Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 06-09-2021

MONDAY 6th September, 2021

No.106476

Vaccination identification card needed to access all public buildings

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Legislation being developed for ‘free zone’ in Region Nine –– President Ali tells members of Rupununi Chamber of Commerce and Industry

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President, Dr Irfaan Ali and Tourism Industry and Commerce Minister Oneidge Walrond (at head table) Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal visits a benab during the meeting with members of the Rupununi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Office of the at this year’s mini-Amerindian Heritage celebration in President photo) Lethem, Region Nine

Fisheries exports pass $4B in first half of 2021 03 PAGE

Consumer Commission receives complaints about goods, services worth $119M 09 PAGE

Some informal settlements to be regularised 14 PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 6, 2021

Legislation being developed for 'free zone' in Region Nine –– President Ali tells members of the Rupununi Chamber of Commerce and Industry

PRESIDENT, Dr Irfaan Ali met with members of the Rupununi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) on Saturday afternoon, where he discussed his government’s plans for Region Nine and encouraged them to form themselves into consortiums.

The Head of State, who was also in Lethem for the Regional Toshaos Meeting, said that his government is aware of the desire to have parts of Lethem as a free zone.

“The declaration of areas as designated areas here in

Region Nine, Lethem, as a free zone — was a major issue that was raised. What I can say to you is that we are presently drafting the legislation. I received some options from the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), and the Attorney-General is doing the draft legislation.”

President Ali also updated the chamber on various plans by his government to improve the region’s infrastructure, including upgrading various health centres, schools, roads, improvement to the electricity supply, and other major ini-

By Richard Bhainie

top-up was successful, the customer received a text message with an electronic letter; customers kept track of the letters they collected by texting ‘SUMMA’ to short code 1441; however, even though customers might have received the four letters required to spell ‘RUSH’, they only qualified to win a prize. A customer only won the SUV when he/she opened his/her cylinder at the drawing and found the winning ticket.

An ecstatic Etwaroo began dancing after she revealed the contents of her cylinder and was informed that she was the final winner of the ‘summa rush’ promotion. She said that she never anticipated winning as she wasn’t consciously participating in the competition and

tiatives that will drive more investments and businesses in the region.

He said that once the major projects kick-off, investments could help negate the negative impact of the pandemic.

After his opening remarks, the President opened the floor for the business community to ask questions and highlight issues that affect them.

Most persons spoke of the decline in business due to the pandemic and the high cost of electricity.

The President remind-

ed the gathering that his government is embarking on significant investments in electricity, including the establishment of solar farms in the region, which will reduce energy costs by more than 50 per cent in the coming years.

President Ali also encouraged the RCCI members to form consortiums and told them that the investment opportunities are greater as groups than as individuals. He highlighted large scale farming opportunities as an example.

INFRASTRUCTURAL WORKS COMMITTEE The group also raised issues about poor infrastructural work being done in the area and suggested that a committee should be established to monitor future infrastructural works.

As a result, President Ali, on the spot, asked the group to nominate a representative and instructed the Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar, to form a monitoring committee and ensure that the representative is

President, Dr Irfaan Ali included.

The RCCI members said that they were happy with the discussions with the President and thanked him for facilitating them on such short notice.

Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond, was also at the meeting. (Press & Publicity, Office of the President)

Devi Etwaroo drives off in last ‘Summa Rush’

THE third Toyota Rush Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) up for grabs as part of the Digicel Guyana massive “Summa Rush” promotion was driven away by one lucky customer, Devi Etwaroo, of Bel Air Village, Georgetown, at the final drawing of the promotion on Saturday night at MovieTowne Guyana.

The promotion which lasted for seven weeks enabled Digicel’s prepaid customers to have a chance of driving off with one of the three brand new SUVs, once they topped up with $1,000 or more (scratch cards or electronically), to collect the letters to spell the word R-U-S-H. Once the customer’s

Devi Etwaroo she merely “got lucky”. ana customers received a A top up of $1,000 con- letter for each entry. If the stituted one entry into the customer topped up $5,000 promotion and Digicel Guy- all at once, he/she still re-

ceived one letter, but if he/ she topped up $1,000 five times, he/she received five letters.

Etwaroo topped up her phone about six times before collecting the four letters to spell the word R-U-S-H. She told the Guyana Chronicle that, upon doing so, she ran to her mother filled with joy; that was one minute before Digicel Guyana called to inform her that she qualified to enter the draw.

Overwhelmed by emotions, she said she had “no words” to describe how she felt but she was confident that she was going to be the one out of seven to win the Toyota Rush on Saturday last; she said her first drive in her brand new vehicle would lead her straight home.

Sixteen customers quali-

fied to enter the three drawings held on August 7, August 21 and September 4, but only three had the opportunity to drive away in one of the vehicles which is also equipped with one year’s full comprehensive insurance; however, every customer was a winner as over $2 million aggregate in cash prizes was distributed to each customer who qualified.

Mahendra Samar, of Coldingen, East Coast Demerara (ECD), had walked away as the first winner while Mahase Budram from the island of Wakenaam, Region Three (Essequibo Islands – West Demerara) secured the second Toyota Rush following the second ‘drawing’.

Samar had told the See page 3

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 6, 2021

Fisheries exports pass $4B in first half of 2021

By Rehana Ahamad

DURING the first half of 2021, exports for the fisheries sector have surpassed $4 billion, according to figures provided by Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha. The figures indicated that during the first six months of the year, the fisheries industry netted some $27 million in revenue.

To further improve the sector’s earning capacity, the Ministry of Agriculture has embarked on a series of initiatives, including the reviewing and updating of the country’s Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture Strategy (2021-2026); the resuscitation of the National Fisherfolk Organisation; the development of a fishing vessel inspection programme; and, more importantly, the training of sector officials who can further train local fisherfolk.

Only recently, Minister Mustapha engaged the United States Economic Affairs Department to assist in addressing some of the challenges faced by the players within the local fishing industry, and to ensure its sustainability.

The Agriculture Minister had informed the government’s Department of Public Information that he had been tasked with identifying focal points that can be discussed at a more technical level with the US officials.

“We will be meeting almost on a monthly or bi-monthly basis to deal with these issues. But these are very important trade issues for us,” Mustapha said.

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, looks on as a fish vendor prepares her catch for the market an estimated 1,498 vessels in 2019.

RESILIENCE ranging in size from six to Also, last year, Guyana Notwithstanding the 24 metres, of which the great produced finfish (artisanal), myriad of challenges that majority (83 per cent) were finfish (industrial), red snapper, have only been compound- gill netters. prawns, seabob (industrial), ed by the advent of climate Aquaculture, on the oth- whitebelly, seabob (artisanal) change, the fisheries sector er hand, has been practised and tuna. Of those varieties, continued its resilience. for many years using mostly finfish raked over $11 billion As a matter of fact, last “low-input culture method” in — the most revenue for this year, the fisheries sector brackish water and freshwater industry — while red snapper managed to secure reve- ponds, employing cachama, and seabob each earned stakenue in excess of $16 billion, tilapia, and whiteleg shrimp as holders over $1 billion. while aquaculture mustered the major target species.

Production, in the aqua$207,251,016.

The consolidated contri- culture sector, up to NovemAccording to the Food and bution of both aspects of this ber last year was 121,741 Agriculture Organisation of industry accounted for two kilograms, but was projected the United Nations (FAO), in per cent of Guyana’s over- to end the year at 137, 626 Guyana, “capture fisheries” is all Gross Domestic Product kilograms. undertaken by artisanal fishers (GDP) and 12 per cent of the Total production was and by an industrial fishing agricultural GDP in 2020. just above 246, 919 kilofleet composed of trawlers Information shared with grams in 2019. This sub-secand hand-liners, including the Guyana Chronicle shows tor produces bashaw, black some foreign flagged, licensed that production in the area of shrimps, hassar, mullet, vessels. marine fisheries was just over querriman, tambaqui and The organisation said 30,000 metric tonnes at the tilapia. most of Guyana’s fishing end of November 2020, but effort occurs in the relatively was projected to end the year RELATIVELY SMALL shallow waters of the con- at over 35,000 metric tonnes.

The aquaculture sector tinental shelf. In 2017, the Total production was just in Guyana is still relativeestimated fleet comprised above 38,000 metric tonnes ly small, with production

Devi Etwaroo drives ...

occupying only about 350 hectares of land around the country.

But, it was reported recently that the government will be working towards making this sector globally competitive and a key contributor to economic growth, through several initiatives like the expansion of the Satyadeow Sawh Aquaculture Station and aquaculture zoning, both on land and in water.

Aquaculture, a component of the agriculture sector, is the process of rearing, breeding and harvesting of aquatic species, both animals and plants, in controlled aquatic environments like the oceans, lakes, rivers, ponds and streams.

“Aquaculture in Guyana shows strong potential since the country has relatively large acres of flat lands with suitable soil types and access to large quantities and good quality freshwater (water conservancies)… moreso there are existing drainage and irrigation infrastructure in some areas, sub-tropical temperatures for shrimp and fish production and good availability of agricultural/ fisheries by-products for the formulation and manufacturing of aqua feed,” Minister Mustapha said in a recent report.

The FAO has already provided US$100,000 to Guyana in 2019, to strengthen the strategic and regulatory framework for inland fisheries and aquaculture development in Guyana.

The fisheries department, in collaboration with the FAO, is expected to convert

a draft aquaculture regulation to a legal document in 2021.

Compliance with this regulation and the relevant authorities like the Environmental Protection Agency, Veterinary Public Health Unit and the Guyana Livestock Development Authority will be requirements for aquaculture operations.

