SATURDAY 26th June, 2021
' No.106403
President Ali: Meeting Paris Agreement targets critical to preventing future water disasters
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GuySuCo records $1.2B in crop losses due to floods –– exports halted; priority on satisfying local market, flood-relief efforts PAGES
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‘Tradewinds Exercise’ hailed a success
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Some of the participants of Tradewinds 2021 with, from left: National Security Adviser to President Dr Irfaan Ali, Gerry Gouveia; Home Affairs Minister, Robeson Benn; Finance Minister, Ashni Singh; Prime Minister, Mark Phillips and U.S. Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch at the Guyana National Stadium on Friday (Adrian Narine photo)
All set at ‘Multi’ EU channels Brother allegedly for students to 11 $37M towards kills sibling 03 write CSEC exams flood relief 16 who hit mother PAGE
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 26, 2021
‘Operation Tradewinds 2021’ hailed a huge success
By Naomi Parris THE United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM)-sponsored ‘Tradewinds Exercise 2021’, which came to a close on Friday, has been hailed a success. A closing ceremony was held at the National Stadium to bring down the curtains on the exhilarating, two-week event. Prime Minister, Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips, during his keynote address, said that the multinational exercise displayed the cohesiveness and camaraderie between partnering nations. PM Phillips further said that the annual event is a key activity that highlights and demonstrates a collective commitment to regional security. “It is a key fixture in the annual calendar of activities, because it contributes to the strengthening and institutionalisation for Caribbean regional security system,” the prime minister said, adding: “Exercise Tradewinds fosters regional cooperation, since, as countries of the Caribbean
sharing a geopolitical space also means the sharing of common problems, and the fact that we will be more receptive to working together to resolve those problems.” The Prime Minister further stated that the multinational exercise will see the continued strengthening and growth of partnership among the various nations. “The camaraderie, network and cohesion established during this exercise can only become stronger with time. Exercise Tradewinds has proven that as partners, we believe in supporting each other, upholding the rule of law, embracing democratic principles, and ensuring peaceful co-existence for each other,” the PM said, adding that with shared values such as democracy, economic integration and regional security, the construction of inter-regional linkages would culminate in a peaceful hemispheric security environment. In closing, he noted that the successful completion of this year’s activity, despite the ongoing pandemic
Prime Minister, Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips delivering his feature address during the closing ceremony of ‘Exercise Tradewinds 2021’ and the stringent safety protocols, highlighted the collective demonstration to resolve the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Exercise Tradewinds dates back to the 1980s, and is a multi-dimensional Caribbean security-focused exercise conducted on the ground, and in air, sea and cyber domains. Members of the security forces and disaster response agencies are the participants. The 36th iteration of the exercise was held in Guyana from June 13 to June 25, and involved approximately 1,500 participants. ‘Tradewinds’ aims to enhance the collective ability of defence forces and constabularies to counter transnational criminal organisations, and conduct humanitarian assistance and
disaster-relief operations, while developing strong relationships, and reinforcing human rights awareness. It includes nations of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and regional agencies such as the Regional Security System (RSS), the Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS), and the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA). The participating nations this year were: The Bahamas, Belize, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, Dominican Republic, France, Guyana, Jamaica, the Netherlands, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Kingdom, and the United States. A COMPLETE
SUCCESS Chief-of-Staff, Brigadier Godfrey Bess, in brief remarks, said the exercise was a complete success, with no casualties or serious injuries. He said it provided a training environment that had a high degree of professionalism. “By all accounts, Exercise Tradewinds has been a success. Through this exercise, this platoon of troops trained together and worked together to carry out a multiplicity of tasks, in an array of training scenarios, which enables them to demonstrate their capabilities,” Brigadier Bess said. Exercise Tradewinds, he added, delivered a breadth and depth of training that has been accessible to all participating partners, and all must be commended for creating a sustainable environment, which allowed every participant to learn and grow. He said the exercise environment also fostered friendship and professional relations which are likely to last long after the end of this year’s event. Also praising the exercise was US Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch, who recalled being thrilled when she learnt that Guyana had opted to be the host. Ambassador Lynch said she saw first-hand how these exercises provide a unique opportunity for participating nations to improve inter-operability, and effectively execute missions together. “At the Jungle and Amphibious Training School, I saw first-hand how our nations learned from each
other about everything, from executing tactical operations to mapping strategic manoeuvers,” she said, adding: “And this year, you met these objectives, despite the continued presence of COVID-19, and the need to adhere to stringent safety protocols. You all should be extraordinarily proud of this achievement.” Also giving remarks was Major-General Rafael Ribas of the United States Southern Command. He thanked the Government of Guyana for providing support for the successful hosting of the exercise, and singled out CARICOM, the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) and the Guyana Defence Force for helping make it the tremendouse success it was. Major General Ribas noted his satisfaction with how the exercise was conducted, given the pandemic, which is still a significant challenge around the world. “We are still at war with this virus, but nothing strengthens partnerships as in-person training and engagement, while following protocols,” he said. The officer posited that the US and the Caribbean are interconnected in many ways, including historically and culturally, and share common threats, such as natural disasters and illicit trafficking. “When we work together as a team, we prepare better, respond sooner, and recover faster,” he said, adding: “We don’t know when another crisis will come, but we must continue to train together to conquer it.”
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 26, 2021
GuySuCo records $1.2B in crop losses due to floods By Rehana Ahamad
JUST as the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) was starting to recover from years of neglect, fiscal deprivation and some amount of dismantling, the country has been hit with an unprecedented disaster in the form of the ongoing floods. As a result, the entity is now grappling with a loss of approximately $1.2 billion in sugarcane crops. This confirmation was given on Friday by the corporation’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Sasenarine Singh, who explained that most of the damage was done to the young canes located at the Albion Sugar Estate, East-Berbice Corentyne. In an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, Singh explained that while persistent rainfall has affected all three of the grinding facilities, water levels have since lowered at Blairmont, West Coast Berbice, and at Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara. At Albion, however, some 90 per cent of the canefields remain inundated with as much as five feet of water, resulting in the estate recording a plant mortality rate of 80 per cent. “This will have an impact on two crops, and may be more,” Singh admitted. He said that at Albion, the team is projecting approximately 25 to 30 per cent destruction of the second crop. This projection, he said, could escalate once water recedes and a proper assessment can be done. The damage at Albion is likely to be cushioned by the combined sugar production
tonnes – the lowest in the corporation’s history.
GuySuCo’s CEO Sasenarine Singh at the Blairmont and Uitvlugt estates, both of which have recorded only 10 per cent damage in crops. With production at Albion forced into a premature wrap-up, preliminary figures are predicting a countrywide shortfall of at least 10,000 tonnes of sugarcane during this second crop. “While we targeted 54,000 tonnes, we foresee only being able to make 40 to 45,000 tonnes,” Singh indicated. He said that earlier in the year, during the first crop, GuySuCo was pursuing a production target of 42, 608 tonnes of sugar; however, only 29,750 tonnes were harvested, thereby resulting in a shortfall of some 12,958 tonnes of sugar. “Whenever it rains, production collapses,” Singh reminded. Given the unavoidable circumstances, the GuySuCo CEO said that the country’s overall sugar production for this year is estimated to be in the vicinity of 72,000 to 75,000
EXPECTING A TOTAL WIPE OUT He said that even beyond this year, the ongoing rains will undoubtedly put a damper on the first crop for 2022. “We are expecting a total wipe out of that crop at Albion,” a disappointed Singh related. He explained that even though GuySuCo has been battling heavy rainfall since late March, every possible effort was made to persevere with production. Unfortunately, in May, the corporation was forced to premature-
He went further to produce official data which outlined that since the rains began, the Albion Estate has recorded at least 80 millimetres of rainfall. “In March, we usually have like 10 -15 millimetres, but things got very bad in May,” the GuySuCo CEO related. In addition to facing heavy rainfall, the situation at the estate intensified as a result of overtopping from the Canje Creek, as well as excess water being drained from the Kokerite Savannah which is located behind the estate. Singh explained that traditionally, the Kokerite
One of the flooded canefields at Albion, East Berbice, Corentyne
A car attempting to negotiate the all-weather road along the canefields at Tain, East Berbice, Corentyne ly wrap up its second crop for the year. “This is because of the persistent torrential raining,” Singh added.
Savannah is drained via the Canje Creek; however, with that creek surpassing its maximum capacity, the
excess water can only be released via the estate. Yudi Persaud, GuySuCo’s Field Operations Director, explained that the drainage system for the Albion Estate is only designed to drain 1.5 inches or approximately 37 millimetres of water daily; from March to present, the location has experienced 100 millimetres of water. As it relates to the estate’s flood-response mechanisms, Persaud said that the Albion Estate is currently pumping approximately 4.5 million tonnes of water daily. Even though this might seem laudable, the estate is faced with double that amount of water penetrating the sugarcane fields and making its way into the estate. “This is water that are [sic] coming
from the Canje Creek and the Kokerite Savannah,” Persaud reminded. Meanwhile, Singh explained that even as the team at the Albion Estate is working to minimise flooding there, its drainage infrastructure is also aiding in minimising the level of floodwaters reaching Albion residents residing around the estate. The CEO indicated that a substantial amount of the recently approved $1.5 billion supplementary budget for GuySuCo will be directed towards strengthening the drainage infrastructure at all six sugar estates across the country. Most especially, the facility at Albion, which has now been recognised as being highly susceptible to flooding.
Brother allegedly kills sibling who hit mother A MAN, who reportedly stabbed his brother to death in their Cummings Street, Georgetown home, was, on Friday, taken into police custody. Reports circulating in the media indicate that the suspect, identified as 27-yearold Quincy Reynolds, brutally murdered his younger brother after the latter hit their mother during a heated argument.
Dead is 24-year-old Paul Chase of Norton Street, Georgetown. The incident occurred on Friday around 08:30hrs. While it is unclear what caused the argument, it was reported that an eyewitness, whose name was not given, was unpacking her goods in the lower flat of a building, just moments before the stabbing occurred. The woman said that
Chase and his brother were upstairs with their mother arguing when she heard the mother “rebuking” one of them. Moments later, she heard one of them shout: “Boy, why you cuff mommy?” The woman related that after hearing that, she ran upstairs and saw one of the brothers holding a knife, and she attempted to make peace; but the two paid no
heed and continued to argue. In a fit of rage, she said, Quincy then attacked his brother, stabbing him multiple times about the body. Police were then summoned to the scene, and the body was transported to the Lyken Funeral Home awaiting an autopsy. Investigations are ongoing.
