Issuu

wednesday 25th may, 2022

No.106733

Agriculture Minister orders emergency works for flood-hit Region Five

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$1B injected into Region Two economy –– with allocation of 2,000 part-time jobs to residents 03 PAGE

Fire 05 service gets $178M equipment boost PAGE

Cost recovery audit of ExxonMobil slated for 06 September completion PAGE

PM Phillips: Clogged drains, 10 channels exacerbating floods PAGE

guyana CHRONICLE wednesday may 25, 2022

Agro-processing business helps young mother rise above challenges By Tamica Garnett RADIKA Basdeo, owner of agro-processing business, Basdeo Dynasty, is more than just an agro-processor, she is an overcomer who beat naysayers to establish her own agro-processing business that, today, is a thriving small business. “I amaze myself sometimes with the amount of challenges I faced and how I got past them, especially from some particular family members. They were like: ‘why do you want to get into that [making agro processed products], you don’t need stuff like that, that is for people with no class,’ Basdeo said in an interview. “But I would [reprimand] them and say, ‘pride doesn’t pay any bills,’” the young mother stressed. Basdeo started her business a year ago in the midst of the pandemic. Not many persons around her understood what agro-processing meant. “There were some friends too!” she lamented. “They would be like: ‘oh you do that?’ They tried to downgrade you (sic) so much. But the amount of opportunities that it has provided for me, they were so shocked,” an excited Basdeo said. Since taking on her new field, Basdeo has attended seminars on marketing and sales. Her naysayers eventually changed their tune. “They would be so surprised and be like (sic): ‘Really! I didn’t expect you to bloom in such a way, or expect that the business you are getting into would take you to Agro-processor, meet so many people and Radika Basdeo see so many opportunities opening up for you’.” Tears flooded the 22-year-old’s eyes as she tells her story of being a single teenage mother who was once told that she would not amount to much. but she smiles as she speaks about rising above it all to prove many wrong in their thoughts about how far she could go. “When I first got into it, I was a single mom at that time. I had my first child at 17,” the 22-year-old mother explained as tears flooded her eyes. “Being a teenage mother, it was very challenging,” she reflected as memories of some of the discouraging words from others came back to her thoughts. “All of that changed because this year, I even got engaged to someone who respects me, adores me and appreciates me,” Basdeo said, beaming with pride. Growing up in Enmore, East Coast Demerara (ECD), Basdeo started her agro-processing business producing mango achar. Today, her business expanded to include pepper sauce, plantain flour, mixed masala, turmeric, geera, nutmeg, and salted fish. Her products are on sale at both of Georgetown’s major markets, Bourda and Stabroek. “There were lots of days when I said I can’t do this anymore because it hurts so bad. But I had my dad, my mom and my other family members encouraging me. I’m also so thankful and grateful for my nieces and nephews because they help me to push forward so much,” she shared. Basdeo is growing her business and looking to employ support staff. “Now when I hear positive feedback about my products, I feel so nice and so relieved. I made a difference in someone’s life! They’re looking for my products!... This gives me the strength to keep pushing every day harder and harder,” Basdeo says. Although she never envisioned this would be here niche, Basdeo always wanted to own her own business. She credits her father, a farm owner, for pushing her in the direction of making value-added products. Basdeo praised the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC), and other government agencies for initiatives which, she said, has been a major support for her getting off the ground. Through the GMC, Basdeo accessed a three-month course on packaging and labelling. “That has really helped me to evolve with the packaging and labelling and how to improve it,” she said.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 25, 2022

$1B injected into Region Two economy

— with allocation of 2,000 part-time jobs to residents

By Tajeram Mohabir JUST over two months after promising 800 parttime jobs for residents of Region Two, Vice-President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, on Tuesday, returned to the Essequibo Coast to not only make good on his word, but also announce that the government is delivering beyond expectations. Instead of making available 800 part-time jobs, the government has decided to increase the number to 2,000 following a flood of applications from Region Two residents. Persons employed will work at government offices and agencies and will receive $40,000 per month for 10 days of work. Through this programme, the government will pump around $1 billion into the economy of Region Two. The part-job scheme is geared at supplementing the household income of persons who have been severely affected by the rising cost of living due to COVID-19 and the ongoing war between Russia and the Ukraine. The pandemic has obstructed the global supply chain, resulting in a demand glut for major commodities and steep increases in prices for them, while the war

between Russia and Ukraine has caused an upward spiral in fuel and wheat prices. Russia is a major supplier of gas to Europe and both Russia and the Ukraine are major producers of wheat. The global shortage of wheat has caused many countries that produce the commodity to cut back on export, worsening the situation with shortage and driving up prices in the process. Here in Guyana, those exogenous factors have hit home hard, taking a toll on the ordinary man. The situation has been exacerbated by poor policies by the former APNU+AFC Government, said Dr Jagdeo during his address to residents at the Suddie Early Childhood Centre. He estimated that over 35,000 jobs were lost as a result of poor policies of the Coalition Government and a similar number when the very government shutdown the country at the advent of COVID-19 here. The PPP/C Government, upon being elected to office on August 2, 2020, made a decision to reopen the country allowing for a flow of economic activities, while simultaneously taking firm steps to control the spread of the pandemic. Close to two years since

assuming office, the PPP/C Government has also embarked on several transformational projects such as the gas-to-shore and Amalia Falls projects, but has also been taking direct steps to address the massive job loss burden it inherited from the Coalition Government. Since the Essequibo is predominantly agriculture based, jobs in the public and private sectors there have been difficult to come by, as investors prefer Region Four and Three which have larger populations and are close to markets and ports for export. It is mainly for this reason that the government launched the one-year, part-time job programme outside these two regions and is also looking at other avenues to generate employment. CO-INVESTING “In the budget, there are several initiatives this year. Some of the initiatives are to make Essequibo more attractive to investors, for example, we will co-invest in factories here. Right now, we are looking at about two or three call centres that could employ close to 1,000 people on the coast. The government will build the factory shells and train the people and then the investors will just operate this

A section of the gathering at the Affiance Play Ground (Office of the Vice-President photo)

Vice-President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo addressing a well-attended gathering at the Charity Secondary School (Office of the Vice-President photo)

and this is just the beginning to generate more jobs on the coast,” he said. The Vice-President was also quick to point out that not just the Essequibo Coast but similar efforts will be made in Regions One, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine and 10, where the creation of employment opportunities has been a distant cry when compared to Regions Three and Four, which are currently experiencing a shortage of skilled workers because of the construction boom there. Under the part-time job programme some 8,00010,000 jobs will be created and the government’s hope, through the programme, is to employ one person per household. NO FREE MONEY Speaking at a separate meeting at the Affiance Play Ground where scores gathered, Dr Jagdeo reiterated that the part-time job programme is not about giving away free money, as persons will be monitored. “We expect people to actually work. If you are getting $40,000 per month for 10 days work, then we expect you to work regardless

of where you are placed.... It is a community spirit that we want to build also because many of you will be working for the government in ensuring you see improvement for services in your community,” Dr Jagdeo said. He also urged the residents to make full use of the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) scholarships and pointed out that persons who do not possess the requisite qualifications could do a remedial programme to gain entry into a tertiary or skills certificate programme. The Government of Guyana has made available some 20,000 free scholarships to Guyanese citizens. So far, some 6,000 have been awarded and the government is looking to award another 5,000 this year. Dr Jagdeo also noted that efforts are being made to improve Internet connectivity and provide laptops to persons in need so that they could study and earn a reputable qualification. Guyana, he said, is taking steps to equip itself with the expertise to take on the big jobs of the future. Over at the Charity Secondary School, the Vice-Pres-

ident repeated the messages he made to the gatherings at the Suddie Early Childhood Centre and the Affiance Play Ground. He also said that the government has been delivering on its promises. The government, Dr. Jagdeo said, since coming to power less than two years ago, has removed VAT on water, food items, agriculture input, cement and cement board; has been subsidising water and electricity to avoid price increases being passed down to consumers; has restored and increased the cash grant with the aim of further increasing it to $50,000 by 2025; has increased old age pension by 40 per cent and has given billions of dollars to farmers affected by flooding enabling them to return to the land. The government has allocated $1 billion for the purchase of fertilisers for farmers; has allocated over 10,000 house lots; has built and handed over scores of homes and will be building homes for private land owners under a programme where it will recover monies invested in this project and many other initiatives for future programmes or projects.

guyana CHRONICLE wednesday may 25, 2022

Agriculture Minister orders emergency works for Region Five –– to address rising floodwaters caused by torrential rainfall

OVER the past two days, the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) executed a series of emergency works in the Mahaicony–Abary area, Region Five, following instances of flooding due to continuous and heavy rainfall. After receiving reports of flooding in several parts of the region, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha immediately implemented systems to have the area drained and to minimize any further instances of flooding. While giving an overview of some of the works undertaken in response to flooding in the affected areas, Minister Mustapha said a mobile pump was installed and several drainage canals were cleared along with the

installation of tubes and the construction of embankments. “After I received reports of flooding in those areas, I immediately instructed NDIA to visit the area to see what can be done to have these areas drained in the shortest possible time. So far, we’ve installed an 80 Cusec Pump at Little Abary sluice to complement that structure. “We were also able to carry out emergency works on several drainage canals. We cleaned the western and eastern sideline dams in Little Abary, Catherine, Recess, Park, Fellowship, and Good Faith,” Minister Mustapha said. He went on to say that the ministry also did some work in Ball Field Street, Calcutta. In addition to those

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Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha and other situation in Region Five works, NDIA was also able said that Chairman for the to install tubes to assist with NDIA, Lionel Wordsworth, improved drainage in Airy along with NDIA’s regional Hall, Dundee, Good Faith, engineers were on the ground Recess, Cathrine, and in the to assess the situation and northern swamplands from oversee the works. Food Faith to Novar. He related that a team Minister Mustapha also from NDIA and the region

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officials assessing the will be monitoring the situation in Region Five and other affected regions along the coast and other parts of the country on a 24-hour basis. Minister Mustapha also encouraged persons to remain alert, as Guyana

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is currently experiencing above-normal rainfall as part of the ongoing May-June rainy period. As of Monday, 70 per cent of the water from Huntley to Abary in Region Five had receded due to consistent drainage and cleaning operations. Chief Meteorological Officer Dr Garvin Cummings in his report, said that Region Five had the most rainfall (five inches) from Sunday through to Monday (24 hours). Precipitation was above normal in some areas which greatly exceeded drainage capacity and surface runoff, which has been made worse due to ground saturation, particularly in low-lying and riverain areas.