Added to that, the government has allocated, in its 2021 budget, $293 million to develop the fisheries sector. This provision will be specifically directed towards facilitating feed-formulation research with the aim of reducing the cost of feed to below $200 per kilogramme, thereby encouraging increased investment and productivity.

Currently, the cost of production for aquaculture products is greatly impacted by the cost of feed, which accounts for some 60-70 per cent of overall production costs.

As it is, the fishing industry employs some 8,400 people in harvesting and 5,000 in processing and marketing, so more than 10,000 livelihoods depend directly on fishery, and many more benefit indirectly from fishing-related occupations such as boat building, gear supply and repair.

According to the FAO, a significant number of persons work in processing, distributing and selling fish and fish products in domestic markets. A high proportion of workers in processing, distribution and retail are women, and they are active in harvesting as well.

From page 2

Guyana Chronicle that he was hopeful for the red vehicle, as it was the same colour associated with Digicel Guyana, and he was a proud customer.

The three winning customers were all given random keys to the three vehicles available in three colours, black, silver and red, and were asked to unlock the vehicles in order to decide which customer was allo-

cated what colour. Etwaroo walked away with the black, while Samar dreams came through as he got the red and Budram received the silver.

All of the draws were held at MovieTowne Guyana and were broadcast live on social media and on the National Television Network (NCN), each draw saw exhilarating performances from Guyana’s top artistes.

It ended on a very high note

on Saturday when Mystic performed.

Present at the final draw on Saturday was Digicel Guyana Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Gregory Dean, who said with Christmas “just around the corner” Digicel Guyana will be looking to host a Christmas promotion larger than the ‘Summa Rush’ promotion.

Digicel Guyana customers have much to anticipate.

The three Digicel Guyana customers pose for a photo with Digicel Guyana Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Gregory Dean, in front of the three brand new Toyota Rush Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 6, 2021

Taliban accused of killing pregnant police officer TALIBAN militants in Afghanistan have shot dead a policewoman in a provincial city, witnesses have told the BBC. The woman, named in local media as Banu Negar, was killed at the family home in front of relatives in Firozkoh, the capital of central Ghor province.

The killing comes amid increasing reports of escalating repression of women in Afghanistan.

The Taliban told the BBC they had no involvement in Negar’s death and are investigating the incident.

Spokesman Zabiullah

Mujaheed said: “We are aware of the incident and I am confirming that the Taliban have not killed her, our investigation is ongoing.”

He added that the Taliban had already announced an amnesty for people who worked for the previous administration, and put Negar’s murder down to “personal enmity or something else”.

Details of the incident are still sketchy as many in Firozkoh fear retribution if they speak out. But three sources have told the BBC that the Taliban beat and shot Negar dead in front of

Monday, 06 September 03:30hrs - 05:00hrs

her husband and children on Saturday.

Relatives supplied graphic images showing blood spattered on a wall in the corner of a room and a body, the face heavily disfigured.

The family says Negar, who worked at the local prison, was eight months pregnant.

Three gunmen arrived at the house on Saturday and searched it before tying members of the family up, relatives say.

The intruders were heard speaking Arabic, a witness said.

Since taking power on 15 August, the Taliban have sought to portray themselves as more tolerant than their global reputation suggests, but incidents of brutality and repression are still being reported in parts of Afghanistan.

Human rights groups have been documenting revenge killings, deten-

tions and persecution of religious minorities. The Taliban have said officially that they will not seek retribution against those who worked for the former government.

The Taliban on Sunday gave more details of how segregation of the sexes will be enacted in universities.

In an extensive document, the new authorities said men and women must be separated, if necessary by a curtain.

Ideally, women will be taught by women but if none are available then “old men” of good character can step in, AFP reports.

Female students must wear an abaya, or robe, and niqab, or face veil.

On Saturday, Taliban officials broke up a demonstration by dozens of women in Kabul demanding the continuation of rights built up since the end of the Taliban’s previ-

Banu Negar’s family say the officer was eight months pregnant when she was killed (BBC photo) ous spell in power.

The group said the Taliban targeted them with tear gas and pepper spray as they tried to walk from a bridge to the presidential palace.

Meanwhile, fighting is reported to be continuing in the Panjshir Valley, north of Kabul. The province is the only part of Afghanistan actively resisting Taliban rule.

The opposition National Resistance Front of Afghanistan (NRF) said its spokesman Fahim Dashti and a commander, Gen Abdul Wudod Zara, had been killed.

But the group also said

a prominent Taliban general and 13 bodyguards had also died in the conflict.

NRF leader, Ahmad Massoud, posted on Facebook that he welcomed a proposal from religious leaders for a negotiated end to the conflict.

He said that the NRF would be prepared to stop fighting if Taliban stopped its attacks.

Earlier, the Taliban said their forces were now in the provincial capital, Bazarak, where they inflicted “numerous casualties”, though this was disputed by the NRF. (BBC)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 6, 2021

Jamaica: Women urged to include men as part of their cheering squad DIRECTOR of the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel, Christelle Harris, believes that while women in business continue to face gender-related discrimination, they still need men as part of their “cheering squad”.

Additionally, Harris said women need to take up at least 50 per cent occupancy in the corporate field for there to be adequate representation.

“Men should be a part of our cheerleading squad.

They need to be shown the benefit of having women in leadership roles and having women [take up] 50 per cent occupancy at the table. There [should] be a little bit more emotional consideration when making important corporate decisions,” she told All Woman.

Harris, who is also the director of both Hampden Estate Rum and Liguanea Lane Pharmacy, said historically there has been a false presumption that men are the stronger of the genders and this had led to women being treated negatively by men in the corporate world.

“We can see it in pay inequality and we can see it in opportunities granted...but for me as a woman, even in my own family where women have historically been in leadership positions, as the companies become more diversified we’ve had to take on people from outside of the family. I can see where there is a tendency to not want my directive as the final directive. There is this tendency to want to go to the male counterpart

of my family for authorisation or for final decision,” Harris said.

Explaining that both men and women have different strengths that they bring to table, Harris stated that if women do not have the support of men, then their struggle for equality will continue to be that much more difficult.

“So really what is the sense of putting men down to say that we are stronger than you? If I were a man that would make me quite insecure. I think that it’s quite beneficial to garner support [by] trying to foster a sense of community, rather than fighting against [each other],” she added.

Harris continued: “Now that does not mean that if a man is acting in a reasonably superior way because of his gender he

should not be put in his place. I believe that he should be called out and it should be transparent. It needs to be dealt with in a responsible manner.”

Also the 2006 Miss Jamaica World first runner-up, Harris recalled how the tenacity of her grandparents built her family’s empire. She noted that her grandparents were always supportive of each other, and this kind support is how both men and women should work together when building a business.

“My grandmother and my grandfather were really a unit and in building their business; they did nothing apart. Their business sense was really innate and what gave them strength was the ability to work together,” she said.

Harris confirmed that even without formal training, her grandparents were able to operate multiple successful businesses.

“I must say they never had any formal training; nobody went to university.

My grandmother didn’t finish high school because she wasn’t able to pay the school fee. My family wasn’t a wealthy family, before the dry cleaning business my grandfather was a farmer and my grandmother was a self-taught seamstress. So they really built what they knew from scratch and I suppose from looking at what people needed and supplying that,” she said.

With this in mind, Harris went on to say that in order to build a solid future there is no point in trying to con-

Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel Director, Christelle Harris (Jamaica Observer photo) vince someone of your worth if you’re unsure about your worth. (Jamaica Observer)

Soldiers claim to seize power in Guinea

THE fate of Guinea’s President Alpha Condé is unclear after an unverified video showed him surrounded by soldiers, who said they had seized power.

They appeared on national TV claiming to have dissolved the government.

However, the Defence Ministry said the attempted takeover had been thwarted by the presidential guard.

This follows hours of heavy gunfire near the presidential palace in the capital, Conakry.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the African Union have condemned the apparent coup and demanded the immediate release of President Condé.

The West African country of Guinea is rich in natural resources but years of unrest and mismanagement mean it is one of the world’s poorest countries.

The soldiers said they had acted because of rampant corruption and poverty (BBC photo) The TV address featured nine unnamed soldiers, several draped in the red, gold and green national flag, who said they had taken over because of rampant corruption, mismanagement and

poverty.

Calling themselves the National Committee for Reconciliation and Development, they said the Constitution had been dissolved and that there would be con-

sultations to create a new, more inclusive one.

Numerous reports say the coup was led by an elite unit headed by a former French legionnaire, Lt Col Mamady Doumbouya.

In one video, which the BBC has not been able to verify, soldiers ask President Condé, 83, to confirm he is unharmed but he refuses to respond.

Sitting barefoot on a sofa wearing jeans and a printed shirt, he does not have any visible injuries. His current whereabouts are unknown.

Those behind the coup said that all land and air borders had been closed for a week.

However, according to the Defence Ministry, forces loyal to the President have “contained the threat and repelled the group of assailants”.

Earlier, the only bridge connecting the mainland to the Kaloum peninsular, which houses most ministries and the presidential palace, was sealed off while many soldiers, some heavily armed, were posted around the palace, a military source

told Reuters news agency.

There are unconfirmed reports that three soldiers have been killed.

Following the news, opposition supporters and activists took to the streets in celebration.

“We are here to show our joy because we suffered a lot over time,” Abdoulaye Oumou Sow said. “We have been very patient.”

President Condé was re-elected for a controversial third term in office amid violent protests last year.

