Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 02-12-2021

THURSDAY 2nd December, 2021

No. 106563

Guyana, Trinidad must ‘marry’ competitive advantage to create opportunities - President Ali tells T&T’s Manufacturers’ Association

Miracle baby ‘Javarious’ Man gets 12 delivered at Suddie Hospital years for 2013 Mash Day killing of businessman

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94 per cent of persons living with HIV aware of status

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GECOM narrows list down to Harrow, Persaud for CEO position SEE PAGE

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Healthcare workers with the mother and Baby Javarious

Former GECOM DCEO, Vishnu Persaud

Jamaican elections official, Leslie Harrow

Guyana confirms detection of Delta variant

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Miracle baby ‘Javarious’ delivered at Suddie Hospital

A 31-year-old mother of Good Hope, Region Two, is in loud praise to the doctors, nurses, and midwives of the Suddie Public Hospital for ensuring that her baby is safe and healthy.

Annecia George delivered a baby at 26 weeks on September, 24, 2021.

The baby weighs only 920

grammes and had to receive medical attention for two months.

The baby was discharged healthy without any complications. George said during her son’s stay at the hospital, quality care was given to her and the baby at the Obstetrics and Paediatrics wards. The mother said that she is hap-

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 2, 2021

py to deliver her first child.

“The first pregnancy, I had a miscarriage. I got pregnant again and when I delivered the baby I was so scared that anything happened because it was before the due date and below 1,000g. I am so happy my son is healthy,” George said.

She described her son

Annecia George with nurses, doctors and midwives at the Suddie Public Hospital

as a “miracle baby” since she had doubts about having delivered a baby less than 1000g. The mother said most times baby delivered below 1000g

seldom survive. George has named the baby “Javarious”, which she said means strength.

Regional Health Officer, Dr. Ranjeev Singh,

congratulated the parents and thanked all the health-care workers who worked to ensure the baby was given the necessary neonatal care.

Healthcare workers with the mother and Baby Javarious

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 2, 2021

Guyana, Trinidad must ‘marry’ competitive advantage to create opportunities

- President Ali tells T&T’s Manufacturers’ Association - advises stakeholders that imprudent regional trade barriers could be removed through capacity building PRESIDENT Dr. Irfaan Ali has said that Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago should ‘marry’ their competitive advantage in developing industries to create opportunities for both countries’ manufacturing and services sectors.

The President delivered an enthralling address at the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association (TTMA) President’s Dinner and Awards Ceremony on Tuesday evening, where he lobbied for members and stakeholders of the CARICOM region to see their economic space operating as one.

President Ali, who focused on intra-regional food trade, also highlighted the glaring disparity in the import and export of food regionally and again lobbied for more to be done to lessen the importation bills.

He said that there are numerous products that could be produced in the region using home-grown or homemade materials and

resources.

To this end, Dr. Ali related: “There are many areas we can have import substitution. Why is it not happening? If you look at the possibilities for Guyana and Trinidad—you have betterdeveloped port facilities, low cost of energy and location advantages. We have strong bilateral co-operation.

We have cross-border investment arrangements.”

Manufactured goods, he said, is being imported seven times more than it is being exported, despite there being countries in the region with abundant natural resources and energy costs that are on par with developed nations.

“We cannot move forward reasonably as a people; we cannot move forward reasonably as a collective if we are not willing to act in a selfless manner. The opportunities will slip by… I have the barriers by country, I have the impediments to trade by country for exports and imports and some of this is nonsensical.

“Some of these barriers that are imposed can be withdrawn overnight if you are serious about building capacity and opening up opportunities,” Dr. Ali reasoned.

Enhanced regional integration is needed now more than ever given the supply chain crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic, which has resulted in shortages and rising inflation on goods and services.

“That is why we have to wrap ourselves around a common objective to see our operating space as one and remove those barriers that have kept back the food production system. And those barriers have been nothing but a hindrance to our countries in the region.

If we are not prepared to do this—then we are not serious,” Dr. Ali posited.

GUYANA’S COMMITMENT President Ali also took the opportunity to provide an update on several projects that his government has em-

President Dr. Irfaan Ali barked upon in keeping with ourselves totally to CARIits development trajectory.

COM. I’ve said on more The President focused than one occasion that the particularly on the develop- prosperity of Guyana is goment and diversification of ing to be the prosperity of the country’s agriculture CARICOM. We take our sector and other non-oil responsibility in CARICOM sectors. seriously,” Dr. Ali said.

“It is important to note He added that the govtoo that we have committed ernment has been proactive-

ly expanding infrastructure, which includes constructing new farm-to-market access roads, new drainage and irrigation systems, while it has also made investments in smart and resilient agriculture and major facilities to create an enabling environment for investors.

The President related that the development of Guyana will stimulate manufacturing and industrial development in the region.

He said that this will be done through greater private sector partnerships.

Speaking about the government’s agenda, Dr. Ali said: “As a Government, we have made it very clear that the achievement of all our targets, the achievement of all of these lofty ideas and vision must come with great partnership with the people of our country and the people of this region. And we have committed ourselves to working with every stakeholder.”

GECOM narrows list down to Harrow, Persaud for CEO position THE race to name Guyana’s next Chief Elections Officer (CEO) was narrowed down to two candidates as Vishnu Persaud and Leslie Harrow, both with experience in electoral bodies, have been named as the final two top candidates by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) following its meeting last Wednesday.

GECOM Commissioner Sase Gunraj told the Guyana Chronicle yesterday that the interviews will be done on Monday. Persaud and Harrow have survived a revision by the statutory body of an initial shortlist of six candidates.

That shortlist, published by this newspaper last week, was created from submissions from GECOM representatives for the governing People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and the parliamentary opposition A Partnership for National

Former GECOM DCEO, Vishnu Persaud Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC).

The full list included Aneal Giddings, Eugene Petty, Kurt Clarke, and Deodat Persaud who have all been eliminated from this revised shortlist.

According to Gunraj, the Commission was focused on the candidates with both

technical and academic experience. The statutory body will meet on Thursday to finalise the evaluation criteria to be used in the interview process.

Vishnu Persaud Persaud served as GECOM’s Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO) during the time of GECOM Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally. However, upon Surujbally’s departure from the Commission, Persaud encountered challenges which blocked his chances of continuing in the role.

After a case of possible racial discrimination was raised, the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) had established a Sub-Committee to investigate the employment practices at GECOM with a specific focus on the appointment of Roxanne Myers to the position of DCEO when Persaud had not only contested but reportedly scored higher in the evaluation pro-

Jamaican elections official, Leslie Harrow cess by the Commissioners.

The Sub-Committee was chaired by Appeal Judge (Ret’d) Stanley Moore and included human resources consultant, Jairam Petam; and Retired Deputy Police Commissioner, Lloyd Smith.

The ERC’s representatives on the Sub-Committee were Major General (Ret’d) Nor-

man Mc Lean, and Norris Witter.

When Persaud competed against Myers for the second-in-command position, it was former GECOM Chairman, Justice (Ret’d) James Patterson, who broke the Commission’s deadlock.

Myers was named DCEO. Myers served from 2018 to 2020 up until her removal from the office as charges were laid against her alleged involvement in electoral fraud during the March 2020 General and Regional Elections which concluded in August 2020.

Persaud served at the elections commission from 2001, first in the capacity of Public Relations Officer (PRO) while performing other duties. He was eventually appointed DCEO in August 2014, serving three years.

With the expiration of Persaud’s contract in 2017, the 2018 report of the ERC Sub-Committee noted he

expressed intention to have his contract as DCEO renewed three months before the expiration.

When the contract expired without acknowledgement of the intention to renew, however, the Sub-Committee’s report noted: “He was then instructed by the CEO [Keith Lowenfield] that the Attorney General [Basil Williams] had advised that since GECOM was in a state of hiatus due to the resignation of Chairman Surujbally, the request for the renewal of his contract could not be processed.”

The Sub-Committee report stated that Persaud did not return to GECOM but noticed a media advertisement several months later for the vacant position of DCEO. He applied.

At that time, concerns had been raised that Persaud had lied about his academic qualifications. ThenTURN TO PAGE 5

Guyana confirms detection of Delta variant

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GUYANA CHRONICLE

Thursday, December 2, 2021

-Health Minister warns against persons becoming complacent amid the pandemic

By Jared Liddell

MINISTER of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, has confirmed that the Delta variant of COVID-19 has been detected in Guyana.

He said that this was found after 50 samples were sent to the Caribbean Public

Health Agency (CARPHA) in Trinidad and Tobago for genomic sequencing.

“We had some samples that were sent to CARPHA at the time when we were having a surge with Delta cases and it confirmed what we saw clinically,” Dr. Anthony said on the sidelines

of a ceremony to commemorate World Aids Day, on Wednesday.

At the same time, the government is working with the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and CARPHA to determine whether it would move forward with sending samples to test for the Omicron variant of COVID-19.

With scientists discovering this new variant, the

Health Minister said it is important for persons to take all necessary precautions to prevent themselves from contracting the virus.

He advised against becoming complacent, especially during the festive season which is beginning.

