.

On Monday, Cox’s coaccused Andy Daniel Peters was freed by the judge after his attorney, Latchmi Rahamat successfully made a no-case submission on the grounds of insufficient evidence led by the prosecution.

Cox’s attorney, Madan Kissoon had also made a nocase submission. However, the judge overruled it and called upon Cox to lead his defence.

While breaking down in tears, Cox told the judge, “I didn’t have no problem with

Essequibo man pleads guilty to killing wife

Dead: Farida Khayum

Devanand Narine

TWO years after the brutal stabbing of Farida Khayum at her Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast home, her reputed husband, on Wednesday, confessed to the gruesome crime.

Devanand Narine appeared before Justice JoAnn Barlow at the Essequibo High Court for the capital offence of murder.

However, he opted to plead guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter which alleged that, on May 16, 2019, at Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast, he unlawfully killed the 39-year-old woman.

The state was represented by prosecutor, Tiffini Lyken, while Narine was represented by

attorney-at-law, Latchmi Dindyal.

The matter has been adjourned until March 8, 2022, for the presentation of a probation report and sentencing.

On the day in question, Narine and Khayum were at home when they got into an argument which quickly became physical. Reports are that Narine armed himself with a knife from the kitchen and stabbed his reputed wife several times about her body.

The police were summoned and Khayum’s lifeless body was discovered in the kitchen area.

Narine was arrested and taken to the Suddie Hospital, after ingesting a herbicide.

no one. I don’t know the person who dead. Is when I go at the station they show me a picture of him [Yearwood] when the police lock me up… I cooperate with them [police] because I know me ain’t do nothing ma’am…”

According to reports,

Yearwood, of Grove, EBD, was involved in a heated argument with two persons when he was fatally stabbed. He was rushed to the nearby Diamond Diagnostic Centre, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Shannon Cox

Forging partnerships, cr

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 17, 2022

WITH over 650 delegates attending virtually and physically, and over 150 businesses, Guyana’s flagship 2022 International Energy Conference and Expo being held at

reating linkages GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 17, 2022

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- Guyana’s International Energy Conference (Day Two)

t the Marriott Hotel puts the country at the centre of the global discourse on energy, oil and gas and sustainable development (Delano Williams & Adrian Narine photos)

Visit the Duty-Free Shop at the Umana Yana

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 17, 2022

CREATED with the purpose of giving small Guyanese manufacturing businesses an opportunity to advertise their products and attract investors, the Duty-Free Shop at the Umana Yana has been hitting all the right marks in providing opportunities for small businesses.

The shop complements the 2022 International Energy Conference and Expo being held at the Marriott Hotel. Below are scenes from the shop. (Delano Williams photos)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 17, 2022

Too soon to determine necessity of second ‘booster shot’

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- Health Minister says

By Shamar Meusa MINISTER of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, has said that it is too soon to determine whether a second COVID-19 booster shot should be administered to persons in Guyana.

Speaking during Wednesday’s edition of his COVID-19 update, Minister Anthony said that authorities will continue to administer first and second doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, and will consider the possibility of a fourth dose when more information becomes available.

“I think it’s too early for us to make those determinations. We have seen some of the early results that are coming out of Israel; Israel being one of the first countries to start administering the second booster dose or the fourth shot as they call it and we are now seeing some of those preliminary results,” Dr. Anthony said.

To this end, he added that vaccination efforts will be directed at persons who have not yet been vaccinated. Additionally, authorities will continue to work on getting those persons

who are partially vaccinated, fully vaccinated and those who are fully vaccinated inoculated with booster shots.

He said: “The other strategy that we are working on, those who got both doses need to at least get their booster shot now… while we have these vaccines available, the challenge is not a lot of people have been coming forward.”

D r. A n t h o n y s a i d that, so far, some 47,189 persons have received booster doses. Even as he mentioned that, there has been a gradual improvement in the number of persons receiving their booster dose, but, at the same time, more persons need to come forward to receive their vaccines.

As discussions across the globe have begun in relation to the administration of a fourth dose, a Reuters report, on Monday, stated that Sweden’s health agency made a recommendation for persons 80 years and above to receive a second booster shot in order to deal with the waning immunity as the Omicron variant continues to spread.

