Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 22-12-2021

WEDNESDAY 22nd DECEMBER, 2021

No. 106583

$612M in year-end tax-free bonuses for healthcare workers SEE PAGE

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Former Chronicle Editor, Claudette Earle, passes on SEE PAGE

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Camp Ayanganna embraces the festive season with alluring lights (Javin Singh photo)

E-Networks expands 4G, 5G, ‘OnFiber’ Internet services to Linden SEE PAGE

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‘A life-changing gift’ SEE PAGE

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President Ali opens community park, ICT hub at Leonora

Licensing of teachers to start from 2022

SEE PAGE

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SEE PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 22, 2021

E-Networks expands 4G, 5G, ‘OnFiber’ internet services to Linden

E-Networks’ internet services are now available in Linden

BUILDING on its progress throughout the year, ENetworks Inc., Guyana’s only locally owned telecommunications provider, has expanded its 4G, 5G and ‘OnFiber’ internet services to the mining town of Linden.

This announcement follows the build-out of a fiber optic cable from Georgetown to Linden in September.

According to a press release from the company, over the past few months, E-Networks has built an expansive fiber backbone across the country, which

E-Networks’ team during a visit to Linden in September: Chief Executive Officer, Vishok Persaud (second from right), with CTO, Gerald Singh; CCO, Abu Zaman, and project leader, Yannick Charles enables ‘Lindeners’ to access the same fast, reliable, and affordable services available in Georgetown and other areas.

Those services include 4G and 5G fixed wireless connectivity aimed at the residential user and fiber optic services focused on more efficient business operations.

The internet services start at $7,900 for 20 Mbps of speed, with options up to one Gbps (1,000 Mbps).

E-Networks has had a strong presence in Linden since 2018, when it launched DreamTV Satellite television services. This service afforded residents more access to premium entertainment, news, and sports channels in better image quality and at affordable pricing.

During this year, E-Networks also connected three regions with high-capacity

fiber optic, 4G and 5G services, with Berbice and Essequibo earlier in the year, and now Linden on schedule with the company’s promise made in September.

E-Networks’ Chairman, Rakesh Puri, commented: “We are continuing to place our focus on expansion, with a keen emphasis on delivering better internet to underserved areas. After so many years of neglect under the monopoly, we feel compelled to correct the poor quality of services that Guyanese were forced to accept for too long.”

E-Networks’ sales affiliate and Lindener, Yannick Charles, was pleased that the company was able to fulfil its promise by launching these services before the end of the year. He also expressed his enthusiasm for the imminent socio-economic development associated with more reliable

and affordable internet connectivity.

E-Networks’ services are available in Amelia’s Ward, Central McKenzie, Speightland, Wismar, Silvertown, Silver City, The Valley, HalfMile, One Mile, and Blueberry Hill.

Residents will also benefit from the company’s 50 per cent off promotion, “December to Remember,” which allows them to save when signing up for E-Networks’ services during the festive season.

E-Networks has also placed its ‘Orange Bus’ at the Linden Bus Park on Republic Avenue to serve as a hub for sign-ups, with an aim to set up a permanent location in the new year. For more information, persons could WhatsApp: +592-624-5153 or visit: www.enetworks.gy.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday, December 22, 2021

$612M in year-end tax-free bonuses for healthcare workers

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- President Ali announces BEFORE the dawn of Christmas Day, 9,200 public sector healthcare workers will benefit from a one-off tax-free bonus valued at two weeks’ worth of their salaries.

The official announcement was made on Tuesday afternoon by President Dr. Irfaan Ali, and according to the Ministry of Finance, the overall pay-out will total $612 million and will commence before the end of this week.

Dr. Ali, in a broadcast message posted on his official Facebook page, extended his appreciation to the men and women who have been on the frontlines of the crucial fight against the deadly coronavirus and all of its emerging variants.

“I want to take this opportunity again to thank all the workers in the medical field, medical services, health services for the continued work that you’re doing,” the Head of State said.

He also took the time to caution the doctors, nurses and all other persons in the medical profession to not be distracted from the exceptional service that they have been providing to the people of Guyana.

“Do not be politically motivated or waiver… please continue to serve; you’re doing our country proud,” Dr. Ali assured the healthcare workers.

He reminded that the bonuses are merely in keeping with a promise made by the government earlier in the year to ensure that public healthcare workers all across the country are rewarded for their efforts and the sacrifices that come from risking their lives to treat and protect the nation from the deadly virus.

“Every single healthcare worker; not just doctors or nurses,” Dr. Ali clarified.

The President expressed hope that the bonus will serve as an incentive for the healthcare workers to continue making their valued contributions to Guyana.

“We are making that investment in you and we ask you to do of your best; continue to do of your best in support of the citizens of this country; our Guyanese brothers and sisters, and most of all in keeping with your oath of duty,” Dr. Ali said.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance, in a statement, reminded that this latest disbursement comes shortly after the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) instituted a seven per cent across-the-board increase for central government employees.

Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, had also said that an amount of $400 million had been set aside to pay frontline workers in the health sector who have continued to face extenuating circumstances in the daily discharge of their duties, as Guyana and the rest of the world continue to battle the ravages of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.

“In making the final determination on the payout to the health sector employees, government has decided to make the payment applicable to all workers in the health sector,” the Finance Ministry said.

EXPANDED DISBURSEMENT The decision to expand the disbursement was taken after the government was able to examine and take into account the challenges involved in identifying which specific posts in the health sector constitute frontline posts, and which do not.

As it is, $10.5 billion has already been expended on salary increases for

FLASHBACK: President Dr. Irfaan Ali greets healthcare workers in Lethem, Region Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo) back in October more than 50,000 public servants, including teachers and members of the disciplined services.

“This bonus now paid to health sector workers represents yet another tangible step taken by the government to improve the circumstances of public sector employees and of all Guyanese more broadly,” the Finance Ministry noted.

Both the salary increase and the latest bonus payout represent just a portion of the direct cash benefits that Guyanese would have received from the time the PPP/C government assumed office in August 2020.

Some of those benefits include a $25,000 COVID-19 cash grant which was distributed to every household across the country; the education cash grants valued at

$19,000, which was given to every school-aged child in the public and private school system; a $25,000 cash grant for pensioners, among others.

Added to that, the government responded to the devastating May 2021 floods by distributing $7.8 billion worth of flood-relief grants to each affected household and farmer across the length and breadth of the country.

President Ali, in his latest broadcast message, emphasised the need for Guyanese to take every precaution to guard against the coronavirus, especially as thousands prepare to celebrate the Christmas holiday season, and in light of the new Omicron variant that has also been making its rounds globally.

“[The] Omicron variant is something that we must take very seriously; around the world we’re seeing more and more infections faster spreading. So here in Guyana, as we continuously work to maintaining the balance in fighting off the pandemic, but also ensuring that our economy stays alive, we have to continue to take the necessary precautions,” the Head of State insisted.

In stressing the effects of the new variant, President Ali also reiterated his call for Guyanese to get vaccinated, as this is still the only scientifically-proven way to guard against the fatal effects of the virus.

“We have to be very serious about it…we cannot let our guards down, so what can we do, [is] for those of us who are still

not vaccinated, I’m asking you to please, please, get vaccinated; this reduces the impact of omicron and the [other] variants; it reduces hospitalization and it also [prevents] death,” Dr. Ali said.

As it is, Guyana is one of the few countries which have been fortunate enough to have sufficient vaccines to immunise the entire adult and adolescent populations.

President Ali went even further to remind Guyanese of the availability of the booster shots for those who qualify.

In the meantime, the President said that he is appealing to all citizens to follow the established coronavirus protocols, especially as it relates to wearing masks and maintaining social distance, when in the public domain.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 22, 2021

President Ali opens community park, ICT hub at Leonora -in honour of late women activists Kowsilla and Sakina Mohamed

President Dr. Irfaan Ali assisting with the cutting of the ribbon to declare open the Kowsilla Community Park at Leonora, West Coast Demerara

By Richard Bhainie TWO distinguished women, Kowsilla and Sakina Mohamed who dedicated President Dr. Irfaan Ali oversees the cutting of the ribbon to declare open the Sakina Mohamed Computer ‘Lab’ at Leonora their life to social and political activism in the 60s and 70s, were honoured on Monday when President Dr. Irfaan Ali opened the Kowsilla Community Park and Sakina Mohamed Computer Lab at Leonora, West Coast Demerara.

While delivering brief remarks to commemorate the opening of the facilities, the Head of State recognised the efforts of the women, who both hailed from Leonora and fought for democracy and freedom.

Kowsilla, called Alice, was an active member of the Women’s Progressive Organisation (WPO), the women’s arm of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).

She was savagely killed by a scab-driver while participating in one of the country’s historic sugar worker struggles at Plantation Leonora.

On March 6, 1964, during an industrial strike at Plantation Leonora, Kowsilla and several other women had formed a peaceful human barricade blocking the ‘highbridge’ at the Leonora Sugar Estate when the ‘scab’ drove a tractor into the barricade, severing Kowsilla’s body, and injuring 14 others, with some being crippled for life.

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volved in the sugar workers’ struggle for better working and living conditions, and for the recognition of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) when Kowsilla paid the supreme price for her convictions on that fateful Friday morning.

“The life of Kowsilla is a life that has left a legendary mark, not only here in Leonora but all across our country. Her life and her work is living on, and will continue to live on once freedom is celebrated because of her sacrifice. Her life was geared towards the achievement of freedom,” President Ali said.

However, the sacrifice of Kowsilla, who died at the age of 40, and was a single mother of four children, and the other indomitable women did not go in vain, as GAWU gained recognition by the Booker Tate sugar plantations in 1973.

“So, this park is a custodian of hope; hope in every single one of us that no matter where we come from, no matter what our circumstances are, we can be persons who can put our names in history, once we stand up and defend principles and values that are dear to us,” President TURN TO PAGE 8

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Licensing of teachers to start from 2022

Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand

By Tamica Garnett anything.”

Maths teacher at the STARTING from 2022, Port Kaituma Secondary teachers in Guyana will School, in Region One, have to be licensed on Leon Bailey, said he, too, an annual basis, and will is in full agreement with need to engage in con- seeing such a system imtinual professional devel- plemented as a means of opment and satisfy other quality assurance in educacriteria to merit the re- tion delivery. newal of their licences.

“There are some teachS p e a k i n g w i t h t h e ers who make it bad for Guyana Chronicle, sev- the many hardworking eral teachers said that they teachers in the system, and would welcome such a many of them are not held development as a means accountable. Hopefully, of keeping teachers more this measure will tighten accountable. the screws and improve “By having teachers the quality of education being licensed and renew- delivered to the children ing that licence ever so in Guyana and also hold often, it will keep teach- teachers more accounters on their toes, and they able,” he said. would do what they are Highlighting the need paid to do, because not for continuous developall teachers do what they ment of teachers, Minister should. of Education, Priya Man“I have been teaching ickchand, announced the for nine years and I know ministry’s plan to implea lot of teachers who don’t ment the licensing system make sense,” commented while delivering remarks one teacher from a sec- at a media brunch at the ondary school on the East Cara Lodge, on Monday.

Coast of Demerara.

“Beginning next year, The teacher added: “If we have to license our we follow through with it, teachers; this is one of our our education system will most important profesget better. Sometimes you sions. Doctors have to be find a small number of licensed and re-licensed teachers [at a school] do every year because we what is required and push have to make sure that the school, but when the they have these skills,” school gets praises there Minister Manickchand are others who rock back, related. take the fame but don’t do She added: “Teach-

ers across the Caribbean, North America, they hold a licence, and if you don’t engage in a certain number of professional development courses that speak to the level of commitment and what you might be able to know and learn, we can’t progress... so we are moving in that direction also.”

The need for improvements in the education sector has taken centre stage over the past few years, as conversations continue around the need for Guyana to develop its human resources to match its development.

T h e m i n i s t e r ’s a n nouncement of licensing for teachers follows continuous calls for all teachers in the public school system to become trained teachers.

Minister Manickchand said that the ministry is aiming for all teachers in the public school system to be either trained or be enrolled for training by 2022.

Guyana currently has approximately 70 per cent of trained teachers in the system. However, that number has remained constant over the years, partially due to the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE), Guyana’s only teacher training college, having a maximum capacity of approximately 530 teachers annually. The intake at the school has not been enough to keep

up with teachers who are leaving the system.

