Guyana-Chronicle_Epaper_09_25_2020

FRIDAY 25th September, 2020

' No.106133

‘Ponzi Scheme’ couple Over $20B in illegal contracts to be investigated released on $30M bail

Lusignan Prison escapee

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arrested in Buxton backlands

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Review the results –– students, parents protest examination results issued by CXC

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–– Education Ministry dissatisfied with grading; QC threatens legal action, leaving CXC

Students of Queen’s College during a protest on the school’s campus on Thursday (Carl Croker photo)

Over 400 laid off sugar workers to be hired by Christmas

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 25, 2020

‘Ponzi Scheme’ couple released on $30M bail

ACFI Financial Adviser, Yuri Garcia Dominguez and his wife, ACFI Director, Ateeka Ishmael

ACCELERATED Capital Firm Inc (ACFI)’s Yuri Garcia Dominguez and Ateeka Ishmael were, on Thursday, ‘hauled’ before

the courts again to answer 15 more fraud-related charges.

This time around, the pair appeared before Magistrate Marissa Mittelholzer at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court where they were charged jointly but not required to plead to allegations that, between May and July, 2020, with intent to commit a felony, they conspired, with persons known and unknown, to obtain a total of over $10M from 15 victims, under false pretence.

The Cuban national and his Guyanese wife, who are represented by Attorneys-at-Law Glen Hanoman and Dexter Todd, were released on $750,000 bail each on Thursday and have had the case adjourned until October 8, 2020.

Within the past month, the couple made several appearances before several magistrates in the Georgetown and East Coast Magisterial Districts. The couple is accused of swindling monies from 86 victims in a multimillion dollar scam.

On Thursday, the couple posted a whopping $30M bail for those offences.

Many persons have come forward and lodged complaints against the couple with the police. Investigators were told that some 17,000 Guyanese collectively invested approximately US$20 million in the company but never saw any returns as was

promised.

The duo was first held by the police in early August following an investigation into widespread rumours that they were running a “Ponzi Scheme”.

A Ponzi scheme is a form of fraud in which investors are made to believe in the success of a non-existent enterprise, and encouraged to invest because of the payment of quick returns.

It was claimed that the first investors were only being paid from money invested by successive investors but the couple has vehemently denied this. They had said also that money for refund was ready to be disbursed.

The police here have listed Dominguez, a naturalised Guyanese of Cuban origin, and his wife, who is Guyanese by birth, as grave flight risks given that they have no assets in the country.

The couple is alleged to have been operating their investment company, ACFI, here in Guyana from as far back as 2017 without the required licence from the Guyana Securities Council (GSC).

ACFI has been attributing its failure to remit refunds to clients to the absence of a bank account.

Several local commercial banks have closed whatever accounts they had held with them, the company had claimed.

Review the results

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 25, 2020

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–– students, parents protest examination results issued by CXC

–– Education Ministry dissatisfied with grading; QC threatens legal action, leaving CXC

By Tamika Garnett BACKED by the support of the Ministry of Education, their parents and their schools, scores of students from Queen’s College and The Bishops’ High protested, on Thursday, outside of the Examinations Division, QC Compound, calling on the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) to review their results from the 2020 examinations.

The Ministry of Education (MoE) in a statement on Thursday registered “dissatisfaction” with the “apparent poor grading of students at the 2020 CSEC and CAPE examinations”.

“The MoE is concerned that there seems to be discrepancies with the grades that were awarded in particular subject areas to students across the country. Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, has since spoken to the Registrar of CXC [Dr. Wayne Westley] and has expressed her concerns,” a statement from the ministry released on Thursday noted.

The ministry made it clear that Guyana wants the matter addressed.

“Students in Guyana and across the region are currently traumatised and disenchanted, something we cannot accept. The Ministry of Education will leave no stone unturned and will pursue solutions with CXC until there is an acceptable resolution to the matter,” the release further declared.

In a brief message posted on its social media page, CXC reminded that: “If candidates have questions regarding their results, CXC has a long-established process in place for addressing these concerns.”

The students and key stakeholders are contending that there are several cases where students were awarded low grades unjustifiably.

They are claiming that statistical evidence shows several affected students having done exceptionally well in previous years, suddenly being awarded grades as low as Grade Six from the 2020 examinations. The examinations had followed a modified structure due to COVID-19 pandemic situation.

“CXC failed us as an examinations body. We heard

QC student Tylor Grandison

President of The Bishops’ High Old Students’ Association, Kadeem Davis

Principal of QC, Jackie Ralph

Students from The Bishops’ High display placards in protest of the results issued by CXC for the 2020 examinations (Tamica Garnett photo)

persons saying that we might have been victim to circumstances, if we were, then the circumstance was CXC,” charged Zane Ramotar, Head Prefect at QC and an Upper Six student who wrote eight units at this year’s Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE).

Of the suite of exams administered by the Council to students across the Caribbean, CAPE and the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) are the ones most commonly written here in Guyana. Some 11, 998 students and another 851 were scheduled to write CSEC and CAPE respectively this year.

OTHER CARIBBEAN NATIONS AFFECTED The uneasy with the grades is not only in Guyana.

The Education Ministries in several other Caribbean nations such as Trinidad and

Tobago (TT), Jamaica, and St Lucia, have all reported similar unbelievably low grades being awarded to students.

“I have personally spoken to CXC on the matter.

It is causing distress, which is regrettable, especially for the students involved who are already stressed in this year of the pandemic,” TT Ministry of Education said in a statement issued.

Officials from QC met with Minister Manickchand on Wednesday evening via a virtual meeting, where they brought to her attention the situation in Guyana, which they say occurred at schools all across the country.

“This is not just QC sucking on sour grapes because they had a bad year. This is an injustice. It is a direct attack on our young people when they cannot get the just rewards for the efforts that they have put into this exam.

This is not only QC, this is Bishops’, this is Saints, this is Rose’s, this is Guyana,” posited Kwabina Griffith, head of QC Parent-Teachers’ Association (PTA).

Griffith was, at the time, speaking at a press conference held at QC on Thursday to publicise the grievances of the students and teachers and to announce the school’s position on the matter.

Also speaking at the press conference was Kadeem Davis, President of The Bishops’ High Old Students’ Association.

“We demand justice for all the students who sat this year's examinations. Our students deserve to be proud of the efforts of their work.

We must ensure everyone receives the accurate results that reflect their efforts and the work they have put in.

We will ensure that the Council rectifies its mistake,” Da-

vis established.

Customarily written annually in May/June, in 2020 CXC examinations were postponed and subsequently written in July/August, after schools across the Caribbean regions were closed indefinitely since March due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The Council also took the decision to modify the exams and have the scores awarded based on students’ performance in pre-examinations School Based Assessments (SBA) and a multiple choice Paper One, whereas the examinations ordinarily also includes a Paper Two. The students and their stakeholders are calling on CXC to disclose the weighting and scoring criteria assigned to each component of the examinations.

“Under normal circumstances Paper One has 40 per

cent, Paper Two 40 per cent and SBA 20 per cent. CXC said the weighting will be the same. If we are not doing the Paper Two how could the weighting be the same,” Ramotar questioned.

Also vouching for the students was QC External Examinations Coordinator, Samantha Liverpool.

“I am seeing results I’ve never seen. I asked [CXC] for the marking scheme. What is the weighting of the Paper 1 to the Paper Two. We are asking that they prove our school did not meet the criteria based on their moderation.

They need to prove to us where we went wrong. We are asking for you to go back to the marking, to the scripts and show us where we went wrong,” Liverpool said.

SEVERE TOLL The situation she said has taken a severe toll on several of the students.

“Some of them this morning are already in a depressed mode. When students can make statuses where life is over, ‘my career has ended’, that speaks volumes. I stand by my students this morning,” the educator said.

Speaking on behalf of the CSEC students, at the press conference, was Tylor Grandison, who shared that she does not believe her grades appropriately represented her efforts.

“When I first saw my grades I was shocked. I took five mins and look at the screen, took five minutes stared at a wall and look back just to make sure I was seeing my grades. I thought not that it was the end of the world but it was discouraging. How can I continue when I thought I did exceedingly well and get substandard grades,” Grandison shared.

QC Principal, Jackie Ralph shared that the school has already retained the services of a lawyer and is giving CXC an ultimatum of announcing the review within 48 hours or the matter will be taken to court.

The school also boldly declared that it will be lobbying the Ministry of Education for Guyana to “take our business elsewhere” and find another alternative examinations body, if CXC does not straighten up and fly right.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 25, 2020

Walrond-Lewis appointed director of NCERD -- former Chief Education Officer, Olato Sam returns as education specialist QUENITA Walrond-Lewis has been appointed Director of the National Centre

for Educational Resource Development (NCERD) and former Chief Educa-

tion Officer, Olato Sam has returned to the Ministry of Education to serve as

education specialist in the Office of the Minister.

Walrond-Lewis will take up her post on the October 1, 2020. She is an education consultant and project manager by profession and has worked with the Ministry of Education (Guyana) to effect positive change and development across the three key levels (nursery, primary, and secondary).

In various previous education leadership capacities, she has worked to build collaborative working relationships with education stakeholders, nationally and regionally. In her work in Early Childhood Development (ECD) she has built critical linkages with other governmental and non-governmental ECD stakeholders in Guyana, as well as the regional CARICOM ECD working group. She also liaises with key stakeholders within the Ministry of Education both centrally and regionally to inform decisions about the execution of education initiatives nationwide.

Walrond- Lewis holds a BSc, Psychology and a Masters of Arts in Child Study and Education from the University of Toronto. She has successfully worked with learners from pre-kindergarten to university levels.

Before returning to Guyana in 2012, she was a classroom educator in both special education and general education environments and as an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto (Mississauga Campus). She has also worked as a parent educator, instilling and sharing best practices in Early Childhood Education, as well as serving as a critical positive link between families, the community, and the school system.

Mrs. Walrond- Lewis describes her return to NCERD in the capacity of Director as “…both an honour and privilege” because she recognises the incontestable significance the institution holds for the propulsion of education development in Guyana.

NERVE CENTRE NCERD is rightly described as the ‘nerve centre’ of the ministry because it should be the focus of education innovation, research, and tangible solutions for driving positive education outcomes for learners throughout the country. It is

from the talented and dedicated educators at NCERD, informed by leading national, regional and international research and practice, that pedagogy and teaching methodologies are evaluated.

They are then shaped for the unique culture and context of Guyana, and ultimately used to enhance teaching and learning that would provide greater opportunities for students to succeed.

Mrs. Walrond- Lewis

Latin America and Caribbean Studies from New York University. He is now a Ph.D candidate of the University of the West Indies, Mona Jamaica where his thesis on Education Policy and Planning is under examination.

Sam began his career in education as a high school teacher in 1991 at the Walton High School, Bronx New York, USA. In 1999, he became an elementary school teacher at the Our Lady of

Education Specialist, Olato Sam

New NCERD Director, Quenita Walrond-Lewis

has stated that she is grateful for the mentorship and collegial support she has enjoyed from her predecessor, Jennifer Cumberbatch. She is looking forward to the continuation of the strong partnerships she has enjoyed with the officers of NCERD, the Ministry of Education and Departments of Education, as well as frontline educators across Guyana.

The previous Director of NCERD, Cumberbatch, a retired head-teacher who occupied the post for eight years, will be shifting into the position of a Quality Assurance Consultant.

Meanwhile, Sam is an educator, administrator and leader in the education fraternity with over 25 years of service in the field. His leadership abilities have effectively organised, directed and enhanced education systems, institutions, policy structures and programs in various institutions.

During his years in the sector, Sam has demonstrated success in programme management while keeping pace with educational innovations. He is a strong motivator and team-player with a developmental approach towards improved education output.

Sam holds a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree in Sociology, Anthropology and Education from Swarthmore College, Pennsylvania and a Master’s Degree in International Education/Concentration in

Grace Elementary School in the same district until 2002.

He was also a graduate tutor at the New York University Metropolitan Centre for Education.

