Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 07-08-2021

SATURDAY 7th August, 2021

' No.106446

Task Force to conduct random inspections for compliance with COVID-19 guidelines

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Strong, secure housing for 03 La Parfaite Harmonie residents PAGE

–– as Housing Ministry plugs $163M into home improvement subsidies, core home support

More room for value-added production in ‘agri’ sector 10 PAGE

–– as GMC commissions new ‘one-stop shop’, ATVs and refrigerated trucks

The ATVS and refrigerated trucks that were handed over by the Ministry of Agriculture to the Guyana Marketing Corporation (Delano Williams photo)

Persons vaccinated with ‘Sputnik V’ 04 granted access to Caribbean countries PAGE

Female suspect PM Gonsalves suffered in Pardessi’s 09 concussion, must be murder turns self in monitored for weeks 05 PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, August 7, 2021

Task Force to conduct random inspections for compliance with COVID-19 guidelines –– Health Minister says, urges persons to have vaccination cards with them at all times THE National COVID-19 Task Force is expected to commence a rigorous campaign, which will see officers conducting random visits to restaurants, bars, government agencies, and even transportation hubs, all in an attempt to ensure there is strict compliance with the COVID-19 emergency measures.

This is according to the Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, during his COVID-19 update with the Department of Public Information (DPI) on Friday.

“The COVID Task Force itself would be going out and, as you know, the Task Force is made up of people from the Joint Services. So, they will be going out from time to time; they’ll choose places at random, and just come in to check to see whether people are complying with the mea-

sures,” the health minister said.

As part of the COVID-19 emergency measures, which took effect on August 1, 2021, cinemas, casinos, and betting shops will be allowed to reopen at 40 per cent capacity, but persons desirous of accessing these services must provide proof that they have received at least one dose of any of the COVID-19 vaccines being administered here.

Dr. Anthony said that given the requirement that persons are to be vaccinated in order to access services provided by restaurants, bars and other establishments, the aim of the Task Force, through its random visits, is to ensure proprietors are enforcing the measures accordingly.

In addition, the measures stipulate that all operators of public transportation are required to be vaccinated, and

must have their vaccination card with an official form of identification on them at all times, so as to be able to produce the documents to any authorised personnel.

In keeping with this, the Task Force will also be visiting areas where minibus and speedboat operators ply their trade, to ensure there is adherence to the COVID-19 measures.

“If they are unvaccinated; if they are not able to show their vaccination card, well then they will have to face the penalties,” Dr. Anthony said.

Various government agencies have issued notices in accordance with Section 17 of the COVID-19 emergency measures, noting that persons desirous of accessing those places must be vaccinated, or, alternatively, make an appointment and provide a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test taken

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony within 72 hours.

Speaking about the measures being enacted by various government agencies to mandate that persons must meet the requirement to See page 3

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, August 7, 2021

Strong, secure housing for La Parfaite Harmonie residents

–– as Housing Ministry plugs $163M into home improvement subsidies, core home support RESIDENTS of La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara (WBD), will benefit from a timely housing boost, as the Ministry of Housing and Water has signed contracts valuing, collectively, $163 million for home improvement subsidies and core home support.

Contracts for the impending works were signed by Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), Sherwyn Greaves during a simple ceremony at the ministry’s Brickdam office on Friday.

Specifically, Cemax Procurement and Contracting signed a contract valued $10,881,287 for Lot Seven, while Mike and Daughters Lumberyard received a $54,257,545 contract for works to be done at Lots One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six and Eight. Further, specific to the home improvement subsidies, a contract valued $98,920,225 was awarded to Tristar Industries Inc. Speaking about the projects, Minister Croal said that they fall under the Adequate Housing and Urban Accessi-

CH&PA Chief Executive Officer Sherwyn Greaves and Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal signing the contracts for works valuing more than $163M on Friday (Delano Williams photos) bility Programme, which is enhancing mobility and safeThe core homes, accordbeing funded through a loan ty in vulnerable communities. ing to the CEO, will be sinfrom the Inter-American DeFor this reason, Minister gle-family homes of no less velopment Bank (IDB).

Croal urged contractors to put than 330 square feet, with “This programme has their “best foot forward” and concrete blocks for the outer been reformulated as part of ensure that the projects are walls and floors, basic doors, our goal to provide sustain- delivered in a timely manner, windows, electrical wiring able and affordable housing, and to the right quality and and water connections. as well as access to basic standard.

“These projects will beninfrastructure for Guyanese, In outlining the specifics efit a lot of deserving people particularly those in low-in- of the projects, Greaves said in our society who have been come communities,” Minister that 25 core homes will be waiting a long time for assisCroal said. built in the community, and tance, and will go a far way He also spoke of the im- 118 home improvement sub- in bringing support to these portance of the programme to sidies will be granted. persons,” Greaves said. “We

specifically picked these areas, because we know they are people who are in need, and who really want to benefit from this programme,” he added.

He said that seeing that the project is being funded by the IDB, it will be paying close attention to the performance of the contracts.

The houses, Greaves affirmed, are designed to meet the basic standards that a family would require, and even leaves room for future expansion.

The home improvement subsidies will be $500,000, granted in the form of building materials for repairs to walls, floors, electrical works and sanitation improvements, among other things.

All beneficiaries will be individuals in vulnerable households living in structures considered not habitable. These are also persons who possess ownership of the said property, and would have applied and prequalified for the programme.

The Adequate Housing and Urban Accessibility Programme previously encompassed communities from Georgetown to Grove, on the East Bank of Demerara; La Bonne Intention (LBI), on

the East Coast of Demerara (ECD); and Westminster, Onderneeming, Recht-DoorZee, Lust en Rust, and La Parfaite Harmonie Phase II, on the West Bank of Demerara.

The ministry recently expanded the boundaries of the project to include 19 communities on the ECD. Even as works related to this programme continue, Minister Croal urged all pending house lot applicants to be patient, as the ministry continues to clear the backlog, especially for persons who have been waiting for years.

To this end, the minister said: “Our government is committed to providing the necessary resources to ensure that we can do the infrastructure works for those areas for which we are allocating.

While we have in the existing areas of current works totaling $13.9 billion, you can expect coming on stream in our 2022 budget similar amount of infrastructure works to complement those new areas that have no development… you can understand the magnitude and the impact it would have on enhancing the lives of citizens.”

Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, and CEO of CH&PA, Sherwyn Greaves (fourth and third left, respectively) with other officials of the Housing and Water Ministry, and representatives of the companies being contracted for works, following the signing of contracts at the ministry’s Brickdam office on Friday

Task Force to conduct random inspections ...

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access the services, Dr. Anthony said: “I think that’s a good thing.”

He went on to mention that the Task Force will also visit government agencies, such as ministries, to ensure the rules are being followed.

Since the enactment of

the new measures, there has been an increase in the number of persons visiting various sites to be inoculated against the COVID-19 virus. On Thursday, it was reported that more than 3,500 persons were administered the first dose of a

COVID-19 vaccine.

“We have vaccines; vaccines are not an issue.

If you want to get your first dose, please come to any one of the vaccination sites, and get that first dose,” Dr. Anthony said as he urged persons to visit

their nearest vaccination site to receive their vaccine and protect themselves and those around them from the deadly virus.

He stated that both first and second doses are available for the Astra-Zeneca and Sinopharm vaccines,

and while only the first dose is presently available for the Sputnik V vaccine, the government is working to secure the second doses as soon as possible.

At the end of Thursday, statistics showed that some 260,403 persons, or

53.5 per cent of the country’s adult population, have received their first dose of at least one of the three vaccines available here, while some 143,302 persons, or 29.4 per cent of the adult population received their second dose.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, August 7, 2021

Persons vaccinated with ‘Sputnik V’ granted access to Caribbean countries

PERSONS who have been inoculated against COVID-19 with the Sputnik V vaccine will enjoy hassle-free travel to most Caribbean countries, as the nations have agreed to recognise the Russian-made serum.

“In the Caribbean, while some countries are not using the Sputnik V vaccine, the countries in the Caribbean have agreed that if you are vaccinated with Sputnik V, they will recognise it as a person receiving the vaccine and being fully vaccinated if you have both doses, so that’s not a problem,” Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, said during his COVID-19 update, on Friday.

The minister said all Caribbean countries, except Trinidad and Tobago, have agreed to recognise the

vaccine.

The Sputnik V vaccine is described by its maker, the Gamaleya National Research Center, as the “world’s first registered COVID-19 vaccine.” And as of April, 2021, it has been approved for use in 60 countries including Russia, South Korea, Argentina and the United Arab Emirates.

