Issuu

SATURDAY 13th November, 2021

' No.106544

$96M Regional Disaster Management Centre commissioned at Lethem

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‘Highest penalty’ for possession 03 of illegal firearms PAGE

–– says President, as government ramps up effort to tackle crime

President Dr. Irfaan Ali

–– programme to be launched to turn criminals’ lives around

Broomes delivers scathing 08 criticism of PNC leadership while in gov’t PAGE

‘Determined’ hinterland Global supply chain crisis fuelling 02 students 11 commodity shortages, price increases excel at CSEC Prime Minister Mark Phillips, who is the head of Guyana’s COVID-19 Task Force, on Friday visited the Lethem Immigration Office, which is the official entry point into Guyana from Bomfim, Brazil. Prime Minister Phillips examined the stringent measures that are in place at the border while expressing his appreciation to all the workers stationed there. The border is opened for the importation of cargo on Thursdays and for commuters on Fridays. Persons desirous of entering Guyana must, however, be fully vaccinated and have either a negative PCR or antigen test. Regional Chairman Bryan Allicock accompanied the Prime Minister on the visit. (Photo Courtesy of the Office of the Prime Minister)

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PNC Executive Member Simona Broomes

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday November 13, 2021

Global supply chain crisis fuelling commodity shortages, price increase -government working assiduously to address this problem, says President

By Richard Bhainie AMID a global supply chain crisis as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has led to major shortages and the increase in prices of goods and services, President Dr. Irfaan Ali has assured the nation that his government is working assiduously to implement measures to cushion these effects on Guyanese. President Ali, while addressing the nation on Monday, spoke of how the global supply chain has shaken economies, but gave the assurance that his government will pursue programmes to improve the living conditions of Guyanese, and to alleviate the effects of the global crisis on Guyana. Giving an example of how the global supply chain affects consumers, President Ali explained that if the price of grain, an ingredient used to make chicken feed stock, increases, then farmers would purchase the feed stock at a higher cost, which will inevitably lead to the cost of chicken increasing as well. “One of the important measures is to have more local consumption, because if the supply chain is not delivering in a timely manner, and is

Photo courtesy of RMIT Online delivering at a price that is not affordable, then you have to create more programmes; give more incentives to increase local production,” President Ali said. President Ali disclosed that at the level of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Heads of State have been pushing an agenda of “food replacement”, whereby the objective is to have a 25 per cent reduction in the region’s food import bill, and having local production fill that void. Further, President Ali stated that incentives are necessary, such as at the level of production to reduce input cost of production, which will inevitably reduce the price of finished products, and additionally measures are needed

to cushion the net effect on the increased cost of freight. In addressing the cost of fertiliser, which has seen an increase in price globally, President Ali stated that the government is “not waiting for the situation to correct itself” but “is actively pursuing bilateral discussions to have a direct import of fertiliser” to prevent an increase in food prices locally. “Importantly, too, we have to put more resources into the economy, especially for the vulnerable people, so that they can have greater access to resources during these difficult global situations,” he said. MEASURES The Head of State reminded his audience of a slew of measures already implemented

by the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) administration since their assumption of office in August 2020 to help alleviate the challenges facing the populace. VAT was removed on water and electricity, while the water tariff was reduced by five per cent, licence fees by 50 per cent, land rental fees were reduced, and VAT on mobile data was also reduced. Excise tax applicable to fuel imports was reduced from 50 per cent in February 2021 to 20 per cent in October 2021. Government also implemented numerous non-tax measures intended to provide immediate relief to Guyanese, and increase household disposable income such as a oneoff payment to public servants

of $25,000, the reintroduction of the year-end bonus for members of the Disciplined Services, and the $25,000 COVID-19 relief grant per household. There was also the education cash grant, which has now been extended to private school learners as well; an increase in the old age pension, and giving an extra month’s worth of pension to pensioners; an increase in public assistance; a public assistance grant; an electricity credit paid for certain households; the flood relief cash grants, and reduction in freight charges. NOT BEEN SITTING DOWN “The government has not been sitting down; every single day, every single month, we have been working out measures, we have been implementing measures to cushion this effect that we did not cause… That is global in nature that we cannot escape, because we are part of a global community,” President Ali said. President Ali, however, charged that importers who benefitted from incentives such as the reduction in freight charges must uphold their “moral responsibility”, so that consumers are the ultimate beneficiaries.

“That moral responsibility is to pass on the benefits that you receive as a result of this intervention to the consumer, to minimise the impact to the consumer,” he said, adding: “This is not a global crisis that anyone should look at profiteering off.” Drawing comparison to other major economies, President Ali referenced the United States of America’s consumer price index for October 2021, noting that the 12-month inflation rate was 6.2 per cent; Germany saw rates above four per cent and the United Kingdom has seen the highest increase since 1997. “The net effect of this inflationary pressure is the increase in prices … and it is driven by issues in the supply chain, at the manufacturing end, at the logistics end, at the transport end, and now of course at the labour end,” President Ali explained. President Ali highlighted that the forecast suggests that the supply chain prices underpinning the widespread hike in freight increase are expected to last longer than expected; the unfortunate result of which is shortages, and increase in prices. However, the government is working to combat this, he said.

‘Highest penalty’ for possession of illegal firearms GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 13, 2021

–– says President, as government ramps up effort to tackle crime

By Richard Bhainie

PRESIDENT Dr. Irfaan Ali has announced that his government will be amending the law governing possession of unregistered firearms to apply the “highest penalty” for persons caught with them. His disclosure comes amid the backdrop that most crimes are gun-related. The Head of State is looking to implement this and a slew of other measures to further combat crime in the county even though there has been a 19.4 per cent reduction in crime up to the November 8, 2021, when compared to the same period last year. President Ali has already engaged Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, S.C., to propose an amendment of the legislation pertaining to possession of unlicensed firearms so that the “highest penalty” may be imposed. Illegal weapons are one of the major contributing factors to crime locally. “We’re going to give a period for all those persons with illegal weapons to deposit those weapons, after which the law will be amended to give you the greatest penalty,” President Ali said on Monday, while delivering a statement on issues affecting the country. According to Section 16 (2) of the Firearms Act, if a person is found with a firearm in his possession without holding a firearm licence, they shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine of not less than $3,000 nor more than $15,000 together with imprisonment for not less than one year, nor more than three years, and on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for seven years. While discussing the issue of crime, the President perused a detailed report from the Guyana Police Force which presented a breakdown of critical data such as on what days crime is more prevalent, at what time during the day and the locations where the occurrence of crime is predominant, among other factors. “Crime has been decreasing but we’re still not satisfied,” President Ali said, noting that investments will be made in the Police Force’s training and development, to improve working conditions and welfare for service men and women and to hold them more accountable, all in a bid to strengthen crime-fighting. The police report highlighted that in terms of locality, Region One has seen the largest increase in crime with a 132.4 per cent increase for the reported period. On the other hand, Region Four A (Agricola – Cummings Lodge) has seen a 43.4 per cent

“We want a discussion with you. We want to talk to you to give you an alternative pathway to earning an income and living a decent life.… We want to work with you on giving you a better option at life and we will be pursuing a programme to directly interact with those persons,” he said. The government will also be investing heavily in intelligence gathering to combat crime which allows more crimes to be cracked before they are committed, the Head of State disclosed.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali decrease, and Region Five (Mahaica – Berbice) a 52.1 per cent decrease. “What is there in Region One that is different? We know that there is an increase migrant population, there is displacement, and of course this is causing social economic issues, and a resulting factor is crime,” President Ali said, noting that statistics such as these shape policy decisions. NATIONAL SCALE The President noted that areas which are covered by the Safe City Programme, namely Regions Three, Four and Five, have been seeing lower crime rates and it is against this backdrop that the programme will be replicated on a national scale. “To address all the regions nationally we are going to have a Safe Country Programme. We’re going to have the entire country connected on to CCTV camera so that all of the country will be under watch by the relevant authorities so that we can be proactive in crime-fighting,” he said. Additionally, President Ali disclosed that the government is also considering incentivising crime- fighting, noting that “where there is good performance, there must be differentiated treatment” which will inevitably lead to lower crime rates across the country. Further, he announced that his government will soon be launching a “confidential” programme to help persons involved in criminal activity who are desirous of changing their lives.

