Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 26-11-2021

FRIDAY 26th November, 2021

' No.106557

16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence launched

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Mohamed’s Enterprise defends track record PAGE

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–– says has over 30 years of experience in construction industry, delivers value for money

Encashment of $25,000 one-off grants 02 extended to Dec. 15 PAGE

Vegetable prices drop because of good weather, cash grants 07 PAGE

Children play at a newly established Early Childhood Development space at the Annai Health Centre (UNICEF photo)

EU, Guyana discuss $640M developmental support programme

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GUYANA CHRONICLE

Friday, November 26, 2021

Encashment of 25,000 one-off cash grants extended to Dec 15 – Minister Persaud urges GPL prepaid customers to secure their grants now

THE $25,000 cash grant vouchers by the Government of Guyana of Guyana, through the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security can now be cashed by December 15, 2021, owing to a provision by the ministry to ensure that everyone who is entitled receives the grant.

Subject Minister, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, made the announcement of the extension this week noting that the period is for those who, for some reason or another, could not collect their vouchers. The vouchers can be cashed at any post office, Sure Pay or MoneyGram.

“It is government’s commitment to public assistance recipients and people living with disabilities. In addition to our survey, we worked along with the National Commission on Disability and the Poor Law Commission to ensure that persons living with disabilities who were not on our Public Assistance register were included,” Dr. Persaud noted, adding, “And we are working on a system to deliver this to their homes.”

Following this announcement, pensioners and others can go to their regional offices or to the central offices of the ministry to uplift their 2022 pension books and vouchers.

“December 15 is the latest that we can extend; we just want to make sure that

everyone benefits,” Minister Persaud said.

She is also encouraging prepaid customers of Guyana Power and Light (GPL) to secure the one time electricity credit that the government has granted. This one-time credit amounts to $3,750 and recipients are urged to visit their nearest GPL office to convert the credit into a Prepaid Electricity Token.

Should persons require further clarity on this credit, they are urged to make contact with GPL, Monday to Friday, between the hours of 08:00 hours and 15:00 hours.

GPL’s call centre can be contacted on telephone number 226-2600.

The ministry is advising persons to visit their regular distribution sites for queries regarding permanently disabled people and public assistance (both economical and medical) for the year 2021.

WENT WELL Meanwhile, Dr. Persaud has noted that the recent distribution exercise was a massive undertaking that, by and large, went well with the support of the volunteers, community and regional representatives.

“Our small staff complement was deployed across regions to ensure that the exercise was efficient and easily accessible. Where there were glitches in the exercise, every effort was made to rectify them. But it is remarkable that many persons would

Human Services and Social Security Minister, Dr. Vindhya Persaud interacts with residents and officers during the recent distribution exercise. have already beneffited from the voucher and 2022 book in one month,” she said, adding: “The shut-in delivery to target the remaining persons is ongoing and officers from the ministry are fanning out to conclude the entire exercise by next week.”

Pensioners, who are bedridden, visually impaired, or confined to a wheelchair,

can receive their pensions through direct delivery by registering for the shut-in services.

To request, they can call the following numbers: 2212571, 221-2544 (Mahaicony); 232-0952, 232-0953 (Fort Wellington); 333-3970, 333-3318 (New Amsterdam); 337-2667 (Whim); 335-3051 (Skeldon); 771-4311 (Anna

Regina); 225-6202, 2236027 (Georgetown); 2642690 (West Bank Demerara); 223-1746 ext. 2266/2267 (East Bank Demerara); 2208977, 256-3635 (East Coast Demerara); 444-6330, 4446815 (Linden); 772-2307 (Lethem); and 455-2964 (Bartica).

If their coupon booklet is lost, the ministry

is asking that this be reported to the nearest police station. A copy of the police report should then be uplifted and taken to the nearest probation and social services office. If there is a change in the address, contact should also be made with the probation office.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, November 26, 2021

Mohamed’s Enterprise defends track record –– says has over 30 years experience in construction industry, delivers value for money

MOHAMED’S Enterprise, the company which was awarded a $614 million contract on Wednesday to build the new Guyana Fire Service (GFS) Headquarters, on Thursday issued a statement defending its track record and years of service that qualify the company for the contractor it was awarded.

In the statement, the company pushed back against criticism that called into question its experience and competency to execute works of such magnitude, noting that it has over 30 years in the construction industry, including several notable projects.

“Our less touted projects included our own main office in Lombard Street, two state-of-theart buildings for the ISA Islamic School, the Albouystown Masjid and countless homes for Guyanese in need of such space,” the company stated.

It further explained that: “We applied that experience garnered over the years to countless projects in recent times.

We have constructed four of the major laydown yards currently in use by many of the oil and gas companies and tier one contractors. Our exceptional work remains unmatched as we continue over the recent years to construct apartment buildings, homes and other facilities to meet growing demands.”

The company also pointed to its construction of 20 core homes under the Ministry of Housing and Water and prison facilities at Lusignan. The company highlighted that one of its greatest boasting points

Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn presents the signed contract to contractor Nazeir Mohammed in the company of others is its track record of delivering exceptional projects.

“This speaks to our expertise, competence, dedication to quality and acknowledgement of the growing demands of such a need,” the company said.

It added: “The fact that many of our projects have been started and completed within varying deadlines, speaks to our capacity.

Unlike other contractors, we are not dependent on milestone payments, we start projects on our own. We have the financial capacity and have used it, unlike many competitors who after collecting mobilisation fees still take months to get the work started,” the company said.

Another point stressed by the company is its keenness to provide value for money.

“For the public record, we do not intend to waste or misuse taxpayers’ hard-earned money

and for this reason, we have ensured that all projects are approached with the necessary due diligence and under the necessary rule of law.

We have never compromised on those principles.”

Mohamed’s Enterprise said it remains committed to the devel-

opment of Guyana.

“We remain committed to the country, committed to quality, committed to ensuring that Guyana’s growth

remains unparalleled; it is something that we as a Guyanese-owned and operated company takes [sic] pride in,” the company said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE

Friday, November 26, 2021

EU, Guyana discuss $640M developmental support programme

SENIOR Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh and European Union (EU) Ambassador to Guyana, Dr. Fernando Ponz Cantó have held wide-ranging discussions that focused on the government’s ongoing investment programme in the sea and river defence sector, including mangroves.

Both are key areas that underpin EU support over the last decades.

The meeting was held at the Arthur Chung Convention

Centre, where the two officials co-chaired an important policy dialogue focused on EU-Guyana Development Cooperation.

A release from the Ministry of Finance also noted that Dr. Singh and the EU Ambassador held preliminary discussion on a new Technical Cooperation Facility, valued at €2.73M, through which Guyana will benefit from support for the implementation and development of policies to mitigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh and European Union (EU) Ambassador to Guyana, Dr. Fernando Ponz Cantó during the discussion at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre Possible areas of support include health, livelihood development, biodiversity, forestry, governance, and public financial management.

The meeting was a successful step towards further

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cooperation achievements for the benefit of Guyana’s citizens, with discussions focused on the EU’s development cooperation programme with Guyana. The EU and Guyana have an increasingly

close partnership based on common values, objectives and interests covering all matters of mutual interest.

While addressing the meeting, Minister Singh placed on record the government’s strong appreciation of the EU’s sustained support to Guyana over the years.

He also expressed optimism that the strong relationship that Guyana and the EU enjoy will continue to grow in the years ahead, as Guyana traverses this new phase in its economic history.

Ambassador Ponz Cantó pledged the EU’s continued commitment to the EU-Guyana partnership, as Guyana advances its development agenda as a new and emerg-

ing oil-and-gas producer.

The ambassador recalled the determination and resilience of the Guyanese people to preserve democratic norms and the rule of law. In particular, he commended the government and the National Authorising Officer (NAO) for re-establishing this bilateral policy dialogue, which had been absent during 2020, due to the political crisis and related events, and which is a fundamental element in the full normalisation of cooperation including budget support.

Minister Singh reaffirmed the government’s appreciation for the EU’s budget support programme.

The EU team also comprised Karel Lizerot, Head of Cooperation, and other members of the EU Delegation, while the Ministry of Finance’s team included Tarachand Balgobin, Deputy National Authorising Officer (DNAO).

The EU Delegation in Guyana was established in December 1972, and is responsible for taking forward the EU-Guyana partnership, including political development, and socioeconomic relations, trade, and other major policy areas, based on solid human, cultural and historical links.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, November 26, 2021

Perpetrators of domestic abuse must seek professional help IN observance of International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the Women’s Progressive Organisation (WPO) on Thursday hosted a candlelight vigil at Beterverwagting on the East Coast of Demerara in support of victims of domestic abuse.

said.

She stated that in many instances, domestic abuse is dealt with as a “taboo” topic, which results in many women not knowing the resources they have available to them.

According to Veerasammy, the WPO on Thursday hosted nine vigils, simultaneously, across the country,

–– WPO General-Secretary tells candlelight vigil trators decide to seek the necessary counselling, and are better prepared to deal with situations without physically, verbally, or emotionally abusing their spouses.

WE STAND

She told the Guyana Chronicle that the group intends to open up itself to be an ally to victims of domestic violence.

She encouraged victims to seek the resources of both the group and the Ministry of Human Resources and

COLLABORATION Veerasammy further said while it is expected that domestic violence victims take control over their lives, a collaborative effort is needed to achieve this task.

decline in the reporting of domestic violence and child abuse, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We want them to seek guidance from Help and Shelter; we want them to seek help from the Ministry of Human Services and any

WPO General-Secretary, Sheila Veerasammy WPO General-Secretary, Sheila Veerasammy told the Guyana Chronicle that sensitisation of domestic abuse is necessary to curb its effects.

She noted that many women are in abusive situations, but do not realise they are until it becomes physical, hence one of the purposes of the exercise was to share information that could help women.

