Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 03-09-2021

FRIDAY 3rd September, 2021

No.106473

GTT plugs $2B

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into enhancing internet services - over 10,000 houses across Guyana to be outfitted with new ‘GTT fibre’

As part of a masterplan to alleviate transportation woes, create key linkages and modernise the East Bank of Demerara corridor, the Government of Guyana has embarked on billions of dollars’ worth of road projects that have been taking shape quite nicely. In these Adrian Narine photos, we see that works are moving apace on this bridge, which will connect the communities of Mocha-Arcadia and Herstelling. The roads and streets throughout these areas are also being upgraded and paved for easier and more convenient access

Over 5,000 persons vaccinated against COVID-19 in one day 13 PAGE

Guyana donates US$50,000 to aid recovery efforts in Haiti 05 PAGE

Education Minister: Hinterland students most affected by school closure 09 PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday September 3, 2021

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday September 3, 2021

GTT plugs $2B into enhancing internet services _

over 10,000 houses across Guyana to be outfitted with new ‘GTT fibre’

THE Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) will be investing an additional $2 billion to upgrade and expand its fibre-optic capacity in an effort to boost the quality of internet services being offered locally.

This announcement was made on Thursday by the company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Damian Blackburn, who said this investment adds to the $17 billion already spent on service and data upgrades.

Blackburn, who assumed his position at GTT in May, said that the company’s new directive is to “pivot GTT to become a 21st century customer-centric organisation.”

To this end, he said that the company has already set up its WhatsApp and E-billing services, and will be working during the rest of the year to encourage continued use of the its “secure and eco-friendly innovations.”

“We increased by over 30 per cent, to over 400 MMG [mobile money] agents, where you can pay your GTT bills for free with more locations in the pipeline,” Blackburn said.

He also pointed to the installation of bill payment kiosks, and the relaunching of an enhanced “MyGTT” smart phone app to enable MMG and bankcard payments.

“We are laser-like focused on improving time to deliver. [We] have made great strides recently and I promise our plan will fix all

issues here in 2021, having navigated some global supply chain problems,” Blackburn said.

More specifically, he said that the company is committed to delivering on at least three tangible promises that underpin its “Together We Rise” brand position.

“Together speaks to community, so our promise is to strengthen our community; ‘we’ speaks to our customers and we promise to reliably connect our customers and ‘rise’ speaks to the country… we promise to innovate for all in our country,” the GTT CEO related.

He said that the $2 billion investment is only the start of a series of new commitments the company will make to deliver on all its promises.

“I would like to thank our customers for their patience and reassure everybody our team is working to the maximum here to meet your needs. I promise we will communicate better with you if your service is disrupted,” Blackburn related.

As it is now, Blackburn said that the new GTT fibre service has replaced Blaze and customers have been upgraded automatically to significantly higher data speeds.

“Advances in information and technology gives us the power to overcome many of the challenges we face. What truly excites me is the national advancement

GTT’s Chief Executive Officer, Damian Blackburn opportunities that the power of GTT fibre now presents for the Guyanese people,” Blackburn said.

ALREADY UPGRADED Meanwhile, Ishwar Thakurdin, GTT’s Chief Operating Officer (COO) of its Home and Fixed services, said that already, all of GTT’s existing Blaze customers have been upgraded, for free, to the less expensive and more powerful ‘GTT fibre’.

“Our new plans of Fibre50, Fibre100, and Fibre150 provide more than double the speed of the previous Blaze plans, and at a lower cost. So, those on the Ignite (10Mbps), Flaming (20 Mbps) and Inferno (50 Mbps) plans have been moved to the Fibre50, Fibre100 and Fibre150 plans priced at $8,999, $10,999, and $12,999, respectively,” Thakurdin said.

GTT’s Chief Operating Officer of its Home and Fixed services, Ishwar Thakurdin Additionally, to make the most of those major speed increases, Thakurdin said the company will be providing an optional service of the “Plume Home Pass Wi-Fi Mesh,” which ultimately boosts Wi-Fi capacity, and makes it consistent in every corner of a house.

“With just a few Plume pods you plug into electrical outlets around the home, you’re always connected with the highest speeds anywhere in your home. This Wi-Fi service also comes packed with other frills like parental control, so you can restrict what your children can access or limit their screen time,” Thakurdin added.

He said that another major improvement is the provision of battery back-up with the GTT fibre service. “ We k n o w t h i s w a s greatly missed by our customers and happy to bring it back to help them stay connected when they need it the most,” the COO noted.

He said that the new service also caters to the business community, via “BizFibre,” which offers increased speeds at no additional cost.

“The previous plans of Biz25, Biz75 and Biz300 have been upgraded to Biz50, Biz100, and Biz500, respectively… that’s half a gig, which means a speed increase of up to 200 per cent for the small and medium businesses and enterprises,” Thakurdin related.

He further said that by the end of this year, an additional 10,000 houses across Guyana would be outfitted with the new GTT fibre technology.

“This is in addition to over 75,000 homes who have access to GTT fibre today,” Thakurdin added.

DSL BOOST He noted too that GTT’s DSL customers also stand to benefit from internet services that are at least double their current speeds.

“In the cases where we cannot upgrade the customer’s DSL speed, we will be reducing their cost,” Thakurdin said.

The company said that it has already upgraded onethird of its DSL customer base, with the remaining upgrades slated for year-end completion.

Thakurdin said that the upgrades are in keeping with GTT’s vision to “improve life experiences to every home and business by 2025.”

It was only last month that GTT’s CEO informed the Guyana Chronicle that it is also awaiting wider spectrum in order to upgrade the 4.5 LTE (Long Term Evolution) for its mobile network.

Blackburn said then that the company is “desperate to invest” in upgrading its mobile network, and is in discussion with the government to procure the necessary approvals to move forward with the upgrade.

The 4.5G LTE is the next-generation cellular standard that offers enhanced capabilities over the 4G LTE. The 4G LTE is currently the highest broadband level being offered in Guyana by both of the country’s two mobile telecommunications providers. The 4.5G LTE is considered a stepping stone to 5G and will make it easier for an eventual upgrade to 5G. GTT had last upgraded its mobile network to 4G in 2019, offering faster download and upload speeds on mobile devices for photos, videos, improved mobile application performance, higher definition of online gaming videos and reliable connectivity to maximise the potential on consumer mobile devices.

Now, in addition to its home and fixed services, the company wants to ensure that its mobile services are in keeping with the fast pace of the telecommunications sector.

Private sector funds repainting of State House to ‘heritage colours’ PRESIDENT Dr. Irfaan Ali has related that no State funds were expended to repaint and restore State House to its ‘stately white’ colour, accompanied by green trimmings.

The Head of State said pointedly on Wednesday that the repainting works are being funded by the Private Sector Commission (PSC), and not by the Government of Guyana.

Speaking to the media after delivering the feature address at an event hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) Guyana, at the

Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Dr. Ali said that t h e P S C h a d o ff i c i a l l y written to the relevant authorities, and was granted permission to undertake the task.

“The private sector has launched an initiative, and that initiative is based on getting back State House to heritage colour,” President Ali said.

He was keen on emphasising that no State funds are being used for the project, and that it was fully endorsed and approved in accordance with the requisite heritage legislation.

“Colour does not matter to me, but national institutions matter, so if a national institution, by law, is expected to be a certain way, then you have to respect the rule of law,” Dr. Ali said.

State House is one of nine gazetted national monuments in Guyana that falls under the vested responsibility of the National Trust of Guyana.

In 2017, under the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) administration, the building was repainted from its

President Dr. Irfaan Ali said that the PSC was granted the requisite permission to restore the building to its original heritage colours (Office of the President photo) original white colour to green.

This alteration of a national monument was done without the requisite approv-

als from the National Tr u s t , w h i c h h a s l e gal oversight of heritage sites all across the country. At the time, the then President, Da-

vid Granger, also a historian, said that he was not aware that repainting a national heritage site was in violation of the country’s laws.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday September 3, 2021

Ida dumps record-breaking rain, triggering deadly flooding in New York area (Reuters) - Flooding killed at least 18 people, swept away cars, submerged subway lines and temporarily grounded flights in New York and New Jersey, as the remnants of Hurricane Ida brought torrential rains to the area.

New York City Mayor, Bill de Blasio, told a Thursday news conference there were nine confirmed fatalities in New York caused by what he had described as a “historic weather event.”

Countless rescues were made overnight of motorists and subway riders who became stranded in the flood waters, de Blasio said.

Images posted on social media overnight showed water gushing over subway platforms and people wading through knee-deep water in their buildings. Streets turned to rivers as flooding swept away cars in videos captured by stunned residents.

Four residents of Eliza-

beth, New Jersey, perished in flooding at Oakwood Plaza, a public housing complex that was “flooded out with eight feet of water,” city spokesperson, Kelly Martins, told Reuters.

Somerset County, New Jersey, reported four confirmed deaths due to flooding overwhelming motorists, with at least one person unaccounted for, according to Frank Roman, deputy chief of the county prosecutor’s office.

“Sadly, more than a few folks have passed as a result of this,” New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said at a briefing in Mullica Hill in the southern part of the state where a tornado had ripped apart several homes.

