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SUNDAY, APRIL 25, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM Berbicians could save $$$ after completing skills training – Labour Minister

Scores of young persons on the Corentyne, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), on Saturday completed the final phase of the skills advancement training programme.

Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton, while addressing the graduates at the conclusion of the programme, explained that the skills they have acquired during the four months could help them to save dollars.

One hundred and eleven persons completed the courses which were offered by the Humanitarian Mission Guyana Inc of Port Mourant.

“These programmes that we do and that the Mission do and the ones that we will help them to do continually are important to communities and societies so that they can help families to save money,” Hamilton said.

According to the Labour Minister, with the high costs attached to sewing, cake making and make-up for females, it is hoped that the graduands will put their skills to good use.

The courses were Information Technology (7), Electrical Installation (6), Cooking (15), Cake making (19), Sewing – basic (26) advanced (10), make-up (25) and nails (3).

They were done under the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) programme which falls under the Education Ministry but is rolled out by the Labour Ministry.

Meanwhile, Head of the Mission, Pandit Surish Sugrim called on all of them to put the skills they would have acquired to good use.

“I implore on each one of you to go out of here with confidence and live a good and generous life.”

The Mission has been offering continuous educational programmes it hopes will benefit Guyana’s future generation. The Humanitarian Mission aims to educate, empower, and elevate individuals. Its goal is to break the cycle of poverty through education/empowerment and creating jobs.

Also speaking was Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, who is one of the parliamentary representatives for Region Six. Mustapha was at the time representing President Dr Irfaan Ali.

He noted that the current Administration is placing a lot of emphasis on education.

“While our Government is working every single day and our President is once again putting Guyana in the spotlight in the Caribbean and the world, we as a people will have to ensure that not only our economy develop; not only our infrastructure develops but we must develop our human resource so that we can be prepared to make Guyana the economic powerhouse in this hemisphere, so we will need people with skills.”

Meanwhile, Mustapha also

Some of the young persons who completed the final phase of their skills advancement training programme

used the occasion to launch “Women Let’s Rise” which is the women’s arm of the Mission.

Women Let’s Rise has as its main focus tackling domestic violence.

According to Mustapha, domestic violence affects all genders.

“It might be that women are being affected more and we in our country have to do more to curb this scourge that is affecting our country.”

Mustapha referred to education as being the key to reduce domestic violence in Guyana.

He congratulated the Humanitarian Mission for the various measures they have been implementing to tackle domestic violence, saying that Government cannot do it alone and needs civil society to play along as he called on other NonGovernmental Organisations (NGOs) to assist.

“A multi-faceted approach is needed to deal with gender-based violence. All organisations have to use all strategies because domestic violence has been affecting people for centuries. Domestic violence is a very old activity from the inception of society and we have seen that many times our women folks are being affected and today it is on the rise. So, we have to work together as a united body to curb this. We must not only look to the Government,” Mustapha said as he launched the new group.

Unfortunately, at Saturday’s graduation exercise, all COVID-19 guidelines implemented by the National Task Force and Health Ministry were not enforced. (G4)

Migration policy to be drafted for Venezuelan re-migrants

Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud meeting with re-migrants on Saturday evening in the RDC boardroom, Anna Regina, Region Two

Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud has said the Government of Guyana, in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IMO), would be drafting a migration policy for those Guyanese who have returned to Guyana from Venezuela.

Persaud was at the time speaking to re-migrants who returned from Venezuela during a meeting held on Saturday in the boardroom of the Regional Democratic Council.

Persaud said the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ministry is working to develop a holistic plan to deal with those Guyanese returning from Venezuela, and those Venezuelans who have fled their country due to the political and economic crisis.

According to Persaud, that migration policy would provide an environment in which the migrants can be reintegrated into society. He explained to his audience that the main objective of his visit was to get a better understanding of the situation and to interact with re-migrants. He said he would communicate with the relevant Ministries to ensure that there is a collaborative approach.