Man accused of raping child during fishing trip remanded

CHIEF Magistrate Ann McLennan, on Wednesday, remanded a 39-yearold man to prison for the alleged rape of a child in 2020.

Veroy Isaacs appeared before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and was not required to plead to the charge which alleged that, between Janu-

ary 1and December 31, 2020, he engaged in sexual penetration with a girl under the age of 16.

According to reports, Isaacs allegedly raped the child during a fishing trip to Kamaru Creek along the Kamarang River.

He will make his second court appearance on March 14, 2022.

Dr. Anthony reiterated: “Second booster shots, we are not contemplating that right now. We are focusing

on administering the booster shot which follows your first two doses. So, that’s where our focus is right now.”

A nurse at the National Infectious Diseases Hospital at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown, preparing to administer a dose of the OxfordAstraZeneca vaccine to a local healthcare worker

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 17, 2022

Valieva's anti-doping sample shows three drugs

Kamila Valieva's participation in the Winter Olympics has been controversial

(BBC) - Kamila Valieva's anti-doping sample showed traces of three drugs that can be used to treat heart conditions, according to a New York Times report.

The 15-year-old Russian figure skater is being allowed to compete at Beijing 2022 despite testing positive for banned angina drug trimetazidine.

The report said it also showed hyproxen and L-Carnitine, which are not banned.

The combination of substances prompted "a lot of red flags", United States anti-doping chief Travis Tygart said.

"Those are three substances that are all used for increasing performance," he told BBC sports editor Dan Roan on the Sports Desk Podcast, explaining they can increase endurance and reduce fatigue.

The case is ongoing and Valieva has the right to request the testing of her B sample, under World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) rules.

She goes into today's free skate top of the standings and on track for victory - but if she finished in the top three, there will be no medal or ceremony until her anti-doping case has been concluded.

The medals for the team event, where she helped the Russian Olympic Committee to victory before learning of the failed test, are also on hold for the same reason.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Tuesday that Valieva has argued her positive drugs test was due to contamination with her grandad's medicine.

Neither the IOC nor Russian Olympic Committee has commented on the report that the Stockholm laboratory that processed the sample had found evidence of three drugs.

In its report, the New York Times cited documents filed in Valieva's arbitration hearing this week and confirmed by someone who took part in the hearing.

Valieva was allowed to

continue competing at the Games after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled that a provisional suspension by the Russian Anti-Doping Agency should not be re-imposed on grounds of her age and the timing of the result, which came almost six weeks after she gave the sample.

Asked if it was a shame that the Valieva case had clouded the Games, Team GB's chef de mission Georgie Harland told BBC Sport: "Absolutely. It is very sad.

"For many of these athletes, this will be the only time they come to an Olympic Games. This is their experience. They have come here to compete and expect an outcome as part of that. It is highly likely we won't have that here."

'Catastrophic failure of anti-doping system' Sports fans and clean athletes have been let down by a "catastrophic failure of the anti-doping system" in the Valieva case and the whole matter "just undermines the confidence of the system", Tygart said.

He said the IOC - which provides half the budget for WADA - needed to be separated from WADA to "let WADA actually do its job to ensure that clean athletes are the only ones competing and ultimately that's going to be beneficial for the Olympic movement".

He said it could now take the big sponsors and broadcasters to make a stand in order to force change.

"I think it's going to take ... those who are investing tens of millions of dollars into the Olympic movement to stand up and say, 'we're done with this unless you clean it up'," he said. "'We are going to take our sponsorship dollar, our broadcast dollars and move it elsewhere to properties that are actually trying to protect the integrity of their competition. I think we're getting

close to that point."

He added that he did not think it was by coincidence that television viewing figures in the United States and other countries were at a low for these Games.

"It's historic lows - the lowest Winter Olympic viewership that NBC has had," he said. "It's unacceptable. We're in a time of COVID-19 when a lot of people are stuck in

their homes, it should be the highest quite frankly.

"At some point are those that are entrusted to protect the values and property value of the Olympic rings, are they going to wake up to the fact that people don't want to watch a rigged competition, that enough is enough, let's get it cleaned up?"

IOC spokesman Mark Adams told a news confer-

ence yesterday that there would simply be an asterisk next to the results at the end of the women's and team competitions for now, adding: "We would prefer not to have that going on. My heart goes out to the athletes but the IOC has to follow the rules."