Phase Three trial data on the vaccine published in The Lancet, on February 2, 2021, show 91.6 per cent efficacy against symptomatic infection, placing the vaccine on the same playing field as the mRNA vaccines by Pfizer and Moderna, for which the original efficacies were 95 per cent and 94.1 per cent, respectively.

“The development of the Sputnik V vaccine has been criticised for unseem-

Saturday August 7, 2021 03:30hrs - 05:00hrs

A batch of Sputnik V vaccines which arrived at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) onboard a chartered flight in April this year ly haste, corner cutting, and an absence of transparency. But the outcome reported here is clear and the scientific principle of vaccination is demonstrated, which means another vaccine can now join the fight to reduce the incidence of COVID-19,” the Lancet reported in its Volume 397, issue 10275, at pages 642 – 643.

However, while the

World Health Organization (WHO) is yet to approve the Sputnik V vaccine, Dr. Anthony said that the vaccine is “in the pipeline” of gaining approval, as the WHO would have conducted various inspections at the manufacturing facility, among other things, in a bid to grant approval.

“They would have done those inspections, they would have written re-

ports, they would have asked for clarification, so that process is an ongoing one. I guess once they are satisfied then they would issue at least the emergency use listing,” he said.

Further, Minister Anthony said: “When that is going to happen? We can only depend on WHO to tell us, we don’t know when that is going to happen, but I guess we will know very soon.”

In his view, however, given the number of countries which use the vaccine, approval is anticipated.

“The Sputnik V vac-

cine is used around the globe, so I think the usage, the prevalence of it in various countries, WHO would have to seriously look at it and maybe tell us when they are going to approve,” Dr. Anthony related.

He reasoned that while there is no globally accepted mechanism in place to determine which vaccines are recognised, individual countries have now been adopting their own rules.

This paves the way for countries to access more vaccines based on their own discretion.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, August 7, 2021

PM Gonsalves suffered concussion, must be monitored for weeks

PRIME Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves suffered a concussion when he was struck in the head by an object outside Parliament on Thursday, during a protest organised by the main opposition New Democratic Party (NDP), and two trade unions against a move by his government to have frontline workers vaccinated against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

“By the grace of God Almighty, I am doing well, and am on the mend. It is confirmed that there are no neurological deficits; however, I have suffered a concussion, and must be monitored over the next four to six weeks.

But it could have been far more serious.

“I take this assault as not just an injury, but also look to the intent of the throwing of this projectile at me; the intent was to cause grave harm, even death,” he wrote on his Facebook page.

Gonsalves, who flew to Barbados for further medical treatment, suffered the concussion, a type of traumatic brain injury caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head, or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Prevention and Control notes that this sudden movement can cause the brain to bounce around or twist in the skull, creating chemical changes in the brain, and sometimes stretching and damaging brain cells.

In the post on his Facebook page, where he also

The injury inflicted on St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister, Ralph Gonsalves (IWN photo) published a video of himself in my absence.” and his wife, Eloise, leaving “I would like to thank the Queen Elizabeth Hospi- the hundreds of people who tal, in Barbados, after taking have sent their thoughts and a brain scan, Gonsalves said: prayers and condemned the “It is equally culpable the senseless violence that ocperson who threw the stone, curred. I would also like to as are those who instigate thank the police officers who and continue to instigate sought to protect the right of disgraceful events that threat- the voters of North Central en my life and the lives of Windward to have their voice others. represented in Parliament.

“There is one person And, of course, to the doctors whom I hold responsible, both in St. Vincent and Barand it is not just the person bados in whose good hands who did the direct act. We saw me through,” Gonsalves can have our disagreements, wrote. but to cross the line into viParliament has since apolence is unacceptable in a proved the amendments to democratic society.” the Public Health Act that The Prime Minister add- allows for the vaccination ed: “By all means, exercise of public sector employees, your right to protest, but that considered to be frontline gives you no right to do vio- workers and removing the lence toward anyone. word “voluntary” from a sec“It is the fundamental tion of the law that speaks to right of parliamentarians to vaccination against an illness have access to the parliament that has triggered the declarain order to discharge their tion of a public health emerduty. And, it is the right of gency — as is the case with the people of North Central the coronavirus (COVID-19) Windward to have their duly pandemic. elected representation heard Gonsalves, who turns 75 and not denied. I am heart- on Sunday, is expected to reened that Parliament contin- turn to St. Vincent on Saturued their work last night even day, his deputy, Montgomery

Daniel, told the state-owned NBC Radio on Friday Minister of Local Government, Julian Francis told Parliament during the early hours of Friday that a woman has since been detained by the police and has admitted to injuring the prime minister.

He said that the woman wanted to apologise to Gonsalves. But her attorney, Kay Bacchus-Baptiste said on radio that the woman had denied the allegation, and that the police had “intimidated” her into “admitting” that she had struck the prime minister.

The police have not yet released any details regarding the investigation into the incident.

Meanwhile, the University of the West Indies (UWI) has expressed its “dismay and disappointment” at the incident that resulted in the physical injury to Prime Minister Gonsalves.

“The event that featured the hurling of a missile intended to injure Dr. Gonsalves constituted an act of hooliganism against his personhood and of vandalism against the collective nationhood. The university community condemns the dastardly action and joins with the resilient and heroic people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. They have

risen time and time again to validate the leadership of the ‘comrade’ who has provided for decades a model of progressive post-colonial democratic politics,” the UWI said in a statement.

The university said: “It is cowardly for any individual, interest group, or opposition force, to resort to ‘stone throwing’ in the midst of a complex national discourse in which saving lives and rebuilding the economy are on the table.

“Neither the nation nor its leader should be subject to this ‘madness’ in the aftermath of what has happened in Haiti, and the daily COVID-19 devastation of

African people in the aftermath of George Floyd.

“Caribbean people are located at the centre of contemporary conversations about emerging new world order, and such actions place a stain upon the excellent reputation of the ‘Vincy’ community.

It’s a mark, however, made by a small minority, that will be erased by the unrelenting efforts of the majority. Citizen Gonsalves knows better than most, the nature of such things, and no doubt will return to the centre of the conversation, clearer and stronger than ever,” UWI added.(CMC)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, August 7, 2021

Tajeram Mohabir

Rights versus obligations THE Constitution of Guyana speaks to the right of all Guyanese to live in an environment that is not harmful to his or her health or well-being, and the duty of every individual to participate in activities designed to improve the environment, and protect the health of the nation. Article 40 of the Constitution of Guyana states that every person in Guyana is entitled to the basic right to a happy, creative and productive life, free from hunger, ignorance and want.

Such rights, however, must not in any way endanger or prejudice the rights and freedoms of others, or the public interest. In other words, such rights and freedoms are not absolute, and, therefore, have to be seen in the wider context of the concomitant responsibility by individuals to refrain from any form of behaviour that could endanger the health and well-being of the society as a whole.

Unfortunately, that constitutional right of individual freedoms are being twisted by some elements of our society to justify the actions of some people who refuse to take the COVID-19 vaccines, on the spurious grounds that it is a ‘violation’ of their constitutional right whether or not to take the COVID-9 vaccine. However, there is a growing body of opinion emanating from the

legal community, both in Guyana and the wider Caribbean, to the effect that individual rights cannot override the collective rights of a community, especially in an environment of existential threats, as in the case of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This debate regarding individual rights versus the right of the State to act in a manner to advance the greater good of the society has a long history, but gained prominence since the days of philosophers Thomas Hobbes and Emanuel Kant, both of whom spoke of the importance of a ‘social contract’ between citizens and the State in which citizens voluntarily agreed give up some of their individual freedoms to the State in exchange for their own security and well-being.

We have to guard against a ‘culture of irresponsibility’ which is being encouraged in some quarters to justify persons who are reluctant to take the COVID-19 vaccines. The Guyana Teachers Union, in a recent statement, said that it will resist any attempt by any individual, organisation or body to subject teachers to a ‘tyrannical’ decision. This is unfortunate, coming from an organisation that has a responsibility to ensure the safety of not only its membership, but the nation’s children.

The head of the Teachers Union is a Member of Parliament representing the APNU+AFC coalition, whose position on the issue is not dissimilar.

The APNU+AFC recently staged a demonstration against what it considers to be ‘compulsory’ vaccination of the Guyanese people.