LEADERSHIP In 2007 he took up office in Guyana as a technical adviser to the Minister of Education until 2010 and in 2011 to September 2016, he served as the Chief Education Officer for the Ministry of Education.

During his tenure as CEO, Mr. Sam provided leadership to the professional arm of the Ministry, devised education policies in collaboration with the minister of education, education officers and other stakeholders.

Sam is currently a lecturer at the University of Guyana for the Masters in Education and Bachelors in Education programmes.

He has served as chairman of the Guyana School of Agriculture; commissioner on the Teaching Service Commission, Guyana; a member on the Caribbean Examinations Council’s Final Awards Committee; chairman of the Board of Governors of the Cyril Potter College of Education; member of the CARICOM Taskforce on Teacher Education and Training; and as a member of the CARICOM Task Force on the Establishment of Teaching Councils.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 25, 2020

CXC results render local students ambivalent

–– some say they’re excited; others fear they’re ‘about to lose it’

By Tamica Garnett WHEN the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) released the results of their varying 2020 examinations on Tuesday, many of the local students excitedly signed into the virtual portal provided, eager to see what were the fruits of the hard labour they had put in while preparing for their exams under unusually trying circumstances.

But what started out as excitement for some, turned into a mental-health crisis for many, as when Foluke John saw her results, it sent the 18-year-old aspiring orthodontist into a panic attack, and it was only the comfort of realising that her other colleagues were also having issues with their grades that she was able to calm down.

“The only reason I came down quickly was because of the influx of messages of persons with similar issues.

I was like, ‘It's not that I'm dumb; it's a class-wide problem,” Foluke jocularly said.

Now able to laugh about it, she is looking forward to the issue being addressed.

She sees the situation greatly affecting the future prospects of her career path if not rectified.

“I'm an aspiring orthodontist, and the dental school at UG only accepts the best of the best,” the distraught young lady said, adding: “I worked hard this year, only for this to be the result; I don't know any university that will accept those grades.

UG has already asked for my Grades; I don't know what I'll do while I wait for this to be rectified.”

It is now a well-known fact that hordes of students from all across the Caribbean have received Grades for their CXC 2020 exams that they say defeat all logical reasoning.

The students have all galvanised their parents, teachers, schools and respective governments into demanding that the CXC review and reveal what grading criteria was utilised in 2020, when a modified version of their exams was conducted in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Customarily administering exams to schools students annually in May/June, this year, the CXC was forced to postpone their examinations, after the COVID-19 pandemic caused school closures across the Caribbean.

The examinations body

about it, because I had a really good IA mark, and the Maths paper had a lot of repeated questions. Inasmuch as I believe what CXC did was wrong, I'm still scared as a student that I would be punished for speaking out,” said the student from the UWI Open Campus Pre-University Centre, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

19-year-old Areeb Ali

later took the decision to hold the exams in July/August, and modified it to award grades based on the students’ performance in pre-exam assessments, and a Paper One, and cancelling the regular Paper Two component.

The students are now calling on CXC to show exactly what took place with this year's exams, and how they arrived at the grades the students received.

When Queen's College student Areeb Ali wrote 21 subjects in 2018, he finished fourth in the country, after attaining 17 Grade Ones, three Grade Twos and a Grade Three; he followed that up by attaining three Grade Ones, three Grade Twos and a Grade Three in 2019, in his first year writing the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE).

18-year-old Foluke John

Sixth, and attained straight Grade Ones in all five of his Unit One subjects, so when he wrote five Unit Two subjects in 2020, after studying almost every night in preparation for the exam, the two Grade Ones and three Grade Threes he was awarded still have him in disbelief.

“When I logged in and saw the grades, my chest felt heavy. I signed out, and signed in again to make sure that they were my actual results, because I knew there had to be a mistake. I began wondering if I had messed up the Paper Ones, even though I knew I aced them,” the 18-year-old aspiring neurosurgeon recalled.

Toneisha Jacobis received full marks in her Internal Assessment (IA) for Accounting Unit 1, so when she wrote the multiple-choice Paper 1, which she says comABSOLUTELY prised a number of questions MIND-BOGGLING used in previous papers, her So it has been boggling confidence level was on high the mind of the 19- year-old in her expectations for her as to how he could've ever grade. ended up with three Grade Instead, she is was left Twos, two Grade Threes, dumbfounded to find out she two Grade Fours and a Grade was ungraded, one of four Five when he wrote his Unit results from her performance 2 subjects this year at CAPE. at this year's CAPE that she is “I don't think any of these not prepared to accepted. grades reflected the student I am,” Areeb declared.

MOST POPULAR Notwithstanding not beCAPE and the Caribbean ing able to understand it, he Secondary Examinations was not at all surprised at Certificate (CSEC) are the the Grades he saw when he two most popular exams signed into the CXC virtual written by students across portal on Tuesday. He had al- the region. ready seen endless messages The situation has not from his colleagues, warning been relegated only to Guyathat something was gravely nese students. In Trinidad & wrong with the Grades that Tobago, one student reported they were seeing. writing five units at CAPE, “Before I checked it, I and while she got two Grade saw people sending messages Ones and a Grade Two, she that their grades were messed is making it clear she's not up, so I wasn't too surprised accepting the Grade Five that to see the same; so it didn't CXC awarded her in Pure affect me much,” the West Mathemtics.

Demerara lad said.

“CXC made a mistake Jeremy Singh wrote his with my grade when it comes first set of CAPE in Lower to Maths; I'm really confused

Over in Jamaica, a student of the St. Andrews High School for Girls said she received an 80 per cent pass in her IA for History Unit, so she, too, is in disbelief of the Grade Four she was awarded in the subject.

“I was really upset with my history grade, because I knew that exam was easy; I am positive I sit in the Grade

One region,” she said.

Even as they await to see what CXC will do about the situation, the students are comforted in knowing that they are not alone in their fight, and that what has happened to them is not because hard work doesn't pay off.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 25, 2020

Opportunistic politicians and the Amerindian community THE APNU’s cutting of the budgetary allocation for Amerindian empowerment and development should have been expected, given the PNC-led government’s history of suppressing Guyana’s First Peoples in multiple ways, Yet, every year, nearing elections, PNC/R political configurations target the Amerindian communities, attempting to convince them that a PPP/C Government would neglect them.

The Amerindian vote is perceived to be facilitators to shifting the ‘balance of power’ to a third force in the local political arena so, regardless of the well-documented and highly-visible reality that successive PPP/C Governments have sustained an unprecedented dynamism in the provision of services and social enhancement interventions in Amerindian communities, the PNC-led coalition politicians and their allies in the media continually attempt to mislead them into believing that the opposite is true by obfuscating the facts and presenting false promises of caring for their welfare, when in essence, their manipulations and strategising always led to a derailment and/or an inhibitor of PPP/C

Dear editor,

administrations’ hinterland development drive.

One such instance was when the APNU-affiliated APA, the head honcho of which was a candidate on a APNU electoral list, along with other protagonists, brewed a concoction of nefarious arguments and strategies to stymie the momentum of Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), which was programmed by the PPP/C administration to benefit Amerindians in very tangible ways, because the funds accrued therefrom was projected to impel development in Amerindian communities at a highly-accelerated rate.

The APA and other protagonists, who were supporters of a political party in opposition to the former PPP/C administration, had hoped their false narratives would have been the catalyst that would have led to the removal of the PPP/C Government at the 2011 General Elections.

This was the agenda behind their prognostications, strategising, and protestations of caring for Guyana’s Indigenous Peoples.

It is a sad reality in this country, and in many other developing nations, that in-

dividuals representing funding agencies arrive in the host countries, either with pre-conceived ideas from false information fed to them by opportunistic lobby forces with agendas; or, upon their arrival, they immerse themselves in the socialising cocktail circuit and, without doing any comprehensive, non-prejudicial ground assessments, they join with self-serving individuals and organisations to direct funding whereby monies meant to help the disempowered and the vulnerable find itself into the pockets of a few persons who term themselves administrators of skillfully-concocted ‘programmes,’ and organisations, ostensibly established to provide assistance to the needy.

On the basis of political affiliation funding agencies deny the WPO any type of funding, but they should examine the agenda of the APA and then determine whether it is representing the rights of Guyana’s Indigenous Peoples or pursuing the duplicitous agenda of the political party of which it is seemingly an arm.

After much effort by the PPP/C administration, the Norwegians recognised the solid case Guyana has to benefit financially from

its rainforests through the Jagdeo-led Government’s LCDS, and, much to the credit of that country, they acted upon that recognition.

The APA and political parties, then in opposition to the President Bharrat Jagdeo administration and other detractors went into a frenzy to deny the First People and other communities the benefits that eventually accrued from the Norwegian deal by attempting in various ways to sabotage the deal; and one could justifiably question the agenda and ask why they wanted to deny the Guyanese people badly-needed funds to mitigate the effects of climate change that is devastating our agricultural sector and our hinterland communities, in particular, and the Guyanese nation in general. On the other hand, Jagdeo-conceptualised and driven LCDS generated the funds from the Norwegian deal that enabled the creation of the Presidential Grant, which boosts and drives hinterland village economies.

This beneficent largesse to Guyana’s First Peoples on the part of Guyana’s former Head-of-State has gone largely ignored by the hostile media, while their anti-PPPC/ anti-people frenzy escalated

daily.

The greatest betrayal to Amerindians, and all Guyanese, however, was that of the establishment by the ACDA-affiliated coalition government of the Lands Commission of Inquiry, which has been denounced by the PPP/C and other relevant bodies, especially the National Toshaos Council (NTC) as being divisive and a potential threat to Amerindian land and socio-economic rights, as well as the rights of other Guyanese land owners as the ‘Pradoville’ homes, for instance; and the lands one trade unionist is usurping from legal owners on the basis that they were Guyana’s first peoples and therefore entitled to all “ancestral lands”, regardless of legalities, which called into question the relevance of the former PNC-led government’s ‘social cohesion’ construct, which was clearly failing in its mandate.

The United Nations has unequivocally supported Guyana’s Amerindian Act on the basis that Guyana has the second best Indigenous Act in the world, and the PPP/C Government is keeping faith with this Act. The former PPP/C Government addressed the issue of Amerindian land rights

when no-one else cared, with millionaire logging families grabbing Amerindian lands and mining companies destroying Indigenous survival systems, including vital water sources.

While everyone is pursuing agendas inimical to the welfare of the Amerindian peoples, including funding agencies that support these individuals and bodies, the current Ali-led Government continues on its path to provide relief to Guyana’s first peoples and to create systems and drive programmes that continually empower the Indigenous Peoples who, for decades before the advent of the PPP/C administration, were a marginalised, almost forgotten people in this land.

The developmental imperatives of this nation were greatly accelerated with the government’s LCDS-generated income it won for this country; but in whatever way funding is generated, the Amerindian people’s welfare would always be given priority by the Irfaan Ali-led administration, because their contribution to the national development paradigm is always given due recognition and respect by successive PPP/C administrations.

Baleshwar facilitated scholarships for Guyanese in India

NOT many Guyanese know of Baleshwar Agrawal and his contributions to relations between India and Guyana and other parts of Indian diaspora. Baleshwar Agrawal, whose birth centenary is being celebrated this year (born in July 1921), is an unsung hero who made incalculable contributions in India’s relations with Guyana and in promoting India’s soft power -- religions, litera-

ture, music, art, and other aspects of culture. Through his efforts and that of others, the investment made by India in Guyana has helped our country’s economic growth and development and allowed thousands, including President Irfaan Ali, to get post-secondary education.

It was the work of Baleshwar that helped change the way India saw overseas-based Indians. He committed more than 50 years of his life to developing

friendly relations with overseas territories where Indians had resided for decades. He travelled to Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad, Fiji, Mauritius, and other Indian diaspora territories meeting prominent community and political leaders offering support for and encouraging linkage with Mother India. He met Dr. Jagan, Pt. Reepu. Yesu Persaud, Swami Aksharnand, Ravi Dev, and a host of prominent personalities.

