Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 09-04-2021

FRIDAY 9th April, 2021

' No.106325

Guyana stands ready to support St. Vincent SEE PAGE 03

Massive, virtual diaspora conference 11 set for May 22 PAGE

Preliminary work on Canada, UNICEF pledge $500.1M 04 Bartica-Timehri road project commences 14 support for Region One PAGE

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US$4.7M Westminster Secondary ready PAGE

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A section of the massive Westminster Secondary School

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, April 9, 2021

US$4.7M Westminster Secondary ready

–– to be first school to be completed under the Guyana Secondary Education Improvement Project

The WestMinster Secondary School (Delano Williams photo)

EDUCATION Minister, Priya Manickchand, was impressed with what she saw when she visited the US$4.7 million Westminster Secondary School on Thursday, which is expected to be handed over to the Ministry of Education (MoE) before the end of this month.

The school will be the first to be completed under the Guyana Secondary Education Improvement Project (GSEIP). This programme was first conceptualised in 2014, receiving US$10 million in financing from the World Bank.

“This will be a game charger for us,” Minister Manickchand approvingly expressed as she checked

out the various amenities at the school.

Situated on approximately six acres of land, the stateof-the-art school is equipped with facilities such as an elevator, multipurpose hall, music room, dance studio and laboratories for chemistry, physics and biology.

Construction on the school began in October 2018 after the contract was awarded to R. Bassoo and Sons Construction Inc. “It's going to be a school that will be used as a model to show that once there are resources and trained teacher, children from anywhere can do well. It is probably going to be one of our most resourced schools given the labs and so on that we've

Education Minister, Priya Manickchand (right) and Region Three Regional Educational Officer, Devindra Persaud, inspecting the new Westminster Secondary School (Delano Williams photo)

One of the science laboratories at the Westminster Secondary School (Delano Williams photo)

seen,” Minister Manickchand said in an invited comment.

On the visit, Minister Manickchand was accompanied by Chief Education Officer, Dr. Marcel Hutson; MoE Head Engineer, Ron Eastman; MoE GSEIP Project Coordinator, Jimmy Bhojedat and Regional Education Officer, Devindra Persaud.

A number of representatives from the contracting company were also present.

The school is built to accommodate up to 1,000 students, making it a Grade A school. It will also be a list B school, which speaks to its quality.

“We intend to build that up to an A over the next few years. We want to offer CAPE subjects here. It's going to be fully staffed with

competent trained graduate teachers and auxiliary staff,” Manickchand explained.

The new secondary school is one of several that are being constructed as part of government's overall plan to achieve Universal Secondary Education under the GSEIP Programme. Universal Secondary Education entails every Guyanese child of the required age having a secondary education.

“This school was one of six we conceived of in 2013, because we want to make sure we offer Universal Secondary Education across the country,” Manickchand noted.

Other schools being completed under the GSEIP Project include Good Hope and Yarrowkabra secondary,

The dance studio at the Westminster Secondary School (Delano Williams)

both of which are plagued with construction issues.

The Prospect Secondary, for which the ceremonial sod was recently turned, is also being constructed under this project.

Once completed, the Westminster Secondary School will see the elimination of the need for “Primary Top” schools in Region Three.

In Guyana, “Primary Top Schools”, are primary schools with a secondary school department, and are used as an alternative for students who would not have attained enough marks at the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) to be placed at a secondary school.

Though a traditional secondary school runs from

Grades Seven to 11, classes at “Primary Top” schools run from Grades Seven to Nine, and the students are usually transferred to a secondary school after writing the National Grade Nine Assessment (NGNA).

“It’s the same primary school doing secondary work, that of course is undesirable. It's not likely to give the kind of results that we’re looking for; it's not likely to give students opportunities they need to survive best in this world and so that's why we conceived of these schools. I am extremely excited to be able to do that in the Region Three,” Manickchand said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, April 9, 2021

Guyana stands ready to support St. Vincent –– President Ali pledges as volcano threatens to erupt

CITIZENS of St. Vincent and the Grenadines are waiting with bated breath as scientists have warned that the island’s La Soufriere volcano, which has been erupting continuously since December, can erupt explosively in a matter of hours or perhaps days.