The position taken by the APNU+AFC is misleading, and a complete distortion of the facts. The government has made it pellucidly clear that the COVID-19 vaccine is not compulsory, and is urging all Guyanese to let good sense prevail, and take the vaccines for their own good, and that of their families.

Meanwhile, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) has issued a statement, calling on its member companies to require all of their employees to be vaccinated, and for those unvaccinated to provide evidence of a medically-current COVID-19-negative infection test as a prior condition for reporting to work, especially those operating in the hospitality and entertainment businesses.

The Guyana government, for its part, has already started to put in place several measures to contain the spread of the virus, such as insisting on proof of being vaccinated before gaining access to ministries and other government agencies. Those who, for whatever

reason or reasons, remain unvaccinated can only access government services by appointment. These measures become all the more necessary, given the resurgence of COVID-19 infection rates in several countries, especially the new Delta variant. According to a release by the CDC, the Delta variant is spreading rapidly among the unvaccinated segment of the population, and even though there are still no known cases of the dreaded variant in Guyana, the potential risk of it reaching Guyana cannot be ruled out.

The Guyana Government must be applauded for making available an adequate supply of the vaccines to the population at a time when several other countries are unable to do so. It has a duty and responsibility to protect the health and well-being of its citizens, and, so far, it is doing an exceedingly good job, despite the resistance from some sections of the population, especially the political opposition. The good thing is that the vast majority of the Guyanese people are much more discerning and rational, and have responded well to the vaccination call.

The measures taken are not in any way punitive or discriminatory, and any attempt to create such an impression is not only ill-advised and short-sighted, but counter-productive, and not in the national interest.

If you care about protecting our children, you’ll get vaccinated

Dear Editor,

NOW is the time for ‘lovers of children’ to prove that concerns for the young ones are not just a talking matter; it is about acting on their behalf.

So, this insensitive and immature move from the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) must be condemned, for stating that the body “… will neither advise against nor enforce the inoculation of teachers...” This is not about whether or not the Guyana President has the right to call on teachers to get vaccinated, versus free choice in the taking of the vaccine; it is about moral rectitude and ethics. The overriding issue at hand is the well-being of the nation’s children. Their lives have already

been setback, and teachers of all people must lead the way in their ‘going back to school’.

No one will dispute that children need their lives back and the COVID-19 vaccine is a key step toward that recovery. I recall that UNICEF was behind the Royal Thai Government’s decision to vaccinate 600,000 teachers nationwide, before schools reopen. The reason is simple, as “… it is a critical and timely step, allowing them to teach in person, keep schools open and ensure learning continuity.”

I mean it is simple logic at work here. If health workers and high-risk groups were prioritised for vaccination worldwide, so that more safety was extended to all, including teachers and social workers, then we are to continue in this mode and ensure the safety

and well-being of children and their families.

At the medical level it makes even more sense that teachers be vaccinated. According to President Irfan Ali, and he is right on track, “… vaccines inoculate everyone against this dreaded deadly virus, all of us should be troubled by those who refuse to be vaccinated.

The unvaccinated are now as deadly as the virus itself, for they are not only susceptible to infection, they will carry it… the government has a responsibility to defend the health of all.”

It will be almost fatal and quite a shame if students were to have live, face-to-face sessions with their teachers. Indeed, “We cannot expose children to unvaccinated teachers,” the President intoned. True, vaccination for

teachers might remain open to debate, but teachers, by nature and training, know better than to place personal issues, political agenda and selfishness above children’s welfare.

Maybe, in Guyana here, we made a mistake, in not prioritising teachers as frontline workers, as indeed they are.

Chile preempted confusion and hesitancy, as in its programmes of vaccination, teachers, in order to prepare for the return to classes, were inoculated.

We cannot keep postponing school resumption.

I call on our teachers to lead the way.

Yours truly, Baldeo Mathura

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, August 7, 2021

An examination of the PPP/C’s one-year performance Dear Editor,

AS the PPP/C celebrates its first year in office, it is important that we examine its performance.

In order to get a true perspective, I think we have to examine the general environment in which that party ascended to national political leadership as well as other factors which I set out to do below.

After the elections were called in March 2020 and polls were closed, from ascertaining the results of those elections to the declaration of the winner was an extremely rough and treacherous journey.

It took the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) five months, to produce the result of an election that involved less than 600,000 people. During that time too, the novel Coronavirus disease that first struck in 2019, and which threatened to unravel human society, was raging all over the world, ravishing the lives of millions of people and collapsing global economic, health and social systems.

The implications were and (still are) very staggering for global trade, commerce, and industry. Developing countries were hard hit by the fallout of this virus, at the base of their economies and fragile public health systems.

In Guyana, those events have conspired to provide unprecedented challenges for the new ruling party, PPP/C. Importantly, in the midst of all of that, the government had to win the trust of the people. Generally, large swaths of the population had grown weary of promises because they have derived no tangible benefits from the previous administration over the preceding five years. In fact, one of the high negatives of that period was the termination of services of thousands of workers in the sugar industry and the loss of thousands of more jobs across various sectors due to their incompetent management. The termination of sugar workers had a crippling effect, economically and socially, on entire villages and communities in which those workers reside and those businesses, in those

areas, that depended on the support of those workers. Indeed, it was a devastating blow to ordinary people.

Therefore, on its coming into office, the PPP/C had to immediately grapple with economic problems, public healthcare, education, national safety and security, and the issue of public trust in government and governmental systems. The government did not shirk its responsibility but arose squarely to those challenges. In its budget ($330 billion) in 2020, the government put in place, a menu of measures to help its citizens. There were wide-ranging incentives and a review of tax measures. This allowed Guyanese to benefit from $20 billion in relief to their pockets. These include the reversal of VAT on water and electricity, the removal of VAT and duties on machinery, and equipment. In addition, they gave numerous concessions and support for farmers and those in the extractive and manufacturing industries.

Again, the government moved swiftly to offer assistance to the people. Cash grants were distributed, to households across Guyana. The National Assembly in December 2020 approved a $17.4 billion supplementary budget with $2.5 billion, in additional monies for the COVID-19 cash grant programme.

Billions of dollars in cash were given to Guyanese to help cushion the effects of economic hardship due to COVID-19. During the first distribution phase $25,000 was given per household. The second phase, which has already started, will continue to bring relief to ordinary people, during this difficult time.

Public sector workers also benefitted from a $25,000 COVID-19 relief cash grant. Of course, a number of other relief programmes were activated by the government. Food hampers and cleaning supplies were distributed to citizens. In addition, the Ministry of Education provided care packages for children of school-going ages.

Also, the “Because We Care Cash Grant” programme has been rolled out. Each child, in the school system, will receive $19,000,

per year, to assist with school supplies and associated things. The testimonies of parents on the need and timeliness of this assistance are touching and attest to the government’s effort to reach out to its citizens. The government has also enhanced public health care and made numerous interventions to contain the spread of the virus and save lives. Old Age Pension has been increased and frontline workers benefitted from additional help from the government.

While all of these things are happening, the government is keeping the economy on the path to growth and prosperity. The government continues to sustain the delivery of public services to citizens and businesses.

The private sector is increasing its strides and global and international corporations are showing keen interest in doing business in Guyana. These include Walmart, Amazon, Apple, Amerisource Bergen and United Health Group. There are now huge market opportunities available to countries and corporations.

Again, in the face of this pandemic, the government has been upgrading infrastructure. I think one of the first good moves of the government in this regard was the liberalisation of the telecommunication sector in Guyana. This immediately created a positive impact, throughout this country, and a competitive environment in that sector, which resulted in the benefits of consumers. It allowed for improvement in that technological infrastructure and quality of service.

In the housing sector, the government has already given in excess of 5,000 house lots to citizens. Again, the government by this action is encouraging homeownership. This in turn could facilitate personal and family growth which would ultimately benefit the country. Within the macro plan are special arrangements for housing schemes in the hinterland and for professionals. I believe no one can successfully doubt the government’s great success in this area of its national gov-

ernmental responsibility. More people now own their own homes and can better plan for the future for their families.

Another driver is the willingness of the government to partner with the private sector, non-governmental organisations, community-based organisations and groups to make systems work and to put Guyana on a trajectory of national growth and development.

Again, they can collaborate with key stakeholders. Each will bring a unique and important perspective when considering options and various solutions to challenges.

As a result, collectively, they are better able to manage those solutions and appropriately respond to the dynamics of our country in these very uncertain times.

Finally, the government has been able to balance immediate and long-term needs.

