Issuu

THURSDAY 6th JANUARY, 2022

No. 106596

Health sector has capacity to handle surge in COVID-19 cases

SEE PAGE

- President Ali affirms, advises Guyanese to uphold individual responsibility by adhering to measures

Delivery of healthcare services unhindered SEE PAGE

First Lady, Arya Ali, and her team inspect ongoing work on the beautification project at La Jalousie, West Coast Demerara. The Office of the First Lady, in partnership with the Ministry of Public Works, is developing a recreational space for families who reside in and around the community. It will include a large play area for children, a beautifully lit promenade and benches (Office of the First Lady photo)

Work on Linden’s ‘exciting’ Over 2,200 students to theme park moving apace graduate from UG SEE PAGE

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Oil reserves enhanced with new discoveries at Stabroek Block

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 6, 2022

Oil reserves enhanced with new discoveries at Stabroek Block

EXXONMOBIL, on Wednesday, announced two new oil finds which add to the over 10 billion oil equivalent barrels that exist within the Stabroek Block, offshore Guyana. The latest finds at the Fangtooth and Lau Lau wells bring the total discoveries within the Stabroek Block to 28. According to ExxonMobil, the Fangtooth-1 well encountered approximately 164 feet (50 meters) of high-quality oil-bearing sandstone reservoirs. The well was drilled in 6,030 feet (1,838 meters) of water and is located approximately 11 miles (18 kilometers) northwest of the Liza field. On the other hand, the Lau Lau-1 well encountered approximately 315 feet (96 meters) of high-quality hydrocarbon-bearing sandstone reservoirs. The well

Natural Resources Minister, Vickram Bharrat was drilled in 4,793 feet (1,461 meters) of water and is located approximately 42 miles (68 kilometers) southeast of the Liza field. Senior Vice-President of Exploration and New Ventures at ExxonMobil, Mike Cousins, was quoted

in a statement as saying that the initial results from the Fangtooth and Lau Lau wells are a “positive sign” for Guyana, as it further signals Guyana’s potential to become a major player in the global oil and gas sector. “The Fangtooth discovery is a successful result of our strategy to test deeper prospectivity, and the Lau Lau discovery adds to the large inventory of development opportunities in the southeast part of the Stabroek block. Both discoveries increase our understanding of the resource, our continued confidence in the block’s exploration potential, and our view that the many discoveries to date could result in up to 10 development projects,” Cousins said. Fangtooth was drilled by the Stena DrillMAX, and Lau Lau was drilled by

the Noble Don Taylor, which are two of six drill ships supporting exploration and development drilling across three local blocks operated by ExxonMobil. FUTURE FIELD DEVELOPMENTS In providing an update on the ongoing work offshore, ExxonMobil said that progress continues on infrastructure for future field development. The Liza Unity floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel is undergoing hookup and commissioning after arriving in Guyana’s waters in October, 2021. The Liza Unity is on track to start production in the first quarter of 2022 and has a target of 220,000 barrels of oil per day, at peak production. Meanwhile, the hull for the Prosperity FPSO vessel, which will service the third project on the Stabroek block at the Payara field, is complete and topside construction activities are ongoing in Singapore for planned production start-up in 2024. The Field Development Plan and Environmental Impact Assessment for the fourth potential project, Yellowtail, have been submitted to local authorities for review. Those new projects con-

tinue to drive investment in Guyana’s growing economy. More than 3,200 Guyanese are now employed in supporting project activities, and ExxonMobil and its key contractors have spent more than $540 million with more than 800 local companies since 2015. GOVERNMENT CONFIDENT Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, in commenting on the company’s latest achievements, said that the government remains confident that the two additional discoveries, which add to the 26 commercially feasible finds, will further strengthen Guyana’s position as a country with world-class discoveries of high-quality hydrocarbon. He said that the government intends to continue engaging stakeholders to ensure the development of the resource. “The government will continue engaging all stakeholders on the exponential development of these resources for all Guyanese while maintaining a social, economic, and environmental balance. In addition, the Government of Guyana is continually examining possibilities to strengthen oversight and management of the exploration programmes

of all operators, to further expand the sector through commercial discoveries,” Minister Bharrat said. Further, Minister Bharrat said that the government welcomes the announcement that the Liza Unity is on course to production in the first quarter of this year, The Liza Unity will supplement the operations of the Liza Density FPSO which is producing approximately 120,000 barrels of oil per day. As work progresses offshore, Bharrat said that the government intends to maintain transparency when managing the oil and gas sector, and utilise the resources to improve the lives of every Guyanese. To this end, the minister said: “The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Government of Guyana welcome these two new discoveries offshore Guyana and remains even more committed to the sustainable exploration and development of Guyana’s oil and gas resources. “In this regard, I would like to reassure all Guyanese and stakeholders that this will be undertaken in keeping with international best practices for compliance and transparency within the petroleum sector and to ensure benefits are derived for all Guyanese.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 6, 2022

Health sector has capacity to handle surge in COVID-19 cases - President Ali affirms, advises Guyanese to uphold individual responsibility by adhering to measures

By Richard Bhainie IN light of a surge in COVID-19 cases, President Dr. Irfaan Ali has urged Guyanese not to panic, but rather to take the necessary precautions to prevent the spread of the virus and heed scientific advice to guard against the harmful effects of this malady. During an emergency media briefing on the country’s COVID-19 situation, on Wednesday, President Ali urged citizens to get vaccinated and wear their masks at all appropriate times, in order to avoid being infected and to also prevent the spread of the virus, especially with there being a possibility that the highly transmissible Omicron variant is in Guyana. He said that based on scientific evidence, the Omicron variant is a “super spreader” and is easily transmissible, so one important safeguard to managing the pandemic is reducing exposure to the virus by wearing a mask. This was reiterated by National Emergency Medical Director, Dr. Zulfikar Bux, who said: “What the data shows is that the load of the virus that we get exposed to is very important… how we decrease the amount of virus that gets into our airways is by ensuring that we wear a mask and by encouraging those around us to wear a mask.” The President related that even though there is a high positivity ratio in the country at the moment, the number of hospitalisations is relatively low. He warned, however, that the situation could change quickly if more unvaccinated persons become infected. “For those who are not vaccinated, we want you to get vaccinated. But it is still critical that while you are still making up your mind whether you will get vaccinated, that you adhere to a self-imposition of mandatory mask wearing to minimise the viral load of your exposure,”

President, Dr. Irfaan Ali (centre) with Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony (front left); Director of Medical and Professional Services at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), Dr. Fawcett Jeffery (front right); head doctor at the Infectious Disease Hospital, Dr. Tracey Bovell (back right); National Emergency Medical Director, Dr. Zulfikar Bux (back centre) and Director of Primary Health Care Services, Dr. Ertenisa Hamilton, during the emergency media briefing on the country’s COVID-19 situation, on Wednesday

Dr. Ali said. The Head of State lamented that one of the major difficulties nations are faced with at the moment, in relation to battling the Omicron variant, is the impact it is having on the healthcare system, whereby medical personnel who are critical to the fight against the pandemic, are testing positive and, as a result, have to quarantine. He said that even though Guyana has seen a number of health personnel testing positive, the country’s situation remains “manageable” at this time, and the government is focused on keeping the public service functional and adequately managing the country’s health facilities and health personnel. “All the focus is on managing the healthcare system, ensuring that all the facilities are there, and ensuring that our health personnel are protected to the extent that the healthcare system remains functional and we don’t have difficulties,” Dr. Ali related. Also speaking at the emergency media briefing, Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony, said that based on the current epidemiology, there is strong reason to believe that the Omicron variant is present in Guyana, as there has been a doubling of recorded cases since December

