Keeping Keepingyou youupdated updatedon oncurrent current events... events... ONLINE DAILY NEWSPAPER
Tuesday February 2, 2021
NT OPEN TO GOVERNME Pg2 CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM, SHARING OF IDEAS Pg2
Pg2
– PRESIDENT ALI
- Reminds media to be objective, balanced and fair
- Role of media in safeguarding democracy
Guyana records 176 COVID-19 death
Pg2
Inebriated farmer kills two injures others
Pg2
Pg3
GO-Invest sees T10: Pooran scope for wide range smashes 12 sixes of public-private in 89 off 26! Pg9 partnerships
Guyana Post Tuesday February 2, 2021
GOVERNMENT OPEN TO CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM, SHARING OF IDEAS
– PRESIDENT ALI - Reminds media to be objective, balanced and fair
- Role of media in safeguarding democracy
His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali and President of the Guyana Press Association – Ms Nazima Raghubir.
His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali on Sunday assured members of the media that his Government remains committed to engaging all stakeholders for the development of Guyana. President Ali reiterated
that his government remains open and ready to engage and collaborate with the media. “As President of Guyana I’m open to constructive criticism; I’m open to ideas and I’m open to sharing
of responsibilities for the development and advancement of our country.” The Head of State made these remarks to scores of media workers from across the country during the Annual Media Brunch
held Sunday morning at Baridi Benab, State House. Also in attendance were First Lady Arya Ali, Prime Minister Brigadier (rt’d) Mark Phillips, Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, several Ministers
info@guyanapostonline.com
Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) who died while receiving care at our medical facility. The MOH expresses sincerest condolences to the family of the deceased and will make every effort to provide all the necessary support during this difficult time to render any assistance needed. Officials of the Ministry have contacted all
relatives and persons to facilitate contact tracing and rapid assistance to everyone who may have been exposed to the nowdeceased person. The Ministry is also appealing to the general public to respect the confidentiality of the deceased and her family, and to allow them to mourn their tragic loss in peace
be done in a responsible manner. “I believe that in a free and open society, every view has a value and every view must be expressed freely. But in expressing those views there comes
Con’t on Pg5
Inebriated farmer kills two injures others
Guyana records 176 COVID-19 death January 30, 2021(MOHGEORGETOWN) – The Ministry of Health (MOH) regrettably informs that as of January 29, 2021, one more person who tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has died. This takes the total number of deaths from the pandemic to 176. The latest fatality is a 53-year-old female from
of Government as well as the President of the Guyana Press Association – Ms Nazima Raghubir. In his address, President Ali caution that while the society is free to openly express their views on various matters, this must
A Farmer who has reportedly been consuming alcohol, and at the same time became annoyed by an argument between a couple, went berserk last evening, stabbing two persons to death while injuring several others in the Berbice area. The now-dead individuals are identified as 43-year-old, Mahendra Ramotar aka “Sunny” of 43 Public Road Corentyne, Berbice, and Surendra only name was given of #43 Village,
2
Corentyne Berbice Injured are 40-year-old, Sukamattie Richmond of #43 Public Road Corentyne Berbice and 30-year-old, Anthony Persaud of the same village. According to reports coming out of the area, it was noted that it was just after 9:30 last evening in the #43 Village when a couple was having a heated argument. The Suspect who was at the time-consuming Alcohol nearby became annoyed and armed
himself with a knife and approached the crowd in which the individuals were standing on the public road celebrating and starting to stab several individuals. As a result, two of the four individuals who were stabbed succumb to their injuries, while the two others have since been admitted as patients, at a nearby hospital. Police have so far arrested a Farmer in the Area, as he was identified as the suspect who carried out the deadly attack.
3
Guyana Post Tuesday February 2, 2021
Works progressing on $83.9M Santa Rosa concrete road
GO-Invest sees scope for wide range of publicprivate partnerships
Alexis Rodney
The Guyana Office for Investment (G0Invest) says there is wide scope for public-private partnerships (P3) to drive economic development across Guyana. Chief Investment Officer – Dr. Peter Ramsaroop, who is also CEO of GO-Invest, has noted that those investments must take into consideration the Government’s push for local content. Investment opportunities also exist in healthcare and medical tourism, and large-scale housing development. During an interview with US-based broadcaster – Mr. Farook Juman on Friday, Dr. Ramsaroop said the Government will welcome all P3 for the large infrastructural projects it would be undertaking. “The PPP/C Government believes in the private sector as an engine of growth. Our office has signed MoUs with the [Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association], they are soon to embark on with the Private Sector. We believe in the collaboration,” Dr. Ramsaroop said. The construction of the Berbice River Bridge under the Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo administration is one of the PPP/C’s largest public-private info@guyanapostonline.com
partnerships. Dr. Ramsaroop said moving forward, the Government will be embarking on many similar ventures. Areas for such partnerships include providing solar energy for electricity in the interior regions, along with the gas-to-shore project. While the Government has not yet outlined those initiatives, Dr. Ramsaroop said opportunities will arise from those projects. Investopedia defines P3 as a “collaboration between a Government agency and a privatesector company that can be used to finance, build, and operate projects, such as public transportation networks, parks, and convention centers. “Financing a project through a publicprivate partnership can allow a project to be completed sooner or make it a possibility in the first place.” The Chief Investment Officer stressed that all key investors, foreign or local, must understand the Government’s policy on local content. “Our President has spoken aggressively on this. We want Guyanese to benefit, we don’t want a variation of staff. It has to be where our people benefit from any investment and our office will strive to ensure that
our capital framework, capital investment are there to ensure that our local companies are able to partner and the knowledge transfer gained from those joint ventures ultimately benefits our citizens,” he said. Meanwhile, Dr. Ramsarroop said Guyanese in the diaspora also have the option of returning home and investing. Areas for investment abound in the agriculture sector – one of the largest contributors to Guyana’s gross domestic product. Additionally, since the Government liberalized the telecommunications sector, there is a wide range of opportunities in this field that investors can capitalize on. “Guyana has the technical skill sets, a very educated population, and the workforce to expand the technology area,” Dr. Ramsaroop said. The “investment czar” said potential remigrants are not coming back to the “old Guyana”, but a new and exciting leadership that has a macro-economic plan. He added that President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali has the vision, and has already taken steps to create an enabling environment for investment.
