Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 04-10-2021

MONDAY 4th October, 2021

' No.106504

More than 1,000 vaccinated against COVID-19 at National Cultural Centre Tarmac

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09

Prisoner confesses to ‘burning down’ Brickdam Police Station – says he used sponge and a cigarette lighter

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03 President Ali gives fire service failing grade for Brickdam fire response –– wants independent probe

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Temporary police offices at St. Stanislaus College in operation 08 PAGE

––major clean-up efforts underway at Brickdam Station

Visually impaired 02 father needs assistance for daughter’s eye surgery PAGE

President Dr Irfaan Ali and a team of government officials on Sunday morning in Barbados for the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). President Ali is accompanied by Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond; Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister, Kwame Mc Coy and Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar (Office of the President photo)

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Visually impaired father needs assistance for daughter’s eye surgery

By Telesha Ramnarine

NINE-YEAR-OLD Sophia Kerr was in a virtual classroom last September 20 when all of a sudden she called out to her dad saying that she could not see

anything.

She asked him to put on the light, thinking that perhaps the place had gotten dark, but this did not help.

Her father, Oliver Kerr, opened the front door of their house to see if this might

bring in some more light, but this too made no difference.

Instantly, he became worried and very scared because he knew his own problem with retinal detachment.

To his horror, it was confirmed by doctors that So-

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 4, 2021 phia, a pupil of St. Gabriel’s Primary, now has the same problem in both of her eyes.

Oliver decided to get his seven-year-old son checked at the same time and realised that the boy also will have to go for surgery soon although he is seeing fine at the moment.

Oliver became totally blind when he was eight years old but by the time he was about to receive help at 14, the condition had already deteriorated to the point where surgery in the United States did not work to restore his sight.

He is hoping though that quick action this time might save his son and daughter.

The Ministry of Health has undertaken to pay for the girl’s surgery in Trinidad and they should be flying out later this week or early Oliver Kerr with his two children next week.

The family is appealing to corporate Guyana and to all who may be able to offer help to assist with their airfares, accommodation, ground transportation, meals and other expenses while they are in Trinidad.

“We’re working with it and keeping hope and faith that when we go to Trinidad surgery will come out successful. We don’t know how long she will stay there and how much we’ll have to spend on hotel and food and all those things. It will be challenging,” Oliver told the Guyana Chronicle on Sunday.

Reflecting on his thoughts when he first heard his daughter cannot see, he shared: “When I got the news, I broke down and See page 3

Prisoner confesses to ‘burning down’ Brickdam Police Station 3

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 4, 2021

– says he used sponge and a cigarette lighter

THE Guyana Police Force (GPF), on Sunday, disclosed that it has an alleged video confession from a 26-yearold Lodge resident, who claims he is behind Saturday’s devastating fire at the Brickdam Police Station.

The police, in a press release, identified the alleged arsonist as Clarence Greene of Lot 2292 Princess Street, Lodge, who had been arrested for armed robbery and was being held in the station’s lockups.

According to the police, the man claimed that he “grew frustrated” after being detained for several

hours and so he decided to set fire to the building.

During the midday hours of Saturday, fire ripped through the station which served as the headquarters for the force’s Regional Police Division 4 ‘A’ and also housed the office of the regional commander.

The devastating fire, which reportedly started in the eastern section of the compound at about 11:06 hrs, destroyed more than 80 per cent of the station, including the Property Room, Inquires Office, Traffic Department and Officers’ Mess Hall.

Guns and ammunition were safely removed from the buildings before the

Visually impaired father needs ...

From page 2

was very emotional.

I know I already have my challenges, but they’re so young. Wanting that for them (his children) was a ‘no no’ to be honest.”

“You can deal with every other situation but an eye problem is always more technical and difficult.

I would really appreciate help from others, but at the same time I want to urge parents to test their children eyes regularly,” the father said.

He was quite surprised at how his daughter ended up because he said he was strict about getting her eyes checked regularly. Sophia is in good spirits but she breaks down every now and then.

“We are trying to gaff her out of it when that happens,” Oliver said.

His son will do his surgery right here in Georgetown due to the fact that his situation is not as urgent as his sister.

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), a detached retina is when the retina lifts away from the back of the eye. “The retina does not work when it is detached, making vision blurry. A detached retina is a serious problem.

An ophthalmologist needs to check it out right away, or you could lose sight in that eye,” the AAO stated.

A section of the Brickdam Police Station engulfed in flames (Delano Williams photo) fire could spread. Left standing are the police barracks at the western section of the compound, the “clay brick” Impact Base building, and the lockups.

Greene was one of 16 persons in custody at the time of the fire, and they, along with the ranks who were on duty, were able to safely exit the compound.

There were no reports of serious injury or loss of life. The prisoners were later transferred to the Sparendaam Police Station.

The force, in its statement on Sunday, disclosed that Greene was arrested early Saturday morning and placed in the lockups for an alleged robbery under arms. The statement alleged that he told investigators during his alleged confession that his motive for starting the fire was because he became “frustrated” after being detained for several hours.

The GPF, in sparing no effort to ascertain the

circumstances surrounding the fire, had questioned several of the persons who were in the Brickdam lockups at the time of the fire and two of them provided investigators with a lead.

The release said the two prisoners claimed that after the fire was seen and they were taken out of the cells and escorted to the Sparendaam Police Station, they were placed in a cell with Greene.

“The duo said Greene told them that he took a piece of sponge, wrapped it up on a piece of wire which he lit, and pushed it through a ventilation hole in the cell over to a part that had some documents and it caught afire,” the release added.

Following this revelation, Greene was then video interviewed/questioned by detectives during which he “confessed” and told investigators that he tore off a piece of sponge from a mattress in the cell that he was in, hooked it

on a piece of wire, and lit same with a cigarette lighter which he then pushed through a ventilation hole in the cell at Brickdam.

Commissioner of Police (ag), Nigel Hoppie, had said on Saturday that the tragedy will not slow down the operations of the GPF. “That will not deter us; we have already started immediately to put systems in place to ensure that we are keeping with our mandate of service and protection to the citizens,” he had said, adding: “We lost several buildings; we lost also vehicles.

Some are from matters under investigation, while others were vehicles that were destroyed. Some, in a significant way, belong to the GPF.” Commissioner Hoppie further explained that because most ranks were conducting patrol duties at the time of the fire, none of the “operable vehicles” were damaged.

The Brickdam Police

Station housed 398 ranks belonging to the Commander’s Office, Traffic, Impact Base, and CID. Commissioner Hoppie committed to members of the public that there should be “no fear” about the force’s ability to react to any public issue that requires the intervention of ranks from the Brickdam Police Station.

“We all know police operations depend on our records.

As it is, we have to do an inventory into what records we would have lost to the fire. But operationally, we will be able to continue our day-today operations in the streets of Georgetown, because our ranks were on the road on patrol when the incident occurred. All of our operational vehicles were saved, so, we don’t have an issue in providing that service for the community,” said the Police Commissioner.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 4, 2021

Secret wealth and dealings of world leaders exposed

THE secret wealth and dealings of world leaders, politicians and billionaires has been exposed in one of the biggest leaks of financial documents.

Some 35 current and former leaders and more than 300 public officials are featured in the files from offshore companies, dubbed the Pandora Papers.

They reveal the King of Jordan secretly amassed £70m of UK and US property.

They also show how ex-UK PM Tony Blair and his wife saved £312,000 in stamp duty when they bought a London office.

The couple bought an offshore firm that owned the building.

The leak also links Russian President Vladimir Putin to secret assets in Monaco, and shows the Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis - facing an election later this week - failed to declare an offshore investment company used to purchase two villas for £12m in the south of France.

It is the latest in a string of leaks over the past seven years, following the FinCen Files, the Paradise Papers, the Panama Papers and Lux-

Leaks.

The examination of the files is the largest organised by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), with more than 650 reporters taking part.

BBC Panorama in a joint investigation with the Guardian and the other media partners have had access to nearly 12 million documents and files from 14 financial services companies in countries including the British Virgin Islands, Panama, Belize, Cyprus, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore and Switzerland.

Some figures are facing allegations of corruption, money laundering and global tax avoidance.

But one of the biggest revelations is how prominent and wealthy people have been legally setting up companies to secretly buy property in the UK. The documents reveal the owners of some of the 95,000 offshore firms behind the purchases.

It highlights the UK government’s failure to introduce a register of offshore property owners despite repeated promises to do so, amid concerns some property buyers

Monday, 4 October 02:30hrs - 04:00hrs

could be hiding money-laundering activities.

The Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and his family, who have been accused of looting their own country, are one example.

The investigation found the Aliyevs and their close associates have secretly been involved in property deals in the UK worth more than £400m.

The revelations could prove embarrassing for the UK government, as the Aliyevs appear to have made a £31m profit after selling one of their London properties to the Crown Estate - the Queen’s property empire that is managed by The Treasury and raises cash for the nation.

Many of the transactions in the documents involve no legal wrongdoing.

But Fergus Shiel, from the ICIJ, said: “There’s never been anything on this scale and it shows the reality of what offshore companies can offer to help people hide dodgy cash or avoid tax.”