28, 2021, in the country. NUMBERS INCREASING “These numbers are going to go up. Fortunately, most of the people who have tested positive, most of them, if not all of them, have mild symptoms… some of them are asymptotic and we have not seen an explosion of hospitalisation,” he said, adding that Omicron is still circulating, and the Delta variant also remains. Over the last two days, according to Dr. Anthony, there has been a “rush” by persons to test for COVID-19. In light of this, he reminded persons that they need to wait four to five days after exposure before taking the test. “If you are exposed and you come immediately, the test is going to show negative, and during those days, you need to be quarantined so that you are not affecting anybody,” he said. Given that a number of persons have been turning up to testing facilities after suspecting they have been exposed to the virus, the President has asked Dr. Anthony and his technical team to consider home testing to limit the chances of there being a strain on the health system. Dr. Anthony, however, assured the President that the National Public Health Reference Lab has the capacity to con-

duct at least 2,000 PCR tests in a 24-hour period, and this is supplemented by the capacity of regional hospitals and 12 certified private health facilities. In addition, he mentioned that there is also capacity at the country’s hospitals to manage COVID-19 patients. The Infectious Diseases Hospital at Liliendaal has a patient capacity of 195 patients; this facility currently has 36 patients. “We have the capacity and our staff are working and they are prepared. They have worked over the last year and several months managing COVID-19 patients, so they have the experience and knowhow to do this, and we feel very capable that we will be able to manage this particular spike that we are seeing,” Dr. Anthony said. In supporting the Health Minister’s position, Director of Medical and Professional Services at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), Dr. Fawcett Jeffery, said that the hospital is in a position to attend to persons who are infected with the virus. He reminded that health workers too are affected by the virus, and while some staff at the health facility are infected, the situation does not necessitate a shutdown

of any department. Further, Dr. Tracey Bovell, head doctor at the Liliendaal facility, said that the hospital has been preparing for the expected increase in patients and, to this end, has been working to ensure that there is piped oxygen in every single room at the hospital. OVER 700 CASES The Ministry of Health, on Wednesday, reported that 788 new cases of COVID-19 have been detected from 1,878 tests conducted over a 24-hour period, taking the country’s overall active cases to 2,554. “As we anticipated with Omicron, what we’ll see because of its contagiousness, is an increase in cases, especially if people are not abiding by the public health measures and that is wearing masks and so forth, consistently,” Dr. Anthony said during his COVID-19 update, on Wednesday. He said that Region Four (Demerara – Mahaica) has the most active cases, with 1,648 persons currently infected with the virus, while there are 338 active cases in Region Six (East Berbice – Corentyne), 203 in Region Three (Essequibo Islands – West Demerara), 115 in Region Nine (Upper Takutu – Upper Essequibo) and 82 in Region 10 (Upper Demerara – Berbice). Two persons suc-

cumbed to the virus on Tuesday, and at the end of the day, 59 persons were hospitalised after becoming infected, with 36 of those persons being hospitalised at the Liliendaal. Of those persons who are hospitalised there, five are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). As the country continues its vaccination campaign in a bid to inoculate the population against the deadly virus, the latest COVID-19 statistics show that some 412,288 adults and 30,580 adolescents have received their first dose of one of the vaccines the country has made available to its citizens. Those numbers, when broken down, mean that 80.4 per cent of the country’s adult population and 41.9 per cent of its adolescent population or persons between the ages of 12 to 18 years have received their first shot of a COVID-19 ‘jab’. In terms of second dose, statistics show that approximately 58 per cent of the adult population is fully vaccinated, representing some 297,286 persons, while 21,833 adolescents received their second shot, representing approximately 29.9 per cent of that population. Further, 13,234 booster doses have been administered.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 6, 2022

Over 2,200 students to graduate from UG - graduation set for Feb 4-5 and Feb 11-12

OVER 2,200 students from across 50 disciplines are expected to take part in the University of Guyana’s virtual graduation ceremony next month, when the institution hosts its second series of online graduation events across four days on February 4-5 and 11-12. This will be the second time, in the university’s

58- year history, that the convocation ceremonies will be held virtually for all campuses. Graduands from all campuses will be combined by associated disciplines and faculties, with February 4 seeing graduation for the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, Faculty of Engineering and Technology and the School of En-

December 29, 2021

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trepreneurship & Business Innovation, while February 5 will be for the College of Medical Sciences and the Behavioural Sciences & Research. The Faculty of Social Sciences will graduate on February 11, and the Fac-

ulty of Earth and Environmental Sciences along with the Faculty of Education and Humanities and the Institute of Distance and Continuing Education (Degree and Diploma Programmes Only) will graduate on February 12.

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UG in a release said, “Logistics and details will be shared directly with prospective graduands via UG’s internal SRMS and official graduation website @ https://uog.edu.gy/ convocation-2021. All prospective graduates should continue to liaise with their departments and faculties and continue to check their SRMS accounts for updates.” T h e i n s t i t u t i o n i nformed that graduation gowns will be available from January 10 and photography will begin by approved schedule in the same week. The graduation will be the 55th Convocation for the Turkeyen campus and the 20th for the Berbice campus. “A record number of attendees are expected this year since due to the online nature of the event there will be no limit to the number of invitees who can join the proceedings. Invitations with links to all events will be available from Wednesday, January 5, 2022,” UG said. This year several new academic programmes will see graduates for the first time, including disciplines such as Associate of Science - Petroleum Engineering, Bachelor of Science - Accountancy, Bachelor of Science - Entrepreneurship, Bachelor of Science - Marketing, Bachelor of Science - Supply Chain Management and Bachelor

of Science - Environmental Science, among several others. “Graduates’ profiles for eligible students were approved by the university’s Academic Board in November and December 2021. As such these are their effective dates for graduation. Students who have met their obligations to the university may now request expedited certificates, Letters of Completion and Official Transcripts by using the request features in their University’s Student Records Management System (SRMS) accounts,” UG noted. The statement further noted that: “UG Help Desk numbers for clarity on any matter relating to the graduation ceremonies are now open as follows: Turkeyen: 623-1941, 623-1867, 6231869, 623-1871, 623-1924, 623-1868, 623-1942, 6241943, 623-1944, 623-1945, 623-1946, 623-1948; Berbice (Tain): 623-1943 or 623-1949; and IDCE: 6427009, 623-0359, 642-7007, 624-1269. Also, persons can check the FAQ’s on the University’s website at https://uog. edu.gy/convocation-2021. Th e U n ivers ity of Guyana has graduated upwards of 50,000 graduates in its 58-year existence - many of whom have gone on to serve at the highest levels nationally and internationally.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 6, 2022

Delivery of healthcare services unhindered

- despite health workers testing positive for COVID-19, says President Ali “But in COVID-19 times, the protocol says that we permit one family member to visit, so that we could reduce numbers, we could socially distance, and we could keep the possibility of cross-contamination from getting higher,” Dr. Jeffery related. He said that on many occasions, the “altercations” at the gate put the staff of GPHC at higher risk of contracting the disease, especially since persons take off their masks so that their voices can President Dr. Irfaan Ali By Jared Liddell EVEN with over 200 health workers, inclusive of 50 doctors, testing positive for COVID-19, President Dr. Irfaan Ali has assured Guyanese that the delivery of healthcare services remains unhindered across the country. Dr. Ali said that the government remains committed to providing efficient healthcare services, despite the challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic. “Most countries now are moving in a direction of cutting off service delivery from the public healthcare system… they are going to a situation that we had from the inception of COVID-19, where there was the cancellation of surgeries and they are now focusing only on emergencies… we are not heading into that direction because we believe that the system can operate and manage even with the challenges that we have now,”

President Ali said during a media briefing on Wednesday. The Head of State related that 70 per cent of the doctors and 50 per cent of the nurses who have tested positive for the virus, are from the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). He said that of the 200 health workers currently positive with COVID-19, 50 are doctors, 75 are nurses and 45 are medical technicians, while other medical personnel account for the remaining 30. Director of Medical and Professional Services at GPHC, Dr. Fawcett Jeffrey, echoed the President’s sentiments, and reiterated that the facility has the capacity to cater to the wideranging medical needs of its patients, despite several of its staff testing positive for COVID-19. Dr. Jeffrey said that, while a significant number of persons tested positive, those persons are not from

Director of Medical and Professional Services at GPHC, Dr. Fawcett Jeffery the same department and, as such, do not leave a major deficit in the facility’s ability to provide services to its patients. The OB/GYN and pediatrics departments, which are both high-traffic areas, have seen the largest single infection of workers across the facility. According to Dr. Jeffery, some seven out of 32 OB/GYN doctors have tested positive for the virus. He said this marginally low number enables the facility to continue offering services to patients of the hospital. Even so, the doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals from both the OB/GYN and pediatrics departments who are infected with COVID-19, are set to return to work within five to seven days and will boost the manpower of the facility. Dr. Jeffery said that among the plans in place to protect healthcare professionals at the facility are improved screening protocols.