•The first phase to be that the Government is 2020 programme. The completed within two delivering on its promise contract was awarded in weeks to them,” he added. December to Mohamed Ramzanalli During a visit to the Region last year, Works Minister – Hon. Bishop Juan Edghill said the Government had set aside almost $350 million for road rehabilitation and construction in Region One, in the 2020 National Emergency Budget. Some $14 million will be spent to complete the Regional Chairman – Mr. Brentnol Ashley maintenance of internal Meanwhile, the The construction of the road works at Baramita, Regional Chairman said Santa Rosa main access while the second phase the project complements road forms part of the of rehabilitation works the infrastructure works the region included in its proposed Budget for 2021. Road works are expected in Manawarin, Arawnsa, Waramuri and satellite communities within the Santa Rosa Village, Mr. Ashley said “The people of Moruca yearn to have such kinds of infrastructural development and Ministry of Public Works, Project Engineer – Mr. Alexander knowing that this is just Baharally the first phase of what is yet to come gives the Ministry of Public Works at Barbina Swamp Road people great joy to know will be done at the cost of $39.6 million. Another $75.3 million was earmarked to rehabilitate the Compound Road (Phase IV) at Mabaruma and $13.5 million to maintain internal laterite roads there. The contracts for these road works have been awarded Construction ongoing on the Santa Rosa main success roa
3
3
4
Guyana Post Tuesday February 2, 2021
Agri. Minister engages Berbice farmers, drainage channels, dam upgrades for Manchester fishermen •Desilting Chesney/Albion access dam to be upgraded by Natasha Smith
meeting the farmers. We have to ensure that we have a check and balance mechanism and these officers have to be more accountable,” he said. The Minister said officers must
an assessment is done to determine the extent of the intervention needed, work will begin. “Remember, we can’t do all the work together, but I’m thinking about
Them ah help them out so it’s very good. I must say thanks to the President and everybody, the ministers them in Guyana.” chine in this area to do all the work so that you can have all
Agriculture Minister – the infrastructure so sector. We will ensure that Hon. Zulfikar Mustapha, that farmers can plant, we develop this sector so on Saturday, engaged An Albion resident complains about matters affecting the community
be out in the fields every day across the Regions. “We will meet once again this week and they will come with a programme. We have to know now where these officers are working and
leaving a ma Mr. Veeram Ramsarran is one of more than 100 fishermen who will benefit. “We are thankful for the Minister to take the time out to visit us to hear our concern and we are hopeful as he
the work done.” Minister Mustapha is adamant that farmers should monitor the works being conducted in order to ensure that it is done properly. “I want both the
Mr. Veeram Ramsarran – a fisherman of Albion, who will soon benefit from enhancement works
residents of Manchester, Albion and Hogs Town, Berbice and would be working to solve issues affecting farmers in those areas. The visit to Berbice is the latest in a series of outreaches the Agriculture Minister is conducting across the country. While speaking to residents, Minister Mustapha noted the importance of the agriculture sector in Guyana’s development and reassured them that the Government remains committed to expanding the sector as this will create jobs, wealth and food security. “We in the Ministry of Agriculture, we are only interested to improve info@guyanapostonline.com
farmers can produce, so that whenever farmers produce, they will create wealth for our country,” he said. The Minister also noted the massive investment the Government has made in the sector since August to rehabilitate neglected infrastructure and reduce production costs for farmers. He added that farmers need to increase production, not only to meet needs in the domestic market, but to tap into new ones. To this end, work is being done to double production over the next five years. “That is why we will continue to enhance this sector. We will continue to put critical funds in this
that we can tap into the markets in the Caribbean,” Minister Mustapha said. Ms. Sharon Smith raises her concerns with Agriculture Minister – Hon. Zulfikar Mustapha and his team. During the outreach, farmers raised several concerns with the Minister. One farmer complained that he was denied vaccination for his livestock. Minister Mustapha said the Regional Agriculture Coordinator and agriculture extension officers in the Region need to be more accountable. “We as a Government we, are procuring and putting money to the needs of the farmers and sometimes it’s not
Mr. Veeram Ramsarran – a fisherman of Albion, who will soon benefit from enhancement work
we have to have a check and balance so that we can check with the farmers. Whenever they say they visit a particular farmer we must have that checked to know that those works are being done,” Minister Mustapha said. He also committed to conducting desilting works in the Manchester area and upgrading dams in about two weeks’ time. The Minister also said once
promised, we are gonna get our issue resolve. We are very thankful because we at Albion here, for the longest while, we aren’t getting help,” he told DPI. Another Berbice resident – Mr. Salim Edu also praised the Government for being proactive in solving problems affecting people. “This Government a listen to people and do whatsoever them need.
regional chair and vice chair to ensure that the farmers must sign off on the certificates before payments are made on the dams,” he said. Meanwhile, at Chesney/Albion, Minister Mustapha committed to undertaking works on an access dam after fishermen complained that it was challenging transporting their engines via the dam.