Those of us who met Baleshwar and knew of his

work will always remember his outstanding service and efforts towards consolidation of relations between India and Guyana and her widespread diaspora. He is a source of inspiration for others, regardless of ethnicity and faith, to follow. Those who benefitted from his work remember him well.

Although I also studied and worked in educational management in India, I was not a direct beneficiary of his activism, but I remember him well through others who

benefitted.

Baleshwar advocated for and encouraged the Indian government to grant scholarships in language, culture, music, and religion to study in India, making it possible for so many Guyanese to obtain tertiary education. He advocated for Indian scholars under the ICCR program to be sent abroad to teach Indian history and culture at national public university.

Several came to UG and to UWI St Augustine and

Mona campuses – paid for by the government of India.

He also championed Indian financial assistance to developing countries in the Caribbean, Latin America, Pacific, Asia, and Africa, with Guyana being a major beneficiary. Aside from Afghanistan, Guyana is the largest recipient of aid from India. African countries are also major beneficiaries receiving billions in American dollars annually from See page 7

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 25, 2020

Baleshwar facilitated scholarships...

From page 6 India’s generosity.

Baleshwar was most impressed with Indo-Caribbean people, especially our cultural and name retention in spite of the adversity of colonial rule and experiences with racism post-independence. He tried to strengthen India’s cultural and economic relations with countries where Indians were settled. He encouraged trade with Guyana and other diaspora countries. He recognised that a powerful flow of trade and investment benefits economies hugely, sustaining jobs and creating wealth while linking India with other diaspora countries.

He encouraged overseas Indians to study in India. He arranged for their scholarships and even for their stay.

Several Guyanese received scholarships to study in India through his intervention. He would check up on the welfare and comfort of foreign students in India that had come from the PIO countries and even took them out to historic sites to enjoy the beauty of Mother India.

Pandit Bharat Singh of West Coast relates his encounter with Baleshwar. “I met him twice and he did everything to make me feel at home when I was in Delhi on a scholarship to study Hindi.

He was very warm, friendly, and pleasant, a fatherly figure. There were Indians from Fiji, Mauritius, and African countries and other places. He was good to all.

He organized for us to visit Jammu. He was a very kind, generous man. I can never forget him”.

Baleshwar also initiated the idea of a gathering of

parliamentarians of Indian descent that was first held in 2000 in Parliament Annex, Delhi. A second such summit of global Indian parliamentarians, championed by Ravi Dev and myself at a 2017 parley of Indian scholars hosted by the Modi government, was held in January 2018 in Delhi at which two dozen Guyanese MPs were guests with all expenses paid by the Modi government.

Ravi Dev also remembers Baleshwar from a meeting they had in Bangalore around 1997. Baleshwar talked of his interest in holding a global summit of parliamentarians of Indian descent that would be held in 2000. “He was among the nicest people I met. He was very smart, bright, scholarly with a deep interest in affairs of the Indian diaspora. I was not aware at the time of his enormous role in linkage with the Indian diaspora. But he was familiar with Guyana and he had written a book on Indians in Guyana as well as similar books on Indians in Suriname, Trinidad, and Fiji.

They were good pioneering works.”

I learned about Baleshwar-ji through Pandit Ramlall of Skeldon who studied Hindi in India under a government of India scholarship in 1971. Baleshwar had visited Guyana to learn about the diaspora and Pandit Ramlall met him about promoting Hindi and culture. Ramlall told me that Baleshwar made his stay in India comfortable. “I was at a guest house sharing a room with another student. He was a non-veg and I could not stand the smell of meat. I brought it to the attention of Baleshwar-ji and he rectified the problem. Through his intervention, I was shifted to

another room.”

My encounter with Baleshwar was similar to that described by others. I knew Baleshwar through Chaman Lal, International Director of Vishawa Vibhag (World Division) of the Sangh Parivar, who I had met in Delhi several times in 1985, 1990, 1995, and almost annually thereafter, sometimes two or three times a year. (I also met Baleshwar at the PBDs in 2003, 2004 and 2005 – parleys to recognise and celebrate Indian achievements abroad). Chaman Lal was while Baleshwar was interested in the welfare of Indians abroad. President Jagdeo was Chief Guest at PBD in 2004. Chaman Lall and Baleshwar were collaborators in bettering relations with Indians in the diaspora; Baleshwar was more interested in promoting culture and language while Chaman Lal was more involved in promoting Hinduism. They were not competitors but had similar missions and aided each other in the goal of their organisations. They both had the support of then PM Atal Vajpayee and Deputy PM Lal Krishnan Advani, both of who interacted with Guyanese in New York and in Delhi.

Pt. Vikash of West Coast also had pleasant memories

of Baleshwar-ji visiting him in his office reminiscing about Guyana. “He was a great man. He was very encouraging and helpful to foreign students. Many saw him and Chamal Lal as God-sent. You won’t find those kinds of characters anywhere. They answer your requests.”

Swami Aksharnand also stated he had pleasant, fruitful encounters with Baleshwarji who he recollects visited Guyana around 2001 and early 1980s.

Yesu Persaud, then Chair of DDL Holdings in Guyana, said he remembers meeting Baleshwar around 2001 when he come as a member of a delegation from then Prime Minister Vajpayee to discuss India-diaspora relations that would lead to the holding of the first PBD in 2003 and annually thereafter. “He was very a cool, well-mannered Indian gentleman. He spoke very well about wanting to see closer economic and cultural relations between Guyana and India. He was a very respectable and honorable man”.

Baleshwar also visited New York and met with the Guyanese diaspora. Pt. Ravi-ji Maharaj said he also has fond memories of Baleshwar-ji. “I met him sever-

al times. I was stationed in Benaras for several years –1972 to 83. I would come to Delhi often and I would meet him and Chaman Lal in separate meetings. They facilitated me and they were very hospitable. I seem to recall Baleshwar-ji had some kind of affiliation with Friends of India Society International and that he would later found ARSP. He would organise meetings and seminars. He was very passionate about his work for overseas Indians.”

It was through the work of Baleshwar in India and his travels overseas that India has deepened ties to the diaspora. Guyana and other diaspora countries are different today from the time when Baleshwar visited.

Today, India provides dozens of scholarships annually, several to study Hindi, to Guyanese. India is closer today with her diaspora thanks to the work of Baleshwar-ji.

And Guyana is a beneficiary of India’s generosity of his work as well as that of people like Ravi Dev, Swami Aksharnand, and myself, all of us who championed for greater financial assistance and loans from India.

Shri Baleshwar Agrawal, who became the founder and secretary-general of Antar-Rashtriya Sahayog Parishad (ARSP or Indian Council for International Cooperation), was a source of inspiration for many. He helped to make the Indian diaspora proud of who they are as a people. He has reinforced the importance of the philosophical idea of giving back to community and how to be a better person. For this, the diaspora and the Guyanese people, including her diaspora, remain indebted to him.

Yours truly, Dr. Vishnu Bisram

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 12:00hrs

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 25, 2020

Christmas comes three times this year to Guyana Dear editor,

OUR Parliament is full of preachers and teachers but Guyanese wonder, for whom the bells toll! One hope is that the ministers and other MP’s would be a true representation of the pinnacle of character, morality, dignity, decency, compassion, honesty, democracy, arts and science.

This forum should portray the epitome of who we are as a nation, what we stand for and most importantly, who we want to be. The political parties occupy their respective seats because of the electoral votes from the people and as such, it is only fair that they demonstrate the free will of the people and their (Ministers and MP’s) opinions and actions are in sync with those of the people. What stories will the walls tell and whose faces will the mirrors reflect?

Let’s not have partisan politics but participative gover-

nance from both sides of the floor. As the debate continues, Guyanese are becoming more cognisant of the obnoxious mismanagement from the previous administration and the speaker is either being tested or challenged by the inadequacy and temerity of bombastic behaviour. Is this period a learning process or the opportunity to vent volcanic feelings or is this the foundation for “war break” and another vein of thwarted democracy?

The “Grinch” stole Christmas in 2018 and again in 2019 but will not succeed in the performance of a “hat trick.”

He washed his dirty linen in Berbice and went into early hibernation and atoning as a recluse but, without the attributes of an ascetic hermit.

Luckily, the capable PPP/C government has answered the call and came to the rescue of Guyanese. The party has decided that Guyana must be compensated for the loss of

the previous two years and as such, Guyanese will be blessed with the coming of “Father Christmas” not once, not twice but yes, three times this year. How lucky can the people of this country be for having a government who understands the needs of the people, who cares for them, who wants to provide and takes care of them and who wants to protect them by doing what is right and just for all of them. Did Guyanese realise that old “Saint Nicholas” came twice already this year from the North Pole?

An Afro-Guyanese Santa Clause came early September to celebrate Christmas in the form of Minister Of Public Works, Juan Edghill, when he presented Guyana’s 2020 National Budget and delivered his bag of goodies for all of Guyana. He made sure that no child was left behind via his education package and his elf, Minister Manickchand, will manage the distribution

and ensure that each child will receive his or her toy, regardless if he or she was credited for good behaviour during the year. COVID-19 has taken a brutal toll throughout the world and Guyana is no exception. Already, the death toll is 70 and increasing daily. Who will live to see the New Year, no one knows for sure and not everyone cares. If they did, then, all of Guyana will be adhering to the strict protocols demanded by this pandemic. Many people are out of work, out of money and out of place. That is why, Santa Clause, in his oversized bag of gifts, is spreading joy with food hampers, tax cuts, increases in numerous allowances, providing for the pensioners, reopening the sugar estates, redistributing the overseas help and bringing a smile to each person’s face.

It’s a good thing Santa Clause has a broad shoulder to fetch that bulging bag of unlimited “sweetie”.

Who doesn’t like the warmth of the Caribbean, especially when old man, Winter, is knocking at the door? Yes, at the North Pole, it is extremely cold for comfort and Saint Nicholas did scamper for a short break last week at the invitation of Santa Clause. He brought Christmas for the second time this year to Guyana when he took the form of a Caucasian Father Christmas and came as US Secretary of State, Mr. Mike Pompeo. He came to congratulate the people of Guyana for

making a wise decision and to celebrate with them the freshness of democracy after being suppressed for the past five years by the “Grincher” and to enjoy the freedom from the oppressed state of siege from the cabal of ruthless, reckless, heartless and merciless band of villains who bludgeoned the lives of Guyanese, denied them their happiness and pilfered their booty. Accompanying him also was the familiar sight of his over-sized bag that was spilling peace, joy and happiness wherever he went and whom he met, pledging his broad shoulders for Guyana to lean on for their economic development.

His gifted generosity to all Guyanese included announcing a significant US$3M for a “locally-led program for citizens’ involvement in the government” and US$1.5M so that “the youth of Guyana will be involved in democracy as well.” He will also chart a course for the catfish to swim once again to America and there is nothing fishy about the agreements to be signed on physical infrastructure, energy sector and a digital economy.

The sound of “Jingle Bells” and “Ho Ho Ho” clashed when the two “Father Christmas” collided. There was no more “belly space” for ‘breathing space” and so, Santa Clause and Saint Nicholas decided that Guyana will be blessed for a third time this year when Father Christmas will allay (Ali) any fear and

come as an Indo Guyanese Christmas Father this December to bring more gifts and to really spread the true spirit and meaning of the season so that Guyanese will once again get to enjoy a real Guyanese Christmas after the absence of five long years. Yes, Guyanese will once again get to greet that familiar face of a big, bulging figure dressed in red and white with his black boots and long white beard and his eye-catching bag of gifts.

The Grinch will be banished in seclusion, the masquerades will jump for joy in the streets, the carols will be serenaded, the Christmas parties will be in swing at the work places and in homes, the smell of black cake, sponge and fruit cakes will dominate the air, ‘good ole Guyana rum’ and ginger-beer will overflow, gift exchanges will be anticipated, the stores will have their cash registers jingling, the markets will be crowded, the beautiful Christmas carols will accompany the festivity, all Guyanese will shake hands and kiss and wish each other, ”Happy Christmas,” and okay, Guyana will momentarily drop its guard for COVID-19.

