Guyana-Chronicle_Epaper_09_26_2020

SATURDAY 26th September, 2020

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$329.5B

No.106134

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budget approved Over 100 witnesses to testify against Mingo

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CXC ‘side-steps’ Payara Project 12 key questions 08 not yet approved

Happy to be home!

These fishermen return to the Number 66 wharf, Corentyne, Berbice, after 10 days at sea (Adrian Narine photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 26, 2020

Roysdale Forde seems a stranger to the law –– Attorney-General, Anil Nandlall

By Rabindra Rooplall LEGAL Affairs Minister and Attorney-General, Anil Nandlall has rubbished claims by APNU+AFC Member of Parliament (MP) Roysdale Forde that the government has violated Article 219 (3) of the Constitution, as it did not lay before the House a Statement of Expenditure, which he claimed should have been laid before the consideration of the national estimates.

The Attorney-General said Forde’s interpretation of the article is completely wrong.

He explained that Article 219 (3) provides: “Where at any time Parliament has been dissolved before any provision or any sufficient provision is made under this title for the carrying on of the Government of Guyana, the minister responsible for finance may authorise the withdrawal of such sums from the Consolidated Fund he or she may consider necessary for the purpose of meeting expenditure on the public services, until the expi-

ry of a period of three months, commencing with the date on which the National Assembly first meets after that dissolution, 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 the appropriate heads, in the next Appropriation Bill.”

He explained that 219(3) kicks in when there is no Appropriation Act, and there has been spending which is the current situation faced by the PPP/C Government.

Nandlall noted that the law stipulates that as soon as is reasonably practicable, the finance minister or someone designated by the President must lay before the National Assembly the monies expended prior to the Appropriation Act, which would have been laid Friday night.

“The intention of the provision is to account for every dollar spent outside or prior to the Appropriation Act, therefore it is incumbent upon the minister of finance, at the very last moment before the Appropriation Act is tabled, to table that Statement of Expenditure so that it captures every dollar. Now, if Forde doesn’t understand that, I can’t help him,” the Attorney-General said emphatically.

He explained that the PPP/C had stated that it will be laying statements of expenditure, which will disclose to the nation “the monies that have been spent illegally

Legal Affairs Minister and Attorney-General, Anil Nandlall

and unconstitutionally, and without parliamentary oversight by the APNU+AFC Government for the past five months. And here it is, Johnny-come-lately said that we are unaware of the existence of 219(3), and he takes credit in pointing us there. Sheer audacity!”

RESTORING LAWFULNESS Underscoring that the damaged timeframes cannot be reversed, Nandlall said the government is now charged with bringing regularity and lawfulness back into place.

“It is really a joke that Roysdale Forde, one of the architects of the unconstitutionality which we are confronted with, to now come and jump on some high legal horse and talk to us in the PPP and the rest of the country about constitutional violations; this is a level of barefacedness that is difficult to imagine, unless it is seen and heard,” the legal affairs minister said.

Noting that Forde is new to the Parliament, the AG

said the provisions of law he is now confronted with and trying to understand have been applied and interpreted by seasoned parliamentarians for a very long time.

“We have precedence set on how these things are interpreted, and how we apply them in the Parliament.

Parliament is governed by rules and procedures that are uniquely parliamentary.

Parliament has the power to regulate its own process; it sets its own precedence, and also Parliament is guided by those precedences,” the Attorney-General said, adding: “In my budget presentation, I detailed the desecration and violations which they have done to the Rule of Law and the Constitution, repeatedly, over the past five years while in government.”

BIZARRE INTERPRETATION In giving an example, he said that APNU lawyers had put forward that 33 was not a majority of 65, along with the bizarre interpretation of the Constitution on the election chairman’s appointment.

Adding that the numerous egregious violations of the Constitution are well-documented over the past five years, the AG said Forde was the leader of the team of lawyers that filed a series of useless, frivolous, abusive and asinine litigations, in an effort to thwart the will of the Guyanese people, and steal the 2020 elections.

The AG noted that it was on the advice of Forde that the APNU+AFC caused the entire nation and State to careen off the constitutional tracks, and made everything done in government illegal and unconstitutional.

He added that it was “their refusal to comply with the no-confidence motion and Article 106 and 107 of the Constitution, and hold an elections within three months; Cabinet refusing to resign as mandated by the Constitution, and then remaining in government beyond that three months, taking the whole Nation State of Guyana off the constitutional orbit and into an arena of unconstitutionality.”

Further, he said that after the March 2, 2020 election, APNU proceeded with their illegalities, which affected all the timeframes fixed by the Constitution for the resumption of Parliament, and the presentation of a budget, along with parliamentary spending.

“Now it is the PPP government that has to try as far as possible, in almost impossible circumstances, to bring back the ship of Guyana within the legal parameters of the Constitution. And that is what we have been doing from the time we got into office,” he said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 26, 2020

House approves $329.5B budget

By Navendra Seoraj A five-month electoral impasse and the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic have taken a toll on the local economy, but the new government will be looking to restore stability and lay the foundation for 2021 with its $329.5B budget which was passed unamended by the National Assembly on Friday evening.

Although Friday evening culminated quietly, the passage of Budget 2020 came after two weeks of debates, scrutiny and passionate exchanges from both sides of the House. The size of Budget 2020 is $329.5 billion, which is 9.6 per cent, or $28.8 billion, above that of 2019.

The passage of this budget clears the way for the new People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) to offer much-needed relief to Guyanese amidst the global pandemic and to simultaneously start the process of “rejuvenating” the productive sectors.

“The year 2020 has been a complicated and difficult one for us as Guyanese. We

have gone through testing times as a nation, given our own internal struggles, of living together as one people; but, it is clear that we have one destiny. As Guyanese, we must all make every effort to heal and to move forward together, as we consolidate our national position in order to achieve our development trajectory ahead,” said Minister Edghill while presenting the budget to the House on September 9, 2020.

The pandemic presents an additional crisis that will continue to affect all spheres of life; and, as the country adapts to this new normal, Minister Edghill said one lesson rings true: “how we act as individuals will ultimately impact the lives of those around us, whether we apply that to the prevention of the spread of COVID-19, or to our engagement as mutual respecting citizens of our beloved country.”

The minister believes that budget 2020 offers hope and relief in its measures, and programmes and projects. It reflects government’s fierce dedication to ensuring a better quality of life for all Guyanese.

“Our Government will

Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill

continue to fiercely defend our cherished democracy as we have recently done, and we will always champion upholding the rule of law.

“We will continue, as always, to secure working partnerships with our private sector – from the fruit vendors to the rum producers, farmers to fishers, miners to millers, air service providers to minibus drivers. We will work within the public sector with all diligent public

servants, including soldiers, police, educators, and health workers – especially those who are on the frontline – to ensure effective delivery of public services to all Guyanese, particularly at this crucial time,” said Minister Edghill.

PLAN FOR PROSPERITY Government’s “plan for prosperity,” despite the challenges, has taken root in

Over 100 witnesses to testify against Mingo THE State is expected to call over 100 witnesses in the case against embattled Region Four Returning Officer (RO), Clairmont Mingo, regarding the electoral fraud which was reportedly committed during the March 2 General and Regional Elections.

Mingo, 69, of Calcutta, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara, on Friday, September 25, 2020, made his second appearance before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on four charges of ‘Misconduct in Public Office’.

During Friday’s hearing, State prosecutor Teriq Mohammed made a partial disclosure of statements.

He also made an application for a summary disposal of the case, which would allow Mingo to plead to the charges. This was however met with strong objections from Mingo’s attorney, Nigel Hughes, who questioned whether the Police intended to bring additional charges against his client.

In response, the State Prosecutor disclosed to the court that since the case file is still incomplete, he wasn’t in a position to respond to the lawyer’s question. Mohammed informed that so far he has over 100 witnesses who are slated to testify.

The Chief Magistrate set December 11 as the date for full disclosure.

Mingo is currently on $600,000 bail for the four indictable charges.

The first two charges against him allege that, on March 5, 2020, at High and Hadfield Streets, Georgetown, while being a public officer, he wilfully misconducted himself by declaring a result for District Four, without ascertaining the total votes cast in favour of each List in the said District in the Regional and General Elections.

The case against him is that he failed to add up the votes recorded in favour of each List in accordance with the Statements of Poll, which, in the eyes of the Law, amounts to a breach of the public’s trust, without any reasonable excuse or justification.

The other two charges allege that he committed the same offences on March 13, 2020, at the GECOM High and Cowan Streets, Kingston Head Office, when he wilfully misconducted himself by declaring a result for District Four in the said March 2 General and Regional Elections.

Earlier this month Mingo was jointly charged with former government minister, Volda Lawrence for fraud.

In March criminal charges were filed against the duo by Charles Ramson Jr. in relation to the controversial District Four results. The contention is that Mingo and Lawrence uttered a forged document with the intent of defrauding the public, contrary to Section 278 of the Criminal Law Offences Act Chapter 8:01.

It is alleged that Mingo, having been ‘procured’ by former government minister, Ms. Volda Lawrence, on or about March 5, 2020, at Hadfield and High Streets, Georgetown, uttered to the Chief Elections Officer of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Keith Lowenfield, a Form 24 Representation of the People Act dated March 5, 2020, knowing same to be forged, with intent to defraud the people of the state of Guyana.

It is also alleged that, in the course of Mingo and Lawrence colluding to forge the Form 24 document, the latter’s signature was affixed to the said document, which had shown a win for the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC).

Mingo was placed on self-bail, while Lawrence was released on $100,000 bail.

this emergency budget, and Budget 2021 will outline the transformative agenda for the medium-term; one that is inclusionary and participatory in its architecture and implementation.