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Meeting Paris Agreement targets critical to preventing future water disasters –– President Ali
PRESIDENT Dr. Irfaan Ali has said that unless the targets that were set at the Paris Agreement in 2015 are realised, the world can expect to experience future water disasters and further setbacks to the Sustainable Development Agenda. The Head of State made this assertion during his virtual address at the plenary session of the 5th United Nations (UN) Special Thematic Session on Water and Disaster on Friday. The President also reaffirmed Guyana’s commitment to working with the UN and the international community to press for coordinated global attention and action to combat climate change.
“I commend the United Nations for organising this vital session, which I believe has an obligation to move the global community towards greater action in addressing climate change as a trigger for water-related disasters… Guyana, however, remains engaged in working along with the United Nations and the rest of the international community to press for concerted global attention and action to arrest climate change,” President Ali said. He drew reference to the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change as the foremost extant threats to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), saying that the former has served to magnify the al-
ready existing problems within society, and in relations between states. “The COVID-19 pandemic has added to challenges posed to the SDGs. In many small states, the pandemic has reduced the fiscal space needed to propel the SDGs,” President Ali said, adding: “Not only have these states had to shoulder the burdens of unanticipated and excessive healthcare costs, but the COVID-19 pandemic has also led to economic contraction, and massive job losses. And as the recent experience of my country illustrates, water disasters compound the difficulties posed by states which are vulnerable to climate disasters.” Those challenges notwithstanding, President Ali harked back to the stance he took during his address to a regional consultation organised by the Global Water Partnership in February of this year, where he said that the pandemic “should not divert attention from, or diminish the gravity of the threats” posed by other disasters such as hydro-hazards. “Addressing the climate crisis is, therefore, integral to the post-COVID-19 recovery; it would amount to a misadventure on the part of the international community if, in its efforts to rebuild stronger and better after the pandemic, it neglects the potent threats posed by water disasters, or ignores the indisputable link between these hazards,” President Ali said, adding: “Indeed, it is vital that the international community recognises the impact of the pandemic on developing countries, and how these impacts can retard progress towards the SDGs.” GUYANA’S LOW-CARBON PATHWAY President Ali said that Guyana has committed itself, irreversibly, to a low-carbon path to development, in which mainstreaming the SDGs in national development while combatting climate change are fully compatible. The template, he pointed out, therefore exists for a post- COVID-19 recovery that
Saturday June 26, 2021 – 04:00hrs - 05:30hrs
GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 26, 2021
President, Dr. Irfaan Ali addressing the UN meeting on Friday promotes climate resilience, and commits to the SDGs. He, however, noted that the pace of the necessary reforms to achieve these objectives will, especially for small-island developing and low-lying coastal states, be dependent on international cooperation and assistance. The President acknowledged that the Special Thematic Sessions on Water and Disaster have highlighted the gravity of the threats posed by hydro-hazards, and have reaffirmed the importance of addressing climate risks in realising the SDGs. “The link between climate change and water disasters hardly needs restating; the awareness of the problems exists. What is now urgent is greater international resolve to commit resources to combat the climate crisis. It is now time for action; not debate,” President Ali said. In closing, he wished participants every success in their endeavours, and expressed the hope that the Special Thematic Session on Water and Disaster would result in greater efforts on the part of the international community to urgently accelerate support for the building of climate resilience. The event was held under the theme, “Building Back Better towards a More Resilient and Sustainable PostCOVID-19 World”, with Hungary, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Republic of Korea, Tajikistan, High-Level Experts and Leaders Panel on Water and Disasters (HELP), and the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) of Japan as co-hosts. It focused on sharing experiences, and promoting actions to achieve a more sustainable, resilient and climate-adaptive post-COVID-19 world, based on the lessons learned from the pandemic. It also provided a tangible step towards accelerating the SDGs and other globally-agreed agendas, by providing useful lessons, innovative ideas, and common understandings.
GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 26, 2021
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700 house lots allocated to Essequibians in 10 months ― Coalition gov’t gave only 110 in five years
By Rabindra Rooplall FROM 2015 to 2020, under the former administration, the Housing Ministry only allocated 110 lots on the Essequibo Coast and all were done in 2019, mere months before the 2020 General and Regional Elections. This is according to Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, during his feature address on Friday, as the Housing Ministry held its second “Dream Realised 2021” housing drive in Anna Regina, Region Two. “Forty-five lots were
Rodrigues, are also on the ground facilitating one-onone interactions with members of the public. Over $2 billion in infrastructure works will be done in the new schemes, and Minister Croal said that each of these schemes will be equipped with roads, drains, culverts, access bridges and a water distribution network. “The cost to develop the Buxton/St. Joseph scheme is $872M; Charity Squatting Area $628M and Onderneeming Phase Four $1.7 Billion while the cost of house lots are heavily subsidised by
as far back as the 2000s and 2019 and the hardworking Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) team went above and beyond to ensure that all of the eligible applicants were notified. Unfortunately, he said those who were not contacted by the Housing Ministry’s staff recently can be assured that their applications and information will remain in the Housing Ministry database and a public notice with their names will be published in the new week. “I want to urge applicants to ensure that they update
A section of the gathering at the second “Dream Realised 2021 housing drive in Anna Regina, Region Two
allocated in Onderneeming Phase two; 64 in Phase Three; and one in Charity. In five years, a measly 110 lots were allocated. Compare that to the 350 lots that are already distributed, and during this activity we will add 350 more,” he told the gathering to a round of applause. In fact, Minister Croal said since August 2 to present, Government has distributed over 4,300 house lots in mainly Regions Two, Three, Four and Six while over 600 certificate of titles and transports were processed. At the event, some Essequibians who applied for house lots over two decades ago received their lots. The exercise will conclude today at the Anna Regina Municipal Tarmac. The two- activity which will see the allocation of 350 houselots for mainly Charity Housing Scheme Tract B St. Joseph and Tract A Buxton. Minister Croal and Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan
Government,” he said. Lots will be allocated for residential, industrial, commercial and religious buildings along with community facilities and public open spaces. START BUILDING “Now for those of you who will receive house lots today, I want to encourage you to seek out the banks present for assistance and financial guidance so that you can start building your homes as quickly as possible; you’ve waited a long time for this day. And be sure to speak with the insurance company about protecting your investment. My officers too are here so if there is anything we can do to help you, please speak with us. For those of you who are patiently waiting for your time, I promise you that we are doing everything we can to make the dream of owning your home a reality,” he explained. He said that the allottees include persons who applied
strengthen regional housing offices, collaborated with the banking sector to offer more loans and removed VAT on building materials to counter price increases. “We have established new housing developments and started the construction of necessary infrastructure which will enhance these new developing communities. “We launched CESP [the Community Based Employment Stimulation Project], a block making project which will provide employment and income to small and
medium entrepreneurs in vulnerable communities,” he noted. He continued: “We’ve upgraded the Adequate Housing and Urban Accessibility Programme which will see 250 citizens who meet the qualification criteria receive core homes and 2,000 homeowners receive subsidies for home improvement. We continue to provide employment whenever possible in communities where our projects are being implemented by ensuring that people from those communities work on the projects;
Housing Minister Collin Croal assisted Indira Ramnauth in pulling her lot number at the second “Dream Realised 2021” housing drive held in Essequibo
and just recently we turned the sod for a spanking new multi-purpose community centre in Sophia.” Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues, said the housing sector creates employment, increases cash flow and stimulates the economy. Further, she said government’s aims of allocating 50,000 house lots is an ambitious target. Under the previous administration, just 7,000 house lots were distributed. A father of two, Ken Shamsundar applied for a house lot over a decade ago and was extremely happy when he was given a lot in Charity. Others allotted told this publication that it was one stage closer to finally owning a home and they were thankful for finally being chosen. Also present at the housing drive were representatives of the banking sector: New Building Society (NBS), Republic Bank, GBTI, Bank of Baroda, and Demerara Bank, and in insurance Nalico/Nafico.
their information especially if they change addresses or phone numbers. I want to remind you to visit the ministry’s website as well as that of the CH&PA; you will find valuable information including a link that will allow you to submit and or update your application,” he underscored. Meanwhile, he told the gathering that the wait that they have had to endure has bothered him greatly because of deliberate manipulation of information and incompetence under the former administration. INTERVENTIONS Despite the pandemic, he said the ministry has been able to incrementally reduce the backlog, introduce changes to the application process to make it easier and more efficient,
Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues, interacts with persons who attended the second “Dream Realised 2021” Housing drive held in Essequibo
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 26, 2021
Tajeram Mohabir
Combating Crime
PRESIDENT Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali has emphasised that his administration will be modernising and specialising its approach to maintaining security and fighting crime in Guyana. According to the Head of State, there will be an interagency and multi-pronged approach to fighting crime which, apart from the regular policing groups, will also involve civilians, officers trained in Special Forces and ranks from the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) which will become members of regional units. Crime is what sociologists describe as a ‘cultural universal.’ It is found in all societies from time immemorial and remained until this day a challenge to governments throughout the world. There is no crimefree society and the important question is the extent to which governments have been successful in curbing the incidence of crimes and other forms of delinquency. The government in its 2021 Budget Estimates has set aside a whopping sum of
$22 billion to public safety and the security sector which is earmarked for training, equipment, community policing, infrastructural development, institutional development and capacity building. Fighting crime must of necessity be done in an organised, intelligence-driven and multi-dimensional manner if it is to be effective. President Ali has recognised this fact and is doing what is required to deal with the crime situation in the country. It is no secret that crime and criminal networks are becoming increasingly more organised and technologically driven and it is therefore imperative that this scourge be combated with superior methods of strategising, weaponry and intelligence-gathering techniques. As pointed out by the President, as the country attains a higher level of prosperity the propensity of crimes is likely to increase. To deal effectively with this rising threat, several initiatives were taken by the current administration, among which are enhanced capacity to combat transnational organised
crime, greater patrols of our territorial waters and the beefing up of equipment and training to the relevant agencies, including police and customs officers at the several ports of entry. There is also the provision of equipment and training to the police force to strengthen bike patrol units and to support community policing. A community-based approach that involves young people, family networks, community service providers and government agencies were also put into operation. Of critical importance also is the need to strengthen the capability of law-enforcement officials to respond to, and investigate cases of a criminal nature, as well as to enhance the technical capacity of police, prosecutors and magistrates to administer justice in a timely manner. It is in the above context that the President’s commitment to deal with the crime problematic in the country has to be situated. Despite the several initiatives taken, the crime situation in the country continues to remain an issue of concern to Guyanese both
in the country and in the diaspora. There are still too many overseas-based Guyanese who are afraid to set foot in Guyana because of the perception of a likelihood of them being robbed of their money and valuables. And while such fears are at times exaggerated, there is also over-sensationalising of the crime situation in the country by some sections of the media. Such perceptions could potentially hurt our tourism industry and by extension, our image as a hospitable and tourist-friendly country. Fighting crime is not a matter for the police alone. In the words of our national poet, Martin Carter, it is a case in which ‘all are involved, all are consumed.’ All of us have a role to play in the fight against crime. Our Commander-in-chief and Executive President has put criminals and those so inclined on notice that when it comes to crime, no efforts will be spared to bring them to justice and to deal with them condignly within the framework of the law.