He added: “They are using those offshore accounts, those offshore trusts, to buy hundreds of millions of dollars of property in other countries, and to enrich their own families, at the expense of their citizens.”

The ICIJ believes the investigation is “opening a box on a lot of things” - hence the name Pandora Papers.

The leaked financial documents show how the King of Jordan secretly amassed a property empire in the UK and US worth more than £70m.

They identify a network of offshore companies in the British Virgin Islands

This Mayfair building was sold to a front company in 2009 (BBC photo) and other tax havens used by Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein to buy 15 homes since he assumed power in 1999.

They include £50m on three adjacent ocean view properties in Malibu, California, and properties in London and Ascot in the UK. His property interests have been built up as King Abdullah has been accused of presiding over an authoritarian regime, with protests taking place in recent years amid austerity measures and tax rises.

Lawyers for King Abdullah said all the properties were bought with personal wealth, which he also uses to fund projects for Jordan’s citizens.

They said it was common practice for high profile individuals to purchase properties via offshore companies for privacy and security reasons.

Among the other revelations in the Pandora Papers are Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta and six members of his family secretly owned a network of offshore companies. They

have been linked to 11 firms - one of which was valued as holding assets of $30m; Members of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s inner circle, including Cabinet ministers and their families, secretly own companies and trusts holding millions of dollars; the law firm founded by President Nicos Anastasiades of Cyprus appears to have provided fake owners to disguise the real owner of a series of offshore companies - a former Russian politician who had been accused of embezzlement. However, the law firm denies this; Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky transferred his stake in a secret offshore company just before he won the 2019 election; Ecuador President Guillermo Lasso, a former banker, replaced a Panamanian foundation that made monthly payments to his close family members with a trust based in South Dakota in the US. There is no suggestion in the Pandora Papers that Tony and Cherie Blair were hiding their wealth.

But documents show why stamp duty was not payable when the couple bought a £6.45m property.

The former Labour prime minister and his barrister wife Cherie acquired the building in Marylebone, central London, in July 2017 by buying the offshore company that owned it.

It is legal to acquire properties in the UK in this way and stamp duty does not have to be paid - but Mr Blair has previously been critical of tax loopholes.

The townhouse in Marylebone, central London, is now home to Mrs Blair’s legal consultancy, which advises governments around the world, as well as her foundation for women.

Mrs Blair said the sellers had insisted they buy the house through the offshore company.

She said they had brought the property back under UK rules and will be liable to pay

capital gains tax if they sell it in future.

The ultimate owners of the property were a family with political connections in Bahrain - but both parties say they did not initially know who they were dealing with.

Other documents show how Azerbaijan’s ruling Aliyev family have secretly acquired UK property using offshore companies.

The files show how the family - long accused of corruption in the European nation - bought 17 properties, including a £33m office block in London for the president’s 11-year-old son Heydar Aliyev.

The building in Mayfair was bought by a front company owned by a family friend of President Ilham Aliyev in 2009.

It was transferred one month later to Hedyar.

The research also reveals how another office block owned by the family nearby was sold to the Crown Estate for £66m in 2018.

The Crown Estate said it carried out the checks required in law at the time of purchase but is now looking into the matter.

The UK government says it is cracking down on money laundering with tougher laws and enforcement, and that it will introduce a register of offshore companies owning UK property when parliamentary time allows.

The Pandora Papers is a leak of almost 12 million documents and files exposing the secret wealth and dealings of world leaders, politicians and billionaires.

The data was obtained by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists in Washington DC and has led to one of the biggest ever global investigations.

More than 600 journalists from 117 countries have looked at the hidden fortunes of some of the most powerful people on the planet.

BBC Panorama and the Guardian have led the investigation in the UK. (BBC)

President Ali gives fire service failing grade for Brickdam fire response

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 4, 2021

–– wants independent probe

By Jared Liddell BLASTING the Guyana Fire Service (GFS)’s response to Saturday’s devastating fire at the Brickdam Police Station, President Dr. Irfaan Ali on Sunday called for an independent investigation into the action taken by the fire service to control the blaze.

President Ali during a visit to St. Stanislaus College where the operations of the station will be temporarily housed, described the fire service’s response as “poor, at its best.”

He noted that a lot more could have been done by the fire service to control the blaze and potentially prevent the destruction of several sections of the police station.

The Brickdam Police Station which was the headquarters for the Guyana Police Force’s Regional Police Division 4 ‘A’ and housed the office of the regional commander, was completely gutted by fire on Saturday morning. Years of police records and vehicles valued millions of dollars were destroyed in the blaze.

The devastating fire, which reportedly started in the eastern section of the compound at 11:06 hrs, de-

stroyed the Property Room, Enquiries Office, Traffic Department, and Officers’ Mess Hall.

The Head of State in his comments noted that government has been making significant investments in the fire service in a bid to equip it to effectively respond to threats of fires across the country. He said these investments were not reflected in the fire service’s actions on Saturday.

“We have been making tremendous investment in the last year in the fire service and I have made this very clear [that] in this country people would have to be held accountable for their actions. We can’t be making investments in state apparatus and state institutions and do not get the results from those investments. The response of the fire service was poor at its best yesterday, and as President, I hope the fire service can acknowledge this,” President Ali stated.

The President disclosed that instructions have been given to Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn to assemble a special team to investigate the performance of the service. He reiterated government’s commitment to tackle inadequate and

Technology Department, and nearby buildings were saved, the wooden and concrete building was mostly gutted as a result of the fire.

President Ali noted that government is committed to ensuring that its public assets are protected and will be utilising local and international resources to ensure that instances of arson especially on public buildings are stopped and the perpetrators brought to justice.

President Irfaan Ali inefficient performance in the public sector.

“This fire, this is less than a three minutes walk to our main fire station.

We cannot continue as a country and as a people to not address these issues.

We cannot continue to make investments and not have the returns on the investments, whether it’s in the public service, in the hospitals, the inefficiency has to be weeded out,” said President Ali. INTERNATIONAL SUP-

The aftermath of the fire (Elvin Croker photo)

PORT Even as the Guyana Fire Service and the Guyana Police Force continue investigations to ascertain the cause of the fire, the Head of State made clear his intention to solicit international support to investigate the matter, as he highlighted recent threats made by individuals in New York.

“Why am I bothered?

This is coming on the heels of threats made on the capital city from New York and this is not the first time and I’m not going to take this lightly; I am going to ask for international support to investigate, to follow any lead and to ensure that our capital remains safe,” the President stated.

Just last week an unknown person set fire to the North West Secondary School at Mabaruma in Region One causing severe damage to the structure.

Auxiliary firefighters in the area and public-spirited residents responded to the scene and managed to contain the blaze to one section of the school. Though the dormitories, the Information

DIASPORA HELP Acknowledging the shortcomings within the GFS, the Head of State noted that plans are underway to find Guyanese living in the diaspora who once served in the capacity of fire chief, to provide training locally as part of efforts to improve the operations of the fire service.

President Ali noted that several ranks of the fire service negated their training and were unprepared for the emergency that required their best performance. He stated that significant retraining and new initiatives need to be in place to better equip the ranks to react to situations of national security.

“Yesterday evening, I asked the head of the diaspora unit to get me a list of all the persons in the diaspora who would have retired as fire chiefs in large cities whether it be Toronto [or] California, so we can bring that expertise home to infuse a level of professionalism, because this is about professionalism. The state can’t provide you basic things as safety equipment for you to wear as fire officers and you turn up without them.

It means that you are not in any state of readiness to respond to an emergency,” President Ali stated.

TEMPORARY LOCATIONS Meanwhile, to continue providing services to the people of Georgetown, temporary police offices have been established at the St. Stanislaus College, a short distance from the police station.

At the new location, reports and other police-related matters will be dealt with. This development resulted from collaboration between the Ministries of Home Affairs and Education.

President Ali also used the opportunity to laud the efforts of ranks attached to the Brickdam Police Station.

He praised them for their commitment to efficiently set up temporary offices mere hours after the devastating fire, to continue serving the people of Guyana.

“I want to thank the police force, the leadership of the police force, and the minister and his team for the efficient and quick way in which they organized themselves to have continuous service to the people and that is all the services that the Brickdam Police Station offers. With such a huge crisis on their hands, we never lost the ability to deliver service from the station to the population.”

The Brickdam Police Station housed 398 ranks belonging to the Commander’s Office, Traffic, Impact Base, and CID. The President further disclosed that government is working to acquire assets that would allow for “comfort” while ranks are operating out of the temporary police station.

Containerised offices and reconfiguration of containers are currently being considered by the Ministry of Home Affairs as means of temporary operations for the Brickdam Police Station.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 4, 2021

Sputnik V vaccines

THE World Health Organisation (WHO) is now in the process of granting approval to the Sputnik V vaccines which are manufactured in Russia, but to date has not been approved by the WHO. However, the vaccine is being administered in several countries to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Indeed, it has been clinically proven to have an efficacy rate comparable to any on the market. Many in Guyana have indicated a preference for the Sputnik V vaccines which, ironically, is still to receive full clearance from the WHO, even though it is almost fully administered in Russia and a number of other countries.