COMMUNITY-CENTRED “The intelligence gathering has to be community-centred, community-oriented, community- supported and we have to develop a trust between the Police Force and the community themselves,” President Ali said. In terms of the types of crime committed, murder saw a 10.5 per cent decrease; robbery under arms, 32.4 per cent decrease; robbery with aggravation, 44.7 per cent decrease; break and enter larceny, 17.2 per cent decrease; larceny from person, 56.6 per cent decrease and burglary, 36.4 per cent decrease. On the other hand, rape saw a 55.8 per cent increase for the reported period while robbery with violence saw an 8.1 per cent increase and kidnapping saw a 100 per cent increase with one reported case of a kidnapping in 2021 as compared to zero in 2021. Zeroing in on robbery under arms, this type of offence saw a 6.2 per cent decrease in homes, a 37.7 per cent decrease on streets

and a 33.6 per cent decrease in businesses. The offence is also categorised by days of the week, with Saturday seeing the highest occurrence. The Guyana Police Force has been engaged in technical work to produce data which would allow government to carefully craft a strategy to target crime. Contrary to the stigma that the force does not solve crimes, Guyana has one of the highest ‘clear up rate’ regionally, the President said. The Peoples Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), in their 2020 Elections Manifesto, had promised the electorate to reduce crime and promote safer communities through provision of more equipment, facilities, training for law-enforcement personnel and improving investigative and forensic capabilities, among other mechanisms. President Ali reminded that when the PPP/C assumed office in August, 2020, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) was operating with more than 90 per cent of their vehicular assets being out of order, thereby fighting crime with only 10 per cent capacity. Thus far, the new administration has committed to making the necessary investments through the provision of requisite assets and developing the human resource that are critical to craft a holistic approach to the revamping of the Guyana Police Force. “I am going to be upfront in dealing with every issue that challenges the people of this country. I am committed to working every single day to making your life better and you can be assured of this,” President Ali said.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday November 13, 2021

Harmon, Norton confident of winning PNC leadership race

AS the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R) Nomination Day got underway on Friday, the two main contenders for the leadership post, Leader of the Opposition Joseph Harmon, and party executive Aubrey Norton, were both optimistic about their support and chances of winning. Speaking with the media, Norton boldly claimed that his ‘intel’ tells him that he has the support of about 80 per cent of the constituting party groups. Harmon, on the other hand, said, “Fancy gallop don’t win race,” as he declared his confidence of clinching a win. “At this point, I am supremely confident about the chances of myself and my team. As I go across the country, I feel that level of optimism; I feel that energy,” Harmon said as he

Leader of the Opposition, Joseph Harmon (left) and Aubrey Norton (Elvin Croker photo) spoke with members of the media at the party’s Congress Place headquarters in Sophia. Harmon pointed out that it has been customary for the leader of the party and leader of the opposition to be one and the same person, and so he is looking forward

to maintaining that trend. Armed with a ten- point plan, which he said will focus on the party’s economic state, he expressed belief that he has what it takes to restore unity to the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition. “I believe that I have the skill to hold this coalition together at this time, and to make it grow. And I think this will make the difference between myself and any other candidate,” he noted. The PNC/R is the largest political component in the fractured APNU+AFC. The leader of the PNC/R

A party group submits its nominations becomes the leader of the coalition. Meanwhile, Norton said his connection with the party’s base will lead him to victory. “I think I know more party comrades at a personal level. I will return the party to being a grassroots party, in which the people in the party are in contact with the leadership, and the leadership in contact with the people,” Norton said. Though both Harmon and Norton are considered the strongest contenders for the leadership position, another executive member, Dr. Richard Van WestCharles, also has a hat in

the race. Current leader of the party, former President David Granger, who is said to be on sabbatical, has not been campaigning, and, up to press time, there was no indication that he was among those nominated. The leadership post is one of 19 other executive positions that party groups were required to submit nominees for. The groups will vote for their choices at the 22nd Biennial Congress slated for December 11. Apart from the leadership position, the electorate will be voting for a chairman, two vice-chairmen, a treasurer, and 15 central executive members. The party is expected to release the full name of the nominees for the various posts at a later date, following verification of the nominations. At the Congress, each party group will be given one vote per each 10 financial members in the group. Harmon’s team consists

of several Members of Parliament (MPs), including Roysdale Forde, who is Harmon’s choice for Chairman; Annette Ferguson as ViceChairman; as well as Dr. Karen Cummings, Geeta Chandan-Edmond, Dawn Hastings-Williams, Coretta McDonald, Natasha SinghLewis, Nima Flue-Bess, Dineshwar Jaiprasha, Ronald Cox, Maureen Philadelphia, and Ganesh Mahipaul, who Harmon has endorsed for the General Secretary position. The General Secretary of the party is appointed and not elected. Harmon’s team also includes Region Four Regional Chairman, Daniel Seetaram, who has been singled out for the Treasurer position; Region 10 Regional Chairman, Derron Adams; and Mayor of Bartica Gifford Marshall. Some of the party’s younger MPs, however, have publicly endorsed Norton. These include Region Five MP, Vinceroy Jordan, and Region Two MP, Shurwayne Holder. Holder has also thrown himself into the race for the chairmanship, a post MP Amanza WaltonDesir is also expected to contest. Meanwhile, despite Norton not naming members of his team, he believes his confidence is rooted in the amount of party groups that have been publicly endorsing him as party leader. Norton is said to also have the backing of party stalwart, Volda Lawrence, who, according to reports, has been nominated to return to her post as Party Chair.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday November 13, 2021

$96M Regional Disaster Management Centre commissioned at Lethem

Prime Minister Brigadier (ret’d), Mark Phillips addressing the launch on Friday (Office of the Prime Minister photograph) PRIME Minister, Brigadier (ret’d), Mark Phillips on Friday said the government aims to continuously strengthen Guyana’s regional disaster management systems by injecting more resources and enhancing training opportunities. This push, according to the Prime Minister, will improve the response time and efforts at a provincial level. The senior government official made these remarks during his featured address at the commissioning of the first-ever Regional Disaster Management Centre at Lethem, Region Nine. “Today’s event is a significant milestone in Guyana’s disaster risk-reduction history, and I am honoured to be here in Region Nine to commission the first-ever Regional Disaster Management Centre — a facility that will not only bring relief to the people of Region Nine, but also build the region’s capacity to adequately face and react to the perils that so often come with disasters.” According to the Prime

Minister, along with aiding disaster-relief efforts, the centre at Lethem will serve as a shelter for displaced families. The centre will also house dedicated areas for relief goods and capacity building and training in the region. “We recognise that there must be sufficient structures and mechanisms in place to anticipate future disasters, especially recurring ones like flooding. There must be capacity-building, education and training with regard to response efforts of the local authorities. There must be coordination of relevant agencies to come up with contingency plans to deal with disasters. And most of all; there must be sufficient funding.” The Prime Minister added that the centre, continuous training and the injection of other resources, along with an active earlywarning system, will enhance the regional capacity to reduce the loss of lives and damage to assets. Meanwhile, Director-

General of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), Lieutenant-Colonel Kester Craig, who also spoke at the commissioning of the centre, stated that development of the facility in the region is a monumental achievement for local disaster risk management. “The centre represents one of the largest direct disaster preparedness and response capacity investment by the Government of Guyana at a cost of G$96M.” The Director-General of the CDC added that the agency is committed and will continue to work assiduously within the region to enhance the disaster risk management system, while building institutional capacities and mechanisms at all levels. (Office of the Prime Minister)

The first-ever Regional Disaster Management Centre commissioned at Lethem, Region Nine (Office of the Prime Minister photo)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 13, 2021

Dishonest Practices

THE government has been doing a commendable job in bringing much-needed relief to those persons who were affected by the recent floods. Billions of dollars were paid out by way of compensation to those who suffered loss of crops or livestock, not to mention the millions spent to provide financial relief to all families due to the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sugar workers whose services were terminated under the APNU+AFC Coalition government, in addition to their severance benefits, will also receive a one-off payment of $250,000. A one-off payment of an additional month’s pension was also paid out to old age pensioners in October. These measures on the part of the President Irfaan Ali-led administration speak to a government that deeply cares for its people and is prepared to come to their rescue in times of adversity, despite the substantial cost to the treasury. It speaks to a compassionate,

caring and people-oriented administration for whom people and their lives and livelihoods matter the most. Regrettably, there are some who seem to believe that the government has a deep pocket and that it has available to itself an infinite sum of money. Based on such warped thinking, these people are prepared to extract money from the government by resorting to dishonest practices to obtain more money than is due to them, and in some cases money to which they were not entitled to. Apart from the immorality of such acts, it amounts to a case of obtaining money through fraudulent means, which is an offence and punishable under the law. The generosity and caring hand of the government should not be taken for granted. There are so many competing demands for State resources that the government is forced to make hard and difficult choices on how best to spend the money to improve the quality of lives of the Guyanese people. Money does not fall from the

sky. It is the Guyanese taxpayers who have to foot the bill for all financial allocations and such monies have to be properly accounted for. This is why any attempt to obtain money by dishonest means must be taken seriously and those found guilty must be made to answer and where applicable hauled before the courts. We cannot have a society in which people feel that it is quite all right for people to, as it were, juice the government and get away with it. The government has repeatedly stated its intolerance for corrupt practices, and as far as the law is concerned there are no ‘holy cows’. The government has already commenced an investigation into allegations of corrupt practices in the assessment and compensation of farmers who allegedly claimed damages without any supporting documentation. Accountability of public funds is an important element of good governance and all officials must be made to answer for funds allocated to them

to execute programmes, projects and policies under their charge. There are too many cases of monies being spent for which there is little or no supporting evidence as to how the money was spent. This appeared to be recurring decimal at the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) especially under the stewardship of the previous APNU+AFC administration as is now being highlighted in the Auditor General’s Report. The people of Guyana are poorer for every corrupt transaction, and as pointed out by President Ali, his administration is working to strengthen institutions to put an end to corrupt practices in public offices. And while there is no corruption-free society, it is the extent to which measures are put in place to strengthen governance systems and guard against the propensity to commit fraudulent practices that really matters and are the defining characteristics of an open and transparent society.