But this year, through the new CPCE online school, the college was able to register five times its normal intake.

This new development has particularly benefitted hinterland teachers, who, in the past, would opt to do the Trained Teacher’s Certificate (TTC). Those persons are now moving to instead study for their Associate Degrees. This makes it easier for them to go on and earn their Bachelor’s Degree in Education.

Programmes offered by CPCE include the two-year Associate Degree in Education, with specialisations in early childhood, primary or secondary education; the three-year Trained Teacher’s Certificate, and a one-year Associate Degree in Education.

Aside from the expansion of CPCE, this year the ministry would have also partnered with ProFutoro for the training of teachers to deliver online learning.

Over 8,000 teachers were also among citizens who would have benefitted from courses offered through a partnership among the Ministry of Education, the Commonwealth of Learning and Coursera. A number of teacher-specific programmes are also being offered through the Guyana Online Academy Learning (GOAL).

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Former Chronicle Editor, Claudette Earle, passes on

Ms. Claudette Yvonne Earle RETIRED Guyana Chronicle Editor, Ms. Claudette Yvonne Earle, died on Tuesday afternoon at a city hospital, one day after suffering a stroke.

Ms. Earle, who retired in 2005, served as the Sunday Editor and Assistant Editor. She was well known for managing the women’s page, the Sunday Magazine, and writing features specifically about women and development.

She started her career at the Guiana Graphic, her son, Johann, told this publication. He said that as the Sunday Editor, she was responsible for editing the women’s page and the Sunday Magazine.

Described as fiercely independent, Ms. Earle was a lover of books, and believed in women’s equality, Johann said, as he pointed out that she promoted stories on women entrepreneurship, farming and leadership.

Ms. Earle would be remembered for her passion for journalism, her advocacy for journalism training and guidance to her younger colleagues.

The Guyana Press Association (GPA) has extended its condolences to her family and friends following the announcement of her passing.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 22, 2021

A New Development Corridor

PRESIDENT, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali recently commissioned the Mocha to Diamond interlink road on the East Bank of Demerara, which would not only serve as an auxiliary route for commuters but also as a transit point for hundreds of workers.

Roughly 400 acres of land will be developed for industrial and commercial development which could create hundreds of job opportunities.

This new road link for many is a dream come true, especially for motorists and commuters who have had to endure the daily and agonising hassle to get to and from work in the City. And even though the stretch of road is only limited at the moment to the Mocha-Diamond corridor, it will bring great relief to those who commute on that new stretch of road. It will also result in

increased levels of productivity having regard to the countless number of hours lost in traffic.

Soon to be commissioned is the Eccles to Mandela link which will take the bypass road all the way from Mandela Avenue to Eccles, reaching all the way to the Diamond-Grove Housing Scheme which is among the largest housing schemes in the country. The new road link will cut through several other housing development schemes, in what was hitherto abandoned fields but which has now been transformed to a vibrant housing scheme.

That is indeed visionary thinking on the part of President Ali, long before he assumed the role of Executive President in August last year. That project is the brainchild of the President years ago when he was Minister of Housing and Water under the previous PPP/C

administration. In fact, foundation works on the MochaDiamond project had already commenced but was abandoned after the APNU+AFC took office in May 2015.

Now that the PPP/C is back in the seat of government, these works are now fully back on stream, and in the case of the Mocha-Diamond link, is already completed.

Very soon, the MandelaEccles link will be completed paving the way not only for a new bypass road but more fundamentally a new development corridor which will result in the growth and expansion of new business and commerce and hundreds, if not thousands, of new jobs.

Job creation and development of lands for housing purposes are high on the PPP/C’s development agenda and these new projects are a step closer in the realisation of that objective.

According to President

Ali, the new road link is much more than a physical infrastructural link. It also has tremendous sociological value linking peoples and communities and creating new opportunities for livelihoods and opportunities.

The housing communities of Mocha, Herstelling, Providence, Prospect, Little and Greater Diamond and Grove will all be linked in a road network that will have positive impacts on peoples and communities. In fact, there are plans to have safe and secure footpaths along the new stretch of road to allow for fitness and wellness, which, according to President Ali, is part of a growing health awareness culture among the Guyanese people.

The road network is part of a broader plan by the PPP/C administration to integrate the communities all along the East Coast of Demerara and the East Bank

of Demerara by way of a new road corridor initially from Ogle to Eccles and then all the way to Timehri.

As it currently stands, there is only one road link to Timehri which could pose logistical challenges especially in the context of a growing economy and accelerated development. These developments are part of the PPP/C Manifesto promises to the people of Guyana and the rolling out of these new developments forms part of a developmental platform envisaged by the PPP/C administration to enhance the quality of life of the Guyanese people.

The Guyanese Head of State took the opportunity to urge persons to use the road safely and indicated that there would be technological infrastructure to monitor the use of the road by motorists, in addition to several police outposts along the road cor-

ridor. The next phase, the President said, is to connect cameras to those outposts which would be in a position to capture not only speeding motorists but also whether or not there is adherence to safety requirements. Amendments to the law will be made to allow for electronic tickets and enforcement.

These road infrastructure are built at enormous cost to taxpayers but they are necessary to move the country forward to higher levels of infrastructural and technological developments.

The estimated cost for the East Bank road corridor is $16 billion. Guyana, under the leadership of President Ali is gradually moving away from the past stigma as a poor and underdeveloped country, and the foundation is now being laid for economic take-off to more advanced levels of growth and prosperity.

Applaud for seven per cent increase for sugar workers

Dear Editor,

I applaud the announcement of Vice-President Jagdeo that sugar workers will get a seven per cent wage increase (GC Dec 21).

It is way overdue!

I note that during the PNC-led Coalition tenure (May 2015 to July 2020), the sugar workers did not get any wage increase. In fact, from 2014 to late 2020, sugar workers did not get any salary increase. During the corresponding period, according to GAWU, real wages declined by 42 per cent. The other government sector received pay increases that neutralised inflation. The sugar workers and private sector employees on fixed pay suffered.

The PPP administration gave the sugar workers five per cent pay increase in late

2020. The announced seven per cent increase can be attributed to what in labour referred to as “pattern increase” since other government workers received seven per cent wage increase a month ago.

Vice-President Jagdeo has corrected an injustice committed by APNU. Since the other sector workers got in excess of 25 per cent increase under APNU, patterned bargaining suggests they deserve a total increment equivalent to the other sectors over that five-year period. The sugar workers were about the only productive sector actually bringing earnings -- foreign exchange -- to the government.

The lack of a pay increase for some five years under PNC-led rule and the closure of four estates had a tremendous economic impact

on those communities as well as the nation. I visited several villages on my own expense to study the effects of the factory closures. Communities suffered. The closures created economic hardship for some 40,000 families. There were no replacement jobs for the aging and unskilled sugar workers. There was a paucity of alternative local employment opportunities, especially in a contracting economic environment. All the local businesses and industries were affected by the closure, introducing a chain effect in community activities, standard of living, region, and the nation that is not easy to recover from.

As I found, families used all their savings to meet basic needs. It would be recalled that there was no severance pay until the workers pursued court action. Income was not

coming in. The closures created economic hardship for over forty thousand families.

Families were unable to provide three meals to children.

They could not send children to school as they lacked money for transportation. Dislocation of families took place.

Adults had to search outside of communities for work.

There was a marked increase in suicide, domestic abuse, and alcoholism. There was a prevalence of sexual exploitation of women and teenage girls. There was a dramatic effect on health (physical and mental) and the affected could not afford medical bills to address their problems.

The estates closures also had a negative consequence on the private sugarcane growers. Their income also suffered. Their lands became fallow and have now been overgrown with weeds and

bushes.

The damage to the local community and economy was compounded by the pull-back on spending. The schools, hospitals, markets, clinics, businesses, restaurants, groceries, public transport and service facilities that were established, centering round the factories, also suffered as a consequence. The Coalition Government didn’t spend in these communities because the bulk of the population supported the PPP, choosing instead to splurge on their supporters.

The economic effects of factories closure and denial of a pay increase to sugar workers were not localised but regional and national as well. The total loss of income and the consequent contraction of expenditure of the jobless estate workers and surrounding population

have had a depressing effect on the local economy by indirectly affecting other producers and service providers who depend on each other’s income. The closure of estates led to a partial or full closure of other businesses and industries in the area.

They set off a downward spiral of economic activities resulting in additional unemployment, out-migration and large-scale displacement of population.

The government is applauded for addressing an injustice committed on sugar workers by offering a wage increase. It should also consider addressing other economic deprivations and infrastructure work of the communities affected by estate closures.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday, December 22, 2021

BBCI, Three-Door Fishermen’s Co-op reach agreement on land use - several high-powered LED lights also donated to Co-op to improve security

the only country experiencing low catches. Reports are showing that this is a global issue, and that the reasons vary in different parts of the world. We have to wait on

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha hands over one of the lights to a Three-Door Fishermen’s Co-op Society representative (Ministry of Agriculture photo) MEMBERS of the ThreeDoor Fishermen’s Co-op Society have signed an agreement with the Berbice Bridge Company Incorporated (BBCI) that allows for the use of land, and the river shore in the vicinity of the bridge on the western side of the Berbice River.

According to a release, the signing of the agreement has come amid a meeting with President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali and Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha last week.

This was disclosed on Sunday by Minister Mustapha during a follow-up meeting with members of the co-op society to give an update on several other commitments made by the ministry.

The agreement will allow the fishermen to legally operate from the facility which they have been occupying for years.

During the meeting, representatives from the co-op society sought the assistance of the Head of State and the Agriculture Ministry with guiding the

process, which would allow them to negotiate the terms of use for the river shore, as they usually occupy the facility to ply their trade after returning from sea with their catch.

In addition to the agreement, representatives from the co-op also raised security concerns, and the need for better toilet facilities at the wharf, the release noted.

While addressing the gathering at Sunday’s engagement, Minister Mustapha said that the PPP/C administration has a longstanding history of working to ensure it fulfills its promises.

“The last time I was here to meet with the fishermen… they asked for some lights, and I made a commitment that I will bring the seven lights that they needed; and these are high-powered lights to brighten the avenue going in and coming out, so that in the nights, they say normally thieves are usually harbouring around… So I hope that this will prevent, not all the illegal activities,

but at the same time it will make the place brighter to see what is going on,” the minister said.

In addition to the lights, Minister Mustapha also said that the Fisheries Department, in collaboration with the Mahaica Mahaicony Abary Agriculture Development Authority (MMA-ADA), will be constructing sanitary facilities in keeping with another commitment made during the meeting.

LOW CATCHES With the issue of low catches continuing to be of major concern to both the government and fishermen across the country, Minister Mustapha told fishermen that the government, in collaboration with reputable local and international agencies, has commenced work to determine the reason behind the low catches.

“As I am speaking here, we have… a number of officers within the ministry and other agencies looking to see why we are having the low catches, so that we can have an answer to those things. Guyana is not

the results from the analysis, and only then can we move forward and try to resolve it,” he explained.

Minister Mustapha maintained that the government

will continue to support not only the Three Door Fishermen’s Co-op Society, but all other fishermen and fisher co-ops across the country, the release said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 22, 2021

‘A life-changing gift’

- Minister Persaud hands over new home to mother of six MINISTER of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, on Monday, officially handed over a spanking new house to a mother of six.

The 16 feet by 20 feet house is valued at over $1 million and is located at Matthew’s Ridge, NorthWest District, Region One (Barima-Waini).

Ernesta Lara had lost her home due to high winds back in January, 2020, but through the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, in collaboration with Vitality Accounting and Consultancy Inc., was able to benefit from a new home.

An emotional Lara fought to hold back tears as she showered praises on Minister Persaud and her Ministry for this “lifechanging gift.”

“This is going to change my life, I can’t thank you enough, thank God for the Minister, thank God for everybody, I can’t stop saying thank God,” Lara said while adding that she was fortunate to find lodging at a neighbour’s home after her house collapsed.

Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud (second from right) presents the keys to new home owner, Ernesta Lara, in the presence of Technical Officer (ag) Satesh Rajpat and Matthew’s Ridge Community Development Council’s Vice-Chairperson, Janice Moses-Fraser Minister Persaud expressed that she was happy to present Lara with the house in time for the holidays and usher in the New Year under her own roof.