“Guyanese who would like to return to Guyana from Venezuela will be beneficiaries from incentives where they will be given duty free on vehicles, and also if they want to bring their household items along with them. However, students studying in Venezuela and wish to re-migrate to Guyana will be facilitated in terms of benefiting from an incentive in continuing their learning progress,” the Foreign Secretary said.

Re-migrants were informed of opportunities that would be available for them in the region, wherein the Foreign Affairs Minister and agencies would put together policies and processes to assist them to resettle on the Essequibo Coast in Guyana.

Persaud said the region is central and important in the overall plan for Guyana’s development.

“I have an issue with my birth certificate, where the Government have given me a different name…I got married and I came to Essequibo, (and it has) become a challenge for me, (wherein) my identification card (has) a different name from (that of my) birth certificate,” a Venezuela migrant told Persaud.

Pertaining to the issuance of birth certificates, Minister Persaud said he would arrange an outreach with the Home Affairs Minister to deal with, and rectify, the problem associated with different names on a birth certificate.

Persaud committed to raising the issue with the relevant ministry, and to coordinate the appropriate announcement to persons having the said issue.

Attending the meeting from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) was Programme Coordinator Monserrat Hernandez and Project Assistant Javier Singh, who acted as translator for the event. In attendance also was United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees; Alexandre Lopes, protection officer, and Maria Gabriela Delgado, field assistant.

Regional Executive Officer Devanand Ramdatt was also at the meeting.

A health meeting will be held with re-migrants on Monday at the Regional State House.

CONCACAF revamps Club Shield, – Fruta missing

The Fruta Conquerors will miss this year’s revamped version of the CONCACAF Caribbean Club Shield following cancellation, on the part of CONCACAF, of the original tournament.

The tournament’s postponement came in early April, when concerns were raised about Curacao’s COVID-19 situation and a number of Caribbean teams started pulling out of the tournament for various reasons.

With the COVID-19 pandemic severely affecting the sport if conducted, the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) took the decision to have one club football competition, which meant they would allow the clubs from the recently cancelled CONCACAF Caribbean Club Shield to join the Flow CONCACAF Caribbean Club Championship (FCCCC).

The new draw for groups was hosted on Friday, April 23, and will see a new, one-off, two-round competition taking place in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, from May 15-25. However, with 15 clubs on the roster for next month’s competition, Guyana’s Elite League Champions were not among the group.

The Tucville-based Fruta Conquerors Football club weekly for the event. It is believed that the club initially had trouble securing travel

The Fruta Conquerors were in steady preparation for the tournament prior to its cancellation

were initially part of the Club Shield, and, prior to its cancellation, were training to Curacao for the April 23 to May 7 dates. The reason for their non-participation is still unclear.

For the 15 teams in the new, one-off competition, this will mark the road to 2022 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League. The tournament will take place at the Felix Sanchez and Panamericano Stadiums, and, in Friday’s draw, the 15 clubs were divided into three groups of four teams and one group of three teams. After round-robin play between May 15 and 20, the team placing first in each group would advance to the semifinals. The semifinals will take place on May 23, and the winners would advance to the competition’s final on May 25.

Group stage action will take place at the Felix Sanchez and Panamericano Stadiums. Semifinals and Final will all be played at the Felix Sanchez.

Provided they fulfill the Concacaf Regional Club Licensing criteria required to participate in Confederationwide competitions, the champion would qualify for the 2022 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League; while the second, third and fourth place finishers will qualify for the 2021 Scotiabank Concacaf League.

Cycling Federation shortlists 10 for Elite Championships in Cuba

Jamual John, Briton John and Michael Anthony

The Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) has shortlisted a 10with Deeraj Garbarran. Moreover, Team Evolution’s man cycling squad for the upcoming Elite Men's Caribbean Time Trials and Road Race set to be staged in Havana, Cuba between June 11 and 12.