4
Guyana Post Tuesday February 2, 2021
Israel-Palestinians Vaccine
GROUP OF COMPANIES VACANCY EXISTS FOR AN
INDUSTRIAL ENGINEER QUALIFICATION:
• B.S.C Degree in Industrial Engineering • Computer Literate Defense Minister Benny Gantz’s office says Israel has agreed to transfer 5,000 vaccine doses to the Palestinians to immunize front-line medical workers. It’s the first time that Israel has confirmed the transfer of vaccines to the Palestinians. Israel is one of the world’s leaders in vaccinating its population after striking procurement deals with international drug giants Pfizer and Moderna. The Palestinians have not begun to vaccinate their people. The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised concerns about the disparity between Israel and Palestinians living in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip, and international human rights groups and U.N.
experts have said Israel is responsible for the wellbeing of Palestinians in these areas. In the meantime, thousands of ultraOrthodox Israelis thronged a pair of funerals for two prominent rabbis in Jerusalem, flouting the country’s ban on large public gatherings during the pandemic. The phenomenon has undermined the country’s aggressive vaccination campaign to bring a raging outbreak under control and threatens to damage Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the March election. Meanwhile, a World Health Organization team investigating the origins of the pandemic has visited the disease control center in Wuhan, the Chinese
RESPONSIBLITIES:
city where the outbreak began. And, the European Union (EU) says vaccine maker – AstraZeneca has agreed to supply 9 million additional doses to the 27-nation bloc during the first quarter. The new target of 40 million doses by the end of March is still only half what the company had originally aimed for, triggering a public spat between AstraZeneca and the EU last week. Remember Captain Tom Moore, the 100-yearold World War II veteran who captivated the British public in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic with his fundraising efforts, has been hospitalized with COVID-19.
• Supervise projects and programs • Increase efficiency and productivity of projects. • Team leader and project valuations • Supervise Health and Safety of workerforce • Prepare Work Programs and Designs with AutoCAD program
REMUNERATION: • Negotiable Depending on Qualification and Experience Interested and qualifying candidate may forward his resume before 16th of January, 2021 to the Office Manager
GROUPOFCOMPANIES LOT 1&2 MUD LOT, WATER STREET KINGSTON, GEORGETOWN GUYANA, SOUTH AMERICA HEAD OFFICE TEL: (592) 226-5513-4 | 226-5314-5, 226-4113 FAX: (592) 226-5517, 223-7421 | EMAIL: bkinc@bkinc.biz
GOVERNMENT OPEN TO...... Con’t from Pg2
a responsibility. Also, As Nazima said, the responsibility of ensuring there is balance, there is fairness, there is factual basis on which those views are expressed is important in maintaining, not only freedom, but the image that the press is unbiased.” The President pointed to the importance of a collective stance on national issues by the media, which he said will allow for a collaborative effort in addressing those critical issues and will foster strengthened trust. info@guyanapostonline.com
Key among these were national unity, domestic violence, engagement of the diaspora and suicide. “These are all critical areas that we can work on, a common agenda on which we can build a national strategy, in which the government and the media can work together in helping a national cause. I think these are areas that can also help us to build trust; it is important that we build trust among each other also.” President Ali also committed to enhanced collaboration with the
media with regards to development projects so that they will better understand the developmental shift taking place in the country. “And I agree with you that the Government has to play a greater role in getting information out there and involving you in understanding the information in a very practical way, ensuring that the media is engaged not only from the desk, but from where development actually takes place, and these are things that I will support.”
President Ali indicated that the media corps will also benefit from the Government’s scholarship programme and will have access to training in specific areas of specialization including mass communication, journalism, and marketing. The Head of State also expressed appreciation to the media houses for their role in securing democracy for Guyana post elections. “Before closing, I must take this opportunity to thank the media; with
5
very limited resources and with long hours, the media did an exceptional job in securing democracy for Guyana. It is because of the vigilance of the media, the steadfastness of the media, and to a large extent the independence and balance in the media that allowed us as a country and as a people to ride out that period successfully.” Ms. Raghubir used the forum to highlight several matters. She placed a call for more engagements between the President and the press, the resumption of post Cabinet press
briefings, and enhanced involvement of the media in development projects among others. The GPA head also pointed to financial challenges facing the media due to COVID- 19. In his response, President Ali said that with the impending development more resources will be injected into the economy which will bring with it greater revenue for media houses and their workers.
Guyana Post Tuesday February 2, 2021
Anti-Putin chants at proNavalny protests across Russia, more than 5,100 arrested!