“Many times when persons are experiencing domestic abuse in any of its forms, whether it is emotional, sexual, verbal, nonverbal, emotional, many of the times it’s taken for granted that these other forms exist; they just believe if he doesn’t hit me, doesn’t leave marks or cuts on my body, then I am not a victim of domestic violence but domestic violence has many forms,” Veerasammy

in Anna Regina, Patentia, Belle West, Tuschen and Albion Road in a bid to further bring awareness to the social ill.

SEEK HELP She noted that while the vigil was to stand with the victims of abuse, it also serves as a reminder to the perpetrators to “seek help” from professionals to control their urges.

Veerasammy said that in most cases, the perpetrators are afraid to seek professional help, because they do not want to be viewed as an abuser, and as such they continue to abuse their spouses in private.

She reminded her audience that the only way domestic abuse can be eradicated is if the perpe-

Members of the Women’s Progressive Organisation showcasing their banner on Thursday at the candlelight vigil at Beterverwagting, East Coast of Demerara She noted that the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security (MoHSSS) has been implementing new systems to tackle domestic abuse, but there must be a better collaboration by the police in helping these victims stay protected.

She reminded persons to utilise the Ministry of Human Services’ ‘914’ domestic violence hotline. In December 2020, government launched the ‘914’ hotline as a result of the significant A member of the WPO holding a candle in support of victims of domestic violence (Elvin Croker photos) TOGETHER

Man accused of assault chokes complainant in court THE Whim Magistrate’s Court was the site of chaos on Thursday afternoon when a man who was being arraigned at the time, leaped over the court’s prisoners’ deck and choked the woman who had made the complaint against him.

The man, Alberto Jose, a Colombian, was taken to court to answer to the

charge of unlawful assault against a Venezuelan woman when he reportedly performed this act in the presence of the Magistrate.

Details were confirmed by a police statement.

The police said Jose had to be restrained by a constable and escorted to the lockups.

He is now on remand until March 30, 2022.

Accused: Alberto Jose

Social Security as a means of exiting the situation.

“We have the Ministry of Human Services that has the Probation Department, and they can be reached out to, to get counselling.

The WPO has hundreds of groups across this country, and we are saying to people, reach out to our comrades and seek help from them; that our comrades may not be professionally qualified to provide counselling, but we have older comrades who have a lot of experience, and they can provide salient guidance to young couples,” Veerasammy said.

other NGOs or church-based organisations that are willing to help them. Domestic violence is no longer a private matter; it is a public issue that requires the help of everyone, and, collectively, we can do something about it. Individually, it is pretty difficult.

We need the police, we need the churches on board, and we need to bring an end to domestic violence,” Veerasammy declared.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, November 26, 2021

Mental Health

MENTAL health is an important component of our overall health and well-being.

Indeed, there can be no health without mental health.

The relationship between physical and mental health is multi-faceted and includes our emotional, psychological and social well-being. It affects how we feel, think and act. It also determines how we handle stress, how we relate to each other and the choices we make in life.

It is said that there is a thin line between sanity and insanity. According to medical experts, almost everyone at some stage in his or her life experiences some form of mental issues. There is no reason to be ashamed of acknowledging, or seeking treatment, for mental illness. Such treatment is readily available and the Ministry of Health has been putting much emphasis on the early diagnosis, treatment and counselling for persons so affected. The good thing is that mental ill-health is treatable and people with mental health problems can get better and recover completely if they seek help and adhere to the treatment protocols.

Mental health problems are not uncommon in Guyana and for that matter in the world. Approximately 13 per cent of the world’s population experience mental health issues. A study done by World Health Organisation in 2006 found that roughly 75,000 people in Guyana suffer from some form of mental disorder, out of which about 20,000 suffer from severe mental issues.

These were conservative figures and the number of persons likely to be affected could be significantly higher.

This is why the current government has been putting mental health as a front burner issue in terms of the overall health care status of the Guyanese people. According to Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, the government is committed to providing quality care to persons with mental health challenges. In fact, $26M was spent earlier this year on the restoration of the Psychiatric Hospital in Region Six. It is the main mental institution in the country and efforts are being made to ensure that patients are comfortably housed in an envi-

ronment of dignity and safety. Similar sentiments were expressed by Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony, who said that works are in progress to expand and upgrade the services offered at the National Psychiatric Hospital, especially in view of a recent fire at that institution.

It is an established fact that the institution was allowed to deteriorate under the previous PNC administration to a point where it became an ‘eyesore’ and a lasting shame on the then PNC regime in the way it treated with the issue of mental health. It took the return of the PPP/C administration before the building was restored to a fair measure of respectability, even though much more remains to be done to bring it back to its former glory when the mental community ground in Canje hosted national cricket and played an important role in integrating the wider community with residents of the psychiatric hospital.

Only recently, the Ministry of Health launched its social media platforms for its Mental Health Unit (MHU) using Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Youtube platforms

to provide assistance and information on mental-health literacy and education. The Mental Health Unit seeks to help persons recognise their own abilities through regular webinars, coaching sessions and mental health education.

The mental health of the population is under increasing stress due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, but is much more stressful on those vulnerable groups who are without strong support networks. This is why it is so important to reach out to the several mental health clinics all across the country and the Mental Health Unit of the ministry where treatment and counselling can be administered by trained professionals.

In addition to the several measures taken by the administration to expand and strengthen the delivery of mental health care and treatment, there are also plans to take a new mental health legislation to Parliament.

According to the Health Minister, the drafting of the new bill has already commenced and should soon be tabled in Parliament.

There must be an optimal walkability programmed into our City designs Dear Editor, I DO not believe that we as a society are on the same page, especially when it comes to the use of our roadways.

Alfred Bhulai, in a recent letter, pointed out that vehicle owners believe themselves to possess an unassailable right to the space when they are in their own mode of transport. I myself, drive a car when I move around and I tend to agree that this is the attitude of many who drive. I have taken the bus for most of my commuting life and as it is said in Guyana, I know how to handle the ‘rockings’. Walking along inhospitable passages to get to transit stops; navigating chaotic walkways and obstacles; having to contort your body to get in and out of minibuses, these things are not ideal. As a driver, I observe a certain respect for people walking and when I think about urban planning, I consider the truth, that not everyone has to own a car. I have noticed that there is a sentiment in Georgetown that the destiny of all working people is that they must one day drive. I belligerently disagree with this imbalanced, elitist and materialistic sentiment

by saying that that narrow view is an emanation of a psychology that I believe keeps us unappreciative, without understanding and dare I say even, poor.

Editor, I do notice better sentiments coming from the more integrated among us: that there must be optimal walkability programmed into our City designs. Imagine being able to walk to work, to school and to play all in the same trip. This is possible for us, we have access to all of the world’s knowledge on the integrated subject of urban design. We can get so many things right with our expanding spaces, applying effective spatial design principles like road hierarchy (for controlling access to property) while we devise our own way toward becoming a super-powered cost-of-living paradise. Using roadways in tight, close-knit inner cities like Georgetown is not so much about order and discipline as it is about interactivity and respect for different classes of road users.

So what if somebody is on a bicycle? Are they in your way? Slow yourself down and share the roadway and I say this even after a few bicycle men tried to throw their front wheels into the path of my slowly passing

car to get some dineros out of me - yes this happens. I sometimes drive with empty pockets by the way, so don’t overthink it bicycle boys! Editor, that our officers have to be out on the streets for so many hours in a day, overriding the traffic lights to manage traffic, seems extenuating. It is becoming more clear to us that there is a growing need for design solutions toward a more reliable infrastructural pattern for the City.

That said, I would like for a chance to shoot another suggestion, as I have in previous letters, about an innovation that I believe can enhance the charm and functionality of inner City streets: the continuous sidewalk.

See “The Dutch Solution for Safer Sidewalks - Continuous Sidewalks” uploaded to the “Not Just Bikes” YouTube channel. The continuous sidewalk would force impatient drivers to interact with other road users, as it provides that well timed ‘interrupt’ that we need to keep our own pace in check, slowing us down, causing us to interactively share the space with people on foot, people who can now navigate with more confidence that they are safe. I also wonder what this might do for our moods. Editor, in roundabouts; in

the emphasis on designated bus stops; in the repositioning of the main fire station alongside Homestretch; in the inclusion of cycle lanes in road programming and in the use of changing medians, I see signs of a brighter future for the City. It is beginning to step ladder its way toward optimality. I believe persons would eventually understand that roundabouts reduce the likelihood one of two of human error and would save on fuel costs by keeping us moving, albeit more carefully.

Learn this, I say to the skeptics, learn how to interact with the roadways and stop being scared of the roundabout boogeyman! We need more roundabouts not less. Consider the uncertainty you face at a T-junction even with traffic lights, with your head spinning in all directions before you move. Human error is an increasing function of the number of steps required to carry out a decision.

Allow me to say: let’s just slow it down and get with the programme of a more careful and functional inner City that respects us as we move about its passages.

Yours sincerely, Emille Giddings

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, November 26, 2021

Vegetable prices drop

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–– because of good weather, gov’t cash grants

–– but prices could rise again with December-January rains PRICES for vegetables have dropped significantly following the unprecedented floods in May-June, due largely to inclement weather and government’s cash grants to affected farmers, but prices could go up again with the upcoming rainy season.

In the aftermath of the floods, the government al-

located $7.8B to small and large-scale farmers to get them back to the land.

During an afternoon walk through the Bourda Market over the last few days, the Guyana Chronicle observed that vegetables were being sold at reasonable prices, with packets of carrots being sold at a measly $160 each, and sizeable bundles of bora

A scene from Bourda Market (Delano Williams photos)

going for as cheap as $200.

The drop in prices, according to one vendor named ‘Esther,’ is a result of the ‘decent’ weather.

“When is rainy season, you got to expect them thing to go up because, remember, the rain and the mud, and people gon’ can’t get to plant back. So, during the rainy days, prices gon’ raise. But right now, everything cheap, cheap,” she said.

‘Esther’ further noted that consumers should not be alarmed, and must understand that farmers and vendors depend on good weather patterns to produce.

“If rain fall for a two, three day, the price gon’ stay normal; and if it fall constant, like a week and suh, and we get flooding, prices gon’ raise, because no one gone get to plant back, and some ‘greens’ might be scarce,” she explained.

