Guyana_Chronicle_Epaper_27_11_2021

SATURDAY 27th November, 2021

' No.106558

Large number of COVID-19 patients in institutional care are pregnant women

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Stop politicising seven per cent increase PAGE

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–– President urges ‘union leaders’ behaving like ‘political operatives’

Development of 10,000 acres of land, modern hospital, first-class –– in the pipeline for Region Two, with plans to declare region a special development zone, President Ali says at opening of new $200M Jaigobin Hotel at Henrietta

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President Dr. Irfaan Ali and other stakeholders cut the ceremonial ribbon to officially declare open the new Jaigobin Hotel at Henrietta, on the Essequibo Coast (Office of the President photos)

President Ali 05 National Cultural Centre gets $84M ‘grounds’ with Region Two farmers upgrade 09 PAGE

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COVID-19 cases decline in Regions 05 Three, Four PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 27, 2021

Development of 10,000 acres of land, modern hospital, first-class stadium –– in the pipeline for Region Two, with plans to declare region a special development zone –– President Ali says, as new $200M Jaigobin Hotel opens at Henrietta

PRESIDENT Dr. Irfaan Ali has announced that Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) will soon

be declared a special development zone that would advance investment opportunities.

The Head of State made this announcement at Henrietta, on the Essequibo Coast, where he

helped to officially open the doors to the new $200 million Jaigobin Hotel.

He said that the devel-

President Dr. Irfaan Ali addressing persons gathered for the ceremonial launch of the new Jaigobin Hotel at Henrietta, on the Essequibo Coast opment initiatives planned time we get to the end of for the region covers tech- the next three- and-a-half, nology, infrastructure, four years, we intend to tourism, services and the have every single street, ICT sector. every single road in this “Before I get to these country lit up, so that you thematic areas, let me tell can live in a secure and a you that we are going more comfortable environto declare Region Two ment. That is why we’ve as one of the regions in invested in building our the special development energy portfolio, bringing zone,” Dr. Ali related. close to 500 megawatts of The President said that new power on the grid,” specific legislation will President Ali related. be tabled in Parliament to He said, too, that there recognise the zone, with will be tremendous investdefinite incentives that ments in infrastructure, are aimed at attracting drainage and irrigation, more investors to the re- and farm-to-market roads, gion and, by extension, the among other initiatives. country.

The Head of State also To supplement this related that there will be move, the President said large investments in the that major infrastructural services sector, especially projects will be done in the the health sector, to make region, and that includes it “world-class”. the opening up of more “We are going to than 10,000 acres of land spend every single cent for various purposes. that is required to bring “We want to upgrade See page 8 what we have here. By the

Stop politicising seven per cent increase

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 27, 2021

–– President urges, says ‘union leaders’ behaving like ‘political operatives’

PRESIDENT Dr Irfaan Ali, on Friday, urged trade unions to “take off their political hats and put on the hat of reality” in their approach to the government’s seven per cent across-the-board salary hike for public servants.

“I am seeing a lot of socalled trade union leaders, who are more political operatives. I would consider them political operatives because if you look at their attitude and behaviour and their level of activism now, compared to when the APNU+AFC was in government, you would see that they are driven by an agenda,” President Ali said “In this country, sometimes we do not want to call a spade a spade, but you have a President who is willing to call a spade a spade, and when you have people who are driven by a particular agenda then they try to distort the facts, they try to distort the truth and they try to manipulate information,” he added.

The President’s comments were against the backdrop of unions, namely the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) and the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU), labelling the seven per cent increase inadequate and calling for more.

“I appeal to the union to take off their political hat and put on the hat of reality, the hat of fairness and in a comprehensive way they too should applaud the government. I’ve spoken to many, many public servants who are fully on board,” President

Ali said.

President Ali drew comparison to the five per cent salary increase for public servants announced by the then APNU+AFC administration in 2015, the total value of which was $917.3M. He explained that the net gain was only $696.2M as some $222.1M was deducted in taxes, which is far less than the five per cent.

“Whilst they did this, let us not forget that the APNU+AFC gave themselves, the ministers, the Cabinet members – a 50 per cent increase in salary. They would want you to forget that. Now they so love the public servants, now they so love the workers and the union members,” he said.

WHERE WERE THEIR VOICES “Where were their voices then? Where were their voices and activism then? It was dead. It was dead, because it suited their narrative. It was dead, because they have an agenda and you cannot represent workers if you do so with an agenda” he added.

That was in addition to many financial hardships imposed on public servants, and the population at large, as a result of measures implemented by the APNU+AFC, President Ali reminded, such as banning the importation of vehicles more than eight years old which made purchasing a vehicle inaccessible for many.

Further, he reminded that the then administration reduced the ceiling

President Dr. Irfaan Ali on mortgage interest re- equated to a reversal of lief by half, which made any increase in salary as h o m e o w n e r s h i p m o r e through the imposition of expensive; removed the new taxes and removal of school cash grant; added grants and subsidies perValue Added Tax (VAT) sons had less disposable on water, electricity, essen- income at their reach.

“They came into govtial foods, data, medicine and medical supplies; sent ernment at a time when home over 7,000 sugar they inherited a buoyant workers and over 2,000 economy, they did not inAmerindian Community herit a situation which we Support Officers (CSOs); inherited – a COVID-19 and shut down the Linden situation, an economy in Call Centre, among other shambles, the productive sector under-performing things.

“The public servants and totally out of producwhose children were at- tion in some cases, this is tending private schools, what we met,” President remember what happen Ali reminded.

The draconian meato them? They were penalised when VAT was sures implemented by the introduced on educa- APNU+AFC were retional services. All the versed when the PPP/C ‘naysayers’, ‘the huff and assumed office in 2020, puffers’, the conscience which saw over 100 taxes of the people that are and fees being removed speaking now, they were and a number of grants silent,” President Ali re- being reinstated.

“The seven per cent minded. comes with a number of other benefits that the REVERSAL President Ali noted government would have that the net effect of these rolled out in the past year measures which were im- to secure livelihood and posed by the APNU+AFC to ensure that our popu-

lation has the capacity to withstand the many global challenges that we are facing as a nation,” President Ali reminded.

The seven per cent retroactive pay hike announced by the PPP/C Government will be paid to public servants, including teachers, members of the Disciplined Services, constitutional officeholders, and government pensioners and will benefit over 20,000 persons.

In addition to the pay hike, $400 million has been set aside for a special 2021 payout to frontline workers in the health sector, who Dr. Singh reminded, continue to face extenuating circumstances in the daily discharge of their duties, as the country and the world continue to battle the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

President Ali reminded that these measures are in addition to a slew of measures the PPP/C Government has implemented since assuming office on August 2, 2020, to help cushion the effects of COVID-19, the recent catastrophic flooding and other unprecedented economic burdens citizens faced.

The President Dr. Ali-led government has so far implemented the COVID-19 cash grant of $25,000 per household, which resulted in $7.5 billion distributed to families across all 10 of the country’s administrative regions and the $19,000 grant for children attending public as well as private schools.

Additionally, there

was a $25,000 cash grant for public servants; pensioners and persons were given a one-off $25,000 cash grant; $200 million was provided in electricity credits to households that met a certain criterion and $7.6 billion in flood-relief support.

STRENGTHENING DISPOSABLE INCOME “Our focus is on strengthening your disposable income. Our focus is giving back more to you, giving to your families, enhancing your welfare, improving your livelihood, making homeownership easier, building a strong, healthy, highly educated society,” President Ali explained.

President Ali highlighted that globally, amid the economic crisis confronting many countries, there were moves to cut employment and wages and large economies such as the United Kingdom imposed a wage freeze since 2020; however, Guyana has not done so.

“I say to all those in public service and other workers in this country do not be distracted. Our country is moving positively from strength to strength every day,” the President said.

Adding: “Your government, your President, would ensure that all of you, all of us, are part of the strengthening, deepening, widening of democracy, freedom, prosperity and the ability to live a life that is full, here in Guyana.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 27, 2021

WHO names new COVID –– cautions against variant ‘omicron’ travel measures THE World Health Organisation (WHO) on Friday classified the B.1.1.529 variant detected in South Africa as a SARS-CoV-2 “variant of concern”, saying it may spread more quickly than other forms.