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guyana CHRONICLE wednesday may 25, 2022

Fire service gets $178M equipment boost –– new assets include modern fire truck for Ogle Airport

By Jared Liddell IN a bid to improve the efficiency of the Guyana Fire Service (GFS), the government has expended $178 million on four new pieces of equipment. The new additions to the fire service’s pool of resources are a $146.3 million airport crash-rescue tender; a $12.7 million bowser water tanker, and two ambulances valuing collectively $19.5 million. The GFS on Tuesday also received two new fire tenders worth $28 million. Those tenders were donated to the government by a British firefighting & rescue vehicles manufacturing company, Angloco. Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, said that those new pieces of equipment are necessary to boost the overall performance of the fire service. He said that the airport crash-rescue tender, in particular, will incrementally increase the fire service’s capability to prevent potential airport disasters from occurring. The modern tender will be stationed at the Eugene F. Correia International Airport, at Ogle on the East Coast of Demerara, and will boost the airport’s emergency preparedness to Category Four. Minister Benn said that based on the high traffic to and from the airport, this type of equipment is necessary for the eventuality of an emergency. “The Eugene F. Correia Airport is perhaps the busiest airport in Guyana, not only for internal flights to our mining and forestry and other areas and tourism areas, but also in respect of regional flights in the Caribbean… so the frequency of flights here is reasonably high and we need to have the readiness, the capability in respect to responding to questions of the possibility of an incident involving fire and or rescue at ogle,” Minister Benn related. The tender is specifically designed to function in aircraft firefighting, and since it could be operated manually and mechanically, it allows for a single operator at any one time. The firefighting machine has the capacity to emit foam and water. Meanwhile, Fire Chief (ag), Gregory Wickham

described the sizeable investment as “critically needed,” noting that Guyanese could expect to see continued and boosted efficiency by the fire service to cater to specific needs that might arise. “We want to offer a service to this nation that is of exceptional quality and that is what we are called to do; and so we are

ly on the equipment, to execute. So, with these appliances coming on board we would be able to boost our work and perform better,” Wickham said. He said too that the ambulances will be stationed in Regions Three and Five, where the GFS currently provides assistance to Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs).

Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, hands over the keys to the new equipment to Fire Chief (ag) Gregory Wickham, on Tuesday, as other officials look on (Delano Williams photo)

The interior of one of two ambulances handed over to the Guyana Fire Service (Delano Williams photo) better prepared with these appliances to offer those services,” he said. Addressing the placement of the other pieces of equipment, Wickham said that the bowser fire tender will be used around central Georgetown, while one of the two tenders will be stationed at the Diamond Fire Station, and the other will be utilised by various stations that require a support vehicle. “They [the equipment] will benefit us greatly because firefighting is a technique that depends strong-

“I know the people of Guyana depend strongly on us for fire safety, fire prevention, and fire protection and even in the emergency care by the response that our ambulances would have been doing over the years. I was informed that for this year only, we would have delivered 12 babies and so the ambulances will lend more support to us offering those types of services to those persons who are in need or [are] in medical distress,” Wickham related.

guyana CHRONICLE wednesday may 25, 2022

African and Caribbean Liberation

TODAY, May 25, is celebrated in different parts of the world as Africa Liberation Day, African Unity Day or Africa Day -- but by whatever name, it observes the various long and bitter struggles for the liberation of Africa’s now independent states from the colonial clutch created by the Berlin Conference of 1884-85, that divided Africa among European nations. The independence movement started in March 1957 with Ghana becoming the first African nation to raise its own flag under the leadership of Kwame Nkrumah – and from then until now, the Caribbean has featured as a constant partner in the growing up of Africa. Jamaica’s Marcus Garvey’s influence led to the creation of Ghana’s Black Star Line shipping company and Saint Lucia’s W. Arthur Lewis helped draw up Ghana’s first national economic plan; and since then, a host of other Caribbean figures – from Trinidad & Tobago’s George Padmore and CLR James, to Guyana’s Walter Rodney and French West Indians like Martinique’s Frantz Fanon and Aime Cesaire – blazed the trail for further cooperation from the present Caribbean region. The Caribbean’s role in Africa’s liberation became known worldwide in 1975-76, when Cuban airplanes transited through Barbados and Guyana to help fly thousands of Cuban soldiers through ‘Operation Carlota’ (named after ‘Black Carlota’, a leader

of a historic slave uprising in Cuba.) African Liberation Day started in 1963 when the Organization of African Unity (OAU) was formed and Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie delivered the speech made popular nearly two decades later by Caribbean reggae music icon Bob Marley, titled ‘War.’ The speech Marley sang predicted: “Until the philosophy that holds one race superior and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned; until there are no longer first class and second-class citizens of any nation; until the colour of a man’s skin is of no more significance than the color of his eyes; until the basic human rights are equally guaranteed to all without regard to race -- until that day, the dream of lasting peace, world citizenship and the rule of international morality will remain but a fleeting illusion to be pursued, but never attained…” Approaching six decades, Africa is independent, but the rule of international morality is still a dream. African nations have established their political independence, but lingering economic dependence and the interconnectedness of global economies today have brought new realities that have long forced free African nations to adjust and readjust in the virtual economic slavery of the post-independence period. While racist rulers have been replaced in Africa, racism still remains a scourge

on the world, particularly against people of African descent. The reality of 21st Century racism in Europe and North America reached a high point two years ago today on May 25, 2020, when George Floyd was killed and the Black Lives Matter movement led to the call for Reparations for African Americans, as had been done seven years before (in 2013) when 14 Caribbean Community (CARICOM) governments together called on Britain and the European Union (EU) for Reparations for Slavery and Native Genocide following the arrival of the Europeans in the Caribbean and The Americas in 1492. Today, the United Nations has established a Decade of Observance and a Permanent Forum for People of African Descent; the African Union (AU) and CARICOM in 2021 held the first annual AU-CARICOM Summit and designated September 7, as Africa-Caribbean Day; and AU member states, as well as India, are also actively considering how to join and globalize the CARICOM call for Reparations from Europe. Next year will mark 60 years since African Liberation Day was born and the solidarity between Africa and the Caribbean continues to flourish with Ghana, Kenya and South Africa leading the way in development of bilateral ties across the Atlantic, reversing slavery’s so-called ‘Middle Passage’ to one of deepening friendship and cooperation between the continent and

people of African descent worldwide. The cooperation between Africa, India and the Caribbean on Globalizing the Call for Reparations is also a new chapter in the everlasting cooperation between the descendants of the enslaved and the ensnared, brought to the Caribbean on the same slave ships from Africa and India. In the 21st Century, historical concepts of Abolition and Emancipation, Apprenticeship and Indentureship, are being revisited to reveal and share what each truly meant to the enslaved and those ensnared into indentureship. But, all in all, CARICOM’s Reparations call has over the past eight years given birth to a new stage in the continuing struggle to take Bob Marley’s sterling advice to “Emancipate ourselves from mental slavery,” not just from the Caribbean to Britain, but to the entire world, to a stage when, for the first time, the actual mechanisms and mechanics of reparations are being discussed globally -- from CARICOM’s 10-Point Plan for Reparatory Justice to preparations for several Reparations Summits among the Caribbean Africa, India and Europe that will further deepen and unite transcontinental cooperation in pursuit of European repair for centuries of damage bequeathed to people of African and Indian descent by the same colonial powers between Trans-Atlantic Slavery and Indentureship.

Cost recovery audit of ExxonMobil slated for September completion THE Ministry of Natural Resources, on Tuesday, signed a contract with a consortium of Guyanese auditors to the tune of some US$751,000 to conduct a cost recovery audit of ExxonMobil’s post-2017 (2018-2020) expenses. The contracts were awarded to Ramdihal & Haynes Inc., Eclisar Financial, and Vitality Accounting & Consultancy Inc. The local consortium is supported by international firms - SGS and Martindale Consultants. Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, witnessed the signing between Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Joslyn McKenzie and representatives of the auditing agencies at a sensitisation workshop targeting contractors

and sub-contractors on licensing requirements under the Local Content Act, at the Duke Lodge, Duke Street, Kingston. The cost recovery audit is expected to be completed by September. Minister Bharrat said that as part of the contract, the local companies will benefit from capacity building which could see them conducting such audits independently. “So, we actually put that as part of the contractual arrangement between the consortium and our local companies. So, it caters for knowledge transfer training of our local guys,” the minister further said. He added: “The technical company is needed because our local auditors might be familiar with the auditing of basic expenses

Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, handing over the contract to the auditors in the presence of Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Joslyn McKenzie (DPI photo) - fuel, meals, transportation but when we are talking about jumpers and risers and Christmas trees and FPSO and these technical terms, they will need technical

knowledge and expertise onboard.” The Natural Resources Minister said once the audit is completed, it will be made public and submitted to the

Auditor General’s Office. Bharrat added: “We will look at the findings and recommendations from it (the audits), and I’m sure government will take the

appropriate steps to address those recommendations.” He rubbished claims in some sections of the media that Guyana will not be able to make any claims if discrepancies are unearthed during the audit of ExxonMobil’s subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL). “…that is not true, we have been in constant engagement with the operator, and they are willing to support and be part of the audit,” Minister Bharrat said. In addition to setting the stage for local audit firms to benefit from involvement in cost recovery audits, the government will also build the capacity of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) to conduct its own cost audits for the oil sector. (DPI)

guyana CHRONICLE wednesday may 25, 2022

The world must condemn use of African images to depict Monkeypox

AS the world observed Africa Day, the Caribbean region must join and share in the outrage being expressed by the African media about use of African images to depict the outbreak of Monkey pox in Europe and North America. The Foreign Press Association of Africa (FPAA), on Saturday (May 22), called on “editorial managers in news outlets based outside Africa” to “update their image policies and censure their staff from the allure of using images of Africans, people of African descent, or people living in Africa to depict outbreaks of diseases or calamities.” The FPAA expressed their displeasure in a public statement slamming global media outlets “for using images of blacks alongside stories of the Monkeypox outbreak in North America and the United Kingdom last week...” According to the FDPAA statement: “This past week a handful of cases of Monkeypox were detected in Britain, Portugal, Spain and the US, with cases rising in the latest virus to consume the world.” It noted, however, that “According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Monkeypox is a zoonatic disease caused by the Monkeypox virus, a member of the Orthopoxvirus genus in the family Poxviridae. The virus can (therefore) occur in any region of the world, regardless of race or ethnicity.” The WHO said, as such, it believes that “no race or skin complexion

should be the face of the disease.” According to the FPAA: “It is therefore disturbing for European and North American media outlets to use stock images bearing persons of black and dark and African skin complexion to depict an outbreak of the disease in the United Kingdom and North America.” It asked: “Shouldn’t it be logical that if you are talking about the outbreak of Monkeypox in Europe or the Americas, you should use images of hospitals across Europe or the Americas? Or, in the absence of such use a collection of electronic micrographs with labelled subcellular structures? What was the convenience of using such images to tell the world how Europe and America are reeling from the outbreak of Monkeypox? Is the media in the business of preserving white purity through the black criminality or culpability?” The FPAA condemned the perpetuation of this negative stereotype that assigns calamity to the African race and privilege or immunity to other races. Furthermore, the press association said it finds the use of images to be “very insensitive”, adding that it is glaring in the lack of dignity afforded to black and brown-skinned victims of disease outbreaks. “It is a lack of nuance and empathy given to people suffering from this disease,” it said. The FPAA statement said: “At a time when the world is forging alliances

against systemic racism and racial stereotypes, the media should be at the forefront of shaping positive images and narratives.” The FPAA, therefore, offered its readiness to support media houses seeking to review their editorial policies to reflect correct framing of Africa, people of African descent and people living in Africa. The FPAA’s statement reminds of a stereotype that historically blamed Africa for every global pandemic, from AIDS in the 1980s, all the way through to Ebola and Chikungunya in the 21st Century. From AIDS and COVID-19, the world has come to accept that pandemics respect no borders and the emphasis has to be on how the effects are treated, and not only highlighting and presenting Africa as the only and constant source of all the world’s worst ills. Monkeypox is spreading worldwide as a new communicable infection and it can and will be found anywhere and everywhere; it’s taken by humans and/or animals and must not be used to continue the historical denigration of Africa by the global media outside the continent. Instead, Caribbean nations need to prepare for the eventual arrival of this latest possible epidemic that could also become the next pandemic by taking the necessary precautions and following the necessary health protocols that will become necessary if and when it eventually arrives. And the Caribbean and the world must condemn the continuing misrepresentation of Africa as a continent of worldly illnesses.