One consequence of non-approval of the Sputnik V vaccine by the WHO has been the reluctance of some countries, including the United States, to allow individuals who have taken it from entering their countries. Guyana is one of those countries that has been administering the vaccine to a significant number of its adult population with the first shot and is now in the process of providing second shots.

The issue of non-recognition of the vaccine was raised by President Dr. Mo-

hamed Irfaan Ali during his address to the United Nations General Assembly. From all indications, his call for vaccine equity has been well received by global leaders and policy-makers.

There is more good news. The WHO is now in the process of fine-tuning some of the remaining issues it had with the Sputnik V vaccines and it seems more than likely that the vaccines will be approved by the WHO soon.

As President Ali said, those who took the Sputnik V vaccines at a time when there was a mad scramble for vaccines ought not to be penalised. These are the unsung heroes who must be commended for responding to the call to take the COVID-19 vaccines during a time of uncertainty and hesitancy on the part of many.

But it was President Ali’s call for greater vaccine equity and, more specifically, his call for the relevant authorities to speed up the approval of the Sputnik V vaccines that took centre stage in the hallowed halls of the United Nations General Assembly.

According to the President, his call was applauded by several world leaders, including the Secretary-General of the United

Nations.

The fact is that there still exists a fair measure of skepticism and hesitancy over the question of both the safety and efficacy of vaccines. Most of it is the result of ignorance or in some cases misguided influence.

Whatever it may be, the overriding concern by global leaders and policy makers should be to encourage people to become vaccinated and to create an environment of confidence regarding the efficacy and safety of the vaccines.

Given the existing global situation, there can be no place for vaccine nationalism. The entire world is affected by the pandemic. Never since the days of the Spanish Flu, which decimated over a hundred million people a century ago has there been a pandemic with such far-reaching consequences. Already close to five million persons have died from the virus, with the number of those affected reaching the astounding figure of 219 million.

In Guyana, there are already 796 COVID-related deaths with the number of infections over 30,000 since the commencement of the pandemic. These are alarming statistics, especially given the recent spike.

The vast majority of those who died from COVID-related deaths were from the unvaccinated population.

The message cannot be clearer. There is a clear and unmistakable correlation between the unvaccinated and COVID-related deaths. The evidence suggests that there is no age cohort that is immune from the virus and even though the elderly may be more vulnerable due to age- related co-morbidities, the unvaccinated young are no less vulnerable.

Guyana has done well in terms of making the vaccines available to the entire population, including a fair number of adolescents. Our vaccination uptake levels continue to accelerate, even though there are still significant regional variations. One can only hope that good sense will prevail and those who have not taken their shots as yet will do so without any further delay.

The fact is that no one is safe until everyone is fully vaccinated against the virus.

This is another way of saying that we have to arrive at a position of herd immunity and beyond if we are to experience a state of reasonable comfort-- and the sooner, the better.

Police officers graduating from 'COPSQUAD2000' initiative should set stage for re-engineering of police training Dear Editor, THE first batch of police officers recently graduating from the “COPSQUAD2000” initiative on how to handle domestic violence (DV) should set the stage for re-engineering of police training.

With this training should come a DV unit that would ensure structure, monitoring, evidence-gathering, evaluation and accountability. Such a unit should incorporate: * Taking every report seriously and eliminating police laughing at and mocking complainants, causing them to be fearful and angry, ridiculing them and telling them to go home and make up with their spouse. This kind of behaviour has resulted in too many victims simply refusing to report to the police, claiming it’s a waste of time. Also, who knows how many lives may have been lost through this attitude. To be noted also is that domestic violence is significant in police families but deeply hidden, as victims do not think reporting to the police station would get them anywhere, a perspective fostered by the perpetrators. Often, victims seek escape by migrating illegally to other countries, but The Caribbean Voice is also aware of many instances whereby the perpetrators – police officers – abuse and threaten

families of their victims. * Interaction with complainants using the right language and tone; perhaps emphatic communication should be added to the “COPSQUAD2000” training. The expectation is to eliminate the language currently used as referenced in the above paragraph. * Investigations and follow-up that would see perpetrators prosecuted and reports not “ducked” because of bribery, as often happens, or police officers themselves not acting as mediators after perpetrators “buy them off.”

Also, consideration should be given to a mechanism that would ensure that cases still go to court even if victims refuse to testify and for this to be possible necessary photos, medical assessments and eyewitness interviews ought to be part of the investigation, which must be timely. The fact is that victims are sometimes bought off, threatened along with their families, or both. * Safety-planning advice and referrals for needed services. Safety-planning needs to be disseminated, as it provides victims with the capacity to seek escape and assistance while keeping themselves and children safe and protected. And the services available, especially those offered by various ministries, need to be known and utilised by victims. As it is, this is

not the case.

The police also need to be trained to deal with the mentally ill as is the case in Jamaica where there is also a push to have selected police personnel trained as emergency medical technicians to enhance their ability to help the mentally ill. Guyana should also incorporate same as part of the mental health training. In fact, police training should significantly focus on case-care management models for mental health overall.

As well, isn’t it time for the police to create a child abuse unit within the force? The police are already part of the inter-disciplinary team that works along with the child advocacy centres, so it would be an extension of that training to ensure such officers are available at every police station.

We also suggest training of police to handle sexual abuse. For one, they should ensure that all complainants of rape and incest be immediately taken to hospitals where one would expect that rape kits are available for the relevant tests. They should also be able to take needed photos to be used as evidence and urgently get counselling for complainants.

As well, they must be able to use the right language and tone to question victims and this is where emphatic communication comes into

play. Perhaps domestic violence and sexual abuse can be combined into a victim services and support unit.

We also suggest that a drugs and alcohol abuse and addiction initiative, such as that implemented in Trinidad & Tobago in partnership with the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) that includes the police. Such a model can be implemented in partnership with NGOs, CBOs, governmental agencies and possibly the private sector.

And to ensure that the police are mentally and emotionally equipped to do their job may we suggest that each division has at least two counsellors along with mobile counselling units in each of the seven divisions, so the police can receive psychosocial support year round, on an ongoing basis.

This would ensure that suicide ideation, domestic violence, sexual harassment and alcohol and drugs issues are addressed in a timely manner, while the police are provided with the wherewithal to enhance self-esteem, stress management, coping skills, relationship issues, abuse of every shade and work conditions.

Yours sincerely, Annan Boodram

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 4, 2021

Don’t join the ‘too late’ club, get your ‘jab’

Dear Editor,

LEADER of the Opposition Joseph Harmon said, “It is with a heavy heart that I…announce the ‘untimely death’ of our friend and colleague Imran Khan, who served as Communications Director in the office of the Leader of the Opposition up to today.”

Unfortunately, the popular Khan, just 43 years old, was not vaccinated.

Blogger Matthew said, “Mr. Harmon, That is a well- thought-out comment... why do you not make such a wellthought-out appeal to your supporters to get the vaccination?” Blogger Ashton said, “Why can’t the APNU+AFC come forward and state that it joins with the government for mandatory vaccination of all Guyanese. Many have fallen already and a lot of blame is at the feet of the opposition. All lives matter, and we have the responsibility to accept scientific, evidence-based facts in relation to the vaccines. We must all demand Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon to

come out and lead the APNU+AFC on this issue.” Mr. Harmon, what will it take for you to act in the national interest by encouraging your supporters to be vaccinated? Do you not care? Do you have Pharaoh’s hard heart?

There is another report of the popular Mr. CN Sharma battling too. Former PM Nagamootoo also lamented the death of his best buddy Imran. I say, “friends don’t let friends remain unvaccinated.” With COVID, you can be “here today, gone tomorrow.”

Blogger Borapork said, “While the vaccine is not a cure for the COVID-19 virus, it can offer relief from the serious effects of the disease by stimulating the creation of antibodies that in turn minimise debilitating damage to the health of the infected… many are refusing the vaccine for various reasons, mostly unscientific, but mainly purely political.

Many have begged for the vaccine as their oxygen levels dropped but it was too late. Don’t join the ‘too late’ club.

Get your jab. Let the jab be part of your effort to remain alive….Rest in peace

PPP Governments have always been known for their ability to plan ahead Dear Editor, I AM penning this short letter to say thanks to the forward thinkers who are once again leading this great nation.

As a resident of Georgetown, I do not think I could handle another episode of the 2005 flood. I say that to say this, the construction of the Hope Canal following that flood has not been given enough praise.

Recent flooding across the country and the devastating effects it has had on the agricultural and productive sectors have put some things into perspective for me to some extent. Before I go on, I want to thank President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali for the relief efforts that his government has extended to those who were affected.

I was not directly affected but I followed the news and tried to get a sense of what took place in the most affected regions. Based on those reports, Region Four was the least-affected region.

Following the 2005 flood, the then PPP Government saw the need for a massive water-relief avenue and embarked on conducting the necessary studies. These studies were later presented to the relevant officials to secure the resources required for such a huge undertaking.

What some may not know is that in 2014, that project was recorded as the largest ever funded with Guyanese resources as it sought to offer a real solution to the risk of the failure of the East Demerara Water Conservancy. The Hope Canal project was and is still considered a major engineering construction achievement in the country

that was built by Guyanese engineers and workers. It was recorded as one of the most significant inputs made towards addressing climate-change challenges in Guyana.