Whilst there are projects that cater to the immediate needs of citizens such as the COVID-19 cash grant, ‘Because We Care’ cash grant, food hampers, support to drainage and irrigation, pumps, machinery and equipment, the government is involved in a holistic approach to nation-building. For example, in housing, the goal is long-term, better families, better communities, and ultimately a better country.

The vast expansion of planned road works facilitating the movement of goods and services, optimisation of time, enhance production and the overall development of the national economy.

Beyond those aforementioned things, there has been a series of initiatives, in public finance, information and medical technologies, security, oil and gas, tourism, healthcare, education, judicature, social welfare and the environment.

All aimed at encouraging investments, and lifting the nation Guyana to a new plateau of sustainable economic prosperity for all Guyanese.

Thank you, Thomas Cole

In or out of government, the PPP was/ is historically a people-caring party Dear Editor, PILFERAGE of the treasury and other State funds by the coalition APNU+AFC government is being revealed moment by moment – sector by sector; ministry by ministry, and it is apparent that “The good life” the coalition parties promised the electorate pre-2011 and pre-2015 elections did fructify – for their Cabinet members, family members, cronies, financiers, et al.

APNU+AFC coalition government obviously (mal) administered Guyana with no defined economic plan or social development programme based on coherent studies of the dynamics that would eventuate into their promised “good life for all”.

According to Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, speaking at one of his weekly press conferences, “… the (coalition) government has been sponging off the billions” left in the National Treasury by the former Administration, as well as the achievements of the PPP/C in almost every area of social and economic life.

From the inception of its governance, the APNU+AFC government embarked on a nation-wide witch-hunt of those whom they perceived were PPP/C leaders and supporters, even technocrats who served under the PPP/C administration.

One of their first acts after assuming office was to fire 2,000 young people from Amerindian communities, while simultaneously awarding to themselves hefty salary increases.

Their racial and political discrimination, their blatant corrupt actions, their victimisation and witch-hunting of former government officials and PPP/C supporters were most detestable.

Post-election gerrymandering and posturing, with the clear intention of rigging the elections, even as the nation was assailed by a deadly pandemic that left the Guyanese people from every community vulnerable to the point of starvation, created a vacuum in the existential dynamics of most working class Guyanese that should have been filled by any caring government. Instead they were appropriating hundreds of millions of state funds to encourage their supporters to engage in mass protests in the midst of a lockdown and curfew.

But, in or out of government, the PPP was/is historically a people-caring party. In opposition, Dr. Irfaan Ali stepped up to the plate. He dispersed teams countrywide to share masks to protect people from infection from the COVID-19 virus and share food packages to save the poor people from starvation.

His Excellency President, Dr Irfaan Ali has already demonstrated that he will not merely promise, but he will deliver to all Guyanese “the good life”, where every man, woman and child will reap the harvest of Guyana’s bounties.

Yours very truly, Attiya Baksh

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, August 7, 2021

Gov’t committed to ending healthcare inequalities, First Lady says

By Jared Liddell

FIRST Lady, Arya Ali has reaffirmed the commitment of the Dr. Irfaan Aliled government to bridge the gaps in healthcare in hinterland communities.

The First Lady gave this reassurance at a United States Embassy Humanitarian Assistance Programme (HAP) medical outreach in Mabaruma, Region One, on Thursday.

“I am aware of the many, many challenges which prevent people from accessing quality healthcare in regions such as yours.

I can assure you that my husband, President Irfaan Ali, is very committed to ending the inequalities in our country, especially in a sector such as healthcare.

Having a young son, trust me, I understand the anxieties many of you mothers face in ensuring your children get the best,” the First Lady said.

“However, little by little, we can get there, as the cooperation of the many persons and organisations involved in this outreach has shown. In just two days, hundreds of people have benefitted from free medical services and supplies in Port Kaituma, and this served as a reminder that more activities of this nature are needed in remote areas of the country,” she added.

The US Embassy Humanitarian Assistance Programme (HAP) is currently hosting a five-day medical outreach at Mabaruma and Port Kaituma, Region One (Barima-Waini).

Several non-governmental organisations are partnering with the US Embassy, including the Central Islamic Organisation of

First Lady, Arya Ali, with the team from the United States Embassy Humanitarian Assistance Programme (HAP), during the medical outreach in Mabaruma, Region One The team, through col- sador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann ing Guyana to deal with Guyana (CIOG), the Guyana Medical Relief, the laboration with the Min- Lynch noted that the embassy the influx of Venezuelan International Office for Mi- istry of Health, intends to is very satisfied to see its migrants and refugees, gration (IOM), the First administer the COVID-19 initiative coming together has, since 2017, provided Lady’s Office, the Regional vaccine. for those “most in need”. She nearly US $10 million to Democratic Council (RDC), stated that the outreach direct- UN agencies to tackle the WOMEN’S HEALTH the Cheddi Jagan Dental ly correlates with the policies migrant response in GuyOne of the main areas of the organisation to ensure ana in the areas of health, School, the National Blood Transfusion Services, the of focus for the outreach that support is given to the education and protection.

Ministry of Health, Dias- is women’s health, and Government of Guyana and TRULY SATISFYING pora Auxilium, and Global as such, trained medical the Guyanese people.

“It is really truly satSurgical and Medical Sup- persons are deployed to “The upcoming medical provide obstetrics and outreach in Region One isfying to see global biport Group.

A US team of doctors gynaecological care and does underscore the US lateral national and local from the Global Medical other services that would Embassy’s initiatives to resources coming together and Surgical Support Group, cater directly to the spe- support Guyana in the areas for the benefit of those who are specialists in vari- cific needs of women in the of improved governance, most in need,” Ambassaous fields of medicine, are two communities. security, and prosperity for dor Lynch said.

The initiative is expect- all,” Ambassador Lynch The United Nations conducting medical testing High Commission for Refuand treatment in areas such ed to target approximately noted. as hypertension, dentistry, 1,000 persons in Mabaruma, The ambassador, who gees (UNHR) has indicated and minor surgery. They and an additional 1,000 called the situation in neigh- that some 200 migrants and will also be identifying and in Port Kaituma, but has bouring Venezuela “one of refugees were issued stay treating skin diseases and already seen in excess of the largest humanitarian cri- and extension permits. that estimated 1,000 persons ses”, also noted how proud IOM Chief of Mission, other health issues.

Additionally, the Na- during the first leg of the she is that the initiative was Robert Natiello said the outtional AIDS Programme outreach in Port Kaituma. able to cater to residents of reach will not only benefit Secretariat (NAPS) is pro- It is anticipated that this the area, including those the indigenous residents of viding medical testing for will be the largest number foreign nationals living in the two communities, but HIV, syphilis, chlamydia, of persons ever targeted at and around the two Region also the over 200 Venezuelan migrants and refugees and several other Sexual- any of the local outreaches One communities. ly Transmitted Infections held under the programme.

She noted that the who make up their citizenry.

Meanwhile, US ambas- US government, in aidHe noted that the IOM (STIs).

recognises the significant support the Government of Guyana has given to Venezuelan migrants during this period of humanitarian crisis. He said that even with Guyana’s support, a multi-stakeholder approach is needed to ensure enough resources are provided to cater to both the residents of Region One and the Venezuelan migrants.

“The IOM acknowledges that the growing number of migrants from Venezuela has really placed an increased burden and pressure on the resources this country has to address and provide basic services to the community, like housing, water, and other services, and being able to address these needs really requires a multi-stakeholder approach,” said Natiello.

During the outreach, the CIOG, which was instrumental in coordinating the initiative, also donated some 1,500 food hampers to residents, as well as an undisclosed number of mattresses and walkers.

CIOG Director of Education and Dawah, Shaykh Moeenul Hack said the initiative correlates with the organisation’s overarching goals of providing relief and support to those in need.

“COIG’s motto since its formation is caring and sharing; it is heartening to know that there are so many in our midst who care enough to share with others.

I trust this community will be inspired by the generosity and the kindness of the donors; the participation of so many stakeholders confirms the importance they and their governments have attached to provide to those in need,” he said.

30 months jail for man who burnt toddler with cigarette lighter

NINTEEN-YEAR-OLD Anil Angnoo was, on Friday, sentenced to 30 months imprisonment after he admitted that he used a cigarette lighter to burn the vagina and back of a two-

year-old girl.

He appeared before Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh at the Albion Magistrate Court where he pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm.

According to reports, Angnoo shares a relationship with the child’s mother.

On August 1, he visited her Corentyne Coast residence.