Valieva was emotional at the end of her short programme on Tuesday and Adams said her welfare was the

priority for the IOC, which will not insist she attends the customary news conference if she finishes among the top three.

"She is in the centre of a lot of speculation. It must be very tough for her," Adams said. "We are of course in touch with the team. Her welfare is the team's first priority and obviously we are very careful of that."

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 17, 2022

Giannis scores season high

(BBC) - Giannis Antetokounmpo scored a sea-

son-high 50 points as defending NBA champions

Milwaukee Bucks ended their two-game losing

Giannis Antetokounmpo signed the most lucrative contract in NBA history in 2021, with a five-year deal worth $228.2M (£170.1M)

run to beat Indiana Pacers 128-119.

Giannis claimed 14 rebounds and made 17 of his 21 attempts, while Khris Middleton added 19 points.

It is the first time the Greek has scored 50 points since the Bucks won their first title in 50 years in July.

"It's a nice feeling to have 50, and you will always remember it," he said.

Jrue Holiday also added 14 points 8 assists, while Buddy Hield topscored for Indiana with 36 points.

Elsewhere, Jaylen

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Brown had 29 points and eight rebounds as Boston Celtics cruised past Philadelphia 76ers’ 135-87 to earn their ninth consecutive victory.

Brown was ably supported by Jayson Tatum, who added 28 points 12 rebounds.

Devin Booker scored 26 points and Chris Paul contributed 17 points 14 assists as Phoenix Suns beat Los Angeles Clippers 103-96.

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Dallas Mavericks also bounced back from 13 points down to beat Miami Heat 107-99, with Luka Doncic leading the way with 21 points 10 rebounds 6 assists.

Tyus Jones scored 27 points as Memphis Grizzlies made it six wins in a row with a 121-109 victory over New Orleans Pelicans.

Trae Young scored 41 points, the fifth time he has surpassed 40 points this season, as Atlanta Hawks edged out Cleveland Cavaliers 124-116.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 17, 2022

Pooran’s half-century in vain as West Indies go down to India He lost Mayers, lbw to Chahal in the seventh over after the Barbadian had struck seven fours and Roston Chase dithered 10 balls over four before being hit plumb in front by 21-yearold leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi, who claimed two for 17 from four overs to earn Man-of-the-Match honours on debut.

Rovman Powell (2) holed out to deep mid-wicket in the same over from Bishnoi – the 10th of the innings – leaving Pooran and Pollard to find the late acceleration.

Nicholas Pooran celebrates his fifty vs India, 1st T20I, Kolkata, yesterday (BCCI)

(CMC) – Left-hander Nicholas Pooran struck his second half-century in his last four Twenty20 International appearances but West Indies found themselves outclassed by India, and slipped to a six-wicket defeat here yesterday.

Sent in at Eden Gardens in the opening game of the three-match series, the Caribbean side struggled to 157 for seven off their 20 overs with Pooran hammering 61 off 43 deliveries and left-hander Kyle Mayers getting 31 from 24 balls.

Captain Kieron Pollard weighed in with a 19-ball unbeaten 24 at the death as West Indies gathered 61 runs from the last five overs, but India’s bowlers still managed to keep the total below par.

In reply, captain Rohit Sharma belted 40 from 19 balls, in a 64-run opening stand with Ishan Kishan whose 35 came from 42 deliveries.

When a cluster of wickets saw the hosts stumble to 114 for four in the 15th over, Suryakumar Yadav arrived to hit an unbeaten 34 off 18 balls in an invaluable 48-run, unbroken fifth-wicket partnership with Venkatesh Iyer (24 not out), as India crossed

the line with seven balls to spare.

“If I’m being honest, I think between overs six to 15, we only scored (52) runs in nine overs so I think if we could have gone up a notch and gotten 18-20 runs (more) in those overs, it would have been competitive on this ground,” Pollard said afterwards.

“We knew we were 1520 runs short but we knew if we got early wickets we could have put them under pressure but they got off to a good start … so after six overs they were obviously in front of us.

“I thought the way the

bowlers bowled and we fielded was very good on our part.”

Brandon King perished for four to the fifth ball of the innings but Pooran held the innings together with a quality knock, putting on 47 for the second wicket with Mayers and a further 45 for the sixth wicket with Pollard.