Deepening the trenches can save us from flooding Dear Editor, PERHAPS it is time for us to impose uniformity on the City of Georgetown. For decades, people have exercised their “right” to the reserve space in between their property and the roadway. On various occasions, the authorities have demonstrated their intolerance of the practice of illegal construction on these expansionary spaces. I daresay that this is not good enough; maybe it is time that government takes those reserve spaces back, and actually do what the space was intended for in the first place: For the construction of deeper, more uniform drainage, whereupon there would be walkways for people to safely move about, and space for cars to pull over. Editor, I feel that we have neglected

the power of construction at the sides of the roadways. Take for example the trench on the eastern side of the GDF Headquarters near Vlissingen Road. Using Google Earth to obtain a basic measurement of this trench, I computed possible values for its volume in gallons. I took its area to be about 5,711 meters squared. Multiplying that by an assumed height of 2 meters, gives a basic volume of 11,422 cubic meters. To get an estimate of how much liquid gallons my measured trench can hold, one can multiply that volume by 264.17. So, with two meters of depth, this trench holds more than three million gallons of water! If the depth is increased by just one meter, the capacity of the trench would grow by 1.5 million gallons. Take for another example, the two trenches on either side of the Railway Embankment

near Lamaha Street, in the vicinity of Queenstown. Starting at around Vlissingen Road, and assuming, again, an arbitrary depth of two meters, I take another of these measurements to obtain a capacity of about 15.4 million gallons of water on the northern side of the embankment alone. Although the southern trench of the Railway Embankment appears narrower, it spans almost the entire breadth of the City of Georgetown, right up to Ogle. I reckon it can hold a lot of water. What if we deepen all of the trenches throughout the city, surface them, and construct over them? We need to increase the capacity to carry water, because, at any given moment, the sea level outside of our coast may not be favourable. We are in between an ocean and a massive watershed named the Demerara Conservancy. In certain

crucial moments, there is nowhere else for the water to go. What if we deepened all of the trenches? What if we deepened all of the city’s drains and locked them in place by surfacing them? What if, then, we could finally build the right roads up to the right kerbs, creating walkways for ourselves, and draining the roads properly off of their shoulders? What if roads and drains are in fact one and the same construction project? What if it is time for the government to take back its reserves? Editor, the sea levels are rising fast, and we have barely done anything to correct our drainage problems throughout the city. As water levels rise, so does pollution, and then the risk of disease. Yours sincerely, Emille Giddings

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 13, 2021

CARIFORUM challenges conclusions of EU report on trade agreement

THE Council of Ministers of CARIFORUM, which includes the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Dominican Republic (DR), has expressed major concern with the findings of a European Commission report on the CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). CARIFORUM is a grouping of nations within the broader African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group of countries. “As a region, we are particularly troubled that in spite of the detailed concerns raised by our senior officials, in writing, this document remains in the public sphere, including on the official site of our partner under this Agreement,” CARIFORUM representatives said in a statement released to the media on Friday. The report in question is titled, “Ex-post Evaluation of the EPA between the EU and its Member States, and the CARIFORUM Member states”. The EPA opens the trade relationship between the CARIFORUM and the European Union. CARIFORUM is, however, concerned that the report uses an analysis which “was not equally

Flags of CARIFORUM countries robust for both Parties, resulting in glaring weaknesses in the evaluation itself”. The CARIFORUM-endorsed statement said the evaluation and the Report appear to have approached the implementation efforts of the EU Party, assuming they were compliant. “In addition to being patently imbalanced,” the grouping said, “the number of inaccuracies in the Report, at the expense of CARIFORUM, is unacceptable.” “The evaluation shows scant regard for CARIFORUM’s concerns, including those regarding procedural and regulatory barriers to the EU market, such as the EU visa requirements, which continue to impact effec-

tive Mode 4 access to the EU market, especially for cultural and professional services,” they charge in their statement. The trading bloc believes that without specific evidence to support points being made, CARIFORUM is deemed as non-compliant, even where the points raised were not applicable to all CARIFORUM states. Acknowledging that the evaluation which fed the report was conducted by independent consultants for the European Commission, the CARIFORUM ministers council expressed concern at one finding which says that several CARIFORUM states “do not have an independent judicial system

that can provide preliminary injunctions and final rulings regarding intellectual property rights.” CARIFORUM expressed eagerness at the second review of the EPA, citing an earlier position

from the first review that “CARIFORUM States had not yet started to reap the anticipated benefits of the Agreement.” The trading bloc challenges the idea circulating that this current report

constitutes the joint fiveyear review mandated under the CARIFORUM-EU EPA, and noted, instead, that this review has not yet commenced, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, senior officials of both Parties continued to engage at the technical level to prepare for that review. “CARIFORUM hopes that the upcoming Review will address the need for the EU to build greater awareness of the EPA among EU operators, including border/regulatory agencies, to curtail the barriers experienced by CARIFORUM States, particularly for the trade in services,” the CARIFORUM statement concluded.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 13, 2021

Broomes delivers scathing criticism of PNC leadership while in gov’t

OPENING her criticism to Bill Withers’ “Lean On Me”, executive member of the Peoples’ National

Congress (PNC), Simona Broomes took to social media on Friday to decry the divisions being stoked

in her party, while also initiating a running commentary on the PNC’s time in public office.

Broomes was seemingly close to tears when she called on those watching her live video on Facebook to tag senior members of the party, whom she named, including former President David Granger. “Let us play tag!” the notoriously spunky businesswoman urged. The PNC is currently in the process of observing its 21st Biennial Congress, an opportunity for the party to look more critically at its leaders and elect new ones. Broomes, a former government minister and member of parliament, had spent the five-year stint of the PNC-dominated A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC), shifting between portfolios, owing to internal conflicts within the government at the time. More specifically, Broomes, who rose to prominence as a vocal activist celebrated internationally for her work in countering human trafficking, served as Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection, Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, and finally as Minister within the Ministry of the Presidency with responsibility for youth affairs, all between May

2015 and August 2020. In her live video commentary on Friday, Broomes expressed shock at what she felt was the new-found energy of her party colleagues in the race for party leadership. “I would have loved to see PNC comrades allowing that energy to flow while we were sitting in office,” she said, adding: “Oppressors you call it!” making no bones about how she felt as she lamented the attitude of her party’s senior members while in government. “They sit in their office, and they sit upon your shoulder. You build them up and they trample you!” she said, adding: “I was purposeful in my actions in office to be out there,” in obvious reference to her approach of connecting with the people while in office. She hinted that it was her actions that set the standard which now puts current party activists “in the pressure! So, they now got to be out there.” Using language reminiscent of Burnham-era government policies, Broomes called for her party leaders to “produce or perish”. She said the party’s bi-

PNC Executive Member Simona Broomes ennial congress is set every two years, according to that party’s constitution, and members should know who they are prepared to support for leadership, based on their previous performance. Surprisingly, the PNC executive member cautioned her party members to not criticise the Peoples’ Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) when there are internal issues to be dealt with. “Put yuh house in order,” she said, adding: “Yuh better tek de beam out yuh eye before yuh look fah tek de speck out yuh neighba own! If you were on the ground, you would have known what is going on with your constituency; you would know they are hungry, they are jobless, they are hopeless. You would know it’s not an easy road!” The PNC yesterday opened the nomination process at the party’s Congress Place, Sophia headquarters for key leadership positions.

American Airlines’ treatment of Guyanese passengers ‘unacceptable’

FOLLOWING several negative reports over delays and flights cancellations by American Airlines, the Ministry of Tourism, Commerce and Industry, on Friday, expressed dissatisfaction with the poor treatment of Guyanese passengers. In a statement, the ministry noted that although it is appreciative of the airline’s service to Guyana, its quality of service is “untenable and not in keeping with the government’s business, tourism and developmental agenda.” The ministry said it is gravely concerned about recent flight cancellations by the airlines. “On average 44 per cent

of AA flights from Guyana over the last six months have been delayed. Additionally, an average of two flights monthly have been cancelled. The Government of Guyana has received numerous complaints about the manner in which customers are treated when there are cancellations,” the statement said. The ministry said while the government wants to support AA’s operations in

Guyana, it cannot ignore the unacceptable treatment of Guyanese passengers. “Passengers who have been experiencing difficulties receiving refunds for flight cancellations are asked to file official complaints with the Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission so that their issues may be formally addressed,” the statement added.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday November 13, 2021

Region Two residents get assistance with pending housing matters

CEO of CHPA Sherwyn Greaves flanked by housing staff, assists residents of Region Two at Suddie Learning and Resource Centre CHIEF Executive Officer (CEO) of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA), Sherwyn Greaves, led a team, on Friday, from the agency on a one-day outreach to the Essequibo Coast, Region Two. The first meeting is ongoing at the Charity Neighborhood Democratic Council Tarmac where members of the public with pending housing matters are meeting one-on-one with Greaves and his staff to resolve a variety of issues. In his remarks at the first meeting, the CEO noted that the Ministry of Housing and Water, through the Central Housing and Planning

Authority, is committed to resolving outstanding issues on the coast and to bring an end to a number of boundary issues. “We understand the importance of having ownership documents and ending boundary issues. We have a commitment to this region while we resolve these issues we are working simultaneously to match infrastructure development with the allocation we have done in the region.” Speaking to future plans for the region, the CEO spoke of the ministry’s plan for infrastructure work along the coast. “Only a few days ago the ministry signed a $100

million contract for infrastructure works in Charity and Onderneeming and these works will include the clearing of lands, works on access roads and bridges,” he said. Additionally, in the ministry’s 2022 work plan, another $1 billion will be expended for other infrastructure works in the region. These will include the installation of street lights, road works and the acquisition of lands. At the Charity outreach, based on individual needs, a few on-the-spot land allocations were done. Already for 2021, some 750 families have been allocated house lots.

