Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 02-06-2021

WEDNESDAY 2nd June, 2021

' No.106379

Guyana leads CARICOM countries in vaccination effort against COVID-19

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Motion tabled to dismiss Lowenfield, Mingo and Myers 03 PAGE

Water recedes in some parts of Region Six

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All systems remain active, as water starts to recede in some parts of Region Six. Also, regional officials continue to work around the clock to try to alleviate flooding in other parts of the region, as persistent rainfall poses a threat to their efforts (Nafeeza Yahya photos)

Over 15,000 flood-relief hampers distributed countrywide 20 PAGE

Teen undergoes country’s first paediatric brain aneurysm 19 surgery PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 2, 2021

Water recedes in some parts of Region Six –– situation remains ‘critical’ in others; losses continue to pile up

By Nafeeza Yahya

AS regional officials continue to work around the clock to try to alleviate the flooding in Region Six, persistent rainfall poses a threat to their efforts even though the situation has improved in some areas.

Guyana Chronicle, on Tuesday, visited Ankerville, Port Mourant, and observed four pumps in operation at the outfall. This was part of efforts to bring relief to the residents of the Port Mourant/Johns areas and to drain water from acres of GuySuCo land and rice fields.

The pumps which include two fixed pumps with a 2100 gallons-per-hour discharge capacity and one mobile pump each from the Regional Democratic Council/NDIA and GuySuCo, were discharging water into the Port Mourant outfall during the high tide.

It is hoped that the drainage of the water would bring some much-needed relief to the residents of the Babu Jaan Housing Scheme that now has waist-high water in their homes after heavy rainfall from Sunday through to Tuesday.

Single mother of six,

Dhanmattie Rampersaud, of Lot 226 Area R, Babu Jaan, said she is unsure of her next move since the flood has done extensive damage to her livestock, her only source of income.

Within the past week, she lost sheep and “kiddies”, 60 ducks and about 300 chickens that were ready to be sold. She is hoping that the government can offer some assistance to her as she has no other means of sustaining her livelihood and providing for her family.

Another resident, Deonarine Sohan, related that the NDC has to be held ac-

– plans to become an ed-

A yard at Mara, East Bank Berbice which no longer has water. The floodwater in other parts of this community has also receded countable for the deplorable drainage in the area. He explained to this publication that while the community would have experienced flooding in the past, this is the worst he has encountered. He added that a few days ago, his family had to relocate to the upper flat of their home since the water was knee-high in the lower flat.

Residents said that apart from having water in their homes they have to also deal with overflowing septic tanks and pit latrines, and the unavailability of potable water.

Regional Chairman, David Armogan, during his visit to the area was met with numerous complaints about the lack of potable water.

In response, he instructed his driver to pick up a few cases of bottled water which he later shared out to the residents. This will be used until officials from the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) can make more available.

He explained that the water had initially receded; however, with the persistent rainfall over the past three days it has risen higher. This development necessitated the placement of additional pumps at Port Mourant.

Over in the Kilcoy/ Chesney Housing Scheme, many were forced to abandon their one-flat houses and re-locate to higher ground as the water is continuing to rise.

Nalini Chuck said she is at her wits end since she was forced to close her grocery shop after floodwater destroyed her perishable goods and caused extensive damage to her lower flat.

“It’s been almost a week with the water like this and I’m punishing. It’s real bad, my goods all destroyed.

What I could have put higher meh thank God for. Up to the other day I buy over $200,000 in goods and everything lost,” the woman said.

In addition to her shop, Chuck rears livestock. She has already lost a substantial amount of ducks and several of her sheep are sick. She was able to build a pen on the dam to save the remaining animals from the floodwater.

A teacher who lives at the housing scheme, said she woke one morning to find water in her house.

“It’s really affecting me because I had to relocate.

It’s been a week since I left because I can’t live here. I have been coming back and forth and check on the house, but it’s been harassing. This is the worse flood Chesney has encountered. I hope in the future we can get better drainage in this area that would help a great deal.”

Many residents have criticised GuySuCo for its failure to open a dam that was created to divert water away from the sluice towards the pump station and allow water from another canal instead to drain via the sluice.

“Every day since this place flood, one week now, me a come to this dam every day to beg them to open the dam but them nah do it.

Yesterday (Tuesday) more people come and them finally open a lil cut but thank God the Regional Chairman come this afternoon and he mek them open It bigger and block off the other channel because three quarter people done move out from the scheme and if this nah been do, all woulda have to move out,” one resident related.

On Tuesday afternoon work was being done on the channel.

CRITICAL SITUATION Meanwhile, Armogan stated that the situation in Black Bush Polder (BBP) is still the most critical in the region as water level in the savannahs rising to about 5 feet high. Excavators, he explained are working around the clock to try and empolder and shore up the surrounding dams to prevent any breaches which would be catastrophic to the residents.

“The challenge is the water in the savannah is extremely high. It’s about five feet and we are afraid if any dam break away at the back there, then it’s going to be a disaster. So we have two machines at the back there empoldering that dam, keep it going but of course it’s very soft and when the mud is soft the water pressure can make holes and breach the dam and when that happens more water can come into Black Bush Polder. So, we are looking at the possibilities of diverting water to other areas. As I said the situation is still very critical and it’s the most critical within the region, “he said.

However, he noted that the water in the residential area has dropped by some two inches in the main canals after the interventions of the Minister of Agriculture and the NDIA. The regional chairman added that residents have since volunteered their rice field pumps to get the water out of their yards and into the canals and the region has agreed to supply the fuel for the tractors.

“The situation is still very critical in Black Bush Polder. The water would have receded by just two inches but then as soon as the rain falls again the level raises to what it was, so we have a few more pumps. In fact the residents have volunteered to utilise their rice field pumps to ensure that they can pump the water from their yards into their trench and so we are giving them fuel.

We are giving all of them fuel to ensure they can get the water out but the level in the trench is still very high. If the rain continues to fall then, it’s going to get back to square one. But as it is, we are hoping [that] if the rain holds for a day or two, we should be able to get that water down,” he added.

Meanwhile in Mara/Plegtanker, on the East Bank of Berbice, the water has completely receded off the lands.

On Tuesday some 200 food and sanitation hampers were distributed to residents of those communities.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 2, 2021

Motion tabled to dismiss Lowenfield, Mingo and Myers

By Richard Bhainie

THE People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C)-nominated Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Commissioners have tabled three motions, dated June 1, 2021, seeking the “immediate dismissal” of Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield; Deputy Chief Elections Officer, Roxanne Myers and Returning Officer for Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Clairmont Mingo.

The GECOM trio came in for harsh criticism from the public at large for their alleged conduct at the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections. They have since been charged, and are currently before the courts.

Lowenfield is faced with three counts of Misconduct in Public Office, and three counts of Forgery; while Mingo was charged with four counts of Misconduct in Public Office, and Myers with two counts of Misconduct in Public Office.

The motion for dismissal introduced for the immediate dismissal of Lowenfield was moved by attorney-at-law, Commissioner Sase Gunraj, on the premise that Lowenfield has allegedly breached his functions, duties, responsibilities and obligations as CEO. The motion was seconded by Gunraj’s colleague attorney-at-law, Commissioner Bibi Shadick.

It is posited that the said breach of duty stemmed from the series of events which followed the March 2, 2020 Elections, including Lowenfield failing and/ or refusing and/or neglecting to ensure due adherence and compliance of Section 84 of the Representation of the People’s Act (ROPA)

by Mingo, an officer under his supervision, during the tallying of votes recorded in the Statements of Poll

(SoPs) for District Four.

In addition, that the CEO did not ensure that the tallying of votes for the District Four was done “with dispatch” and without “inordinate or undue delay” and that he failed to provide proper and lawful directions, instructions and guidance to the officers and employees of GECOM’s Secretariat in the tallying of the votes, which led to “protests, confusion and chaos” at the Ashmin’s building.

The grounds of the motion went on to state that even after complaints were

verified votes declared by Mingo, seeking to declare the A Partnership For National Unity Plus Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) as winners of the elections.

The Chief Justice, in the case of Holladar v Mingo et al on March 11, 2020, had vacated and set aside the declaration made by Mingo as being unlawful, and a breach of the Section 84 of the ROPA, and had granted an injunction restraining GECOM from declaring any results of the elections until the section was compiled with.

The motion filed on

structing Lowenfield to prepare and submit his report pursuant to Article 177 (2) (b) of the Constitution and Section 96 of the ROPA by June 18, 2020, using the results of the recount, he failed to do so.

The grounds for the motion for dismissal also quotes the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) in the case of Mohamed Irfan Ali v Eslyn David who noted that Lowenfield “took it upon himself to invalidate such votes as he considered ought to be invalidated” – an invalidation process which the CCJ found to be

Returning Officer for Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Clairmont Mingo (left) and Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield lodged with the CEO, and protests erupted due to discrepancies between the SoPs in the possession of the political parties and those SoPs in Returning Officer’s possession; the CEO did not ensure the correct tabulation and tallying of the votes.

It states that Lowenfield, on or about March 7, 2020, despite an interim injunction from the High Court restraining GECOM from declaring the results of the elections until compliance with Section 84 of the ROPA, breached the injunction and prepared a final report containing un-

Tuesday lists that Lowenfield again acted contrary to the Chief Justice’s Orders in the Holladar case. It also lists a breach of Order 60 of 2020, created to facilitate the recount process, when Lowenfield submitted a report in which he disregarded the votes established by the recount by deducting votes in favour of the PPP/C on the grounds of alleged “irregularities and anomalies”.

Additionally, it lists that contrary to a directive issued by Chairperson of GECOM Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh, by a letter dated June 16, 2020, in-

unlawful.

These and other grounds were listed in the motion filed by Gunraj, noting that the said acts and/or omissions displayed by Lowenfield cannot be seen as reasonable, impartial or fair and therefore he has violated his oath of office.

Additionally, the motions list that due to the acts and/ or omissions he has caused a loss of public confidence and trust in the electoral process.

A similar motion was moved by attorney-at-law, Commissioner Bibi Shadick and seconded by attorney-at-law, Commissioner

Deputy Chief Elections Officer Roxanne Myers Manoj Narayan for the immediate dismissal of Roxane Meyers. Meanwhile, Narayan moved a motion for the dismissal of Clairmont Mingo, which was seconded by Gunraj.

The grounds for the motion for dismissal of Mingo has referenced, among other things, the use of an authorised document of unknown origin, known as a spreadsheet, as the basis for the tabulation of the votes for District Four and that the votes announced

by Mingo were materially different from the SoPs in the possession of the political parties.

In addition to Lowenfield, Mingo and Myers, Chairperson of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), Volda Lawrence; Opposition activist, Carol Joseph; the CEO’s clerks, Michelle Miller, Denise Bob-Cummings; Elections Officer, Shefern February and Information Technology Officer, Enrique Livan were also charged.

They are all accused of inflating the results of Region Four – Guyana’s largest voting district – to give the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Coalition a majority win at the March 2 polls when in fact, the PPP/C had won by 15,000 more votes.

Just last week, Chief Justice (ag), Roxane George, S.C. ordered the

release of the certified copies of the Statements of Poll (SoPs) and Statements of Recount (SoRs) from the March 2, 2020, General and Regional Elections, to the Commissioner of Police (ag), Nigel Hoppie, and Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack, S.C, intended to be used to prosecute Lowenfield et al.

In December last, Chairperson of GECOM, Justice (ret’d) Claudette Singh had told the Guyana Chronicle that the decision to make any administrative change lies with the entire commission and not just her. However, the issue was not yet, at that time, raised at the commission level.

With three nominated commissioners each from the two major political parties, the ultimate success of the motions for dismissal moved by the PPP/C-nominated commissioners rests with the vote of the Chairperson.

Some $1.1 billion was budgeted for in the 2021 Budget towards the hosting of Guyana’s Local Government Elections (LGE) intended to be held this year; several government officials have chastised Lowenfield and his colleagues and have registered their concern about going to elections with them at the helm of GECOM.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 2, 2021

Indigenous groups call for Canada to identify graves after remains of 215 children found REUTERS- Indigenous groups in Canada are calling for a nationwide search for mass graves at residential school sites after the discovery of the remains of 215 children at one former school last week shocked the country.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said, on Monday, that searching for more mass graves was “an important part of discovering the truth” but did not make specific commitments.