At about 18:35 hours, he became annoyed at the child

who was urinating and defecating more often than he thought was necessary.

He then took a cigarette lighter and burnt her on her back and vagina causing her to receive injuries.

The child was later escorted to the Port Mourant Public Hospital by police after a report was made.

She was medically examined by a doctor on duty and was later sent away.

Anil Angnoo

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, August 7, 2021

Female suspect in Pardessi’s murder turns self in A WOMAN who was been sought for questioning into the murder of Hemraj Pardessi, called “Prem”, turned herself over to the police at the Central Police Station in New Amsterdam on Friday.

The woman, who is

said to be a close friend of the victim, is his neighbor, and is alleged to have planned the robbery, which led to the murder of Pardessi, who was in Guyana renovating his Reliance Settlement, East Canje home.

This publication un-

derstands that the woman knew that Pardessi had withdrawn money from a local bank to offset expenses associated with the ongoing renovations on the day he was killed.

Sources disclosed that the woman invited the victim to her home, and on

his return to his residence, she made contact with her accomplices, who later pounced on him as he entered his yard on Tuesday night.

Pardessi was struck to the head with a piece of steel rod, and strangled with duct tape. The per-

Boy, 3, injured in motorcycle accident at Matthew’s Ridge A THREE-year-old boy is currently hospitalised after he was struck down by a motorcycle while attempting to cross the Hole Public Road, Mathews Ridge, North West District (NWD) on Thursday.

Police identified the injured child as Gulanio Cunningham of Hole Matthew’s Ridge.

The motorcycle bearing registration number CK947 was being driven by Cleve-

land Poliah, 20, of Flatts Matthew’s Ridge. Reports are that while it was proceeding west along the centre of the roadway at about 40-50kmph and ascending a hill, the driver saw a pedestrian in the process of crossing the said road from south to north.

Upon seeing same, he applied brakes so as to avoid a collision but despite his effort he collided with the child.

As a result of the collision the child fell onto the road surface where he received injuries about his head and body.

He was picked up in a conscious condition and taken to the Pakera District Hospital where he was seen and examined by a medical practitioner and admitted a patient in the male surgical ward.

Police said notice of intended prosecution was

served on the driver of the motorcycle as investigations continue.

petrators ransacked his home, and escaped with the cash.

During an intelligence-led operation following the discovery of the man‘s lifeless body, the police arrested four persons. Investigators worked feverishly and diligently, and managed to apprehend a fifth suspect, who was hiding in the Canje Creek aback the Rose Hall Estate. The Guyana Chronicle understands that he cracked under interrogation.

He reportedly admitted that the intention was to rob Pardessi, but he was inadvertently killed during the course of the robbery.

Pardessi, 60, an overseas based Guyanese,

was found bludgeoned at his residence on Tuesday night. He resided alone and was last seen alive and in the company of another male, earlier on Tuesday, by his nephew.

At around 23:42hrs that day, the police found Pardessi lying motionless at the bottom of the stairs on the ground floor. He was facing down, duct tape was around his neck, and blood was oozing from his nose. After following the trail of blood to the second floor, the police found the entire place ransacked.

While the six suspects remain in custody, investigators are looking for another male, who is believed to have fled with the loot.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, August 7, 2021

More room for value-added production in ‘agri’ sector –– as GMC commissions new ‘one-stop shop’, ATVs and refrigerated trucks

By Naomi Parris

WITH the aim of moving from primary producer and subsistence farming to value-added production, the Ministry of Agriculture has invested $26 million in the new Guyana Market Corporation (GMC) by way of three all-terrain vehicles and two refrigerated trucks.

At a ceremony to commemorate the launch of

GMC’s “one stop shop” and commission the new vehicles on Friday, Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha said that the investment in GMC is part of an overarching plan to enhance Guyana’s agriculture sector by promoting value-added production.

“We are still a primary producer of products, although we want our country to advance; we still do not have the faculties to

advance our country’s development, but investments like these will enhance not only the country’s development, but enhance the country’s position to take its rightful place in the region and the world at large,” Minister Mustapha said, adding: “These equipment and vehicles are only part of the investments that we will be making; the trucks, the incubators and the ATV.”

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha making brief remarks at the commissioning ceremony on Friday The minister noted that farmers and other agriculture stakeholders will also benefit from the investments that have been made.

“What we are doing is

production of value-added, agro-processed commodities.

“The aim is to ensure, first of all, that we have food security, but we can’t have that if we don’t have the facilities to complement it,” Minister Mustapha reasoned.

Following up on what the minister said, GMC General Manager,Teshawna Lall said that the investments that have been made will help GMC to create better support systems for farmers and agro-processors.

“The Guyana Marketing Corporation stands committed to revamping its services, so as to better support farmers, agro-processors and exporters,” the

ficers, mainly in the hinterland communities of Mabaruma, Kamarang and Linden, all areas with scattered agriculture holdings.

GMC’s General Manager, Teshawna Lall (Delano Williams photos)

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha handing over the keys for the ATVs and refrigerated trucks to GMC General Manager Teshawna Lall on Friday moving our country from a primary producer, and from subsistence farming to where we can create more value-added products, and enhance the capabilities of our farmers and producers within our community,” the minister said.

He said that the government will continue to invest in initiatives that will ultimately modernise the agriculture sector, and that as it advances, the GMC will have a major role to play, as the government continues to promote the

GM affirmed.

She said that the vehicles the agency has acquired and the onestop shop will provide a positive enabling environment to further push agro-processing in Guyana.

“These investments will positively contribute towards the population’s improvement, both internally and externally, and will provide an enabling environment,” she reasoned.

The ATVS will be used

by GMC’s extension of-

The two refrigerator trucks will aid in the sustainability of goods and products during transportation from the farms to the markets. The trucks will supplement the existing cold-storage facilities in the country.

Meanwhile, the ‘one stop shop’ will play an integral role in assisting potential and existing agro-processors with one central location that has all the necessary information related to agro-processing.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, August 7, 2021

Licence plate left behind in Railway Embankment hit-and-run

AN unidentified pedestrian was seriously injured in the wee hours of Friday morning, after he was struck down by a vehicle on the Railway Embankment at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara.

Police received a report of the accident at 02:10

hours and later found licence plate PZZ 1276 at the scene.

The identity of the driver of the vehicle involved in the accident is unknown.

Reports disclosed that it appears that the pedestrian, who is about 60 years old, was walking along the southern side of Railway

Embankment when he was struck by a motor vehicle that was proceeding in an unknown direction and later drove away.

As a result of the collision, the pedestrian fell onto the road surface and received injuries about his body.

The licence plate that was found at the scene of the accident

He was then picked up

by Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) personnel in an unconscious condition and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where he was seen and examined by a doctor on duty and later admitted a patient in the Accident Emergency Unit Critical Bay suffering from broken legs and lacerations to his head and about his body.

Investigations into the accident are ongoing.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, August 7, 2021

95-year-old woman is Guyana latest COVID fatality

A NINETY-FIVE-year-year woman has been listed by the Ministry of Health as the latest victim of COVID-19, taking Guyana’s overall death toll to 554.

The ministry, in a press release, stated that the woman, who lived in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), died while receiving care at a medical facility.

Further, the Health Ministry said that

54 new infections were recorded from 1,792 tests, taking the overall number of confirmed cases since March, 2020, to 22,843.

Region Four accounted for most of the new cases, recording 30, while Region Three recorded eight; Region Nine, six; Region One, six; Region Ten, two; Region Five, one and Region Two, one.

With the new cases, the country now

has 777 active cases of COVID-19. And based on information from the Health Ministry, 14 patients are in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Infectious Diseases Hospital, 95 patients are in institutional isolation, 668 are isolated at home and five persons are in institutional quarantine. Some 21,513 persons have recovered from COVID-19.

All Guyanese are reminded to observe

the protocols of the COVID-19 emergency measures, which are in effect until August 31, 2021.

This order emphasises the need for correct and consistent use of a face mask when leaving your home; the importance of maintaining the six feet physical distance from others, and the need for good hand-hygiene to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, August 7, 2021

AmCham Guyana strengthens ties with Trinidad counterpart

THE American Chamber of Commerce of Guyana (AmCham Guyana) on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the American Chamber of Commerce of Trinidad & Tobago (AmCham T&T) with the intention of enhancing cooperation.

AmCham Guyana is a voluntary, non-profit membership organisation committed to promoting and enhancing commercial relations between the U.S. and Guyana, through providing a network and support structure for U.S. enterprises doing business in Guyana, and creating new opportunities to help build mutually beneficial business relations, among other things.