This is according to reports published by iWitness News on Thursday. The report quoted Professor Richard Robertson as saying that the heightened volcanic-tectonic (VT) earthquakes in March had suggested that fresh magma was trying to get to the surface.

Robertson, who is the lead scientist monitoring the volcano, was at the time addressing an emergency press conference hosted by St. Vincent’s Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves.

As the people of St. Vincent prepare for the worst, the Government of Guyana has confirmed that it stands ready to provide support to the island. This assurance was given by President Dr. Irfaan Ali, on Thursday evening.

“Having regards [sic] to the emerging situation in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, this afternoon [Thursday], I called Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves and assured him of Guyana’s full support in dealing with this looming crisis,” President Ali said in a statement.

He added: “The Prime Minister and I discussed immediate support, which will be required in the response.

The Prime Minister indicated that apart from the need to evacuate citizens, there were other emergency material needs.”

Dr. Ali said that upon receiving the full list of the island’s needs, Guyana would immediately put together a national response to supply the items and arrange for them to be shipped to St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

“At this time, we would like to assure the citizens of St. Vincent and the Grenadines of Guyana’s unwavering support and solidarity,” the Guyanese Head of State concluded.

Similar sentiments were

President, Dr. Irfaan Ali

also expressed by Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Hugh Todd, who, in an invited comment, gave a reminder that Guyana is known to be one of the first countries to respond and provide assistance in the cases of disasters occurring in the Region, and that this time would be no different.

Early Thursday afternoon, St. Vincent’s Prime Minister Gonsalves had not issued any evacuation orders; however, by Thursday night island officials confirmed that

those orders came through.

CHANGE IN SEISMICITY The iWitness News agency had specified that around 03:00hrs on Thursday, there was a significant change in seismicity whereby the station closest to the volcano began recording low-level tremors. Robertson, a geologist, said that a tremor is essentially a continuous vibration of the ground. The tremors were said to be continuous, with one even taking effect while Robertson was speaking to the press.

Guyana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd

Robertson described the vibrations as being “banded tremors,” which are usually associated with magma moving to the surface. Another thing that the monitoring team noticed Thursday morning was elevated and continuous emission of gas. These gases have been sustained, which is another indication that fresh magma is coming through, Robertson said.

He noted that the suggestion is that this magma is at or close to the surface and the possibility of the volca-

no exploding has increased significantly, based on the activity being recorded.

However, given the data, the monitoring team is still unable to say when an explosive eruption might happen, Robertson said, adding that what is clear is that the volcano has “upped the ante.”

“We are now into a period where we will not be surprised if sometime in the future, we have explosion or explosive activity,” he posited.

Robertson, however, said

that his team would also not be surprised if the volcano continued to erupt effusively, as it has been doing for the last three months.

The geologist emphasised that an explosive eruption can happen any time now, adding that there could be more clear signals or an explosive eruption in the next few hours or days.

“The volcano has changed, it has given us a bit more signals,” he said, noting that the eruption began with effusion, there was then the VT earthquakes and now the tremors that are associated with steam being driven by magma.

He said the possibility that the material now coming out of the volcano could have more energy, is what increases the chances of an explosive eruption.

Robertson said that his recommendation to the National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) is that preparations be finalised within a few hours, because scientists are unsure about the time scale of an explosive eruption. As he was speaking, the next period of banded tremors had started.

Meanwhile, Michelle Forbes, Director of NEMO, said that her team had been in discussions at Cabinet with various agencies to heighten preparation in the event that an evacuation order is given.

FULLY ACTIVATED She said that disaster managers were preparing shelters, the response mechanism had been fully activated and that the national disaster management council would meet at 14:00hrs [on Thursday]. She said that communities north of Rabacca Dry River should be ready in the event that an evacuation order is given.

Forbes said that arrangements should be put in place to move elderly persons who need to move and that NEMO is working with agencies of the government and the private sector to have things in place in the event of an evacuation.

