Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 08-11-2021

MONDAY 8th November, 2021

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Fruitful harvest No.106539

–– $45M soya bean trial farm yielding export-quality results

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Harvest has commenced on the massive corn and soya bean trial farm at the Dubulay Ranch, Ebini, Region 10 (Office of the President photo)

Hydromet Office anticipates 02 05 heavy rainfall in After years of waiting, Fort Wellington 15 coming months residents finally receive NIS pension ‘Timely’ works commence on $30M Linden waterfront enhancement project 09 PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, November 8, 2021

Hydromet Office anticipates heavy rainfall in coming months –– CDC to meet with regional officials

WITH more unusually heavy rainfall anticipated, and a strong likelihood that it will result in floods across the country, the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) is expected to meet with regional officials this week to discuss plans to mitigate the impact of flooding.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle, Chief Hydromet Officer, Dr. Garvin Cummings, confirmed that hydromet data is estimating that the country will continue to see higher than normal levels of rainfall, akin to what Guyana experienced last year November, and which peaked with unprecedented flooding in May/June this year.

Dr. Cummings explained that the Hydromet Office is able to forecast

Chief Hydromet Officer, Dr. Garvin Cummings for up to six months and, thus far, from all indications Guyana can expect a recurrence of what was experienced last November.

“It is difficult to say at this time whether it will top last year, but we are forecasting a wetter than

normal rainy season…we are expecting extremely wet conditions,” Dr Cummings said.

He added: “Given the fact that we are forecasting above normal rainfall, there is a strong likelihood of flooding.”

Beginning from November 2020, Guyana experienced month-onmonth unprecedented high levels of rainfall that caused unprecedented flooding all across the country. Though the country is usually prone to flooding, the flooding is usually most common in areas along the coast.

However, last year’s situation led to flooding in all regions, with Regions Two, Five, Six and 10 being severely affected.

President Irfaan Ali

had declared the situation a national disaster. Agriculture and mining were some of the hardest hit sectors, and in some cases entire communities had to be evacuated. Billions of dollars were later distributed in flood-relief to mitigate some of the impact caused by the flooding.

In its forecast for November 2021 to January 2022, the Hydromet Office, in a Seasonal Climate Outlook report, noted that Regions One, Two, Three, Four, Five and Seven and the northern part of Regions Six, Eight and 10 are expected to be usually wet, while Region Nine and other areas are expected to be dry.

“As the season progresses, water level in conservancies, reservoirs

Map showing the probability of above-normal rainfall across Guyana in the coming months (darker blue indicates higher chance) and inland rivers in Re- reach maximum capacgions 1 to northern 6, ity. Flooding in Regions 7 and 10 is expected to See page 3

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, November 8, 2021

$45M soya bean trial farm yielding export-quality results

THE massive soya bean trial farm at the Dubulay Ranch at Ebini along the Berbice River has begun to bear fruit, literally.

Not only that: the yields of up to two tonnes per hectare is of good, export quality, according to Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha.

“The harvesting is going well,” he said.

The minister told the Guyana Chronicle last evening that although the crops are just part of a trial run to produce soya bean and corn, the initial results show that Guyana has the potential to supply at least the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

“That’s good news for Guyana,” Minister Mustapha said.

He noted that with improved husbandry methods, the crops that follow will be of even better quality. “Next year, the yield and so will be better,” Minister Mustapha posited.

The 115-acre cultivation, which is being undertaken by a group of local investors, came on stream after President Dr. Irfaan Ali announced the government’s intention to be self-sufficient in protein for the poultry industry.

The Head of State had also related that incentives will be made available for

private individuals interested in coming on board with the government’s vision for development of the sector.

With Guyana now taking the lead on advancing the agri-food systems agenda in CARICOM, the government is keen on finding ways to reduce the country’s and CARICOM’s food-import bill. Guyana currently expends close to US$25 million annually on protein for the poultry sector.

The group of investors who have answered the Pres-

The Ministry of Agriculture is impressed with the results of the private sector-funded venture ident’s call include the owners of Guyana Stockfeed

Limited, Royal Chicken, Edun Farms, SBM Wood, the Dubulay Ranch, and Bounty Farm Limited, along with the Brazilian-owned N F Agriculture. Assistant Managing Director of Bounty Farm Limited, David Fernandes, said that it was important for the team to commence trial of the two key inputs so that sufficient data could be gathered for the larger investment During a visit to the farm back in September, President Dr. Irfaan Ali described the trial production as being “remarkable.”

“This is just the start.

We have to now replicate this 10-fold in the next crop, and then, of course, after that we move to increase, incrementally, until we get up to the full production,” Dr. Ali had said.

He added: “We have to get up to 75,000 acres for us to move to full production locally.” Reports are that studies are ongoing to determine the technical and scientific requirements to achieve the expanded target, especially in keeping with the safeguards needed against climate change.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture has begun preparatory works on the Tacama Savannah, which is expected to host the commercial corn and soya bean farms.

Harvest has commenced on the massive corn and soya bean trial farm As part of the 2021 national budget, some $500 million was allocated to improve the requisite infrastructure, and according to Minister Mustapha, the contract has already been awarded to construct the main access road into the savannah.

Added to that, the minister said that government will soon be assisting investors to build silos to store the grains.

Additionally, owing to the success of the trial farm, Minister Mustapha wants to establish a joint effort, which will see students from the

Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) benefiting from training exercises at both the Dubalay Ranch and the Tacama site.

Minister Mustapha said that with the level of technology employed on the ranch, it would benefit the country as a whole to have students who are studying agriculture being exposed to such advanced levels of technology. He said that his ministry has already discussed the possibility of having interns on the project.

“This initiative will also be extended to students from

the University of Guyana and other relevant agencies...

I’m sure our students will be able to learn a lot. Theory is important, but the practical aspect of agriculture is also very critical in ensuring allround development,” Mustapha emphasised.

Nonetheless, over the next four years, the government is preparing to work with several private individuals and groups to develop various mega-farms to propel production and reduce the annual food-import bill in its entirety.

Hydromet Office anticipates heavy ...

From page 2

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10 northern 6 and 8, as a result of persistent rain is a developing concern.

Therefore, drainage intervention is highly recommended where and when possible,” the report warned.

PREPARING Meanwhile, CDC’s Preparedness and Response Manager, Major Salim October, told the Guyana Chronicle that the commission is aware of the expectations.

The CDC is in charge of disaster management in Guyana.

“We are in the process

of analysing and looking at what those predictions are and during the course of this week we will look at using that data to forewarn all of the regions, so that they can engage with the NDC to ensure that all drains are desilted [and] all outfalls are cleared. For the city council, it will be to ensure all the pumps are working,” October explained.

Questioned about the early evacuation of residents from flooding hotspots, Major October noted that such a task is not always easy since it is dependent on the residents volunteering to leave, which they often are not willing to do.

A house under water at Kwakwani, in Region 10, during the May/June 2021 floods He pointed out that in siding in there. many of the flood-prone “These repeat impact areas, there is a high amount will affect communities of squatting, and residents that are irregularly set up, are not supposed to be re- so the normal drainage sys-

tems that are supposed to be in place are not in place.

The usual consideration for building, and the necessary infrastructure are not in place.

It doesn’t matter the forewarning or how you engage with the communities, once there is an excessive amount of rainfalls, and they are still there, there will be flooding and they know that” October explained.

He noted that the most the CDC could do at this point is to engage the local government organs such as the Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs) and Neighbourhood Democratic

Councils (NDCs) to speak with residents about the coming months. ”The most we can do is warn people, engage with the municipalities, NDCs and RDCs and indicate to them that we expect further rainfall and therefore it is imperative for them to look at these different hotspots,” he said.

He noted, however, that extra attention is being placed on the drainage system to ensure they are functioning at optimum capacity.

“In some communities right now, there are some desilting of drains going on,” he added.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, November 8, 2021

Protesters tear-gassed at rally against Sudan coup

SUDANESE security forces have fired tear gas at protesters who were taking part in pro-democracy demonstrations in the capital, Khartoum.