Even the “pick pockets” will have their hands full.

As Guyanese would say, “all the best” and the rest will test the PPP/C’s nest.

Respectfully, Jai Lall

Syndicato gang shoots at patrol vessel in Cuyuni River GUYANA’s security forces have intensified boat patrols in the Cuyuni River, after a Joint Service patrol came under fire from the Venezuelan shore, reportedly from Syndicato gang members.

According to the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), the security forces, during a routine joint patrol in the Cuyuni River (Guyana/Venezuela border), on Wednesday, came under attack but none of the ranks was injured.

Guyana’s border with Venezuela is more than 1,000 kilometers long and patrols are conducted on a routine basis, by ranks of the GDF and the Guyana Police Force,

the Army noted.

“Wednesday’s occurrence is not new and several measures are being explored towards a resolution,” the GDF noted.

Earlier this month, for the second time in two days, two officers attached to the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) came under fire in the Cuyuni River across the Venezuelan shore at a location called “Baboon”.

The first shooting incident occurred on September 3 when GGMC employees were travelling from Eteringbang to conduct mining inspections in the Cuyuni River.

On Friday, September 4, while they were en route to their base, they were once again targeted. They suspect that the shots were fired by the dangerous Syndicato gang operating in Venezuela.

Both incidents were reported to the police. As such, a decision was made to increase joint patrols in the Kurshi area.

A similar incident occurred in May 2016 when officers of the GGMC narrowly escaped injury after they came under attack from members of the Venezuelan army, in the vicinity of Eteringbang, in the Cuyuni River.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 25, 2020

Foreign minister addresses XX CELAC confab

–– discusses measures to contain COVID-19 pandemic FOREIGN AFFAIRS and International Cooperation Minister, Hugh Todd, on Thursday, participated in the XX Meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) held within the framework of the 75th Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA).

During the virtual meeting, the foreign ministers discussed measures to contain the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic as well as efforts aimed at the revitalisation of the regional body to further benefit Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries.

In a brief intervention, Minister Todd stated that “developing states, such as Guyana, value our en-

gagement in groupings like CELAC, since it is our view that it could play a critical role as a multilateral forum to promote greater partnerships with third world states and groupings”.

The foreign minister also acknowledged the challenges faced by Mexico, the current Pro Tempore President (PTP), whose tenure coincided with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He lauded Mexico’s ability to aggressively execute an agenda that, not only emphasises effective scientific research and development but also pursues innovation, which included a wide range of plans that includes an initiative to produce and distribute a vaccine aimed at benefitting the region.

Further, the attending

foreign ministers echoed the sentiments of Foreign Minister Todd and applauded the initiative of Argentina and Mexico in conjunction with Astra Zeneca Company, the University of Oxford, with support from the Carlos Slim Foundation, aimed at producing and distributing a COVID-19 vaccine for the region.

Additionally, the ministers discussed the Regional Clinical Study on Dermatological Conditions associated with COVID-19, and the establishment of the CELAC Network of Specialists in Infectious Agents and Emerging and Re-emerging Diseases, as a useful platform for sharing best practices and the development of new areas.

The foreign ministers

Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister, Hugh Todd

also discussed the importance of regional food security, the need for further developments in technology and innovation, and the improvement of health care within the region.

Launched in 2011, CELAC functions as a regional mechanism for political dialogue and cooperation between 33 Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries. CELAC

has helped to deepen dialogue within the region in areas such as social development, education, nuclear disarmament, farming, culture, finance, energy, and the environment.

Armed bandits pounce on sleeping men TWO bandits, in the wee hours of Thursday morning, robbed two persons at their Fair’s Rust Extension, McKenzie, Linden residence.

The robbery under arms was committed on a 48-year-old labourer and a 21-year-old male, both unemployed.

Reports indicated that both victims were asleep when the 21-year-old man was awakened by a knocking sound on the door. Upon checking, he was

confronted by one of the robbers in front of the door who held him at gunpoint.

The other bandit who was armed with the crowbar turned his attention to the labourer and demanded gold and cash while he ransacked the home.

The robber found a combined total of $114,000 in cash while the victims were also relieved of their cellphones.

The victims were taken outside where the suspect, armed

with the gun, discharged a round in the air and they both made good their escape, on foot, in a southern direction.

A report was made, via telephone, and the police visited the scene where one 9mm spent shell and one warhead were recovered.

Subsequently, at 02:05 hours, the said day, a man, fitting the description of one of the suspects, showed up at the Linden Hospital Complex with

Lusignan Prison escapee arrested in Buxton backlands

Arrested: Leroy Graham POLICE, on Thursday, arrested a 23-year-old inmate of the Lusignan Prison, who escaped in the wee hours, on Wednesday, from the facility.

The prisoner, Leroy Graham of Middle Walk Buxton, East Coast Demerara (ECD), was caught in the backlands of Bux-

ton, after security officials acted on intelligence given pertaining to his whereabouts.

Reports indicated that police ranks proceeded to a shack where the fugitive was the lone occupant at the time.

He was arrested and taken to Vigilance Police Station and was

later handed over to the Guyana Prison Service.

Graham is on remand for armed robbery. Graham was ‘admitted’ to the prison on August 20, 2020. His last known address is Middle Walk, Buxton ECD. “The prisoner broke out of a section of the burnt Lusignan Prison where he was housed for safety reasons. So far, evidence suggests that he jumped the southern fence and headed in the direction of the backlands,” a senior prison officer noted.

Home Affairs Minister, Robeson Benn, had announced that government will be building a new, modern detention facility to house inmates of the Lusignan Prison which has been overrun and crowded since the fires at Camp Street Prison.

The situation at Lusignan was worsened earlier this year, following a fire which destroyed one of the facility’s main buildings which housed an administrative office, kitchen and facilities for approximately 185 to 190 prisoners.

what appeared to be a gunshot injury to his left upper thigh.

He was seen by a doctor on duty and admitted as a patient,

under police guard, as investigations continue.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 25, 2020

Top NGSA performers made sacrifices, rose above challenges

By Alisa Lashley IN wake of Guyana’s first recorded novel coronavirus (COVID-19) case in March, schools were abruptly closed in an effort to protect the nation’s educators and learners.

This situation was particularly difficult for pupils who were preparing for the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA).

Pupils were able to adjust to the “new normal”, becoming conversant with online classes and lessons to prepare themselves for the upcoming examination.

Despite the challenges, a few of this year’s top performers disclosed that the pandemic was not a hindrance for them and so they were able to focus on their studies.

Syesha Yahya, who attended the ISA Islamic School, was among the country’s top performers. She secured the 85th spot with 513 marks and was awarded a place at Queen’s College.

Yahya described her achievement as a blessing which required hard work.

“I wasn’t able to go to school with my teachers and have face-to-face teaching sessions. The virtual teaching

was helpful, but it was not the same. I had to practice and do lots of late night revision. It took a lot of hard work and dedication, but in the end it was all worth it,” she expressed.

She further related that every day leading up to her exam, she would make sure that reverence was given to the Almighty.

“My teachers helped me all the way through, they gave me hope and the courage to aim for the skies and most importantly, my family played a major role in my success, especially my mother. They were my biggest supporters and they never doubted me,” Yahya said.

With a knack for the written Arts, Yahya disclosed that in the near future, she intends to pursue a career in journalism since she enjoys writing stories. In advising the NGSA Class of 2020, she noted, “I would tell them to work hard and study. It takes a lot of dedication if you want to succeed and most importantly don’t pressure yourself. I would recommend setting the bar high because the sky's the limit and don’t be nervous just do your best.”

Shivram Samuel Persaud, another student who excelled at this year’s sitting of the

Shivram Samuel Persaud

Syesha Yahya

Caralee Hunte

exam, said he was able to rise above his challenges and succeed. Persaud, who attended the Eden Garden Primary gained a spot at the St. Stanislaus College with 505 marks. Not being a native to Guyana and English being his second language, he said it was challenging for him to understand and perceive certain expressions that were sometimes used by his teachers. While it was not easy, he managed and gave his best at the exams.

“The moment I heard results were out, I felt ecstatic.

My adrenaline was pumping as though I was being chased by dogs. For a moment I felt so much excitement that I didn’t want to stop moving.

I felt so proud of myself.

The hard work I had put into studying had paid off and I was very happy to know that I gained a spot at one of my dream schools which is also my Dad’s former school,” he articulated. He is uncertain about his career choice.

However, it is fascinating to note that he is fluent in Spanish, Japanese, English, Italian and French.

In his final remarks, he noted that his success could not have been possible without the aid of his teachers,

parents and sisters who he praised highly given the vital roles they played.

Aspiring pediatrician and former student of Green Acres Primary School, Caralee Hunte said she made sacrifices ahead of the exam.

Hunte attained 510 which has secured her a place the Bishops’ High.

She disclosed to this publication, that she sacrificed her gadgets and leisure time as studying was a crucial part in preparing for the exams.

“I was very anxious for the day of the exam to arrive, because due to the coronavirus the exam was postponed.

And ever since quarantine began, I have been receiving school work via WhatsApp from my teacher Miss Revon Charles-Boyle which would then later be marked. This process continued on a daily basis.”

Hunte, further noted that her success could not have been possible without help from the Almighty, her teacher and her family. She expressed, “I want to thank my mom who would wake me up early in the morning to study and to prepare for school.

My two brothers, who would assist me with my school work, and finally my church family who would always keep me in their prayers.”

She told this publication that she experienced uncontainable joy after hearing her results because it was her wish to attend the Bishops’ High School.

Canada launches Women`s Voice and Leadership Project CANADA, in partnership with the Equality Fund and the Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice, launched the Women’s Voice and Leadership Project in eight countries in the Caribbean, including Guyana and Suriname on Thursday.

According to a release, the Women’s Voice and Leadership Caribbean Project is a part of a global programme funded by the Government of Canada and designed to provide support for local women’s organisations and movements that advance women’s rights.

The programme will strive to improve the performance, management and sustainability of regional Women`s Rights Organisations (WROs), particularly those representing the vulnerable and marginalised women and girls.

It will also work to increase effectiveness of regional networks and alliances to affect policy, legal and social change in the Caribbean Region. Following a competitive process, Red Thread, Makushi Research Unit (MRU), Wapichan Wiizi Women’s Movement, Guyana RainBow Foundation (GuyBow), Guyana Trans United (GTU) and Women’s Wednesdays Guyana were chosen for the implementation of the project in Guyana and Women`s Way Founda-

tion, Suriname Coalition of Sex Workers and Stichting Projekta were selected for Suriname.

Funding for these organisations will be provided for social change programmes and advocacy initiatives, capacity-building for women’s and LGBTQ organisations and building networks and alliances for policy and social change. The virtual launch included a panel discussion about the role of the Women’s Voice and Leadership project and featured Janine Cocker – Counsellor for Development Cooperation at the High Commission of Canada to Guyana and Suriname; Amina Doherty - Programme Director, Women’s Voice and Leadership Caribbean and Kerry Jo Ford Lyn - Director, Global Development Partnership, Director, Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice.

Cocker noted, “For many years Women’s Rights Organisations have been chronically underfunded which has been a key obstacle in the delivery of effective programming to advance gender equality.” She added that the project will “strengthen capacity, leadership and the agendas of women’s rights and LBTIQ groups across the world and specifically those in the Caribbean”.

Representatives of the chosen Women’s Rights Organisations also talked about

the work they are doing in their various communities.

Cocker stated, “These organisations will add and deepen our knowledge of some of the gender barriers in both countries so that we can overcome them.”

Canada shares the Caribbean’s vision of becoming an economic and climate resilient region by 2030, and firmly believes that promoting gender equality and empowering women and girls is the most effective approach to achieve this vision.

Achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment is at the heart of Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy and in the delivery of all of its international assistance.