Budget 2020 includes a $25,000 cash transfer to every household; a $15,000 cash grant for school children and $4,000 uniform voucher; $800 million for the Amerindian Development Fund; $5 billion for the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo); a two-week, tax-free bonus for members of the joint services; and $150 million for frontline workers, among many other things.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali had said also said, government, after re-prioritising and re-programming fiscal measures, has managed to add $20 billion in relief to the “pockets” of Guyanese, at a time when the nation is faced with the effects of the COVID-19 and the recently-concluded protracted electoral process. The conduits of relief include revised tax measures and sweeping incentives.

The broad objectives of those measures, which feature in government’s emer-

gency budget, are to stimulate economic activity; get persons back to work; increase Guyana’s productive capacity; reduce the cost of doing business; improve efficiency; and facilitate growth and development of businesses.

“These measures will have an immense impact on people’s welfare and well-being… as these measures would also address directly, issues of cost of living and living standards,” said President Ali. Budget 2020 comes at the end of the third quarter of the year so expenditure would have been accumulated in the first half of the year to ensure the continuation of multi-year projects and programmes, and provision of public services in the middle of the pandemic.

To account for expenditures made by the former APNU+AFC administration between January 1 and September 1, 2020, Government would have tabled a Statement of Expenditure which was unanimously passed by the National Assembly.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 26, 2020

Trump to pick Amy Coney Barrett for Supreme Court SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 26, 2020 - 13:30HRS

U S P R E S I D E N T Donald Trump will reportedly nominate Amy Coney Barrett, a favourite of social conservatives, to be the new Supreme Court justice.

The President’s decision - to be revealed at the White House on Saturday - has been confirmed to the BBC’s US partner CBS News and other US media.

She would replace liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died last Friday.

The nomination will touch off a bitter Senate fight to get her confirmed as November’s White House election looms.

CBS - citing multiple sources involved in or familiar with the selection process - reported that the president had settled on Judge Barrett.

But when asked about his choice on Friday evening, Mr Trump refused to give

be put in place, and delayed a US plan to cut carbon emissions.

TRICKY POSITION FOR DEMOCRATS

President Trump’s nominee, Judge Amy Coney Barrett anything away: “You’ll find out tomorrow. Look, they’re all great. It could be any of one them.”

If Judge Barrett is confirmed, conservative-leaning justices will hold a 6-3 majority on America’s highest court for the foreseeable future. The 48-year-old would be the third justice appointed by this Republican president, after Neil Gorsuch in 2017 and Brett Kavanaugh in 2018.

The Supreme Court’s nine justices serve lifetime appointments, and their rulings can shape public policy on everything from gun and voting rights to abortion and campaign finance long after the presidents who appoint them leave office.

In recent years, the court has expanded gay marriage to all 50 states, allowed for Mr Trump’s travel ban to

Amy Coney Barrett has been on Donald Trump’s shortlist for Supreme Court vacancies for some time, but the word was that she would be the most appropriate replacement for Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

As of last week, that was no longer a hypothetical scenario.

Even before Mr Trump reportedly settled on Judge Barrett as his pick, conservatives were rallying around the nominee, whoever it might be. And if they stick together, as all but two seem to be doing, her confirmation appears assured - whether it’s before November’s election or in a “lame duck” Senate session afterward.

The choice of Judge Barrett puts Democrats in a tricky position. They have to find a way of undermining support for the nominee without seeming to attack her Catholic faith or personal background - moves that could risk turning off some voters in November. They will seek to delay the proceedings as best they can, while keeping their focus

on issues like healthcare and abortion, which could be at the centre of future legal battles with a Justice Barrett on a conservative-dominated court.

Then they have to hope Judge Barrett, or the Republicans, make some kind of critical error. It’s a tall order, but for the moment it’s the only play they have.

WHO IS AMY CONEY BARRETT? She is described as a devout Catholic who, according to a 2013 magazine article, said that “life begins at conception”. This makes her a favourite among religious conservatives keen to overturn the landmark 1973 decision that legalised abortion nationwide.

She has also voted in favour of President Trump’s hardline immigration policies and expressed views in favour of expansive gun rights.

Nominated by Mr Trump to the Chicago-based 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, she was confirmed by Senate in a 55-43 vote in October 2017 after a tough process.

She was one of the names the president considered to replace Justice Anthony Kennedy in 2017.

After graduating from Notre Dame University Law School in Indiana, she clerked for late Justice Antonin Scalia, who died in 2016. She served as a legal scholar at Notre Dame for around 15 years.

Born in New Orleans, she is married to a former federal prosecutor in South Bend, Indiana, and together they have seven children.

Two of them were adopted from Haiti and their youngest biological child has Down Syndrome.

WILL JUDGE BARRETT BE CONFIRMED? The White House has begun contacting Republican Senate offices to schedule meetings with the nominee next week, two sources familiar with the planning told CBS. The courtesy calls are expected to start on Wednesday. The nominee will then be grilled by the Senate Judiciary Committee - on which 22 Republicans and Democrats sit.

(BBC)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 26, 2020

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Coronavirus: Rio 2021 carnival parade postponed indefinitely RIO de Janeiro’s carnival parade, due to be held next February, has been postponed indefinitely, organisers say.

The samba schools involved in the parade had previously warned it would be difficult to organise without a vaccine.

Rio’s carnival attracts millions of visitors every year.

Brazil has been one of the countries worst affected by the pandemic with 4.5 million infections and more than 138,000 deaths.

Jorge Castanheira, president of samba league Liesa said schools would not have time to prepare or organise for the February event.

“We are looking for an alternative solution, something we can do when it’s safe to contribute to the city. But we aren’t certain enough to set a date,” he said.

The announcement applies to Liesa’s

formal carnival event but does not apply to the local street parties that take place at the same time. It is currently unclear if those will be allowed to take place.

There is concern that the economic impact of Brazil’s delayed carnivals could hit families who depend on the events for income. Tourism represents about eight per cent of Brazil’s GDP. São Paulo’s carnival parade has already been delayed by eight months until October 2021.

Brazil is still registering thousands of new infections daily. On Thursday the country recorded 32,817 cases and 831 deaths.

At the opening of the UN Assembly earlier this week, President Jair Bolsonaro rejected criticism of his handling of the pandemic.

In a pre-recorded speech, he blamed the media for causing panic and “politicising” the pandemic. (BBC)

Hidden fortune found in Pablo Escobar’s house A nephew of infamous drug lord Pablo Escobar has said he found a plastic bag with money worth $18m (£14m) hidden in the wall of one of his uncle’s houses.

Nicolás Escobar told Colombian media “a vision” indicated where to look for the money in the apartment where he lives in the city of Medellín.

He said it was not the first time he found money in places where his uncle used to avoid capture, as Escobar reportedly hid millions in properties.

He died in a police shootout in 1993.

At the peak of his career Escobar was said to be the seventh richest person on the planet.

Rumours of Escobar’s hidden fortunes have circulated in Medellín since his death, after he spent decades waging war against the Colombian state to prevent his extradition to the United States.

Nicolás Escobar told Colombian TV channel Red+ Noticias he had also found a typewriter, satellite phones, gold pen, a camera and a film roll yet to be developed.

“Every time I sat in the dining room and looked towards the car park, I saw a man entering the place and disappearing,” he said.

“The smell [inside] was astonishing. A smell 100 times worse than something that had died.”

Some of decades-old banknotes were decayed and no longer usable, said Nicolás Escobar, who has been living in the apartment for the last five years.

In the interview, he said he accompanied his uncle on many occasions, and that he was once kidnapped by individuals looking for Escobar’s whereabouts: “I was tortured for seven hours. Two of my workers were attacked with a chainsaw.”

Escobar was born in Rionegro, Colombia in 1949 and established a drug cartel in Me-

Pablo Escobar reportedly hid money in numerous properties in Medellín (BBC photo) dellín in the 1970s.

At its most active, the gang supplied an estimated 80% of the cocaine smuggled into the United States.

His wealth catapulted him into the Forbes list of global billionaires for seven years.

After the US issued an extradition order, Escobar resisted capture and his gang targeted politicians, the police and journalists.

After he was arrested in 1991, Escobar was housed in a prison of his own design, nicknamed the Cathedral, where he continued to oversee the Medellín Cartel.

In all, Escobar is thought to be responsible for some 4,000 deaths.

But his humble roots made him popular among some Colombians whose support he cultivated by giving out large amounts of cash and investing in poor neighbourhoods in Medellín. (BBC)

The samba league says it will postpone its parade indefinitely due to the pandemic (BBC photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 26, 2020

Noise nuisance

GOVERNMENTS come and go but the scourge of noise nuisance seems to continue unabated, even though the adverse health effects of noise are trumpeted at various forums and complaints by those affected are plentiful.

There are so many people who seem to be oblivious to the injurious effects to general health and wellbeing of victims when perpetrators uncaringly engage in activities which create noise nuisance. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) noise causes a wide range of negative health effects, including: sleep disturbance; cardiovascular effects; damage to work and school performance; hearing impairment, including tinnitus.

WHO also avers that noise has negative impacts on cognitive performance: For recall and reading, a reduction of the day and night noise level by five dB(A) within the range of 65–80 dB(A) was shown to improve performance by almost 10 per cent: For attention and memory, a five dB (A) reduction in average noise level results in approximately two to three per cent improvement of performance. The organisation surmises that adverse impacts of noise on cognitive performance can lead to a reduction in the productivity at work and the learning performance at school.

The lack of a sustained campaign against noise nui-

sance has created a dynamic where the noise emanating from various sources has grown to unbearable proportions countrywide.

It would appear that playing music loudly has become part of our national culture.

The situation has become worse because of advances in electronic technology which has helped musical sets to become much more powerful than what they were a couple of decades ago.

Announcements by several Ministers of Home Affairs over the years, that the Guyana Police Force (GPF) will adopt a ‘no nonsense’ approach and the full force of the law will deal condignly with offenders, have all come to naught.