The chants were loud and unmistakable in Russia’s second-largest city of St. Petersburg, where several thousand people marched: “Down
with the czar!” Tens of thousands of people protested nationwide to demand the release of jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny, in
a wave of demonstrations that have rattled the Kremlin. Many chanted slogans against President Vladimir Putin. In Moscow, protesters
chanted “Putin, resign!” and “Putin, thief!” – a reference to an opulent Black Sea estate reportedly built for the Russian leader, that was
featured in a widely popular video released by Navalny’s team. Putin has denied he or his relatives own the lavish property. More than 5,100 people were detained Sunday by police, according to a monitoring group, and some were beaten. One protester in the Russian capital said, “I’m not afraid, because we are the majority, We mustn’t be scared by clubs because the truth is on our side.” The massive protests came, despite efforts by Russian authorities to stem the tide of demonstrations…after tens of thousands rallied across the country last weekend in the largest, most widespread show of discontent that Russia had seen in years. Despite threats of jail terms, warnings to social media
among Black Americans because of a history of discriminatory treatment. The disparity is deeply troubling to some, given that the coronavirus has taken a disproportionate toll in severe sickness and death on Black people in the U.S. The immunization campaign is off to a shaky start in
Tuskegee, Alabama. Area leaders point to a lingering distrust of medicine that is linked to a 40-year government study here that used unknowing Black men as guinea pigs to study syphilis. Several people, in the mostly Black city, are trying to set an example by getting vaccinated, including Black Tuskegee attorney Fred Gray, who once filed a lawsuit on behalf of the men affected by the syphilis study that resulted in a $9 million settlement. The now-90year-old Gray stresses that the syphilis study and the COVID-19 vaccine are completely different. Some hospitals around the U.S. are facing complaints about favoritism and line-
jumping after their board members and donors received COVID-19 vaccinations or offers for the prized inoculations. In Rhode Island, an inquiry was opened after reports that two hospital systems offered their board members vaccinations. A Seattle-area hospital system was rebuked by the governor after it offered vaccination appointments to major donors. Hospitals in Kansas, Florida and New Jersey also are facing questions. The disclosures could threaten public confidence in a national rollout already marked by vaccine shortages, appointment logjams and inconsistent standards from State to State. President Joe Biden
groups and tight police cordons, the protests again engulfed cities across the country’s 11 time zones. Navalny’s team quickly called another protest in Moscow for Tuesday, when he is set to face a court hearing that could send him to prison for years. The police plan to stifle the opposition protest by clamping down on the center of Moscow backfired. Not only did the massive demonstration demanding freedom for Navalny take place, but it was spread throughout a wide swath of the city. By making a long trek through Moscow’s icy streets, the protesters got a chance to spread their message further, attracting considerable attention with their chants against Putin.
says he wants most U.S. schools serving kindergarten through eighth grade to reopen by late April. But even if that happens, it is likely to leave out millions of students, many of them minorities in urban areas. The pandemic has been hard on both kids and adults, but it’s also been challenging for those who are in between. Demographic shifts during the last century have given rise to a distinct developmental stage called “emerging adulthood” that spans the late teens and early twenties. With major disruptions in education, employment, housing and more, young people who are no longer adolescents but not quite adults are
AP finds racial disparity in US vaccination drive; Using influence for favoritism?
US hospital boards, donors get shots; Israel to give some vaccines to Palestinians A clear racial gap has opened up in America’s COVID-19 vaccination drive, with Black Americans in many places lagging behind whites in receiving shots, according to an Associated Press
(AP) analysis. An early look at the 17 states and two cities that have released racial breakdowns finds that Black people are getting inoculated at levels below their share of the general population. Among the reasons given: deep mistrust of the medical establishment
6
Tucville, Georgetown, Guyana, Tel: 592-623-9971
Guyana Post Tuesday February 2, 2021
MYANMAR COUP: AUNG SAN SUU KYI DETAINED AS MILITARY SEIZES CONTROL
Myanmar’s military has seized power after detaining Aung San Suu Kyi and other democratically elected leaders. Troops are patrolling streets in major cities and communications are
limited. The top army commander is now in charge and a one-year state of emergency has been declared, army TV announced. The move follows a landslide win by Ms Suu Kyi’s party in an election
the army claims was marred by fraud. She urged her supporters to “not accept this” and “protest against the coup”. In a letter written in preparation for her impending detention, she said the military’s actions
would put the country back under a dictatorship. The military has already announced replacements for a number of ministers. On the streets of the main city, Yangon, people said they felt their hard-fought battle for democracy had been lost.
