Guyana-Chronicle_Epaper_11_09_2021

SATURDAY 11th September, 2021

' No.106481

First Lady takes Menstrual Hygiene Initiative to Region Six

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$2B ‘multi-specialty’ hospital for Suddie 03 PAGE

–– facility to be outfitted with over 250 beds, complete ICU

President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, and Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, turn the sod for the $2 billion ‘multi-specialty’ hospital at Suddie, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), as other officials look on (Office of the President photo)

President Ali: ‘We Floating ramp, new $40M infrastructure will not be bullied parking lot for 05 upgrade for Charity

by Venezuela’ 04 Supenaam Stelling communities 02 PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 11, 2021

$40M infrastructure upgrade for Charity communities –– authorities say $628M will be budgeted next year for further upgrades

MINISTER of Housing and Water, Collin Croal has told residents of Charity, Essequibo, that the ministry will be expending some $40 million to upgrade the existing infrastructure at Buxton and St. Joseph.

The minister made this announcement while on a President Dr. Irfaan Ali-led two-day Cabinet outreach in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

Minister Croal, who was joined by Minister of Public Service, Sonia Parag, at Charity, said

that the upgrades are timely, since some 350 house lots were recently allocated in the area.

Residents were told that the Ministry of Housing, through the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), will commence work on access bridges and roads for the new housing developments.

Other infrastructure works in the new and existing housing areas will be catered for under the agency’s 2022 work programme. Another $628 million will be expended

in 2022 on the upgrade of several roads and bridges at the Old and New Charity Housing Schemes.

In the area of water, Minister Croal spoke of the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI)’s plan for the drilling of several new wells in communities within the Pomeroon area.

“We are aware of the issues with high iron content in your water, and our plan is to improve the coverage of treated water on the Essequibo Coast,” the minister related.

Minister Croal, during

A section of the gathering at the meeting at Charity

Minister of Housing and Water Collin Croal, and Minister of Public Service, Sonia Parag, listen to the concerns outlined by residents of Charity, Essequibo the meeting, was also accompanied by a team of government officials, including Head of the Community Development Department at the CH&PA, Gladwin Charles, and Shaquile Meyers, a surveyor.

Minister Parag was accompanied by Permanent Secretary in the Public Service Ministry, Soyinka Grogan, and other officials.

The teams, over the next few hours, will be addressing complaints and concerns raised by residents.

“We are committed, and continue to commit to you the people that we will put our ears on the ground. All that means is that we want to hear from you yourselves what the issues are, and then determine how we will address those issues; that’s how we are moving forward.

So, Essequibo, this is not just us coming here and stopping at this point; ministers will continue to address your concerns throughout the next five years,” Minister Parag affirmed.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 11, 2021

$2B ‘multi-specialty’ hospital for Suddie –– facility to be outfitted with over 250 beds, complete ICU

PRESIDENT Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali on Friday turned the sod for a new $2 billion multi-specialty hospital at Suddie, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

The President said the new hospital will form part of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government’s wider agenda of revolutionising the quality of healthcare in Guyana.

“Here, today, we are part of a process that will see not only a new building, but 250+ beds here in Region Two. It would see an ICU [Intensive Care Unit]; a complete ICU in this hospital in Region Two. We are very, very confident that this would add great value to the healthcare system here,” the Head of State related.

He said the government is creating a network by connecting health centres, outposts and hospitals, so that they would all be more equipped to provide a high quality of service, even in remote

President Dr. Irfaan Ali unveils a billboard with a replica of the $2 billion hospital

communities.

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony said the hospital is being funded by a loan from the EXIM Bank of India.

“It took a lot of work to start getting these projects moving; and within a very, very short period of time, we have been able to meet all the benchmarks that were set by the EXIM Bank of India, and other partners to be able to get to this point,” Dr. Anthony said.

The minister said a team came from India about three weeks ago, and visited multiple hospital sites.

“They were at West Demerara; they came here to Suddie, and they went up to Bartica. And based on what they saw on the ground, they had given us several options of what we can do. At Suddie, they have proposed a structure that we can build here.

And so, we have taken that advice, and we’ll be moving ahead with the construction of this hospital right here,” the Health

Minister said.

He went on to say: “The ambience of the hospital must be one that is modern; that would promote healing. And that was the directive that was given by His Excellency when we met to review how we’re going to modernise the infrastructure across this country.”

He said when the PPP/C government came into office, it did so with a vision to modernise healthcare, and this multi-specialty hospital will transform the way healthcare is delivered in Region Two. Also present at the ceremony were Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh; Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill; Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd; and Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall. (DPI)

Over 4,200 more school girls to receive sanitary napkins –– as First Lady’s Menstrual Hygiene Initiative reaches Region Six

FIRST Lady, Arya Ali, has taken her flagship project, the Menstrual Hygiene Initiative, to Region Six where a total of 4,276 school girls will each benefit from a year’s supply of free sanitary napkins.

The initiative aims to bring an end to period poverty in Guyana.

Addressing adolescent girls and regional officials at the Skeldon Line Path Secondary School at a simple launch on Friday morning, she highlighted that she was heartbroken when she found out girls were forced to drop out of school in Guyana because they did not have sanitary pads to use during menstruation.

She noted that worldwide 800 million girls miss school for more than a week every month because of period poverty and so her aim is to fix problem here.

“You girls are future nurses, doctors, policewomen, lawyers and teachers.

You are the future leaders of this country and at no point of your life should you be

forced between having an education or staying home because you don’t have access to sanitary pads. Of that 800 million girls missing school because of period poverty, after today not one should be from Guyana... This is more than the government providing sanitary pads to you, this is about empowerment,” she said.

The First Lady emphasised that the time has come to shatter taboo about menstruation. She said conversations about periods and women’s health should be had at anytime and anywhere and should be done unapologetically.

The initiative is made possible by donors and through fund rising activities executed by the Office of the First Lady. The sanitary pads for Friday’s launch were donated by overseas-based Guyanese, Anter Narine, who is a Berbician by birth.

Narine said thinking about the little girls across Guyana who do not have access to sanitary pads and how it is preventing them from

attending school, socialising and preventing them from having a normal life, hits close to home.

Noting that he was raised in a single parent household, he recalled that while growing up, small and seemingly insignificant acts of kindness made a huge impact on his life and education.

He said it is for this reason that he is proud to be part of this initiative that will significantly impact the lives of girls across Berbice and in other parts of Guyana.

“Despite living overseas, Berbice remains my home and as they say, charity begins at home, so I offer resources to support an initiative which will help thousands of girls in the region.

As a man I am not ashamed to advocate for the rights of women and support efforts that will seek to empower them and [I] take the lead to encourage other men to facilitate conversations about women’s health. Menstrual hygiene should not be a taboo subject and because it is, we need to redouble our efforts

First Lady Arya Ali, donor Anter Narine, along with regional officials and students at the launch held at Skeldon Line Path Secondary School to ensure that girls and wom- encouraged and as such there speak about this issue openen feel comfortable to talk is a lot of silent suffering. ly,” she said. about their health,” he said.

We have seen the effects of La Cruz emphasised the Meanwhile, the region’s lack of significance of the project.

Regional Education Officer empowerment. Girls who “We are striving in our (REO), Bhagmattie La Cruz, don’t have the necessary way and this is exceedingly in her remarks, said the initia- sanitary pads and other hy- significant. This initiative tive is a “quiet explosion” in giene products are not able shows that you (the First empowering females. to go to school at this time Lady) understand what it “Our First Lady has a of the month; that is just one means to support girls… This vision, a vision for women factor. Not having support is empowerment!” she added. and when we empower, we in this area, suffer[ing] emRegional Chairman, empower the nation. Over- barrassment and personal David Armogan, who was time the issue of [a] girl’s shame because they are not also in attendance, comperiod has been taboo, not a able to deal mended and welcomed the conversation that is generally with it since they cannot initiative to Berbice.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 11, 2021

‘We will not be bullied

by Venezuela’––President Ali says –– tells Anna Regina residents that Guyana is guided by the International Court of Justice

Sunday, 12 September 09:00hrs - 10:30hrs

PRESIDENT Dr. Irfaan Ali on Friday made it clear that Guyana will not be the “sacrificial lamb” in any negotiations between the Government of Venezuela and its political Opposition over claims of the Essequibo.