“Today, I am here with Ms. Ernesta Lara because the Ministry reaches out to people who are in very tough situations and her home collapsed because of high winds and she has a number of children including a child who has a disability, and so we reached out with the help of the community, the Region and

the youth group here; this was able to materialize,” Minister Persaud stated.

She added: “I want to say a special thanks to Vitality Inc. because they contributed to the cost of building this home.”

While the new twob e d ro o m h o u s e w a s erected on Lara’s land, the old structure was dismantled and the wood packed at the back in order to facilitate the construction of a pen for the mother of six to do farming. (DPI)

President Ali opens community...

FROM PAGE 4 Ali said.

On the other hand, Sakina Mohamed, also a member of the WPO, was a leader in the community of Leonora. She was a teacher and co-ordinator, and was responsible for educating the masses through various techniques, including arts and crafts, and was President Ali’s grandmother.

The newly commissioned Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Hub was opened so that the legacy of teaching and learning will continue.

“So, we have in this park a small ICT hub, with computers connected to the Internet so that children can go there to do their homework; young people can go there to do research, and women and other persons who want to learn to use the computer can also go there,” President Ali said.

The Head of State reminded that decades later, the world continues to face many challenges, including threats

to democracy, and persons must decide what principles and values they stand for.

A DISTINGUISHED ROLE “Not so long ago, right in our country, we were once again asked to stand up for certain principles and values that make us a free people; principles and values that make us a democratic people, and, once again, women played a distinguished role in standing up for democracy and freedom,” he said.

He acknowledged that Kowsilla and Sakina Mohamed were “of a different era,” noting that they came up when there were greater challenges surrounding women and women were not just contributors to society, they were bearing the brunt of the hardships in society.

He added: “But whilst all of this was going on, these two women still found the time to dedicate themselves to political and social life, because they understood, even then, how important

political education and social consciousness was to the upliftment of women; the upliftment of our communities and the upliftment of our country.”

The Kowsilla Community Park and Sakina Mohamed Computer Lab at Leonora are two symbols aimed at continuing the legacy of the two women, President Ali said.

“You have an opportunity to be the best you can ever be. Do not believe for one moment you are lesser than anyone else because of the region you come from, because of how you look or because of how poor or rich your family is,” he told the gathering which comprised children.

The event was also attended by Minister of Education Priya Manickchand; the Minister within the Ministry of Public Works Deodat Indar; former Parliamentarian and head of the WPO, Indra Chandrapaul and other political figures.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday, December 22, 2021

The Meeting of the Advisory Council of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation 2021 is held via video link

On December 17, 2021, the Meeting of the Advisory Council of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation 2021 was held via video link. State Councillor and Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi addressed the opening ceremony of the meeting and witnessed the release of the report from the Meetings of the Advisory Council.

The Advisory Council members spoke highly of President Xi Jinping’s important speech at the third symposium on the development of the Belt and Road Initiative and held that the

speech demonstrates China’s confidence and determination in advancing the Belt and Road cooperation, and serves as a guiding principle for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation in the next phase. The Global Development Initiative and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) proposed by President Xi Jinping are conducive to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The two initiatives complement and reinforce each other and contribute to the common development of the world.

The meeting held that since its inception eight years

ago, the BRI has yielded tangible results, boosting global poverty reduction, trade and economic growth. It has become an important international public good and a platform for global economic cooperation guided by an overall vision and featuring cooperation mechanisms and practical projects, and embraces more promising prospects. The BRI has enhanced mutual trust and cooperation among countries, demonstrating China’s vision of promoting global connectivity, addressing common challenges faced by the international community and building a community with

a shared future for mankind.

The Advisory Council members proposed that BRI cooperative partners should continue to aim at high-standard, sustainable and people-centered growth, and work for higher-standard cooperation, better deliverables from inputs, higher-quality supply and stronger resilience in development. Members of the Advisory Council hopes that under the current circumstances, all parties will continue to synergise the BRI with the development strategies, plans and initiatives of all countries and regions, and promote infrastructure

connectivity and cooperation in health, green development, digital, innovation and other fields, injecting stronger impetus into the global fight against the pandemic and economic recovery, especially poverty reduction and development causes in developing countries, and making greater contributions to the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Risk prevention and control is an integral part of international cooperation under the BRI. All partner countries should share responsibilities and risks.

During the meeting, the High-Quality Belt and Road Cooperation: Partnership on Connectivity, a Report on the Findings and Recommenda-

tions from the Meetings of the Advisory Council of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in 2019 and 2020 was released.

Based on the research findings, the report held that the BRI will open up more space for global economic development, provide more opportunities for partner countries to improve people’s livelihood, and make greater contributions to creating a better future for mankind by establishing cooperative platforms and carrying out cooperation. A series of policy recommendations on high-quality Belt and Road cooperation were put forward in the report, including implementing high-quality projects, improving Belt and Road cooperation partners’ network, fostering an open world economy, building green and digital Silk Road, and conducting international cooperation on vaccines, etc.

The Advisory Council is a non-profit and international policy advisory body, with the main function of offering intellectual support for the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.

Members participate in the Advisory Council’s activities in a personal capacity. Current members are Romano Prodi, former Prime Minister of Italy; Jean-Pierre TURN TO PAGE 10

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 22, 2021

The Meeting of the Advisory Council of the Belt and Road... Carrie Lam welcomes white paper on FROM PAGE 9 Raffarin, former Prime Minister of France; Mikhail Fradkov, former Prime Minister of Russia Federation; Essam Sharaf, former Prime Minister of Egypt; Erastus J. O. Mwencha, former Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission; Shamshad Akhtar, former Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific of the United Nations; Kishore Mahbubani, Professor of the National University of Singapore; Sir Douglas Flint, HM Treasury’s Financial and Professional Services Envoy to the Belt and Road Initiative, Unit-

ed Kingdom; Justin Yifu Lin, former Vice President of the World Bank; Mari Elka Pangestu, Managing Director of Development Policy and Partnerships, World Bank Group (Special Guest); Alicia Bárce-

na, Executive Secretary of Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (Special Guest).

Convener of the Advisory Council and Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu chaired the meeting.

Hong Kong’s democratic progress

(CGTN) Chief Executive of China’s Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam welcomed the white paper on the region’s democratic progress released on Monday.

Titled “Hong Kong: Democratic Progress Under the Framework of One Country, Two Systems,” the white paper, issued by China’s State Council Information Office on Monday morning, presented a comprehensive review of the origin and development of democracy in the HKSAR and the principles and position of the central government.

The publication of the white paper upon the successful completion of the first general election of the Legislative Council (LegCo) under the improved electoral system serves to pre-emptively address the major issue of Hong Kong’s democratic development, leaving no room for slandering by external forces, Lam said in a statement.

All the 90 members of the seventh term of LegCo were elected on Monday morning, hours after the polls closed on Sunday.

The smooth formation of the LegCo through elections manifests the broad representation, political inclusiveness, balanced participation and fair competition of the new electoral system, hence enhancing

the HKSAR’s democratic system, said Lam. Citing the account detailed in the white paper, she said one can clearly see that since Hong Kong’s return, anti-China forces have not only disrupted the development of democracy in the HKSAR, but even challenged the bottom line of national security as well as the authority of the central government and the Basic Law under the pretext of “democracy,” and used Hong Kong to infiltrate the mainland, seriously threatening the prosperity and stability of the HKSAR and national security.

The publication of the white paper has provided strong justifications for the work done by the central government and HKSAR government to improve the

HKSAR’s electoral system in order to implement the principle of “patriots administering Hong Kong,” according to Lam’s statement.

She also said that there is no “one size fits all” in the development of democracy, nor a single superior model, adding that democratic development of the HKSAR must conform to the constitutional order as enshrined in the Constitution and the Basic Law and adhere to the principle of “One Country, Two Systems,” while taking account of the actual situation of Hong Kong.

Lam also encouraged the public, especially the younger generation and students, to read the white paper in detail to strengthen their correct understanding of the development of democracy in the HKSAR.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday, December 22, 2021

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 22, 2021

E-Networks gives $500,000 to ‘Wish Upon a Star’ initiative E-NETWORKS INC., Guyana’s only locally owned telecommunications provider, has donated $500,000 towards the Ministry of Human Services’ ‘Wish Upon a Star’ initiative.

A cheque for the sum was presented to the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Shannielle HooseinOutar, on Tuesday.

The initiative, which was conceptualised by subject minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud, aims to fulfil the dreams of children with special needs, between the ages of four and fifteen, during the festive season.

These include those living with disabilities; children who would have experienced some trau-

E-Networks Marketing Co-ordinator, Ashley John (left) hands over the cheque to Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Human Services and Social Protection, Shannielle Hoosein-Outar

matic or psychological incident in their lives; lost their parents and do not have guardians or caregivers; and have never had the opportunity to enjoy that one gift that could make them incredibly happy.

E-Networks Marketing Co-ordinator, Ashley John, lauded the ministry for its worthwhile project during the season of giving.

She commented, “We know a child’s circumstances or that of their parent/guardian might hinder them from enjoying Christmas; so we think it’s a brilliant initiative by the ministry to bring joy during this festive season. As a local company, we are always thrilled to show our support to improve the lives

of Guyanese, especially the youth in need.”

Hoosein-Outar later expressed gratitude on behalf of the ministry.

“This donation will go a long way in making the Christmas wishes of less fortunate children come true,” she said.

In crafting the initiative, Dr Persaud had especially considered how children generally look forward to Christmas and how granting their special wishes can profoundly impact them.

“E-Networks is exceedingly pleased to participate in this project and extends its very best wishes for a joyous season to all those involved in this worthy venture,” the company noted.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Appeal Court to procced with hearing of election petition - says it has jurisdiction to entertain case

IN a two-one decision, the Court of Appeal has ruled that it has the jurisdiction to hear and determine the appeal filed to challenge the dismissal of APNU+AFC’s Election Petition 99 of 2020.

While delivering their separate rulings on Tuesday afternoon, the Chancellor of the Judiciary, Yonette Cummings-Edwards, and Justice of Appeal, Dawn Gregory said that the Guyana Court of Appeal has jurisdiction to hear the case.

However, Justice of Appeal, Rishi Persaud disagreed as according to him, the applicants, Monica Thomas and Brennan Nurse, had no right to appeal since there was no final decision

by Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George, who had dismissed the application in January on the grounds of serious non-compliance. At the time, the matter was before the High Court.

He also ruled that the Full Court of the High Court does not have jurisdiction to entertain the appeal and therefore ruled that the appeal was dismissed.

Towards the end of the hour long virtual hearing, the Chancellor granted a two-week stay of the ruling, after Trinidad Senior Counsel Andrew Mendes, who is representing President Irfaan Ali and Vice-President Bharrat Jagdeo and Attorney General Anil Nandlall S.C., requested time to decide whether they should approach the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

The Chancellor, in her ruling, said that the decisions of the Chief Justice was a final order on both the election petition and a preliminary issue of compliance.

She further contended that

Article 163 of the Constitution states that an appeal to the Court of Appeal can be made from the decision of a judge of the High Court granting or refusing leave to institute proceedings for the determination of any question.

“In my view, the Honourable Chief Justice sat in the elections jurisdiction of that matter and considered the validity of the petition…determined that validity in relation to whether or not the proceeding could go on, and the Chief Justice dismissed that proceedings,” she said.

Since the Chief Justice’s decision was a final order, the Chancellor said that the petitioners have a right to an appeal since there was no decision on the petition itself.

“I conclude therefore, the Court of Appeal is conferred with jurisdiction under the Court of Appeal Act and Article 125 of the Constitution to consider the dismissal of the petition,” she said.

She added that the Full Court of the High Court does not have the power to hear the appeal of an election petition dismissal for want of compliance. She said it is a power Parliament should consider conferring upon the Full Court.

“Perhaps the time is right for its consideration…It could be said too that given the need for expedience in the hearing of election petitions as interlocutory matters are not provided for, as the same may be dealt within the main proceedings on an appeal. However, in the instance case, the matter haven’t been determined whether considered as a preliminary matter, there is no substantive appeal in the circumstance for the issue first to be determined under the

provision of the Court of Appeal Act,” she added.

Meanwhile, Persaud contented that the matter was thrown out for non-compliance and as such cannot be heard by the Court of Appeal.

“There is no right to appeal to this court against the decision of the High Court, which is not a final decision,” the judge said.

During a previous hearing, Nandlall had submitted that the Court of Appeal does not have jurisdiction to hear the case, since the matter was thrown out by the High Court, and no evidence was heard.