guyana CHRONICLE wednesday may 25, 2022

Local Content Register to be published in June –– will be updated regularly, Minister Bharrat says

THE Local Content Secretariat, the body responsible for overseeing and implementing Guyana’s Local Content Act, has been fully operationalised, according to Natural Resources Minister, Vickram

Bharrat. The historic Local Content Act, which was enacted in December last, paved the way for the establishment of the Local Content Secretariat, which falls under the purview of the Ministry of

Natural Resources. Among other things, the secretariat, which is located in Cowan Street, Kington, is mandated to develop and maintain a local content register of qualified Guyanese nationals and companies and

A section of the gathering at the event (DPI photo)

Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, speaking during a workshop at the Duke Lodge (DPI photo) recommend for approval or refusal, master and annual plans submitted. Minister Bharrat, on Tuesday, said that the creation of those registers has commenced, and called on companies and individuals to visit the office and get registered. He was at the time delivering remarks at a consultation on the implementation of the Local Content Law Reporting Requirements and Obligations at Duke Lodge. The aim of the consultation was to engage contractors and subcontractors on licensing requirements under the Local Content Act. “…We have gotten a great response and I want to encourage people to visit the office and register. The staff are there, they are willing

to help, they are willing to provide any support that people need to facilitate the registration process,” Minister Bharrat said. He said the registers will be made available to the public by the first week of June and will be updated regularly. “We will update them on a weekly or fortnightly basis so anyone can go online and see who are registered in terms of individuals or companies,” he said. The Local Content Secretariat is a key component of the Local Content Legislation. It is responsible for developing and maintaining measures for the effective implementation of local content by contractors, sub-contractors and licencees. The secretariat is re-

quired to ensure development and implementation of strategies that give preferences to, or ensure equal treatment of Guyanese nationals and companies, conduct market analysis, make recommendations to the minister, develop formats for local content plans and reporting, develop guidelines – including those for local content reporting, procurement, big evaluation, training, research and development, partnership and joint ventures, and financial and insurance services. Additionally, the body will undertake public education and awareness campaigns and report to the minister on the performance of its functions and the general administration of the legislation. (DPI)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 25, 2022

25 influential women to be honoured at June 18 awards gala

THE achievements and contributions of 25 outstanding Guyanese women will be celebrated at an awards gala slated to be held on June 18 at the Guyana Marriott Hotel in Kingston, Georgetown. The women were selected from over 200 nominations that were submitted in May for the 2022 25 Influential Women Leaders Awards. Director of the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA), Ann

Greene; columnist and youth activist, Marissa Foster; the Medex Training Programme Coordinator, Sarah Daniels; Member of Parliament (MP) and former Magistrate Geeta Chandan-Edmond and reigning Miss World Guyana Joylyn Conway were included in the list which was released on Monday morning. The other awardees are Althea Daniels-Stuart, Bibi Aladdin-Karan, Cristal Robinson, Ertenisa Hamilton, Francine Wintz, Heather

Medex Training Programme Coordinator, Sarah Daniels

Wilson, Kalawattie Datt-Singh, Latoya Gooding, Lavonia S p r i n g e r, M i s c h k a White-Griffith, NarContinued on page 12

Director of the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA), Ann Greene

Miss World Guyana 2019, Joylyn Conway

Member of Parliament, Geeta Chandan-Edmond

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 25, 2022

Clogged drains, channels exacerbating floods — Prime Minister Phillips says, calls on persons to properly dispose of refuse — excavators, pumps deployed to address situation

PRIME MINISTER (PM), Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, is asking residents of flood-impacted areas and, by extension, all of Guyana to ensure that they properly dispose of their garbage. He said that drains and canals continue to be clogged

with garbage and unnecessary items, which exacerbate the problems during the rainy season. The senior government official, who leads the National Taskforce on Flooding, made these comments while meeting with taskforce members,

virtually, on Monday evening. The Taskforce is working through the Civil Defence Commission (CDC); the Ministry of Agriculture via the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), and the Hydrometeorological SerContinued on page 11

The installation of a pump, Monday evening, at the Abary Sluice

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 25, 2022

Clogged drains, channels... From page 10 vice, the Ministry of Housing and Water; and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF). At the meeting, the Prime Minister stressed that operations have been ongoing since the first reports of heavy

Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips

rainfall over the last two days. He indicated that while pumps are being installed and excavators are cleaning waterways, all residents must do their part to ensure that they are prepared for flood impacts. “Persons must also be considerate when disposing of their garbage, which, if done improperly, can aid the flooding of several communities.” Working around the clock Monday evening, several taskforce members, including the Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha and Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, also assessed the works currently being executed to remedy the situation. Minister Mustapha stated that Mahaica-Berbice (Region Five) and Pomeroon-Supenaam (Region Two) are the significantly impacted areas along the coastland. He explained that about 70 per cent of the water from Huntley to Abary in Region Five has receded due to consistent drainage and cleaning operations. Excavators and pumps have been deployed throughout the impacted communities, and minister Mustapha said that he was comfortable with the progress. In Region Two, the dredging of a few rivers, including the Pomeroon River, is high on the agenda to alleviate future inundations. Resources have been mobilised in that region so that relief works can begin as soon as possible.

Minister Croal noted that works were also ongoing in Region Nine and that potable water was, once again, accessible to affected households. He said that although the water level was still rising, the team on the ground has been

Chief Meteorological Officer, Dr. Garvin Cummings

working around the clock to ensure that people got the needed help. At the moment, there are three shelters in place in case persons need to be relocated. In addition, food items distribution will take place through the involvement of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC). Rainfall over the last few days has been excessive. In his report, Chief Meteorological Officer, Dr. Garvin Cummings, indicated that Region Five had the most precipitation (five inches) from Sunday into Monday (24 hours). He said that, although the rainfall was expected to be less on Tuesday, residents should remain cautious. Precipitation was above average in some areas, which greatly exceeded drainage capacity and surface runoff, which has been made worse due to ground saturation, particularly in low-lying and riverain areas. The Taskforce, via the relevant agencies and Ministries, will monitor the developing situation continuously and provide updates as they are available. Persons are encouraged to remain vigilant and cautious during this rainy season and to report any impacts to local authorities or the National Emergency Monitoring System (NEMS) on 6007500 or 226-1114.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 25, 2022

25 influential women to be...

From page 9

da Mohamed, Natasha France, Nikoya Alleyne, Reshma Persaud, Shabakie Fernandes, Sharon Alexander, Shinelle Bayrd, Susannah Isaacs,

Tandika Harry, and Wenyss De Florimonte. During an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, Foster said she was honoured and humbled to be among this year’s

awardees. “It’s a bit shocking to me that I won because I saw the list of the nominations and there were some really inspiring and older women, and

I’m just 21-years-old. But I am very elated and thankful for the recognition...I’m also so thankful to my family because they nominated me for the award,” Fos-

ter said. A social worker who graduated earlier this year with her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, Foster has been involved in volunteering and youth activism since the age of 15. She credits this to her family’s background in volunteerism. “I actually come from a family of service. My father has his own NGO so I gain inspiration from him. That journey about being taught the importance of giving back and serving others when you are in a place of being able to help it just started in my family,” Foster shared. Hailing from the Berbice, Foster is also the founder of the women-led group “Empowered Fem”, which uses social platforms to do various projects that involve empowering women through education, leadership and entrepreneurship. She was also a youth ambassador through the U.S. Embassy. In her weekly column, “Youth Perspective” which is published in the Guyana Chronicle, Foster writes about topical issues affecting youths all across Guyana. Meanwhile, Greene who also spoke to this publication, noted how she too was honoured to have been nominated and then going on to win the award. She said she doesn’t know who nominated her but she is grateful to that person for thinking of her and submitting her name as deserving of the award. “I am humbled and thankful that people are recognising the work that I do, because with the work that I do, there’s not a lot of thanks,” she added. Greene has been at the head of the agency since its establishment

in 2009. Prior to that she was a probation officer for over 30 years, retiring as the Chief Probation and Social Services Officer in 2005. She then returned to the Ministry of Social Services and Social Security that same year as a technical officer for orphans and vulnerable children under a programme with UNICEF. She has been in the public service for 50 years. Inaugurated in 2019 by female entrepreneurs and exemplary leaders in their own right, Michelle A. Nicholas of The NICO Consulting Inc. and Lyndell Danzie-Black of Cerulean Inc., said the awards honour women who have impressed their peers and neighbours with their commendable contributions and hard work in various fields, including business, community service, health services and other areas of development. According to the organisers, the 2022 awardees were selected based on them having demonstrated a deep commitment to the development of their organisations, agencies and communities. Recognised as Guyana’s most prestigious accolade, the award captures the essence of excellence, extraordinary achievement and dynamic leadership, distilled in the women who bear the distinction of receiving the award. “Since 2019, fifty women have received this award and have benefitted from various tailored programming geared to further their empowerment, intellectual advancement, social growth and leadership, as well as advance their commitment to community service,” a statement from the organisers said.

guyana CHRONICLE wednesday may 25, 2022

Dynamic ‘zero-COVID’ approach: China’s choice to safeguard lives, underpin economic growth By Lyu Hui | Xinhua |