Fast forward to 2021: the Hope Canal was said to be the main reason Region Four was the least-affected by the recent flood. The then PPP Government knew that something like that could recur and made a conscious decision to put mitigating systems in place. Following the construction of the Hope Canal, the idea was discussed to identify other vulnerable areas for similar structures to be built, but those ideas were quickly shelved in 2015 when the previous government took office.

Now that we are recovering and rebuilding the agricultural sector, both the President and the Minister of Agriculture have said that the government intends to have similar structures constructed in vulnerable areas in the country to avoid a recurrence of what took place a few months ago.

I welcome such projects. The snowball effect that the recent flood has had on the entire economy was somewhat crippling.

The government helped and is still helping with the flood-relief grants, but I believe a long-term solution needs to be put in place and that the ongoing talks the government is having about building these structures should continue, so that persons residing in those vulnerable areas can benefit.

Yours sincerely, Celestine Durant

Mr. Khan.”

The PNC, PNC unions, if they think they are “sticking it to the PPP,” they are seriously misguided. It’s your own people, friends and loved ones who are dying “unexpectedly,” “untimely,” and “unnecessarily.” Blogger Col123 said, “…some folks are just wishing for the health care system to collapse…as if that will bring down the government…”

COVID has made widows and orphans in many families. Many moms, dads, brothers, sisters, grandmas, grandpas have died, largely because most were not vaccinated. Breadwinners of homes were wiped out in the twinkling of an eye. Khan’s death -- which was avoidable if he had been vaccinated -- is one of the over 150 that have occurred in September, the deadliest month since COVID hit Guyana. Infection rates have also been extremely high for September with 6,000 new infections. Our health facilities are straining towards breaking point. Our Intensive Care Unit staff are tired. So you wonder how can our Guyanese people see and hear all

these things and don’t learn a lesson?

What more education do they need, Dr. Carpen? My friend Suresh said, “The ignorant can be educated, and crazy can be medicated, but you can’t fix stupid.”

Former Minister Ms. Cathy Hughes and Dr. Somar from the “dead meat” party are to be commended for encouraging vaccinations. Mark DaCosta said, “… It is time for the kid-gloves to come off. It is time for vaccination to be made mandatory. It is time for all politicians to openly and clearly explain to their constituents the importance of being vaccinated. It is time for vaccine-refusers to be pointedly informed of the selfishness of their decision. It is time for Guyanese to get serious about this pandemic, and put a stop to a crisis that is entirely within our power to contain.” We have already lost almost 800 persons.

Let’s all get vaccinated now! The rush to get the Sputnik second dose is commendable!

Yours sincerely, Dr. Jerry Jailall

Temporary police offices at St. Stanislaus College in operation

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 4, 2021

–– major clean-up efforts underway at Brickdam Station

By Richard Bhainie THE operations of Regional Police Division 4 ‘A’ that were conducted out of the Brickdam Police Station, Georgetown, which was ravaged by a massive fire on Saturday last, are up and running next door at the St. Stanislaus College.

The Guyana Chronicle visited the operations on Sunday at the St. Stanislaus College, where Commander of Police Division 4 ‘A’, Assistant Commissioner Simon McBean was spearheading efforts to ensure continuation of service to the public.

The St. Stanislaus College is located on the western side of the Brickdam Police Station compound, with the thoroughfare Manget Place separating the two premises. Through collaboration with the Ministries of Home Affairs, Education and Public Works, the school’s tarmac is being used to house the police’s operations.

Even though the conflagration ravaged over 80 per cent of the station, operations were only temporarily paused for a brief period as the station’s primary services were up and running as of Saturday evening.

As of Sunday afternoon, the Brickdam Enquiries Office, Traffic Department and Criminal

Commander of Police Division 4 ‘A’, Assistant Commissioner, Simon McBean at the St. Stanislaus College on Sunday overlooking operations as the facility was being retrofitted to temporarily house The Brickdam Police Station compound being cleared of debris on Sunday the services of the Brickdam Police Station (Elvin (Elvin Croker photo) Croker photo) also visited the compound Stanislaus College comInvestigations Department of the station where pound.

(CID) were fully functionclean-up efforts were well The devastating fire, al. Commander McBean underway to clear debris which reportedly started in informed this publication from the fire.

By Sunday the eastern section of the that the station’s Certifyafternoon much of the Brickdam Police Station ing Office and Commandrubble was cleared. compound at 11:06hrs on er’s Office are expected Home Affairs Minister Saturday, destroyed more to be fully operational on Robeson Benn on Sunday than 80 per cent of the Monday morning. said that the identifica- structures, including the In the event persons tion, recording and pho- Property Room, Enquiries are to be held in custody, tographing of fire debris Office, Traffic Department they will be processed as and burnt vehicles are and Officers’ Mess Hall. per normal at the St. Stanbeing completed, and the Minister Benn on Satislaus College facility and debris is being removed urday described the fire then transported to alternaafter those tasks have been as “a great loss,” but nottive police stations where A section of the St. Stanislaus College tarmac where performed. ed that systems are being holding cells are available tents were set-up to enable the continuous provision of services that were offered at the Brickdam Police The ministry in a press put in place to restore opand ready to accommodate Station (Elvin Croker photo) release said that it is anticerations as quickly as possame.

As for now, tents have tioned at Brickdam will be the division have not been ipated that fairly shortly, sible. He reiterated that been retrofitted to house housed at the temporary stymied and assured that the operational activities the government is comhimself and his ranks are related to Brickdam Po- mitted to facilitate and the various facilities re- location.

Commander McBean ready to continue to pro- lice Station would recom- support getting the cenquired for the services of the division to be de- was satisfied that even vide the requisite services mence, utilising both the tral police station buildBrickdam Police Station ing back in operation as livered to the public, and though in such trying in an efficient manner.

The Guyana Chronicle compound and the St. quickly as possible. all staffers who were sta- times, the operations of

Nabaclis man stabbed by wife’s child father A self-employed 29-yearold man is now hospitalised after he was stabbed to his chest and chopped about the body while defending his wife, who was having an argument with the father of her child.

According to a police report, Terrence Glasgow of Nabaclis, East Coast De-

merara (ECD) is currently a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) in a stable condition after undergoing surgery for his injuries.

The incident occurred at 19:30hrs on Saturday, at Golden Grove, ECD. “Enquiries disclosed that the victim was at his wife’s

residence at Golden Grove, ECD, when the suspect, who is her child father, came and they had an argument causing the victim to intervene. The suspect dealt him a stab wound to his right-side chest and chopped him about his body and to his abdomen causing him to receive injuries,” the

report said.

Glasgow was picked up and taken by his mother to the GPHC, where emergency surgery was conducted on him.

The suspect, who escaped on foot remains at large.

Investigations are ongoing.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 4, 2021

More than 1,000 vaccinated against COVID-19 at National Cultural Centre Tarmac

THE Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 vaccination drive at the National Cultural Centre (NCC) on Sunday saw more than 1,000 adults and children being vaccinated.

Speaking with the Department of Public Information, Dr. Ariane Mangar, Director of Disability and Rehabilitation at the ministry, said persons turned up in their numbers to get vaccinated.

“It’s been quite a success.

As you can see, the cars have not stopped coming. Hopefully after today we’ll hit our 70 per cent mark with first dose [sic] administered to the public in Guyana,” Dr. Mangar said.

Vaccines available to the public included Johnson and Johnson (single dose), Astra Zeneca (second dose), and first and second doses of Sinopharm and Sputnik V. The Pfizer vaccine was also available for adolescents.

Dr. Mangar said the vaccination drive-throughs have proven to be effective.

Director of Disability and Rehabilitation, Dr. Ariane Mangar Several of the persons who benefitted from the vaccination campaign spoke with the DPI. “The experience was pretty quick actually; I was expecting to stay a lot longer but the process was really fast, so kudos to the Ministry of Health for that and the “jab” was just painless,” said Jason Glasgow, who took his first dose of the Sputnik V. “The drive-throughs are a good initiative, plus it re-

Health personnel assisting persons at the drive-through duces the issue of crowding, so this is a pretty good idea,” he added.

Manicia Bouyea opted for the single-dose vaccine.

“I just got my dose of Johnson & Johnson. It wasn’t too bad a little sting but that’s about it,” she said.

Vashri Badal had been waiting for three months to access the second dose of Sputnik V and was happy she could receive it.

“My experience was really

Three more unvaccinated persons die from COVID-19

ANOTHER three unvaccinated persons have died as a result of COVID-19 complications and 186 new cases have been recorded, the Ministry of Health said on Sunday.

According to the latest statistics, the total confirmed cases in Guyana to date is 32,483 of which 17,077 are females.

The ministry said that another 136 persons have also recovered from the virus, bringing the total number of recoveries to date to 27,596 persons.

The three latest fatalities are a 52-yearold male and a 72-year-old female from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), and a 63-year-old female from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara). The three were admitted with COVID-19 like symptoms and died while receiving care at a public medical facility.

For the first three days of October, Guyana has recorded a total of 13 COVID-19-related deaths and 656 new cases. The latest deaths put the country’s overall death toll at 799.

The 186 new cases came from tests conducted on 1190 persons during a 24hour period. Of the new cases 110 are females.