He told residents from Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) that his government will continue to respect the rule of law, and follow the correct procedure through the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

“We will not be bullied; we will not be used as a sacrificial lamb in any negotiations currently in Venezuela. Our position is very clear; we are very clear,” President Ali told residents of Anna Regina on Day One of a two-day Cabinet outreach in Region Two. In March 2018, Guyana filed its application in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) seeking an affirmation of the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award, and the international boundary that it established. The ICJ ruled on December 18, 2020 that it has jurisdiction to hear the border controversy case.

Guyana is seeking to obtain a final and binding judgement that the 1899 Arbitral Award, which established the location of the land boundary between the then British Guiana and Venezuela, remains valid, and that the Essequibo region belongs to Guyana and not Venezuela.

A report from Energy Company, S&P Global Platts, however, related that Venezuela, in its agreement, rejects the ICJ’s declaration of jurisdiction over the issue, and is urging Guyana to engage in direct negotiations.

“We will call on Guy-

President Dr. Irfaan Ali addressing residents of Anna Regina on Day One of a two-day Cabinet outreach there ana to resume the path of negotiations in order to reach an agreement on the territory,” representative of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Jorge Rodríguez, was reported as saying.

Venezuela has said, for the longest while, that it is not interested in having this matter resolved by the court.

ICJ HAS JURISDICTION According to President Ali: “The international community is clear; CARICOM is clear that the International Court has jurisdiction to hear the matter. So, the propaganda that the court does not have the jurisdiction, we’ve gone past that.”

The President said that the government will focus on the Rule of Law, and continue to respect it.

“The Court has already ruled that they have jurisdiction, and that is where all of our efforts are concentrated. There is no sideshow; there is no propaganda. None of

that matters.

What matters is the Court, and that is where Guyana is,” the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces said.

LIVING IN PEACE The President noted that Guyana is committed to living peacefully with all of its neighbours, and to strengthen the relationships with them all, but this courtesy must be reciprocated.

“We’re committed to democracy, and we are committed to the Rule of Law; we don’t waiver our principles. We don’t waiver depending on the season; we don’t waiver depending on who is in government… We have always respected the Rule of Law, and we have always worked in accordance with the Rule of Law… We have always respected the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our neighbours,” President Ali said.

A peaceful conclusion to its border controversy with Venezuela remains

Guyana’s aim, but Dr. Ali had affirmed that his nation will not cower in the face of threats against national security.

“As President of our beloved country, my single most important responsibility is to keep the Guyanese people safe. It is the first thing I think about when I wake in the morning; it is the last thing on my mind at night. And my working day is consumed by it.

“But I want no mistake made about it: my government is doing all in its power to vigorously protect our people’s health, and our country’s territorial integrity. Just as we will not relent in the battle against COVID-19, so will we not bend to threats to our national security… We may be a small country, but we are a proud people.

We have no military might, but we have moral and legal right. We pick fights with no one, but we will resist threats from anyone,” President Ali said early this year.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 11, 2021

Floating ramp, new parking lot for – as authorities allocated Supenaam Stelling $50M for additional work

By Rehana Ahamad

THE Government of Guyana will be injecting another $50 million to further improve accessibility at the Supenaam Stelling, located near the village of Good Hope, in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

The announcement was made on Friday afternoon

by Public Works Minister, Bishop Juan Edghill, who was at the time accompanying President Dr. Irfaan Ali on a massive two-day Cabinet outreach in Essequibo, and several of its nearby riverine areas.

According to Minister Edghill, the additional works will satisfy three particular needs that the residents and stelling users have had, and long complained about. The first has to do with improved parking capacity for persons leaving the Supenaam port.

“Persons who drive their vehicles to catch the speedboat to go to Georgetown and return on the same day, [they have] a difficulty with parking; you need to have your parking in a safe area, so that you can go and come back,” the minister said.

He said that within the coming months, the government, via the Public Works Ministry, will be specifically creating a space for parking.

“That’s going to be completed before the end of this year,” Edghill posited.

He said tenders for developmental works within the area were opened just a few days ago, and that the evaluation and awards of the related contracts are imminent.

Secondly, Edghill said that the ministry has been receiving multiple complaints relating to the “steepness” of the stelling ramp, and that this, too, will be remedied.

“Where the ramps are, almost in the channel,” the Public Works Minister noted.

In providing more specific details, Edghill said that the government will be moving to procure, from an overseas supplier, a floating ramp. “...So, as the tides go up and come down, the boats will be able to comfortably moor, and we would be able to enter and exit [the boats] in a safe manner,” Edghill said.

Thirdly, he related that the additional works will also address some of the difficulties that speedboat operators plying the route usually face.

One of the more pressing issues, according to Edghill, has to do with affording speedboat operators easier and more convenient access to the gas station.

He said that efforts will be made to ensure the installation of steps and a separate ramp leading to the fuel pump.

BOOKING A FERRY ONLINE Aside from enhancing the infrastructure at the stelling, Edghill said that the ministry, along with its Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), is also working to improve efficiency of the ferry service, which continues to be bombarded by unregulated vehicle and passenger traffic.

As a remedy, Edghill and his team are eyeing the establishment of a platform to allow for electronic bookings.

Emphasising the need for such a system, Edghill said that due to an influx of persons wanting to board the ferry, the operators are often forced to increase the ferry’s three trips to as much as seven in some cases.

Once the booking system goes Online, the minister said that persons wanting to travel will be able to have hassle-free access to key ferry information such as daily ooccupancy rates and schedule.

Additionally, in an

effort to improve river transport in its entirety, Edghill said the high costs of new boat engines is something that would have to be examined, and, perhaps, remedied.

The minister went further to inform President Ali that due to its lower costs, many riverine residents have been purchasing used engines from abroad, instead of new ones; this, he said, attracts significantly higher maintenance costs.

It was then announced that residents’ request for measures to lower the cost will be examined.

PREVENTION IS BEST Outside of remedying faults, Minister Edghill said that his ministry is also keen on taking a proactive approach to examining areas of potential threat, so that those issues can be prevented.

“We have implemented a system of surveillance,” the minister said, adding that the operations of “rangers” have also been reintroduced.

These rangers, according to the Public Works Minister, will walk the length of the sea defences to identify potential risks.

Additionally, Edghill reminded that the region has benefitted from a number of significant road works within the past year. It was only recently that the government announced that it spent some $123.5 million on rehabilitating a number of community roads.

During this year alone, the government has plans to expend some $172.4 billion, or 45 per cent of its $383.1 billion budget on education, public infrastructure, and healthcare. Of this sum, $58.2 billion worth of planned expenditure on public infrastructure is the second largest component of the government’s fiscal programme.

The Supenaam Stelling is slated to benefit from a floating ramp, and a new parking lot opment of community On the capital side, the this year is $103 billion. budget for infrastructure Further, the govern- roads. Of the budgetis $32.9 billion, or 32 per ment’s total budget for ed sum, $2.1 billion has cent of the total allocation road programmes is been set aside for hinterfor 2021. $23.7 billion, $7.9 billion land roads, and the rehaThe country’s aggre- of which will go specifi- bilitation of a number of gate capital provision for cally towards the devel- hinterland airstrips.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday September 11, 2021

Difference in management

DURING the late 70s and early 80s here in Guyana, many public roads were, by and large, deserted.

Vehicles were few in numbers, and in some villages they could have been counted on one hand. The roads, in some areas, were playing grounds mostly for football and cricket. It was a given that the makeshift equipment, like the goalpost or “wicket”, would be moved whenever a vehicle approached. Given the infrequency, that was not necessarily a deterrent.

Those images were symptomatic of the challenges the country faced at the time; economic, social and political, as major ones.

Economically, the country was almost stagnated, and, for many, there was little room for personal advancement through the acquisition

of wealth or assets. The preoccupation was for survival, and the roads offered an alternative outlet from the unusable playfields.

Fast forward decades after to the present, the roads are now inadequate to meet the growing volume of vehicles. The images now are of daily, lengthy heavy traffic congestions that unavoidably precipitate frustration.

On some roadways, when the traffic is flowing, there is the challenge of being able to cross. The inherent danger looms with frequent fatal accidents. Roads once used for sporting activities are no longer within the realms of contemplation for such today, and sensibly so.