The hit to the Middle Atlantic region came three days after Ida, one of the most powerful hurricanes to strike the U.S. Gulf Coast, devastated southern Louisiana, destroying entire communities.

RECORD-BREAKING RAIN Ida’s remnants brought six to eight inches (15 to 20 cm) of rain to a swath of the Northeast from Philadelphia to Connecticut and set an hourly record of 3.15 inches for Manhattan, breaking the previous one that was set less than two weeks ago, the National Weather Service said.

The 7.13 inches of rain that fell in New York City on Wednesday was the city’s fifth highest daily amount, it said.

N e w Yo r k o f f i c i a l s blamed much of flooding on the unexpected record-setting intensity of the rainfall that occurred in a short space of time, rather than the daily total for the day, which was within predictions.

“Because of climate change, unfortunately, this is something we’re going to have to deal with great regularity,” said Kathy Hoc, New York’s newly minted governor.

The number of disasters, such as floods and heat waves, driven by climate change has increased fivefold over the past 50 years, according to a report released earlier this week by The World Meteorological Organization, a U.N. agency.

U.S. President Joe Biden said on Thursday the federal government stood ready to provide “all the assistance that’s needed.”

First responders stand by floodwaters to perform rescues of trapped local residents after the remnants of Tropical Storm Ida brought drenching rain, flash floods and tornadoes to parts of the northeast in Mamaroneck, New York, U.S., September 2, 2021 (REUTERS/Mike Segar)

NBC New York reported at least 25 fatalities, including a toddler, and said most “if not all” deaths were flood-related.

The governors of New York and New Jersey, who had declared emergencies in their states on Wednesday, urged residents to stay home as crews worked to clear roadways and restore service to New York City subways and commuter rail lines serving millions of residents.

“Right now my street looks more like a lake,” said Lucinda Mercer, 64, as she peered out her apartment window in Hoboken, New Jersey, just across the Hudson

River from New York.

Mercer, who works as a crisis line fundraiser, said flood waters were lapping halfway up the hub caps of parked cars.

Subway service in New York City remained “extremely limited” while there was no service at all on commuter rail lines to the city’s northern suburbs on Thursday morning, the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTPA) said. Janno Lieber, the MTA’s acting chair and CEO, told local media it was going to take until later in the day to restore full service.

The Long Island Railroad, which is also run by the MTA, said early on Thursday that services on most of its branches had been restored.

‘HUMBLED BY MOTHER NATURE’ Michael Wildes, mayor of Englewood, New Jersey, said the city’s central business district was under water and some residents had to be evacuated to the library overnight.

“We are being humbled by mother nature in this last year and a half,” Wildes told Reuters by phone.

He said there were no known deaths in Englewood, although police, fire and other emergency responders had extracted several people

trapped in their cars.

Mark Haley of Summit, New Jersey, said getting back home after a 15-minute drive to a bowling alley to celebrate his daughter’s sixth birthday on Wednesday night became a six-hour slog through flood waters that often left him trapped.

“When we got out, it was a war zone,” said Haley, 50, a fitness trainer, who got home to find almost two feet (0.6 m) of water in his basement.

All New Jersey Transit rail services apart from the Atlantic City Rail Line were suspended, the service said on its website.

Amtrak said on Thursday morning that it cancelled all passenger rail service between Philadelphia and Boston.

New Jersey’s Newark Liberty Airport warned about flight disruptions and said about 370 flights were cancelled as of Thursday morning.

Nearly 170,000 electricity customers were without power on Thursday in four north-eastern states that got the bulk of the rains overnight, mostly in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, according to PowerOutage.

US, which gathers data from utility companies.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday September 3, 2021

Guyana donates US$50,000 to aid recovery efforts in Haiti

_more help promised

President, Dr. Irfaan Ali (Office of the President photo) GUYANA has so far donated US$50,000 (over G$10 million) to its sister country, Haiti, which was severely hit by a magnitude 7.2 earthquake on August 14.

Speaking on the sidelines of an event on Wednesday, President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, said that the Government of Guyana has every intention to lend further assistance to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Member State.

Dr. Ali said that Haiti has requested that money be sent directly to the country, instead of supplies.

“When we got that note that [Haiti] preferred cash, I had already instructed [Ministry of] Foreign Affairs to release immediately, US$50,000.

“Then we [also] opened

an account with the private sector to raise money. So, I think within another week and a half we will see what comes into the account, but the government will definitely be making another [contribution] with whatever is in that account to Haiti,” President Ali related.

Almost immediately after Haiti was devastated by the earthquake, Dr. Ali pledged his support to provide whatever assistance possible to the citizens of the island-nation.

At that time, the Office of the President, in a statement, said that President Ali was in telephone conversations with the Prime Minister of Haiti, Dr. Ariel Henry, and the Chairman of CARICOM, Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda,

to ascertain how Guyana can lend its assistance to Haiti’s relief and recovery efforts.

“Guyana’s support will be part of a regional relief and recovery initiative that will be coordinated by the Chairman of CARICOM,” the release had noted.

The earthquake killed more than 300 people and injured almost 2000 others.

In 2010, when Haiti was hit with a 7.0 magnitude earthquake, Guyana, under the leadership of then President, Bharrat Jagdeo, had donated some $260 million.

At that time, Guyana was hailed as the “most generous” contributor to earthquake-relief efforts for Haiti, followed

by Ghana, according to a February 2010 article published in Stabroek News.

The 2021 Haiti earthquake resulted in hundreds of lives being lost, and thousands of persons being injured (Aljazeera photo) The rankings of generosity were measured against the countries’ Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and recorded by the United Nations’ Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian

Affairs (OCHA), which had been tracking all financial pledges and assistance given to Haiti.

Guyana, according to a Stabroek News article, was also mentioned in the

list among the most giving people in terms of how much money was donated per person, ranking sixth behind Canada; Sweden; Norway; Denmark and Finland.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday September 3, 2021

Do what is right; act responsibly EDUCATION Month 2021 has been launched amid a COVID-19 environment which has posed challenges to the education system globally, as well as politically motivated protests against the government’s vaccination policy.

The month is being observed under the theme, “Education for all: Innovative teaching and learning in a global pandemic”.

Happening simultaneously on Wednesday was the launch of the Education Strategic Development Plan for 2021 to 2025. This hallmark plan points to the challenges in the education system, and ways to tackle them.

Education Minister Priya Manickchand was quick

to make the following observation: “From the time the PPP/C was elected into office in 1992, it began to work on, and published soon thereafter, a five-year plan. A new plan was crafted and published every five years. And we have seen the progress of the sector. From more trained teachers to universal primary education, to better facilities and far better results. For all the time APNU+AFC was in office, no plan was published.”

The new plan features the input of teachers, parents, students and other key education stakeholders.

It should be noted that while the ministry was busy with the launch of Education Month, the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) was also busy,

but in a different manner.

The GTU had joined a class action in taking the government to court over its insistence that all teachers must be vaccinated or tested weekly before they return to the schools.

The GTU is saying that the government’s policy puts teachers to choose between their jobs and their health. It seems they are not in favour of the decision to reopen the schools for enhanced learning, even though the pandemic is still claiming the lives of Guyanese at an alarming rate.

Meanwhile, the Education Ministry has intensified its drive to have all schoolaged children vaccinated against COVID-19, and safely away from harm by

the new school year, which begins on September 6, 2021.

The World Health Organisation data suggests that children under 18 years represent about 8.5 per cent of reported cases, with relatively few deaths compared to other age groups, and typically mild disease. However, there are still reports of cases of critical illness.

Vaccination of children could mean saving other lives. This move is a step in the right direction. The launching of Education Month and the education five-year strategic plan is just what all stakeholders needed. It will help them to understand where the ministry is, and intends to go. After all, World Bank Repre-

sentative, Ricardo Habalian said the bank has estimated that Guyanese children have lost about one year of education, with the 17 months of school closure. Also, the UNICEF Representative, Nicholas Pron said that the consultations and engagements with stakeholders, local and international, by the Ministry of Education are an excellent demonstration of consultation and partnership.

That said, it is worthy to note that the APNU+AFC is not leading the masses responsibly and practically.

It is clear that they want to disrupt any normalcy regarding the return to faceto-face learning.

Education is a right that citizens enjoy, regardless of

race, age, political affiliation and religion. This point is why schools are being reopened in a safe and protected manner.

It is unfortunate that some teachers are saying that schools should not be reopened when the virus is gone, and are even resisting attempts to get vaccinated.

Now is not the time to make education into a political football. Children learn better in face-to-face settings, and the government has done all it could to ensure there are vaccines for everyone.

It is time to end the vaccine hesitancy, so that schools and other public environments are safe.

This will allow for a quicker return to normalcy.

Government working overtime to honour commitment to provide affordable housing Dear Editor,

THE public overwhelmingly believes that the current government has performed better in addressing the demand for, and providing public housing than the predecessor administration when comparing their first year in office. Respondents in the latest poll laud the President, the government, and the Housing Ministry for their performance thus far in housing, as well as in several other areas. This is the view, according to the latest opinion survey poll I conducted for NACTA last month. The poll finds strong support for the government in investing in public housing.

A similar poll conducted in November 2020 revealed that the public felt that the present government showed greater commitment to public housing in its first three

months in office, than the previous g ‘Coalition’ government during the corresponding period, with respondents expressing greater faith and confidence in the PPP/C delivering on its promises. The public had high expectation in this government to deliver on housing demand and commitment.