The number of positive cases continue to grow daily, and this is a direct result of persons’ “laxed attitude” to the preventative measures

Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony in place.

“Personal responsibility is very important. When I look around, sometimes over the last few weeks, I think a lot of people have become complacent, they are too laxed, and with the Christmas season coming on, I’m a little bit worried because again we have seen a lot of overcrowding; now people really need to take responsibility,” Dr. Anthony said.

The Health Minister encouraged persons to sanitise, wear face masks, practice social distancing and get vaccinated.

As of Tuesday, 401,445 persons received the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, which is approximately 78.3 per cent of the country’s adult population. Some 279,658 persons have received a second dose, which is 54.5 per cent of the adult population.

For the 12 to 17 age category, 29,256 or 40.1 per cent of the country’s adolescents took the first dose, while 20,473 persons are fully inoculated.

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ue to safeguard themselves against COVID-19 through vaccination, it is also important to adhere to the other preventative measures in light of the Omicron variant.

While the government implemented strict measures to guard against the scourge, Dr. Anthony said there are no immediate plans to limit travel to Guyana due to the Omicron variant. Minister Anthony said that this step would only serve to slow the presence of the virus but not to stop it completely.

“Travel restrictions do not stop any variant from moving. We have seen that when Alpha surfaced, we have seen that with Beta, Gamma and Delta… what it would probably do is help to slow the spread of the variant but eventually if that variant becomes dominant it would circulate so travel restrictions are not a very effective way of preventing anything. What would be an effective way is if people got vaccinated,” Dr. Anthony said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 2, 2021

Barbados: ‘Vendor-friendly’ legislation to be passed on Friday (Barbados Today) Legislation that “provides a new deal for vendors” is expected to be passed in Parliament on Friday.

Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley shared this news today, at the National Independence Awards Ceremony, where she delivered her Address to the Nation, in Golden Square Freedom Park.

Ms. Mottley said: “We promised you a new deal and the greatest pride I have is that Friday morning, the first piece of legislation that we expect to be passed in Barbados’ Parliament will be the legislation that provides a new deal for vendors; a legislation that will stop making them criminals for wanting to support their families and to do good by them.

“This has been in the works for over six decades, and the stories of how many people in this country are only here because of the extent to which their parents and grandparents were able

to take sun and rain in order to sell, so that they could keep you in school…. It is time [to do right by the vendors].”

During her address, the Prime Minister also shared specific messages to other groups, including young parents, young people, mature citizens, and public servants.

She said the older ones in the society have a duty to continue to guide young people, while understanding that their world is different from the one in which they grew up.

“Our young people must believe that this is the best country to provide their best future. They must be at home in this nation, they must not feel like tenants in our nation and they must understand that what we are building is freely available to everyone. For our Parliamentary Republic must be fundamentally about justice and peace and security and opportunity and fairness.

“The difficult discussions will come just as they do in our families, and we must not shy away from them as a nation. Contrary to public opinion, I’m actually happy for the level of dialogue that we have been able to engender in this nation….

This has been a nation where sometimes we’ve been told not to allow the voices of our children to be heard, when in truth and in fact, what we need are young, confident people acting as global citizens, ready to take on the world but never forgetting their Barbadian roots.”

Ms. Mottley told the young mothers and fathers that they were required to help build this nation. She urged them to teach their young ones right from wrong, adding that they would receive reinforcement from churches and schools.

“But the primary responsibility must always be yours, and regardless of what you face in life, that responsibil-

ity of teaching our children wrong from right must never cease. That capacity to foster respect, loyalty, compassion and all of the values that make a difference to the kind of people we shall be… is yours to imbue in our children,” she stressed.

She acknowledged that the COVID-19 pandemic had made life hard for some, but she reminded the parents that their responsibility was to nurture their children just like their foreparents did with less.

Public officers, the Prime Minister said, have a responsibility to transform this nation. She noted that in today’s world, decisions were being made sometimes at lightning speed and if they were not made so quickly, the country would be left behind.

Mottley lamented that there was still no direct link with Africa and said the Caribbean Community must work to allow for direct engagement with the citizens

Persaud, Harrow narrowed...

FROM PAGE 03 GECOM Chairman Justice (Ret’d) Patterson was interviewed by the ERC Sub-Committee on the matter and he reportedly told the body his decision in favour of Myers was because “there was some evidence of one candidate lying”.

Persaud reportedly holds a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) with management certificates, a diploma in public relations, and several years’ experience in the electoral body.

Myers, on the other hand, held a Masters in Gender and Peace Building with experience in media monitoring and civil society.

Recording his distrust of Persaud, Justice (Ret’d) Patterson reportedly said: “One candidate, if I recall, say he had certain degrees which he didn’t… one candidate seems shifty, the other candidate wasn’t”.

Upon inquiring which candidate appeared “shifty,” Patterson responded, “Persaud”. The report further said Patterson had come to these conclusions despite not meeting Persaud nor Myers.

The investigative body had asked the former Chairman to provide documentation to support his position that Persaud was “shifty”.

It later reported in its findings: “Retired Justice

Patterson’s failure to produce the documentation on which he based his conclusion that Mr Persaud was an unsatisfactory candidate has grossly discredited his finding concerning Mr Persaud’s shiftiness, unreliability, and dishonesty.

“Throughout the course of this investigation, the Sub-Committee found no evidence to suggest that Mr Persaud made any misrepresentation with regard to his qualification to the Commission.”

Myers, and GECOM Human Resources Manager, Marcia Crawford did not participate in the four-week long hearings. “This failure cannot be described as anything other than deliberate and wilful,” the 2018 report of the investigative body read. Myers is currently still before the court along with former CEO Lowenfield.

Leslie Harrow Jamaica-born Leslie Harrow is a career civil servant in Jamaica who, according to his LinkedIn profile, worked with the Electoral Commission of Jamaica since 2002.

His position there was only briefly interrupted by his seconding to the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) in November 2020 as Director-General. Harrow, however, exited

the position seven months later in May 2021.

The Jamaica media carried headlines that Harrow resigned from the position of Director-General because of the treatment he received while working at the body and also because he reportedly did not appreciate the political directives handed to him.

Harrow has since denied the allegations made by the Jamaica Observer and Jamaica Gleaner newspapers. In a letter sent by Harrow and published by the Observer, Harrow wrote: “I came to the agency on November 1, 2020, on a six-month secondment (sic) from my substantive position at the Electoral Office of Jamaica,

with an option to seek an extension at the end of that period.

“This period ended on April 30, 2021, and I wish to state publicly that my decision to return to the EOJ has nothing to do with any unhappiness with or interference from the minister, ministry or the agency, as is being implied and stated in media reports. I had and still have a cordial relationship with the honourable minister [of local government] and the permanent secretary and, indeed, other members of the ministry”.

Based on public information, Harrow is still employed with the Electoral Office of Jamaica.

National Hero, The Right Excellent Robyn “Rihanna” Fenty receives her insignia from President of Barbados, Dame Sandra Mason at the National Independence Awards Ceremony Wednesday (B. Hinds/BGIS) there. to “push Barbados forward”.

She urged citizens of BarThose attending bados to do credit to their Wednesday’s ceremony nation; add to what they included President of Barhad inherited and make the bados, The Most Honourcountry one of the best small able Dame Sandra Mastates in the world. son; Governor General of After receiving her insig- Antigua and Barbuda, Sir nia, National Hero, The Right Rodney Williams; Prime Excellent Robyn “Rihanna” Ministers of Trinidad and Fenty, thanked the Govern- Tobago, Dr. Keith Rowley; ment, saying she had trav- Bahamas, Philip Davis; St. elled the world and received Lucia, Philip Pierre; Naseveral awards, but none tional Hero, The Right Excould be compared to the cellent Sir Garfield Sobers; recognition of her homeland. Chief Justice Sir Patterson Ms. Fenty said she was proud Cheltenham; members of to be a Barbadian and urged Cabinet, and a cross section the young people to continue of Barbadians.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE

Thursday, December 2, 2021

Barbados: World's Newest Republic

BARBADOS has become the latest country in the Anglo-phone Caribbean, and for that matter the world, to become a Republic. President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali has congratulated the country's President, Government and people of Barbados on this historic and momentous occasion.

The country's President, Dame Sandra Mason, was sworn in by the Chief Justice in the presence of Prince Charles and several other dignitaries including Guyana's Prime Minister, Mark Philips. She used the occasion to call on all Barbadians to 'dream big' in recognition of the 'complex,

fractured and turbulent world'.

In extending congratulations to the Barbadian people, President Ali pledged Guyana's continued and unwavering support to the country.

Guyana, he said, salutes the people of Barbados as the country seeks to consolidate its political independence and nationhood. 'It is a tribute to the conscience and courage of your forebears who yearned for freedom in all its plentitude and stood fast against the odds.'

Barbados has done well in terms of constitutional, political and economic advancement and ranks among the more developed countries

in the region. It has played a key and supportive role in the Caribbean integration movement and was in fact one of the founding members of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

At the bilateral level, Guyana and Barbados have close relations both at the political and economic levels. The two countries share much in common in terms of history and culture and Barbados is today home to many Guyanese who departed the shores of Guyana to seek a better life during the period of PNC authoritarian rule.