Teachers taking part in one protest were detained by the security forces.

Overnight demonstrators set up barricades for the first of two days of planned civil disobedience to protest against last month’s coup.

They are demanding the military government step back and allow a peaceful transition to civilian rule.

The demonstrations are happening as Arab

League mediators arrive in Khartoum for talks to try to defuse the crisis.

The civilian Prime Minister, Abdalla Hamdok, remains under house arrest and is facing pressure from the military to co-operate with them, the BBC’s Andrew Harding reports from the capital.

Last month, the coup leader, Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, dissolved the civilian arm of the government’s power-sharing agreement, arrested civilian leaders and declared a state of emergency.

Disruptions to the Internet had left some people unaware of the

Protesters were burning tyres in Khartoum on Sunday (BBC/AFP photo) two-day civil disobedience action but teachers turned out to protest near the education ministry.

“We organised a silent

Monday, 8 November 04:00hrs - 05:30hrs

stand against the decisions by Burhan outside the ministry of education,” Mohamed al-Amin, a geography teacher, told AFP

news agency.

“Police later came and fired tear gas at us though we were simply standing on the streets and carrying banners.”

In Khartoum North, security forces patrolled major streets carrying sticks and tear gas grenades, Reuters added.

There is anger on the streets of Khartoum with protesters blocking off neighbourhoods.

“Right now, there is a lot of blood, a lot of dead people. This military government is a killer,” one demonstrator said.

In Khartoum’s private Royal Care hospital, many victims of the military clampdown are being

treated.

It’s a place where support for the government is hard to come by.

“It’s heart-breaking to see those young people, the ones that have been killed, asking for what’s rightfully theirs: for a free country with a civilian government,” says surgeon Salma Elkhazin.

Despite these voices of concern, a spokesman for Sudan’s military government said the regime had done nothing wrong.

“Time will show this was not a coup,” retired Admiral Fateh al-Rahman told the BBC. “We will put a civilian government back in place and hold elections.”

The defiance of protesters here is simply impressive, and it’s possible that Sudan’s generals will back down amid growing international pressure.

But for now this country’s democratic revolution remains on hold - on a continent where it seems military coups are back in fashion. (BBC)

Majority of teachers vaccinated against COVID-19

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday November 8, 2021

JUST over 63 per cent of teachers in Guyana have received their COVID-19 vaccinations, while approximately 30 per cent of the students eligible for vaccination have been inoculated.

This information was provided by Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, during a press conference held on Friday at the National Centre for Educational Research and Development (NCERD).

Minister Manickchand noted that through several measures implemented by the ministry, there has been an encouraging increase in the number of inoculated teachers in the system.

“We actively tried to get each teacher what they

needed. We saw movement from 30 per cent of our teachers being vaccinated to just over 63 per cent getting vaccinated at last count,” she explained.

She noted that it is important for the teachers, as well as students, to be vaccinated. With the students, however, the vaccination rate has been lower than with the teachers.

“In the schools, somewhere around 30 per cent of the students who should be vaccinated are vaccinated,” the minister said.

Overall, approximately 34 per cent of persons aged 12 - 18 years in Guyana have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and approximately 28 per cent are fully vaccinated. These num-

bers include persons who are not in school.

The two-dose Pfizer BioNTech vaccine is currently available to persons 12 years and older.

However, the minister noted that the vaccine will soon be made available to learners from 5 - 11 years, given that clearance has been given for this by the US Food and Drug Administration(FDA).

Manickchand noted that the ministry is hoping for schools to return to normal as soon as possible, given the effect that the COVID-19 pandemic, and resulting school closures, have had on the education system.

She pointed out that vaccination is a big factor for schools to be able

to return to full normalcy, thereby enabling all students to return to the classrooms. Presently, at the nursery and primary school levels, learners are attending school on a rotation basis, while at the secondary school level only Grades 10, 11 and 12 students are attending face-to-face classes.

“The entire system is disrupted. We can only get back into schools if we get everybody vaccinated, students and teachers alike. So, we don’t have a choice. As a country, we have to insist that we return to normalcy. If a particular percentage is vaccinated, 85 percent or so, we would’ve achieved herd immunity and we can carry on normally,” Man-

ickchand explained.

The minister noted that most recently she wrote letters to the teachers imploring them to get fully vaccinated and detailing why it is important, not only for them, but also for the proper functioning of schools and the nation.

“Getting vaccinated is not a bureaucratic issue anymore. It’s not about whether we are following a law or just laying down an edict. It’s now a matter of children’s safety and children’s education.

We need to get everyone back into school,” Manickchand noted.

Persons aged 18 years and older must be fully vaccinated before they could be allowed entry

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Minister of Education Priya Manickchand into public buildings.

Manickchand reminded that Guyana is not the only country putting measures in place to protect against the COVID-19 virus.

“This is not a Guyana position. Teachers are going to be unable to travel, access higher learning. The world is moving to a place where you will be left behind if you are not vaccinated and a lot of doors will be closed to you. That is a personal decision, but it cannot stop us from doing what we have to [do] both ethically and morally,” she noted.

Nicaragua’s Ortega courts isolation with one-sided vote

Daniel Ortega (right) and his wife and running mate Rosario Murillo are standing for another term (BBC/Reuters photo) Nicaragua’s left-wing president, Daniel Ortega, is currently the longest-serving leader in the Americas.

On Sunday, he looks set to extend his rule for five more years in a one-sided election dismissed as an illegitimate “farce” by his main opponents and by most democratic governments.

The 75-year-old former Marxist guerrilla commander is seeking re-election for a fourth consecutive term.

He has governed the Central American nation for over half of the more than four decades since

Nicaragua’s 1979 Revolution that toppled dictator Anastasio Somoza.

After quashing anti-government protests that defied his Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) government in 2018, President Ortega outraged the US, its allies in Latin America and the EU by brazenly sidelining his main opposition election challengers.

They were detained and disqualified from standing for office or forced into exile. Dozens of other members of the opposition were also arrested.

This crackdown in the months leading up to Sunday’s vote means that the re-election of President Ortega and his wife, Vice-President Rosario Murillo, is viewed by critics and supporters alike as virtually a foregone conclusion.

A number of other, little-known presidential candidates will also be on the ballot but are unlikely to attract many votes.

The US and EU have signalled likely further diplomatic isolation and sanctions in the event of a another win by Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo.

The couple in turn regularly denounce “imperialist” US threats against Nicaragua.

Nicaragua’s army, which is viewed as loyal to President Ortega along with the police, has announced the deployment of 15,000 troops around the country to provide “security” for the vote.

Since the 2018 protests were put down by the security forces, major anti-government demonstrations have been rare and many opposition figures have fled into exile.

Some voters may heed opposition calls for a boycott of the elections. Opposition civil society

organisations and student groups have called for an “electoral strike”.

The opposition’s main presidential candidates - Cristiana Chamorro, Arturo Cruz, Félix Maradiaga, Juan Sebastián Chamorro, Miguel Mora, Medardo Mairena and Noel Vidaurre - were swept out of contention by being variously detained, restricted, barred and forced into exile in mid-2021 under a phalanx of “anti-terrorist” and “defence of national sovereignty” laws.

A major opposition grouping, the Citizens for Liberty, had its legal status cancelled.

The candidates who have been allowed to stand are being dismissed by opposition commentators and media as “collaborationists” in an “electoral farce”.

According to a recent survey

by Costa Rican pollster CID Gallup, at least 76 per cent of Nicaraguans considered that the re-election of Ortega would be “illegitimate” or of “little legitimacy”.

Nevertheless, the same poll had 55 per cent of respondents saying they had “a lot of” or “some interest” in voting, whereas 44 per cent had “little or no

intention”.

The network of media controlled by Ortega’s government and his family has maintained a barrage of upbeat coverage of the November 7 elections, calling them “democratic” and “transparent”.

The barred opposition contenders and detained opponents have been regularly portrayed by the government narrative as USbacked “terrorists” seeking to sow “hatred” and disorder.

On the opposition side, politicians and commentators, some of them in exile, have kept up a steady drumbeat of condemnation, criticism and rejection of the elections.