These current images speak to many things, and, none the least, the massive and unprecedented transformation of the country

that the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) government initiated after coming to office in 1992 .

For that transformation to be realised, the enabling environments for personal advancement had to be created and be easily accessible. This is evident from the many Guyanese who have been able to acquire their own homes and other assets, including vehicles.

All across the country, the physical landscape has rapidly changed, and there is no sign of letting up, even at a time when there is some level of global economic contraction, partly driven by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The country has become unrecognisable for those who left during the oppressive time, pre-1992, and would have returned subsequently. Those who

resided here, throughout, and witnessed the transformation are still in awe of what transpired between 1992 and 2015.

During that period, there was unprecedented and sustained economic growth, and Guyana was described as the shining light of the Caribbean, with many of its policies, including the robust housing drive, lauded.

However, there was economic slowdown between 2015 and 2020, but not necessarily as a result of global challenges.

A cursory analysis of that period would reveal that the economic downturn resulted from inept management and a lack of vision, along with what seemed unbridled self-interest by the previous administration.

That period was fraught with the implementation of

poor decisions, and burdensome economic policies that imposed hardships on the citizenry, and, inevitably, stymied progress at the individual and national levels.

Following the change in government in 2020, at this point it is difficult to keep abreast of the many interventions and developmental initiatives that continue to positively impact residents across the country. These are on all fronts of development, from social, physical infrastructure, security, stimulus etc. exposing a stark contrast to what transpired under the previous government. That, in itself, speaks volumes to the difference in management and priorities with regard to the welfare of citizens.

The images today speak to the return of progress, confidence, freedom in

thinking, and bigger dreams, knowing that realising them is no longer unattainable.

They also speak of a country about to unlock its vast potential; one that has been placed at the cusp of transformative development, and one that is prudently managed to bring about a brighter future for all.

One aspect that is not obscured is the ongoing traffic congestions as roads have become insufficient. That would soon change, given the rapid and ongoing construction of new networks to bring relief and open up other parts of the country.

With relentless development, and personal advancement, who knows, those new networks could be deemed inadequate at some point. The images would tell.

There must be no sign of division and divisiveness Dear Editor,

THE PPP Government recently upbraided Venezuela for signing an internal agreement with the opposition in that country which purportedly laid claims to the Essequibo.

The agreement was signed in Mexico City on September 6, 2021. Its sole purpose is to ratify Venezuela’s purported rights over the Essequibo, Guyana’s territory.

It also seems to be a largely small agreement between the Venezuelan Government and the Opposition Unity Platform of Venezuela that is being praised there, and heralded as a forward step in consensus building and political cooperation.

As expected, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, headed by Minister Hugh Todd, quickly took note and sounded its rejection.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry stated that while it welcomes the idea of internal political agreement, Venezuela should not seek to allot unto itself a property that is neither its own, nor for which it does not have the exclusive rights and sovereignty. The Foreign Affairs Ministry said, too, that this is yet another overt threat to Guyana’s territorial sovereignty. The ministry pointedly declared that Guyana must not be used as an altar of sacrifice for Venezuela’s settlement of internal political differenc-

es. It pointed out, too, that the Venezuelan agreement defies international law and process, and, therefore, cannot function as the basis for mediating harmony.

Firstly, this response is both timely, appropriate, and sound.

It is fitting that the diplomatic circles understand what Venezuela is hoping to accomplish in 2021 by this accord.

It is seeking to use this internal agreement to get support in Venezuela back to pre-pandemic and pre-2015 levels.

With all the corruption sagas, accusations of bureaucratic excesses, human rights violations, food shortages, COVID-19 pandemic cases, and political gridlock over

the parliamentary elections, one might think there are a plethora of issues that warrant the two sides to meet and discuss. The border controversy is not the first or the most important thing that leaders should be thinking about at this time.

Harmony and unity are not fixed permanently in this manner. Needless to say, this agreement is just another diversionary tactic used to whip up support internally in Venezuela.

Secondly, the move by the government shows that the ministry and all abroad are watching and guarding Guyana’s sovereignty.

Since back in 2018, with the case involving the territorial claim made by Venezuela being placed in the hands of

the World Court, Guyana is alert, so that anything that even borders on a threat would be taken seriously.

This case is the most important for Guyana and its people moving forward into the future.

Thirdly, Guyana must try harder to beef up its security in key areas along the Essequibo borders. Exploitation and oil-and-gas activities in this Essequibo region must be closely monitored. All new agreements with the Venezuelan counterparts must be closely analysed.

Fourthly, we all must have our eyes and ears focused on border issues and the controversy. After all, Government is doing its part in the proceedings of the World Court and nation-

keeping with my responsibilities under the constitution, I hereby extend an invitation to the Leader of the Opposition to meet with me and other representatives of my elected government at a mutually convenient time to discuss

a number of critical national issues.”

Might a letter so worded from the President to the Opposition Leader bring an end to this “standoff” between the government and opposition?

Clearly this situation can-

not and must not continue.

There are too many critical issues at stake that require urgent, well-coordinated joint action -- COVID, Venezuela, reopening of schools among others -- if Guyanese are to enjoy an enhanced quality of life.

Such a letter from the President would place the opposition in a position that it must respond, either accepting or rejecting the invite.

The latter would send a clear message that the opposition is playing politics with the people’s welfare.

ally. Every political party, inclusive of the Opposition APNU+AFC must stand firmly behind the government. There must be no sign of division and divisiveness.

We must give our support to ensure that our sovereignty is protected, and any threats are sufficiently warded off.

Our political bickering will give way to the pride we take in being Guyanese first. We have to settle down, politically, and watch our interests, because all the Essequibo waters and land are ours.

Every grain of rice and mountain is Guyana’s territory.

Yours sincerely, Michael Younge

Holding opposition responsible to act in national interest Dear Editor,

“HAVING been elected President of Guyana at the March 2020 national [and regional] elections and in

Of course, not responding would be a reckless abandonment of the opposition’s responsibilities to the people of Guyana.

Yours sincerely, Wesley Kirton

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday September 11, 2021

Most welcome decision to re-introduce Inter–Guianas Games Dear Editor,

PRESIDENT Dr. Irfaan Ali has announced that the Inter–Guiana Games (IGG) will return. Our youths and students are delighted and welcome the decision that was taken by the Governments of Guyana and Suriname to re- introduce the IGG. The President listed several vital nation-building projects between our two countries and highlighted some of the key areas of co-operation. “Key to all of

this is our people-to- people partnership; as President Santokhi put it, that is putting our people together in a space and environment that they can share and appreciate each other,” President Ali remarked. The two leaders have committed to re-energising the Inter- Guiana Games. The Inter- Guiana cultural platform that was started will continue with sports, cultural education and technological exchanges as part of forging greater unity, trust and understanding between our peoples.

IN supporting the touri s m s e c t o r ’s re c o v e r y from the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) is leading a “Safe Travel Guyana” initiative which will assist in the safe reopening of several tourism businesses.

A press release from THAG explained that the initiative is aimed at assisting small and medium-sized tourism businesses across the country to safely restart their operations and is being executed in partnership with Conservation International Guyana (CI-Guyana) and the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA).

The initiative began in March 2021, and focuses on promoting health, safety, hygiene, and sanitisation at hotels, guesthouses, tour operators, restaurants, and other tourism businesses that have successfully completed the GTA-led training on Guyana’s national COVID-guidelines and safety protocols.

The initiative provided safety starter kits to 125 small and medium operators in the Lower Essequibo, Pomeroon, Berbice, and Georgetown and its environs.

The kits included Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), sanitation supplies, calibrated thermometers and other materials needed for the operations to be COVID-compliant under the GTA and Ministry of Health regu-

lations.

THAG’s newly elected President, Harrinand Persaud, said “a ‘safety first’ restart is necessary, and as some operations have already been approved to restart, we would like to ensure that it is safe for everyone.”

He pointed out that “THAG encourages all operations to utilise the safety starter kits, to implement the COVID-19 guidelines, and follow the Standard Operating Procedures they submitted to the GTA to ensure safety before, during and after guests visit their location.”

Wi t h i n t e r n a t i o n a l travel slowly returning to pre-pandemic levels, Guyana’s tourism industry faces unprecedented challenges in adapting to a COVID-present and post-COVID world.