As pointed out by President Ali, 'Guyana and Barbados are joined by ties of blood,

history and friendship. Our two countries now traverse the path of independence and integration as sister republics.

We look forward to working with you to further develop the warm and friendly ties which so happily exist between us and to strengthen the relation of our Caribbean Community.'

Guyana attained its republican status on February 23, 1970, four years after it obtained independence from Great Britain. Regrettably, at that time the country suffered a rupture of its democratic credentials after the then PNC regime, under the leadership of Forbes Burnham, rigged the 1968 elections

to perpetuate its rule. Both independence and republican celebrations were marred by an environment of political intrigues and machinations by vested interests, the consequence of which was the denial of independence and republican status under the PPP regime.

All of that is now, as it were, water under the bridge and Guyana and Barbados are now active partners in the integration movement and they both play key roles in the advancement of the goals of a democratic and economically viable region. In fact, Prime Minister Mia Mottley stood up, along with other regional leaders, against attempts by

the APNU+AFC Coalition to subvert democracy during the March 2, 2021 General and Regional Elections in Guyana.

If there is one lesson to be learnt from the Barbadian example it is that democracy and adherence to constitutional rule is an important prerequisite for national development. Full credit must be given to the government and people of Barbados for having steered the country along a path of economic, political and constitutional advancement, which has now culminated in the granting of republican status after 396 years of colonial rule.

Thanks to Robin and the Persaud family for their donations toward the Open Book Shelf in Capoey

Dear Editor, PLEASE permit me space to announce the establishment of an “Open Book Shelf” for residents of the Capoey Lake res-

ervation on the Essequibo Coast.

In this arrangement, the books will be protected from the elements but villagers can come

in their own time to borrow a book and return it when they’re finished. It operates on the principle of trust, so no librarian or security is necessary.

The community wishes to thank Mr. Walter Persaud (Robin) of Park Vue International Hotel at Farm, East Bank Demerara and the Persaud family

of the Guyanese diaspora in Orlando, Florida for the donation of a set of children books towards the Open Book Shelf Project.

Yours sincerely, Ralph Hendricks Toshao Capoey Village Council

Declining fish stocks deserve a real assessment, not another cheap shot at oil

Dear Editor, I was disappointed to see the way the recent story “Declining fish catch triggers worry among local fishermen.” The perspective of our fishermen is always valuable, but the piece is filled with half-truths and unverified claims.

The story seeks to pin any and every decline in fish stocks on the oil industry.

Fair enough, it’s an easy target. No one is likely to

stand up and say oil is great for fish. But if we want to actually understand what is happening, we need a real assessment. Frankly, the government should have done what every other country does and conduct a comprehensive assessment of our fisheries decades ago.

What data there is shows a completely different picture than the one painted by the author. As the Guyana standard reported last year in

“Fishing output in decline for a while -- Govt. report” fishing take peaked in 2003 and then declined through 2015.

There was no major oil drilling taking place during that time. How can oil be the problem of declining fishers if the decline started long before oil was found? For that matter, how can oil drilling happening 150 kilometres offshore be the cause when nearly all of Guyana’s fishing is done in coastal shallow

waters?

There are dozens of countries around the world with much larger oil production than Guyana’s that have huge fisheries. The UK, the US, Canada and Norway, all spring to mind. Each boasts a large oil industry and a huge fishing industry in the same waters.

How is this possible?

They manage their fisheries.

They regularly assess stocks of each species and issue quo-

tas and regulate take so that species that are declining can be restored. Oil has not wiped out the fish in any of these countries. In contrast, the fishing industry in the U.S. often clamors for decommissioned rigs to be kept intact since these vast structures become crusted with corals that serve as nurseries for fish.

There are real problems we must assess.

Waters are warming and storm patterns are changing

around the world due to climate change. Foreign fishing fleets from certain countries poach freely from the waters of countries like Guyana that cannot or will not stop them.

Blaming oil is an easy way out, but the government need to take this problem seriously and enact the kind of serious management that other countries have done for decades.

Donald Singh

GUYANA CHRONICLE

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Thursday, December 2, 2021

The Omicron variant should cause the partially and unvaccinated to rush to be fully vaccinated

Dear Editor: THE news that only 54 per cent of Guyanese are fully vaccinated is cause for real concern, considering the emergence of the new Omicron variant creating some panic across the world.

I share the President’s and Minister of Health’s concern that more people need to rush to get vaccinated. The government has done its part to secure vaccines, some of which will expire soon. It will be very sad if taxpayers’ money spent on vaccines for

our people expire for lack of folks following up to get their initial vaccination or their second or booster dose. I say the government should give a deadline for everyone to be vaccinated and beyond that deadline, start charging for the vaccines if people are that reckless to not get vaccinated.

We cannot predict how many new variants will emerge and what harm can be caused, but we do know that it’s easier for variants to emerge in situations where there is no “herd immunity”.

Getting one dose only does not create herd immunity; we need to get the second dose and booster dose. Already some countries are banning travel from countries where the Omicorn variant has showed up. New York City has declared a state of emergency and similar actions may spread across the world.

I have a relative who got the first dose of the vaccine. I asked her why is she dilly-dallying to get the second dose and she said she is waiting to be called for the second dose.

I told her she should be the one calling and going after the vaccine since she is seriously diabetic with some toes amputated.

The government must be stricter with public workers getting fully vaccinated. What percentage of public service workers is vaccinated? What percentage of teachers and nurses are now vaccinated?

We cannot afford another set of lockdowns and closures of work sites. We cannot afford more money for ongoing COVID relief. We want to

reopen the economy so there can be full production and work activities.

The unions are quick to ask for hefty pay raises, but they have failed to mobilise their workers to get fully vaccinated. This is simply reckless as the health and wellness of workers and the nation come first. The unions must change their ways and make sure all their members are vaccinated; same for the Opposition and other political parties, churches, non-profit and other civic organisations. We need

everyone to get onboard now and let’s mobilise more people to get their second doses, and booster doses. Also, we need more children to take advantage of the vaccines available for the younger ones.

Nation, now is not the time for complacency. We must all pull together and encourage friends, neighbours and relatives to get fully vaccinated now. These are troubling times.

Yours sincerely, Dr. Jerry Jailall

India wishes to send more What is the Guyana Human vaccines to Caribbean and Rights Association’s view on castrating convicted rapists?

Latin America - India’s Health Minister

INDIAN Health Minister, Mansukh Mandaviya, said his country was prepared to send COVID-19 vaccines to Latin American and Caribbean countries. He said India is ready to supply Covishield (Oxford Astrazeneca’s vaccine made in India) and Covaxin (manufactured by an Indian pharmaceutical company).

India was the first nation to come to Caribbean countries with COVID-19 vaccines.

Many countries in the region started their vaccination efforts with the help of India’s Vaccine Maitri initiative, which has given vaccines to low-income countries worldwide.

Many Caribbean countries such as St Kitts and Nevis, Guyana, St Lucia, Grenada and Dominica, and Antigua and Barbuda, benefitted from India’s vaccine initiative.

Explaining India’s strategy to combat COVID-19, the Minister of Health spoke about the six vaccines accepted in the country.

As per to a declaration from the Indian Ministry of Health, around 1.2 billion doses were given in the world’s second-most populous country, the data showed that 82 per cent of Indians took at

Dear Editor, Can the Guyana Human Rights Association state its position on medical castration of convicted rapists? I already

Indian Health Minister, Mansukh Mandaviya least one dose of the available vaccines, and 44 per cent of Indians were fully vaccinated.

“India was capable of combating COVID-19 under an ‘entire government’ approach, where provincial and local administration put a foundation for the aims of the Government of India,” Mandaviya stated. “India is inspired by the theory of ‘Vasudaiva Kutumbakam’, which motivated us to supply COVID-19 vaccines, hydroxychloroquine and other pharmaceutical demands to all our friends. Moreover, India is ready to provide Covishield and Covaxin to all current countries, Mandaviya told the media.

“Mutual recognition of

vaccines raises the travel condition for tourism and business, thus increasing the financial recovery that the entire world so desperately requires,” the minister stated.

With its expertise in information technology, India immediately introduced the CoWIN platform for its vaccination programme. He said India had shared the technology with partners and would help all countries build their vaccines.

“Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India’s health care is seeing a revolutionary change that its friends can take benefit from,” the Indian Health Minister said. (https://wicnews.com)

understand from public utterances their opposition to the death sentence for convicted murderers and would appreciate clarity on this equally hei-

nous crime against humanity.

Yours sincerely, Robin Singh

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94 per cent of persons living with HIV aware of status GUYANA CHRONICLE

Thursday, December 2, 2021

-total cases surpass 9,000, with new infections totaling 71 this year

By Jared Liddell EVEN as the fight against the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) rages on, Guyana has managed to stay one step ahead of the global epidemic by investing in systems that have allowed 94 per cent of the persons living with the virus to know their status.

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, said that while the government has made significant strides in the fight against HIV, it intends to eradicate the scourge completely and bring the number of new cases recorded yearly to zero.