Nandlall said that based on the uniqueness of the case, like the Appeal Court, the Full Court also has no jurisdiction to hear the case.

The Attorney-General had said to the court, that according to Section 79 of the High Court Act, which reads, “An appeal shall lie to the Full Court from any judgment given or order made by a single judge of the court in the exercise of its civil jurisdiction in respect of which there is no appeal to the Court of Appeal.”

He submitted that one would interpret this section to mean that in the appeal of election petition matters, the Full Court cannot exercise its civil jurisdiction.

“We have put forward court cases after cases explaining the nature and type of jurisdiction that was received by the High Court …but this is a jurisdiction that the court never had,” the AG had said.

He explained that the Parliament of Guyana had given such power to resolve elections disputes to the High Court and when a decision is made in this “nar-

row” jurisdiction it can only be appealed at the Court of Appeal.

“One cannot wander outside of that narrow corridor…

We cannot eke out a jurisdiction where one does not exist…Mr. [Roysdale] Forde cannot confer jurisdiction where one does not exist,” the AG said.

In January, Forde, S.C., the attorney for APNU+AFC and Trinidadian attorney, John Jeremie, S.C., had moved to the Court of Appeal to have the Chief Justice’s decision set aside. The appeal, among other things, is contending that she erred in law, and misdirected herself when she

misapplied the doctrine of strict compliance, by holding that such compliance is related to the contents of the Affidavit of Service instead of the filing of the Affidavit of Service in a timely manner.

Another ground claims that the Chief Justice erred and misdirected herself when she failed to consider the objective of the petition in making her decision on the content of the Affidavit of Service.

Aside from Jagdeo, the coalition has named Chief Elections Officer (CEO) of GECOM, Keith Lowenfield, representatives of several political parties and former President, David Granger, as

respondents.

In June, the coalition appealed the second elections petition case, which was filed by Claudette Thorne and Heston Bostwick. That petition was dismissed on April 26 by the CJ, on the grounds of serious noncompliance with the Constitution of Guyana, and electoral laws as it relates to GECOM’s conduct of those elections.

The Chief Justice held that the petitioners failed to present evidence to support claims that the conduct of those elections contravened the Constitution and the country’s electoral laws.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Christmas cheer spreads to Pomeroon communities

Santa Claus distributes gifts

The lit Christmas tree at Charity ADAMANTIUM Holdings in collaboration with Alfro Alphonso and Sons Enterprises, recently handed over more than 300 gifts and toys for persons living in three communities in the Upper Pomeroon River.

The communities which benefitted are Kabakaburi, Karawab and St. Monica. The handing over of the items was done in front of the Gaulin Supermarket at Charity, Region Two. Toshao of Kabakaburi, Monty Simon collected on

behalf of his community, while the Toshao of St. Monica-Karawab, Eve Samuels received on behalf of her communities.

Samuels, in expressing her gratitude, thanked the management of Adamantium Holdings for coming forward to make the donation.

She noted that not many children are fortunate to have their own toys for the holiday and they will be excited when they receive a gift.

Toshao Simon, in his remarks, expressed similar sen-

timents and said the children will be very excited with their gift. He thanked the company for making such a donation.

Adamantium’s Operations Manager, Haiman Beharry said it’s always an honour to give back to the people of St. MonicaKarawab, and Kabakaburi.

He added that the company will continue to give back to society.

The company also donated over 200 toys to the region for distribution to the less fortunate. This toy donation was initiated by the region’s chairperson, Vilma De Silva.

The company continues to bring Christmas cheer to Region Two as it recently held its fifth annual Christmas tree light-up ceremony at Charity.

The event started with Christmas carols provided

by D.J Subsonics, who keep the large crowd fully entertained.

There was also a Santa Claus who distributed gifts to the children. Several parents expressed gratitude to Adamantium Holdings and Alfro Alphonso and Sons Enterprises for their kind and generous gesture, especially at this time of the year. Some said they missed the event last year, due to COVID-19.

Tuschen man ‘busted’ with $113M in cocaine remanded A TUSCHEN, East Bank Essequibo resident, was, on Tuesday, charged for trafficking over $113 million worth of cocaine and was remanded to prison by Magistrate Faith McGusty.

Ryan DaSilva appeared before the Leonora Magistrate’s Court and denied that on December 18, 2021, he had 17.4 kilograms of cocaine in his possession for the purpose of trafficking.

His attorney, Dexter Todd made an application for bail. Magistrate McGusty, however, remanded him to prison until January 21, 2022.

The Guyana Chronicle had previously reported that on the day in question, ranks attached to the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) discovered 15 brick-like parcels of cocaine.

CANU officers, acting on a ‘tip-off’, conducted

Ryan DaSilva narcotics operations in the ters, the substance in the Tuschen-Parika area. During parcels was tested and was one of the operations, a mo- confirmed to be cocaine. tor vehicle which was driven The cocaine, which weighed

by DaSilva, was stopped and 17.4 kg (38.3lbs), has a searched, resulting in the street value of more than US$552,000 (approximately discovery.

At CANU headquar- GY$113,160,000).

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Region Three private sector body welcomes local content legislation

R3PSInc Head, Halim Khan

THE Region Three Private Sector Inc. (R3PSInc) has commended the government for tabling the Local Content Bill which paves the way for local companies to meaningfully participate in the oil and gas sector.

Head of the organisation, Halim Khan, said he is especially pleased with the Bill which includes the establishment of two key institutions – the Local Content Secretariat and the Inter-Agency Advisory Committee.

He said that these two institutions engender the dynamism which such a Bill ought to encapsulate.

According to Khan, the private sector countrywide will benefit from this piece

of legislation way into the future.

He told this publication that he anticipates further improvements and reforms to both the institutional and legislative framework necessary to support the country’s development, including the establishment of the Petroleum Commission.

Further, he noted that the local content policies will create incentives for local businesses, services, and workers from Guyana to be included in the development process of a specific sector

or broader economy.

While these policies ensure inclusion of locals, Khan said they also seek to create opportunities for international expertise and the transfer of skills and technology to the local market.

“The purpose of local content legislation is open spaces for Guyanese companies to win business without holding back oil development or damaging other sectors of the economy.

Facilitating the transfer of skills and technology that can benefit the country

long-term is also a crucial concern with parts of the industry that require technical expertise,” the R3PSInc Head said.

Additionally, he said that the demand for services and workers in Guyana’s oil and gas sector are only expected to rise over the next decade. “This is why tradeoffs must be considered as the local content policies are implemented.

A careful process of costbenefit analysis is vital to avoiding negative unintended consequences.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Gov’t steps in to ease city’s garbage woes Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall assessing the impact of the flood and the garbage situation in Albouystown, Georgetown on December 12, 2021 (Photo sourced from Minister Nigel Dharamlall’s Facebook Page) WITH increased com- owing to a timely inter- and City Council of Georgemercial activities during vention by the Ministry town, according to Solid the Christmas season, the of Local Government and Waste Director, Walter Narstreets of Georgetown are Regional Development. ine. usually littered with garThe support from the “The excess garbage bebage, but the situation is ministry is being channelled ing dumped on the shoulders different this time around to the city through the Mayor of the road is being picked

A street in Albouystown that was cleaned two days after Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall’s intervention up by us, also by community workers employed by Ministry of Local Government – they have engaged in the various communities and they have also been assisting with the clean-up,” Narine related in an invited comment on Tuesday.

He said that as compared to the previous years, there are no issues this year as “all systems are working” and scheduled garbage collection is being executed on time and in accordance with the schedule.

Narine added: “We don’t have a problem. We really don’t have a problem with the garbage situation right now. The Christmas is going smoothly … I’m very thankful to the government for

the support they have shown so far and I envisage that it would continue into the New Year.”

Last week, Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall, visited several communities across Georgetown to assess flooding and meet with residents.

The minister visited Charlestown, Albouystown and Riverview, where he saw garbage along the streets of those communities.

Minister Dharamlall swiftly engaged residents within the communities to swing into action and remove the debris that filled the drains, and the litter on the shoulders of the roads within the communities.

“I’ve gone into many communities and residents have raised the issue of wanton garbage disposal. We have asked the residents to form themselves in activists groups within the communities and they are cleaning the areas and we are working with City Hall to remove the debris,” Dharamlall told the Guyana Chronicle on Monday.

Minister Dharamlall related that in addition to named communities, there are other groups throughout the city which have been involved in the cleanup and his ministry intends to soon commence works in Newtown, Campbellville, Kitty and Bel Air, among other areas.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Man on bicycle leads CANU ranks to $13.8M in cocaine

AGENTS of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), on Monday, acting on information received carried out an operation between Austin Street and Drury Lane, Campbellville, where they seized 2.374 kg (5.22 pounds) of cocaine.

According to CANU, during the operation, a man attempted to flee when ranks tried to question him. He was eventually apprehended but not before crashing his bicycle into a parked vehicle.

During the search of the individual, a brick-

like object suspected to be narcotics was found inside a bag that was in his possession.

CANU noted that the individual was arrested and taken to his residence where a search was conducted in his presence and another brick-like object also containing suspected narcotics was found in this bedroom.

The individual, along with the two brick-like objects were taken to CANU headquarters where the objects were tested and weighed.

The test confirmed that it was cocaine and

Teen dies from suspected poisoning, relatives critical

FOLLOWING the mysterious death of a 13-yearold boy on Sunday and the hospitalisation of five family members, police and health officials in Region One are investigating whether it is a case of poisoning.

According to press release from police headquarters, Rondel Henry, a student of Aruca Mouth Primary School, and his family had consumed a locally-made liquid product which resulted in uncontrollable diarrhea and vomiting.

Police said Henry and his family started experiencing the complications on Sunday. The family observed that the teen was motionless at home and rushed him to the Mabaruma Regional

Hospital just after midday on Monday. He was pronounced dead on arrival and his body was later transferred to the mortuary, pending a post-mortem examination, police said.

Fearing for their lives, the other members of the family sought medical attention that very day.

The police noted that a team of environmental officers and police ranks visited the family’s home at around 16:00 hours on Monday, where they looked for poisonous substances or containers that contained such substances. However, none were found.

The surviving family members are currently patients at the regional hospital. Their conditions are listed as critical.

had a combined weight of 2.374 kg (5.22 lbs.).

It is suspected that this cocaine was going to be transshipped to the USA where it has a street value of around US$66,000 (approximately GY$13.8M).

Investigations are ongoing.

The cocaine seized by CANU agents

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 22, 2021

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday, December 22, 2021

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 22, 2021

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Education Ministry aiming for all teachers to be CPCE trained

IN keeping with government’s vision for an improved and innovative education sector, Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, on Monday, disclosed the ministry’s plan to ensure all teachers are trained.

According to the minister, the education system in the past 15 years has seen the percentage of trained teachers remaining consistently in the 70s, fluctuating by three to five per cent every year.

She noted that the recorded fluctuation can be attributed to the migration of teachers as well as deaths or teachers moving to the private sector.

The Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) has gone fully online to offer training to Guyanese with over 2,500 first-year students enrolling, a figure which is five times the usual number.

“The CPCE is the only teachers’ training centre in the country. Usually about 535 students are accepted for face-to-face learning every year. This year, because we

have gone online, we have about 2,500 students who have begun their first-year learning...Guyana is going to be fine because we are going to be putting out more teachers than we’ve ever done before,” said Minister Manickchand.

She said that, currently, there are teachers in the system who are untrained but they have already been informed that they are to commence the required training.

“There are two types of untrained teachers teaching, those who have qualifications that can get them into the college but never really bothered, probably because of economic and other reasons, and there are teachers who are in the classroom who do not have the eligibility criteria to get into the college… We are upgrading those teachers so that they can get into the college,” the Education Minister stated.

She noted that moving the college online has given hinterland teachers the opportunity to enroll in the Associate Degree in Education

programme rather than the Trained Teacher’s Certificate (TTC) programme which, previously, was the only programme accessible to them if they were willing to leave their homes and attend faceto-face classes at the college.

“Hinterland teachers across the country, we have seen a remarkable drop. We used to have about three hundred and thirty-something teachers doing the Trained Teacher’s Certificate (TTC) programme as opposed to the Associate Degree programme. Before 2020, the TTC programme was the only programme offered to hinterland teachers,” she added.