The active La Soufriere volcano (National Emergency Management Organisation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, April 9, 2021

Canada, UNICEF pledge $500.1M support for Region One

THE Canadian High Commission in Guyana and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) will be partnering as part of a CAN$3 million (G$500 million) project to improve the lives of persons residing in Region One (Barima-Waini).

This initiative stemmed from a recent visit to the region by Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Mark Berman, and UNICEF’s Country Representative, Nicolas Pron, who both recognised the need for improved assistance.

A joint press statement on Thursday noted that on Tuesday March 23, 2021, High Commissioner Berman, UNICEF’s Pron, accompanied by their respective teams, held several meetings with the Region One authorities.

The joint mission, according to the statement,

was aimed at garnering a better understanding of the living situation of children, women, other residents and migrants in Mabaruma and its surrounding communities.

Wide-ranging discussions were held with Regional Chairman of Region One, Brentnol Ashley, and heads of various agencies in the region, as well as with Mayor, Chris Phang, and Deputy Mayor, Carolyn Robinson, of Mabaruma, and their officers. The Canadian and UNICEF teams also met with Regional Health Officer, Dr. Steven Cheefoon, and Deputy Chairman of the Khan’s Hill Community Development Council (CDC), Sharmaine Smith.

According to the statement, the regional officials shared some of the pressing issues they face in the region, including the influx of Venezuelan migrants, access to the public health system, solFrom left, Tariq Williams, Development Officer at the High Commission; Janine Cocker, Head of Development Cooperation at the Canadian High Commission; High Commissioner of Canada to Guyana, Mark Berman; UNICEF Country Representative, Nicolas Pron; and UNICEF’s Deputy Country Representative, Irfan Akhtar

id waste disposal, unemployment and the resuscitation of agriculture.

Through the establishment of the project, funding will be provided to support health, education and other services in the communities of Region One and other

Friday April 9, 2021 –– 02 :30 hrs & 13:30 hrs

regions demonstrating need.

“We are delighted to partner with UNICEF on this project which will help to address some of the issues raised with us during our recent trip, including helping to build community, childcare and education services

and facilities, in an effort to ensure those facing increased vulnerabilities do not fall further behind in recovering from the pandemic,” High Commissioner Berman told those gathered for a simple signing ceremony for the project.

In his remarks, UNICEF Representative Pron remarked: “This partnership with the Canadian High Commission comes at a critical time as we work together to ensure that no one is left behind as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

He said that since 2018, UNICEF has been supporting authorities on the ground under the emergency/migrant response programme,

and that there have been positive results.

“This project will ensure that most vulnerable persons, including children, have access to key services. Together with the Region One authorities, we are building a better, safer, and healthier future for everyone and every child,” Pron said.

The UNICEF Guyana and Suriname Country Office and the Canadian High Commission had previously collaborated on the distribution of female-orientated family hygiene kits and hygiene promotion activities in the region as part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, April 9, 202I

Hospitalisation can be avoided by taking vaccines ―says Health Minister

By Vishani Ragobeer WITH lingering concerns over the increase in the number of persons hospitalised with the more severe symptoms of COVID-19, leading to an increase in the number of deaths, Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony, has advised that hospitalisations can be avoided if persons take their vaccines.

“We have seen that a number of persons have been hospitalised in Guyana and those hospitalisations could have been avoided if those persons were fully vaccinated. We also had a lot of deaths in Guyana and if you had been fully vaccinated, some of those deaths would have been prevented,” the minister said.

Further, he reasoned: “It is important that people get their vaccines because it is actually going to protect you from getting the more serious forms of the disease, prevent

you from getting hospitalised and prevent you from dying.”

U s i n g t h e To w n o f Linden as an example, on Thursday morning, during his daily COVID-19 update, Dr. Anthony said that there are five persons currently hospitalised with the more severe symptoms. Had those persons received their COVID-19 vaccines, hospitalisation could have been prevented.

“We’ve seen that Region Ten (where Linden is located) is one of the regions that did not have a high uptake of vaccines and we are working with different people in the region to see how we can increase that uptake,” Dr. Anthony said.