The veteran opposition leader was first elected in 2010 in the country’s first democratic transfer of power.

Despite overseeing some economic progress, he has since been accused of presiding over numerous human rights abuses and harassment of his critics. (BBC)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 6, 2021

The Power of Education

THE month of September is designated Education Month. The theme for this year is, ‘Education for all: Innovative teaching and learning in a global pandemic.’

This year’s Education Month also coincides with Amerindian Heritage Month. This was first introduced by the PPP/C administration which from the time it took office placed Amerindian development as a top national priority. A Ministry of Amerindian Affairs was established.

Both are worthy of celebrations. Amerindian development is inextricably linked to access to quality education which historically had been denied to the children of Guyana and our indigenous people in particular. That trend of underdevelopment continued during the post-independence years under the PNC, which by the 1980s had reduced Guyana to one of the worst-performing countries in the entire Region in terms of education-attainment levels.

The entire cohort of the student popula-

tion suffered from the deficiencies of the education delivery system, but our Amerindian children suffered the most. This was particularly so in the case of access to secondary and tertiary education. There was hardly any secondary institution in the hinterland regions and schools were ill-equipped in terms of learning-resource materials and teaching staff.

It was not until the assumption of office of the PPP/C administration on October 5, 1992 that the education tide shifted positively in terms of student-attainment levels. Our Guyanese students no longer were made to suffer the ignominy of being at the bottom of the performance ladder. Indeed, our students are today as competitive as any of their Caribbean counterparts and have on several occasions outperformed their Caribbean counterparts in several subject areas including that of the overall best-performing students at the regional

CSEC and CAPE examinations.

Today, the delivery of education to our students has improved significantly all across the country, including our hinterland regions. The barrier to quality education is gradually being broken and the days of ‘privileged’ schools where only the rich could afford are now becoming a thing of the past.

These developments in education did not come about by accident. Instead, it resulted from a deep-seated philosophical outlook of the PPP/C administration in which education is seen as a right and not a privilege.

In keeping with this thinking, education was seen as a national priority and several policy interventions were initiated to give effect to that orientation.

Among these were teacher training, curriculum reforms and infrastructural development, which have impacted positively on learning outcomes.

Budgetary allocations to the education sector have been increased substantially.

These initiatives are now being further enhanced with the recent launch of the new Education Strategic Plan (2021-2025), which seeks to further democratise education access and delivery by addressing issues of inequity and school drop-out rates among others.

The PPP/C administration must be commended for making the resources available to correct the deficiencies of the past and putting the strategies in place to deliver quality education in a COVID-19 environment.

Already there are clear indications that the critical success factors in education are being successfully addressed.

In the final analysis, it is the all-round development of our students and attainment levels at examinations that are the true determinants of success.

We have done well, but we have to continue to do better. The new Education Strategic Plan will certainly help to map the way forward.

The enemy is not you and I it is the COVID-19 virus, get vaccinated Dear Editor, IT is extremely disappointing to observe that some people who put themselves out to want to be executives in this nation have taken the opportunity to abuse our collective liberties with their reckless statements.

Their attempt to conduct a march against the vaccination drive for COVID on Monday, September 6, 2021, is nothing else but foolhardy and irresponsible.

If they were living in isolation away from the rest of us (the law-abiding citizens of Guyana), then we can appreciate their willingness to take the unnecessary risks, but when they choose to take risks that expose the collective as a whole, then I have a problem with such selfishness.

“My body; my right” in this case, is nothing else but a slogan steeped in an attitude of mind that is steeped in vainglorious-

ness that seeks to compromise the society to advance one’s self interest. This is shameful behaviour.

We need to be more patriotic and committed to our nation as a whole, rather than using every opportunity to score cheap political points which is nothing else but counter-productive and is causing us to lose access to vital human resources. All of us are at risk, so please Guyanese, ignore these reckless people and mask up, and get vaccinated.

I have observed a regional chairman, a parliamentarian, and a so-called teachers union leader trying to steer our children away from vaccination. Are these people for real? How much lower can we get with such toxic partisanship? If these people so love this nation, why did they take both of the vaccines but continue to misguide a declining minority on it? This attitude of mind of anti-vaccination; anti-masking up,

anti-people, and anti-science is nothing else but self-serving. As one of the scientists stated, if you are anti-vaccination it translates to you being pro-virus, which is a dangerous position to adopt. Such thoughtlessness will directly affect the children of Guyana, especially those in school.

Is this what they want for our children?

Come on chaps, grow up!

So my message today is aimed at those who are ready to join the growing majority who are helping in the process to protect the whole society by stepping forward to take the vaccine. What is critical for us all is to recognise is that each of our freedoms does depend on all of us doing certain things together. In the case of this deadly pathogen, it means masking up and vaccinating together.

This is the only way!

What the empirical evidence is also showing is that this pathogen is causing the gaps between the “haves” and the “have

nots” to widen. Think of it: a business owner can stay away from work for two weeks to recover from COVID, but can the restaurant service attendant with the minimum wage afford to do the same, because he or she does not have the vaccines and has a higher chance of not recovering from the virus?

The enemy is not you and I, it is the COVID-19 virus. Thus, we must know this enemy and the better we are prepared to fight it, the better we can fight it collectively as a nation. The medical experts have stated publicly that the “Delta variant” is extremely deadly and the future variants (and yes they are coming) are even more deadly. Can we take that risk?

The best time to have fixed this was yesterday, but the second-best time to do so is today. Now is the time!

Yours sincerely, Sasenarine Singh

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 6, 2021

Guyana Police Force needs to go back to the drawing board

Dear Editor,

IT is my humble opinion that the crime situation, more especially in Georgetown, is spiralling out of control and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) needs to go back to the drawing board in order to bring back law and order.

The daily reports of robberies and crimes of violence bring home the reality of the grave situation and the robbery that was committed whilst a post-mortem was in progress indicates the depravity and disrespect of the robbers even to the deceased.

The bicycle gangs of young men cycling around in search of prey; the motor cycle gangs also in search of victims and perhaps with better information as to their victims; the beating to death of Pandit Rishi Bharrat by a group of men drinking and hurling insults to the female members of the late Pandit’s family; persons being awakened and robbed in their homes. All of these factors and more are indicative of my assertion that the police is lacking in their responsibility and duty to the citizens of Guyana. I do not buy the statistics given out by the police that there has been a decrease in crime. No, not at all and so many crimes go unreported as the victims feel it would be a waste of time to make reports when they see and know that nothing will come out of them.

The one spark recently in the fight against this breed of criminals is the lady who after being robbed, followed the bandits in her car and rammed the car that they were in. One robber was caught, charged and remanded to prison. Hats off to this heroic lady who is deserving of a medal. However, one should be careful when reacting to being robbed as it can result in serious injury or death.

The question to be asked is why is the police ineffective? Their duty is to serve and protect! Is that being done? I do not expect that every crime will be solved and that the police will be on the scene whilst

crimes are being committed. But they must solve the crimes. They must be able to infiltrate the gangs or pay informers for information. They must by their investigation charge and secure convictions in a large number of cases. They must not only rely on confession statements as I am and have always been suspicious of them. Too many confession statements are obtained with the use of coercion and violence by members of the force. I can tell you that from my experience once a criminal has been caught fairly, either by direct or indirect evidence, and not beaten for a confession, he will respect that police officer who secured the conviction against him.

With the boom in Guyana’s economy there will be many foreigners and tourists coming to Guyana. If they are robbed, then this will tarnish the image of the country and make persons not wanting to come here. This will affect our economy and more particularly the travel sector, taxis, restaurants, entertainment sector, the sectors that supply the restaurants and hotels, persons who work in all the afore-mentioned sectors. Not all of us can live by working in the oil and gas sector.

I note that millions have been spent by the government to make the police more mobile and we need to see the statistics how that has helped in this battle.

I make this appeal to the Minister of Public Security and the GPF to begin to be constructive and do what is necessary to let our citizens and all who may come here, be safe.

My recommendations for immediate action by the government and the GPF --(a) Ensure that the resources to fight crime are utilised constructively. Do an audit of what is required and what is available. (b) Cultivate informers so that information can be obtained. Pay these informers well and give a bonus as per results. (c) See how best undercover persons can be used so as to infiltrate areas and

gangs. This may prove difficult, considering the small population of Guyana.

Approved wire-tapping of phones be done to obtain plans and information of the criminals. (d) Start or improve a Hot Line System where persons can make reports anonymously if they so wish. The reason why this may not be currently working is that persons have to believe that whatever information is being given is confidential and cannot be traced back to them. As a result, the police will have to utilise individuals that will give confidence to the public at large and be assured that whatever information is given will be confidential. (e) The image of the Guyana Police Force needs to reflect integrity, care and competency. Persons need to believe in the integrity and ability of the police in receiving information and executing their duties. The recent and current dissension within the top echelons of the police force as regards promotions does not augur well for the future. This must be fixed as quickly as possible. (f) Education and continuing education for members of the police force should be encouraged. I am not sure how much time off is given, or if tuition and examination fees are paid by the administration. If not, then this should be looked into and once a member passes appropriate examinations, he/she should be compensated in some form. Promotion, increases in salaries or if none of the two, be given extra points when the time for promotion comes up. (g) Forensics. I know that there has been a push in this direction and I hope that, if possible, that more can be done so that science can help in the fight against crime. However, in order to get and keep professionals in this field, proper and competitive salaries and benefits must be paid. (h) Minister Benn seems hard-working and a no-nonsense person. He has to

be guided by the Police Commissioner and other senior officers. Let them lay out the plans, ensure that they have resources to do the job and if it fails, then there should be repercussions. (i) Crime affects us all, no matter where you live, ethnicity or job. I would like to see the government and opposition join in this fight and not let it be the case, that the opposition will say at the end of the day that the government has been hopeless. If recommendations have been given and disregarded by the minister or government, then they should be condemned. Do not wait in the slips and pray for failure! (j) Finally. We have to pay the members of the Guyana Police Force decent salaries. I understand the dilemma of the government that if the salary of one sector is raised then the other sectors will also clamour for the same raise. Which sector is more valuable? All are, as if one falters there will be repercussions in other sections of our society. Money is important, but if there are incentives and benefits to be gained in the long run, then that can be a motivation for integrity and professionalism. Provide housing, education with assistance in travel, school materials and other benefits for the children of members of the force; duty-free concessions for cars after at least 10 years of service and look for other innovations, so that members of the force can add these benefits to their salaries. (k) I would urge President Ali and his Cabinet to consider this suggestion: It is that for all employees in the public sector and those corporations that serve the public to be given annually a credit of at least $250,000 which they can use when they purchase goods on which VAT has to be paid.