THAG’s Executive Director, Treina Butts, noted that it is important for the local industry to be supported to build resilience. “ To u r i s m ’s r e c o v e r y in Guyana will depend heavily on our ability to mainstream effective h e a l t h a n d s a f e t y m e asures across the sector.

Only then will we be ready for the sustained return of visitors to our beautiful country,” said Butts.

The Deputy Director of the GTA, Kamrul Baksh emphasised that “there is a great need for the tourism and hospitality establishments to continuously prioritise providing safe experiences to

The Inter-Guiana Games aims to create possibilities for the youths and students to gather together in order to compete in different sport disciplines, focusing on better sports results and better understanding of each other’s culture.

The Protocol of Agreement and General Rules and Regulations of the games provide for students who are in school and under the age of 19 years to participate in the games. Significantly, participating students must be attending school in

their respective country. The games gives our students an opportunity to compete in a highly competitive way for superiority. The organisers of this annual activity help our students to prepare in their respective sport disciplines.

As a consequence, clubs, and national sports associations usually participate fully in preparing our youths for the games.

The early exposure to international competitions enable our country to participate fully at the Junior Carifta Games. The annual “teach them young” sports programme also give our

students an exposure to participate in different sport disciplines. As a result, our students develop a positive attitude towards sports and later develop genuine interest in sports specifics.

Expectations are high and already several national sport associations and the students are making preparations for re-introduction of the games.

Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana are the three countries that usually participate in the games. Football, volleyball, table tennis, badminton and basketball are the highly competitive sport events. While Suriname

normally dominates in swimming, the young Guyanese swimmers are showing tremendous improvement. Guyana’s dominance in athletics over the years will continue with the preparation by our athletes at the special track and field facility at Leonora.

As the three countries commence discussions in preparation for the games, individuals and teams at the club level are focusing on getting ready for the return of the IGG. Yours sincerely, Neil Kumar

THAG launches ‘Safe Travel Guyana’ initiative the public and we believe that those that have been granted their conditional approvals will continue to enforce the stipulated measures.”

H e s a i d : “ T h e G TA , as one of the lead monitoring and inspection agencies during this time is committed to providing the necessary level of support needed to ensure that these establishments remain COVID-19 compliant. Through this Safe Travel Guyana initiative, the GTA was able to train 20 participants from 15 businesses within Bartica and Essequibo. More i m p o r t a n t l y, t h e s e s e s sions were a prerequisite to receiving the safety starter kits provided by THAG. It is our hope that more businesses will be inspired and reach out to us for support.”

Curtis Bernard, Executive Director at CI Guyana explained that nature-based tourism is one of the sectors with the potential to deliver national economic benefits from Guyana’s vast intact natural wealth since it depends on healthy intact natural landscapes and the biodiversity they house.

Meanwhile, THAG in its release reiterated its commitment to continuing its collaboration with other tourism stakeholders to promote domestic tourism, and to make travel in and around Guyana more affordable, safer, and more appealing.

According to a recent IMF Report, the tour-

ism economy accounted for 26 per cent of total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the Caribbean for 2019. The loss of jobs in the hotel and

re s t a u r a n t s e c t o r h a s been devastating for the region, with up to a 44.7 per cent drop in Latin America and the Caribbean. In Guyana, restau-

rants, bars, and casinos have been allowed to reopen at limited capacity and with measures to ensure safety against COVID-19.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 11, 2021

All promises will be fulfilled –– says Minister Rodrigues

MINISTER within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues, on Friday, visited the communities of Wakapoa and Akawini in the Pomeroon River, Region Two, where she reiterated the government’s commitment to the development of the country and its people.

The minister did so as part of a two-day Cabinet outreach to the region, led

by President, Dr. Irfaan Ali. “We want to take this opportunity to remind you of the commitments that we made in our manifesto, to assure you that we are very much committed to every single one of the promises that we made and to show you that we never want to

relinquish that direct connection with our people,” Minister Rodrigues said.

During the outreach, the minister advised residents to express their grievances so that the government could render assistance.

Toshao of Akawini, Rudolph Wilson, said his village has seen much improvement during the first year of People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) in office.

“Well as for us, as the people of Akawini village, we can see great development because we have gotten a lot of things… like for example, we have an emergency boat, which we have received from the REO through the government, we

Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues have even received our children cash grant; we are now receiving this flood relief.

They have also assisted us greatly in the cleaning of the

creek and many other things they have done, at least we can see progress going on,” he said.

While also acknowledg-

ing the work done by the government, several residents raised their concerns at the outreach.

Monica Williams, an elderly farmer, said she appreciated the interest the government was showing in her village.

“When no one looks down upon us … he [President Ali] takes part, he looks upon us, he helps us in different ways and sends small packages and he doesn’t put us down as Amerindians like the previous government… he remembers us,” she said.

Headteacher of the Wakapoa Secondary School, Andre Smith, also lauded the government for its work in the community.

“Very good, I think this is the forum that we should raise our concerns with the bigger heads and I know that the government is working

and they will see that things happen not only in Wakapoa, but all over… because if you listen to honourable ministers, their hearts are on indigenous communities,” Smith said.

In response, Minister Rodrigues said: “You would have seen in various sectors whether it is education, whether it is health, whether it is infrastructure, housing, whichever sector it is, you have seen us delivering on our commitments, delivering on our promises and we are here to tell you again that we will never break that connection and we will also always ensure that we keep those commitments for the next four years and so we are making ourselves accessible to you,” Minister Rodrigues said. (DPI)

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Region Two rice farmers get boom sprayers

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 11, 2021

–– President Ali promises more equipment, $46M for major D&I works

RICE farmers in the Pomeroon-Supenaam region will be able to swiftly control the paddy bug infestation, now that they have received five boom sprayers from President Dr. Irfaan Ali. President Ali handed over the equipment on Friday during his Cabinet outreach to Region Two. The sprayers, which have a combined value of $6 million, were presented to the representatives of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) and the Rice Producers Association (RPA), two major stakeholders in the rice industry.

The paddy bug infestation has been a sore issue for the rice farmers for many years. The sprayers will go a long way in helping them to tackle this issue.

During is address to those gathered on the Association’s tarmac at Anna Regina, President Ali announced that an agenda of action will be implemented

at the end of the two-day outreach to further address issues affecting residents across the region.

He said the government is seeking to identify key priority areas, so that residents can be better served.

President Ali also disclosed that $46M will be spent at Jacklow and Dredge Creek to improve the drainage network system in those communities. Following a request from a farmer for improved drainage in the Manacuru area, the President immediately approved the necessary works which will bring relief to some 15 farmers.

The Head of State said that for the duration of the outreach, members of his Cabinet will be paying keen attention to the concerns of farmers and residents along the Essequibo Coast.

“We are your servants; we are here to listen to you, and to communicate with you about some of the things we have done, and will do to

President Irfaan Ali officially handing over the boom sprayers. Also pictured are several government officials and rice industry stakeholders improve your life,” he said.

He also informed the gathering that there will be direct engagements with women, youths, farmers, private sector representatives, and members of the region’s religious community.

President Ali noted that the Cabinet outreach has been a hallmark of successive PPP/C administrations, and is in keeping with the party’s philosophy of people-centered governance, which focuses on engaging citizens.

Issues concerning human

A section of the gathering at the Anna Regina meeting with the President on Friday

services, the decentralising of government services, NIS, and deplorable access dams were raised by residents. All the matters were addressed

by President Ali, and the relevant officials were tasked with following up on each issue.

Several rice farmers praised President Ali and his Cabinet for reaching out to them at such an opportune time. One farmer, Jagdish Singh, said that during the last presidential outreach, his matter was settled, and

he is, therefore, thankful that residents have been afforded another opportunity to be heard.

Rice farmer, Seecharran (only name given) called for better access dams leading to his farmlands. He was told that contracts have already been awarded for the improvement of drainage and irrigation systems in many communities.

Also at the meeting were Prime Minister Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips; Senior Minister

within the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh; Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Huge Todd; Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall; Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Brigadier Godfrey Bess; Acting Commissioner of Police, Nigel Hoppie, and National Security Adviser, Captain Gerry Gouveia.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 11, 2021

Ten more persons die from COVID-19 –– 218 new cases recorded

TEN more persons have died after contracting COVID-19, taking Guyana’s overall death toll to 669, the Ministry of Health has reported.