The bulk of the new cases also continued to come from Region Four, which accounted for 73, followed by Region

Three with 34.

Of the remaining regions, Region One (Barima-Waini) recorded 16 new cases; Region Two recorded two; Region Five (Demerara-Mahaica) had seven new cases; Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) had 11 new cases, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) had seven cases each; Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) had five and Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice) had 24 new cases.

There are 31 persons in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Infectious Diseases Hospital, while there are 3,925 persons in home isolation, 132 persons in institutional isolation, and eight persons in institutional quarantine.

All Guyanese are reminded to observe the protocols contained in the Gazetted COVID-19 Emergency Measures, which are in effect until October 31, 2021, along with other measures, such as regular hand-washing and social distancing, to curb the spread of the virus.

If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19, or need any additional information, kindly contact the COVID-19 Hotline on 231-1166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 immediately.

good; the staff here were very pleasant and they worked very quickly, so that was a plus.”

Jennifer Clarke was one of many persons who walked into the vaccination site and walked out fully vaccinated with the Sputnik V, which is in high demand.

Many persons have been awaiting the second dose of Sputnik V which was delayed due to the spike in the Delta variant.

Last Monday, Guyana

received 50,000 doses of the vaccine, meeting the needs of thousands of persons. The vaccination campaign continues in the coming week as Guyana works towards achieving herd immunity.

Persons desirous of taking their vaccines can visit the Ministry of Health’s online platforms for vaccination sites across the country. The Ministry of Education will publish the sites where adolescents could get their vaccines.

Jennifer Clarke “I took the first dose Sputnik and I didn’t get no reaction from it and I thank God for that and I was just waiting till they free it up that you could come in as you like to, because when I went there, they told me it wasn’t the time, so I’m glad the Health Minister said anybody could get it and I get it and sit down and nothing ain’t happen, so I thank God for that,” Clarke said. (DPI)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 4, 2021

Exposing developing children A YOUNG man in his mid-twenties told the story of a ‘big’ woman he stayed with when he was 17 years old. He said, ‘She told her husband I was her small cousin from her village, who’d come to spend time, but I was her lover, and when her husband was at work, it was me and she all day long’.

He spoke with bravo as if the experience was something to be proud of – he didn’t identify the woman as a sexual abuser. She gave him food and treated him better than he was treated by his dysfunctional family.

Her concern, however, was not for his well-being but her own sexual gratification. Apart from ‘breaking him in’ as it is known in Guyana, she taught him to be deceitful, as he partook in the bare-faced lie she told her unsuspecting husband.

Children develop sexually and physically, and, at every stage, parents should guide and encourage healthy sexual development. When children lack guidance in this area, unsolicited sexual encounters may occur with adult predators.

Every child has genitalia; it is part

of their physical anatomy; this cannot be ignored, but sexuality is not just about sex. It is about the attitudes, interactions and behaviours which children are exposed to by adults. Children do not think about their private parts in the same context as adults; that is why up to the age of 5, they usually have no qualms about stripping off their clothes and running about naked. But don’t be fooled; even at this age, they are learning about sexuality and what types of behaviours are acceptable.

It may be alright to strip off at home but not at playschool or even at a water park. Children discover and translate messages about their sexuality from their kinfolk and society.

These messages help influence and form their approach and subsequent outlook.

In a family apartment that was much too small for a mother and child, a woman would have sexual relations with her ‘man friend’ believing her daughter was fast asleep, beyond the curtain that separated the small room.

However, between sleep and wake, the child had grown accustomed to hearing the sounds, dialogue and movements associated with such rendezvous. She created her understanding of what was taking place and thought it sounded like fun. As she became pubescent, she was more sexually aware of the sensuous side of her mother’s encounters, and her curiosity grew.

Her mother fell ill and was hospitalised at some point, leaving the girl alone in the home with little adult supervision. When the ‘man friend’ came to bring food, the adolescent child opened the door wearing her mother’s nightgown. She then blatantly asked him to do to her what he does to her mother. She wanted to enjoy herself just like her mother did when he stayed there over the years.

Some people might blame the child for pushing herself onto the man. They may call her ‘hot’ and want to ‘cut her wings’, but children only know what they are taught – and with little guidance and a somewhat warped introduction to sexuality, the girl did not understand the consequences attached to her request.

Luckily for her, the man empathised and did not take advantage of the situation. Instead, for the first time, he spoke to her about being educated and leaving sexual exploration until she was older. Her mother should have instilled these and other values over the years and monitored the child’s posi-

tive progression instead of indirectly exposing the child to her consistent sexual encounters. It may have been wiser to arrange for a trusted family member to discreetly have the child on these occasions.

Adults often fail to teach children morals surrounding their sexuality or highlight important factors such as faithfulness (sticking to one partner) and abstinence - waiting until you are old enough for a meaningful sexual relationship or protection – avoiding unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases by choosing from a range of contraception. While some children sail through their adolescent years with little worry about their sexuality, others face a traumatic phase of doubt and an identity crisis, brought about through incidents and events that marred their sexual development.

It is not uncommon for mothers to leave children with other females when they are overwhelmed or travelling out of town. There are many reasons why a child may end up staying with a relative or woman they call ‘aunty’ to which they are not biologically attached. One such mother felt her daughter was in good hands when she departed for the United States to seek her fortune. The girl, aged 6, was left with a distant female cousin. In fact, no one would have imagined that the cousin, in her position of trust, would groom the little girl and negatively affect her mind.

The cousin taught the girl a series of sexual behaviours that impeded and thwarted the child’s natural sexual development. Around the age of 14, when her social activity peaked, the child became confused and frustrated.

Like all adolescents, she was seeking her identity and wanted to fit in with her peers – but her sexual preference had been altered by a highly perverted adult, and her mind was in turmoil. Learnt sexual behaviours can be unlearnt with the correct intervention and support.

Parents should help children’s sexuality to develop naturally and not expose them to dubious sexual encounters or adult predators.

If you are concerned about the welfare of a child, call the CPA hotline on 227 0979 or write to us at childcaregy@gmail.com A MESSAGE FROM THE CHILDCARE AND PROTECTION AGENCY,MINISTRY OF HUMAN SERVICES AND SOCIAL SECURITY

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 4, 2021

Strong support system vital to overcoming mental health issues

By Vanessa Cort

WE all have a role to play in both recognising and helping those who may be experiencing a mental health crisis, according to Psychotherapist, Shane Tull.

And in his book, ‘The Mental Health Pandemic’, he provides guidelines for this while taking us through the realm of a condition which he has referred to as a “pandemic within a pandemic”.

Indeed, while he admitted to having thoughts of writing a book on the subject for some time, the author felt that it was appropriate to do so now, given the escalating nature of mental health crises during this pandemic.

In a recent interview, he said, “I had it in mind before…but the (COVID-19) pandemic pushed me to do it,” adding that he was further motivated by his desire to help people deal with “a pandemic that came on so fast it seemed to leave people frozen”.

“I was just looking at the emotional paralysis that it imposed on everyone,” he noted, also voicing his concern at the fact that many people felt they were losing control of their lives.

As a consultant and clinician, Tull found himself responding to constant requests for interviews and presentations on mental health and so this book answers two fundamental questions, ‘What is mental health?’ and ‘How do I know if I am going through a mental health crisis?’

He also explored how psychotherapy can help as part of a wider support mechanism and offer a chance for “real character development”.

The consultant is a strong advocate for support systems for people in crisis, saying, “If you have a support network it can help you…or even prevent you from going through a crisis.”

He stressed the importance of family and friends rallying around and providing assurance just by saying, “I am there for you” and being prepared to listen and talk to a troubled person.

Tull, who is also a licensed social worker has been in this field for 25 years and has worked as a consultant for several organisations in this country. He looks

The cover of Shane Tull’s book which will be launched on October 15

Intoxicated man loses home to fire

THE police are investigating the origin of a fire at Kwakwani Park, Upper Berbice River, that destroyed the one-storey wooden home of a 28-yearold man, who was found in an intoxicated state on the staircase calling on the Lord to take his life.

Neighbours managed to rescue Kelvin Gordon, but the bucket brigade they

formed was unsuccessful in saving the building.

According to a police report, Gordon lived alone and was in the habit of consuming alcohol on a daily basis.

“According to the man’s neighbour, a 62 -year-old machine operator, on the said date about 10:00hrs, he was at home when he [smelt] smoke in the area. He immediately went to his verandah

and saw smoke emanating from the victim’s home, who was at the time lying on the step in an intoxicated state yelling ‘Oh lord take my life’,” the report noted.

The police later interviewed Gordon; however, he was too highly intoxicated to give vital information pertaining to the fire. He was therefore detained as investigations continue.

The destroyed building at Kwakwani Park

at mental health from the perspective that “it takes a village to help” and recommends communication as a primary tool for improving awareness of such issues.

The author, who lives abroad but visits regularly, observes that too often the stigma attached to mental health causes families to hide away those affected rather than talking about the problem and seeking solutions.

“So it’s not just the person’s shame but the family’s shame,” he remarks, advising that we pay attention to those undergoing a mental health crisis rather than ignoring them.