One 25-year-old resident, who asked not to be named, told the BBC: “Waking up to learn your world has been completely turned upside down overnight was not a new feeling, but a feeling that I thought that we had moved on from, and one that I never thought we’d be forced to feel again.” Myanmar, also known as Burma, was ruled by the armed forces until 2011, when democratic reforms led by Aung San Suu Kyi ended military
rule. She spent nearly 15 years in detention between 1989 and 2010. She was internationally hailed as a beacon of democracy and received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991. But her international reputation suffered severely following an army crackdown on the mostly Muslim Rohingya minority. Former supporters accused her of refusing to condemn the military or acknowledge accounts of atrocities.
find the money to spend in a year that needs a big fiscal push, and to do so in the face of a drag on its revenue due to lower tax collections. The money has been found, looking through the fiscal deficit targets, borrowing and through a planned disinvestment of public sector units (PSUs). To
fund infrastructure, the government is going to launch tax-free zerocoupon bonds targeted at the middle-income saver and investor. Finance Minister – Nirmala Sitharaman has chosen to spend on generating future income using the higher capital spending, which has gone up by 35.4% over the previous year. This is good. The big positive is that the larger government spending will not get frittered away on doles, loan waivers or other subsidies, but is being spent to build infrastructure – roads, railways, ports and waterways. See this in context of your own budget – it matters what you take a loan for: Is it to eat dinner or for an education degree? The dinner gets you instant gratification, but the education allows you to earn more in the next few years. The dinner
loan will have to paid back from your current income. The education loan will be paid from a higher income generated by that education.The government has chosen the politically tougher option of infrastructure spending rather than appeasing interest groups like farm intermediaries. The intention of the government to clean up the books came through when the 9.5% fiscal deficit number was announced for the current financial year. A practice began in the second term of the United Progressive Alliance government, when some borrowings used to be put off the balance sheet and has since grown into a huge problem. To show a lower borrowing number to meet the fiscal deficit target, the government got PSUs like the Food Corporation of India (FCI) to borrow to meet the food
A new confidence about India reflects in a bold Budget 2021
Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman has chosen to spend on generating future income using the higher capital spending, which has gone up by 35.4% over the previous year An analysis by Monika Halan A new-found confidence over the wellinfo@guyanapostonline.com
handled Covid-19 crisis found its way into India’s “Budget 2021”. This is reflected in three aspects of the budget. One, the Finance Minister ignored suggestions to tax the rich with a higher surcharge or a Covid-19 cess. Two, the government has gone for growth with a large push on capital
spending. Three, the FM has cleaned up the balance sheet of the government and removed the anomaly of using off-balance sheet items to show lower borrowings. It was well-known that this was going to be a growth-oriented budget, but the challenge before the government was to
7
Con’t on Pg8
Guyana Post Tuesday February 2, 2021
A new confidence about India reflects......
Con’t from Pg7
subsidy. Instead of the government giving the FCI the difference between the lower market price of food grains and the higher minimum support price (MSP) and showing it on its balance sheet, it got FCI to borrow. This year the government has bitten the bullet and taken all those loans on its own balance sheet, the correct fiscal deficit number of 9.5% of gross domestic product (GDP). Other pro-reform and growth announcements were to deal with the
raising of the foreign investment limits from 49% to 74% in insurance. This was a needless controversy created by the Left and has no real merit on the ground. Mutual funds have had 100% foreign ownership and we have not seen destruction of household money or seen anybody running away with Indian money. The privatization announcement on one general insurance company and two banks, and the disinvestment of Life Insurance Corporation will have the
unions up in arms very soon. The government is signaling its appetite for reform, whatever may be the fights, even as the one with farmers’ unions is still raging at the Delhi borders. At the micro level, there isn’t that much in the budget. No significant changes in personal tax rates, slabs or tax breaks. A good step has been to take a step forward to bring parity between the unit linked insurance plan (Ulip) and mutual funds. Any person with an aggregate Ulip premium
across all polices worth more than ₹2.5 lakh in a year will be taxed in sync with what mutual funds are taxed, when the policy matures. If the person dies midway, the money paid to the family will be taxfree. This is a big signal on the start of insurance reform in India because, for years, life insurance has been given a tax-free status while 99% of the market sells investmentoriented products with just 10% of the premium going towards a life cover. The well-off with large
Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) corpuses will now pay taxes on the annual interest. The government has quietly made the EPF, an ETE (exempt -axed-exempt) product by introducing a tax on the interest on EPF contributions of more than ₹2.5 lakh a year starting from the next financial year. A compliance relief for senior citizens who only draw pension or interest income is that they will no longer need to file tax returns. Stock markets liked the cleaning up of the
government balance sheet. They liked the growth push. And loved the fact that the dreaded wealth tax, inheritance tax, rich tax, cess, surcharge did not find their way into the budget documents and ended the day 5% higher. Stock markets look ahead and see growth coming back in a strong way as the government has signaled its intention to continue with reforms.
FENWICK TIES RECORD T&T DEFEAT ON COACHING DEBUT, AS WARRIORS LOSE 7-0 TO USA
Copyright AP Photo/Phelan M Ebenhack)
Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Senior Team head coach – Terry Fenwick spent the last week discussing starting his era at the helm with a bang. This could not have been what he had in mind. In 113 years as an international football nation, the twin island republic’s largest ever defeat came at the Azteca Stadium on October 8, 2000, when they were mowed down 7-0 by
Mexico. Fenwick matched it in his first day on the job Sunday night, as the Soca Warriors were routed 7-0 by the United States at the Exploria Stadium in Orlando! United States forward Jonathan Lewis (centre) reacts after scoring his team’s sixth goal in their 7-0 rout of Trinidad and Tobago in Orlando on 31 January 31, 2021. (Major League Soccer
(MLS) stand-out Joevin Jones referred to the clash as “a suicide mission” last week, and it didn’t take long before everyone else appreciated the gravity of the mismatch. The game was just one minute and 43 seconds old when winger Jonathan Lewis put the hosts ahead with a close-ranged finish, after buildup play that involved marauding left back Sam Vines and forward Jesús Ferreira.