The Guyana Chronicle also caught up with ‘Auntie Anette’ who shared that during the rainy season, it is

not unusual for the prices of vegetables to go up, as due to heavy rainfall and flooding around the rainy seasons, vendors experience some hardships.

Meanwhile, another vendor who opted to remain anonymous said that during the rainy season, vendors at markets across the city experience many inconveniences that help contribute to the spike in prices.

He explained that, for example, in some parts of Bourda Market, there is extensive flooding. This, he said, coupled with the everyday struggle with improper garbage disposal makes it almost impossible to ply their trade.

In anticipation of heavy rainfall and floods during the December-January rainy season, the Ministry of Agriculture will be spearheading a number of emergency works to mitigate the effects.

Subject Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, in a previous interview disclosed that addi-

Esther, a Bourda Market vendor displaying her pakchoi tional pumps have already the period December 2021 to been installed at critical areas January 2022. in the capital city, GeorgeThe report also stated town, to ensure sufficient that there is a high chance of drainage in vulnerable areas. wetter-than-usual conditions Meanwhile, in the farm- across all the regions. Region ing communities across the Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper country, additional works Essequibo) and the southern will be done to complement parts of Regions Six (East what was done during the Berbice-Corentyne), Eight recent May/June floods. and 10 (Upper Demerara-UpIn a report shared by the per Berbice) are likely to minister, it was revealed that experience the least amount the highest amount of rain- of rainfall during this period. fall can be expected in ReHowever, as the season gions One (Barima-Waini), progresses, water levels in T w o ( P o m e r o o n - S u p e - conservancies, reservoirs naam), Three (Essequibo Is- and inland rivers in Relands-West Demerara), Sev- gion One, and the northern en (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and parts of Regions Six, Sevthe northern parts of Region en, and 10 are expected to Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) for reach maximum capacity.

Gratitude to Walter Persaud for donation of books to the Affiance Community Library

Dear Editor,

PLEASE allow me space in your newspaper to offer, on behalf of the residents of Affiance village on the Essequibo Coast, my sincere gratitude to Mr. Walter Persaud (Robin) of the Park Vue International Hotel at Farm, East Bank Demerara and to other members of the Persaud family of the Guyanese diaspora in Orlando, Florida, for their generous donation of a number of children and reference books to the Affiance Community Library.

The library, which is housed in a building in the Affiance Mandir Compound and is open to residents of all faiths, is one of the projects of the Affiance Community Cohesion Project that consist of community volunteers working on social projects defined by the community. Residents believe that reading stimulates people mentally, it develops keener analytical skills and improve their memory.

The donation can now facilitate a storytelling programme, early borrowers and text books borrowers for students pursuing online studies, all free of cost.

Yours Sincerely, Lalita Saytoo Team Leader Community Youth Programme

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GUYANA CHRONICLE

Friday, November 26, 2021

Early childhood development space established at Annai Health Centre -with aid of Canada, UNICEF; health, community workers trained

A DEDICATED Early Childhood Development (ECD) space, the first ever in the community, was opened on Monday at the Annai Health Centre.

The opening of the “space” followed the train-

ing of 15 healthcare and community workers from Annai and surrounding villages in the North Rupununi, in Region Nine (Upper Takutu – Upper Essequibo.

Sharon Peake, Executive Director of the Carib-

Executive Director of the Caribbean Regional Development Programme, Global Affairs Canada, Sharon Peake (fourth left) with UNICEF staff and participants of the ECD training bean Regional Development hinterland project, which is their parents, have access to Programme, Global Affairs being implemented by the quality ECD programming, Canada, joined local health United Nations Children’s a release from UNICEF said. and other officials for a Fund (UNICEF), in close “Much of Canada’s work handover event, the first collaboration with the Min- in Guyana focuses heavily under the ECD component istry of Human Services and on supporting indigenous of the Canada-funded Pro- Social Security. women, youth, vulnerable moting safe and healthy The ECD aspect of the and hard-to-reach populalearning and living environ- project focuses on ensur- tions,” said Peake, who is on ments to migrants and host ing that all girls and boys, her first visit to Guyana. She communities in Guyana’s four years and younger, and reportedly highlighted that

Executive Director of the Caribbean Regional Development Programme, Global Affairs Canada, Sharon Peake assists a child to cut the ribbon to officially open the ECD space at the Annai Health Centre

Children at play at the newly established ECD space at the Annai Health Centre

A child plays at the newly established ECD space at the Annai Health Centre the project with UNICEF also caters for migrants from neighbouring Venezuela, who have been forced to flee harsh economic conditions in their homeland.

“The project will work in Annai and other similar communities across Guyana, and will focus on early childhood development activities for children under four years of age, as well as on providing safe, healthy, gender-friendly and climatesmart dormitories for adolescent children,” Peake is quoted as saying in the release. She also noted that “all of Canada’s international assistance is guided by a Feminist International Assistance Policy, which places the empowerment and advancement of women and girls as the key priority”.

For the recent exercise, 15 community health and community stakeholders from Annai, Wowetta, Aranaputa, Rupertee, Kwatamang and Surama were trained in ECD activities over a period of three days. Aside from the dedicated space at the Annai Health Centre, materials were handed out to each of the communities to aid in the delivery of the ECD programme, which will be done either by way of sessions at health facilities, or through home visits with the parents of children attending antenatal and infant and pre-school clinics, all while adhering to the strict COVID-19 protocols. Some 417 children from the district are expected to initially TURN TO PAGE 9

GUYANA CHRONICLE

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Friday, November 26, 2021

Early childhood development...

Executive Director of the Caribbean Regional Development Programme, Global Affairs Canada, Sharon Peake hands over some ECD materials to Druan Browne for the community of Aranaputa FROM PAGE 8 benefit in the near term.

FOUNDATION “In the first three years of life, the child’s brain develops more rapidly than at any other time of his or her life, and the care they receive will determine the adults they will become. These are the years when the foundation for growth and development, health and nutrition, physical, social, language, creative and intellectual abilities is laid. That is what early childhood development is about; to lay that foundation to improve the quality of life of children. This has been the focus of the training,” Jewell Crosse, A doles cent & Youth Development Officer at UNICEF said. “Healthcare workers from Annai and other communities are now better equipped to support parents and others to help our children have the best start in life, including better performance at school,” she added.

In welcoming the ECD initiative, Doctorin-Charge of the Annai Health Centre, Dr. Narash Torres said that there is need for such a programme in the area to give children a better start in life. He reportedly noted that because hinterland children do not have similar access to resources as others, the ECD programme will set the foundation for better education, and a more

promising future.

WELL EQUIPPED “We have our staff well equipped with the training and skills required… We will do our best to get our children stimulated at a very young age so they can grow up to be well rounded and educated adults,” Dr. Torres said.

Similar sentiments were expressed by Yasmin Andries, the Community Health Worker for Wowetta, who added that the ECD materials for the communities will assist greatly in their outreach to parents. Andries noted that part of the training included developing their outreach plans, and they are ready to begin immediately.

Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, Executive Officer of the Ministry’s ECD Unit, Lavern Thorne said

the ministry recognises the significant impact the ECD has on the lives of children, and has joined with partners to ensure that all children thrive and meet their potential.

She said that the ministry looks forward to continued support from UNICEF and Canada to help accomplish these goals.

The ECD component of the Promoting safe and healthy learning and living environments to migrants and host communities in Guyana’s hinterland project seeks to contribute to Sustainable Development Goal 4 by 2030, so as to ensure that all girls/boys under five years have access to quality early childhood development, so that they are ready for primary education.

The project will prioritise quality services to give a jumpstart, especially to the most marginalised children, including migrants living in the targeted communities, to ensure that no one is left behind.

It will also address the challenge of poor water and sanitation practices. It is expected that

by December 2022, at least 75 per cent of the girls and boys under four years of age in 100 communities in the targeted locations in Regions One, Two, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight and Nine have access to quality ECD programmes and family support services, and have readiness skills for

Yasmin Andries, the Community Health Worker for Wowetta speaks during the hand-over event

easy and on- time transition to nursery school.

Another component of the project focuses on safe, secure, healthy learning environments for secondary school adolescent boys and girls living in dormitories in Guyana’s hinterland, through system strengthening and gender responsive programming for healthy lifestyles.

Participants engage in an exercise during the Early Childhood Development training at Annai

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, November 26, 2021

16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence launched THE Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, on Thursday, join the rest of the world in kicking off 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence under the theme, “Orange the World: End Violence against Women Now!” According to a release, it is an annual campaign that begins on International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and runs until December 10, being Human Rights Day. It was started by activists at the inaugural Women’s Global Leadership Institute in 1991 and continues to be coordinated each year by the Centre for Women’s Global Leadership.

Used as an organising strategy by individuals and organisations around the world to call for the prevention and elimination

of violence against women and girls, the initiative has the full support of subject minister, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, who has organised for several important and impactful activities to be conducted during this period.

“It is an important period for the ministry annually. Following on from where we started last year, it is my intention that there be tangible events which make an impact on communities. The slant of all our activities will be reflective of the ministry’s slogan ‘Enough with the Violence,’” Dr. Persaud commented.

She explained that as part of the community engagement, a series of panel discussions will be held in several regions across the country with presentations by persons in the legal, health and

Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud uses the ‘Orange the World’ filter on Facebook to show her support of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based violence social work fields, survi- of survivors, perpetravors and advocates. The tors, persons experiencing audience will comprise abuse and persons willing

to be advocates.

As these discussions roll out, officers from the ministry will simultaneously seize the opportunity to provide information about services available at the ministry. “Sometimes people are not aware of the avenues of support that exist within the ministry.

Officers will be on hand to provide this kind of information,” Dr. Persaud pointed out.

Another highlight of the 16 Days of Activism would be the launching of ‘I CAN’ (Community Advocate Network) by the ministry – a brand new programme that will encourage a robust and vibrant network across the country where people encourage each other, help persons to seek help, and report issues to the ministry in a timely way so that action can be taken.