Tk’emlúps te Secwe?pemc First Nation announced last week they had found the remains of 215 children, some as young as three years old, buried at the site of the Kamloops Indian Residential School, once Canada’s largest such school.

Between 1831 and 1996, Canada’s residential school system forcibly separated children from their families, subjecting them to abuse,

malnutrition and rape in what the Truth and Reconciliation Commission tasked with investigating the system called “cultural genocide” in 2015.

Last week’s announcement sparked outrage, prompting flags to be flown at half-staff and people to lay hundreds of tiny shoes in public squares, places of government and on the steps of churches, in reference to the role of Christian churches from a range of denominations in running the schools.

There have long been rumors within indigenous communities, also discussed by the commission, of children buried at these schools.

The fourth volume of the commission’s report, titled ‘Missing Children and Unmarked Burials,’ identified 3,200 children who died at residential schools, about a third of whom were not named. Since that report’s publication in 2015,

Wednesday June 02, 2021 – 10:30hrs - 12:00hrs

Pairs of children’s shoes and toys are seen at memorial in front of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School after the remains of 215 children, some as young as three years old, were found at the site last week, in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada May 31, 2021 (REUTERS/Dennis Owen) an additional 900 have been identified.

Parents “spoke of children who went to school and never returned,” the report reads.

A working group established by the commission in 2007 proposed, among other things, a study to identify unmarked gravesites. While the federal government initially denied the C$1.5 million ($1.2 million) needed to conduct this work, the government announced in 2019 C$33.8 million over three years for a ‘National Residential School Student Death Register’ and an on-

line registry of residential school cemeteries.

Now there are renewed calls for Canada to do more to uncover what happened.

In meetings across the country, indigenous communities are working to figure out how to investigate, said Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, President of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs.

“It’s absolutely essential that there be a national program to thoroughly investigate all residential school sites in regard to unmarked mass graves,” he said.

Brazil’s economy rebounds to pre-pandemic level, beating forecasts REUTERS - Brazil’s economy expanded by 1.2 per cent in the first quarter.

Data showed, on Tuesday, a faster rise than economists had expected, as rebounding services and investments took Latin America’s largest economy to its pre-pandemic size at the end of 2019.

It was the third consecutive quarter of growth, and although the rebound has slowed, some underlying figures suggest stronger foundations for a continued recovery this year.

“This makes the outlook for the coming quarters very positive,” said Jason Vieira, chief economist at Infinity Asset Management in Sao Paulo, calling the data “a really good set of numbers, especially fixed business investment.”

Brazil’s real got an immediate boost from the numbers, rising to 5.16 per dollar, on track to close at its strongest level this year.

The economic recovery has accelerated inflation in Brazil, prompting one of the world’s most aggressive string of ongoing interest rate hikes.

The central bank has raised its benchmark Selic rate by 75 basis points at each of its last two policy meetings, to 3.50 per cent, and has indicated it will do so again next month as Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth holds up and inflationary pressures persist.

Brazil’s first-quarter growth was driven by services, industry and fixed business investment, official statistics agency IBGE figures showed, and agriculture grew by 5.7 per cent in the quarter, its fastest pace in four years.

On the downside, gov-

ernment spending fell notably and manufacturing contracted. Household consumption fell less than expected, according to Vieira at Infinity, indicating a positive surprise for the rest of the year.

The 1.2 per cent growth rate from the previous three months was more than the median forecast in a Reuters poll of economists for 1.0% growth.

The range of forecasts from 27 economists was extremely wide, indicating the difficulty they had in assessing the impact of the end of emergency government aid payments to the poor on Dec. 31 and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic second wave.

Industry expanded by 0.7 per cent, the dominant services sector grew 0.4 per cent and fixed business investment rose 4.6 per cent in the quarter, IBGE said.

Household consumption slipped 0.1 per cent and government spending fell 0.8 per cent, one of the biggest quarterly declines in years.

Within industry output, the manufacturing sector shrank by 0.5 per cent.

Compared with the same period a year earlier, GDP grew by 1.0 per cent, IBGE figures showed, also more than the 0.8 per cent rise forecast in a Reuters poll.

IBGE figures show economic activity is back to its pre-pandemic level at the end of 2019 but still 3.1 per cent below its peak in 2014.

A clutch of upbeat indicators recently, including record tax collection and formal job growth, has triggered a wave of upward revisions to economists’ full-year GDP growth forecasts, mostly above 4 per cent and some much higher.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 2, 2021

Better allocation of resources, enhanced impact assessment expected

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–– as CDC conducts aerial inspection of flood-affected regions THE Civil Defence Commission (CDC), with support from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), on Tuesday, conducted an aerial assessment of flooding in Regions Two, Three and Seven.

The team, led by Director-General of the CDC, Lieutenant Colonel, Kester Craig, observed affected mining camps and households along the Cuyuni and Mazaruni Rivers.

Julian Cadogan, a volunteer with the CDC, provided Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping to help the commission understand how to strategically deploy resources, while Quincy Scotland provided technical support based on the impact of the flood in farming communities.

The GDF aircraft trav-

elled approximately 80 miles from Timehri to both main rivers in Region Seven, where it was observed that villages such as Issano and Hororabo should be on high alert and remain vigilant.

Miners and residents are being urged to move to higher ground to avoid being trapped in flood waters.

It was observed that some trails have become impassable, posing a challenge.

Over in Regions Two and Three, farmlands and households remained inundated with varying levels of flood waters.

The team made a short stop at Karawab, Region Two, where residents disclosed that the water has receded. The Regional Democratic Council (RDC) recently distributed food hampers to residents who suffered damage to

property and loss of crop in the village.

The CDC has activated its Volunteer Corps, which is assisting with the packing of hampers for distribution to residents in flood affected communities.

Shelters have been established at Tabatinga Sports Complex, Arapaima Primary School and Culvert City Nursery School, Region Nine, and Aroaima Nursery, Aroaima Primary Shelter and Kwakwani Primary, Region 10, to accommodate residents who are severely affected.

Persons are urged to contact their Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDC), RDCs and the CDC’s National Emergency Management System (NEMS) to report the impact of the floods.

An aerial view of the flood situation in one of the regions

Barbados: ‘Property prices too hot’, survey finds BARBADOS TODAY - A recent survey of the real estate market in Barbados shows the majority believe property prices are way too high, and buyers prefer to purchase houses already built rather than going through the headaches that come with construction.

Terra Caribbean, which has just released its Red Book, the annual publication on what’s happening in the local realty market and future trends, said its survey of market sentiment has uncovered a return of confidence to the sector during 2019.

However, Hayden Hutton, Terra Caribbean’s chief operating officer said while the sentiment was positive among survey participants, there was still a five per cent drop in property sales on the island last year compared to a near eight per cent rise in 2018.

Hutton said there was a near 80 per cent increase in respondents who had a favourable view of the Barbados market in 2019, compared to 2017 when the last survey was conducted.

The survey also uncovered some sentiment on mat-

ters such as property prices, construction costs, and the controversial issue of beach front development.

Asked their views on real estate prices, 60 per cent felt properties were overpriced whether it was the cost of vacant land or land and house combinations.

When it came to the cost of construction on the island, an overwhelming 82 per cent felt these costs were over the top. And the Terra senior executive assessed this was also reflected in the preference of buyers for already constructed homes rather than facing the problems associated with managing new construction.

While 57 per cent preferred to buy a property, just 26 per cent preferred to build. Some 17 per cent said it made no difference to them. “This points to buying as a better option until such time as there is a reduction in construction costs or the market begins to grow,” Hutton noted.

Beachfront properties in Barbados can often fetch millions of dollars, but the overwhelming sentiment in the market is for these developments to go no higher than

four storeys.

“Building heights continue to be a hot button issue with over 90 per cent of respondents indicating a preference for less than ten storeys.

The proposed redevelopment of the Blue Horizon Hotel at Accra and the construction of a new Hyatt Ziva at Carlisle Bay have once again brought the issue to the forefront,” the

Terra official pointed out.

Asked to rank which areas of the market required greatest reform, the top concerns were banking and mortgages with 54 per

cent, next was legal services with 49 per cent, followed by construction with 28 per cent, then real estate agencies with 20 per cent calling for reform in this area.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 2, 2021

Tajeram Mohabir

Convenient Love HEAVY rains over the past few days have caused widespread flooding and, like in the other regions of the country, Georgetown was not spared of the effects of the heavy downpour.

But from the unfolding of events in recent days, the water accumulation in the City though unavoidable when there is persistent heavy rains, the heavy buildup in some communities could have been less had the Mayor and City Council taken a hands-on approach during the current rainy season.

It is appalling that after years of experiencing floods in Georgetown when it rains heavily, the principals at City Hall seems to have learnt little when it comes to corrective actions to deal with this situation.

One would have thought by now, the drill would have been simple.

In preparation for the rainy seasons, canals are cleared, policing of the City for wanton disposal of garbage is enforced and all pumps are in an operational state. Also, frequent checks are made with pump attendants, especially during the rainy season, to ensure they do their work.

But City Hall is a special place. At City Hall, talking rather than acting, along with political scheming seem to be the norm and culture or the order of the day for those who lord over the City.

The incidents on Sunday morning and Sunday night immediately come to mind. Heavy rains had caused flooding in certain sections of the City and checks by several government ministers at key locations found that pumps and sluices were not in operation.

Since in light of the heavy rains and the fact that these equipment were not in use at a critical time, the charge of negligence was levelled at the principals of the City, which many felt was justifiable.

However, Georgetown Mayor Ubraj Narine had a different view, rejecting the charge of negligence while pointing out that the A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For change (APNU+AFC) will never deliberately allow the flooding of the City, which is home to many of its supporters.

The Mayor went to say that it was unfair for government ministers to

stop at drainage infrastructure sites in the City without coming out of their vehicles to inspect them, contending among other things that the failure to do so would have given the senior government functionaries an inaccurate picture of the state of things. These visits were made early in the morning and the claim that government ministers did not come out their vehicles during the inspection visits, from all indications, seems inaccurate. Both Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha and Public Infrastructure Minister, Bishop Juan Edghill were seen interacting with residents in the vicinity of some of the drainage structures.

Nevertheless, the Mayor continued, urging senior government officials who intend to visit drainage sites in Georgetown to come out of their vehicles and speak with the pump attendants there, noting that this will give them a more informed view of what is happening.

Perhaps, at the time of speaking, he was over confident that no one will take him up on this matter.

Mayor Narine must have been terri-

bly taken aback when at two hours before midnight, President, Dr Irfaan Ali took up the challenge, and much to the Mayor’s nightmare, found some of the most glaring instances of negligence.

At a critical time when the pumps and sluices should have been in operation, some operators were asleep and sluice doors were closed, preventing the drainage of water in the City, on a day that experienced a considerable amount of rainfall.

The scenes from the President’s visit tell a notable story –City Hall does not have its pulses on things on the ground in terms of marshalling its troops to keep the flood waters at bay and more importantly – the APNU+AFC’s love for its supporters could be very convenient.

A case in point here is the Coalition’s tenure in office.

During their five years in power, flooding was virtually non-existent in the City; so why now there is negligence and flooding when there is a different government in place with no change in the managers at City Hall?

Those persons refusing to be vaccinated are holding the nation at ransom Dear Editor, ALMOST 200,000 Guyanese have received their first COVID-19 vaccination, but (a journalist who died) allegedly, was not amongst them and could have been.

Sadly, we have lost a young, well respected, professional journalist from our ranks. It need not have been so. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of young, and old ones too, Guyanese, who can be vaccinated but are not because they have chosen not to do so. The question is why?

There is overwhelming evidence the

world over and here at home, that the vaccines work. There is no known case of anyone who is fully vaccinated, that has taken the second vaccine dose, where two doses are required, who has been hospitalised or died from being infected by the COVID-19 virus. There are many thousands, however, who have not been vaccinated and continue to be infected and are dying.

I write this letter in the hope that those who read it and who have not been vaccinated, either by carelessness or by choice, learn from what has happened to the journalist and understand that they have made the choice to not only put

their own lives at risk but the lives of the rest of the nation, and why do I say the rest of the nation?