She noted that while there are challenges in terms of connectivity and access to devices, the ministry is currently working to have those addressed.

Minister Manickchand said that the aim is to have 100 per cent of the teachers in classrooms enrolled in a programme at CPCE by the end of the first semester in 2022.

An A+ year for the education sector

- says Minister Manickchand as she reflects on 2021 developments

MINISTER of Education, Priya Manickchand, on Monday, praised her staff and support system for rising above numerous challenges to ensure that the ministry recorded a successful year.

Manickchand was, at the time, addressing those at a media luncheon, where she gave a review of the developments in education in 2021 and outlined some of the plans for 2022.

“2021 was an extremely challenging year. It called on us at the Ministry of Education, each department, to bring to the table the very best we had. We had to innovate and think of things we didn’t even think we had the capacity for,” the minister said.

This year, similar to last year, the education sector’s biggest challenge was delivering education while navigating COVID-19.

This included putting measures in place for the writing of national exams, and ensuring students were adequately prepared.

Minister Manickchand said that development has come a long way with the physical reopening of schools on a rotational basis, the distribution of learning resources to learners all across

the country, the professional development of teachers, the facilitation of technology-assisted learning and education management.

“If you sat where we sat and understood the challenges that we had to navigate, and, even as we navigated those challenges we added. We brought in CAPE in regions that never saw CAPE. We procured and got for every single Grade Six child all the textbooks they needed, numbering 17. We wrote NGSA and gave results earlier than ever before. We expanded the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE),” Manickchand proudly noted.

The luncheon was held under the theme, “Define COVID Strengthening Education” at the Cara Lodge.

The minister, in her remarks, added that many of the lessons learnt through the COVID-19 pandemic can now be built upon to guide the way forward for the 2022 developments.

Also present at the event was Chief Education Officer (CEO), Dr. Marcel Hutson, and NCERD Director, Quanita Walrond-Lewis.

The full reopening of

schools, the launching of a new education radio station, completion of the roll out of the Guyana Learning Channel in the hinterland communities, the expansion of Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE) to more schools and the launch of an adult literacy programme are some of the developments in the works for 2022.

Minister Manickchand said that on taking over the ministry in August 2020, she found that the sector was in dire need of a plan to deal with education delivery in the pandemic, as there was none in place at the time.

She commended the staff and the support system that she has had as being the main contributors to the ministry’s success.

“It’s not vanity that says we did A plus, it is a measurement of where we were, the challenge we were met with and the robust response that came from every single sector and department. It was the professional workers in the ministry that all rallied around, making sure we did not close down this ministry, and we responded to the needs of our children. I extend special thanks to the people in the ministry,” she added.

CPCE students [Ministry of Education photo]

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Over 50 years and counting as a fishmonger

PA R A Z A D E E M a habeer, called “Paro,” was just 20 years old when she ventured into New Amsterdam to ply her trade as a fishmonger, which complemented her husband’s role as a fisherman.

A fishmonger (historically fishwife for female practitioners) is someone who sells raw fish and seafood. Fishmongers can be wholesalers or retailers, and are trained at selecting and purchasing,

handling, gutting, deboning, filleting, displaying, merchandising and selling their products.

During a recent interview with the Guyana Chronicle, Mahabeer explained that it was her husband Shakir Khubir, who initially caught the shrimp and fish. She in turn would take it to New Amsterdam to sell. The monies received maintained her family, which included three children.

“My husband would

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 22, 2021

leave home just after dinner and would venture out in the Berbice River where he would set his seine and wait for the shrimp or fish to be entangled in the net. The catch would then be placed into the boat. Then just before daybreak, he would sail under the Canje Bridge where I would collect the fish and shrimp, before travelling to New Amsterdam, to sell wholesale and retail, “she recounted.

“Initially, I sold along

Parazadee Mahabeer called “Paro” the public pavement, dam, Berbice. The famplacing cardboard on ily had lived at “Chiney which I displayed the Lane,” now known as St. catch, as there were no Ann’s Street. place [sic] provided for Reminiscing on her fish sale within the mar- school years brought a ket. At that period, it was twinkle to her eyes and five cents a parcel [a hun- a smile on her face. Aldred cents is equivalent though those years were to one dollar], and over over 60 years ago, she the years the cost per could recall the names parcel has increased to of her teachers and the $500. Over the years, the levels of her education, market infrastructure has which included moving also improved. There is a from “little infant, big fish market where prod- infant to standard six,” ucts are sold in a clean, when an examination was hygienic environment,” taken. she said.

Unfortunately, she did Unfortunately, life did not get to write the exno go as well as she had amination as her parents planned. Her relationship had died by then and she with her husband ended had to relocate to Sheet in a separation and, as a Anchor, East Canje, to result, she was forced to live with her maternal purchase fish and other uncle and help care for seafood products from his six children. Her now wholesalers. Over the deceased uncle, Shama years, her three children Khan, was a movie opventured into the busi- erator and had worked at ness, but they opted out the then famous Gaiety after their respective mar- and Globe cinemas in the riages.

New Amsterdam townMahabeer’s life be- ship. fore her marriage was not Despite the hardwithout its fair share of ships of life, she is a challenges. She had lost survivor. She is also the her mother and subse- proud grandmother of quently, her father before six. Despite her mild her teenage years. At the health issues, ‘Paro’ time, she was a student at loves her job, and would the All Saint’s Anglican not trade it for anything School in New Amster- else in the world.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Over 70 per cent of teachers vaccinated against COVID-19

- says Minister Manickchand

By Jared Liddell EVEN though vaccination numbers for adolescents, aged 12 to 18, remain low, Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, has made it clear that government has no plans to continue keeping children out of school and will be moving ahead with the commencement of face-to-face learning for Grades 8 to 13 on January 03, 2022.

Minister Manickchand, at a media engagement on Monday, disclosed that the vaccination rate for this age group remains at just over 30 per cent. She emphasised that government does not intend to allow these numbers to hinder the safe return to face-to-face learning.

“My thinking behind reopening fully in these levels is whoever was going to take the vaccine could have taken it by now… if persons are not going to take the vaccine, then we cannot keep our children out of school and it is unfair to the children who took the vaccine that they’re unable to access schooling,” said Minister Manickchand.

Government began the roll out of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 12 to 18 on August 26, 2021. The target was some 50,000 students in the secondary school system.

Schools in Guyana had first closed their doors in March 2020, as a result of measures implemented by the government to curb the spread of the virus.

The closure and the subsequent partial reopening of school have severely affected education delivery in Guyana.

Public schools in Guyana are currently using customized rotational openings, which started in September. Before this, schools were closed for a lengthy period, and learners were exposed to virtual learning.

“We intend to vigorously get back to a level of normalcy that we have still not been able to do. So except we are otherwise advised by the Ministry of health, all students from Grades 8 to 13 will be expected to go back to school full time,” said Minister Manickchand.

TEACHERS READY Meanwhile, the Education Minister stated that she is confident that an overwhelming majority of secondary school teachers are ready to resume face-to-face learning.

She disclosed that over 70 per cent of teachers in the school system are already vaccinated against COVID-19, signalling their readiness to engage their students.

“We expect that we are going to see a very high turnout of both students and teachers and we are saying, at the same time, that while we are asking students to return that we are not mandating it.”

Minister Manickchand further reminded that, once schools reopen on January 3, 2022, all resources inclusive of worksheets and tutorials will remain on the ministry’s websites for students whose parents do not wish for them to return to the classroom.

“All of the resources we have will remain online for any student who chooses not to come to school for face-to-face learning. We have been fully opened for face-to-face learning for Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Forms, and students, with and without the vaccine, have been coming to those classes and I suspect that same position will be mirrored from Grade Eight upward,” said Minister Manickchand SEVERE IMPACT According to a World Bank, UNESCO, and UNICEF a report released on December 8, 2021, this generation of students now risks losing $17 trillion in lifetime earnings in present value, or about 14 per cent of today’s global Gross Domestic Product (GDP), as a result of COVID-19 pandemic-related school closures.

The new projection reveals that the impact is more severe than previously thought, and far exceeds the $10 trillion estimate released in 2020.

In addition, ‘The State of the Global Education Crisis: A Path to Recovery’ report shows that, in low- and middle-income countries, the share of children living in learning poverty – already 53 per cent before the pandemic – could potentially reach 70 per cent, given the long school closures and the ineffectiveness of remote learning to ensure full learning continuity during school closures.

Simulations estimating that school closures resulted in significant learning losses are now being corroborated by real data, the report noted. For example, regional evidence from Brazil, Pakistan, rural India, South Africa, and Mexico, among others, show substantial losses in

mathematics and reading.

Analysis shows that, in some countries, on average, learning losses were roughly proportional to the length of the closures. However, there was great heterogeneity across countries and by subject, students’ socioeconomic status, gender, and grade level. For example, results from two states in Mexico showed significant learning losses in reading and in mathematics for students aged 10-15. The estimated learning losses were greater in mathe-

matics than reading and affected younger learners, students from low-income backgrounds, as well as girls disproportionately, according to the report.

Barring a few exceptions, the general trends from emerging evidence around the world align with the findings from Mexico, suggesting that the crisis had exacerbated inequities in education.

The report further stressed that reopening schools must remain a top and urgent priority globally

Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand to stem and reverse learning losses. Countries should put in place Learning Recovery Programmes with the objective of assuring that students of this generation attain at least the same competencies of the pre-

vious generation. Programmes must cover three key lines of action to recover learning: consolidating the curriculum, extending instructional time and improving the efficiency of learning.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Labour ministry to include fire prevention in training for employers

WITH several fires having taken place at several prominent buildings this year, the Ministry of Labour will be placing more emphasis on fire prevention measures at work places, and will be offering fire prevention training in its Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) programmes.

Subject minister, Joseph Hamilton, explained that the ministry is also working to put

together a technical committee involving representatives from a number of key organizations to collaborate on tackling fire prevention at work places.

These agencies include the Guyana Fire Service (GFS), the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC), Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA), Guyana Power and Light (CHPA), Insurance Association of Guyana, and the Inspectorate of

the Ministry of Public Works (MoPW).

“We need a co-ordinated response to treat with the whole issue of fire prevention of fire. So, I have set up a joint technical committee and tasked them to put up a strategic plan for the government to review and look at. So that we can do joint inspections together, and have co-operation and collaboration,” Minister Hamilton explained during an

interview with this newspaper.

For this year, a number of major fires have occurred at several buildings, particularly in the city, and many cases highlighted a lack of proper fire prevention measures and protocols at the properties.

In April, Sharon’s Mall, a shopping complex in central Georgetown, was completely destroyed by fire, leaving millions of dollars in damage and several persons out of business and out of work. In June, the North Georgetown Multilateral Secondary was also destroyed by fire, while in September the Mabaruma Secondary School was destroyed in a similar fate.

Meanwhile in October,

a massive fire destroyed the Brickdam Police Station, while in November the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) was also destroyed.

Minister Hamilton emphasised that fire prevention plays a significant role in the safety welfare of employees, hence it is incumbent on the MoL to ensure that proper measures are being implemented at work places across the country.

“As we stand right now in Guyana we are not paying enough attention to the matter. I want to equip our OSH Officers with the necessary skills to review those things.

I think the OSH department

Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton based on their responsibility is to advise and supervise,” Hamilton explained.

He noted that proper monitoring and enforcement of measures such as building codes will become even more important as the economy develops and more extensive, high-rise properties are being erected.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday, December 22, 2021

IDB closes year with nearly $20B in new financing for Latin America, Caribbean

THE Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and its private-sector arm, IDB Invest, expect to close the year 2021 with $19.5 billion in new financing for Latin America and the Caribbean, as they helped countries recover from the pandemic and usher in an era of sustainable and inclusive growth.

According to a release, the financing is the second-highest annual total in the history of the IDB and IDB Invest and helps countries invest in priorities ranging from COVID19-era healthcare and digitalisation to climate-change action, supply chains and education. The funding will also help reduce gender inequality, expand entrepreneurial ecosystems, and empower small and mid-size companies, which account for over two-thirds of the Region’s jobs.

The combination of IDB loan approvals ($14 billion) and expected IDB Invest financial commitments ($5.5 billion) and private-sector mobilisations ($2.8 billion) totalled $22.3 billion. Latin America and the Caribbean is the Region hardest hit by the pandemic. Home to about eight per cent of the world’s population, it accounts for almost a third of all COVID-19 deaths – over 1.5 million people. The Region also continues to face high inequality and serious economic and social challenges, the bank noted.