Although the authorities

have, over the years, admitted that various relevant bodies continue to receive numerous complaints, from senior citizens; the sick, for whom noise exacerbates their health issues; working parents; students and several other law-abiding people, to the effect that they are being seriously affected by loud, repetitive and continuous noise emanating from a range of places in the different police divisions, there is no evidence pointing to any long-term relief for victims.

Reports verify that checks made at the locations complained about, on specified days and times, have re-enforced the validity and justification of the complaints, yet is little or no relief is

Some searching questions

Dear editor,

KINDLY allow me to pose the following questions to the readership; questions that concern me greatly.

Have you given thought to the number of homeless children that roam the streets of our dear Guyana? What are we doing to save our future generations from such a cruel, harsh reality? Have you ever been in a situation where you had no idea where your next meal was coming from or have you been out of a job with no one to turn to?

Many may respond that “people should stop making children that they can’t take care of,” etc., but what are those innocent children and young adults to say after being born into a world with little or no parental guidance; after being told lies about who they are until they themselves believe that they are worthless?

Some are even born to children who have been sexually abused, or in homes that expect them to behave like adults and take responsibility when they have little or no proper access to role

models or opportunities for upliftment. I’m a medical doctor today but those who know me know that I had to work really hard to even have a goal to aspire to. To be quite honest, even now I still need guidance as a young adult. How much more our vulnerable children. I say “our” because we are all Guyanese and as our motto says - “One people, One nation, One destiny”. I say all of this to ask you dear reader, “What are we lacking as a nation?”, and “How can we improve our people’s standard of living?”

I threw these questions out to some of my colleagues and here were their responses: “Lack of opportunities for all levels of abilities”; “Not enough value for and investment in skills, and need for promotion of creativity”; “Culture. For example, children growing up thinking it’s ok to sit in the hot sun and pretend to repair roads while passer-by take pity on to them and give a $20 or so, or those

just simply begging for money”; “Homelessness.

Some people just aren’t fortunate to have family who care and /or a roof over their heads”; “Drug abuse. Some are at an even higher risk due to being born to unfortunate drug users. I recently saw one woman smoking with a young baby in her hand.

Should we condemn her for endangering that child or should we try to reach out and understand?”; “Not having enough exposure to opportunities, therefore, hindering the potential for development”; “Lack of motivation”; “Mentally lazy”; “Lack of access to basic resources”; “Not enough influence by their leaders”; and “Lack of equality.”

Now the above responses were from stable individuals; fellow colleagues with families and jobs.

However, there were a few options that resonated with me concerning what we may be lacking as a nation.

One person stated “that our society needs to have a

true understanding of selflove and love for others and the ability to actually recognise and understand that we are placed on earth with a purpose only for a period of time.”

The other stated thus: “Core values must be installed in the home: honesty, integrity, faithfulness and the fear of God.” So, I dare to ask you dear reader - what is your purpose? Are you a part of the problem or part of the solution?

Galatians 6:2 says, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfil the law of Christ.”

Matthew 22:37-40 Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”

This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: “Love your neighbour as yourself.” All the law and the prophets hang on these two commandments.

Yours sincerely, Dr. Abigail Stewart

provided by law enforcement agencies, even though, sporadically, relevant divisional commanders of the GPF have been provided with the details pertaining to the complaints and directed to take appropriate action to ensure that Subsection (1) of Section 174 A of the Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act, as amended by Act No. 1 of 1989, is not breached.

The law states: “No person shall, in any road, street, public place or land or in building or premises, by operating or causing or suffering to be operated any stereo set, juke box, radio, wireless loudspeaker, amplifier, automatic piano or similar instrument of music, or by any other means whatsoever, make or cause or suffer to be

made any noise which shall be so loud and so continuous or repetitive as to cause a nuisance to occupants of any premises in the neighbourhood.”

Another aspect of the noise nuisance the ministry should look at is loud music emanating from privately-owned vehicles.

Somehow or the other it would appear that the operators believe they have the right to play music as loudly as they feel.

The campaign against noise nuisance must be relentless and sustained or else this scourge will not be stopped because it seems that some people get a sense of pleasure when they play loud music and disturb others.

We are requesting a review of CSEC, CAPE results Dear editor, WE wish to register our complaint and are requesting a review of the recently reported results of the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) and Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams. Our request is based on the following: (1) Internal Assessment or School-Based Assessments and predicted grades are incomparable as they significantly differ from those obtained by students. Example: two students who worked in the same group, received the same Internal Assessment and predicted grade were granted grades “I” and “IV” respectively; (2) Students who have been awarded straight “A” profile have been assigned Grade VI; (3) Students who sat the exam have been graded “Ungraded or Absent”; (4) The charge of $30 USD to review each subject, keeping in mind that the ‘errors’ were no fault of the student but the discrepancy brought about by the ‘system’.

Undoubtedly, there are severe inconsistencies in the grading of CAPE and CSEC 2020 papers which have negatively impacted the lives of some of the cohorts who, throughout the academic year, have been considered by teachers to be exceptional.

It is to be noted that some students have been awarded scholarships from overseas and regional institutions were put on a waiting list but due to the CAPE results have now been denied. We are extremely disappointed about this outcome having been assured that the exams would have been fairly held during the COVID- 19 pandemic.

Moreover, we are not a group of delinquents making an irrational stance against the prestigious Caribbean Examination Council (CXC); we are hardworking students seeking justice. We only want to advocate for the accurate allocation of our grades. We look forward to hearing from you.

Yours truly, Imani Pryce #OurGradesMatter Spokesperson

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 26, 2020

Thanks Mr. President for putting your foot down

It is a fishy business Dear editor,

THE National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) result is finally out after a breath-taking experience with the repercussions of COVID-19, playing a major part in the preparatory aspect and the actual writing of the exam. This was done in unchartered waters for the children and teachers and it was quite a testing period for all, including the Ministry Of Education, taking into account also, the psychological effect of an incomplete election process and its spin off inconveniences.

With students vying for the top positions in order to be placed in the leading schools, the Georgetown schools again are under the microscope, the leading contenders being Queens College and Bishops High School. Space limitation once more is the featured topic and the conversation of the equitable distribution of fair and impartial education standards, methods, quality and quantity throughout the country is bubbling openly.

This is a perpetual sore point with the education system and it needs to be addressed immediately and urgently. It must be a landmark as a successful achievement in the PPP/C’s manifesto and one that this government will be proud to declare that this monster has been finally harnessed.

All schools must be fully equipped to accommodate all students at all levels to reflect an acceptable uniformity that is available in each and every learning

institution. There must not be any room for biasness and the Minister of Education should accept this as a personal challenge and pursue this goal with an earnest enthusiasm, one that she can take pride with as a breaking point. No stone should be left unturned and no dollar should be skimmed so that this project becomes a reality within the next five years.

Meanwhile, congratulations to all the successful students, especially Samuel Barkoye and Rovin Lall.

The fishing industry is a great money and monkey making business in Guyana and one that many Guyanese are involved in. Fish is not only in the sea but in the air also and the whole of Guyana smells of fish because of the fishy business conducted by the sharks in the PNC/R. Before the plane hits the tarmac at the Cheddie Jagan International Airport, the whip of a stinking fish hits you.

There is fishy business smelling up the entire airport and in the net is the past government. On the East Bank road, you know Guyana is frying fish. Public Works Minister, Juan Edghill, has ordered an investigation into allegations of an alleged racket at the asphalt plant, a state-run entity. Government projects were mandated to take their asphalt from the Garden of Eden plant and would get huge discounts under a scam that stretched all the way to the Ministry of Public Works. Fish is most likely blocking the drainage at GWI because there is a hold up of billions of dollars not flowing to GPL. Don’t blame the fish, blame the PNC/R fishermen at the utility. There is a different

smell as you round the bend at Thirst Park. That is the smell of old dollar bills piling up! Well of course, fishes embark at the T&HD wharf. They jump from the sea on to the land to leave their scent. Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, on Wednesday, revealed to the National Assembly’s Committee of Supply that the Transports and Harbors Department (T&HD) is deep in a debt of $956M—accumulated by the APNU+AFC during their five-year term in government. In the centre of the Garden City, and surrounding, you can smell the stench of rotten fish. There is fishy business being conducted by Larry London and some $29 million contract.

Christopher Jones is leaving a hot trail of fish worth almost $5 million instead of hair.

The Legal Affairs Ministry is sighting some $300 million thrown in the sea for fishy business. Not to feel left out, Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall, is seeing fish on the menu worth $250 million instead of accountability for activities from the Sustainable Livelihood and Entrepreneurial development (SLED). Even the courts need fumigation. A second election petition was presented but without the sight of any SOP’s, clumsily concealed with the scent of a popular fish perfume.

Hopefully, the fish smell would leave Guyana and head towards America shortly, thanks to the US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo. But Guyanese will feel the sting of the fish carcass,

again. With Mike Pompeo’s departure, the Syndicato Gang is testing the depth of Guyana’s water. They are on a fishing expedition. The question is, who is throwing the net, what is the bait and what is the catch? Showing up on the question paper, is a fishy question by the Caribbean Examination Centre. If you think that is the end of this week in fishing lessons, forget it. To take first place, of course, the PNC/R wants to make sure that they are the best in the fishing business. They thought that they were better than the Indigenous patriots when it comes to catching fish. So sad, their $800 million fishing net had a huge hole, cut out by the PPP/C to allow a free pass for the founders of this nation. The PNC/R thought that with one throw, they can put a stop to the “Heritage Month.”

How pathetic! Abstention though, is a nice try. But seriously, Guyana needs to teach Guyanese how to fish rather than feeding them fish for a meal. With proper equipment, Guyana will feed them for the rest of their lives.