He said that an improved screening process is necessary, given the high volume of patients and visitor interactions at the facility. He added that the visitation protocol will also be reviewed to ensure all safety and social distancing protocols are observed. PUSH BACK As it is now, there is a significant push back against the hospital’s protocols by relatives of patients. “With visitation, even though we tried to say to persons visiting their families that the number of you that go to the hospital can negatively impact COVID-19, we have fights at the gate and difficulty at the gate because people think that they are being restricted from seeing their family members.

be heard. Dr. Jeffery said that it was important for the population to help GPHC in the fight against COVID-19. To this end, he said: “[You need to] understand that this is a time when you have to understand that we cannot permit more than one family member to visit someone in the hospital, and when you go to the hospital be cooperative… you need to assist us so that we could be in control of this situation.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 6, 2022

The Coconut Industry

EVEN as Guyana continues to benefit from new oil discoveries, the PPP/C Government is doing everything possible to create a more balanced and diversified economy. This is evident from the several new initiatives taken by the PPP/C administration to strengthen the agricultural sector and to create new opportunities for Guyanese to benefit from the growing demand for agricultural produce. Only recently, a number of new coconut seedling nurseries were established by the Agriculture Ministry aimed at making planting material available to farmers and those desirous of establishing coconut plantations. Towards this end, four new coconut

seedling nurseries were established with the capacity to produce approximately 48,000 coconut seedlings per annum. Apart from sugar and rice, coconuts and coconut by-products is the third largest in terms of our agricultural export earnings. In 2021, the country exported over $2.5 billion worth of coconuts, an increase of $600 million compared to the previous year. Of that amount, virgin coconut oil exports amounted to $685 million while export earnings from dry coconuts totalled some $1.8 million. These are significant sums of money injected annually in the local economy and with the growing demand for coconut and coconut products globally, Guy-

ana is expected to benefit considerably in terms of market share. Guyana has now become part of an international community of coconut-producing countries with a projected target of over one million coconut trees over the next three years. According to Global Coconut Market Research, the global coconut market size was roughly US$1,200 million in 2020 and is expected to reach US$ 20,630 million by the end of 2027. That amount is shared among a variety of coconut products which include coconut water, coconut milk, coconut oil, coconut snacks and coconut fiber, among others. In Guyana, the most common use of coconut is that of extracting cooking oil

which is an edible fatty oil widely used for cooking purposes. However, in the more developed countries, the product is also used for industrial applications such as in the manufacturing of soaps, hair care products and for cosmetic purposes. The contribution of coconut and coconut products in Guyana go beyond economic considerations. In some respects, coconuts have been a part of the cultural life of people, especially those in rural, riverain and hinterland communities. The coconut plant is integrally linked to a subsistence way of life especially in the olden days when almost every part of the coconut plant was put into some use. Apart from the extraction

of cooking oil, there is nothing more refreshing than water from a freshly cut young coconut, especially after a hard day’s work. The sale of young nuts has created employment for many people, in addition to money earned from the sale of nuts to farmers. The making and sale of brooms from coconut leaves have provided a living for many, not to mention the use of coconut fibers to make mattresses and dry shells to make beautiful pieces of artifacts. The coconut industry is growing, thanks to the interventions by the PPP/C administration to restore life to the industry which, under the previous APNU+AFC administration, was ne-

glected. And even as the oil and gas industry has now become an economic game-changer, it will only play a complementary role in the overall economy, and certainly not at the expense of the agricultural sector. This point was repeatedly made by President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali and his PPP/C administration, which has embraced the principles of balanced growth and development, one in which the agricultural sector has a central role to play. This is one sure way to avoid the dreaded ‘Dutch Disease’ which, as the experiences of some oil-producing nations have demonstrated, result from an over-reliance on oil.

Who knows, Ferguson’s unbecoming action could pave way for Norton to enter Parliament Dear Editor, A while back Minister Charles Ramson came under fire by APNU+AFC cabalists and their media and NGO satellites because he decried the lack of role models in PNC/ APNU+AFC supporting enclaves for young people to emulate. Typically, the divisive cabal made the contretemps into a race issue. The young minister, who had embarked on a multi-pronged approach to youth development countrywide, was touched and encouraged by the hunger displayed by youths who had been

relegated to the periphery of existence during the APNU+AFC’s tenure in office. Ramson’s handson approach to youth development is transforming lives that were once hopelessly mired in poverty and even anti-social conduct. The youngsters veered to the minister, who, together with recreational facilities, gave them hope for a better life and a brighter future, prompting young Ramson to utter those fateful words because their own leaders had clearly failed them by providing no opportunities

for enhanced lifestyles and upward advancement and instead engaged in corrupt, self-serving/enrichment, vulgar displays, and unconstitutional, undemocratic actions. Fast-forward to Wednesday, December 29, 2021, when events that transpired in Parliament vindicated Ramson’s assertion that PNC/APNU+AFC leaders provide no role models but the opposite instead. Subsequent to MPs returning to the National Assembly from a brief intermission on Wednesday afternoon after the Local Content Bill was success-

fully passed, members of the National Assembly were scheduled to debate the Natural Resource Fund Bill 2021 upon its resumption. Instead, true to their destructive, hypocritical, unpatriotic nature, opposition Members of Parliament attempted to halt the reading of the Natural Resource Fund Bill by the Senior Minister within the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh. The disruptive ruckus did not daunt the minister or the government Members of Parliament, because his colleagues ring-sided

him, physically surrounding him, thus allowing him to continue his presentation of the bill. However, the cacophonous commotion took a sinister turn when the rabble, led by Opposition Member Annette Ferguson attempted to steal the Speaker’s Mace, which was heroically protected by a parliamentary staffer, who wrapped his arms and feet around the instrument, to taunts of “house negro”. These, then, are the PNC/APNU/AFC role models, but the nation’s youths have become enlightened and no longer allow themselves to be

misled into anti-social behaviour by self-serving, power-hungry ‘leaders,’ who have always led them astray. They are looking forward to a bright future with fulfilled promises of ‘the good life’ under the Irfaan Ali-led PPP/C Government. Punitive consequences should ensue but maybe this was a plan for the Speaker to remove one of the disruptive elements from Parliament, paving the way for Norton to get a much-coveted seat. Yours truly, Alvin Hamilton

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 6, 2022

Norton is the least among top publicly recognised PNC/R leaders

Dear Editor, THE newly elected leader of the People’s National Congress/Reform, Mr. Aubrey Norton has been on a relentless campaign seeking relevance. It is sad to see and hear the rhetoric emanating from this politician of a bygone era. In various recent media appearances since becoming the new leader of the People’s National Congress/Reform, Norton has vowed to do a lot. Such comments leave much to be desired as most of these will not materialise. One such statement was

the PNC leader signalling his intention of holding the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic government, led by Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, accountable. Whilst this is admirably said and seems a genuine thing to do, the reality is a different story. Firstly, and quite frankly what does Mr. Norton and, by extension, his political outfit -- the People’s National Congress -- know about accountability? Mr. Norton was an executive member of the PNC, the party that controlled the government during the A Partnership for

National Unity/ Alliance For Change controversial reign in office. Never once did that clique which campaigned at the last General and Regional Elections on honesty and decency, sought to hold any of their officials accountable for the atrocities that occurred - the open nepotism, corruption, racism, and cronyism. This nation remembers all too well the events of the failed elections rigging and the way in which the likes of Norton and his cohorts defended the attempt to subvert Guyana’s democracy. Norton was a daily mouthpiece for

the corrupt cabal who were bent on remaining in power at any cost so as to cover their own corrupt practices, [for] which many of them are before the courts on various charges of corruption, misconduct in public office, and notably electoral fraud. Norton’s failure to hold his own government accountable to the Guyanese people who elected them and his subsequent silence of other wrongdoings render him significantly unqualified and ethically unfit to hold the current administration accountable.

Norton cannot be expected to foster the unification needed in Guyana in this our country’s embryonic stage of transformational development. Such a task requires strong leadership and leadership qualities the likes of which have significantly eluded the People’s National Congress/ Reform for more than two decades now. Many of the younger generations of Guyanese who have heard of the PNC and witnessed what transpired over the past few years whilst they were in government have gotten

a glimpse of the indecent, corrupt, and racial tendencies of the People’s National Congress. All of Guyana saw and suffered as a result of the racist policies of the past administration and their infamous attempt to rig an election thereby attempting to thwart the will of the people; violating the Constitution of Guyana, the supreme Law of the Land, and their recent desecration of Parliament. Yours sincerely, Thomas Cole

Dear Editor, I felt that I had said enough on the question of judicial criticism in my recent letter which you published in your newspaper on 3rd January, 2022. I, however, feel compelled to add an addendum to my letter, so as to respond to Kaieteur News designated “International lawyer” Melinda Janki’s letter published in another newspaper on the 4th of January, 2022. International lawyer Janki in her letter stresses the point that Mr Dharamlall is not a member of the public. He is certainly not a judge. Pointing to the robes that Mr Dharamlall wears as an MP, a member of the executive and a servant

of the public, this international legal luminary concludes that “Mr. Dharamlall has a responsibility to uphold respect for the rule of law, including respect for the judiciary.” But such a disposition is expected of every citizen of Guyana and no exceptional responsibility is placed on the shoulders of Mr Dharamlall, who, I would contend, is perfectly entitled to criticise the judges , save for some exceptional comments ,which he has commendably withdrawn. I take the opportunity to point Ms. Janki to an outstanding example of public criticism of the judiciary by a leading member of the executive of the United States

of America, none other than the President of the United States himself. In or around January 2010, in an address to the US House of Representatives and to an audience which included the judges of the Supreme Court of the United States of America, President Obama criticised the judges of that court for their decision to reverse 100 years of legal reform, which decision he contended opened the floodgates to corporate influence on the affairs of the United States Government and on the politics of the State. His remarks were met with loud applause by congressmen and women while the Supreme Court judges present squirmed

and grimaced. Ms. Janki, the internationalist she is held out to be, must be aware of the description by former Prime Minister Stuart of Barbados, of the judges of the Caribbean Court of Justice as “politicians in robes”. The other matter I wish to consider as advanced by international lawyer Janki is her contention that criticism of the judiciary must be legitimate. A core feature of legitimate criticism is relevance. Criticism ought not to be wild nor whimsical. Mr Dharamlall contextualised his criticism of the majority ruling of the Court of Appeal. In that regard he was both relevant and consequently legitimate.