Speaking during a World Aids Day ceremony on Wedsesday, Dr. Anthony said more work is needed in the area of detection and enrollment of persons to receive sustained antiretroviral therapy and a higher viral suppression rate.

Guyana’s focus is aligned with the United Nations (UN) 90-90-90 treatment for all initiative, which was implemented to help end the aids epidemic.

The main goals of this initiative are ensuring that 90 per cent of all people living with HIV know their status, 90 per cent of all people diagnosed with HIV receive sustained antiretroviral therapy, and that 90 per cent of all persons receiving antiretroviral therapy have viral suppression.

“We believe that while the UN has set these targets

Programme Manager at the National Aids Programme Secretariat (NAPS), Dr. Tariq Jagnarine (Adrian Narine photo) for 90-90-90 by 2025 that protection against HIV, as well we can get past that despite as eradicate the stigma associCOVID-19 and we could ated with the virus. work to end aids by 2030.

He said that the governNow, this has been a dream for ment will ensure that schools a lot of people for a long time, are also targeted during this but if we stay on track and if public education campaign. we work hard, we can be able Minister Anthony further to do that and that’s what we said that the government inhave to set our sights on,” Dr. tends to ramp up its newly inAnthony said. stituted self-testing resources Minister Anthony said that to cater to those persons who over the past year, officials wish to get tested but would from the Ministry of Health rather do it under more dishave been working on a strate- crete circumstances. gic plan which will be utilised The self-testing system over the next five years to which was implemented in “end AIDs” by 2030.

2021 allows persons to purHe said that in 2022, the chase self-testing kits and government will embark on conduct at-home HIV tests, a public education campaign after which they can utilise to equip Guyanese with the their results to seek medical necessary information for help if necessary.

US Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch (DPI photo)

Programme Manager at the National Aids Programme Secretariat (NAPS), Dr. Tariq Jagnarine, said that there are currently 9,022 cases of HIV locally, with 71 of those being detected this year.

MARGINAL REDUCTION Dr. Jagnarine said that the 2021 statistics show a “marginal reduction” in the total number of positive HIV cases.

And while 94 per cent of people living with HIV are aware of their HIV status, the doctor said that 74 per cent of those persons are receiving antiretroviral treatment with about 82 per cent of persons receiving treatment being virally suppressed.

Viral suppression is defined as suppressing or re-

have been through condoms and so forth, but now we are adding to this arsenal of things that we can do to prevent infections so that we can reduce from that 72 right down to 0… and if we can achieve that then we are on our way to making sure that we can end AIDs,” Dr. Anthony said.

COVID AND HIV Minister Anthony related that even though the government is taking steps to achieve its goal of zero cases of HIV in Guyana, the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the way treatment was done.

He said that with services being temporarily closed at the beginning of the pandemic to minimise face-to-face inter-

taking the COVID-19 vaccine, so he encouraged them to take the necessary steps to get vaccinated. Currently, just 55 per cent of persons living with HIV have been vaccinated.

As Guyana progresses in its fight against HIV, even amidst COVID-19, US Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch, recommitted her country’s support to the Ministry of Health and other agencies which are waging war against HIV. The US, since 2004, has provided financial assistance to Guyana totaling US$185 million, to fight the HIV epidemic.

In 2021, the US government as part of its President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) initiative

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony (DPI photo) ducing the function and replication of a virus; this means persons living with HIV that are virally suppressed have a lower chance of spreading the virus to other persons, as well as a better chance to fight the virus.

Also on this topic, Dr. Anthony said that there are plans to maximise the use of the PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) medicine which people who are at risk for HIV take to prevent getting HIV from sex or injection drug use. This, he said, would target key populations including but not limited to LGBT+ persons.

“On the prevention side, our traditional way of preventing infections of HIV would

actions, there has been a loss of follow-up.

He noted, however, that the government has been working to find those patients, saying: “We need to find them and bring them back into care because without that they are going to end up deteriorating and end up moving from HIV to AIDs, and then it will be more difficult to work with those patients.”

Meanwhile, the Health Minister said that a significant number of persons living with HIV have been hesitant to take the COVID-19 vaccine.

Dr. Anthony said that there is no medical implications for persons living with HIV

committed US$1.5 million to Guyana’s fight against HIV/ AIDs. “ T h e P E P FA R p r o gramme is committed to ensuring that all at-risk populations know their HIV status, and receive lifesaving HIV services and this means focusing on quality, inclusive, and client-centered care, meeting patients where there are with what they need.

“The US government through our PEPFAR programme will continue to work closely with the ministry and civil society partners to ensure funds and programmes are targeting key populations,” Ambassador Lynch said.

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‘Humble’ Nafeeza Rodrigues receives Human Rights Award from EU

IN observation of Human Rights Day, which is observed annually on December 10, the Delegation of the European Union to Guyana, on Wednesday, recognised Nafeeza Rodrigues for her activism by presenting their 2021 Human Rights Award to her.

Rodrigues, who is involved in community work with many

through a number of organisations.

Addressing a small gathering at the delegation’s 11 Sendall Place, Georgetown office, Rodrigues explained that she became involved in community work after witnessing first-hand how gender-based violence affected women in her community.

be discouraged by negative factors.

“I feel thankful. I am blessed, and I thank God that I can continue with the will to always try to make a difference in society,” she added as she encouraged others to take up the mandate and contribute to the fight against gender-based violence.

Nafeeza Rodrigues receiving her award from European Union Ambassador, His Excellency Fernando Ponz Cantó (Delano Williams Photos) non-governmental organisations to especially help in the fight against gender-based violence, is the eighth recipient of the award.

She is a founding member of the Guyana Pride Foundation, a Lions International member, has served at the level of the Grove/Diamond Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) and has been involved in community-based activism

“I would love to know that every woman in society can be treated equal, not because of the colour of our skin, not because of the level of education that she might have but for who she is, a daughter, a girl, a woman,” she said.

Rodrigues explained that her drive to participate in community work is fuelled by her determination to make a positive impact and she would not

In delivering brief remarks, EU Ambassador to Guyana, His Excellency Fernando Ponz Cantó, in recognising Rodrigues’ work, noted that she is a “self-made woman” who is active in civil society work and in the fight against gender-based violence.

“Sometimes we have chosen people who are already well known. This year we have chosen somebody humble but

The EU Delegation’s premises lit up in orange in observance of 16 days of activism against gender-based violence

very active; a member of the community who is working every day at the grassroots level,” Ambassador Ponz Cantó said.

The award is an illustration of human rights being at the heart of the EU Delegation, he said, before noting that he is happy for the partnerships the delegation shares.

In also observing 16 days of activism against gender-based violence, Ambassador Ponz

Cantó highlighted that gender-based violence is a pandemic, to which education is imperative for its eradication.

“There is a gender-violence pandemic, and the vaccine is education. I think that education … leads to prevention and prevention is the best way to address gender violence,” he said.

The European Union Delegation to Guyana’s premises

was lit up in orange to celebrate the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence, a move which Ambassador Ponz Cantó said brings visibility to the fight against gender-based violence.

“The best way to address gender violence is to make sure that it doesn’t happen and for that we need visibility.

Without visibility, we will not have the same level of success,” he said.

Awardee Nafeeza Rodrigues flanked by Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Vindhya Persaud; Minister of the Public Service, Sonia Parag; European Union Ambassador, His Excellency Fernando Ponz Cantó; United States Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch; British High Commissioner to Guyana, Jane Miller, and other dignitaries.

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Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh engaging Region Two officials (DPI photo)

SOME 500 lots are being developed in the new Charity Housing Scheme, Region Two, for housing, and commercial and industrial purposes.

Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, on Sunday, visited the scheme to have a first-hand look at the ongoing work.

“This is going to be an incredibly exciting development because ultimately it is going to lead to 400 families being able to have their own home in this area.

There is tremendous demand of house lots in the region. For this year, we have distributed 700 house lots just in Region Two alone,” Minister Singh said.

He related that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration’s housing programme has been exceptional, with thousands of young people being able to become homeowners.

This, he said, could be seen by examining communities such as La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara and Diamond/Grove

East Bank Demerara.

“We intend to continue rolling out this housing programme aggressively and as you know, we have committed to distributing 10,000 house lots per annum. You have seen the energy and vigour in which the Ministry of Housing has already set about implementing His Excellency’s mandate in this regard,” Dr. Singh said.

He related that the government has implemented a number of measures to incentivise homeownership and home construction.

Those include the removal of Value Added Tax on construction

Thursday, December 2, 2021

materials, increasing of the ceiling for low-income loans, increased ceiling on mortgages by the New Building Society and increasing the ceiling for loan eligible for mortgage interest relief.

He said that those measures are geared at making homeownership affordable for the ordinary Guyanese.

Chairperson of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region Two, Vilma DaSilva, said that land preparation has already commenced. Despite the inclement weather, DaSilva said the region is maximising periods of favourable weather.

“So, what we are going to do, is when the lands are finished clearing, the infrastructural work will go in place before residents will take up their lots but it is already allocated to them. The measurements and so are done, but they cannot occupy until the infrastructural work is completed,” she related.