FACING the highly transmissible Omicron variant, China is sticking with a dynamic “zero-COVID policy” when most other countries have eased restrictions and shifted towards living with the virus. Some overseas media question the sustainability of the dynamic zero-COVID approach, citing the high social and economic cost. However, China is determined to contain the virus while maintaining economic growth. This strategy stems from a deep care for the vulnerable, a strong belief in the people’s strength and resilience, and unswerving faith in the country’s future. The dynamic zero-COVID approach suits that goal best. SAFEGUARDING PEOPLE’S HEALTH Since the outbreak of COVID-19, China has always put the people and their lives first. China’s dynamic zero-COVID policy is not aimed at realising zero infection, but rather at bringing COVID-19 under control at the minimum social cost in the shortest time possible, so as to effectively protect the health, normal life and production of the Chinese people to the maximum. The relaxation of epidemic control and prevention is not suitable for the world’s most populous country, home to 267 million elderly people aged 60 and above and 260 million people with underlying health conditions. Currently, vaccination rates for elderly and children are not high enough. Moreover, with unbalanced regional development as well as insufficient medical resources, China would see widespread infections with a huge amount of severe cases and deaths if the strict virus control measures were loosened prematurely. “If we are not firm about the dynamic zero-COVID policy, China may miss the best time to stem the resurgence of cases, which may lead to higher costs and unbearable consequences,” China’s leading epidemiologist Liang Wannian recently said. If China abandons the current dynamic zero-COVID policy, China

could face more than 1.5 million COVID-19 deaths, a study published in Nature Medicine concludes. According to another study published in Lancet, the persistence of dynamic zero COVID-19 community transmission in Shanghai and other regions will overcome weak links in the immunological barrier in populations across the country. “When you look at the world, we can say that China’s method is more suitable when considering public health,” Bulent Ertugrul, an expert from Reyap Hospital in Istanbul, told Xinhua, noting that the dynamic zero-COVID approach has proved a significant success in China. Since March this year, China has withstood the most severe challenge on COVID-19 control and prevention since the anti-epidemic battle of Wuhan in early 2020, as sporadic resurgences of domestic cases erupted in many regions across China. Thanks to the zero-COVID policy of mass testing, quarantine, temporary lockdowns, and closedoff management, the current wave of epidemic has steadily shown signs of improvement. China’s financial hub, Shanghai, has cut off the community transmission of COVID-19 in all of its 16 districts and is seeing more factories return to normal operations and businesses reopen. ENSURING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT It is inevitable that the stringent anti-epidemic measures will cause shortterm economic pains, but the claims that anti-epidemic control and prevention measures will stifle the growth of the world’s second-largest economy is shortsighted. Dynamic zero-COVID does not run counter to economic development, rather it is a counter-epidemic policy that ensures economic growth in the long run. More than two years into the pandemic, China has made strenuous efforts to strike a balance between epidemic response and economic development. By adhering to the dynamic zero-COVID policy,

Residents wait in line to receive COVID-19 tests in Shanghai, east China, May 17, 2022. China’s Shanghai has cut off the community transmission of COVID-19 in all its 16 districts, a municipal official said Tuesday (Xinhua/Liu Ying)

China was among the first countries to bring the epidemic under control and return to positive growth in 2020 and logged a growth rate of 8.1 per cent in 2021. As a result of a precise reaction to the virus and a slew of pro-growth policies, China’s economy is off to a steady start this year, with its GDP up 4.8 per cent year on year in the first three months. “The fundamentals of the Chinese economy remain unchanged. The overall trends

of economic transformation and upgrading and high-quality development remain unchanged,” spokesperson for the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Fu Linghui said. Although some indicators saw contractions in April, China’s economy is expected to improve in the following months with the accelerating resumption of work and production in Shanghai and some other see page 14

guyana CHRONICLE wednesday may 25, 2022

Shanghai’s public transport resuming By Cao Yin and Zhou Wenting in Shanghai | CHINA DAILY ZHANG Junhuan, a Shanghai resident living in the city’s downtown Jing’an District, took his first bus trip in nearly two months on Sunday. He made a return visit to

Longhua Hospital, affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Xuhui district, for a chronic kidney stone condition. The trip was made possible by the city resuming part of its public transportation services after they were suspended for more than a month since early April.

A total of 273 bus routes and four metro lines?three, six, 10 and 16?that form a network covering the urban areas and provide access to the city’s airports, railway stations, major hospitals and commercial districts have resumed operations. Zhang said the trip took him around two hours with

one bus transfer, similar to the time it took before the latest outbreak. While traffic is not as busy as it was before, he said he had to spend more time waiting for the buses, which are currently running at intervals much longer than usual. Bus 49, whose route cov-

Bus route No. 49 runs in Shanghai on May 22, 2021 (Photo by Zhu Xingxin/chinadaily.com.cn) ers 15 hospitals, on Sunday ran at intervals of 40 minutes compared with five minutes before the epidemic, according to Zhang. Passengers must wear face masks and each has to present a negative nucleic acid test result taken within 48 hours and scan a venue QR code. Zhang said the bus driver scrutinised each test result, and the windows were open to ensure ventilation. He was concerned his trip wouldn’t be smooth, “but today’s experience has proved that everything is organised”. The four metro lines, which resumed services on Sunday, are running from 7:00 hours to 20:00 hours at intervals of about 20 minutes. Each station on the four lines has been ordered to set up a quarantine site, where protective hazmat suits are prepared in case someone is

found with an abnormal health code, according to Wei Lei, who is responsible for the operation of Metro Line Three. “If that happens, we’ll transfer the person to the site and ask him or her to put on a protective suit before we reach the center for disease control and prevention for further transfer,” Wei said, adding: “Disinfection will occur immediately after the transfer.” Shanghai registered 52 local COVID-19 confirmed cases and 570 asymptomatic infections on Saturday. All the infections were found inside quarantined and locked-down populations, according to the Shanghai Health Commission. As of Saturday, the number of residents in lockeddown zones in the city with a population of 25 million had further shrunk to 510,000.

Dynamic ‘zero-COVID’ approach: China’s choice ... from page 13 regions. “With the epidemic coming under control and production and people’s lives returning to normal, the pent-up consumption will be gradually released,” Fu said. China remains a hotspot for foreign investors seeking predictable market opportunities at a difficult time amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Foreign direct investment into the Chinese mainland, in actual use, expanded 25.6 per cent year on year to 379.87 billion yuan in the first quarter of the year, according to the Ministry of Commerce. As Bloomberg has analysed, over the past two years, China’s anti-pandemic policy “has prevented a huge number of deaths at home and ensured that everything from iPhones and Teslas to fertiliser and car parts continues to flow to the rest of the world.” “The epidemic’s impact is temporary and shortlived, and the economy will soon be back on track under efficient coordination between epidemic containment and economic development,” deputy director of the National Development and Reform Commission, Zhao Chenxin said. UNREMITTING CONTROL EFFORTS The global COVID-19 pandemic situation is still severe and full of uncertainties. So far, the global COVID-19 death toll has reached 6.26 million, according to Johns Hopkins University’s dashboard. As a developing country with a population of 1.4 billion, China has managed to keep the COVID-19 infection and mortality rates lowest in the world, a clear vindication of the effectiveness of China’s zero-COVID policy. The pandemic is far from over, the dynamic zero-COVID approach has helped ensure people’s health and underpin steady economic development.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 25, 2022

FAO unveils new public tool based on agricultural census data

(FAO) Policymakers and researchers who advise now have a powerful new tool. THE Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is endowing FAOSTAT, the world’s largest agricultural data base, with an important new domain that enables much easier comparison and assessment of trends over time of the agricultural structures of all member countries. An open access portal serving as a global public good, FAOSTAT gathers and harmonizes a wealth of data on the production, trade and consumption in the agricultural sector, by far the world’s largest economic sector in terms of employment and sustaining livelihoods. In recent years, FAO has added an increasing array of critical information on greenhouse gas emissions, land use, forest cover and investment. Now it is adding “Structural Data from Agricultural Censuses,” which present finegrained national reports that track, among others, how large farm holdings are, who works on them, and who owns them. “This data is not available anywhere in the world,” Senior Statistician and Leader of the FAO’s World Programme for the Census of Agriculture, Jairo Castano said. He added: “This is precious bottom-up information based on actual farms, all the world’s farms.” The new domain allows rapid access to knowing how many farms exist in a given country, what their sizes are, the tenure typology determining ownership, the farmer’s gender, and how many people live and work on them, all sourced to national Agricultural Censuses. “This allows policy workers to compare the structure of the agricultural sector of one country with that of another or of a region, while also allowing researchers to analyze, for example, the distribution of farm sizes both at the national and global level,” Castano said. SOME TAKEAWAYS The Russian Federation has the largest total area covered by farms, at 451 million hectares, followed by Australia, the United States of America and Brazil. Russia also has the most holdings or farms - regardless of size - per 1,000 people, followed by China, Vietnam and India. The countries with the largest average farm size are

Australia, followed at a distance by Iceland, Argentina, Uruguay, Canada, New Zealand and Czech Republic. Among countries that have conducted a census, those with the smallest reported average holdings’ area are Palau, Bangladesh and Egypt. Some 40 per cent or more of all agricultural holdings are headed by women in Lithuania, Latvia and Eswatini. Nowhere is that above 50 per cent. In eight countries, 60 per cent or more of farm land is rented rather than operated by owners. Apart from Northern Mariana Islands, they are all in Europe, including France and Germany. Holdings operated by juridical persons - corporations, cooperatives or government agencies - are most frequent in France, Uruguay, Guam, South Africa, Czech Republic and Iceland, and rarely exceed 10 per cent. When measured by area instead of individual units, however, juridical control characterises more than twothirds of holdings in Namibia, Slovakia, Mauritius, Czechia and Bulgaria, followed closely by Peru and Hungary. Countries where most of the household members in agricultural holdings were actually engaged in agriculture include Brazil, Vietnam, Uruguay and Republic of Korea. The trend is increasing in those countries as well as in Burkina Faso, Myanmar and Japan.

THE IMPORTANCE OF CENSUSES The evident variety of agricultural structures that can appear in such classifications highlights the importance of tailored policies, which can be improved by the historical evidence the new FAOSTAT domain offers. The data currently encompassed the census rounds of 1990, 2000 and 2010, with 2020 data soon to be added as it arrives. FAO’s Statistics Division will also embark on the process of scanning, text mining and uploading historical data, some of which goes back to the 1930s and was initially collected by the International Institute of Agriculture, an entity whose role FAO subsumed when established in 1945. While the new FAOSTAT domain offers a powerful tool for all to use, it is built on the data gathered by the programme that FAO oversees through the World Programme for the Census of Agriculture. Prior to the rollout of the new open access tool, FAO

experts did painstaking work to calculate the global role in feeding the world performed by the world’s smallholders. As the new domain fills out, more granular and policy-relevant analyses will be easier to conduct, both by FAO and governments and researchers in member countries.