The ministry said that the latest fatalities include eight residents of Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) – three males ages 50, 58 and 82, and females age 56, 60, 66, 79 and 85. Two of the males died on September 10 while the other died on September 9. Three of the females died on September 9 while the others succumbed on September 10.

The other fatalities are a 67-year-old woman from Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) who died on September 7 and a 64-year-old woman from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) who died on September 10.

According to the ministry, those persons died while receiving treatment at a Ministry of Health facility.

Additionally, there

are currently 2,814 active COVID-19 cases in Guyana, following the addition of 218 new cases on September 10, 2021, after 2,043 tests.

The 218 newly confirmed cases were recorded in Regions One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Nine and 10.

Region Four accounted for 123 of the new cases; Region One, two; Region Two, 31; Region Three, 34; Region Five, 11; Region Six, three, Region Seven, four; and five cases each for Regions Nine and 10.

Even as new cases were recorded, 79 persons were reported to have recovered from the virus, bringing the total number of recoveries to date to 24,053.

The country has now recorded a total of 27,519 confirmed cases since the first COVID-19 case was reported in March 2020.

Of the active cases, 30 persons are at the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the National Infectious Dis-

eases Hospital, Liliendaal; 143 are in institutional isolation; 2,624 are in home isolation, and 17 are in institutional quarantine.

Many of the persons infected with the virus are said to be asymptomatic, that is, they are not exhibiting symptoms.

The updated COVID–19 Emergency Measures are in force until September 30, 2021. They may be extended or amended by notice of the Minister of Health, after an assessment of the prevailing public health conditions of the pandemic.

As per the current measures, all persons are required to wear face masks when leaving their homes, and physical distancing and adequate sanitisation are recommended. The current curfew is 22:30hrs to 04:00hrs.

Persons with symptoms of COVID-19 are asked to call the COVID-19 hotline numbers: 231-1166; 226-7480; or 180/181 for assistance.

The latest COVID-19 dashboard released by the Ministry of Health

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 11, 2021

Minister Benn says more diversity needed in security forces

MINISTER of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, has said that there is a need for more diverse personnel to man the security sector.

He made the call recently while addressing toshaos at the recent regional Toshaos’ meeting in Lethem, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).

Minister Benn said the security forces are opened to all Guyanese, noting: “We need a more diverse security force; we want and I want our security forces to look more like Guyana, that’s what I want, that’s what we want.”

He called on the toshaos to encourage young people in the villages to

brings greater problems, it brings resentment from the communities, and in many cases, it shows up that we

Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn join the Guyana Police Force, Guyana Defence Force, Guyana Fire Service, Guyana Prison Service, Community Policing Groups and the soon-to-beestablished Border Patrol Security Force.

“In too many cases, our

Indigenous firefighters in action

policemen, our security forces are not culturally adept, and they come out sometimes, and are, in too many cases, perhaps not maliciously, but disdainful, not understanding the real issues, not having the requisite skills and appreciation for the communities which they come out to police, to provide whatever assistance they should provide,” Minister Benn said.

To this end, the Home Affairs Minister said residents of the various communities must be recruited into the security force.

“In too many cases, the provision of the service is not empathetic enough, it’s not helpful enough, it

‘Pastor’ charged for murder of Delroy McKenzie AFTER being on the run for almost two months, Samorea Mitchell called “Pastor”, was arraigned before Acting Chief Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus for the fatal shooting of 23-year-old Delroy McKenzie.

Mitchell, 26, appeared before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and was not required to plead to the capital offence which alleged that on July 17, 2021, at Sunflower Street, Wismar in Linden, he murdered McKenzie.

Mitchell was remanded to prison until October 8.

According to reports, on the day in question, McKenzie, was gunned down while on his way to meet a “female friend” he had travelled to the mining town to see. His friend, Calvin Daly, who had accompanied him on the trip, received two gunshot wounds during the ordeal.

The Guyana Police Force (GPF), in a statement, said that Daly told investigators that he and the deceased arrived in Linden around 21:00 hours on the day in question via public transportation and

McKenzie then received another phone call, during which the female told him to turn around since she was sending a silver wagon to pick them up.

The duo then approached the said silver wagon and attempted to open the back door. It is alleged that a male of African descent opened the door first and started to shoot, while another male came out of the front passenger seat and also opened fire.

Based on preliminary Samorea Mitchell investigations, the car had went to Church’s restaurant three unrecognisable male occupants. After the shootto purchase food.

He recalled that McK- ing, the gunmen re-entered enzie subsequently received the car and drove off in a directions from his female southern direction towards friend via telephone. The in- Silver City Street.

Daly received two gunstructions he recalled were to “join a boat at the last stelling shot wounds to the left and at the McKenzie shore.” On right lower arm and abrasions arrival at the Wismar shore, to both of his arms.

He told police that he the deceased contacted the female and was told to walk does not have any informaup the road through Sunflow- tion on the female friend McKenzie was on his way er Street.

The injured man told po- to meet.

McKenzie was prolice investigators that they made their way through the nounced dead on arrival at street to a bridge and a short the Linden Hospital Comdistance into the cross street. plex.

don’t like each other.

So, that is a particular policing problem that we have and I want to clearly

state that we want to see a significant change in relation to them,” Minister Benn noted. (DPI)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 11, 2021

Alleged Ponzi schemer charged for forging COVID-19 test result

CUBAN, Yuri Garcia Dominguez, who is before the courts on over 100 fraud charges in relation to an alleged Ponzi scheme operation in Guyana, was, on Friday, granted $200,000 bail for allegedly forging a COVID-19 test result.

Dominguez, appeared before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on one count of conspiracy to commit fraud.

He denied that on July 27, at Georgetown, he conspired with his wife, Ateeka Ishmael, and persons unknown to forge a COVID-19 test to show he was positive.

Magistrate Daly released Dominguez on $200,000 bail and adjourned the matter until November 5.

On August 20, Ishmael was charged for a similar

offence and was also released on $200,000 bail.

The Guyana Chronicle had previously reported that the police, in July, had instituted a series of new charges against the two and after they failed to appear at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court, their then attorney, Dexter Todd, produced two medical certificates purporting to show that they had tested positive for the deadly virus.

The medical certificates later became the subject of a police investigation during which it was discovered that both were forged.

On August 6, the couple appeared before the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court

Cuban national Yuri Garcia, and his Guyanese wife, Ateeka Ishmael

for the 38 new charges and were released on self-bail.

The couple is accused of soliciting millions of dollars from hundreds of Guyanese who were enticed by extraordinary returns of approximately 40 per cent. Investors were also encouraged to enlist additional investors on a commission (10 per cent) from the couple’s business, Accelerated Capital Firm Inc. The firm was not registered with the Guyana Securities Council to conduct financial business either as an investment adviser and/or a broker.

The Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act

Cap. 10:11 prohibits businesses from operating as financial institutions, without the necessary registration for regulation and supervision by the Regulatory Authorities, FIU and the Guyana Securities Council.

Dominguez, his wife and their company have been in the limelight since early August 2020, when they were accused of running a ponzi scheme. Over 17,000 persons allegedly invested more than US$20 million in the company.

The couple subsequently appeared in various courts on dozens of charges and was released on bail totalling over $30 million.

Miner stabbed to death hours after registering newborn A THITY-SIX-year-old miner, Nelson Thomas, of Fourth Field, Kaneville, East Bank Demerara, was stabbed to death during a suspected robbery on Thursday, just hours after registering his newborn.

Reports are that Thomas and his wife had travelled to Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) to register their newborn after working for quite some time in an interior region.

At around 19:00 hours, while at home, Thomas reportedly told his mother that he was going to visit his uncle at Second Street, Kaneville.

It is unclear what hap-

pened immediately after Thomas left his house, but a resident of Kaneville told police that after being alerted at around 21:30 hours, he left, looked out and saw the miner lying motionless under a shed attached to the eastern side of his house.

The resident subsequently called the police and reported the matter at the Grove Police Station.

In his report, he said: “It appears that the deceased was returning home when the suspect(s) attempted to rob him and stabbed him in the process.”