Let me quote from a letter in today’s Stabroek News (1st June, 2021) written

by Dr. Jacquelyn Jhingree: “Vaccination is the long-term tool to get out of the pandemic and eventually beat COVID-19. Most of us know this by now. Scientists, health professionals, governments and science communicators all over the world have undertaken significant campaigns to convince people that it is in their best interest to get vaccinated.”

We cannot use that “long-term tool”

to serve Guyana and vaccinate at least 75 per cent of our population to achieve “herd immunity” for our country if a substantial percentage of our population refuses to be vaccinated. We have the vaccines. Some 41 per cent of our population has already received their first dose. They need to get their second.

Those persons refusing to be vaccinated are holding the nation at ransom. I repeat that they are not only putting their own lives at risk, but the rest of the nation with them. w w Yours sincerely, Kit Nascimento

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 2, 2021

How come Slowe was so slow in reporting his claims that the President tried to influence him?

Dear Editor, PRESIDENT, Dr. Irfaan Ali is ‘spot on’. He was so right when he stated that “I find it convenient and opportunistic that Mr. Paul Slowe would make the accusation that I tried to influence him and the work of the Police Service Commission.

This is not only far from the truth, but it is a malicious attempt to change the narrative.”

The President explained that, “If Mr. Slowe is saying I tried to influence him, where are the results of that influence?”

I add that Mr. Slowe must say in what areas did President Ali tried to solicit some kind of collusion from him.

We are now learning that Mr. Slowe is bringing the independence and professionalism of the PSC into question by aligning the PSC with opposition member of Parliament, Ganesh Mahipaul, and retaining opposition members of Parliament Roysdale Forde, Khemraj Ramjattan, Raphael Trotman, Geeta Chandan-Edmond, Amanda Walton Desir to institute proceedings against the Government of Guyana.

Now I need to ‘stick a pin’ here and revisit something of utmost importance.

To accuse His Excellency of trying to influence him, Mr. Slow is committing an act tantamount to the desecration of a holy terrain.

Back in July 2018, then Opposition

Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, did inform former President David Granger, that he had hang-ups regarding Paul Slowe’s possible appointment to head the Police Service Commission. Jagdeo actually said that Slowe “… had ‘baggage’ which may cause him to be biased in carrying out his duties.”

I dare say that the Vice-President was accurately prophetic.

As we all know, Mr. Slowe, Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), and eight others (retired senior ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) were jointly slapped with a fraud charge by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) for an alleged conspiracy to defraud the GPF of some $10M.

Of course, Paul Slowe is denying that he conspired with others to defraud the Guyana Police Force of GYD$10 million and that he sexually assaulted a female police officer. So now, through his Attorney-at-Law, Selwyn Pieters, Mr. Slowe has indicated that he would be filing a lawsuit against the Police Force for sullying his name.

I call on Mr. Slowe to explain the dilatory nature of this resort to besmirch the President.

Let us remember that the Head of State met with Mr. Slowe early in his Presidency.

Yours truly, Attiya Baksh

Including Guyanese resident overseas on the voters’ list can create room for corrupt practices Dear Editor, I READ with interest the SN’s article

by Mr. Ralph Ramkarran on election legislation reform.

While most of what he has suggested makes sense, the one proposal on including Guyanese resident overseas on the voters’ list is questionable. It can open a lot of room for corrupt practices if not

properly managed, and our experience shows that most things are not appropriately and/or adequately managed in Guyana.

There is one practice that begs attention. We duplicate the way our Parliament is constituted in choosing members of boards and other bodies, such as the Elections Commission, the ERC, etc. It is not difficult to notice the partisanship

and divisiveness that infest the functioning of these institutions.

Therefore, it seems more prudent to choose members who are more technically equipped on the various subject matters and must not be closely politically affiliated or perceived to be politically affiliated to any of the two major political parties.

Proposals for membership to these

institutions can come from any source, but these criteria must be met.

Parliament can utilise the services of its various sectoral and other committees to examine the list of candidates and approve the final list of members.

Yours sincerely, A. Adler

Paul Slowe’s belated accusation against the President reeks of desperation Dear Editor, IT is most reprehensible that only now the public is hearing from Mr. Paul Slowe.

This is in regard to his present situation, where he is immersed in a legal quagmire, and in trying to do some ‘damage control,’ he is accusing President Irfaan Ali of trying to influence him, and by extension the Police Service Commission, many moons ago.

Slowe’s reaction stinks.

The sketchy and very vague explanation, in the form of an allegation, is that “… that the President attempted to influence him in a conversation last year…” Now why this man kept that hidden all the time contradicts common sense and legal recourse. In fact, I think that the impetus for his claim is that “(he) Mr. Slowe has been slapped with a Ten Million Dollar ($10,000,000) fraud charge, along with a charge for sexual assault.”

This top lawman, tasked with

enforcing the law, will now have to defend “… receiving millions of dollars from the Guyana Police Force while being the Chairman of the said Constitutional Commission, wielding disciplinary powers over the very force.” It is quite vile for Paul Slowe to seek to smear the President.

This same Slowe is under investigation in another (kind) of issue. The news is that “… during the months of March and April 2019, a female Assis-

tant Superintendent, who worked along with Mr. Slowe, was allegedly sexually assaulted by Slowe three times.”

The President has rejected Slowe’s accusation of ‘interfering’ and so it is now left for the embattled lawman to produce evidence to back his claim.

Then he has to find further proof that the charges against him, of fraud and sexual assault, are false.

Yours sincerely, Baldeo Mathura

‘We want to farm!’

8

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 2, 2021

–– Ithaca residents tell Agri. Minister

AS part of a two-day flood assessment exercise in Region Five, Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, on Tuesday, met with farmers from Ithaca Village.

During the engagement, farmers openly expressed that they were willing to work with the government to resuscitate farming in the village.

Gary Linton, a farmer from the village, said that Ithaca was once the main agriculture village in the region.

“In the 1980s, we were the largest agriculture producing village in Region Five. We used to supply all over Berbice with provision.

We used to supply GMC. We had a market-day in here every Sunday. From in the 80s, Desmond Hoyte gave the lands away and all the free flow water was cut off from us. That is when we started having irrigation problems.

Growing up, our work was on the farm. We grew up on the farm and from the 80s to now we’ve been suffering.

Most of the farmlands are

now covered in bush. We need to get farming going again. We want to farm,” Linton said.

Another farmer present at the meeting said that the villagers were willing to go back to the fields but added that a comprehensive irrigation system needs to be put in place first.

“We have an issue with water management. It is an age-old issue that developed after that lands were taken from the villagers and given to someone else. If agriculture in Ithaca is going to see its fullest potential, a detailed study has to be done. We need the engineers to come in and study the design of Ithaca Village. Study what the topological layout is saying. Come up with an idea with the people and draft an irrigation system. We are here and we are ready to collaborate,” the resident said.

Minister Mustapha told residents that the ministry was prepared to work with the community to get agriculture up and running again.

He told residents that they should develop a

Community Development Council (CDC) that would represent the interest of the village and build an agricultural programme with input from all the farmers in Ithaca.

MUST BE RESTORED “As minister, I want to see agriculture in Ithaca restored. Our technical officers will work with you to develop a system where irrigation is supplied to the village for farming.

You should also form a CDC because I was told that this village does not have one.

I’ve been working with various groups across the country.

When groups are formed it becomes easier for government to work with you. We also want the beneficiaries from the communities to be involved in the execution of these works.

That way, employment is created and works are done to a standard because you know and understand the importance of executing these works efficiently. A CDC has to be formed because there needs to be a foundation and things have to be done in an organised

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, engaging residents from Ithaca on Tuesday manner. The Ministry of Local Government has a department that these groups register with.

Once this is done, the CDCs would be able to benefit from many community development initiatives. That’s the way we want to work,” Minister Mustapha said.

The subject minister also told the villagers that drainage works are ongoing to bring relief to flooded areas.

“Right now, we have an excavator working in the area to clear some of the canals so that the water can

drain out. I was just told about two outfalls that are blocked so I’ve instructed the NDIA to send their technical officers to look at what can be done to have those cleared. The regional Member of Parliament and the Regional Chairman will also be coming back to the village to work with villagers to form a CDC so that we can get things going,” Minister Mustapha said.

Minister Mustapha also met with residents from Blairmont, Sheildstown, Ro-

signol, Champagne, and Belladrum. He told the residents that government is working aggressively to ensure flooded areas are drained as soon as possible. The minister also told residents that extension officers are currently conducting flood-assessments in the affected villages.

Once those assessments are complete, the ministry will be looking at ways to offer assistance in the form of planting materials and other inputs to help farmers return to their lands.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 2, 2021

BIT invests $40M for training programmes in Region Six – over 400 to benefit

Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton with some of the trainees THE Ministry of Labour’s Board of Industrial Training (BIT) is investing over $40 million in 29 technical and vocational training programmes in Region Six, targeting some 400 persons in New Amsterdam, and Central and Upper Corentyne.

Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton, visited the region on Monday, where he assessed the programmes that were recently launched in New Amsterdam.

He was accompanied

by BIT’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Richard Maughn; Region Six Senior Technical Officer, Clarence Shako and other technical officers of the ministry.

The team inspected the heavy-duty equipment operation training programme at the New Amsterdam Technical Institute; the care for the elderly programme at the Hope Wellness Centre, and cosmetology courses at Shaunna’s New Look Salon and Deborah Fantasy Salon, respectively.

He also assessed the garment construction classes at the Upper-Class Community Developers headquarters, and the commercial food preparation course at Letta’s and Fordy’s catering.

During his interaction with trainees and facilitators, Minister Hamilton said the programmes form part of the ministry’s plans to train some 3,000 persons in more than 100 areas this year.

The programmes also seek to equip persons with the necessary skills to enter the world of work, and are aligned with the government’s policy of providing quality education to all citizens.

“All programmes are free of cost. All the equipment and tools you utilise for the programme we make them available. When you finish the programme, if you decide on another programme the following year, you can do so,” he told the participants.

He said the programmes cater for every citizen regardless of their location or background, and will be extended to retirees and persons living with disabilities.

Minister Hamilton said as Guyana develops, there will be need for more skilled persons. Some 80 ‘Berbicians’ are participating in the heavy-duty equipment operation training programme at the New Amsterdam Technical Institute.

“These are skills that are needed and people get paid a lot of money for it.

From this you can also get skilled in other areas. You have to be multi-skilled and multi-talented to survive this world,” he said.

Meanwhile, Maughn said the programmes are also being used as stepping stones for persons to gain entry into higher institutions of learning.

He related that BIT con-

tinues to collaborate with other institutions including the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo)’s Training Centre and the New Am-

Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton engages some of the participants (DPI photos) sterdam Technical Institute to execute some of its programmes.

The ministry has already appointed two BIT

officers to Region Six, who would be working with residents to craft training programmes based on the needs of their commu-

nities. The team will be visiting programmes in the Central and Lower Corentyne area over the next two days. (DPI)

10

$200M to upgrade Herstelling, Providence roads –– Minister Croal says, as tenders to open this week

MINISTER of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, has said that some $200 million has been earmarked for the upgrading of roads in Herstelling and Providence, on the East Bank of Demerara.

Minister Croal made this statement during his guest appearance on 94.1 Boom FM ‘Jump Start’ programme, on Tuesday.

“This project is to move some of the main road to asphaltic and some of the others where we are starting up at least to the crusher run. I can tell you that the tenders should be opened some time this week. So, very shortly after the weather, those works will commence,” the minister related, adding that a concrete bridge will also

be constructed to replace the wooden structure at Herstelling.

Minister Croal said there are also plans to rehabilitate roads in housing schemes countrywide that were neglected over the past five years.

His ministry will be collaborating with the ministries of Public Works and Local Government and Regional Development to carry out the upgrades under the budgetary programme, miscellaneous road project.

Additionally, Minister Croal said construction will soon start on the young professional homes in Region 10.

“Very shortly you will see Amelia’s Ward coming on stream. We are building about 40

houses this year, and after that we have Region Six in the Hampshire area,” he said.

President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, first announced the construction of homes for young professionals during an outreach to Linden in January.

Similar structures will be built in Cummings Lodge, Prospect, Providence, Little Diamond and Great Diamond, all in Region Four; Onderneeming and Wales in Region Three; and at Ordnance/Fortlands, Hampshire and Williamsburg in Region Six. The ministry is building 1,000 young professional and low-income housing units this year as part of the Central Housing and Planning Authority’s National

Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal Housing Development Programme.