Pandit Ramlall Way in NY to be unveiled Sunday By Vishnu Bisram
THE co-naming of a street in Richmond Hill, Queens, New York, after prominent Guyanese Pandit Ramlall will be unveiled on Sunday, at the corner of Liberty Avenue and 133rd Street near the ground of Arya Spiritual Centre which he co-founded. It is an occasion for celebration following the co-naming of Liberty Ave Little Guyana Way in Richmond Hill on May 29, 2021. Pandit Ramlall was born on February 28, 1928 in Guyana of Indian indentured parents. He passed away in Queens, New York, on January 26, 2019 at the age of 91. Ramlall hailed from Skeldon and taught at Tagore Memorial High School. He taught around the same time as the late, well known biologist, Dr. Joshua Ramsammy. Pandit Ramlall joined Dr. Cheddi Jagan in the struggle for Guyana’s political freedom. He was arrested and kept in confinement at Sibley Hall for a few years for his dissension against colonial rule. He studied Hindi in India under a Government of India scholarship in 1974 and returned to Guyana to teach Hindi in Guyana. He also wrote several Hindi books. Pandit Ramlall migrated
to the USA in 1979 and pursued further education. He is the holder of a BA and a DipEd. In New York, he helped founded Arya Samaj mandirs and was the lead pandit. He subsequently became Dharmacharya or leader.
RESTORATION OF DEMOCRACY In New York, during the 1980s, he joined the movement for restoration of democracy in Guyana. He was a well-loved doyen among Guyanese religious leaders and followers of Hinduism. He was also well known among American political leaders in New York; they recognised his contribution to the Guyanese and Indo-Caribbean immigrants in Queens. A movement was started after his death two years ago to coname a street after him. Guyanese-American, Ashook Ramsaran of the Indian Diaspora Council (IDC) was named Chairman of the Pandit Ramlall Way Committee, and Patricia Gordon-Langford of Tristate Alliance was named Co-Chairman, respectively. The committee included several prominent members of the community including several board members of the Arya Spiritual Centre, family
The late Pandit Ramlall (right) with Ashook Ramsaran members of Pandit Ramlall, Dr. Dhanpaul Narine of Jyoti Satsang; District Leader, Richard David; Naidoo Veerapen of Federation of Hindu Mandirs; Dilip Nath of NAVA; Herman Singh of Radio Zindagi 540AM; Lakshmee Singh of “Let’s Talk With Lakshmee”; and several others. Naro Balli of Arya Spiritual Centre was appointed as director of the June 27 unveiling programme. With the experience of initiating the Ramesh Kalicharran Way, named after an Essequibian to a successful conclusion in 2019, Ramsaran directed the committee’s efforts and a sustained campaign
to justify the street-naming in honour of Pandit Ramlall. The committee prepared an 89-page dossier of letters of support from businesses and organisations, thousands of signatures of area residents and an extensive biography of the man, his life and legacy. Despite delays due to COVID-19, the efforts continued. Ramsaran gave testimony at the NYC City Council on December 17, 2020, in support of the application which was unanimously approved by the City Council and signed into law by Mayor Bill de Blasio.
PRIEST, SCHOLAR, POLITICAL COMMUNITY ACTIVIST It was noted that Pandit Ramlall was a priest, scholar, political community activist, freedom fighter, religious icon, Indo-Caribbean and Guyanese cultural pioneer in NY, and community advocate. He had earned the respect and admiration of politicians and the Guyanese and Indo-Caribbean communities in Queens. Pandit Ramlall was honoured with several awards in India, Guyana, and New York. He attended Hindi, Sanskrit, and Indian diaspora conferences around the globe. His name is well known in India in Aryan circles. Committee Chair Ramsaran remarked that, “Dharmacharya Pandit Ramlall was a selfless and avid community advocate, a well-respected iconic spiritual leader and scholar, a freedom fighter in Guyana, and a pioneering community advocate who has been recognised locally and internationally for his life-long community service. He founded the annual Phagwah (Holi) Parade in New York and Queens Borough President declared March 23, 2003 at ‘Pandit Ramlall Day’. He was indeed a tremendous
asset to the community with a lifetime of service to spirituality, justice and freedom. These attributes justified the naming of Pandit Ramlall Way as a lasting tribute to the man and his legacy.” NYC Council Member Adrienne Adams of Richmond Hill piloted the bill to name a street after Pandit Ramlall and won unanimous City Council approval. The unveiling of Pandit Ramlall Way at 133rd Street, off Liberty, just in front of Sybil’s Restaurant, will take place on Sunday, June 27th at 13:00hrs. It will be preceded by speeches and a cultural programme at the Dr. Cheddi Jagan Square, at a lot owned by the Arya Samaj Spiritual Centre, which is used for many cultural events such as the Gandhi Peace March, Holi and Diwali functions. In a memo to the organisers of the event, Mayor De Blasio praised the contributions of Pt. Ramlall in Guyana and New York. The ceremony begins at 11:30hrs and will include songs and tributes by community advocates and elected officials. The unveiling of Pandit Ramlall is at 13:00hrs, following the conclusion of the ceremony and all are invited to attend.
GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 26, 2021
Guyana halts sugar exports in – priority is to satisfy local light of flooding market, flood-relief efforts By Rehana Ahamad AS Guyana continues to face a national level two disaster in the form of unprecedented flooding, the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) has moved to suspend exportation of the country’s refined sugar. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GuySuCo Sasenarine Singh told the Guyana Chronicle on Friday that the ongoing floods have had a serious impact on local sugar production. He said that the move to halt international sales centred on the need to ensure that Guyanese consumers are adequately supplied with the product. “What we have done is… we have rediverted all of our available sugar in the bonds, to serve Guyana; primarily, our sugar is made in Guyana, for Guyanese, by Guyanese,” Singh related. He said that while suspending sales on the international market is a normal occurrence, running out of sugar locally is atypical,
and will be prevented from happening at all costs. The CEO in an interview with this newspaper gave the assurance that in spite of the ongoing disaster, there is no shortage of sugar on the local market. “We are still delivering sugar; I just came from one of the bonds that was delivering and there were trucks there, collecting sugar just today,” Singh related. He assured this newspaper that even with the shortfall of this year’s crop, the country will still be able to produce “more than enough” sugar to supply the local market for the remainder of 2021. “The second crop is going to produce approximately 40,000 to 45,000 tonnes of sugar; for the remainder of the year, the local market just needs about 12, 000 to 15, 000 tonnes [of sugar],” Singh noted. He said that in light of the ongoing floods, and the level of uncertainty that it has created for the next crop, efforts will be made
to stockpile. “If we store 30,000 tonnes of sugar, it will be able to take us all the way to next year May,” Singh posited. Guyana consumes an average of 20,000 tonnes of sugar annually. “We have more than enough sugar on the local market to provide for the consumers; there is no need to panic,” Singh emphasised. FLOOD-RELIEF The GuySuCo head said that the corporation is currently focusing on supplying packaged sugar to the Guyana Civil Defence Commission [CDC] to support the ongoing national flood-relief efforts. “Right now, we are packaging sugar at Enmore [East Coast Demerara]” Singh said. He added: “Priority number one is to ensure that the CDC has enough sugar to go into the hampers for people worse affected in places such as Kwakwani, Black Bush Polder, Albion and all the other areas that are bad-
Women accused of drug trafficking each granted $60, 000 bail TWO women who were recently nabbed following the discovery of a box containing crystal ‘meth’ and cannabis at Guyana Post Office Corporation, were, on Friday, granted $60,000 bail. Andrea De Florimote, a 37-year-old housewife of Victoria Street Plaisance, East Coast Demerara, and Patrinea Bristol, a 46- yearold vendor of Avocado Drive, North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, appeared before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. The duo pleaded not guilty to the joint drug trafficking charge which alleged that, on June 23, 2021, they trafficked 5.4 grams of crystal methamphetamine called “Crystal Meth” along with 6.3 grams of cannabis. The women were granted
$60,000 bail each and the matter was adjourned to August 26, 2021. According to reports, a Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) officer conducted a search of a box containing head ties, jerseys, soaps and two bottles of lotion at the post office. The cannabis and crystal ‘meth’ were found concealed
in false walls of the bottles of lotion. Deflorimonte was intercepted when she attempted to post the box to an inmate of the Mazaruni Prison. Investigations further revealed that De Florimote allegedly collected the lotion with the narcotics from Bristol, who was later arrested.
ly, badly affected; Region Seven and so forth.” REOPENING He said that so far, the severely flooded Albion Sugar Estate will put a damper on the country’s sugar production over the next few months. More specifically, GuySuCo is projecting a total “wipeout” of the estate’s first crop for 2022.
Notwithstanding this, the sugar estates at Blairmont, West Coast Berbice and Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara, are preparing to restart production on July 15 and July 24, respectively; production at the Albion, East Berbice- Corentyne has been delayed until August. “Whether mid-August or late-August is subject to the weather,” Singh explained.
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Even with the rain, Singh said that the work at GuySuCo has not stopped. “If the rain doesn’t stop, we can’t restart, but [in the meantime] our factory repairs are ongoing,” he noted. Singh estimates that these repairs would be completed before the end of July, in time for the restarting of the Blairmont and Uitvlugt estates.
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President, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali PRESIDENT, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, on Friday, held talks via telephone with the President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. According to a release from the Office of the President, the two Presidents reaffirmed their strong commitment to the longstanding friendly relations between their two countries and recalled the discussions held during the Ghanaian Presi-
GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 26, 2021
President Ali holds talks with Ghanaian counterpart
dent’s state visit to Guyana in 2019. On that visit, he met with a delegation led by then Opposition Leader and now Vice-President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo. At that meeting, Dr Jagdeo had shared with the Ghanaian President Guyana’s relationship with Ghana in the 1950s when the PPP interacted with then President of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah, on overcoming
the ethnic tensions during that period. Dr Jagdeo had also spoken about democracy and the challenge to democracy that both countries have endured and the Ghanaian President assured him that: “I support democracy. Democracy is the basis for stability in any country.” President Akufo-Addo had given the assurance to Jagdeo after a meeting with David Granger, who was,
at the time, serving as a caretaker President, after his government was toppled by a no-confidence vote. President Akufo-Addo had promised Granger that Ghana will help in the development of Guyana’s fledgling oil and gas industry and had also promised to send a team of Ghanaian experts to Guyana, only if the Coalition government would provide accommodation for them. According to reports, Ghana has between five to seven billion barrels of petroleum in reserves, which
is the sixth largest in Africa and the 25th largest proven reserves. Added to that, the West African nation has up to six trillion cubic feet of natural gas in reserves, reports suggest. With commercial quantities of offshore oil reserves in Ghana discovered in the 1970s, the country has a wealth of knowledge in the oil and gas sector. The offer made by the Ghanaian President to Guyana which was under the Coalition government, from all indications, never mate-
President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo rialised. But importantly, President Akufo-Addo had assured Jagdeo, who was then Opposition Leader that he deals with country and not individuals and political parties. During the discussions on Friday, Presidents Ali and Akufo-Addo committed to advancing and deepening the agenda for cooperation between the two countries, including in the oil and gas sector and on environmental issues, amongst other areas.