“If no one sees me then I am nobody…I’m not being validated…no one cares for me,” is how he describes the mindset of someone in crisis.

In his book Tull also deals with men and mental health, an area which is often ignored but which is nonetheless becoming one of great concern.

For, particularly in this pandemic, men who are the sole breadwinners in many families are faced with reduced working hours or job loss, while still having to provide for their families.

This book is therefore timely and necessary, with World Mental Health Day 2021 being celebrated next Sunday, October 10.

A launching ceremony is also scheduled to be held in Guyana on Friday, October 15 at 15:00 hours at Albert Street and Woolford Avenue.

Persons attending are advised that health protocols will be observed.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, MONDAY OCTOBER 4, 2021

Guyana one step closer to releasing biofortified rice variety to farmers

_candidate variety showing promising results, trial plot withstood recent flooding

THE Government of Guyana, through the Ministry of Agriculture’s Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), is one step closer to introducing a new high-value rice variety to the market.

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, visited the National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) and GRDB Research Facility at Lesbeholden, Black Bush Polder, Region Six, to witness the harvesting of the second trial of the zinc-infused candidate variety rice.

The project is a collaborative initiative between the GRDB and the Inter-American Institute for Corporation on Agriculture (IICA).

There are currently four

A section of interior of the GRDB seed paddy facility one-acre plots under trial in Regions Two, Three, Five, and Six, a release from the Ministry of Agriculture said.

While speaking to members of the media during the activity, Minister Mustapha pointed out that the candidate variety has different characteristics from other varieties cultivated in Guyana, and once trials are complete and large-scale cultivation commences, farmers would be able to

candidate variety would be given the green light for release to farmers across the country.

Noting the effects that climate change continues to have on the agriculture sector globally, Minister Mustapha also disclosed that this candidate variety has a higher resistance to climatic conditions experienced in Guyana.

“This plot that we are visiting here today, withstood the recent floods. It was in the water for about three weeks. Now that the floodwaters have receded, this is the result. So, it shows a lot of resilience and that it is good for the conditions faced in the country. This fits in well with our President’s agenda for improving and advancing the agri-food system in our country and the Caribbean,” Minister Mustapha added.

As part of the project, IICA also donated a rice thresher to the GRDB valued at US$5000 (GY $1,000,000).

IICA’s Country Representative, Wilmot Garnett, said that Guyana will be the first in the region to release a variety enriched with zinc.

He also said that the rice

A section of the drying floor benefit from preferential prices.

“This is the second trial.

Shortly, we’ll have a candidate variety available for farmers to use extensively across the country. This candidate variety is different from what we usually plant in Guyana. Healthwise, it has a lot more zinc, which is good for persons with underlying issues.

When this rice is ready for export, it will attract preferential prices,” Minister Mustapha explained.

The minister also said that he remains optimistic that, after the next trial, the

thresher that was procured to assist with the project would help speed up the harvesting process.

HOPEFULLY “We have the rice trials looking at zinc, and, hopefully, as early as next year, we’ll be moving to farmers in different rice-producing regions using this candidate.

Based on the performance, Guyana will be the first in the region to release a rice variety with zinc. Also, we need to bear in mind the climate conditions. You will also note that the seed thresher was purchased to support this project; we

know with climate change things are very different.

With this machinery, you can quickly harvest and process and it also helps with quality. Remember, quality starts from the field, not at the mill. The machine is also mobile because we want to ensure the farmers’ benefit,” Garnett said.

He also said that, in addition to rice, the thresher can also be used to process beans and peas.

Programme Manager for Agriculture and Agro-Industrial Development within the CARICOM Secretariat in Guyana, Shaun Baugh, said that the programme was a clear response to CARICOM’s food security needs.

“Guyana is well suited, certainly for rice production to demonstrate to the region and definitely to the world the possibilities which exist. What we’re seeing here with this biofortified project is a response to our food security needs, a response to climate change, and a response to the demand of our consumers and our farmers.

What we’ve seen here with the partnership between the Government of Guyana and IICA is conception becoming reality, and the results that we’ve seen here are more than encouraging. It says to us, as a people in the region, that when we come together, and our scientists and our innovation are put together and put to the test, then the results are tremendous. With the COVID pandemic moving from a health crisis to a food crisis, this is a response that the region has put together for this. It’s not just talk; we’re seeing action,” Baugh said.

Back in February of this year, Minister Mustapha visited the Burma Rice Research Station to assess the first trial of the biofortified candidate variety that was under cultivation.

During that visit, GRDB’s Chief Scientist, Dr. Mahendra Persaud, said that the strains were part of a breeding trial and will be tested over the next three seasons.

Approximately 17 entries are being tested at the various trial locations.

The GRDB is scheduled to conduct one more round of trials before identifying a strain suitable for farmers’ field trials during the second crop of 2022.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, MONDAY OCTOBER 4, 2021

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 4, 2021

Persons with disabilities urged to get NCD-issued ID cards

THE National Commission on Disability (NCD) is calling on persons with disabilities (PWDs) to apply for a special identification card which will assist them in accessing expedited services at commercial banks, hospitals, post offices and government offices across the country.

The cards will cost $500, and applications can be processed on the commission’s website at ncdguyana.org or at their office located at Lot 49 Croal Street.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle on Sunday, Programme Coordinator at the Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities (GCOPD), Ganesh Singh, noted that although some organisations do offer preferential treatment to PWDs, difficulties could arise, particularly in some cases where organisations may demand Ganesh Singh, Programme proof of disability.

Coordinator, Guyana “There are some Council of Organisations cases where persons for Persons with Disabiliwant to verify that you ties (GCOPD) have a disability. So, the card is a way of verifying that this person has a disability, and it would be an easier process for them to access services,” Singh noted.

Due to issues with verification, Singh noted, PWDs can at times be subjected to unfair treatment.

“There are issues that you do encounter such as discrimination, so it is more subjective if you don’t have the card. When you have the card and the organisation would have agreed to recognise the card, we would be able to ensure that with the cards, persons are able to access the service much easier. It would mean a little bit less hassle for the disabled person,” he said The NCD has already written to a number of government and private sector organisations which have all agreed to recognise the PWDs ID card and offer necessary consideration and assistance to the PWDs. PWDs having expedited services when in public can play an important part in them being able to go about their lives in an easier manner.

“There are instances where some people with disabilities, especially physical disabilities, they can’t stand in a queue for very long, or they cannot be out of their homes for very long, so you want to have expedited services for those persons. At the same time, you also don’t want to have to go through a whole heap of red tape to verify that you have a disability, so this card will give you that push,” Singh noted.

The creation of the cards and the coming on board of both the government and private sector entities, is one more step towards helping to improve the lives of PWDs all across Guyana.

“It would definitely help in fulfilling the rights of people with disabilities in a much more hassle-free manner,” Singh commented.

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BCB $2M Patron Fund to assist First Division clubs, youth cricketers

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BCB president, Hilbert Foster, hands over copies of the board historic coaching manual to BCB Patron, Minister Vickram Bharrat.

THE outstanding work of the Hilbert Foster-led Berbice Cricket Board on Saturday 6th of November would receive a massive boost when the second edition of the BCB Patron Fund is launched.

BCB Patron, Minister Vickram Bharrat and club president Hilbert Foster is expected to launch the Fund during a special social skills seminar for youth cricketers at the New Amsterdam Secondary School.

Minister Bharrat was last year inducted as the first ever Honorary Patron of the board and hosted the first edition of the Patron Fund.

A total of thirteen youth players received two hundred thousand dollars’ worth of cricket gear while the board’s cricket development programme received a million dollars under the 2020 edition.

The Patron committed two million dollars for the fund in 2021 as he congratulated Foster on the outstanding work of the board despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Under the 2021 edition, the eleven first division teams in the county would receive one hundred thousand dollars’ worth of white balls for the upcoming season.

Foster stated that the com-

bined $1.1 Million dollars’ worth of balls would assist the clubs a great deal as the costs of balls has climbed rapidly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The clubs that will receive the balls are West Berbice, Blairmont, Police, Tucber Park, Rose Hall Canje, Young Warriors, Albion, RHTYSC, Port Mourant, Skeldon and Upper Corentyne.

The BCB has plans to host at least five tournaments at the senior level whenever the National Task Force grants permission for a restart at the 20/20, 40-Overs, 100 balls, 50 overs and two days levels.

Distribution of the balls would be done in late November.

Four hundred thousand dollars would be invested into the BCB Patron Educational Grant programme.

Twenty junior players would receive a grant of twenty thousand dollars to assist them to obtain educational materials for school. Foster and his executives have invested heavily into the educational careers of youths with hundreds of junior players receiving grants to assist their pursuit of an educational background.

Each cricketer would receive a voucher to uplift the items from a popular statio-

nery store.

The final part of the 2021 Patron Fund would be the hosting of four social skills seminar across the county.

The seminars are the brainchild of Minister Bharrat and would be held in the four sub associations of West Berbice, New Amsterdam/Canje, Lower Corentyne and Upper Corentyne.

Each of the seminars would involve forty under-19 players and would be conducted by graduate students of the University of Guyana Social Works class.

Among the topics to be covered would be table manners, public speaking, drug abuse, suicide, peer pressure, personal manners, how to handle your finance , importance of discipline, importance of education and importance of religion.