Pooran lashed four fours and five sixes, reaching his half-century in style off 38 balls at the start of the 17th over from leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal by first clearing the ropes at mid-wicket and then finding the backward point boundary.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Thursday February 17, 2022)

COMPLIMENTS OF CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD 83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Delhi (1948-49) (2) John Goddard ; Lala Amarnath Today’s Quiz: (1)Who faced the first ball in a WI/IND Test?

(2) Which IND batsman scored the first Test hundred against the West Indies?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

Facing a straightforward required run rate of eight runs per over, India gathered 58 runs in the first power-play, thanks to Rohit who belted four fours and three sixes before finding Odean Smith on the ropes at mid-wicket off Chase’s off-spin in the eighth over.

Ishan and maestro Virat Kohli (17) added 29 for the second wicket and appeared to be taking India safely to their target when three wickets tumbled for 21 runs off 16 balls.

Chase (2-14) intervened to remove Ishan, the left-

hander picking out Fabian Allen in the deep; Kohli fell three balls later in the next over, chipping left-arm spinner Allen to Pollard at long off and Rishabh Pant (8) lapped a catch to short fine leg in the 15th over off left-arm pacer Sheldon Cottrell.

Even though the slide allowed West Indies back into the game, any hopes of a comeback quickly dissipated, as Suryakumar bludgeoned five fours and a six and Iyer, two fours and a six, to snuff out the Windies’ threat.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 17, 2022

KKR name Iyer as new captain

(ESPNCRICINFO) - Kolkata Knight Riders have named Shreyas Iyer their new captain for the upcoming IPL season. Iyer was Knight Riders' most expensive buy at the IPL 2022 auction last weekend - for INR 12.25 crore (US$1.63M approx.) and became their highest-paid player by overtaking Andre Russell's salary of INR 12 crore (US$1.6M approx.).

Iyer takes over from Eoin Morgan, under whom Knight Riders had reached the IPL final last year and lost to Chennai Super Kings.

"We are delighted firstly to have been able to successfully bid for Shreyas in the IPL auction and to have the opportunity for him to lead #TeamKKR," Venky Mysore, CEO & MD of Knight Riders said in a statement. "He has impressed one and all as a quality batter at the highest level and we are confident that he will excel as a leader of #TeamKKR." Iyer has had considerable success as captain in the IPL. He led Delhi Capitals, his last

Shreyas Iyer led Delhi Capitals to the playoffs in consecutive years (BCCI)

franchise, to the playoffs in consecutive years

Narine blasts Victorians into BPL final

their unbroken fourth-wicket stand.

Chattogram would however be proud of reaching the second qualifier after losing the plot midway the tournament.

BIG HIT But it was Narine who made heads turn in this game. After Comilla lost Litton Das off the first ball of their chase, Narine smashed 14 runs off the last three balls of Shoriful Islam's over.

Then he smacked 22 of the 23 runs in the next over, bowled by Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who had top-scored with 44 in Chattogram's innings.

Mehidy went on to drop Imrul off Afif Hossain in the next over, but the Sunil Narine smashed five fours and Comilla captain was a mere spectator six sixes in his knock (BCB) for most of the chase. Narine ensured Comilla reached 84 runs in the powerSUNIL Narine hit the fastest fifty play, the second most in BPL's history. in BPL history – off 13 balls – as Narine smashed three sixes over Comilla Victorians put together an astonishing chase to reach their third midwicket but his two fours and two sixes through long-off and extra covBPL final..

They hammered down their 149- er stood out. He also slammed three run target in just 12.5 overs against square-cuts to take his boundary count Chattogram Challengers after begin- to five fours and six sixes.

Imrul struck three fours and a six ning the chase with 20 and 23 runs off the first two overs, respectively. Their in his 22 off 24 balls, but it was Moeen final opponents, Fortune Barishal, must who finished the job in style with two be on alert after Comilla's promotion consecutive sixes off Shoriful, who of Narine in the batting order worked went for 31 runs in 1.5 overs. wonders.