Man accused of murdering reputed wife remanded A 59-year-old domestic worker, was, on Thursday, remanded to prison for the murder of his reputed wife, Saskia Perreira. Samuel Daniels called “Samuel Critchlow” of Goedverwagting, East Coast Demerara (ECD), appeared before Magistrate Aiesha Alisha George at the Sparendaam Magistrate Court, charged for the capital offence.
He was not required to plead to the charge which alleged that between June 20 and 21, at Goedverwagting, ECD, he murdered Perreira. Daniels was remanded to prison until July 26. According to reports, on June 20, the couple had an argument, during which, it is alleged, Daniels armed himself with a knife and stabbed Perreira several
Samuel Daniels
times. Perreira’s lifeless body was discovered with multiple stab wounds and bruises on June 21. Daniels was arrested and, under caution, reportedly confessed to the crime. He allegedly told police that he acted in self-defence.
‘Buck Boy’ charged for birthday party murder MARK Doliveira, who allegedly stabbed a man to death during an argument at a birthday party, on Thursday appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, and was remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan. Doliveira, also known as “Buck Boy”, of Shell Road, Kitty, Georgetown, was not required to plead to the indictable charge of murder, which states that between Saturday, June
19 and Sunday, June 20, at Sandy Babb Street, Kitty, Georgetown, he murdered Kwal Dindon, called “Coolie Boy”. According to the prosecution, the two had gotten into an argument, which later developed into a scuffle. Somehow, Doliveira managed to arm himself with a knife, and allegedly inflicted several stab wounds about Dindon’s body. In trying to escape his assailant, Dindon ran into a nearby yard, but collapsed
before he could go any further. He was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), where he was admitted and later died while receiving treatment. A post mortem examination revealed that he’d died of shock and hemorrhage, due to the severity of the stabs he’d sustained. Doliveira was arrested and later charged. The matter has been adjourned until Friday, July 16.
GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 26, 2021
Learning Channel launches ‘Whiz Kids’ for Grade Six pupils
THE Ministry of Education’s Guyana Learning Channel officially launched its ‘Whiz Kids’ game show at the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD) on Friday. Head of Distance Learning, Anieshaw Mohamed said that the idea behind the competition was birthed after observing the Education Minister, Priya Manickchand having her own rapid-fire question-and- answer time with her niece. She said that following that encounter, the game show was developed further, and has become a hit
its Facebook page, and is available on the GLC’s YouTube channel. The Education Minister noted that the past year has not been easy for learners, their parents or their teachers, as the country has found it difficult to cope with COVID-19, floods and a long election process. However, she acknowledged that Guyana has not been alone, and that the world has found it difficult to cope in the education and health sectors. She said that the new programmes and initiatives launched by the ministry, such as the NGSA Booster Programme, the Quiz Me
Head of Distance Learning, Anieshaw Mohamed with a growing audience. According to Mohamed, the Guyana Learning Channel will not stop at Whiz Kids, but has plans of launching ‘Mathletes’, and a Spelling Bee competition soon to engage more learners to give them that experience to feel great about themselves. The game show features Grade Six pupils from various primary schools competing against each other by answering questions in four categories (mathematics, English Language, Science and Social Studies). Thus far, there are two finalists, and the grand finale will be on July 28, 2021. Minister Manickchand said she has fallen in love with the show, and has watched every episode since its commencement. Whiz Kids is aired on Wednesdays and Fridays at 19:00h (07:00pm) on the Guyana Learning Channel (GLC), as well as on
platform, the printing of worksheets, and the creation and distribution of study packages were done quickly, and under immense pressure. She said that though tragedies and interruptions occur naturally, how we respond is what makes the difference. Speaking to Grade Six pupils in particular, Minister Manickchand said, “You have to rise up; you have to face it, and you have to overcome it. So, whenever you meet a challenge in your life, remember this lesson; that you can rise up, you can face it, and you can overcome it. That’s what we tried to do with these programmes.” Moreover, Minister Manickchand said that despite the provision of these programmes and resources, the public school system has to improve on the outcomes produced. She said that teachers need to get on board and
allow themselves to be assessed, evaluated and assisted to do better.
CANNOT BE OVERSTATED Further, Minister Manickchand said that the role of parents in their child’s education cannot be overstated. She said the ministry just completed the first NGSA mock examination, and, unfortunately, many
can write the examination in school for a fair experience. With 39 days left for the official NGSA, Minister Manickchand said that the ministry will keep systems stable to ensure a smooth sitting of the examination, which is being managed by the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC). At the launch, Malachi Seales of North George-
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Education Minister, Priya Manickchand speaking at the launch of the ‘Whiz Kids’ game show that the NGSA Booster Programme has helped him learn new ways to work mathematical equations he thought were difficult, and that the other topics he had difficulties with have now become easy. On the Ministry’s ‘Quiz Me’ platform, he reported that it has assisted him by allowing him to get much-needed practice with his weak areas. Meanwhile, Another Grade Sixer, Justin Goberdhan of Mae’s Schools said that though the competition has been tough during the pandemic, it has been helpful, since he is able to learn whether he gets the Education Minister, Priya Manickchand with contestants and finalists of the question wrong or right. Whiz Kids game show He also thanked the beneficial to him, since he Ministry of Education for parents have not asked how town Primary School, a learnt new things whenever its assistance by providtheir children performed. Grade Six pupil and a Whiz he got a question wrong, or ing the necessary resourc“You have to be inter- Kids finalist said that be- was corrected by a fellow es to help him prepare for ested in what your children ing on the show has been contestant. He said, too, his examination. (DPI) are doing; the Ministry of Education alone cannot do that,” Minister Manickchand said, adding that there are too many teachers who have not yet looked and analysed the results to determine where their students are weak. “We cannot continue like this; we have to do it with a view of getting better results,” she said. Noting that the only way changes can be seen in the education sector is when all stakeholders work together, Minister Manickchand said: “There will be no space in the sector for laziness; from parents, from teachers, from education officers. We have to change that; it is the only way all these programmes will make a difference.” Grade Six pupils are scheduled to write their second mock examination in July. Minister Manickchand said that this will be done under strict examination conditions, and that she hopes more children
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 26, 2021
UG to establish world-class Subsea Centre of Excellence –– partners with COAST Foundation
THE University of Guyana (UG), on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Caribbean Oceanography Aquaculture and Subsea Technol-
ogy (COAST) Foundation to collaborate on the establishment of a Subsea Centre of Excellence training facility. This would now allow the university to deliver
world-class programmes designed to prepare students for careers in Subsea Operations and Engineering, a release from UG said. The MoU was signed by Vice-Chancellor Xi,
The MoU would allow the university to deliver world-class programmes designed to prepare students for careers in Subsea Operations and Engineering, a release said Professor Paloma Mohamed Martin; Dean, Faculty of Technology, Verlyn Klass on behalf of UG and Keith Lewis and Aaron Hardowar on behalf of (COAST) Foundation, during a simple ceremony in the presence of a few other faculty members and staff of UG. Professor Mohamed-Martin expressed sincere gratitude to COAST Foundation for choosing UG and for understanding how important the national university is to fulfilling the present and future needs of the industry, noting that the Subsea Centre will be the first of its kind at a university in the Caribbean. She posited: “We are excited about the innovative aspects of what you are proposing, we also are not only interested in producing people, we are also interested in advancing ideas and working on solutions, because that’s really where the intellectual power and manifest value of the university really lies.” Lewis, who is leading the project, highlighted the significant benefits of having the Centre of Excellence training facility at UG. He said: “COAST Foundation believes that there is a future for local students to become engineers in the subsea field and support the Deepwater development in Guyana.” “All of the development, past and future in Guyana, will be via Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV); therefore, we want to ensure that we train local technicians and subsea engineers to support the process,” Lewis
expounded. The Subsea Centre of Excellence will be home to the first Remotely Operated Vehicle simulator in the Region which will be the foundation of training and competency-development programmes aimed at supporting educational programmes from the Trade School, through Associate, Bachelors and Masters levels. Through the partnership, the University of Guyana will collaborate with international universities in the U.S., Canada and Scotland to deliver world-class programmes designed to prepare students for careers in Subsea Operations and Engineering. In addition to an ROV simulator, the Subsea Centre of Excellence will have an ROV test tank, an electrical workshop, and hydraulic-mechanical workshop. A key component of the programme will be a collaboration with the local and international subsea industry corporations to ensure stakeholder buy-in and a sustainable, holistic approach to the transfer of technology to Guyana. Verlyn Klass, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology, also expressed her gratitude to COAST Foundation for bringing the technology to UG and her enthusiasm at the prospect of how it will benefit the students. She explained that the project started with one of UG’s civil engineering students who graduated and is employed with COAST. She recalled that the student
reached out to the university with the hope that UG students would also be exposed to such technology. Elena Trim, Head of the Mechanical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, expressed interest in discussing the certification of students who are involved in the programme. The signing of the MoU is another strong reflection of UG’s strategic efforts to achieve the goals set out in the 2040 Blueprint and to support the build-out of a technically competent workforce to support the booming oil and gas industry in Guyana. This important MoU enhances and underscores the university’s continued drive to ensure that Guyanese can take full advantage of the local-content requirements, as well as those spin-off opportunities that are emerging rapidly in the local market, the release said. This is a welcome addition to the recent suite of courses offered by the Institute of Energy Diplomacy, and those in the faculties such as the degree and masters in Petroleum Engineering, Masters in Renewable Energy from the Faculty of Engineering and Technology, the Masters in Environmental Management for the Oil and Gas Industry (Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences) and Masters in Management of Supply Chains and Procurement (SEBI), all being offered from September 2021.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 26, 2021
All set at ‘Multi’ for students to write CSEC exams
DESPITE the fire that destroyed the teaching block of the North Ruimveldt Secondary School last Saturday, the students who are scheduled to write the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination will be able to do so at the school’s auditorium as they requested. Education Minister, Priya Manickchand met with the students and teachers on Friday in the