Among the other initiatives by the ministry during this period would be the launch of ‘Paint for Purpose’, the launch of the ‘Orange the World’ filter on Facebook, and a moment of silence, pledge and candle lighting for those who died due to domestic violence, media events, book launches and much more. The ministry will also be lit up in orange from tomorrow in observance of the period.

A calendar of events will be available in the media.

The ministry will further use this period to amplify the work of the 914 hotline number as an important part of its fight against domestic violence.

Details about these and other activities during the 16 Days of Activism can be found on the Ministry’s Facebook Page.

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Friday, November 26, 2021

Regional NCD surveillance system being finalised

THE Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) in collaboration with Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and the CARICOM Secretariat has convened regional stakeholders, including representatives from member states, to finalise the development of the regional Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) surveillance system.

According to a release, the initiative aims to improve the monitoring, evaluation and reporting of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and improve the prevention and control of this epidemic at the national level.

What began as a tactical response to recommendations made during the third phase of Caribbean Cooperation in Health (CCH) for the need to strengthen regional surveillance systems, has now reached its final stage of development. This includes the finalising of a Regional Integrated Surveillance System Strategy; sharing findings from an assessment of NCD Surveillance Systems in select CARPHA Member States; and working towards consensus on the Regional NCD Surveillance System.

Funded by the L’Agence Française de Développement (AFDFrench Development Agency), the NCD surveillance system has been

Woman with patient (Credit: FG Trade)

an ongoing project, which began in January 2020 and will culminate in March 2022.

Regional Director of the AFD Atlantic, Philippe La Cognata, pledged France’s partnership for action in the region. He pointed out that since 2018 AFD has been supporting a cooperation project with a €1.5 million grant to strengthen technical and strategic relations between CARPHA, Santé Publique France and the Agence Regionale de Sante (ARS- Regional Health Agency) of the French territories on both chronic and vector-borne diseases.

“Additional digital support is imminent and will be implemented soon thanks to European funds that AFD has mobilised to help improve the quality of data from regional electronic public health surveillance

systems in the Caribbean,” he revealed.

In her opening remarks, Executive Director of CARPHA, Dr Joy St John recalled a popular adage of former Director-General of WHO, Dr Margaret Chan, ‘What gets measured, gets done’.

“Without national surveillance systems we cannot capture the right data to analyse, in order to highlight these statistics and to inform policy planning, programme implementation and review. So, imagine the power of a regional system for highlighting the impact of interventions to Heads of Government, suggesting where the conduct of research can help to evaluate a policy intervention or programmatic shift,” Dr St John remarked.

Dean Chambliss, PAHO Subregional Programme

Director for the Caribbean, echoed sentiments that surveillance is an essential part of a well-functioning health system and a key feature in addressing the burden of NCDs in the Caribbean. He noted that the Regional Surveillance System would provide the

data needed to guide policies and inform decisionmaking.

“The proposed surveillance system will ensure that we keep track of mortality data, improving knowledge of the impact caused by NCDs. Additionally, the system will assist

in obtaining critical information from healthcare facilities, to assist with treatment and control of NCDs… PAHO continues to explore innovative ways to produce critical information, using mobile and web-based technologies, and estimate the risk of COVID-19 mortalities due to underlying health conditions,” Chambliss underlined.

NCDs account for 71 per cent of deaths globally, and the non-Latin Caribbean has the highest NCD mortality rates in the Americas. Both males and females in the Caribbean are at high risk of dying prematurely from NCDs, with more than one in every five men (21 per cent) and one and six women (16.1 per cent) having a probability of dying between 30-70 years from an NCD.

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First Ganga Maa Temple inaugurated

HIGH Commissioner of India to Guyana, Dr. K.J. Srinivasa has recently inaugurated the first-ever Ganga Maa Temple at Good Success, on the bank of the Demerara River.

The temple was built by Guyana Divya Jyoti Association and adds to the many

mandirs already in existence in Guyana. It is a great tribute to the Indian Diaspora in Guyana, a release from the Indian High Commission in Georgetown said in a release.

The Gangaa Mandir held an event from November 18 to 21 under the guidance of Maha Man-

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Friday, November 26, 2021

daleshwar Hanumandas from India. Pandit Mahindranauth Doobay from the United States assisted

by Pandit Surendra Tiwari from Guyana performed the puja. Dolly Singh coordinated and organised the event, the release said.

High Commissioner of India to Guyana, Dr. K.J. Srinivasa (third right, photograph above) joined worshippers at the inauguration last Sunday

Painter to stand trial for rape A 24-year-old painter was on Wednesday committed to stand trial at the Berbice High Court for the rape of a 13-year-old girl.

Birball Soochit, of D’Edward Village, West Coast Berbice (WCB),

was on trial, in camera, before Magistrate Peter Hugh at the Blairmont Magistrate’s Court.

Soochit is charged for allegedly engaging in sexual penetration with a child under the age of 16 on May 28, 2020, at Number Four

Village, WCB. H e i s c u r re n t l y out on $50,000 bail, but the magistrate on Thursday ruled that a sufficient case was made out against him; enough for him to stand trial at the High Court.

‘Murray’ pleads guilty to manslaughter, assault

HIGH Court Judge JoAnn Barlow on Thursday accepted two guilty pleas from 24-year-old Ryan Albert, called ‘Murray’, for fatally stabbing a 19-year-old miner with a pair of scissors, and assaulting another man.

Albert, formerly of Yarakita, in the North West District, was arraigned at the Demerara High Court, where he admitted that on March 29, 2016 he unlawfully killed 19-year-old Dalton Emanuel.

He also admitted assaulting one Mark Edwards, so as to cause him actual bodily harm on the same date and at the same

Ryan Albert, called ‘Murray’ Yakarita, NWD, where the murder occurred.

The matter has been adjourned until December 9 for presentation of the probation report and

sentencing. The State is being represented by Prosecutor Latifah Elliot, while Attorney-atLaw Ravindra Mohabir is on record for the accused.

According to reports, on the day in question at around 22:00 hrs, Albert was involved in an argument with Emanuel at Yarakita. During the course of the argument, Albert not only stabbed Emanuel in the abdomen with a pair of scissors, but also turned the weapon on Edwards.

Emanuel was reportedly taken to the Mabaruma Hospital, where h e w a s p ro n o u n c e d dead on arrival.

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Stage set for Linden Music Awards on Dec 4

THE Linden Music Awards (LMA) are back again for a second year of honouring the music talent spread across the country.

Hosted by the Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) Tourism Committee, the stage will be set in the “Gateway Town” Linden on December 4 where the names constantly raising the bar for Guyana’s music industry will meet to vie for the top awards spread across 25 categories.

After careful consideration by the Nominations Committee, Diana Chapman, Davy Marly and GT Youths received the highest nominations, a statement from the Region 10 Tourism Committee said.

Tinny Dougan, Winston “Zar” Caesar, and FOJO are all top contenders for the Denis

Parkinson’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Contenders for the new “Social Media Influence” category are EGO and Baby Skello.

Performances are expected by dancehall sensation Mafi, soca diva Diana, contemporary artiste Milcah, Davy Marley, Gucci Boss, and Baby Skello.

The star-studded event is sponsored by Banks DIH; GT&T; Unicomer; Office of the Prime Minister; Guyana Tourism Authority; and the Ministry of Tourism, Industry, and Commerce. It will be streamed live on 104.3 BoomFM, and NCN Channel 13 from 19:00hrs.

All COVID-19 Protocols will be observed. Persons must present proof of vaccination or results of a negative PCR Test.

Here is a closer look at this

year’s categories and nominees: Best Female Gospel Artiste: Deanna Desouza Best Male Gospel Artiste: Clement Glasgow, Double G, Rodrick Allicock Musician of The Year: Anfernee Duke Reggae Artiste of the Year: Best, Rawlo Calypsonian of The Year: Diana, Ego Songwriter of The Year: GT Youths, Roddrick Allicock Female DJ of The Year: Aaliyah Dey (Selector Bruuutal) Best Cover Remix: Milcah Garraway Linden Music Ambassador Award (2021): Gucci Boss, GT Youths, Mafi, Diana Chapman, Brandon Harding, TURN TO PAGE 15

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Stage set for Linden Music Awards on Dec...

FROM PAGE 14 Director Dex Best New Dancehall Artiste of the Year: One Dann, Dan Boss, MaloDan, Tev Audio, FFN Mario, Yung Clay Contemporary Artiste of the Year: Diana Chapman, Lashawn Banz, King Drac, Ominelle Joseph Hawker, Trevon Vibes

Denis Parkinson Lifetime Achievement Award: Tiny Dougan, Winston “Zar” Caesar, Fojo Dance Choreography of the Year Nominee: Epic Dynamic Dance group Children’s Band Award: Linden Drum Corp Radio DJ of The Year: Fearless, Boom Bread, Vibes

King, Andrew, Quelly Ranks Dancehall DJ of The Year: Quelly Ranks, Bad Boyz, Boom Bread, Vibes King Music Video Director of the Year: Director Dex, Lashawn Banz Collaboration of The Year: Azariel & Davy Marley, Mr Gennesiz & Calvin

Burnet, King Drac & Milcah Garraway, GT Youths & OG Marley, SAD featuring DDZ & Slick Kid Malik R&B/Hip Hop Song of the Year: Diana Chapman, Lashawn Banz, YNR Rees & YNR Ajura, 9TK Music Producer of the Year: Dr. J Lyrics (Code R3d Records), Timon Fraser (Fraser

Records), Original Lyrics Studio, Lashawn Banz, King Drac Best Music Video of the Year: Davy Marley – Mike Tyson, OneDan - Cold World, Daan Chorus - Dawg Life, TevAudio – No, Ffn Mario, Juice, Sickboss - Send Dem Out, GUCCI BOSS - ROLL OUT, Mafi - Speak Fluent Soca Song of the Year:

Diana Chapman – Stage, Brandon Harding - WE BELONG People’s Choice Award: Mafi, Davy Marley, One Dann, Dann Chorus, GT Youths, Diana Chapman Dancehall Artiste of Year: Mafi, Davy Marley, One Dann, GT Youths Social Media Influencer Award: Baby Skello, EGO

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Friday, November 26, 2021

‘The Harder They Fall’

– Breathe Deep Before Watching This One

By Naomi Parris

If you’re a fan of ‘Wild West’ films, the history of peoples originating from Africa, and the disruption of black history by the system of chattel slavery, Netflix’s ‘The Harder They Fall’ is definitely a film to add to your stream list.