It did not get better from there for the visitors. USA doubled their advantage in the ninth minute, with Vines benefitting from a dozing referee’s assistant to cross for a volleyed Ferreira finish. And, by halftime, the hosts were four goals clear and the match was long over as a contest. Winger Paul Arriola got a double in the 22nd and 42nd minutes, assisted on each occasion by Ferreira.
8
Arriola scored twice in his last match against the Warriors too, when USA won 6-0 at the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup. But, to put the two games in context, Dennis Lawrence’s did not concede their first goal until the 39th minute and trailed by a solitary item at the break. At the Gold Cup, Trinidad and Tobago and USA were full strength; tonight, both fielded second string teams. It is no surprise that the North Americans have more strength in depth than their Caribbean counterparts. But does the difference extend beyond that? Fenwick invited early pressure on himself by making much of high scoring friendlies against local makeshift teams, while there were raised eyebrows at his 24-man squad selected for the American trip. At kickoff, eyebrows shot higher still as he named Josiah Trimmingham as team captain – on his second
full cap – ahead of the likes of goalkeeper Adrian Foncette and right back Alvin Jones, while the Warriors played with a high defensive press but little else to check the offensive flow of their hosts.On the ball, Trinidad and Tobago barely strung a handful of passes together and, at halftime, they managed just 99 passes with an accuracy rate of 57 percent – as opposed to 328 passes at a 91 percent accuracy rate by USA. The Americans had nine shots on target by then, while the Warriors had no shots and a solitary corner to show on the offensive end. The introduction of Matthew Woo Ling and Duane Muckette improved things somewhat as, finally, Trinidad and Tobago had players able to get on the ball and deal with the tempo of their opponents. By full time, the count read: 586 passes at 90 percent accuracy by USA, and 226 passes at 65 Con’t on Pg9
Tucville, Georgetown, Guyana, Tel: 592-623-9971
Guyana Post Tuesday February 2, 2021
“You’re a man of your word”; Sport Minister praised for Buxton ground upgrade
“You’re a man of your word”; Sport Minister praised for Buxton ground upgrad You’re a man of your word.” That was the reaction of Robin Phillips
– President of the newlyformed Buxton Playfield Committee, to Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport – Charles Ramson Jr. on Sunday afternoon. The Minister was on a
follow-up visit to inspect works on the Playfield, after he made promises to have the ground upgraded during an initial visit in December. Speaking on behalf of
the Committee, Phillips commended the Minister for “standing to his word”. “He made a promise to us here in Buxton to upgrade this facility. Indeed, you have come up to the task that you set out in Buxton; and I know that the community at large is very happy for what has been done on this playfield,” Phillips said. Phillips explained that ground was “in a very terrible state; everything was just falling apart for a number of years.” Minister Ramson Jr. said he was shocked at the state of ground when he visited towards the end of 2020, and it was important work was expedited to
FENWICK TIES........ Con’t from Pg8
percent accuracy by T&T. Safe to say then that Fenwick’s decision to start Jones (A) in central midfield alongside 18-year-old Atlanta United Academy player Ajani Fortune did not reap dividends. Trimmingham, who looked overweight, was never going to last the game – and didn’t. And Jamal Jack struggled at left back, just as he did when former coach Stephen Hart tried him there in a friendly against Panama on 27 March 2015. That, incidentally, was the last time any T&T coach felt the versatile journeyman was good enough to play at international level. On the positive side, Foncette made more than a handful of fine saves and could not be faulted for a single item. And central defender Leland Archer did about as well as he could in a wideopen backline and did not deserve to make his debut in such a farcical affair. Trinidad and Tobago goalkeeper Adrian Foncette looks for an
USA goal scorer Paul Arriola (second from left) thanks teammate Jordan Morris for the assist while Trinidad and Tobago goalkeeper Marvin Phillip and defender Alvin Jones lie in a crumpled heap during Gold Cup action in Cleveland on 22 June 2019. (Courtesy TTFA Media)
outlet during the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup. (via TTFA Media) Centre forward Ryan Telfer was involved in the Warriors’ only threatening offensive moves; and won a penalty in the 65th minute when he surprised opposing substitute Andrés Perea with a clever flick over his head, that prompted a rash challenge. It summed up Trinidad and Tobago’s night when Jones’ (A) spot kick was comfortably saved by debutant USA goalkeeper Matt Turner, who dived low to his right. After 26 international appearances, Jones’ (A) only goal remains the
outstanding strike on October 10, 2017 that condemned USA to a crippling World Cup qualifying defeat. Trinidad and Tobago did not hold the USA’s respect for long after that, as Lawrence’s troops lost their next meeting 6-0. USA bettered that score Sunday night, as defender Miles Robinson scored with a close range header in the 52nd minute, Lewis cut in off the left flank to arrow the sixth into the far corner, and Ferreira got the seventh in the 62nd minute – with Jack AWOL at left back. Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Senior Team head coach – Terry
Fenwick gestures to the media after training at the Police Barracks in St James on July 3, 2020. USA coach Gregg Berhalter made four changes in the 64th minute and his replacements were unable to add to the score, as they finished one goal shy of their all-time record 8-0 win, which came at the expense of Barbados on 15 June 2008. The Fox Sport 1 commentators explained to listeners why the USA players should not celebrate with too much gusto at the closing whistle. Presumably then, Berhalter will not take to Facebook to coo about the result – as would his opposing number. It was a chastening debut for Fenwick. Next up, the Warriors are expected to host Dominica and St Vincent and the Grenadines in February before they face Guyana in their opening Qatar World Cup qualifier on 25 March. The combative Englishman will do well to have put this game behind him and his players by then.