“This year, we demonstrated how a 21st-century IDB can empower countries to overcome unimaginable challenges and pave the way to a new decade of prosperity.

We did so by listening carefully to our clients and member countries and by leveraging our exceptional human capital to create innovative financing and private-sector partnerships that will accelerate the Region’s recovery,” said IDB President Mauricio ClaverCarone. “The pandemic created unprecedented challenges, but it also opened historic opportunities for Latin America and the Caribbean to grow, especially in areas including digitalisation, nearshoring and supply chains – and we are proud to be there, focused on helping countries seize those opportunities,” he added.

FROM VACCINES TO RECOVERY ECOSYSTEMS In total, the IDB approved 103 sovereign guaranteed projects in 2021 for a total of $14 billion, while disbursements are expected to reach $12.1 billion. In the context of COVID-19, financing helped countries secure life-saving vaccines and increased access to credit, so that small and mid-size companies, the main drivers of employment, can

expand their businesses.

New projects and financing will accelerate digitalisation, so countries can improve public services, expand education access, increase transparency and combat corruption.

Funding will also help improve digital-skills training to enrich the Region’s human capital.

Amid a historic reconfiguration of international trade, the IDB approved $2.3 billion to strengthen regional supply chains, nearly doubling the average amount of the three years before the pandemic. This will help countries take advantage of a tangible new opportunity, amplified by the pandemic and the global supply-chain crisis, to attract foreign direct investment and increase exports of goods and services.

The IDB also worked with 16 countries to identify critical export and supply-chain advantages, including, for example, in Costa Rica’s semiconductor sector and the textile sector in Central American countries.

GENDER, CLIMATE CHANGE AND SMALL COUNTRIES In 2021, the IDB continued to make it easier for countries to accelerate pandemic recovery, while simultaneously addressing critical, longstanding issues, such as climate change and gender inequality.

The IDB launched its Amazon Initiative and approved about $4.5 billion in resources for climate-related operations, the highest amount ever. The IDB also took a leading role among multilateral development banks at COP26, the annual United Nations conference on climate change, announcing a plan to fully align operations with the Paris Agreement and provide $24 billion for climate and green finance over the next four years.

Of all projects approved in 2021, nearly 70 per cent included one or more components to tackle climate change, while 75 per cent addressed gender issues. Almost 40 per cent of approvals went to small and vulnerable countries.

These numbers are aligned with the bank’s institutional priorities and its blueprint for economic recovery, Vision 2025.

INSTITUTIONAL REFORMS DRIVE EFFICIENCY AND PRIVATESECTOR INVESTMENT The IDB also piloted a streamlined process for projects that slashed approval times by 30 per cent, enabling the bank to quickly meet the needs of its 26 regional member countries.

“The IDB stepped up and delivered the second-highest level of approvals for sovereign-guaranteed operations in

the bank’s history in response to the pandemic, natural disasters and multiple other crises,” President Claver-Carone said. “I am confident that as we implement new initiatives and roll out ongoing operational efforts, the IDB will be even more productive in 2022

to meet the needs of Latin America and the Caribbean as the region’s partner of choice.”

In addition, the IDB dramatically scaled up its engagement with the private sector by creating the Private Sector Partners Coalition. The Coalition

began with 40 of the world’s leading companies and has since expanded to over 160 of the world’s most innovative firms. Its activities span 13 working groups in areas including nearshoring, climate change, women’s empowerment and digital

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transformation. The Coalition is creating a resourcemobilisation platform to identify investment opportunities and channel new technology, know-how and other private-sector resources to the Region, the release said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Ninvalle returns as GBA president

- Realisation of ‘Home for Boxing’ in three years is priority STEVE Ninvalle returned as president of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) unopposed, following their Elections and Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Monday at the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) Headquarters in Liliendaal.

President of the GOA, Kalam Juman-Yassin served as Returning Officer for the elections.

First vice-president, Dr Marissa Parris, daughter of Guyana’s only Olympic medallist, Michael Parris, along with Seon Bristol (assistant secretary/ treasurer), are the new members of the GBA’s executive Committee, while everyone else would have previously served alongside Ninvalle.

Major Gordon Nedd is the Second vice-presi-

dent, while Carl Graham is the third vice-president.

Stacy Correia is the Association’s secretary and Dexter Paterson is the treasurer.

Ninvalle, who also serves as a vice-president of the Americas Boxing Confederation (AMBC), highlighted that realisation of the proposed ‘Home for Boxing’ is top priority on the GBA’s agenda.

According to the returning GBA president, while a location is still being deliberated, a timeline of three years is given for the completion of the first-of-a-kind in the English-speaking Caribbean.

The approximately $120M facility, when completed, will have a 20room dormitory, kitchen area, and a state-of-the-art gym.

In the meantime, GBA recently started the resuscitation of the Andrew ‘Six Heads’ Lewis Boxing Gym in Albouystown, which Ninvalle said is being done by the National Sports Commission (NSC) and ‘friends’ of boxing.

Several gyms across the country are also earmarked for infrastructural development in 2022.

“We also intend on fostering a stronger relationship with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, and GOA,, because without their support we would not have been able to accomplish all the things we did, so that will be a priority,” Ninvalle related.He further added, “We will look to provide more opportunities and refresher courses for referees and judges. At

this point, we are scheduled to have one referee/ judge and an ITO at the AMBC Championships next year.”

As it relates to the return of competitive boxing, Ninvalle revealed that GBA is eyeing the month of February, as they seek to identify and prepare boxers for the AMBC championships next year.

Ninvalle also noted that the returning GBA executives were challenged to work on decentralising the sport, which he said is to unearth new talent, particularly females.

The International Boxing Association (IBA), formerly AIBA, is keen on seeing more female participation in the sport, both in the ring and in an administrative capacity.

“We have two females on our executive com-

mittee, and a number of women serving in other capacities. The IBA under president Umar Kremlev is making this mandatory, which I fully support,” Ninvalle said.

A new National coach will also be announced, according to Ninvalle, and a new plan for development will be formalised.

Ninvalle thanked the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr, for his support since coming into office last year and noted that the GBA is looking forward to their continued relationship in working together to grow and develop the sport of boxing in Guyana.

Yassin also came in for some praises from Ninvalle, for supporting all the GBA’s initiatives.

…creates national & international karate history

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Frank Woon-A-Tai achieves International 10th Dan FROM PAGE 36

Frank graduated from the ISKF Instructor Training Institute in 1989 after willingly completing the course three times over.

In 2004, he graduated from the University of Toronto with a B.A. in Japanese Studies and a minor in History. In 2011, Frank became a Member of the Order of Service of Guyana and was awarded the Medal of Service from the former President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo.

In 1996, he was a recipient of the French Guiana Medal of Honour by the Regional President for 20 years of service to that country. Frank is the author of Shu-Ha-Ri:

My Life in Japanese Karate, published in 2020.

His Book illustrates his early life in Guyana to his move to Jamaica and Canada, then to the rest of the world, only to return to Guyana, his roots.

Not to be outdone, his wife of 48 years, Maureen Woon-A-Tai, has been promoted to Ninth Dan. Both Frank and Maureen have over fifty years of training with world-re nowned masters like Nakayama and Okazaki.

After 30 years, Maureen retired as a Royal Bank of Canada Officer and became the driving force behind Frank’s success. They are parents of

Diandra, Michelle and Ken, 6th Dan, is a fourtime World Champion.

Michelle has five children. Twins who are actors. Today, Frank and Maureen are proud great-grandparents.

Today, 98 per cent of Frank’s Legendary In structors have passed away, namely masters: Nakayama, Sugiura, Nishiyama, Okazaki, Ito, Kanazawa, Shoji, Takahashi, Hayakawa, Tabata, Enoeda, Mori, Koyama, and Takashina, leaving him and his contemporaries to continue their legacy. Furthermore, of the two who are left, one is retired.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday, December 22, 2021

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West Indies cricketers are now a spoilt bunch

West Indies captain in Pakistan Nicholas Pooran

By Brian Davis the effects of the pandemic. ing than franchise cricket. Yet IT has become tiresome to However, CWI has been here it was that unfit and aged hear the constant drivel of doing a fine job under the cricketers were given medical excuses and promises by circumstances. Kudos must exemptions and fit younger West Indies’ cricket cap- be handed out to the president players, keen like mustard, tains, after losing games and his administration, espe- and raring to go, were left out. regularly in all formats. cially the indefatigable CEO The lesson sent out was The habit is spreading to Johnny Grave. quickly studied and learnt. the younger players.

In April 2020, when the The recent tour to PakiIt is a negative mindset to ravages of the virus were stan was on and the captain constantly maintain that your reaching out, CWI agreed to of the white-ball team, Kiteam is going to take all the visit England for a series of eron Pollard, was injured, “positives” from the game. Tests and ODIs. They were so could not make the trip.

Be realistic, recognise the the first team to venture on a Captaincy against the powfact that WI are an inferior cricket tour after the corona- erful Pakistanis, to be played team. One has not only to un- virus struck. on their home soil, was left in derstand that but accept it. It Before that tour to En- the hands of the 25-year-old is the way forward, firstly, to gland, CWI permitted anyone Nicholas Pooran. realising how badly the team who did not want to tour with Although losing all three is performing. the WI because of the corona- matches, Pooran thought the What is necessary at virus to be excused. After the youngsters on his team, at present is deep analysis of tour of England, WI visited least seven of whom are older the game, players, captains, New Zealand and Bangladesh. than he is, will go on to greatcoaches and managers, by Nonetheless, while the er things. competent, knowledgeable team was suffering losses and He said, “I see that burncricket people who can de- struggling for players, certain ing desire. I see that they want cipher what is required for team members stated they to learn, they want to win success from the WI interna- feared covid and declined the games. I have no doubt in my tional teams. invitation to tour Bangladesh mind that this bunch of guys The first step in the right after NZ. However, these can take WI cricket to the next direction was taken on the same prominent cricketers level.” weekend by CWI’s admin- and certainties to strengthen Pooran must be comistration, led by president the WI team flew off to play mended for accepting the adRicky Skerritt, deciding not franchise cricket in Australia, ditional responsibility to lead to renew the contracts of two where the virus was spreading a touring team to Pakistan, a selectors, lead selector Roger dangerously and worse than side that were losing semi-fiHarper and his assistant Miles in Bangladesh. Others went nalists in the World Cup, in Bascombe. off to participate in a T10 in a which tournament WI were It is a reality that if a team Middle East competition for pathetic. is not winning, selectors and/ franchise clubs, leaving their Unfortunately, before the or coaches are the first to be WI teammates to battle with start of the first game, three released. Phil Simmons, the weakened troops. players tested positive for head coach and third selector, The youngsters were ab- covid, making them unavailis fortunate to retain his posi- sorbing these lessons subcon- able for the series. When the tion. I believe, however, that sciously, both bad and good. third game arrived, three more CWI did not want to remove Last October, with the arrival were positive. everyone at the same time, of World Cup T20, there was It is reported that afas continuity is imperative, all to play for and to fight ter this latest discovery, a especially in selection. They for their places on the team. meeting of the players was decided to stay with the coach Despite good performances, held on whether to play; an as lead selector. they must have been shocked agreement was reached to Our region, not unlike by the players chosen. The play the third T20. Most adother cricket countries world- rigours of a World Cup tour- mirable. Nevertheless, they wide, is suffering badly from nament are far more challeng- lost. (TT Newsday)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Curry returns, leads Warriors to victory STEPHEN Curry returned to lead the Golden State Warriors to a 113-98 win at home to Sacramento Kings.

Warriors had four players

Two-time MVP Stephen Curry broke the NBA’s all-time three-point record last week

out and trailed late in the third quarter.

But Curry, who missed Saturday’s loss at Toronto, scored 15 of his game-high 30 points as Warriors outscored Kings 29-19 in the fourth quarter to stay second in the Western Conference.

It was Curry’s 11th 30-point game of the season while Draymond Green claimed a triple-double, including 16 points.

Tyrese Haliburton had a team-high 24 points for Kings, who had six players out for Monday’s game and are now just outside the play-off spots.

Embiid stars in 76ers fightback Joel Embiid scored nine straight points in the final minute and 22 seconds as Philadelphia 76ers rallied to win 108103 at Boston Celtics.