Also, polls conducted in January, March, July, and August 2021 showed that people overwhelmingly believe that the present administration (and by extension Ministers Collin Croal and Susan Rodrigues) has performed better than its predecessor on public housing when compared against the the same period of time in office.

Since during the ‘Coalition’ administration that ended on August 1, 2020, there has been a backlog in house lot allocation. The public feels that the government has

responded well to the backlog, saying Ministers Croal and Rodrigues performed far more credibly than Annette Ferguson and other ‘Coalition’ ministers who were in charge of housing. The present ministers were described as being far more active and engaged with the public, and seen more on the ground than their predecessors. They have also delivered more house lots than their predecessors.

Even amidst the adverse impact of the coronavirus, the public feels the PPP/C administration has performed better than its predecessor.

The general feeling among poll respondents is that the present administration has delivered a lot more house lots in a year than what the preceding ‘Coalition’ distributed. Published data reveals that the ‘Coalition’ distributed some 7300 lots and built 500 homes. The

PPP/C administration thru August 2021 in its first year distributed some 7500 lots, and is building some 800 houses that would be ready by year end; some ‘turnkey’ houses were recently distributed. The government is building ‘turnkey’ houses in several communities, including in opposition strongholds.

In polls conducted during the Coalition’s tenure in office, as well as polls conducted since August 2020, supporters of the PPP/C complained that under the ‘Coalition’ government, housing (lots and turnkey) was given almost exclusively to its supporters. The present administration and the ministry have led an unprecedented campaign for public housing, with fair distribution to all, regardless of political affiliation and racial background. Under its raffle system, everyone has an equal

opportunity to gain access to a government home or house lot.

There is a housing shortage in the nation, particularly on the coastland. The strong demand for housing has resulted in housing as well as rental prices going up. Comfortable and safe housing has been in great demand.

Affordable housing is important for people’s security and well-being. And people are interested in home ownership. Insufficient income caused by the pandemic has forced people to make sacrifices in other areas of life in order to acquire a home.

In the surveys, the public considers housing a serious issue. Many complain that they can’t afford rent or mortgage in light of the pandemic that has led to widespread unemployment and loss of income since last year March.

Prior to that, over 15,000

lost their jobs during the ‘Coalition’ administration.

Thus, affordability of homes or rentals has been a problem in communities all over the country, stirring government into action to prepare land and infrastructure for housing to make it affordable for all.

Overall, the vast majority of the public approves of the performance of the Housing Ministry, its CEO Mr. Sherwyn Greaves, and the two responsible ministers. They note that the ministers, the CEO, and the ministry’s staff are far more active than their predecessors. Most of the public is also of the view that the last government failed to meet expectation, whereas this government is attempting to fulfill its Manifesto commitment to provide affordable housing.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday September 3, 2021

It is not right to speak selectively on matters Dear Editor,

IT is with much disappointment that I write to you today regarding the Transparency Institute Guyana Inc. (TIGI). As an institution that is supposed to be focused on transparency in the affairs of the country, we have seen them selectively speaking out on matters. In my opinion, and I am sure many of your readers would agree, it is very transparent where the TIGI stands. I ask that you

kindly allow me to voice some of my concerns.

First and foremost, there are a plethora of reasons as to why the TIGI in its current construct should be condemned by Guyanese. However, I know if I were to list them all, there would not be enough space in your publication to record them. As I said at the beginning, the TIGI is supposed to be focused on promoting transparency.

Yet, they are always silent when their voice is needed the most. I bring attention

to the fact that throughout the entire 2020 General and Regional Elections fiasco which we faced as a country, we heard nothing from this so-called “transparency institute”. When the APNU+AFC tried desperately to rig the elections in front of the nation and the world’s eyes, the TIGI was silent. We heard not a word from them when Mingo and Lowenfield tried to alter the results of the elections in favour of the Coalition.

One would assume that as a pro-transparency organisation

they would’ve at least called on the APNU+AFC to be transparent by releasing copies of their ‘winning’ SoPs. We are yet to hear anything in this regard. I ask this; where is the voice of Alfred Bulhai and the TIGI in this regard?

Mr. Editor, I wish to also point out that during the period 2015 to 2020 when the APNU+AFC Coalition was in office, several exposures of massive corruption were made. Where was the TIGI then? They were silent throughout it

all. However, prior to 2015 when the PPP/C was in government, the TIGI was very vocal. They spoke out aggressively against the government on every topic under the sun. The trend here is very clear. They spoke out in the pre-2015 period, were silent during the 2015 to 2020 period, and then suddenly became vocal again in the postAugust 2020 period. Where were Alfred Bulhai and TIGI when the APNU+AFC hid the signing bonus for a

year? When the Minister of Finance Winston Jordan said later that he thought it was a gift we heard not even a murmur from TIGI. Suddenly Bulhai and the other at GHRA have found their voice once again and they are enabled by certain media interests.

Mr. Editor, it is very obvious where the TIGI stand Yours respectfully, Alvin Hamilton

ILO: More than four billion people still lack any social protection

(ILO News) DESPITE the unprecedented worldwide expansion of social protection during the COVID-19 crisis, more than four billion people around the world remain entirely unprotected, a new International Labour Organization (ILO) report says.

The report stated that the pandemic response was uneven and insufficient, deepening the gap between countries with high-income and lowincome levels and failing to afford the muchneeded social protection that all human beings deserve.

Social protection includes access to healthcare and income security, particularly in relation to old age, unemployment, sickness, disability, work injury, maternity or loss of a main income earner, as well as for families with children. “ We m u s t r e c o g nise that effective and comprehensive social protection is not just essential for social justice and decent work but for creating a sustainable and resilient future too,” ILO Director-General, Guy Ryder, said.

He added: “Countries are at a crossroads.

This is a pivotal moment to harness the pandemic response to build a new generation of rights-based social protection systems.

These can cushion people from future crises and give workers and businesses the security to tackle the multiple transitions ahead with confidence and with hope. “ We m u s t r e c o g nise that effective and comprehensive social protection is not just essential for social justice and decent work but for creating a sustainable and resilient future too.”

The World Social Protection Report 202022: Social protection at the crossroads – in pursuit of a better future gives a global overview of recent developments in social protection systems, including social protection floors, and covers the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The report identifies protection gaps and sets out key policy recommendations, including in relation to the targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Currently, only 47 per cent of the global population is effectively covered by at least one social protection benefit, while 4.1 billion people (53 per cent) obtain no income security at all from their national social protection system.

There are significant regional inequalities in

social protection. Europe and Central Asia have the highest rates of coverage, with 84 per cent of people being covered by at least one benefit.

The Americas are also above the global average, with 64.3 per cent. Asia and the Pacific (44 per cent), the Arab States (40 per cent) and Africa (17.4 per cent) have marked coverage gaps.

Worldwide, the vast majority of children still have no effective social protection coverage – only one in four children (26.4 per cent) receives a social protection benefit.

Only 45 per cent of women with newborns worldwide receive a cash maternity benefit.

Only one in three persons with severe disabilities (33.5 per cent) worldwide receive a

disability benefit.

Coverage of unemployment benefits is even lower; only 18.6 per cent of unemployed workers worldwide are effectively covered.

And while 77.5 per cent of people above retirement age receive some form of old-age pension, major disparities remain across regions, between rural and urban areas, and between women and men.

Government spending on social protection also varies significantly.

On average, countries spend 12.8 per cent of their gross domestic product (GDP) on social protection (excluding health); however, high-income countries spend 16.4 per cent and low-income countries only 1.1 per cent of their GDP on social protection.

The report says that

the financing gap (the additional spending required to ensure at least minimum social protection for all) has increased by approximately 30 per cent since the start of the COVID-19 crisis.

To guarantee at least basic social protection coverage, low-income countries would need to invest an additional US$77.9 billion per year, lower-middle-income countries an additional US$362.9 billion per year and upper-middle-income countries a further US$750.8 billion per year. That’s equivalent to 15.9, 5.1 and 3.1 per cent of their GDP, respectively.

“There is an enormous push for countries to move to fiscal consolidation, after the massive public expenditure of their crisis response measures, but

it would be seriously damaging to cut back on social protection; investment is required here and now,” Director, ILO Social Protection Department, Shahra Razavi, said.

She added: “Social protection is an important tool that can create wide-ranging social and economic benefits for countries at all levels of development. It can underpin better health and education, greater equality, more sustainable economic systems, better managed migration and the observance of core rights.

“Building the systems that can deliver these positive outcomes will require a mix of financing sources and greater international solidarity, particularly with support for poorer countries. But the benefits of success will reach beyond national borders to benefit us all.”

Specific measures to promote universal social protection were highlighted in the Global Call to Action for a human-centred recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Call to Action, which outlines a comprehensive agenda for recovery, was endorsed unanimously in June 2021 by the ILO’s Member States, representing governments, workers’ and employers’ organisations.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday September 3, 2021

Economic, social empowerment of Indigenous women, youth being pursued

_ through new EU-funded project launched by the Amerindian Peoples Association THE Amerindian Peoples Association (APA) has embarked on a new project aimed at improving the economic and social outlook of Indigenous women and children through improved and sustainable livelihoods.