The agreement between the Guyana and Trinidad arms of the organisation was signed by President of AmCham T&T, Toni Sirju-Ramnarine, and President of AmCham Guyana, Zulfikar Ally.

Through this new agreement, the two bodies will explore opportunities for collaboration, and set out the respective roles and responsibilities of both organisations in working cooperatively to further individual and mutual interests.

As part of the MoU, the respective organisations will jointly host seminars focusing on key business issues, including, but not limited to, Health, Safety, Security and the Environment (HSSE) and trade missions.

In addition, they will also collaborate to encourage members within both AmCham membership bodies to support Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives jointly, and to tap into each other’s networks of professional and industry contacts to support the established objectives.

Further, they will team up to build the technical and financial ability and capacity, professional skills and behaviours of firms, and enhance audit and accounting departments in AmCham’s membership bodies, thereby providing benefit to AmCham’s members, and by extension the population of Guyana.

“We recognise the importance of looking beyond

President of the American Chamber of Commerce of Trinidad & Tobago (AmCham T&T), Toni Sirju-Ramnarine (right), and President of the American Chamber of Commerce of Guyana (AmCham Guyana), Zulfikar Ally (left) signing the Memorandum of Understanding on Friday here in Georgetown, Guyana borders and embracing opportunities for regional collaboration, and this MoU will serve to further fast-track this process. This MOU is an important step towards realising the shared goals and objectives of both Chambers,” Ally said at the signing.

He said that the MoU will pave the way for the Guyana Chamber, partnering with their Trinidad and Tobago counterpart, to advance regional initiatives that strengthen the business and economic relations among the chamber and its members.

“Entering into this MoU will allow both organisations to leverage our resources and expertise to provide more far-reaching advocacy and leadership on important issues of regional development. Moreover, it will provide a channel for our members to connect and receive support in each country,” Sirju-Ramnarine said.

She expressed her delight at entering into the agreement, as it is envisaged that moving forward from the COVID-19 pandemic, collaboration and cooperation between all stakeholders that are invested in ensuring the ease of doing business in Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago, will be required.

“The work of the two organisations is focused on the creation of a healthy, safe and robust economic climate that

will promote trade and attract foreign direct investment (FDI), improve the ease of doing business, enhance competition, and produce more value-added jobs,” Sirju-Ramnarine reasoned.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, August 7, 2021

Murder convict appeals ‘severe’ sentence

TRAVIS McDougal, who is currently serving a 25-year sentence for killing a miner during the furtherance of an armed robbery in 2014, is now challenging his conviction and sentence.

In 2017, McDougal was tried before Justice Navindra Singh and a jury for the August 18, 2014 murder of Ashkkoemar Ragghu.

However, the jury found McDougal guilty of the lesser count of manslaughter and he was sentenced to 25 years

imprisonment for the crime.

McDougal later moved to the Court of Appeal claiming that his conviction cannot stand. He is asking that his sentence be set aside since it was unfair, too severe, and excessive.

The matter is expected to be called on August 9, at the Court of Appeal.

McDougal was convicted of shooting the Kitty businessman and injuring his wife, Shyrazadi, at around 13:30 hours at the traffic

lights at the junction of Regent Street and Vlissengen Road, in the vicinity of the Botanical Gardens.

The convict’s accomplice grabbed a haversack containing $4M, but Shyrazadi held on to it even as she was shot in the thigh. Ragghu was

Travis McDougal

later pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

In July 2015, Travis McDougal was committed to stand trial for murder along with pork-knocker Jermaine Otto, who was one of the prisoners who perished in

the deadly Camp Street prison fire which erupted following riots in March 2016.

Government Pathologist, Dr. Nehaul Singh, had testified that the cause of death of Ragghu was a perforated lung due to a gunshot.

Retrial into 2016 Cummings Lodge murder winding down

COME August 9, Justice Sandil Kissoon is expected to sum up the evidence in the retrial of Kevin Mohan called ‘Chucky,’ who is accused of killing his aunt in 2016.

Mohan, 27, formerly of Fifth Street, Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara, has pleaded not guilty to the charge which alleged that on

September 4, 2016, at Cummings Lodge, he murdered 48-year-old Anita Mohan.

Following the summing up at the Demerara High Court, the judge will hand the case over to the 12-member jury, who will retire to consider their verdict.

The accused is being represented by attorney-at-law Damian DaSilva, while pros-

Kevin Mohan called ‘Chucky’ ecutors Taneisha Saygon, Lisa Cave and Muntaz Ali are on record for the state.

In March 2021, the case was sent for retrial after the jury was unable to arrive at a verdict. The case was before Justice Navindra Singh.

According to reports, the woman’s battered body was found on the floor of her kitchen at Fifth Street, Cummings Lodge where she lived with Mohan and her son, Intiaz Khan. Khan found his mother lying in blood with her head bashed in and a stab wound to her chest.

A bloody ‘rolling pin,’ and a broken bottle, suspected to be the murder weapons, were found close to the body. The police had noted that the accused confessed to the murder and had said that another person acted as his accomplice.

A post-mortem performed on the remains of the woman revealed that she died from multiple injuries.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, August 7, 2021

China pledges support for agriculture sector

THE Chinese Government, through its embassy in Guyana, has once again signalled its commitment to assisting the government with its flood-relief efforts.

This was disclosed by the Embassy’s Charge d’Affaires, Chen Xilai, during a meeting with Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha on Friday.

The meeting which took place at the minister’s office saw the officials discussing a number of areas for collaboration in the sector.

Some of the areas discussed were technical corporation for the rice and aquaculture sectors as well as assistance for flood-affected farmers, a release said.

Minister Mustapha explained that the government is currently working to resuscitate the sector and get affected farmers back to the land. He further stated that

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, in discussion with the Chinese Embassy’s Charge d’Affaires, Chen Xilai the ministry is looking at long-term systems to minimise the effects of climate change on the sector.

“With the recent flooding, our agriculture sector suffered a massive hit, both crops and livestock. Right now, the government is working to give them some

assistance to farmers so that they can get back to the land. In addition to the assistance that was recently announced by the President, from the ministry’s standpoint, we are working to help farmers with things like seeds and other planting materials because those

are the things that will also make an impact in terms of them swiftly returning to the lands. Moving forward, the government through the ministry will be working to develop more shadehouses across the country given the impacts of climate change on the sector,” Minister

Mustapha said.

Xilai said that the Chinese Government, given its long-standing diplomatic relation with Guyana, was pleased to offer assistance to the government and people of Guyana in a time of need.

“We are pleased to provide help to the Government of Guyana. At the time when the President announced that there was a National Disaster, the Embassy provided a batch of much-needed supplies to the CDC and later on, we provided US$50,000.

We know that agriculture is quite vulnerable and with the extreme weather conditions because of climate change we have to prepare for those kinds of challenges. In terms of soya beans, China is the largest importer of soya beans. We are also a very large importer of peanuts. If we can encourage local farmers in Guyana to plant those commodities

on a large scale, there’s an additional market over in China. From our end, we are happy to provide technical assistance and training for farmers and fishers. We can also look at providing assistance in other areas as part of your flood-relief efforts,” Xilai said.

Minister Mustapha also informed the official that the ministry is working to expand the country’s non-traditional and aquaculture sectors.

“We are also expanding into non-traditional and aquaculture sectors.

Those sectors have great potential. We are also looking at corn and soya beans because we want to be self-sufficient.

A pilot project is currently going on and we hope to move into largescale production soon after,” Minister Mustapha disclosed.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, August 7, 2021

India’s lower order shows batting prowess

RAVINDRA Jadeja pulled out his sword celebration, Jasprit Bumrah hit a six and also his top score in Tests, Mohammed Shami displayed text-book defensive pushes, and Mohammed Siraj had some fun too as India’s much-maligned lower order took them into a position of strength - a first-innings lead of 95 runs - in the Trent Bridge Test. Not before KL Rahul added 27 to his already fine overnight 57.

Rain, though, frustrated them as only 49.2 overs of cricket were possible on the third day, England playing out the 11.1 bowled to them without the loss of a wicket.

India now have a maximum of 196 overs to force a result.

Not long ago, in the World Test Championship final in the same country but against a different opponent, India lost their seventh wicket on 205, the same score as here, but lost the remaining three for 12 runs.

Then the last four added 28 in the second innings.

The difference in two lower orders - home ones generally tend to outscore their opponents - was believed to be the difference between the two sides leading into the series.