The four-time All Star finished with 41 points 10 rebounds while Seth Curry - brother of

Stephen - added 26 points and Tobias Harris 25.

Philadelphia ended a threegame losing streak as they played for the first time since last Thursday, with Sunday’s game having been postponed because of the team’s COVID-19 outbreak.

The Chicago Bulls are short-handed because of COVID-19 yet claimed their second win in as many nights to cruise past Houston Rockets 133-118.

DeMar DeRozan scored a game-high 26 points and Coby White followed with 24 to lead six players in double figures for Bulls, who remain second in the Eastern Conference.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 23 points as Oklahoma City Thunder held on for a 102-99 win at Memphis Grizzlies to avenge their record 152-79 loss to Memphis earlier this month. (BBC Sport)

Pakistan batter Abid Ali diagnosed with heart condition

Abid Ali left the field after complaining of shoulder pain. (PCB) ABID Ali was taken to hospital after complaining of chest pain while playing for Central Punjab against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the ongoing last round of the Quaid-eAzam Trophy in Karachi.

According to a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) statement, he was taken to a specialist hospital immediately, “where he was diagnosed as a case of Acute Coronary Syndrome” or ACS. “He is under the care of Consultant Cardiologist who is liaising with PCB medical team regarding further treatment. He

is currently stable.”

ACS is often used to describe a range of conditions resulting from a sudden, reduced blood flow to the heart.

Abid returned to his domestic side, Central Punjab, following the recent Bangladesh tour, where he was Player of the Series for the Tests after scoring 263 runs at 87.66.

He was playing his sixth first-class game this season and had scored 766 runs at an average of 51.89 with three hundreds. On the last day of the ongoing game at UBL

Complex in Karachi, he had crossed a half-century when he complained of discomfort around his shoulder and chest area before he was rushed to the hospital.

Abid has been the highest run-getter in Tests for Pakistan since his debut in 2019, and in 2021 he is fifth in the world with 695 runs in nine Tests at 48.87, including a double-hundred against Zimbabwe in Harare.

He made his debut in Rawalpindi in 2019 after spending 12 years in domestic cricket for 7 116 runs in 106 first-class games. He made his Test debut at the age of 31 and began with a century, and also became the only player in history to reach three figures on both Test and ODI debuts.

Central Punjab are sitting in fourth place on the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy table at the moment and are out of the final’s race, with Northern and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa sitting in the toptwo spots. They have drawn five games, won two and lost two so far this season.

(Cricinfo).

Archer ruled out until summer after second elbow surgery

ENGLAND fast bowler Jofra Archer has been “ruled out” until the summer after having a second operation on his long-standing right elbow injury.

Archer, 26, had surgery to address the stress fracture on December 11.

He had a previous operation in May and had returned for Sussex, but was then ruled out of the recent Men’s T20 World Cup and

Jofra Archer has taken 86 wickets in 42 matches for England across all three formats

the ongoing Ashes series.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said Archer will not be available for the rest of England’s winter series. They added Archer’s return will be “determined in time”.

Following the Ashes in Australia, England play five Twenty20s against West Indies from January 22 to 30, before returning to the Caribbean for three Tests in March.

SEE PAGE 33

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Sky Sports commentator David Lloyd leaves after 22 years

COMMENTATOR David Lloyd has left Sky Sports after 22 years. The 74-year-old former England coach, nicknamed ‘Bumble’, joined Sky in 1999 after his three-year stint with the national team.

A left-handed batter and left-arm spinner for Lancashire, he played nine Tests and eight one-day internationals for England between 1973 and 1980.

“I’ve decided the time is now right to pass on the microphone,” said Lloyd.

“It’s been an immense privilege to try and bring the sport I love into people’s homes up and down the country.”

Lloyd last month apologised to former Yorkshire

David Lloyd scored 38 hundreds and took 237 wickets in his first-class career all-rounder Azeem Rafiq, experience of racism at Yorkwho accused him of making shire, Rafiq said he had been disparaging comments about told Lloyd messaged other Asian players. members of the media that “a During a Digital, Cul- clubhouse is the lifeblood of a ture, Media and Sport select club, and Asian players don’t committee hearing about his go in there”.

In response, Lloyd said he had “made some comments about the Asian cricket community” and that he “deeply regrets” his actions.

“I apologise most sincerely to Azeem and to the Asian community for doing this, and for any offence caused,” he said.

Rafiq said Lloyd also apologised to him personally, adding: “He’s deeply sorry about it and I accept his apology.”

‘The commentary box feels a little emptier’ Lloyd said he had “wonderful memories” of his time at Sky and had been “lucky to travel the world sharing Ashes highs and lows, World Cup wins and losses, heroics and

heartaches with you all”.

He said the death of former England bowler and Sky pundit Bob Willis in 2019, plus former England captains David Gower and Ian Botham and former West Indies fast bowler Michael Holding leaving Sky recently had informed his decision.

“The commentary box feels a little emptier,” he said.

“And so I feel it is time for me to do the same and move on to the next chapter.”

Lloyd scored one Test century - a double hundred against India in his second Test in 1974 - and one ODI hundred, and spent his entire county career with his native Lancashire from 1965 to 1983.

He was a first-class umpire from 1985 to 1987 and became Lancashire coach in 1993.

He took over as England coach in 1996 but left in 1999 when the England and Wales Cricket Board did not renew his contract.

Sky Sports Cricket said Lloyd was a “star” member of their commentary team, with an “extraordinary ability to inform and entertain in equal measure”.

“He is much loved and respected by his fellow commentators and production team who cherish the time spent working with him,” read a statement. “Thank you Bumble for your service.” (BBC Sport)

AUSSIE legend Ricky Ponting has slammed Joe Root after the England captain publicly criticised his bowlers following Australia’s victory in the second Ashes Test.

Root was scathing of his side’s performance at the Adelaide Oval after Australia won by 275 runs to take a 2-0 lead in the series.

“I don’t think we bowled the right lengths,” he said in a post-match

interview.

“If we’re being brutally honest, we needed to bowl fuller.

“As soon as we did in that second innings, we created chances. We need to do that more, we need to be a bit braver, get the ball up there a bit further because when we do, we’re going to create chances and make life difficult.

“That’s one of the frus-

trating things because it’s something we did four years ago and got it wrong and we didn’t learn from it.

“We made the same mistakes last week (in Brisbane) – we just have to be better and we’ve got to learn those lessons very quickly.”

In response to Root’s comments, Ponting said he “nearly fell off his seat” when he heard them.

Speaking to cricket.

com.au, the former Aussie captain said Root should have stepped in if he felt his bowlers weren’t following the right plans.

“Whose job is it then to make them change? Why are you captain then?” he said.

“If you can’t influence your bowlers on what length to bowl, what are you doing on the field?

“Joe Root can come back and say whatever he

likes but if you’re captain, you’ve got to be able to sense when your bowlers aren’t bowling where you want them to.

“And if they’re not going to listen, you take them off, simple as that.

Give someone else a chance that is going to do it for you. Or you have a really strong conversation with them on the field to tell them what you need.”

(Yahoo Sports)

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (Reuters) - Test captain Dean Elgar says he will not let the allegations of racist

conduct that have come to light at Cricket South Africa (CSA) in recent months become an excuse for failure as

his side prepare to host India in a three-match series from Sunday.

Director of cricket Graeme

FROM PAGE 32 England start their 2022 home summer with three Tests against world champions New Zealand, beginning on June 2.

They are also set to play The Netherlands in three one-day internationals then face India in both a white-ball series and the rescheduled fifth Test that was postponed in September, before three ODIs, three T20s and three Tests against South Africa.

Archer has played 13 Tests, 17 one-day internationals and 12 T20s for England, and was part of the

team that won the 50-over World Cup in 2019.

His last appearance for England was in a T20 against India in March, before the Barbados-born bowler had an operation to remove bone fragments from his right elbow in May. The surgery was unrelated to a previous stress fracture, which was discovered in early 2020.

He returned for Sussex in a T20 Blast match in July before a setback in his recovery.

Archer, one of the pre-

mier T20 fast bowlers in the world, would have formed a key part of England’s attack at the T20 World Cup, where Eoin Morgan’s side were beaten in the semi-finals by New Zealand.

His extra pace, so often missing from England’s armoury in Australia, was also a crucial part of their plans for the Ashes.

England are currently 2-0 down in the fivematch Ashes following heavy defeats at Brisbane and Adelaide. (BBC Sport)

Ponting rips Root over ‘staggering’ post-match admission

Australia legend Ricky Ponting

South Africa to focus on beating India despite off-field woes Smith, who denies the claims, and national team coach Mark Boucher were among a number of CSA employees implicated in “tentative findings” made by the Social Justice and Nation Building Ombudsman into alleged past discrimination.

“What happens off the field for me is irrelevant now,” Elgar told reporters yesterday. “As a playing unit we have been through such crappy times (amid the COVID-19 pandemic) that we have formulated such a good bond within our group.

“We must be mindful that if things are bad off the field, we can’t use that as a cop-out for us.

We are a professional team and professional players.”

Elgar appeared to give his backing to Boucher after former Test spinner Paul Adams said he had been called a “brown shit” in a South Africa team song during his time in

South Africa Test captain Dean Elgar the side, including by former the scenes. It is not nice to see wicketkeeper Boucher, who our coaches get lambasted for has since apologised. things.”

“From the player’s point of South Africa have meanview, we back our coaches and while revealed they will be management,” Elgar said. without fast bowler Anrich “They put in so much work Nortje for the series after he that goes unnoticed, and it gets failed to sufficiently recover watered down by the media. from injury. They will not be I know what they do behind calling up a replacement.

34

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Silverwood insists he’s ‘right man for the job’ as Ashes pressure mounts ..Head coach defends selection in opening two Tests after heavy defeats at Brisbane, Adelaide

By Mat Roller CHRIS Silverwood has insisted that he is the right man for the job as England’s head coach and that he picked the right team for the first two Tests of the Ashes, despite England’s heavy defeats.

England’s selection has come in for stinging criticism over the course of the first two Tests after James Anderson and Stuart Broad, their two senior seam bowlers, were left out on a green pitch in Brisbane with Jack Leach, the left-arm spinner, included.

On a dry Adelaide Oval surface, Leach was then omitted after returning an eye-watering analysis of 1 for 102 in 13 overs with Mark Wood also rested, and England resorted to using Joe Root’s offbreaks, Dawid Malan’s legbreaks and even Ollie Robinson’s occasional off-spin.

Asked by the BBC if he would pick the same teams again with the benefit of hindsight, Silverwood - England’s chief selector after the sacking of Ed Smith earlier this year opted to double down.

“To be honest, I would,” he said.

“There is always going to be divided opinion. You pick a team and not everybody’s

going to agree with you… [but] I was happy with the skillset we had in the pink-ball Test, so I would pick the same team again.”

“I don’t [accept we got it wrong],” he added at a subsequent press conference ahead of England’s departure to Melbourne on Tuesday. “We picked the best attack for those conditions and you look at the attack we had out, there’s a lot of experience. I was happy with that attack this game and I was happy with that attack last game as well.”

Silverwood’s job is under pressure after a run of nine defeats and only one win in England’s last 11 Tests, but he maintained that he was the right man to help them recover from 2-0 down in the series.

“Am I the right man to help the players get better? Yes, I believe I am. We have had those honest chats and I believe I have the right coaching staff around me to make that happen as well.

“When you take a job like this you accept that [your job is on the line]. It is what it is. Do I believe I’m the right man? Yes I do, or I wouldn’t have taken the job in the first place. You’re under pressure constantly, aren’t you?

“We knew it was going to

“I don’t [accept we got it wrong],” he added at a subsequent press conference ahead of England’s departure to Melbourne on Tuesday. “We picked the best attack for those conditions and you look at the attack we had out, there’s a lot of experience. I was happy with that attack this game and I was happy with that attack last game as well.”

Silverwood’s job is under pressure after a run of nine defeats and only one win in England’s last 11 Tests, but he maintained that he was the right man to help them recover from 2-0 down in the series.

“Am I the right man to help the players get better? Yes, I believe I am. We have had

those honest chats and I believe I have the right coaching staff around me to make that happen as well.

“When you take a job like this you accept that [your job is on the line]. It is what it is. Do I believe I’m the right man? Yes I do, or I wouldn’t have taken the job in the first place. You’re under pressure constantly, aren’t you?