ONE cannot help but applaud President Ali on his stand taken on the CJIA matter. All Guyanese are appalled with the total incompetence and mismanagement of this project to date, and the willful disregard to the original contract which must be completed as per the signed contract. Guyana never paid for a refurbished third world airport with finishes so utterly devoid of any standards, and materials so poor in quality, that I would not even put in my barn if I had one.

We the Guyanese people must stand firmly behind our President that this contract must be respected fully and restored to international accepted norms. I had suggested to the previous administration that a professional, international airport management company be retained, which could supervise the construction to international standards, plan our future growth, negotiate with airlines to open new routes, plan our cold storage and growing import and export future, duty-free shopping, adequate runways, airport systems, etc, and who are versed in employee and consumer relations should be hired immediately to ensure that fiasco’s such as this does not happen. On further investigations you will find that China Harbor did not stop with some sand and equipment to Movie Towne. The Giftland Group has always maintained that we welcome all competition, once its fair and played on a level playing field, and we are not suggesting that Movie Towne has done anything wrong; however, we have reported to the GRA commissioner, and former finance minister that China Harbor was allegedly illegally using their duty-free status to import building materials and fuel supplies for that project. Many truckers had informed us that fuel brought to the airport was subsequently transported to the MT site; this was also true of other building materials.

Had GRA wanted to, this could have been easily verified, just match the duty, vat and other taxes on the MT project, against the contractor’s bill of quantities and ask them to produce the custom entries showing these were paid.

If these cannot be produced then it becomes clear that the MT project was built with an unfair advantage either to the Giftland Mall by cheaper construction cost and to GRA by waiver of duties in the amount of billions of dollars of unpaid taxes. The Giftland Mall has paid all duties and taxes on its construction. If this wasn’t done by MT then there is an unfair advantage here. The Giftland Group looks forward under this new administration for this investigation to be conducted.

Thank you, Mr President for putting your foot down.

Yours sincerely, Roy Beepat Chairman, Giftland Group

Respectfully, Jai Lall

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 26, 2020

CXC ‘side-steps’ key questions --says satisfied with its 2020 services, will only respond to official queries from Ministries of Education across the Caribbean

By Tamica Garnett REGISTRAR and CEO of the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC), Dr. Wayne Wesley, has effectively absolved the governing body of any wrongdoing, by declaring that it is satisfied with the level of service provided to students, even in the face of widespread backlash from stakeholders all across the region.

He did so during a virtual press conference held on Friday to address the Caribbean-wide situation, whereby students who wrote the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations this year are reporting unusual grades.

He ‘side-stepped’ questions on the weighting and scoring method utilized by the Council to grade its modified 2020 examinations.

Addressing the issue from the CXC’s perspective during the press conference, Dr. Wesley said that, notwithstanding the modifications, the examination would have undergone to accommodate the fallout from COVID-19 by removing certain components of it, the grading system remained the same as in previous years.

He would, however, give no clear answers on how the

scores were redistributed, and conveyed that the Council will only be dealing with official queries sent it by the respective education ministries of the various countries.

“Without getting into specifics, we have already offered to provide the MoE with details of any area of particular concern,” Dr. Wesley said. “Those details will be shared, so they can see what went into and why the results are the way they are.

I can only respond to information that I can validate. I cannot speak to something I cannot validate,” was all he was prepared to offer as he was repeatedly questioned by journalists about the ongoing situation.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which effected school closures across the Caribbean since March, the Council delayed its customary May/June examinations, and, instead, administered them in July/ August, modifying them to exclude the regular Paper Two component.

Customarily, students are scored in the exams, based on their performance in a multiple-choice Paper One, the Paper Two, and pre-exam School-Based Assessments (SBAs) or internal Assessments. Each component accounts for a separate percentage of the student’s

“We have done all our internal checks; that is what I can respond to you about these issues,” Dr. Wesley relayed.

He, however, noted that the Council has not given any consideration to waiving the US$30 fee that students are required to pay if they want a review of their results.

ALL’S NOT WELL

CXC Registrar, Dr. Wayne Wesley overall score.

UNAPOLOGETIC On Friday, Dr. Wesley refused to explain how the percentage was redistributed this year, given the omission of Paper Two. He also said that he would not agree that there were any anomalies in the process this year.

“We are very much pleased,” he said, adding: “Yes, I am satisfied with the service of our approach this year; it was always with the students in mind. I am satisfied.”

This comes even as the Ministry of Education (MoE) in Guyana wrote the Council on Thursday saying that it was dissatisfied, given the number of complaints be-

ing received from students.

The Ministries of Education of other Caribbean nations have also registered their concerns with the Council’s 2020 exams.

Dr. Wesley, however, said that, thus far, only two Ministries have officially reached out to the Council seeking clarification, but that he would not name the countries. Dr. Westley said that, notwithstanding the unprecedented outcry by the Caribbean students, the CXC will only be dealing with the situation, based on official reports, of which the Council has only received a few.

Wesley said that all he would offer to the students is that they make official reports about their qualms.

It was last Tuesday that CXC officially released the results of its CSEC and CAPE examinations, and, shortly thereafter, students began to report that all was not right with the grades they were seeing.

Here in Guyana, students of Queen’s College and The Bishops’ High school, on Thursday, staged protests outside of the Ministry of Education’s Examinations Division in the Camp Street compound of the very Queen’s College. The students had the support of their parents, teachers, and their respective schools, as well as the government.

Following Friday’s press conference, many students say that the response from the CXC officials leaves much to be desired.

“CXC kept on going around the bush with their answers; it is contradictory to a very extreme extent,

and being grossly dishonest to say everything is in order and there is no problem. I have simply lost all faith and trust in this profit-based organisation which shows little regard for our actual education,” commented a student of the Ardenne High School in Kingston, Jamaica.

Others say CXC has now left them with even more questions than answers.

“I’m just more confused about CXC’s operation now more than ever. I’m appalled at what I listened to in that press conference; the amount of dodged questions was astounding,” expressed Zane Ramotar, of Queen’s College here in Guyana.

“The Registrar maintained that there were no changes to the weighting; he said that it’s the same weight as mandated by the syllabus.

However, when confronted with evidence which clearly showed that the syllabi have weight attached to the Paper Two, he just ignored it, and maintained that the weighting has not been changed,” he added.

The CXC review process ends on October 23, following which the official results for the 2020 exams are scheduled to begin being released from November 6, following any reviews.

Linden uses street theatre to good effect --to help adults understand the role they should play in protecting nation’s children LINDENERS, on Friday, joined the rest of Guyana in observing Childcare and Protection Week 2020, under the theme, ‘Protecting Children and Empowering Families to cope with the Global Pandemic’, with a parade and impressive ‘street theatre’.

The parade, which was steered by the Linden Constabulary Orchestra, began on Republic Avenue, Linden and concluded at the Washer Pan Road with the ‘street theatre’, which consisted of a dance done by members of the Epic Dynamic Dance Group.

The dance group, made up of youths, was dressed in t-shirts with messages on them, such as, “Support me”, “Love me”, “Inspire me”, “Protect me”, “Listen to me”, and “Guide me”,

which are all roles adults should play in shaping society’s children.

According to Cameal Jeffrey, Childcare and Protection Officer attached to the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, the activity, which is held annually, was held in an attempt to increase awareness and understanding of the importance of primary prevention to reduce child abuse and neglect in the society.

She said, “Child abuse is something we want to stamp out. We know that there are still persons who continue to turn a blind eye to matters that are affecting children in our society, so we are here to send a message; children need to be protected, guided, loved and directed.”

Jeffrey added that pro-

Childcare and Protection Officer, Cameal Jeffrey tecting the nation’s children is not just the Childcare and Protection Agency’s business, but it is everybody’s business and responsibility; this is the core principle the organisation is instilling into the public.

Back in June of this year, Ayo Dalgety-Dean, Founder

Members of the Epic Dynamic Dance Troupe doing the ever-popular ‘Jerusalema’ dance and Managing Director of sexual abuse cases, which are advised to contact the Blossom Inc., a children’s may very well be as a result Childcare and Protection charity, told the Guyana of the COVID-19 pandemic. Agency’s hotline on teleChronicle that there has been If you know of a child phone number 2270979 or an increase in reported child who is being abused, you 6231783.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 26, 2020

COVID-19 claims another life

–– 130 new cases recorded in 24 hours THE novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has claimed yet another life within the past 24 hours, taking the death toll to 74.

Health authorities said the recent victim is a 71-year-old female from Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam). She died while receiving treatment at a local health facility on Friday.

The Ministry of Health 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 victim.

Guyana has lost someone to COVID-19 almost every day over the past month. There has also been a daily increase in the number of cases. The country reported 130 new cases within the past 24 hours.

Health authorities here have so far tested 13,250 persons, with 10,541 proving negative and 2,709 positive. Of the total positive cases, 1,490 persons have recovered, and 73 have lost their lives.

The remaining cases are being monitored by the authorities who have maintained that cases are being detected because more tests are being done. Sample-taking was also increased across the country, because the authorities had believed that many cases were going “under the radar.”

This suspicion prompted them 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 (CuyuniMazaruni); 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 personnel with the technical skills needed to get it done. While the 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 ones, and five per cent will need intensive care.

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 have been consistently encouraged to take extra precautions, because there is no approved cure or specific treatment for the disease. Guyanese have also been reminded time and again 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 authorities on the COVID-19 Emergency numbers: 231 1166, 226 7480 or 624 6674 immediately, or visit the ministry’s website at www.health.gov.gy.

Reece is chairman of aeronautical engineering school PAUL Ronald Reece was elected chairman when the Art Williams & Harry Wendt Aeronautical Engineering School held its Annual General Meeting on Wednesday.

The other persons elected to serve on the school’s Board of Directors for the year 2020 – 2021 are Col. (ret’d) Anthony Mekdeci (vice-chairman); Michael Correia Jnr. (director); Malcolm Chan-A-Sue (director); Oshana Rogers (director); and Bill Cotrill and John Goglia as ex-officio members.