He, however, acknowledged that once persons are convinced of the efficacy of the vaccines, they will be more inclined to come forward and get those.

Guyana has been using three vaccines: The Ox-

ford-AstraZeneca vaccines, manufactured by the Serum Institute in India; the Chinese Sinopharm vaccines and the Russian Sputnik V vaccine.

Clinical trials have found that the Sputnik V vaccine has an efficacy of about 92 per cent, while the Sinopharm vaccine has an efficacy of 79.4 per cent. The Oxford-AstraZeneca, on the other hand, has an efficacy of about 82.4 per cent once the second dose is administered after about eight to 12 weeks.

Meanwhile, Dr. Anthony also highlighted that the Guyana Defense Force (GDF) has deployed 400 ranks to aid in the countrywide vaccination effort. The medical personnel will assist directly with vaccination, while others will assist with registration and engagement.

The deployment of these personnel, Dr. Anthony said, contribute to an acceleration in the rollout of vaccines.

Tiger Bay man sent to ‘cool off’ ―after found with ‘weed and coke’

A Tiger Bay man, who was found with cannabis and cocaine in his possession, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday and pleaded not guilty to the charge, only to be remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

Deryck Christopher denied that he, on Saturday, April 3, 2021, at Rosemary Lane, in downtown Tiger Bay, had in his possession 140 grams of cannabis, and 12 grams

of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

According to the prosecution, at around 05:00h on the day in question, the police, while conducting a search on an apartment in a three-storey wooden building on Rosemary Lane, found Christopher seated on a bed and holding a black, bulky plastic bag containing several small transparent Ziploc plastic bags of the seeds, leaves, and stems of what was suspected to be cannabis.

A further search of the apartment unearthed several white rock-like substances suspected to be cocaine in a chest of drawers, and an undisclosed sum of money and a digital scale. After being cautioned, Christopher was arrested and escorted to the Brickdam Police Station, where the narcotics were weighed in his presence, before he was formally charged.

The matter has been adjourned to Wednesday, April 21, 2021.

Not guilty plea gets him bail

―for ‘break-and-enter’ and larceny charge REUEL Chapmon, of North Road, Bourda, on Thursday pleaded not guilty to breaking and entering and stealing over $1.2 million worth of household items, and was granted bail in the sum of $250,000 bail by Magistrate Delon Bess at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

The charge states that on Monday, April 5, 2021, Chapmon broke and entered the Lot 1, Bel Air Promenade Georgetown dwelling

house of Pamela O’Toole, and stole a quantity of kitchen utensils, fans and other household items valued

$1,262,000.

The matter has been adjourned until Tuesday, June 8, 2021.

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, April 9, 2021

Tajeram Mohabir

United fight needed AMID the myriad challenges occasioned by COVID-19, it is important that all interest groups, regardless of their differences, band together as a single unit in the fight against the virus.

With over 250 lives lost to the virus and thousands infected, a united effort by all stakeholders is needed now than at any time before.

In the fight against the novel coronavirus, many in civil society have given their time and resources voluntarily and have done so with great pride.

Undoubtedly, they saw their effort as not only along the lines of helping their fellow Guyanese in need, but being of service to humanity.

The assistance given by individuals and organisa-

tions thus far has been diverse, ranging from monetary donations, support for hamper drives and making their premises available for services provided by the government.

In service to their fellow Guyanese, they do not see status, race and religious differences but service to humanity, a central tenet of the established religions in Guyana, which include Hinduism, Islam and Christianity.

Guyana could boast of being among the countries in the world that enjoy religious tolerance.

In Guyana, Hindus, Muslims and Christians live harmoniously among each other, attend each other’s places of worship and celebrate the festival of each other.

As a people with common backgrounds and struggles, they also look out for one another. They embrace spiritual enlightenment and religious tolerance.

The unity among religious groups, therefore, has been strong before COVID-19 and should remain unshaken during the fight against the pandemic.