It was reported that the PPP/C Government is committed to allocating 50,000 house lots over five years, averaging 10,000 lots per year.

The ministry has since held several housing drives where close to 4,000 lots were allocated. (DPI)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 2, 2021

Body found in abandoned building at Victoria POLICE are investigating the suspected murder of a man, whose body was found in an abandoned building at Victoria, East Coast Demerara (ECD), on Monday.

The victim was identified as Woodrow John Lepps, 42. It was reported that when the body was examined upon discovery, there appeared to be a severe wound to the head.

Lepps’ family told police that he usually does odd jobs for persons in the community.

He was last seen alive by his foster sister, Rita Lepps, after he visited her Belfield, ECD home Dead: Woodrow on Sunday morning.

John Lepps The woman said her brother came to collect his breakfast, as he usually would, and left. However, on Monday, she received information that her brother’s motionless body was found in an abandoned building.

Upon her arrival at the scene, she found her brother’s motionless body with a wound to his head and blood stains on the walls.

The man was escorted to the CC Nicholson Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The body was then escorted to the Lyken Funeral Parlour, where a post mortem examination will be conducted.

Several persons were questioned and authorities attempted to identify CCTVs cameras in the area, but none was seen.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 2, 2021

Self-confessed killer to know fate today

TODAY, Justice Navindra Singh is expected to pass sentence on Richard Harrychand, who had confessed to fatally stabbing a teen during a brawl at Supenaam, Essequibo Coast, two years ago.

In May, Harrychand appeared before the Sud-

die High Court for the capital offence of murder. However, he opted to plead guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter. He confessed that, on June 2, 2019, at Supenaam, he unlawfully killed 19-year-old Clive Osborne. The state is being represented by prosecutor Tiffani Lyken.

Harrychand is expected to be sentenced on Wednesday morning after a probation report is presented to the court.

The Guyana Chronicle had reported that on the day in question, Osborne was at a bar with his friends, when he was confronted by Harrychand,

who was armed with a knife. Harrychand stabbed Osborne several times to his abdomen, chest and forehead and then made good his escape.

Osborne attempted to run out of the bar but collapsed on the roadway. He was picked up in an unconscious state and rushed to

the Suddie Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Harrychand was later arrested. He told police that Osborne’s death stemmed from an old grievance involving his younger brother. He also handed over the murder weapon to the police.

11

Richard Harrychand

12

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 2, 2021

Guyana leads CARICOM countries in vaccination effort against COVID-19 –– over 270,000 doses administered; no shortage of vaccines, says Dr. Ramsammy

By Richard Bhainie

AS of Tuesday last, some 201,347 persons or 41 per cent of the Guyanese adult population, persons 18 years old and above, have received their first dose of one of the three (Oxford-AstraZeneca, Sinopharm, Sputnik V) locally distributed vaccines, as Guyana continues on along the path to herd immunity.

Additionally, some 69,486 second doses were

also administered, resulting in 14.3 per cent of the Guyanese adult population being fully vaccinated against the deadly novel coronavirus.

Those figures were disclosed by Adviser to the Ministry of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, during an interview with the Guyana Chronicle on Tuesday.

Dr. Ramsammy said that based on the available figures, Guyana is “far

ahead” of other Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries in the drive to fully vaccinate their citizens.

“When you look across the Caribbean, we are far ahead of any CARICOM country, in terms of the number of vaccines that have been administered.

At the moment, we have administered more than 270,833 doses, of which over 201,000 are first doses and close to 70,000 are sec-

ond doses; no country has reached those numbers,” Dr. Ramsammy said.

According to information by Reuters’ COVID-19 Global Tracker, Trinidad and Tobago has administered some 95,850 first and second doses of COVID vaccines, a representation of 3.4 per cent of their population, while Jamaica has administered at least 177,883 doses, a representation of 3 per cent of their population. Dr. Ramsammy used these two countries for reference.

He further said that based on statistics, comparing the different age groups which the vaccines were gradually made available to, the senior population or persons age 60 and above have been leading, with close to 70 per cent of that age range receiving their first dose of one of the vaccines.

Some 37.9 per cent of persons between the ages of 40 and 59 years old have received their first dose, while some 33.1 per cent of persons among the youth population, which consists of persons between the ages of 18 and 39, have received their first dose.

However, while at first glance it might appear that the younger population has been hesitant to take the ‘jab’, the low vaccination rates may be due to the ministry’s initial approach during its rollout campaign, having made the vaccines first available to senior citizens and then gradually to other age groups.

On a regional level, based on the ten administrative regions in Guyana, Region Four (Demerara – Mahaica) has been leading the vaccination campaign with some 85,588 first doses being administered, followed by Region Six (East Berbice – Corentyne) where some 35,140 first doses have been administered.

Region 10 (Upper Demerara – Berbice) has recorded the lowest number of first doses administered, with 3,165.

Dr. Ramsammy said that based on the adult population of the regions, Region Six is leading with 49.2 per cent of the population 18 years and older receiving a first dose, followed by Region Five (Mahaica – Berbice) with 45.8 per cent; Region One (Barima – Waini) with

45.2 per cent; and Region Four with 42.2. Only 12.1 per cent of the adult population in Region 10 has received their first dose.

NO SHORTAGE OF VACCINES Amid concerns that there has been a shortage of vaccines in the country, with many persons highlighting that they have been turned away from vaccination sites because of no vaccines being available, Dr. Ramsammy affirmed that the government has already secured enough vaccines for 480,000 persons; this is enough to cover the entire adult population of Guyana.

He said that so far, there are enough doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca and Sinopharm vaccines for 80,000 persons.

In the case of those vaccines, most of the first doses have already been administered, and the second doses are “stored away” and “guaranteed” for those persons who received either of those vaccines.

He noted that some 800,000 doses of the Russian Sputnik V have been procured to cover some 400,000 adults. Of that figure, some 205,000 have already arrived in the country, consisting of some 149,000 first doses, of which some 20,000 are currently in stock.

Dr. Ramsammy noted that Guyana is at a stage where most of the 59,000 second doses of the Sputnik V vaccines, which have arrived in the country, are already administered. However, he related that more vaccines are destined for Guyana, and the country is expecting a shipment “any time soon.”

Although the second doses of the Sputnik V vaccine were administered, Dr. Ramsammy assured persons that there should be no fear or worry that they are late for their ‘jab’, as the Ministry of Health has strategically organised and thought ahead of this dilemma.

“The vaccine can be administered any time between four weeks and twelve weeks, so they are due now at the fourth week, but you can wait up to another eight weeks before you receive the second dose. But we are expecting the second dose soon, so

Adviser to the Ministry of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy no one would have to wait for another eight weeks,” he said.

Dr. Ramsammy noted that the government has taken several factors into consideration when determining the number of vaccines to procure, including the logistics of getting the vaccines to Guyana, as well as the response rate of persons taking the vaccine, as the shots do expire. The vaccines also require special storage arrangements.

“These vaccines require special storage; it’s not an ordinary freezer.

If you bring all 800,000, each dose is in a vial; one, it will occupy a lot of space … for every freezer we used we have to have a second one empty in case one break down.

That’s really why we’re bringing it in batches and that’s why we catered for this extra time,” he said.

Dr. Ramsammy informed the Guyana Chronicle that thus far there have not been any expired vaccines, and no vaccine has been wasted.

“In every country you would have wasting, especially when you’re using low temperature vaccine, because if you take it in a remote area, where you don’t have the storage, you’re going to lose vaccines. So, you have that in every country, but in our country, we have been able to ensure we don’t have any kind of significant wastage,” he related.

He also said that the vaccines are to be thawed once removed from the special freezer before it is administered.

“So, if we say 50 people will come and we thaw out 50 and only 30 people come it means we will waste 20, so this is why it becomes difficult. So far that has not happened to us,” he said.

The Adviser to the Ministry of Health said that the fact that Guyana was able to secure such a large number of vaccines when other countries have not been able to do so, proves that the government has been “very aggressive” in its efforts to tackle the disease.

13

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 2, 2021

Sod turned for new building to house GWI, CH&PA offices in Lethem

MINISTER of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, on Monday, turned the sod for a new Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) and Central Housing & Planning Authority (CH&PA)

regional office at Lethem, Region Nine (Upper Takutu- Upper Essequibo).

Also present at the sod-turning exercise, which was held at the Lethem Commercial Block where

the new office will be constructed, was the Director of Hinterland Services at GWI, Ramchand Jailall.

Some $23 million has been set aside in the 2021 budget for the construction

Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, turns the sod for the construction of a new building in Lethem to house the GWI and CH&PA offices, as Director of Hinterland Services at GWI, Ramchand Jailall looks on

of a building at Lethem to house GWI and CH&PA regional offices.

As it is now, bids for the project are currently being evaluated, after which an award will be made and mobilisation will commence.

The duration for the completion of this project is an estimated three months.

According to Minister Croal, the new office will ease the financial burden on the water company, as they are currently renting an office space for their operations in Lethem.

Additionally, a section of the soon-to-be-con-

structed building measuring 24x40 feet, will house CH&PA. This new facility will allow both agencies to offer better services and accommodate more persons at one time for business transactions.

According to Minister Croal, this is an indication of the direction in which the Ministry of Housing and Water intends to go, especially as it relates to strengthening its regional offices and offering a better quality of service to its customers.

Minister Croal, during previous visits to other re-

gional offices, has stressed the need for improved infrastructure, adequate staff, and strengthening of regional services offered by the ministry.

Already under CH&PA, Regional Housing Officers have been appointed in Regions Five and Six. In Region Two, a building has been identified for a housing office, while additional persons have been employed to strengthen capacity.

Further, plans are in place for a GWI regional office in Bartica, which will also house the region’s first CH&PA office.

14

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 2, 2021

92 persons died of COVID-19 in May –– death toll climbs further as authorities record two deaths in 24 hours

MAY, 2021, ended as the deadliest month for COVID-19 here in Guyana, with a total of 92 deaths being recorded, the Ministry of Health has indicated in a statement.

The deaths included that of a 17-year-old, one of the youngest since the detection of COVID-19 in Guyana, in March 2020.

Even with that high number being recorded in May, it does not stop there, as the toll continues to climb with two more deaths being recorded within the past 24 hours.

The latest fatalities are a 44-year-old male from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), and a 94 -year-old woman from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara).

It was reported that both persons died while receiving medical care at a Ministry of Health facility.

There have been 391 such deaths recorded thus far.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health, on Tuesday, recorded 162 new cases of COVID-19, with 1,239 tests carried out for Monday, May 31, 2021.

Of that number, Re-

gion Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) recorded the highest number of new cases, 105; Region Four followed with 39 cases; Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) recorded nine; Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), three; Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) and Three, two each; while Regions One (Barima-Waini) and Five (Mahaica-Berbice), recorded one case each.

Regions Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), and Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) did not record any new

cases.

The newly infected persons were 82 males and 80 females. Currently, there are 21 persons within the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 99 in institutional isolation, 1,745 in home isolation, and four in institutional quarantine.

Guyana has confirmed 17,114 cases of COVID-19 since March 2020, 1,869 of which are

currently active, while 357 of the 14,879 recoveries were recorded within the past 24 hours.

All Guyanese are urged to observe the protocols of the COVID-19 emergency measures, which emphasise the need for correct and consistent use of a face mask when leaving home, the importance of maintaining the six feet physical distance from others, and the need

for good hand hygiene to help curb the spread of COVID-19.

If anyone you know is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19, or needs any additional information, kindly contact the COVID-19 Hotline 231-1166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 immediately or visit the Ministry of Health at www.health. gov.gy.

15

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 2, 2021

Relief efforts intensify in flood-affected areas across Region Three –– sluices, pumps fully operational, says Regional Chairman

WITH water starting to recede in some parts of Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), authorities have stepped up relief efforts in flood-affected areas, to ensure that persons are able to sustain themselves while they recover from the effects of flooding.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle, on Tuesday, Regional Chairman of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), Ishan Ayube, said that authorities have fanned out to communities across the region, and have been actively monitoring the situation.

Additionally, with the foundation in place to tackle the situation effectively, the regional authorities are working on methods of intervention.

“Since last week, the RDC is out in the field. You have the engineers, the Regional Executive Officer (REO), the local government and the Regional Chairman.