A section of the gathering at Charity Neighbourhood Democratic Council Tarmac

This outreach will continue on Saturday with another meeting scheduled for State House, Anna Regina at 12:00 hours, followed by the last meeting which is scheduled for the Suddie Learning and Resource Center at 14:30 hours. Meanwhile, Greaves has committed that the new Regional Housing Office for Region Two will be completed and fully functioning by the end of this year. He also assured residents that while the Central Housing and Planning Authority will continue to engage residents of Essequibo in a move to address age old issues, plans are in place to straighten regional services. As such, he announced during a meeting at State House earlier on Friday that the sum of $10M has been set aside for the rehabilitation and furnishing of a building at Anna Region, which will serve as the Regional Housing Office. With sufficient space and requisite staff, the CEO said more long-standing housing

Remigrant pensioner, Cathleen Baggot matters will be addressed in a timelier manner. Further, the CEO concluded another visit with a meeting at the Suddie Learning and Resource Centre where himself and team engaged residents with pending housing matters. A number of on-thespot allocations were also done. One resident, Cathleen Baggot, a remigrant pensioner, said she was pleased to have met with the visiting team and the long wait for a plot of land is now

over. She explained that she was promised a land about five years ago after writing to the previous President; however, her joy was short lived as she was subsequently contacted and told that there was some dispute over the land she was promised. At Friday’s event, Baggot said she has been assured that she will be given ownership document for a plot of land which she can finally call hers.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 13, 2021

Courts giving away four Suzukis in Christmas promotion

COURTS Guyana Inc., on Friday launched their 2021 Christmas Promotion at their Main Street branch. This year, the company will be making four lucky customers the owners of brand-new Suzuki vehicles over the next few weeks. The promotion started on Friday, and will end on December 24, 2021. With every purchase of $$59,999 and over on any credit at any Courts location throughout the country, customers would become eligible to win a brand-new ‘ride’. Speaking at the simple launching ceremony, Country Manager, Clyde De Haas expressed his excitement at this year’s

promotion. “Today, we are very proud to launch our Christmas promotion, and we are launching it with a bang. We have four brand-new vehicles that four lucky customers will have a chance to win…,” De Haas said. Noting that the promotion comes at an opportune time, as Guyana and the rest of the world is gradually recovering from the effects of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, he said: “This year, Courts is going all out, because Courts is feeling good; the country is heading in a good direction, and we are getting control of the pandemic that has been plaguing us for almost two

Courts Country Manager, Clyde De Haas with the vehicles to be won in the company’s Christmas promotion this year (Adrian Narine photo) years, and we want to share this with our customers.” The company also seized the opportunity to introduce its BOGO (buyone-get-one) weekend event, whereby when a

customer buys two items on credit, they get a third free. This offer, however, ends tomorrow, November 14, 2021, and as such, De Haas urged customers to

take advantage of all the exciting promotions available. “You cannot go wrong with courts,” he said, “So, customers, I would invite you to pass down Main

Street and have a look at these brand-new Suzuki vehicles. This has never been done, so this Christmas is going to be the best Christmas ever.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday November 13, 2021

‘Determined’ hinterland students excel at CSEC -say they wanted to show their true potential

By Tamica Garnett A PASSION for learning and wanting to show the capabilities and potential of students in the hinterland regions, were the driving forces behind the excellent performances recorded at this year’s Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations. There may be a gap in resources and opportunities available to learners on the coastland and in the hinterland, but every year, hinterland learners manage to excel. This year, it was no different as the best performing CSEC students from each of the hinterland regions obtained impressive results in 10 or more subjects. Leading the list is 16-year-old Akima D’Aguiar from St Ignatius Secondary in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) who gained 12 Grade Ones and two Grade Twos. From Santa Rosa Secondary, Reah Henry was the top Region One (BarimaWaini) CSEC performer with six Grade Ones, four Grade Twos, and two Grade Threes. Shontai DeAgrella of Three Miles Secondary in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) topped with eight Grade Ones and four Grade Twos, while Eleton Lewis of Kato Secondary was the top student of Region Eight with

10 subjects. The Guyana Chronicle caught up with some of the students, who were overcome with excitement, not only for being able to do their school and region proud but for being able to showcase the capabilities of hinterland students once again. For D’Aguiar, her results was a surprise, but in a good way. “I was in quite a shock when I received my results. It was not at all what I had expected and I mean that in a pleasant way. It was also a surprise to me when I learned that I had topped the region. The thought of topping the region had not crossed my mind,” she said. D’Aguiar does not feel limited when it comes to the opportunities that are available to her and is striving to one day become a civil engineer. “Architecture and structural design is what captivates my interest the most. I love learning new things. It doesn’t matter what it is, I would do research on it. I like to expand my knowledge on things and be well informed,” she commented. Hailing from Parakeese Island, Henry is all the prouder of her results given the transportation and internet challenges over the years. She is glad that through her results, persons can see the

Region Nine top student, Akima D’Aguiar of St Ignatius Secondary determination of hinterland students to persevere. “It shows that people, one from Moruca, Santa Rosa, and from Parakeese Island, are so hard-working even though we are in the hinterland and don’t have as many resources as the coastlanders,” she said. Henry had decided to do 12 subjects as a means of pushing the limits beyond what was normally expected of the students at her school. “I wanted to give myself a challenge. Normally the students would do eight subject but I wanted to do all the subjects I’m interested in and all the subjects the school was offering and make the most of the oppor-

Santa Rosa Secondary’s Reah Henry, who is the top student for Region One tunity to learn,” she told this publication. An aspiring doctor, Henry hopes to be able to one day return to her community and share her capabilities. DeAgrella is just glad that all of her hard work paid off. She noted that the COVID-19 pandemic, which

Shontai DeAgrella of Three Miles Secondary

caused school closures, really exacerbated an already challenging time of studying. “I felt very proud of myself knowing I put a lot of work into my SBA and studying for the examination. It was really stressful. The SBAs and lab books had to be completed while

covering content that we fell behind on due to school being closed down. Then some children didn’t come back to school making the group parts of SBAs such as English A difficult to complete. The teachers were helpful though,” she related.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday November 13, 2021

Services of lazy extension officers will be terminated

-says Minister Mustapha; extension services to be revamped THE Ministry of Agriculture, in an effort to revamp the operations of the extension arm of its agencies, will, in 2022, introduce a

curriculum designed to improve the effectiveness of its extension officers. Through the Guyana School of Agriculture

(GSA), extension officers attached to the ministry will receive training on how to properly carry out their functions to better cater to the

needs of the nation’s farmers. This was disclosed by Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, during a com-

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha missioning exercise at the New Guyana Marketing Corporation’s (New GCM) Central Packaging Facility at the Sophia Exhibition Centre last Wednesday, a release said. Minister Mustapha said, since taking office, the government has been working to improve the services being offered to the farmers and agro-processors across the country. He further stated that officials from the ministry and the Guyana School of Agriculture have been advised to develop a curriculum offering additional training to the ministry’s extension officers. “Our senior officers were already informed and very soon they will commence working on a curriculum to offer training to our extension officers. This programme should be ready before mid-next year. Extension officers will be able to receive training through the GSA to improve the services offered to our farmers and agro-processors. This is one of the steps we are taking to revamp the sector so that quality service can be delivered. Agriculture is once again at the forefront of our economy and we have to ensure that our extension personnel are well equipped and informed on how to deliver the caliber of services that were promised to citizens during our 2020 elections campaign trail,”

Minister Mustapha said. Since taking office, Minister Mustapha has been meeting with farmers across the country who aired concerns about the quality of services being offered by the extension arm of several agencies which form part of the ministry. After receiving similar complaints at a number of outreaches, Minister Mustapha disclosed that the entire extension arm of the ministry would soon be revamped. He also said that extension officers who were not willing to work to execute the mandate of the government will be relieved of their services. As it relates to the courses that will be offered to the extension officers, Minister Mustapha said that the curriculum will serve as both a refresher course and teach officers about updated methods of services as Guyana moves towards more technologically advanced approaches to doing agriculture. The courses are expected to include best practices for proper animal husbandry, artificial insemination techniques, shadehouse development, ‘sixpoint’ method for rice cultivation, post-harvest handling of perishable produce, and smart agriculture practices just to name a few, the release noted.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 13, 2021

