Guyana_Chronicle_Epaper_25_04_2022

monday 25th april, 2022

No.106703

Greater relief 03 Rice exports rake in for commuters $7.7B in first quarter PAGE

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–– works on $13B Eccles to Diamond four-lane highway progressing as planned; to be completed within 18 months

Minister Teixeira: IRI poll ‘findings’ 04 highly questionable PAGE

‘Brunch with your bunch’ starts next weekend 02 PAGE

Business booms in Linden as Town Week opens 05 PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, April 25, 2022

‘Brunch with your bunch’ starts next weekend THAG’s President Harrinand Persaud

By Naomi Parris IN keeping with the high demands for elite dining experiences, the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) has added a brand new event to its calendar, ‘Brunch with your bunch.’

This initiative allows patrons the opportunity to indulge in the ultimate brunch experience at some of the country’s most prestigious restaurants over a three-day period.

Speaking at the simple

launch on Sunday, Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) Director, Kamrul Baksh noted that the event has been in the making for the past two years; however, it was delayed due to the advent of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

“We have now added this to our calendar as something we want to promote, it’s where you can come with your friends and relax on a Sunday morning,” he said.

The event will see a plethora of local and international cuisines being offered at a fixed price. Eight restaurants

are expected to participate in the fanfare weekend event.

“They [will] feature things like pepperpot. On some of the menus, you’ll have all different types of omelettes, but I have seen restaurants that will feature things from all over the world, so you’ll get things like Belgium waffles and a bunch of other items which are adopted from other countries.

“I want to invite everyone to come out next weekend; we are very excited to have this event launching so we

are excited to have all of our friends here,” he added.

Meanwhile, THAG’s President Harrinand Persaud further explained that the ‘Brunch with your bunch’ was birthed from the overwhelming success of the inaugural Guyana Restaurant week, which is one of the most anticipated events on the Guyanese calendar.

“So in response to the overwhelming success of the Guyana Restaurant Week which now is usually now extended to two weeks because patrons are looking for some-

‘Brunch with your bunch’ event to commence next weekend, be sure not to miss it

GTA’s Director Kamrul Baksh thing to go on weekends, and they are looking for more dining experience[sic] and one that is a lot more affordable, the Tourism and Hospitality Association Guyana decided to try a new event, one which is called ‘Brunch with your bunch.’”

Persaud urged patrons to come out, indulge and enjoy as well as to bring a friend, to tell a friend and share the ultimate dining experience.

“Brunch with your bunch was initially envisioned to be an event where patrons can

come out on weekends, they can have that breakfast experience all day at affordable price of $4, 000,” he said.

He added: “Treat yourself to brunch, bring out your family, it’s a holiday weekend, so come out and enjoy that dining atmosphere that we are all craving.”

The event will commence on April 30th and end on May 2nd and will cater for all day breakfast cravings at a fixed price.

Add on to meals will also be made available.

Greater relief for commuters

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guyana CHRONICLE monday, april 25, 2022

–– works on $13B Eccles to Diamond Four-Lane Highway progressing as planned; to be completed within 18 months

HOUSING and Water Minister, Collin Croal said commuters are expected to benefit from further relief soon as works are progressing, as planned, on the new $13 billion Eccles to Diamond Four-Lane Highway.

Recently, the government commissioned the massive $2.3 billion Mandela to Eccles Four-Lane Highway, which was designed to significantly reduce traffic congestion on the East Bank of Demerara.

The $13 billion project, which has been divided into 12 lots, includes the construction of more than 30 reinforced concrete bridges, two roundabouts and a total of 9.4 Km of reinforced concrete road. It has an 18-month timeline for completion.

The Housing Minster had reported that since being elected to office, the government has expended some $6.8 billion on infrastructural works on the EBD corridor alone, in areas such as Providence, Prospect, Little Diamond and Great Diamond, with the new highway complementing those works.

“2022 will see even more investments in the housing sector. Our government has committed more than $27.5 billion for infrastructure works on the EBD corridor that will include Great Diamond, Golden Grove, Little Diamond, and new openings for commercial lands on the east bank. And this also includes the continuation of the construction of the four-lane highway from Eccles to Great Diamond, which is already in progress,” the Housing Minister said.

These new developments have been directly linked to the unlocking of mas-

sive lands for housing developments within Region Four. Just recently, Minister Croal speaking about the spinoff benefits of the Mandela – Eccles highway, said that it has unlocked massive lands for development.

This means that major housing developments are expected to continue across the EBD. Chief Executive Officer of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), Sherwyn Greaves, had told the Guyana Chronicle that the Ministry of Housing and Water has started developing 5,000 new house lots in communities along the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) corridor, Those lands, which will soon be available for allocation, are in Little Diamond, Great Diamond, and Prospect.

Greaves’ comment followed a recent announcement by Minister Collin Croal that 5,000 new house lots will be available along the EBD. Minister Croal, who was at the time addressing persons gathered for the commissioning of the $2.3 billion Mandela-Eccles Four-Lane Highway, said: “The acquisition of new lands and the execution of critical infrastructural projects will pave the way for the allocation of a minimum of 5,000 new house lots in 2022 on the East Bank corridor.”

This is in addition to the spinoff benefits of the new four-lane highway, which, according to Greaves, will be used for government offices and commercial purposes.

Since assuming office in 2020, the government has already allocated some 11,000 house lots.

An aerial view of the ongoing works at the $13B Eccles to Diamond Four-Lane Highway (Ministry of Housing photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, April 25, 2022

Minister Teixeira: IRI poll ‘findings’ highly questionable Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Minister, Gail Teixeira

MINISTER of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira, said ‘findings’ from the national

public opinion poll conducted by the International Republican Institute (IRI) on Guyana’s electoral re-

form, lacks integrity and does not reflect the views of Guyanese.

Minister Teixeira made it clear that any poll conducted in Guyana that involves humans, must go before the Ministry of Health’s Ethics Committee. In this regard, no request was made nor approval granted.

On April 13, 2022, the IRI revealed its ‘findings’ from data it claimed was collected here between January 4 to 24, 2022, which state that a high per cent of

Guyanese believe electoral reforms are necessary.

According to the body, the poll was conducted in all regions of Guyana, through face-to-face interviews in respondents’ homes. The IRI claims that the samples consisted of some 1,500 Guyanese adults with a response rate of 20 per cent.

Minister Teixeira said a survey conducted with a 20 per cent response rate cannot answer for all Guyanese, noting that after thoroughly assessing the survey,

it only leaves one to consider whether the questions were asked in a way persons could clearly interpret.

She stressed that one must be convinced that a survey is done according to ethical, scientific and technical issues and that the methodology and the integrity of the survey must be above board.

“We are concerned how it is managed and because of COVID-19, that whether other means of ensuring that the sample that was used effectively so that people in Guyana between January 4 and 24, who were being sampled, were able to answer,” the minister noted.

Minister Teixeira pointed out that 11 per cent of the sample equivalent to 165 persons above 18 reported that there are not registered to vote in an election, while a further 29 per cent said they did not vote in the 2020 elections.

“So how can you be coming up with a survey response that says that people were not registered to vote when in fact they were below the age of 18. These are questions that come up when we look at the responses in the document,” she stressed.

ODD QUESTIONS The minister added that there is a whole host of odd questions in the survey, pointing to one which asked about whether people would vote in the local government elections regarding the candidate.

“Well, first of all we don’t have Local Government Elections, and secondly because elections haven’t been called for Local Government Elections, one doesn’t know who the candidates are or who they will

be; so how do you know how to answer that question?”

They were questions also on whether persons felt they were voters’ discrimination which, Minister Teixeira deemed, “very ambiguous”, explaining that “voters’ discrimination and voters feeling that someone may have discriminated against them, by making comments on an ethnic basis are not the same thing.”

“Voters’ discrimination is very specific in its meaning where they don’t have access to the ballot, the don’t have access to the polling station, because they are being prevented from doing that based on the function of the Guyana Elections Commission and the way the polling stations were managed on Election Day,” she added.

And there were no such claims of persons being discriminated during the March 2020 General and Regional elections, the minister pointed out. In fact, the observers had declared the day as peaceful.

The document disclosed that four per cent of the samples was taken from Region One; six per cent from Region Two; 14 per cent from Region Three; 42 per cent from Region Four; seven per cent from Region Five; 15 per cent from Region Six; two per cent from Region Seven; two per cent from Region Eight; three per cent from Region Nine and five per cent from Region 10.

With Region Four occupying the largest space on the IRI survey’s geographical map, government is yet to locate at least one of the persons who participated at the exercise, the minister noted. (DPI)

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guyana CHRONICLE monday, april 25, 2022

Business booms in Linden as Town Week opens

LINDEN Town Week was officially declared open on Sunday by Linden Mayor Waneka Arrindell amid a surge in commercial activities in the mining town.

Prominent faces at the launch included Labour Minister, Joseph Hamilton; Chairman of the Region 10 Tourism Committee, Devin Sears;

also for the small man.

One of the things we have enjoyed so far is seeing the little pop-up businesses around the town and we are hoping that through organisations like [sic] the Linden Chamber of Commerce they will be given guidance so that those small businesses can become large entities. Our projections

Reverent Selwyn Sills delivers a prayer and remarks at the opening of Linden Town Week Mayor of Bartica, Gifford Marshall; Deputy Mayor of New Amsterdam, Buster Wright and Leader of the Opposition, Aubrey Norton.

Sears described the occasion as a major milestone.

“There were many challenges that this town faced and we overcame them as a people. Because of the unity that Linden has, we overcame everything that they said was impossible to cross and we are standing here today,” he noted.

Linden Town Week, he said, presents great business opportunities for the town.

“All hotels have been booked out completely; that is quite a remarkable achievement. Linden Town Week creates a lot of opportunities not only for corporate entities, but

for Linden are great,” he contended.

Minister Hamilton in his address commended the mayor and people of Linden on their milestone celebration and called for it to be a time of reflections.