Ms. Janki is behind in time with respect to judicial criticism. Though wary of repetition, I repeat for her benefit ,the words of Lord Carswell ( who must have been well known to Lord Bingham) that “ Judges have to be hardy enough to shrug off criticism, even if it is intemperate or abusive, which has happened, even if it is unfair and ill informed…..” Ms. Janki has thrown quotations and references in her letter, seemingly without consideration for their relevance. Her reference to an extract from the Latimer House principles on careful reading does nothing to advance the thrust of her letter. The quote from Lord Bingham

is contextually meaningless. As an aside, without knowing the “domus” of Ms. Janki as an international lawyer, I wonder whether in the jurisdiction where ever she resides, she would be able to say whether Mr. Roysdale Forde and Mr. Joseph Harmon, lawyers from the APNU/PNC, given their advocacy of the invalidity of parliamentary proceedings because of the absence of a Mace or for the use of a replica of the Mace, would in that jurisdiction, be eligible to be considered international lawyers.

Dear Editor, REVIEWING, Hon Minister Mr. Dharmlall’s recent comments posted on Facebook, I see no evidence that he called the decisions by the learned judges of the Appeal Court of Guyana as being racially based or that he called the judges racists. Yet his opinion about the ruling by two judges of the Guyana Court of Appeal against the decision made by the sound ruling of the learned Chief justice (ag) was criticised by many. A letter unfortunately published in the Kaiteur news calls Mr. Dharmlall a racist. The writer says “It is a racist statement designed to demean, humiliate, and

debase the Justices”. The writer continues to make another serious assumption that Mr. Dharmlall saw two judges as black. “It should be noted that since Minister Dharamlall has labelled two Black justices as PNC activists, by the same token, he has inferred that all Indian Justices in Guyana are PPP activists as well”. It is the writer who is recognising the judges by their colour. A characteristic of a racist person is to see a person by their race and not by their profession or personal qualities. The writer goes on to add our Excellency the President to the litany of accusations of racial bias. “The mere

fact that President Ali did not rebuke the Minister for his dreadful remarks is appalling, inexcusable, and outrageous to say the least. It also suggests that President Ali is on the same page with the bigoted Minister when it comes to Black justices. It also means that the President and other senior officials in the PPP believed that only Indians and not Blacks are worthy of holding high offices in Guyana. This has and continues to be the motive of the PPP, which had campaigned on change and inclusive government.” This letter is published at a time when tension is raised by persons prepared to take physical action to oppose

decisions which are made by the majority as recently seen in Parliament when a parliamentarian attempted to steal the Speaker’s Mace. Guyana is recovering from decisions of the judiciary which allowed the perpetuation that a party was the winner of the National election, even in the face of overwhelming international criticisms. Recall the decision by the Court of Appeal of Guyana overturning the Chief Justice ruling about what number constitutes a majority. At that time A Mr. Bert Wilkinson reporting in the Caribbean Connection March 28th 019, described the racial backgrounds of the judges, “In a stunning

reversal of political fortunes, a Guyanese appeals court has overturned a late December opposition no-confidence vote. Two Afro-Guyanese judges, Judiciary Chancellor Yonette Cummings and Dawn Gregory, this past weekend ruled that lawmakers required 34 rather than 33 votes to form an absolute majority of the 65 seats in the assembly to topple the administration of retired army general David Granger. The third appeals Indo-Guyanese judge, Mr. Rishi Persaud, disagreed”. I wrote in the Stabroek news, March 29th 2019 expressing my concern about the use of law for finding political solutions, “I believe that if the CCJ confirms the result

of the Appeals Court that this would be adding to further divisiveness of our legal fraternity, political parties and people. I feel that there is a need for curtailing excessive spending for enrichment of lawyers at the detriment of the economy of Guyana. No one truly wins and the people of Guyana are the losers.” The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) dismissed the judgment by the Guyana Court of Appeal. However, the impasse continued and it took much more time for the final decision to be made by the CCJ in the historic decision of July 2020 with a unanimous verdict, “In a judgment delivered today, SEE PAGE 8

A response to international lawyer, Melinda Janki

Yours sincerely, Selwyn Persaud

No evidence Minister Dharamlall’s comments were racist

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 6, 2022

No evidence Minister Dharamlall’s... FROM PAGE 7

the Caribbean Court of Justice ruled that the judgment handed down by the Guyana Court of Appeal on 22 June 2020, which judgment was used by the Chief Election Officer (CEO) to invalidate over 100,000 votes, was invalid. The Court also decided that, as a consequence, the 23 June 2020 report of the Chief Election Officer was also invalid. The CCJ’s judgment was a unanimous one to which all the sitting Judges contributed.” Democracy appeared to have been restored. Yet

when we believe that the time has come for healing of our peoples the Appeals Court of Guyana rules again. Persons of political colours, on social media and in letters to the newspapers who chastise Mr. Dharmlall for his comments about the Appeals Court, must also include other senior distinguished persons who have criticised this Courts’ rulings. Dennis Chabrol in Elections News, Politics on Friday 22nd October 2021 reported, “UWI lecturers question independence of Guyana Court of Appeal on political, election cases. Two University of the

West Indies (UWI) lecturers have strongly cast doubt on the independence of the Guyana Court of Appeal because of its rulings on political and 2020 general election cases. Law Lecturer, Ronnie Yearwood highlighted that the Guyana High Court rulings had been all upheld by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) rather than the Guyana Court of Appeal. “It seems often that the High Court and the Caribbean Court of Justice were on similar wavelengths and similar thoughts and reasoning. It was often the Court of Appeal where the judgment

seems to go awry and then the CCJ correcting the Court of Appeal to say actually what the High Court originally ruled as the exclusive court to deal with electoral matters was right so we often saw that happen,” he told a virtual discussion on the topic “The Judiciary and the 2020 Guyana Elections,” Senior Political Science Lecturer, Cynthia Barrow-Giles stated categorically that “I don’t want to impute anybody” but she said from the decisions made, Guyana provided a good basis for insisting on the need for separation of

powers among the executive, legislative and judicial arms of the State. “Some of the judgments that came out of the Court of Appeal are highly questionable and that is why to a certain extent…. Certainly, there might be a connection with the appointment process and some of the judgments but certainly in relation to the Caribbean, one of the things that we have to focus on is the need to ensure that we really have a complete separation of powers in the region; I think that was one of the issues that clearly comes out

in relation to some of the things that we saw coming out of the Guyanese courts in particular,” said Ms. Barrow-Giles. The Bar Association must take the lead to ensure that there is separation of powers in our country. Also the association of journalists must ensure that editors review carefully the content of letter writers so that the media is not used as a tool for inciting public emotions based on erroneous conclusions. Yours respectfully, Dr. Davendra Sharma

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 6, 2022

M&CC admin building for March completion

The new admin building that is being constructed in the City Hall compound (Tamica Garnett photo)

THE $109 million four-storey building that is being constructed to house the administrative department of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC), is now expected to be completed by March month-end, according to Mayor of Georgetown, Ubraj Narine. Speaking at a media briefing on Wednesday at his office, Narine said he could not state what percentage of the building has been completed thus far. However, he noted that he had been checking in on its progress continuously and had seen works moving apace. “We are hopeful of finishing that admin building by March month-end so that the staff of the Mayor and City Council can be in a safe, protective environment, and healthy working conditions so that they can execute their functions to the citizens of Georgetown,” he said. He added: “I wouldn’t say what percentage [is complete

but], I believe the contractor started work in December and it’s a far way. All I know is that I continue to visit the area and work is moving very fast.” The second phase of construction would have commenced in December 2021, after central government handed over a $30 million subvention to City Hall to complete the building. In 2019, the central government gave $75 million to the M&CC for the first phase of construction works. When completed, the new building, which is located in

the south-eastern corner of the City Hall compound, will have an elevator, a room for the holding of statutory meetings and all the vital administrative departments. The construction of the admin building became a top priority for the municipality, given the dilapidated state of the existing building. The safety of the staff who occupied the historical structure was a major concern. In September, all of the employees were relocated to safer locations, including the mayoral complex, the engi-

neers building, and the Kitty Market, so that restoration works on the building could commence. City Hall was designed by architect Ignatius Scoles and the foundation stone was laid by Governor Henry Turner Irving on December 23, 1887. It was officially opened on July 1, 1889, by Governor Viscount Gormanston. Over the years, the building gradually descended into a deplorable state and numerous appeals had been made for its restoration.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 6, 2022