Mohamed’s Enterprise rewards young Ramgobin for outstanding performance at CSEC

PARMESH Ramgobin, one of the top students at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations in Region Two has been honoured by Mohamed’s Enterprise for his outstanding performance. Managing Director of Mohamed’s Enterprise, Nazar Mohamed recently met with Ramgobin and presented him with a cheque that will help in the furtherance of his education. Ramgobin attended the Charity Primary School, and won a spot at Anna Regina Multilateral, where he excelled at the 2021 CSEC examinations. He sat 20 subjects, and obtained 15 Grade Ones and five Grade Twos. His parents, Dinesh and Chandrawati Ramgobin expressed pride in his achievements. He also happens to be among Guyana’s top performers at the examinations. Ramgobin comes from a family of five, of humble background. His father is a fisherman, and his mother a housewife. His father’s income is not sufficient to

provide for the family and his education. So Ramgobin sold ‘chips’ to raise money for his books, Internet bills, transportation, and private extra lessons. Transportation cost was very high, so he had to help raise money to help his family fund his education. He told reporters that he used to wake up early in the morning,

Managing Director of Mohamed’s Enterprise, Nazar Mohamed presenting young Parmesh Ramgobin with a cheque to help finance his tertiary studies

fry his own chips, package it and market it himself. Mohamed, an Essequibian himself, was moved by Ramgobin’s story, and congratulated the young man. He invited Parmesh to his office where he honoured him with a cheque. He said that in keeping with the social responsibility

of his business, he has committed to funding the young man’s education throughout his academic journey. Ramgobin was extremely happy and expressed his gratitude to Mohamed. He has already started out at the University of Guyana, and is reading for a degree in Biology.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday November 13, 2021

Amaila Falls project a ‘boon’ to private sector

-PSC Chairman

PSC Chairman Paul Cheong

CHAIRMAN of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Paul Cheong has said that the highly-anticipated Amaila Falls H y d ro p o w e r P ro ject (AFHP) will be a “huge benefit” to businesses operating in the manufacturing and industrial sectors. He shared the foregoing sentiments during an interview on the National Communications Network (NCN) on Thursday afternoon. “Energy is a very important aspect of business and any h o u s e h o l d ; e n e rg y costs are a component of your costs,” Cheong said. “To be competitive, you need to be efficient, and you also need your costs to be as low as possible. And we see this project as a huge benefit to the private sector,” he added. And besides significantly reducing energy costs in households, thereby putting money back into the pockets of all Guyanese, he said, “It would also help to make other manufacturing entities or products that currently face hardships feasible, because of the current energy costs.

We expect that with this project coming on board, and the realisation of this project, that there will be a big boost; a big boom in the private sector, in terms of manufacturing exports which would lead to your products becoming competitive on the international market.” Notably, the project will add 165 megawatts (MW) of energy to the grid, with construction projected to begin in 2022 and be completed in 2025. J u s t r e c e n t l y, Cabinet granted its ‘no objection’ for the Office of the Prime Minister to engage China Railway Group Limited to construct the Amaila Falls Hyd ro p o w e r P ro j e c t (AFHP), based on a Build-Own-OperateTr a n s f e r ( B O O T ) model, whereby the company will supply electricity to the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Inc. at a cost not exceeding US$0.07737 per KWH, and provide the entire equity required by the project, and undertake all the risks associated with it.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday November 13, 2021

Culinary experiences integral to Guyana’s tourism products -Minister Walrond

Tourism Minister Oneidge Walrond in the company of GTA Deputy-Director Kamrul Baksh, and THAG President Harrinand Persaud “EAT, Explore, Repeat”, is the theme under which 22 restaurants here will be observing Restaurant Week this year, scheduled to run from November 12 to 21. The exciting week of showcasing local culinary skills and delights was officially launched on Thursday by Minister of Tourism Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond at the Hard Rock Café, located at MovieTowne, on the lower East Coast. With tourism currently being the country’s third largest export earner outside of oil and gas and gold, the subject minister is of the opinion that the unique culinary delights and experiences

Guyana has to offer is important now more than ever to its tourism product, as it’s a sustainable way of continuing to earn income, long after oil and gas is gone. “… The culinary experience; that dining experience adds to the hospitality, and to the value of this Destination Guyana that we are promoting. So, don’t think that your restaurants, your establishments don’t add value, and that it does not matter. When people come away from your restaurant, they must come away with a positive experience,” Minister Walrond said. “I urge you to up the ante; up your game in terms of the culinary experiences that we have, that you offer here in

Guyana,” she added. Noting that we as a people are not short on talent, no doubt alluding to the many instances where local chefs have been called upon to train the women of Indigenous communities such as Moraikobai and St. Cuthbert’s Mission to provide exceptional culinary experiences, Minister Walrond said: “So, you don’t have to go out with the fish that is in your streams, with the cassava that is, of course, a staple and the other fruits and vegetables that come out of their communities. They made a tremendous culinary experience for the visitors, unlike anything I would say that I have experienced in any

restaurant here in Guyana.” Confident that Guyana has what it takes to succeed in this line of business, she said: “As we embrace this new Restaurant Week, I want us to continue understanding that more and more people are alluding to Guyana with a critical eye, and as you are not separate and apart from the hotel developments, from the eco-lodges, that we are one integrated hospitality sector, and make the experience of your diners count.” In closing, she urged participants in this year’s activity to continue doing a tremendous job, and to uplift their standards and provide

THAG President Harrinand Persaud exceptional service. R e s t a u r a n t We e k is being sponsored this year by LEHR INC,

Presidente Beer, Guyana Tourism Authority and Republic Bank Limited. (DPI)

Part of the gathering at the launch of Restaurant Week on Thursday (DPI photos)

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday November 13, 2021

GDF reserve officers complete Senior Command, Staff Course

The successful reserve officers SIXTEEN reserve officers have successfully completed training on the second iteration of the recently concluded Reserve Officer Senior Command and Staff Course (RSCSC). The course curriculum

mirrors that of the Senior Command and Staff Course for regular officers and focuses on a number of core areas including international, regional and national security affairs, multi-operational planning, critical-thinking

and problem-solving and multi-agency command and co-operation. Major Marlon Daniels, Executive Director of Commercial Services and Customer Relations at the Guyana Water Authority was

adjudged the best graduating student while Major Salim October, Preparedness and Response Manager at the Civil Defence Commission, received the prize for runnerup student. Major Manesh Seeram, the Business Change and Quality Assurance Officer at the Guyana Police Force Command Centre, received the prize for Best Research Paper. At the closing ceremony earlier on Thursday, Chief of Staff, Brigadier Godfrey Bess noted that he is particularly pleased that the course was conducted since the Reserve Forces must be incorporated and effectively utilised to achieve the Commander in Chief’s plans to have the military involved in all spheres of the society while building community relations. Brigadier Bess said the mix of experiences, professional aptitudes, dedication and commitment was a good blend and contributed to the success of the reserve officers. He added that given the construct of the reserve, the training on the RSCSC has better equipped the officers to function in their primary roles while at the same time, building capacity as a military officer. The Chief-of-Staff told the reserve officers that the force is in the process of evolving and so their involvements and ideas are welcomed. “You must be able to evolve with it. You must be able to see where changes to the status quo are necessary

Chief of Staff, Brigadier Godfrey Bess presents Major Marlon Daniels with the Best Graduating student plaque and need to be supported fence response, security, proby relevant action.... The vision of expertise in the military landscape has been fields of medicine, engineerchanging globally and some ing, technology, teaching, of those changes are going research and development to impact the GDF in the and participation in all of the future. Your effectiveness force’s activities and compewill always be evaluated titions are indicative of your against the depth and breadth increasing integration and of your understanding of the development or core compechanging dynamics of this tencies in the force,” she said. environment. You are ready She further encouraged to graduate today, and you the officers to be instruments must be ready for the future,” of the change they desire in he urged. the military environment as The RSCSC is the cap- well as in their civilian emstone course for reserve of- ployment. ficers as there is no other Also present at the closmandated promotion training ing ceremony were National for them. Security Adviser, Gerald During her address, Com- Gouveia and Director of the manding Officer of the Train- National Intelligence and ing Corps (ag), Lieutenant Security Agency (NISA), Colonel Lorraine Foster said Colonel Omar Khan. that this and other batches of The second Infantry reserve officers have proven Battalion Reserve is present that they are a worthy com- in all 10 administrative reponent of the GDF and pro- gions of Guyana and ranks vide a very reliable support are currently deployed, structure and system. assisting in the national “Your roles in civil de- vaccination drive.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday November 13, 2021

Amaila ‘hydro’ project will be of great benefit to ordinary consumers

AS government continues work on the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP), Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar on Thursday reminded Guyanese that the massive development will benefit all of Guyana. During an interview on the National Communications Network (NCN), Minister Indar noted that the hydropower project, expected to commence construction in 2022 and be completed in 2025, will add 165 megawatts (MW) of energy to the grid. Cabinet recently granted its ‘no objection’ for the Office of the Prime Minister to engage China Railway Group Limited to construct the AFHP, based on a Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) model. The company will supply electricity to the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Inc. at a cost not exceeding US$0.07737 per