Featuring megastar household names like Edris Elba and Regina King, the film, directed by Jeymes Samuel, officially released on November 3. The writers are adamant in their introduction credits that the movie is fictional. Fictional, yes, but based on real people.

The film centres black American pioneers who shaped the culture and history of the American west but who were also intentionally undermentioned in the grand narrative.

When the story is told, we just cannot leave them out. And that’s what the movie reminds us.

Jonathan Majors, a rising star in black mainstream television, plays ‘Nat Love’. Love is a well-document American cowboy from the early 1900s whose life is positioned in the middle of the particular version of events, fictional or not, told by director Samuel.

Much of what we know about the real Nat Love comes from his 1907 autobiography: “The Life and Adventures of Nat Love”.

A glimpse of that autobiography kept in a special library at Duke University says Love was born an enslaved African-American in 1854 Tennessee, where he learned to train horses to be mounted by riders on his owner’s plantation.

After the 1862 Homestead Act was passed by the United States Congress which allowed all persons including TURN TO PAGE 17

The Harder They Fall is a must-see featuring the lives of Black Cowboys in the American west. Filled with gory action scenes and unexpected turns, hopefully this film gives what it’s supposed to.

women, immigrants and former enslaved peoples to claim land as part of the great American expansion, Love rode to the west and became a ranch hand in Kansas.

Love’s autobiography tells of hundred mile journeys, sparring with Mexicans and ‘Indians’, and befriending other cowboys all on the way.

Riding alongside Love in the film was ‘U.S. deputy marshal Bass Reeves’ effortlessly played by quintessential tough guy and celebrated, long-time actor, Delroy Lindo.

GUYANA CHRONICLE

Friday, November 26, 2021

Iwokrama turns 25: Continued celebration with Art AS the observance continues for Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development’s 25th anniversary, a group of artists and friends from that organization, Main Street Artist Group, Moving Circle of Artists, the Sonia Noel Foundation

and the University of Guyana (UG) Biology Club teamed up on Thursday last in the National Park, Carifesta Avenue to paint bare tree stumps. This is a collaboration with the Protected Areas Commission (PAC) to enhance the environs of green spaces.

‘The Harder They...

FROM PAGE 16 women, immigrants and former enslaved peoples to claim land as part of the great American expansion, Love rode to the west and became a ranch hand in Kansas.

Love’s autobiography tells of hundred mile journeys, sparring with Mexicans and ‘Indians’, and befriending other cowboys all on the way.

Riding alongside Love in the film was ‘U.S. deputy marshal Bass Reeves’ effortlessly played by quintessential tough guy and celebrated, long-time actor, Delroy Lindo.

Reeves, born in Arkansas in 1838, is reportedly the first African-American U.S. Deputy Marshal. The match between Lindo’s persona and Reeves’ character was apt!

Reeves, by most accounts, was an honest lawman in Indian Territory (what is now much of Oklahoma state) for three decades, racking up some 3,000 arrests under his belt.

Other lawmen reportedly had sordid reputations of accepting bribes and themselves engaging in criminal acts but not Reeves. He was a man above it all.

Despite his legacy in law enforcement, Reeves was born into a group that never enjoyed an amicable, conducive relationship with neither the law nor its agents—enslaved African-Americans. Nonetheless, he battled the odds against him to reportedly become the longest serving deputy U.S. Marshal in Indian Territory, holding the post for some 32 years.

But back to the movie’s star-studded cast.

An unsurprising public favourite and once top-pick for a black ‘James Bond’ reboot, Idris Elba played the role of the terrifyingly violent gang leader, ‘Rufus Buck’. Reports suggest Buck did not live to his 19th birthday, a consequence of his devilish outlaw lifestyle.

Riding alongside Buck was ‘Cherokee Bill’, portrayed in the film by Lakeith Stan-

field. Evident from the recorded history, Bill’s reputation was known throughout. As a teenager, he spent most of his time riding in gangs that left havoc in their trail. He, like Buck, died by the proverbial sword he lived by.

I have my own top picks, however. Enter the bold, independent, firebrand, ‘Mary Field’ or ‘Stage Coach Mary’ played by Zazie Beetz, who might be most remembered as ‘Domino’ in the Marvel universe comedy, Deadpool. But this is more about Mary. It comes as no surprise that the history records her as a ‘tomboy’ and, most certainly, not a woman to be rumbled with. Sis was ‘strapped’.

Being the first of something is a common trend for the characters featured in this movie. Fields is no exception. She is reportedly the first known African-American woman to become a U.S. postal service star (contract) route mail carrier.

But there were some characters whose life stories were a bit more difficult to track down. RJ Cyler plays ‘Jim Beckwourth’. In his life, Beckwourth was a mountaineer and explorer.

Other characters were ‘Gertrude Smith’ or ‘Treacherous Trudy’ played immaculately by acclaimed actress, Regina King. King slipped a bit too neatly into the role of the eerily composed, bloodthirsty sharpshooter.

But she ate. And we are not upset.

‘Bill Pickett’ was portrayed by Edi Gathegi. And yet another personal favourite of mine, ‘Cathay Williams’ or ‘Cuffey’ played

by Danielle Deadwyler. I did say there were a few characters whose backstories were more difficult to dredge up than others.

If you haven’t watched the film as yet, be sure to catch it this weekend. It would make for a good movie night with friends and family. So, grab your popcorn and skittles and log on to Netflix.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE. Friday, November 26, 2021

Bonner, Da Silva unable...

FROM BACK PAGE

Left-arm spinner Lasith Embuldeniya added another three wickets to his tally to finish with five for 46 while Ramesh Mendis ended with four for 64 after going wick-

et-less on the final day.

The defeat extended West Indies’ wretched run of never having won a Test on Sri Lankan soil, and puts them in danger of another series defeat in the south Asian nation.

“I thought today, Joshua and Bonner, the fight they showed – even from yesterday evening being (18 for six) – I think that was commendable for us,” said a dejected West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite.

“I think as batsmen we just have to learn from it.

“I believe the first innings total is always important and if you don’t do well there you’re going to be under pressure and that’s where we fell down.

“Obviously for Sri Lanka the skipper played well in the first innings and it was important we got close to their score or even past, and obviously we let ourselves down there.”

With hope stacked against West Indies at the start, Bonner and Da Silva slowly increased confidence in the camp as they rode their luck to extend their seventh-wicket partnership to exactly 100.

Bonner, dropped at silly point on 36 off Embuldeniya and then given out lbw on 41 to Mendis before being reprieved

by DRS, faced 220 deliveries in just over 4-½ hours and counted seven fours to post his third Test half-century.

Da Silva, meanwhile, nearly run-out on 19 by captain Dimuth Karunaratne’s direct hit from cover and also dropped at leg slip on 23 off Mendis, survived to also carve out his third

fifty, the knock spanning 129 balls, 2-¾ hours and including five fours.

Growing in confidence with every delivery as the Sri Lankans became increasingly frustrated, West Indies looked a safe bet to reach lunch without losing a wicket until Embuldeniya struck in the sixth over his second spell of the session.

He got one to spin sharply across Da Silva from a good length and the right-hander could only edge to slip where Dhananjaya pouched the catch.

Bonner, on 42 at the break, reached his fifty in the fourth

over following the resumption by sweeping Embuldeniya to the backward square boundary, as he forged a 31-run, eighth-wicket partnership with Rahkeem Cornwall who made 13.

However, Cornwall’s demise, hitting out recklessly at left-arm spinner Praveen Jayawickrama and holing out to long off, signalled the end of West Indies’ resistance as the last three wickets went down for 11 runs in the space of 51 deliveries.

The second and final Test bowls off here next Monday.

SCOREBOARD SRI LANKA 1st innings 386 WEST INDIES 1st innings 230 SRI LANKA 2nd innings 191-4 decl.

WEST INDIES 2nd innings (target: 348 runs) (o/n 52 for six)

K. Brathwaite lbw b Mendis J. Blackwood c Mathews b Embuldeniya N. Bonner not out S. Hope b Mendis R. Chase b Embuldeniya K. Mayers lbw b Mendis J. Holder b Mendis J. Da Silva c Dhananjaya b Emuldeniya R. Cornwall c Lakmal b Jayawickrama J. Warrican c Fernando b Embuldeniya S. Gabriel c de Silva b Embuldeniya

0 9 68 3 1 2 0 54 13 1 0

Extras: (lb-5, w2-, nb-2) 9 Total: (all out, 79 overs) 160 Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-11, 3-14, 4-15, 5-18, 6-18, 7-118, 8-149, 9-156.

Bowling: Embuldeniya 29-12-46-5, Mendis 31-5-64-4, Jayawickrama 14-6-28-1, Dhananjaya 1-0-5-0, Chameera 4-0-12-0.

Man-of-the-Match: Dimuth Karunaratne

Thompson-Herah among final five nominees for World Athletics Female Athlete of the Year JAMAICA’S Elaine Thompson-Herah has been unveiled as one of the five finalists for Female Athlete-of-the-Year.

Thompson-Herah has been nominated on the back of a phenomenal season on the track which saw her achieve new heights in the sport.

She ran 10.61 to win the 100 metres in Tokyo and followed that up with 21.53 to win the 200 metres, becoming the only woman to win the Olympic sprint double on two occasions after also doing so in Rio five years ago.

She was also a part of Jamaica’s victorious Women’s 4x100 metres relay team.

After the Olympics, Thompson-Herah went on to achieve even more success.