Top cyclist Jamual John, one of Guyana’s most successful cyclists, who now plies his trade for Team Foundation in the United States of America, heads this strong list. His Team Foundation teammates Scott Savory and Raynauth Jeffrey are also among the 10.

We Stand United cycle club’s Briton John, who has been in red-hot form and is a leading local cyclist, is also in the squad. He will link-up with club-mate Andrew Hicks, the fit Berbician, and also Christopher Griffith, Carlton Wheelers Cycle Club’s Michael Anthony out of Linden, Roraima’s Alex Mendes, and the unattached Marcus Keiler are in the mix. According to the GCF, the National Championships, the marquee event on the racing calendar, are set for May 22, 23 and 30, and are the final litmus test for the cyclists, after which the team would be cut down to five. The GCF has also revealed that both Jeffrey and Savory have committed to being available in Guyana for the National Championships, the dates of which are subject to approval by the National COVID-19 Task Force. The Time Trials that would see riders contesting in the four main categories (females, juveniles, juniors, and seniors) are slated to be contested on May 22 on the Linden-Soesdyke Highway and over a distance of 10 miles. The Senior Road Race would be contested on May 23 from Georgetown to Linden and back, over a distance of 100 miles; while the females, juveniles, juniors and veterans’ road races would be contested on May 30 at Mahaica, but the distance is still to be confirmed, according to the GCF.

GFF petitions FIFA over T&T player Andre Boucaud

Guyana lost to Trinidad 3-0

The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has submitted an official protest to FIFA regarding the selection of Andre Boucaud by Trinidad and Tobago in 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in March.

The GFF believes Boucaud was ineligible for selection as a registered intermediary, and, as such, that any points secured by Trinidad and Tobago during any related FIFA World Cup qualification match should be forfeited.

In its 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification match on March 25th, Guyana lost 3-0 to Trinidad and Tobago. Boucaud, who was registered as an intermediary with the English Football Association at the time, was selected in Trinidad and Tobago’s matchday squad.

Under FIFA’s rules, all conflicts of interest with intermediaries or agents must be avoided. Intermediaries cannot have any contractual relationship with a national football association. Under English Football Association rules, players cannot be registered intermediaries.

Following an extensive investi ga tion and care f u l consul tation with its legal team, the GFF has sent its written evidence to FIFA, and is urging football’s global governing body to consider its case.

“We have taken this matter very seriously, and have presented our findings to FIFA – that this individual was ineligible to play for Trinidad and Tobago as a registered intermediary with the English FA,” said GFF President Wayne Forde.

“It is vital for the integrity and fairness of the game that the rules are respected and upheld by everyone. We look forward to FIFA’s response in due course.”

Boucaud was an unused substitute against Guyana, but played during Trinidad and Tobago’s one-all draw with Puerto Rico on March 28th.

GFF President Wayne Forde

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Chris Morris, Sanju Samson take Rajasthan Royals to convincing win

David Miller played a cameo of 24*

Agood T20 total is built on the foundation of batters being brave. The Kolkata Knight Riders forgot all about that on Saturday, and lost to the Rajasthan Royals by six wickets, tumbling to the bottom of the IPL points table.

A haunted team

When the Knight Riders lost their last game in heroic fashion, it had left Andre Russell “heartbroken”, but the worst of the impact may have been on Eoin Morgan, who, even as early as the presentation that night, was wondering what might have been.

So, maybe he and his team devised a plan: Let’s not try anything in the powerplay; let’s not give our opponents an easy wicket. If we can do that, then, with the hitters down the order, we could really do some damage. #BestLaidPlans.

Wasting resources

Nitish Rana once scored an IPL fifty without the help of a single four. He didn’t need them. He just kept clearing the boundary. Here, he looked shackled. Here, he was caught behind for 22 off 25, with one measly four and one measly six to his credit.

The bitter end

Twenty-five for one in the powerplay. Sixty-one for four just past the halfway

Chris Morris bagged 4-23

mark. When a batting team falls so far behind the rate, it starts to hit out at everything.