KWH, and provide the entire equity required by the project and undertake all the risks associated with the project. This follows the publication of a request for proposals by the government in various national newspapers during the period of July to August, 2021. Four companies submitted proposals, and China Railway Group Limited was identified as the most ‘capable partner’ by the Evaluation Committee after a rigorous evaluation process. Minster Indar said, “$0.77 cents is far cheaper than what we produce power at right now… This is cheap reliable power, and it’s one of the projects that fits into our Low-Carbon Development Strategy on our netzero position going into the future.” As he went on to explain, “One, it is good for the people’s pocket, because it will be cheaper electricity to them; (and) it is good for the

Cyclist killed on West Coast Berbice Public Road

The vehicle that crashed into the cyclist

The cycle at the scene of the accident

PEDAL cyclist, Nevill Anthony Small, 24, was killed after a car PTT9673 crashed into him while he was riding on the Profit Public Road, West Coast Berbice (WCB) on Friday morning. The driver of the vehicle was identified as Sandra Gittens, 45, of Lot 98 Brushe Dam, Friendship, East Coast Demerara. According to Police Headquarters, the driver of the motorcar alleged that she was proceeding east along the northern side of the said road at a normal rate of speed when she was blinded by lights of a vehicle in the opposite direction which caused her to collide with the cyclist, who was proceeding west along the northern side of the road. As a result of the impact, the pedal cyclist was thrown onto the front windscreen, then onto the roadway where he received injuries to the head and about his body. He was picked up in an unconscious state and taken to the Fort Wellington Public Hospital where he was examined and pronounced dead on arrival. The driver is in custody assisting with the investigations.

planet, because it is renewable energy.” The project will also support initiatives such as the electrification of transport and e-mobility, and accelerate the development of a robust ICT sector needed for an interconnected world, as

well as a competitive manufacturing sector. The minister underscored that the hydropower project is quite feasible, and recalled that various studies have since justified and strongly supported its construction. (DPI)

Minister within the Ministry of Public Works Deodat Indar

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday November 13, 2021

Barbados women drawn in Group A for Commonwealth Games

Barbados Women

(CMC) – Barbados Women have been drawn in Group A alongside the likes of powerhouses Australia and India for next year’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. The regional Twenty20 champions will open their campaign against the Aussies on July 29, follow up with a clash against Pakistan two days later before taking on India in their final game on August 3, with all matches set for Edgbaston. West Indies qualified for the July 29 to August 7 Games by virtue of their International Cricket Council (ICC) world ranking, but as they represent a cluster of nations, are now

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allowed to compete at the Games as a single entity. Barbados captain Hayley Matthews, currently on tour of Pakistan with West Indies Women, said the small Caribbean country welcomed the challenge before them. “Seeing the groups now shows there’ll be some pretty exciting times ahead,” said Matthews. “We will definitely be going into the competition as underdogs but as long as we play the right cricket in England we can definitely create some upsets and we’re looking forward to doing just that.”

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Group B will see New Zealand, South Africa and England do battle against a yet-to-be determined qualifier. The top two from each group will clash in the semi-finals on August 6, with the final set for 24 hours later. It will be preceded by the bronze medal game. Barbados qualified to represent West Indies

after winning the Cricket West Indies T20 Blaze in Guyana two years ago. The COVID-19 pandemic has prevented the staging of a domestic women’s tournament since. The T20 tournament at the Commonwealth Games next year will mark the first time in 24 years cricket will be played at the multi-discipline showpiece.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday November 13, 2021

Hamilton leads qualifying but picks up grid penalty

(BBC) - Lewis Hamilton romped to pole position for the 'sprint' qualifying race at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix ahead of title rival Max Verstappen's Red Bull. Hamilton, who has a fiveplace grid penalty for the main race tomorrow, was untouchable over one lap, 0.438 seconds quicker than Verstappen. Verstappen beat Hamilton's team-mate Valtteri Bottas into third place.

There are three points for the winner of the sprint, the result of which sets the grid for the grand prix. The margin of Hamilton's pace advantage was something of a surprise after two consecutive victories for Verstappen. Mercedes were on pole in Mexico last weekend, but that was more down to Red Bull not managing to get their tyres in a good working window rather than any lack of pace. And Verstappen

dominated the race. Seven-time champion Hamilton said: "It was a very good qualifying session. I am super-happy with it. We have the penalty but we give it everything we've got." Hamilton's target will be to win sprint qualifying, to earn the three points for victory in that race, and start sixth for tomorrow’s grand prix - as high as he can be this weekend. Verstappen leads Hamilton by 19 points with a max-

Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain driving the (44) Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team Mercedes W12 during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Brazil at Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace yesterday in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

imum of 107 points available over the remaining four races. Verstappen said he suspected at least part of it would be explained by his rival's fresh engine. Mercedes have fitted the fifth engine of the season to Hamilton's car, two more than are permitted for the season. "When they take a new engine, they have a bit more power for the weekend so for me it is not a big shock,"

Verstappen said. "I am just happy to be second; it is a good position to start from. It is nice to be closer but sometimes you have to be satisfied with what you get." Bottas edged Verstappen's team-mate Sergio Perez by 0.015secs to lead the second row, while Pierre Gasly put the Alpha Tauri fifth for the second race in succession. Carlos Sainz led Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc,

ahead of the McLarens of Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo, with Fernando Alonso's Alpine completing the top 10. Towards the back, George Russell was out-qualified by Williams team-mate Nicholas Latifi for the first time in their three years together - the Canadian taking 17th, just 0.056secs ahead of the Briton, who was 18th.

Matthews praises Taylor’s trust in players

All-rounder Hayley Matthews

ing three for 31 and scoring an attractive 57 as West Indies Women pulled off a 45-run victory. And Thursday’s victory ensured the first away series win for West Indies Women in five years, having last beaten South Africa Women 2-1 in a three-match tour in 2016. With the final match carded for tomorrow, Matthews said the Caribbean side would not be letting their guard down as they were already eyeing a clean sweep of the series. “Coming down here our expectations were really high,” explained the 23-year-old Matthews. “Obviously being ranked above Pakistan, we wanted to not only win the series but have a clean sweep and win it three-love. “So it’s really good that we’re up two-love and we’ve won the series so far, but I think the girls are into winning that third game and hopefully we can have a full clean sweep when the series is finished.” The tour of Pakistan will serve as vital preparation for West Indies Women’s campaign in the ICC World Cup qualifiers which bowl off in Zimbabwe later this month.

(CMC) – All-rounder Hayley Matthews has praised captain Stafanie Taylor’s trust in her players, after West Indies trounced Pakistan by 37 runs in the second One-Day International here Thursday. With Pakistan cruising on 67 for two in the 25th over with a simple target of 154 well within reach, Taylor kept faith with Matthews despite an uncertain start, and the right-arm off-spinner snatched four for 26 as the hosts lost their last eight wickets for 49 runs. “I think what is really good about the relationship that Skip (Taylor) has with a lot of the players is that she really CRICKET QUIZ CORNER trusts us,” Matthews said. (Saturday November 13, 2021) “She knows that I understand the game to a certain extent and COMPLIMENTS OF she trusts me to bowl in the right CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD areas. 83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) “Two of my first three overs were pretty expensive going for Answers to yesterday’s quiz: 15 runs and she was still able to (1) ENG & PAK have enough confidence in me to bring me back on for that fourth (2) NZ & AUST over and I was able to get the wicket. Today’s Quiz: “I think the biggest thing (1)(1) Who was declared Man of the Match in the is trust and it’s really good we recent Men’s T20 World Cup semi-final between ENG & NZ? have a captain that we’re able to trust. It works in our favour a lot (2) Who was voted Man of the Match in the AUST/ of the time and it really did (on PAK semi-final? Thursday).” Matthews also starred in the Answers in tomorrow’s issue opening ODI last Monday, claim-

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday November 13, 2021

Guyana women excite, but knocked out in main draw of FIBA AmeriCup 3X3 …Men’s team narrowly miss out on advancing

By Rawle Toney in Miami (Compliments of National Sports Commission & Guyana Lottery) IT was a day of mixed results for Guyana at the inaugural FIBA AmeriCup 3X3 tournament in Miami, Florida. Guyana’s male team came from Ryan Stephney, Tyron Hamid, Travis Burnett, and Timothy Thompson. Spain-based professional Joy Brown, along with Jada

Mohan and Kesann Charles were the country’s women in action. The men and women representing the ‘592’ at the first-of-its- kind event turned in some impressive performances, but when the dust settled on the first day of the competition at Bayfront Park, it was the women who found more success. Both teams opened the tournament with a sensational performance against Guatemala; the men’s side won 19-18 and the women’s were

victorious 20-16. However, the women, in a dramatic game against Jamaica went down 16-20 where they only had two players on court for much of the game, while the men were defeated 13-21 by Trinidad and Tobago. As fate would have it though, Guatemala defeated Jamaica 19-13. That result propelled Guyana’s women to the top of Group C and saw them face Chile and Mexico in the Main Draw. Against Chile, the visibly From left: Joy Brown, Jada Mohan and Jesanna Charles

From left: Timothy Thompson, Ryan Stephney, Travis Burnett and Tyrone Hamid

tired Guyana women lost 1318. In their match-up with Mexico, Guyana went down 11-17. Spain-based professional, Joy Brown, told NCN Sport, she was happy to represent Guyana for the first time. “It really feels great putting on this uniform and representing my country something that I wanted to do for a long time and I’m happy that I was given a chance to do so at this tournament,” Brown said. Brown went on to shower

her teammates with praises, telling Chronicle Sport, “The girls showed a lot of heart, and we were able to advance to the main draw, so I’m proud of the girls.” Meanwhile, Travis Burnett, pointed out that despite the results, he was proud of the team’s performance. Guatemala moved on to the next round, while Trinidad and Tobago joined Guyana on the sidelines for the remainder of the tournament. According to FIBA, the event is being conducted in

partnership with Vaunt Inc. Vaunt is, a sports and entertainment intellectual property (IP) developmental company that creates and produces alternative competitions and culturally relevant content. Exciting, urban and innovative, 3X3 is inspired by several forms of streetball played worldwide and is considered the world’s number one urban team sport. Steered by FIBA, games see two teams of three players face off on a basketball half-court.