“It’s a pleasure being here. On behalf of the Government of Guyana and the President of Guyana, we say congratulations to the Mayor of Linden and the Council as you

celebrate your 52 years as a town,” said Hamilton.

He added: “The expectations is [sic] that one that is 52 years old must be mature, must want to strive for the best, must want to ensure they develop themselves... so as you reflect over the next several days and celebrate this time, reflect on three things as a town: the past, the present and the future.”

Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton speaking at the launch of Linden Town Week on Sunday

A section of the gathering at the opening of Linden Town week

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guyana CHRONICLE monday, april 25, 2022

World Book Day WORLD Book Day is observed annually by countries all across the globe to focus attention on the importance of reading.

The day was first observed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and is a celebration to promote the enjoyment of books and reading. Each year on April 23, celebrations take place all over the world to recognise the importance and scope of books.

Books are that link between the past and present. It is the storehouse of knowledge and a bridge across generations and cultures.

World Book and Copyright Day is aimed at developing the habit of reading for pleasure among all from early childhood and to inspire more people not only to read and write books, but also to have these published. Every life is a story in its own right, but sadly, a great number of these stories are lost to society because of the inadequacy of writing skills and high publishing costs.

The importance of books and reading cannot be overemphasised. The theme for this year’s celebrations is ‘Read: so you never feel alone.’ Not being able to read can indeed be lonely and depressing. It is difficult to imagine someone walking the streets in Georgetown and unable to read and understand the meaning of written words or even worse, of picking up a book or newspaper and unable to fathom the joys and fascination that lie beneath the written words.

And yet there is nothing more natural than that of trying to understand and come to terms with the wonders of life than through reading and writing. Albert Einstein, the outstanding scientific genius, once said that the only thing you need to know is the location of the library. Regrettably, with the increase in online learning and social media, public libraries are now becoming something of the past. Yet there can be no substitute for reading a good book.

April 23 is also a significant date, as it marks the date when several prominent

writers passed away, including the English writer William Shakespeare, Spanish Miguel de Cervantes, El Inca Garcilaso de la Vega and William Wordsworth, among others.

It is also a day to celebrate the several publishers and those who are the holders of copyrights for written works. These are all worthy of celebration, especially at this time when attempts are made to steal other people’s work by way of plagiarism or wholesale copying from the works of others and copyright infringements.

In Guyana, the day was observed with the Ministry of Education launching a National Literacy Department at a Reading Affair and Literacy Clinic at the new Central High School, Georgetown.

According to Education Minister Priya Manickchand, illiteracy is not just a national problem, but also a global issue. The problem has been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in the closure of schools for over two years.

The Ministry of Education must be com-

mended for the establishment of a National Literacy Department and Literacy Clinic.

This is indeed a positive step in advancing literacy in Guyana which, relatively speaking, compares favourably with other countries in the region. According to UNESCO statistics, roughly 773 million people cannot read or identify basic letters.

The National Literacy Centre established by the Ministry of Education is a forward-looking step that would ensure that students read at their maturational stage of development and at a pace that is aligned to their age. This initiative is consistent with the overarching goal of the PPP/C administration to provide quality education to the full cohort of the school population.

At the commencement of the new school term, Minister Manickchand spoke on the need for an ‘assault’ on illiteracy and the need for every child to undergo a ‘literacy diagnosis’ in the four core subjects, namely, English, Mathematics, Social Studies and Science.

There’s Nothing Like ‘Small-Island Politics’

By Earl Bousquet CARIBBEAN eyes and ears are less tuned than expected to the continuing hitches affecting the current British Royal Caribbean charm offensive involving Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, dispatched by Buckingham Palace to ‘celebrate’ Queen Elizabeth’s 70th year on the throne in selected Commonwealth Caribbean states.

But even so, knowledge of the history of neighbouring islands and territories in the 21st Century, and after six decades of independence, is such that few, today, know there was an armed revolution, on the 39-square mile Leeward Island of Anguilla in 1967, that was eventually

put down by Royal British military might in 1969 – and a decade before Grenada.

Led by Ronald Webster, the revolution on the island of just over six thousand inhabitants was not against British rule or for independence, but for separation and self-determination, within the colonial structure, from the three-island Federation of Saint Kitts, Nevis and Anguilla.

The move was backed by majority support for two referenda by Anguillans who felt neglected by politicians of the mainland St. Kitts administration.

Unwilling to allow the islanders to administer themselves within the colonial realm, Britain, in March 1969, dispatched 315 paratroopers and two frigates to

Anguilla to “restore order”.

As it turned out, the administration Anguillans revolted against was led by Dominica-born Robert Bradshaw, the federation’s Chief Minister 1966 and 1967 -and from then as Premier until his untimely death in Saint Lucia 1978.

Politics in the smaller Windward and Leeward Islands is much different and close-knit than in those of the larger ‘Big Four’ (Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago) where ultra-nationalist politicians insist that only persons born within their borders can be elected as Heads of State or Government.

Historical cross-border travel and trade and intermingling between neighbouring islanders have, however,

led, over time, to many cases of an elected leader of one island having been born on another.

For example: Saint Lucia’s first Prime Minister, Sir John Compton was born in Canouan (St. Vincent and the Grenadines); Prime Minister Allen Chastanet (also of Saint Lucia) was born in Martinique -- and Grenada’s Prime Minister Maurice Bishop was born in Aruba.

Nor do many Saint Lucians or fellow Caribbean citizens today know that Empress Josephine (Napoleon Bonaparte’s wife) was born in Saint Lucia.

Inter-island marital links have also featured greatly in the politics of the islands over decades, as with St. Vincent’s elected govern-

ment under Chief Minister Ebenezer Joshua (1961-1967) functioning with his Grenada-born wife, Ivy, as Leader of the Opposition, after his People’s Progressive Party (PPP) won all the contested seats.

Like everywhere else (including Britain), Windward and Leeward Islands leaders do all they can, within the Constitutions bequeathed

by Britain, to survive being replaced by opposition challenges at elections.

For reasons not explained, St. Kitts was never included on the current second Royal Tour, but the current very fluid political situation on the island can probably offer a strong hint why.

Prime Minister, Dr Timothy Harris and his tripartite Team Unity Coalition Gov-

ernment are under intense pressure from a coalition of government and opposition MPs, led by two top Cabinet ministers, attempting a Palace Coup.

The last fortnight saw an unending mix-and-match game of loaded Political Chess and Legal Draughts driven by experts in Ludo and Snakes-and-Ladders, using Jokers as Trump Cards and language and knowledge of law to checkmate each other, if only for brief periods while playing-for-time.

Take the following scenario.

Last week (on April 20), Prime Minister Harris published an 18-page reply to Deputy Prime Minister Shawn Richards and Mark see page 7

guyana CHRONICLE monday, april 25, 2022

There’s Nothing Like ‘Small-Island...

from page 6

Brantley (also the Premier of Nevis and Minister of Foreign Affairs) whom he regards as leading the brewing Palace Coup.

Richards is Leader of People’s Action Movement (PAM) and Bentley leads the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM), both parties belonging to the ruling alliance led by Harris.

But after seven of the federation’s 11 parliamentarians hurriedly wrote Governor-General Sir Tapley Seaton last week informing him Harris no longer had their support as Prime Minister, the Governor-General immediately replied, pointing out their letter “was undated” -- and informing that he would “seek legal advice” on how to respond.

Next, the revolting MPs heard from the Governor-General and, within hours, there was a national proclamation declaring “ten days national mourning” for former Nevis Premier and West Indies cricketer, Ambassador Vance Amory.

Harris immediately called on citizens to put politics aside for the next ten days and “reflect respectfully” in “good and decent” ways, to “honour” Amory’s memory “in serenity and solemnity” and “in an environment devoid of agitation and divisive conduct”.

His rebelling Cabinet colleagues and fellow opposing MPs had called on Har-

ris to resign (as Prime Minister) halfway through his current five-year term on December 31, 2023, but the PM replied: “The Constitution determines the manner in which I would demit office and I therefore reject the notion that I be subjected to a date established by you…”

And he added: “I will not participate in any proposals to diminish the prerogatives and authority of the Prime Minister as set out in the Constitution…”

Harris made it clear, “I will not do anything just to stay in power and I do not seek to have elections before constitutionally due,” but he warned that “If it becomes necessary, I am willing to abide by and support the will of the people as demonstrated in the election results, whatever they may be…”

Like all his predecessors, Harris is quite aware that, short of a revolution lime in Anguilla or Grenada, it’ll be up to which party or team than can win the most votes in a sharply-divided society whenever elections are called.

But it’s not-at-all because of what many other Caribbean citizens call “small-island politics”.

What’s unfolding in St. Kitts is simply the nature of the politics of survival by politicians with backs-tothe-wall and law-books in hand – and nothing to do with size or geography.

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Beware of some of these ‘international economists’, ‘financial analysts’ DURING the period 2015 – 2022, budget allocations towards the economic sectors declined by 10.32 per cent in 2016 and 27 per cent in 2019, thus resulting in the underperformance of some of the major economic sectors during this period.

This trend changed in 2020 where allocations towards the economic sectors increased by 24.46 per cent in 2020, 25.31 per cent in 2021 and 27 per cent in 2022.

In the infrastructure sector during this period there was a sharp increase of 146 per cent in 2016 largely because of a sharp decline by 19 per cent in 2015. In 2015, allocations increased by 24 per cent which then declined sharply by less than one per cent in 2018 and one per cent in 2019. This trend changed dramatically in 2020 with a 21 per cent increase in 2020, 38 per cent in 2021 and 91 per cent in 2022.

Total revenue is projected to increase by 62 per cent in 2022 over 2021. Traditional tax revenues are projected to grow by 13.36 per cent in 2022. Notably, income taxes accounts for approximately 50 per cent of total tax revenues, and total tax revenues account for 95 per cent of total revenue.