We also had ministers on

the ground; we had Minister Deodat Indar [Minister within the Ministry of Public Works] and Minister Priya Manickchand [Education Minister], and today [Tuesday] we have Minister Nigel Dharamlall right now in Metem-Meer-Zorg, West, assessing the flood and at the same time making representation for some intervention,” Ayube said.

Further, he related: “Minister Manickchand had earlier visited Belle West, in the Canals and Good Fortuin.

Mr. Indar is in the area every day. This morning [Tuesday] we visit Belle West and Belle East, where we were able to give some hampers. Right now, we are distributing some hampers in Belle West but hampers will be distributed across the region [today] for other people who are badly affected. We are trying to give them some detergent and we will be giving them some food hampers also.”

Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, is also expected to pay a visit to the

region, since farmlands have also been affected by floods.

Like the rest of the country, the region is affected by flooding caused by heavy rainfall.

“We have several areas that have been flooded, for example, Belle East and Belle West have flooding, with the water reaching inside the lower flat of a lot of homes.

We have flooding in Goed Fortuin, at New Road Vreeden-Hoop, at High Park in Parika and flooding in the farmlands of both Canals One and Two. We have one and two other places with small flooding but those are the major areas,” Ayube related.

Aside from the government officials who are on the ground, Ayube said he is also heartened by the support that has been extended to the region by civil society organisations.

“We have a lot of movement in terms of a lot of persons in the field, and a lot of machines deployed across the region. Civil societies have been doing their part in

DDL donates $11.5M in relief items to flood-affected communities ONE of Guyana’s leading manufacturing companies, Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL), on Tuesday handed over $11.5 million worth of supplies to the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) and the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, as support for citizens currently affected by recent flooding caused by heavy rainfall.

The company’s donation to the CDC includes 1,000 cases of its bottled 20oz Diamond Mineral Water,

700 cases of 1.14 litres alcohol-based Environ sanitising cleaner, and 2,000 cases of TOPCO 1 litre juice.

Some 50 cases of Environ sanitising cleaner were also donated by DDL to the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security for its flood relief drive.

“DDL would like to be supportive of the many citizens who are affected by the heavy rains and flooding at this time. We hope that our contribution will help in some measure to alleviate

their pain and suffering at this difficult time.

“We stand ready and committed to supporting the CDC through their national efforts to provide much-needed aid to affected families,” Chairman of DDL, Komal Samaroo said in a statement on Tuesday.

The donation is intended to provide affected families with access to drinking water and sanitising agents, especially as the country is also grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic.

CDC Deputy Director-General, Major Loring Benons (left), with DDL Brand Manager, Larry Wills at the simple handing-over ceremony on Tuesday

whatever way they can lend support, whether its machine or whatever is within their ability or capacity they are lending the support,” Ayube said.

Notwithstanding the floods, Ayube noted that all of the necessary facilities in the region are working properly, and are being monitored.

“All the sluices are operable and in good condition.

All the pumps are working but we still need more pumps in vulnerable areas especially in the Tuschen-Uitvlugt NDC. We really need a pump in this NDC, because it has a lot of low-lying areas and there is only one sluice in this whole NDC, even though this NDC is densely populated.

So, it is difficult for us to service the whole NDC,” he said.

Regional Chairman of the RDC of Region Three, Ishan Ayube

16

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 2, 2021

Residents laud government’s intervention in flood-hit Region 5 -- Agri. Ministry works to source additional machines, pumps to aid relief efforts

RESIDENTS from several flood-affected areas in Region Five are lauding the efforts put forward by the government, thus far, to alleviate flooding as sections of the country continue to be affected.

According to a release,

during an outreach on Monday to several affected areas in the region, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar, Mustapha met with residents and assured them that government is working tirelessly to get the situation at hand under

control.

Krishendat Manickchand, a farmer from along the Mahaicony River, said that the efforts of the government have not gone unnoticed.

“I don’t think there’s a problem at the government

level. Initially, we’ve had excessive rainfall. The result of that is that we have flooding, and the result of the flooding is that persons have been losing crops and livestock. The government’s response so far is commendable. They’ve

been out meeting with residents across the country, sharing hampers and using excavators to help secure the existing infrastructure. As the tide rises, we are seeing more flooding. I know that they are under tremendous pressure because rain is falling all

and clearing drains that have been impeding the flow of water to the main channels.

The subject minister further explained that the Ministry is working aggressively to extend help to those who were affected. He also told residents that the immediate aim of the government was to ensure residents have food and that the water recedes.

Minister Mustapha examines a cassava a farmer brought out from his flooded farm in Big Baiaboo

across the country on a daily basis. The flooding cannot be seen as a human error,” Mr. Manickchand said.

While speaking with affected residents and farmers, Minister Mustapha reassured them that they would also benefit from the same amount of government relief being

“The purpose of these outreaches is to see what help we can extend to farmers and residents because many communities are flooded and farmers have lost both crops and livestock. Over the past three days, my officers and I have been visiting affected areas in Regions Six and

Some of the farmers who came out to meet with Minister Mustapha during the outreach to affected areas in Region Five

offered around the country.

“I know many of you would’ve lost cash crops and rice while others would’ve lost poultry or have animals in the savannahs that need food. The GLDA has been offering assistance to livestock farmers and today I want to make a commitment that you too will benefit from interventions like those. Persons who lost poultry and other small ruminants will also benefit from assistance after we conduct our assessments.

Our officers from NAREI and GRDB will also be conducting assessments once the waters recede and we will be assisting farmers with getting back to the field. We already have preliminary figures and will continue to monitor the situation in both the farming and residential communities,” Minister Mustapha said.

He also told residents that the NDIA is currently mobilising additional excavators to assist with building up dams

Five, extending assistance and making several interventions to get the water out of the communities as soon as possible. I’ve visited approximately 20 villages. Drains have been cleared, pumps have been installed, dams are being built up to assist with overtopping. Our engineers are also monitoring the situations at our pumps and sluices to ensure they are working at their full capacity. So far, those interventions have been welcomed by residents and we will continue to put systems in place to bring relief to those that are affected.

Some 95 per cent of the interventions made thus far are already in place,” Minister Mustapha said.

Some of the areas visited were Bara Bara, Abary, Pine Ground, Big Baiabo, and Broken Water Land.

He also plans to visit a number of other communities in other affected regions during the course of the week.

Health team on 3-day visit to the Pomeroon River GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 2, 2021

By Indrawattie Natram

REGIONAL Health Officer (RHO), Dr. Ranjeev Singh, on Tuesday, disclosed that a medical team and Environmental Health Officers are in the Pomeroon River conducting health assessments of the flood-affected communities.

They will be in the Pomeroon River from Tuesday to Thursday of this week. During the visit, they will further assess the flooding situation and provide advice and treat-

Regional Health Officer Dr. Ranjeev Singh

ment to those in need.

Dr. Singh said so far there are no reports of

any water-borne diseases; however, the Regional Health Services unit will remain vigilant and frequently visit Amerindian communities such as Kabakaburi, St Monica, and Karawab areas, where residents are most affected.

He said that Environmental Health Officers will be in the three communities to conduct health education talks on proper sanitation, how to treat water, and how to conduct foot baths. He said it is important for persons in flood-affected communities to use “chlorine” wa-

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ter as a way of sanitising.

Bottles of bleach will be distributed to residents to assist them to practise safe hygiene.

Meanwhile, the RHO assured that there is no shortage of drugs in the region and said residents living in the rural areas can visit the closest health centre to access medication. He also called on residents to ensure that they go to the health centre for ointments should they notice any rashes or skin infections. Dr. Singh urged parents to ensure that their children are not

exposed to floodwater since they could contract water-borne infections and diseases.

“With flooding, they might be water-borne diseases so we have to ensure that we educate our people on how they should practise good hygiene… we know we have water-borne diseases like leptospirosis and cholera so we have to protect ourselves,” he said.

Noting that it is the responsibility of the region’s health officials to protect citizens, he advised persons who are

experiencing vomiting or diarrhoea to visit the nearest health post.

“We want people to come forward and report if they have any disease or rashes because the water will have bacteria. You need to report it as fast as possible so we can contain same,” Dr. Singh said.

The RHO had accompanied a team to flooded parts of the P o m e ro o n R i v e r o n Sunday. He said they were able to gather firsthand information on the flooding situation.

Twins safely delivered via emergency One dead after tree falls C-section at Region Seven’s NICU on three men at Sandhill REGIONAL Health Officer of Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Dr. Edward Sagala, has expressed gratitude to the President, Dr. Irfaan Aliled government for ensuring that the region’s health unit is functioning properly, following the safe delivery of twins by emergency caesarean section (C-section).

Dr. Sagala said the babies were delivered on Tuesday, after their mother suffered a fall.

“Now, two healthy twin boys and both below 2,500 grams are safely here. We have a state-of-the-art Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) with trained staff,” Dr. Sagala said.

The NICU was commissioned under the pre-

Twin boys in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the Region Seven health unit (DPI photo)

vious administration and equipped through a partnership between the Health Ministry and Guyana Help the Kids Organisation.

Dr. Sagala said it had not been functioning to capacity because there was a shortage of supplies and critical equipment such

as the CPAP machine and ventilator.

“The NICU is now functional again, thanks to the much-appreciated efforts of Dr. Vishwa Mahadeo, whose efforts have also seen other departments functioning to capacity such as the X-ray unit and laboratory,” he said.

Dr. Sagala said that, in a week’s time, the CT scanner should be fully functional as well. To date, 15 neonates have since utilised the NICU. Also, two Bartica nurses, who have been trained, are also serving the unit. In the absence of a neonatologist, a Cuban paediatrician is in charge of the NICU. (DPI)

OLRICK Matthews, a miner of Port Kaituma, North West District, was killed after a tree fell on him and two of his colleagues while they were working at a mining site in Sandhill, Cuyuni River, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

Reports are that the three miners were working at the Sandhill site around 12:45 hours when it started to rain heavily. It is suspected that the heavy rain coupled with high winds caused the tree to fall, hitting the men who were working in the pit.

The injured men have been identified as 40-year-old Bryan Richard, a miner from a village along the Pomeroon River, and 49-year-old Edwin Garraway of Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank of Demerara.

After the tree fell, other workers rushed to the scene to render assistance, but upon reaching the spot, they observed that Matthews was motionless.

A report was made and Matthews was escorted to the Bartica Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival at 23:00 hours.

Garraway received a fractured left hand while Richard received lacerations to his forehead. Both men remain patients of the Bartica Regional Hospital, where they are receiving treatment.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 2, 2021

1,650 hampers distributed in flood-hit Pomeroon River -REO thankful for support from businesses

By Indrawattie Natram THE Region Two administration has successfully distributed 1,650 food hampers to flood–affected areas, and, as donations pour in, the business community is being lauded for its help thus far.

Regional Executive

have been affected by the flooding situation. Residents are hoping that they do not contract any water-borne diseases.

The REO said the regional administration is committed to the continued distribution of food hampers to the flooded areas in the

efitted from the hamper distribution exercise.

Meanwhile, the regional administration through the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) is ensuring that all 16 pumps in the region are functioning properly. The pumps are currently draining water

Hampers for residents of flood-affected communities in the Pomeroon River being packed into a pickup truck

regional administration, the water is receding slower than expected.

The high volume of water has resulted in approximately 980 cash crop farmers in the Pomeroon being affected.

According to the Re-

waited over two years to see some of their crops bear and now that the rain and the high tides have stepped in, it’s sad to see all the plants under water and there is nothing much we can do to help ourselves…I watched a farmer cry for her losses.

The GLDA is in the process of conducting an assessment of the losses suffered by the farmers.

This newspaper was told that one farmer has over 200 heads of sheep in the floodwater while another poultry farmer has

A resident collects a food hamper from Regional Chairperson Vilma De Silva and ViceChairman Humace Oodit.

Officer (REO), Devanand Ramdatt, told the Guyana Chronicle that rigorous efforts are being made to ensure that those who have been severely affected by the floodwater are provided with ration and cleaning supplies.

Food hampers were sent on Monday to the Karawab, an Amerindian community in the Pomeroon River, where hundreds of residents

Pomeroon River. He said that the hamper distribution is an ongoing effort by the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) and by extension the Government of Guyana.