Pro-opposition media have been reporting that various sectors, including government workers and public school teachers, were being forced with threats to vote for the governing party.

There has also been criticism from members of the Catholic Church, which maintains influence in Nicaragua and has reprimanded the Ortega government in the past for anti-democratic abuses.

Pro-opposition daily La Prensa cited one parish priest, Uriel

Vallejos, as saying in a homily that he would not vote and that “the people are going to turn their back on the dictatorship”.

The US government, the Organisation of American States and the EU have all been adamant in their view that the November 7 elections cannot be considered valid.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told journalists this week that he viewed the Nicaragua vote as “a complete fake”, from which there could be no “legitimate result”.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has accused Ortega and Murillo of “preparing a false election that is lacking credibility”.

EU foreign ministers have asked Borrell to prepare additional sanctions against the Nicaraguan government and its officials.

Vice-President Murillo and the couple’s sons, as well as other top Sandinista officials, have already been targeted by US and EU sanctions.

Nevertheless, President Ortega and his FSLN party can still count on the support of like-minded anti-US governments in Cuba, Venezuela and Russia, among others. (BBC)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, November 8, 2021

Consolidating Democracy

DEMOCRACY and the rule of law are the twin pillars of all civilised and modern societies.

These are the bases of rule without which society can easily degenerate into anarchy and in the words of the English philosopher Thomas Hobbes, there could be a situation of a ‘war of all against all.’

This is why it is so important to ensure that our democracy is fully institutionalised and consolidated. Our past experiences have demonstrated the fragility of our democracy and the extent to which it could be manipulated and subverted by power-hungry elements.

For over two decades, Guyana suffered from the stigma of undemocratic rule with disastrous consequences to the economic and social life of the Guyanese people. All elections from 1968 to 1985 were massively and blatantly rigged by the then PNC regime in order to perpetuate its undemocratic rule. Guyana was made a laughing stock in the Caribbean and the country was ranked as one of the poorest in the western hemisphere.

Fortunately, all of that changed in the October 5, 1992 elections, which was the

first free and fair elections in over two decades. That came about after much pressure from the international community, especially from the United States and other western powers and in particular through the instrumentality of President Carter and the Carter Centre, whose role in the restoration of democratic rule in Guyana is legendary.

After much arm-twisting by the Carter Centre, Hoyte finally agreed to a number of electoral reforms including the counting of votes at places of poll, after initially deeming it a ‘logistical nightmare.’ A new formula for appointment of the GECOM Chair was put in place, which former President David Granger attempted to jettison and which thankfully was overruled by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

Elections since October 5, 1992 have generally been free and fair except for the March 2020 General and Regional elections when renewed efforts were made to rig the elections. Anyone who thought that rigged elections were something of the past were given a rude awakening when the APNU+AFC Coalition attempted to steal the elections literally in broad daylight.

It is in the context of the foregoing that the proposed amendments to the Representation of the People Act (RoPA) have to be seen and appreciated. The proposed amendments currently in the public domain for review and feedback are intended to ensure that there is no recurrence to that disgraceful past. Among the proposed amendments is that all Statements of Poll (SoP) must be promptly certified and posted on the Guyana Elections Commission’s website by the Chief Elections Officer (CEO). It outlined that the CEO would be committing an offence should he or she post or cause to be posted an electronic copy of a Statement of Poll that is not a true copy of the certified SOP delivered to him, or that contains a false statement.

Such a breach could see the CEO being liable on summary conviction to a fine of 10 million dollars and to imprisonment for life.

Similar consequences are also applicable in cases where the CEO fails to calculate the total number of votes on the basis of information contained in the District Tabulation Forms, which are the only basis for the calculation of votes. Presiding

Officers who fail to execute their functions in accordance with the law could also face hefty fines and imprisonment.

These amendments are by no means far-fetched and have become all the more necessary in light of what transpired in the last General and Regional Elections.

It is unfortunate that GECOM, the constitutional body responsible for conducting elections, had allowed itself to be so compromised as to render it necessary for such amendments to be enshrined in our laws, but it has to be done to protect the integrity of the commission and more importantly the will of the Guyanese electorate from being subverted by unscrupulous politicians in collaboration with rogue elements in the GECOM secretariat.

Experience, it is said, is a good teacher.

If there is one lesson to be learnt from the March 2, 2020 National and Regional elections, it is that when it comes to free, fair and transparent elections, nothing can be left to chance and that all possible avenues for fraudulent practices should be scrupulously examined and preventative measures put in place to the full extent of the law.

Coalition should not suffer themselves but support national development Dear Editor, AS I sit here to pen this short letter on the above subject, I am thinking and several questions arise in my mind, such as: what has the opposition APNU (PNC) done in the past five years that took the present PPP government to outclass them in less than two years in office when it comes to national development? Is it that the previous government had too many pensioners as ministers and top government officials who had outlived their contributions to Guyana’s national development and can hardly think positively, but just for their benefits? Is it that the then government was working along racial lines? Is it that the then government had a leader as a President who lacked the vision for taking Guyana forward? Is it that they were brainless and had no clue as to what “national development” means? Is it that they lack vision to see positive projects and benefits for Guyana and all Guyanese? Is it that they were not listening to the people on the ground? Is it that they had personal agendas to become rich and leave the poor to suffer? Is it that they had lots of in-fighting and cussing as to where to go and what to do for Guyanese?

After all those questions, I came to a conclusion that the only way to answer those questions and in one word is “Yes, Yes, Yes”; mind you, not a Charrandass Persaud Yes, Yes, Yes.

Several other questions arise also but I am not going to mention all but a few that need detailed answers and they are: did the previous APNU (PNC) government care about the poor man’s livelihood and if they did, what did they do to better their standard of living? Did the previous government care about workers and their families’ welfare and if they did, why would they put almost 3,000 sugar workers out of jobs and their families on the breadline? (Remember those very 3,000 workers are the ones that made the AFC win the elections for APNU (PNC) in 2015).

Did the previous government know how to set a developmental agenda that would benefit all Guyanese?

The answers to the above few questions are straightforward and that is, they had no “vision” when it comes to national development and they did not care for the people at all, because they forgot where they came from. As the saying goes, “Yuh can’t give a donkey mouth organ to blow.”

Moses Nagamootoo has ensured that he brought Guyana and Guyanese down to its knees with the PNC because of his personal selfish aims and agenda. I want him to doubt that he never had secret meetings with the PNC prior to 2015 elections and also before the 2020 election, so that he would remain as PM candidate.

That is why David Granger could have held out that he won’t name a PM candidate until after he won the elections and that he was working with the Constitution, but that

is the same Granger who breached the same Constitution and made Patterson Chairman of GECOM. There is a saying, “Day fuh dag and night for labba.”

Anyways, let me say that since this PPP government took office, Guyana is on the boom towards national development and moreover, the people benefited tremendously since this administration took office.

I am not saying that the previous government did not do any developmental projects, I would be ashamed of me if I did that. But at what cost was it done, etc? Tell you what, I also know and heard the then opposition openly mention and thank the then government for certain projects and programmes.

It’s shameful that since this government took office the APNU (PNC) never saw any national developmental projects and programmes that happened in Guyana and where the people benefitted, although Granger publicly collected his COVID-19 cash grant.

It tells me that the opposition APNU (PNC) does not know what national development means and how it is being done. It tells me that their talk show puppets and jagabats are all about negativity and not about the positives happening in Guyana under this government.

All the APNU (PNC) members are doing is spreading race hate amongst our people and we all know that is what they are good at: to divide the people on the basis of race. The opposition APNU (PNC) is masquerading under the race umbrella to gain attention.

They have nothing positive to say to us, the Guyanese people.

I am calling on the Leader of the Opposition the Hon Joseph Harmon MP to pull in all of his MPs and charge them for lack of mental fitness, because it is time they begin to educate the people about the present positives in national development and programmes happening under this PPP government.

I am calling on members of the opposition to open their eyes and hearts and see the positives that are happening in Guyana and come boldly forward and tell the PPP government that you are willing to be part and parcel of this positive national developmental agenda and programmes, whereby all Guyanese are benefitting.