“We knew it was going to be difficult when we came out here. Obviously we wanted to win but that is always going to be difficult. We have to be realistic about what we have, but we have to learn.”

Joe Root’s captaincy has also come under scrutiny in the aftermath of the Adelaide Test, after he highlighted England’s lengths in the first innings and said that his seamers should have bowled fuller than they did. “We need to be a bit braver, get the ball up there a bit further because when we do, we’re going to create chances and make life difficult,” he said.

Root’s comments went against Broad’s insistence in his newspaper column that if England had bowled fuller, “because the ball did so little, our economy rates would have gone through the roof”. Ricky Ponting, the former Australia

captain, criticised Root’s leadership on Tuesday, asking rhetorically: “If you can’t influence your bowlers on what length to bowl, what are you doing on the field?”

Silverwood, however, said that England could “potentially” have pitched the ball up more, and admitted that they “have to be better” across the board in order to compete in the final three Tests, starting at the MCG on Boxing Day. “We had a really good talk in the dressing room which was needed. There were a few things thrown out there. Joe is right,” Silverwood. “We could have pitched it up further… potentially yes. But look at the lengths both teams bowled, they were very similar.

“We have to be better, it’s as simple as that. It is not just batting and bowling. Look at how many chances we have given up in the field: dropped catches, missed run-outs and everything else.

“Wickets off no-balls are unacceptable. I brought it up last night: this cannot happen. It is a basic error. The lads accepted that. We have had batting collapses. We have spoken about the two in these games. We have had collapses before and we can’t afford to do that. (Cricinfo)

collected numerous long course medals in breaststroke throughout her career.

However, she has been most dominant in the short course

breaststroke races, reflected in 10 podium finishes over the course of four championships.

Atkinson, in her social

media message, thanked those that “supported me, cheered for me and followed me these past decades. It meant a lot”.

Chris Silverwood is under mounting pressure (Getty Images) be difficult when we came out here. Obviously we wanted to win but that is always going to be difficult. We have to be realistic about what we have, but we have to learn.”

Asked by the BBC if he would pick the same teams again with the benefit of hindsight, Silverwood - England’s chief selector after the sacking of Ed Smith earlier this year opted to double down. “To be honest, I would,” he said.

“There is always going to be divided opinion. You pick a team and not everybody’s going to agree with you… [but] I was happy with the skillset we had in the pink-ball Test, so I would pick the same team again.”

Alia Atkinson calls time on illustrious swimming career

DUBAI, (CMC) – Jamaican swimming star Alia Atkinson has announced her retirement, following her last race at the FINA 2021 World Short Course Swimming Championships.

The world record holder and four-time world champion made the announcement on Instagram, indicating she was disappointed with her fourth-place finish in the women’s 100m breaststroke.

“Not the meet I hoped for but I am happy to say I finished every ounce of swimming talent God gave me, the bottle empty. Many times I wanted to quit or give up, but I saw it through to the end,” the 33-year-old wrote. “It’s been a rollercoaster of fun and not-so-fun moments….”

Atkinson retires with two world records, in the women’s 50 breaststroke and the 100 breaststroke which

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Wednesday December 22, 2021) COMPLIMENTS OF CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD 83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Alia Atkinson announces retirement she shares with Lithuanian Year became the first black Olympic Champion Ruta woman to win an individual Meilutyte – a fact she high- world swimming title. lighted in her Instagram post.

Atkinson had been racing “That’s something I never internationally for Jamaica thought would happen and for nearly two decades and this last race reminded just has competed at five straight how remarkable my career Olympic Games from 2004, was,” she said. when she was just 15 years When she broke the re- old, to 2021. cord in 2014, the three-time While she never landed Jamaica Sportswoman of the on the Olympic podium, she

(1)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz: Barry Wood (ENG vs WI, Scarborough, 1976)

(2)

Andy Roberts

Today’s Quiz: (1) Who is the first batsman to be dismissed with the first ball of a T20 International game?

(2)

Who was the bowler involved?

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

35

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday, December 22, 2021

BACIF recommits support for GFF/K&S year-end football

BRASS Aluminium & Cast Iron Foundry (BACIF) Limited has kept faith with the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) as they re-presented the refurbished lien trophy for the GFF/Kasif & Shanghai year-end tournament yesterday.

GFF president Wayne Forde said he will soon present a replica to the Guyana Defence Force Football Club who won the title in 2019, and in order for any team to keep the actual trophy,

From left: BACIF’s coordinator Brentnol Bourne, GFF president Wayne Forde, BACIF’s managing-director Peter Pompey and GFF PRO, Keeran Williams along with the trophies

they have to win it on two consecutive occasions.

According to Peter Pompey, BACIF’s Managing Director, the composition of the trophy is one that will withstand the test of time.

“This trophy represents the epitome of football and the value football can not only bring to our communities but to our country in the context of sport tourism,” Pompey told the gathering.

Apart from the refurbished trophy, they also manufactured a special tro-

phy for the Golden Boot and another trophy which the GFF will soon announce its purpose.

The ongoing year-end tournament is nearing its climax on January 1 with the venue for the final still tentative.

The action continues today at Mackenzie Sports Club, with Linden AllStars battling Guyana Defence Force from 18:00hrs followed by Milerock and East Bank All-Stars from 20:30hrs.

and needed Chamika Karunaratne’s unbeaten 75 from 47 balls to stay alive in the run chase.

Needing to score at nearly 11 runs per over, Giants sped to 39 without loss off 21 balls before slumping to 44 for three in the fifth over, and required a 31-run fourth-wicket stand between Najibullah Zadran (21) and Sandun Weerakkody (12) to recover.

Seales broke the stand when he got Weerakkody to miscue to mid-on in the eighth over and when he forced Ramesh Mendis (0) to glove the final delivery of the over – a lifting

delivery which swung – through to the keeper, the innings plunged into strife again.

In all, four wickets tumbled for 21 runs, leaving Giants stumbling on 96 for seven in the 12th over, but Karunaratne came to their rescue, lashing ten fours and two sixes.

He put on 33 for the eighth with Marchant de Lange (9) and 40 for the ninth with Imran Tahir (6), but Seales ended Giants’ slim chances of victory by knocking over Tahir in the penultimate over which yielded only 10 runs.

Seales burst, Fernando hundred, put Kings in final

HAMBANTOTA, Sri Lanka, (CMC) – West Indies fast bowler Jayden Seales produced a three-wicket haul to take his tally for the Lanka Premier League to 14, as Jaffna Kings stormed into the final with a 23-run victory over Dambulla Giants here Tuesday.

Avishka Fernando’s hundred propelled Kings to 210 for four off their 20 overs – the first 200-plus total of the tournament – before the 20-year-old Seales grabbed three for 24 in an outstanding four-over spell, to limit Giants to 187 for nine.

In tomorrow’s final, Kings will meet Galle Gladiators who beat them in the first qualifier two days ago.

Asked to bat first in Tuesday’s second qualifier at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, Kings got exactly 100 off 64 deliveries from right-hander Fernando, with the opener striking ten fours and four sixes.

Crucially, he put on 122 for the first wicket with 20-year-old Afghan Rahmanullah Gurbaz whose 70 came from 40 balls and included five fours and four sixes.

Fernando added a

Jaden seales grabbed three for 24.

further 37 for the second wicket with Tom Kohler-Cadmore (15) and 41 for the third with captain Thisara Perera (11

not out) before finally perishing with four balls remaining in the innings.

I n r e p l y, G i a n t s lost wickets in clusters

Collingwood to stand in as England head coach during West Indies T20I series PAUL Collingwood is set to stand in for Chris Silverwood as England’s head coach during their T20I series against West Indies next month.

Collingwood, one of England’s assistant coaches, travelled to the T20 World Cup first and then the Ashes with the national team, but flew back to the UK last week.

He will spend Christmas at home before going to Barbados for the five-match T20I series in mid-January.

Silverwood, England’s head coach, has occasionally taken series off over the last 18 months in order to ease his workload amid a gruelling international sched-

ule. Collingwood deputised during the ODIs against Ireland in 2020, while Graham Thorpe took charge during the T20I series against Pakistan later that summer.

Silverwood insisted after the T20 World Cup that he wanted to continue as head coach across formats but his position will come under scrutiny with England 2-0 down in the Ashes in Australia and staring at a series defeat.

England are expected to name a squad for the West Indies tour next week, which is unlikely to include any of those involved in the Ashes since the first T20I begins on January 22, four days after the scheduled fifth day of the

Paul Collingwood had earlier stood in for Chris Silverwood during the ODI series against Ireland last year (Getty Images)

final Ashes Test in Hobart.

All five T20Is will be played at Kensington Oval in Barbados, where Collingwood captained England to their first men’s T20 World Cup in 2010.

Players involved in the Big Bash League, such as Sam Billings, George Garton and Reece Topley are expected to be considered for the T20Is and will miss the final stages of the BBL season if selected, with the knockouts running from January 21 to 28.

England’s squad is likely to include several fringe players. Three of the top four that started the T20 World Cup - Jos Buttler, Dawid Malan and Jonny Bairstow

- are involved in the Ashes, while several players including Jofra Archer, Jason Roy, Sam and Tom Curran, Olly Stone, Lewis Gregory, Brydon Carse are on the mend after going down with injuries.

A separate England squad will be named at a later date for the subsequent three-Test series against West Indies, which starts in Antigua on March 8. (Cricinfo) T20I series schedule 1st T20I - January 22 2nd T20I - January 23 3rd T20I - January 26 4th T20I - January 29 5th T20I - January 30 All matches at Kensington Oval, Barbados

Ninvalle returns as GBA president

36

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 22, 2021

- Realisation of ‘Home for Boxing’ in three years is priority Steve Ninvalle re-elected president of Gutana Boxing Association

SEE PAGE 30

New GBA First vice-president, Dr Marissa Parris

Frank Woon-A-Tai achieves International 10th Dan …creates national & international karate history GUYANESE-born and bred, Frank Woon-A-Tai has created national and international karate history again!

Frank was promoted to the highest rank in Karate, the Tenth Dan bestowed on him by the International Karate Daigaku (University) and the Shihan-kai Senate of nine founding masters with Eighth Dan and higher, during the IKD 2021 tenth anniversary announcements.

Under the IKD Constitution, Section 2 - Powers: “the Shihan-Kai Senate is hereby vested with full power and authority to make, alter and repeal all laws, rules and regulations for the government, management, discipline and control of the International Karate Daigaku, or of any dojo or division thereof, and the members of the same in a state, district, territory or country where the International Karate Daigaku is now or may hereafter be established, and to enforce the laws, rules and regulations enacted by said Shihan-Kai Senate or any regulation or order made by the Shihan-Kai Senate.”.

According to the long-established Japanese

Martial Arts convention, ninth and tenth dans are reserved for karate masters sixty years and seventy years and older.

They must have over fifty years of karate training and teaching experience, A-class International Supreme Instructor Degree, A-class International Supreme Examiner Degree, and A-class Supreme International Judge Degree credentials. And, more importantly, they must be the leaders of large International Karate Organisations (A-Class) like the International Karate Daigaku (IKD).

In ten years, the IKD has amassed a membership of 80 regions in 57 countries across the globe. This fantastic achievement under the leadership of Shuseki Shihan Frank Woon-ATai surpasses many Japanese-led independent karate organisations with direct lineage and traditional to karate founders Funakoshi and Nakayama. In 1974 and 1979, Frank brought Master Nakayama, 10th Dan, to Guyana.

His teacher once told him that the higher you advance in rank and the

more successful you are in life, people will always try to pull you down. He has already experienced this behaviour from critics and envious former colleagues who were senior to him because some achieved their first dan rank before him.

And especially those who falsely created a rift between him and his elderly masters he served for 40 years.

However, they unwittingly gave him wings to soar above them like the Phoenix with his IKD organisation. By dedication, talent and hard work, Frank surpassed all of them in advancement and achievement.

Frank was the first JKA ISKF Instructor to be promoted to Seventh Dan under the Japan Karate Association 20 years ago. Moreover, he was number one of the first four Instructors in the International Shotokan Karate Federation (ISKF) to be graded to Eighth Dan in 2008 by Masters Okazaki and Yaguchi. He further held the Office of one of two ISKF Technical Committee Vice-Chairmen directly under Masters Yaguchi and Okazaki.

SEE PAGE 30

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Frank Woon-A-Tai’s ‘Eye Technique’ that attackers fear

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2021