He also said he admires the contribution from the business community which has donated items for the hampers. So far residents in the Pomeroon River, Charity, Dredge Creek, and Supenaam Creek have ben-

in flooded parts of the Essequibo Coast and in the Pomeroon River.

Reports emerging from the Pomeroon River revealed that residents particularly in the Karwab/St Monica areas remain under several feet of floodwater.

The last report received by the Guyana Chronicle was that the water was approximately 4 feet high and despite the efforts of the

Residents of Charity collecting hampers

Regional Chairperson, Vilma De Silva, helping to pack a boat bound for Karawab with hampers

gional Chairperson Vilma De Silva, the situation is heart-wrenching and it pains her to see her fellow Pomeroon farmers struggling. She said despite the private empoldering work done by the farmers, they continue to suffer due to the high intensity of rainfall, compounded with severe high tides.

De Silva told this publication that her farmland in the Pomeroon River is flooded. She said it hurts her heart to see her coconut plants in the floodwater.

“Many farmers have

She invested $1.5 million in her farm and all under water,” De Silva said.

The flooding situation has also affected livestock.

During an emergency stakeholders’ meeting held in the RDC boardroom on Monday, it was revealed by the Guyana Livestock Development Association (GLDA) that several cattle farmers were affected by the flooding. The meeting was also told that sheep and poultry farmers in the Pomeroon River are also counting their losses.

over 2,000 chickens in the floodwater.

Regional Vice-Chairman, Humace Oodit, during the meeting had said that various agencies, including the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), GLDA, and the National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (NARIE) are currently conducting assessments. Based on those assessments further recommendations will be made by the RDC.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 2, 2021

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Teen undergoes country’s first pediatric brain aneurysm surgery --expected to make full recovery

By Naomi Parris THIRTEEN-year-old Ty David is expected to make a full recovery after successfully undergoing the first-ever brain aneurysm surgery to be performed on a pediatric patient in Guyana.

T h e c o u n t r y ’s l o n e neurosurgeon, Dr. Amarnauth Dukhi performed the ground-breaking operation on the St. Rose’s High School student on Monday at the Woodlands Hospital. The teen is expected to be discharged from hospital today.

Recounting what occurred on May 18 when her son fell ill, Tonna David told reporters that Ty had always complained about severe headaches, but she’d put them down to nervousness and anxiety, since he was

Online school, and [I] think it was a combination of things… He had a presentation; he’s an introvert first and foremost, so I think he was probably camera shy to do his presentation. It might have been nervousness and anxiety,” Ty’s mom said.

Tonna related that her son later collapsed, and was rushed to the hospital where he was later diagnosed with a brain bleed.

During a press conference on Tuesday in the hospital’s boardroom, Dr. Dukhi explained that the “textbook-style surgery” which lasted for two hours will see the lad making a full recovery, and returning to his everyday lifestyle.

The doctor told reporters that the teen was admitted by the hospital’s pediatrician, and a CT scan which was

The teen’s mother, Tonna David; Neurosurgeon, Dr. Amarnauth Dukhi, and Dr. Neville Gobin, Management Consultant at Woodlands Hospital, during the press conference on Tuesday

preparing for a school presentation.

“He was normal on the morning of May 18; he had

later done discovered that he had an extensive bleed in his brain as a result of a rupture.

“I was called in to con-

sult on this patient on the same day (May 18th) after which a presumed diagnosis of brain aneurysm was done, based on the kind of bleed which is called a subarachnoid hemorrhage,” Dr. Dukhi explained.

He added that the child’s condition is something that is rarely seen in pediatric patients, and is oftentimes fatal, if not treated immediately.

“It is not initially something that you see in kids.

Further radiological studies were done, and that showed that this child has something that we call a brain aneurysm.

Now brain aneurysm is something that is more frequent in adults,” Dr. Dukhi said, adding: “Any brain aneurysm that is ruptured is considered to be an extremely, extremely critical patient… That patient cannot move; cannot travel.

They are going to have to be put away in a room that is extremely dark, and we did all of that.”

Given the severity of Ty’s condition, systems were put in place for the surgery to be done locally. According to Dr. Dukhi, this resulted in

Young Ty David

relatives having to worry less about finances, since the cost only amounted to 10% of what they would have had to pay, if the surgery was done overseas.

“It’s also important to note that these types of procedures in a foreign country will cost a patient about almost US$200,000 or more, and we were able to have everything done here for between 10 to 15% of that cost,” Dr. Dukhi said.

He disclosed that he and his colleagues were able to wash the blood out of the lad’s brain, and later prepare him for surgery.

The endovascular surgery that was done on the teen is a less invasive procedure, which is considered to be the toughest of neurosurgical procedures. Nevertheless, Dr. Dukhi expressed confidence that he will make a full recovery.

“The procedure went ex-

tremely well; I do not foresee any future complications, and he should be able to go back to normal, whatever he was doing as per normal, his routine daily activities, school, studying et cetera,” the doctor said.

Meanwhile, Tonna expressed her gratitude to Dr. Dukhi and his team. The elated woman said: “I just want to say thanks to God first and foremost. Also thanks to the Dr. Dukhi and the other neurologists at the clinic… I knew from the inception, and I had a lot of faith that this surgery would have been successful, and I never wavered or anything. And I just waiting for the good news right outside the theatre door.”

Dr. Neville Gobin, Management Consultant at Woodlands Hospital, expressed satisfaction that the procedure was successful, noting that the hospital invests heavily in modern equipment to bring the best healthcare to patients.

“We invested a lot in modern equipment so that we can bring the best healthcare at an affordable cost. We are happy that the procedure went well,” he said.

Authorities intensify efforts in flood-affected Kwakwani --as water levels continue to rise

PERSISTENT flooding in Kwakwani, Region Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice), has forced the local authorities to intensify the mobilisation of support for flood-affected residents in the area.

With water levels now rising above eight feet, several houses in the community of Kwakwani have been completely covered, leaving residents counting extensive loses.

According to one resident, Joycelyn Morian, the flood can easily be compared to a similar situation that occurred in the 50s or 60s, which saw the bauxite operation in the community moving to higher ground.

“In the 1950s, that would have been the worst, or just like we are experiencing right now. The flooding was so severe that the bauxite operation had to be relocated from where it was to where it is presently located in Kwakwani,” the Water Front resident said.

He further explained that

areas like Lamp Island and Water Front that are currently inundated were once mining grounds and swamps, but over the years, many persons started occupying lands in the area and constructing houses.

Morian told the Guyana Chronicle that the authorities back then had warned residents that torrential rainfall in those areas could result in severe flooding.

“That area where people are living right now, it is really swamp area, but because we haven’t had severe flooding like before, people start occupying; building up these areas and start living,” he related.

His concern now is what assistance will be given to residents of these areas when the flood waters recede.

“The question I will ask is: After the water recedes, what plan do we have in place, or what assistance will be given, where new lands can be cleared so that people can properly relocate?” Morian

said.

He further said that because of the land’s history, and water levels in the Berbice River, these communities will continue to suffer from floods whenever there is heavy rainfall.

“These areas will continue to flood because it is swamps; once you have heavy rains and the water cannot run off as fast as it should, people will be flooded out. So, people need to relocate,” Morian said, adding: “I would recommend that lands be cleared, and something be put in place so that people can relocate, because the place will continue to flood.”

Another resident, Kenrick Samuels, who owns and operates a welding shop in the community, said he has started making arrangements to secure work offered to him and his personal belongings.

Samuels related that the water in the area was rising quickly, and within a blink of an eye, his workshop was

A house in Kwakwani (RDC photo)

completely inundated.

The man said that the water level is so high now, that it has reached the top floor of his two-storey house.

“Right now, the water halfway to the house, and the workshop completely flood,” Samuels said.

The community’s Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC)’s Vice-Chairman, Cort Simeon said that besides interrupting their daily lives, the heavy rainfall and increased flooding have also seen residents having to battle with wild animals such snakes and other reptiles on a daily basis.

“We are seeing a lot of snakes coming out from dif-

ferent places; every day we killing snakes,” Simeon said.

He said, too, that limited transportation has become an issue now, since everyone is forced to travel by speed boat, which is very costly.

“It’s expensive now to move, because every time you take a boat from here to somewhere they [boat operators] charging $500. Depending on who come for you, if you get a friend, you pay them $300,” the Vice-Chairman related.

Simeon said that several persons are currently making preparations to evacuate their homes and move to higher ground.

Public Works Minister

Juan Edghill visited Region Ten on Monday to aid in the distribution of hampers to flood-affected residents. Several boats from various communities picked up the relief packages for distribution in their respective communities.

Region Ten officials also visited several communities in Linden affected by the flood on Monday, to get a first-hand understanding of the impact the flood has been having there.

While there, they also distributed relief packages to persons who were affected.

A team which was led by Vice-Chairman of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region Ten, Douglas Gittens, fanned out to areas that have been severely affected.

According to the RDC, the effort comes on the heels of the recent provision of hampers and other supplies by the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) and the President in the wake of the initial response by councillors on the ground and the RDC’s appeals for same.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 2, 2021

Over 15,000 flood-relief hampers distributed countrywide

THE Civil Defence Commission (CDC) has distributed more than 15,000 hampers to nine regions affected by flooding caused by torrential rainfall.

Speaking with the Department of Public Information (DPI), CDC’s Director-General, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig, said hampers will be distributed to those most in

need, particularly those isolated because of the flood.

“Approximately 7,000 in cleaning hampers and another 8,000 in food hampers… most of those hampers were given

directly to the Regional Democratic Councils based on their assessment and identification of worst impacted areas. And they will now distribute to the various communities and the

Flooding in Region Six (DPI photo)

residents in the areas,” he said.

The CDC head said the hampers are only for persons who are severely impacted by the floods.

“Where you have water accumulation in your home for a prolonged period or if your farms are severely affected and you depend on your farm for your daily living, those people will be given priority.

“We also have a policy especially if water accumulated over a long period to also give cleaning and sanitation hampers to help clean your homes and to help protect the area, to keep away insects, snakes, et cetera. And there is also bleach that can be used in the water to purify the water because a lot of the water at this time can become contaminated,” the Director-General said.

Over 1,000 hampers have been delivered to affected persons in Region Two and more than 800 hampers have been distributed in Region Five.

Additionally, almost 4,000 hampers were sent to Regions Six, Nine and Ten. “We continue to pack hampers. As a matter of fact, we have a system where hampers are being packed almost on a 24-hour basis and those hampers will be dispatched and sent to the different regions, based on the impact

assessment provided and the level of impact in the communities. So, we are packing both cleaning and food hampers to distribute to those regions,” Craig related.

The most affected regions are Regions Two, Six, Seven, Nine and Ten. There are already three shelters in Region Nine and two in Region Ten, at the Kwakwani Primary and Secondary schools.

“The worst affected, in terms of water level impact, is Region Ten, where you have, in the Kwakwani area, all those communities along the river: Bamboo Landing, Lamp Island, water level there is six-feet and even more,” the Director-General said.

Craig said it is unlikely that there will be more severe floods, especially along the coastland, as there is no alert for above normal high tide. He said the non-gravity drainage systems such as the kokers, pumps and sluices, must be maximised during this time, to ensure there is little to no flooding.

As the rainy season continues, the Director-General urged persons to be vigilant and to avoid the flood waters. Persons affected by flooding are asked to contact the CDC on telephone numbers 226-1027 or 600-7500 (WhatsApp). (DPI)

Curfew remains in place THE Government of Guyana has extended the national curfew to June 30, with the lockdown hours in effect from 10:30 hours to 04:00 hours, along with restrictions on social activities and other measures.

On Monday, the Ministry of Health and National COVID-19 Task Force issued the gazetted COVID-19 measures for the new month.

People are still required to wear masks while in public spaces, and the measures also stipulate that all gatherings are limited to no more than ten persons, while social activities are also prohibited. Recreational activities at rivers, creeks, beaches, swimming pools, and internal waters remain prohibited.

However, physical exercise is permitted in parks, on roads, seawalls, beaches and near rivers and creeks, where persons can be safely distanced six feet from each other.

The measures also state that no person shall visit or be permitted to visit any place of quarantine or an isolation facility or prison or correctional facility. Persons are not allowed to visit a patient in a hospital, nursing home, senior citizens’ home or any other care facility.