BIG MISS Comilla, who were beaten by BarWill Jacks finishes the tournament ishal in the first qualifier, now look like a formidable force after bowling out as the highest run-getter, having reached Chattogram for 148, and then winning 414 runs to go past Andre Fletcher's 410 by seven wickets without much trouble. runs. But Chattogram would have preNarine reached his fifty off just 13 balls, ferred their English opener hammering breaking Ahmed Shehzad's BPL record a few more quick runs in this encounter.

Jacks and Chadwick Walton falloff 16 balls.

Narine added 79 runs in just 5.3 ing in the first five overs made all the overs with Imrul Kayes for the second difference between the two sides, as wicket, before Faf du Plessis and Moeen Chattogram gave Comilla an average Ali bashed the remaining 54 runs in total to chase.

in 2019 (eliminator) and 2020 (final). He led them from 2018 to 2021 before a shoulder injury during the home series against England early last year had ruled him out of IPL 2021.

But the IPL was then postponed in May because of the rising COVID-19 cases in India, and when he returned to the squad for the second leg in the UAE, the Capitals management decided to continue with Rishabh Pant as captain, who had taken over from Iyer in May. Overall, Iyer has led in 41 matches in the IPL, out of which he won 21, lost 18 and two ended in ties.

"I am extremely honoured to have gotten the opportunity to lead a prestigious team like KKR," Iyer said. "The IPL as a tournament brings the best players from different countries and cultures together and I look forward to leading this great group of very talented individuals."

Iyer will join head coach Brendon Mc-

Cullum in the team management, which also includes a new member in Bharat Arun as their bowling coach.

"I am very excited to have one of India's brightest future leaders, in Shreyas Iyer, take the reins at KKR," McCullum said. "I've enjoyed Shreyas' game and his captaincy skills from afar and now will look forward to working closely with him to drive forward the success and style of play we want at KKR." After the last IPL, Iyer also made a scintillating Test debut with a century and half-century at No. 5 against New Zealand in Kanpur.

When the time came for IPL retentions, Iyer opted to go into the mega auction instead of being retained by Capitals.

Iyer was then bagged by Knight Riders as the third most expensive player at the auction, after Ishan Kishan (INR 15.25 crore by Mumbai Indians) and Deepak Chahar (INR 14.00 crore by Chennai Super Kings).

2021/22 CWI CG Insurance Regional 4-Day Tournament Round 2

In-form Leewards batters mount further pressure on Eagles heading into Day 3 … Thomas joins Hodge, Powell as 3rd half-centurion

By Clifton Ross IT was another dominant day for the Leeward Hurricanes, who stretched their lead to a staggering 250, thanks mainly to knocks from their batters who kept the Guyana Harpy Eagles under immense pressure, heading into the 3rd day of action at the Queen's Park Oval.

The Hurricanes storm continued to brew as they took their total to a mammoth 366-5. Terrance Ward was unbeaten on 46 with 5 fours and will be eyeing his team's 4th half-century score come today when he resumes with Rakeem Cornwall (13*).

Guyana Harpy Eagles yet again toiled and toiled to little avail, as leftarm spinner Gudakesh Motie (2-93) and speedster Nial Smith (2-89), had another tough outing with the ball.

It was the record 152-run opening partnership between Montcin Hodge (71) and Kieran Powell (74), complemented by two 85-run partnerships - one featuring Devon Thomas who smashed a blistering 72 off 73 balls with 10 fours and a six and the other, between Jahmar Hamilton, who laboured for his 48 with 2 fours and a six, along with Ward, further helping to punish a lacklustre Harpy Eagles’ bowling attack.

Hodge and Powell resumed their innings both already with 50-odd each under their belts and the Hurricanes 126-0, replying to Guyana’s 1st innings 116 all out; following day one's crusade which saw them knock off Guyana’s total before piling on a lead

of their own.

Continuing their show from Day 1, the openers continued to play shots and frustrate the Guyana bowlers, as they eventually lengthened their century stand to 150.

Eventually however, the pacer Smith, after toiling like many of his teammates, got the breakthrough when he disturbed the stumps of Powell, ending the partnership which began during the afternoon session on Monday.

Thomas then joined Hodge to quickly take control of the Hurricanes innings before further inroads could be made. After taking their score to 216-1 with a strong 100-run lead at lunch, both Thomas and Hodge remained calm ahead of the interval.