BANK OF GUYANA INTERNATIONAL RESERVE

Bank of Guyana International Reserve stood at US$751 million in 2013 and by the end of 2021, increased to US$811 million or by eight per cent. However, of interest to note though is that the international reserve position in 2013 represented almost five months import cover and up to 2016, the bank’s international reserve position represented about four months import cover–above the three months’ benchmark. This trend changed in 2018 when the bank’s international reserve position fell to three months import cover and in 2019–2020, represented less than two months import cover. In 2021, the Bank of Guyana’s international reserve position improved relative to import cover, where in 2021 it represented just over three months import cover.

This trend is expected to continue into 2022 onwards on account of increased oil production.

During the period 2013 – 2021, private sector loans and advances moved from $128 billion to $191 billion by the end of 2021 or by 49 per cent.

During this period, it was observed that the highest growth rate for private sector loans and advances was recorded in 2014 of 14 per cent. In 2014, with a handicapped minority government, growth was more or less stagnated; loans and advances grew by seven per cent and four per cent in 2014 and 2015 respectively. In 2017 and 2018, the growth rate for loans and advances recorded were a measly one per cent. It should be mentioned that this period was characterised as a paradigm shift in the underlying philosophy of public policy by the Administration at that time. To this end, the public policies pursued arguably inhibited private sector growth, inter alia, increasing the cost of doing business and the implementation of a web of burdensome tax measures. In 2018 and 2019, credit to the private sector started to recover with a four per cent growth in 2018 and 10 per cent growth in 2019 – largely owing to increased activities in the oil and gas sector. This trend was short-lived in 2020 when growth fell to two per cent on account of the pro-longed political impasse in that year coupled with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this, with a shift in the public policy philosophy once again to a more business friendly environment, credit to the private sector recorded its highest growth rate in 2021 of 13 per cent since 2013.

see page 9

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Beware of some of these ‘international ... from page 8

During the period 2014 – 2021, loans and advances to the agriculture sector declined by three per cent in 2015; - three per cent in 2016; and 5.52 per cent in 2017. In 2018, credit to the agriculture sector increased by 18 per cent and declined by nine per cent in 2019 before improving by 14 per cent in 2020 and 19.43 per cent in 2021 – following the change in economic policy.

A similar trend was observed for the mining and quarrying sector and the manufacturing sector.

Overall, business enterprises experienced the highest growth in credit in 2021 by 17.48 per cent compared to an average annual growth rate of 2.74 per cent during 2014 – 2020.

The average market rate for the USD/GYD exchange rate during the period 2013– 2021 moved from $205.81 in 2013 to a high of $215.75 in 2020 representing a depreciation of about five per cent of the domestic currency against the US$ over an eight-year period. However, as is expected with the oil windfall, stronger exports and increased inflows of foreign exchange (FX), the domestic currency is expected to appreciate – albeit gradually. In this regard, the average market exchange rate moved from $215.75 in 2020 to $208.88 reflective of an appreciation of 3.2 per cent of the domestic currency against the US dollar.

The economy is expected to experience buoyant growth in 2022 supported largely by the budget measures, programmes and policies. To this end, the medium-term outlook is therefore positive, and real GDP growth forecast for 2022 is 47.5 per cent.

Total public debt stood at US$1.359 billion in 2012 which increased to US$3.127 billion by the end of 2021 representing an increase of 130 per cent over this ten-year period, or an average annual growth rate of 13 per cent. At the same time, real GDP moved from US$4 billion in 2012 to US$8.6 billion by the end of 2021 representing an increase of 115 per cent over this period or an annual average growth rate of 11.5 per cent.

During the period 2012–2021 the debt-to-GDP ratio was 34 per cent in 2012 which further decreased below 30 per cent in 2014 and remained below 30 per cent up to 2018. During the period 2018 – 2020, the debt-to-GDP ratio reached its highest of 37 per cent, 52 per cent and 43 per cent, respectively – higher than the period between 2013 – 2017, albeit below the 60 per cent benchmark. However, by the end of 2021, the debt-to-GDP ratio declined from its highest level of 52 per cent in 2019 to 36 per cent. In 2022, the debt-to-GDP ratio is forecast to reduce further from 36 per cent to 28 per cent. This is reflective of prudent debt management coupled with the expansion of the economy driven by the oil economy and the draw down from the NRF thereby reducing the level of borrowing. Moreover, this outturn is indicative of the fiscal space available to support the economy’s aggressive development and expansionary agenda within the framework of a sustainable development model.

THE EXCHANGE RATE

CONCLUSION/SUMMARY This article is a direct response to several international so-called analysts and economists who sought to pronounce on Guyana’s economic affairs without performing any meaningful, rigorous and scholastic analyses on Guyana’s economic affairs, historically and currently.

The article fairly exposed the inherent biases, weaknesses and flaws of the (referenced) articles (by the authors Sanzillo & Kreeft, Miranda, and Yhip) which have been dominating the local media houses and being used as reference points as credible analyses to support many uninformed and misinformed narratives by certain groups in Guyana.

With respect to how the oil and gas resources will be utilised, there is also an explicit articulated policy on this subject wherein it will be expended to a large extent in public investment projects to build and diversify the economy within the context of a sustainable development framework.

Guyana is on a path to steer clear of any type of the paradoxical Dutch disease or resource curse, provided that all things remain equal–that is to say, the current economic philosophy and policies, the current fiscal public financial management framework continues over the long term, and aggressively pursuing the realisation of the development trajectory of the country.

There is an abundantly clear continuation of the current Administration’s prudent economic management practices, conducive to broad-based wealth creation and prosperity, drawing from their proven track record. The author who argued without any supporting evidence that the inequality gap will widen, the evidence that exist is quite to the contrary.

That is, historically, more than 90 per cent of Guyanese were living in poverty and owing to this, many migrated to other countries.

Despite the political and other challenges since 1992, without any oil resources, more than 70 per cent of the population has been lifted out of poverty– through prudent fiscal and financial management of the country’s economic affairs by the Administration at that time, which is the same Administration that is once again given the responsibility to govern.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------About the Author Joel Bhagwandin is a Financial & Economic Analyst who has been providing insights and analyses on Guyana’s Economic Development, macrofinance issues and public policy for the past 5+ years. The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author. The author’s professional profile on LinkedIn can be viewed @: https://www. linkedin.com/in/joel-bhagwandin-57481470/. Email: jbbankingadvice@gmail.com

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Life Skills Quiz WE love our children and want them to do well in all aspects of life.

Teaching children life skills will help them cope in situations and encounters where they need to be one step ahead and think on their feet. Fortunately, in Guyanese culture, most children are taught to be self-sufficient. They help keep their surroundings clean, care for their younger siblings and learn to cook naturally washing their clothes by hand, clapping roti, and shopping for groceries are just skills they pick up along the way.

Some youngsters however, are pam-

pered and fussed over to the extent where they learn very few life skills. They don’t know how to be courteous; they have never had to clean up after themselves and although they carry around an air of privilege – they show little gratitude or thanks for what they are given. While some parents may enjoy waiting on their offspring ‘hand and foot’, and ‘spoiling’ them, they offer their child little room to build independence, and hardly any skills in preparation for adulthood. Try our quiz to learn about life skills and why adults should teach them to children.

1 At what age do children begin to build life skills and coping strategies? a) From birth b) When they start to walk and talk c)From 4 years old onwards d) Only when they begin secondary school 2 Why do children need to develop good life skills? a) So they can interact with others and sound intellectual b) So they learn to adapt when necessary c) So they can be ready for whatever life throws at them d) So they can cover up their shortcomings and failures 3 Children should learn to spend some time alone. Is this a life skill? a) Yes, because too much company can lead to trouble b) No, children should never be alone; it is unhealthy c) No, when left alone, children tend to think too much d) Yes, because children should be okay with their own company 4 When children care for pets during childhood, does it helps them? a) Realise every dog is a man’s best friend? b) Learn empathy and be more caring towards animals and people? c)Learn that all living things need a home? d) See the world from an animal’s point of view?

5 Children use the internet daily, but how can you shield them from fake news? a) Make sure you take a look and read every site they visit before they do b) Tell them they should not believe anything they read online c) Teach them skills, so they make good decisions and never take chances d) Teach them comprehension and critical-thinking skills 6 With ‘screen time’ invading children’s lives, could valuable life skills for balance be? a) Learning to sit still, read and relax? b) Watching television while using a mobile phone? c)Learning to stay focused and meditating? d) Mastering a tablet and play station?

7 Adults should show children how to make their beds and clean their rooms because? a) Organising their space helps them to be tidy and value their possessions more b) Their parents are too tired to do it for them every day c) The military recommends doing this as a daily exercise d) Children can learn culinary skills in a tidy room 8 Children should learn how to write

a letter and communicate effectively because? a) These skills are difficult to learn b) Skills like these are in danger of disappearing if not formally taught c) Letter writing and communication skills are hereditary d) They need these skills to access online information 9 Adults must teach table manners and conventional manners to children because? a) Knowing how to set the table is a child’s job b) They will need to use them efficiently and effectively at one time or another c) Children who get by without them cannot become intellectuals d) Parents need to show off what their children can do

10 Children need to know how to react in an emergency because? a) Adults become hysterical and sometimes faint b) When emergencies happen, they need to run away fast c) They may save a life by staying calm and thinking rationally d) Children can help inured people quicker than adults ANSWERS: 1 (a) Children start learning coping and strategy skills from the day they are born.

2 (c) Children need to build skills such as fortitude, courage, and endurance.

3 (d) It is alright for children to spend time alone with their thoughts or to read a book. Space is peace, and what better attribute to have than peace of mind.

4 (b) Children learn empathy for others by feeding and caring for animals, whether butterflies, birds, dogs or cats.

5 (d) Children need to examine online content critically and not accept all they see and hear. Fake news is real.

6 (a & c) Most children are overstimulated; teach them to enjoy relaxation with breathing exercises and meditation.

7 (a) An uncluttered room is an uncluttered mind. Children should dust, sweep, (or vacuum) and mop out their rooms to keep their surroundings tidy.