As such, CAD$4.5M beneficiary funding was allocated for the Women`s Voice and Leadership Project which is a five-year long project (2019-2024), working with 27 Women`s Rights Organisations (WROs) in eight Caribbean countries.

Immediately, following the launch in Guyana and Suriname, the Women’s Voice and Leadership Project was also launched in Jamaica, Belize, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada and St. Lucia.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 25, 2020

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Seven new aircraft, two new airstrips in the works

MINISTER of Public Works Juan Edghill on Thursday announced that the government is in the process of “importing” seven spanking new aircrafts and constructing two new airstrips, all in the interest of raising the standards of the local airline industry.

He made the foregoing announcement while delivering the feature address at the Ogle Airport Inc. (OAI)’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), saying that he’s already taken the proposal for both projects to Cabinet, and has every confidence that they will be approved.

He was also keen to note that not only will the new airstrips be established, but that the necessary funding will also be directed towards the maintenance and development of all the country’s airstrips.

And, still on the subject of airstrips, Minister Edghill seized the opportunity to report that in keeping with a promise made by the government to create and provide more jobs for Guyanese, his ministry will be seeking to hire persons living in the hinterland to be a part of the teams that will be tasked with developing and maintaining the airstrips within their respective communities.

Also on the cards, he said, are plans for the expansion and development of at least seven sectors, these being agriculture, mining, forestry, manufacturing, tourism, petroleum and ICT. During a break of sorts in the meeting, which was held in the OAI’s Departure Lounge, Minister Edghill made the point that given the trajectory Guyana is on, it is imperative that the airline industry adjust and be prepared to serve the people of Guyana.

“We are moving to an area where Guyanese must travel their country, while travelling the world,” he said, and seeing that practically all the industry’s stakeholders were under the same roof that day, he used the opportunity to encourage airline operators in particular to engage with the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), in the interest of forming a strategic alliance in the furtherance of facilitating international travel

Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill arrangements.

He also reminded those members of the Aircraft Owners’ Association of Guyana Inc. (AOAG) present that while they continue to develop niches in the airline industry, that they must also stand ready to promote cooperation among themselves, by seeking to ensure that all operators within the industry are on the same page.

“Under my tenure as minister,” he said, “one of the things I will be seeking to do is to coordinate and ensure an upward thrust of Guyana’s Airline Industry,” Minister Edghill said.

OAI Chairman Mr. Michael Correia congratulated Minister Edghill on being elected to serve as Minister of Public Works, and said he looks forward to collaborating with him on the development of the aviation sector.

Also present at the meeting were GCAA Director-General, Colonel (ret’d) Egbert Field, and Air Transport Management Director, Mr. Saheed Sulaman among other GCAA staffers.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 25, 2020

Over 400 laid off sugar workers to be hired by Christmas ACTING Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), Sasenarine Singh has reported that some of the workers who were laid off in 2017 have already been rehired, as plans to reopen several sugar estates progress.

The CEO made this disclosure on Thursday during a tour of the Uitvlugt Estate.

Singh said former sugar workers will be given priority consideration, even as he provided an outline of the way forward.

“According to the work plan we have, 442 people will be rehired by Christmas of this year; that’s in about 11 weeks. They have already hired about 200 of those already but as the work expands, they will continue to hire.”

It was noted that when estates were closed in 2017, between 6,000 and 6,500 workers lost their jobs. Taking this into consideration, the plan for reopening will employ a holistic approach as the company looks to modernise and re-employ workers.

“By 2023-2024, when the full project is up and running and all three estates fully functional, I don’t think we will ever go back to the 6,500 but it will be more than 3,000 persons who will be coming back to the industry… because of the efficiencies that are coming into flow, this is why we will not be able to go back to the 6,500. Most importantly, a lot of people have evolved into new fields of work,” Singh said.

Over $20B in ‘illegal contracts’ to be investigated

By Navendra Seoraj

OVER $20 billion in “illegal contracts” issued by the former APNU+AFC administration over the past year will be investigated by the new People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) government.

Government’s intention was made known

by Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill during his presentation of a State of Expenditure for January1-Spemeber 30, 2020, to the National Assembly.

In fulfilment of its commitment to upholding the Constitution of Guyana, a Statement of Expenditure was prepared ahead of the passage of the Appropriation Bill and pursuant to Article 219 (3) which states: “…But a statement of the expenditure so authorised shall, as soon as practicable be laid before the National Assembly by the minister responsible for finance or any other minister designated by the President and when the statement has been approved by the assembly, that expenditure shall be included, under appropriate heads in the next Appropriation Bill.”

“There was no Appropriation Bill for the early part of 2020, but there was massive spending authorised by former Minister of Finance Winston Jordan for the fiscal year 2020,” said Minister Edghill.

On December 21, 2018, the then parliamentary opposition, PPP/C, by way of a no-confidence motion, toppled the APNU+AFC government.

The opposition had secured the support of then government Member of Parliament Charrandass Persaud to get an edge over the government in the House. For months, after the passage of the motion by the National Assembly, the matter had engaged all the local courts.

“During this period [after the passage of the motion] the law conferred upon the coalition government a caretaker status only.

However, instead of complying with the constitution, the then APNU+AFC administration challenged the validity of the no-confidence motion all the way to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). That litigation alone cost taxpayers over $100 million in legal fees,” said Edghill.

Their “caretaker status” was established by international conventions and best practices, and was upheld in the rulings and orders of the CCJ on June 18 and July 12, 2019.

In speaking about what obtained, Edghill said: “Notwithstanding [SIC], they violated every tenet of that status, not only by plundering the Treasury, but by engaging in massive disposal of state assets, engaging both multilateral and bilateral

partners, as well as local financial institutions and borrowing huge sums of money.

SERIES OF NEFARIOUS ACTIVITIES “They also engaged in a series of nefarious activities in complicity with elements within the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) in their attempts, not only to delay constitutionally due elections, but to corrupt those elections and deny Guyanese the right to choose their legitimate representatives in government, in a transparent, free and fair electoral process.”

The minister said it can be clearly established that since the passage of the no-confidence motion to August 2, 2020, when the new administration took office, $419.2B of public funds was expended by a government that should have only been functioning in a caretaker capacity, with limited powers and according to the constitution, spending only on public services.

Further, the government continued to undertake expenditure well beyond the realm of ensuring the provision of basic public services, within the allowable caretaker status and in violation of Sections 36 (2) and (3) of the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act. “We observed that during this period, as an example, a contract totalling US$10.4 million, which was funded by a loan from the Islamic Development Bank, was entered into in June 2020. We further observed that there was an unconstitutional withdrawal of $10.8 billion from the Consolidated Fund, which was disbursed to the Guyana Power and Light Inc,” Minister Edghill lamented.

Additionally, the new government recognised the signing and awarding of new capital projects in the year 2020. For example, BK International was awarded a contract in the sum of $826.8 million for a school on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway and several other civil-work contracts for work on the $1.6 billion Infectious Disease Hospital, a property not owned by the government.

Further, $20.1 billion of roll-over contracts were carried into 2020, with $14.4 billion programmed for expenditure this year. These included contracts that were signed on December 31, 2019, with full knowledge that sums could not be expended in 2019 and would be a roll-over to 2020, said Minister Edghill.

While government acknowledged that simultaneous with this unconstitutionality, Guyana was also battling a pandemic. But the minister said breaches to the Procurement Act were ‘numerous’ and ‘injurious’ to the country’s financial well-being.

Of the $3billion allocated to start revitalising the sector, $2.2 billion will be invested in re-opening three sugar estates, over a number of years, starting with the one at Rose Hall.

The other two, Skeldon and Enmore, will also be prepared for reopening.

The remaining $800M will go towards the other three estates that are currently operating; Blairmont, West Bank Berbice; Albion-Rose Hall in East Berbice, and the Uitvlugt-Wales estate in West Demerara.

“The good news I got from Rose Hall is that they started clearing the land for the planting of cane and that is a big and important step because once that cane is planted, an entire project plan is developed. It means… a

factory has to receive it. You can’t plant cane and leave it in the ground, you have to grind it,” the acting CEO explained.

The measures being put in place are all in keeping with the administration’s plan to convert GuySuCo from a three to a six-factory company. The company’s work programme also includes the maintenance of roads, dams, drainage and irrigation structures, training for youth, and health care.

Added to this, Singh said the company will also be exploring ways to capitalise on value-added production. The overall intention, he said, is to reduce production cost and increase revenues for the corporation. (DPI)

Two more succumb to COVID-19 –– 44 new cases recorded

By Navendra Seoraj THE dreaded novel coronavirus has claimed the lives of two more persons, taking the death toll to 73.

Authorities identified the victims as a 64-year-old male from Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and a 94-yearold woman from Region One (Barima-Waini). Both persons were admitted to a local health facility and were tested after showing signs of COVID-19. They, however, succumbed while receiving treatment on Thursday.

The Ministry of Health has expressed condolences to the family of the deceased and pledged to make every effort to provide all the necessary support during this difficult time.

Officials of the ministry have since contacted all relatives and persons to facilitate contact-tracing and rapid assistance to everyone who might have been exposed to the victims.

Guyana continues to record a consistent rise in the number of COVID-19 cases, with authorities reporting 44 new cases within the past 24 hours.

Health authorities have so far tested 12,753 persons, with 10,174 being negative, and 2,579 positive. Of the total positive cases, 1,483 persons have recovered, and 71 have lost their lives. The remaining cases are being monitored by authorities.

Authorities have said that cases are being detected because more tests are being done. Sample- taking was also increased across the country, because authorities had believed that many cases were going “under the radar.”

This suspicion had prompted authorities to distribute more sample kits across the country, especially to regions where the infection rate is high. Most of the cases have so far been recorded in Regions One (Barima-Waini), Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Seven (Cuyuni-

Mazaruni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).

“We are sending out more kits, so there will be an increase in sample collection… The testing itself has components; one is sample collection, and then there is the processing of samples,” said Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony, in a recent report.

The actual testing will be done centrally, at the National Reference Laboratory, because regional facilities lack the capacity and technical skills needed to get it done. While government hopes to improve capacity in those regions, the immediate need for sample-testing takes precedence, especially with the high number of asymptomatic cases.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus. Most people who fall sick with COVID-19 will experience mild to moderate symptoms, and recover without special treatment.

The WHO had said that 81 per cent of the persons who contract COVID-19 will have mild symptoms, while 14 per cent will have severe symptoms, and five per cent will need intensive care.

But the COVID-19 disease has proven to be “a real killer”, especially in cases involving persons who have co-morbidities such as diabetes and hypertension, among other ailments.

Persons were encouraged to take extra precautions because there is no approved cure or specific treatment for the disease. Guyanese were also reminded to observe the protocols established in the COVID-19 emergency measures.

Anyone who displays any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19, or needs any additional information, can contact the COVID-19 Emergency numbers: 231 1166, 226 7480 or 624 6674 immediately, or visit the ministry’s website at www.health.gov.gy.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 25, 2020

COVID-19 donations helping to curb virus spread in Rupununi

Large bottles of sanitising liquid prepared for the Rupununi

By Lisa Hamilton MONTHLY donations of COVID-19 supplies from a team of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) are helping Guyanese across the Rupununi to control the spread of COVID-19.

The organisations involved are Eírîpan, a charity in operation for over 15 years; the Kanuku Community Representatives Group (KMCRG), a community-based NGO; the Rupununi Learners Foundation, a US-based non-profit organisation; and the South Rupununi District Council (SRDC), among others.

Together, they have raised over $3.5 million in cash and kind to purchase critically-needed medical, sanitation, and other supplies for Indigenous communities in Guyana. Though their efforts commenced on July 17, 2020, via a GOFundMe page, it has grown to much more, receiving an outpouring of support from Guyanese countrywide.

In August 29, communities received emergency evacuation kits which included protective suits, gloves, masks, face shields, hand sanitisers, sanitising spray, wipes, and a piece of plastic and duct tape to create a barrier between drivers and COVID patients. Meanwhile, community health centres and

village councils received special kits with the COVID-19 supplies they need.