The idea of the project followed the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has severely impacted women, children, the elderly, and other vulnerable groups.

Although the APA is aware of the shortcomings and inadequacies previously faced by women and children in particular, the COVID-19

pandemic has exacerbated those circumstances. Notwithstanding this, women and children have played important roles during these difficult times.

“Women and youth have been part of collaborative efforts to secure and distribute food items, medical and sanitisation supplies, identify those in need, identify the types of support needed, and have played parts in public awareness in the communities,” the APA said in a press release.

The Association added: “This project will see

the APA working primarily with indigenous women and youth, in Regions One, Seven and Eight to strengthen their capacities by supporting their improvement and their communities in the long term; including, addressing the need for inclusion of both demographics in the decision-making process in community governance.”

The APA also intends to create opportunities to address the deficiencies in the representation of women and youth on issues of importance to them, such as economic livelihoods and social issues

such as domestic violence.

The Association will endeavour to collaborate with government agencies, the private sector and other NGOs to achieve this.

Among the key activities under the project are the facilitation of training workshops, and regional women and youth conferences.

Additionally, the proj-

ect will seek to develop six small-livelihood projects, which will be implemented and managed by the women and youth participants.

The APA believes that similar endeavours have failed because of a lack of skills to make them successful. “ H o w e v e r, w i t h training, financial sup-

port, and active monitoring, such projects will stand a better chance at success and have a lifespan beyond the project life,” the association related.

This project began in February 2021 with funding from the European Union and will run for 24 months.

More support for development projects expected

IN keeping with Guyana’s development trajectory, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, is attending the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group’s annual meetings in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Guyana’s delegation attending the meeting also includes First Secretary and Chargé d’affaires at Guyana’s Embassy in Kuwait, Safraaz Shadood.

The meetings, taking place from September 1 to September 4, will see the IsDB’s Boards of Governors and General Assemblies discussing development, economic and financial issues along with institutional matters.

Guyana became a member of the IsDB in 2016, making it the 57th country and the second from Latin America after Suriname to join the bank.

The meetings of the bank would usually attract over 2,000 participants and the IsDB has noted that the annual meetings offer an ideal platform for decision-makers to discuss challenges and explore economic and development opportunities available in member countries.

According to a press release from the Ministry of Finance, during the annual meetings, participants usually benefit from various knowledge-sharing and flagship events which fea-

Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh ture top-level panelists from governments, international and regional organisations, private sector, academia, and civil society.

Additionally, the knowledge-sharing events provide a dynamic platform to discuss economic, financial and development issues of current interest to IsDB Group member countries and their partners, while they also aim to encourage discussions and debates, promote partnerships, co-operation, and exchange experiences.

After being elected to office in August 2020, President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, met with President of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), Dr. Bandar Hajjar, and had discussions on financing for solar energy, agriculture, infrastructure, small and medium-sized enterprises (SME’s) and measures in the fight against COVID-19.

Then, in June last, following the unprecedented flooding of several areas in Guyana, the IsDB committed to mobilising support for the country, in terms of critical intervention measures following another meeting between its President and Dr. Ali. The IsDB President had assured Guyana’s Head of State that the bank would make all efforts to support Guyana’s rebuilding efforts and create more resilient infrastructure.

Early this month, the Government of Guyana applied for financial support from the IsDB for the Hinterland Electrification Programme.

Based on available information, some funding would be used to target the construction and rehabilitation of two small hydropower plants in Lethem, Region Nine.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday September 3, 2021

COVID-19 claims Hinterland students most affected by eight more lives school closure

_close to 2,000 active cases being monitored EIGHT more persons have died after contracting COVID-19, taking Guyana’s overall death toll to 632.

The Ministry of Health said that the latest fatalities are four females and four males. Aside from a 53-year-old woman from Region Four, who died on August 31, every other person passed away on September 1.

Those persons are a 91-year-old woman from Region Seven; a 49-year-old woman and a 76-year-old man from Region Three; a 58-year-old woman and an 85-year-old man from Region Four; a 57-year-old man from Region Seven, and an 85-year-old man from Region Two. According to the ministry, they all died while receiving treatment for symptoms of COVID-19 at a local healthcare facility.

Additionally, there are currently 1,987 active COVID-19 cases in Guyana, following the addition of 181 new cases on September 2,

2021, after 1,404 tests.

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

Region Four accounted for 113 of the new cases. Regions Two and 10 recorded four new cases each; Region Three recorded 27 new cases; Region Five recorded six new cases; Regions Six and Eight recorded three new cases each; Region Seven recorded 20 new cases, and Region Nine recorded one new case.

Even as new cases were recorded, 142 persons were reported to have recovered from the virus, bringing the total number of recoveries to 23,338.

The country has now recorded a total of 25,951 confirmed cases since the first COVID-19 case was reported in March 2020.

Of the active cases, 33 persons are at the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the National Infectious Diseases Hospital, Liliendaal,

116 are in institutional isolation, 1,832 are in home isolation and six are in institutional quarantine.

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

The updated COVID–19 Emergency Measures are in force from September 1, 2021, until September 30, 2021. They may be extended or amended by notice of the Minister of Health, after an assessment of the prevailing public health conditions of the pandemic.

As per the current measures, however, all persons are required to wear face masks when leaving their homes, and practice physical distancing. A national curfew from 22:30 hours to 04:00 hours is in place.

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

_Education Minister says

MINISTER of Education, Priya Manickchand, has said students in the hinterland regions have been most affected by the closure of schools, as they were unable to access the interventions put in place for education delivery.

She made the statement on Wednesday, during the launch of Education Month 2021 at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.

“The children who are most impacted by school closure, are the children from the Amerindian villages and the hinterland communities because the fancy interventions simply cannot reach them because of various infrastructure deficits in the country,” the Education Minister said.

Minister Manickchand

Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand said the ministry will be addressing the issues in its 2021-2025 sectoral strategic plan, adding that it will require “humane leadership and an innate desire” to see better for the people of this country.

She added: “We can’t deliver education as we need to with school doors closed… that 17 months

we’ve been out of school equates to about one year of quality learning for all the children who stayed out of school,” Education month was launched under the theme: “Education for all: innovative teaching and learning during a global pandemic.”

(DPI)

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DEAD: Shanicka Forde

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday September 3, 2021

GDF Lance Corporal, girlfriend gunned down execution-style in Sophia

DEAD: Lance Corporal Daniel Fraser

TWENTY-six-year-old Daniel Fraser, a Lance Corporal in the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and his 23-year-old girlfriend, Shanicka Forde, were on Wednesday night gunned down while on their way to his Lot 598 ‘A’ Field, Sophia home.

Reports are that Forde, who resides in Barbados, was staying at her friend Tashanna George’s South Sophia, East Coast Demerara home while she was on vacation here in Guyana for the past three months.

The young couple had been reportedly dating for just two weeks when the incident occurred.

Word is that on Wednes-

day evening, the couple had been “having a few drinks” at a shop in ‘C’ Field Sophia before heading for home at around 23:30hrs on Fraser’s motorcycle.

According to reports, no sooner had they set off west along ‘B’ Field, Sophia than they were accosted by an unknown male on a bicycle.

As the suspect drew alongside the couple, he allegedly opened fire on them, causing them both to fall off the motorcycle.

Once satisfied that the job was done, the suspect reportedly rode off in a westerly direction and made good his escape.

Fraser and his girlfriend

were picked up by his brother, Darrell, and taken, by taxi, to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where they were both pronounced dead on arrival.

According to the police, Fraser, who was hit just once, took that bullet in the chest.

Forde, on the other hand, was shot thrice; once in the chest, and in the right knee.

The third bullet entered her abdomen from the right and exited on the left.

The couple’s bodies are currently at the GPHC’s mortuary awaiting the mandatory post mortem examination, while the police have launched an investigation into the shooting.

CANU uncovers 152lbs of cannabis in barrels at Norton Street

The parcels of suspected local and foreign cannabis which were found in three barrels at a building on Norton Street, on Thursday OFFICERS of the Customs Anti Narcotic Unit (CANU), on Thursday, discovered 152lbs of cannabis hidden in barrels.

According to the unit, officers, act-

ing on information, conducted a search of the upper flat of a building at Lot 42 Norton Street, and found parcels of suspected local and

foreign cannabis in three barrels.

Even while investigations are ongoing, one person was arrested and escorted to CANU Headquarters.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday September 3, 2021

COVID-19 measures in_place to create a safe work environment President Ali says

President, Dr. Irfaan Ali

PRESIDENT Dr. Irfaan Ali has said that the COVID-19 measures which the government has implemented are intended to create a safe work environment.

President Ali was responding to reports that several workers’ unions have approached the High Court to challenge the measures in place to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in Guyana.

“We have not made vaccination mandatory; what we have done is to say that in order to secure people who are vaccinated and have a safe work environment… And part of the

Berbice deep water port to create myriad opportunities

REGIONAL Chairman of the Regional Democratic Council of Six, David Armogan, has said that the construction of the Berbice deep water port will create tremendous opportunities for the people of the county.

Armogan was at the time addressing residents during the celebration of New Amsterdam’s 130th anniversary as a township, on Wednesday.