8 (b) Communication skills such as letter writing, making firm eye contact, and active listening are disappearing in the cyber world’s onslaught.

9 (b) Manners maketh Man. Children who lack manners always make a poor impression.

10 (c) Teaching children simple steps in First Aid is wise and could save a life. Lesson number one - do not panic.

If you are concerned about the welfare of a child, call the CPA hotline on 227 0979 or write to us at childcaregy@ gmail.com A MESSAGE FROM THE CHILDCARE AND PROTECTION AGENCY, MINISTRY OF HUMAN SERVICES AND SOCIAL SECURITY

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Speaking out against racism

guyana CHRONICLE monday, april 25, 2022

By Vanessa Cort “WE will not let hate win,” were the impassioned words of US Democratic Senator Mallory McMorrow last Monday during a speech on the Senate floor.

In a brewing row, which has turned into a growing social media firestorm, between McMorrow and fellow Senator, Republican, Lana Theis, the latter apparently accused the Michigan State Senator of grooming and sexualising young children.

During her scathing rebuttal of these allegations, McMorrow said she sought to represent transgender and LGBT children, people of colour and others who are being marginalised on a daily basis.

Her words must surely resonate with people around the world, particularly those who have allowed partisan politics to dictate how they interact with others.

“I don’t want to hate peo-

ple because they’re different,” a highly emotional McMorrow declared, accusing the Republican Party of perpetrating and promoting this kind of behaviour.

Recent police killings of black men, notably the on-camera brutal ‘knee on the neck’ of Afro-American George Floyd, which led to his death, have caused many to affirm that racism is on the rise.

The cry was taken up by the Black Lives Matter (BLM) Movement and echoed around the world as protesters took to the streets railing against racial prejudice and police brutality in the wake of Floyd’s death.

Some have argued that the statement ‘Black Lives Matter’ is racist and should really be ‘All Lives Matter.’

They completely miss the point that the concern is over black lives and the statement ‘All Lives Matter’ can only be true if black lives matter.

And for those who may not be African or of African ancestry, but are nonetheless people of colour, make no mistake that you are subject to the same prejudice and included in the broader statement ‘If you’re not white you’re black’.

Of course, the underlying reason for prejudice is hate spawned by ignorance and fear of what or who is different and we have been allowing our differences to divide us rather than embrace and appreciate the beauty of our diversity.

The struggle to bring about change cannot be one-sided, however, as Senator McMorrow acknowledged when she called on “white suburban moms” like herself “to stand up and say, ‘this is not okay.’”

People of all nationalities and ethnicities have to come together and speak out against racism and hate wherever they exist, following the example

of protesters of all colours who marched in unity, carried placards and raised their voices against this growing canker in our societies.

As the Senator so wisely said, “Hate will only win if people like me stand by and let it.” And lending further testimony to this is the fact that hate crimes against Asians have surged in the US following the corona virus outbreak.

Reports state that Asian-Americans have been subjected to brutal attacks, usually in the form of beatings, which take place in

broad daylight and in full view of other members of the public, who often do nothing to help.

In this country racial tension ‘rears its ugly head,’ particularly around election time when Indo and Afro Guyanese neighbours suddenly become enemies, friends fall out and even families become divided because of partisan politics which have evolved around the ethnic composition of the two major political parties.

As our own world-famous singer/songwriter Eddie Grant said in his chart-topping song decades ago, “Did you hear on

the radio today, man shot for his colour and creed?... Race hate mashing up the world.”

And the same is true today.

Writer and poet, Maya Angelou, said so succinctly, “Hate has caused a lot of problems in this world, but has not solved one yet.”

And Coretta Scott King, wife of the late Civil Rights Leader, Dr Martin Luther King put it this way, “Hate is a great a burden to bear.

It injures the hater more than it injures the hated.”

But injure the hated it does and destroys the very fabric of society.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, April 25, 2022

$7.7B earned from rice exports during first quarter of 2022 With a vision to expand production, government is also looking to secure additional markets. Since 2021, several new buyers have come on board

BETWEEN January and March 2022, Guyana’s thriving rice industry raked in approximately US$37,022,500, an equivalent of more than GY$7.7 billion in export earnings, according to figures provided by the Ministry of Agriculture on Friday.

It was explained that these earnings derived from the exportation of approximately 49,304 tonnes of rice and rice products during the first quarter of 2022. Importantly, export revenues from rice are expected to grow even more, since many farmers across the country are still harvesting paddy from the

year’s first rice crop, which commenced with countrywide sowing in November 2021.

At that time, the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) had projected a bumber harvest, with most of the rice-producing regions being on target with their sowing. As a matter of fact, national sowing projections for the current crop were pegged at an overall target of 227,240 acres.

Last year, even with massive floods, the rice industry was still able to remain afloat, earning export revenues totalling GY$42.2 billion, an equivalent of US$201 million, resulting from the exportation of approximately 434,535 tonnes of rice, paddy and its by-products.

In 2021, the industry also benefited from increased markets, as the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government successfully securing the British Virgin Islands (BVI), and the European nations of Estonia and Slovenia as lucrative buyers of Guyana’s top-notch rice produce.

The country was also able to solidify a standard rice supply agreement with sister country, Barbados, to ensure that the island-nation has a steady supply of the staple.

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha had previously said that ongoing developments in the rice industry signal an

going forward,” Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, said during his presentation of Budget 2022 to the National Assembly on January 26, 2022.

Aside from the industry’s recovery, which has already taken effect, a priority for the government, according Dr Singh, is to expand the cultivation of paddy and significantly boost production, especially as it relates to more value-added varieties and products. Already, plans are afoot to expand production by at least 8,000 hectares to 193,000 hectares by 2026.

“Focus in 2022 will see improved drainage and irrigation to mitigate losses, and expanded research on new high-yielding varieties and seed production.

In that regard, soil-testing facilities were made available to farmers through the construction of a soil laboratory at the Burma Rice Research Station,” Dr. Singh related.

As it is, a value-added laboratory for rice and rice products was completed in 2021.

Further, this year, the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) will expend over $300 million in plant-breeding, agronomy, plant pathology, entomology and valued-added products as part of its research and development thrust.

Also, an additional $20 mil-

With many farmers still harvesting the year’s first rice crop, earnings from the sector are likely to spill over to the second quarter of the year even wider space for industry growth in 2022.

“We now have close to about 42 countries where we are exporting rice and we are looking to improve on that,” Minister Mustapha had previously told the government’s Department of Public Information.

Although the May 2021 floods devastated thousands of households and destroyed hundreds of hectares of farmlands, government’s $7.8 billion floodrelief programme was enough to enable the majority of affected rice farmers to return to their fields and resume production.

In January of this year, as part of the government’s landmark $552.9 billion budget, additional recovery mechanisms and measures were included, and these are expected to serve as a springboard for further advancement of Guyana’s rice industry.

As a matter of fact, for 2022 alone, the rice industry is projected to cop earnings in the vicinity of US$288.6 million, an equivalent of more than GY$60.3 billion.

“We see rice maintaining its importance and increasing its contribution in our economy,

lion is slated to be spent for the procurement of a seed dryer for Black Bush Polder, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), one of the largest rice-producing communities of the country, and one of the many that were devastated by the aforementioned floods. This equipment is expected to benefit in excess of 600 rice farmers in the area.

Added to that, a mini-testing mill (polisher) will be acquired to analyse the quality of cargo rice and paddy.

In anticipation of expanded production and increased exports, six drying floors were constructed in Regions Two, Three, Five and Six in 2021.

This year, two additional drying floors will be established in Regions Three and Four.

Continued investments in the overall agriculture industry is part of a wider effort by the Dr Irfaan Ali-led government to lower the food-importation bill of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), by supplying the 15 member states with critical food commodities including rice, which remains a staple of the region’s diet.

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guyana CHRONICLE monday, april 25, 2022

Minister Benn and team participate in Suriname security conference

HOME Affairs Minister Robeson Benn led a delegation of top security officials at a recent high-level Security Conference (HLSC) in Paramaribo, Suriname.

The conference, which commenced last Thursday and concluded on Friday, was an initiative of the President of Suriname, Chandrikapersaud Santokhi. President Santokhi delivered the featured address and declared the conference open.

The Guyanese team comprised National Security Adviser, Captain Gerry Gouveia; Commissioner of Police (ag), Clifton Hicken; Head of the Customs Anti-narcotics Unit, James Singh; Director, National Intelligence and Security Agency, Colonel Omar Khan and Deputy Chief of Staff, Colonel Julius Skeete.

The opening and welcome was done by Albert R Ramdin, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International

Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn (third from right) is flanked by members of his team that attended the HLSC in Paramaribo, Suriname The HLSC focused Business and international of the Council of National by Suriname’s Minister of Defence, Krishnakoemarie on three thematic areas: Cooperation of the Repub- Security and Law EnforceMathoera.

Transnational Crime; Borlic of Suriname. ment (CONSLE) of the During the conference, remarks were made by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Security of Jamaica and Chairman

Caribbean Community, Dr Horace Chang. The Plenary II Presentation on National Emerging Security Matters was delivered

der security and Cyber Security.

According to the Home Affairs Ministry, Guyana led the border security breakout group which focused on migration, border management and maritime security, in addition to contributing to the other two areas.

The conference is an initiative undertaken by Suriname to address regional security challenges relating to the areas identified.

Over 20 countries participated in the conference, including Barbados, Jamaica, Colombia, French Guiana, United States, Brazil, Canada and the United Kingdom.

The Guyana team used the opportunity to hold bilateral talks with a few countries and regional bodies.

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guyana CHRONICLE monday, april 25, 2022

Small businesses get visibility at Rotaract’s Expo and Tea Party

A VARIETY of businesses got a chance to increase visibility of their products and services when the Rotaract Club of Georgetown held a Business Expo and Tea Party on Saturday.

President of the Rotaract Club, Kimberly Manbodh, said the club’s Professional Development and Community Service Committee saw the importance of spotlighting small businesses which were birthed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some of the exhibitors who spoke with the Guyana Chronicle said they were very excited to participate in the event.