Tracking agricultural landholdings

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 25, 2022

GuyDrones ‘piloting’ technological integration in agriculture with drone ‘tech’ By Naomi Parris

IN a move which seeks to revolutionise the practices within the agricultural sector, local drone solutions company GuyDrones, will be exploring the possibility of employing its modern-day technology in the aquaculture sub-sector and utilising robotics to advance other aspects of agriculture.

Vice-President and Chief Pilot at GuyDrones, Ershad Mahamad, said that drone technology is not limited to land and air, as there are also underwater drones that could be used to boost production and enhance productivity in the aquaculture sector. “Drone technology is not just limited to land, we can put it under water, which is aquaculture, in maritime and

marine as well… on the agriculture side, we have sluices and aqueducts and so forth that these underwater drones can go under and monitor the integrity of those structures,” Mahamad said during an interview with the Guyana Chronicle on the sidelines of the recent three-day Agri-Investment Forum and Expo. The drone technology, called ROV, features a sonar

and thermal camera and it could dive 300 metres below the surface of water. “ROV, we use it for recreation and unfortunately we don’t have too many clear waters in Guyana but, it has been used in other regions of the Caribbean, where they can go and see the coral reefs and so forth,” Mahamad related. Considering its benefits,

GuyDrone’s Vice-President and Chief Pilot, Ershad Mahamad (left), alongside the company’s Sales Manager, Sheik Yaseen

he said that the underwater drones would not only benefit the aquaculture sector in Guyana, but also assist with infrastructural development. Using the Demerara Harbour Bridge as an example of how this drone technology could boost efficiency, Mahamad said: “A typical example we have is the harbour bridge that has anchor points… this drone will go under there and see what [is] happening versus the conventional way of having a diver go long hours.” Additionally, he related that incorporating drone technology in agriculture is far more expansive than just using the device for spraying crops. He noted that incorporating drone and robotics into the sector could make the lives of farmers easier. “Drone technology is not just limited to the drone, but it has sensors and it goes hand in hand with robotics as well… my goal, objectively, is to go into drone and robotics. We are going to have drones and robotics looking after everything in agriculture, from pulling out a weed, crop- monitoring; providing

data to the farmer[s] so they can analyse and make wise judgment,[s] and so forth,” Mahamad said. He added: “We have a drone that could basically tell you how many cows you have in your yard and if the cow is pregnant as well, so it monitors the heart of the cow as well. And we know that is a hard task if you have over 100 cows.” With the hope of further expansion, GuyDrones is set to establish an assembly plant in Guyana to not just meet agricultural needs in Guyana, but also the entire Caribbean region. On this note, Mahamad said: “Our goal in the next 10 years is to have a drone-assembly plant in Guyana, and supply the region and CARICOM as well. I already have the necessary training that is required for it and I’m just looking into the infrastructural aspect of it.” He related that with such an expansion of technology, agriculture as we know it would be revolutionised.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 25, 2022

Co-operation between civilians, police a necessity for law, order in society

— acting Police Commissioner says COMMISSIONER of Police (ag), Clifton Hicken, has condemned a recent altercation between an officer of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and a civilian. In a video that was circulated on various social

media platforms, a traffic rank could be seen trading punches with a civilian, who was purportedly resisting arrest. The acting Top Cop has since said that an investigation will be done with some degree of alacrity to

Murder accused to face new trial following ‘hung’ jury DONELL Trapp called ‘Short Man’ will have to face a new trial for allegedly murdering re-migrant agriculturist, Anthony Breedy, as the

dyke-Linden Highway. He had pleaded not guilty. The State was represented by prosecutors, Lisa Cave and Latifah Elliott, while Trapp was

MURDER ACCUSED Donell Trapp called ‘Short Man’

DEAD: Anthony Breedy

12-member jury could not arrive at a verdict after two hours of deliberation on Tuesday. As a result of this development, he was further remanded to prison by the presiding judge, Justice Jo-Ann Barlow. He will be retried at the next practical sitting of the Demerara Assizes. Trapp formerly of Timehri, East Bank Demerara (EBD) was on trial at the Demerara High Court for the murder of the 60-year-old man, between March 12 and 14, 2016 at Hill Foot, Soes-

represented by attorneys-at-law Dexter Smartt and Javon Cox. According to reports, Breedy’s body was found with hands and feet bound, on the lower flat of his two-storey house. It was also reported that he had sustained multiple injuries to his head. It is believed that, after the act was committed, the perpetrators made off with his Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) and other belongings, including an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card.

ascertain the reason for this incident, and to avoid such occurrences moving forward. He also appealed to the public to co-operate with the police and vice versa. “The police does not and cannot operate in isolation, thus the need for partnership

Commissioner of Police (ag), Clifton Hicken

and co-operation between the police and the public – one that should be premised on mutual trust and co-operation while exploring every avenue to maintain law and order in society,” Hicken was quoted as saying in a press release issued by the GPF. The acting Top Cop assured the public that

the police force is working on ensuring that there is strict adherence to the standard operations procedures (SOPs), and that ranks are professional in the discharge of their duties, even in the face of harassment and intimidation from non-co-operating civilians.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 25, 2022

Contracts valuing $3.1B awarded for upgrade of bridges from Kurupukari-Lethem CONTRACTS valuing $3.1 billion have been awarded by the Ministry of Public Works for the rehabilitation of 32 bridges along the Kurupukari-Lethem corridor. According to Public Works Minister, Juan Edghill, the impending works will support the phased construction of paved roads from Linden to Lethem.

Minister Edghill told the Guyana Chronicle that the contracts for the 32 bridges were awarded to six contractors, with site visits, inspection, and surveys already completed. “All of them, all 32 have been awarded; site inspections have been done, mobilisation is ongoing and work is beginning. There are six contractors

that they [the projects] have been awarded to,” the minister said. The massive project which was catered for in Budget 2022, is expected to support the drive to create greater opportunities for cooperation and investments between Guyana and Brazil. In recent months, authorities have continued to move Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill

closer to finalising arrangements for the paving of the road from Linden to Lethem, which serves as a conduit for travel between Guyana and Brazil. Guyana is linked directly to Brazil through Lethem, which lies just on the edge of the border between the two

countries. And, as it is now, the journey from Lethem to Georgetown takes as many as 13 hours depending on the state of the road. The unpaved 450-kilometre road from Linden to Lethem is often impassable in the rainy season, due to flooding along low-lying sections of the trail. Although air travel to Lethem is also possible, anecdotal information shows that the cost factor often discourages the average Guyanese from choosing this mode of transportation. Once paved, the road which was referred to as a game-changer by Ambassador July will eradicate many bottlenecks to travel by reducing ground transportation time to approximately five hours. “Linden-Lethem corridor will be a game-changer

for Guyana and Brazil,” Director of the Department of International Co-operation at Guyana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Ambassador Forbes July, said in a recent address in April. This piece of infrastructure will not just improve transportation, but it will also augment trade and tourism, and increase land value, among other things. In providing an update on the status of this initiative, Ambassador July said: “…the two sides are in consultation to finalise the modalities for the movement of passengers and goods between Guyana and Brazil.” While talks on this project are progressing, he said Guyana remains committed to Continued on page 20

Health Ministry on lookout for severe skin rashes

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 25, 2022

— with reported cases of Monkeypox across the world WITH over 100 cases of the “Monkeypox” being reported worldwide, the Health Ministry in Guyana is keeping an eye out for persons with symptoms of the virus. In an advisory to Health officials and surveillance units dated May 21, 2022, Chief Medical Officer, Dr Narine Singh, urged all healthcare professionals’ at all healthcare facilities to be vigilant for any case of an “acute skin rash syndrome.” The advisory notes are based on the evolving epide-

miological situation globally and in the America’s. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), since May 13, 2022, cases of the Monkeypox have been reported in several countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Portugal and Spain. Monkeypox, according to the WHO is a virus which is transmitted to humans from animals with symptoms similar to those seen in the past in smallpox patients. Meanwhile, when this publication contacted Chief

Medical Officer Dr. Narine Singh, he told this newspaper that the advisory was issued for health workers to be on the alert and for persons who have signs and symptoms to report same to the health authorities. “There is just a medical alert, for the medical community that in case persons present with signs and symptoms to have it reported,” he said while adding that it came as part of a global alert. Dr. Singh added that there had been no sign of the virus in the country while

adding that surveillance must be heightened to ensure it does not reach Guyana. In its fact sheet, the WHO said that animal to human transmission of the virus could occur from direct contact with the blood, bodily fluids, or cutaneous or mucosal lesions of infected lesions. However, human-to-human transmission can result from close contact with respiratory secretions, skin lesions of an infected person, or recently contaminated objects.

Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Narine Singh

Contracts valuing $3.1B awarded...

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 25, 2022 From page 18 building and expanding its relationship with the people of Brazil and integrating the two nations through infrastructural and other initiatives, which would be beneficial to both sides. Guyana and Brazil estab-

lished diplomatic relations on August 26, 1968, and the two nations have since been co-operating on areas such as trade, health, agriculture, transport, and security matters. And with the potential paving of the road, there will be even greater opportunities

for co-operation between the two countries. It was reported that a large part of Guyana’s economic potential remains untapped and would be revealed only after the construction of the road linking Linden to Lethem and, by extension, Brazil, is completed. GREAT POTENTIAL President of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), Dr. Hyginus ‘Gene’ Leon, in describing the massive project which will be done in phases, said: “Almost one half of Guyana’s potential will be linked one way or the other to just opening that corridor… we are using Linden to Lethem, but I am referring here from the deep-sea port in Georgetown all the way to connectivity to Brazil.” The CDB is no stranger to this initiative since it has provided direct funding of US$112 million for the upgrading of 121 kilometers of road from Linden to Mabura Hill. The project is a joint undertaking of Guyana, the United Kingdom and the CDB. The Ministry of Public Works, last Friday, signed a contract for the upgrading of the Linden to Mabura Hill Road. At the signing and sod-turning ceremony held at Wisroc Junction, Linden, Region 10, Minister within the Ministry of Public Works Deodat Indar, said there will be a two-lane highway costing around US$190 million. The contract for this project was awarded to Construtora Queiroz Galvao S.A. from Brazil. The upgrading of this corridor will provide year-round connectivity between Linden and Mabura Hill, improving conditions for local and longhaul transport. And although the intended aim of this specific project is to improve connectivity between Guyana’s hinterland and the coastal areas, it is just the first phase of the wider plan to develop the transportation corridor from Georgetown to Lethem on the southwest border, thereby connecting the port in Georgetown with northern Brazil. Dr. Leon believes that while this augurs well for Guyana’s internal advancement, the project will essentially create a hemispheric corridor, linking South America to the Atlantic and, similarly, granting the Caribbean access to South America “That sort of project is transformational… every effort should be focused on getting that to its completion point, as soon as is feasible within the borderlines of cross finances, construction, and taking it to completion,” the CDB’s President advised.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 25, 2022