did all that it could have done to put the school in a state of readiness to accommodate the students. She said that the work that was done by everyone to get the school ready shows how much can be done when people work together. She told the students that they have a solid foundation by attending an A-List school, and that they can do as well as any other child in their examinations. “So, the ball is
Senior Welfare Officer, Vickram Mohabir auditorium where the students will, for the next few weeks, write their CSEC examinations. The Education Minister said that the ministry
now in your court; today, we hand the baton to you to take it from here. We’ve done everything we could possibly do to keep you in a frame of mind that will
allow you to just soar. So, go ahead and soar,” Minister Manickchand said while encouraging the 65 students to do their best in their examinations. She told the gathering that granting the request of the students to sit their examinations had to be done with careful consideration to ensure the environment was safe, and would allow the examinations to occur without disruptions. Using this incident for context, the Education Minister told the students that whenever they are faced with a decision to make, they should ensure that they are doing what is right, even if it will be an unpopular decision. She told them that whatever position they take up in life, they must never forget to listen to the people they are supposed to serve. “Before you come to a decision, listen to the people who will be affected by your decision. Consult with them! Hear them! Listen to them! That is what we did here,” Minister Manickchand advised. She said that while the majority of the subjects will be written at the school, the students writing Electronic Document Processing and Management (EDPM) will do so at
Students of the North Ruimveldt Multilateral Secondary at Friday’s meeting at the school’s auditorium
the Government Technical Institute (GTI), and that transportation will be provided for them. She also said that lunch will be prepared each day there is an examination, to ensure the students are properly catered for. EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE Minister Manickchand expressed special thanks to Principal Education Officer, Immanuel Bridgewater, as well as Education Officers Stembiso Grant, Sherwyn Blackman, and Ms. Dawn McCammonBarker for all the hard work and exceptional service delivered to get the school up and ready. On Monday, two days following the incident, Minister Manickchand, along with senior officers of the Ministry of Education met with students of the school and their parents to hear their views on the matter, and to decide on the way forward. Four positions were arrived at, with one being that the students prefer to write their examination in the school’s auditorium. Headteacher, Allison Cosbert told her students that they will do more
Education Minister, Priya Manickchand delivering remarks during her meeting on Friday with ‘Multi’ students and their parents than just pass their examinations, but do better than their predecessors, because the Ministry of Education, teachers, parents and the community at large are supporting them. She thanked the Minister of Education and the officers of the Department of Education (Georgetown) for all the support and work done to ensure the school is in the state that it is today, despite the recent tragedy. Senior Welfare Officer, Vickram Mohabir also thanked Minister Manickchand for her leadership during this difficult time for the school. He told the students that being resilient and learning to ride over hurdles are important in achieving their goals. He said that now they need to shut out all external noise, and focus on their examinations, which are important to their destiny ahead, important to their parents, their teachers, the ministry and the Minister of Education. “My motivation to you is to complete that task, for
it is only the people who cross that line are the people who will get the prize,” Mohabir said in closing. Reverend Simon Harris told the students that they have become part and parcel of a tragedy and a triumph. On behalf of the Old Students Association, he thanked the Minister of Education and her team for ‘coming out of the blocks’ with speed and agility with this matter to start the restoration process out of this tragedy. “Thank you for pushing and setting everything in place for us to remain right here,” Reverend Harris said. Following the meeting, each student was given a care package containing face masks, a spray bottle, Environ sanitiser, vitamin support, geometry set, ruler, pencils, pens, erasers and sharpeners to assist them in writing their examinations, which begin on Monday. Calculators were also donated to the school’s mathematics department as a replacement for those that were destroyed by the fire. (DPI)
Some of the care packages that were given to students
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 26, 2021
22 technicians receive their retrofitter licences
TWENTY-two young technicians on Thursday received their retrofitter licences after completing a training exercise at the Government Technical Institute (GTI). The training, which was facilitated by the Hydrometeorological Department of the Ministry of Agriculture, forms part of Guyana’s efforts to eliminate the consumption of ozone-depleting substances through a step-wise phase-out schedule. Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, while offering remarks at the simple handing-over exercise, said the government is working to ensure more environment and climate-friendly technologies are utilised in the refrigeration and air conditioning industry. “As a government, we are working to ensure the more environment and cli-
mate-friendly technology are utilised in the refrigeration and air conditioning industry. We have, so far, been successful in eliminating some of the gases that have been destroying the ozone layer; we’ve also been advocating for the use of more climate-friendly substances,” Minister Mustapha said. “Climate change is a critical subject that needs to be taken seriously. As a developing country, issues surrounding climate change are extremely important. Guyana is currently experiencing severe flooding as a result of climate change; rivers have risen, and we are experiencing prolonged and more intense rainy seasons. As a people, we should strive to secure our environment; I know that the training that you would’ve received has equipped you with the knowledge to carry out the services needed to add
Minister Mustapha and other Ministry of Agriculture officials with the technicians who recently received their Retrofitter Licences to what the government is doing to eliminate the use of those chemicals that continue to pose a threat to our environment,” he added. According to a release from the Ministry of Agriculture, Guyana is currently implementing a
programme to phase out Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), which is a group of ozone-depleting substances (ODS) primarily used in refrigeration and air conditioning equipment. Chief Hydromet Officer, Dr. Garvin Cummings said
that for years, the National Ozone Action Unit has been involved in delivering Guyana’s obligation under the Montreal Protocol for the phase-out of ozone-depleting substances. “The National Ozone Action Unit (NOAU) falls under the responsibility of the Hydrometeorological Service. For several years, the unit has been involved in delivering Guyana’s obligation under the Montreal Protocol for the phase-out of ozone-depleting substances. Guyana has successfully phased out Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), and is now in the process of phasing out Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), under the HFC Management Plan Project,” Dr. Cummings said, adding: “As the world moves towards a stronger climate and environmental knowledge, new technology is being embraced to address the challenges related to the ozone layer, and also those challenges related to climate change. As the technologies evolve to address the challenges in the environment, we must also train our people so that they can adequately use these technologies and resources. Part of the NOAU’s mandate is to work with the Ministry of Education, and the technical institutions to train technicians to utilise technology that are both ozone and climate-friendly.” UPGRADING OF SKILLS The NOAU, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, the Cooling Industry, and the Technical Institutes has been involved in the training of technicians in the Refrigeration and Air Condition (RAC) Sector to upgrade their skills, and ensure that they perform their tasks, using safe practices.
After undergoing 48-hours of training over a six-week period, technicians would then have to apply to the NOAU for their licences. A Board, consisting of experts from the Refrigeration and Air Condition (RAC) Sector, the Cooling Industry, and the Ministry of Education (Technical), would then evaluate the students, and the successful ones would later be issued with their Retrofitter Licences. Guyana became a party to the Vienna Convention for the protection of the ozone layer, and the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer on 12 August, 1993, and subsequently ratified the London, Copenhagen, and Montreal Amendments on July 23, 1999. As a party to the Montreal Protocol, Guyana is required to eliminate the consumption of ozone-depleting substances through a step-wise phase-out schedule. Since the ratification of the Montreal Protocol, Guyana has implemented several initiatives to phase out ozone-depleting substances (ODS). So far, there has been an amendment to the Montreal Protocol, the Kigali Amendment, which has already been entered into force since January 1, 2019. This now focuses on the phase-out of HFCs refrigerants, which, though Ozone-friendly, are known to be greenhouse gases more potent than carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Hence, RAC technicians are required to continually upgrade their skills, in order to handle the new refrigerants and technology, and to prepare technicians to meet and deal with the rising challenges that are evident in the cooling and freezing industry.
GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 26, 2021
$31.7M nursery school for Queenstown
THE construction of a state-of-the-art facility to house teachers and children of the Queenstown Nursery School located in Region Two, will soon begin. The $31.7M contract was awarded to Kamta Persaud of K&J Contracting Services of Queenstown. Persaud and the region’s Deputy Regional Executive Officer, Susanna Saywack, signed the contract document during a simple ceremony on Thursday.
Saywack in brief remarks urged the contractor to ensure that he produces quality work and reminded him that the project will be continuously monitored by the regional engineers and officials. She said the Government of Guyana is spending millions of dollars on the education sector and as such, the quality of work is important, especially when building a school. The school’s children
and teachers have been occupying the lower flat of the Aberdeen Zorgen-Vlyght Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) office building for a number of years. The new school will be constructed next to the Queenstown Primary School and will be done according to the Ministry of Education’s non-academic standards. Elated parents and teachers told the Guyana Chronicle that they have been waiting for years for
the project to materialise. They thanked the government and the regional administration for their efforts in ensuring that the contract was awarded. Earlier this month, work on the Mabel Sandy Nursery at Wakapoa was completed. Recently, a multi-million dollar contract was signed for the construction of the Abram Zuil Secondary School. These contracts were approved under the Department of Education’s capital projects for 2021.
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Deputy Regional Executive Officer, Susanna Saywack, and contractor Kamta Persaud holding the signed contract (Indrawattie Natram photo)
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 26, 2021
18-year-old seeking public help to fund chemical engineering scholarship By Mesha Sealey
THE COVID-19 pandemic has brought with it a host of hindrances that served as additional stumbling blocks in the paths of some. Persons across every spectrum were robbed of financial opportunities, jobs, or even loved ones. While the challenges appeared to be stumbling blocks for some, they are hurdles for others to jump, and push themselves to achieve something significant. One such person is an aspiring chemical engineer and Bishops’ High School alumna, 18-year-old Alizia Ash.