Preliminary evidence suggest there is an increased risk of reinfection, and there had been a “detrimental change in COVID-19 epidemiology”, it said in a statement after a closed meeting

of independent experts who reviewed the data.

Infections in South Africa had risen steeply in recent weeks, coinciding with detection of the variant now designated as omicron, the WHO said.

“This variant has a large number of mutations, some of which are concerning.

Preliminary evidence suggests an increased risk of reinfection with this variant, as compared to other (variants

of concern),” it said.

Omicron is the fifth variant to carry such a designation.

“This variant has been detected at faster rates than previous surges in infection, suggesting that this variant may have a growth advantage,” the WHO said.

Current PCR tests continue to successfully detect the variant, it said.

Earlier, the WHO cautioned countries against hast-

ily imposing travel restrictions linked to the variant of COVID-19, saying they should take a “risk-based and scientific approach”.

Global authorities reacted with alarm to the new variant detected in South Africa, with the EU and Britain among those tightening border controls as scientists sought to find out if the mutation was vaccine-resistant.

“At this point, implementing travel measures is

being cautioned against,” WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier told a U.N. briefing in Geneva.

He added: “The WHO recommends that countries continue to apply a riskbased and scientific approach when implementing travel measures.”

It would take several weeks to determine the variant’s transmissibility, and the effectiveness of vaccines and therapeutics against it, he said, noting that 100 sequences of the variant have been reported so far.

People should continue to wear masks whenever possible, avoid large gatherings, ventilate rooms, and maintain hand hygiene,

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Lindmeier added.

Mike Ryan, WHO’s emergency director, praised South African public health institutions for picking up the signal of the new variant.

But he warned that while some countries had systems in place to do this, the situation elsewhere is often unclear.

“So it’s really important that there are no knee-jerk responses here, especially with relation to South Africa,” he said.

“Because we’ve seen in the past, the minute that there is any mention of any kind of variation, then everyone is closing borders and restricting travel.”

(Reuters)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 27, 2021

President Ali ‘grounds’ with Region Two farmers –– explains global issues affecting rise in prices, lack of supplies

PRESIDENT Dr. Irfaan Ali on Friday reiterated to farmers, mostly rice producers, of Pomeroon-Supenaam, Region Two, that his government will continue to work with them to address the issues that are currently facing the industry.

The President, Senior Minister within the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance Dr Ashni Singh, and Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha explained to the farmers how the global supply challenges are contributing to the rise in prices, and the lack of supplies.

During the discussions held at the Guyana Rice Producers’ Association (GRPA) bond in Anna Regina, the President noted that he has been very proactive during his visits to the region via a Cabinet outreach and a presidential outreach.

He said that since his last visit in September, the government has been able to resolve more than 120 land-related issues, and more than 100 relating to the National Insurance Scheme (NIS).

“You raised issues about passport office; we established a full passport office here. Since it has been es-

crease in the cost of shipping.

“In some of the richest countries in the world, shelves are empty for Christmas this year; that is what is happening world-

President Ali, in the company of Senior Minister within the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh and Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha, makes a point during his meeting with farmers of Region Two on Friday tablished, it has received 229 was raised, the government is a key ingredient to produce applications, and we have was able to influence the fertilisers; we don’t have conalready processed 221,” Pres- reduction of the price for the trol over that. Understanding ident Ali said. two types of fertilisers by 10 that I’ve been reaching out, The President also re- per cent and 18 per cent. we have meetings every day minded the farmers that they The President disclosed with other countries to try to have his government’s sup- that he was able to speak to resolve this issue,” President port. the fertiliser dealer, and had Ali told the farmers.

“I am here to work with prices reduced by a further The President pointed out the farmers to genuinely im- $100. that the government has been prove your stocks… Every He also took time to ex- in meetings daily with other single day we are out there plain and reiterate to the farm- countries to try to directly fighting for farmers; fighting ers that the rising cost of fer- resolve the issue, and bring for every Guyanese. So, we tilisers and other goods is out further relief to the farmers. are in this together… If you of the government’s control.

Minister Singh also spent sink, I sink, if I rise, you rise; “The Minister of Agri- time explaining the other it’s a simple equation.” culture will tell you what is external factors that are afIn September, one of happening in the industry, fecting the country. He noted the main issues that farmers and then I will tell you what that the global supply chain raised was the rising price of more we are doing to try and has been severely affected, as fertilisers which was affecting help you, because, you know a large number of freight have their output. what is going on right now… not been able to move from Minister Zulfikar ex- The price of natural gas is their ports, which has directly plained that since the issue skyrocketing, and natural gas resulted in a significant in-

wide,” Minister Singh said.

President Ali also took time to answer questions, and resolve issues that the farmers raised on the spot. (Office of the President)

COVID-19 cases decline in Regions Three, Four

–– but triple in Region Six

WHILE significant progress has been made over the last few months in COVID-19 vaccination across Guyana, which has led to a decline in cases nationally for some regions, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) has recorded a tripling of its COVID-19 cases from August to November this year, potentially because of low vaccination rates.

Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony, confirmed this during his daily COVID-19 update, where he lauded Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) and Four (Demerara-Mahaica) for their respective decline in COVID-19 cases and increase in vaccination.

With these two regions being among the most populated in Guyana, this could have resulted in an overall national decline in reported COVID-19 cases, Dr. Anthony said.

For Region Six, however, the Health Minister flagged this as a region of concern, as he has done in the past.

Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) and Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) have also been named in the past.

The Health Minister said the data over the last four months for Region Six shows that cases moved from 174 in August to 512 cases in November.

He also expressed concern that persons have been contracting the more severe variations of the COVID-19 virus which has mutated many times since the first reported cases in early 2020.

Additionally, the region has seen 11 deaths in October and 12 deaths in November, the Health Minister related.

He expressed concern that not only are vaccination rates low, but persons have been gathering in large numbers without face masks and the requisite social distancing in keeping with emergency protocols.

“A lot of people there are not taking their vaccines.

So, now those who would have taken their second dose, you have boosters that are available,” Dr. Anthony said, as he plugged the need for persons to not only be vaccinated, but also to secure booster shots six months after receiving the second dose vaccine.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 27, 2021

Gender-Based Violence THE Government of Guyana has joined with the rest of the world in observing the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

According to Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, a number of activities will be held by her ministry to kick-start 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence under the theme ‘Orange the World: End Violence Against Women Now.’ International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women is an annual event which is observed on November 25 each year. According to the United Nations, more than 70 per cent of women worldwide have experienced some form of gender-based violence. The records show that women are more likely

to be murdered in their homes at the hands of abusive husbands or spouses.

In Guyana, the situation regarding gender-based violence is cause for concern. A survey in 2019 found that one in five or 20 per cent of women have experienced non-partner sexual abuse in their life time with 13 per cent having reported experiencing such abuse before age 18.

These are alarming statistics. Such killings transcend colour, race or nationality and are due in large measure to gender prejudice which is fuelling acts of violence towards women and girls.

Many of these attacks go unreported because of cultural factors such as shame, stigma, fear and a perception of a justice system that does not work for women.

According to United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, vio-

lence against women is not inevitable and with right policies and programmes there could be good results. Among these are long-term policies and programmes that tackle the root cause of violence against women and promoting and protecting the rights of women and girls by way of stronger legislation and judicial actions.

The current COVID-19 pandemic has impacted adversely on vulnerable groups including women and girls.

Feelings of safety and security both economic and emotional have been eroded because of the pandemic and there are cases of increased sexual harassment.

The PPP/C administration, in recognition of the problems of gender-based violence has enacted in 1996 the Domestic Violence Act which is aimed at strengthening the protection of women

from domestic violence. The scope of the legislation is broad enough to include all forms of violence including verbal, physical, sexual, emotional and psychological.

President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali has indicated that Guyana’s approach to gender-based violence is deeply embedded in ensuring compliance with the country’s domestic laws and fulfilling international obligations. He pointed out that the gender-based violence taskforce has been re-activated and that the implementation of a National Plan of Action against gender-based violence remains a priority of his administration.