To date, the Ministry of Housing and Water has distributed over 9,000 house lots countrywide. The commitment by the PPP/C administration is to deliver 50,000 house lots by the end of its first term in office. (DPI)

The area in charity that will be utilised for housing and commercials purposes (DPI photo)

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Visiting Guyana made easy with ‘Discover Guyana’ tourism apps

Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister, Oneidge Walrond

By Naomi Parris WITH the changes brought on by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) in partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), DAI Global, and Wilderness Explorers (WE), on Wednesday evening, unveiled the ‘Discover Guyana’ Tourism applications (apps).

Sharing the details of the applications at a simple ceremony held at Cara Lodge, GTA’s Director (ag), Kamrul Baksh, said that the platforms allow for the screening of guests before they arrive at their intended destination in the country.

Baksh said the applications also allow service providers to create profiles for their establishments and add various features.

He said that the development of such an application highlights the work that is being done by the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce and its sub-agencies to push the tourism products and services of Guyana to a higher level.

Subject Minister, Oneidge

Walrond, urged the embracement of technology and partnerships to further boost Guyana’s tourism sector.

“Today’s [Wednesday’s] launch is a response to all these lessons; that we have to embrace technology, we have embraced partnership; that is, public-private partnership,” Minister Walrond said.

Additionally, she related that the applications will provide reassurance to visitors when they come to destination Guyana.

“As we launch this app, we hope to send a strong signal to our visitors that your safety is our top priority and to our service providers and to the communities that will be welcoming our visitors that the safety of our visitors… the safety of our employees, the safety of our communities is the priority of the government,” Minister Walrond said.

The first mobile application named “Discover Guyana” is built specifically for travellers.

It provides real-time information on safeguards, standards and certified providers at each stage of their inbound and outbound travel to the region.

A glimpse of the ‘Discover Guyana’ mobile application Travellers could plan their trip by viewing GTA’s certified tourism establishment profiles, communicate directly with tourism providers, and add required health records for easy screening during travel.

The second mobile application, Discover Guyana Tourism Service Providers, allows tourism service providers to create profiles for their establishments, demonstrate their COVID-19 certification information to travellers, respond to inquiries, and access up-to-date health information to keep their staff and visitors safe.

The application also fea-

tures a check-in system that will require travellers to check in and out of lodges and answer periodic questions about their health in order to track a visi-

tor's travel history in the event of a positive case.

The applications were developed by a local technology company and could

work with little or no internet connection, making it easy for those service providers based in outlying regions of the country.

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342 GDF ranks receive incentives from Chief of Staff

THREE hundred and forty-two soldiers, on Tuesday, received cash incentives for their outstanding service throughout the year.

Chief-of-Staff, Brigadier Godfrey Bess and other officers made the presentation to ranks from the various units

of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) at the Annual Incentive Ceremony held at the Auditorium, Base Camp Ayanganna.

Brigadier Bess congratulated the recipients and urged them to continue to excel.

“You have been identified as deserving of incentives.

You are being rewarded because you have given exceptional service during the year and your superiors have found you worthy of recognition,” he asserted.

“Congratulations for ensuring that you did your best and supported your com-

Chief-of-Staff Brigadier Godfrey Bess (centre) flanked by the incentive recipients from the various units manders throughout the year. grateful for your service,” he He also used the occasion to This incentive is simply a added. remind the soldiers to retoken of recognition. I believe He also encouraged the main vigilant and continue that all our officers and ranks ranks to inspire and support to observe all COVID-19 are valuable and we are very each other in positive ways. protocols.

Man gets 12 years for 2013 Mash Day killing of businessman EIGHT years after the Mash Day killing of Enterprise businessman, Kumar Mohabir, his killer, Devon Thomas, was, on Wednesday, sentenced to 12 years in prison for the crime.

In October, Thomas was indicted for murder but opted to plead guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter, which was accepted by Justice Jo-Ann Barlow at the Demerara High Court.

He admitted that on February 23, 2013, he unlawfully killed Mohabir, called “Dusky” and “Fire Link” at Vlissengen Road, Georgetown.

The judge sentenced Thomas to 12 years and ordered the prison to deduct two years from the sentence for his early guilty plea. Further, the judge ordered the deduction of an additional eight years, seven months, for the time he had spent in pre-trial custody.

The state was represented by prosecutor Sarah Martin, while Thomas was represented by attorney-at-law, Surihya Sabsook.

In 2015, Thomas and his co-accused, Randy Isaacs, were first tried at the High Court and

DEAD: Kumar Mohabir were found guilty of the offence. After being sentenced to 75 years in prison, they moved to the Court of Appeal to have their conviction and sentence overturned. Earlier this year, the Appeal Court allowed the appeal and ordered a retrial.

In July 2021, the new trial commenced before Justice Sandil Kissoon and a mixed 12-member jury at the Demerara High Court. The jury subsequently found Isaacs not guilty of the crime but was unable to arrive at a verdict for Thomas.

Justice Kissoon ordered that Thomas face a new trial.

According to reports, the

Accused: Devon Thomas Mohabir family members were enjoying the Mashramani festivities on Vlissengen Road when a gang of youths attacked Kumar Mohabir and killed him, under the pretext that he had “mashed” the feet of one of them.

Navindra Mohabir went to his brother’s rescue and was viciously attacked. He suffered five serious incised wounds to his right hand.

Thomas and Isaacs, who were known to the victim, were arrested after Navindra pointed them out during an identification parade.

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$30M pump to give Five Miles first-time access to potable water RESIDENTS of Five Miles, Bartica, Region Seven, will soon access potable water in their homes for the first time, as the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) moves to procure a $30 million water booster pump.

Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, related this plan to residents during an outreach in Bartica on Monday. He subsequently visited the area where the pump will be installed at Four Miles.

Minister Croal said the booster pump will arrive in the country within two weeks, after which it will be installed and over 800 residents will have water flowing through their taps. “ We h a v e t h e c i v i l works component which will see us putting the pipe

system, the housing in the area where we will put the booster pumps, as well as for the electro mechanical system to function. So, everything is in place; all we are waiting for now is the arrival of the pumps,” Minister Croal said.

The minister had visited the community last year and committed to expanding the water distribution system in Bartica so water could be accessed in Five Miles.

But there were some challenges with pumping the water from the Bartica Water Treatment Plant to that community, which is located on a hill with an 83-metre elevation. The water treatment plant could only pump water to an elevation of 45 feet, which covers up to Four Miles.

Minister Croal subsequently visited in April this year and announced the procurement of a booster pump. The minister explained that there were some delays with the shipment of that pump.

“I would like to apologise on behalf of us from the management level and GWI and this government for the delay…but, I want to assure you that by the end of the year, once the pumps are here, Five Miles will definitely get their water,” Croal said.

Over $120 million has been spent to expand water distribution and drill new wells in Region Seven this year. Apart from the expansion of the Bartica distribution system, a new water supply system was completed in Kamarang

to provide service to more than 600 residents.

Additionally, a new water system is being con-

structed in Jawalla and Kaikan to provide service to more than 1,000 people.

An expanded water system

was also commissioned at River’s View, which is close to Region Seven, but located in Region 10.

Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, during a visit to the water- distribution site in Four Miles, where the booster pump will be installed (DPI photo)

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North Georgetown Secondary’s ‘agri’ department gets timely boost -with donations from NAREI, GLDA

By Naomi Parris THE Ministry of Agriculture and, by extension, the National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) and the Guyana Livestock Devel-

opment Authority (GLDA), on Wednesday, donated a number of planting materials and broiler birds to the North Georgetown Secondary School’s Agriculture Science Department.

Minister of Agriculture,

Zulfikar Mustapha, during the official handing over of the planting materials, pledged to support the students throughout their various agriculture-related projects and studies.

Additionally, he said that

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, handing over planting materials to a few students of the North Georgetown Secondary School’s Agriculture

Head of North Georgetown Secondary School’s Agriculture Department, Benjettan Osborne and his students (Adrian Narine photo) NAREI, through its extension With the renewed interest their parents. department, will also be assist- in agriculture, the ministry He related that students ing the students with technical will soon be launching a pro- would often pool whatever assistance while conducting gramme to produce value-add- ‘pocket money’ they have to their School-Based Assess- ed crops at schools across offset the cost of the materials ments (SBAs).

Guyana. needed for their projects and The minister further exMinister Mustapha also practical assignments. pressed his delight in the inter- told the students that the min“We don’t have much est of Agriculture that is being istry will also be donating feed funding at the school when it shown by young people. and a shade house to assist comes to agriculture. When “You know, many times with their Agriculture Science [we] have practical the stuwe have the idea that agri- activities at the school. dents have to pool monies in culture is mostly a minimum The students received 256 order to get things bought, job and agriculture is for the cabbage seedlings, 256 celery to buy seedlings, to buy mature population. I am happy seedlings, 128 lettuce seed- birds, to buy feed,” he said that the students here from lings, 128 tomato seedlings, adding: “We are still in a the agriculture department are and 50 broiler chicks. pandemic so we know a lot very interested in developing Meanwhile, the head of of parents lost their jobs and the agriculture department the school’s Agriculture De- can’t afford extra money, so in this school and, hopefully, partment, Benjettan Osborne, getting the donation helps to they can excel in the agri- related that the donations minimize the financial strain culture field and move on,” will help to ease the financial in terms of doing agriculMinister Mustapha said. strains of the students and ture,” Osborne said.