On August 22, 2020, Alizia received her unconditional acceptance letter into one of America’s leading tertiary education institutions: Seton Hall University, a private, Catholic university located in South Orange, New Jersey. “I was elated when I received the news of my acceptance, because the journey was extremely rigorous due to circumstances, including the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), my mother losing her job, and losing both of my grandparents, compounded by additional financial difficulties,” Ash stated in a letter penned and posted to her GoFundMe website. However, the young woman said that
Alizia Akilah Ash at her high school graduation in 2020 her dreams were “crushed” when she later received an email stating that she had only received a partial, merit-based scholarship of US$20,500 towards her flat-rate tuition, leaving a remainder of approximately US$42,000 to be paid every year for the next five years. Alizia’s mother, who is a single parent, has made several sacrifices for her, especially when it comes to her education. However, due to unfortunate circumstances, she lost her job during the pandemic, and was unable to cover the remaining cost of tuition on such short notice. Although Alizia’s acceptance was an accomplishment in itself, she stated that the possibility of not realising her dream of going to college was very real, and crushed her spirit. However, after speaking with some of her teachers, they advised her not to give up on her dreams. As a result, the teen and her mother agreed to defer her entry to university for a year, in the hope of securing funding. “Throughout the past year, I have approached both the public and private sectors, seeking financial assistance. However, these efforts were futile, since, due to the pandemic, academic sponsorship fell to an all-time low,” the teen revealed in her letter. Despite submitting multiple applications for scholarships and grants, both locally and internationally, Alizia was unsuccessful, due to her foreign status, as most of them required US residency. Regardless, she continued to try her luck by writing personal letters to ministers and other dignitaries, who she said did not respond. NOT DETERRED Though disappointed, Alizia is determined that the huge sum will not
deter her from taking up the challenge of representing her country to the best of her ability, as she did at the 2019 Global Young Leaders Conference. “I believe that persons should help to fund my scholarship, because, not only am I very aspirational and very dedicated towards doing well in my academics, but I take great pride in representing my country, and doing well, and I want to help to develop the oil- and-gas sector. I believe that since we are a developing nation, and we have now ventured into the oil-and-gas sector, it is very fitting for our own young Guyanese students to be part of that sector,” Alizia shared, adding: “Instead of having to bring in foreign nationals, we should encourage our students to study in those same fields, so that we can gain the experience, and develop the sector.” Alizia is passionate about helping others, and she believes that once she secures her scholarship, she can help others by mentoring them in the process of getting ready for college. “Chemical engineering is not something that a lot of Guyanese would opt for; it’s not even done at our local university. So, after I finish studying that, I can start mentoring others on how to get into this field; how to study for it; what are the things that you need to do, because, in preparing for university, especially when you are studying ‘outside’, there are certain things that I wish I had known beforehand, so that I would have been better able to handle certain situations. So, now that I have gone through that process, I believe that it is my duty to help and guide others who plan on studying either in the same field, or who plan on studying abroad,” she said. Alizia sees herself as a learner, as well as a teacher, and acknowledged that she is a very expressive person, once comfortable. She was Guyana’s representative at the 2019 Global Young Leaders Conference, and a proud recipient of the Frank Anthony Award for her outstanding performance at the Annual Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music Examination. She is a former student of the Bishops’ High School, having attended Saint Stanislaus College for a year, before leaving to pursue higher education. She received five Grade Ones, two Grade Twos, and two Grade Threes at CSEC, and three Grade Ones, a Grade Two, and a Grade Three at CAPE. She also practises volunteerism through the President’s Youth Award for the Republic of Guyana, and enjoys a bit of swimming and lawn tennis as well. Anyone interested in making a direct contribution to her cause may do so at the Scotiabank account number: 10043392, with the Branch/Transit number: 30775, or contribute towards her GoFundMe, at https://gofund.me/7c1f6def. The deadline for making those contributions is July 15, 2021.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 26, 2021
12th season of Guyana Restaurant Week begins
GUYANA Restaurant Week 2021 was on Thursday launched with an increase in the number of restaurants participating in the 10-day culinary showcase at standardised prices. Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond opened the event at the Bistro Café and Bar at Movietowne. “I see Restaurant Week as an important and critical element of Guyana’s tourism thrust; that is why I am happy to see the number of participating restaurants back at 20, up from the 13 which
participated during the last edition of this event. I am also pleased that five new restaurants have signed up this year, for these numbers suggest that restaurants continue to appreciate the value of this initiative,” Minister Walrond said. She said that participating restaurants have been deemed compliant with the COVID-19 protocols, and have received conditional approval from the Guyana Tourism Authority. The restaurants were encouraged to use as much local products as possible. Minister Wal-
rond also urged Guyanese to support the event. “This Restaurant Week is sure to demonstrate what we can accomplish by applying our creativity, inspiration and passion to the culinary arts,” she said, adding” “I challenge chefs and bartenders to bring their ‘A-game’, and show their versatility in the food and beverage industry; likewise, I encourage all of Guyana to participate in Restaurant Week.” President of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG), Harrinand Persaud said the wide
Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Minister Oneidge Walrond shares a light moment with persons at the launch of Restaurant Week on Thursday
A barista prepares to serve her customers from her impressive list of available wines
Appetizers on offer at the launch of this year’s event (DPI photos)
range of participating restaurants is indicative of the country’s growth. “It shows the progress that Guyana is making. For sure, next Restaurant Week, it is only going to be increasing; I can see that we have a lot of persons who are will-
ing to give their best and to explore the options to offer a variety of food,” he said. He suggested that prospective patrons make advance reservations, since a number of restaurants are already booked-out for the coming weekend.
The restaurants will offer lunch at a cost of $3,000, and dinner at $5,000 or $6,000. Guyana Restaurant Week began in 2014, and is spearheaded by THAG, in collaboration with the Guyana Tourism Authority and numerous sponsors. (DPI)
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EU channels $37M towards flood relief
THE European Union (EU) is allocating €150,000 in humanitarian funding to help support those people affected by the recent wave of intense floods that hit communities across Guyana. The country has been experiencing higher-than-normal levels of rainfall since May, and local authorities estimate that the subsequent extensive flooding has affected over 36,000 households across 300 communities. With severe weather expected to continue, the main risk is that due to low-lying lands and minimal tidal differences, floodwaters will retrieve slowly, hence generating stagnant pools that would contribute to increasing the risk of water and mosquito-borne diseases. According to a release
to the effect, the current EU humanitarian funding will be channeled towards the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) and Red Crescent Societies in support of their Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF), and will be implemented by the Guyana Red Cross Society (GRCS), which is present in all affected districts. The intervention will last for three months, and is aimed at providing immediate support to 500 vulnerable families currently living in temporary shelters in the most severely-affected communities of Regions Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), and Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice). EU Ambassador to Guyana, Fernando Ponz Cantó, in brief comments, referred to the meeting between the EU Delegation
and the Director-General of Guyana’s Civil Defence Commission (CDC) on June 11, to facilitate the activation of the EU’s Civil Protection Mechanism. Following the CDC’s request, the EU’s Copernicus Emergency Management Service was also activated on June 14 to provide satellite maps of the affected flood areas across Guyana. Ambassador Ponz Cantó highlighted that, “this humanitarian grant of €150,000 is already complemented by the intervention of the French Red Cross, which was coordinated by the Embassy of France in Suriname and channeled via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.” The EU funding will contribute to enabling the Guyana Red Cross to swiftly provide families with kitchen sets, solar lamps,
durable mosquito nets to prevent the spread of mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue, chikungunya or zika. Families will also receive hygiene kits, jerrycans, household cleaning kits and water treatment tablets to prevent the spread of waterborne diseases which are likely to increase due to the persistence of stagnating water. With EU funding, the Guyana Red Cross will identify the 200 most vulnerable families and deliver to them cash and vouchers so that they can purchase what they most urgently need to help them through the difficult period of dislocation. In order to mitigate the risks connected to a potential spread of the coronavirus, shelters will be equipped with first aid kits and people will receive
5,000 N95 masks and 1,000 flacons of hand sanitizer. The European Commission has signed a €3 million humanitarian contribution agreement with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to support the Federation’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF). Funds from the DREF are mainly allocated to ‘small-scale’ disasters; those that do not give rise to a formal international appeal. The Disaster Relief Emergency Fund was established in 1985, and is supported by contributions from donors. Each time a National Red Cross or Red Crescent Society needs immediate financial support to respond to a disaster, it can request funds from the DREF. For small-scale disasters, the IFRC allo-
EU Ambassador to Guyana, Fernando Ponz Cantó cates grants from the Fund, which can then be replenished by the donors. The contribution agreement between the IFRC and the European Commission enables the latter to replenish the DREF for agreed operations (that fit in with its humanitarian mandate) up to a total of €3 million.
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COVAX vaccine consignment delayed until July THE consignment of vaccines from COVAX previously scheduled to arrive this month has been delayed until July, Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony disclosed during his COVID-19 update on Thursday. “We were expecting those vaccines by the middle of June. Unfortunately, COVAX has written to us to say that there is a delay in that shipment and now they’re scheduled to send those shipments in July,” he told the Department of Public Information (DPI). Guyana has received doses of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine through the COVAX facility. The Health Minister also reported that the gov-
Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony ernment has already paid for the shipment of vaccines from the African Union, and is currently engaged in finalising shipment details.
“We have paid for the Johnson and Johnson vaccines, and we are currently now engaged with them to look at possible dates, and when those shipments will occur.” The government has also purchased 100,000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine, which is expected to arrive in the country by the end of this month, the DPI has reported. The DPI also noted that the government is sparing no effort in ensuring that enough vaccines are procured for the country’s adult population. In addition to the vaccines that have been purchased, Guyana has received vaccine donations from Barbados, India and China.
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G20 ministers recommit to human-centred roadmap out of crisis
THE International Labour Organisation (ILO) has welcomed the re-commitment by the G20 group of nations to a coherent and human-centred approach to recovery from the COVID-19 crisis that leads to greater social justice and decent work for all. The G20 Labour and Employment Ministerial Declaration, issued following a full day of talks in Catania, Italy, echoes the Global Call to Action for a Human-Centred Recovery, adopted by delegates at the June session of the International Labour Conference (ILC), a release said. The Call to Action
outlines measures to create a human-centred recovery from the pandemic to avoid the long-term scarring of economies and societies. In a speech to G20 Labour and Employment Ministers at the meeting, ILO Director-General Guy Ryder welcomed the ministers’ reaffirmed commitment to shaping a human-centred recovery that is inclusive, sustainable and resilient. He noted their renewed efforts to achieve more, better and equally paid jobs for women, regulation of remote and digital platform work, and adequate social protection and safe and healthy working conditions for all.