No one should allow partisan, uninformed and irresponsible statements by any religious leader to divide them and must correct these with sound reason when they occur.

In the fight against the pandemic, all the religious groups have played their part in raising awareness against the virus, helping the needy and supporting the vaccination drive.

It would be fair to say that some have done more than the other but, regardless, they never sought public praise and attention and, for this, they must be commended.

The seeking of praise or attention for work, especially by religious leaders, is not a practice sanctioned by any of the major religions of Guyana and is unhelpful in the prevailing circumstance, as the nation battles COVID-19 which has taken a toll on families and practically all the productive sectors of the economy.

COVID-19 knows no status, race, religion or political affiliation. It has taken lives and caused sufferings with discrimination.

Therefore, whenever a vaccine is administered, it is administered on a Guya-

nese, someone who is eligible based on the requirements established by the health authorities and not on the basis of religion, whether Hinduism Christianity, Islam or Rastafarianism.

As such, it is irresponsible for anyone to make statements to the contrary without evidence. Misguided statements have the potential to create mistrust and unhealthy relationships among representatives in the religious community.

And now is not the time for such unease—there should be no such time. Now is the time for all to work together to ensure all the vulnerable folks are vaccinated regardless of their religious beliefs and at which religious institution the vaccination is administered.

More than 50,000 Guyanese have been vaccinated thus far and Guyana would soon be leading the region in the vaccination drive.

It is also important that the leadership of the various religious groups continue to support the fight against COVID-19 and everyone adheres to the national COVID-19 guidelines to guard against the contraction and spread of the virus.

The over 250 deaths locally due to COVID-19 is heart-breaking and the over 10,000 cases of infection are way too many.

All must play a role in bringing the virus under control and flattening the curve.

COVID-19 vaccines are safe, whether people get it in a hospital, church, mandir or masjid Dear Editor, THERE are more than 100 fixedsite vaccination centres in Guyana where people can get their COVID-19 vaccines. These sites are open every day. There are also some outreach sites which individuals and groups have organised.

These sites are temporary, usually lasting for a day. There are three conditions for the Ministry of Health (MOH) to send teams to these sites – first, the number of persons to be vaccinated must make sense for the ministry to send a dedicated team for a day; second, residents in the community are not prevented from getting vaccines on the basis of religion, politics or any other factor and, third, the persons meet the eligibility requirement. At the moment the eligibility is based only on age – 40 years and older.

With due respect to Swami Aksharnanda, I believe that his letter published in the newspaper is unfortunate and misrepresent the facts. The COVID-19 vaccines are

being administered to persons resident in Guyana across the country, every person. As stated before, there are more than one hundred (100) fixed-site places that vaccines are being administered on a daily basis at this time. All of these fixed-sites are government health centres or hospitals. None of the fixed-sites are in any private facility or any masjid, or any mandir or any church.

The MOH has urged faith leaders, political leaders, NGOs, businesses etc. to help mobilise persons for vaccination. Mostly, community leaders have come together to organise persons within their communities. Sometimes, they mobilise persons at a school, other times at a masjid, other times in a mandir and still other times in a Christian church. At none of these sites are persons vaccinated on the basis of religion. I have personally been at many of these sites. I will continue to visit these sites. To vaccinate people, we will go wherever we are invited. What we will not do is a vaccination exercise where vaccines are provided only for a specific

group, based on religion or politics or some other factor.

This model has been used before, for blood drives, where we have gone to churches, mandirs, masjids. and the blood drives were never restricted to persons of only one religion, even if the drive occurred at a specific church, or mandir, or masjid. The Swami knows this well. Our people are among the world’s most tolerant of each other’s religion and we share religious events and each other’s space for many, many decades. I have been honoured and privileged for decades working in solidarity with our religious leaders. Everyday, I sit with these leaders in the same room in various communities and we work together without any animosity or tension. The vaccine is important to people, not at which site they get it.

CIOG, Dharmic Sabha, the Presbyterian Church and many pastors have worked with us so far. Wednesday, the Canefield/ Enterprise NDC hosted a vaccination day. The NDC councillors,

the imams, pandits and pastors got together and organised the event.