On a serious note, the APNU (PNC) at present as an opposition makes no sense, because nothing educational is being said by any of them.

Put politics aside and put Guyana first and I am sure that all in the opposition are now enjoying the good life under this government they had promised the people. Don’t only enjoy the good life, but join in helping to ensure that more of that good life continues by offering a helping hand (I am sure the government would offer a stipend to you guys).

Join the leaders in the PPP government in taking Guyana positively forward; support Guyana’s national development.

Yours sincerely, Abel Seetaram

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, November 8, 2021

COP26: Agricultural expansion drives almost 90 per cent of global deforestation

AGRICULTURAL expansion drives almost 90 per cent of global deforestation – an impact much greater than previously thought, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) said, while releasing the first findings of its new Global Remote Sensing Survey.

Deforestation is the conversion of forest to other land uses, such as agriculture and infrastructure.

Worldwide, more than half of forest loss is due to conversion of forest into cropland, whereas livestock grazing is responsible for almost 40 per cent of forest loss, according to the new study.

The new data also confirms an overall slowdown in global deforestation, while warning that tropical rainforests, in particular, are under high pressure from agricultural expansion.

“According to FAO’s latest Global Forest Resources Assessment we have lost 420 million hectares of forest since 1990,” FAO Director-General QU Dongyu said in a speech prepared for a 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties’ (COP26) high-level dialogue entitled “Upscaling Actions to Turn the Tide on Deforestation” where

FAO presented the new findings. To this end, he emphasised that increasing agri-food productivity to meet the new demands of a growing population and halting deforestation are not mutually exclusive objectives.

Turning the tide on deforestation and scaling up the hard-won progress on this front is of vital importance to build back better and greener from the COVID-19 pandemic, Qu added.

“To succeed in such endeavour, we need to know where and why deforestation and forest degradation happens and where the action is needed,” the Director-General said, noting that this can only be achieved by combining the latest technological innovations with local expertise on the ground. The new survey serves as a good example of such approach.

Increasing agri-food productivity to meet the new demands of a growing population and halting deforestation are not mutually exclusive objectives.

More than 20 developing countries have already shown that it is possible to do so. Indeed, latest data confirms that deforestation has been successfully reduced in South-America and Asia

According to the new data, in 2000-2018, the vast majority of the deforestation took place in the tropical biomes.

Despite a slowdown in deforestation in South America and Asia, the tropical rainforests in these regions continue to record the highest deforestation rates.

DEFORESTATION DRIVERS DIFFER Agriculture remains the main driver of deforestation in all regions except Europe, where urban and infrastructural development has a higher impact, the study says. Conversion to cropland dominates forest loss in Africa and Asia, with over 75 per cent of the forest area lost converted to cropland.

In South America, almost three quarters of deforestation is due to livestock grazing.

The FAO-led study was conducted using satellite data and tools developed in partnership with NASA and Google, and in close collaboration with more than 800 national experts from almost 130 countries.

The high-level dialogue brought together the heads and principals of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests member organisa-

Deforestation is the conversion of forest to other land uses, such as agriculture and infrastructure (FAO photo) tions to build momentum food security, FAO’s new into ambitious actions. on forest-based climate strategic framework will Moreover, the reactions under the UN Sec- lead efforts to transform cent UN Food Systems retary-General’s initiative agri-food systems to be Summit formed a coaon Turning the Tide on De- more efficient, inclusive, lition between producer forestation. The event will resilient and sustainable. and consumer countries, Together with the UN companies and internaalso be a major contribution Development Programme tional organisations to towards the Stockholm+50 (UNDP) and UN Environ- halt deforestation and the Summit, the 17th session ment Programme (UNEP), harmful environmental of the United Nations FoFAO supports more than impacts of converting land rum on Forests (UNFF17) 60 countries in implementand the in-depth review to produce agricultural of SDG15 (Life on land) ing strategies to reduce commodities. by the High-level Political emissions from deforestaThe Collaborative Forum on Sustainable De- tion and forest degradation Partnership on Forests, velopment (HLPF) in 2022. through UN-REDD. led by the FAO, uniting T h e F A O i s a l s o 15 international organco-leading the Decade isations, is developing a HALTING o n E c o s y s t e m R e s t o - joint initiative to Turn DEFORESTATION Considering the mul- ration with UNEP, an the Tide on Deforestation tiple linkages between important opportunity to to accelerate actions and forests, agriculture and accelerate innovative ideas scale up impact. (FAO)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, November 8, 2021

A look at alcohol abuse and its repercussions

By Vanessa Cort

DESPITE the tremendous physical, psychological and financial damage caused by its abuse, alcohol is still a major part of social life around the world.

And as the late Rev. Dr. Miles Munroe of The Bahamas Faith Life Ministry said many years ago in one of his televised

sermons, abuse is actually two words – abnormal and use.

So, generally, moderate social ‘drinking’ is considered ‘the norm’, while excessive alcohol consumption is seen as abnormal and can lead to alcoholism.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increase in alcohol use, according

to psychotherapist Shane Tull, and this in turn has had a negative impact on households and caused more incidents of domestic violence.

Throughout the Caribbean, alcohol use has been a cause for concern and is seen as a major health risk. An Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) report states: “

Photo courtesy of https://www.tpoftampa.com Alcohol use is a leading risk factor for disease burden, both in terms of mortality and morbidity, and has been linked to numerous negative health and social outcomes, including more than 200 diseases and injury conditions such as cancer, stroke and liver cirrhosis, among others.”

Yet statistics tell us that alcohol consumption is on the rise, particularly among adolescents and young adults. And a Guyana physical survey reports that 2.1 per cent of young people consume alcohol regularly and 74 per cent of schoolchildren have had their first taste of alcohol before the age of 14.

Alcohol is also associated with many mental health issues such as depression and anxiety disorders. Hence, increased use since the start of the pandemic is hardly surprising, given the added stress that people worldwide have been experiencing.

In Guyana, the tale is much the same as it is globally, with young people imbibing alcohol more regularly and in greater quantities, which experts say can lead to even heavier consumption

as they grow older.

A World Health Organisation report states that 15.2 per cent of male drinkers in this country qualify as “heavy drinkers’, consuming more than 60 grams of alcohol at least once a month.

And many are the stories that we hear of men heading straight to the rum shop after being paid and spending their entire pay packet there, only leaving for home when the money is done.

This in turn leads to hardship in homes as female partners struggle to cope and frustrations build up on both sides, often resulting in explosive violence as quarrels erupt.

I can recall one incident, which I watched from the window of my Corentyne home years ago, when a canecutter’s wife marched him up the dam at ‘cutlass point’, having found him drinking at a rum shop shortly after collecting his pay one Friday afternoon.

Although there was some humour in the incident, because the man accepted his ‘guilt’ shamefacedly and made no attempt to retaliate against his wife, the underlying message was nevertheless grave. For had she not intercepted her husband

before he ‘drank out all the money’, this woman would have been faced with the daunting task of running her household without her husband’s vital income.

Also, this scenario if far from what usually occurs when men overspend and drink heavily. The increased aggression caused by the alcohol leads to heated arguments and, where men are abusive, causes further abuse.

Along with all the strategies being used to curb alcohol abuse in this country, such as early intervention and improved data collection, I strongly endorse the call for the stringent enforcing of laws pertaining to the minimum age for alcohol purchase, driving under the influence and opening and closing times of rum shops and beer gardens.

I also join the call for laws to be put in place to prevent the advertising or selling of alcoholic beverages during school activities and where minors predominate and for the industry to be legislated, as in the tobacco industry, with warnings being prominently placed on alcoholic products about the dangers to health.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, November 8, 2021

Partially vaccinated Guyanese allowed entry until November 30

FOLLOWING the recent announcement that only those who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will be allowed to enter Guyana, the Ministry of Health has now given the greenlight for partially vaccinated Guyanese to be allowed entry until November 30, 2021.