Then Ben Stokes pulled out. Suddenly England didn’t have the depth either in their batting or bowling.

India ran through their lower order, and batted against an attack whose fourth and final bowler was Sam Curran.

KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja put on a vital stand for India. (Getty Images) Stuart Broad was having a second consecutive off day. A combination of better resolve from the batters, less incisive change-up bowlers, and some luck three dropped catches and five missed run-outs in all - meant India enjoyed being at the other end of three frustrating lower-order stands, worth 73 in all.

With that in mind, James Anderson and Ollie Robinson did well - splitting nine wickets between them, including a maiden five-for for Robinson - to keep the lead down to two figures.

The day began precariously amid rain breaks.

India were 58 behind with Rahul and Rishabh Pant in the middle. Pant was going to play his shots. And so he did. A few came off before he chipped one to short cover to be dismissed for 25 off 20. Along the way he became India’s highest run-getter in Tests this year.

Rahul nearly ran Jadeja out when he was four, but

Dan Lawrence felt he had less time than he actually did. Instead of lobbing the ball to the wicketkeeper, he went for the direct hit and missed. Jadeja then went on to show why he has been among the best Test all-rounders in the world since 2018 and why he provides India the flexibility to play five bowlers.

Rahul and Jadeja came together with India still 38 behind, and, given the tail behind them, they needed a big stand to retain the advantage in the Test. They added 60 runs and also saw off the most testing spell of the day when Anderson and Robinson bowled together.

Joe Root dropped Rahul off Anderson during this period, but two boundaries later, Anderson produced a thinner edge to have him caught by the keeper. By then, India were in the lead, and Rahul had once again adapted to a new role - remember he was now being looked at as a middle-order

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Saturday August 07, 2021) CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

(1) Desmond Haynes-1357 runs (36 ODIs) (2) Virat Kohli-2235 runs (39 ODIs)

Today’s Quiz:

(1) What is the highest individual ODI score made by a WI player against IND to date?

(2) What is the highest individual ODI score made by an IND player against the WI to date?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

batter - to make himself a place in the side.

Shardul Thakur fell for a duck and India were just 22 ahead, with three proverbial No 11s to follow. Things were different here, though.

The bowling didn’t have that sting for starters. Shami chose to play sensibly, and it came off too. In a 25-ball partnership, Jadeja manipulated the strike to face 22 and scored 24 off them.

Jadeja fell trying to hit Robinson over the field that had come up for the last ball of the over, but England still couldn’t get the swift end they were after. Anderson himself proceeded to drop Shami.

Bumrah batted with steely resolve. Shanks cleared the infield, and the better ones came right off the middle. He even hit Curran for a stunningly flat, pulled six.

By the time Robinson took his fifth, and India’s last wicket, England had been kept in the field for 84.5 overs. Curran bowled only 15 of those, and Broad went at 3.5 an over. India operated with a more evenly spread-out attack.

However, in the few overs that were possible before rain ended the day’s play prematurely, the pitch looked a little settled. It was also evident from how India operated with just two slips and a gully. India still drew 11 mistakes in that period, which means it was not a flatbed.

Eyes were also on the overheads: clouds were expected to bring assistance for India, but rain could deny them the time needed to inflict damage.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, August 7, 2021

Bangladesh register historic series win against Australia

(ESPNCRICINFO) - Bangladesh marched to an unassailable 3-0 lead to register their first series win against Australia across formats by defending 128 in a close finish during the third T20I in Dhaka.

While Mahmudullah led from the front by scoring 52 and batting deep to ensure the hosts had some firepower left late in the innings, Mustafizur Rahman, Shakib Al Hasan and Nasum Ahmed combined to apply the brakes on Australia’s run chase.

Debutant Nathan Ellis’ hat-trick went in vain for the visitors, for whom Mitchell Marsh continued his fine form and contributed 51, while Josh Hazlewood and Adam Zampa chipped in with the ball.

The Fizz delivers again Rahman followed figures of 2 for 16 and 3 for 23 in the series with an exceptional return of 0 for 9 from his four overs.

In what was the joint second-most economical effort for a Bangladesh bowler in a completed spell, Rahman turned the game around when he conceded just a single in the 19th over of the Australia innings when they needed an entirely possible 23 from 12 balls with Alex Carey and Dan Christian at the crease.

Two of his overs had been reserved for the death, and Mahmudullah brought him on for the 17th with the game still in Australia’s hands and Marsh on 49. Rahman utilised the slower ball to good effect and kept it tight to both Marsh and Carey, denying them a free swing of the arms.

Before that, he had given away just three singles in the final over of the powerplay, mostly bowling at the stumps and with the pace off, with Marsh first dabbing uncomfortably before being beaten off the last ball of the over.

The captain stands tall Mahmudullah promoted himself up to No. 4, but was forced to start off cautiously after Bangladesh lost two early wickets on a slow pitch. He was on 11 off 17 balls - seven of those had come off singles - when he decided to go big.

When Marsh pitched one in the slot on off, he swung to find the gap between long-on and deep midwicket for his first boundary, which was in the eighth over of the innings.

Mahmudullah chose to play anchor and bat deep, with all of Shakib, Afif Hossain and Nurul Hossain departing after playing cameos.

He was still not striking at a run-a-ball when he lofted Ellis over cover for four, after which only two overs of the Bangladesh innings remained. But with time running out, Mahmudullah chose to go after Hazlewood, whose short-ofa-length ball he scooped in the 19th over to try and push the scoring. He then brought up his fifty off 52 deliveries in the final over when he swung one down to deep square leg, before falling to Ellis’ next ball.

Hat-trick on international debut Ellis started by conceding eight in his first over, although a boundary came off a top edge from Shakib’s bat. Wade then replaced him, but Ellis returned with Bangladesh at 60 for 3 after the first half of the innings. He was taken off yet again after conceding 11, with Afif pulling him for a boundary this time.

Three overs were left - both Zampa and Agar were bowled out and Hazlewood had only one to go - as Ellis’ captain trusted him to deliver at the death. But an over-and-a-half later, Mahmudullah had lofted and pulled him for two fours.

That is when it all turned around for the debutant. First, he hit back with a very full ball on off, as the Bangladesh captain missed his leg-side heave and the ball crashed into the stumps. Next ball, the tail-ender Mustafizur found Marsh at deep midwicket.

Ellis had the hat-trick ball against another lower-order batter in Mahedi Hasan, who pulled straight to deep square leg, as he suddenly finished with 3 for 34 after going wicketless until the last three balls of the Bangladesh innings.

25

Shoriful Islam celebrates Moises Henriques’ wicket with his team-mates. (AFP/ Getty Images)

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guyana CHRONICLE Saturday, August 7, 2021

NSC serves $1M in support to Chelsea Edghill Olympian Chelsea Edghill will see the realisation of a request to the National Sports Commission for support in June, after the National Sports Commission (NSC) announced that the table tennis player will receive $1M to aid in her preparation for upcoming tournaments.

Edghill, on June 8, along with president of the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA), Godfrey Munroe, had met with the Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle, to highlight her plight in the sport and also to make a formal request for support from the National Sports Commission (NSC).

At the time, Edghill had just gotten the news that she will be heading to the 32nd

Olympiad in Japan.

“Chelsea Edghill would have presented to us, through the GTTA, a very complete proposal. With that, the proposal would have included her training.

As a commission, we felt it was important to support, and support her throughout the years, but this ($1M) is just an initial support,” Ninvalle said.

Ninvalle explained that “what we would do is we’ll look back after four months; we would see how that training is going and see whether or not we will invest more (money) into Ms Edghill.”

According to the Director of Sport, “It’s not a done deal that this is just the $1M we will be giving to Ms Edghill, and we’ll stop there. What

we will be doing is looking at her performance during the course of the training.”

Meanwhile, Munroe said the GTTA is happy that the request was honoured, pointing out “it’s welcoming and it’s commendable that the ministry and the National Sports Commission is backing its statement with action.”

“We (the GTTA) are happy about this because it shows that we have a partner that we can call on. I know the Director of Sport, being the head of an Association he understands the challenges,” Munroe noted.

He further reasoned that “it’s great to see the manifestation and action from our initial meeting, that we’re here receiving the support for Chelsea. They did say that

this is just an appetiser but they will be looking to see how she goes about her training and so on. In our ‘fan out’ meeting a lot of things were discussed.”

Edghill, a former Caribbean U-21 champion, was one of 86 women in Tokyo vying for Olympic glory and how she got there wasn’t by luck, or winning the table tennis lottery, as some would say, but really through her brilliance over the years.