The Royals understood that, and put all of their effort into taking the pace off, while also digging it into the pitch. Mustafizur Rahman (1 for 22), Chetan Sakariya (1 for 31) and Jaydev Unadkat (1 for 25) were especially useful in this regard, posing problems even for a hitter like Andre Russell, because they took away his base, and therefore his power.

Ironically, it was two seam-up deliveries that took down the Knight Riders’ two finishers, Chris Morris dismissing Russell and Dinesh Karthik in the 18th over, and setting his team up with a below-par target of 134 to chase.

Samson steps up

Knowing it was only a matter of lasting the full 20 overs, the Royals captain, Samson, (42* off 41) took the responsibility upon himself and made sure he was out there when the winning runs were scored.

The innings began with a flowing cover drive against Varun Chakravarthy’s mystery spin, and included a vicious six off Pat Cummins’s pace, but, for the most part, Samson was focused on just being at the crease, ticking the singles over so that he could, with as little risk as possible, push his often-fragile team across that finish line. (Adapted from ESPNcricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

Rahul Tripathi top scored for KKR with 36

KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS INNINGS (20 OVERS MAXIMUM)

Nitish Rana c †Samson b Sakariya 22 Shubman Gill run out (Buttler) 11 Rahul Tripathi c Parag b Mustafizur Rahman 36 Sunil Narine c Jaiswal b Unadkat 6 Eoin Morgan (c) run out (Morris) 0 Dinesh Karthik † c Sakariya b Morris 25 Andre Russell c Miller b Morris 9 Pat Cummins c Parag b Morris 10 Shivam Mavi b Morris 5 Prasidh Krishna not out 0 Extras (b 2, lb 1, nb 1, w 5) 9 TOTAL (20 Ov, RR: 6.65) 133/9 Did not bat: Varun Chakravarthy Fall of wickets: 1-24 (Shubman Gill, 5.4 ov), 2-45 (Nitish Rana, 8.1 ov), 3-54 (Sunil Narine, 9.5 ov), 4-61 (Eoin Morgan, 10.2 ov), 5-94 (Rahul Tripathi, 15.2 ov), 6-117 (Andre Russell, 17.4 ov), 7-118 (Dinesh Karthik, 17.6 ov), 8-133 (Pat Cummins, 19.2 ov), 9-133 (Shivam Mavi, 19.6 ov)

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Jaydev Unadkat 4-0-25-1 Chetan Sakariya 4-0-31-1 Mustafizur Rahman 4-0-22-1 Chris Morris 4-0-23-4 Rahul Tewatia 3-0-24-0 Shivam Dube 1-0-5-0

RAJASTHAN ROYALS

INNINGS (TARGET: 134

RUNS FROM 20 OVERS)

Jos Buttler lbw b Varun 5 Yashasvi Jaiswal c sub (KL Nagarkoti) b Shivam Mavi 22 Sanju Samson (c)† not out 42 Shivam Dube c Prasidh Krishna b Varun 22 Rahul Tewatia c sub (KL Nagarkoti) b Prasidh Krishna 5 David Miller not out 24 Extras (lb 7, nb 1, w 6) 14 TOTAL (18.5 Ov, RR: 7.11) 134/4 Did not bat: Riyan Parag, Chris Morris, Jaydev Unadkat, Chetan Sakariya, Mustafizur Rahman Fall of wickets: 1-21 (Jos Buttler, 3.2 ov), 2-40 (Yashasvi Jaiswal, 4.5 ov), 3-85 (Shivam Dube, 10.5 ov), 4-100 (Rahul Tewatia, 13.4 ov)

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Shivam Mavi 4-0-19-1 Pat Cummins 3.5-0-36-0 Varun Chakravarthy 4-0-32-2 Sunil Narine 4-0-20-0 Prasidh Krishna 3-0-20-1