10 per cent salary increase for City Council workers - Mayor Narine says, assures staff that money has been secured for payments

THE cash-strapped Mayor and City Council (M&CC) of Georgetown has announced that its employees will benefit from a five per cent retroactive salary increase for 2021 and a further five per cent increase for this year. Speaking during a press briefing on Wednesday, the Mayor of Georgetown, Ubraj Narine, said that the Council had already secured funds to execute payments, but the technical aspect of tabulating that adjustment was being dealt with by the M&CC’s Information Technology (IT) department. “The Council agreed that a five per cent increase in wages and salaries will be paid in December 2021 to

all categories of staff, retroactive from January 2021. Further, the Council also agreed for an increase of five per cent in salaries and wages with immediate effect from January 2022. So, in total, staff will receive a 10 per cent salary increase, right across the board,” the Mayor related, adding that payments will be made by January 15. “This money is already secured and I already spoke with the Treasurer and Town Clerk (ag), and payment of these monies ought to be made before the 15th of this month. It was supposed to be before December 31, but I was told that the IT department is currently working on the spreadsheet,” Narine said.

Questioned on how the cash-strapped municipality plans to fund this increase in expenditure given its known dire financial position, Mayor Narine said that the Council will be banking on increased revenue from a tax amnesty which is ongoing. Essentially, the municipality, with over 600 staff, plans to sustain the increase entirely through the use of its own revenue. “The City Council will pay all of this 10 per cent from normal revenue collection. The increase of revenue due to the amnesty that we called from December to March month end. Currently we have lots of applications and a lot of people coming forward to pay as well. We

have default taxpayers who owe the City Council millions of dollars, and those [are] the areas we are looking to generate this kind of revenue,” the Mayor related. In the same breath, he said that the Council makes approximately $2 billion annually, but it will need close to $7 billion to function properly. According to Narine, the M&CC had initially received a missive from the Local Government Commission (LGC), advising the Council to pay its staff a seven per cent retroactive increase for 2021, as directed by Central Government. Despite this advice, the Council’s finance committee decided that 10 per cent will

be paid instead. “The LGC had written to us for the seven per cent increase as approved by the Central Government, [and] the finance committee had deliberated and also asked for the same information and that is how we came up with the five per cent retroactive and 5 per cent for 2022,” Mayor Narine said. He further related that the Council’s decision was influenced by the fact that workers of M&CC did not receive a salary increase in three years. “The staff of MCC did not receive an increase in 2019 and 2020…the last increase was in 2018 and this is the fittest package the finance committee came

Mayor of Georgetown, Ubraj Narine up with, which the full Council approved,” Mayor Narine said.

Work on Linden’s ‘exciting’ theme park moving apace The ‘I LOVE LINDEN’ sign (INFO 10 photo)

WITH the ‘I LOVE LINDEN’ sign almost complete, work on the second phase of the exciting and childfriendly theme park at Linden in Region 10 will soon begin. Giving an update on the progress of the recreational project, Mayor Waneka Arindell, on Wednesday, said that the sign will be completed within a week and will thereafter be opened to the public. “We just finished painting the sign and putting on some logos. There are some minor changes that must be made and we are working through that with the contractors to have an area paved so persons can access the sign and that should be done in the next week,” she said. According to Mayor

Arindell, the council has received some support from the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GTT) and Linden’s Tourism Ambassador, Leon Labastide, to execute the first stage of the project, which is the erection of the sign at a cost of some $13 million. Speaking on the wider aspect of the project, the mayor noted that the council will be constructing the theme park in a phased manner as funding is made available. In addition to a designated play area for children, there will be a tourist attraction and lounge area for persons to relax and savour the beauty of the town. “This park is going to be done in phases. [Phase] one would be the beginning

works on the left-hand side, where we have some umbrellas for the lounge area,” she said. She added that the coun-

cil is currently working to obtain funding for the construction of the playground area for the children. “We have the children

area, which we are still looking into for sponsorship. So that is where we are. We are reaching out to organisations for the child-friendly area. Hopefully before the month is through, we can get subvention,” Mayor Arindell said. The entire project is expected to be completed in time for the festivities of Linden Town Week, which is scheduled for April this year. Once fully completed, she anticipates that the park will become a tourism hub, and a popular spot in the town, since it is in close proximity to the river-front, which is a sight to behold, especially at sunset.

The mayor reiterated her call for both local and international organisations and businesses to invest in and support the project, which aims to boost the town’s tourism sector and overall economy. “We’ve reached out to Banks DIH [and] we will be reaching out to those major entities to lend us their support. We are calling on any businessperson that can lend some support, in terms of what we have to do. We continue the call… if there is a part that your organisation can play in working with us, feel free to make contact,” she emphasised.

An artist’s impression of what the Linden Theme Park is expected to look like (LMTC photo)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 6, 2022

Over 500,000 worksheets distributed to public school learners in 2021

Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand

THE Ministry of Education (MoE) was able to distribute more than 500, 000 worksheets to public school learners in 2021, as part of its efforts to de-

liver education during the pandemic. Some 58,890 worksheets were shared at the nursery level; 239,004 at the primary level, and 235,864 at the

A 75-year-old man, Oscar Liddell, lost his life tragically, after the house he was occupying went up in flames, on Wednesday. According to information from the Guyana Fire Service (GFS), firefighters were alerted of a fire at Lot 2,734 Pilot Street, New Amsterdam, around 06:39 hrs. Immediately after receiving the call, two fire tenders were dispatched from the New Amsterdam Fire Station. Upon arrival at the scene, the fire service found that the two-storey wooden and concrete building, owned by John Liddell, was already engulfed in flames. In addition to claiming the life of Oscar, the fire destroyed the entire building and everything inside.

According to preliminary findings, the fire started as a result of an unattended gas stove flaring up and igniting nearby combustible material. The GFS expressed sincere condolences to the relatives and friends of Oscar and advised persons to equip their homes with smoke detectors and fire extinguishers, to be alerted in the event of a fire. “Be careful when cooking and ensure stoves are turned off properly after cooking or when leaving the kitchen. Do not overload power strips or electrical circuits,” the GFS said, adding: “Ensure electrical appliances are unplugged after use and do not leave them plugged in for prolonged periods.”

CHIEF Magistrate Ann McLennan, on Wednesday, remanded a 30-year-old labourer to prison after he denied that he had an unlicensed firearm in his pants pocket when he was searched by the

police. Richie Richards of Campbellville Housing Scheme, Georgetown, was hauled before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court for allegedly having a 9.22 pistol in his possession when he was

secondary level, up to the December 2021 school term. Subject minister Priya Manickchand came up with the initiative after taking office in August 2020. It formed part of plans to recommence education delivery to public school learners all across the country. “We prepared curriculum-aligned teacher-created worksheets by grade level for mass distribution; paper-based content being the most equitable resource delivery mechanism in Guyana. Now that’s whole worksheets, not counting number of pages,” the minister noted. The worksheets were initially planned for distribution to hinterland learners, who were at a disadvantage. However, when it was discovered that many coastland

learners were also unable to access education following the closure of schools, the decision was taken to expand the worksheet distribution to every learner in the public school system. “When we began to share this out in the hinterland and put it online for all our coastal students, coastal students said well we want this because right here in Leopold Street we don’t have connection; right here in Kitty we don’t have enough access to internet. So we did it for the entire country from nursery, Grade One to Grade Six, and secondary schools for terms one, two and three. But then we ran out of money because it’s a very expensive process,” Manickchand added. The worksheet project

was funded as part of the $500 million that was set aside in the MoE’s 2021 budget for the COVID-19 Accelerated Programme. This programme catered for the creation, printing and distribution of worksheets to all learners in the public school system, as well as the expansion of the Guyana Learning Channel, which the ministry used to deliver timetabled content. The worksheet distribution was initially started in 2020 following the resumption of education delivery. Nothing much had been done from March 2020 when schools were closed because of the pandemic, up to the point when the distribution of the worksheets started. Manickchand noted that with no plan in place to

get education to the learners, she felt the worksheets would work as the best alternative for them to get the notes they needed while they waited for face-to-face classes to resume. “My thinking …[is that] the kids would have to write down the notes. So I said let’s write all the notes and send it out to the children. Let’s put the work you would’ve been teaching in the classroom into the worksheets so at the beginning you have the lessons and when you turn the page you have exercises and questions and so on that reinforces that lesson. So we did that, especially for the hinterland communities because they are not able to access the learning channel,” Manickchand said.