Zoya Samaroo, owner of Coriolis, a jewellery business, shared that she is an aspiring marine biologist and her business started from her cleaning the beaches of Guyana.

“Basically, the whole idea is to clean up the beach, utilise the sea glass which are glass bottles that are

more or less littered on the beach,” she said.

Samaroo said that the sand and waves smooth the glass over, so they become frosty-looking.

“I spend a lot of time on the beach and at times I would often see the glass and pick them up because they would look so pretty and I had a whole lot of them in a jar and didn’t know what to do with them, so I went home and I researched how to utilise them

Zoya Samaroo, owner of Coriolis

to create something and that’s how I ended up doing my first set of jewellery,” Samaroo shared.

She noted that she started making jewellery out of the sea glass for friends and then persons started ordering from her, so she decided during the pandemic that she should make a business out of it.

Samaroo, 22, is currently pursuing a Masters in Marine Biology. She is on a scholarship studying in China virtually and is hoping that after the COVID restrictions are lifted, she gets to go to China.

Xavier Ragnauth and Tammy Walker of Walker’s Pie Company also spoke with the Guyana Chronicle.

Ragnauth shared that they started up their business in June 2021.

“It has been relatively smooth sailing given the pandemic, but you know we are hanging in there and taking part in all of these events because it helps us meet new people and interact a lot more,” Ragnauth said.

Tammy, his girlfriend, decided one Christmas that she wanted to bake an apple pie and so she tried it and it came out great, so they were thinking about making it a business.

“We got some pushing from her cousin abroad who is a trained chef and he was like, you should go for it.

He sends us over the boxes and the stickers and stamps which basically is a huge attraction for us because everybody loves our packaging,” he said.

Xavier Ragnauth and Tammy Walker of Walker’s Pie Company Another jewellery maker, Matoya Grant of Magelegance, shared that she has been making jewellery since she graduated from high school.

“I’ve been making jewellery since I came out of school and I started the business back in 2016. I’m 35,” said Grant.

Grant lives in Linden but operates in Kitty. She said that her store is mostly online and that she imports

semi-precious stones, but she uses local stones as well “I have the imported semi-precious stones and I also have a Guyanese collection.

So, all the stones in the Guyanese collection, they are mined locally here in Guyana and I use them and make jewellery with them and they will be made available very soon at the UncappeD Marketplace,” Grant said.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, April 25, 2022

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, April 25, 2022

Compliance with local content laws will be enforced

MINISTER of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat said mechanisms are being put in place to ensure compliance by oil companies and their contractors with the Local Content Act. At the same time, assessments are being done to see how the local content areas can be expanded.

Speaking with the media on Friday on the sidelines of the signing of a new agree-

ment between ExxonMobil – Guyana and a local consortium at Roraima Duke Lodge, Bharrat noted that while the Act goes into full effect at the end of 2022, the government is working to ensure it strengthens enforcement and ensures compliance.

“We are now putting together a few new mechanisms to ensure compliance, because we haven’t reached the stage where we will start

- Minister Bharrat

monitoring compliance as yet. Right now, it’s more the initial stage of putting together the plans and looking at the procurement methods and all of that,” the minister explained.

Signed into law on December 31, 2021, the Local Content Act has paved the

way to ensure Guyanese gain equal opportunities and access in the oil and gas industry, and to ensure maximum benefits for Guyanese businesses.

The Act outlines 40 subsectors in which oil companies are legally required to procure the goods and services from Guyanese businesses, and also speaks to the need to employ specific percentages of Guyanese in their day-to-day operations.

Provisions in the Local Content Act includes the stipulation that a company has to have a Guyanese national owning 51 per cent of its shares to be considered a “local entity,” but the company’s management team also has to comprise seventy per cent Guyanese, while its overall staff complement has to also be 90 per cent Guyanese.

“The legislation says that by the ending of 2022 these targets must be met for the 40 different services.

After that, we will do an assessments of who is in compliance and who is not in compliance.

“Also [we are looking at] services that we can add to the 40, because I think there are a few areas that we might look at once we have the capacity to add to that schedule,” the Natural Resources Minister said.

PAID EQUALLY The Act also mandates that Guyanese who possess the same skills and competencies as their foreign counterparts are paid equally. The government

Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat has affirmed that as more Guyanese are trained and become competent, the laws would be amended to guarantee increased employment and business opportunities for the people of Guyana.

Oil companies that fail to outsource the services to entities owned and run

by Guyanese could face a penalty of up to $50 million, according to provisions set out in the Act. Implementation and oversight of the Local Content Act is overseen by the Local Content Secretariat, which has already been established and is headed by Director Martin Pertab.

Bharrat noted that the establishment of the secretariat is the first step in working on ensuring compliance by the oil companies.

“We have the Local Content Secretariat in place already. It is fully staffed as well we are working with all the licensees, contractors, and subcontractors on the preparation of the master plan and annual plans. That is happening as well as registration, physical registra-

tion is taking place.”

Foreign companies operating within the petroleum sector are required to submit a master plan, containing three sub-plans that depict their employment practices, their procurement strategy, and their programmes to train and build capacity among their local workforce.

Those plans would have to be updated and submitted annually for review by the secretariat, after which it will be forwarded to the subject minister for approval.

Bharrat assured that the secretariat is already working on this area.

The Local Content Secretariat is also charged with setting up two registers — one comprising local businesses, and another outlining a list of Guyanese seeking employment within the petroleum sector.

However, while the registration is being done physically, Bharrat said works are apace to get a virtual portal up and running. And it could be launched in a few weeks time.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, April 25, 2022

Man arrested with four kilos of cannabis

A PARTY of police ranks from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters, on Saturday, conducted an operation at Last Street, Herstelling, East Bank Demerara (EBD) and found 8.9 pounds or the equivalent of 4.037kg of cannabis on a labourer.

According to Po-

lice Headquarters, the 20-year-old labourer of Farm, EBD was seen crossing the Farm Bridge and entering Last Street, Herstelling, with a bulky multi-coloured hand bag in his hands.

Police said that the 20-year-old man was approached by a rank who conducted a search of the bag and four bulky brown scotch-

Missing girl, 14, found safe and sound

A FOURTEEN-year-old girl from the East Coast Demerara, who has been missing since Tuesday last in what had been a suspected trafficking in persons (TIP) case, was found on Saturday afternoon safe and sound.

According to Head of the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security (MOHSS) TIP Unit, Tanisha WilliamsCorbin, the young child, in the company of adults, turned up at a police station at approximately 16:30 hours on Saturday.

The child has since been handed over to the care of the Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA).

The Sunday Chronicle was subsequently informed that the child and the adults turned up at the Cove and John police station on the East Coast of Demerara.

Williams-Corbin noted that a further investigation has been launched and given the open investigation, and sensitive nature of the matter, she could not release much details on the situation.

“There is still an active investigation ongoing, so I don’t want to say much, what I can say at this time is she is in the care of the Child Care and Protection Agency and is doing just fine. Any other details I can’t speak on at this time because the police are investigating the matter,” WilliamsCorbin shared in a telephone interview on Saturday.

Williams-Corbin said that from all indications thus far, the situation was not a case of TIP, however, a thorough investigation will be conducted to document all aspects of what occurred.

“The information that came out during the [preliminary inquiry] thus far warrants further investigation. Based on the PI so far, it’s not a case of human trafficking, but it is a matter that will be handled by the Gender Affairs Bureau of ‘C’ Division of the Guyana Police Force,” WilliamsCorbin said.

Williams-Corbin commented that the most important thing is that the young lady has been found and her mother can be relieved.

“I am relieved to know that this young child has been found, I am happy to know that a mother would be able to rest peacefully tonight knowing that her child is not just somewhere out there but that she is safe. I spoke with the mom, I called her to confirm that the police asked her to visit the station, and she seemed quite elated and is relieved to know that her daughter was there,” Williams-Corbin noted.

The mother had discovered her daughter missing on Tuesday at 17:30 hours, after the child did not return from playing with friends at a neighbour’s yard, a short distance from her home.

taped parcels were found inside.

The parcels, police said were opened in the man’s presence and all of the them contained leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis. The 20-year-old man was told of the allegation and arrested.

“At CID Headquarters, the suspected cannabis was weighed

in his presence and it amounted to 8.9 lbs, which is equivalent to 4.037kg. The suspected cannabis was marked, sealed and later lodged,” police stated.

Meanwhile, the suspect has implicated another man. That person has been arrested and is in custody assisting police with their investigation.

The cannabis seized by police

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, April 25, 2022

Dharry outlasts Penalba...

FROM BACK PAGE

(Delano Williams photo)

Elton Dharry (left) floors Orlando Penalba during their 10-round war of round 10, it was clear that Pedrosa was the winner by virtue of his flurry which got the better of Marques, leading to a unanimous win, which was met by genuine cheers from the Guyanese crowd.

The main bout, which looked to be hampered by rain, turned out to be a scorcher as Dharry and Penalba lit up Providence Stadium with their cosmic duel.

Dharry was methodical as usual, picking off Pedrosa by dissecting him with body shots and the occasional head touches. Not to be fazed by the systematic assault, Pedrosa, an army sergeant who went into the fight undefeated, refused

to be outboxed.

By the end of round 8, Dharry had the edge, and the judges favour, as he gained tremendous momentum. Needing a miracle by virtue of a definte knock-down, Penalba was relentless after sensing an imminent defeat looming and returned fire.

He attacked Dharry without caution landing a few devastating blows to the head and some to the kidney which immediately flustered the veteran Guyanese. Both warriors staved off each other’s shots to see it all the way to round 10.

When the dust settled, the three judges decision read 97-92, 94-93, 99-92 ,to which the announcer declared

Dharry the clear winner.

Following the match, flanked by Minister of Sports Charles Ramson Jr; promoters Jack Bharrat and Aleem Hussain, the new WBC champ spoke briefly to his Guyanese fans.