These are indeed commendable initiatives on the part of the PPP/C administration in the protection of our women and girls against gender-based violence.

Jordan’s claim of conflict of interest is testimony that he floated through his tenure as Finance Minister

THE attention of the Ministry of Finance has been drawn to yet another pronouncement by former Minister of Finance Mr Winston Jordan (Letter in Stabroek News of November 25,2021 headlined, “Finance Ministry removed critical control measure and this has opened door to procurement confusion and corruption”), as he persists in continuously peddling unmitigated ignorance on various financial matters.

The ministry therefore has to continue to clear the air on these matters as it is becoming more obvious that some media, instead of seeking out the required response from the relevant authority to various ‘wild’ and what might appear to them to be sensational and ‘revealing’ accusations on matters of public concern made by Mr. Jordan, have instead begun to adopt a pattern of neglect of fairness prior to publishing. Then, what’s worse, is when the relevant authority provides the required response to the sensationalism, it is not given the equal prominence as the unsubstantiated accusation made.

As a result, Mr. Jordan gets the leeway to create more accusations and to continue to try to give the impression that he is only a ‘professional’ and not a politician and makes attempts at each instance to convince himself as well as the public over and over of this, when ironically, based on his unusual persistence and ea-

gerness to appear in the spotlight despite no longer holding the honourable portfolio of being at the helm of this ministry, proves otherwise.

His latest sojourn into seeking to find some form of relevance after having publicly been deemed the most unimpressive of all Finance Ministers (as quoted by Columnist Freddie Kissoon in the Kaieteur News of August 25, 2021: “It is my belief that Mr Jordan was the least impressive of all of the finance ministers since the first self-government administration at the beginning of the 1950 [sic].”

And, “Mr. Jordan was the second mistake for the choice of Finance Minister”) has once again exposed his complete lack of understanding of the role and functions of the Director, Project Cycle Management Division and that of Chairman, National Procurement and Tender Administration Board. Obviously, Winston Jordan as minister during his tenure “floated” throughout his entire term at the Ministry of Finance without grasping the concept of “conflict of interest” in so far as it relates to the work of the Project Cycle Management Division (PCMD) and the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), both institutions being part and parcel of the Ministry of Finance from time immemorial.

To elucidate, the PCMD is responsible for exercising monitoring oversight

of implementation of the Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP) and to report on the PSIP’s performance to the sectoral ministers, permanent secretaries and ultimately (through the Minister of Finance) to Cabinet. This has been the exact function of the PCMD when Mr. Winston Jordan served as minister and much longer before.

The NPTAB, on the other hand, is responsible for awarding contracts, the value of which is above G$15 million.

The process involves appointment of three-person independent evaluation committees, whose recommendations are considered by the NPTAB and upon the acceptance of those recommendations, submit the award for Cabinet’s No-Objection.

These are two mutually exclusive functions independent of each other. Mr. Jordan must have been sleepwalking through his time as minister if he cannot see and understand the clear distinction of functions of the two offices. Neither office is responsible for the engineering design of projects, including the preparation of bills of quantities and the pricing of those bills, nor do they tender for works, nor exercise supervision of those works. It therefore begs the question as to wherein lies the conflict of interest claimed by Mr Jordan? NPTAB makes the award and the PCMD exercises monitoring oversight

to ensure that projects are implemented based on time and cost and in accordance with terms of the contract. The PCMD does not implement the projects.

Next, Mr. Jordan referred to a letter dated September 24th, 2020. He has, as expected, not contextualised the scope and intent of the letter. Firstly, the letter re-affirmed that government has instituted standard bidding documents. As long as the procuring entities utilise, expressly, that standard bidding document, there is no need for the entity to send those documents to NPTAB for clearance. What then, would be the purpose of NPTAB “clearing” its own standard bidding document? However, should the procuring entity require any amendment(s) to that standard bidding document, it is required to secure the express written approval of the NPTAB. “An advisory system is, however, available for Heads of Budget Agencies (HoBAs) who require help in large, specialised or complex procurement.” Mr. Jordan has selectively forgotten to quote that clause in the said letter, no doubt out of malicious intent, and to smear hard- working public officers – or could it be just plain wickedness and an abominable pre-disposition to spew deceit?

It may be interesting however to See page 7

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 27, 2021

Guyanese Thanksgiving in America

By Dr. Vishnu Bisram

GUYANESE in the US are in the thick of the celebration of American Thanksgiving holiday that is observed on Thursday November 25 but will be carried over through Sunday.

Thanksgiving Day is a historical celebration in the US going back to the 1600s since the early settlement of North America

by Europeans – the Europeans gave thanks for the harvest to the natives for helping them to grow food and building shelters. It is a national holiday, a kind of a spiritual day (without denomination) observed on the fourth Thursday of every November with businesses and schools closed in recess for an extended weekend. The festival sets up a state of mind for the Christmas and Hanukah (Jewish) holidays which is a month later.

Thanksgiving is a national festival, a holiday in the US in which all, regardless of immigration status and religious or ethnic background, observe. It is a long weekend. Almost all businesses are closed Thursday and Friday except for some industrial fast food outlets that would open half day Thursday and reopen on Friday. Over fifty million are expected to travel this week for the holiday; some workers and students take the entire week off from activities to spend time with families or friends. There are family reunions, church

services, feasts, and charitable offerings. And some use the occasion as a vacation.

Guyanese-Americans are counting their blessings giving thanks to America for welcoming them over the last fifty years and for enjoying a better quality of life than in their home country. US Immigration to Guyanese and other non-White people was opened up in 1965. And Guyanese started coming to America right after independence in 1966 when several thousands, with a majority being Indo-Guyanese, applied for student and visitors’ visas and after arrival decided to remain behind in America, violating their visas as foreign students and tourists. Guyanese emigrated to America mostly because of political reasons and the pull factors of a higher wages and a better standard of living in the US. Some Guyanese also came as skilled workers in health fields (nursing) and as accountants. Since then, generation after generation of immigrants have celebrated American Thanksgiving.

Guyanese and other immigrants have embraced this annual American tradition in giving thanks with prayer services and by offering charities with the poorer sections of society. Some have donated to organisations that help the less fortunate. Some hosted dinners over the last weekend. Some gave away turkeys and other foods that are served for the festival. Last Saturday, the Indo-Caribbean

federation hosted a breakfast and lunch for hundreds of Guyanese seniors at a Guyanese catering restaurant (Hafiz) on Rockaway and 123rd Street. And as they do with all other festivals, they celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday in their own unique way with their traditional cuisine and drinks.

Every wave of immigrants, including recent arrivals like the large Guyanese community (from Guyana and born in the US and elsewhere, estimated at around 800,000), that have been coming since 1960s, have joined in the celebration by adding their own ethnic flavour of giving thanks and to the traditional cuisine, music, drinks, and entertainment (Chatney, Bollywood, etc.).

America has been kind and receptive to Guyanese and Caribbean immigrants enabling their rapid rise in income, having their own homes, vehicles, businesses, and post-secondary education. Many even work at multiple jobs and pursue higher education. Many work at prestigious positions at medical facilities and as engineers and educators. Guyanese and other Caribbean people are, for the most part, success stories with one of the highest income groups in the US contributing a lot more in taxes than in the benefits they receive.

Indo-Caribbeans, for example, have a median family income of US$80,000 annually as per 2020. Many have become successful entrepreneurs in a very short time after arrival and

many invest on Wall Street stocks. Many own multiple buildings and land. And many have joined the ranks of professionals (in medicine, law, engineering, and computer technology) and in real estate as well as in insurance with some of the highest salaries in the nation.

Guyanese and other Caribbean people, as indeed most Americans, view Thanksgiving as an occasion for family reunion and dinners.

Relatives normally take turn hosting dinner or lunch over the four days period from Thursday to Sunday.

Giving is part of the Caribbean culture.

And people donate food to shelters and host dinners for the unfortunate. Others donate foods or labour at pantries or join in helping feed the less fortunate. Their assistance helps to ease social problems such as hunger, poverty and homelessness in the city. Churches also host dinners for the poor and homeless.