9
bring the facility to a respectable standard. The big issue for Ramson Jr. was one of safety, as “the fence was falling apart” and electrical wires were on the ground, thereby putting residence at risk. “What we did so far, directly with the community, we got the fence fixed; we got the ground filled and levelled; we got the stands fixed and repaired and we got the wiring fixed as well. Those things are really
important for there even to be a baseline for us to do anything else,” the Minister highlighted. To date, G$2 million has been expended on the facility. This refurbishing project fits neatly into the Ministry’s plans to have the youth population engaged in tournaments, which the Minister has earmarked as a key driver of development. With a space to showcase their athletic ability, those above-average players Con’t on Pg11
T10: Pooran smashes 12 sixes in 89 off 26!
West Indies T20 Vicecaptain – Nicholas Pooran lit up the Abu Dhabi T10 on Sunday, smashing a whirlwind 89 off 26 balls to power Northern Warriors to a 30-run win over Bengla Tigers in Match 11 in Abu Dhabi! Batting first, Northern Warriors made 162-4… the second highest total in the T10 League, with Pooran hammering 12 sixes and three fours. The left-hander cracked 32 runs (four sixes and two fours) in the eighth over, bowled by England’s leftarm fast bowler George Garton. Pooran and his fellow Trinidadian teammate – Lendl Simmons, who opened the batting, added 132 in 53 balls for the
second wicket to form the base for Warriors’ total. Simmons made 41 off 22 (3x4s, 3x6s), while, Rovman Powell struck a six and a four in 13* off four. Karim Jamat took 2-18 for Tigers, who responded with 132-3 with Andre Fletcher scoring 53 off 28 (4x4s, 4x6s) and Chirag Suri 42* off 16 (5x6s). Bowling for Warriors, Fabian Allen, Wahab Riaz and Junaid Siddique took a wicket each. Editor’s Note: Pooran also made a half-century (54 off 21- 5x4s, 5x6s) two days against Delhi Bulls. His efforts led Warriors to 137-3; Bulls responded with 105-7 with South African Wayne Parnell getting a hat-trick)
Guyana Post Saturday January 30, 2021 Guyana Post, Wednesday January 28,
Reifer shines as West Indies, BCB XI game ends in draw
Raymon Reifer gathers runs on the leg-side during his knock on the final day
Reifer shines as West Indies, BCB XI game ends in draw SUMMARY: West Indies 257 (Brathwaite 85, Campbell 44, Mayers 40, Rishad 5-75) and 291 (Bonner 80, Campbell
68, Reifer 49*, Da Silva 46, Islam 4-59, Ahmed 3-42) draw with BCB XI 160 (Naim 45, Hasan 30, Cornwall 5-47, Warrican 3-25) and 63-2 (Ali 33*, Reifer 2-7) West Indies and the
Bangladesh Cricket Board XI played to a draw in their three-day warm-up game at Chattogram, ahead of the Caribbean side’s opening Test against the host nation on February 3. From an individual
perspective, all-rounder Raymon Reifer staked a claim for a place in that first Test XI by getting runs and wickets on the final day. West Indies, resuming on 179-5 after taking a first
innings lead of 97, ended their innings on 29… with overnight batsman Nkrumah Bonner failing to add to his 80. Reifer made 49 not out and wicketkeeper/ batsman Joshua Da Silva scored 46, after opener John Campbell cracked 68 the previous day. Fast bowlers Mukidul Islam and Khaled Ahmed
took 4-59 and 3-42 respectively for the BCB XI, who were set a target of 389. In the remaining 29 overs possible in the match, BCB XI reached 63-2, with left-armer Reifer picking up both wickets.
ICC ODI RANKINGS: VIRAT KOHLI, ROHIT SHARMA RETAIN TOP TWO SLOTS India cricket captain – Virat Kohli and senior batsman – Rohit Sharma retained their number one and two positions, respectively, in the ICC rankings for ODI batsmen, while pacer Jasprit Bumrah remained at the third spot in the bowler’s list. Kohli, who had scored 89 and 63 against Australia in his last two ODI appearance, has
870 points to his kitty. Rohit, who missed the tour of Australia due to an injury and has not featured in any one-day game since the COVID-19 pandemic began, remained at the second spot, five points ahead of Pakistan skipper Babar Azam (837). New Zealand’s Ross Taylor (818) and Australia skipper Aaron
Finch (791) round up the top five in the batsmen’s list. Ireland all-rounder Paul Stirling gained eight slots to reach 20th place after scoring 285 runs against Afghanistan which included centuries in the second and third matches. Afghanistan’s Hashmatullah Shahidi (70th to 66th), Rashid Khan (96th to 89th) and
Javed Ahmadi (103rd to 99th) have also gained in the rankings for batsmen. Among the bowlers, Bumrah remained the best placed Indian, occupying the third spot with 700 points. New Zealand pacer Trent Boult (722) and Afghan spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman (701) occupy the top two spots. Bangladesh spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz,
10
who was the most successful bowler in the recently concluded series against the West Indies, has progressed nine spots to take fourth position after grabbing seven wickets, including a haul of four for 25 in the second ODI that won him the player of the match award. Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman’s six wickets in the series has
lifted him from 19th to eighth position. Other Bangladesh players to gain in the latest rankings update include Shakib Al Hasan (up 15 places to 13th among bowlers) and Mushfiqur Rahim (up one place to 15th among batsmen) after their player of the match performances in the first and third matches respectively.