The IOC’s Tripartite Commission had two slots (one male and one female) to select from among National Olympic Committees that didn’t have more than eight athletes at the two previous Olympic Games in London (2012) and Rio (2016).

The Tripartite Commission selected Togo’s Dodji Fanni

and Guyana’s Chelsea Edghill.

The 24-year-old Edghill had a historic showing in Tokyo, where playing in the very first match of the Women’s Singles Tournament, she brushed aside Fiji’s Sally Yee 4-1 (11-5, 4-11, 11-3, 11-6, 11-8).

On the surface Edghill’s match-winning performance might seem casual given her brilliance in the sport, but in the table tennis world, it represented ‘history’; not only for Guyana, but also for the Caribbean.

While Edghill became Guyana’s first, male/ female table tennis player to represent the country in the sport at the Olympics, the Linwood University graduate (Chemistry) was also the first female player

from the English-speaking Caribbean to feature at the event since it became an Olympic sport in 1988.

After her much-talked-about and celebrated victory over Yee, Edghill’s next opponent was 17-year-old Shin Yubin from South Korea.

Shin Yubin is South Korea’s youngest-ever representative in the sport and against Edghill, the world 85th ranked player showed why she’s one of the best players in the world, winning 4-0 (11-7, 11-9, 11-1, 12-10).

After wrapping up her time at the Olympics, Edghill took what she’s calling “a much-needed break” from the sport to enjoy her vacation in New York. She’s set to return home to Guyana this weekend.

(BBC) - American athlete Allyson Felix and British cyclist Laura Kenny set medal records in their sports and Italy celebrated more track success on day 14 in Tokyo.

Felix, 35, became the most decorated female track and field athlete by taking bronze in a 400m final where Shaunae Miller-Uibo of The Bahamas retained her title.

At the velodrome, Kenny became the most decorated female cyclist and the first British woman to win gold at three Olympic Games as she and Katie Archibald produced a dominant display in the women’s madison, which was added to the Games programme for the first time at Tokyo 2020.

Kenny, 29, also became GB’s most successful female athlete with her fifth gold, and sixth Olympic medal overall.

Dutchwoman Sifan Hassan’s bid for a golden treble ended when she took bronze in the 1500m, although she can still win three medals in three events if she gets on the podium in the 10 000m having already won the 5 000m.

Italy’s record showing in athletics continued with victory in the men’s 4x100m relay after a 20km

women’s race walk win had earlier ensured their best-ever gold-medal haul in track and field at a Games.

Meanwhile, 51-year-old Spanish race walker Jesus Angel Garcia became the first person to compete in an athletics event at eight summer Olympics.

As tears continued to flow on podiums, International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach said these pandemic-hit Games had exceeded expectations because athletes had given them “soul”.

Britain’s Laura Muir taking silver and world champion Hasan

the United States taking silver and Great Britain bronze.

Record gold for Britain’s Kenny There were emotional scenes at the velodrome as Kenny became the first British woman to win gold at three Olympic Games as she and Archibald were crowned madison champions.

“I’ve never wanted to win a medal so much in all my life,” said Kenny.

The pair delivered a masterclass in madison racing, winning 10 of the 12 sprints on offer and gaining a lap to finish with more than twice as many points of second-placed Denmark. The Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) took bronze.

Meanwhile, Harrie Lavreysen became the first Dutchman for almost 90 years to win the Olympic track cycling sprint, as he edged out team-mate Jeffrey Hoogland in a tense final.

Lamont Marcell Jacobs, Eseosa Fostine Desalu and Filippo Tortu stormed past Great Britain’s sprinters to take silver by 0.01 seconds.

Meanwhile, Antonella Palmisano became the first Italian woman to receive an athletics Olympic gold medal since 1984 when she won the women’s 20k race walk on her 30th birthday.

“Today is my day. A perfect way to celebrate! I only think in a few days’ time will I realise (I am the champion),” she said.

Her victory followed success on Thursday for her training partner Massimo Stano in the men’s version as well as Italian victories in the men’s 100m and high jump.

The last-ever men’s 50km race walk was won by Poland’s Dawid Tomala, who expressed his frustration at the fact the event is being scrapped from the Olympic programme from 2024.

“Of course on one side we are the last medallists, of course it’s great, but unfortunately. What I can say, the history of the 50k is finished unfortunately,” he said. “I think it was unexpected and it was something special in this race, you know and that’s all.”

Italy wins 4x100m Relay gold

Felix wins 10th Olympic medal With her 10th Olympic medal, Felix overtook Jamaica’s Merlene Ottey as the most decorated female track and field athlete, and she can still add another today in the 4x400m relay.

The 35-year-old, competing in her fifth and final Games, took bronze in the 400m, with defending champion Miller-Uibo winning gold in 48.36 seconds.

Felix now has six gold medals, three silver and one bronze to her name.

In the 1500m, Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon retained her title with

Allyson Felix has now won 10 Olympic medals. getting the bronze to end her chance of a hat-trick of gold at these Games.

The Dutch athlete will have to recover quickly as she is scheduled to run in the 10 000m final today.

Also on the track yesterday, Jamaican women underlined their sprinting dominance with gold in the 4x100m relay, with

Earlier in the day, Poland’s Tomala Dawid won gold in the men’s 50km walk, beating Germany’s Jonathan Hilbert and Canada’s Evan Dunfee.

China’s Liu Shiying was victorious in the women’s javelin as Poland’s Maria Andrejczyk took silver and Australia’s Kelsey-Lee Barber won bronze.

Italian athletics success continues Italy have their highest athletics gold-medal total at a single Games after a stunning victory in the men’s 4x100m relay gave them a fifth.

The team, made up of Lorenzo Patta, individual 100m champion

27

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, August 7, 2021

Guyana’s bid for CAC body building in 2023 ready for submission

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GOA head affirms Gov’t had no influence in design of Olympic uniforms

K.A. Juman-Yassin, president of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) is peeved at the attack on Guyana’s Olympic athletes who competed at the ongoing Games in Tokyo.

The athletes’ attire at the opening ceremony of the Games on July 23 came in for widespread criticism on social media with many saying the design was influenced by the government.

But Juman-Yassin in his first public engagement since the issue has fired back, stating the design was solely a GOA council decision, one that he ultimately approved.

“The Ministry or Mr (Charles) Ramson Jr or the Government, none of them was involved in the uniform, none of them made any contribution towards the colour or design of the uniform”, the GOA expressed at a press

conference held at GOA Headquarters, Liliendaal, on Thursday.

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr, had already issued a statement that clarified that his ministry had no role in the selection process of the uniforms.

Acknowledging that he can accept constructive criticisms over the uniform, Juman-Yassin said he was appalled over comments on social media that stated that the “athletes would lose because of the uniforms and its presentation”.

“To those persons who criticise because they did not see their party colours or felt that the uniform was in support of the government, or whose comments were divisive or not helpful to heal the political and perceived racial problems in Guyana, I offer no apology to them,” the GOA head vehemently

President of the Guyana Olympic Association, K.A Juman-Yassin

expressed.

“This one (design) was submitted, it was circulated, there was no objection to it. As president of the GOA, I accept the responsibility that this flag came from the GOA and whatever good or bad persons may have to say, I will accept that.”

In a release from Insider

The attire of the Guyanese athletes was a bone of contention.

Sports it was said, “The seven athletes representing Guyana wore a bold red that immediately caught the eye.”

The GOA highlighted that in the past uniforms had other colours but there was little ‘fuss’ created

over the matter. However, he highlighted that in the future, the GOA would consider having a national competition to select uniforms.

Guyana was represented by seven athletes at this Olympics, namely boxer

Keevin Allicock, table tennis player Chelsea Edghill, sprinters Jasmine Abrams, Aliyah Abrams, and Emanuel Archibald, and swimmers Andrew Fowler and Aleka Persaud.

28

GUYANA CHRONICLE, SATURDAY AUGUST 7, 2021

Italy wins 4x100m Relay gold

Italy’s 4x100m relay gold was one of the highlights of day 14 in Tokyo.

NSC serves $1M in support Guyana’s bid for CAC body building in 2023 ready for to Chelsea Edghill See page 26

FOCUSSED! Chelsea Edghill focusses on a serve during her match with South Korea’s Shin Yubin at the Tokyo Olympics.

submission

President of the Guyana Body Building and Fitness Federation, Keavon Bess

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| Saturday, August 7th, 2021