By observing the festival, Guyanese are participating in a mainstream American celebration in the same manner that they celebrate their own traditional festivals such as Phagwah, Deepavalli, Eid, Qurbani, Shivratri, Youman Nabi, Christmas, etc. They want to give thanks for the progress they have made in America.

They are contributing in making America a better place to live and sharing their wealth and giving back to the society to which they owe their success.

Jordan’s claim of conflict of interest is testimony ...

From page 6

inform the public of a clear conflict of interest situation that existed under Mr. Jordan’s sojourn as minister: permanent secretaries and regional executive officers functioned as both Chairmen of their respective tender boards and Chairmen of their evaluation committees.

That was the situation when M. Jordan was minister.

He saw no conflict of interest then and persisted with that incestuous relationship throughout his term as minister.

If he could not see conflict of interest in that situation, how is it he sees conflict of interest in two functions that are clearly independent and separate, but comple-

mentary.

Mr. Jordan must be reminded that it is the current NPTAB that changed the situation and implemented the procedure where the functions were separated and in so doing the “critical checks and balances” were established which allow for fair and equitable treatment, promote integrity, transparency and public confidence. This most duplicitous situation was discontinued.

It is this current Board of NPTAB that instituted – for the first time ever in the history of Guyana- real-time virtual opening of tenders, where every bidder who wishes to, can sit in their office or at home and witness

the physical opening of tenders, hear the announcement of the opening of bids and make enquiries ( via the chat box) during the opening of tenders, where the record of the opening of tenders are posted online within 24 hours, where the award of tenders are posted online after the issuing of Cabinet’s no-objection and where tender notices of public procurement are announced on the NPTAB website.

Lastly, Mr. Jordan has also falsely stated that “each HoBA can now develop their own set of evaluation criteria for projects under their control … which not only creates confusion but lays the

basis for corruption.” This shows that Mr Jordan is obviously stuck in the past and is recollecting the situation that existed under his watch. This assertion is nothing further from the truth. His fluctuating responses on his knowledge of the ExxonMobil signing bonus can be recalled.

The current standard bidding document copiously details the numerous criteria that constitutes the “evaluation criteria” which underpin the assessment of contracts.

It is clear as day and for all to see and therefore the lies can be exposed.

Ministry of Finance

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 27, 2021

Development of 10,000 acres of land ...

From page 2

first-class primary healthcare to every citizen. You will see in the next budget some specific announcements on healthcare that will be mind-blowing,” Dr. Ali said.

The President also pointed out that the government has already secured the financing for a full-fledged, state-of-the-art hospital for the region. He said that his government is very focused on its vision.

“We are not second-guessing our policies and programmes. We are not second-guessing our vision; we know exactly the path that we will take,” Dr. Ali related.

Resources, he said, will be available to develop a

stadium in Region Two that will be up to par with International Cricket Council (ICC) standards.

In terms of security, the President reiterated that the current CCTV safe city programme will be expanded throughout the county, as part of the Safe Country Programme.

He added: “So, soon, you will see CCTV cameras; you will see the technology platform, but, more importantly, the command centre for your safe county as part of the country. Your command centre will be located right here in Region Two. “It is part of the decentralisation of our securities network. What does that

mean? That means at least 50 young people will have to be trained to man that command centre.”

INTEGRATED TOURISM The Head of State also emphasised the importance of tourism in Guyana, especially to the “Cinderella County”, as the Essequibo County is known.

He said that sports fishing is a massive market that Guyana could tap into, and highlighted that the government will move towards making legislation for hunting; legislation that will require a price and season.

“So, we will have sport fishing; we can create a A section of the modern facility at Henrietta ‘green’ tourism product easily here. We have all the ingredients for one of the strongest ‘green’ tourism products; with eco-lodges and so on. We have savannas. The region’s savannas is exceptional for camping, nature, and, with the right facilities, sports tourism,” President Ali said.

“You have a government that is ready to listen to you, and work with you to come up with the ideas. Come with a plan, and we will help you to develop them,” he added.

The President also re-

minded that his government will develop a learning hub for higher education, hospitality management, pharmacy and other specialised areas.

“So, as far as possible, the human resource we need for the building of this region must come from the region; that is the objective,” Dr. Ali said.

Agriculture was also discussed at great length, with the President pointing to his happiness in seeing the fields being planted with rice when he flew over.

He added that the Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha will be launching a new initiative in ‘Smart’ Agriculture to encourage the participation of young people.

“They will build greenhouses, and in a controlled way; we can do high-value products, carrots, broccoli and cauliflower. Right now, we’re finalising efforts for that.

We are also finalising efforts now to diversify the flower market,” President Ali said.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 27, 2021

National Cultural Centre gets $84M upgrade

THE Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport on Friday unveiled 1,214 new theatre seats in the main auditorium of the National Cultural Centre (NCC).

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr. said the project, which costs $84 million, was executed over a short period of time, due to its importance.

The new seats were procured and made to specification in Spain.

“In a very short space of time, we were able to get the seats removed and installed,

and it’s been a big issue for all of the people who have come to visit the National Cultural Centre over the years. And I think all Guyanese are going to be very excited that the seats are now replaced.

“I’ve tested the seats myself, and I think all Guyanese are going to be happy with the quality that we have here; and we expect to have a lot of great events. And people are going to be very comfortable with the new seating,” the Minister of Culture said.

Minister Ramson said that while the project was execut-

The new theatre seats at the National Cultural Centre

ed in a short time-frame, the government was very keen on ensuring that the delivery was up to standard.

“Project management is an important part of government functions; to see that it happens as it was procured, as well as within the timeframe and within budget is something that governments have to focus on. And it’s something that I’m focusing on particularly,” the minister said.

There were also upgrades to the lighting, sound and security systems.

“So, right now, it’s just mainly on the inside we’re looking at; focusing on the lights and the sound. We still may have some air conditioning issues which I want to focus on, but we have to test it first,” he said.

He added that with new seats in place, the ministry will be hosting a vaccination campaign at the end of the year.

Employees of the National Cultural Centre also shared how elated they were to finally see the theatre seats being replaced, after being in a deplorable state for a very long time.

Megan Hazel, Administrative Manager of the facility, said she is pleased with the

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Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Charles Ramson Jr. cuts the ceremonial ribbon to commission the new theatre seats at the NCC efforts being made by the only see from here, progress; So, I want to thank the governgovernment to improve the that’s what we expect from ment for this initiative, and am facility. this young minister… So I’m hoping that we will continue to “For years we have not grateful that we have this here progress,” Ms. Hazel said. had a fire alarm system, if now; those chairs before have The remaining seats for something is to happen. So been here from 1972. Now, the top floor will be completthat was put in, and so we can who keeps chairs from 1972! ed at a later date. (DPI)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 27, 2021

Court of Appeal’s ruling on jurisdiction to hear election petition set for Dec. 21 COME December 21, the Court of Appeal is expected to rule on whether or not it has jurisdiction to hear and determine the appeal of APNU+AFC’s Election Petition 99 of 2020.

During a virtual hearing on Friday, Chancellor of the Judiciary, Yonette Cummings-Edwards, and Justices of Appeal Dawn Gregory and Rishi Persaud set December 21 at 14:00 hours for their ruling on the issue.

On January 18, 2021, Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George had struck out the case, which had been filed by Monica Thomas and Brennan Nurse. They were asking the court to nullify the outcome of the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections, and declare that President Dr. Irfaan Ali is illegally occupying office.

During a previous hearing at the Appeal Court, Justice Persaud had inquired as to whether the appeal should have been filed in the Full

Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mohabir Anil Nandlallm S.C Court of the High Court instead of the Court of Appeal.

APNU’s attorneys-at-law, Roysdale Forde, S.C., and Trinidadian attorney, John Jeremie, S.C., had argued that the Appellate Court has jurisdiction to hear the appeal of the petition. Jeremie had even asked the court to reinstate the petition, which was thrown out by the CJ on procedural grounds.

However, the AG, in

response, had rejected the lawyers’ contentions, saying that the Court of Appeal does not have jurisdiction to hear the case, since the matter was thrown out by the High Court, and no evidence was heard.