Man gets 18 years for raping girl HIGH Court Judge, Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, on Tuesday, sentenced Aduke Josiah to 18 years behind bars for the 2018 rape of a 15-year-old girl. The Plum Park, Sophia resident, was last month found guilty by a 12-member jury at the Demerara Sexual Offences Court. Josiah had denied engaging in sexual activity with the teen on August 18, 2018. Justice Sewnarine-Beharry during her sentencing remarks on Tuesday, un-

Aduke Josiah

derscored the physical and psychological trauma the victim has had to face, and continued to face. Among other things, the judge said that Josiah lacked genuine remorse and had maintained his innocence. The judge, after taking into consideration the nature and prevalence of the offence, sentenced Josiah to 18 years. According to reports, Josiah is known to the child’s family. It was alleged that he would often visit the victim’s home. On the day in question, he visited the teen’s home while she was alone and raped her. The child subsequently confided in her relatives, and the matter was reported to the police. Josiah was later arrested and charged. The victim, in her impact statement to the court, said that for the first time since the incident, she felt relaxed after testifying in court against her rapist. “I feel satisfied that Aduke Josiah was found guilty because he took something from me that was not for him. He made me live with that memory repeating over and over in my head every day of my life,” she said in her statement.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 25, 2022

Taxi driver freed of teacher’s murder after state fails to locate key witnesses

DUE to the State’s failure to locate key witnesses in the trial into the murder of young teacher, Kescia Branche, her alleged killer, Matthew Monroe, was, on Tuesday, freed by Justice Sandil Kissoon.

The trial commenced on Tuesday morning at the Demerara High Court before a 12-member jury after the 51-year-old man pleaded not guilty to murdering the woman on November 7, 2017, at

Georgetown. The State was represented by prosecutors Abigail Gibb, Taneisha Sagon, and Mohammed Ali, while Dexter Todd, Dexter Smartt, Jevon Cox and Shercola Exeter were the attorneys on

record for Munroe. The prosecutors led the evidence of three witnesses before the case was adjourned for lunch. However, when the court resumed for the afternoon session, the State indicated that

certain key witnesses could not be located and requested an adjournment. Justice Kissoon then indicated that owing to the absent witnesses, he did not believe there would be sufficient evidence for the State to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt. He then directed the jury to return a formal not guilty verdict for Monroe. Branche, a mother of one, who resided in Cummings Lodge, Greater Georgetown, was last seen alive on November 4, 2017, when she left for a night out with her friends. She was found in an unconscious state in the vicinity of Princes Street and Louisa Row in the city the following day. Her left leg was broken and there was evidence that she had sustained multiple head injuries. The Richard Ishmael Sec-

ondary School teacher died at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) two days later. A post-mortem examination revealed that she died as a result of brain haemorrhage. During the investigation, three suspects who were being questioned, were released. At the time of the trio’s release, the police were seeking to contact the taxi driver whose cell phone number appeared repeatedly on Branche’s mobile device. The taxi driver’s car was impounded at the Brickdam Police Station, subsequent to his reported departure from the country, after Branche was found in an unconscious state. Investigators were of the opinion that the driver might have been the last person to see the teacher alive.

GPHC’s medical services to be enhanced — as eight nurses complete bachelor’s degree in Emergency Nursing

EIGHT Nurses from the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation were recently presented with awards for their outstanding performance upon completion of their Bachelor’s Degree in Emergency Nursing. According to the Georgetown Public Hospital in a press release, the degree programme was as a collaboration between Vanderbilt University of Nashville, Tennessee, and the University of Guyana. The programme commenced on November 25, 2016. The eight nurses presented with awards for their high achievements were Rayan Denny, Latoya Moffatt, Anastasia Williams, Kenroy Moseley, Jomal Warrick, Jewel Benja-

min, Betsy Brown and Shauna Broomes. The GPHC noted that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the faculty of the University in Tennessee was unable to travel to Guyana last year to end the programme officially. However, the programme was concluded when the university faculty conducted trauma team training for emergency medicine and nursing last week. As such, the visiting team, which included Jessica Van Meter, Director of the Emergency Nursing Programme, and Sally Dye, the Assistant Director, congratulated the graduates and were able to present the awards last Friday.

The nurses who received their awards posed with other officials and the visiting team (GPHC photo)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 25, 2022

Consultations begin for formulation of real estate legislation

Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, S.C., with stakeholders from the real estate industry

SEVERAL stakeholders within the real estate industry met recently with Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, S.C., to initiate consultations on the formulation of legislation to govern operations within the country’s fast growing real estate industry. According to a press release, the Attorney-General said that the real estate industry was one which Guyana had an obligation to regulate by way of legislation under the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) law and, therefore, the request from stakeholders was seen as timely. He invited submissions of recommendations for the proposed legislation and said that it will be reviewed and approved by the government after consulting with industry stakeholders before it is taken to Parliament. As a follow up to the meeting with the Attorney-General, a virtual meeting was held with the aim of reaching all other realtors to formulate a comprehensive proposal for the model real estate legislation. The press release further stated that, during the meeting, a short-term interim steering committee was established to expedite the process of submitting the legislation and to form one unified association that is built on pillars of inclusivity and fairness for all. The members of the interim steering committee are Stefan John, Stanley Wills, Sharia Bacchus, Steven Per-

saud, Ryan Gomes, Rashawna Alleyne, Rosh Khan, Peter Abai, Pete Persaud, Nicola Duggan, Melissa Khan, Komal Ramnauth, Jewan Ramkumar, Chief Samsair, Alfred Mentor and Aleem Hussain. An association will soon be formed, and there will be a democratic process to elect the executive management team based on its membership. The association will also offer different tiers of membership, as it aims to be inclusive to involve all players in the real estate industry. A date regarding the general meeting for the initiation of the real estate association will be announced soon. While the proposed legislation is being prepared for submission to the Ministry of Legal Affairs, it is important to note that key components of the proposed legislation will include a code of conduct for real estate agents and brokers, the formalisation of the current transaction process with enhancements, greater protections for buyers, sellers, agents, and brokers, and the creation of a state-run real estate authority which will oversee key issues such as real estate training and certification, and the process for devising solutions for real estate issues. “The steering committee hereby requests feedback and participation from all real estate agents and firms,” the press release stated. This feedback will be compiled into the proposal which will be submitted to the Ministry of Legal Affairs. Coordinators of the

process have asked that all questions and contributions be submitted via email to RealEstateAssociationGY@ gmail.com by May 27, 2022.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, May 25, 2022

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday May 25, 2022

BCB executives hail female team following GCB Inter-County 50-Over title win … Foster donates gear to Upper Berbice THE president, executives and members of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) extended their joy and gratitude towards their women’s team and coaching staff who recently secured the 2022 Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Female Inter-County title. Berbice women’s team manager and long-serving BCB executive Angela Haniff, coach Winston

Smith, Guyana/West Indies all-rounder and team captain Shemaine Campbelle as well as her squad gained massive praise from the Ancient County board. This past weekend at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence the ladies lifted the 50-Over title to add to the 20/20 Chip which they had won last week. “We would like to reassure you that we would

continue to invest heavily in female cricket and that more tournaments are on the cards, so that you can improve even more,” said BCB president Hilbert Foster. Berbice star players, all-rounder Shabika Gajnabi won the tournament MVP award for her 173 runs and 5 wickets. Meanwhile, Katana Mentore added further hardware to Berbice’s haul

Miller magic carries Gujarat Titans to IPL final A SENSATIONAL innings of 68 from David Miller took Gujarat Titans to the IPL final after they beat Rajasthan Royals by seven wickets in yesterday's qualifier. This was just the second meeting between the Titans and the Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL), with Gujarat also winning by 37 runs last month. Jos Buttler had blasted 89 to help Royals set a target of 189 in Kolkata, but despite an early setback, Titans built their reply well before fireworks from Miller finished it off. Yashasvi Jaiswal fell for just three early in the Royals' innings, but Buttler and captain Sanju Samson put on a partnership of 68 to recover, with Samson hitting 47 off just 26 balls. Buttler was unusually cautious until putting his foot down later in the innings, particularly once Devdutt Padikkal (28) had departed, with the England

international hitting two late sixes to add to his 12 fours, before being run-out in the final over. The Titans lost Wriddhiman Saha for a second-ball duck off the bowling of Trent Boult (1-38), but their batting was steady from there, with Shubman Gill and Matthew Wade both adding 35 each, before Hardik Pandya and Miller came to the crease. Pandya played a captain's innings of 40 from 27 balls, but it was Miller who claimed the highlights, especially near the end of the chase as the nerves ratcheted up. Needing 16 off the last over, Miller only took three balls to do the job as he smashed three sixes to send Titans to the final in style. The Royals have now played 10 games at Eden Gardens in the IPL, losing eight. Only at their home stadium in Jaipur (15) and at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai (nine) have they lost more.

They will now have to play the winners of today's eliminator between Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) to make it to the final. Although they had plenty of wickets in hand, it did look at one stage like Gujarat had given themselves a bit too much to do, until Miller stepped up. The South African took just 38 balls to knock 68 in Kolkata, with three fours and five sixes. It was hardly a great day in the field for the Titans, except for Rashid Khan, who had an economy of 3.75 (15 runs), with none of the other three bowlers who bowled four overs having less than 10.75 (43 runs). The Afghanistan spinner did not take any wickets, but if it was not for his stinginess with the ball in hand, the total would likely have been too much for even Miller's ability. (SportsMax)

Boodhoo elected new... HITTING THE GROUND RUNNING Meanwhile, the new committee plans to hit the ground running, addressing several concerns from members present about the current state of sections of the track. "During this week, the new executive will take a trip

to the track to firstly examine what we are working with and then move forward. I know a lot of you raised complaints with some sections of the track and we will see how best we can sort that," Boodhoo said. The question was also asked if the dates for events

(From back page)

published earlier this year will remain the same. The new GMR&SC boss opined that while there might be changes, it will be communicated during the remainder of this week to ensure that there are no disenfranchised competitors.

as she copped the award for leading run-scorer with 198 tournament runs. Also, following up with his donations over the weekend of cricket gear, Foster recently received a message from Mr Danny Hodge, a member of the community of Hururu Ladernville, located in the Upper Berbice River. Hodge, relayed that they have a cricket team there

and a lot of youths are passionate about the game, thus requesting assistance in the form of gear. Foster readily agreed to the request and fulfilled his promise by handing over some gear in the form of scorebook, balls and white cricket shirts on behalf of BCB and Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTYSC). He wished the team well

and committed to assisting in the future as resources become available. In reply, Hodge expressed delight at the quick response to his request and stated that he was always confident that Foster would assist. The RHTYSC will plan a visit to the area later in the year or early next year, as part of its ongoing cricket development programme.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday May 25, 2022

Sri Lanka start strong after Rahim's unbeaten 175 SRI Lanka openers struck half-centuries to help the visitors end the second day on 143 for 2 against Bangladesh in Dhaka. While Oshada Fernando fell for 57, Dimuth Karunaratne stayed unbeaten on 70 with Sri Lanka still trailing by 222 after restricting Bangladesh to 365. The day, however, belonged to Mushfiqur Rahim, who struck an unbeaten 175, and Kasun Rajitha, who bagged his maiden five-wicket haul. Bangladesh had staged a remarkable recovery in

the opening day when they went from being 24 for 5 to ending the day on 277 for 5. Head coach Chris Silverwood was left lamenting the too many 'hit-me balls' the bowlers had offered but was confident that they will be able to do some quick course correction on the second day. Litton Das was the first to fall on the second day - for 141 - as the 272-run stand with Rahim came to an end. Taijul Islam resisted for a bit while Rahim kept the runs coming but Sri Lanka too kept chipping away.