The multimillion-dollar project is being undertaken

by Canadian oil-and-gas exploration company, CGX Energy Inc. The wharf is being constructed on 30 acres of land on the eastern bank of the Berbice River, adjacent to Crab Island.

“That project has already started by CGX, the road is being constructed. I was there a few days ago and the infrastructure is almost 50 per cent completed… so the rice boats and many of the

Regional Chairman of the Regional Democratic Council of Six, David Armogan other small [boats] coming from the Caribbean and elsewhere will be able to bring their cargo here in New Amsterdam and take cargo from the region out into the Caribbean and other places,” the Regional Chairman said.

He said it is major development being undertaken that will benefit the people, especially through job creation.

“I know for a fact, too, that we have high levels of unemployment and so any business that comes to our

town or any new investment that is being promoted within this area is welcomed because it creates employment for our people and puts money in the pockets of ordinary people,” he said.

Since the PPP/C administration took office in August 2020, there have been tremendous investments by foreign companies. This was due to the diligent work of the government to return confidence to the economy by restoring democracy. (DPI)

labour relations is to have a safe work environment. If unvaccinated persons have a greater possibility of creating an unsafe environment, then you have to make decisions,” the President said on the side-lines of an

event at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre on Wednesday.

Urging that people should try to understand the public health issue, President Ali said: “Look at what is happening in many countries in the region with ‘Delta’; many of the countries are running out of oxygen.

And if we understand this, and

the public health implications of this, I’m sure we’ll all make the right decision that we have to support vaccination.”

The government continues to execute an aggressive vaccination campaign, maintaining that vaccination is the surest way out of the pandemic. (DPI)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday September 3, 2021

UNHCR supports efforts to equip schools with sanitary items _ ahead of physical reopening on Monday

THE United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has donated protective gear and cleaning products to the Ministry of Education, to support hygiene measures at schools across Guyana, which are scheduled for physical reopening on Monday.

The donation includes 5,000 face masks, 5,000 bars of hand soap, 500 bottles of hydrogen peroxide, and 150 bottles of hand sanitiser.

“We are working to ensure that our schools, our environment for learning is presented in a safe way, conforming to COVID-19 guidelines for engagement and interaction,” Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Education, Alfred King, said during a brief handing-over ceremony on Thursday.

He added: “The timely donation by UNHCR will go a long way in

UNHCR representatives hand over cleaning supplies and protective equipment to officials of the Ministry of Education (UNHCR/ Syed Mazhar photo) helping us to provide that safe environment.”

These donations are part of the continued efforts to support the Government of Guyana in preventing the spread of COVID-19 across several regions, especially those hosting refugees and migrants.

So far for this year, the UNHCR has donated hygiene products and equipment to be used in five out of the 10 administrative regions in Guyana.

In total, over 5,000 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits along with many cleaning supplies and prefabricated housing units for quarantine facilities were donated by UNHCR since the start of the pandemic.

“UNHCR remains committed to supporting the Government of Guyana and its people in the fight against COVID-19, especially now as we endeavour to reopen schools” UNHCR’s Assistant Education Officer,

Samantha Bipat, said.

Further, she related: “With these donations, UNHCR hopes to support all people, including refugees, migrants and their host communities, to stay safe against COVID-19.”

Guyana hosts an estimated 20,000 refugees and migrants, mainly from Venezuela, who hope to rebuild a future in the Caribbean country.

UNHCR and its partners have stepped up support to supplement the government’s efforts in responding to pressing needs, including education.

Over the past two years, UNHCR has provided English as a second language courses to some 500 refugee and migrant children and adults across Guyana, to help them better integrate in host communities.

During the pandemic, these lessons have been delivered remotely and in person at a reduced capacity.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday September 3, 2021

Over 5,000 persons vaccinated against COVID-19 in one day A citizen being vaccinated (DPI photo)

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony (DPI photo) HEALTH Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony, said a record 5,240 adults and children received their COVID-19 jabs on Wednesday, the highest number to be vaccinated in any one day since the countrywide campaign began.

“Yesterday [Wednesday] we had record numbers of vaccinations. So, yesterday we recorded 5,240 persons receiving their vaccinations,

so I would say that’s a record high for us and I do hope that this trend continues… this has been one of the highest vaccination rates by schools that we’ve completed so far,” Dr. Anthony said during Thursday’s COVID-19 update.

Wednesday’s vaccination drive at Queens College saw some 951 adolescents taking the Pfizer jab, while at other sites some 1,691 adults took

their first dose and 2,595 adults took their second dose.

The Health Minister commended teachers for assisting with the registration process, which allowed more vaccines to be administered.

“So, the staff of the ministry focused more on doing the vaccination. So, I think the collaboration was a good one, and which allowed us to really be able to provide more vaccination for the

people who turn up,” Minister Anthony said.

The adolescents’ vaccination drive was taken to schools in Region Three, where scores of children will be immunised.

“In Region Three, as of today [Thursday], we will be at the West Demerara Secondary School and we would also be at the Leonora Secondary school and at Greenwich Park Primary. So, I do

hope that persons in Region Three would bring their children out to these facilities,” Dr. Anthony said.

N a t i o n a l l y, s o f a r, 316,973 persons or 61.8 per cent of the country’s adult population have taken the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, while 165,401 or 32.2 per cent took both doses.

The Ministry of Health has also administered

4,362 first doses of the Pfizer vaccine to adolescents.

Dr. Anthony urged persons to take the COVID-19 vaccine and protect themselves from the deadly disease. He is also reminding parents to walk with a form of identification and parental consent forms when taking their children for the vaccine.

(DPI)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday September 3, 2021

A HERITAGE FLASHBACK Like everything else in our lives, the damning coronavirus has affected the way we celebrate Indigenous Heritage Month, which honours the indelible contributions that our Amerindian brothers and sisters

have made to this dear land of ours.

Even though September 2021 will not be characterised by its usual pomp and ceremony, we hope that Guyanese from all walks of

life will use the period to reflect and appreciate our shared heritage and the role that the indigenous peoples have played in creating the Guyana we know and love today.

With these beautiful photos plastered below, we at the Buzz, share with you, reminders of Amerindian Heritage Month, celebrated in a pre-COVID-19 era. Happy Amerindian Heritage Month, Guyana!

The winner and runners-up of the Amerindian Heritage Month Pageant of 2013

A lively dance performance during the 2013 launch of Amerindian Before masks and social distancing characterised of lives, Guyanese from all walks of life would get together in large numbers to embrace and indulge

Then President, Donald Ramotar, along with Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai shares a light moment with a group of Amerindian performers. Seated are former Prime Minister, Samuel Hinds and former Member of Parliament, Jenifer Webster

This young woman is all smiles as she fixes her friend’s headband

Cheers to Amerindian Heritage Month!

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday September 3, 2021

Making best use of pandemic downtime…

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-UK-based musician says: ‘I am finally getting to live my truth’ WHILE the C o r o n a v i r u s pandemic has wreaked complete havoc on the lives of some individuals and families, it has also created the space and provided the time needed for many to find their ‘truth’; during this period, many have been afforded the opportunity to introspect and think about what they really want to do in life.

Such is the case of 28-year-old Erica Hyacinth Elfrieda Bissember, a budding United Kingdom (UK)based musician with Guyanese roots. Having been a projects manager for some time, Erica realised during the pandemic that perhaps music is what she’s meant to do.

“When we went into a lockdown, I re-evaluated where I was at in my life. I felt like everything I did always drew me back to music in some way or another,” she told Buzz during a recent interview.

She explained that working from the confines of her own home helped her tremendously

to focus on herself, and her plans for the future.

The pandemic period, according to Bissember, afforded her more free time to do the things that she loved. “Music was something that I’ve always loved from a young age, so when I started spending time with a new vocal coach that I found, it was like a stress relief to begin with. But then we started working on writing songs and focusing on the type of voice I have and I how I wanted it to sound,” she reflected.

This led her to recording and releasing her very first song in July titled, “Trust Me.” So now at the beginning of her career, Erica, going now by the stage name ‘Erica Sember,’ said she is learning as she goes along, and the support she has received from both the people of Guyana and those in the UK, has truly been helpful.

Born in Guyana, ‘Erica Sember’ migrated to the UK when she was about five years old with her Guyanese parents; her mom being from New Amsterdam, Berbice and her dad being from Georgetown.

She recalled that she was about 10 years old

Erica recorded and released her first song last July titled, “Trust Me.” when she started playing the piano properly after her mom decided to send her for professional lessons.

“In my subconscious, I did think about a career in music but I just got so shy as the years went on. I didn’t like playing in front of people even though I was really good. I used to get very nervous,” Bissember related.

However, owing to an electric connection that constantly drew her back to music, Erica realised that perhaps it was time to overcome her fear and embrace the fact that music was maybe

Erica has embraced the fact that music is what she’s meant to be doing.

what she was meant to be doing.

“Music has always kind of consoled me as I passed through different things in life.

My goal is just to keep creating music that

can help people and bring them together. I would like to be global, touring, traveling, but ultimately, my goal is to share and connect with people,” Erica expressed.

Aside from being shy, the young woman said that her thoughts about getting into music were always hindered by the thought of it not being the right time to pursue a musical career; at least until now.