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

Nandlall had urged the judges to bring an end to the matter by ruling on the issue of jurisdiction since the case might be a “clog” in the judicial system.

“Respectfully, I believe we are going around in circles,” the AG said as he addressed the issue of whether the court has any jurisdiction in appeal proceedings regarding election petition litigation.

“Our respectful answer to that question is a resounding no!” the AG said before explaining that, “One would

Trinidadian Senior Counsel, John Jeremie arrive at such a conclusion if one understands carefully the historical evolution of the jurisdiction, something that we have said over and over again, and the nature, extent and special limited aspect of that jurisdiction are being described repeatedly as ‘sui generis’.”

The Attorney-General had said to the court, that according to Section 79 of the High Court Act, which reads “An appeal shall lie to the Full Court from any judgment given or order

Man who killed cat fined $20,000

MAGISTRATE Fabayo Azore, on Friday, ordered Raymond Waldron called “Tongue Man” to pay a fine of $20,000, for killing a tom cat.

Waldron of Lancaster Village, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara, appeared before the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court for causing

injury to an animal.

He admitted that during the month of November 2021, at Lancaster Village, he unlawfully and maliciously killed the cat.

Police Corporal David Goodridge told the court that on November 19, animal rights activist Syeada Manbodh of the Guyana Society for the Preven-

tion of Cruelty to Animals (GSPCA) went to the Mahaica Police Station and made a report that an unknown individual sent her a message on Facebook of a photograph which showed a cat hanging on a metal gate. The individual also provided the name and address of Waldron.

Based on the report,

police went to Waldron’s home and arrested him.

Under caution, he said, “I chop the cat cause he kill nuff a me chicken, me didn’t intend to kill it.

Magistrate Azore after listening to the facts ordered Waldron to pay a fine of $20,000 or serve a default sentence of two weeks imprisonment.

made by a single judge of the court in the exercise of its civil jurisdiction in respect of which there is no appeal to the Court of Appeal.”

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

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

He explained that the Parliament of Guyana had given such power to resolve elections disputes to the High Court and when a decision is made in this “narrow” jurisdiction it can only be appealed at the Court of Appeal.

“One cannot wander outside of that narrow corridor…We cannot eke out a jurisdiction where one does not exist…Mr. Forde cannot confer jurisdiction where one does not exist,” the AG said.

In January, Forde had moved to the Court of Appeal to have the Chief Justice’s decision set aside. The appeal, among other things, is contending that she erred in law, and misdirected herself when she misapplied the

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

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

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

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

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

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 27, 2021

Men being used in campaign to combat gender-based violence AS the world observes 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence, Help and Shelter is using men as activists to combat this social ill.

The observance which is being held under the theme, “Orange the World: End Violence against Women Now!” started on November 25.

In an interview with this publication, Coordinator of the Guyana Help and Shelter, Colin Marks, spoke about the creation of the acronym MASSAVE (Men Are Standing Strongly Against Violence Everyday).

He explained that men groups are being sought and reached out to and posters were created with popular men making statements such as “I am masculine but that doesn’t mean I am toxic,” and “These hands were made to create not to violate.”

Further, he said Help and Shelter is reaching out to Corporate Guyana, especially those that sell male

apparel to share posters that can spread the message to men.

Marks said many men need sessions on male therapy and psychoeducation, which help men reassess themselves and the root causes of violence.

“Violence is a symptom gone wrong in an intimate partner relationship, so we help them to track back as far as childhood, and it is amazing some of the things that are discovered,” he said.

According to Marks, a space is offered at the Help and Shelter where men’s vulnerabilities are shared and they are held accountable for their actions.

“Group discussions are used to strengthen the programmes that will be offered to men in 2022. Many male perpetrators are caught up in the arms of the law and sometimes they need help, and once it’s the opinion of a judge or a magistrate there is a reconciliation agenda, but if it’s too toxic, we ad-

vise that there be a parting of ways…we give men our time with the understanding of accountability,” he shared.

He reflected that music keeps the company of many men because of their jobs or hobbies and many forms of music glorify violence, sending the wrong messages to men.

However, he said “it is our desire that no one should be affected by violence and we want to change those attitudes towards violence in our society.”

Currently, he said laws have been reformed to bring about change in the courts of law for justice being brought to victims of violence. Noting that there are gaps, he said work is being done to advocate for a better society.

While underscoring that over 90 per cent of reported abuse cases are perpetrated against women, the coordinator noted that men are at a higher level of vulnerability to be perpetrators.

“I have worked with a lot

of men and sometimes their actions are a symptom of a relationship gone wrong.

When intimate partner violence is considered, and in other situations, there are issues threaded to their childhood, sometimes issues in their adolescence and the changes that continue to affect their lives,” he explained.

He continued: “We stress at all times accountability.

They have to be accountable for violence; there is no letting off, and they must also review how patriarchy plays a part in their lives, and that speaks to the socialisation where men are privileged.”

Meanwhile, the Help and Shelter coordinator said that the agency is also encouraging sexual and reproductive

health education for men.

He encouraged all men to visit the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA) which is working along with the Help and Shelter with funding partner Caribbean Family Planning Affiliation (CFPA).

The CFPA is a regional organisation, consisting of members in 19 English, Dutch and French territories in the Caribbean and is devoted to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR).

Help and Shelter is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) which was formed in response to the high incidence of violence, alcoholism and poverty in Guyana, the increase in family instability and the lack of

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Coordinator of the Guyana Help and Shelter, Colin Marks support for victims wishing to leave abusive situations and/or in need of counselling and crisis services.

The NGO was registered as a not-for-profit company in November 1994 and was formally launched on November 26, 1995 (International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women).

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 27, 2021

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 27, 2021

Need for LGE pushes GECOM to expedite hiring process

THE hosting of Local Government Elections (LGE) has not evaded the thoughts of stakeholders at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), as this electoral process has served as the basis for a decision by the commission to expedite the hiring of persons to fill key positions in GECOM’s secretariat.

In an invited comment following a meeting among the commissioners on Friday, GECOM Commissioner, Sase Gunraj, said the body will take a few days in the coming week to bring finality to the way in which the hiring process is done.

This could include refining the shortlist as well as detailing how the inter-

viewing and evaluation process is to be completed.

The country eagerly awaits the conclusion of this process as LGE hangs in the balance. Gunraj was cautious not to give a projected timeline of when either the hiring process or the elections itself would be concluded.

One potential candidate who spoke on the con-

dition of anonymity said they have not yet been officially notified of the shortlisting, except through media reports.

With there being reports of a variance in opinion between representatives of the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) and the People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R) on the shortlisted candidates as well as the way interviews are done, the unofficial public list of candidates could be further reduced by the time this part of the process is concluded.

The elections commission will decide on the hiring of a Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO), Assistant Chief Election Officer/Assistant

Commissioner for National Registration (ACEO/ ACNR), Logistics Manager, Chief Accountant, Legal Officer, and Civic and Voter Education Manager.

As it currently stands, the unofficial list of candidates for CEO includes Vishnu Persaud, Aneal Giddings, Eugene Petty, Deodat Persaud, Kurt Clarke, and Leslie Harrow.

Contenders for DCEO are Melanie Marshall, Neil Bacchus, Mohamed Arjoon, and Deodat Persaud.

Interested applicants for Assistant Chief Elections Officer/Assistant Commissioner for National Registration (ACEO/ ACNR) are Delon Clarke, Noland Jervis, Melanie Marshall, Paul Jaisingh, Mohamed Arjoon, Neil Bacchus, Deolall Ramlall,

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GECOM Commissioner, Sase Gunraj Deodat Persaud, Natasha Grenion Dipchand, Andrea Sparman, Duarte Hetsberger, and Colin April.

In late September, GECOM met to approve the advertising of key positions of the elections commission’s secretariat, which were made vacant as a result of the massive shake-up following the plethora of challenges experienced during the 2020 general and regional elections.