The BCB Patron and president both agreed on the importance of the county producing not just outstanding cricketers but also all- round individuals who would be sports ambassadors for the country.

Foster has also indicated that all players selected to represent the county in the future would also have to be involved in these sessions as part of the BCB comprehensive development programme.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, MONDAY OCTOBER 4, 2021

Maxwell, Chahal fire RCB into play-offs Virat Kohli’s quest for a maiden IPL title before stepping down as captain of Royal Challengers Bangalore at the end of the season is still very much alive after his side became the third team to clinch a play-off berth in

IPL 2021, holding on for a six-run win over Punjab Kings in Sharjah. Choosing to bat first, Kohli helped lay a solid foundation in tandem with Devdutt Padikkal by adding 68 for the first wicket before Glenn Maxwell

powered on further with a half-century to take RCB to the highest total made by any side in Sharjah since the tournament resumed in September.

For the first half of the chase Kings looked like they would track it down,

reaching 81 for 0 at the 10-over mark. But despite 57 from Mayank Agarwal as part of a 91-run opening partnership alongside orange-cap wearer KL Rahul, the wheels fell off soon after thanks to an inspired spell of leg-spin from Yuzvendra Chahal who claimed three wickets including that of Agarwal. By the time the final over came around, 19 runs were needed and purple-cap holder Harshal Patel had little trouble containing Kings lower order to secure victory.

Kings luckless in the field, with or without the umpires Despite a wicketless powerplay, Kohli and Padikkal’s partnership was at times a meandering one, and also had its share of luck. Kohli was dropped twice, on 9 and 10, while Padikkal was allowed to continue batting on 35 in controversial circumstances after Rahul’s use of a DRS was unsuccessful despite UltraEdge showing a clear spike on a failed reverse sweep where the ball appeared to graze Padikkal’s gloves on the way through to the keeper.

Moises Henriques finally broke the partnership and then some, taking three wickets in the space of seven balls in the 10th and 12th overs.

Kohli was bowled for 25 by one that kept low. Dan Christian bagged a golden duck, mistiming a drive to backward point. And Padikkal was finally sent back for 40. This time there was no need for the third umpire to intervene as an attempted cut produced a thin edge that was well held by Rahul standing up to the stumps.

Royal Challengers were under pressure at 73 for 3.

Maxwell tortures his former franchise The Australian power-hitter gave a handy reminder to his old teammates about why he’s such a valued resource in T20 cricket, hitting 57 off 33 balls. With AB de Villiers struggling to get going at one end, Maxwell dominated their 73run partnership with a flurry of sixes, mostly off the slog-sweep against the spin duo of Harpreet Brar and Ravi Bishnoi.

But it wouldn’t have been Maxwell ball without a reverse at some stage and he executed one to perfection against Bishnoi in the 18th over to secure another boundary. He brought up his half-century off 29 balls and was dismissed only in the final over, by which time Royal Challengers had put up a strong total on the board, the best by any team in Sharjah this

season.

Another excellent Kings platform goes to waste Rahul might well become a chief lobbyist on behalf of the T10 brigade following his team’s contrasting fortunes this season in their first 10 overs compared to their last 10.

The Kings captain continued his run as the leading scorer in the IPL with another sharp burst at the top of the order in tandem with Agarwal. But once he fell for 39 off 35, the chase began to flounder.

Chahal built off the Rahul breakthrough by inducing a top-edged sweep from Nicholas Pooran, dismissing him for three in the 13th over.

Agarwal was another victim of the extra bounce in Chahal’s leg-breaks as a catch swirled over to short third man in the 16th over. Three balls later, Chahal capped his haul by defeating a flummoxed Sarfaraz for a golden duck. At 121 for 4 in 16, the Kings required rate of 11 per over through the last four proved to be a herculean task.

Now in addition to needing a victory in their final match, the Kings will need a series of other results to go their way to have any chance of securing the fourth and final play-off berth.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Monday, October 04, 2021) COMPLIMENTS OF CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD -- 83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Hayden Walsh Jnr --12 (2) Mitchell Marsh --8 Today’s Quiz: (1) What are the best T20 Int’l bowling figures by a West Indian versus Australia to date?

(2) What are the best T20 Int’l bowling figures by an Aussie player against the West Indies to date?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, MONDAY OCTOBER 4, 2021

Nandu, Nauth propel Kaieteur International to SCA First Division title

By Frederick Halley A BRILIANT opening partnership of 134 between West Indies Under-19 player, Matthew Nandu (58) and Navin Nauth (59) propelled Kaieteur International B to an emphatic seven-wicket victory over United Titans when the Scarborough Cricket Association (SCA) 2021 season climaxed at

solid defence, the left-handed Nandu, who also played a pivotal all-round role in last Saturday’s semi-final win over Palace Panthers, and right-hander Nauth looked supremely confident as they set about chasing Titans target after the latter were inserted by skipper Arjuna Sukhu.

Fresh from his stint with

Shaikh.

Shaikh also sent back Navin’s brother, Ravindra, for a first-ball duck, comprehensively bowled playing forward to a full-length delivery.

With six needed for a resounding win, Shaikh was again in the picture, grabbing his third scalp as Navin was trapped LBW for 59, a

The victorious Kaieteur International team and supporters. the Ashtonbee Number One ground on Saturday.

Set 158 to lift the Division One title, after United Titans were restricted to 157 all out in 49.1 overs, the youthful Kaieteur side reached the required target in 32.2 overs with former Canada Under-19 player Raqib Shamsudeen (six) and Lincoln Hotiram (four) formalizing the inevitable.

Mixing aggression with

the West Indies Under-19 team in England, where he registered two half-centuries in the final two games of the six-match One Day International series, Nandu continued his rich vein of form, striking five exquisite fours and a six in his 70-ball 59 before he was brilliantly taken at short extra cover

by Farrukh Chodry off consistent medium-pacer Nazir

Man-of-the-match Matthew Nandu (right) with opening partner, Navin Nauth and manager Vish Jadunauth. (Photos by Frederick Halley)

fine innings which spanned 109 balls and which saw him spanking six fours and clearing the boundary once.

Shaikh, who was the only wicket-taker, ended with three for 28 from five overs.

Earlier, Titans started their innings disastrously, slipping to nine for two in the first six overs and despite minor recoveries between Chodry (36) and Shaikh (16), who added 36 for the third wicket and 43 for the fourth between Chodry and Roshan Hemani (26), they were never in control on a sun-lit day.

With both Chodry and Hemani departing at 88, the innings was in ruins at 88 for five in the 28th over.

Skipper Taimur Hussain, who smashed two sixes in 24 off 47 balls and Usman Mughees with a defiant 20 rallied the lower-order but the eventual total of 157 proved inadequate for the rampant Kaieteur side which only lost a solitary regular season game in Group B. Titans, on the other hand, finished second in Group A to defending champions, Toronto Rhinos, but spanked them in their semi-final fixture.

Kaieteur won from Palace

Panthers.

Nandu, who also claimed two for 21, with his off-spin bowling, from his 10 overs, copped the man-of-thematch award, a feat he also achieved in the semi-final, one day after returning from Guyana via England the previous weekend. Ravindra Nauth bagged three for 48 from 9.1 overs while Matthew’s brother, Marcus, who bowls leg-spin, claimed two for 29 and skipper Arjuna Sukhu, who caused the early damage, two for 27 from 10 overs.

At the presentation ceremony, SCA President, Guyanese-born Shiv Persaud

congratulated both teams for reaching the final, pointing out that they are both “winners.”

Man-of-the-match Nandu, leading scorer Navin Nauth and best bowler Ravindra Nauth were recipients of cash incentives, compliments of Ryiad Sattaur, Anand “Mutt” Singh, Karan Rajkumar and SCA secretary, Eon Gunraj.

Toronto Rhinos’ Aamir Khan led the batting aggregate in the division, totalling 398 runs from nine matches, averaging 66.33 runs per innings while Chiraj Rathod (Palace Panthers) scored 326, also from nine matches,

averaging 36.22 and Ahmed Nana (Palace Panthers) hit 288 in eight matches for an average of 36. Both Khan (129) and Nana (120) hit centuries.

Nandu’s season was curtailed because of international and other commitments in Guyana but he still managed to total 221 runs from four matches with a top score of 85 and a phenomenal average of 110.50.

In the bowling department, Shamsudeen (Kaieteur) took 22 wickets at 6.73 runs apiece; Aamir Dorcat (Palace Panthers) 18 at 15.11 and Bilal Chaudry 17 at 12.12.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, MONDAY OCTOBER 4, 2021

PSG suffers defeat to Rennes Lionel Messi has scored one goal in four games for PSG

( BBC) - Paris St-Germain’s 100 per cent start in Ligue 1 was ended by Rennes as Lionel Messi suffered his first defeat since arriving at the club.

The hosts scored two quick goals either side of half-time through Gatetan Laborde and Flavien Tait.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side did not have a single shot on target, despite Messi,

Neymar and Kylian Mbappe all starting.

The defeat is PSG’s first in Ligue 1 since April, when they were beaten by last season’s eventual champions Lille.