Now, in preparation for September’s donation to some 24 communities, the team is also packing posters with information on how residents of the Rupununi can protect themselves from the deadly virus. Every Eiripan COVID-19 support pack includes posters and other materials to help community health centres and village councils educate their community members about COVID-19. The posters were donated by the Ministry of Public Health and PAHO/WHO. “Already, those communities and areas which received donations last month have been able to successfully bring the spread of the disease under control. We are confident that with your continued support we can ensure that every community has the tools they need to continue to fight COVID-19,” President of Eírîpan, Melanie McTurk updated.

As of September 23, 2020, Region Nine, where the Rupununi is located, recorded 340 COVID-19 cases. This is even as many in the region have complained about costly and scarce sanitising materials and a slow adjusting of villagers to the sudden arrival of the virus.

McTurk urges persons to con-

The educational materials on COVID-19 which are being sent to villagers

Kits and packages being arranged

tinue donating as the small acts of kindness are making a big difference in remote villages. She said: “We ask each of you to continue to support our cause by sharing our link and encouraging persons within your own networks to donate. With your support, we can achieve our goal of keeping mortality in the region to a minimum. We have just received confirmation from the Re-

gional Executive Officer of Region Nine, that the Regional Democratic Council will once again be providing transportation to take items from Georgetown to the Rupununi for distribution. So, your donation along with that of our domestic contributors will soon be on route to the region and into the hands of village councils and health centres where it can do the most good.”

Eírîpan and its partners hope to provide support to as many villages across the Rupununi as possible through their GoFundMe project. Meanwhile, local donors who wish to join in have the option to make direct deposits to the Republic Bank Limited Checking Account # 962956709687 and can contact the team directly at +592 6113181.

Baker arrested with illegal gun A 24-year-old baker was arrested after he dropped a .38 revolver handgun, after seeing police in the vicinity of Hadfield and Leopold Streets, Georgetown, on Thursday.

Police were, at the time, acting on information that there was a ‘robbery under arms’ in Smythe Street,

Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown.

Reports indicated that police saw the 24-year-old baker, of Durban Street, standing along the western side of Leopold Street, and, upon noticing the police vehicle approaching, he dropped a black object and proceeded towards the southern side of the street.

He was stopped and searched by police and they found a black.38 revolver, along with two live .38 rounds, in the area where the baker was standing.

Thereafter, the police ranks took possession of the firearm and asked the baker if he was licensed to carry the firearm to which he replied

in the negative.

He was cautioned, arrested and taken to the Brickdam Police Station where the firearm and ammunition were marked, sealed and lodged. The suspect is currently in police custody assisting with the investigation.

The gun seized by police

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 25, 2020

GTT’s Pinktober 2020 to be virtual experience THE Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) has announced that Pinktober 2020 will be commemorated despite COVID-19.

“Pinktober 2020 will be held virtually this year,” disclosed Diana Gittens, GTT’s Pinktober Coordinator.

“Given the current pandemic and the implementation of physical distancing policies, we have decided to go virtual for 2020 – and for a multiple of reasons, decided that Pinktober should remain on the cards, to the benefit of the country,” Gittens explained.

She noted that the company

continues to promote and support this cause yearly, (since 2017), because of the many lives touched by cancer.

“We all know someone impacted by this disease – this is why we host Pinktober every year -- to raise funds and awareness -- and to assist persons in need of screening, testing, and palliative care,” Gittens stated.

In the first year of Pinktober in 2017, the company went solo and raised a little over $4M. In 2018, the company joined forces with other business organisations in Guyana and almost tripled the previous year, raising more than $11M.

Although this year is a bit different, the company hopes to exceed 2019’s donations which amounted to $28M. “We are currently operating in a new normal – adjusting our lives to cope with the novel coronavirus,” Gittens said, adding: “Even in the face of this pandemic, we have to give back and do more for those who may be in a less fortunate position than we are – they are now amongst our most vulnerable.”

Corporate citizens still have the opportunity to join GTT in supporting this cause – and can contact Gittens via dgittens@ gtt.co.gy. Gittens acknowledged

GTT’s Pinktober Coordinator, Diana Gittens

Courts Guyana, Ansa McAl, Guyana Marketing Corporation, Fitness53 and TidyUp Liquid Detergents – as earlier Pink-

tober supporters.

Persons can look forward to Pink-centric virtual experiences starting on October

1, inclusive of Fit and Pink, a newly added TikTok challenge, Pink Friday’s and Mental Health Day.

GMSA to launch online market for small agri producers

By Naomi Parris

THE Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and several other stakeholders, will soon be launching the country’s first online market for small agro-processing businesses and enterprises.

This was revealed, on Wednesday, by GMSA President, Mr. Shyam Nokta, during an agriculture we-

binar where he engaged a number of stakeholders and small business owners.

Nokta noted that, with the impact the pandemic has had on the agriculture sector, stakeholders need to take action quickly to reach out to those affected.

“We needed to act, adapt and to be proactive; we also recognise that to be a body we need early focus on value adding; we could not ignore the supply aspect of this important sector. In fact, one of the main challenges

GMSA President, Shyam Nokta

to agro-processing is the ready supply and availability of materials and produce… we felt like we needed to bring the key stakeholders working in agriculture, large and small agro-groups and

processors, policy makers, donor organisations and other stakeholders in Guyana and in the diaspora ,” he said during his address.

He added that the webinar could not have been done at a more opportune time, since the new government has indicated that agriculture is one of its main priorities, and has taken immediate actions to give a push to the sector, from a list of budget measures.

COVID-19 has brought its fair share of challenges, nationally and internationally and no sector has been spared. During this period, he noted, that many multilateral organisations are likely to be relooking at their country strategies.

“Business in Guyana and

overseas are looking to invest and expand; it is for these reasons that the GMSA, as a leading private sector body with majority of our members from the agro-processing sector, seized the opportunity to bring stakeholders together,” he added.

He also told those who were gathered at the webinar that Guyana had started the transition from subsistence farming to medium and largescale ventures and Guyanese now have the unique opportunity, as a country, to supply oil revenues to support diversification.

“On our own, GMSA has sought to build on its previous initiatives. I am pleased to announce that we have taken the step to transition our successful uncapped

initiatives to an online portal, with special focus on small and micro-enterprises.

Through this effort, the intention is to establish an online market place, showcasing the agro-products locally produced and connecting businesses with the market,” he said.

That, he noted, will provide micro agro-processing businesses with a platform to market their businesses during the pandemic, and for the agriculture sector to take the next step in supporting a green low-carbon economy, while exploring issues of innovative technology to foresee smart agriculture in Guyana.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 25, 2020

‘One Guyana’ virtual concert on this Saturday - Jumo says still hoping to get people jumping out their seats at home

ert this Satu

The virtual conc

A

VIRTUAL concert, aimed at promoting love and unity has been planned for this weekend and is expected to feature a number of top local artistes.

The ‘One Guyana’ concert is being held in the context of the racial tensions that have existed in Guyana over the past few weeks, and is being presented on Saturday by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport.

Performers include Jumo Primo, Timeka Marshall, Saiku, Samuel Medas, Bunty Singh, Steven Ramphal, Vanila, Vanita Willie, Poonam, Calvin Burnette, Brandon Harding, Professor, Alabama and Whiz Phillips.

The show, which will kick off at 20:00hrs, will see artistes performing two songs each and some will even be paired with others during their performances.

The show will be on broadcast on the National Communications Network (NCN), HJTV, LT Rock, and E-Networks. It will also be aired on 94.1, 98.1, and 93.1 radio stations. Persons can also opt to view it live on Facebook at NCN News, HJ, MCYS, and GY Critic.

“The show is basically to show unity and love and to let people understand that regardless of ethnicity, party, religion, we must not forget that we are one Guyana,” one of the performers, Jumo Primo, told the Buzz.

“The order is to lend our voices to show unity between artistes...and also speaking out against

tistes locally

me of the top ar

to feature so rday is expected

racial tensions and all these things happening in Guyana. I am doing a song called ‘Unity’ and another called ‘Rise,’ a compilation of a project that I have been working on with other artistes,” Jumo informed.

THE SAME VIBES Jumo is one of the local artistes who have been severely affected by the Coronavirus Pandemic. His livelihood has practically been halted, as he continues to try to find alternatives means of bringing in an income for him and his family.

Nevertheless, he said he will be giving his all to the show this weekend and will be working to put on a show as if he was actually interacting physically with his audiences.

“I’ve been taught that even if there is only one person in the audience, I should perform as if there were 10,000 people there. So even though a virtual concert is a bit different, I still enjoy it because I know the people are watching and I know what I want them to feel. They must sit down in front of that TV and want to come out of their seats, must want to jump and wave, sing, feel everything that is happening as if they were actually outside.”

“You have to still perform as if 10,000 people are looking at you. For me, it would never be the same feeling when you’re doing virtual concerts because you’re not getting to interact, but you still have to picture those people as if they were in the audience,” he added.

Jumo said he has so far refused to open his night club and studio for work as he does not want to contribute to See page 16

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F

OR most the phrase “practice makes perfect” is just an old proverb, however, 17-yearold Celine Bridgmohan, bears testament as the evolution of her artwork is an example of why the phrase should never be bypassed.

The young artist, told the Buzz that she’s extremely passionate about many

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 25, 2020

things that involve creativity such as writing, photography, drawing and painting.

This passion has allowed her to acquire a deep appreciation for the creative arts over the years.

“I wouldn’t exactly say my [artistic abilities] are a ‘talent’, but I’d prefer to say it’s a gift . As a child I’d always find ways to express

that her motivation usually comes from the reaction she receives from family and friends whenever her paintings are displayed. “I believe that every individual should dive deep into their passion and children in these times should be motivated to pursue that, to do what brings them the utmost joy,” she expressed.

watching YouTube videos.

Personally, for me, I like to bring out raw emotions before I do a piece, I find that by doing so, the finished product comes out better than expected,” she said.

When asked where she would see herself in five years, Celine noted that she envisions herself evolving into a more pristine artist,

One of Celine’s Art pieces myself without actually saying a word and I’ve clung to that method ever since, through different forms of art and creativity. My love for art has been something I’ve been exploring for quite some years and I recently found a passion for the way I can express myself with the tip of an artist brush and I’m absolutely smitten with it,” Celine articulated.

The young artist, noted

Celine further noted that throughout her journey has an artist, she was faced many challenges, with the most prevalent one being inspiration. The young artist related that “Art is something I love, but sometimes it can be quite difficult to find inspiration. I quickly overcame that obstacle by doing many different activities, such as going for short walks or simply listening to music or even

all while helping other artists develop their skills and maybe even owning a studio one day In her advice to up and coming artists, she related “follow your heart, take the risk and never be scared of failure and criticism. Take those elements and create art like no other, let your artwork express your feelings and most importantly, have fun.”

‘One Guyana’ virtual ...

From page 15 guidelines, though, life is the number of COVID-19 very difficult at the mocases in Guyana. He has ment, financially. “Muso far observed that many sic is my daily bread and persons in his line of busiknowing that you cannot ness are continuing to do as perform, travel, earn monthey please. ey for your family, it’s For persons like him hard. The entertainment who want to adhere to the business in the whole is

suffering because there is nothing in place for artistes. Some of us might be having a day time job, but I invested in my studio, in my night club. So it’s been hard for me; every day you have to study your kids, mortgage, etc.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 25, 2020

A safe haven for youths to engage

The confident and conquering Facebook page

EVERYONE has insecurities, but it’s important to focus on loving your body and working towards a positive self-image. But fighting these demons alone can be a challenge and having someone to go along with you on a journey to self-love and discovery can be so much endearing.

In this case, 19-year-old Ayana Maynard has turned her Facebook page into a podcast, where young people can find a safe haven to discuss issues they are facing, seek advice or just even vent about their frustrations.