Tucville, Georgetown, Guyana, Tel: 592-623-9971
Guyana Post Tuesday February 2, 2021
“You’re a man of your word”...... Con’t from Pg9
will then be identified for specialized training and coaching. Minister Ramson Jr. said the Ministry, and by extension the government, will continue to work on building community relations, as it is an imperative step in the process of nation building. As part of his visit, the Minister also presented football equipment to youngsters of the community. Upgrade works were done on the stands at the venue The Buxton ground
Upgrade works were done on the stands at the venue
is predominantly used for football. President of the local governing body – Wayne Forde, commended Ramson Jr. and the government “for what is clearly tremendous effort and investment that
have gone in to upgrading this ground.” “So Minister I think you have set a fine example; an example of one where you would have recognized the need to engage and do something positive
in a community and you have backed up your commitment to them with action and investment. I think if that spirit can be replicated across Guyana, then it bodes well, not just for football, but for all sport disciplines,” Forde asserted. Work done on the outfield Forde pointed out that in 2016 the Guyana Football Federation had made attempts to assist in the sprucing up of the venue, through the erection of goal posts,
upgrade of floodlights and the acquisition of a transformer. However, Forde highlighted that mitigating the “competing interests” in the community proved a challenge, which makes the current intervention even more significant. “Many times when we go into communities and we try to implement these kinds of projects, members of the community cannot see beyond the impact that a good venue and good equipment will have on the youth. A community
ground is a safe space; it’s a space that young people do things that are alternative to very deviant behaviours,” Forde stressed. As part of its own infrastructural development programme, the Federation will soon commence upgrade works on the Ann’s Grove ground, East Coast Demerara, and another in Berbice. A combined G$20 million would be expended on those venues, Forde revealed.
the commitment, intensity and knowledge. They are growing in each training session.” Coach Marcio Maximo has been working with the local based players at the GFF National Training Centre, Providence The former Tanzania, Cayman Islands and Livingston coach supported the GFF’s policy of providing greater opportunities for domestic talent to break into the national squad, as well as bringing in the best overseas-based talent possible. “Following the Federation’s policy, we
together our group also has to be realistic about the development of football in Guyana.” “Now more than 50 percent of the players are Guyana-based, so we are improving our local football as well as the hope of players to participate and even to go to international markets, especially the younger players.” Maximo, who worked with Brazilian stars Ronaldo and Ronaldinho during his time with the Brazilian set up, said he could sense an increased interest and level of support among the
Golden Jaguars can surprise T&T- Coach Maximo
The Senior Men’s National Team will be highly competitive against Trinidad and Tobago in the first FIFA World Cup qualifier fixture in March; and has a good chance of delivering a surprise, according to Golden Jaguars Head Coach – Marcio Maximo. The Golden Jaguars will face Trinidad and Tobago away in Group F of the first round of CONCACAF qualifying on March 25, followed by a home match against the Bahamas on March 29. The domestic-based squad is currently in training five days a week at the Guyana Football Federation’s National Training Centre,
Providence. “We have a good chance to deliver a surprise. Trinidad has a track record as participant of the World Cup before, but nothing intimidates us. We know that a difficult challenge awaits us, but that is encouraging and motivating us to do better,” Maximo said. “We go with a good possibility to make a surprise and we will be very competitive. You can’t predict a win, but what you can predict is a competitive game. We hope that we will take full advantage of this game. It is not only Trinidad, it’s the Bahamas, St. Kitts and Puerto Rico. The qualifiers
are not the starting or finishing with Trinidad so we should make a good start to motivate us for the rest of the qualifiers,” he added. Only the winner of Group F will progress to the second of three rounds of qualification for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Maximo said he was impressed with the level of commitment shown by the squad as players work hard to regain fitness and secure a place in the final squad, after a prolonged lay off due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “If you train hard with intensity, with tactical discipline and technical discipline, and a physical
Golden Jaguars can surprise T&T- Coach Maximo
effort every day, that is reflected during the match,” the former Brazil U-20 and U-17 coach said. “With our locally-based group, I can see a big development, according to
11
need to give a chance to more local players to be part of the group. Internationally-based players are very important for us, with their experience, knowledge and tactical discipline, but
public as the World Cup qualifiers edge closer. “When go in the street, or take a taxi, I see that people feel more interested in football. I see more people with more hope in the Golden Jaguars now,” he said.
Tucville, Georgetown, Guyana, Tel: 592-623-9971
Email or text your letters to us we would be happy to have publish them ExxonMobil Oil Rig
adameharris@yahoo.com lendellnurse6995@gmail.com info@guyanapostonline.com
12