Rennes opened the scoring on 44 minutes when Laborde converted from Kamaldeen Sulemana’s superb cross.

Tait added a second soon

after the restart with a sweeping finish into the bottom corner.

After slicing an effort high over the bar in the first half, Mbappe thought he had pulled a goal back for Pochettino’s side midway through the second half, only for it to be ruled out for offside by the video assistant referee (VAR).

The Frenchman is now

on a run of five games without a goal in all competitions.

PSG were spared further damage when referee Ruddy Buquet reversed his decision to award Rennes a penalty for Achraf Hakimi’s foul on Laborde after checking the pitchside monitor.

Neymar missed a volley in the first half and Idrissa Gueye fired wide of the post, but Lionel Messi came clos-

est for PSG when he hit the crossbar from a free-kick.

Bruno Genesio’s Rennes side had only won twice in Ligue 1 heading into Sunday’s game, but were clinical in front of goal and scored from two of their four shots on target.

The result leaves PSG top of Ligue 1 on 24 points, six points clear of Lens, while Rennes move up to seventh.

(ESPNCRICINFO) - Kolkata Knight Riders simply had to win, and they kept their end of the bargain thanks to a superb bowling performance against Sunrisers Hyderabad that moved them to 12 points with one game to play. Winning with just two balls to spare meant their net run rate didn’t jump by much, but their NRR is the best among all the contenders for fourth place, which means a win in their final game should see them through in all likelihood.

Sunrisers off to disastrous start Wriddhiman Saha was out second ball to a Tim Southee nip-backer but could have survived had he reviewed. Jason Roy, who has come in since David Warner’s ouster, looked to cut loose but was tied down

by Shivam Mavi’s tight lines as he kept premeditating and

missing. The frustration eventually got to him as he slapped a length ball straight to mid-on as the Sunrisers crawled to 17 for 2 in five overs.

Mavi’s figures read 2-0-41 when Eoin Morgan decided to gamble with a third over for the fast bowler inside the first six. He erred and got picked off. Kane Williamson took him for 18, including four boundaries: a back-foot cover drive, a slap through point, a front-foot cover drive, and, to top it off, a neat little dab past short third. It gave Sunrisers a hint of momentum.

Shakib makes an impact Playing his first game of the second leg, and only his fourth overall this season, Shakib Al Hasan made a mark in his very first over, not with his left-arm spin, but with his athleticism. A quick sprint, a turnaround and throw in one

motion at the bowler’s end had Williamson short of the crease as he tried to steal a single in the seventh over. It left the Sunrisers three down, leaving two youngsters - Priyam Garg and Abhishek Sharma - having to resurrect the innings.

That wasn’t to be. Shakib had Sharma stumped with a slider in the 11th over, and finished with 4-0-20-1.

The slide continues Sunil Narine, brought into the attack in the eight over, maintained the Knight Riders’ stranglehold. In trying to break the shackles, Garg, who could have been out on 5 had Shakib taken a simple popback, was out slog-sweeping to deep square for 21 to give Varun Chakravarthy his first wicket to leave Sunrisers 70 for 5. Two monstrous hits from the threatening Abdul Samad, Rashid Khan’s failed

helicopter shot, and Venkatesh Iyer’s towering presence as a boundary catcher highlighted the rest of the innings as Sunrisers limped to 115 for 8. The spin trio of Shakib, Narine and Chakravarthy ended with combined figures of 12-058-3.

Sunrisers tie down KKR top order In UAE, the Knight Riders have so far been able to shellack bowling attacks upfront to reduce the pressure on their middle order. But here they were given a proper workout early on. Venkatesh Iyer was beaten for pace three times before he miscued an attempted hoick to Williamson at mid-off in the fifth over. Two overs later, Rahul Tripathi erred in picking length as he swatted a Rashid Khan delivery to midwicket.

Enter Umran Malik

Talk about making a mark with raw pace. Umran Malik, the 21-year-old from Srinagar, let it rip as soon as he came on in the fourth over. Originally in the Sunrisers contingent as a net bowler and signed as a short-term Covid-19 replacement for T Natarajan, Malik bowled the fastest delivery by an Indian in IPL 2021 with the third ball of his first over, which clocked 150kph. Having made Iyer hop around, he then troubled Nitish Rana with his zip off the pitch in his second over.

This spell coincided with the Knight Riders treading a cautious path, with Rana and Shubman Gill crawling along to add 9 off 25 balls at one stage. The asking rate was creeping up, with the Knight Riders 44 for 2 at the halfway mark. With three more overs to come from Rashid, it was

by no means going to be a cakewalk.

Gill shreds pressure to secure victory After the famine came the feast as Gill changed gears.

Using his feet to throw Holder off his lengths, he pulled him imperiously for two boundaries in the 12th over to signal a turnaround. He then took on Rashid and Malik, who slightly erred in trying to go full throttle. Gill soon brought up a half-century, his first of the season. When the Knight Riders took the strategic timeout at 84 for 2 in 15 overs, they were well on their way to victory. Gill and the struggling Rana departed soon after, but Dinesh Karthik and Eoin Morgan calmly completed the job; Karthik’s bullet drive first ball and a cracking cut off Bhuvneshwar crushing any little hope Sunrisers may have had.

(BBC) - Kevin de Bruyne’s deflected late equaliser gave Manchester City a fully deserved point after a moment of genius by Mohamed Salah looked to have earned Liverpool victory in an Anfield thriller.

Reigning champions, City, and Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool were each hoping to take over from Chelsea at the top of the table, but this result means Thomas Tuchel’s side stay clear at the Premier League summit.

City dominated the first half but wasted a host of chances and were punished when Sadio Mane was the beneficiary of more Salah brilliance to apply a clinical finish to put Liverpool ahead after 59 minutes.

Liverpool’s lead lasted just 10 minutes until Phil Foden, who tormented the struggling James Milner throughout, took a pass from Gabriel Jesus and fired a low, angled finish across Alisson at

the Kop end.

City manager Pep Guardiola was nursing an understandable sense of injustice after Milner somehow escaped a second yellow card for blatantly upending Bernardo Silva, before Anfield exploded in joy after 76 minutes when Salah slalomed his way beyond a succession of City defenders to power home a stunning finish.

City’s performance merited at least a point and secured it when De Bruyne’s shot took a deflection off Joel Matip to beat Alisson with nine minutes left.

The Reds should have won it with five minutes remaining but Fabinho’s goalbound shot was kept out by Rodri’s sensational block.

Peerless Salah lifts Liverpool Liverpool have bullied City at Anfield in the past but the tables were turned here in the first half, the champions dominating possession and

pinning the hosts back in a manner rarely seen under Klopp in recent seasons.

Klopp’s side needed a spark to return to at least something like their normal selves and it was talisman Salah who provided it with a virtuoso second-half performance.

The Egyptian first of all showed his class to set up Mane for a goal that was against the overall run of play but was the result of Liverpool increasing the pace at the start of the second half. Salah’s run and pass was sheer perfection and his attacking partner gratefully accepted the invitation to finish in style.

And after the excellent Foden drew City level, Salah scored a goal that will live long in the memory as he twisted and turned in between a host of City defenders before lashing an unstoppable finish past Ederson.

It was a goal worthy of

winning any match, but in reality Liverpool could not complain at only getting a point as they struggled to exert their authority.

Salah’s masterclass, however, showed once again that he truly belongs among the game’s elite.

Foden shows his class for City Foden’s importance for City was also emphasised as he gave Milner a nightmare for the 78 minutes the Liverpool veteran was on the pitch, and scored a crucial equaliser just as The Kop sensed their side had finally established supremacy.

Milner, in at right-back with Trent Alexander-Arnold injured, simply could not cope with Foden, escaping with a foul on the edge of the area that was not given then being booked for hauling the youngster down in desperate fashion.

City were clearly determined to probe the right-hand

side of Liverpool’s defence where Milner was not actually receiving too much assistance, and it was no surprise that Foden found himself in space to give Allison no chance with a fine finish to level.

This was a good response from City to their midweek Champions League loss to Paris St-Germain, although once against questions will be raised about the lack of a recognised striker when a host of first-half chances were not taken.

City’s play was measured and, with Ruben Dias and Aymeric Laporte solid at the back, it took those two moments of rare skill by Salah to unlock them.

It would have been harsh on City had they not got at least a point and Guardiola’s joy was obvious when De Bruyne got the leveller, albeit he was running hot with fury at the time after referee Paul Tierney decided against

giving that second yellow card to Milner - earning one himself as his vociferous protests continued after Salah had restored Liverpool’s lead.

City have performed impressively against the two teams widely regard as their closest Premier League title rivals in the last eight days, winning at Chelsea then coming away with a point at Anfield.

Guardiola will regard four points as a reasonable return and will be highly satisfied that his team could have had the maximum, even pressing for a winner in the closing moments.

The most decisive contribution in this frantic finale, however, came from Rodri as he somehow blocked Fabinho in a packed goalmouth when he looked certain to score the match-winner.

He made a crucial intervention and Guardiola was all smiles again at the final whistle.

Bowlers and Shubman Gill boost KKR’s play-offs chances

Liverpool, Manchester City play to draw

GUYANA CHRONICLE, MONDAY OCTOBER 4, 2021

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