The platform ‘Confident & Conquering’ was birthed after Maynard was fighting her own battles and wanted to find a safe space to share her experiences and growth to self-worth.

The young teacher taught what better place to share her story than Facebook, one of the largest social media platforms in the world.

“My passion to help people realise that despite our differences we can all be confident and conquer anything we touch. As a curvy girl, while growing up I had a few moments when I felt out of place and confined and society tried to be a constant reminder that I couldn’t be plus size and fabulous. I hadn’t a role model to be inspired by and I’ve decided to be a role model and an inspiration for someone else,” she said.

The young woman noted that having since created her platform, she has not only been able to help herself but help others also which is a great blessing to know that her message and platform have been able to reach out to someone.

“Confident & Conquering enables me to equip people who are constant self-doubters and people who have always been afraid to let their light shine to be their best self. Through our weekly sessions on topics such as Building Long Lasting Self Confidence, Introspection, Improving Self Esteem, etc. we are hoping to achieve this goal,” she said.

Maynard noted that she officially launched the Facebook podcast on her 19th birthday in June and has since led conversations on topics like Building Long Lasting Self Confidence, Self-Awareness, Introspection and Improving Self Esteem.

When asked about the unique name for her platform, she said, “Confident & Conquering serves as a first glance motivator. It tells you what the platform is about without the lengthy introduction.”

Outside of the daily affirmations and positive talks, Maynard likes to keep things fun and moving with her platform with fun and informative videos.

The young woman noted that she hosts live conversaSee page 18

19-year-old Ayana Maynard

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 25, 2020

‘When you look amazing, you feel amazing’

F

Akeisha Hinds and Miracle Hilliman

OR many women, hair is a big part of their lives, and sometimes managing and styling natural hair can be a lot to handle and a good way to protect one’s hair while avoiding damage from styling too much.

One good way to protect your hair is by wearing weaves and wigs as protective styles. Being naturalistas themselves, Akeisha Hinds and Miracle Hilliman decided to start their own local website that offers women a variety of protective styles to choose from.

Additionally, many persons have been home for quite some time and have not been able to dress up and go out like they once did before and being in such restraint can have an effect on one’s mental health. However, the girls at ‘Pretty Mane’ believe when one is looking good, they will also feel good. Recently the duo decided to rename their brand to offer a more confident outlook on self-care and hair care.

“The business was re-branded and renamed Pretty Mane with a tag-line, ‘A pretty Mane for a Pretty you’, where we believe that life isn’t perfect, but your hair can be,” they said.

‘YOU CAN GET GLAMMED UP’ Given the current situation, the duo noted that that there has never been a better time for a little self-care and experimenting with new hairstyles.

The duo noted that although persons may not being able to go out and enjoy the finer things they once did, persons, women specifically can still get glammed up during the partial lockdown. Cognizant of the impacts of the COVID-19 virus, the pair have been offering special services providing their customers with free delivery whenever they order a product.

They disclosed that while launching a business wasn’t easy, having a co-founder and a good partnership made things a little smoother, especially since they were best friends.

Hinds originally founded the business after she became unemployed in 2018. Even though the business was thriving, she felt that something was missing. With a financial background coupled with being an introvert, she knew that it needed more spice that would help boost marketing and sales, hence the partnership with her best friend.

From page 17 tions on Facebook with fellow youngsters to discuss several social issues that they are facing daily. She added that because of the tremendous response she has seen from since posting her first affirmation and video she hopes to one day to her platform to even higher heights to reach more young people across the world.

“In the future, I see my platform enabling people who are constant self-doubters and people who have always been afraid to let their light shine to be their best self and to be confident while conquering the world,” she said.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 25, 2020

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 25, 2020

KL Rahul’s 132 helps Kings XI stave off RCB

(ESPNCRICINFO) - An expertly paced 132 not out of 69 balls from KL Rahul - the highest score by an Indian in the IPL and fourth highest overall - formed the centrepiece of Kings XI Punjab’s 206 for 3, as they flattened the Royal Challengers Bangalore in Dubai.

After raising his first fifty off 36 balls, Rahul zipped away to his second off a mere 26 balls. Along the way, he was reprieved twice in the outfield by Virat Kohli in the 17th and 18th overs. After that second drop, Rahul tore into Dale Steyn and Shivam Dube at the death, cracking 42 off nine balls.

Facing a steep target, Royal Challengers rejigged their batting line-up by bumping rookie Josh Phillipe to No.3, but they crashed to 4 for 3 and then 57 for 5.

After left-arm seamer Sheldon Cottrell bounced out Devdutt Padikkal and Kohli for 1 each, Kings XI’s twin leg-spinners Ravi Bishnoi and M Ashwin exploited a right-hander-heavy Royal Challengers line-up to skittle them out for 109 in 17 overs.

PROFLIGATE RCB, PROLIFIC KINGS XI On a fresh, true pitch, Umesh Yadav allowed Rahul and Mayank Agarwal to ease themselves in by bowling looseners down the leg side. At the other end, Steyn pushed the ball wide of off and gave up back-to-back fours to Rahul in the second over of the match.

Then, when first-change Navdeep Saini offered a wide full-toss, Agarwal creamed it through extra-cover as Kings XI surged to 50 for 0 in six overs.

Enter Yuzvendra Chahal. Exit Agarwal. The spinner unleashed a quicker wrong ‘un and stormed through the defences of Agarwal to trigger a brief slowdown along with off-spinner Washington Sundar.

After managing just 11 off 13 balls against the spinners, Nicholas Pooran attempted to line up seam-bowling all-rounder Dube, but instead he holed out for 17 off 18 balls.

The return of Yadav and Saini, however, loosened the spinners’ grip. Another freebie on the pads,

another overpitched delivery outside off meant Rahul could pick up the pace.

RAHUL HITS TOP GEAR After a productive powerplay, ESPNcricinfo’s forecaster reckoned that the Kings XI would finish with 180. Such a tall total seemed unlikely when Dube also tricked Glenn Maxwell with an off-cutter, but Rahul, aided by the two drops, ensured his side breached 200.

He went 6, 4, 6, 6, 4 against Steyn and 4, 6, 6 against Dube to cap the innings for Kings XI and snatch the orange cap - reserved for the tournament’s leading run-scorer - for himself. All up, Kings XI pillaged 74 off their last four overs.

Dube had plucked out an injured Mitchell Marsh at the death in Royal Challengers’ opening win, but, perhaps, it wasn’t a wise option to use him again during this phase, especially against a rampaging Rahul. Saini.

He can bowl yorkers at speeds above 140kph and also cut his pace down. He ultimately bowled just one over at the death while Sundar

sent down only two overs overall for 13 runs.

LEG-SPIN TO WIN If Royal Challengers were to have a proper crack at 207, they needed a strong start from their top order. However, it was not to be, with Cottrell striking twice in his first two overs.

The promoted Phillipe shuffled across and missed a straight one from Mohammed Shami before Aaron Finch and AB de Villiers threatened a comeback. Finch kept jumping outside leg to throw Bishnoi off his lines and lengths, but the 20-year-old held his own and knocked him over with a slider.

Rahul then matched up Ashwin with de Villiers and had him carving a catch to sweeper cover for 28 off 18 balls. Finch and de Villiers aside, Sundar (30) was the only other Royal Challengers batsman to pass 15 as their middle and lower order came into sharp focus once again.

Ashwin and Bishnoi finished with three wickets each, applying the finishing touches.

FIFA suspends TTFA The FIFA head office THE Bureau of the FIFA Council today suspended

the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) with immediate effect due to grave violations of the FIFA Statutes.

The suspension was prompted by the former leadership of the TTFA lodging a claim before a local court in Trinidad and Tobago in order to contest the decision of the FIFA Council to appoint a normalisation committee for the TTFA. This course of action was in direct breach of Article 59 of the FIFA Statutes, which expressly prohibits recourse to ordinary courts unless specifically provided for in the FIFA regulations.

A normalisation committee was installed by the FIFA Council after it was established that the former leadership of TTFA had engaged in various acts of serious mismanagement.

The decision of the former leadership to go to a local court to contest the appointment of the normalisation committee jeopardides not only the future of football in Trinidad and Tobago but also endangers the overall global football governance structure, which relies on the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) as the exclusive forum for resolving disputes of this nature.

The relevant parties were initially given until September 16 to withdraw the case but failed to do so. This deadline was then extended until September 23, which was not respected either.

In the circumstances, the Bureau of the FIFA Council has decided to suspend the TTFA. This suspension will only be lifted when the TTFA fully complies with

its obligations as a member of FIFA, including recognising the legitimacy of the appointed nor-

malisation committee and bringing its own statutes into line with the FIFA Statutes.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Friday September 25, 2020) COMPLIMENTS OF XTRA ENERGY DRINK – STABROEK BAZAAR (Tel: 683-9500) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD- 83 Garnett street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

(1) Jonny Bairstow-114 (SH) (2) Alzarri Joseph-6/12 (MI)

Today’s Quiz:

(1) Who registered the first century in IPL 2019?

(2) Who took the very first hattrick in IPL cricket?

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 25, 2020

Former Aussie cricketer/commentator Jones passes on (ESPNCRICINFO) - Dean Jones, who pioneered an energetic style of ODI batting, and hero of Australia’s tied Test against India in Chennai, died yesterday after a heart attack in Mumbai. He was 59.

Jones, who was in India as a commentator for IPL, is understood to have suffered a heart attack around noon (IST). It is understood that Jones, who was part of the commentary panel for Wednesday’s match, had breakfast this morning and attended a pre-match briefing with his colleagues. He is believed to have returned to his room and taken ill there.

Remembered for his double-century in the famous tied Test between India and Australia in Chennai, Jones played 52 Tests and 164 ODIs. He was also part of Australia’s 1987 World Cup-winning team. He carved a career in coaching and cricket commentary after his retirement from all forms of cricket in 1997-98.

A precocious talent for Victoria, gruffly mentored by his father and Carlton Cricket Club legend Barney, Jones was introduced to the Australian side in the aftermath of Greg Chappell and Dennis Lillee’s retirements at the tail-end of the 1983-84 summer, and made a meritorious 48 opposite Allan Border on debut against the fiery West Indies in Trinidad.

The selectors were careful with him thereafter, not wanting him to suffer too much at the hands of the same West Indian juggernaut, and it was not until the 1986 tour of India that he gained a solid opportunity to grasp.

Informed by Border that he would be thrust into the No. 3 spot in Chennai, Jones responded with the innings of his life - 210 in enervating heat that brought him to the brink of total physical collapse, setting Australia up for a memorable tie.

He was more or less a fixture in the Test team from then until 1992, an integral part

circumstances, not even as a reserve on the 1994 tour of South Africa, would he return to Test cricket.

Jones retired, unhappily, from international cricket at the end of the tour, but in his typical jack-in-the-box style had rescinded the call by the time his memoir, My Call, was on shelves the following summer.

He continued to dominate domestic ranks for Victoria, pummelling his highest score of 324 against South Australia at the MCG in a day/night Sheffield Shield match, and was in the initial squad for the 1996 World Cup before missing the cut-back to the final group that lost to Sri Lanka in the final.

On their return, Mark Taylor’s side faced a World XI to celebrate 150 years of the Victoria Cricket Association, and Jones was on hand to compile one of his best knocks - a Dean Jones on his way to making 90 defiant century - on a day far more suited to in a one-run win over India in the 1992 bowlers than batsmen.