Nalini Chanderban is Accountant and General Manager; Rabindra Ramoutar, head of training, and Devekanand Ramnarine, Company Secretary.

Incoming Chairman of the Art Williams & Harry Wendt Aeronautical Engineering School, Mr. Paul Reece

The Art Williams & Harry Wendt Aeronautical Engineering School is a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) committed to developing aircraft engineering skills and technical

expertise essential to the development and safety of air transport within Guyana, the Caribbean community, and the world at large.

Their programme is designed specifically for persons interested in building their career as an aircraft maintenance engineer, through high vocational achievement and academic excellence.

Students are trained in knowledge skills, practical skills, and on- the-job training.

The Art Williams & Harry Wendt Aeronautical Engineering School is the first tertiary institution in CARICOM to have a quality management system that is ISO 9001 certified by the Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards (TTBS).

Pensioner dumps brother in trench during drunken brawl A PENSIONER has been arrested for killing his 55-yearold brother and dumping his body in a trench after a drunken altercation on Back Street, Den Amstel, West Coast Demerara (WCD) on Thursday.

Dead is Winston Jordan of Back Street Den Amstel, West Coast Demerara. His 65year-old brother was arrested and remains in custody as investigations into the murder continue.

According to reports, the two brothers were consuming alcohol on Thursday when Jordon left the company of his brother.

“The suspect then followed, caught up with him a short distance away and held on to him trying to pull him.

The deceased; however, held on to a neighbour’s gate but the suspect continued to pull him during which he lost his grip on the gate, after which the suspect pushed him to the ground, resulting in the victim hitting his head on the road and losing consciousness,” police said.

The suspect, police said, then dragged Jordon across the street where he threw him into a trench and refused to render assistance.

The motionless body of

the man was pulled from the trench by two passersby who saw what had transpired.

The victim was escorted to the Leonora Cottage Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The body is at the Ezekiel Funeral Home awaiting an autopsy.

At the aforementioned address relatives were reluctant to speak about anything which occurred, noting that they do not know exactly what happened between the two brothers.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 26, 2020

Region One CSEC students heartbroken –– hoping for speedy resolution to CXC discrepancies

By Vishani Ragobeer STUDENTS and teachers of Port Kaituma Secondary School, Region One, are hoping for a speedy resolution to the discrepancies they discovered in the results received recently from the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC).

According to reports received by this newspaper, at Port Kaituma Secondary, 62 candidates received ungraded results for the Mathematics and English Language (English A) Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations they wrote earlier this year.

Twenty-one of those candidates also recorded similar ungraded results for the Principles of Business (PoB) Examination.

An educator who was responsible for the submission of the students’ School-Based Assessments (SBAs) told the Guyana Chronicle that the broadsheet by the school from the CXC indicated that the ungraded students did not submit their SBAs. However, the educator refuted this claim, pointing out that “When you submit the SBAs online, you would get a confirmation email which states that the SBA was successfully uploaded at the specific time.”

That Region One educator provided screenshots to the Guyana Chronicle of the confirmation email received after the students’ Mathematics and PoB SBAs were all uploaded to the CXC portal before the sitting of the examinations. The confirmation email showed the students’ names and that the SBAs

were submitted since May 22, 2020before the July/August 2020 postponed sitting of the examinations.

COVID-19 pandemic, the CXC decided against having students write the Paper Two examination,

ANGRY AND FRUSTRATED Teachers too, he said, are angry and frustrated because it feels as

Despite not receiving a confirmation email for the English SBAs submitted, the school was informed by the Ministry of Education (MoE)’s Examinations Division that there is a field on the CXC’s SBA portal which will show whether those documents were uploaded. And indeed when the educator and his colleagues checked, it was seen that those SBAs were submitted.

Due to the challenges and potentially devastating impact of the

as per normal. As such, these SBAs, along with the Paper One, Multiple Choice Examinations the students wrote were what decided what Grade each student would garner.

“The children are heartbroken,” the educator bemoaned, adding: “Their parents are saying that they aren't eating.” For the Mathematics and English subject areas, in particular, students are especially distressed, as these are, arguably, the two crucial subjects needed as they navigate post-secondary school life.

though the CXC is blaming them for the discrepancies by stating that the SBAs were not submitted.

“Something went wrong with CXC somewhere along the line because we have confirmation for Mathematics and PoB and we have proof that the English SBAs were uploaded,” the educator said, noting that “CXC made a mistake or CXC website crashed or something.”

A Facebook post made by the Teacher in Charge of the Port Kaituma secondary school, AnnMarie

Daniels, acknowledged the concerns raised by a number of the students for these three subject areas. The teacher assured that the local education authorities were looking into the matter, and she too was hoping for a speedy resolution.

On Thursday, students from three of Guyana’s Grade ‘A’ schools- Queen’s College, The Bishops’ High, and the St. Joseph High School- protested against what they said were major discrepancies discovered from the results released by the CXC. These included lower-than-expected grades and ungraded subjects seen from the results garnered from this year’s CSEC and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE).

On Friday, in response to numerous concerns raised by students, teachers, parents, and even Education Ministries across the Caribbean, the CXC held a presser where the specific case of ungraded results was one of the concerns raised. CXC Registrar, Wayne Wesley, said that the concerns are being looked into.

At the presser, it was communicated that there might have been instances where additional information for the SBAs was requested, but not submitted.

However, the registrar said that the CXC is working with the local registrars and the Ministries of Education to address those concerns.

Shiwram credits supportive family for NGSA success THE results of this year’s National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) have been released and much to the delight of her contemporaries, it was announced that young Janai Hadassah Shiwram, who hails from the West Coast of Demerara, was one of the top performers in the country.

She scored 519 marks at the examinations and has secured a place at Queen’s College. It came as no surprise to anyone as it is well known that she possesses exceptional talents which she has channeled into academic pursuits.

Shiwram, who started her schooling at the Prosperity Play School in Anna Catherina, subsequently attended the Academy of Excellence (AoE) of Cornelia Ida and Mathematics and English Language were her forte.

She is most thankful to veteran educator and Principal of AoE Latchmin

Gopal and teachers, Nerissa Samuels and Shanece Hing without whom, she firmly believes, she could not have achieved what she did.

Speaking about her achievements, Janai strikes a humble tone, more comfortable at pointing out her weaknesses than her strengths. She said there is a myth out there, or popular belief, that most parents are somehow responsible for pushing their young children into living their dreams, and she thinks that’s a trope that though true in some cases, was definitely not so in her case, as it is she who takes the lead in her own academic and co-curricular development, through self-determination.

The young Shiwram whose hobbies include reading and painting is self-assured and optimistic for a future that is flush with endless possibilities. She said many people assume that things

come easily to gifted people, but noted that her success has come from being very serious and very dedicated.

She knows that not all gifted children go on to achieve great things as adults, and as a consequence intends to work very hard each day that she attends Queen’s College, the top school which she was awarded.

Janai also credits her grandmother, Donna Etwaroo, with instilling in her, focus. Along with her parents, her grandmother has been extremely important in her development, giving her puzzle books to solve from age six and reinforcing subjects taught to her in school such as mathematics. She feels very lucky to have a very inspiring and supportive family.

Janai Hadassah Shiwram

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 26, 2020

Man wanted for WCB fatal shooting captured

POLICE have arrested Ricardo Mitchell, 31, called “Cardo” of Lot 30, Bennett Dam, West Bank Berbice, who was wanted for questioning into the murder of Winston Robertson called “High Rollers” or “Redman”, 30, on August 10, at Lot 42, Cotton Tree, West Coast Berbice.

Mitchell has been on the run ever since until police acting on intelligence managed to apprehend him on Friday.

On August 9, Mitchell had accused his 26-old-old wife of messaging someone on facebook. He subsequently assaulted her and she ran away from home, fearing for her safety.

Caught: Ricardo Mitchell

The woman then confided in Robertson about the assault and he arranged for her to stay at one of his friends.

However, on August 10, at approximately 19:30 hours while at the friend’s house, she was in conversation with Robertson and an 18-yearold when she heard an explosion and saw Robertson clutching his abdomen. He later fell to the ground.

She then saw Mitchell, who was armed with a gun, turn his attention to her. As the woman tried to escape, she fell to the ground while Mitchell stood over her and pointed the gun to her and pulled the trigger twice but the gun snapped.

The woman then tried to escape and while on the public road, Mitchell caught up with her and dealt her several lashes to her head with the gun until she was unconscious.

Meanwhile, Robertson, who was shot to abdomen and bleeding profusely, jumped into his car and drove off but crashed a short distance away.

He and the 26-year-old woman were picked up and taken to the Fort Wellington Hospital. Robertson was then transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital where he succumbed.

The woman was also admitted and treated for four wounds to the head.

Mitchell is expected to be charged very soon.

GTT introduces its Blaze service to Parika –– Corriverton customers to benefit next THE Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) has expanded its Blaze service to Parika to the benefit of 550 households.

“With many students, teachers and workers having to utilise more bandwidth, we believe this implementation comes at an opportune time to allow for better connectivity with increased speeds,” said GTT’s Product Lead of Fixed Broadband Services, Jamal Inniss.

At the end of 2019, GTT’s Chief Executive Of-

ficer, Justin Nedd, announced that the company had intentions to extend its fibre-optic network to communities in Parika, Berbice and Linden in 2020. Despite the current pandemic, GTT has remained committed to its promise to the residents of Parika; customers in Corriverton will benefit next. “We are in this together - GTT has and will continue to support the evolution of Guyana because it’s only when we come together we rise,” said Nedd.

Many customers have already applied for their Blaze service, with the first installation in the area scheduled for September 28, 2020. Persons who have not yet applied can do so at http://bit.ly/ Blaze_PaR.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 26, 2020

Dr. Anthony reminds Payara Project of ‘open door policy’ not yet approved –– as some GPHC nurses protest for more pay, risk allowance already budgeted for SOME nurses attached to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) staged a protest in the East Street parking lot on Friday morning calling for more pay.