Elderly man loses life in New Amsterdam fire

The two-storey structure at Pilot Street, New Amsterdam, which was destroyed by fire, on Wednesday

Firefighters in action

Labourer charged for possession of illegal firearm remanded not the holder of a firearm licence, on January 3, 2022, at Stone Avenue. The police prosecutor told the court that, on the day in question at about 17:00 hours, police ranks who were part of a mobile patrol saw Richards

walking along Stone Avenue. The ranks stopped Richards, who was acting in a suspicious manner, and searched him. The police allegedly found the empty 9.22 pistol in his side pants pocket. It is

alleged that under caution he admitted ownership, and told the police that he does not have a firearm licence. He was arrested and taken to the Kitty Police Station, where he was later charged.

The prosecutor objected to Richards being released on bail citing the prevalence and seriousness of the charge. As such, the Chief Magistrate remanded Richards to prison until January 26.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 6, 2022

Quartet pleads not guilty to 2016 Black Bush triple murder THE Berbice High Court trial into the gruesome triple murder at Black Bush Polder, in July 2016, is expected to commence on January 10, 2022, before a 12-member jury. Carlton Chetram called “Lieman”, his son, Jairam Chetram and two of his employees: Tameshwar Jagmohan called “Guana” and Rakesh Karamchand called

“Go to Front” appeared before Justice Sandil Kissoon on Wednesday. The men denied that, on July 21, 2016, at Mibicuri Creek Savannah, Black Bush Polder, they murdered Pawan Chandradeo, 37, called “Suresh” and “Jug Up”; his son Jaikarran Chandradeo, 16, called “Kevin” and his brotherin-law Naresh Rooplall,

35, called “Teeka Bai” and “Mice.” The State will be represented by prosecutor Abigail Gibbs during the trial, while attorney-at-law Mursalene Bacchus, S.C., is on record for the four accused. The Guyana Chronicle had previously reported that, on the day in question, the three victims had gone on a fishing trip in the Black

Bush Polder backlands in an area called Cookrite Savannah, some three miles from Mibicuri, where they were allegedly gunned down by the quartet. The men, each with a single gunshot wound, were found lying in a rice field belonging to Sudama Jagmohan who made the gruesome discovery. The youngest victim

was found next to his father. He had a gaping hole to the back of his head and a ‘salt bag’ with fish and fishing net strung around his neck. Rooplall’s body had a hole in the neck and the fishing net was strung over his shoulder, while the older Charandradeo had his fishing net in his hand. It is alleged that the men, while on their fish-

ing trip, stumbled upon “Lieman” and his crew who were allegedly stealing diesel fuel in the said field. The men allegedly fired two shots in the air and the fishermen ran towards the dam and fell. It is believed that “Lieman” issued orders to “get rid of the evidence” and the men were shot at point blank range.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 6, 2022

GECOM recommences distribution of replacement ID Cards

THE Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has resumed the distribution of national identification (ID) cards to persons who would have applied for replacements during the period

August to October, 2021. According to a press release from GECOM, as of today, persons who would have completed a replacement transaction, could uplift their ID cards from the registration

office where the transaction was done. The commission also informed persons that it has recommenced routine processing of applications for replacement of ID cards.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 6, 2022

Djokovic denied entry into Australia

Novak Djokovic

(BBC) - World number one tennis player Novak Djokovic has been denied entry to Australia over an issue with his visa. The player arrived in Melbourne yesterday where authorities noticed a mistake on his application. Djokovic was due to play in the Australian Open, after

being exempted from vaccination rules. He has been told he will be deported but his lawyers have said they will challenge the decision, Australian media report. The tennis star had been quizzed in a room at Melbourne airport for hours while his visa and exemption status was being investigated. His team had not requested a visa that permits medical exemptions for being unvaccinated. It is not clear whether he will remain in Australia while his lawyers attempt to overturn the decision. Djokovic has not spoken about his vaccination status, but last year he said he was

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"opposed to vaccination".

His treatment has provoked outrage in his native Serbia. Djokovic's father, Srdjan Djokovic said his son was had been in a room guarded by police. President Aleksander Vucic said the star was a victim of "harassment", and that "the whole of Serbia", supported him. Earlier, Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Djokovic would be refused entry to the country unless he provided evidence that he could not be vaccinated for medical reasons. Australia is seeing tens of thousands of COVID-19 cases for the first time after enduring some of the world's strictest restrictions. The Australian Open begins on January 17 in Melbourne.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Thursday January 6, 2022)

COMPLIMENTS OF CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD 83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Alzarri Joseph – 8 wickets (2) Andrew McBrine, Boyd Rankin – 7 wickets each Today’s Quiz: (1) What is the highest ODI score made by a WI player against Ireland to date? (2) What is the highest ODI score fashioned by an Ireland batsman versus the WI to date? Answers in tomorrow’s issue

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Newcastle 08:30 hrs International Law 09:00 hrs Lord Paramount 09:30 hrs Sassy Rascal 10:35 hrs Spartan Fighter 11:10 hrs Harvest Day 11:40 hrs Cephalus Chelmsford City 12:00 hrs Alhammaam 12:30 hrs Laurentia 13:00 hrs Vignoni 13:30 hrs Macs Dilemma 14:00 hrs River Chorus 14:30 hrs Monsieur Fantaisie 15:00 hrs Semser 15:30 hrs My Lady Claire

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 6, 2022

Australia’s Ashes whitewash quest hampered by rain (ESPNCRICINFO) - Australia's quest for another Ashes whitewash could well be washed away by Sydney's weather after just 46.5 overs were bowled on the opening day at the SCG with rain interrupting play four times and ultimately ending the day prematurely. In-between times, England put in an improved bowling performance on a good batting surface with Australia's top three all squandering starts. James Anderson, Mark Wood and Stuart Broad all picked up important scalps with Anderson and Wood producing a superb spell with a changed ball late in the afternoon to shift the momentum of the day. More rain is forecast to fall over the coming days in Sydney. Australia will be left frustrated not only with the weather but the wasted opportunities. Marcus Harris got started for the third consecutive innings in this series and looked completely at ease but now has just one half-century to show for it after nicking Anderson to slip for 38. David Warner also looked in superb touch but fell to a loose drive off Broad, while England finally might have found a weak point in Marnus Labuschagne's game, with Wood finding his outside

Mark Wood claimed the wicket of Marnus Labuschagne (CA/CricketAustralia/Getty Images)

edge for the second straight innings after he had compiled a composed 28 on one of his most prolific grounds in Test cricket. Rain ruined the opening session of the day. The toss and the first delivery were both delayed by 30 minutes. Once the pitch was unveiled from under the covers a distinct tinge of green did nothing to deter Australia captain Pat Cummins from batting first after winning the toss. England skipper Joe Root said he

would have done the same. England didn't get much of a chance to test out that grass as just 12.3 overs were bowled prior to lunch with rain interrupting play twice. Warner and Harris were untroubled, reaching 30 without loss at the break. Warner looked sharp post-lunch moving to 30 himself with six boundaries. He punished a number of deliveries overpitched as England's seamers had trouble finding a consistent length. He

and Harris combined for their second successive 50-run stand and the pair looked well-positioned to add many more to that tally. But out of nowhere, Warner's arch-nemesis Broad found a breakthrough in trademark fashion. From around the wicket, he offered up a full enough length to tempt Warner into a drive, but it wasn't a half-volley and it shaped away late to catch the edge. Zak Crawley held the catch well at second slip. Broad now has dismissed Warner 13 times in Test cricket, and given Warner's contribution in this series to date, England fans may lament that Broad has only played two of four Tests. Another rain delay came just an over later and an early tea was called with Australia 56-1 after just 21.6. Harris and Labuschagne then cruised through the first hour of the evening session and England's bowlers barely threatened, as Australia reached 100 for the loss of just one wicket for the third time in the series. But the game changed with a ball change after the original ball went out of shape in the 30th over. Anderson and Wood came on from either end and made back-to-back breakthroughs.

Harris was flat-footed nicking a good length away-swinger from over the wicket, having dealt superbly with the now customary around-the-wicket examination through most of the day. It was the fourth time Harris had faced more than 100 balls in a Test innings and he had rarely looked more comfortable at this level. He was scarcely beaten and played some sensational shots off both feet. But he walked off with only 38 to show for it and the anguish on his face suggested he knew it was a golden opportunity missed. Labuschagne fell in the next over with Wood's extra pace squaring him up on the back foot in almost exactly the same fashion as at the MCG. This time he nicked to keeper Jos Buttler who held the chance to England's delight. It created an awkward period of an hour for Steven Smith and Usman Khawaja to negotiate, with Khawaja playing his first Test since 2019. But that hour was reduced to just six overs as rain fell again. There was enough time for Khawaja to unfurl a majestic pull shot, reminiscent of the one he played to get off the mark in his debut Test against England at the SCG 11 years ago.