Brathwaite believes ‘pace’ can play a role in Sri Lanka (CMC) – Captain Kraigg Brathwaite believes pace can play a significant role in the upcoming two-Test series despite the spin-friendly pitches expected in both contests, carded for Galle, and he believes the four-day encounter at the weekend will be critical to the touring side’s preparation. Subcontinent pitches have been notoriously low, slow and conducive to spin over the years, and spinners accounted for 67 per cent of the wickets which fell during West Indies’ tour here six years ago. And although the Caribbean side have armed themselves with three specialist spinners and a spinning all-rounder in their 15-man squad, Brathwaite said seamers Kemar Roach, Shannon Gabriel and Jason Holder could still make an impact. “Obviously we’ve assumed spin-friendly pitches but we haven’t been there as yet to see the surface but I think there’s always a role for

the fast bowlers,” Brathwaite told a media conference here yesterday. “Shannon Gabriel really led the way in Bangladesh in the first Test (earlier this year) bowling with some good pace. “Kemar Roach getting an early wicket that first morning was very crucial. Obviously Jason wasn’t there and (Kyle) Mayers is always crucial (with his medium pace). “So I believe despite possibly spin-friendly pitches, I still think the pacers will do well. I can see them getting wickets, but obviously it’s just about building pressure.” He continued: “Obviously Shannon will bring some aggression so I look forward to seeing the guys operate in these conditions. “We’re pretty much accustomed to these hot conditions in the Caribbean so I look forward to the pacers doing a good job.” West Indies face a very stern test especially having never won a single Test in Sri Lanka in 11 pre-

West Indies Test captain Kraigg Brathwaite

vious matches. On their last trip here, the Holder-led unit suffered a 72-run defeat in the opening Test before going down by an innings and six runs inside four days in the second game. West Indies’ batting came under severe pressure, managing 250 just once, while twice dismissed for un-

der 200 in the first Test. And with the recent struggles against South Africa at home, Brathwaite said this would be a key area of concern. “The bowlers have been leading the way throughout the year,” Brathwaite noted. “I think the batters had the South Africa series where we didn’t do that well. Some guys came back and got some scores against Pakistan (and) obviously when we went Bangladesh the guys did well; so for me, it’s always a work in progress. “The batters always have something to work on so it’s just to touch up.” He added: “I think it’s key for us to start well and have big partnerships in the top five, top six. I think once we do that, I think we set ourselves up to get big totals. “The batters have been putting in some extra work and I think the start will be crucial from the top five batters.” West Indies will play both Tests

in Galle after featuring in a four-day warm-up match starting here tomorrow, and Brathwaite said the fixture was essential for the touring side in adapting to the conditions. “I think going into the practice game it’s just to have the mindset that it’s a Test match,” he pointed out. “Secondly, it’s a good opportunity to get familiar with the surfaces. Obviously it won’t be the exact surface but it will be quite similar. “So it will be good to get that four-day game and the guys get a run – both the bowlers, from the fast bowlers (to) the spinners, and the batsmen.” He added: “Also, we had two good practice sessions before and the guys really put in a big effort. It would be good to get out there and get in a game against a Sri Lankan ‘A’ team, and get ourselves even more familiar with conditions.”

Shiv Chanderpaul joins West Indies U19s as batting consultant

Shivnarine Chanderpaul

CRICKET West Indies (CWI) today announced that West Indies legend, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, will join the West Indies Rising Stars U19 squad as the batting consultant for the upcoming High-Performance Camp in Antigua, as part of the West Indies Rising Stars’ preparations for the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup to be hosted in the Caribbean in January and February 2022. Chanderpaul, who had an outstanding international career, is the most capped player in West Indies Test history. He played 164 matches and made 11 867 runs at an average of 51.37. He is the newest member of the coaching staff, headed by Floyd Reifer, and will be part of this preparation period, which runs from November 15 to 28 at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua. Jimmy Adams, CWI’s Director of Cricket said: “We want to welcome Shivnarine Chanderpaul to the Rising Stars U19 group and we look forward to him working with our young players at this critical stage in their development pathway. “Shiv has a tremendous amount of cricketing knowledge and know-how and he will be a great addition to the coaching staff. We already have another icon of the game in Sir Curtly Ambrose, who has been involved with the squad since the camp in August, as well as several other outstanding coaches.” The Selection Panel has

named 28 players for this camp following the previous camp and trial matches held in August. This includes two newcomers who will be assessed by the coaches and selectors – Jaden Leacock, a right-arm fast-medium bowler and right-hand batter; and Kevin Wickham, a righthand batter and right-arm wrist-spinner. Robert Haynes, CWI’s Lead Selector for the West Indies Rising Stars U19s said: “Having had a month-long camp in Antigua in August, followed by the 18-man West Indies Under-19 squad tour of England, I am looking forward to see the continued progress and improvements of the various players as well as to interact with them to understand their thinking and approach to the game.” Haynes added: “The two-week camp will include four practice matches along with continued skills and physical development, and it’s an opportunity for all players invited to stake a claim for selection for the series at home and the ICC Under19 Cricket World Cup.” The West Indies Rising Stars U19s are preparing for the prestigious ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup tournament, which will be hosted by CWI in the Caribbean from January 4 to February 3, 2022. Before the World Cup, West Indies are due to finalise their squad preparation with a five-match series at home. Further details will be announced once officially

confirmed. Full Squad: Onaje Amory (right-hand bat/right-arm off-spin), Anderson Amurdan (right-hand opening bat), Ackeem Auguste (left-hand bat/right-arm leg-spin), Justin Beckford (right-hand bat/ right-arm off-spin), Teddy Bishop (right-hand opening bat), Carlon Bowen-Tuckett (right-hand bat/wicketkeeper), Jaden Carmichael (right-hand bat/left-arm spin), McKenny Clarke (right-hand bat/right-arm fast), Rivaldo Clarke (right-hand bat/ wicketkeeper), Amrit Dass (right-hand bat/left-arm chinaman), Giovonte Depeiza (right-hand bat/left-arm spin), Nathan Edward (left-hand bat/left-arm fast-medium), Andel Gordon (right-hand bat/left-arm medium-pace), Sion Hackett (right-hand bat/ right-arm medium-fast), Justin Jagessar (right-hand bat), Jordan Johnson (left-hand bat/right-arm leg-spin), Kyle Kissoondath (right-hand bat/ right-arm leg-spin), Johann Layne (right-hand bat/rightarm fast-medium), Jaden Leacock (right-hand bat/right-arm fast-medium), Nicholas Lewin (right-hand bat/right-arm offspin), Anderson Mahase (lefthand bat/left-arm spin), Matthew Nandu (right-hand bat/ right-arm off-spin), Shaqkere Parris (right-hand bat/wicketkeeper), Kelvin Pittman (righthand bat/right-arm fast-medium), Shiva Sankar (right-hand bat/right-arm medium-fast), Vasant Singh (right-hand bat/right-arm leg-spin), Isai Thorne (right-hand bat/rightarm fast), Kevin Wickham (right-hand bat/right-arm wrist spin) Team Management: Floyd Reifer (head coach), Rohan Nurse (assistant coach), Sir Curtly Ambrose (assistant coach – bowling), Shiv Chanderpaul (batting consultant), Steve Liburd (assistant coach – fielding), Ryan Austin (assistant coach – spin bowling), Jamal Smith (assistant coach – wicket-keeping), Junie Mitcham (team manager), Gregory Seales (strength and conditioning coach), Lyndon Knights (physiotherapist), Avenesh Seetaram (team analyst), Jelani Robertson (mental skills coach).