This indirectly would immediately increase their purchasing power.

Yours sincerely, K.A. Juman-Yassin S.C, A.A.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 6, 2021

Lions Club donates hampers to Diamond/Grove residents

THE Lions Club of Diamond/Grove on Sunday distributed the first 50 of a total of 300 food and sanitisation hampers to families across communities in Diamond/Grove, East Bank of Demerara.

The remaining 250 hampers will be delivered in the coming weeks -- 50 each weekend -- until the target is met.

The good gesture comes as families all across the country continue to battle the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The donation falls under the club’s global cause – Hunger.

It is the club’s belief that true community improvement depends on the thriving of its members.

The club hopes that

through these projects, community members in service areas will have access to nutritious foods and sanitisation items.

The club is also conducting projects to bring relief to people in the areas of disaster relief and health, as well as the environment.

The project by the Lions Club of Diamond/Grove which began on Sunday is supported by several corporate partners including Republic Bank Limited, Solar Media Team, MACORP, John Fernandes Limited and the selfless contributions of individuals.

During the past year, in direct response to the effects of the pandemic, the club engaged in several other projects including the distribution

SOME $46 million in cheques was distributed to farmers in Cotton Tree and Rosignol villages, West Coast Berbice, on Sunday, as part of the government’s ongoing efforts to help farmers rebuild following the unprecedented nationwide flooding.

During the distribution exercises, beneficiaries spoke of the effects of the flood and the timely intervention by government.

Cash-crop farmer Fizal Mohamed said he had lost all of his produce. In addition, most of his farming equipment and chemicals were damaged by the contaminated floodwaters.

“Well, I am glad that I am getting back something to start back again. I plan on repurchasing seedlings to replant my farm when I collect the money,” Mohamed told the Department of Public Information

(DPI).

Another cash-crop farmer Dhiantie Manickram said she had lost over $60,000 in produce through the floods. This is apart from the lemon and coconut trees that collapsed due to the overly saturated soil.

“I feel happy. We might

of masks and sanitisation supplies, even as members continue to support ongoing humanitarian and charitable causes.

The club will also be starting its monthly feeding programme at the Diamond Primary School from September 2021.

According to Lions International, 815 million people were affected by hunger in 2016: 11 per cent of the global population; 155 million children under age five are stunted due to chronic malnutrition; 1/3 of annual food production is lost or wasted throughout the supply chain; and 33 per cent of women of reproductive age suffer from anaemia

Members of the Lions Club of Diamond/Grove during the distribution exercise on Sunday

Over $46M in relief distributed to Cotton Tree, Rosignol farmers

Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat hands over a cheque to a farmer (DPI photo)

Fizal Mohamed, a farmer and beneficiary of a flood-relief cheque (DPI photo)

not get back all that we lost, but we are having something back, so I am satisfied with what the government is doing,” she said.

Now that the woman has collected her cheque, she plans on elevating her garden to prevent damage from any future floods.

Large-scale cattle and

rice farmer Wazim Shariff, told the DPI that he had lost 22 horses and 58 cows. In addition to this, the farmer indicated that he had lost 200 acres of rice. However, with the relief he collected from the government, Shariff said he will use the money to rebuild his farm.

Dhiantie Manickram, another farmer and beneficiary of a flood-relief cheque (DPI photo) “I feel good about this relief. I will buy back some livestock and plant back my rice, because that is what we depend on to live,” he said.

Meanwhile, Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat, who led the

distribution, reminded the farmers that the government will continue to work with them, especially in this unparalleled environment.

“We will not make the same mistakes as in the past; that we will continue to come to our people, we will continue engaging you, we will continue to work with you so that you can build a better life.”

The minister encouraged the beneficiaries to use the money wisely, whether it be to liquidate debts or rebuild their farms.

At the two locations, over 380 cheques were distributed.

Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, and Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall, also conducted similar distribution exercises in Region Five.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 6, 2021

Consumer Commission receives complaints about goods, services worth $119M

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–– in first half of the year; 206 of 269 cases resolved

DURING the first half of 2021, the Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission (CCAC) has received a total of 269 complaints on goods and services which have an accumulated value of $119,942,369, according to a published notice.

The Commission, in reviewing and analysing its operations from January to June 2021, found that the aforementioned figures represent a 180 per cent increase when compared to the same period last year.

In executing its functions, the CCAC said that it was able to resolve at least 206 of the complaints it received; this reflects a resolution rate of 77 per cent during the first half of the year.

According to the Commission, the total value of the resolved complaints stood at $55,570,437.

The CCAC indicated that, currently, 69 of its cases are still being handled; this represents 22 per cent of all the complaints it has received during the first half of the year.

“Areas of infringement or contravention were the sale of defective goods, which accounted for 50 per cent of the complaints received,” the CCAC said.

It highlighted that the categories of complaints saw the electrical/electronic services leading the list, followed by the auto industry, then the appliance and construction industry.

Added to that, the Commission said that did during the period under review, it was able to conduct inspection exercises of 47 businesses between Georgetown and New Amsterdam areas.

“Twelve of those businesses were in compliance with the Consumer Affairs Act of 2011,” the CCAC said.

It outlined too that the 35 non-compliant businesses were given one month to conform to the Act, during which period they will be reinspected.

The woes of some consumers are being specifically addressed in the Hire Purchase Amendment Bill which was tabled in the National Assembly in February, by Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond, who believes that once enacted, the bill will transform the lives of the majority of Guyanese consumers who are unable to

make cash purchases of items needed to improve their lives. The minister made specific reference to items such as washing machines and motorcars that are usually acquired through credit purchases, at great risks to buyers.

“What we have found is because of lack of regulatory framework for these types of arrangements, common people are being taken advantage of,” Walrond posited.

PROTECTION TOOL She explained previously that the Hire Purchase Bill will serve as a protection tool for buyers, against “onerous” and “unscrupulous” business establishments.

The minister gave an example of persons having their items repossessed, without notice, having almost completed payments for the item. “We have had hundreds of complaints of these hire purchase arrangements that have particularly disadvantaged the people,” Minister Walrond noted.

Once the new regulations are in place, Guyanese buyers will have the luxury of mending mistakes that come from impulse purchases, and guard against substandard items.

According to Minister Walrond, the bill provides for seven days of “cooling off period”, which would give buyers the opportunity to return an item that they have regretted buying. “The seller has to accept it back from you… we have all had buyers’ remorse… you take it home and then you realise, ‘oh, I really shouldn’t have done this’,” Minister Walrond reasoned.

She said too that once the bill is passed, it will mandate sellers to explain prices and procedures to buyers, whereas sellers would have to specifically declare cash prices for an item, along with the hire purchase cost of the same item.

ELIMINATING FINANCIAL JARGONS This component of

the bill, Walrond said, is geared at eliminating financial jargons that often see hire purchase prices being shrouded in secrecy.

“If you don’t disclose [the prices], there will be criminal penalties,” the Commerce Minister said.

She noted, too, that while the bill serves as a protection tool for consumers, it will also bring major benefits to businesses throughout Guyana. The minister pointed to the fact that the advent of a proper framework would also encourage many more persons to make purchases via credit, as it will no longer be a mere risk.

Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh had also emphasised the benefits of the landmark bill, which, he said, is an addition to government’s agenda to comprehensively modernise all areas of Guyana, including the financial and commerce sectors.

“Buying on credit is a staple aspect of life in most modern and advanced societies,” Minister Singh said.

He noted that Guyana has many sellers who resort to conducting cash transactions, since there are often faced with concerns of unpredict-

ability and lack of protection that come from entering hire purchase arrangements.

“As we become increasingly a more modern society, which is unavoidably going to be a society that is going to be characterised by modern ways of doing business, including doing business on credit and hire purchase, it is important that we have a sound and legal framework that will facilitate those transactions and encourage more people to do such transactions, but in a predictable environment,” Dr. Singh noted.

As Guyana continues its course to advancement, the Finance Minister believes

Minister of Tourism Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond that the potential for buying and selling on credit will inevitably increase dramatically.

“Disposable incomes are going to be increasing; people are going to want to acquire these items [vehicles etc] for comfort,” Dr. Singh added.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 6, 2021

Don’t sell your children short

ONCE you have children, your life changes forever; you are indebted to a little person who will grow up in front of your eyes and one day become a man or woman.

The success of a child’s journey to adulthood relies on your actions as a parent, provider and protector. One of the best things parents can do is learn about children and child development. To equip themselves with relevant knowledge beforehand is to be prepared. Even those who are not first-time parents can learn something new about childcare; we are never too old to learn.