Thomas was escorted to the Diamond Public Hospital where he was pronounced

Dead: Nelson Thomas dead on arrival.

His body was later transferred to the Memorial Gardens Funeral Parlour, where it is awaiting a post mortem examination, as investigations continue.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 11, 2021

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday September 11, 2021

Fostering an open and transpa

PRESIDENT Dr. Ir- out across Region Two two-day outreach there they might be having. gaged directly with resfaan Ali and members (Pomeroon-Supenaam) to engage residents and Cabinet members led idents, women, youths, of the Cabinet fanned on Friday, Day One of a address whatever issues several teams, and en- farmers, private sec-

tor representatives and members of the religious community

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday September 11, 2021

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 11, 2021

New Zealand batting shines in final Bangladesh ODI (ESPNCRICINFO) - New Zealand saved their best batting display for the last game as they revelled in the leniency showed by Shere Bangla National Stadium curator Gamini Silva.

On a pitch much more conducive for strokeplay, they piled up 161 for 5 and beat Bangladesh by 27

runs. Tom Latham struck his second fifty of the series and Finn Allen played a telling innings as well. His 41 off 24 balls gave the visitors the perfect start after they decided to bat first for the fourth time in the series.

Bangladesh were, predictably, off colour, having chosen only three specialist

bowlers in the XI, leaving nine overs in the care of part-timers. Shoriful Islam, playing for the first time in the series, took two wickets but looked rusty.

Chasing 162, Bangladesh made a poor start, leaving too much for the middle-order to do in the last ten overs. Afif Hossain blazed briefly to

make an unbeaten 49, but ran out of partners.

Ajaz Patel, once again, led the way with 2 for 21 from his four overs, but it was how New Zealand batted that made most of the difference.

Allen lives by the sword, dies by the sword Allen promised that he will bat in his own way. He failed to launch in the previous two matches, but lived up to his billing in this game.

He began by pulling a Nasum Ahmed half-tracker for six, before taking Shoriful apart with two fours and a six in the fourth over.

Allen repeated the dose, hitting Shoriful for another four and six, this time waiting on the slower-ball to hammer it over deep square leg. But Shoriful struck back in the same over, first removing Rachin Ravindra for 17, before clean bowling Allen as well.

Against what was the last ball of the powerplay, Allen missed a hoick going across his stumps, staying true to his style.

LATHAM PROVIDES FINAL FLOURISH Taking two more wickets, Bangladesh left New Zealand (83 for 4 in the 11th over) with the same problem of the previous four matches. But Latham kept them on track, with a nice blend of ones and twos and boundaries.

He added 35 runs for the fifth wicket with Henry Nicholls, who was brilliantly caught behind by Nurul

AMERICAN RACING TIPS Gulfstream Park Race 2 Nimble Beast Race 3 Chess Not Checkers Race 4 Bronx Race 5 Summering Race 6 Silverly Enough Race 7 Free Data Race 8 Call Bros Race 9 Spuntacular Race10 Captain Ron CANADIAN RACING TIPS Woodbine Race 1 Kanta Race 2 Midnight Choir Race 3 Mighty Heart Race 4 Spin That Tune Race 5 Race For Pinks Race 6 Union Colonel Race 7 Not So Quiet

Finn Allen stayed true to his game AFP via Getty Images Hasan.

Latham then went for the jugular, adding 43 in the last 3.3 overs with Colin McConchie. In the process, the New Zealand stand-in captain raised his second fifty of the series, which has been played on some very tricky pitches.

He struck two fours and two sixes, both off Taskin Ahmed in the 19th over and both hammered over midwicket.

BANGLADESH SINK FAST The home side couldn’t adjust to a better pitch, getting bogged down during the powerplay, unable to reach even a six an over.

Liton Das finished the series poorly, falling for 10 thanks to Scott Kuggeleijn taking a brilliant one-handed catch at backward point.

Soumya Sarkar was also caught at point, cutting at a ball without any balance.

Next over, Ben Sears took his maiden T20I wicket, getting Mohammad Naim caught behind for 23. Mushfiqur Rahim became the third batter

Race 8 Frosted Over Race 9 Take It Easy ENGLISH RACING TIPS Doncaster 08:15 hrs La Pulga 08:45 hrs Venturous 10:00 hrs Lanequash 10:35 hrs Hurricane Lane 11:05 hrs Title 12:10 hrs Cruvff Turn CHESTER 08:30 hrs Noteable 09:00 hrs Throne Hall 09:35 hrs Mancini 10:10 hrs Instinctive Move 10:50 hrs Major Jumbo 11:25 hrs Spirit Dancer 11:55 hrs Widaad LINGFIELD 10:05 hrs Livia The Empress

to fall in as many overs when he holed out to Colin de Grandhomme, off Ravindra.

On 48 for 4 at the halfway mark, Bangladesh were sinking fast.

NZ DOUSE A BRIEF SPARK Mahmudullah and Afif revived Bangladesh’s innings with a 63-run fifth wicket stand.

There were some breathtaking shots, particularly Afif’s flicked four and six off Sears, which led to two big overs, the 14th and 15th, that yielded 24 for the home side.

But when Mahmudullah holed out at sweeper cover for 23, the sting was gone.

Nurul and Shamim Hossain made 4 and 2 respectively, before the tail caved in. Afif struck two fours and three sixes in his 33-ball stay.

Every New Zealand bowler took a wicket, with Patel and Kuggeleijn taking two each.

It was a fine effort, one that they can take to Pakistan for the ODIs and T20Is as encouragement.

11:10 hrs Wadacre Gogo 11:45 hrs Yorkindness 12:20 hrs Maysong 12:50 hrs Lion.Ring 13:25 hrs Shining Success IRISH RACING TIPS Leopardstown 08:10 hrs Buckaroo 08:40 hrs Mother Earth 09:10 hrs Maker Of Kings 10:15 hrs Innisfree 10:45 hrs Hook Up 11:20 hrs Masen SOUTH AFRICA RACING TIPS Turffontein 08:20 hrs Country Flame 08:55 hrs Sea Ways 09:30 hrs Mk’s Pride 10:08 hrs Under Your Spell 10:45 hrs Sweet And Spicy 11:20 hrs Little Rain

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 11, 2021

Abandoned, Forfeited or postponed?

Official result of Manchester Test to have big repercussions for ECB

(ESPNCRICNFO) The match is off, but the fight for the result may just be starting.

At present, as the ECB and BCCI sift through the fallout of the Test that never was, we know neither the result of the match or the series.

We don’t know if the series will be finished in the 2022 English season, or if a one-off Test will be scheduled to mitigate for the substantial losses incurred by this one. We do not even know, for sure, what the insurance implications are.

The basic facts are these: if the Test is deemed, by the ICC, to have been called off due to Covid, the game will be treated as abandoned. As a consequence, the series will finish (at least for now) as a 2-1 victory to India. This scenario would also mean the ECB receiving no insurance payout as it is not covered for this eventuality.

But if the ICC decide India have effectively forfeited the match, the game will be awarded to England and the result of the series will be deemed to be 2-2. This scenario would also enable the ECB to make a claim for an insurance payout.

The compromise solution, offered by the BCCI, is the rescheduling of this game. With India’s whiteball sides due to tour England in 2022, there would appear to be small window available for such a solution, though even then it is unclear whether the match would be treated as standalone or a completion of the current series.

“We have to just take a breath and ask the ICC to formally adjudicate on the result of this,” Tom Harrison, the ECB chief executive, said.

“The BCCI have offered to reschedule the match, which is good news. But whether that is part of this series, a fresh one-match series or the first match of another series, I don’t know yet.

“These are the things that we need to take some time over. I know that fans will be anxious to know. Players are, too. But we do need to take some time in these situations.”

Though both boards’ public statements sounded conciliatory, ESPNcricinfo has learned that, behind-thescenes, the action has been every bit as competitive as anything we have seen on the pitch. The ECB has asserted that, if there is no rearranged date for the game, then the Test should be deemed to have been forfeited by In-

dia. That would not only square the series at 2-2, but would allow the ECB to claim insurance payouts on lost revenues, which could well exceed GBP 30 million (USD 41.6 million approx.).