When play resumed, the two looked refreshed in their approach, shrugging off Powell's earlier dismissal to further pile on the pressure, as they added 85 runs for the second-wicket partnership.

Thomas, a former Windies player known for his aggressive approach, was in his zone as he seemed well on his way to scoring what looked like a run-a-ball century.

However, his time at the crease came to an end when he was expertly caught by Motie off the bowling of pacer Clinton Pestano (1-69).

A score of 237-2 quickly turned into 245-3 just a few overs after, when Hodge failed to maintain the sublime concentration he displayed for almost an entire day and had his bat edge broken and was caught behind

by wicketkeeper Anthony Bramble, thanks to some magic from Motie.

The left-arm spinner struck again this time knocking over Kofi James who hung around shortly for his score of 11, slightly pulling the momentum back in the favour of the Eagles.

But the new duo of Ward and Hamilton provided some extra scoring points for the Hurricanes, given that both right-handers settled in nicely to manufacture yet another half-century partnership.

The afternoon's final session witnessed the Harpy Eagles snatching a bit of momentum from their opponents when Smith struck for the second time, removing Hamilton who was pinned lbw, two runs shy of his fifty.

Ward and Cornwall did their best to remain fixed on returning for the 3rd day and so they did as their franchise looked ominous heading into today's play.

Other Day 2 scores: Jamaica Scorpions vs Barbados Pride Jamaica Scorpions (1st innings 328 all out), Barbados Pride (1st innings 243-2), Kraigg Braithwaite 123*, Raymon Reifer 55* Trinidad and Tobago Red Force vs Windward Volcanoes Trinidad and Tobago Red Force (1st innings 326 all out), Windward Volcanoes (1st innings (98 all out, Alick Athanaze 33) Anderson Phillips 4-32, Jayden Seales 3-31 Windward Volcanoes 2nd innings (32-3, Devon Smith 12)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 17, 2022

GFF honours two referees for 2021 performances THE Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has presented two match officials with their official FIFA badges for 2022 and recognised the “outstanding performances” of referees during its trio of year-end tournaments.

Referee Sherwin Johnson and Assistant Referee Kleon Lindey maintained their spots on the 2022 FIFA Refereeing International Lists, which enable high-performing individuals to officiate at FIFA-sanctioned international matches and to display the FIFA badge on their shirts. Johnson has featured on the list since 2012, while Lindey has been part of the selection since 2015.

“Congratulations for acceding again to the list of international referees,” said Dion Inniss, GFF Executive Committee member and Head of Refereeing. “My hope is that, this year, we can have more tournaments, whether locally or regionally, so persons can be exposed to showcase their skills. I can easily think of at least four other persons who are knocking on the door and can be out there representing us at the highest level.”

Long-serving female FIFA referee Maurees Skeete did not make the list this year, largely due to the impact of injuries and ongoing work commitments, Inniss said.

“On behalf of the GFF and the entire football fraternity, I would like to thank her for her service to football over the years,” Inniss said. “She has indicated to me that

GFF President Wayne Forde and Head of Refereeing Dion Inniss honour Guyana's referees

she would want to continue in another area of refereeing, possibly as an instructor, and that is very good news – for her to be a mentor to other girls who are coming through.”

GFF president Wayne Forde commended Johnson and Lindey for representing the Golden Arrowhead and the federation at the

highest level of their profession.

“I know you gentlemen would have earned your place as seasoned, tried and tested professionals,” Forde said. “You carry quite a burden of responsibility when you step out on the international arena. You represent the national association and we

want to assure you of our continued support, and wish you every success in 2022.”

The GFF also recognised the achievements of four match officials for their consistent levels of excellence during the GFF-Kashif and Shanghai (K&S) Super 16 Cup, the GFF-Guyana National Women’s Football Assocation Women’s Super 16 Festival and the GFF-K&S Futsal Championship, which took place over the year-end holiday season “These referees were very outstanding during the tournaments that we had,” Inniss said. “I am truly proud of your on-field performances. You were always available and ready to go, so not only outstanding but very reliable and committed to the cause.”

Kenisha Prescott, Andre Foster, Colin Abel and Mian McPherson featured on the list of honoured GFF referees for 2021.

“You are a credit to yourselves and to the fraternity in that, despite of the inactivity we have had over an extended period due to the pandemic, you were able to come forward and deliver very creditable performances,” Forde said.