Several charges have since been laid against former top elections officials.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 27, 2021

Spate of fires a threat to preservation of law, order –– PSC says, calls on authorities to guard against purported efforts to ‘destabilise Guyana’

Fire decimates a section of the building at the GPF’s Eve Leary headquarters

IN light of a recent spate of fires across Georgetown, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) has urged local authorities to act swiftly to arrest purported efforts to “destabilise Guyana,” as those occurrences are seen as a threat to the maintenance of law and order.

“These fires represent an obvious threat to the maintenance of law and good order,” the PSC related in a statement on Friday.

The commission added: “Most concerning is the fact that these fires are being directed against institutions which form part of the architecture of civility and law and order; firstly, at the Police Headquarters at Brickdam and now, most recently, in the Eve Leary Police Com-

pound.”

In drawing a connection between the fires and the rhetoric of “mischief makers,” the PSC said that it has noted that well-known political spokespersons, who reside in the US, have sought to encourage and publicly promote acts of terrorism in Guyana.

“These calls, notably, have included the deliberate setting of fires to create instability in an attempt to make the country ungovernable.

These public calls must be condemned by every rightminded citizen,” the PSC

related.

In light of those circumstances, the commission urged local authorities to act swiftly and condignly to guard against this purported threat to the country’s safety and well-being.

“The prosperous future of Guyana, which is anticipated by all of us, requires a stable national environment, free from those who are intent on inciting fear and terror to destabilise our country and bring down the government by criminal means,” the PSC said.

Driver dies, three injured in Soesdyke-Linden Highway accident MARK Cameron, 29, of Guyhoc Park, died in an accident on the Marudi Public Road, Soesdyke/ Linden Highway, on Friday

Dead: Mark Cameron morning.

Reports indicated that Cameron, who was driving motorcar PVV 8399, was proceeding north along the western side of the said road at a fast rate of speed when he lost control of the car.

As a result, the car ended

up on the eastern parapet and turned turtle. The driver, who had three passengers with him at the time, fell out of the vehicle during the accident.

The other occupants included Quakey Stanford,38, of Lot 133 Guyhoc Park; Calldella Marshal, 25, of Lot 5 Stevedore Housing Scheme and Shemika Richards, 23, of Lot 83 Laing Avenue, East Ruimveldt sustained injuries about their bodies.

Police Headquarters said that Cameron was picked up in an unconscious condition while the occupants were picked up in a conscious condition and taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre.

Cameron was pronounced dead on arrival by a doctor on duty while the occupants are currently receiving treatment.

The body is lying at the Memorial Gardens awaiting post-mortem examination.

The car that was involved in the accident

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 27, 2021

Large number of COVID-19 patients in institutional care are pregnant women

HEALTH Minister Dr. Frank Anthony has urged pregnant women to take the COVID-19 vaccine, lamenting that a large number of the patients in institutional isolation are pregnant women.

please go and get vaccinated. Because if you get COVID, you will have a milder form of it,” Dr. Anthony reasoned.

The minister recognised there are concerns in the public about the effects of the vaccine

lished on this. He clarified that pregnant women could get their vaccines in any trimester.

“It is never too late and even after delivery, you can also get vaccinated if you weren’t,” he added.

Even after deliver-

Getting into details during his daily COVID-19 briefing on Friday, the Health Minister said 23 of the 63 patients in institutional care pregnant women.

“I want to appeal to pregnant women, if they haven’t been vaccinated,

on women and rebutted those claims, saying the consensus of the international authorities on vaccines and the obstetrician societies is that vaccines harm neither the mother nor child.

Dr. Anthony said there are studies already pub-

ing, Dr. Anthony continued, a woman could get vaccinated; this would provide added benefits to the child through breastfeeding, as the antibodies developed in the mother could pass to the child during breastfeeding.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 27, 2021

$35M in flood-relief grants being distributed to Region One farmers

OVER 450 flood-affected farmers from Manawarin, Wallaba and Kwebana in Region One are now benefiting from approximately $35.2M in flood-relief cash grants.

Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, who also holds parliamentary re-

sponsibility for the region, is leading this distribution exercise. Deputy Regional Executive Officer, Shem Cuffy and senior officials from the Ministry of Agriculture have accompanied him.

The grants are a part of government’s response to this year’s extended May/

June rainy season, which led to the destruction of hundreds of farmlands across the country.

Minister Croal stated that that, coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic, had brought economic hardships to many farmers.

“We, as a government,

Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal (third from left) flanked by some farmers from Wallaba Village

Some farmers receiving their cash grants are aware of the importance to the tune of $17.3 million. ment and farming materials of agriculture for your liveMeanwhile in Kwebanna to help them restore their lihood, the economic devel- and Wallaba some 216 and livelihoods. opment of our country and 40 grants, valued at $14.6 Minister of Local Govfood security and this grant million and $3.3 million re- ernment and Regional Deis expected to help you return spectively, are expected to be velopment, Nigel Dharamlall to your farmlands,” he stated. distributed by the end of the and other senior officials The minister added: “We exercise. Most of the farmers from the Ministry of Agriculurge you to utilise this as- in these areas are cash crop ture are also distributing in sistance wisely and for the farmers, who are heavily other villages in the region. purpose it has been desig- dependent on their farms to The process is expectnated for.” provide for their families. ed to conclude tomorrow.

In Manawarin, which is In expressing their grat- Grants were distributed to said to be one of the largest itude to the government, flood-affected farmers in farming communities in the some of the farmers ex- the Mabaruma and MarMoruca sub-region, a total of plained that the grants will takai sub-region over the 219 grants were distributed be used to purchase equip- past few weeks.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 27, 2021

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 27, 2021

Crime Chief participates in INTERPOL General Assembly

CRIME Chief, Deputy Commissioner of Law Enforcement (ag) Wendell Blanhum, attended the 89th session of the International Criminal Police Organisation, (INTERPOL) General Assembly on November 23 and 25, 2021, in Istanbul, Turkey.

The session was opened with delegates voting to admit the Federated States of Micronesia as the organisation’s 195th member country.

The in-person three-day meeting brought together nearly 470 police chiefs, ministers and senior law enforcement officials from some 160 countries to identify areas where INTERPOL can reinforce the global security architecture.

The INTERPOL General

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum and newly elected President of INTERPOL, Dr. Ahmed Nasser Al Raisi of the United Arab Emirates Assembly elected Ahmed Nasser Al Raisi of the United

Four arrested in CANU operation at Success

CUSTOMS Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) officers acting on information received, on Wednesday conducted an operation at First Street, Success, East Coast Demerara.

A search of the location led to the discovery of a quantity of cannabis in ziplock bags. A search conducted in the house located on the premises unearthed additional ziplock bags containing cannabis.

Four Individuals were arrested and escorted to CANU Headquarters, where they are presently assisting with the investigations. The total weight of the cannabis seized is 157.2 grams.

According to CANU, the agency continues to conduct their operations within various communities with the sole intention of dismantling the networks that are engaged in the sale and distribution of narcotics in those areas.

One of the black bags found with a quantity of cannabis in ziplock bags

Arab Emirates as the organisation’s new president. He was elected following three rounds of voting.

Under Article 16 of INTERPOL’s Constitution, “a two-thirds majority shall be required for the election of the President; should this majority not be obtained after the second ballot, a simple majority shall suffice.”

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World class Southee, unbreakable Young, Latham underscore visitors fightback

New Zealand vs India First Test, Day 2 …

(ESPNCRICINFO) Tim Southee delivered one of the great Test-match spells by a visiting fast bowler in India to drag New Zealand back into the Kanpur Test, before Will Young and Tom Latham put on a resolute and unbroken 129 to ensure all four results were still in play after two engrossing days.

Having been bowled out for 345 shortly after lunch, India probed from every conceivable angle for 57 overs, but their five bowlers couldn’t separate New Zealand’s opening pair. While the ball occasionally gripped and turned square, and more often kept low, the slowness of the surface allowed the batters to adjust and survive.

For all their frustrations over the last two sessions, India’s five-man attack bowled with control throughout - particularly in the post-tea session, in which they conceded

just 57 runs in 31 overs - ensuring that the scoring rate was kept down, and New Zealand went to stumps still trailing by more than 200 runs.