Dimuth Karunaratne remained unbeaten on 70

Asitha Fernando ended with four with Ebadot Hossain becoming the last man to fall - to a run-out as Rahim

was left stranded. Both Fernando and Karunaratne came out attacking and scored 84 in the first 22 overs to take the side to tea without any loss. Fernando successfully reviewed a caught-behind decision against him to survive a close call while Karunaratne fetched his first boundary of the innings when he flicked Hossain behind square. The start was completely in contrast to the one Bangladesh made against the

new ball on the first day. With wickets not appearing to come anytime soon, Mominul Haque turned to spin as early as in the eighth over as he brought on Shakib Al Hasan and Mosaddek Hossain. Bangladesh finally struck in the fourth over post tea when Fernando fell to a poor shot against Ebadot. The pacer could have had two in the over but the team decided against a review, against Karunaratne on the second

ball of the over. Karunaratne was then given another reprieve when a sharp chance was dropped by the short leg fielder off the bowling of Taijul Islam. Three overs before close, Kusal Mendis fell lbw to Shakib al Hasan after a patient 49-ball 11 as Bangladesh managed to even things out but will be well aware there's plenty of work remaining to be done on the third day, especially on a good track. (Cricbuzz)

SCOREBOARD BANGLALDESH 1st innings o/n 277 for 5 Mahmudul Hasan Joy b Kasun Rajitha 0 Tamim Iqbal c Praveen Jayawickrama b Asitha Fernando 0 Najmul Hossain Shanto b Kasun Rajitha 8 Mominul Haque c Niroshan Dickwella b Asitha Fernando 9 Mushfiqur Rahim not out 175 Shakib Al Hasan lbw Kasun Rajitha 0 Liton Das c Kusal Mendis b Kasun Rajitha 141 Mosaddek Hossain c Niroshan Dickwella b Kasun Rajitha 0 Taijul Islam c Niroshan Dickwella b Asitha Fernando 15 Khaled Ahmed c Niroshan Dickwella b Asitha Fernando 0 Ebadot Hossain run-out Dimuth Karunaratne 0 Extras: (b-8, lb-4 nb-2, w-3) 17 Total: (all out, 116.2 overs) 365

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-6, 3-16, 4-24, 5-24, 6-296, 7-296, 8-345, 9-349. Bowling: Kasun Rajitha 28.2-7-64-5 (nb-1), Asitha Fernando 26-3-93-4 (w-2), Praveen Jayawickrama 38-9-108-0 (w-1), Ramesh Mendis 14-0-53-0, Dhananjaya de Silva 6-0-27-0 (nb-1). SRI LANKA 1st innings Oshada Fernando c Najmul Hossain Shanto b Ebadot Hossain 57 Dimuth Karunaratne not out 70 Kusal Mendis lbw Shakib Al Hasan 11 Kasun Rajitha not out 0 Extras: (lb-3, nb-2) 5 Total: (two wkts, 46.0 overs) 143-2 Fall of wickets: 1-95 Fernando, 2-139 Mendis Bowling: Khaled Ahmed 9-1-27-0 (nb-1), Ebadot Hossain 9-0-31-1, Shakib Al Hasan 9-3-19-1, Taijul Islam 17-1-49-0 (nb-1)

Tatum stars as Boston Celtics level series with Miami Heat JAYSON Tatum rediscovered top form to help Boston Celtics level their Eastern Conference play-off final with Miami Heat. The Celtics forward, 24, scored 31 points in a 102-82 win that levelled the best-of-seven series at 2-2. Tatum's display included 8 rebounds 5 assists and was a significant improvement on his return of 10 points in Celtics' defeat on Saturday. "You feel like you let your team-mates down," he said of his game-three tally. "I think I do a really good job of sleeping it off regardless if I had 10 points or 46 points. I'm a big believer that you can't change what happened. I didn't doubt myself." Game five of the series takes place in Miami today. Celtics started quickly on their home court to lead 29-11 after a quarter and they built on their early success with Tatum,

Jayson Tatum returned to form as the Celtics bounced back in the play-off final

Jaylen Brown, Robert Williams III, Derrick White and Payton Richard all reaching double figures. Celtics coach Ime Udoka said: "Nobody scored in double figures among the Heat starters.

We obviously set the tone right there. "We have a prideful team and one of the best defensive teams in the league. We came out in the right mindset." (BBC Sport)

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday May 25, 2022

France forward Mbappe says Real Madrid dream not over despite new PSG deal KYLIAN Mbappe says the dream of one day playing for Real Madrid is "never over" despite opting to sign a new contract and stay at Paris St-Germain. The France striker, 23, rejected a move to the Spanish champions at the weekend to sign a new three-year contract PSG. However, speaking to BBC Sport's Guillem Balague on Monday, Mbappe has not ruled out a move to Real later in his career. "You never know what can happen in the future," he said. "I give up to think about the future, I only think about the present and the present is I signed a new contract for three years more at Paris St-Germain." Asked if signing the contract meant the Real Madrid dream was over, Mbappe said: "Never over." Spain's La Liga reacted angrily to the news, calling the deal "scandalous". Mbappe, regarded as one of the best players in the world, said he spoke to Real Madrid president Florentino Perez directly to inform him of his decision before signing the contract extension at PSG. "It was last week I made the decision to stay," he

added. "First of all I spoke to the president of Real Madrid because I have a lot of respect for him and the club. I think it was important to say it personally that I wasn't going to go. "To be a great player you have to be honest and everything was great and good because we have a good relationship." 'I'VE ALWAYS STAYED FOCUSED ON THE PITCH' Speculation about Mbappe's future gathered pace towards the end of the season although the forward says he never let it distract him from his duty on the pitch. Mbappe scored 28 goals in Ligue 1 to help PSG win the title. "I am 100% focused on my game," he said. "I didn't have to follow (the speculation). During the season I was focused 100% because I had individual goals and collective goals. "It was important to stay focused on the pitch and make my decision when the season was over." 'I WANT TO GIVE PLEASURE TO PEOPLE' Mbappe, a World Cup

"The ongoing project has changed as well. That has made me want to stay here because I don't think my story is over yet. "That goes for me collectively and individually. I think there are many more wonderful chapters to write."

Kylian Mbappe formed a formidable front three with Neymar and Lionel Messi last season

winner with France, says he is now looking forward to playing in many more important games for his club and country. "I have played in amazing games and important games," he said. "I played in a World Cup and won a World Cup so I am happy and I want to continue this way. "I always want to give pleasure to people because I was young and in the stadium and I enjoyed the time when I came to watch some players and now it is my turn to give pleasure to people and to be respectful on and off the pitch. "I try to be an example because I know a lot of young guys watch me all

the time and I want to give them the best way to enjoy life, even if it is not as a football player. You have to enjoy and stay focused on the real things of life." STAYING IN FRANCE KEY FOR MBAPPE Speaking earlier on Monday in a news conference, Mbappe said his decision to remain at PSG was partly based on sentimental reasons and believes there are "more wonderful chapters to write" at the club. "Leaving my country isn't the right thing," he said. "There is a sentimental aspect to this. It is my country.

'WE WANT TO WIN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE' Mbappe started his career at Monaco before moving to PSG in 2017, initially on loan before joining permanently. Since being at the club he has won four Ligue 1 titles and three French Cups. Champions League success has so far eluded PSG but the club's president Nasser Al-Khelaifi believes that, with Mbappe now staying, European glory can be achieved. "We want to create more trophies. We have won plenty so far, we want to win many more," he said. "We want to win the Champions League. We are headed down the same path with our sporting goals." There had been reports PSG offered Mbappe more control over sporting decisions in an effort to convince him to stay. But the forward said his

sole focus and responsibility for the club is what he can do on the pitch. "I remain a footballer, who is part of a team, and I will not go beyond this role," added Mbappe. "Everyone knows that last year I wanted to leave and I was convinced that it was the best choice, but the years go by and things change." 'LIGUE 1 NEEDS RESPECT AS WELL' In its response to Mbappe's decision to stay at PSG, La Liga announced plans to file a complaint to UEFA as well as French and EU authorities. As well as calling the deal "scandalous", La Liga president Javier Tebas said it "threatens the economic sustainability of European football". But Al-Khelaifi responded: "Maybe it is a good thing if Ligue 1 is doing better than La Liga. "La Liga isn't what it was three or four years ago. I have respect for all the clubs, but we need respect as well. "We have the best player in the world, that's what matters to us. As for what other people are saying, that is not an issue. I am not listening to that.” (BBC Sport)

ICC to reintroduce neutral umpires soon THE International Cricket Council (ICC) will soon reintroduce neutral umpires despite the COVID-19 pandemic providing an opportunity to give home umpires more exposure, chairman Greg Barclay said Monday. "There were some benefits (of COVID-19) for cricket," Barclay told reporters in Dhaka. "One of them was the chance to use umpires at home. It has given home umpires some exposure to international cricket.