At the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon on August 21, Thompson sped to a personal best and national record time of 10.54 seconds, the second-fastest time ever in the women’s 100 metres.

She broke 10.7 seconds four times this season, including in the Diamond League final in Zurich where she ran 10.65 to win.

Thompson-Herah has been nominated for the award alongside Dutch distance runner Sifan Hassan, American hurdler Sydney McLaughlin, Venezuelan triple jumper Yulimar Rojas and Kenyan middle-distance specialist Faith Kipyegon.

Hassan won the 5 000, 10 000 metres double in Tokyo and also broke the 10 000 metres world record this season.

McLaughlin set two new world records in the women’s 400 metres hurdles on her way to winning gold in Tokyo.

Rojas set a new triple-jump world record to win gold in Tokyo, and Kipyegon set a new Kenyan record in the women’s 1500 metres while also winning gold in Tokyo.

The winner will be announced at the World Athletics Awards to be held virtually on December 1. (Sportsmax)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE. Friday, November 26, 2021

Paine saga will linger over Ashes: Ponting

FORMER Australia captain believes Josh Inglis is the longterm solution to replace Tim Paine behind the stumps in the Test side.

Tim Paine will inevitably be the Ashes distraction he did not want to become, says Ricky Ponting, who believes Josh Inglis should be the long-term successor as Test wicketkeeper.

Paine's surprise resignation as captain last Friday in the wake of a sex scandal came with an insistence he was stepping down to ensure he would not be an "unwelcome disruption" for the team in their marquee fiveTest campaign against England.

The wicketkeeper has since seen his returns (following neck surgery in September) to club and second XI cricket become subject to intense attention from the cricketing public and media And Ponting, a long-time Paine confidant who played a role in saving his career back in early 2017 when the wicketkeeper was on the verge of losing his Tasmania contract, suggested the controversy won’t disappear when he joins Australia's Test squad in Brisbane ahead of the Ashes.

"I think inevitably it will (be a distraction)," Ponting told cricket.com.au. "Yes, he's made a huge call for himself, for Australian cricket and for

Wicketkeeper Josh Inglis is yet to make his international debut

the betterment of the Australian cricket team. But it's not going to go away.

"We're only a few weeks out from the first Test – it will bubble along.

"As much as we would all love to see it go away and there comes a point where it's never talked about, it's inevitable that it's going to be there.

"If he plays in Brisbane (for the first Test), the rest of the group and everyone need to move on and do the best they can to forget about it and knuckle down.

"Unfortunately for Tim he's going to get asked about it everywhere he goes.

"Whenever you make mistakes and you've got to front up in front of the cricket-loving public, you have some doubts in the back of your mind for a

period of time."

Paine underwent invasive surgery to fix a neck problem and is this week featuring in his first competitive match since April: a second XI fixture for Tasmania on a club ground in suburban Hobart, after his Premier Cricket return was washed out on Saturday.

The 36-year-old showed that his skills have not diminished in the face of his off-field dramas, taking six catches in the first innings of the game.

Having not been picked in Tasmania's Sheffield Shield team for their ongoing match against Western Australia, the ensuing intra-squad clash between Australia's Test players and Australia A squad members marks Paine's final chance to show he is fit.

Ponting said his come-back

Michael Clarke advises Smith not to be over-enthusiastic in leadership role was standing in slip waving his hands, moving the field. If he is vice-captain or even if he is not, he has got to be very careful,” Clarke said on The Big Sports Breakfast “There can only be one captain on the field. That is what leadership is about as well, owning that. If it is Pat Cummins, he can take advice and guidance but then it’s up to him to be making the decisions,” Clarke also recalled an incident from the 2020-21 Border Gavaskar Trophy when Smith was labelled a Michael Clarke (left) and Steve Smith “cheat” for scruffing up the crease while shadow batting in India’s inFORMER Australia skipper Michael Clarke has advised Steve Smith to be cautious, and not nings during the third Test at the Sydney Cricket be over-enthusiastic while playing a leadership Ground.

“I don’t think Steve Smith understands how role in the team during the upcoming home Ashes. Clarke highlighted that Smith needs to extreme it is going to be. He got a tiny glimpse understand that there can “only be one cap- of it last summer against India when he scruffed the pitch and was called the biggest cheat on the tain” in the team.

Meanwhile, Smith is one of the frontrunners to planet. I don’t think he understands how heavy it take the captaincy after Tim Paine stepped down is going to be on him.”

“Since he’s come back, he’s helped this team recently following his off-field scandal. While there has not been any official word as yet by win so many games of cricket. He has played a Cricket Australia (CA) in that regard, Smith and leadership role in the team and is doing a brilliant pacer Pat Cummins were interviewed by a CA job. I think he can help the team more by supporting if it is Pat Cummins, scoring a truckload of panel for the same.

“He’s got to be careful Smithy, because he runs and helping Australia win games,” he added.

The Ashes gets underway in Brisbane from copped some criticism for doing that when Tim Paine took over the captaincy as well. That he December 8. (CricTracker)

matches are also where he will find the most solace during the ongoing storm.

"When you're out in the middle, that's the only place you can get away from it," said the 46-year-old former Test captain. "The first thing he did Saturday morning was put his club gear on, head out and try to play club cricket in Hobart, which is where he will find the most serenity.

"When he's out in the middle he's got something else to focus on and think about, which is cricket.

"It will blow over and hopefully it passes in enough time to have some really good clear headspace going into Brisbane."

Ponting nonetheless conceded Paine's lack of match practice will be a major concern for the Aussies but suggested the gloveman's work ethic and meticulous preparation would give him the best chance of being fit for the Gabba on December 8.

Wicketkeepers Alex Carey

and Inglis were both named in the Australia A squad, while Ponting also said Queensland's Jimmy Peirson and Western Australia's Josh Philippe could also be options to eventually replace Paine.

If Paine is not deemed fit to start the series, Ponting believes selectors may opt to replace him with Carey, the experienced 30-year-old gloveman who has played 83 times for Australia's limited-overs sides and captained the ODI team earlier this year.

Inglis, on the other hand, is yet to make his international debut, yet the Yorkshire-born right-hander has a growing reputation of admirers including ex-Test keeper Brad Haddin and even Paine himself, according to Ponting.

Best known for his strong T20 form with the Perth Scorchers that helped propel him into Australia's T20 World Cup-winning squad, Inglis also struck three Sheffield Shield centuries last season and his glovework

has earned rave reviews.

"If he (Paine) plays this series and he finishes at the end of the series, they might look at a younger guy. If he's not picked for Brisbane they might think about someone who's a bit more experienced, being an Ashes series," said Ponting.

"If Paine doesn't play in Brisbane the obvious one is Alex Carey. If Paine does play the Ashes series, they might look at someone like Inglis post this summer.

"I'm on record saying I love Inglis – I think he's going to be a really good cricketer for Australia for a long time in whatever format they pick him in first, whether its T20s, one-dayers or Test cricket.

"Speaking to Brad Haddin and even 'Painey' – they really rate his keeping, they talk really highly of it.

"He could definitely be a long-term, not just an international player, (but also) a Test player.” (Cricket.com.au)

24

GUYANA CHRONICLE. Friday, November 26, 2021

Maradona fans remember troubled soccer great a year after his death BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – (Reuters) Thousands of fans of soccer great Diego Maradona will pay tribute to the star on the one-year anniversary of his death, amid legal wrangles about how he died and allegations over past relationships that threaten to tarnish his legacy.

The Argentine world champion, known as 'Pelusa' for his once flowing mane and 'D10S' - a play on the word for 'God' in Spanish and his famous No. 10 jersey - died on November 25, 2020, at the age of 60 due to cardiac arrest.

Born in a humble neighbourhood on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, Maradona became an icon to many in Argentina and around the world. He was a cult hero in Napoli, Italy, where he helped drive an underdog team to domestic and European glory.

The player has been immortalised with murals and statues, as well as tattoos. Children - boys and girls have been named after him.

"Diego made us feel so many things," Ezequiel Rossi, a 34-year-old teacher in Argentina, told Reuters this week.

"It was wonderful, seeing this kid who

This week a Cuban woman who had an affair with Maradona two decades ago, when she was 16 and he around 40, accused the star of "stealing her childhood" and on one occasion of raping her.

"I can't justify what he did in many areas of his life," said Alejandro Sterli, a 61-yearold shooting instructor. "That's why I try to separate the player from the human being."

Italian club Napoli, which he led to Serie A titles in 1987 and 1990, will play three No-

Argentina football legend Diego Maradona died on November 25, 2020

started with nothing and suddenly had everything. He made us dream and imagine that we could also do great things."

Maradona's personal life was controversial, marked by excesses with drugs and alcohol, multiple children, and friendships with strong-men leaders, including Hugo Chavez in Venezuela and Fidel Castro in Cuba.

vember games, wearing shirts with black and white images of a young Maradona. Two of his other clubs, Barcelona and Boca Juniors, will compete in a 'Maradona Cup.' For many, Thursday (yesterday) will be a day of sadness.

"That day is the worst day of my life," Dalma Maradona, one of his daughters, recently said on Instagram. "I feel that this day is not to honour or commemorate, much less celebrate."

Diamond League announces 2022 season calendar with return to China

(REUTERS) – The Diamond League introduced a provisional calendar yesterday for the 2022 season which begins in May and ends with the finale in September, with athletes set to compete in China for the primary time because the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

The season begins in Doha on May 13 and ends in Zurich on September. 7-8 whereas China hosts conferences in July and August.

The two conferences in China this year had been cancelled due to strict journey restrictions amid the pandemic.

“Athletes will compete for points in 13 series meetings from May to September, with the most successful qualifying for the two-day season finale in Zurich and a shot at the prestigious Diamond Trophy,” organisers mentioned in an announcement.

“The calendar remains subject to changes

depending on the global health situation in 2022, as organisers continue to prioritise the safety of athletes and fans while delivering high-quality competitions.”