He said, “I performed 10 times better than what I did tonight. Everyone who knows me or has seen me in training, knows what type of performance I bring” said Dharry who followed up his statement by adding, “You have to really be at an elite level to really give me any type of trouble.”

Meanwhile, the promoters promised more exciting action for Guyanese in the future.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, April 25, 2022

Max Verstappen wins in Imola as Lancashire beat Gloucestershire in thrilling finish Charles Leclerc crashes to drop points LANCASHIRE made it two County Championship wins from two with a thrilling victory over Gloucestershire.

Needing 237 more runs to make the hosts bat again, Gloucestershire were reduced to 116-5 by Matt Parkinson (3-79).

James Anderson (2-25) soon removed Miles Hammond (50) but Tom Lace (71), Josh Shaw (29) and Jared Warner (10) took the game deep into the final hour.

Lace finally fell to Saqib Mahmood and, with just 17 balls remaining, Hassan Ali removed Warner to seal victory.

Gloucestershire’s remarkable resistance set up a thrilling conclusion to what had looked for much of two sessions to be heading

James Anderson took 2-25 from 25 overs as he looks to win back his place in the England Test squad towards a routine Lancashire win.

Resuming on 67-3, Parkinson soon had the visitors in deeper trouble as the leg-spinner found healthy turn to find Graeme van Buuren’s edge and then ripped his next ball from leg to hit Ryan Higgins’ off-stump.

Hammond brought up his 10th first-class 50 off 148 balls, with seven fours, but he fell just six balls later, as Anderson found late movement to pin the left-hander in front of his stumps.

Teetering on 127-7, Lace produced a defiant innings, unleashing some stylish shots as he and Shaw put on a fine 79-run eighth-wicket stand.

Shaw’s resistance was undone by a hooping delivery from Pakistan paceman Hassan which ripped out his stumps but Lace stood firm, supported by Warner, as the visitors reached 214-8 at tea.

However, a terrific delivery from Mahmood feathered Lace’s stumps to end his 266-minute stay and, with tension mounting, Hassan found Warner’s edge to end his 119-ball innings - and Gloucestershire’s hopes.

Lancashire head coach Glen Chapple told BBC Radio Lancashire: “It was a tough day. Obviously we were in a great position and played superb cricket throughout the game.

“It was a really good surface, fairly flat, but a good pitch, like a Test pitch really, so I’m pleased we dominated the game.

“We played really good cricket all the way through, but the pitch didn’t deteriorate and even with our unbelievably good bowling attack it was hard work.

“Gloucestershire played really well and made it difficult, and at one point it looked as though a draw was favourite, but thankfully the hard work paid off and we got over the line.”(BBC Sport).

English Racing Tips Ayr 08:45 hrs Legend Of Xanadu 09:15 hrs Stronsay 09:50 hrs Alpine Sierra 10:25 hrs Black Friday 11:00 hrs Head Chef 11:30 hrs Post Impressionist 12:00 hrs Desert Quest Lingfield

MAX Verstappen reignited his title bid with a dominant victory at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, as a late crash for Charles Leclerc in Imola saw the Ferrari driver’s world championship lead reduced.

Verstappen produced a faultless display from pole position on a drying track to complete a much-needed perfect weekend after winning the Sprint, and led a Red Bull one-two from team-mate Sergio Perez Leclerc, who dropped from second to fourth at the start, hit a barrier as he attempted to chase Perez with 10 laps remaining, eventually finishing sixth after being forced to pit for a new front wing.

Leclerc’s error enabled Lando Norris to score a surprise podium for McLaren, with the incident capping a hugely disappointing home race for Ferrari, who saw Carlos Sainz retire on the first lap after a collision with Norris’ team-mate Daniel Ricciardo George Russell drove an excellent race to finish fourth after starting 11th, but his Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton endured a torrid afternoon, making up only one position as he finished outside the points in 13th.

Valtteri Bottas produced another strong drive to claim fifth for Alfa Romeo, Yuki Tsunoda was seventh for AlphaTauri, while Kevin Magnussen was ninth, between the Aston Martins of Sebastian Vettel in eighth and Lance Stroll in 10th.

The victory sees Verstap-

pen, who took a maximum 34 points from the weekend after winning Saturday’s Sprint and claiming the extra point for the fastest lap on Sunday, climb to second in the world championship standings.

“Yesterday and the day before, we were on it and it was looking like a strong weekend,” Verstappen, who had two DNFs in the opening three races, said.

“Today, you never know with the weather how competitive you’re going to be... as a team we did everything well and I think this one-two is well

Imola hoping Leclerc could add to his two victories in the opening three races of the season, but the downpour that preceded the start of the race turned out to be foreboding.

With the entire grid starting on intermediate tyres, Leclerc was overtaken by Perez and Norris off the line. Sainz, who started fourth after a strong recovery drive in the Sprint having crashed out of qualifying on Friday, collided with Ricciardo at Turn 2 and was left beached in the gravel as a Safety Car was deploye

do triggered the entire field to switch to slicks after coming in on lap 18.

Perez pitted a lap earlier than Leclerc and Verstappen, which saw the Ferrari emerge ahead of him, but with his tyres up to speed the Red Bull was able to immediately regain P2 Struggling to close on Perez, Leclerc opted for another late pit stop, which appeared geared towards trying to claim the fastest lap of the race rather than catching Perez, but when Red Bull matched the strategy the Ferrari suddenly found himself in DRS range.

Pushing to pressure the Mexican, Leclerc got over-aggressive at Variante Alta and lost control to hit the barrier, and was ultimately fortunate to be able to continue after stopping for a new front wing.

Leclerc emerged in ninth, but passed Magnussen, Vettel and Tsunoda to limit the damage and finish sixth.

“It is a big shame,” Leclerc said. “I believe that the spin shouldn’t have happened today.

“P3 was the best I could, Max Verstappen takes the victory at the Emilia Romagna GP we didn’t have the pace for much more and I was too deserved.” greedy and I paid the price for it Leclerc, who finished secIt was a second successive and lost seven potential points.” ond to Verstappen in Saturday’s retirement for the Spaniard and Meanwhile, Verstappen, Sprint, is now 27 points clear of marked the end of a disappoint- who has now won both the the Dutchman, who has reinvig- ing weekend which had begun races he has finished this orated his hopes of adding to his with the team announcing a season after being forced to maiden world championship two-year contract extension retire in Bahrain and Auslast season. for him. tralia because of reliability Downpour proves forebodLeclerc was able to pass issues, eased to victory as he ing for Ferrari Norris with relative ease to navigated the challenging Ferrari’s passionate fans climb to third and momentarily conditions with relative ease. arrived on a bright morning in got in front of Perez as Ricciar- (Sky Sports)

Tatum’s 39 points give Celtics 3-0 lead over Nets JAYSON Tatum scored 39 points as the Boston Celtics moved into a commanding 3-0 lead in their NBA play-off first-round series against the Brooklyn Nets.

Tatum had his second 30-plus-point game of the series as they won 109-103.

The result puts second-seeded Celtics on the verge

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of sweeping the seventh-seeded Nets in the fourth game of the best-of-seven series on Monday.

Bruce Brown led the Nets with 26 points but Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving were held to a combined 32 points.

“I think it just shows the growth of our team,” Tatum said. “Early in the season, we gave up big leads all the time.

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Jayson Tatum (left) made 13 of 29 shots for his second 30-plus-point game of the series And we figured it out. You’re In Salt Lake City, Rudy never going to be perfect, it’s Gobert’s slam dunk with 11 all about how you respond. We seconds remaining gave the kept responding.”

Utah Jazz a 100-99 victory No NBA team has come over the Dallas Mavericks that back from a 3-0 deficit to win brought their Western Confera best-of-seven series. ence series level at two games In Toronto, forward Pascal apiece.

Siakam scored a play-off caAnd Karl-Anthony Towns reer-high 34 points and Gary scored 33 points as the MinTrent Jr. added 24 in the Rap- nesota Timberwolves levelled tors’ 110-102 triumph over the their series against the visitPhiladelphia 76ers to stay alive ing Memphis Grizzlies with a in their series, trimming the 119-118 victory in the fourth deficit to 3-1. game.(BBC Sport).

25

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, April 25, 2022

England are in big trouble if Stokes isn’t interested in captaincy – Ian Chappell FORMER Australian captain Ian Chappell has opined that England might be in trouble if Ben Stokes doesn’t show interest in leadership.

Joe Root has stepped down from Test captaincy for England after the side’s dismal show in the last few series and a new skipper is yet to be named by ECB. In all possibilities, Stokes who has done the job at times in absence of Root is likely to take up the role.

England will be up against New Zealand in a three-match Test series in June and a new head coach

will have to be appointed along with a new skipper.

Rob Key was appointed as the new director of the side replacing Ashley Giles who had stepped down after the Ashes. However, the question remains what if Stokes isn’t serious about taking captaincy and there are very few stabilised Test cricketers for England to become contenders.

Chappell mentioned that England will be in trouble big time if Stokes isn’t interested in taking up captaincy as he is the only option. He also noted that Stokes has the fire to

succeed, but isn’t a guarantee and felt that it will be harsh to raise doubts over him just because previous all-rounders have been unsuccessful as captain.

“There’s only one viable captaincy option in the best XI and that’s allrounder Ben Stokes. If he seriously isn’t interested in the job, then England are in big trouble. To question Stokes’ viability based purely on the inferior captaincy of previous star allrounders is indefensible.

Stokes has the fire in his belly and the positive approach to be success-

England all-rounder Ben Stokes ful. However, that alone doesn’t guarantee success,” wrote Chappell in his column for ESPNCricinfo on Sunday.

He added that Stuart Broad or Jos Buttler should not be considered for the positions as they don’t guarantee a place in the

Test lineup. England lost their previous Test series against West Indies 0-1 and are at the bottom of the World Test Championship table 2021-23.

“Stuart Broad is an intelligent, well-spoken player, but he should not be a captaincy consideration. He’s now too old and maintains a conservative streak, especially when it comes to field placings for his own bowling. Jos Buttler is not a Test wicketkeeper; he has no obvious place in the first XI,” he added.