The new exemption was prepared by Chief Medical Officer (ag), Dr. Narine Singh, and announced by the ministry on Friday. It targets partially vaccinated Guyanese who departed Guyana on or before October 31.

The new COVID-19 emergency measures, which will remain in place until November 31, 2021, states, “Before any person is allowed to enter Guyana, whether by land or sea, that person shall present to the relevant au-

thorities a negative Molecular Biological Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test, or an approved antigen test taken within seventy-two hours of the date of their arrival in Guyana and proof of vaccination.”

The announcement to allow partially vaccinated persons a window for re-entry into the country comes after local media outlets highlighted the plight of many Guyanese who would have been stranded in the United States due to their partially vaccinated status.

Meanwhile, the COVID-19 emergency measures for November also signaled an additional change to the entry requirements.

Moving forward with its mandate of making Guyana’s main ports of entry more accessible while minimising the

number of imported cases, the government, last week, announced its decision to accept negative antigen COVID-19 tests at its land and sea ports.

Since the re-opening of Guyana’s main ports of entry in 2020, the government had only recognised the use of negative PCR tests at the air, land and sea ports.

The Cheddi Jagan International Airport, on October 30, 2021, announced a similar decision to accept negative antigen COVID-19 tests.

A notice posted on the airport’s Facebook page read, “Effective from November 1, persons requiring entry into Guyana must provide a negative PCR or Antigen test, taken within 72hrs of their arrival in Guyana and proof of being ‘fully’ vaccinated.”

Antibody test, rapid test using saliva sample and home

‘Timely’ works commence on $30M Linden waterfront enhancement project IN keeping with government’s aim to focus on the aesthetics of various parts of the country, work has begun on the $30 million waterfront enhancement project at Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice).

This was disclosed by Mayor of Linden Waneka Arrindell during an interview with the National Communications Network (NCN) on Friday.

She called the project “timely,” noting that the improvements will strategically benefit the region as it continues to develop and improve its tourism packages and activities.

The Demerara River flows through the region, dividing it into two; the only region in Guyana to have this fascinating natural demarcation. At Linden, Wismar and Mackenzie are on either side of the river.

Since 2015, the township has been hosting its annual riverfront festival at the Mackenzie and Wismar riverfronts to showcase Linden’s aqua-tourism potential.

The festival also features a wide array of family-oriented, sporting, religious, and entertainment activities on the calendar of events.

Mayor of Linden Waneka Arrindell “In light of tourism month, this is truly a project that Linden welcomes and [I] hope to see …that the people of Linden maintain the aesthetics. We are really evolving into a tourism town and so all of these tiny projects being given are projects that we can use for the betterment of our people,” said Arrindell.

In July, Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, had disclosed government’s plan to fund the project.

He said that some $30 million will be released to begin the first phase of the project. This decision was made following a multi-stakehold-

er engagement held at the Watooka Guest House to identify works that could be undertaken to modernise the town’s waterfront.

Mayor Arrindell said that $8.6 million is being expended on the construction of a concrete parking area which is 90% complete. Orin Supreme Enterprise is undertaking this aspect of the project.

She further noted that the Wismar shore will also see the construction of a paved surface for recreational use to the tune of $14million.

Works are also ongoing at Co-op Crescent, in Mackenzie, which will see the riverside being cleaned and cleared and new boulders added to enhance the appearance and protect the river walls. Further, the walkway and rails will be repaired to the tune of $5.6 million, while a concrete pavement costing an estimated $5.9 million will be added to complete the enhancement.

According to the Ministry of Public Works, the project will include proper sanitary blocks, adequate lighting, and recreational facilities.

The minister had said that all construction works will cater to senior citizens and persons living with disabilities.

The Cheddi Jagan International Airport at Timehri, East Bank Demerara (Delano Williams photo) testing kits are still not being accepted at the country’s main ports of entry.

All persons travelling to Guyana, 18 years and over,

must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

They are required to present their vaccination card bearing their names,

name of vaccine, date vaccine was given and batch number from an accredited health facility at the port of entry.

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Juvenile, three others charged with Parika murder

A 16-year-old juvenile is among four persons who were on Friday last charged for the murder of Trevor Allen, of Parika Façade, East Bank Essequibo. Allen was beaten to death while drinking at a nearby shop on October 31, 2021.

The others charged for the murder are Navindra Sugrim, 18; Chaitram Persaud, 23, and Eashwar Soodeo, 26, all of Parika Façade. They all appeared before Magistrate Zameena Ali-Seepaul at the Leonara Magistrates’ Court on Friday last, when the indictable charge was read to them.

The four murder-accused were not required to enter pleas to the charge which was read to them. The three adults were remanded to prison while the juvenile was remanded to the Juvenile Holding Centre, as the matter was adjourned to December 9, 2021 for report and fixture.

According to the initial police report, on the day of the incident, at about 20:50 hrs, Allen and his two broth-

ers were drinking at a shop when he got into an argument. The argument was followed by a fight with an individual, who was later joined by three other individuals.

The individual had reportedly punched Allen to his face, which further resulted in a scuffle between the two.

During the fight, the three other individuals arrived, armed with cutlasses and knives, and began to attack Allen. He was stabbed five times in the abdomen and chopped once to the forehead.

The report detailed that one of Allen’s brothers, Harvey Allen, made an attempt to save him but received a chop to the back, which caused him to seek refuge

in a nearby canal, where he watched as the suspects continued to attack his brother.

On Monday last, the police reported that the four individuals who attacked Allen were identifiable and are at large, while on Wednesday last, the police reported that one suspect in connection with the murder had committed suicide.

It was reported that Davin Persaud, called “Chrissy”, 28, of Parika Façade, died around 01:15hr on Wednesday last at the Skeldon Public Hospital, Berbice, after he reportedly consumed a poisonous substance while in the company of a male relative at Number 74 Village, Corentyne, Berbice.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, November 8, 2021

Woman, 58, is latest COVID-19 fatality

ONE more person has died after contracting COVID-19, taking Guyana’s overall death toll to 942, the Ministry of Health has reported.

The ministry said that the latest fatality is a fully vaccinated 58-year-old woman from Region Six (East Berbice- Corentyne) who died on November 6.

Additionally, there are currently 2,652 active COVID-19 cases in Guyana, following the addition of 101 new cases on November 7, 2021.

The 101 newly confirmed cases were recorded in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Eight, and 10.

Region Four accounted for 53 of the new cases, Region Two recorded eight new cases, Region Three recorded 19 cases, Region Five recorded five new cases, Region Six recorded 13 new cases, Region Eight recorded 2 new cases and Region Ten recorded 10.

The country has now recorded a total of 36,180 confirmed cases since the first COVID-19 case was reported in March 2020.

Of the active cases, 11 persons are at the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the National Infectious Diseases Hospital, Liliendaal; 73 are in institutional isolation; 2,562 are in home isolation, and six are in institutional quarantine.

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

The updated COVID–19 Emergency Measures are in force until November 30, 2021.

They may be extended or amended by notice of the Minister of Health, after an assessment of the prevailing public health conditions of the pandemic.

As per the current measures, all persons are required to wear face masks when leaving their homes, and physical distancing and adequate sanitisation are recommended. The current curfew is 00:00hrs to 04:00hrs.

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

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday November 8, 2021

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Uninvolved parenting

YOU may be an adult witnessing younger people caring for their children, and you notice that something is not right. The children seem happy, clean, fed, and managing, but still, something niggles you.

Could it be the parenting style? Some younger parents don’t even realise they have a parenting style. And although it is not their intention, if they are uninvolved parents, they could cause damage to their child’s development.

Uninvolved parents do not expect much from their children, so they do not set standards or offer them much support or put limits on their behaviour. The children grow without benefitting from quality time, shows of appreciation or affection, encouragement or an emotional connection with parents. Failing to connect emotionally can impact children negatively and cause problems when

they are older, such as anger and hostility, depression, trouble managing emotions and difficulty forming bonds in adult relationships.

Uninvolved parents are preoccupied with their lifestyles, interests or distractions, and their children fend for themselves - for the most part. Uninvolved parents supply food, clothes and shelter, usually with no problem.