Young and Latham, however, showed the rest of New Zealand’s line-up a template to survive. Knowing that the pitch wasn’t going to rush them, they let the ball come to them, meeting it right under their eye as far as possible, and didn’t go looking for scoring opportunities outside their comfort zones.

Against the spinners, Latham waited for the line to shift outside off stump so he could sweep while minimising the risk of lbw.

That shot was his primary scoring option aside from leg-side flicks and nudges.

Young, meanwhile, reached his fifty with a flurry of drives against the spinners before tea. But he was content to remain scoreless

Tom Latham profited from the sweep in Kanpur (BCCI) for long periods in the final session, when R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel began to find their rhythm and the ideal pace and seam positions for this surface.

As the day neared its close, all three spinners began to beat the bat more often.

Ashwin thought he had Latham caught behind in the penultimate over of the day, and the umpire agreed, only for a review to indicate it was bat brushing pad rather than an edge.

It was Latham’s third successful review; he had twice been adjudged lbw off the inside edge before tea, once against Umesh Yadav and once against Jadeja.

The first half of the day belonged to Southee. Having nursed a groin strain that took him off the field for parts of the first day’s play, he recovered sufficiently - or bowled through residual pain - to pick up four wickets in an unbroken spell of 11 overs on the second morning to complete his 13th five-wicket haul in Test cricket and his second in India.

Starting the day at 258 for 4 with two half-centurions at the crease, India were bowled out for the addition of only 87 runs.

The bulk of those runs came from Shreyas Iyer, who became the 16th India batter to score a century on debut, and Ashwin, who made a counterattacking 38 at No. 8.

Kyle Jamieson was New Zealand’s most impactful performer on day one, but he began day two completely out of rhythm, and Iyer, resuming on 75, hit him for five fours in his first three overs of the morning to hurry into the 90s. He brought up his hundred in Jamieson’s next over, with a sliced drive for two backward of point.

By then, though, Southee had already made a crucial incision. He began the day with four balls wide of Jadeja’s off stump, delivered from around the wicket, and the left-hander shouldered arms to all of them.

He followed it with one that swung sharply into the stumps, and Jadeja, stuck in his crease, played down the wrong line and was struck on the back pad, with an umpire’s call

verdict on height saving him after New Zealand reviewed the initial not-out decision.

Southee didn’t have to wait long to get his man, though. A similar delivery in his next over drew a similar, leaden-footed response, and this time the ball rattled into the stumps via the inside edge.

The wickets kept coming. A pair of full out-swingers that weren’t quite full enough to drive prised Wriddhiman Saha and Iyer out; the first, delivered from wide of the crease, drew an off-drive down the wrong line, and the second, delivered from closer to the stumps and swerving away to scramble the batter’s shape and causing him to spoon the ball to cover point. Then, in his eighth over of the morning, Southee alternated in-swingers to the left-handed Axar with scrambled-seam balls that straightened off the pitch. Axar played and missed at the first scrambled-seam ball, and hung his bat out and edged the second to the keeper. India were 313 for 8.

By then, Ashwin was already on 20 off 22 balls, having come in and taken on Southee’s out-swingers and hit him for three fours through the off-side. Southee kept going for three more overs in the quest to finish the innings off, but Ashwin farmed the strike, refusing singles to keep Umesh away from the strike as much as possible.

Ashwin could have been dismissed for 16 when he stepped out to Ajaz Patel and missed an attempted lofted hit, with the ball scooting through low. The ball, however, narrowly missed off stump and bounced off Tom Blundell’s pad before he could react.

It could have been the first wicket to fall to a spinner in this Test match, but as on day one - when he missed reviewing an lbw decision against Shubman Gill - the luck wasn’t quite with Ajaz.

It turned after lunch, though, as he spun one out of the footmarks and past the outside edge to bowl Ashwin, and got one to skid through with the arm to trap Ishant Sharma plumb in front.

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ICC World Cup Qualifiers …

West Indies women looking to continue winning streak against Sri Lanka

WEST Indies Women will face old rivals Sri Lanka Women in their second match of the ICC World Cup Qualifiers, where they would be seeking the vital two points up for grabs.

The contest will take place at the Harare Sports C l u b t o d a y. F i r s t b a l l is at 09:30hrs local time (03:30hrs Eastern Caribbean time/02:30hrs Jamaica time).

It will be the second match for the West Indies following their comfortable win by six wickets over Ireland in their opening match.

Vice-captain, Anisa Mohammed is confident the team can maintain their good form and make it two-fortwo in this event. Speaking ahead of the encounter the experienced off-spinner said, “It’s very important that we win tomorrow’s game and try to go into the next stage with four points. There is a lot of rain around and should

it come in the next stage, we have four points.”

The points earned from every win in the group stage will only carry over into the Super 6s if the team you defeat also progress to the Super 6s. Mohammed insisted there’s no pressure in the clash with Sri Lanka, as the West Indies are coming off a good streak, with their recent 3-0 clean sweep in Pakistan.

“I think we’ve been playing a lot of good cricket all around so it’s just a matter of coming out and doing the basics for a long period and hopefully coming out victorious and going into the next stage of this tournament.”

Mohammed is counting on the batters to continue their good run of form, which has taken the pressure off the bowlers. Deandra Dottin was magnificent in the first match with a well-compiled half-century

at the top of the order, which earned her the Player-of-theMatch award.

“As a bowler, we are really happy to see the batters coming up and scoring runs. It takes away some of the pressure (of) having to defend small totals, so it’s really good that they’re performing. We’re really excited and hopefully tomorrow they can continue getting big scores.”

FULL SQUAD: Stafanie Taylor (captain), Anisa Mohammed (vice-captain), Aaliyah Alleyne, Shemaine Campbelle, Shamilia Connell, Deandra Dottin, Sheneta Grimmond, Chinelle Henry, Qiana Joseph, Kycia Knight, Kyshona Knight, Hayley Matthews, Chedean Nation, Shakera Selman, Rashada Williams.

Travelling Reserves: Cherry Ann Fraser, Shabika Gajnabi, Karishma Ramharack

Stafanie Taylor brings up her seventh ODI hundred, Pakistan vs West Indies, 3rd women’s ODI, Karachi, November 14, 2021

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Saturday, November 27, 2021

Dennis D’Andrade re-elected unopposed as UCCA president - Ten receive Patron Educational grants

Newly elected executives of the UCCA pose with delegates attending the AGM at the Skeldon Centre

LONG-SERVING cricket administrator Dennis D’Andrade was on Wednesday re-elected president of the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association (UCCA) when the association held its biennial elections at the Skeldon Community Centre Ground.

D’Andrade, with his entire slate, was re-elected on a vote of 19 to 0 as clubs in the area were rewarded for the outstanding work they are doing in the largest subassociation in the County of Berbice.

Others elected were former national player Sydney Jackman as vice-president, Reeaz Hakim as secretary, Victor Thakurdeen as treasurer while Lawrence Mentis would serve as the assistant secretary/treasurer.

The newly elected president committed his executives to continuing the outstanding work that they are doing. He stated that they would hit the ground running with three new cricket tournaments in the next few weeks and the hosting of several developmental programmes, including a social skills seminar and mini academy.

He hailed the outstanding cooperation of Berbice

Cricket Board (BCB) president Hilbert Foster, who has visited the area, 107 times on cricket-related matters since his election almost four years ago.

Vice-president Jackman had earlier provided a comprehensive report to the clubs on the outstanding work of the association with special emphasis on several tournaments played, assistance received from the BCB, developmental programmes and sponsorships obtained in an aggressive marketing drive.

Like the president, Jackman hailed the hard work of Foster in making sure that cricket in the Upper Corentyne area was always on the move and stated that in his entire involvement in the game for over 60 years, he has never seen a more progressive leader who was passionate about the development of the game and players.

The elections were done in the presence of Cricket Ombudsman Malcom Peters who veriflied the clubs present before the AGM and elections.

Meanwhile 10 youth cricketers from the area received educational grants totalling $100 000 from the BCB under its Patron Trust

Fund.

Those receiving the grants were Trevon Sukhu, Gibeon Yacoob, Alameen Khan, Keshan Khan, Venus James, Gobin Doodnauth, Charran Singh, Jeremiah Joseph, Abbas Khan and Orlando Joseph.