Children should be happy and healthy. We all know how it feels to behold a happy, healthy child. We feel the aura. And the smile, confidence and energy are unmistakable. Just as we can tell when a child is having a rough time or experiencing developmental or emotional issues, every parent should strive to bring out the best in

their children. They can do so by being a caring parent.

Caring parents are always present. They do not need loads of money or a big fancy house, neither do they have to supply treats for their children at regular intervals.

All they need to do is care from their hearts and work in the child’s best interest.

Children respond to kindness, consideration and affection.

Having these attributes in their childhood makes them feel secure, loved and appreciated. Children will always need adults with whom they can bond and build trusting relationships.

Grandparents, uncles, aunts, teachers, mentors and close family members included.

If you haven’t got the time to nurture your child because ‘life has you busy’, your child is at a disadvantage. Find or make time to spend quality moments together. Where there is a will, there is a way; children must come first. Structure your day, so you put aside time to be with your child or chil-

dren. Make a genuine effort to listen to them and show an interest in how they spend their time. Stimulate their minds by asking questions.

Hug them, kiss them and highlight their qualities rather than their wrong-doings or failures.

The bonding, nurturing, guidance and love of a parent give a child significance, assurance and peace of mind, not the lack or provision of material comforts. Children need stability to lead healthy and happy lives. Moving children from pillar to post is unsettling for them regardless of the circumstances. Where possible, children should remain with or live between their parents in a comfortable, loving mutual environment.

The worse thing for a child is when a parent blatantly palms them off on someone or fails to collect them on pre-arranged days.

Some parents make children feel like they are burdens.

They do not have the child’s development or best interest

at heart. The knowledge of having an established abode and caring parents is comforting to a child.

It is a small fact but often overlooked that moving a child from place to place gives them a sense of insecurity and puts them at risk from perpetrators. Some children’s lives are at the whim and fancy of their parents, and where parents lack a sense of direction or behave impulsively, children suffer. The suffering may not be apparent, and the child may not verbalise his/ her anxiety, but internally children are affected by their parents’ insensitive decisions about their welfare. Parents must provide a stable home for their children with the basic necessities.

A roof over their heads and a clean, dry place to sleep; running water, food, clothes, and health care are essential for growing children, as well as education. Children are entitled to these basic things, and parents must provide them.

Sometimes when the going gets tough for parents, it is hard for them to imagine a day when their children are grown. It just seems like an endless succession of buying food, paying bills, doing housework, cooking food, going to work and sleeping, while the children reap all the benefits.

For this reason, parents need to teach children a sense of responsibility; they too have a role to play in the running of a home; it is a team effort. There are chores they must do to enhance the upkeep of the household and not be solely reliant on parents to get things done. Parents are providers, and children can help out along the way where possible. When parents instill responsibilities at an early age, children know what parents expect from them. They help to keep their surroundings clean; naturally, they clean up after themselves and don’t make extra work for their hard-working parents to stress over. They know

to finish their school work before play and usually grow into self-sufficient teenagers.

Parents should not criticise their children even when they let them down in some way. Angry, stressed parents say hurtful things to children.

They want to hurt the child to match the extent of their pain or disappointment. Try to manage your temper and if you must criticise, make sure it is the child’s behaviour you target and not the child.

Let your children know that you love them unconditionally, not through words alone but actions. In times of need, they should know they can turn to you and trust you implicitly.

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

Vaccination identification needed to access all public buildings GUYANESE will now be required to be vaccinated to access public buildings.

This is according to the updated COVID-19 Emergency Measures (No. 22) published in the Official Gazette on Saturday evening.

These guidelines are applicable for the month of September, unless earlier revoked or amended.

Paragraph 17(1) of the new gazette states that “… any person who wishes to enter a public building shall be vaccinated.”

The previous order had said that these requirements were in place for government ministries and government agencies.

According to the gazette, “public buildings” means any building to which the public has lawful access and shall include both publicly and privately owned buildings, including all institutions of learning.

These include stores, banks and other commercial places.

For unvaccinated persons seeking to enter these buildings, an appointment must be made or a negative result from a PCR COVID-19 test must be provided within seven days of the appointment.

These PCR tests must be done at a private facility approved by the Ministry of Health. This test costs about $20,000.

Crystallanne Ramrattan holds up her COVID-19 Vaccination Card. Guyanese will now be required to be vaccinated to access public buildings (DPI photo)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 6, 2021

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 6, 2021

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 6, 2021

No shortage of medication, equipment at Linden Hospital – Regional Health Officer

REGIONAL Health Officer of Region 10, Dr. Gregory Harris, has debunked claims that there is a shortage of staff and medical supplies in the region.

He was responding to claims by the opposition that there is a shortage of equipment and drugs to effectively manage the COVID-19 situation in the region.

Dr. Harris said the Materials Management Unit

(MMU) of the Ministry of Health has been constantly supplying the region. They are currently in the process of sourcing a space to rent for a bond to store the drugs and equipment.

“With respect to equipment, we have two functional ventilators, two oxygen concentrators and over 15 cylinders of oxygen, 100-pound cylinder that is. Additionally, there is no drug shortage either.

As a matter of fact, we have so many things in stores like PPEs [Personal Protective Equipment],” the Regional Health Officer said.

Contrary to the claims, Dr. Harris noted that there is no shortage of staff at the Linden Regional Hospital, despite the current refusal by staff to take the COVID-19 vaccine.

“We don’t have any shortage of health personnel at the COVID Isola-

tion Unit. The nurses that have been there from the beginning of COVID are still there. Currently, we have zero patients in the isolation unit,” Dr Harris said.

He noted that the region is fully equipped to manage the COVID-19 cases, and urged persons to come out and be vaccinated.

Dr. Harris also invited Opposition Member of Parliament, Jermaine Figueira, to tour the Regional Health Bond and interact with the staff there.

Less than a year ago, Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, handed over a ventilator and an oxygen concentrator to boost the region’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Currently, the government continues to provide testing services for COVID-19 in all regions across the country, while also making provisions for every adult in Guyana, 18 years and over to have access to the vaccines.

The vaccination access has also been lowered to children from

Region 10 RHO, Dr. Gregory Harris 12-17 years, who are being administered the Pfizer shots. The government continues to encourage persons to take the vaccine to reduce the transmission of the Coronavirus. (DPI)

One Health Approach and intensified collaboration needed –– to prevent and respond to pandemics, urges FAO Director

THE world has the opportunity to bolster collective and collaborative methods to prevent future pandemics through a universal, inclusive One Health Approach, QU Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), said at the G20 Health Ministers Meeting held in Rome.

A viable coordinated response to COVID-19 involves intensified collaboration across borders, sectors and disciplines, Qu stressed at the opening of the twoday meeting.

He hailed efforts by the G20 Presidency - currently held by Italy - “to ensure that we bring new, realistic and pragmatic solutions to the areas of health and agrifood systems, to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and reach Zero Hunger by 2030.”

The Director-General spoke on behalf of FAO and also in his capacity as Chair of the Tripartite for One Health, a consortium also including the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) that advocate for solutions

which recognise that the health of people is connected to the health of animals and the environment - the One Health Approach.

The Tripartite considers universality, legitimacy, inclusivity, coherence and accountability as the five cardinal principles for stronger and more sustainable governance and investment into pandemic preparedness and response, he noted.

“We are at a historic turning point to set into motion the steps needed to prevent future pandemics,” Qu said, pointing to growing consensus and support by the G20 -- whose members represent two-thirds of the world’s population and 85 per cent of value-added economic activity (GDP) -- and also to the urgent need for more investments, especially at the national level. The Tripartite has proposals on how to fund One Health objectives rapidly that can contribute to a joint ministerial meeting of G20 Finance and Health Ministers in October 2021, he added.

A COHERENT APPROACH The Director-General

OIE Director-General, Monique Eloit and FAO Director-General, QU Dongyu, at the G20 Health Ministers Meeting in Rome emphasised the linkages Programme and by expebetween agri-food systems diting implementing the and health systems, and flagship Hand-in-Hand Ininoted that the pandemic tiative, which focuses on has disrupted the world’s Small Island Developing agri-food systems, which States, Least-Developed are core to all human Countries and Land-Locked health and life, in ways Developing Countries, all of that will have long-term whom have faced specific impacts. challenges over the past FAO has responded by year and a half. designing the COVID-19 The Tripartite has supResponse and Recovery ported the G20 to devel-

op a Call for Action on One Health, as part of its current development of a Global Action Plan for One Health with the guidance of its newly established One Health High-Level Expert Panel (OHHLEP).

“Let’s walk the talk,” Qu said in his appeal to expedite the move from discussion to on-the-ground practical implementation.

Within the context of One Health, FAO works continually to support members to prevent, detect and control diseases and related health threats wherever they emerge. This includes monitoring the emergence of antimicrobial resistance, as well as active programmes to combat and eradicate animal and zoonotic diseases.

The One Health approach, accounting for the interconnectivity of humans, animals and the environment is relevant in fighting any threat to agri-food systems and livelihoods.

This focus is particularly important in rural farming communities where animals provide transport, fuel and clothing as well as food. Better nutrition, for example, makes obvious contributions to human

health and can be linked to land management and farming practices.

“The link between agri-food systems and environmental health, the climate crisis, ecosystem degradation and biodiversity loss must also be highlighted,” Qu said.