But where guidance, nurturing, a sense of direction, and morals are concerned, the children are on their own.

Children are vulnerable in these households due to poor supervision. Socially, they are inclined to follow their peers rather than lead. They can become involved in a host of unfortunate or delinquent behaviours such as petty crime and early sexual exploration.

Older people and peers can exploit and abuse them without their parents knowing or noticing that their child may have a problem.

There have been cases of incest under the same roof as uninvolved parents, and it can be a sad and confusing time for the children when it comes to light. Of course, they will feel guilty and blame themselves, but the fact they were never monitored, spoken to, given guidance or paid quality attention was fertile ground for experimentation. Some pregnant girls from uninvolved families have entered their second trimester of pregnancy without parents noticing they were pregnant. A few of them even went into labour before their parents found out.

Lately, one international story told of a 12-year-old girl rushed to hospital with stomach pains - only to find out that she was in labour.

She subsequently safely gave birth to her baby. The baby’s father, her 14-year-old brother, did not coerce or force his sister to have sexual intercourse. Instead, her brother gave an account of long unsu-

pervised days where the two played games to pass the time - one of which was wrestling.

What started as an innocent game of wrestling ended up as sexual intercourse.

The brother was placed on the sex offenders list for ten years, and all three children are now in foster care (with different foster parents) and receiving counselling.

Although their negligence brought about the events, the story did not indicate whether the parents would face prosecution for child neglect, For the rest of their lives, these children will live with the fact that they were sexually involved and produced a child. Maybe they should have known better, but did anyone bother to instruct or explain the ‘better’ they should know to the children?

A 15-year-old mother from an affluent family, when asked how she managed to conceal her pregnancy from her parents, replied, “When they were home, I made sure I was sitting at the table or snuggled up on the sofa. Our paths hardly crossed anyway, so it wasn’t difficult. They barely looked me in the face, much less notice my physique”.

Uninvolved parents are ignorant of how little children perceive and understand morals, values, right and wrong. They act surprised or taken aback if and when their child does something reprehensible. They may want to beat and punish the child to save face or due to their shame. But children live what they learn, and if they don’t have adequate guidance and a sense of discipline and boundaries are not enforced, their moral compass will sadly require direction.

Uninvolved parents may have a secure home where their children are safe and well provided for, but the children are disadvantaged without parents’ social and emotional support. Here are some examples of uninvolved parenting: When parents frequently leave their child with other people; When they fail to engage with their child in reading, playing, or spending quality time. When parents rarely listen to their children and distract them with a tablet or video games.

They are disinterested in their child’s goals or accomplishments and fail to praise and encourage the

same. When parents do not set bedtimes or curfews.

When parents don’t know their children’s friends or in whose house their children hang out. When they think more about themselves and their problems, they never acknowledge that their children (especially teens) may be stressed and have problems too.

In conclusion, uninvolved parenting is not practical; it lacks elements that unite families and create lasting bonds.

Good advice, positive messages, ethics, standards and principles are what children need to learn from loving, affectionate, approachable and committed parents. If you know an uninvolved parent, don’t be afraid to offer some positive advice. Choose your words and wait for a suitable time to explain. Or you can simply show them this article.

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

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After years of waiting Fort Wellington residents finally receive NIS pension

AS part of the government’s promise to transform and improve services offered by public institutions, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, delivered NIS pension booklets to residents of Fort Wellington, West Coast Berbice, on Saturday.

The minister, with the support of NIS General Manager Holly Greaves and other technical staffers, handed over the booklets to citizens who have been waiting for years to receive their contributions.

The distribution exercise was held at the NIS Fort Wellington office.

In his remarks, Dr. Singh recalled that in August, he and a team from the NIS held an outreach at Fort Wellington to listen to the challenges citizens faced to receive their benefits. Those concerns were investigated, the minister noted, with a significant number addressed.

“As the minister responsible for NIS, I initiated a series of outreaches in Regions Three, Four, Five, Six and 10. The response has been phenomenal. Over 100 citizens turn out at each outreach and in some cases,

200, and what we have found is that a number of the issues that are raised are issues that can be resolved on the spot and so this was done. Some required further investigation. I am very happy that we have gotten to a point where the numbers are perhaps 80 per cent issues resolved,” the senior minister iterated to the gathering.

Notwithstanding this, he recognised the challenges citizens face after contributing years of their lives to the improvement of their country, only to be told that they would not be able to collect their pensions.

“There are people who have been waiting years to get their pensions and that is not acceptable. While I would be eager to commend the NIS under the current board and the general manager for resolving these issues, I would in the same breath say that they need to get to a point where these issues do not arise,” he expressed.

CONTENTMENT Speaking with the DPI, pensioners now in receipt of their booklets expressed their contentment over being able to collect their contributions.

Janki Edwards said she had been waiting to receive her

pension since 2013.

“My father told me that the minister was coming down in August month. He told me that the minister was going to Fort Wellington. I came in and I got through with the minister and they told me that they are going to help me, and here I am today, so I am happy with what I have,” the pensioner said.

Mohamed Hiyube Hoosain, a former worker of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), said that he had applied for his pension 10 years ago but was unsuccessful in collecting the same due to poor record-keeping.

RUNAROUND “I ran all about; I ran to town, come back here, go to Brickdam, Camp Street and I could not get the pension.

I had given up hope, and I was almost going to get a lawyer. But I was so excited and happy when they called me to collect. I praise the minister; I praise the government and may God shower his blessings on all of them,” Hoosain expressed.

Shareeza Hiralall, a young woman collecting on behalf of her 67-year-old father, spoke of the challenges she and her father faced in collecting his pension booklet. Even after making all of

Senior Minister in the Office of the President, Dr. Ashni Singh, hands over a pension booklet to Mohamed Hiyube Hoosain (DPI photo) his contributions, the records at NIS did not reflect this.

“He has been here at Fort Wellington numerous times, back and forth and to no avail. I was representing him and I was getting nowhere, so I decided to take this matter to Freedom House to speak with MP Jaffarally and that is when he took the

matter up to the office. We came and we spoke to the minister, he promised and I can see that a promise has been fulfilled,” she said.

The finance minister called on employers to ensure they pay their employees’ contributions to NIS. “It is a legal obligation, not a request,” he warned.

He also encouraged employees to periodically request statements of their contributions and verify documents to ensure that there are no missing contributions. Dr. Singh reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring persons receive what they have earned. (DPI)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday November 8, 2021

30 Region Nine women participate in empowerment session

APPROXIMATELY 30 women from villages all across Region Nine participated in training and awareness sessions by the Ministry of Human Services, through the Regional Gender Affairs Committee (RGAC) during an outreach to the region recently.

The forum saw women from Tabatinga, St. Ignatius, Culvert City and Karasabai, among several

other villages. The training was done by the Gender Affairs Bureau (GAB) of the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, a release said.

The women were in favour of the idea by RGAC to form groups in the various villages to help them deal with a number of social issues that they were very vocal about. They were able to voice their frustration over a num-

ber of issues raised at the meeting.

Subject Minister, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, earlier this year pledged to improve the delivery of assistance to vulnerable groups across the country and had announced strategic programmes to target social issues specific to the regions.

“It is imperative that we establish an action plan to accomplish effective

Dr. Persaud has been encouraging women across Guyana to form themselves into groups to help with social ills and even for business

service delivery and programmes that will have tangible impact across the country and troubleshoot the problems as a collective group. Engaging groups in each region allows us to understand their peculiar needs and work to address them efficiently including people and communities every step of the way,” Dr. Persaud had said.

According to the Ministry’s Senior Gender Affairs Officer, Hymawattie Lagan, some of the concerns raised during the outreach are the escalation of teenage pregnancy in the villages, unemployment due to the Coronavirus pandemic, and the need for recreational facilities to cater for villagers, especially

youths.

Training for young women and girls in Information Technology (IT) and early childhood education were also discussed, and according to Lagan, and the Ministry’s WIIN programme is poised to deliver in those areas.