Meanwhile, places of worship, gyms, fitness centres, and restaurants (indoor and outdoor dining) can operate at limited capacity. (DPI)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 2, 2021

Ancelotti leaves Everton for Real Madrid (BBC) - Carlo Ancelotti has left Everton to become head coach of Real Madrid for a second time.

The 61-year-old Italian, who managed Real Madrid for two years between 2013 and 2015, has left Everton after 18 months in charge at Goodison Park.

He succeeds Zinedine Zidane at Real and the move leaves Everton searching for a sixth permanent manager in five years.

Ancelotti has signed a three-year deal at Real and said the move represented "an unexpected opportunity".

He added: "I have complete respect for everyone associated with Everton and hope they can achieve the exciting opportunities they have in front of them.

"While I have enjoyed

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Carlo Ancelotti led Everton to a 10th-place finish in his only full season in charge.

being at Everton I have been presented with an unexpected opportunity which I believe is the right move for me and my family at this time."

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24 hours as owner Farhad Moshiri's ‘Hollywood’ manager leaves.

Ancelotti's arrival was regarded as a real coup by Moshiri, persuading one of the game's most decorated and respected figures to come to Merseyside to restore Everton to former glories.

The 61-year-old's reign has been a mixed bag with dreadful home form balanced out by results like their first win over Liverpool at Anfield since 1999 - but ultimately a 10th-place finish in his first full season was a disappointment.

Ancelotti, however, was still held in huge regard by Everton supporters, who have been left bitterly disappointed by his decision to depart.

The brutal truth is that for all Moshiri's finance and

ambition, Everton still cannot regard themselves as anywhere near the elite, which always makes them vulnerable to clubs such as Real Madrid setting sights on their prized assets The usual suspects are being linked, such as Eddie Howe after he turned down Celtic, former Wolves

boss Nuno Espirito Santo and ex-Everton boss David Moyes - although that is unlikely to happen after he verbally agreed a three-year deal at West Ham after taking them into Europe. Moshiri, though, is something of a wildcard and may have ideas of his own.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Wednesday June 02, 2021)

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(2) Which IND wicketkeeper has effected most Test dismissals against the WI to date?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 2, 2021

Shakib to miss IPL resumption over NOC (ESPNCRICINFO) Shakib Al Hasan will not get a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the BCB to take part in the remainder of IPL 2021 for Kolkata Knight Riders, most likely to be held in September-Oc-

tober this year.

Board president Nazmul Hassan has pointed to Bangladesh's busy international schedule in that period in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup, which is scheduled for India in October-November,

but could well be shifted to the UAE keeping in mind the COVID-19 situation in India.

"Given our schedule, it is almost impossible (for Shakib) to get the NOC. I don't see any possibilities or any opportunity. The World

Bangladesh want Shakib Al Hasan to be with the team in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup. (BCCI)

Cup is coming up, which makes every game important for us," Hassan told Ekattor TV on Sunday.

Mustafizur Rahman, the only other Bangladeshi in the IPL - for the Rajasthan Royals - is also unlikely to get an NOC, given his importance in Bangladesh's white-ball

plans.

After touring Zimbabwe for a Test, three ODIs and three T20Is in June-July, Bangladesh will take on Australia in five T20Is at home in July-August, and both New Zealand (three T20Is) and England (three ODIs and three T20Is) are expected to

tour Bangladesh after that for white-ball matches in the lead-up to the World Cup. Akram Khan, BCB's cricket operations chairman, stressed that keeping in mind all these matches, especially the England series - where the ODIs will be a part of the World Cup Super League it was important for all the players to train and play together.

"We have to consider the team training together," he said. "We want to go into the England series with full strength. Both the ODI Super League and the World Cup T20 are important to us."

Shakib was involved in a tussle with the BCB in March after he accused the board of "misrepresenting" his letter requesting an NOC to play in the IPL. In response, the BCB threatened to revoke his NOC, but ended up granting it.

Shakib had missed the New Zealand tour in March this year because of a thigh injury and later opted out of the two-match Test series in Sri Lanka to play in the IPL. He has since skipped the PSL, opting to play in the Dhaka Premier League T20s instead.

South Africa squad arrives in St. Lucia CMC – South Africa touched down here Tuesday for the two-Test series against West Indies starting next week, marking only the second international series in the Caribbean since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The squad, who will also play five Twenty20 Internationals in Grenada, will now undergo three days of quarantine and must return two negative PCR tests before being allowed to train.

Following quarantine, the squad is expected to play a two-day practice match in preparation for the first Test which gets underay on June 10 at the Daren Sammy National Stadium.

The 19-man Test squad is being led by Dean Elgar for the first time while Temba Bavuma, the first Black African to make a Test hundred for South Africa, has taken charge of the white-

ball unit.

Selectors have named six uncapped players in the Test squad with Prenelan Subrayen, Lizaad Williams Kyle Verreynne, Keegan Petersen, Sarel Erwee and Marco Jansen, all newcomers.

Neither superstar AB de Villiers nor former Test skipper Faf du Plessis, both experienced campaigners, were selected for the trip.

On South Africa’s last Test tour of the Caribbean in 2010, Graeme Smith’s side beat the hosts 2-0 in a threeTest series, winning at Port of Spain and Bridgetown.

Meanwhile, a West Indies 30-man squad have been training here for nearly three weeks and currently mid-way through a four-day match, from which the final Test squad will be chosen.

The series between West Indies and South Africa was scheduled to be staged last year but was scrapped –

along with the entire home schedule – after the outbreak of COVID-19 which also forced a global cessation of the game.

Like the Sri Lanka series in March, the series will be staged behind closed doors and under strict health protocols, as has become the norm during the pandemic.

The second Test will also be played at the Daren Sammy National Stadium starting June 18 before Grenada’s National Stadium hosts the T20 series from June 26 to July 3.

South Africa’s tour will kick off a busy period for West Indies where they also host Australia in five T20Is here and in three One-Day Internationals in Barbados from July 9-24, before welcoming Pakistan for five T20Is in Barbados and Guyana, along with two Tests in Jamaica, from July 27 to August 4.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 2, 2021

NSC holds first meeting with Minister Ramson

… Minister instils Government’s position for development of sports THE six-member National Sports Commission (NSC), along with Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle, yesterday met with Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr. It was the minister’s first meeting with the commission, which is chaired by

Kashif Muhammad, since the appointment of the country's new Director of Sport.

According to information reaching Chronicle Sport, the minister provided the commission with the Government of Guyana's vision for sports, while sharing his own.

Apart from Muhammad, the commission includes Lawn Tennis Association president Cristy Campbell, Chartered Accountant Chateram Ramdihal, Guyana Hockey Board president Philip Fernandes and Dellon Davidson.

Root wants England ‘show’ (BBC) - Captain Joe Root wants England to put on a show for the Lord's fans during the first Test against New Zealand.

Today will see Root's side play in front of a home crowd for the first time since 2019 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

"As a kid growing up, going to those games meant a huge amount to me," said Root.

"It will be great to have fans and that atmosphere back. To see people enjoying our sport again, live."

The Lord's capacity has been capped at 25%, meaning about 7 500 fans can be in attendance each day for the first international cricket of the summer.

Root confirmed that Gloucestershire's James Bracey will make his Test debut, keeping wicket and batting at number seven.

In the absence of the injured Ben Stokes, Stuart Broad will fill-in as vice-captain - a contrast to last summer, when the pace bowler was left out of the first Test against West Indies.

With Broad certain to play, England now must decide on the rest of what will be a four-man attack.

They might opt to leave out Jack Leach and do without a specialist spinner. If Leach plays, there will be only two pace-bowling spots for James Anderson, Mark

Wood, Olly Stone, Craig Overton and the uncapped Ollie Robinson.

As well as Stokes, Jofra Archer is sidelined after elbow surgery, while Jos Buttler is rested following his stint at the Indian Premier League (IPL).

ASHES PLANNING 'IN THE BACKGROUND' England's Test summer consists of two matches against New Zealand and five against India, the number-two and number-one ranked sides in the world respectively.

This winter, they attempt to regain the Ashes in Australia, a series that Root describes as "iconic, one that holds so much weight".

However, Root was adamant that planning for the trip Down Under is "in the background", with preparations for Australia bestserved by beating New Zealand and India.

"There will constantly be conversations about Australia throughout this whole summer. There's no getting away from that," said 30-year-old Root.

"How we are best going to prepare for that is by performing well in these seven Test matches."

Black Caps return to the scene of World Cup agony New Zealand follow the series against England with the World Test Championship final against India in

Southampton.

With the exception of pace bowler Trent Boult, who does not arrive in the UK until Friday, they are at full strength.

They won their last Test in England to earn 1-1 draw in 2015, but were winless in their previous nine and have not tasted a series victory since 1999.

Not only that, but this week marks their first return to Lord's since the astonishing 2019 World Cup final, when they were beaten by England on boundaries when the scores were tied after 50 overs and a super over.

Six members of the Black Caps' squad played in the final, compared to only two from England - Root and Wood.

However, visiting captain Kane Williamson says his side have had no thoughts of "owing" some revenge to England.

"To have been involved in that match and some of the controversies that surrounded it, the drama, and all of the things that come with the fine margins that we saw in that game, you do look back fondly," he said.

"There's been some time since that day. It was a fantastic game that was decided by things largely out of both teams' control.

"The guys are really excited to be back here.

We're looking forward to the next challenge."

Nadal; Djokovic move into next rounds (BBC) - Third seed Rafael Nadal began his bid for a 21st Grand Slam men's singles title with a straightset win against Australia's Alexei Popyrin.

The 34-year-old Spaniard, going for a record-extending 14th triumph at Roland Garros, won 6-3 6-2 7-6 (7-3).

Serbian top seed Novak Djokovic also eased through to round two, beating American Tennys Sandgren 6-2 6-4 6-2.

Russian seventh seed Andrey Rublev is out after losing in five sets to German world number 42 Jan-Lennard Struff.

Rublev's defeat means there is one fewer obstacle for Nadal in his side of the draw as the Spaniard seeks to set an outright record for major men's singles titles - a milestone he shares with Roger

Federer at present.

The Russian was the highest seed behind Nadal in their quarter, with the pair projected to meet in the last eight.

With the seedings based on the world rankings, Nadal is third behind Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev this year and has been landed with a potentially tricky draw.

For the first time, Nadal has found himself in the same half of the draw as Djokovic and Switzerland's Federer, who looked impressive on his return to Grand Slam tennis after a 16-month injury lay-off.

"I am here to try my best, and when you are the third seed, you know that you're going to have the chance to be in the same part of the draw as the number one or the number two," said Nadal.

"This time I was in the part of the draw with the number one. But there still remains a lot for me to do before thinking about the semi-finals.

"I have won my first match, something that I'm happy with and I'm focused on the second one. That's it.

The other stuff doesn't worry me much now."

A bright evening under the lights for Djokovic Djokovic lost to Nadal in last year's final but his return to Court Philippe Chatrier for Tuesday's night session was much more straightforward.

The 18-time major champion warmed up by winning a clay-court title in his hometown of Belgrade last week and started sharply against 66th-ranked Sandgren, who only has one Roland Garros win to his name.

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RHTYSC, Dave West Indian Imports seal sponsorship deal

… CEO Narine given Dolphin Award of Excellence DAVE'S West Indian Imports recently became the premier sponsor of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTYSC) and its CEO Dave Narine was inducted as one of the club's honorary members.

During this past weekend's proceedings held at the St Francis Community Centre Training Hall in the Ancient County, Narine, a long-serving cricket stakeholder and sponsor, received

RHTYSC's highest accolade, the Dolphin Award of Excellence.

RHTYSC Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster noted that Narine and the club have established a close working relationship and the businessman was excited to be on board with Guyana’s leading youth and youth organisation.

Ex-national female youth player Oma Matadin inducted Narine as an honorary member of the club.

RHTYSC secretary and Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) president Foster recognised Narine as a huge contributor to local cricket development, having flag-shipped the GCB U-15 tournament over the years and as the primary sponsor in other areas of cricket development.

Meanwhile, Narine, following his induction, presented the RHTYSC with a sponsorship cheque worth $350,000.

Hope eager to return to Test squad (CMC) – Shai Hope said Monday he was “very eager” to return to the Test squad after carving out a stroke-filled half-century on the opening day of an West Indies inter-squad four-day match.