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ON the eve of World AIDS Day this December 1, the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/ AIDS (UNAIDS) emphasised that the number of new HIV infections has not declined in a decade in Latin America.

The organisations urged increased action to

who do not access the prevention methods or care they need, and that is unacceptable," said PAHO Director Carissa F. Etienne.

"If we want to end AIDS, we must focus on those most at risk, on accelerating the introduction of new and existing diagnostic and prevention methods, and on ensuring early access to the most effective treatment," she said.

al and legal inequalities that drive AIDS and other pandemics in our region," said Alejandra Corao, UNAIDS acting Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean. "While there is a perception that a period of crisis is not the most appropriate time to prioritise addressing underlying social injustices, it is clear that until this one is resolved, we must re-

reach the goal of eliminating AIDS by 2030, after almost two years of disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“End inequalities. End AIDS," is the theme of this year's World AIDS Day, which focuses on confronting the inequities that drive AIDS and hinder access to essential HIV services, especially for those most affected and left behind.

"HIV does not affect everyone equally. There are people at higher risk of becoming infected, who continue to face stigma and discrimination, and

According to WHO and UNAIDS estimates, 2.4 million people are living with HIV in Latin America and the Caribbean. Eighty-one per cent of them have been diagnosed.

Of those, 65 per cent have received treatment and 60 per cent had a suppressed viral load. Meanwhile, AIDS deaths fell 27 per cent since 2010 and the percentage of people with HIV who got their diagnosis late dropped from 33 per cent in 2016 to 25 per cent last year.

"To end AIDS by 2030, we must urgently end the economic, social, cultur-

double our efforts in order to overcome the crisis," she said.

COVID-19 AND HIV In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic impacted HIV services, compromising treatment availability and disrupting delivery of services. Those included prevention activities, HIV testing (which fell 34 per cent from 2019) and testing for other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), as well as antiretroviral therapy among newly diagnosed individuals, according to data from 20 countries. The pandemic

PAHO, UNAIDS urge eliminating inequalities to end AIDS also delayed PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) implementation.

PAHO/WHO and UNAIDS warn that as testing and the number of positive results are reduced, there is significant risk of a setback in progress toward elimination goals.

Both organisations believe that community-based health services need to be strengthened and adequately funded to be the first line of battle against stigma, placing people and their human rights at the centre of the response to the pandemic.

However, dispensing medications for multiple months at a time, telehealth, online appointments, self-testing, mailing and home delivery of medications, and new models of community-driven care have helped sustain HIV services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

SELF-TESTING, PREP AND APPROPRIATE TREATMENT People concerned about confidentiality of diagnosis or who are usually not reached with conventional testing can now know their HIV status through self-testing in their homes. PAHO and UNAIDS recommend this testing method -- which until now was only introduced by national programmes in 10 countries in the region. The organisations are promoting PrEP in this year's World AIDS Day campaign.

Since 2015, PAHO and UNAIDS have recommended the introduction of PrEP, which can be taken by those who are not living with HIV but are at high risk of contracting it.

This population accounts for 92 per cent of new HIV cases in Latin America and 68 per cent in the Caribbean. Only 10 countries in the region have

public policies for the provision of PrEP, two more countries than in 2019.

Without boosting PrEP, the region is unlikely to achieve enough reduction in new infections to end AIDS by 2030.

Ensuring early treatment with the most effective drugs is also critical to reducing transmission and saving lives. However, many countries are lagging in adopting the antiretroviral dolutegravir (DTG) as part of the preferred treatment recommended by the WHO. In most countries in the region, the number of people on a treatment regimen with this antiretroviral – which is more effective, easier to take and has fewer side effects than others – does not exceed 50 per cent. People living with HIV who have an undetectable viral load cannot transmit the virus.

(PAHO)

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Man pleads not guilty to Agricola 2008 murder

THIRTEEN years after Melissa Payne was fatally shot during an armed ro b b e r y a t A g r i c o l a Public Road, East Bank Demerara, her alleged killer, Sylvester Vanderhyden, on Wednesday, pleaded not guilty to the crime.

Vanderhyden of Block ‘A’ Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo appeared before Justice Jo-Ann Barlow at the Demerara High Court and pleaded not guilty to the capital offence.

It is alleged that on November 5, 2008 at Agricola, East Bank Demerara, Vanderhyden murdered Payne during the course or furtherance of a robbery.

He is being represented by attorney-at-law George Thomas, while prosecutor Lisa Cave is on record for the state.

A jury was empanelled to hear the case which will commence with the testimony of the first witness on Thursday morning.

According to reports, on November 5, 2008, at about 08:30 hrs, Payne, along with her reputed husband, Devon Thomas, were in a canter truck heading to Georgetown to conduct business.

As the couple was approaching Agricola, the truck encountered mechanical problems. Fraser came out and tried to fix

cash that was in the woman’s bag, along with her jewellery.

In November 2017, Jermaine Savory, formerly of Second Street, Agricola, was sentenced to 15 years in prison by a High Court judge after he was found guilty of killing Payne.

DEAD: Melissa Payne the truck, as Payne stood and watched him.

A few moments later, one of two bandits came up to them with a gun and demanded their money.

The armed man snatched

Accused: Sylvester Vanderhyden Fraser’s gold chain and attempted to pull away Payne’s handbag.

Payne resisted and was fatally shot in her chest.

The men then escaped with some $110,000 in

Savory had confessed to investigators that he had participated in the robbery but was not the trigger man. In 2016, after being on the run from the police, Vanderhyden was finally arrested and charged for the offence.

‘No case submission’ sets murder accused free FORMER general manager of the El Dorado Trading, Neville Chandrawattie called “Sunil,” who was on trial for the 2007 murder of gold dealer, Dharamchan Mangra, was, on Wednesday, freed after Justice Jo-Ann Barlow upheld a no-case submission made by his attorney, Siand Dhurjon.

Chandrawattie of Sparta, Essequibo Coast, was on trial at the Demerara High Court for the capital offence which alleged that, on April 21, 2007, at Port Kaituma in the North West District (NWD), he murdered Mangra.

After state prosecutor Lisa Cave closed her case, Dhurjon, in a no-case submission, called for the indictment to be dismissed on the grounds of insufficient evidence.

As such, the judge upheld the submission and stated that the state had failed to establish a prima facie case against Chandrawattie for the offence of murder. She then ordered the jury to return a formal verdict of not guilty.

Prosecutor Cave told the court that based on the directions of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Shalimar Ali-Hack, S.C., the state will be appealing the judge’s ruling.

According to reports, in 2007, Chandrawattie was employed by Tamesh Jagmohan, the owner of El Dorado Trading. He, along

Neville Chandrawattie called ‘Sunil’ with others, had, on that day, planned a robbery.

During the course of the robbery, Mangra was shot and killed. He was also robbed of $3M in gold and cash. Chandrawattie was tied up by his co-accused as part of the planned robbery.

The matter was reported but no arrest was made.

However, on November 8, 2013, the said business place encountered another robbery during which 96 ounces of gold valued at $22M, and $71M in cash, all the property of Jagmohan, were stolen.

During an investigation into the 2013 offence, Neville was questioned. He allegedly admitted that he had planned both robberies. He was arrested and charged for his role in both crimes.

In 2016, during the trial into the 2013 robbery, Chandrawattie pleaded guilty and was sentenced to serve five years imprisonment.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE. Thursday, December 2, 2021

Only three West Indians retained ahead of IPL auction

Kolkata Knight Riders’ Andre Russell (left) and spinner Sunil Narine (centre), and Mumbai Indians’ Kieron Pollard

(CMC) - Only three West Indies players have been retained by teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL) ahead of the upcoming mega auction.

The window for the franchises to retain players for the VIVO Indian Premier League 2022 season closed on Tuesday, and Kolkata Knight Riders kept all-rounder Andre Russell and spinner Sunil Narine, while Mumbai Indians are holding on to all-rounder Kieron Pollard.

A total of nine Windies players have been released.

They are: Chris Gayle, Nicholas Pooran and Fabian Allen (Punjab King’s XI); Dwayne Bravo (Chennai Super Kings), Shimron Hetmyer (Delhi Capitals), Evin Lewis and Oshane Thomas (Rajasthan Royals); and Jason Holder and Sherfane Rutherford (Sunrisers Hyderabad).

Each of the eight franchises retained their decided players in accordance with the retention rule framework.

The franchises are each permitted to retain up to four

players, with a maximum of three Indians, two overseas players, and two uncapped players.

Each of the eight franchises used the Player Retention option with Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, Kolkata Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians opting to retain four players each.

Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Sunrisers Hyderabad have retained three players each while Punjab Kings have retained two.

Of the 27 retained players, 8 are overseas and 4 are uncapped Indians.