THE G20 MEETING The G20 Health Ministers Meeting will include numerous sessions featuring experts ranging from Peter Doherty, winner of the 1996 Nobel Prize in Medicine for his work in explaining how the immune system recognises cells infected by viruses, to World Trade Organisation (WTO) Director-General, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

It is expected, with the Tripartite’s participation, to result in a G20 Health Call to Action to bolster One Health resilience, which will build on and steer pledges on equitable vaccine access and efforts to contain antimicrobial resistance (AMR) made in the Rome Declaration by G20 Health Ministers when they met in May 2021. (FAO)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 6, 2021

Some informal settlements to be regularised –– says Minister Rodrigues; notes backlog of house lot applications significantly reduced

MINISTER within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues, said there has been a significant reduction in the buildup of house lot applications, as the ministry continues its expansive housing programme of allocating 50,000 house lots over the next five years.

With over 6,500 families receiving house lots so far from the PPP/C Government, Minister Rodrigues said there is no reason for persons to squat.

“By the end of our first term in office, there will be no need for any Guyanese to

squat or to occupy any portion of land illegally. Enough lands will be made available to every single Guyanese who is entitled to a portion of land, so that they can live in dignity, so that they can have security over their head knowing that their roof is their own. So, they can have something to leave for their children and so that they can live in wholesome and sustainable communities,” the Department of Public Information (DPI) quoted the minister as saying.

There are some 200 informal settlements across the country. Minister Rodrigues

said some of these will be regularised.

Since the current administration took office in August last year, the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) received some 11,900 house lot applications, over 9,000 of which are of persons between the ages of 21 and 39.

Minister Rodrigues said this shows the confidence the younger generation has in the government.

“We don’t want to let them down; we don’t want to let anyone down and we take our commitment very seriously. And the emphasis

is not on house lot allocation, but the emphasis as we have said repeatedly, is on home ownership, that is our focus. And that is why we have an aggressive housing construction drive in all regions,” Minister Rodrigues said.

To this end, government has, within its first year in office, introduced a plethora of interventions in the housing sector designed to make home ownership easier.

The administration has increased the low-income threshold from $8 million to $10 million to allow low-income earners to benefit from increased loans from commercial banks.

Approval has also been given to the New Building society (NBS) to raise the loan ceiling to $15 million, giving allottees more access to finance to construct their homes.

Also, to assist low-income earners, the government has partnered with the Inter-American Devel-

Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues (DPI photo) opment Bank (IDB) under the Adequate Housing and Urban Accessibility Programme. This partnership would provide persons in difficult circumstances the opportunity to tap into grants of up to $500,000 to improve their homes.

They could also enjoy a better quality of life through the improvement of the infrastructure in their communities.

Persons in Sophia and La Parfaite Harmonie have already seized this opportunity.

The CH&PA is spending some $18 billion on several contracts to construct road networks, drainage and irrigation systems and provide infrastructure for electricity and water in 22 new and existing housing schemes in Regions Three, Four, Five and Six.

Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues, MP, interacts with house lot applicants (DPI photo)

An open area of land on the East Bank of Demerara (DPI photo)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 6, 2021

A pandemic within a pandemic

By Vanessa Cort

“IT’s hard to find someone who has not been affected by this pandemic,” said Clinical Psychotherapist, Shane Tull, as he talked recently about the effect COVID-19 has had on people’s lives Referring to the many mental health issues which have surfaced since the pandemic began, Tull commented that it has become “a pandemic within a pandemic”.

As a Consultant and Life Coach, who has worked with ministries and private organisations, he has seen an increase in cases of depression, substance abuse and domestic violence.

“Collectively we’re all grieving,” he said, as we discussed the death toll which has rapidly taken away friends and family members on such a scale that it has left us with little time to express our grief on a more personal level.

The clinician observed that while people have differ-

ent ways of coping with grief the feeling is essentially the same. And this statement certainly made me better understand just how overwhelmed we all feel on a global level and how much we all face the same problems in our day-to-day lives.

Indeed, how to handle the loss of a job and still provide for ourselves and our families is perhaps one of the most fundamental problems facing people the world over.

However, on the ‘flip side’, this pandemic has allowed us all to take “a collective sigh”, the consultant remarked.

For with more time at home families are re-connecting and coming up with creative ways to occupy themselves.

Reports indicate that more people are working at home and enjoying it to the extent that some have made the decision not to return to a workplace environment.

Employers, too, have been forced to accommodate their staff with greater flexibility in working hours and in some instances agreeing to online work.

And the planet as a whole has benefitted from the decrease in carbon monoxide emissions as people have parked their cars and stayed home and the pace of industry has slowed.

However, there is no precise answer to how we cope with the devastating effects of this pandemic.

“Feelings buried alive never die.” The therapist tells his patients, declaring that the way forward lies in talking to the people in our lives about our feelings and, where possible, lending a helping hand to someone in need.

“When we talk about this to other people, we realise we are not alone…and that gives us hope,” he said, adding: “The only way we get through this is by supporting each other.”

He also unequivocally recommended vaccination, pointing out that clinical trials have been taking place for years now, and, in the case of COVID-19, have involved unprecedented numbers of people of colour.

“This is the only thing we have to protect us,” the consultant declared, while acknowledging that this is yet another area of stress as many remain undecided about whether or not to take the vaccine, while some reject it outright.

However, he stands firm in his opinion that the way forward is for us to come together, saying, “Collectively we can do things’. And I put it this way…”So whatever you’re feeling, breathe, Breathe and don’t seethe, Talk to someone and tell them how you feel, because this really is a ‘big deal’.

Help a neighbour along the way, Find out how they spent their day; this is a storm we can weather, If we only pull together.”

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Exhibition of Traditional Chinese Medicine deemed a success

THE first cultural exchange exhibition of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) was successfully held in

Georgetown from August 22 to 29, 2021, and saw in attendance Guyanese medical staff, local people,

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 6, 2021

Guyana Chinese and overseas Chinese.

The exhibition was organised by the 16th Chinese Members of the 16th Chinese Medical Brigade with some participants of the exhibition Medical Brigade and hosted by the Chinese Association of Guyana. It was guided by the Chinese Embassy in Guyana and supported by Foreign Affairs Office of Jiangsu Province of China, Suzhou Municipal Health Commission of China and other departments.

The activities of exhibition included online consultations, poster session, lectures on TCM healthcare knowledge, and brochures for health preservation to demonstrate TCM culture and its role in COVID-19 prevention and treatment, increasing understanding, practice and development of TCM. Considering the situation of COVID-19 and the prevention requirements of the Guyana Government, the tour exhibition adopted the mode of offline and online, and the process was broadcast live through the online platform, which was convenient for more Guyanese friends to participate in the exhibition, a release said.

Dr. Qiao Zhiming, Captain of the 16th Chinese Medical Brigade, said the purpose of the event was to spread TCM health knowledge and advocate a scientific and healthy lifestyle, which is beneficial to keeping healthy the people of Guyana, overseas Chinese and contribute to the victory in the global fight against COVID-19.

Sheng Le, director of Suzhou Municipal Health Committee, in a video message, welcomed Guyanese friends to learn more about Chinese culture and TCM and deepen the friendship between China and Guyana.

He wished victory over the pandemic as soon as possible and all enjoy a healthier and better life together, the release from the 16th Chinese Medical Brigade said.

Fei Shaoyun, Director of the Foreign Affairs Office of Jiangsu Province, also in an online video message, said that although China and Guyana are far apart, their deep and close friendship goes back a long way.

In 2020, as COVID-19

spread around the world, the Government of Jiangsu Province donated anti-pandemic medical supplies to Guyana, demonstrating the brotherly friendship of helping each other and overcoming difficulties together.

EVERGREEN He sincerely hoped that TCM would become a health messenger and play a greater role in health cooperation between China and Guyana.

He extended best wishes for the tree of Friendship between China and Guyana to remain evergreen.

Hu Hanming, Economic and Commercial Counsellor of Chinese Embassy praised the event and introduced China’s achievements in fighting COVID-19 and its contribution to the global response.

He expressed the hope that the TCM exhibition will further promote cultural exchanges between China and Guyana, deepen mutual understanding between the two peoples and jointly promote the building of a global community of human health.

TCM is a great creation of the Chinese nation and has had a positive impact on the progress of world civilisation. Chinese President Xi Jinping has stressed that TCM is a treasure of ancient Chinese science and the key to opening up the treasure of Chinese civilisation. Acupuncture and moxibustion of TCM are included in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation), and the Huang Di Nei Jing (Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon) and the Ben Cao Gang Mu (Compendium of Materia Medica) are listed in the Memory of the World Register.

TCM has been spread to 183 countries and regions around the world.

According to the World Health Organisation, 103 member states have given approval to the practice of See page 17

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 6, 2021

Keep tradition, cultural identity alive

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– Minister Croal urges St. Ignatius residents

HOUSING and Water Minister Collin Croal on Sunday joined regional officials and others from the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs for the official opening ceremony of this year’s mini- Amerindian Heritage celebration in Lethem, Region Nine, at the St. Ignatius Benab Ground.

Minister Croal who delivered the feature address, called on persons to stay true to the theme, “Maintaining our traditional integrity; celebrating our cultural identity.”

He noted that while the world is rapidly changing and change is necessary for growth and development, it is important for Guyana’s first peoples to maintain their identities and keep their culture alive.

“As parents and elders you must pass traditions down to your children; they must stay close to their roots but at the same time they must be able to adapt to change,” he said.

The minister also reassured those gathered of the government’s commitment to the development of all hinterland communities.

“As a government we are

working to bridge the gaps in the education, health and every other sector to ensure that our people benefit from equal access to all services,” he said.