The ECB is not covered for Covid-impacted cancellation by insurance. While Harrison did originally seem to imply it was in an interview on Sky Sports, he later clarified to confirm it was not. Instead, he confirmed that all ticket-holders will be refunded by the ECB. Crucially, he argues that the match was not calledoff due to a Covid outbreak, but due to fears of a Covid outbreak.

The ICC’s World Test Championship conditions accept Covid outbreaks as an acceptable reason for abandoning a match, a tour or a series if it has a “significant impact” on a team’s ability to field a team. Whether they accept the fear of Covid as a reason for abandonment remains to be seen. Harrison - and separately Dinesh Karthik, who worked with the Sky commentary team during the series - both implied that it was fatigue from bubble life as much as anything else that drove the decision.

“There is a tangible difference between those things [forfeit or cancellation], Harrison said. “This is not a Covid cancellation. This is a match cancelled because of serious concerns over the mental health and well-being of one of the teams. There is a difference. But it doesn’t make a difference in respect of a ticket buyers; they will be paid back in full. It makes a difference in terms of the ECB balance sheet.

“You can’t be flippant about issues of mental health, and this is what this is about.

India have been wonderful

tourists, but they have been here for a long time. Playing at this level, week after week, is difficult. Even if we feel we are emerging from the pandemic, life is different for the players. When Covid creeps into an environment, it can accelerate very quickly.”

The ECB remains adamant that Covid in itself was not the reason for the abandonment. It points out that the entire India squad was tested on Thursday - the day before the game - and all the results were negative.

In principle, therefore, they had around 20 players from which to pick.

However, four members of the support staff - first head coach Ravi Shastri, bowling coach Bharat Arun and fielding coach R Sridhar, and later on physio Yogesh Parmar - had tested positive, while the other physio Nitin Patel had been identified as a close contact in the first batch of cases. Parmar had been working closely with players over recent days, with Patel staying away from the squad. As a result, players in the India squad have expressed nervousness about mixing, fearing the virus could be incubating within the group.

Harrison was at pains to point out that the IPL was not a relevant factor in India’s decision making. Players from both teams involved in the competition are now hoping to arrange flights from the UK to the UAE on Saturday, with a six-day quarantine period likely to be necessary. The tournament is set to resume in the UAE on September 19 after also being put off in May after a Covid outbreak in the bubble.

Any player testing positive in the UK would have to isolate for a minimum of 10 days.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Saturday September 11, 2021) CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

(1) 33 games (2) Zouks & TKR

Today’s Quiz:

(1) Who was declared Man of the Match in the Hero CPL 2020 final?

(2) Who was voted Man of the Tournament in Hero CPL 2020?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

A significant amount of money could be lost over the Old Trafford Test’s cancellation Getty Images

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 11, 2021

Chandimal cameo still not enough to stop sloppy South Africa

(ESPNCRICINFO) Dinesh Chandimal’s career-best 66* and five dropped catches by South Africa could not stop Sri Lanka from falling 28 short in a chase of 164 in the opening T20I. On a slow surface, Sri Lanka did not get off the starting blocks quickly enough, absorbed too many dot balls and eventually left themselves too much to do at the end. They needed 69 runs off the last five overs but lost three wickets for nine runs in the space of eight balls between the end of the 15th over and the start of the 17th and could not keep up with the required run rate.

Two of South Africa’s three spinners, Bjorn Fortuin and Keshav Maharaj, conceded at six runs an over or less but Tabraiz Shamsi had an off day and only delivered two overs for 20 runs. Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada and Dwaine Pretorius formed a well-functioning pace pack though South Africa will not be happy with their clumsiness in the field. Although all the chances put down were not entirely straightforward, on another night, not being as sharp as they could be may cost them.

They will be happier with the batting effort. With a line-up that appears a batter short, South Africa’s top five

did not have an individual half-century between them but all contributed to get to a par score. Quinton de Kock and Reeza Hendricks shared an opening stand of 73 before a mini collapse of 3 for 14. Then, Aiden Markram and David Miller put on 65 off 35 balls for the fourth wicket, and scored the bulk of the 56 runs South Africa got in the last five overs to give their bowlers a decent total to defend.

Wanindu Hasaranga was the most threatening of the Sri Lankan attack, which included seven bowlers. But he did not have much support. Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera and Akila Dananjaya were all expensive and Sri Lanka did not contain as well as they would have liked to.

POOR REVIEWING FROM SRI LANKA Sri Lanka were understandably eager to get de Kock out as quickly and cheaply as possible and reviewed the fourth ball of the match. Chameera hit de Kock on the knee roll of the front pad as he missed a flick but his appeal was turned down. Dasun Shanaka reviewed with three seconds left on the clock and replays showed the ball was pitched well outside leg stump and de Kock was not in any dan-

ger of being dismissed. Until the next ball. Chameera delivered a yorker outside off, de Kock tried to dig it out, the bat hit the ground and there seemed to be an edge.

Chandimal appealed, Chameera appealed and Shanaka, who had wasted a review the ball before, was unsure and chose not to go upstairs.

Replays showed de Kock had hit the ground but also edged and would have been out if Shanaka reviewed. de Kock was on 4 at the time and went on to score 36 off 32 before slog-sweeping Hasaranga to deep midwicket.

MARKRAM MAKES HIS MARK In a squad packed with openers, and with the injured captain Temba Bavuma expected to be fit for the T20 World Cup, competition for places in the top three is fierce but Markram has made sure he should be in there.

His improvements against spin have been evident since South Africa toured Pakistan earlier this year and were on display again in this match. Markram navigated four tricky overs in the middle section of the innings before unleashing a slog sweep off Dananjaya to breach the boundary for the first time. He went on to

play a cheeky reverse-paddle that beat the wicketkeeper for four and hit a straight six off a slower ball to give South Africa their most profitable over - 17 runs - in the 18th over, off Karunaratne.

Markram was dismissed in the penultimate over but played a big part in South Africa’s last five-over blitz.

Markram is South Africa’s top scorer in T20Is this year, so far, and fourth overall.

LIVING DANGEROUSLY IN THE POWERPLAY Chandimal, on his return to the side, approached the chase with immediate urgency and survived several risks in the first six overs.

There was the single off Fortuin when Chandimal tapped the ball into the covers and ran, and made it to the non-striker’s end just in time. There was the leading edge off Rabada that three fielders converged for at deep point but Markram could not hold on. And there was the pull off Rabada that came off the bottom edge of the bat and fell short of Nortje at mid-on. But the first time Avishka flirted with danger, he was dismissed.

He played a Rabada offcutter to mid-on and called for the single, Nortje swooped in and got a direct hit at the

Aiden Markram steered South Africa towards a competitive total Ishara S.Kodikara/AFP/Getty Images bowler’s end, along with reason to celebrate when Avishka not reaching his bat Rajapaksa was given out out, and found him short of on-field. Rajapaksa rethe crease. Sri Lanka finished viewed but replays showed the powerplay on 34 for 1, the ball was clipping leg well short of South Africa’s stump on umpire’s call.

47 without loss.

Rajapaksa racked up a Chandimal went on to third duck in his last three score 50 off 40 balls and innings - two in the ODIs finish unbeaten. and one here - and Maharaj became the fourth MAHARAJ MAGIC South African, after Andre Things keep getting bet- Nel, Alfonso Thomas and ter for Maharaj, who made Rory Kleinveldt to take a his T20I debut as captain wicket with his first ball and then took a wicket with in T20Is. his first ball.

Maharaj is also only the He struck Bhanuka second captain after Paras Rajapaksa with a deliv- Khadka to take a wicket ery that turned into him with the first ball on his from outside off and had captaincy debut.

Rains wash out Ireland, Zimbabwe second ODI (ESPNCRICINFO) - Heavy rain invaded the ground after the Ireland innings, thus washing the game out with no further cricket possible during the second ODI in Belfast.

It started raining around 2.30pm during the innings break, and relented after 40 minutes. An inspection was scheduled for 4.15pm, but the umpires remained dissatisfied with the state of the ground.

Eventually, the game was called off at 5.15pm.

Earlier, Harry Tector fired at the death to propel Ireland to 282, as his rapid innings of 55 from 42 balls ensured Ireland put up a healthy score after being inserted by Zimbabwe under cloudy skies.