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Answers in tomorrow’s issue

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25

GUYANA CHRONICLE. Thursday, December 2, 2021

West Indies vs Sri Lanka Second Test Day 3 …

Mendis’ six-for leaves game evenly poised (ESPNCRICINFO) - On the first full, rain-absent, day's play of the Test, Sri Lanka and West Indies set up what promises to be the quintessential Galle classic.

At stumps, the hosts in their second innings trail by three runs with eight wickets in hand, on a pitch that has produced 21 wickets over the past two days - though the last two will have the Dimuth Karunaratne's side kicking themselves, both being entirely avoidable run-outs.

The first came as a result of an outstanding direct hit from Kyle Mayers to dismiss the captain himself, while the second was rather more self-inflicted, with Oshada Fernando hesitating in the middle of the pitch and failing to return to his crease in time.

That has left Pathum Nissanka and Charith Asalanka at the crease, on 21 and 4 respectively, with the former also nursing a knee injury for which he had received treatment on the field.

Therefore going into the final two days, with rain also expected in bursts, the game is poised to go down to the wire.

While West Indies will be wary of having to bat last - only two teams have chased a score higher than double-digits to win in Galle - they will be quietly confident of the ability of their batters in chasing what could end up being a modest target.

Indeed, despite losing their last seven wickets for just 87 runs earlier in day, Kraigg Brathwaite would have been buoyed by how well the top order coped with Sri Lanka's spin threat for the most part.

He himself was the top scorer, hitting 72 off 185, while Jermaine Blackwood (44), Nkrumah Bonner (35) and Kyle Mayers (36) all chipped in with handy knocks to secure a 49-run lead.

That could have been considerably more had it not been for the Sri Lankan spinners who, after a sub-par showing in

the morning, kept a vice grip on the visitors after lunch.

Ramesh Mendis was the undoubted star for the hosts, ending with career-best figures of 6 for 70 - his first five-wicket haul in Tests - while Lasith Embuldeniya and Praveen Jayawickrama picked up two apiece. Mayers' unbeaten 36 off 64 late on had briefly threatened to balloon the lead, but he eventually ran out of partners.

Mendis, Embuldeniya and Jayawickrama all found better lengths after lunch and in the process dried up the scoring.

They were also perhaps aided by the extra bounce afforded by the new ball, with five of the six wickets to fall in the session coming after they opted for it - the last two wickets fell swiftly after tea.

That said, the most important breakthrough came at the start of the second session, when Embuldeniya worked over a set Brathwaite in brilliant fashion. Having shifted to over the wicket against the right-hander Embuldeniya peppered a leg-stump line - replete with leg slip and short leg - for the first couple of deliveries, before getting one to spin sharply past Brathwaite's, oddly lax, forward defence.

The ball proceeded to hit the top of middle stump - a dream dismissal for the left-arm spinner but one which Brathwaite could have avoided by simply padding away.

That brought to an end an 85-ball 25-run stand between Brathwaite and Shai Hope, the last one of any significance.

Mendis took charge of proceedings from thereon, getting rid of Roston Chase, Hope, Jason Holder and Joshua Da Silva in the span of a few overs, before returning after tea to close out the innings with the wicket of Jomel Warrican.

This turn of events had seemed far from likely in the morning. Indeed, such was the level of West Indies' control that, aside from the wicket of Bonner, the only real moment of peril occurred, courtesy Suranga Lakmal, Sri Lanka's lone seamer,

who got a fuller one to jag back into Bonner's pads, only for a subsequent review to show a faint inside edge.

There was also a potential catch down the leg side, also off Lakmal, that Chandimal seemed to have grassed, only for replays to show that there was no bat or glove involved.

Those instances typified a luckless morning for the home side with Brathwaite and Bonner resolute. The Sri Lankan spinners did themselves little favours in any case, unable to extract the same turn and bounce the West Indians were able to do so consistently the previous day.

Much of this was down to an inability to find the right lengths, with Jayawickrama and Embuldeniya particularly culpable, far too often straying full and making it easy to smother any turn on offer. On the few occasions that they did hit a good length, both Brathwaite and Bonner were able to get bat in the way and deal with it safely.

And it wasn't long before the home side's frustration began to show, as they began to offer more scoring opportunities, ones the West Indians were ruthless in dispatching.

Brathwaite, who was quite comfortable staying back and navigating the spin late in most circumstances, was the biggest beneficiary on this front. He ended his innings with nine boundaries, and was all too happy to put away anything short, square of the wicket on either side.

The pick of his shots, though, were two front-foot efforts either side of mid-on. For the first, he showed exquisite wrist work to take one that was a little fuller and steer it to the left of a straight-ish mid-on, while the second was a delightful clip to the midwicket fence.

It was only following Bonner's dismissal that Sri Lanka's spinners rediscovered some sort of rhythm, which in the end they managed to carry over in spades for the rest of the innings.

Lam, Narine and Nathoo win GCF and MMG+ rapid chess tournament

JUNIOR national players Pooja Lam and Ricardo Narine and seasoned senior Loris Nathoo emerged victorious in the three Rapid Guyana Chess Federation/ Mobile Money Guyana Inc (MMG+) tournaments that were recently played online.

The junior players battled over seven rounds with a time control of 15 minutes with two second increments, while the seniors played 10 minutes games with two second increments.

In the Female battle, 13-year-old Lam was flawless to her full quota of points. Sherlyta Campayne placed second, after she was beaten by Lam. The battle between the two rising players proved tactical with Campayne gaining ground early before Lam fought back in the middle and latter stages of their clash.

Jessica Callender finished third overall with five points, while the ever improving Faraa Gaskin, Kristin Xavier and eight-yearold Kataleya Sam all showed fight.

Narine, who is one of the better junior players in Guyana was able to finish with six points in the Junior Rapid tournament.

In his seven rounds, he won five games and drew against Jerod Roberts and Kyle Couchman.

Junior Blitz champion Keron Sandiford finished second. He also scored six points, but lost to Narine in the fourth round, hence the direct encounter tie break system came

Seasoned senior Loris Nathoo was flawless in the senior battle.

into effect.

Narine, who represented Guyana well at the FIDE Online Olympiad in August proved superior in the 45-move battle, due mostly to his tactics and end-game skills.

Couchman, who secured 5.5 points, placed third.

Overall, a number of very young players excelled, including eight-year-old Julian Mo-

Thirteen-year-old Pooja Lam continues to improve. She was flawless in the female tournament.

habir, who finished with an impressive four points. Fellow eight-year-old Arush Ramnarine finished with 2.5 points, just below seven-year-olds Adhiraj Kissoon and Javier Davenand who ended with three points each.

SENIOR BATTLE Meanwhile, Nathoo played unbeaten in the senior battle, among his victims were former National Champion and Fide Master Anthony Drayton.

Talented teen Ricardo Narine emerged victorious in the junior tournament.

That clash proved a battle of wits. Although Drayton had a superior start, he was unable to stop Nathoo’s counter plays which eventually led to the defeat.

The three winners received $10,000 each through MMG. The second place finishers collected $8000 and third place $7000.

The tournaments were hosted on the Tornelo.com platform and was managed and supervised by FIDE arbiter John Lee.

26

GUYANA CHRONICLE. Thursday, December 2, 2021

Guyana Breweries Inc. aligns Mackeson with Rawle Toney 3X3 Classic

GUYANA Breweries Incorporated yesterday announced its support of the Rawle Toney 3X3 Classic, which is set for February 19-20, 2022, at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

The 16-team tournament will carry a first-place prize of US$3000. It will be launched on December 10, at the country’s premier indoor facility on Homestretch Avenue.

“I would like to congrat-

ulate Mr Rawle Toney for putting this tournament together. This is indeed a historic moment for basketball in Guyana. This will bring in more eyes to the sport and to Guyana via the various digital platforms,” said the company's Country Manager, Kelvin Singh.

Singh, who is known for his philanthropy towards sports and athletes in Guyana through Guyana Breweries Inc,, said the company is

“extremely happy to continue support of the Rawle Toney Classic under the Mackeson brand for this tournament”.

Mackeson was the tournament’s title sponsor in the 2019 Edition, which was held at the Burnham Basketball Court and saw Pitbulls 2.0 cashing in on the event’s US$1500 winners’ purse.

Singh confirmed that Guyana Breweries Inc.’s partnership “will go beyond the event in February 2022.

We are looking at supporting the sport at the court root level in Guyana.”

“Leading up to the tournament, we will be having promotions and other activities to enhance the fan viewership and experience. This is also a great opportunity for our local players to test their skills against some of the top players in the region, and we would like to wish all the players all the best for the tournament,” Singh said.

The Mackeson brand is credited as the first major sponsor of 3X3 basketball in Guyana, dating back to 2011 when they hosted the ‘Mackeson Smooth Moves’ 3X3 tournament, which carried $1M as its first-place prize.

The Mackeson Smooth Moves 3X3 countrywide tournament still stands today as the highest purse ever paid to teams in basketball locally.

Meanwhile, tournament organiser, Rawle Toney,

thanked Singh and Guyana Breweries Inc. for showing faith not only in the tournament, but also in basketball’s shortest format in Guyana.