"I think that's good. It spread the base a little bit wider. But, we are at the other side of COVID-19. So we are reintroducing neutral umpire arrangement ... You will see neutral umpires back up and running again." Umpires from host countries have been used exclusively since 2020 when the pandemic imposed worldwide travel restrictions. The arrangement came under sharp criticism during Bangladesh's recent tour of South Africa when the visitors raised allegations

of bias against two local umpires in the Test series. South African umpires Marais Erasmus and Adrian Holdstock stood in the series, where Bangladesh had been on the wrong end of several close calls. Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, who did not play the series, was among a chorus of Bangladeshi social media users criticising the umpires. Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) said it would file formal complaints to ICC match referee man-

ager over claims of biased umpiring and "unbearable" sledging. Bangladesh partially restored neutral umpiring in the country's ongoing series against Sri Lanka when it appointed England's Richard Kettleborough and West Indies' Joel Wilson alongside local umpire Sharfuddoula. ICC chairman Barclay added that the body had no plan to make it compulsory for Twenty20 franchises to release players for national duty like other sports, espe-

cially football. Football clubs are obliged to release players to a national representative team if they are called up. Bangladesh were unable to call up pace bowler Mustafizur Rahman for the ongoing Test against Sri Lanka despite injuries to two key frontline seamers Taskin Ahmed and Shoriful Islam. Mustafizur, who was playing in Indian Premier League for Delhi Capitals, has been included in the Bangladesh Test side for

next month's tour of the West Indies. "T20 competitions are domestic competitions. Movement of players is an issue for the members, not an ICC issue," Barclay said. "We don't have an arrangement with the players. I would just leave that for the member boards to answer," he added. "The Future Tours Programme is being put together at the moment. I am hopeful we will be able to accommodate everything necessary." (AFP)

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday May 25, 2022

UG, GTI to battle in final of YBG Inaugural Tertiary Basketball League THE University of Guyana (UG) and the Government Technical Institute (GTI) will meet in the championship clash of the Inaugural Tertiary Basketball League, which is billed for June 5 at Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. In the semi-finals of the event on Sunday, UG got past the New Amsterdam Technical Institute (NATI) by six points and GTI got the better of Linden Technical Institute (LTI) by a score of 77-71. In the opening clash, it was MVP leader Shaquawn Gill, who led UG to victory.

He dominated the game with 27 points and 15 rebounds. Timothy Richmond also finished with a double-double, 15 points and 16 rebounds, while Thariq Duncan added 12 points. NATI was led by Charles Williams and Kadeem Dover, who finished with 27 points and 20 points respectively. In the second semi-finals, GTI maintained a perfect record by defeating rivals LTI by a score of 73-69. Kobe Tappin was the lead scorer with 20 points, while Rakin McDonald added 16 points 12 rebounds and Roy-

In the UG and NATI clash, both teams shot the basketball well

on Shortt 16 points. For LTI, it was a twoman show. Shamar Savory finished with a game-high 23 points 20 rebounds and Damarcus Adams 22 points 7 rebounds. NAIT and LTI are expected to battle in the third-place clash. The tournament is being sponsored by the National Sports Commission, ExxonMobil, G-Boat Guyana, Edward B. Beharry & Company Ltd, Fireside Grill and Suites and Banks DIH Ltd.

Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez to face Gennady Medvedev advances but Denis Shapovalov loses at French Open Golovkin in trilogy fight WORLD number two Daniil Medvedev reached the French Open second round with a comfortable win but 14th seed Denis Shapovalov made a surprise exit. US Open champion Medvedev, 26, won 6-2 6-2 6-2 against Argentine Facundo Bagnis, ranked 103rd. The Russian reached his first quarter-final at Roland Garros last year - having lost in the first round the four previous times. He had been unsure of his participation after a hernia operation in April. "I love Roland Garros, especially since last year. I hope this year I can go further," said Medvedev, who will meet Serb Laslo Djere

World number two Daniil Medvedev

next. "When I went under the operation I didn't think I was

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Wednesday May 25, 2022) COMPLIMENTS OF CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD 83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Gujarat Lions vs Rajasthan Royals (2) Lucknow Super Giants vs Royal Challengers Bangalore Today’s Quiz: (1) Who scored most runs in the preliminary round of IPL 2022? (2) What was the highest individual score in the preliminary round of IPL 2022? Answers in tomorrow’s issue

going to play on clay, but I managed with the doctor and physio to get back. Physically, I feel 100 per cent." Meanwhile, 2021 Wimbledon semi-finalist Shapovalov said he "didn't really show up" in a straightsets defeat by Danish 19-year-old Holger Rune. The 23-year-old Canadian, who reached the last eight at the Australian Open earlier this year, made a huge 53 unforced errors as the 2019 junior Roland Garros champion won 6-3 6-1 7-6 (7-4). Australia's Alex de Minaur, seeded 19th, also suffered an early exit following a final-set tie-break against French 21-year-old Hugo Gaston, who prevailed 4-6 6-2 6-3 0-6 7-6 (10-4). Russian seventh seed Andrey Rublev had to come from a set down to defeat South Korean Kwon Soonwoo 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 6-2 6-4. Norwegian eighth seed Casper Ruud also progressed, as his 6-7 (6-8) 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 7-6 (7-0) win over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga brought an end to the Frenchman's career. Elsewhere, Frenchman Benoit Paire served 24 double faults in a 6-3 7-5 1-6 7-5 loss to Ilya Ivashka. Paire had lost in the first round in 10 consecutive tournaments before picking up a victory at last week's Geneva Open - his only win on the ATP tour this year. (BBC Sport)

Alvarez (left) has won 57 of his 61 fights, while Golovkin has won 42 of 44

SAUL 'Canelo' Alvarez will face Gennady Golovkin in a trilogy fight in September rather than meet Dmitry Bivol in a rematch. Mexican Alvarez, 31, will return to super-middleweight, where he is the undisputed champion, after a shock defeat by Bivol at light-heavyweight. Alvarez had the option of a rematch with Russian Bivol, but will honour his agreement with Kazakhstan's Golovkin.

"In the next few days we will announce the September fight," he told ESPN. "Surely, it will be against GGG because we already had that agreement, but I will also fight Bivol again." Alvarez beat Golovkin in their rematch in 2018 after a controversial draw in 2017, both of which were at middleweight. Golovkin, who turned 40 in April, has won four successive fights since losing to Alvarez, reclaiming the IBF and WBA (super) middle-

weight titles along the way. Before his defeat by Bivol on May 7 - only the second loss of his career Alvarez had agreed to face Golovkin on September 17. "Unfortunately, we lost, but that doesn't mean I'm not going to try again. The important thing here is perseverance and we're going to do it again," said Alvarez. "I think those are the two biggest fights in boxing, the fight with Golovkin and the rematch with Bivol." (BBC Sport)

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday May 25, 2022

PM hands over trophy, cash prize for Independence dominoes tournament PRIME Minister Mark Phillips handed over the championship trophy and made a donation to the inaugural Prime Minister Independence Dominoes Tournament, which is scheduled to be held in Linden tomorrow. According to organiser Aubrey Shanghai Major, over $1M in cash and prizes

are up for grabs. The winning team will collect $500 000 and the lien trophy, the second-placers $300 000 and the thirdplaced side $100,000. Close to 40 teams, including several from Linden, Georgetown, Berbice, Bartica and on the East Bank have already registered for the event.

Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons to play NBA game in Paris 2023 CHICAGO Bulls and Detroit Pistons will play an NBA game at the Accor Stadium in Paris in January 2023. The fixture will be the first to be held in Europe since 2020, when Paris hosted Milwaukee Bucks and Charlotte Hornets. A follow-up in Paris in 2021 was abandoned because of COVID-19 restrictions. It will be the 34th match staged outside the United States and Canada since the first in To-

kyo in 1990. Pre-season exhibition games have been held worldwide for decades. Ralph Rivera, NBA's managing director for Europe and the Middle East, said the meeting in Paris is between "two of the most historic franchises in the NBA". "With Paris hosting the Summer Olympics in 2024, basketball and the NBA are well positioned for continued growth in France for years to come," he said. (BBC Sport)

Major said that the trophy is being held at his residence in Central Amelia’s Ward. The event is expected to become an annual event on Independence Day. Prime Minister Phillips, the Guyana Tourism Authority and Ansa McAl are among the sponsors of this year’s event.

Prime Minister Mark Phillips (second from right) hands over the championship trophy and a cash prize to organisers of the event

Trophy Stall pays tribute to Carlson Harris TROPHY Stall, behind proprietor Ramesh Sunich, yesterday paid tribute to Guyana’s first and only fighter in UFC, Carlston Harris. The 34-year-old Harris has made a life for himself in several of the notable Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) leagues around the world. However, it was not until he broke into the most popular of them all – the UFC – that he reached stardom status in Guyana. Harris, who hails from Berbice, has spent almost 17 years away from Guyana, and has returned home for the first time since his departure to peruse his fighting dreams. He met with officials of Government, most recently with Prime Minis-

ter Mark Phillips. Harris made a stop at the popular Bourda Market store, where Sunich gifted him a special plaque on behalf of everyone in Guyana. Sunich is an ardent sports fan and of course, like every Guyanese, had tuned in to see Harris compete in Octagons of the UFC. According to Sunich, Harris’ story is inspiring and should not go without notice and recognition. He said all of Guyana should be proud of Harris for the love he shows to the Land of Many Waters. Meanwhile, the usually smiling Harris thanked Sunich for his gesture, pointing out that he’s inspired by the love shown since he returned home.

Carlston Harris (L) and Ramesh Sunich at the Trophy Stall in Bourda Market

Danny Hodge (centre) of Hururu Ladernville, Upper Berbice, was grateful as he showed off some of the cricket gear donated by BCB president Hilbert Foster

The victorious BCB Female 50-Over team and coaching staff pose after winning the 2022 GCB Inter-county title

BCB executives hail female team following GCB Inter-County 35 50-Over title win PAGE

… Foster donates gear to Upper Berbice

Miller magic carries 35 Gujarat Titans to IPL final PAGE

From left, committee members Mark Vieira and John Chin, assistant secretary/treasurer Azaad Hassan, committee member Gavin Guyadin, president Mahendra Boodhoo, committee member Roshan Ali, treasurer Chetram Singh and secretary Azim Jaffar

Boodhoo elected new president of GMR&SC

David Miller (68 not out) and Hardyk Pandya (40 not out) added an unbeaten 106 off 61 balls to carry GT to the final

MAHENDRA Boodhoo is the new Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) president, following the body's Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Monday night at the GT Motorsport Hall. Boodhoo, as well as his slate, was elected unopposed as former president Rameez Mohamed declined to run in the position once again. Instead, Mohamed is the Club captain. Boodhoo, a former president of the club begins his newest stint with the aim of reinvigorating the local motorsport fraternity after the COVID-19 pandemic. "Firstly, I want to thank you all for this opportunity. This new executive hopes to ensure that we focus on growing local motorsport in all aspects, be it bikes, cars, karting etc.," he said in his first address. Boodhoo continued, "We are looking

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forward to your support and your voices," adding that "if you have ideas then we are here to listen to them and once they come with possible solutions then we will obviously look at them. Once they are structured and put on the record then we will deal with them." Mohamed Shiraz Roshandin, is the new vice-president of the club while Azim Jaffar returns as secretary and Chetram Singh takes over as Treasurer. The assistant secretary/treasurer remains Azaad Hassan with the technical adviser being Joel Evans. The new committee members are Mark Vieira, Gavin Guyadin, Roshan Ali and John Chin. The club also adopted the financials of the previous year and retained Seebarran as the auditor. TURN TO PAGE 35 ► WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 2022