(CricTracker)

Liverpool back on Man City’s tail after derby …

Pulisic scores late to secure win for Chelsea win over Everton (REUTERS)-Liverpool secured a hard-fought 2-0 win over Merseyside rivals Everton, who sank deeper into the relegation zone with the defeat, and moved back to within one point of Manchester City.

Divock Origi came off the bench to make the difference as Liverpool secured a hard-fought 2-0 win over Everton in a feisty Merseyside derby on Sunday to close the gap at the top of the Premier League standings back to one point.

As well as keeping Liverpool in the title chase, a point behind leaders Manchester City, the result left Frank Lampard’s Everton inside the relegation zone, in 18th place, two points behind Burnley, who have played one game more.

Liverpool’s Andrew Robertson celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Phil Noble After City had opened up a four-point lead over Liverpool at the top with a 5-1 demolition of Watford on Saturday, Juergen Klopp’s side struggled to

break down Everton in a bad-tempered first half at Anfield.

Everton continued to hold their own in a raucous derby atmosphere

until, with the first shot on target from either side in the match, Scottish fullback Andy Robertson headed Liverpool in front in the 62nd minute.

Mohamed Salah combined with substitute Origi before floating a cross to Robertson, who headed past the diving Jordan Pickford.

Demarai Gray then went within inches of a stunning equaliser before substitute Origi finally ended all hope of an Everton comeback with a goal five minutes from time to put the game to bed.

Luis Diaz tried a bicycle-kick volley from a Jordan Henderson cross and the ball bounced to Origi, who headed home from close range.

The Belgian, a fringe player for most of his time at Anfield, has now scored

six goals in nine Merseyside Premier League clashes.

His introduction with Diaz, when the game was goalless, proved to be a masterstroke by Klopp although Everton felt they should have had a penalty before that change.

The lively Anthony Gordon went down under a challenge from Joel Matip in the 53rd minute but his appeal was waved away by referee Stuart Attwell.

Earlier, Chelsea tightened their grip on third place in the Premier League with a 1-0 victory over 10-man West Ham on Sunday, with Christian Pulisic’s 90th-minute winner at Stamford Bridge making up for his team mate Jorginho’s missed penalty.

Substitute Pulisic arrived in the box at the right time to guide home a superb pass by Marcos Alonso shortly after Jorginho had wasted his chance from the spot, firing straight at West Ham keeper Lukasz Fabianski.

West Ham defender Craig Dawson, one of their best players in a much-changed side, was shown a red card after a check by the Video Assistant Referee following a clumsy foul on substitute Romelu Lukaku which resulted in the penalty.

T h o m a s Tu c h e l ’s side ended a run of two straight defeats at home -- against Brentford and Arsenal -- but it is their forward line rather than defence that will concern the German manager ahead of their final few matches.

26

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, April 25, 2022

Rahul 103*, Krunal three-for send Mumbai hurtling to eighth defeat THE Mumbai Indians batting line-up fizzled out yet again to slump to their eighth straight loss of the season.

The only team still without a win in IPL 2022 was chasing 169 on their home ground, Wankhede Stadium, after lion-hearted KL Rahul century. On a ground with short boundaries, dew in the evening and strong crowd support, 169 was gettable. Mumbai have chased down bigger targets in far less friendly conditions.

But such as it has been this year, Mumbai slipped from 49 for 0 to 67 for 4 and once their top four was back with dejected looks in the dressing room, all their hopes rested on Kieron Pollard again.

They needed nearly two runs a ball - 102 off 52 when he walked out, and even though Tilak Varma showed signs of becoming a future star with his 38 off 27, the asking rate kept soaring and Mumbai fell short by 36 runs For some time it looked like Super Giants had swapped their shirts with Mumbai. The hosts’ bowlers had turned up with a performance we had barely seen in the tournament so far and the Super Giants batters were barely able to score.

Rohit bravely gave the second over to rookie Hrithik

Shokeen, whose flat offbreaks conceded just four runs, Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Quinton de Kock for 10 on the very next ball after seeing him get a life at deep backward square leg, and Riley Meredith and Jaydev Unadkat stifled Rahul and the No. 3 Manish Pandey.

If not for the back-to-back fours that Rahul crunched in the third over off Daniel Sams, Super Giants may not even have reached the 32 for 1 that they did at the end of the field restrictions.

Rahul’s stellar form vs Mumbai continues

Single-handedly, he lifted the run rate over six after the powerplay. Single-handedly, he kept picking boundaries to not let the run rate drop below seven, even though wickets fell around him. And single-handedly, he chaperoned his team to a competitive total.

Pandey fell for a run-aball 22, Marcus Stoinis came out at No. 4 but found deep midwicket for a duck, Krunal Pandya was done for 1 by a cutter from Pollard, and Deepak Hooda and Ayush Badoni also fell for low scores while trying to collect late runs.

friend Tony Cozier to be knighted posthumously.

Perreira spoke during the closing ceremony and

presentation for the inaugural Cozier and Perreira T-6 Cup, played over the Easter Weekend at the 3Ws Oval of the University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus.

“I am not pointing any fingers at any government, but I felt in my heart that when he passed away, he should have died Sir Tony Cozier. It is not too late for him to receive the highest national award from the country of his birth,” Perreira said.

Meanwhile, on the field of play, St. Phillip-based Eastern Stars produced a brilliant match-winning total of 76 for four off 5.2 overs to win by two wickets after Rising Stars, led by captain Jadan Jones with 47, set a target of 72 for two off their allotted six overs for victory.

Shamario DePezia was

All this while, Rahul did what no Mumbai batter could - bat deep. He moved to 29 off 30 balls before taking off against the fast bowlers, especially when they pitched it short. He started with a six over midwicket off an Unadkat slower ball. Then came backto-back fours - a pull and a cut - against Meredith. Even Bumrah struggled to stop him - which is actually par for the course in the IPL - as Rahul sped away to a 37-ball fifty.

Super Giants’ biggest over was the 13th, bowled by Sams, which saw two sixes from Rahul and five wides as well, but Sams also got the big wicket of Stoinis with a slower one.

Krunal fell two balls later when Rohit slipped in two quiet overs of Pollard’s cutters but Rahul was unfazed. From 126 for 5 after 16 overs, he went after Bumrah again by waiting deep in the crease for the yorkers, collecting two fours, one over point and the other through cover.

Bumrah bowled an impeccable 19th over, hitting the blockhole consistently, but Rahul collected three fours backto-back off Unadkat to race to 94 and then belted Meredith for two sixes in the last over for his 61-ball century, which was his second of the season, third against Mumbai and fourth in all IPL cricket.

He finished unbeaten on

103, being in control for 85% of his shots and even though he had to score over 61% of Super Giants’ runs on his own, it eventually proved to be enough.

Rahul’s stellar form vs Mumbai continues Single-handedly, he lifted the run rate over six after the powerplay. Single-handedly, he kept picking boundaries to not let the run rate drop below seven, even though wickets fell around him. And single-handedly, he chaperoned his team to a competitive total.

Pandey fell for a run-aball 22, Marcus Stoinis came out at No. 4 but found deep midwicket for a duck, Krunal Pandya was done for 1 by a cutter from Pollard, and Deepak Hooda and Ayush Badoni also fell for low scores while trying to collect late runs.

All this while, Rahul did what no Mumbai batter could - bat deep. He moved to 29 off 30 balls before taking off against the fast bowlers, especially when they pitched it short. He started with a six over midwicket off an Unadkat slower ball. Then came backto-back fours - a pull and a cut - against Meredith. Even Bumrah struggled to stop him - which is actually par for the course in the IPL - as Rahul sped away to a 37-ball fifty.

Super Giants’ biggest over

was the 13th, bowled by Sams, which saw two sixes from Rahul and five wides as well, but Sams also got the big wicket of Stoinis with a slower one.

Krunal fell two balls later when Rohit slipped in two quiet overs of Pollard’s cutters but Rahul was unfazed. From 126 for 5 after 16 overs, he went after Bumrah again by waiting deep in the crease for the yorkers, collecting two fours, one over point and the other through cover.

Bumrah bowled an impeccable 19th over, hitting the blockhole consistently, but Rahul collected three fours backto-back off Unadkat to race to 94 and then belted Meredith for two sixes in the last over for his 61-ball century, which was his second of the season, third against Mumbai and fourth in all IPL cricket.

He finished unbeaten on 103, being in control for 85% of his shots and even though he had to score over 61% of Super Giants’ runs on his own, it eventually proved to be enough. hat is you, Mumbai ESPNcricinfo’s predictor gave Mumbai a near 50% chance of chasing down 169.

But Ishan Kishan unusually defended his way to 3 off 12 and eventually fell for 8 off 20 when he bottom-edged Ravi Bishnoi to de Kock’s boot and the ball lobbed to Holder at slip.(Cricinfo).

‘Reds’ calls for posthumous honour for Cozier

LEGENDARY cricket commentator, Joseph ‘Reds’ Perreira, has called for his late colleague and

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Monday April 25, 2022)

CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Matthew Hayden-572 runs (CSK) (2) Manish Pandey-114* (RCB vs DC) Today’s Quiz: (1) Who took most wickets in IPL 2009?

(2) Who had the best bowling figures in a single game in IPL 2009?

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

Legendary cricket commentator, Joseph ‘Reds’ Perreira

named player of the final last night with a well-played 24 runs and a wicket. Teammate Antonio Morris added 22 runs in the chase.

The inaugural tournament, said Perreira as he spoke with the crowd in attendance, has a lot of pos-

sibilities. The 82-year-old Perreira, whose voice has resonated with thousands around the Caribbean region for decades, spoke highly of his late friend Cozier and the experiences they both shared as colleagues.