The frontline workers, who could be heard chanting “No money, no work”, called on the Ministry of Health to provide them with an equitable working wage, as well as a risk allowance for the ‘extraordinary’ job they have been doing on a daily basis, particularly in the COVID-19 fight.

John Allen, one of the nurses who took part in the protest, told the Guyana Chronicle that frontline workers deserve better. Allen, who has been in the profession for the last nine years, highlighted that the workers have been dedicated to their duties and have been putting themselves and families at risk to ensure that the Guyanese people are getting proper healthcare.

Allen said that the nurses are standing in solidarity to

urge the payment of the allowances that were promised after the COVID-19 pandemic reached Guyana.

“If we are not getting our allowances we will take this stand on a daily basis until our demands are met. We the nurses are putting our lives at risk on a daily basis, sacrificing to care for patients and we need to be shown some sort of appreciation,” Allen said.

He stressed that the health sector is extremely important given the current pandemic.

Representative of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), Owen John, said the union will stand with the nurses in their collective calls for better wages. He said that the current salary being paid to frontline workers is inadequate for a sustainable livelihood.

Further, John opined that the ministry officials are disconnected from the needs of the health professionals in the public service. He called on those officials to engage the

aggrieved workers to get an understanding of their wants and needs.

ALLOWANCE PROVIDED FOR Government in the recently presented 2020 Budget has allocated some $150 million for frontline health workers in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We recognise that … extra efforts that health workers are putting in and, in this budget, we have allocated $150 million for risk allowance.

Unfortunately, the budget is not passed as yet. It is scheduled to be passed on Friday (yesterday). As soon as we get that money, we will be able to give nurses and other [categories] of frontline workers that risk allowance that we promised,” the minister had said in reaction to a protest from nurses in Linden earlier this week.

“One of the first things we did as a government was to ensure that our nurses …

as with other frontline health workers… to get PPEs [personal protective equipment] so that in this pandemic they can remain protected,” Dr. Anthony also pointed out.

The minister added that there was no need to protest for provisions that were already in the pipeline. Instead, he appealed to the nurses to use the opportunity to engage their respective regional health authorities, after which they could consult the Ministry of Health.

“We are here. We want to resolve issues and I don’t think these issues ought to be resolved on the streets.

It can easily be resolved by sitting down and letting us understand what challenges they have, if any. I hope that in [the] future, if nurses have any grievances, they would employ the ‘opendoor policy’ that we have at the Ministry of Health,” the minister said.

Some of the nurses who took part in the protest on Friday (Elvin Croker photo)

–– in final stage, says Minister Bharrat

Natural Resources Minister, Vickram Bharrat

MINISTER of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, has clarified that, contrary to reports, the Payara Development Project has not yet been approved but is rather in its final stage and should be completed before the end of September.

He told the Guyana Chronicle on Friday that ExxonMobil’s legal and technical teams are engaging experts from the Department of Energy (DE) and the Attorney General Chambers for the crafting of a legal agreement which outlines strict guidelines for the company’s offshore operations.

“I don’t know if any media is carrying it as approved.

What I told the media is that it should be approved soon… it’s not approved as yet,” Minister Bharrat said.

He added: “We had an overlapping issue so the Attorney General is helping with the drafting of that part of it… we’re hoping to reach the month-end deadline.”

A review of the project was previously conducted by the Bayphase Oil and Gas Consultants contracted by the DE under the previous administration, but the current government conducted a new review to ensure transparency and accountability. It is being spearheaded by a team of international experts, led

by Canadian Queen’s Counsel, Alison Redford.

Minister Vickram told this publication that when the process is completed, the review will be made public so that a comparison can be done between the review conducted by the international experts and that of Bayphase.

The completion of the process within September

should allow for ExxonMobil to meet its development timelines, inclusive of a Final Investment Decision (FID).

President of ExxonMobil Guyana, Alistair Routledge, has explained that a delay beyond September could lead to a multi-month delay – as much as nine to 12 months – due to the limited installation windows for offshore weather systems.

He acknowledged: “It’s very close to the deadline that we need to achieve in order to keep it on course so we don't lose traction and have to restart the clock from the point of view of the contractors and installation windows, but I think there's a will on all sides to make that happen…we’re working through the final details in order to reach alignment on the conditions of the licence for the developer. I would say we are getting close. We haven’t dotted every ‘i’ and crossed every ‘t’ but I think that both sides are working incredibly hard to reach that closure so that we can get there.”

Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), a subsidiary of ExxonMobil, was initially seeking approval for the Payara Development Project Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Field Development Plan ahead of 2020.

The project, located in the eastern half of the Stabroek Block, is expected to see the drilling of up to 45 development wells which could take up to five years, with drilling initially pegged to begin in 2020 and initial production by early 2023.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 26, 2020

Guyanese women making a difference in their communities THE Guyanese women who have participated in the Global Women in Management (GWIM) training programme funded by ExxonMobil Foundation have taken the lessons learned back into their communities across the country.

Seven women have participated since 2013, and an eighth is set to participate Online later this year.

GWIM is designed to strengthen women’s management, leadership and technical skills to enhance and bring to scale programmes that advance women’s economic opportunities, and build the next generation of women business leaders and entrepreneurs. The candidates must be working in a local organisation focused on women’s economic empowerment.

less fortunate, and depend on male partners for a better life. I am inspiring young women to develop themselves before they think about going into early marriage and child-bearing,” she shared.

Da Silva, who is a regional councillor and social worker, believes that this approach will contribute to the overall goal of alleviating poverty. In her private capacity, Vilma owns a coconut farm (Henvil Farm), which supplies companies such as Sterling Limited, and employs up to 24 persons.

She is one of three women based in rural communities who have benefitted from this training, the others being Yvonne Pearson, ViceChair of the Indigenous Peoples’ Commission, as well as Rowena Williams, a teacher and the chairperson of the

SSYDR’s Magda Wills (second right) and other participants from the GWIM 2018 programme of her non-governmental organisation. She recalled a programme called “Farming for Hunger”, which inspired her next big project that aims to rehabilitate young offenders; ensuring they are steered from criminal activity.

EFFECT CHANGE

Sonja Sampson is the latest Guyanese participant, and is set to begin training in October 2020 Some of the Guyanese participants, such as Vilma Da Silva from the Lower Pomeroon, in Region Two (Pomeroon Supenaam), are determined to inspire younger women, ensuring that they secure better lives.

“Quite often, women are the vulnerable ones who feel

Silver Sands Sports Club in Waramuri, Region One (Barima-Waini).

Meanwhile, Sociologist and Founder of Specialists in Sustained Youth Development and Research (SSYDR Inc.), Magda Griffith-Wills has managed to use the experience to augment the work

“We are in the process of acquiring the land necessary to have that rehabilitative programme geared to persons within the justice system: Young persons; it doesn’t matter the crime. We want to be able to help persons to get to that point where they could see and want change, then effect that change through agriculture,” Griffith-Wills explained.

ExxonMobil Foundation has supported the Global Women in Management training programme for 15 years to focus on providing management training and building local capacity to support women’s economic advancement. More than 900 women in 77 countries

have participated since the programme commenced in 2005.

To improve the design and management of participants’ programmes, businesses and institutions, GWIM develops competencies in project management, financial management, leadership, fundraising, institutional sustainability and advocacy.

Technical training in areas such as business planning, marketing and product development strengthens participants’ ability to design and implement women’s economic empowerment programmes in their communities.

“I feel honoured and excited to be able to represent the women of Guyana,” said Sonja Sampson, who is set to begin training in October.

“I have been working with women and youth for quite some time, and this opportunity will help me to gain more skills and knowledge in leadership and management.”

Sonja is a coach and trainer with SSYDR Inc., and will be participating Online,

owing to COVID-19 travel restrictions.

COMMITMENT Meanwhile, Senior Director for Public and Government Affairs, Deedra Moe said this is one of several ways that ExxonMobil Guyana demonstrates its commitment to the advancement of women in Guyana. According to her, the company has identified women empowerment as one of its focus areas as part of its overall commitment to social and economic progress in Guyana.

“We continue to partner with several NGOs; a few are run by GWIM participants, to implement various projects geared at improving the lives of women and empowering the communities where they live,” she added.

These include most recently, a project by the Blue Flame Women’s Group to upgrade an existing factory which produces cocoa sticks, coffee and cassava bread in

Region One, and another by WeLead Caribbean for skills development in the areas of human resources, business, branding and packaging in Regions Two and Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara). ExxonMobil has also partnered with Cerulean Inc. on a project to enhance the economic development of Mainstay/Whayaka through capacity-building in the areas of Hospitality and Tourism and Small Business Development.

Beyond its corporate social responsibility, there are nearly 400 Guyanese women supporting various activities on and offshore. Women are employed in business services, procurement, safety, health and environment and technical services.

Other participants of the GWIM workshops are Renata Chuck-A-Sang of the Women and Gender Equality Commission, and Goldie Scott, Chief Executive Officer of Volunteer Youth Corps Inc.

Peacemaker cop stabbed in BV A POLICE constable who tried to make peace between two men who were fighting is now in the hospital nursing stab wounds to the lower neck and lower back.

The suspect was later arrested and is in police custody assisting with the investigation.

Reports indicate that 20-year-old Marcos Richmond was

walking home along Quamina Street, Beterverwagting (BV), East Coast Demerara on Thursday at around 19:40 hours when he saw two men in an altercation.

The constable approached the duo in a bid to maintain the peace but the 35-year-old suspect became annoyed and told the cop that the altercation was none of his concern.

Subsequently, the young policeman then continued his journey home when the same suspect attacked him from behind with a knife and stabbed him twice, the police reported.