2022 Diamond League calendar: Doha – May 13 Birmingham/London – May 21 Eugene – May 28 Rabat – June 5 Rome – June 9 Oslo – June 16 Paris – June 18 Stockholm – June 30 Shanghai – July 30 China 2 – August 6 Monaco – August 10 Lausanne – August 26 Brussels – September 2 Zurich – September 7-8

Dubai Cricket Council proposes to host India-Pakistan matches in future UNITED Arab Emirates (UAE) has been a host for quite a few high-profile tournaments lately. It has hosted the second half of PSL 2021, IPL 2021 and also the entire ICC World T20 2021 recently.

However, Dubai Cricket Council has now expressed its eagerness to host bilateral series between India and Pakistan.

The two nations lock horns only for ICC events. They do not face other in any bilateral series owing to the political tensions between the countries. After the talks on the nations playing more cricket against each other started making rounds, the Chairman of the Dubai Cricket Council, Abdul Rahman Falaknaz, has opened up on it. He is confident that UAE is the perfect neutral venue for India and Pakistan games.

“The best thing would be to get India-Pakistan matches here. When Sharjah used to host India and Pakistan all those years ago, it was like a war. But it was a good war, it was a sporting war and it was fantastic.

“I remember (Bollywood actor) Raj Kapoor came once with his family. During the awards night, he took the mic and said, ‘How wonderful it is to have these India-Pakistan battles in Sharjah. Cricket brings people together, cricket has brought us together, and let us remain this way. So this is what we would like to do. If we can convince India to come and play here against Pakistan once a year or twice a year, it

Virat Kohli and Babar Azam during India vs Pakistan T20 WC (Photo Source: Disney+Hotstar)

would be fantastic,” said Falaknaz, as quoted in Khaleej Times.

The IPL and T20 World Cup 2021 were initially scheduled to be played in India. But owing to the uncertainties of the pandemic, they were shifted to the UAE. “I am very proud because the UAE as a whole and especially Dubai, in particular ,hosts anything to the best. And of course, T20 World Cup is also a sign of good organisation. I would say we are lucky to be an alternative to India.

I am looking forward to hosting more India-Pakistan matches in Dubai. I will try and convince my friends in the BCCI for the same. If they are ready to play Pakistan, we will be more than happy to offer our venue,” Falaknaz added. (CricTracker)

25

GUYANA CHRONICLE. Friday, November 26, 2021

James returns from suspension to inspire Lakers to overtime win

LeBRON James returned from suspension to inspire Los Angeles Lakers to a 124-116 overtime win over Indiana Pacers in the NBA Western Conference.

The Lakers trailed for most of the game but James scored 39 points, including eight of their 12 points in overtime in Indianapolis.

The 36-year-old was banned for one game after clashing with Detroit Pistons' Isaiah Stewart on Sunday.

Russell Westbrook scored 20 points for the Lakers. They were without Anthony Davis, who missed the game with flulike symptoms, and Indiana - led by Malcolm Brogdon's

LeBron James returned to action with a season-high 39 points

28 points - were in control for the majority of the contest.

James rallied to help the Lakers lead 110-104 with less than two minutes remaining, but Chris Duarte's three-pointer for Indiana at the buzzer forced overtime. "(I was) just taking what the defence gave me, just trying to get into a rhythm," James said of his late shooting. "I understand that it's closing time, it's winning time, especially in the fourth quarter and overtime."

Elsewhere on Wednesday, Phoenix Suns held off Cleveland Cavaliers 120115 to extend their winning streak to 14 games. Devin

Booker scored 35 points and Chris Paul added 17 with 12 assists for Phoenix.

Western Conference leaders the Golden State Warriors recovered from a slow start to beat Philadelphia 76ers 116-96, with Warriors' Stephen Curry scoring 25 points - one more than his brother and Philadelphia guard Seth Curry.

Brooklyn Nets defeated Boston Celtics 123104, defending champions Milwaukee Bucks were 114-93 winners over Detroit Pistons, and Houston Rockets ended a 15-game losing streak by shocking Chicago Bulls 118-113.

(BBC Sport)

Lawsuit filed against Pakistan team for hoisting national flag at practice session it indicate?” wrote a fan on Facebook.

However, when the controversy started doing rounds across social media platforms, Pakistan’s media manager Ibrahim Badizi stated that they have been in the practice of hoisting their national flag for a long time.

Their practice started during Saqlain Mushtaq’s era and it has been going ever since.

Pakistan team practice session. (Photo Source: Twitter)

THERE was a huge controversy around the fact that Pakistan hoisted their national flag during their practice session in Mirpur, Bangladesh. And, in the latest turn of events, a lawsuit has been filed in Dhaka against the full Pakistan squad, which has named 21 players including the skipper of the team, Babar Azam.

While Pakistan cricketers hoisted their national flag during the practice session, the countrymen of Bangladesh took it as a political message amid their golden jubilee celebration of the nation’s independence.

Though during international or bilateral games, national flags are hoisted traditionally, BCB banned this act back in 2014. BCB

restricted the foreign nations to carry their national flag on their soil but they had to take the decision back owing to widespread criticism.

“Different countries have come to Bangladesh innumerable times, many matches have been played but neither party needed to practice burying their national flag on the ground. But why did (they) do that… What does

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“It is nothing new for us.

It is part of the coaching philosophy of Saqlain Mushtaq since he joined the team. He feels by putting up the flag, it serves as an inspiration and motivation for the players,” Pakistan’s media manager said earlier as quoted by Sportstar.

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match series today in Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium. Pakistan whitewashed the hosts on their soil in the T20I series and Bangladesh would be keen on making a mark in the purest format of the game.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE. Friday, November 26, 2021

First Test in Kanpur

Shreyas Iyer gives India early advantage over New Zealand DEBUTANT Shreyas Iyer and recalled opener Shubman Gill have struck half-centuries to help India overcome Kyle Jamieson's terrific display of seam bowling and post 258-4 in the opening Test against New Zealand in Kanpur.

If Gill's 52 helped India overcome the early loss of opener Mayank Agarwal, Iyer's unbeaten 75 yesterday prevented New Zealand from taking control of the contest after Jamieson had prised out three top-order wickets on the opening day.

Ravindra Jadeja also helped himself to an unbeaten 50 having raised 113 runs with Iyer for the burgeoning fifth-wicket stand.

Green Park Stadium's dry, brown pitch had prompted both sides to pack three spinners but it was Jamieson who impressed the most with the ball on a slow track.

"Hopefully the new ball

Debutant Shreyas Iyer was unbeaten on 75 at the close

swings a bit in the morning and we can take a few wickets," Jamieson (3-47) said.

"India are probably a fraction ahead, but we did well to have them four down."

With several frontline players, including regular captain Virat Kohli, either rested or recuperating, India fielded a new opening pair after opting to bat on a hazy morning in the north Indian city.

Jamieson drew first blood, dismissing Agarwal caught

behind for 13, but Gill had a longer, eventful stay.

The 22-year-old was wrongly adjudged lbw even before he could open his account, a decision that had to be overturned after replays confirmed an inside edge before ball hit pad.

Gill, then on six, was also lucky when Ajaz Patel's half-hearted lbw appeal against him was turned down.

New Zealand were left to rue not reviewing that de-

cision as subsequent replays confirmed the ball would have gone on to hit the middle stump.

Gill hit Patel for a six en route to his fifty and his second-wicket stand with Cheteshwar Pujara, who made 26, was worth 61 when Jamieson struck.

The towering seamer dismissed Gill in the first over after lunch when the opener dragged a good-length ball from outside the off-stump onto his stumps.

India's stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane fell to Jamieson in similar manner after a fluent 35.

Iyer nearly holed out in the deep trying to score his first Test runs but soon figured out a safer way to do so.

He hit two sixes and seven boundaries and remained on course for a century in his first Test innings.

Jadeja scored his 17th Test half-century off 99 balls, including six fours, his century partnership with Iyer coming

off 192 deliveries The Test sides had last met in June when New Zealand triumphed in the World Test Championship final.

India are without senior players including Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant and Jasprit Bumrah for this two-Test

series.

It's the first Test assignment for new coach Rahul Dravid, who started his tenure in the preceding Twenty20 series with a 3-0 win over the New Zealanders. (Yahoo Sport)

SCOREBOARD INDIA 1st innings

Mayank Agarwal c Tom Blundell b Kyle Jamieson

Shubman Gill b Kyle Jamieson

Cheteshwar Pujara c Tom Blundell b Tim Southee

Ajinkya Rahane b Kyle Jamieson

Shreyas Iyer not out

Ravindra Jadeja not out Extras: (b-1, lb-1, nb-4, w-1)

13 52 26 35 75 50

7

Total: (four wkts, 84.0 overs)

258

Fall of wickets: 1-21 2-82, 3-106, 4-145 .

Bowling: Tim Southee 16.4-3-43-1, Kyle Jamieson 15.2-6-47-3 (w-1, nb-4), Ajaz Patel 21-6-78-0, William Somerville 24-2-60-0, Rachin Ravindra 7-1-28-0.

Man United set to appoint German Rangnick on six-month contract MANCHESTER United are close to appointing Ralf Rangnick as interim manager on a six-month contract.

The 63-year-old German is poised to join United but will not be in charge this weekend against Chelsea while he waits for his work permit.

United have agreed terms with Rangnick, but not with Lokomotiv Mos-

cow, where he is the head of sports and development.

It comes after United sacked Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on Sunday following a trophyless three-year spell as boss.

Rangnick won the German Cup with Schalke in 2011 and took RB Leipzig to the final in 2019.

During the 2010-11 season he guided Schalke to the semi-finals of the

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Friday November 26, 2021)

COMPLIMENTS OF CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD 83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Muttiah Muralitharan-8/46 (Kandy, 2005) (2) Shannon Gabriel-8/62 (St. Lucia, 2018) Today’s Quiz: (1) How many Test matches WI Courtney Browne played against Sri Lanka?

(2) How many dismissals wicketkeeper Dinesh Ramdin effected against SL in Tests?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

Champions League, where they lost 6-1 on aggregate to United, who were then beaten by Barcelona in the final.