The FIFA referees list is updated every year with approved and qualified referees and assistant referees from all over the world on the basis of nominations from national federations. The nominees are reviewed by the FIFA Referees Committee, chaired by 2002 FIFA World Cup Final referee, Pierluigi Collina.

CWI releases extra 2,500 tickets per match for Second England Test

CRICKET West Indies (CWI) today released an extra 2 500 tickets per match day for the 2nd Apex Test match between West Indies and England at the Kensington Oval, Barbados from March 16 to 20.

This release of tickets follows the Barbados Ministry of Health and Wellness’ announcement of an easing of capacity restrictions that previously applied to the Kensington Oval, which will now see a maximum 80% capacity allowed for the 2nd Apex Test match.

From 13:00hrs today, these additional seats went on sale via CWI’s new Windies Tickets service available via www.windiescricket.com/tickets. Fans fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will be allowed to enter the stadium when they provide documentation of their vaccination status - their final dose of an approved vaccine being received at least 14 days before the match day to be attended.

Wearing of face masks in the stands remains mandatory for all attendees with the exception being whilst fans are eating or drinking.

The Banks Party Stand will also benefit from an increase in capacity, and fully vaccinated fans will also need to provide a negative rapid antigen test before entry. This will be available at a testing facility at the entrance to the Banks Party Stand or from government-approved testing locations in Barbados (the price of a test will vary according to the

Fans at the Kensington Oval

testing location).

With the high demand for tickets, fans are encouraged to purchase their tickets in advance, online, avoiding the need to queue.

Fans will securely receive tickets directly into their online Windies Tickets account to print at home, save to their device or share onwards with friends or family.

Fans can register for their ticket accounts at www.windiescricket.com/tickets and purchase their selected seats in advance for any individual match-day or special five-day Test season tickets. Tickets are priced from US$40 to US$80 per day, or from US$140 for a 5-day ‘season ticket’.

As the West Indian nations recover from the impact of COVID-19, CWI is continuing

with the 50% discount promotion for local fans to make the matches affordable and accessible. This 50% discount can be applied in the shopping cart in the ticket account.

Dominic Warne, CWI’s Commercial Director said: “This is really good news for the Apex Test Series as more fans now have the opportunity to watch this epic rivalry between the West Indies and England. CWI and all the stakeholders appreciate the Government of Barbados’ announcement, allowing this increased capacity at Kensington Oval.

“We expect more local and travelling fans to attend for what is a ‘bucket list’ sporting event and iconic venue for fans in the Caribbean and around the world.”

The box office in Barbados will open

March 11-12 and then March 14-15 from 10:00hrs to 18:00hrs for ticket sales. On match-days the ticket office will open at 08:30hrs with the first over to be bowled at 10:00hrs.

Last month, due to the COVID-19 protocols, the venue was capped at 50% for the Betway T20 International Series between the two teams which West Indies won 3-2.

The highly anticipated Apex Test Series will be played for the newly-minted Richards-Botham trophy. It will start appropriately at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua on March 8 and run until March 12.

The action them moves to Kensington Oval in Barbados for the second Apex Test, with the third Apex Test match on the ‘Spice Isle’ of Grenada at the National Stadium on March 24-28.

The Apex Test Series is a key fixture in both teams’ International Cricket Council (ICC) World Test Championship schedule which will determine the best Test team in the world by 2023.

MATCH SCHEDULE Apex Test Series (10:00hrs local time/09:00hrs Jamaica time) March 8-12: 1st Apex Test at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua March 16-20: 2nd Apex Test at Kensington Oval, Barbados March 24-28: 3rd Apex Test at Grenada National Stadium, Grenada.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, February 17, 2022

Pooran’s half-century in vain as West Indies go down to India 25 PAGE

Nicholas Pooran celebrates his fifty vs India, 1st T20I, Kolkata, yesterday (BCCI)

CWI releases extra 2,500 tickets per match for Second England Test PAGE

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2021/22 CWI CG Insurance Regional 4-Day Tournament Round 2

In-form Leewards batters mount further pressure on Eagles heading into Day 3 … Thomas joins Hodge, Powell as 3rd half-centurion

PAGE

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Fans at the Kensington Oval Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

Devon Thomas THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2022