“During the pandemic, I had time to sit down and think [about] what it was that I really wanted to do. I was honest with myself that this is what I see myself doing and this is what I enjoy. It just made sense to do it. I wanted to live my truth I guess.”

Erica Sember is hoping to come back to Guyana and meet some of the people who would have reached out to her recently on her music.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday September 3, 2021

‘A taste of heritage’ starts today!

As we begin a monthlong celebration of all things Amerindian, the folks down at the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs will be serving up a number of scrumptious Amerindian delicacies

for lunch, and, for free!

Starting today, and continuing throughout the auspicious month of September, persons can visit the ministry’s Thomas and Quamina Streets, Georgetown location to pick up their goodies and indulge in the cuisine that was brought to these shores thousands of years ago, by our indigenous ancestors.

According to a notice published by the ministry, the tantalising dishes that will be available all through the month include bush cow pepperpot with cassava bread, bush cow tuma with cassava, deer tuma with cassava, tambaqui tuma with cassava and roast tambaqui tuma with farine.

And, to wash it all down, the ministry will

also be providing some of our favourite Amerindian drinks such as fly (potato wine), piwari, vegetable farine, and locally-made fruit juices in a number of flavours such as pineapple, passion fruit and guava.

The organisers

at the ministry say that lunches will be packed and ready for pick-up promptly at 12:00hrs, throughout the entire month. Do not miss out on the opportunity to feed those cravings!

Satisfy all your cravings for Amerindian mouth-watering dishes, for free!

(Photos by Visit Guyana)

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday September 3, 2021

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday September 3, 2021

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday September 3, 2021

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US Open Tennis

Former champion Stephens sends teen sensation Gauff packing in second round NEW YORK, (Reuters) - Experience trumped youth as former champion Sloane Stephens’ deadly forehand sealed fellow American Coco Gauff’s fate 6-4 6-2 in the second round of the U.S. Open on Wednesday.

The pair appeared evenly matched early on but the 17-year-old Gauff handed Stephens a critical break with a double fault on the last point in the ninth game and never regained the momentum from her 28-year-old opponent.

In the second set, Gauff failed to convert the only break point opportunity she had against the 2017 champion, who had eight forehand winners across the one hour and six minute meeting on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

“The forehand was key today,” Stephens said “I

Sloane Stephens of the USA celebrates after defeating Cori Gauff of the USA on day three of the 2021 U.S. Open tennis tournament.

Credit: Robert DeutschUSA TODAY Sports

wanted to come out here and really execute and play my game.”

Stephens won the last seven points in a row, as she dominated from the baseline and had a two break advantage headed into the final game.

Stephens got 84% of her first serves in across the match. Gauff committed four double faults.

“Serving that high percentage for me is always really key just because I can get into the points and I can start off aggressive with me dictating play, which is what I want to do,” said Stephens.

The off-court friends hugged at the net after the match and Stephens heaped praise on the 23rd-ranked Gauff, a fan favourite at Flushing Meadows who reached the quarter-finals at Roland-Garros earlier this year, the best major performance of her career.

“I love Coco, I think everyone knows I love Coco,” said Stephens. “I’ve seen her game really transition and change ... I know there’s going to be great things ahead for her.”

Root’s late wicket closes absorbing ...

From Back Page Curran in the England XI, dismissing Rohit Sharma (11) with his sixth delivery, removing Ravindra Jadeja (10) and Rishabh Pant (9), and then ending a blistering knock from India No 8 Shardul Thakur (57 off 36), who smashed three sixes and seven fours to lift India from 127-7.

Thakur’s 31-ball fifty was the fastest-ever in a Test in England, beating Sir Ian Botham’s 32-ball effort against New Zealand, also at The Oval, in 1986.

Umesh Yadav - who had been at the other end as Thakur dominated an eighth-wicket stand of 63 from 48 balls - then picked up the prize scalp of England captain Root before

stumps, bowling the new top-ranked Test batsman in the world between bat and pad with a beauty.

Jasprit Bumrah earlier accounted for openers Rory Burns (5) and Haseeb Hameed (0) to reduce England to 6-2 - the former dragging onto his stumps off an inside edge and the latter caught behind on the cut for a 12-ball duck while Dawid Malan (26no) and nightwatchman Craig Overton (1no) ended the day at the crease, with the hosts trailing by 138.

India captain Virat Kohli (50) - dropped by Root off Woakes on 22 - was the only visiting batsman bar Thakur to pass 17 as his side followed a paltry first-innings score of 78 during their innings-and-76-run defeat in

the third Test in Leeds with another lowly total, the away side rolled in 61.3 overs amid some patchy England catching, Ollie Robinson (3-38) was the man to claim Kohli’s wicket as the batsman’s sequence without a Test hundred extended to 20 innings, with his previous ton coming against Bangladesh in Kolkata in November 2019.

That will frustrate Kohli, as will the majority of his side’s batting, but he will be buoyed by the fightback with the ball and especially the fact that Root, who has scored six Test centuries in 2021 and three in as many matches against India this summer, has been banished. (Sky SportsCaption; Photo saved: Bowled

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday September 3, 2021

Ronaldo to wear number ...

From Back Page

“I wasn’t sure if it would be possible to have the number seven shirt again, so I would like to say a huge thank you to Edi [Cavani] for this incredible gesture,” Ronaldo said.

“The Portuguese superstar famously wore the legendary shirt number during his first spell at United and we can now confirm that Ronaldo will

have it on his back once again,” United said on their website.

Ronaldo completed a shock move back to Old Trafford on transfer deadline day and is in line to make his second debut for the Red Devils against Newcastle in the Premier League on Saturday, 11 September.

Ronaldo became the alltime leading men’s interna-

tional goalscorer with two goals against the Republic of Ireland on Tuesday, but was booked by the referee for removing his shirt.

Ronaldo scored two late headers to take his tally to 111 for Portugal, surpassing the record previously held by Ali Daei, who scored 109 goals for Iran between 1993 and 2OO6.

(BBC Sport).

Warriors skittled for 98 after ... From Back Page

six wickets for 35 runs in quick time.

The victory was the second for the Kings in four matches, and it carried them to four points, four adrift of leaders St Kitts and Nevis Patriots who are still unbeaten.

“It feels good obviously to get a win now,” said Manof-the-Match Chase.

“We’re at two wins so we’re up in the table now.

We were at the bottom feeling a bit down about that but obviously we’re up in the table now and feeling good about this win.”

Sent in, Kings were floundering at seven for two in the second over before Chase engineered the revival.

First, he put on 74 for the third wicket with Mark Deyal (20) before adding a further 51 for the fourth wicket with Tim David (15).

All told, the 29-year-old thumped half-dozen fours and seven sixes before falling to a stunning catch by Gudakesh Motie at deep point off fast bowler Romario Shepherd who claimed three for 21.

Fast bowler Smith ended with three for 22.

McCoy then struck twice as Amazon Warriors slumped to 15 for four before recovering courtesy of a 48-run fifth wicket stand between Pooran and Shimron Hetmyer (9).

Pooran, short of runs in

the tournament, blasted a two fours and five sixes but Hetmyer was subdued in contrast, spending 21 balls without a boundary before perishing in the 12th over.

Smith entered to belt a four and four sixes but Pooran’s demise in the 14th over, holing out to long on off Chase, ended Amazon Warriors’ faint hopes.

“I’m happy we restricted them to 149 but I’m not happy with that bowling performance. We kept giving them free hits. It’s unacceptable and I’m unhappy,” said a disappointed Pooran.

Amazon Warriors lie fourth on four points.

RACING TIPS American Racing Tips Saratoga Race 1 Lanzoni Race 2 Bubble Rock Race 3 Repo Rocks Race 4 Grape Nuts Warrior Race 5 Papa Smooth

South Africa Racing Tips Fairview 08:15 hrs Lady Defiance 08:50 hrs Marmara Sea 09:25 hrs Oscar Wilde 10:00 hrs Teofila 10:35 hrs Palace Queen

Gulfstream Race1 Pure Ambition Race 2 Emperor’s Song Race 3 Tonalism Race 4 Classic Film Race 5 Kiger Race 6 Piper Race 7 Muted

English Racing Tips Ascot 08:20 hrs Captain’s Bar 08:55 hrs Saga 09:30 hrs Arafi 10:05 hrs Love Is Golden 10:40 hrs Uncle Bryn 11:10 hrs Dancinginthewoods 11:45 hrs Papacito

Canadian.Racing Tips Woodbine Race 1 My Final Trick Race 2 Artful Ballerina Race 3 Artful Hallie Race 4 Personal Journey

Newcastle 08:35 hrs Hackberry 09:10 hrs Bashkirova 09:45 hrs Sanitiser 10:20 hrs Brazen Bolt

10:50 hrs Nibras Shadow 11:20 hrs Tatsumaki 11:55 hrs Dusky Lord Pontefract 12:00 hrs Riunshaw Lane 12:30 hrs Kit Gabriel 13:00 hrs Strait Of Hormuz 13:30 hrs Water Iris 14:00 hrs Blissful Song 14:30 hrs King Of Stars Irish Racing Tips Down Royal 10:45 hrs Brostaigh 11:15 hrs Mickey The Steel 11:50 hrs Snaffles 12:22 hrs Purple Gown 12:52 hrs Mountain Fox 13:22 hrs Silent Performance 13:52 hrs Dollar Value 14:22 hrs No Trouble

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday September 3, 2021

‘We got a lot off our chests’: Langer resets for big summer AUSTRALIA coach Justin Langer has cleared the air with players while seeking to reset focus to the T20 World Cup and Ashes.