United are eighth in the Premier League and Solskjaer, who scored the winning goal in the 1999 Champions League final for the club, was dismissed following an embarrassing 4-1 loss at Watford on Saturday.

Michael Carrick, Solskjaer's assistant, was placed in temporary charge, with United saying he would be in place while they looked to appoint an interim manager to the end of the season.

Carrick took charge of United on Tuesday for the 2-0 win at Villarreal, a result that ensured they would finish top of their Champions League group.

Rangnick has built an impressive coaching reputation during his time in Germany, chiefly through spells at Stuttgart, Hannover, Hoffenheim, Schalke and RB Leipzig.

He was subsequently

in charge of the Red Bull group of clubs and his current club Lokomotiv have a Europa League game against Lazio on Thursday evening and United are mindful of not disturbing their preparation.

Rangnick impressed during an initial conversation with United officials earlier this week.

However, he has held further discussions about his role beyond the end of the season.

Senior United figures believe Rangnick's expertise will be invaluable from a technical and structural perspective.

The move backs up the Old Trafford outfit's view that bringing in an interim manager to the end of the season will provide them with space to assess the managerial situation properly.

Mauricio Pochettino is known to be interested in the United job but the Premier League club are wary of getting into protracted discussions with PSG that could drag on for longer

Ralf Rangnick led Schalke to the semi-finals of the Champions League

than they want.

It is understood Carrick will remain in charge for Sunday's game against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Former German keeper Lutz Pfannenstiel briefly worked with Rangnick at Hoffenheim and believes his arrival at Old Trafford will be beneficial for United.

"Ralf Rangnick is a big expert, really one of the best coaches or managers Germany produced in the last 15-20 years, I would say," said Pfannenstiel, who is the sporting director at St. Louis City SC. "Everything he did so

far was successful and he always was very clear that if he gets the opportunity to work for a big club in England, he wants to do that.

"So looking at this interim head coach, I think he is the one who really can get everything stabilised to really get Manchester United back on track. I think he probably was the best man on the market.

"We like to call him in Germany, the football professor, everything he does is very well thoughtout, the way he puts structures in place at every club is something amazing."

27

GUYANA CHRONICLE. Friday, November 26, 2021

Greater application required for second Test, says Da Silva

GALLE, Sri Lanka (CMC) – Wicketkeeper-batsman Joshua Da Silva has urged greater fight and application for the second Test starting next Monday, in the wake of West Indies’ crushing defeat to Sri Lanka in the opener.

West Indies were bowled out for 160 an hour after lunch on yesterday’s final day after resuming the morning on 52 for six in pursuit of an improbable target of 348, to crash to a 186-run loss at Galle International Stadium.

And with only a short turnaround before the next Test at the same venue, Da Silva said the Caribbean side needed to be up for the contest.

“I just think the boys need to fight. We need to believe in ourselves. Nobody goes out there to fail, everybody is trying his best,” said Da Silva, who struck his third Test half-century yesterday.

“It’s just to have a bit of

Wicketkeeper-batter Joshua Da Silva gathers runs during his half-century in the second innings against Sri Lanka

application and give yourself some time – you have a lot more time than you think. You have five days so a bit of application is going to do the job.”

West Indies struggled badly in both innings, each time failing to negotiate the spin trio of off-spinner Ramesh Mendis and left-arm spinners Lasith Embuldeniya and Praveen Jayawickrama.

Replying to Sri Lanka’s 386, West Indies slumped to 113 for six in their first innings before recovering to reach 230 all out, and conceding a 156run lead.

In their second innings, they were tottering on an astonishing 18 for six before being bailed out by Da Silva and Nkrumah Bonner’s 100-run, seventh wicket stand.

“You can’t really fault the boys – everybody goes out there to do his best,” Da Silva contended.

“Nobody gets out on purpose but we played a little bit in front (of our pads) maybe at times – not all the time – but just a bit at times especially in the first innings.

“The second innings was a bit tough. There was a period

there Sri Lanka were on top and we just needed to (consolidate) and just fight. That was the key word – fight – and try our best.”

Da Silva made 54 after resuming the morning on 15 while Bonner finished unbeaten on 68, the pair’s partnership frustrating Sri Lanka throughout most of the morning session.

They came together on Wednesday’s fourth evening with the innings in strife at 18 for six, and denied the hosts any further success with a measured stand which provided West Indies a glimmer of hope of saving the contest.

“When I got into the wicket with Bonner, we had to rebuild, we had to think of how we were going to get ourselves out of the collapse,” Da Silva explained.

“So we just wanted to bat balls and be at the wicket at the end of the day because we

knew that on Thursday (yesterday) we could always take it to another step where we could draw the game or even win the game.”

He added: “It was challenging. The pitch was turning a lot and the straighter ball was sliding on a bit so it was a difficult new-ball wicket.

“But once the ball got a bit softer it was a bit easier and we were able to get a little more on top of the bowlers.

Da Silva said it was important West Indies remained cognizant of the strength Sri Lanka boasted in their own conditions.

“They (Sri Lanka) just played the cricket they know how to play,” he noted.

“They used their spinners wisely and they batted in their conditions which they know how to bat very well, so they just used the home advantage to their advantage.”

Ethiopia's Gebrselassie to join war, CWI still on stream for restart of Regional four-day season - Grave ready to pay 'ultimate price'

Haile Gebrselassie is regarded as a legend in Ethiopia

ETHIOPIAN Olympic gold medallist and national hero Haile Gebrselassie pledged on Wednesday to join the fight against rebellious forces in his country, after the prime minister said he had gone to direct the war from the front lines.

The 48-year-old retired champion, who set 27 long-distance running records, told Reuters that he felt compelled to join up because Ethiopia's existence was under threat.

Haile, his lithe, athletic frame dressed in business attire, said he believed sport was about "peace and love". But he defended his decision to join the fight against rebellious Tigrayan forces and their allies, who last month threatened to

march on the capital Addis Ababa.

"What would you do when the existence of a country is at stake? You just put down everything. Alas, nothing will bind you. I am sorry!"

The year-long conflict has killed thousands of people, forced more than two million more from their homes and left 400 000 people in Tigray facing famine. It escalated sharply after the threat by rebellious forces to march on the capital, leading to international efforts to broke a ceasefire.

On Wednesday, state-affiliated media reported that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed had gone to direct the war from the front lines.

Haile cast the conflict as a battle in which the threat to Ethiopia was a threat to all of Africa.

"Ethiopia is a country that contributed a lot to Africa and the entire continent," he said.

"Yes, it is an exemplary country. Kneeling Ethiopia is indirectly kneeling the rest. This is impossible."

In an interview in his office in the capital, where he runs more than a dozen companies engaged in hospitality, real estate, agriculture and education, Haile spoke of the role he was willing to play in the war.

"You expect me to say until death? Yes, that is the ultimate price in a war," he said.

"There is no way that I can sit here due to fear because it will come to my door. It will come to my house. We wouldn't know when it comes. We wouldn't know who will do what."

WHILE their opponents are not yet known, the certainty is that Guyana Jaguars will play their first match of next year’s Regional Four-Day Championship away from home.

This was confirmed by Cricket West Indies (CWI) Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Johnny Grave, last Tuesday.

Grave, who at the time was speaking on Barbados radio programme, Mason and Guest, indicated that plans are still on stream for the restart of the First-Class season in early February 2022, and it will see three franchises having to travel at the start.

“The plan is for the West Indies Championship to restart in February with teams hopefully travelling and we are going to anchor, we think, three teams at home and three teams would travel and reverse that for the second round,” Grave explained.

“COVID is still here and amongst us and we don’t want to get ahead of ourselves, there might be spikes post-Christmas, but that certainly is the plan as we speak here.”

According to Grave, the current plan is to have Barbados Pride, Windward Volcanoes and Jamaica Scorpions play at home, with Jaguars, Leeward Hurricanes and Trinidad and Tobago Red Force travel across those three territories for the first three rounds.

After then, games would shift to Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago and either St Kitts or Antigua, as the previous three ‘host’ franchises would be travelling.

The CEO indicated that due to Guyana, An-

CWI chief executive officer Johnny Grave

tigua & Barbuda, St Kitts & Nevis and Trinidad & Tobago hosting ICC Under-19 50-over World Cup matches from January 14 to February 5, 2022, it was not feasible for those territories to host the first round of Four-Day matches.

Earlier this month, CWI Director of Cricket, Jimmy Adams, re-emphasised the need for more importance to be placed on red-ball cricket and assured that the Regional Four-Day Championship will resume in early February 2022, after close to a two-year hiatus, caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The plans as they stand now are that we begin early February and play a minimum of five rounds of Four-Day cricket between February and April-May,” the Director of Cricket explained.

28

GUYANA CHRONICLE. Friday, November 26, 2021 Nkrumah Bonner pulls during his unbeaten 68 on the final day of the first Test yesterday

Bonner, Da Silva unable to prevent heavy Windies loss

GALLE, Sri Lanka (CMC) – Nkrumah Bonner and Joshua Da Silva both struck half-centuries but managed only to delay the inevitable as West Indies slumped to a heavy 187-run defeat to Sri Lanka in the opening Test here yesterday.

Resuming the final day at Galle International Stadium on 52 for six, in pursuit of 348 and requiring a miracle to save the contest, West Indies found themselves without divine intervention and were dismissed for 160 in their second innings, nearly an hour after lunch.

Bonner, beginning the morning on 18, finished unbeaten on 68 while wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva converted his overnight 15 into 54, defiant efforts which frustrated Sri Lanka for most of the first session.

However, once Da Silva perished in the fifth over before lunch, Sri Lanka got the opening they desperately needed and finished off the tail after the interval.

TURN TO PAGE 22

Elaine Thompson-Herah became the only woman to win the Olympic sprint double on two occasions – first being in Rio five years ago.

Thompson-Herah among final five nominees for World Athletics Female Athlete of the Year 22 PAGE

PAGE 27

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2021