The right-hander, who was axed following the tour of England last July, after a protracted run of lean form hit 79 off 88 deliveries with 13 fours and two sixes at the top of the order to grab the attention of selectors.

And with opening partner John Campbell failing with 20, there is now heightened speculation the 27-year-old could return for the two-Test series against South Africa here next month.

“This (match) is very important. As a batsmen, as a cricketer you always want to perform whenever you get the opportunity to play and in this instance, I am trying to be as consistent as I can be especially in a situation where there is the best redball players in the Caribbean,” Hope said following the day’s play at the Darren Sammy National Stadium.

“I’m just trying to make sure I can prove my point, if there is a point to be proven, and just continue doing what I can do.”

Hope has scored heavily in the opening position in One-Day Internationals where he currently averages 53 from 81 matches and an incredible 61 from 37 matches over the last 2-½ years.

In direct contrast, however, the Barbadian is averaging a meagre 19 from his last 17 Tests, and averages 26 overall from 34 matches.

Any route back to the Test squad will likely come

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 2, 2021

ICC increases World Cup team count to fourteen (ESPNCRICINFO) - The 2027 men's ODI World Cup will feature 14 teams after the ICC Board decided to expand the quadrennial tournament in its next cycle of events.

The decision came after a meeting yesterday amid a raft of significant changes to the ICC events calendar from 2023 to 2031, including an expanded, 20-team men's T20 World Cup - to be held every two years - and a return of the 50-over Champions Trophy.

The Champions Trophy

second cycle will commence immediately after the title clash.

The most significant development, however, is the expansion to the 2027 and 2031 ODI World Cups, which will now feature 54 matches each. Calls for a bigger World Cup never stopped since they began after it was decided that participation would be reduced to 10 teams after the 2015 edition.

As it stands now - and cricket has flip-flopped often on the size of its premier

tournament, and a further two teams decided through a qualifier involving the bottom five sides of the league and the top five Associate sides.

The T20 World Cup, which the ICC sees as its vehicle to expanding the game, will see 20 teams spread across four groups of five each with the top two entering the Super Eights stage. The knockouts, including the semi-finals and a final, follow. The T20 World Cups, scheduled for 2024, 2026, 2028, and 2030, will

West Indies batsman Shai Hope

through the opening slot and Hope said he foresaw no major challenges in approach to batting in the position in the longest format.

“Everything still applies.

Still have to play the ball on merit,” he explained. “(It) depends on how the surface is playing and how the bowlers are bowling but the same thing applies – play the ball on merit.”

Hope was sidelined at the start of the year after contracting the COVID-19 virus, forcing him to miss most of Barbados Pride’s campaign in the Super50 Cup. His return for the latter stages saw him stroke two half-centuries in three appearances and he subsequently reeled off a hundred, and two fifties, in the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka last March.

Another half-century in a two-day match against the tourists meant Hope has now scored a half-century or more in his last seven innings.

With the COVID-19 pandemic restricting the amount of competitive cricket being played in the region since the outbreak of the virus last year March, Hope said the fourday match had much value attached.

“It’s just nice to get back out there (and) have a decent enough hit,” said Hope, who famously hit hundreds in both innings of the Leeds second Test four years ago to secure a magnificent West Indies last day victory. “(I) haven’t been playing the amount of cricket that I would’ve liked in the last couple months, probably to a year, so it was just nice to get back out there and do what you love.

“It’s a different format, a different type of cricket that we’re playing so it’s just nice to get some time under my belt and time in the middle. Hopefully I can continue learning and improving my game as it goes along.”

The ICC's next commercial cycle will commence after the 2023 ODI World Cup and stretch until 2031. (Getty Images)

will return as it left in 2017, an event for the top eight ODI teams, and will take place first in 2025 and again in 2029.

The ICC Board also decided to continue with the format for the World Test Championship (WTC) with nine teams playing six series each to compete in the final every two years: those will be held in 2025, 2027, 2029 and 2031.

The inaugural edition of the WTC will culminate in the final between India and New Zealand from June 18-22 in Southampton. The

event - the 2023 World Cup, in India, will be the last for at least a decade to feature 10 teams.

And there will be a return to the 2003 edition with a Super 6 stage, into which the top three teams from two groups of seven will proceed.

That will be followed by semi-finals and the final.

What this expansion will mean for the 13-team ODI Super League is not clear. At the moment the league is the pathway into the World Cup, the top eight-ranked teams in the league going through automatically to the 2023

comprise 55 matches each.

The Champions Trophy will retain the same format as in the past with eight teams split across two groups of four, and the top two sides from each group making the semi-finals followed by the final.

"Having the ICC event schedule confirmed through to 2031 is a significant step forward for cricket and will form the basis of our growth strategy for the next decade," Geoff Allardice, the ICC acting chief executive officer, said in a media release yesterday.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 2, 2021

GCB reschedules Under-19 one-day 50-over franchise tournament THE first round of the inaugural Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Under-19 one-day 50 overs franchise tournament which was severely affected by rain has been rescheduled to Friday June 4, 2021 from 09:30hrs.

All matches to be played in the tournament are scheduled for the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, and have been realised through GCB’s partnership with General Marine, Tropical Spring, 4R Bearings and Trophy Stall.

The tournament comprises three teams, namely Falcons, Eagles and Amazon Hawks, to be captained

by Matthew Nandu, Zeynul Ramsammy and Marvan Prasad respectively.

As a result of the rescheduled first-round match between Falcons and Eagles, Eagles’ second round win over Amazon Hawks places

them at the top of the table with 8 points.

In the meanwhile, Amazon Hawks sit quietly in the cellar position, awaiting their second and final round match against Falcons.

This match is scheduled for Saturday June 5, 2021.

Indicating their decision to provide additional funding for the rescheduled first round match, the sponsors collectively expressed their satisfaction with the concept of the Under-19 Franchise tournament as well as the enthusiasm and commitment shown by the players and their belief that their investment is going towards a worthy cause.

The sponsors feel that the Under-19 players are at an important stage in their cricket development. They indicated that the current Under-19 tournament structure will help to adequately pre-

pare the players for the progressive stages of West Indies Under-19, Guyana Senior and West Indies Senior teams.

The supportive environment which they seek to provide is necessary for the growth and development of Guyana. They encouraged the GCB to continue to build partnerships with the private business and to use the Livestream system to facilitate private business advertisements at reasonable prices.

Based on feedback from family members, and with the current COVID-19 situation, a number of persons are likely to tune into the Livestream with commentary feed on YouTube and Facebook.

This feature will now be enhanced by employing the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph’s high-speed Fibre Optic Internet Service. The sponsors concluded that with

this sort of player development approach, Guyana and West Indies cricket will have a bright future.

The tournament began on Saturday May 29, 2021, with Falcons taking on Eagles, but was heavily affected by persistent rainfall, and was eventually abandoned.

On Sunday May 30, 2021, although there was torrential rainfall until 11:00hrs, play was possible in the scheduled one-day 50 Overs match between Eagles and Amazon Hawks. It was reduced to 27 overs-a-side, and Eagles emerged the winners.

The remaining matches for the tournament will be played on Friday June 4, 2021, with the rescheduled match between Falcons and Eagles. On Saturday June 5, 2021 the Amazon Hawks will challenge Falcons. Both matches begin at 09:30hrs.

GCB trusts that this tournament will help to give the U-19 players an opportunity to be selected in the CWI U-19 preparatory activities for the 2022 World Cup. GCB has arranged for an additional match to be played upon conclusion of the tournament on Sunday June 6, 2021 to involve the best performers from the tournament.

All matches will commence at 10:00hrs. The link for the livestream will be provided later.

The teams are: Falcons Matthew Nandu (c), Sheldon Charles, Sarwan Chaitnarine, Tomani Ceasar, Jason Holder, Addul Ramsammy, Jeremy Sandia, Andre Seepersaud (vc), Brandon Jaikaran, Wazim Mohamed, Pavindra Ganesh, Rudranauth Kissoon, Ajay Gainda,

Manager: Yeuraj Khemraj, Coach: Julian Moore.

Eagles Zeynul Ramsammy (c), Ricardo Ramdehol Mavendra Dindyal (vc), Oren Gibson, Isai Thorne, Romal Hubbard, Chanderpaul Ramraj Jonathan Rampersaud. Aryan Persaud Daniel Mootoo, Chatram Balgobin, Nicko Vincent, Anthony Khan, Alvin Mohabir, Manager: Kumar Bissoondial.

Coach: Orin Bailey.

Amazon Hawks Marvan Prashad (c), Rampertab Ramnauth, Ushardeva Balgobin, Shamar Yearwood, Trevon Charles, Thaddius Lovell, Gourav Ramesh, Leon Cecil, Zachary Jodah (vc), Collis Noble, Niran Bissu, Anthony Williams Jadesh Dowlatram. Manager: Shaun Massiah. Coach: Winston Smith

UFC fighter Lawrence holds Four Guyanese cyclists to compete in U.S. Armed sessions on vacation Forces Cycling Classic FOUR of Guyana’s top cyclists will compete in this weekend’s 2021 Armed Forces Cycling Classic, which is billed to take place in Arlington County, Virginia, USA. Of the lot, Raynauth Jeffrey, Jamual John and Michael Anthony will be grouped in a six-member CRCA/Foundation CCB Elite team, while the 2021 National Cycling Road Race champion Romello Crawford will compete in a five-member CRCA/ Jamison Cannondale squad.

The cyclists will battle in a six-corner Crystal Cup criterium on Saturday, which will span one hour 30 minutes.

On Sunday they will race off in a 100-lap (62mile) battle for the Claren-

don Cup. According to Cycling Virginia website, “The Armed Forces Cycling Classic Clarendon Cup has been the Washington DC region’s premier Pro/ Am races since 1998. The race showcases a form of cycling involving a series of high-speed bike races that take place on a 1km course on city streets.”

The Clarendon Cup, according to the site, is known as one of the most difficult criterium races in the U.S. due to technical demands of the course and the quality of the participants.

The U.S.-based Jeffrey and John (who travel to and from New York) were instrumental in last month’s Independence Three-Stage Race with

both of them winning a stage and John finishing second overall.

Jeffrey also cemented himself as one of Guyana’s top time-trial cyclists, with another win at the National Championships two Saturdays ago.

Crawford, on the other hand, participated in last Sunday’s 100-miler and won the controversial event. He was adjudged the winner after Briton John was relegated to fourth position due to a lane infraction on the finish line.

Meanwhile yesterday the Foundation Cycling Club in New York announced that John and Anthony would be a part of their 2021 development programme run by Ralph Pahlmeyer.

UFC fighter Ronnie Lawrence is in Guyana on vacation, and held a few sessions with renowned Judoka, Bruce Fraser, at his Phoenix MMA and Jiu-Jitsu Academy.

Fraser is a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and a 4th degree black belt in Judo.

Lawrence is among UFC’s most feared fighters, particularly in the bantamweight division. Of his 11 MMA fights, his only defeat came against Steve Garcia.

Berbician Carlston Harris is the first, and so far, the only Guyanese fighter in the UFC. Harris made his UFC debut on May 8, when he defeated Christian Aguilera in the first round via Technical Submission (Anaconda Choke).

Harris’ record in MMA stands at 16 wins, four losses. His last defeat came against Jarrah Hussein Al-Silawi in 2018.

The Guyana Mixed Martial Arts Federation (GMMAF), headed by Gavin Singh, was recently accepted into the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation.

UFC fighter Ronnie Lawrence (left) and local Judoka, Bruce Fraser

From left: Philip Fernandes, Melissa Dow-Richardson, Kashif Muhammad, Hon. Charles Ramson MP, Cristy Campbell, Steve Ninvalle, Chateram Ramdihal and Dellon Davidson.

NSC holds first meeting with Minister Ramson

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… Minister instils Government’s position for development of sports

RHTYSC, Dave West Indian Imports seal sponsorship deal

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… CEO Narine given Dolphin Award of Excellence

Four Guyanese cyclists to compete in U.S. Armed Forces Cycling Classic

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RHTYSC Assistant Secretary/CEO Simon Naidu accepts the sponsorship from CEO of Dave’s West Indian Imports Dave Narine.

South Africa squad 32 arrives in St. Lucia PAGE

Jamual John is a former National Road Race champion.

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Raynauth Jeffrey is a US-based Foundation club cyclist.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2, 2021