Before finishing up, Jones also played for World Cup. (Getty Images) Derbyshire, with one of his final acts being to of its evolution from frequent humiliation to miss a slips catch in a 1997 Ashes tour match the cusp of global domination, peeling off that may well have caused Taylor to quit the another double-century against Viv Richards’ captaincy amid his extended run of outs. tourists in Adelaide in 1989, then coshing He was head coach of Pakistan Super twin tons against Pakistan at the same venue League (PSL) franchise Islamabad United a year later. from 2015 to 2019. He also served as interim At the same time, Jones was a pioneer head coach of the Afghanistan national team in limited-overs cricket, as both a batting briefly in 2017. technician and an entertainer for vast crowds, Though much-loved and highly regarded never more so than at his beloved MCG. across the commentary world, his broadcast Somewhere along the way his Test match career was not without controversy. In 2006, returns began to lose consistency, leading he referred to Hashim Amla as “the terrorist” the selectors to make a still contentious call on live television - though he was not comto leave him out of the team for the first Test mentating at the time, his remark was picked against the West Indies at the Gabba in No- up by the microphone. He was immediately vember 1992, a place he was never to regain. sacked from the commentary team and, while Jones continued to be a vital part of waiting for his flight out of Colombo, issued the ODI set-up for another two years, but a statement of regret. his enthusiasm for the task waned in direct In a statement, Earl Eddings, the Cricket correlation to the realisation that under no

Australia chairman, said: “Dean Jones was a hero to a generation of cricketers and will forever be remembered as a legend of this great game. Anyone who watched cricket in the 1980s and 1990s will fondly recall his cavalier approach at the crease and the incredible energy and passion he brought to every game he played.

“Although many remember him for his brilliance in the 50-over game, arguably Jones’ finest moment in the national team came in scorching conditions in Chennai in 1986, where his selfless and courageous innings of 210 helped Australia to a famous tie against India.

“Jones remained an immensely popular figure in Australian and Victorian cricket throughout his life and was a much-loved columnist and commentator in every corner of the cricketing world.

“This is a truly sad day. Deano’s loss will be felt not just at home in Australia, but across the globe. Our thoughts and best wishes are with his wife Jane and daughters Isabella and Phoebe.”

Australia’s current men’s head coach, Justin Langer, said: “What a great player and a great bloke. We are shocked and very sad to hear of his passing.

“Deano was a true legend of Australian sport and world cricket, one of the great players and personalities in a golden time for the game. His role in the team’s World Cup win in 1987 and the 1989 Ashes under AB were a huge turning point for Australian cricket.

His double-century in Madras was one of the greatest and most courageous innings of all-time.

“We can only hope to make Australians as proud of our team as they were of Deano. He will be missed by the game and millions of people around the world. Our love to Jane and the girls.”

Drivers opposed to reverse-grid sprints (BBC) - Most Formula 1 drivers are opposed to the idea of holding reverse-grid sprint races in place of qualifying next year.

Formula 1 has canvassed fans on the idea, which managing director Ross Brawn has been pushing for some time.

But the majority of drivers, asked about the topic at the Russian Grand Prix yesterday, said they disliked it.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen said, “It’s artificial and trying to create a show, which is not what F1 stands for. The cars will end in the same position.”

The Dutchman added: “The fastest car should be in the front. That’s what everyone works for. F1 is about pure performance.”

Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel have consistently expressed their opposition to the idea, and at the last race Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff said it was turning the sport into a wrestling-style show.

Mercedes vetoed the idea when Brawn tried to introduce it at some races this year but new rules for 2021 make it more likely to happen.

The idea was given fresh momentum by the Italian Grand Prix earlier this month, when a series of incidents led to a mixedup grid for a restart and a shock victory for Alpha Tauri driver Pierre Gasly.

F1 has asked fans to vote on trying the

was organised at Mugello made a crash more likely and Hamilton described the situation as “not particularly safe”.

The drivers have asked Masi to explain the FIA’s perspective and the matter will be discussed at the drivers’ briefing in Russia today.

Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel, a director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, said: “Something went wrong, so we have to look at it and do something better.

“We can’t be happy with some of the things that happened but I would like to keep the dialogue between Michael and Romain Grosjean and Max Verstappen were two of the drivers who crashed out ourselves.”

McLaren’s Carlos Sainz, one of the at the Tuscan Grand Prix. drivers involved in the crash, said: “We proposal out at four races next season. a bit away from the Saturday.” need to take some lessons from it. We didn’t The grid for the sprint race would be And Williams driver George Russell based on reverse championship order and said, “I still think the Mercedes would win. make our lives easy by some people secthe result would set the grid for the Grand It would be interesting in the midfield be- ond-guessing the start and we are definitely Prix. cause the pace of those cars is so close. The going to discuss that.

“We need to analyse together with the McLaren’s Lando Norris said, “I don’t cars behind wouldn’t be able to overtake. think if you swap everyone it will necessar“We have to try things. It might be ex- FIA what we can do better because the ily lead to a better race.” citing, it might a bit of a joke. Maybe we crash was huge and it could have been a lot worse if the cars I took with me or in the Racing Point’s Sergio Perez added: “I could try it once.” saw Toto Wolff said F1 is not WWE and I Drivers want to discuss Tuscany re-start concertina effect were at different angles when you take them. agree. The problem F1 has is the difference crash “It was a serious accident and we need across teams. They are working hard to fix The F1 drivers have written to FIA race that for 2022 (with new technical rules). director Michael Masi asking how re-starts to try to avoid a repeat of it. It needs to be “I don’t think it is a good idea for the can be made safer after a multi-car pile-up discussed privately but we need to have a proper look and a brainstorm about how sport. Saturdays are very special in F1 as at the Tuscan Grand Prix. well as Sundays. You would be taking quite The drivers felt that the way the re-start to avoid it next time.”

23

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, September 25, 2020

This date in boxing history

Murray signs off with third consecutive defeat KNOWN as `The Eagle`, Andrew Murray had his last professional fight on September 25, 2001.

The former Commonwealth welterweight champion had moved up to the junior middleweight division to challenge Englishman Richard `The Secret’ Williams for the Commonwealth junior middleweight title.

It was no secret that Williams retained his crown when referee Dave Parris halted the contest at two minutes 21 seconds of the third round to hand Murray his third consecutive defeat within a 13-month period.

Guided by manager Odinga Lumumba `The Eagle’ had won the Commonwealth welterweight title in October 1993.

He later added the World Boxing Association (WBA) Fedelatin title to his resumé which included the World Boxing Council (WBC) FECARBOX belt.

However, the talented southpaw never fought for the Guyana welterweight title. Four months after the battle with Williams, Murray was involved in a fatal accident on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway.

He was just 30 years old. His death brought an end to a stellar career that included a memorable points-victory over American Kevin Pompey at the National Sports Hall and a “Hall of Fame’ knockout of Michael Covington.

‘The Eagle’ Andrew Murray He had made his debut in Barbados in 1990 against Alonzo Clarke and ended with a record on 27 wins (17 KOs) seven defeats one draw.

Murray’s son Andrew Murray Jr was also a talented amateur boxer but made a name for himself in football.

Legal obstacles removed and cricket can now flourish … Dr Anthony on Cricket Administration Act

FORMER Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr Frank Anthony has called on all cricket stakeholders to support the Cricket Administration Act following its release from legal bounds.

The former sport minister, under whose tenure the bill was conceptualised, drafted and later passed in the National Assembly, commented on the news that an order suspending the Act was discharged last Tuesday.

“The Cricket Administration Act is important for the development of cricket in Guyana. I am happy to learn that the legal obstacles have been finally removed and cricket can now flourish.”

Now Health Minister, Dr Anthony continued, “I wish all the stakeholders well as we embark on this new era of cricket in Guyana.”

On Tuesday, Dr Anthony’s successor in the portfolio, Charles Ramson Jr, confirmed that an order suspending the Act had been discharged.

The suspension was filed by the previous Minister with responsibility for

Sport, Nicolette Henry.

According to Ramson, “The next step for us is that we’re going to have the Demerara Cricket Board elections then shortly thereafter the Guyana Cricket Board elections.”

Tabled back in 2014, the Act sought to firstly make it legal for Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) to be established as a corporate body comprising Demerara, Essequibo and Berbice cricket boards, all of which will also be made corporate entities.

A section of the Act also addressed the issue of phantom voting for the election of persons for administrative positions and at the same time will give limited power to the Minister of Sport.

The role of the minister under the legislation will be only to appoint the Ombudsman and his/her role ceases.

The Act also provides for better financial accountability with the cricket board being required to present timely audited financial reports to the National Assembly as well as the National Sports Commission.

Herro helps Heat past Celtics

TYLER Herro should still be in college.

He’s not, but is still a student..

He carries a red spiral-bound notebook with him at all times, jotting down notes when things pop into his head. What worked, what didn’t, where he thinks he can get better and how he’s feeling after a game.

“It helps me get locked in, helps me focus,” Herro said.

Whatever he read Wednesday night helped him put together the game of his life - and carry Miami Heat a win away from the NBA Finals. The 20-year-old Herro scored a Heat rookie-record 37 points and Heat beat Boston Celtics 112-109 on Wednesday night in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals.

“He has a great competitive humility about him,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.

“He has confidence. He has a fearlessness that is uncommon. But he’s humble enough to work, to be coachable, to take the mentorship from the veteran players that we have on our team, and he just continues to gain more confidence as we go.”

Jimmy Butler scored 24 points, Goran Dragic added 22 and Bam Adebayo - dealing with a bit of shoulder soreness - had 20 points 12 rebounds to help Heat take a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. They can close it out

tonight in Game 5.

Jayson Tatum scored all 28 of his points in the second half for Celtics. They erased a double-digit deficit to take a one-point lead in the fourth, then saw the Heat run away again. Jaylen Brown scored 21 points, Kemba Walker added 20, Gordon Hayward had 14 and Marcus Smart finished with 10 points 11 assists.

“I didn’t score in the first half. That’s unacceptable,” Tatum said. “I know I have to play better. That’s what I tried to do.”

Brown’s 3-pointer with 16 seconds left cut Miami’s lead to 107-104. Herro went to the line 2.1 seconds later and coolly swished a pair, stretching the lead back to five. Celtics got within two points twice, Butler made a free throw with 1.1 seconds remaining, and Boston - out of timeouts - never got a desperation shot off.

“At the end of the day, we got to find a way,” Walker said. “That’s really all we can do. We can do it. It’s about pride. It’s about wanting to do it. Next game we got to come out and show that.”

Herro made 14 of 21 shots from the floor, 5 of 10 from 3-point range and became just the second 20-year-old in NBA playoff history to score at least 37 points in a game. The

other: Magic Johnson, who had 42 in Game 6 of the 1980 NBA Finals for Los Angeles Lakers.

“I feel good about it,” Herro said. “There’s a lot of work to be done still. We’re up 3-1.”

Heat rookie playoff record was 27 by Dwyane Wade in 2004; it now belongs to Herro, who scored 17 points in the fourth alone.

Daniel Theis scored with 8:44 left to put Boston up 85-84, Celtics’ first lead since 2524 with 11:19 left in the second quarter. It was Boston’s only lead in the second half and it lasted just 16 seconds.

Adebayo scored to give Miami the lead, and Herro basically carried the load from there.

“Herro’s shot-making tonight was the difference in the game,” Celtics coach Brad Stevens said. “Jimmy was great late. Adebayo was his typical self. Dragic made some big plays. But Herro was ridiculously good tonight. That rim must have looked like the ocean to him.”

Celtics shot exactly 8-for-20 in each of the first two quarters and that, combined with 11 turnovers, helped Heat go into the break with a 50-44 lead.

But Tatum’s first basket after a 0-for-7

Tyler Herro gets a hug from Goran Dragic after Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 23, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) start sparked what became a 6-for-7 finish to the third quarter for him; he had 16 of Boston’s 32 points in that period and Celtics were within 77-76 going into the fourth.

Heat, behind their youngest player, wouldn’t fold.

“Nothing Tyler does, surprises me,” Adebayo said.

Legal obstacles removed and cricket can now flourish See story on page 23

Former Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport now Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony

KL Rahul’s 132 helps Kings XI stave off RCB

… Dr Anthony on Cricket Administration Act

See story on page 21

FIFA suspends TTFA See story on page 21

KL Rahul brings out a unique celebration, Kings XI Punjab vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, IPL 2020, Dubai, yesterday.

Drivers opposed to reverse-grid sprints

See story on page 22

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2020