Media reports of player unease about Langer hit a crescendo in recent weeks, prompting Cricket Australia (CA) chief executive Nick Hockley to release a public statement backing the coach to oversee the team this summer.

Hockley and CA chairman Earl Eddings then held a call with on-field leaders Tim Paine, Aaron Finch and Pat Cummins.

Langer, who is contracted until mid-2022, has since debriefed with players.

“We all got a lot off our chests,” Langer told the West Australian newspaper.

“I think we are all in a better place now.

“The situation at the moment is very tough but I am confident that I will become

Coach Justin Langer says he has spoken to players about their concerns, seeking to get everyone on the same page before the T20 World Cup.

a better coach from it.

“When you win, everyone is happy and gets on with things but when you are losing, that is when the

finger pointing starts and people look for excuses.

“We have had a rough trot in recent times but we retained the Ashes only a little

Shastri denies claims of rift between Kohli and Sharma

FORMER Indian player and current team head coach Ravi Shastri states that he has never seen any rift between skipper Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma and that their coordination has always been good.

Notably, there have been a plethora of reports in the past that have suggested an alleged rift between the Indian players, with different reasons speculated Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli behind. Although, clearing the air from his side, Shastri laid it clear that neither there has been any such rift nor would the team not get affected if there existed any such problem between the two.

“I never saw it. So when people used to ask me like this, I say what you have seen I have not seen. Hamesha taalmel acha hai (the coordination has always been there).

I have never seen it affecting the team. If I see an effect in the team, I will say on Virat or Rohit’s face that this is not on and you have to look at things differently. But not once have I seen it impacting the team from day 1. I am a person who says what I want,” Shastri told Times Now. Skipper Kohli too has been questioned over the same in the past when he brushed aside such claims and termed them “ridiculous to read” while highlighting how important is the dressing room atmosphere for a team to succeed.

“I too have heard a lot. Dressing room atmosphere is important to succeed. If this (rumour of the rift) was true, we would not have performed well. It’s ridiculous to read such news. We are overlooking facts. We are turning blind eyes towards good things. I have been to public events where we have been praised and here we are feeding off lies, turning a blind eye to all good things that happened and creating fantasies and scenarios in our head,” Kohli had said after the 2019 ODI World Cup. “You’ll come to the changing room and see how we are. We can’t show you videos.

It baffles you as a team member and the captain,” he further stated.

Kohli was not shy in praising his counterpart. “I have always praised Rohit whenever I have got an opportunity because I believe he is that good. I don’t know who is benefitting from all of this but we are living, breathing towards getting Indian cricket to the top, and here we get some kind of pleasure in bringing Indian cricket down.” (CricTracker)

while ago and were ranked No.1 in Test and T20 cricket not that long ago. Get back to winning and you won’t hear about anything else.”

It comes a week after Usman Khawaja declared Langer is the right man to coach Australia, lamenting how the under-siege mentor would feel like players “are stabbing him in the back”.

Australia’s World Cup campaign begins in the UAE on October 23, while several squad members, who have been inactive since the first phase of the IPL, will soon depart for the second phase in the UAE. It is the second time this year that Langer has sought to address player unease with his coaching style.

Leadership consultant Tim Ford canvassed players’ views about Langer and other topics after the 2020-21 summer.

Ford’s review was passed onto Langer, who raised the subject as part of a camp on the Gold Coast that preceded this year’s

T20 tour of the West Indies.

“I left the camp feeling like Superman,” Langer said in July.

“I’m not a great coach yet, I’m aspiring to be a great coach.

“I was really honest about that and it was a really, really uplifting two days Australia suffered 4-1 T20 series losses in the Caribbean and Bangladesh, with seven players opting to skip the tour.

Cummins remained home with his pregnant fiancée and will also skip the upcoming IPL resumption.

Steve Smith cited an elbow injury, but will return to the IPL, as will David Warner, Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis.

Kane Richardson, Jhye Richardson and Daniel Sams also missed the Windies and Bangladesh tour.

(AAP).

England captain Joe Root hits top spot in ICC Test batting rankings ENGLAND captain Joe Root is the new number one Test batsman in the world after returning to top spot in the International Cricket Council (ICC) rankings for the first time in six years.

Root previously held the number one spot back in 2015 but had drifted to ninth at the start of 2021.

Since then he has been in masterful form, scoring 1,398 runs in 11 matches at a lofty average of 69.90. There have been six centuries since the Joe Root is the new number one Test batsman in the turn of the year, including three world. in as many matches in the ongoing series against India.

The 30-year-old has hit scores of 109, 180 not out and 121 in the past month, during which he has soared past opposite number Virat Kohli, Australia duo Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith and New Zealand captain Kane Williamson.

Root took the news in his stride, suggesting there was more still to come from him.

“It’s a nice thing to hear, but I’m focused on trying to keep scoring runs in this series and get us across the line,” he said.

“Hopefully the form of my life is still to come, but certainly I feel very good at the minute.

I’ve got to stay focused and diligent in my preparation and doing the work around the games to keep giving myself the best chance to keep banging out some big scores.

“As nice as it is there is still so much hard work to do. The focus doesn’t change, it’s all about trying to keep getting better, continue scoring runs and hopefully setting up games to win Test matches.”

Root has reached 916 ranking points, just one behind his 2015 peak and 15 clear of Williamson. The run-scoring burden that sits on Root’s shoulders is exemplified by the fact Ben Stokes, currently on an indefinite hiatus, is England’s next batsman on the list at number 16. Of those currently in the team, Rory Burns follows at 24.

Among the bowlers former world number one James Anderson is England’s leading name, back up to number five in a list led by Australian Pat Cummins, while Ollie Robinson’s player of the match performance at Headingley sees him jump up to 36th place after only four Tests.

For the first time in almost four years, Kohli is not his side’s top-rated batsman. After just one half-century in seven innings since arriving in England, he has been usurped by opener Rohit Sharma at number five. (PA Sport).

22

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday September 3, 2021

Spain lose first World Cup qualifier since 1993 SPAIN suffered their first World Cup qualifying defeat since 1993 as Sweden came from behind to end La Roja’s 66-game run.

Carlos Soler volleyed Luis Enrique’s Spain into an early lead in Stockholm on his international debut.

But just 12 seconds after play resumed Alexander Isak took advantage of a defensive mistake to slam home.

Viktor Claesson controlled Dejan Kulusevski’s pass before firing in a famous winner from 12 yards out.

The previous team to beat Spain in a World Cup qualifier were Sweden’s neighbours, Denmark, in March 1993 in Copenhagen.

Since then Spain had won 52 World Cup qualifiers and drawn the other 14.

The win takes Sweden top of Group B on nine points from three games.

Spain have seven points from four games and could be facing a play-off for a place at the 2022 World Cup with only the group winners qualifying automatically.

(BBC Sport).

Viktor Claesson’s goal helped Sweden keep up their 100% record in World Cup qualifying

Fernando century England’s 4-0 victory over Hungary puts first ODI marred by reports of racism in Budapest beyond South Africa AVISHKA Fernando’s third ODI century set Sri Lanka on course for a 14-run win in the opener of their threematch series against South Africa.

The Proteas were always fighting a losing battle in Colombo after allowing Sri Lanka to make 300-9 – their highest total in 50-over cricket in 2021.

Avishka (118) was the star with the bat, putting on 79 in a partnership with Dhananjaya de Silva (44) that was disrupted briefly by a rain delay, with better to come as he was joined in the middle by Charith Asalanka (72).

Avishka Fernando’s third ODI century set Sri Lanka on course.

That stand of 97 for the fourth wicket put Sri Lanka in command, as a bowling attack led by Kagiso Rabada (2-66) struggled to keep them in check.

South Africa were no more than steady in reply and keenly felt the dismissal of Aiden Markram to an outstanding Wanindu Hasaranga catch after 96 runs, including four sixes.

Captain Temba Bavuma had already retired hurt after taking a blow to his hand, and Rassie van der Dussen’s departure preceded some superb death bowling to see Sri Lanka comfortably over the line – the Proteas short of their target on 286-6.

With the exception of Keshav Maharaj, who gave up 30 runs in 10 overs for his most economical ODI return, South Africa’s bowlers were really poor. But Avishka and Asalanka still had to capitalise and did exactly that with a vital partnership that scored at 8.19 an over.

South Africa required 41 off 25 when Van der Dussen departed, yet they mustered only two more boundaries – both fours from Rabada in the final over when the chase was up. Hasaranga started well and finished strongly, too, slowing Heinrich Klaasen in giving up just three from the 47th over.(Sportsmax).

Raheem Sterling scored his 18th goal for England.

ENGLAND’s 4-0 victory over Hungary in Budapest was marred by missiles being thrown at Raheem Sterling by

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Friday September 03, 2021) CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) 24 matches (2) 33 matches Today’s Quiz: (1) Who scored most runs in CPL 2013?