He was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital by a family member and was admitted in a serious but stable condition.

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PSC, PSM to recognise Coursera certificates

From right: Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Alfred King; Minister of Education Priya Manickchand, Minister of the Public Service Sonia Parag, Chairman of the Private Sector Commission, Nicolas Boyer and Education Specialist, Olato Sam (Elvin Croker photo)

THE Private Sector Commission (PSC) will recognise the micro-credentials earned by individuals who have successfully completed the Workforce Recovery Initiative offered by the Commonwealth of Learning (CoL) and Coursera.

This development was made public on September 24, 2020, when the PSC, the Ministry of Education and the Public Service Ministry signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

The signing ceremony took place at the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD), Kingston, Georgetown.

The MoE announced earlier this month that it had partnered with the Commonwealth of Learning to grant Guyanese access to 4,000 certified online courses on the online platform, Coursera. The courses are being offered by ivy league universities and other reputable institutions in areas of study such as the Arts, Business, Computer Science, Health and Engineering. The ministry has since indicated that there has been an overwhelming response to the initiative.

The MoU will see graduates being able to use their certificates to boost their qualifications for both public and private-sector jobs.

Minister of Education Priya Manickchand said that there are several personal benefits deriving from the programme. She pointed out that persons are able to

advance or update their job skills and some may be able to add new skills to their list of qualifications.

Minister Manickchand disclosed that a significant percentage of persons utilised their cellphones to register for and complete their courses of study, an indication of how easily accessible and convenient the courses are.

Further, she highlighted that for most of the courses there is no need for any special types of equipment.

Explaining how the courses will be recognised, Minister Manickchand said, “If someone goes to the Public Service Ministry or the private sector in Guyana with these certificates, they will be recognised for what they are worth; as an indicator for someone who is skilled for as many hours on a particular area.”

She announced that the PSC will be working to consult the database of persons who are skilled through the programme, when they are looking for particular skillsets. She explained that this will present the opportunity for these certificate holders to enter or re-enter the workforce.

Meanwhile, PSC Chairman Nicolas Boyer said, “The private sector of Guyana is very excited to sign this MoU that will work to empower the Guyanese people.” He said the signing of the MoU is instrumental and shows the commitment of the private sector to be a part of Guyana’s continued growth

and advancement.

He lauded the Ministry of Education’s commitment to working to better the Guyanese people and their opportunities, even during this present juncture in the world’s history.

Minister of the Public Service Sonia Parag said that she sees this initiative as not just an opportunity to gain knowledge, but as a way to connect citizens with recognised universities and programmes from all over the world. She further added that the Public Service welcomes the initiative because it is looking to have public servants qualified at a level that would be performance and results-oriented.

Approximately 17, 500 Guyanese , including those from the hinterland in Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine are enrolled in courses.

An additional 970 have already graduated.

The minister told the media that the ministry is working to set up Information and Communications Technology (ICT) hubs in hinterland communities to facilitate further access to this one-of-a- kind opportunity. The deadline for registration has been extended to October 31, 2020 and those meeting this deadline have until December 31 to complete their courses. Persons can register for the programme by following the Coursera registration instructions on the Ministry of Education’s Facebook page.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 26, 2020

Capitals make it two from...

FROM BACKPAGE

Anrich Nortje also proved difficult to get away, finding a bit of early movement before shifting to the hard lengths.

But without Rayudu - and without Suresh Raina - and with the team management

not promoting Sam Curran up the order to break up a monotonously right-handed top six, there was little power or invention in the Super Kings line-up to challenge Capitals’ bowlers.

A better batting line-up could have put more pressure on the Capitals bowling, and possibly shown up a somewhat conservative batting performance too.

After a half-century from

Prithvi Shaw had powered them to 88 for no loss at the 10-over mark, Capitals never really found their top gear, and failed to clear 180 despite losing only three wickets.

SHAW ENSURES EARLY MOMENTUM FOR CAPITALS Shaw and Shikhar Dhawan are a right-left pair but they’re similar batsmen otherwise. They both relish width, score a lot of runs square on the off-side, and aren’t quite as fluent when the bowling is at their body and cramping them for room.

The Super Kings - who chose to chase despite the fact that teams batting first had won six of the first seven matches - bowled pace right through the Powerplay, and succeeded more often in cramping Dhawan for room than Shaw.

Shaw ended the Powerplay with 27 off 23 balls, and Dhawan with 7 off 13.

Super Kings could have had Shaw early had they spotted an inside-edge to the keeper off Deepak Chahar in the first over of the game, but they didn’t and no one appealed.

The spinners came on as soon as the fields could spread, and Piyush Chawla and Ravindra Jadeja went for 28 and 24 apiece in their first two overs. Shaw was severe on the leg-spin of Chawla, crashing him through the covers andthen backward of point when offered shortish balls with a bit of width in his

first over.

He then used his feet to twice loft him over the covers in his second over. Jadeja, bowling a touch too close to the hitting arcs of both batsmen, was slog-swept once each by both batsmen and driven to the cover boundary

by Dhawan.

Chawla came back through the second half of his spell, pegging the Capitals back with the wickets of both openers. The quicker ball did the trick both times; pinning Dhawan in front while he was trying to reverse-sweep, and beating Shaw for pace when he skipped out of his crease too early.

At 103 for 2 in the 13th over, Capitals were still calling all the shots with Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer at the crease and Marcus Stoinis and Shimron Hetmyer still to come, but Super Kings bowlers kept them in check with some tight bowling on a pitch that was just beginning to slow down.

Chahar and Josh Hazlewood - who came in for his IPL debut in place of Lungi Ngidi - slanted the ball across Pant and away from his favoured hitting arc, and even though the left-hander put away a few marginal errors in line and length, the tactic ensured he didn’t fully break loose.

There was an excellent 19th over as well from Curran, which only went for four runs, as Iyer struggled to put away the left-armer who

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went around the wicket and cramped him for room while bowling his cutters into the pitch.

A boundary each from Pant and Stoinis off Hazlewood, and four leg-byes via an uncharacteristic MS Dhoni lapse behind the stumps, gave Capitals 14 in their final over.

They had only made 87 in their last 10 overs.

A CHASE THAT NEVER WAS The first two matches of the season had brought M. Vijay 22 runs off 29 balls.

There was little fluency here as well, as Kagiso Rabada bowling Test-match lengths with a hint of outswing and two slips in place - began the second innings with five dots and a quiet tuck off the legs to fine leg.

Then Axar came on specifically to target Watson.

Before this game, their headto-head, over seven meetings, was 38 balls, 42 runs, and five dismissals. Watson survived Axar’s first over, had a chance dropped at square leg off Nortje in the next over, launched Avesh Khan for a big six over wide long-on in the over after that, before failing to survive Axar’s second over.

The ball was a typical Axar delivery - just short of a length, skidding on with the angle from left-arm around, designed to cramp the righthander for room. Watson pulled it with more power than most batsmen may have managed, but picked out the fielder at deep midwicket.

Super Kings lost their second wicket off the last ball of the Powerplay, Vijay failing to make a clean connection against a hard-length ball from Nortje, and miscuing a catch to midwicket.

The equation at that point was 142 from 14 overs. It was theoretically still achievable, but Super Kings’ victory chances faded quickly, with no boundaries coming in the next 5.2 overs thanks to a mixture of decent bowling, a lack of urgency from the batsmen, and an inability to pull off the big hits when they tried them.

Soon the Super Kings innings began to resemble an open net session, and a 54-run fourth-wicket stand between Faf du Plessis and Kedar Jadhav merely served to fill the time that remained until the overs ran out.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 26, 2020

Bottas ahead of Hamilton in Russian free practice

(BBC) - Valtteri Bottas set the pace ahead of Lewis Hamilton in second practice at the Russian Grand Prix despite scruffy sessions for both Mercedes drivers.

The Finn was top by 0.267secs despite sliding wide at the final corner, while Hamilton abandoned what would have been his own best lap after an error.

Hamilton locked a front wheel into Turn 13 and just avoided the barrier.

Bottas was a second ahead of Renault’s Daniel Ricciardo in third and McLaren’s Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris.

Red Bull appeared to be struggling. Max Verstappen was only seventh fastest after a spin, behind Racing Point’s Sergio Perez and 1.5secs off the pace, while his team-mate Alex Albon was a further 0.5secs back in 12th place.

Behind Verstappen, the Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel were eighth and 10th, sandwiching Renault’s Esteban Ocon.

Mercedes appeared to be in a league of their own,

while Red Bull, usually their closest rivals, have work to do.

Mercedes’ advantage was also pronounced on the long runs later in the session.

Hamilton and Bottas were well over 0.5secs a lap faster than any other car on average over their race-simulation runs - and again Ricciardo was faster than Verstappen, at least on the soft tyre, although the Dutchman looked more competitive on his second set of tyres at the end of practice, when he was next quickest after the Mercedes.

Hamilton and Bottas both had difficult first sessions, losing much of their running after locking front wheels and damaging their tyres but recovered well in the afternoon.

Hamilton said: “I didn’t feel like I was particularly quick today. P1 was pretty poor. I had a lock-up at Turn One on the soft tyre then went out on the hard tyre and completely destroyed the tyres, so P1 was scrap.

“P2 started a lot better.

A bit down in the first and

The Finn was top by 0.267secs.

second sectors but the last one was nice. I haven’t put them all together yet. It’s a work in progress, just some things I need to improve from the driving side and set-up-wise.

“Even for us, it doesn’t feel that great out there, so surprised to see that gap. It must be even worse for those behind. But the track will grip up and things might close up.”

While the session was running, F1 announced that the sport is to have a new boss, confirming the appointment of former Fer-

This date in boxing history…\

Bristol scores only KO JUNIOR middleweight Kenny Bristol would not be remembered as a knockout specialist. In fact Bristol had only one KO in a career that spanned eight years and included 20 bouts. His lone stoppage victory came on September 26, 1979.