Top order positions South Africa to level series (ESPNCRICINFO) - A sturdy display by South Africa's top order put them in position to level the series against India, ending the fourth day's play on 118 for 2, practically halfway through their chase of 240. Fortunes swung from one team to another during the course of a gripping day's cricket, as India made 266 in their second innings - less than what looked possible when Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane were putting together a century stand, but more than seemed probable when India slid to 184 for 6 and then 228 for 8. South Africa lost Aiden Markram and Keegan Petersen in their chase, but each of the partnerships they have had so far have been substantial, especially in the context of the target. Markram and Dean Elgar took a leaf out of the Pujara-Rahane book and began aggressively, putting on 47 in ten overs. Elgar and Petersen then added 46, while the unbroken Elgar-Rassie van der Dussen stand has yielded 25 runs in 12.4 overs so far. Elgar played his usual bloody-minded innings, wearing blows on the body, shrugging off edges and balls whistling past, and always finding a way to survive. Apart from the opening burst where Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami had a rare period of not landing the ball exactly where they wished, India's bowlers kept asking questions of the batters; but until stumps, South Africa's top order weathered them. While the hosts ended the day with the

Jasprit Bumrah and Marco Jansen exchanged words in a mid-pitch confrontation (AFP via Getty Images)

advantage, the morning had brought forth a deluge of runs via Pujara and Rahane. Both men had come into the game with increasing scrutiny about their spots in the XI, and ended up making fifties. They were proactive and on the lookout for runs. Pujara showed his intent early by whacking an on drive to the long-on boundary off Lungi Ngidi in the day's second over - this, after he had already glanced a four at the start of it. It was the sort of ball which Pujara might ordinarily have just pushed to cover. Three overs later, Rahane rose with the ball as Jansen banged it in short outside off, and cut it beautifully over point for six. Just when South Africa were looking flat, Kagiso Rabada found ferocious rhythm after

the first drinks break. He hit the hard length outside off that has made balls rear up on this pitch, and moved it away just enough to catch Rahane's outside edge with the batter unable to prevent his hands following the ball. In his next over, Rabada got one to dart back into Pujara at pace, and trapped him lbw. Rabada then gave Rishabh Pant a working over in just two balls, beating him outside off first up and then firing a missile that rose up to throat and had the batter in a complete tangle as he fended with his gloves and saw the ball land short of the slips. Next ball, Pant danced down the track and tried to whack Rabada over cover, but only got an edge through to the keeper. With Rabada in the seventh over of his spell and

his bowling clearly a cut above the rest, Pant's shot selection might not have been the best. India had gone to lunch at 188 for 6, but after that Shardul Thakur came out swinging and also connecting. There was one top-edged six, but five superbly timed fours as Thakur pushed India's lead into the 200 territory. After he was caught on the boundary off Marco Jansen, Hanuma Vihari farmed the strike and went for his shots. Even so, he wasn't always successful in shielding the bowlers, and Bumrah faced down a short-ball barrage from Jansen, in the middle of which there were words exchanged and a mid-pitch confrontation where players had to separate the two men, who were teammates at Mumbai Indians just three months back. India's target seemed like a safe one given the nature of the surface, where some balls were spitting up off a length. But a confident Markram put his failures of this series behind him to play an attacking role in the opening stand. Thakur continued to have a fantastic Test when he trapped Markram lbw in an over that had two close calls already. R. Ashwin then provided an important breakthrough, getting Peterson lbw. He had van der Dussen in some trouble too, and while KL Rahul rotated his bowlers - the injured Mohammed Siraj bowled the least - and all of them kept things tight, Elgar and van der Dussen survived till stumps.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 6, 2022

US Women’s U19 to tour Caribbean in the abandoned ICC Women’s Cricket World

Geetika Kodali will captain the first-ever USA Women’s Under-19 team to undertake an overseas tour

(CMC) – The United States Women’s Under-19 team will travel to the Caribbean to p la y thei r f i rs t i n t e r national tour with a four-match Twenty20 (T20) series later this month, USA Cricket has announced. USA Cricket said in a release that in partnership with both the Windward Islands Cricket Board (WICB) and the St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) Cricket Association, the tour is part of the wider long-term strategic partnership that it has with Cricket West Indies (CWI). WICB president Dr Kishore Shallow said the tour represents a shared vision of both USA Cricket and WICB to offer more development opportunities for female

cricketers. “We are grateful for the initiative and cooperation of USA Cricket to execute what I anticipate to be a fantastic series of competitive cricket,” he said. USA Cricket Board Member and Women and Girls Committee Chair, Nadia Gruny, said the T20 series would be mutually beneficial to the competing teams. “This tour will present a fantastic opportunity for some of the young talent who have stood out on our new domestic pathway this year to get international exposure and a competitive level of cricket in the Caribbean,” she added. The selected Under-19 squad does not include several of the players who participated

Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe.

The matches will be played on January 24,

25, 27 and 28.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 6, 2022

Sparta Boss, Bent Street A look back at cricket’s to ‘throw down’ on stars at ICC U19 Men’s Saturday in Futsal final Cricket World Cups

Sparta Boss

FUTSAL rivals, Sparta Boss and Bent Street, will clash in the final of the Kashif and Shanghai/ Guyana Football Federation (GFF) year-end extravaganza on Saturday. Set for the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, the two teams will collide for the winners’ purse of $1M, following their emphatic semi-final wins on Tuesday evening at the country’s premier indoor facility. An almost packed venue saw Sparta Boss easily brush aside Leopold Street 7-2, while Bent Street came from behind to edge ‘Gold is Money’ 4-3 in overtime. Playing in the opening match of the night’s double-header, a star-studded Sparta Boss team showed why they are considered one of the favourites to lay claim to the first Futsal tournament in Guyana in over two years. Ryan Hackett scored two of his three goals on the night in the first half to see Sparta Boss lead 2-0 at the interval. In the second half, Curtez Kellman hit a double, while Eusi Phillips and Stephen Alfred accounted for the other two goals, as Sparta showed Leopold Street their mettle and marched into the final.

Meanwhile, the energised spectators at the venue were kept at the

teams did not disappoint. Colin Nelson, fresh off leading the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) to the Super 16 title, where he was named the tournament’s best defender, handed Bent Street a 1-0 cushion heading into halftime after finding the net in the 15th minute. However, Cecil Johnathon and Marcus Wilson pushed Gold is Money in the lead with two resounding goals in the second half. But things took a turn for the worst for Gold is Money supporters when William Europe slotted home a late strike to bring the proceedings even at 2-2. The game went into overtime. Daniel Wilson’s strike in the extra stanza sent the already packed facility into frenzy as Bent Street gained an advantage.

Bent Street

edge of their seats as they witnessed a neck-to-neck battle for supremacy between Bent Street and Gold is Money. Given the fact that both teams are made-up of some of the country’s most talented players in football’s shortest format, it was predicted that fans would be in for a treat and the two

But “not so fast,” said Gold is Money. Randolph Wagner answered the call of his supporters to square things at three goals. Nonetheless, with time ticking away Wilson scored again in the clutch to put things out of reach (4-3) for Gold is Money, sending Bent Street to Saturday’s final.

(PART TWO) FROM 2010 onwards, a trend developed at the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup as two sides dominated. Between them, India and Australia claimed three of the six titles, while finishing as losing finalists four times between them. Pakistan were the only other team to make it to more than one final in the decade, twice coming up short in the big game, but there were also some new names on the trophy as South Africa, the West Indies and Bangladesh all won the title for the first time. 2010 Having won two of the first four ICC U19 Men’s CWCs, Australia then went six years without reaching the final until the event in New Zealand. Spearheaded by the likes of Mitchell Marsh and Josh Hazlewood, they knocked out the hosts in the quarter-finals, Sri Lanka in the semis, and then Hazlewood’s four for 30 saw them to a 25-run win over Pakistan in the final. South Africa’s Dominic Hendricks was the star of the tournament, however, racking up 391 runs in just six innings at an average just a shade under 100 for a side that finished fifth, losing only to Sri Lanka at the quarter-final stage. England also went out at the quarter-final stage, despite a team featuring Joe Root, Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler. 2012 Two years on from lifting the trophy for a third time, Australia hosted a second tournament, getting all the way to the final before falling to India. India did not do it the easy way, scraping past a Pakistan side captained by Babar Azam by one wicket in the quarter-final as Harmeet Singh and Sandeep Sharma saw them home before the same duo helped set up a nine-run win over New Zealand in the semi-final. They then powered to a six-wicket win over Australia in the final, skipper Unmukt Chand making an unbeaten 111 to get the better of the hosts despite Will Bosisto’s 87 not out. Bosisto finished the tournament with 276 runs and was dismissed just once. Among others to shine were Bangladesh’s Anamul Haque who topped the run charts with 365 and Reece Topley who was the top wicket-taker with 19 at an average of 9.10 for an England team that finished fifth. 2014 A new name appeared on the trophy in 2014 as South Africa emerged victorious in the UAE, led by captain and Player-of-theSeries Aiden Markram. With 370 runs in six innings including a pair of centuries and an unbeaten 66 in the final, Markram was exceptional for a South Africa side that also featured Kagiso Rabada. They won every game emphatically, with Rabada’s six for 25 being the pick of the performances in an 80-run win over Australia in the semi-final. Pakistan were their opponents