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday November 13, 2021

Simmons: West Indies anxious to close book on T20 WC loss (CMC) – Head coach Phil Simmons says West Indies are anxious to turn the page on the recent Twenty20 World Cup (WC) debacle but are anticipating a “difficult task” in the two-Test series against Sri Lanka starting later this month. The Caribbean side were soundly thrashed in the ongoing T20 World Cup in United Arab Emirates (UAE), losing four of their five matches to finish one from bottom of their group, and miss out on a spot in the final four. And while the upcoming series presents a chance for West Indies to redeem themselves, Simmons said the Kraigg Brathwaite-led side would have to display their “fighting spirit” in order to come away with a positive result. “After a huge disappointment like that, we want to get back to winning ways and especially winning away which we did at the start of the year,” said Simmons who has come under fire in wake of the T20 World Cup disappointment. “It would be nice to finish the year the way we started it.” He continued: “Facing them at home has always been a difficult task and it’s no different now. It’s a younger team. I think it’s going to be close to the team we had in the Caribbean. “Quite a few of the young guys who played in that series are still there and it’s going to be a tough series. We know that. “When you come to the subcontinent and play against these teams at home, it’s always going to be tough. “We have to make sure that in this fourday game we get our fighting spirit especially when it comes to batting because that’s going to be the most difficult aspect of this tour.” West Indies will be hunting their first-ever Test match win on Sri Lanka soil after losing seven of their last 11 matches and drawing four. Of the five series played in the South Asian nation, West Indies have lost three – 2-0 in 2001, 3-0 in 2005 and 2-0 in 2015 – and have drawn the other two. On their last tour here in 2015, West Indies were tormented by left-arm spinner Rangana Herath who finished with 15 wickets and Simmons said recent precedent suggested his side needed to be prepared for a diet of

West Indies head coach Phil Simmons

spin from the hosts. “It will be a heavy dose of spin coming from them because we noticed that even when they played in England, they opened the bowling with a spinner,” Simmons pointed out. “So we’re going to be focusing a lot on how we combat that spin with the new ball and then bat as normal after that because we’ve played spin alright in Bangladesh (earlier this year). “We did what we had to do to score the runs we needed and to win the games, so we need to bring that same sort of mentality we had on that away tour.” Simmons said one of the key areas identified in combating Sri Lanka’s spin attack would be strike rotation. “That will definitely be an area of focus especially when you’re playing against quality spinners,” said the former all-rounder, who was part of the first West Indies Test tour to Sri Lanka in 1993. “You have to continually change their (spinners) mode especially when you have the left-hand right-hand (combination) at the crease; so it is something we’re going to be discussing and putting into practice.” West Indies will play a four-day warmup match starting today before turning their attention to the first Test in Galle on November 21.

CASH to host...

FROM PAGE 31

ringing in the New Year with the latter part of the tournament culminating on January 4 and 8. Speaking on behalf of the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation, Frank Parris or ‘English’, as he is known around the soccer fraternity, outlined during his brief remarks that teams will be briefed on further areas of the competition, more specifically about prizes and awards; at a meeting which is set to take place this weekend. With the tournament geared towards ensuring that more Guyanese and, in this case, local soccer players get vaccinated against COVID-19, GFF president Wayne Forde said the response from the football community has been phenomenal. "Everyone who wants to take part in our year-end festival of football, including

players, match officials, staff, coaches, fans and vendors, must be able to show proof of vaccination to access these competitions." "As such, we kindly urge our entire community to get vaccinated, both to protect our loved ones and to help us safely deliver a memorable return to play for senior men’s and women’s football during this end-of-theyear celebration.” Forde stated. Meanwhile, the GFF/Kashif and Shanghai Super 16 Cup along with the GFF Women’s Super 16 will headline action over the Christmas season while breaking the 2022 with more football to come. Fans, too, will be required to show official proof of vaccination against COVID-19 to access all tournament venues as per the COVID-19 Task Force regulations.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday November 13, 2021

PM T20 Softball Cup…

Regal Legends among three unbeaten teams ARIEL All Stars, Name Brand and Regal Legends ended the first day of the fifth edition of the Prime Minister T20 Softball Cup as the unbeaten teams. Playing at the Police Sports Club ground, Eve Leary, in the Open Division, Ariel All Stars defeated strong oppositions in defend-

Defending Over-50 champions Regal Legends also ended the day with two effortless victories over New York Hustlers in their opening fixture, played at the MYO ground before trouncing Mike’s Wellman at Liliendaal. Batting first against Regal All Stars, Ariel

Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret'd) Mark Phillips batting during the opening of the 2021 edition of the Prime Minister T20 Softball Cup.

ing champions Speedboat and Regal All Stars while Name Brand achieved similar feats at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) ground, Queenstown to put themselves in excellent positions to qualify for today’s semi-finals.

30 runs respectively. Regal All Stars were restricted to 130 for eight in reply, going down by 29 runs. Richard Latif made 37 and Chien Gittens 32. Sampson was among the runs again, blasting an undefeated 65 which included eight mighty sixes as Ariel made light work of Speedboat, reaching 117 for four in 12 overs, chasing Speedboat’s 114 all out in 18.3 overs. D. Singh grabbed three for 15 and Keon Sinclair two for 14. At DCC, Name Brand won from Success All Stars after successfully chasing down 167. Taking first strike, Success battled to 166 for five in their allotted 20 overs with A. Rooplall smashing a boundary-studded 82 with 11 sixes. N. Bailey took two for 24. Name Brand reached the required target in 17 overs, losing four wickets in the process with K Dyal leading the way with 47. In the other game, Name Brand got past Airport All Stars by seven wickets. Set 137 for victory, after Airport were dismissed for 136 in 15 overs, Name Brand canter to 140 for three in 11.1 overs. J. Diaram spanked five fours and a six in an undefeated 42 and got fine support from K. Gangaram 38 (two fours and three sixes and K. Dyal 34 (two fours and four sixes). At MYO, Unis Yusuf missed hitting the first century of the tournament, falling tantalizingly for a masterful 96 as Regal Legends hit 223 for four in 20 overs against New York Hustlers. Yusuf, who was the Most Valuable Player (MVP) at the New York Softball Cricket League (NYSCL) Independence Cup, continued his fine form with a dazzling display of power hitting, counting 13 fours and six sixes in his brilliant knock. He received fine support from Ramesh Narine who hit four fours and three sixes in 47 while Eric Thomas was 30 not out (two fours and two sixes) when

the innings ended. New York Hustlers could only muster 113 for seven in reply with Ken Sanichar the lone ranger with an excellent unbeaten 67 which contained three fours and five sixes. Ramesh Narine returned to claim three for 19 while Parsram Persaud, who caused the early damage, three for 19. At Liliendaal, it was again the Narine and Yusuf show, with the former hitting a top-score of 86 (two fours and ten sixes) and Yusuf a quickfire 47 (four sixes) as Regal Legends hit 173 for seven in their allotted overs. L. Thom took three for 23 for Mikes Wellman who were shot out for 95 in 18.4 overs. Fazleen Mohamed took three for 30, Sunil Dhaniram two for one and Persaud two for 16. Mike’s Wellman had earlier took care for Floodlights Legends at the same venue. Batting first Floodlights were shot out for a paltry 87 with Khemraj Sumair (23) and Anand Persaud (20) being the principal scorers. Lester Thom, Linden Headley and Devanand Madhu took three wickets each. Wellman cruised to 87 for two with Harold Hernanand hitting 31 and Sahadeo Budhu 24. Futher deatails of other matches weren’t available up to press time. The tournament got underway following an opening ceremony, held at the MYO ground where Prime Minister Mark Phillips urged all the participating teams to adhere to the COVID-19 protocols in place. While acknowledging that the tournament started prior to him being appointed Prime Minister, Mr Phillips gave the assurance that once he remains Prime Minister the tournament will continue. The Prime Minister also delivered the ceremonial first ball to get proceedings underway.

All Stars reached a challenging 159 for six in their allotted 20 overs with Quintin Sampson (37) and David Williams (28) being the principal scorers. Kelvin Orford and Sewchand Budhu claimed two wickets each for 18 and

CASH to host year-end GFF/K&S Futsal tourney … 32 teams set to do battle By Clifton Ross THE Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) will host the highly-anticipated return of Futsal action, as the upcoming Guyana Football Federation (GFF)/Kashif & Shanghai kicks off its first match December 14. The 32-team tournament features teams

from across the spread of Guyana, with 16 hailing from Georgetown while the remaining areas which include East Bank Demerara, East Coast Demerara, West Demerara and Linden will each have 4 teams. Action kicks off December 14 and continues on December 16, 18, 21, 23, 28, 30 before TURN TO PAGE 30

Unis Yusuf and Ramesh Narine

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday November 13, 2021

Set to deliver! Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret'd) Mark Phillips gets ready to deliver a ball during yesterday’s opening of the Prime Minister's T20 Softball Cup.

PM T20 Softball Cup…

Regal Legends among three unbeaten teams PAGE

Guyana's Joy Brown in action against Mexico (Rawle Toney photos)

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CASH to host year-end GFF/K&S Futsal tourney … 32 teams set to do battle

PAGE

Guyana women excite, but knocked out in main draw of FIBA AmeriCup 3X3 … Men’s team narrowly miss out on advancing

Kashif and Shanghai Organisation’s Frank ‘English’ Parris (letf) and GFF president Wayne Forde after yesterday's launch at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (Clifton Ross photo)

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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13 2021