The lanky southpaw Guyanese travelled to Italy to face Celestine Kanynda from Zaire (now Democratic Republic of The Congo).

Twenty-seven years old at the time, Bristol stopped Kanynda in the seventh round.

The victory improved his record to 11-0 and came two months after he defeated Pat Thomas to win the Commonwealth title. The decision over Thomas, who was born in St. Kitts and Nevis, allowed Bris-

tol to become the only Guyanese to win a Commonwealth title on home soil. He also defended that title against Eddie Marcelle on February 24, 1980.

The Bristol had turned pro in October 1976 and in December 1978 won a hardfought unanimous points victory over Reginald Ford. . He called it quits in February 1984 following a defeat by then unbeaten James Shuler. During his eight years in the ring Bristol scored 15 victories and five defeats.

He is the uncle of promoter Seon Bristol and lived in the United States for several decades before returning to Guyana recently.

rari team principal Stefano

Domenicali as president

and chief executive officer, starting in January.

Chase Carey, the chairman and chief executive since January 2017 when the sport was taken over by US group Liberty Media, will become non-executive chairman.

“I know Stefano really well and he’s one of the nicest guys I know,” said Hamilton. “I don’t think they could have chosen someone better to replace some big shoes with Chase, who has done an amazing job.

“Stefano has a great heart, a good family and good morals. The future’s positive.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 26, 2020

Dottin back, but bowling will be carefully managed (CMC) – West Indies head coach Andre Coley has given the assurance that all-rounder Deandra Dottin’s return to bowling will be carefully managed in an attempt to ensure she is at peak fitness, before resuming her usual work rate.

Dottin has not yet bowled in the ongoing five-match Twenty20 International series against England, but Coley said that was because the 28-year-old had been placed in a “back-to-bowling” programme on tour, in view of her recent long term injury.

“She’s (just) recovered from injury. It’s no secret our players haven’t been able to do much for a very long time and Deandra is on a back-to-bowling programme

(and) she started while she was here so she’s still on that,” Coley explained.

“We need to make sure she’s 100 per cent to be able to bowl competitively and she has been doing bowling work behind the scenes during training.

“I’m comfortable with where she’s at but we want to make sure that long term she’s OK and she can bowl at the intensity that she was consistently (before) and not just for a game or two games.

“But we’re happy that healing is there. It is really only to get her back into bowling, making sure her lines are good and she’s actually a hundred per cent to bowl.”

Dottin spent 12 months out of action after undergoing surgery

for a shoulder injury and only returned to international cricket last February for the T20 World Cup in Australia.

Then, she also played as a specialist batsman but her sharp medium pace has been a glaring absence from the West Indies attack.

Following her innings in the second T20 International against England on Wednesday, questions were raised about Dottin’s fitness after she was seen with strapping on her shoulder but Coley was quick to allay those fears.

“She’s fine as far as I’m aware.

A lot of what we’ve done with Deandra’s shoulder is just about rehab,” the Jamaican pointed out.

“She’s returning from an injury which had her off from competi-

tive cricket or a while so anything you would’ve seen (regarding her shoulder) would have been just rehab and making sure we’re managing (her properly).

“But there’s no injury around the shoulder at the moment. She’s fine.”

Dottin has been in excellent form with the bat, top-scoring with 69 in last Monday’s opener before also leading the Caribbean side with 38 in the second match.

She has failed to find support from the remainder of the batting, however, with no other batsman outside of captain Stafanie Taylor in the second game, managing to reach double figures.

Coley acknowledged the problem but said work was being done

to correct it.

“Since we’ve been here we’ve done work around it, a lot of it; we have to be realistic about our resources,” he noted.

“Our main batters are basically at the top and we have young players and they have to grow and improve, and it’s actually about how they can support the top order batters.

“It’s going to be key in our side if a couple of players from the top five bat very deep and in the event that we need the lower order batting, they would have to support.

“Because of the lack of depth in the lower order, unfortunately the reality is the bulk of the scoring has been left with three or four players.”

Saurez deserved better send-off – Messi

(BBC) - Lionel Messi says Luis Suarez deserved a better send-off from Barcelona but that he is “no longer surprised” by the club’s behaviour.

Suarez has joined Atletico Madrid after being told he was not in new Barca boss Ronald Koeman’s plans.

Earlier this month, Messi said he would stay at Barca despite wanting to leave because he felt he had no option.

He added that he felt he had been deceived by the club president Josep Maria Bartomeu.

In a post on Instagram, Messi paid tribute to Suarez, saying it will be “strange” to see him “with another shirt and much more to face you”.

“You deserved a send-off matching who you are - one of the most important players in the club’s history, achieving important things both as a group and individually.

“Not to get thrown out like you have been. But the truth is at this point nothing surprises me.”

Uruguayan Suarez scored 198 goals in 283 games to become the third highest goalscorer in Barcelona’s history. Reys, the Champions League and The 33-year-old won four Club World Cup after joining the CatLa Liga titles, four Copa del alan giants for £74M from Liverpool

Suarez (right) has left Barcelona after six years.

in 2014.

He has agreed terms on a two-year deal at Atletico with a reduced salary.

Atletico will pay a nominal fee of no more than 6 million euros for Suarez, which will be based on vari-

ables such as Champions League qualification.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 26, 2020

Cricket Australia announces postponement of Afghan Test (ESPNCRICINFO) - Cricket Australia (CA) has announced the postponement of the inaugural Test against Afghanistan which was originally scheduled to take place in Perth in November, due to the complexities of scheduling amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The confirmation that the Test has not survived the restructuring of the season came a few hours after New Zealand Cricket said they would not be touring for the short limited-overs trip at the end of January.

Staging cricket in Perth this season has been given an additional challenge by the hard border imposed by the Western Australian government and very strict quarantine restrictions that do not allow training while in isolation.

It leaves the visit of India as the single men’s touring team to Australia the coming

summer with CA confirming they will play four Tests, three ODIs and three T20Is although the order of the white-ball cricket remains to be confirmed. The Test series is expected to start in Adelaide on December 17.

CA said it will look to reschedule both the Afghanistan Test, which was hopeful of finding a home in early December, and the New Zealand visit before the end of the current FTP cycle in 2023. Earlier, the NZC CEO David White said he was hopeful their tour could take place next season.

“Cricket Australia looks forward to working with our good friends at the Afghanistan Cricket Board and New Zealand Cricket to deliver the matches at a time when, hopefully, the restrictions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic have eased,” Nick Hockley, the CA CEO, said.

“We all worked incred-

Afghan star Rashid Khan is elated after picking up a wicket. (AFP)

ibly hard to make the series happen this summer, but the challenges around international travel and quarantine restrictions ultimately convinced all parties that the series would need to be played

at a later date.

“CA looks forward to welcoming the Indian men’s team for a full schedule of matches this summer in what promises to be an incredible contest across all three for-

mats.

“CA would also like to take this opportunity to thank our wonderful partners for their understanding and support as we have navigated the complexities of hosting

international sport during a pandemic to deliver a thrilling summer across men’s and women’s cricket at international and domestic level.”

The WACA said it understood the decision and would continue to work to stage cricket in Perth this season with the hope of getting one of the travelling BBL hubs.

“We understand we need to remain agile in this current climate and this decision will not waiver our efforts to bring live cricket to Perth this summer as we continue to work closely with Cricket Australia and both the Australian and WA Government,” WACA CEO Christina Matthews said.

“With world-class facilities and the opportunity for cricket fans to attend matches we maintain that WA is well-positioned to host cricket content, including a BBL hub.”

PAGE 22

West Indies all-rounder Deandra Dottin

Dottin back, but bowling will be carefully managed CMC) - Lawyers representing the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) Friday signalled their intention to continue legal action against the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA), less than 24 hours after the Zurich-based organisation suspended the local outfit.

On Thursday, the Bureau of the FIFA Council suspended the TTFA with immediate effect due to what it termed “grave violations” of the FIFA Statutes.

In a statement, the world governing body said the “suspension was prompted by the former leadership of the TTFA lodging a claim

a notice to withdraw its application for permission to withdraw its claim which is set to be heard before Justice Carol Gobin in October.

“Take notice that the Applicant withdraws and discontinues the notice of application for permission to withdraw the claim, draft order and the affidavit of William Wallace in support of the said application dated and filed 23rd September 2020,” said the application, which was signed by Wallace, the TTFA president.

The TTFA had earlier missed by several minutes the deadline set by FIFA to withdraw the claim which challenges FIFA’s decision to appoint a normalisa-

The FIFA Head office

TTFA to continue legal action against FIFA despite ban

before a local court in Trinidad and Tobago in order to contest the

ESPNCRICINFO) Three nights ago, they had settled for protecting their net run rate after falling too far behind the asking rate in a chase of 217 against the Rajasthan Royals. Today Chennai Super Kings were never in the reckoning in a

decision of FIFA Council to appoint a normalisation committee for the TTFA”.

chase of 176.

They were up against Delhi Capitals, who possess one of the better bowling attacks in the competition, but hobbling to 47 for 3 at the 10-over mark said far more about the inadequacies in Super Kings’ batting.

“This course of action was in direct breach of Article 59 of the FIFA Statutes, which expressly pro-

hibits recourse to ordinary courts unless specifically provided for in the FIFA regulations,” said FIFA.

But yesterday, attorneys Dr Emir Crowne, Matthew Gayle, Crystal Paul and Jason Jones filed

tion committee in March to control the affairs of local football.

Capitals make it two from two Ambati Rayudu, their match-winner in their season-opener against Mumbai Indians, was out with

a hamstring injury, but it will still concern the Super Kings that they weren’t able to put together a line-

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up that could chase a target that, while testing, needed

them to score less than nine an over.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 20 SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2020