“We spoke about the formation of youth groups in the villages that would engage youths in a number of activities and assist in the reduction of some of the social issues. This group would be headed by the young female police officer supported by two other young women -- a businesswoman and the footballer,” Lagan shared.

Furthermore, arising from the RGAC training,

mentoring was discussed and its benefits to residents. RGAC member, Claire Singh, has taken on this responsibility with other members providing support.

According to Lagan, women from the various villages have agreed to form their groups and submit a list to the GAB. This they hope to accomplish by the end of 2021, depending on the COVID pandemic.

Persons who were vaccinated attended the forum and spoke about the safety of the vaccines, encouraging persons to be vaccinated.

The GAB plans to return to Region Nine in the first quarter of 2022 to continue training.

The training in Region Nine recently saw approximately 30 participants

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday November 8, 2021

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Over 1,800 relief hampers distributed in Region Six

Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, delivers a hamper to a resident

RESIDENTS from several communities in East Berbice, Corentyne, on Saturday benefited from hampers containing essential food supplies.

Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, was present at the distribution held at the Back Centre Ground, Skeldon, Number 75, 76 and 77 villages.

The distribution exercise was part of government’s plan to aid families who are faced with challenges due to the closure of the sugar estates and the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This is intended as a small measure of support; we know that times have been very challenging, particularly with the closure of the sugar estates and particularly with COVID. It’s intended

to provide a small measure of household support to you as part of medium and longterm plans for Berbice,” he said.

While addressing residents, the minister highlighted that major transformations are underway in Region Six, including the construction of new training facilities.

“We are investing heavily in Region Six. We anticipate major economic development in Region Six. We anticipate not just investment in industries and manufacturing, in operations and in productive activities that will create jobs, but we also expect that Region Six will be a major

centre for training of people.

We are looking at new training facilities to be constructed in Region Six to train more of our young people so more of them can be able to participate in the new economy that is emerging with the onset of oil and gas,” he said.

The minister also spoke of the devastating effect of

COVID-19 and encouraged residents to get vaccinated to protect themselves.

Minister Singh was accompanied by Regional Chairman, David Armogan; Regional Vice-Chairman, Zamal Hussain; Regional Executive Officer, Narindra Persaud; and Regional Engineers, among others.

Some of the hampers that were distributed on Saturday in East Berbice, Corentyne

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ICC Men’s T20 World Cup

English Racing Tips Carlisle 08:30 hrs Firth Of Forth 09:00 hrs Midnight River 09:35 hrs Volkovka 10:10 hrs Minella Drama 10:40 hrs Malpas 11:10 hrs French Du Large 11:40 hrs Headscarf Lil Kempton 08:50 hrs Midnights Legacy 09:20 hrs Sopran Thor 09:55 hrs Doddiethegreat 10:30 hrs Isolate 11:00 hrs Boreham Bill 11:30 hrs Lost In Montmarte 12:00 hrs Thahab Ifraj American Racing Tips Mahoning Valley Race 1 Nod To Persia Race 2 Enjoy The Music Race 3 Songstopshelf Race 4 Areyoutalkingtome Race 5 Lady Kim Race 6 Jim Town Race 7 Choclate Soldier Race 8 Wolfine South Africa Racing Tips Greyville 08:10 hrs Magicallee 08:45 hrs Pelargonium 09:25 hrs Maxiumus 10:00 hrs Gavel Strike 10:35 hrs Fists Of Fire

New Zealand dismantle Scotland to enter Semis (ESPNCRICINFO) - New Zealand were clinical. As they have now made the semifinals of four World Cups in a row (including ODI World Cups), this is perhaps not surprising.

Needing a win to ensure themselves a place in the final four, they produced what turned out to be a match-winning powerplay.

Kane Williamson cycled his three quicks - Trent Boult, Tim Southee, and Adam Milne - through the first six overs, giving them two apiece. They each claimed a wicket, and helped keep Afghanistan to less than four an over while the fielding restrictions was in operation.

Afghanistan recovered slightly, through a Najibullah Zadran half-century, but apart from one 19-run over against Mitchell Santner, they never really managed to find momentum after that awful start. They spluttered their way to 124 for 8, and were always going to struggle to defend it.

In response, New Zealand strode to 45 for 1 at the end of their powerplay, and then Kane Williamson and Devon Conway came together to stroll to the finish - their unbeaten 68-run stand taking up 56 balls, even as the side won with 11 balls to spare.

With this win, they have not only ended Afghanistan’s semi-final hopes, but also those of India, whom they had beaten earlier in the tournament.

New Zealand quicks

scythe through Afghanistan’s top order Afghanistan banked on their attack when they chose to bat first, with mystery spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman back in the lineup after recovering from injury. They needed a decent batting Powerplay, though, and could hardly have done any worse. Mohammad Shahzad was the first to go, trying to larrup an Adam Milne bouncer over third man, and managing only to send an edge through to wicketkeeper Conway (who did excellently to get a glove behind it, and complete the catch on the second rebound), in the third over. Trent Boult then had Hazratullah Zazai caught at short midwicket.

Soon after, Tim Southee had Rahmanullah Gurbaz lbw.

After six overs, Afghanistan were 23 for 3, and had struck just three boundaries - one of which was an unintentional top edge.

Afghanistan fizzle at the death Despite the start, Afghanistan did recover slightly through the middle period, through a 37-run stand between Najibullah Zadran and Gulbadin Naib, then a 59-run partnership between Najibullah and Mohammad Nabi. But they could not fire at the death.

In the last six overs, Afghanistan managed just 37 runs, as they lost four wickets. Trent Boult picked up two dismissals in his final over to end with the game’s best figures, of 3 for 17.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Tuesday, November 09, 2021) COMPLIMENTS OF CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD -- 83 Garnett Street, Campbellville,Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Sri Lanka (8 times) (2) 26 games Today’s Quiz: (1) Who is the first Australian player to cop the Man of the Match Award at the Men’s T20 World Cup 2021?

(2) Which teams have each played four Men’s T20 World Cup semi-final games to date?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue ……………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday November 8, 2021

GCF will continue to push chess through -Outlines five-pillar strategy to various platforms—Farley enhance the promotion of the game

Along with Frankie Farley, there are six core board members of the GCF RECENTLY re-elected president of the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF), Frankie Farley, is confident that chess would continue to grow at all levels in the country with the federation’s structures in place— including its developmental

strategies.

Adjusting to online platforms during the Covid-19 pandemic has enabled a new generation of players to learn the sport. The drive was orchestrated and continues to be proficiently executed by the likes of Anand Raghun-

auth, Marcia Lee, John Lee, Loris Nathoo, Taffin Khan and Davion Mars, who have helped to develope the sport at the school level.

Farley, who ran unopposed on Monday, lauded the federation’s drive to improvise.

“As challenging and frustrating as it has been, all of you have been relentless in your commitment to find ways for our young players to play chess.”

He said that despite the frustration and obstacles stemming from the pandemic, there were important silverlings for which the federation should be proud.

“The pandemic drove us to find cost-effective solutions to play, learn and teach the game.”

FIVE STRATEGIES The online platform is one of five strategies that will be heavily invested in by the federation.

According to its mission statement, the five pillars will include chess in schools, women in chess, chess in the hinterland, collaboration with the diaspora and the formation of clubs all across Guyana.

The chess in-school initiative has, as its aim, to integrate chess as part of the school curriculum throughout Guyana. Farley noted that “discussions are currently on the way with the National Sports Commission and the Ministry of Education to

make this a reality”.

This initiative would be integrated into the other pillars that are being driven by the federation.

“The single biggest way to impact the GCF is to focus on our youth chess players’ development. No segment of our society can match with the power, idealism, enthusiasm and courage of our youth.”

Training programmes, according to Farley, will be rolled out and senior players, who are interested, will be given the opportunity to coach students or adults who are now learning the game.

These coaches will also be provided with the opportunities to gain certified training qualifications, which will, in turn, enhance their delivery.

DECENTRALISING THE GAME Although there are a number of players outside of Georgetown and its environs, there is room for growth in other parts of the country.