The G20 Labour and Employment Ministerial Declaration, issued following a full day of talks in Catania, Italy, echoes the Global Call to Action for a Human-Centred Recovery, adopted by delegates at the June session of the International Labour Conference He underlined the importance of strong social protection systems and enhanced coordination between social protection and labour-market policies, to protect workers during the crisis and help them back into work. “The crisis has impacted some sectors and groups much harder. In particular, it has hit women and youth, along with those in the informal economy,” he said. “Those are also the groups facing the most difficult situations today and the biggest risk of being left behind in the months and years ahead.” Ryder outlined the cataclysmic impact of COVID-19, which has led to loss of the equivalent of 161 million full-time jobs in the G20 nations. This, he said, represents a worldof-work crisis four times as severe as the one triggered by the financial crisis of 2008/09. The recovery of recent months, he said, has been uneven and fragile, with developing countries likely to find the process more difficult. “Unless deliberate action is taken, COVID-19 will make the world of work more unequal, more unjust, less resilient, less inclusive and ultimately less sustainable. We can do things differently. The crisis has shown us that long-established policy settings and work arrangements can be modified in ways that were previously unimaginable.” Governments, employers and workers must
address the process of recovery, with the understanding that the future of work is not pre-determined, he said. VITAL Ryder also highlighted the need to improve the quality of women’s employment. This would be vital if the G20 is to achieve the ‘Brisbane Goal’ of reducing the labour force participation gap by 25 per cent by 2025, he said. At a presentation of a joint ILO-OECD report on Women at Work in the G20, Ryder told the ministers that women are twice as likely as men to be in low-paid jobs, and are more likely to be in informal employment and on temporary contracts. At the same time, women bear the brunt of unpaid work, largely due to care responsibilities. A transformative agenda for gender equality needs greater investment in the care economy, employment policies that focus on women, universal access to comprehensive and adequate social protection, and equal pay for work of equal value, Ryder stressed. He also urged countries to ratify the ILO’s Violence and Harassment Convention, 2019 (No. 190), noting that the problem had worsened during the pandemic. Speaking to the G20 Joint Education and Labour and Employment Ministers Meeting on Transitions from School-to-Work, Ryder underlined the need to link education, employment
and social policies. Latest ILO estimates show that, globally, youth employment fell 8.7 per cent in 2020, compared with 3.7 per cent for adults. In the G20 countries, youth employment declined by 11 per cent in 2020, almost four times more than for adults, Ryder said, adding that the impact on young women was even greater. “The potential legacy of all this is frightening. This generation could be damaged for years to come, turning COVID-19 in to a multi-generational crisis,” he said. Countries need to ensure that young people are able to develop their skills and find decent work when they complete their education and training, the ILO Director-General said. He cited the G20 Youth Roadmap 2025, which guides G20 members in strengthening their efforts to reduce the number of young women and men who are so-called NEETs (Not in Employment, Education, or Training). Many of the issues highlighted by Ryder during the two ministerial meetings he attended were reflected in the two G20 Ministerial Declarations adopted in Catania. These point to the importance of effective social dialogue and the need to take into account ILO instruments and declarations on Social Protection Floors, Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and the Future of Work.
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World T20 to start in October
The Super 12s phase of the T20 World Cup is likely to be held at three venues in the UAE - Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah (Abu Dhabi Cricket)
(ESPNCRICINFO) The 2021 men’s T20 World Cup is set to start from October 17 in the UAE, with the final for the 16-team tournament scheduled for November
14.
ESPNcricinfo understands that the tournament will start days after the IPL final, which is likely to be held on October 15. The remainder of IPL 2021 will be played in the UAE, starting September 19. While the BCCI is yet to write to the ICC officially about shifting the T20 World Cup to the UAE, it has already set the ball rolling in terms of planning for the tournament to be held in the Middle East. As per the current plan, the first round of the T20 World Cup will be split across two groups and played in the UAE and Oman. Round 1, which will include 12 matches, will comprise eight teams from which four (top two from each group) would qualify for the Super 12s. Four teams from this lot of eight Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Ireland, Netherlands, Scotland, Namibia, Oman, Papua New Guinea - will then progress to the Super 12s,
joining the top eightranked T20I teams. The Super 12s phase, comprising 30 matches, is scheduled to start from October 24. The Super 12s, where teams will be split across two groups of six each, will be played at three venues in the UAE - Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. This will be followed by three playoff games - the two semi-finals and the final. With Round 1 being co-hosted by one of the venues in the UAE and Oman, the BCCI is confident that will offer enough time to refresh the pitches across the main grounds in the UAE for the Super 12s. On June 1, ICC granted BCCI until end of June to give its final word on whether India will be able to host the T20 World Cup. With the COVID-19 pandemic disrupting the global cricket calendar last year, ICC postponed the 2020 World Cup, originally scheduled to be held in Australia, and decided India would host the tournament in 2021 with Australia hosting the
2022 edition. However, the grim pandemic situation in India, which was flattened by a second wave this summer, forced the BCCI to abruptly suspend the IPL at the halfway stage in May. That development instantly cast doubts on whether India could be fit to host the multi-team World T20 after travel between cities was identified as a prime area of concern for teams getting exposed to outside the bubble during the IPL. The BCCI had shortlisted nine venues for the T20 World Cup, but an ICC team, meant to carry out inspection, had to cancel its visit in April. Despite the pandemic numbers climbing down since the alarming peak of April-May period, public health experts have predicted India will face a third wave later in 2021. With the ICC deadline expiring in a few days, BCCI is expected to make its decision public on moving the event outside to the UAE.
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Bottas given three-place grid penalty for pitlane spin
(BBC) - Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas has been handed a three-place grid penalty at the Styrian Grand Prix for spinning in the pit lane in practice. He was leaving the pits on fresh hard tyres to start a race-simulation run, but lost his car and ended up broadside in front of the McLaren garage. Race stewards decid-
ed Bottas had been guilty of “potentially dangerous driving as personnel were around”. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen topped in the session with Lewis Hamilton fourth. Hamilton had set the fastest lap of the session at Austria’s Red Bull Ring by 0.077 seconds from Verstappen’s Red Bull but ran fractionally wide at the final
corner and that time was deleted. That left Hamilton behind McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo and Alpine’s Esteban Ocon. Bottas’ incident is unprecedented and the McLaren sporting director Paul James complained to race director Michael Masi at the time, saying it was “absolutely ridiculous - he could have taken out our
guys there”. The stewards’ verdict said that Bottas had tried leaving the pits in second gear and “as a result, the wheel spin was much higher and the result unexpected. Therefore he didn’t manage to control the car properly into the fast lane.” Both Mercedes driv-
their race-simulation runs later in the session. Verstappen leads Hamilton by 12 points after his victory in France last weekend. “The second practice Lewis was faster,” the Dutchman said. “But his lap time got deleted so it looks a bit different from what is shown at the moment.
“Overall it has been quite good for us. Overall I’m quite happy with where the car is at the moment.” Seven-time world champion Hamilton, who is looking for his first win since the Spanish Grand Prix in May, called Mercedes’ weekend “a work in progress.”
Valtteri Bottas, of Finland and Mercedes GP, talks in a Drivers Press Conference during previews, ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Styria at Red Bull Ring (Photo by Christian Bruna - Pool/Getty Images)
ers lost time with wheel spin when leaving the pits during the French Grand Prix last weekend. This was one of the contributory factors to Hamilton losing the lead to Verstappen at his pit stop. The fastest times set by Hamilton and Verstappen in the session - albeit that the world champion’s time was deleted - suggested the title contenders are set for another close weekend. Hamilton’s off-track excursion gained him only a few hundredths of a second, and the two title rivals were quite closely matched on
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TODAY’S QUIZ:
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 26, 2021
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Cricket West Indies, Stats Perform sign deal
WEST Indies (CWI) today announced a new media and data agreement with sports content giant Stats Perform who will become CWI’s exclusive partner of official international and domestic cricket data and live stream rights. This partnership brings a new revenue outcome for CWI through live streams, live data, and news video for all CWI home international fixtures across all men’s and women’s formats (involving the men’s, women’s and ‘A’ teams). It will include the ongoing high profile tours against South Africa and Australia, and both men’s and women’s fixtures against Pakistan. It also covers CWI’s domestic competitions
such as the CG Insurance Super50 Cup and West Indies Championship. CWI will join Stats Perform’s slate of exclusive and official real-time statistics across multiple cricket rights holders, including from Cricket Australia, England and Wales Cricket Board, International Cricket Council, New Zealand Cricket and Cricket South Africa, offered through Stats Perform’s Opta and RunningBall brands. This service helps the world’s most popular broadcasters, publishers, search engines, fantasy providers and sportsbooks to create rich experiences for cricket fans and bettors. The addition of live video of CWI international and regional games to Stats Perform’s live stream service, which sup-
Guyana suffer heavy defeats to USA, Canada
GUYANA got off to a rocky start at their 2021 Indoor Pan Am Women’s Hockey Championship yesterday, going down 20-2 to the tournament hosts and defending champions USA, and 14-0 to Argentina in Spring City, Pennsylvania. It was certainly not the type of start head coach Philip Fernandes had hoped for, despite the team losing their captain Gabriella Xavier to COVID-19 and striker Sonia Jardine to an ankle injury. The relatively young team, who Fernandes said, are being groomed for the future, had their toughest
opposition to face in their very first match of the tournament. The Americans, the tournament’s highest-ranked team, did not hold back on their relentless attack on the Guyanese women and had a lead of 11-0 at half-time of their encounter. In the second half, Guyana showed more fight which saw Abosaide Cadogan find the back of the net in the 28th and 31st minutes. Hope Rose scored seven goals and Ashley Sessa had five for the U.S. women. Meanwhile, Guyana showed more fight against Argentina where they held their own in the second stan-
za, after falling behind 8-0 at the halfway mark. The USA also defeated Canada 5-4, to finish day one with two impressive wins and to leave the floor undefeated. Argentina, after playing to an entertaining 2-2 stalemate with Uruguay, departed the playing facility with one win and a draw. Canada, prior to narrowly losing to rivals USA, got their campaign going with a 1-1 draw against Uruguay. Looking ahead to today, Guyana will face Canada from 11:30hrs and play their final round-robin match against Uruguay at 16:30hrs. (Rawle Toney)
Abosaide Cadogan celebrates with teammates after scoring one of her two goals against the USA, in the 2021 Indoor Pan Am Women’s Hockey Championship
plies premium live game streams to licensed sportsbooks, will further enhance in-play cricket betting services. CWI’s www.windiescricket.com website and social media channels will benefit from comprehensive coverage of live scores and statistics for every player and team, across all their fixtures, enhancing the scoring and player data available for West Indies fans to engage with. Dominic Warne, Commercial Director for CWI said: “Partnering with Stats Perform creates a valuable new channel to increase the audience for and distribution of West Indies and regional tournament content allowing us to further connect with fans and partners in the Caribbean and overseas. This partnership also delivers a new reve-
nue stream for CWI with distribution of content and data into sportsbooks, fantasy providers, global media and broadcasters. Stats Perform should be an excellent partner for CWI, considering their understanding of fans and the sports ecosystem, and the additional reach and data benefits that this partnership provides.” Stats Perform SVP Rights & Business Development, Chris Catling said: “Stats Perform is the largest official cricket data provider in the world and our sports content is trusted by millions of cricket fans. We are thrilled to have been selected to help CWI enrich and inform coverage of its competitions, as well as drive more entertaining fantasy and betting experiences.”