(2) Who struck the highest score in CPL 2013?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

home supporters and reports of monkey-chants during the World Cup qualifier.

Sterling opened the scoring in the 55th minute at the Ferenc Puskas Arena and celebrated by revealing a T-shirt with the message “Love you forever Steffie Greg” in tribute to his friend who died of Covid-19 earlier this week.

But the Manchester City forward was then pelted with plastic drinks thrown by a section of the crowd, with UK broadcasters ITV reporting that Sterling and Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham had also been subjected to monkey chants during the second half.

With no away fans in attendance, the jeers that had earlier met England’s players taking the knee before kick-off in the now-familiar stance against racism and discrimination was deafening. Hungary’s fans have been given a two-game stadium ban by UEFA for racist and homophobic behaviour at the Euro 2020 finals and will serve it when the Nations League kicks off next summer.

Goals from Harry Kane, Harry Maguire and Declan Rice secured a comfortable win for Gareth Southgate’s side as they strengthened their chances of qualifying for next year’s World Cup in Qatar. (The Guardian).

23

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday September 3, 2021

Rutherford’s unbeaten half-century helps Patriots maintain unbeaten run BASSETERRE - St Kitts and Nevis Patriots carried on their unbeaten start in the 2021 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) with a six wicket victory over the Jamaica Tallawahs at Warner Park in St Kitts and Nevis on Wednesday night.

The Patriots won the toss and elected to field first and a disciplined bowling performance restricted the Tallawahs to 166/8, a total that appeared under par for the track.

In reply the Patriots proved that assessment to be accurate as they made it four wins from four with

another dominant batting display led by the tournament’s top scorer Sherfane Rutherford.

The Tallawahs got their innings off to a lightning start with the hard-hitting duo of Chadwick Walton and Kennar Lewis putting on a blistering partnership of 41 runs inside 3.3 overs.

However, once Paul Van Meekeren dismissed Kennar Lewis that led to a shift in the innings with the Patriots tightening the screws courtesy of some economical bowling by captain DJ Bravo.

Things were to go from bad to worse for the Talla-

wahs when Walton had to retire hurt, tweaking his hamstring after running a quick single.

It took an enterprising counter-attack by Rovman Powell and Carlos Brathwaite in the back end of the innings to revitalise the Tallawahs and this was further boosted by some late blows by the lower order to ensure they posted a respectable total.

The Patriots made a similar start in their innings, with Evin Lewis bringing the early fireworks, but the wickets of Devon Thomas and Asif Ali in quick succession followed

by Evin Lewis left the game

in the balance.

If things were finely poised Sherfane Rutherford and Fabian Allen made light work of the equation, a fantastic display of power hitting saw the pair smash 55 runs from 20 balls to seal the win at a canter.(CPLT20) Brief scores: Tallawahs 166/8 (20 overs) (Carlos Brathwaite 27, Chadwick Walton 26, Rovman Powell 24; Dwayne Bravo 3-25, Paul van Meekeren 2-25) vs PATRIOTS 169/4 (17.4 overs) (Sherfane Rutherford 50 not out, Evin Lewis 39, Fabian Allen 30 not out).

Caption: Photo saved: Rutherford

Sherfane Rutherford of St Kitts & Nevis Patriots hits four during the 2021 Hero Caribbean Premier League match 12 against Jamaica Tallawahs at Warner Park Sporting Complex in Basseterre, St Kitts and Nevis on Wednesday night. Patriots won by six wickets. (Photo by Randy Brooks - CPL T20/Getty Images)

BCB donates ground covers to Windies Women slump to WBCA as development continues defeat in second T20 against

South Africa

Executives of the BCB and WBCA with the new cover which was presented to the WBCA. BERBICE Cricket Board (BCB) president Hilbert Foster yesterday officially fulfilled yet another commitment to the West Berbice Cricket Association (WBCA) as part of their continued growth, by donating one cover for the ground; further adding to the maintenance of the venue.

Foster, accompanied by long-serving BCB Secretary Angela Haniff, presented the cover worth $324,000.00, to the executives of the WBCA held at the Cotton Tree Ground, West Berbice.

Ms. Haniff made the presentation to some of the representatives of the Association including President David Black, Secretary Carol Nurse and club captains Roshan Gaffoor and Jaipual Harilall.

Meanwhile, Foster urged the representatives to take proper care of the cover and stated that clubs in the sub association would continue to benefit from the hard work of the BCB. Also, clubs in the area would soon benefit from a developmental grant of one hundred dollars worth of cricket balls.The BCB is now working to obtain a cover for the Upper Corentyne area.

“We would like to express thank to Mr. Matt Bruer of Australia for his financial support and to Anil Beharry who sourced the covers and transported it to Berbice.

We are on the move”. said Foster.

NORTH SOUND, Antigua (CMC) – An uninspired West Indies Women failed to come to grips with a demanding run chase and slumped to a meek 50run defeat to South Africa Women here Thursday, and fall behind in the threematch series.

Asked to score at nearly 8-½ runs per over to overhaul a challenging 166 at the Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium, the hosts crashed from 54 for two to 115 for eight off their 20 overs, to come up short in the second Twenty20 International.

Chedean Nation and Britney Cooper both got 26 but they were the only ones to pass 20 as fast bowler Marizanne Kapp snatched three for 31 and seamer Ayabonga Khaka (2-8) and left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba (2-22) two wickets apiece, to cripple the innings. .The opening game on Tuesday was abandoned as a no-result following rain.

Sent in earlier, South Africa rattled up 165 for three off their 20 overs, thanks to opener Lizelle Lee’s polished 75 off 52 deliveries.

Britney Cooper Laura Wolvaardt entertained with a nine-ball 33 not out while Marizanne Kapp (24) and captain Dane van Niekerk (23) produced supporting knocks.

Lee laid the platform, smashing half-dozen fours and a six as she put on 53 with van Niekerk for the first wicket and 69 with Kapp for the second.

Off-spinner Hayley Matthews struck twice to remove both Lee and Kapp in the 18th over to reduce the South Africans to 126 for three but Wolvaardt spoiled the home side’s hopes of a strong finish, crunching a four and four sixes in a 39-run unbroken fourth wicket stand with

Tazmin Brits (5 not out).

In reply, Matthews perished cheaply for 12 in the third over to Kapp (3-31) but West Indies Women were rebuilding when they reached 39 without further loss.

However, big-hitter Deandra Dottin, who struck four fours in 19 of 18 balls, missed an ill-advised reverse sweep and was bowled offstump by Mlaba in the sixth over and Kyshona Knight followed in the tenth over, missing a heave and having her stumps shattered by the same bowler.

West Indies Women were encouraged when Nation and Kycia Knight (10) added 22 for the fourth but Kapp’s return resulted in Kycia’s dismissal, the left-hander bowled trying to hit across the line in the 14th over.

Nation, without a boundary in her 29-ball knock, missed a frustrated heave and was bowled by Kapp in the 16th over while Cooper sparkled briefly with three fours and a six off 15 balls before she too was bowled, backing away trying to hit Khaka through the off-side.

Root’s late wicket closes absorbing first day at The Kia Oval C

England captain Joe Root is bowled by pacer Umesh Yadav.

HRIS Woakes marked his first Test in over a year with 4-55 as England rolled India for 191 only to then lose the in-form Joe Root for 21 as they closed an absorbing day one of the fourth Test at The Kia Oval on 53-3.

Woakes was named England’s Player of the Summer for 2020 with his excellent form including 17 wickets in five Tests at an average below 21 - but a combination of injury, Covid quarantine and rotation meant the seamer had not played a red-ball international since.

The 32-year-old returned in style after replacing Sam SEE PAGE 20

Warriors skittled for 98 after Chase’s career-best 85

Roston Chase hits out during his innings of 85 for St Lucia Kings on Thursday.(CPL GETTY INAGES)

BASSETERRE, St Kitts, (CMC) – Roston Chase’s third Twenty20 fifty handed St Lucia Kings their second win of the Caribbean Premier League and lifted them off the floor of the standings, as they convincingly beat Guyana Amazon Warriors by 51 runs here Thursday.

Barbadian Chase, better known for his powers in the longest format, slammed a career-best 85 off 50 deliveries, an innings which powered Kings to 149 for seven off their 20 overs.

In reply, Amazon Warriors were mowed down for 98 with 19 balls remaining, despite captain Nicholas Pooran’s 41 off 26 deliveries and Odean Smith’s unbeaten 31 off 18 balls.

Left-arm spinner Jeavor Royal ran through the innings with a spell of three for 19 while seamer Kesrick Williams (2-7) and Obed McCoy (2-19) grabbed two apiece, as Amazon SEE PAGE 20 Warriors lost their last

Ronaldo to wear number seven shirt for Man. Untied CRISTIANO Ronaldo will wear the number seven shirt for Manchester United, the club has confirmed.

The 36-year-old takes the number, which he wore in his first stint at Old Trafford, from Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani - who moves to number 21.

Ronaldo will begin training with the Reds when he has completed five days isolation.

On Thursday, he was released early from international duty by Portugal because of suspension.

Cristiano Ronaldo has worn the number 7 shirt throughout his career

SEE PAGE 20

England’s 4-0 victory over Hungary marred by reports of racism in Budapest Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

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Friday, September 3, 2021