The original suggestion from the community was that the event be held at a recreational centre across the NDC. But the technical persons suggested that it was too small to accommodate the number of persons that was expected. The recommendation among the community persons was that the ideal place was the Dharmic Veda Centre.

Almost two hundred persons were vaccinated yesterday at that centre – they were Christians, Hindus and Muslims. The site did not matter, what mattered was these persons had an opportunity to get a vaccine.

Two weeks ago, the NDC at Success organised a similar outreach. They chose the masjid at Success as the most suitable site.

Two weeks ago, the CIOG hosted a vaccination event for the residents of North Georgetown. Most of the people were not Muslims. The Dharmic Sabha’s Kendra Centre hosted a vaccination outreach last Saturday. Many persons were from different religious backgrounds.

The #52-#74 NDC has organised a vaccination outreach. I met them Wednesday, brothers and sisters, who were Muslims, Hindus, Christians, working together to ensure that those 40 years and older in their community are fully vaccinated.

They chose a Christian Church as the most suitable venue.

At this time, we need all hands on board. It is unfortunate that religion has crept in to the process we have developed in the rolling out of the vaccine. I hope the Swami, on second thought, would see that far from favouring one group or another, we are trying to reach everyone. I invite him to join us in ensuring that persons who reach the eligibility come forward to get their vaccines. The vaccines provided from the government fixedsites are not better than the vaccines at outreach sites – whether these are schools, a business place, a Masjid, a Mandir or a Church.

Sincerely, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, April 9, 2021

$50M to boost agriculture in Region Nine THE Ministry of Agriculture will be injecting some $50 million into Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) to boost agriculture in the area.

Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, spoke about his ministry’s plans for the region during a recent engagement with members of the Rupununi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and officials of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region Nine.

The minister said that Region Nine has the potential to make significant contributions to Guyana’s evolving agriculture sector. Its advantage over other areas, he said, is the availability of vast lands

for farming investments.

“We don’t want 50 acres and 25 acres. The ministry is pushing for large-scale farming and we will be assisting with incentives, technical advice and other things that are necessary to help you along this path.

“We want a thriving agriculture sector that would create wealth, we want a sector that would create job opportunities, and most importantly, we want an agriculture sector to create food security,” the agriculture minister related.

To this end, Minister Mustapha said a committee will be established to ensure maximum services are provided to agriculturists in the region. Members of the

committee will include all regional extension officers and representatives of the various local organs. Already, he has instructed the RDC to spearhead the region’s agriculture operations.

The minister said he supports timely resolutions, as the traditional process of writing and awaiting responses from the ministry’s head office could cause some delays.

The government’s focus is to ensure Guyana realises its potential as the breadbasket of the Caribbean.

Further, Minister Mustapha relayed that CARICOM is spending close to US$60 billion to source agricultural produce outside the region.

He said Guyana can make

Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha

good use of its free trade agreement with CARICOM

and sell its produce.

“That is where these

agro-processing facilities come in, which will help farmers to develop their produce, to package their produce, and also to find markets for their produce. These are things we will be working on,” the minister added.

He referenced President, Dr. Irfaan Ali’s vision for Guyana, which is to produce its own feed for the poultry industry, and urged residents to capitalise on the services which the ministry is offering to advance corn and soya bean cultivation.

Some $500 million has been allocated in Budget 2021 for this venture. (DPI)

CIOG gets creative for Ramadan –– will do 6,000 hampers this year in lieu of Iftar, in keeping with COVID-19 regulations THE Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG) will be distributing 6,000 hampers, countrywide, during the month of Ramadan, starting April 17, so as to ensure that members of the Muslim community have adequate access to food while they fast.

Ramadan is one of the most sacred events in the life of a Muslim, as it is during this period that they observe a strict fast, from dawn till sunset, whereby they are not allowed to eat or drink anything during these daylight hours.

This period of fasting, sources say, helps the devotee develop skills of controlling urges and desires,

and brings more sensitivity to the needs of others. At the end of the day, the fast is broken with prayer and a festive meal called an iftar.