in the final, with Imam-ul-Haq outstanding for them, but Rabada got him for 12 in the final and a total of 131 was never close to being enough. 2016 South Africa went from champions to being knocked in the first round as the 2016 edition provided shocks aplenty, none more so than Namibia beating their neighbours in the group stage. New Zealand were the other team upset in the groups in Bangladesh, beaten by Nepal, to set up some intriguing quarter-finals. In the end it was the West Indies and India who made it to the final, with Shimron Hetmyer captaining the former to their first title. Along the way they knocked out hosts Bangladesh in the semi-finals, despite 60 from Mehedy Hasan Miraz, the Player-of-the-Tournament, and it was fast bowler Alzarri Joseph who was the key man for the side from the Caribbean with 13 wickets. 2018 India claimed a fourth title in 2018 thanks in large part to a dominant top order. Captained by opener Prithvi Shaw and with Shubman Gill coming in at three, it is no surprise that India thrived in New Zealand. They won every game convincingly, Australia’s eight-wicket defeat in the final as close as anyone came to troubling them. Gill was the star, with 372 runs, while Shaw made 264 and his opening partner Manjot Kalra joined the party with an unbeaten 101 in the final. As well as the Indian batters, this tournament also saw the emergence of Shaheen Shah Afridi, who took 12 wickets in just five matches for Pakistan, while Afghanistan produced their best result in an ICC U19 Men’s CWC as they got to the semi-finals before losing to Australia. 2020 The last edition of the ICC U19 Men’s CWC saw another team win the title for the first time as Bangladesh got the better of India in the final. Shoriful Islam, who has since received full international honours, and 2022 skipper Rakibul Hasan starred with the ball for Bangladesh as they knocked off South Africa and then New Zealand to reach the final. They faced an India team who had won every game with opener Yashasvi Jaiswal outstanding throughout. He top-scored for India in every game on his way to 400 runs and the Player-of-the-Tournament award, but his 88 in the final was not enough in a three-wicket loss for the four-time champions. Others to shine were Indian spinner Ravi Bishnoi who took 17 wickets including four in the final to finish as the top wicket-taker, while Jayden Seales, who has since gone on to star at Test level for the West Indies, earned a spot in the Team-of-the-Tournament for his fast bowling. The event also saw Japan and Nigeria make their debuts in their first ICC World Cups. (ICC Media)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 6, 2022

CWI, CA confirm revised Women’s tour

WEST Indies Women will play four OneDay International (ODI) matches against South Africa Women in Johannesburg from January 28 to February 6, as part of their preparations for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup. Ahead of the first ODI, West Indies will have a warm-up match against a South Africa XI on January 25. Cricket West Indies (CWI) and Cricket South Africa (CSA) yesterday confirmed a revised schedule as both teams finalised preparations for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup to be played in New Zealand from March 4 to April 3, 2022. West Indies Women were previously scheduled to play three T20 Internationals and five One Day Internationals against South African Women from January 15 to February 6. All matches in South Africa will be played in a bio-secure environment at the historic Imperial Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, a venue close to the teams’ hotel, which has been secured for exclusive use due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. CWI CEO Johnny Grave said, “There has been a lot of hard work and collaboration with our friends at Cricket South Africa (CSA) regarding this tour and we are very pleased that we have been able to confirm this rescheduled ODI Series, allowing us to play vital high-level

World Cup especially since we have played less cricket than anticipated, following the cancellation of the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe. This tour will show us exactly what we need to fine-tune before departing for New Zealand, so that when we get there we can hit the ground running and give a proper showing of ourselves on the world stage.” The series will feature two day matches and two day/night matches under lights. The day matches will start at 10:00hrs local time (04:00hrs Eastern Caribbean/03:00hrs Jamaica) and the day/nighters at 14:00hrs local time (08:00hrs Eastern Caribbean/07:00hrs Jamaica). MATCH SCHEDULE (all matches at Imperial Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg) Day matches start 10:00hrs local time (04:00hrs Eastern Caribbean/03:00hrs Jamaica) Day/night matches start 14:00hrs local Hayley Matthews celebrates a wicket with her team-mates vs Pakistan Women, 1st ODI, time (08:00hrs Eastern Caribbean/07:00hrs Karachi, November 8, 2021 Jamaica) Tuesday, January 25: warm-up match - vs international competition and complete prepa- schedule and we look forward to an exciting South Africa XI (day) rations ahead of the ICC Women’s Cricket ODI series.’’ Friday, January 28: 1st ODI (day/night) World Cup. We are extremely grateful to West Indies Women’s head coach CourtMonday, January 31: 2nd ODI (day) both CSA’s and CWI’s operational and med- ney Walsh said: “This tour will give us a Thursday, February 3: 3rd ODI (day/night) ical teams for their efforts in confirming the chance to get some cricket in before the Sunday, February 6: 4th ODI (day)

Akshaya No special exemptions for ICC U-19 Persaud World Cup officials and teams – Dr Ali shines on day one of practice match By Stephan Sookram

AKSHAYA Persaud hit an unbeaten 54 as Leon Johnson's XI ended day one on 188-7 at the Albion Community Centre ground yesterday. Persaud and Clinton Pestano (24*) were at the crease at stumps, adding 43 for the eighth wicket against Keemo Paul's XI. Seon Glasgow took 1-6 while Sylus Tyndall (1-13), Qumar Torrington (115), Keemo Paul (1-17) did early damage but it was Veerasammy Permaul (1-43) who did the bulk of the bowling with 30 overs in the day's play. Tagenarine Chanderpaul (27) and Leon Johnson (25) got good starts but failed to go big on a day when there were numerous 'soft' dismissals. However, the 24-year-old Persaud buckled down, spending over three hours at the crease as he faced 152 balls and struck four boundaries. Pestano, known for his flamboyance has looked responsible during his 71-ball stay thus far. Day two action starts at 10:00hrs. This four-day match is the first of three, organised for the Guyana Harpy Eagles, ahead of next month's Regional Four-Day Championship.

President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali has revealed that there will be no special exemptions for players, management and officials of the upcoming International Cricket Council (ICC) U-19 world cup. Guyana is one of several countries in the Caribbean chosen to host matches in the premier ICC youth tournament, and Dr. Ali says his government is taking all the necessary precautions as the tournament nears. Speaking to the media during a briefing on Wednesday, Dr. Ali contended that, “We have the protocols that are there for all visitors, they [the teams, officials and management staff] are not exempted from that.” “There is an added layer that is headed by Dr. Hydar Khan. For this tournament, there is an added layer of security if you want to put it that way, for the pandemic and the management of the pandemic,” the head of state added. The president has been vocal in pushing persons to get vaccinated, also reminding that Guyana’s rate of vaccination across the Caribbean, is one of the highest. Also present during the briefing, was Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony, who expounded on the President’s sentiments. “We would be doing a number of testing. Before they arrive here they gotta be tested, vaccinated. Upon their arrival to the airport and getting to the hotel, there is a second set of testing that is normally done and this is per the ICC protocol and then during their stay, they are going to have another set of testing and before they leave, there is another set

HE. Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali makes a point during Wednesday's press conference

of testing. In all, for each person that is coming in, they will be tested at least four times and these are PCRs that will be used during this period,” Dr. Anthony added. TASK FORCE PRESENCE Dr Anthony was also quick to assure that all COVID protocols will be observed at the venues during the games here, adding that the National COVID Task Force (NCTF) would be present and in their numbers. “For persons who would be coming to view the matches, you have to produce your vaccination card to show that you are fully vaccinated. The task force would be at all the venues to ensure that this measure is enforced.”

“For the local people who are acting as support, they have already been tested and they are all negative and there is a protocol in place for how they will be going into the various venues to be able to work and manage the cricket tournament.” Apart from the Providence National Stadium, Everest Cricket Club will also host matches in the tournament. The ICC U-19 World Cup begins on January 14 with two matches; the West Indies play Australia at the Providence National Stadium while Scotland play Sri Lanka at Everest. The following day, Providence returns to host the Indians against the South Africans while Ireland play Uganda at Everest. Games are also being hosted in Trinidad, Antigua and St Kitts.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 6, 2022 HE. Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali makes a point during Wednesday's press conference

No special exemptions for ICC U-19 World Cup officials and 23 teams – Dr Ali PAGE

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Sparta Boss, Bent Street to ‘throw down’ on Saturday in Futsal final Sparta Boss Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

Bent Street THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 2022