Toney said while all the details related to the tournament will be given on December 10 at the event’s launching, he was happy to point to the strong interest of teams from the Caribbean, particularly Trinidad and Tobago, St Lucia and neighbouring Suriname.

King, Devers to conduct Para Table Tennis gets BCB clinics for fast P&P Insurance support bowlers on Sunday

Gibran Sarfaraz

Reon King

THE Berbice Cricket Board will host two separate clinics for fast bowlers and off- spinners on Sunday.

The two clinics will be conducted by former West Indies pacer Reon King and former national Under-19 player Sean Devers at the Albion Cricket Ground from 11:00hrs to 15:00hrs.

The clinics would be held under the board’s highly successful county-wide Dr Tulsi Dyal Singh coaching programme.

Hundreds of Under-19 players have benefitted from the programme which is sponsored by overseas-based Guyanese Dr Singh.

The board has since expanded the programme to include former national and international players who are highly respected in the county and are viewed as positive role models.

Foster, last Sunday announced a plan to produce at least 10 players for the West Indies at the different levels over the next two to three years.

This includes the Under-15, Under-19, female Under-19, senior females and senior team in T20, ODI and Test formats.

The county’s coaching staff, led by Winston Smith, has been visiting clubs and hosting mini

Sean Devers

academies across the county.

Foster disclosed that as a follow-up to these programmes, the board would be hosting a series of special clinics for fast bowlers, off-spinners, leg-spinners, left-arm orthodox, wicketkeepers and batters.

The BCB is in discussion with several former and current players to impart their knowledge and Foster stated that all the responses have been positive.

As part of the programme, the board would also be publishing more copies of its historic coaching manual and youth information booklet and in 2022 would be producing its own coaching video for youths.

King played 19 Test matches and 50 ODIs for the West Indies between 1990 and 2005, taking 53 Test wickets at an average of 32.7 while his 76 ODI wickets came at an average of 23.80.

He currently works as an International Cricket Match Referee and is highly respected for his knowledge of the game.

Devers is widely known across the country for his work as a sports journalist for the Kaieteur News and is also an international cricket commentator.

P&P Insurance Brokers has assisted Class 10 Para Table Tennis player, Gibran Sarfaraz, in his journey to participate in the Para Copa Costa Rica Table Tennis Championship scheduled for December 8-13.

At a simple ceremony yesterday, at the insurance company’s Lamaha Street location, director Vikash Panday, a former National junior table tennis player, said that he recognised Gibran’s exploits, contributions and potential and was very proud to support him in his quest to bring Guyana regional honours. “This morning we’re here to give him financial support as he prepares to head to this key championship in December this year”.

He wished Gibran the best and indicated as part of its corporate social responsibility the company has been supportive of young people and sports.

“We believe that these are the opportunities that are needed to ensure that we inspire and provide opportunities for more para-athletes the likes of Gibran to aspire and develop in our country.”

This championship provides Guyana with the opportunity to showcase its premier Para player, in addition to allowing the association to promote and work with our talented player, as an asset for future success and growth of

the Paralympic sport, as they embark on the road of excellence, growth and enhancement of the game itself.

Gibran has represented Guyana at the Pan American Paralympic Games Lima 2019, USA Paralympic Open, and other key Paralympic championships but was unable to attend any key events in the last 18 months because of the COVID-19 pandemic Despite these setbacks, Gibran has remained motivated and very passionate about the sport of table tennis, continued to train and make significant sacrifices, and has been truly a positive contributor to the programmes of the national federation of table tennis.

With the restart of competitions globally in the sport and world ranking becoming a major factor in determining qualification for key events, it has become critical that players participate in key competitions and training camps as a means of gaining the requisite exposure and preparation, in view of positioning them to gain world-ranking points, so as to maximise chances of qualification and success at key international competitions and games.

The events on the horizon are the Commonwealth Games, South American Games and the Central America & Caribbean Games.

27

GUYANA CHRONICLE. Thursday, December 2, 2021

ExxonMobil National Indoor Hockey Championships …

GCC Roulettes steal the show on second night Baraka Garnett 1 Bounty GCC defeated 50 Not Out, 4-2 Goals: Bounty GCC (4) – Meshach Sargeant 2, Kareem McKenzie 1, Kevin Spencer 1, Saints – Philip Fernandes 1 FEMALE Division GCC Roulette defeated Saints, 3-1 Goals: GCC Roulette (3) – Abosaide Cadogan 1, Leo Berlie 1, Alysa Xavier 1

GCC Ignite’s Sarah Klautky releases a powerful penalty corner flick

ON the second night of the ExxonMobil National Indoor Hockey Championships, Pepsi Hikers established dominance in two divisions while GCC ladies, in typical fashion, showed their class.

Playing in their first match of the season, the GCC Roulettes managed to upstage opening night winners Saints by 3-1. A powerful penalty corner flick by young national striker Abosaide Cadogan, followed by two spectacular individual goals from visiting Belgian midfielder Leo Berlie and captain Alysa Xavier, sealed the match for Roulettes. Nicole Eastman managed a penalty corner for Saints who put on a good show in the early minutes but then faded toward the end.

Despite also finishing with a victory, GCC Ignite had a tougher challenge against the Misfits, who led for almost the entire first half after an early goal from former national Maria Munroe.

Midfielder Sarah Klautky, however, launched the comeback for Ignite with a double in the second, only for Misfits’ Romichelle Brummel to draw even at 2-2.

Captain Aliyah Gordon, who had been the stabilising force for her team, scored the final goal of the match to secure the 3-2 hard-fought victory for Ignite.

Pepsi Hikers managed the highest goal tally for the second night in a row when they defeated Guyana 40s, 6-3, in the men’s first division competition. Guyana 40s put up a brave challenge and seemed to draw the best out of the Hikers but tired as the night wore on and succumbed to the constant pressure of the Hikers. Captain Robert France was the high-scorer of the match with a hat-trick of goals.

Saints and YMCA Old Fort battled to a 2-2 draw in a match featuring two youthful and energetic sides. This match contrasted with that of the Hikers and 40s tactical duel and was played at lightning speed with both sides fighting to the final buzzer.

Bounty GCC seemed to make the job harder against 50 Not Out than it should have been. Despite a Kevin Spencer goal in the opening minute of play, GCC did not score a second until the second half, through Kareem

McKenzie, but added two more in quick succession.

Philip Fernandes was the lone player on target for 50 Not Out with two goals, but his efforts fell shy of the GCC four-goal tally which saw GCC through to a 4-2 win.

Saints Scorpions were the big winners in the men’s second division competition with a 4-0 victory over Saints Sensations. Scorpion Baraka Garnett was the star of the show with a hat-trick of goals for his team. Hikers Cadets completed the list of matches with a narrow 5-4 victory over YMCA Old Fort in the other men’s second division matchup.

Full Results are as follows: MALE Division Pepsi Hikers defeated Guyana 40s, 6-3 Goals: Pepsi Hikers (6) – Robert France 3, Jamarj Assanah 2, Aroydy Branford 1 Guyana 40s (3) – Dwayne Scott 2, Chris Low-Koan 1 YMCA Old Fort drew with Saints, 2-2 Goals: YMCA Old Fort (2) – Shaquon Favorite 2 Saints (2) – Leroy Geer 1,

Saints (1) – Nicole Eastman 1 GCC Ignite defeated Misfits, 3-2 Goals: GCC Ignite (3) – Sarah Klautky 2, Aliyah Gordon 1 Misfits (2) – Maria Munroe 1, Romichelle Brummell 1 MALE Second Division Saints Scorpions thrashed Saints Sensations, 4–0 Goals: Saints Scorpions (4) – Baraka Garnett 3, Shomere Garnett 1

Hikers Cadets defeated YMCA Old Fort. 5-4 Goals: Hikers Cadets (5) – Orlando Machado 2, Devin Munroe 1, Sherwyn Caesar 1, Brian Asregado 1 YMCA Old Fort (4) – Daniel Woolford 3, Warren Williams 1 Games continue all week from 17:00hrs and conclude on the weekend beginning at 15:00hrs on those days.

28

GUYANA CHRONICLE. Thursday, December 2, 2021

Belgian guest player Leo Berlie weaves through the Saints defence

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ExxonMobil National Indoor Hockey Championships …

GCC Roulettes steal the show on second night West Indies vs Sri Lanka Second Guyana Breweries Para Table Tennis Test Day 3 …

Inc. aligns Mackeson gets P&P Insurance Mendis’ six-for leaves with Rawle Toney 3X3 support 26 game evenly poised Classic 26 PAGE

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Guyana Breweries Incorporated Country Manager Kelvin Singh (left) and Rawle Toney, 3X3 Classic’s organiser, following their announcement of partnership for the February 19-20, 2022 event

National table tennis coach and secretary of the Guyana Table Tennis Association, Linden Johnson, collects the cheque from Urmila Shamsundar, Account Executive of P&P Insurance Brokers Guyana

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25 The West Indian players celebrate the run-out of Dimuth Karunaratne, Sri Lanka vs West Indies, 2nd Test, Galle, 3rd day, yesterday (AFP/Getty Images) THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2021