Residents were urged to celebrate with modesty before the start of several events.

Regional Chairman Brian Allicock also urged them to celebrate responsibly.

“We understand we are operating in a pandemic, but the reality is that our people are starved for recreational activities; as such, it is important for persons to act responsibly,” he said.

Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Affairs, Ryan Tulsi, extended greetings to the villagers on behalf of Minister Pauline Sukhai, noting that the ministry stands committed to ensuring sustainable development across every Amerindian village in the country.

The residents participated in archery, cotton-spinning, basket-weaving, cassava-grating and fire-lighting competitions.

Trophies were also handed over to winners in the male and female categories for

Exhibition of Traditional Chinese Medicine ...

From page 16 acupuncture and moxibustion, 29 have enacted special statutes on traditional medicine, and 18 have included acupuncture and moxibustion treatment in their medical insurance provisions.

Chinese Government has signed 86 TCM cooperation agreements with other countries and international organisations.

CHARACTERISTIC CARD TCM has become a characteristic card of China’s cultural exchanges with other countries and promoting mutual learning between East and West.

China had leveraged the unique strength of TCM in preemptive prevention, differentiated medication, and multi-targeted intervention, and at every step of COVID-19 treatment and control, the release said, adding that TCM had been proved effective in treating different types of COVID -19 patients by Chinese experience and scientific research.

“They had significantly reduced the incidence rate, prevented cases with mild symptoms from worsening, increased the cure rate, lowered the fatality rate, helped nucleic acid turn negative, and sped up the rehabilitation of recovered COVID -19 patients,” the release claimed.

Foreign medical aid is an important part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which promotes people-to-people bonds.

Since the first Chinese Medical Team to Guyana started on July 28, 1993, each brigade has specially selected a consultant of TCM. Many difficult and intractable diseases are well treated by TCM specialists, the release from the Chinese Medical Brigade said.

the early-morning 5km race.

One of the cultural presentations at the Amerindian Heritage celebration in Lethem

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 6, 2021

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 6, 2021

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 6, 2021

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 6, 2021

Burns, Hameed set up interesting final day

(BBC) - Shardul Thakur and Rishabh Pant’s half-centuries frustrated England and left them needing to complete their highest-ever run chase to take a 2-1 lead in the series, but an unbroken 77-run opening stand between Rory Burns and Haseeb Hameed kept them in with a chance of pulling it off.

India resumed three wickets down with a lead of 171 on the fourth morning, and pressed on towards a significant third-innings total thanks primarily to Thakur and Pant’s 100-run stand for the seventh wicket. They lost wickets in clusters but England’s bowlers struggled to create regular chances on a flat Oval pitch and India’s total of 466 was their highest in the second innings of a Test since 2009.

England’s openers were tasked with seeing out 32 overs in the evening session and managed to do so with few concerns.

Virat Kohli quickly turned to Ravindra Jadeja, who bowled 13 overs on the trot as he searched for the rough created by the seamers’ footholes, but he struggled for consistency in his length. Burns was gritty and defensive but Hameed found some fluen-

cy, clipping boundaries off his pads and driving forcefully through the covers to leave England eyeing an improbable win.

Kohli and Jadeja - retaining his new role at No. 5 - resumed after seeing off the second new ball on the third evening and saw off James Anderson and Ollie Robinson’s first spells with ease, Kohli pounding Anderson for four through the covers and punching Robinson through mid-off with a strong bottom hand to move into the 40s.

But Chris Woakes’ first spell of the day brought two breakthroughs. His second ball was angled across Jadeja and defended into the off side, but both England and umpire Alex Wharf recognised that it had hit the knee roll of his pad first. Jadeja reviewed the decision, but the onfield call was upheld.

Three balls later, the out-of-form Ajinkya Rahane was pinned on the pad while shouldering arms to a nip-backer, but successfully reviewed Wharf’s decision, with the DRS showing that it would have bounced over the top of the stumps.

Rahane had no such luck in Woakes’ following over: he was set up perfectly, with Woakes

Haseeb Hameed and Rory Burns punch gloves after an unbeaten 77-run stand on day four, England vs India, 4th Test, The Oval, London, 4th day, September 5, 2021 © AFP/Getty Images gradually pushing his re- edge to give Craig Overton than happy to wait for the lease point wider until a straightforward catch at bad ball and pick off runs Rahane played around slip. with controlled aggression. another nip-backer that That left India leadAnderson and Robinwould have crashed into ing by 211 runs with four son were both asked to the top of his leg stump. second-innings wickets in bowl more than 30 overs His duck meant his Test hand and with their last two in the innings and Thakur average dipped below 40 recognised batters at the treated them with disdain, for the first time in six crease in Pant and Thakur. a straight six off Robinyears and his place will be Both men would have been son’s offcutter the pick of under severe pressure in tempted to play in their usu- his shots before he brought Manchester. al counter-attacking style up his second half-century K o h l i s t r u g g l e d t o but instead batted through of the match. There were score as fluently in the to lunch with composure, as occasional chances, with second hour of the morn- England burned their final Moeen making a mess of ing session, tied down by review on a hopeful appeal a run-out opportunity and Woakes in particularly, for a bat-pad catch.

Pant surviving a tight lbw and fell six runs short of England toiled after shout when attempting to his half-century as an- lunch with little success. reverse-sweep Anderson, other England bowling Moeen struggled for con- but they brought up a 100change worked perfectly: sistency, dropping short run stand after taking the Moeen Ali’s sixth ball of with regularity, and while lead beyond 300. the day drifted away, spun Pant stayed within his They fell within six in and took the outside shell, Thakur was more balls of each other. Thakur

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was suckered into a drive outside off when Root brought himself on, and after bringing up a measured half-century, Pant skipped down the pitch to try and thump Moeen back over his head but only managed to offer a return catch.

His reaction was one of self-flagellation, despondently dragging himself off after smacking his pad with his bat.

Umesh Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah had some fun either side of tea while keeping England’s bowlers out in the dirt, hitting 25 and 24 respectively in quick time, but both were caught in the infield by Moeen as Woakes and Overton boosted their figures with late wickets.

It left England with two hours to bat in the sunshine and facing a record chase.

But aside from one hopeful lbw appeal from Mohammed Siraj against Hameed, which was turned down both on the field and by the DRS, they struggled to create chances in the evening session.

With four members of support staff self-isolating and two senior players in Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara off the field nursing niggles, Kohli will need to step up as captain on the final day.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Monday, September 06, 2021) CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD -- 83 Garnett Street, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Chris Gayle (Jamaica Tallawahs) (2) Krishmar Santokie (Guyana Amazon Warriors)

Today’s Quiz: (1) Who hit the first hundred in CPL cricket?

(2) Who took the first hat-trick in CPL cricket?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

22

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 6, 2021

New Zealand win third ODI against Bangladesh (ESPNCRICINFO) Ajaz Patel picked up 4 for 16, and Cole McConchie chipped in with 3 for 15, as New Zealand bundled out Bangladesh for 76 to register a thumping 52run win in the third T20I in Mirpur. With that, they also kept the five-match series alive.

After winning the toss, Tom Latham opted to bat on a pitch where his side was skittled out for 60 in the first T20I. On Sunday, they were struggling again, at 62 for 5 in 11 overs and 88 for 5 in 16, before Henry Nicholls and Tom Blundell took 40 from the last four to lift them to 128.

At the toss, Mahmudullah had said he expected his bowlers to restrict New Zealand to 130-140. By that estimate, Bangladesh must have fancied their chances.

But their batters looked in a hurry against the New Zealand spinners and kept losing their wickets.

Ajaz’s four strikes left Bangladesh reeling on 44 for 6 at the halfway mark.

While Mushfiqur Rahim tried to occupy one end, McConchie sent back Nurul Hasan and Mohammad Saifuddin from the other to all but seal the game for his side. Eventually, Bangladesh were bowled out in 19.4 overs.

There was no six hit in the whole game, the longest such T20I between two Full Member nations.

Bangladesh seamers spring in a surprise Playing his first game of the series, Finn Allen showed New Zealand how to play spin on these pitches.

Coming down the track, he smashed the third ball of the day back past bowler Mahedi Hasan. Two balls later, he swept him over square leg. In the next over, he hit Nasum Ahmed through covers for his third four in seven balls.

Mahmudullah realised spin wasn’t proving effective and turned to Mustafizur Rahman in the third over. The seamer struck with his very first ball as Allen chipped an innocuous delivery to mid-on.

After Mustafizur’s wicket-maiden over, Mahmudullah turned to Shakib Al Hasan but Will Young took him for two fours in the over. It started looking like the New Zealand batters had got used to the conditions as they finished the powerplay at 40 for 1. But they were in for a surprise. In the seventh over, Saifuddin trapped Young and Colin de Grandhomme lbw with his offcutters to make it 46 for 3.

Ajaz Patel was named Player of the Match for his 4 for 16 AFP via Getty Images Mahmudullah, Mahedi join the party Rachin Ravindra seemed to have decided he would play the Bangladesh spinners predominantly from the back foot. Using that strategy, he hit two cut shots for fours when the ball wasn’t that short but ended up playing too many dot balls. When Mahmudullah castled him in the tenth over of the innings, Ravindra had consumed 20 balls for as many runs.

Latham, who after scoring an unbeaten 65 from No. 3 in the last game, demoted himself to No. 5 to keep the left-right combination going. But he managed only 5 here before he chipped a

return catch to Mahedi.