Ireland scored 110 in the last

Harry Tector cuts on his way to an innings of 55 Sportsfile via Getty Images ten overs - and 57 in the last five - as Tector combined first with George Dockrell and then Lorcan Tucker to help the hosts accelerate after a quiet start.

Tector reached his fourth ODI fifty off just 39 balls despite starting sedately with only 11 off his first 16 deliveries. That is when he hit his first six, gently lofting

Wellington Masakadza over long-off in the 41st over. Two overs later, he cracked Luke Jongwe to the point fence for four - the ball was hit so hard that it trickled into the rope despite clipping the leaping Sikandar Raza’s fingers at point - before finding consecutive boundaries off Blessing Muzarabani.

But with Ireland still on only 225 with five overs left, he got into Jongwe again, slamming two fours and a six before mistiming a pull off Richard Ngarava to be caught-and-bowled. Earlier, Dockrell hit 28 from 19 balls - including two fours and a six - before Tucker, who fell in the final over, cracked 32 from just 20 deliveries.

However, the innings

was set up by Ireland’s openers William Porterfield and Paul Stirling, who survived testing conditions and some accurate bowling from Muzarabani and Ngarava first up. While an opening stand of 88 in more than 22 overs isn’t typically rapid - not least by some standards set by batters in the modern days - they had to weather some early storm in the form of sharp movement and bounce gained by Zimbabwe’s newball pair of Muzarabani and Ngarava.

Muzarabani set the tone right with the first ball of the innings, when he got one to angle across the left-hander Porterfield and past his outside edge. The right-arm quick in particular generated apprecia-

ble swing, beating the bat with movement and bounce off the surface, with his figures reading 5-1-15-0 at one point.

Eventually the stand of 82 was broken by Sean Williams, with Raza taking an outstanding diving catch at midwicket, snatching the ball with his stretched out left hand to send Stirling back. New man Andy Balbirnie entertained with 40 from 43 deliveries, before Ngarava got both him and Porterfield, who took exactly a hundred deliveries for his 67.

The abandonment leaves Zimbabwe 1-0 up in the series, with both sides being allotted five World Cup Super League points.

The third and final ODI takes place at the same ground on Monday.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday September 11, 2021

West Indies women go down to South Africa

(CMC) - Opener Laura Wolvaardt shone with an unbeaten half-century as West Indies Women proved light work for South Africa Women, slumping to a heavy nine-wicket loss in Friday’s second One-Day International at Coolidge Cricket Ground.

Not for the first time, the home side’s capricious batting led to their downfall, able to only muster a woefully inadequate 120 before being dismissed in the 45th over, after choosing to bat first.

Kycia Knight top-scored with 22 at number five while rookie Qiana Joseph scored 21, after entering at number seven.

South Africa celebrate the dismissal of Shabika Gajnabi in Friday’s second ODI at Coolidge.

The experienced likes of Deandra Dottin (1), along with openers Hayley Matthews (3) and Kyshona Knight (5), all failed.

With the trio falling to new ball seamer Marizanne Kapp (3-24), West Indies were tottering on 18 for three in the 12th over before Kycia stitched up the innings in a 31-run, fourth wicket stand with Chedean Nation (15).

When both fell within 17 deliveries of each other and with only seven runs added, Joseph combined with Shabika Gajnabi (14) to put on a further 28 for the sixth wicket and salvage something from the innings.

Seamer Ayabonga Khaka (2-13) along with leg-spinners Dane van Niekerk (2-14) and Sune Luus (2-27) all supported with two wickets each.

In-form Wolvaardt then hit an unbeaten 71 off 84 balls with eight fours to spearhead South Africa Women’s uncom-

plicated chase.

The 22-year-old posted 35 for the first wicket with Lizelle Lee (18) before putting on a further 86 with Laura Goodall (25 not out) in an unbroken second wicket partnership.

Goodall faced 51 deliveries and struck three fours but it was Wolvaardt who finished the game in style with two consecutive boundaries off Dottin’s medium pace.

West Indies Women's Head Coach, Courtnry Walsh expressed disappointment when he spoke to CWI Media "120 is not a score you can fight along with so I'm very disappointed and I'm sure the players are as well. We got more partnerships at the back end than the front end so that's something that's very concerning. We have three games to play and the series hasn't been lost as yet, we have to come out and fire on all cylinders to try to win the next three games if we want to win the series."

The two teams will return to the same venue on Monday September 13 for the third match of the five-match series. First ball is 10am local time (9am Jamaica Time).

SCOREBOARD WEST INDIES WOMEN H Matthews lbw b Kapp 3 Kyshona Knight c Luus b Kapp 5 C Nation b Luus 15 D Dottin c & b Kapp 1 +Kycia Knight lbw b Luus 22 S Gajnabi st Chetty b van Niekerk 14

Q Joseph c wkp Chetty b Khaka 21 C Henry b van Niekerk 0 *A Mohammed not out 15 K Ramharack run out 8 S Connell b Khaka 7 Extras (lb1, w3, nb5) 9 TOTAL (all out, 44.2 overs) 120 Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-16, 3-18, 4-49, 5-56, 6-84, 7-88, 8-88, 9-111, 10-120 Bowling: Ismail 9-0-25-0 (w1, nb1), Kapp 9-3-24-3 (w1, nb2), Khaka 7.2-2-13-2, Sekhukhune 5-0-16-0, van Niekerk 10-5-14-2, Luus 4-0-27-2 (w1, nb2).

SOUTH AFRICA WOMEN L Lee c Henry b Matthews 18 L Wolvaardt not out 71 L Goodall not out 25 Extras (lb2, w5) 7 TOTAL (1 wkt, 25.4 overs) 121 Did not bat: M du Preez, S Ismail, *D van Niekerk, A Khaka, T Sekhukhune, M Kapp, +T Chetty, S Luus Fall of wickets: 1-35.

Bowling: Connell 5-1-17-0 (w1), Henry 2-0-14-0, Matthews 4-0-13-1, Joseph 3-0-18-0 (w2), Mohammed 4-0-16-0 (w1), Gajnabi 2-0-12-0 (w1), Ramharack 3-0-15-0, Dottin 2.4-0-14-0.

Result: South Africa won by nine wickets.

Series: South Africa Women lead five-match series 2-0.

Man-of-the-Match: Laura Wolvaardt.

Toss: West Indies Women.

Tallawahs batting blitzes St Lucia Kings

THE Jamaica Tallawahs made it two wins in two as they defeated the Saint Lucia Kings by 55 runs at Warner Park, St Kitts.

This win means the Tallawahs move into a qualifying spot for the knockout games next week but all six teams still have a mathematical chance to reach the latter stages.

The Kings remain in third place in the table with all teams having two more group matches left to play.

The Tallawahs got off to a lightning start thanks to another brutal innings from Kennar Lewis who smashed 56 from just

24 balls. Lewis was well supported by Shamarh Brooks as the Tallawahs reached 78/1 off their PowerPlay overs.

While wickets fell throughout the Tallawahs innings they managed to maintain a fast scoring rate throughout with contributions from the middle order. It was Imad Wasim who pushed the Tallawahs past 200 with a 10-ball innings worth 27 runs including three consecutive sixes off the 20th over.

The Kings chase started just as quickly with Andre Fletcher and Mark Deyal both making quickfire scores as

they reached 79/1 off their first six overs. Roston Chase and Deyal put on 66 runs in just 32 balls but both fell in the space of two balls to Carlos Brathwaite to bring the Tallawahs back into the match.

Those two wickets gave the Tallawahs a lot more control as they squeezed the Kings in the middle overs with Brathwaite keeping things very tight. The Tallawahs took two wickets in two balls twice more as the Kings chase petered out and the Tallawahs emerged victorious.

Tallawahs batting blitzes St Lucia Kings

Imad Wasim (2R), Rovman Powell (R) and Joshua James (2L) of Jamaica Tallawahs celebrate the dismissal of Timothy David of Saint Lucia Kings during the 2021 Hero Caribbean Premier League match 24 between Saint Lucia Kings and Jamaica Tallawahs at Warner Park Sporting Complex on September 9, 2021 in Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis. (Photo by Randy Brooks - CPL T20/Getty Images)

SEE STORY ON PAGE 27

West Indies women go down to South Africa SEE STORY ON PAGE 27 Kyshona Knight

Qiana Joseph

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Saturday, September 11, 2021