Foster congratulated the youths on being selected to receive the grant and spoke on the importance of education as a key factor in achieving a successful cricketing career.

Hundreds of youths over the last four years has benefitted from a massive investment in education by his board, Foster announced that more emphasis would be placed on ensuring that all Berbice cricketers complete their educational careers.

He praised the cooperation of BCB Patron, Vickram Bharrat, who is sponsoring the educational grants along with the hosting of social skills seminars across the county for youth cricketers.

UCCA president Dennis D’Adrade expressed thanks to BCB for investing heavily into the education of players in the area and noted that the association would continue to follow the progress made by the players in their respective schools.

The ten cricketers pose with executives of the UCCA after receiving their educational grants

GUYANA CHRONICLE

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Saturday, November 27, 2021

Prescod, Holder backed by GRFU for New York tournament THE current executive of the Guyana Rugby Football Union, led by president Ryan Dey, is keen on developing the sport and its players.

It is against this backdrop that the GRFU has facilitated two of its young, promising players to participate in the New York Sevens tournament over the weekend.

Tyrese Prescod and Lionel Holder are currently in the U.S. preparing to play in the tournament.

The team will be playing under the name Elysium.

Tyrese Prescod and Lionel Holder in New York

End of a fantastic year for golf despite COVID-19 WHILE the pandemic literally shut down sports worldwide, in Guyana the game of golf through the efforts of the Guyana Golf Association, Nexgen Golf Academy and Ministry of Education Allied Arts Unit took advantage of the conditions and soared to extraordinary heights in 2021.

In July 2020, president of GGA, Aleem Hussain, made a bold prediction that he would make golf the No.1 sport in Guyana in less than two year -, a sport that had less than 100 persons involved at the time. To many, it sounded like wishful thinking, in a country that is rooted in cricket and football.

However, in January 2021, the Ministry of Education Allied Arts Unit and Department of Secondary Schools, guided

by PS Alfred King, Ms. Barker-King and Ms Gonsalves, partnered with the Guyana Golf Association and Nexgen Golf Academy to develop a syllabus for teaching golf to students as a PE sport elective in CXC/ CAPE. Now with strong partnerships, dedication and an unwavering sense of commitment, the incredible results are almost beyond belief. The Nexgen Golf Academy has trained 945 new players and 102 Physical

Education teachers from six Regions (82 schools) around the country at the Woolford Avenue location.

With an average of 100 students per school now having access to the sport, along with students from private educational institutions - Nations, Camille’s and Texila American University - that means there are now over 10 000 potential players in the country.

William and Aleena Knight of the Shafura Hussain Foundation in New York; Danny Ramnarain; Anwar Buddy Shaffie; Sally Jack; Al Badrudin; Ray Ramroop; John Somwar and several overseas-based Guyanese golfers, along with the GuySuCo Corporation; Assuria General Insurance; Copa Airlines; Blue Life Waters; Trophy Stall; Ansa McAl; Toolsie Persaud Ltd; Kanuku Suites & Apartments; Kanuku Tours; Regus; Angel Seafood Restaurant & Bar; Sunshine Snacks; Ram & Mcrae; Panko Steel Construction; H. Nauth & Sons; AR Printery; Ramchand Auto; Bissessar Shipping Company are on board as well as TMK2020 Inc.; CS World Cargo & Logistics; Sterling Products; Caliper Drones; PasCargo; Nexgen Global Group; New Trend Auto; SUPERGRAPHICS; Tristone Investment and Auto

Sales and Maraiko Bay Resorts.

On all fronts, the GGA and Nexgen Golf have raised the bar and expectations for sports organisations in Guyana by showcasing how fundraising can be done for Cancer Awareness, Orphanages, Student Groups, and other charitable activities.

“Our challenge is two-fold: access to land and funds to construct. Nexgen Global has funded all of the development so far with contributions of equipment and services from several supporters.

A modified golf facility costs G$12M-$15M to construct but will give thousands of players a chance to learn the sport. Imagine if there was full support behind the development, we would have been much further along.”

With construction underway for the Crane/Vreeden-Hoop golf facility and Maraiko Bay Resorts 18-hole Championship Golf course, design plans for Ashmin’s Resort taking shape and government proposing to construct as many as three 18-hole courses, according to Minister of Sport, Charles Ramson, it does look like a Christmas wish will come true in 2022 and Guyana will be a Golf Nation.

GRFU, in a release yesterday, said the officials saw the need to give the youths more exposure in the leadup to the Rugby Americas North (RAN) Super Sevens in Mexico in February.

Through some of the foreign players and other rugby enthusiasts, the development/travel was made possible.

Meanwhile, the remaining squad is currently

training under the watchful eyes of Sevens head coach, Theodore Henry, who is working to sharpen the skills of the team to be victorious at the next tournament.

Motie, Rutherford only Guyanese for upcoming Pakistan tour

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GUYANA CHRONICLE

Saturday, November 27, 2021

… Hetmyer, Lewis, others out for personal reasons

Insurance Super50, followed by his showing in the CPL. Dominic Drakes has the potential to be an outstanding all-rounder as was displayed during the last CPL.” Harper added: “The ODIs in Pakistan are part of the ICC ODI Super League where points gained go towards qualification for the ICC World Cup 2023. So these ODI’s are very important to us and are being treated as such.”

The ODI Series will be West Indies fourth series of 12 in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League in which the top seven teams can secure automatic qualification for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 in India.

West Indies currently lie in eighth position out of 13 teams and have the opportunity to move above Pakistan into seventh position.

TOUR SCHEDULE: December 13 – 1st T20I, Karachi December 14 – 2nd T20I, Karachi December 16 – 3rd T20I, Karachi December 18 – 1st ODI, Karachi December 20 – 2nd ODI, Karachi December 22 – 3rd ODI, Karachi FULL SQUADS One-Day Internationals: Kieron Pollard (captain), Shai Hope (vice-captain), Darren Bravo, Shamarh Brooks, Roston Chase, Justin Greaves, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Gudakesh Motie, Anderson Phillip, Nicholas Pooran, Raymon Reifer, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith and Hayden Walsh Jr. T20 Internationals: Kieron Pollard (captain), Nicholas Pooran (vice-captain), Darren Bravo, Roston Chase, Sheldon Cottrell, Dominic Drakes, Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Gudakesh Motie, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith, Oshane Thomas and Hayden Walsh Jr.

Sherfane Rutherford

CRICKET West Indies (CWI) selectors yesterday announced the two squads for the upcoming Men’s tour of Pakistan.

CWI confirmed the schedule, along with the players who will be involved in the 3 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and 3 T20 Internationals (T20Is), which will bowl off from December 13 to 22 at the National Stadium, Karachi.

Uncapped players have been named for the tour. The ODIs will see fresh faces in: Justin Greaves, Shamarh Brooks, Guyanese left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie and fast-bowling all-rounder Odean Smith.

Smith and Motie are also selected in the T20I squad for the first time, along with left-arm fast-bowling all-rounder Dominic Drakes.

Motie was a travelling reserve for the recent ICC T20 World Cup, while Drakes and Smith were net bowlers before the start of the tournament.

All-rounder Jason Holder is being rested for this tour due to workload management while Fabian Allen and Obed McCoy are unavailable due to injury and rehabilitation.

Meanwhile, batsmen Evin Lewis, Shimron Hetmyer, Andre Russell and Lendl Simmons are unavailable due to personal reasons CWI Head Selector, Roger Harper said: “There are a number of talented newcomers in each format who will have the opportunity to show what they are capable of at the international level. Justin Greaves is a very talented player, had a good CG Insurance Super50 tournament and performed well in the President’s XI match against Ireland in 2020.

“Odean Smith really grabbed our attention in the last CPL. His pace was never in question. However he has added greater control and has displayed the ability to be a wicket-taker.

“Shamarh Brooks batted well in the CG Insurance Super50 Cup and followed that up with good performances in the CPL. He will lend greater depth to the batting line-up. Gudakesh Motie has been rewarded for his outstanding performance in the CG

Gudakesh Motie

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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2021