Nicholls, Blundell lift New Zealand From over 11 till 16, New Zealand didn’t manage a single boundary, with Nicholls and Blundell mostly dealing in ones. The important thing, though, from New Zealand’s perspective was they didn’t lose any wicket in this period, which allowed them to attack in the last four overs.

It started on the last ball of the 17th over when Blundell hit a low full toss straight past Saifuddin.

In the next over, Nicholls belted two fours off Mustafizur to take New Zealand past 100. Two more fours, and 11 runs in all,

came from the final over as the unbroken 66-run stand, off 55 balls, between the two dragged New Zealand to a respectable total.

Ajaz and Co run amok Bangladesh started their chase positively with Mohammad Naim hitting two successive fours in the first over, bowled by Jacob Duffy. An over later, Liton Das swept McConchie over backward square leg for back-to-back fours.

But the offspinner had the last laugh as he trapped Liton lbw in the same over when the batter attempted yet another aerial sweep.

Mahedi was promoted to No. 3 but Ajaz had him caught at short midwicket

for 1 before jolting Bangladesh further by dismissing Shakib for a duck. The allrounder came out with an intent to attack, went down the ground to Ajaz but holed out to long-on. Naim, who was watching all this from the other end, eventually played on Ravindra in the seventh over.

Bangladesh were 32 for 4 but still had Mushfiqur and Mahmudullah in the middle. In the tenth over, Latham once again turned to his strike bowler, Ajaz and he didn’t disappoint. With the second ball of the over, he had Mahmdullah caught at extra cover and on the next, yorked Afif Hossain to give New Zealand a firm grip on the match.

Nurul survived a run-out call when third umpire gave the decision in his favour even though it looked like his bat was on the line when Ravindra broke the stumps.

He didn’t last long however; trying to hit out against McConchie, he skied one towards long-on where Blundell sprinted to his left and put in the dive to take the catch inches off the ground.

Bangladesh’s fight finished with that, and Mahmudullah, who had earlier became the first Bangladesh cricketer to play 100 T20Is, ended on the losing side.

Kings record win over Patriots THE Saint Lucia Kings repeated their performance from 24 hours earlier and once again recorded a win over the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots in their 2021 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) encounter.

The Patriots won the toss and stand-in captain, Chris Gayle, chose to bat first, yet it turned out to be a trial by spin as they faltered for 118 all out against the turn of Jeavor Royal and Samit Patel.

The Kings got off to the worst possible start in their chase, losing Andre Fletcher to a Fabian Allen delivery off the very first ball of the innings. They rebuilt via Roston Chase to comfortably reach their target of 119.

St Kitts & Nevis Patriots lost their two explosive batsmen in the PowerPlay overs as Evin Lewis and Chris Gayle were dismissed early.

The young Royal was the stand-out bowler with three wickets, while

Patel was the most economical.

A mix-up saw the dangerous Sherfane Rutherford run out and while Fabian Allen tried to give his side a big finish, he was dismissed in the 19th over.

Despite losing Fletcher in the first ball of the innings, Saint Lucia Kings still had the dangerous Faf du Plessis, who raced to 22 off 14 balls, before being caught out.

The in-form Roston Chase ended up seeing his side home with a

superb innings that saw him reach yet another half century, this time in thirty six balls, his third in a row at this year’s Hero CPL. The Kings chased their target in the 16th over as the powerful Tim David helped take them over the line with a rapid 18 runs off 7 balls.

Saint Lucia Kings now have their third consecutive win of the tournament and move closer to the top spot of the league standings.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 6, 2021

Verstappen smashes Mercedes to take Dutch Grand Prix, Championship lead

(BBC) - Red Bull’s Max Verstappen took a dominant victory over Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton in the Dutch Grand Prix to retake the championship lead.

Verstappen, cheered on by 65,000 enthusiastic home fans, led all the way from pole position, comfortably keeping Hamilton at bay.

The Dutchman leads Hamilton by three points after his seventh win in 2021.

Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas was third, ahead of Alpha Tauri’s Pierre Gasly and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.

Mercedes tried what they could to challenge Verstappen, putting Hamilton on a two-stop strategy, then trying to use Bottas to hold him up, but Red Bull always appeared to be in control.

There appeared to be some disagreements between Hamilton and the team on the strategy deployed, but their conversations were a function of the fact that Verstappen just had that bit of extra pace to be able to answer everything Mercedes threw at him.

“They were just too fast today,” Hamilton said over the radio on the slowing down lap.

How did it play out?

After leading from the start, Verstappen was 3.5 seconds ahead of Hamilton when Mercedes pulled the seven-time champion in for a pit stop on lap 20, too early for the predicted one-stop race.

Red Bull responded a lap later with Verstappen, but Mercedes left Bottas out and the Finn took the lead.

As Verstappen and Hamilton closed in, the Finn was told he had to defend if he wanted to try to win the race.

But as soon as Verstappen caught him, Bottas went in too deep at the chicane, allowing the Red Bull to close right in and sweep past down the pit straight.

That was Bottas’ hopes finished, and Hamilton’s were effectively the same, even if the Briton continued to try to put up a fight.

After the first pit stops, Hamilton was less than two seconds behind for 16 laps, which is close enough to try for the under-cut strategy - pit first and try to use the grip

Race winner Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing celebrates as he drives into Parc Ferme during the F1 Grand Prix of The Netherlands at Circuit Zandvoort on September 05, 2021 in Zandvoort, Netherlands. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images) from fresher tyres to gain him too early, then that Hamilton’s consolation a place. his tyres would not go to was a late pit stop to claim But Mercedes missed the end. the point for fastest lap. the chance and, in three When Mercedes sugThere was an interestlaps from lap 36 to lap gested he manage them, ing twist, though, when 39, Verstappen pulled a he asked them whether Mercedes pulled Bottas further second clear, at they were asking him not in for a late pit stop and which point Mercedes pit- to race, because he was ordered him not to go for ted Hamilton. pushing to close the gap, at fastest lap - only for the Red Bull responded which point they told him Finn to ignore the plea. the following lap - fitting to keep going.

Before the end of hard tyres rather than the Hamilton closed in again the lap, strategy director mediums Hamilton took at to just over a second behind James Vowles came on his second stop - and Ver- Verstappen as they lapped the radio and asked him stappen retained the lead. other cars, but dropped back to “please abort the fastHamilton complained again once they were back est lap attempt” but dethat Mercedes had stopped on a clear track. spite that Bottas did post

the quickest time - which many will see as an indication that George Russell will be announced as his replacement at Mercedes within the next few days.

Bottas later claimed he “didn’t go for it” - and he did back off in the final sector, to make it easier for Hamilton to reclaim it.

“I knew Lewis was going to stop as well,” Bottas said, “and I knew with a decent amount of lifting in the last sector he will get it, so no drama.”

Hamilton duly pitted on the next lap and reclaimed the point from his team-mate.

Gasly stars again Gasly matched his highly impressive fourth place on the grid with a comfortable drive to finish in the same place, ahead of Leclerc.

Fernando Alonso drove an excellent, measured, controlled race to pass the second Ferrari of Carlos Sainz for sixth place on the final lap.

Red Bull’s Sergio Perez recovered from a pit lane start to take eighth place, ahead of the second Alpine of Esteban Ocon and McLaren’s Lando Norris.

Knight Riders move back into top four TRINBAGO Knight Riders moved back into the top four of the 2021 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) table with a seven-wicket victory over the Jamaica Tallawahs TKR won the toss and elected to field first.

This proved an inspired decision as their vaunted bowling attack ran through the Tallawahs top order. However, Carlos Brathwaite and Imad Wasim managed to re-

build the innings to give the Tallawahs a total to try and defend.

In reply, TKR overcame a rain delay to win the game with ease although they had several fielding mishaps to help them on their way. Lendl Simmons returned to form as his 70 led the way for the Knight Riders.

With several enforced changes as a result of injuries in the camp, the Tallawahs got their innings off to a poor start with five wickets falling in the PowerPlay.

At the halfway stage of the innings, they could only muster 34 runs as the TKR bowling combinations of Akeal Hosein, Ravi Rampaul, Sunil Narine and Khary Pierre offered no freebies.

Once Imad Wasim, making his first appearance for the Tallawahs in this Hero CPL, and Brathwaite got their eyes in they were able to launch a counter-attack.

The pair put on an 83-run partnership from 64 balls to rebuild the

innings and that was supplemented by some late Andre Russell sixes to give TKR a tricky total to negotiate.

TKR got their innings off to a watchful start, but Sunil Narine was dismissed just before the heavens opened leading to a rain delay.

Once play resumed TKR easily chased the 145 required as Simmons and Colin Munro put together a 102 run partnership to ensure there would be no drama in the chase

Kings record win over Patriots see story on page 22

Samit Patel (L) and Jeavor Royal (2nd left) of Saint Lucia Kings celebrate the dismissal of Colin Archibald (R) of Saint Kitts & Nevis Patriots during the 2021 Hero Caribbean Premier League match 17 between Saint Kitts & Nevis Patriots and Saint Lucia Kings at Warner Park Sporting Complex on September 5, 2021 in Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis.

Knight Riders move back into top four

see story on page 23

Ravindaranth Rampaul (2nd left) and Kieron Pollard (3rd left) of Trinbago Knight Riders celebrate the dismissal of Kirk Mckenzie of Jamaica Tallawahs during the 2021 Hero Caribbean Premier League match 18 between Trinbago Knight Riders and Jamaica Tallawahs at Warner Park Sporting Complex on September 5, 2021 in Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis. (Photo by Randy Brooks - CPL T20/Getty Images)” Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2021