“Chess activities will be taken to more regions in Guyana so that both adults and children can have an opportunity to learn to play.”

To achieve the decentralisation of the sport, a regional body would also be formed to conduct training and tournaments, while schools in all regions will be encouraged to create their own chess clubs.

“Engaging all players in chess will be a constant goal of the GCF. Competitions will be provided frequently in the form of online and over-the-board tournaments when permitted. Playing chess has many benefits to both adults and children such as developing logical thinking, creativity and imagination, improving memory and concentration, to name a few. The GCF, by expanding its membership base within regions and schools, hopes that these benefits will further contribute to the general overall thinking capabilities of our student and adult population in order to make them successful and motivated citizens,” Farley noted.

Raghunauth is the Vice President of the new board, while Lee is the Company Secretary. The four directors are Nathoo, Yolander Persaud, Mars and former club president, Irshad Mohammed.

U-20 Golden Jaguars hunting three points today against USVI ...Dover optimistic of advancing despite draw against Cayman Islands

GUYANA will play the US Virgin Islands today from 4:00pm in the Dominican Republic, in a game that the country will want to leave with three points to keep their hopes alive of advancing to the CONCACAF U-20 Championships.

Group D of the CONCACAF U-20 Championship qualifiers kicked off with a hard-fought contest between Guyana and the Cayman Islands that ended in a 0-0 draw. Guyana played the final 32 minutes with 10 men due to a red card for Yohance Douglas.

The stars on the day were the two goalkeepers in action, as Guyana’s Ronaldo Blair and Cayman

Islands counterpart, Leandre Mckay each made a number of big saves to secure a point for their side.

Sitting atop Group D at present is Nicaragua following their 7-0 triumph over the US Virgin Islands.

“The game against Cayman Islands was a competitive battle, one that we expected knowing them from the 2018 tournament and what they were expected to bring to the table,” Dover said in an invited comment.

Dover highlighted the team’s six-week preparation, which, he said, was timely to get them up to the level seen in their game against the Cayman Islands.

“We have to take notice of the fact this is a relatively very young team with more than 50 per cent with no international exposure and experience, so it was a very big ask of them and they stood up and they should be pat on their shoulders and be told well done lads,” Dover said.

According to the former Senior National team Men’s coach, “while the group didn’t play with total cohesion, especially in our offensive buildup, collectively the group fought hard to prevent a defeat.”

The team’s captain, Omari Glasgow, probably the best player on the team with some experience with

the senior Golden Jaguars, became the go-to person in the later stages of the game; something Dover said they will be guarding against going forward.

With Nicaragua securing full points with their win over the USVI, Guyana’s two remaining matches will have to be seen as must-win, if they want to advance to the ‘big dance’ next year.

“Every team enters every tournament with an aim to qualify for the latter stage and possibly win the tournament. In this case, we wanted to qualify for the CONCACAF Championship next year,” Dover lamented.

Dover related that al-

though they didn’t get the result expected against the Cayman Islands, “a draw gives us one point and with two more games to play, six points from those games would send us to seven points.”

“In the other two games, our primary objective is to win and get three points; we have to start to look at the possibility of scoring goals to help with the qualification to the next round,” Dover stressed.

Today, Dover’s plan is to “start a more attacking team for us to find a way to score lots of goals to build a solid goal difference.”

Following the con-

clusion of the Qualifiers, a total of 20 teams will participate at the CONCACAF Men’s Under-20 Championship in the summer of 2022.

This will include the top four teams from the Qualifiers and the region’s top 16 ranked teams (based on the CONCACAF Men’s Under-20 Rankings) who receive a bye to the Championship.

The 2022 CONCACAF Men’s Under-20 Championship will qualify its semi-finalists (four teams) to the FIFA Men’s U-20 World Cup in Indonesia in 2023 and its finalists (two teams) to the 2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday November 8, 2021

23

Verstappen extends championship lead with Mexico win rejoined from a pit stop for tyres on lap one behind Ricciardo and could not pass him for the next 30 laps or so.

Mercedes stopped him late in the race to set fastest lap, to limit Verstappen’s haul by one point.

Verstappen pulled away from Hamilton so com-

Race winner, Max Verstappen, of the Netherlands and Red Bull Racing and third placed, Sergio Perez, of Mexico and Red Bull Racing celebrate in parc ferme during the F1 Grand Prix of Mexico at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on November 07, 2021 in Mexico City, Mexico (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) (BBC) - Red Bull’s Max Verstappen took a dominant victory in the Mexico City Grand Prix to strengthen his chances of a first world championship.

Verstappen’s title rival Lewis Hamilton was second; the Mercedes driver holding off a charge from Verstappen’s team-mate Sergio Perez in the closing laps.

Perez was on Hamilton’s tail on the last lap but was not able to pass.

Ve r s t a p p e n ’s n i n t h win in 2021 gives him a 19-point lead with four races and a total of 107 points remaining.

Hamilton’s team-mate Valtteri Bottas deprived the Dutchman of the point for fastest lap on the final tour.

One of the most imposing victories of the year, therefore, puts Verstappen in a commanding position in the championship.

And a one-three finish moved Red Bull to just one point behind Mercedes in the constructors’ championship.

How did Verstappen turn the tables?

After Mercedes surprisingly locked out the front row on Saturday, Verstappen immediately put himself in a position to win by taking the lead at the first

corner.

Benefiting from the tow behind the two Mercedes, and then slotting into a gap left by Bottas on the outside on the run from the grid, Verstappen braked later than both Mercedes drivers and swept around their outside into a lead he never looked like losing.

“It was all about braking late,” Verstappen said. “I kept it on the track and that basically made my race.”

In the aftermath of the move, Bottas was tipped into a spin by McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo, relegating him to the back and taking him out of the picture. To add insult to injury, Bottas

mandingly that the suspicion was he would have won even if he had not taken the lead at the start.

As it was, he had an untroubled drive, pulling nearly 10 seconds clear of Hamilton by the time the world champion made his pit stop on lap 29.

Mercedes stopped Ham-

ilton on that lap because he was beginning to come under threat from Perez and they wanted to ‘bank’ track position.

Red Bull then left Perez out for a further 11 laps to give him fresher tyres with which to come back at Hamilton in the second stint.

U-20 Golden Jaguars hunting three points today against USVI SEE PAGE 22

Guyana’s National U-20 team at the CONCACAF U20 Championship Qualifiers in the Dominican Republic.

Persaud wins MACORP golf in spite of handicap upgrade

WINNER of the 19-28 handicap division at the GTT Guyana Open Golf Championship, Videsh Persaud, was able to register an overall victory at Saturday’s 14th annual MACORP Golf Tournament at the Lusignan Golf Club (LGC).

The much-improved golfer was upgraded from a handicap of 21 to 17 over the weekend.

Playing in the Men’s second flight (10-18 handicap division), Persaud finished with a gross 85 and a net 68.

He won both the overall trophy and the 10-18 division after a countback against 10-handicapper, Mike Guyadin, who finished with a gross 78.

Anand Persaud placed third with a gross 87, net 69.

In the Ladies division, Guyana Open champion, Shanella London, surged to another victory with a nine over-par score of 79 (gross).

The now eight handicapper finished with a net score of 71, while former multi-

time Guyana Open champion, Christine Sukhram, ended with a net score of 72 from a gross score of 83.

Eureka Giddings placed third with a net score of 75 after registering a gross score of 101.

In the Men’s first flight (10-18 handicap), Ravendra Harry emerged victorious with a net 70 (gross 78). Rakesh Harry placed second with a gross 80, net 71 while Jaipaul Sukhnanan finished third (gross 80, net 72).

In the third flight, Rohan Albert, who unofficially made the best net score (57) in the history of the LGC on day one of the 2021 Guyana Open, was able to register a net score of 71 with a gross score of 95, to win the Men’s third flight (the 19-28 handicap division).

Wayne Chan placed second with a net 72 (gross 100) and Brian Hackett third with a net 72 (gross 91).

Meanwhile, Kasim Khan finished with the overall best gross score of 77.

Some of the participants of the MACORP Golf Tournament

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2021