Metro Office Supplies renews long-time sponsorship with RHTYSC female team
The RHT Metro females have been a dominant force in cricket
METRO Office Supplies has renewed its sponsorship with the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club’s female team. The renewed contract was disclosed on Thursday by the club. “The RHTYSC is very delighted to inform the general public that our long-time sponsor Metro Office Supplies has renewed their long-time sponsorship of our female team for another year,” the club disclosed via social media. The Office Supplies company has been sponsoring the team for the last 13 years.
According to information from the RHTYSC, Metro’s sponsorship is the main reason for the success of the team on and off the field. “The RHT Metro Female team is the only one of its kind in Guyana and has produced a total of four West Indies players and dozens of players for Berbice and Guyana.” The players include Shemaine Campbelle, Sheneta Grimmond, Shabika Gajnabi, Erva Giddings, Melanie Henry, Marian Samaroo, Dian Prahalad, Plaffina Millington, Oma Matadin and Sherica Campbelle.
The RHT Metro Female also won the only national female championship in 2009 and has been a dominant force in the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) female tournaments over the years. “The management and members of the RHTYSC would like to express gratitude to Metro for its continued support especially CEO Avie Lindee. We are committed to being proper sporting ambassadors of the company and to upholding the high standards we have set ourselves in the past.”
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Pooran backs WI ‘best T20 players’ to execute, bring success
West Indies have a busy T20I schedule coming up over the next few months
WEST Indies Twenty20 vice-captain Nicholas Pooran has called his teammates the “best T20 players” and is fully confident if they all execute their specific roles, the team will succeed. The West Indies play South Africa in five T20 Internationals from today in Grenada. “Yeah, I believe once we do our jobs right, we are going to get the rewards at the end of the day. We have the best T20 players, no doubt about it,” Pooran expressed on Thursday.
The wicketkeeper-batsman who was speaking at a virtual media briefing further stated, “Once we can play our roles the team requires of us there is no doubt that we will put up some scores. It is not guaranteed, but once we do the right things, we are giving ourselves the best chance to put some scores on the board.” The South Africa series is the start of 15 planned T20I matches across three bilateral home tours in the build-up the October-November global event which is
West Indies Women’s teams named for Pakistan series THE Cricket West Indies (CWI) Women’s Selection Panel has named the West Indies Women’s Senior and ‘A’ Team squads for the T20 International (T20I) Series against Pakistan Women. The West Indies Women’s senior team will play three CG Insurance T20Is against Pakistan Women from June 30 to July 3, with the West Indies Women’s ‘A’ Team also playing their historic, first-ever three-match T20I Series on the same dates. Antigua’s Coolidge Cricket Ground and Sir Vivian Richards Stadium will host the series with the ‘A’ team matches preceding the senior team matches, in backto-back ‘double-header’ fixtures. Lead selector for Women’s cricket, Ann BrowneJohn said, “This series against Pakistan has come at an opportune time because the West Indies players have
not been able to face international opponents since September 2020. It’s exciting that not only will the senior team be in action, but for the very first time a West Indies ‘A’ Team will have the opportunity to compete against international opposition.” Mrs Browne-John added: “As we prepare for the upcoming five CG Insurance ODI match series, these three T20Is will enable the senior team to ease themselves back into the international arena. The ‘A’ team matches are an excellent chance for some of the younger players who have not been able to find a place in the senior team to show their skills.” The CG Insurance T20I and One Day International (ODI) series will allow for all 28 players to be eligible for selection on both teams. Stafanie Taylor, one of the greatest all-rounders of all-time, will again captain the senior team while
Reniece Boyce, the experienced wicketkeeper/batter, has been named to lead the ‘A’ team. The two young players from the Windward Islands - 16-year-old left-arm medium-pacer Zaida James and 17-year-old right-arm medium-pacer Jannillea Glasgow - both called up for the first time to the West Indies Women’s training squad have now been selected in the ‘A’ team squad after impressing during the pre-series camp. The West Indies Women’s teams return to the field in the Caribbean after a 19-month absence due to the impact and effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The West Indies Women last played an international match against England in September 2020. The CG Insurance T20Is and One Day Internationals will be streamed live along with radio commentary via the WindiesCricket YouTube page.
West Indies T20I vice-captain Nicholas Pooran
currently scheduled for India. Pooran indicated it is imperative that this group bond and build momentum towards the title defence of the World T20, but to do so they must develop trust in each other. “I just believe we are building towards the World Cup, and we have to function as a team. At the end of the day, if we can believe in each other that is very important for us. I think we have three series before the World Cup and it has been a while since we have been together for a
long time.” “It is not all about the cricket but how much we can look out for each other, how much we can be a team. You don’t win a World Cup by one or two persons performing, it is (won) by everyone playing his part and that is our key.” West Indies languish tenth on the rankings while South Africa are at six, however, the Proteas have lost their last four series while the Caribbean side are coming off a 2-1 series success over Sri Lanka in March.
West Indies big ‘guns’ face-off against South Africa WITH the red-ball defeat behind them, West Indies, loaded with the majority of T20 stars, take on a South Africa unit who are seeking to find their feet. On the eve of the match, captain Kieron Pollard expressed that he is unfazed by the rankings on the basis of the numerous changes that took place after their World T20 success in 2016 in India. T h e We s t I n d i e s team are ranked tenth while the South African team are sixth but the Proteas have lost their last four T20I series, unlike the West Indies, who defeated Sri Lanka 2-1 in March. As with the Sri Lanka series, they are buoyed with the presence of their big names and there is also the added presence of star all-rounder Andre
Russell. The big surprise is the unexplained omission of talented batman Shimron Hetmyer from the 13-man squad. Hetmyer was named in the 18-man provisional for the South African tour after being dropped for the Sri Lanka series. Meanwhile, for South Africa, they are searching to find their best combination after a lack of success in recent series. Temba Bavuma was appointed their whiteball captain in March and he expressed it will be a good test against a team, he labelled as favourites for this year’s World T20 in October-November. It has been raining in Grenada in the lead-up to the match and showers have been forecast for the next week.
Match bowls off at 14:00hrs. West Indies squad: Kieron Pollard (captain), Nicholas Pooran (vice-captain), Fabian Allen, Dwayne Bravo, Fidel Edwards, Andre Fletcher, Chris Gayle, Jason Holder, Evin Lewis, Obed McCoy, Andre Russell, Lendl Simmons, Kevin Sinclair. South Africa Squad: Temba Bavuma (capt.), Quinton de Kock (wkp,) Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, George Linde, Sisanda Magala, Keshav Maharaj, Janneman Malan, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne, Lizaad Williams.
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Golden Jaguars’ hold first training session ahead of July 3 clash with Guatemala
AFTER touching down in Miami, USA on Wednesday at varying times, Guyana’s Senior Men’s National Team, commonly known as the ‘Golden Jaguars’ engaged in their first training session at The Gardens North County District Park, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Head coach Márcio Máximo along with his assistants, Wilson Toledo, Charles Pollard and Wayne Dover, took the players through the paces during a session that allowed the squad to get back in the groove after a long day of travel from various parts of the globe. Máximo revealed that the session went well given the circumstances of long travels by the players, but stressed that the intensity will be back to its usual from today. The team would also be engaged in two warmup matches as the Guyana
Members of Golden Jaguars during their first training session in Florida (GFF photo)
Football Federation (GFF) seeks to ensure that the players are well prepared for the Guatemala hurdlem come July 3. “I think that the session is normal because some players come from cold temperatures and some from hot, and it’s their first session after a long trip so I think they
all reacted well considering the circumstances,” Maximo said. Once again, the leading tactician of the team expressed satisfaction with the level of commitment being shown by his charges, underscoring that this is the best team that is available to Guyana, a mixture of young and exciting
players along with some experience. “They all have a real desire to represent Guyana. They want to show something, knowing that the times are very challenging but they are committed to the programme. We go to the pitch to compete; it’s a tough test but it’s good for us and im-
portant for our players. We will never give up; we will maintain the intensity and compete. This is our target,” said Maximo. The warm-up matches, set for June 26 and 28, are very important according to Máximo, who expressed gratitude on behalf of his team, to GFF president Wayne Forde
and his executive for the hard work they have been putting in for the team. He noted that the matches would allow the technical team the opportunity to use all the players they have here with a view of selecting the best for the immediate challenge ahead. “Our main objective is for everybody to get some competitive playing time, I cannot use just one set of players in these matches, I need rotation to put everybody to play, because against Guatemala we would have only five subs, so we have to give everyone the chance to get some competitive time in these matches to test them,” the Golden Jaguars head coach added. Should Guyana successfully get past Guatemala, they will play either Guadeloupe or The Bahamas on July 6 for a place in the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup round-of-16.
ANSA McAL pumps $150 000 into Allicock’s Olympic preparation OLYMPIC-BOUND bantamweight boxer, Keevin Allicock, has gotten a further boost for his journey to next month’s Games in Tokyo as ANSA McAL Trading Limited has given him G$150 000 to aid in his preparation. The 22-year-old Allicock will become the first Guyanese boxer in 25 years to compete at the Olympics, and according to Treiston Joseph, Corporate Communications Officer at ANSA McAL Trading Limited, this support is just the start of a great plan by the company to support this boxer and other athletes in the future. “The (Guyaa Boxing) Association reached out to us, it was short notice. This is just the start of the partnership in ensuring we will go forward when he returns. ANSA McAL has been a trendsetter at this particular point of
Guyana’s sport where we look forward to having a relationship with our athletes,” Joseph expressed. Allicock thanked ANSA McAL for the support and offered some advice to other young athletes who may want to achieve similarly, noting that they need to work extremely hard and keep believing. “You need to stay focussed, the years that passed met was a moment just to teach me, a moment that prepared me for this moment. It is a journey, just don’t focus on the destination, you have to work during the journey,” he said. Allicock is set to depart Guyana on Tuesday for Russia where he will spend the next three weeks in a high-performance camp, before he heads to Tokyo for the July 23 to August 8 showpiece.
West Indies big ‘guns’ face-off against South Africa
SEE PAGE 34
West Indies white-ball captain Kieron Pollard
South Africa white-ball captain Temba Bavuma
Guyana suffer heavy defeats to USA, Canada
SEE PAGE 33
Sixteen-year-old striker Clayza Bobb in action for Guyana against Argentina in the 2021 Indoor Pan Am Women’s Hockey Championship
ANSA McAL
pumps $150 000
into Allicock’s Olympic preparation ANSA McAL’s Treiston Joesph hands over the cheque to boxer Keevin Allicock yesterday Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limited, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 226-3243-9 (General); Editorial: 227-5204, 227-5216. Fax:227-5208
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SATURDAY, JUNE 26, 2021