“Cozier, in my opinion, is the most outstanding cricket journalist, as an all-rounder, that the world has ever had. We have produced many a great scholar, we as the Caribbean have produced two Nobel laureates, outstanding statesmen, outstanding athletes, great cricketers, but in Winston Anthony Lloyd Cozier, we have produced a commentator who did television, radio and wrote print for the many newspapers in the world, all in one day. As far as I know, no other journalist has ever done that and we can be extremely proud

of Tony Cozier.

“We have produced many great cricketers but we have created a great commentator, respected throughout the world. The only place that I have never gone along with Cozier, thanks to the Caribbean Broadcasting Union, was Bangladesh. I am speaking from first-hand knowledge.

You do not travel with a man and do not recognise his talent.

“I was very lucky to work with Tony Cozier for over 40 years and his standard pushed me to work even harder. To maintain the level that he had set. It was not just going along for the ride. It made me a better commentator to work shoulder to shoulder with Tony Cozier,” Perreira shared during his speech. (Extracted from Barbados Today)

27

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, April 25, 2022

49th CARIFTA Games

T&T ‘scared’ Jamaicans but lacked ‘artillery’, says coach

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, (CMC) – Trinidad and Tobago coach Kelvin Nancoo believes his charges “scared” Jamaica in the relays during last weekend’s 49th CARIFTA Games in Kingston, but lacked enough “artillery” to properly challenge the powerhouses.

The Trinidadians picked up three medals in the sprint relays on day two of the meet and returned to snatch two in the distance relays on the final day.

Jamaica swept all eight relay gold in yet another dominant performance by the hosts as they collected an unprecedented 92 medals.

“I’m very satisfied after coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic,” relay coach, Nancoo, told the Guardian newspaper here.

“These guys really put out their best and they really, in terms of heart, in terms of performances, they did very

Trinidad and Tobago (left) and Jamaica battle each other in the final of the Under-20 boys distance relay at the CARIFTA Games well for T&T. They gave it their all. They left everything on the track.

“I think basically we were not as fit as the Jamaicans but we scared them three times in the relays – three times when

they had to fight us.

“But in terms of baton passing, we were better than they were, just they had the artillery that we didn’t have.”

T&T clinched bronze in the girls Under-17, 4×100 metres

Linden Guinness de Streets football

Swag Entertainment opens with 11-0 drubbing of Midas; wins also for three other teams

SWAG Entertainment opened their defence of their Linden Town Week Guinness In De Streets football title with a whopping 11-0 blitz of Midas while there were wins for Silver Bullets, Darkside and Germans when the tournament began on Saturday night at the Christianburg Hard Court in front if a sizeable crowd.

The 2019 champions of the Linden tournament, which was last played before the COVIC-19 Pandemic halted the promotion of this among other sports for two years, were in a o-nonsense mood dispatching their opponents following a quadruple off the boots of Kendolph Lewis, Colwyn Drakes with a triple, Renee Chester with a double and one

each by Deon Charter and Jermaine Grandison.

The second game ended with Silver Bullets setting the trend with a 3-2 win over trendsetters with the scorers being Donovan Francis, Darrell Adams and Clifton Hinds. The Setters scorers were Kevin Gittens and Carlton Hinds.

Darkside then turned back the challenge of Coomacka with a 2-1 victory with Keon Bristol and Dereck Bethune scoring the goals for the winners while Jamal Watts netted the lone goal for the losers.

Germans then took care of Goodfellas with the lone goal of the game being scored by Tyric McAllister. The tournament will continue on Thursday with four more matches.

in 48.19 seconds; silver in the boys equivalent in 42.77 and bronze in the Under-20 girls in 46.12.

In the 4x400, T&T produced an outstanding performance in the Under-17 boys to claim silver in three minutes, 18.89 seconds before again challenging the Jamaicans and taking silver in the Under-20 equivalent in a time of 3:09.67.

“I thought that the runs of the relay teams, the 4x4s, were superb,” Nancoo continued.

“Jamaica had to fight and get to us at the last 15m, 20m and that is excellent, coming from a team that had to train for just barely three weeks.

We have done extremely well.”

Trinidad and Tobago ended the meet with 23 medals – two gold, 10 silver and 11 bronze – while the Bahamas finished with 17 medals and Barbados, 11.

Keeran Sriskandarajah won gold in the boys Under-17, 1500 metres in 4:10.58 ahead of Guyana’s Javon Roberts (4:12.54), while Aaron Antoine reaped success in the boys Under-20 high jump with a measurement of 2.16 metres to hold off Jamaican Brandon Pottinger (2.14).

Head coach Reynold Porter Lee said T&T’s success represented a triumph over

circumstances. “ T h e t e a m ’s o v e r a l l performance at the 49th CARIFTA Games was one of excellence, especially coming out of a situation created by the COVID-19 pandemic where sports and sporting activities were not allowed to take place,” he pointed out.

“This performance of purpose and dedication to achieve goals set for themselves in collaboration with their coaches and parents have earned us a tally of 23 medals [and] a fourth-place finish.

“This result I would rate as one of the best we have accomplished under the circumstances we faced over the last two years.”

Fury: I’m one of the greatest heavyweights of all time AFTER not having fought in his native land for almost four years, WBC heavyweight champion, Tyson Fury, (320-1, 23 KOs) returned home with a spectacular sixth-round knockout over former training partner, Dillian Whyte, in front of a record crowd at Wembley Stadium in London.

“I’m overwhelmed with the support. I can’t believe that my 94,000 countrymen and women have come here tonight to see me perform,” said Fury. “Dillian Whyte is a warrior. And I believe that Dillian will be a world champion. But tonight, he met a great in the sport. I’m one of the greatest heavyweights of all time. And unfortunately for Dillian Whyte, he had to face me here tonight.

“There’s no disgrace. He’s a tough, game man. He’s as strong as a bull. He’s got the heart of a lion. But you’re

Tyson Fury (right) on the attack against Dillian Whyte not messing with a mediocre heavyweight. You’re messing with the best man on the planet. And you saw that tonight with what happened. I think Lennox Lewis could even be proud of the right uppercut tonight.”

“This man here, Sugar Hill Steward, he made me a great fighter. Years ago,

I used to jib and jab, touch and slide. But you’ve seen me here tonight. Sugar, what a legend you are, mate. You’ve made me the biggest puncher in the heavyweight division, by a mile. This man is the best trainer in all of boxing.

He’s better than anybody.

We were unbelievable tonight.” (Fightnews)

Dharry outlasts Penalba to capture WBC International SuperFlyweight tile

28

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, April 25, 2022

..Marques suffers defeat despite solid display

By Clifton Ross EMOTIONS ran wild as Panama and Guyana went to battle on Saturday evening in front of a packed stadium, with Elton Dharry capturing the WBC International Super Flyweight title following a gruelling encounter at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

The event saw a large turnout by Guyanese fans who welcomed the return of international boxing to the country. Among the distinguished guests were His Excellency, President Irfaan Ali; Indian High Commissioner, Dr K. Srinivasa, Minster of Sports Charles Ramson Jr; Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle; and numerous other government officials

and dignitaries.

The lone upset was Dexter Marques who suffered a shock defeat to his Panamanian opponent, Gilberto Pedrosa.

The main supporting bout between the fiesty Pedrosa and crowd favorite ‘The Kid’ Marques, turned out to be an intense brawl.

From the bell, it was a tussle as the Panamanian was ultra aggressive with his flurry of punches.

Marques, a more seasoned boxer, kept his opponent at bay for the majority of the rounds as he danced with guile while managing to offset Pedrosa with some excellent counterpunching.

The Kid seemed to loose his way for a few rounds following the halfway stage of the 10-round

Minister of Sports Charles Ramson Jr (right ) and Promoter Aleem Hussain (left ) present the championship belt to Guyanese Elton Dharry (Delano Williams photo) bout. A few stiff left jabs from the Panamanian

seemed to reel the Guyanese. Both fighters pushed

their limits and that of each other.

However, by the end TURN TO PAGE 23

Elaine Thompson-Herah wins Laureus Sportswoman of the Year award

Elaine Thonpson-Herah becomes the first Jamaican female athlete to win the coveted award that began in 2000

49th CARIFTA Games

TOKYO Olympics triple gold medallist Elaine Thompson-Herah has won the Laureus Sportswoman Award for 2022.

In doing so, she became the first Jamaican female athlete to win the coveted award that began in 2000.

The 29-year-old Thompson-Herah created history in Tokyo last year when she became the first woman in Olympic history to win the 100m and 200m titles at consecutive Olympic Games. She won the 100m in 10.61, breaking the previous record of 10.62 set by American Florence Griffith Joyner at the Seoul Games in 1988.

She then won the 200m

in a lifetime best of 21.53, the second-fastest time in history. She won a third gold medal as a member of Jamaica’s 4x100m relay team that set a national record of 41.02, the third-fastest time in history.

However, she was only getting started. Following the Olympics, she ran 10.54, the second-fastest time in history, to win the 100m at the Diamond League meeting in Oregon and then ran times of 10.64 and 10.65 to become the only woman in the history of the sport to run the 100m in under 10.80 four times.

“I really don’t think I can really express how

it feels to be nominated amongst these wonderful and super talented ladies across their respective disciplines but to think that I could come out as the chosen winner of this prestigious award is just mind-blowing for me,” Thompson-Herah posted on Instagram in reaction to the news beneath a photograph of her holding her award.

“I would like to thank the Laureus Sports Academy for this wonderful recognition. I want to thank all my friends and family who have continuously supported me throughout my journey.”

She also thanked her

sponsors Flow Jamaica, NCB Jamaica and Nike as well as her many fans.

“My fans, my fans! I love you guys so much, continue to motivate and pray for me as I set out to continuously rewrite the record books.”

Only one other Jamaican athlete has ever won the Laureus Sports Award.

Usain Bolt won the Sportsman of the Year Award in 2009, 2010, 2013 and 2017.

Formula One driver Max Verstappen won the Laureus Sportsman of the Year Award after winning his first title albeit under controversial circumstances. (Sportsmax)

T&T ‘scared’ Jamaicans but lacked ‘artil ery’, says coach

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PAGE 27

MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2022