Iftar is often hosted at masjids across the country, but due to the COVID-19 situation here, this will not be possible at all this year.

According to CIOG’s General Manager, Shameena Haniff, in light of what obtains the world over these days because of the pandemic, the CIOG was forced to come up with some innovative ideas, hence the decision to do the hampers.

“We are looking forward to Ramadan, starting either next Tuesday or Wednesday,” Haniff said, adding: “Unfortunately, because of

the pandemic, the masjids will not be open to accommodate the cooking and feeding of persons, due to the strict rules and regulations from the COVID-19 task force, hence the hamper distribution. Since we will not be able to operate normal, we are on a hamper drive to get the dry goods to the various families, in order for them to prepare their meals at home.”

She noted that the distribution will be done in two phases, the first of which will give priority to those families who are fasting. In the second phase, however, in keeping with the organisation’s mandate, priority will be given to those who are less fortunate.

Haniff noted that while

The Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana

the hampers will lend some semblance of support to the Muslim community during the period of fasting, the feeling of camaraderie they usually have from fellowshipping at the masjids will be sorely missed during this year’s Ramadan.

“With the masjids not being open, it definitely affects the Muslim, in terms of the regular worshipping and socialising at the masjid; gathering with friends

and families, and sitting and eating dinner, breaking fast together,” Haniff said.

“It will definitely affect the social aspect; and the emotions and sentiments, too, that come with that. Because, I mean, you’re fasting all day, and you’re accustomed and looking forward to break that fast with your family; your friends and your associates at the masjid,” she added.

She, however, noted that

the masjids will be opened briefly in the evenings to facilitate prayers.

She also took the opportunity to remind non-Muslims that the CIOG’s motto is to promote “sharing and caring,” regardless of age, race, economic standing, or even religion, which has been the driving force behind all of the initiatives it launches.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, April 9, 2021

Task Force issues guidelines for Ramadan activities THE holy month of Ramadan will be observed from Tuesday, April 13 and in a bid to control the spread of the novel coronavirus, the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF) Secretariat has indicated that key restrictions have been instituted.

According to an advisory from the secretariat, mosques can be opened for the five daily prayers, but prayers and religious programmes are only allowed at 40 per cent

capacity of the mosques. The masjids have been encouraged to utilise their outdoor spaces where available, so that adequate social distancing can be facilitated.

Furthermore, it was emphasised that the masjids must have sanitisers and face masks available for use by all persons attending. And, persons entering the masjid must wear masks, wash or sanitise at the entrance and stay at least four feet apart during prayer.

As an additional precaution, it was suggested that persons who attend the masjid should walk with their own prayer mats.

The task force said that pregnant women, children under the age of 11, and sick, elderly and incapacitated persons should not attend the masjids during Ramadan. Personal iftaar arrangements are permissible while maintaining the mandatory spacing, but feeding and congregational iftaars are not Muslims offering their prayers during Ramadan 2020, while maintaining a safe social distance (Sarah Hoffman/ Cross Cut photo- Washington)

permitted in the masjids.

The Esha and Taraaweeh prayers should be completed by 21:30hrs, and to avoid overcrowding for the Jummah and Eid-ul-Fitr prayers, multiple prayers can be conducted at the same venue after subsequent sanitisation.

Furthermore, it was noted the Imams and executive members of masjids will be responsible for enforcing the COVID-19 measures.

The secretariat noted that these guidelines were formulated after consultation with the Muslim

leadership of Guyana. Importantly, it was stated that the task force will be conducting ‘COVICURB’ inspections nationwide, to ensure compliance with these guidelines.

Body of missing Mabaruma man found in Arakaka River THE body of 20-yearold Avinash Fernandes, called ‘Avi’, who was reported missing on April 5, was found floating in the Arakaka River, North West District, on Thursday, police have confirmed.

Reports are that Fernandes’ body was already decomposed when it was discovered between 07:00 hours and 11:45 hours by a party of policemen and his employer, Keith Alphonso.

The body was escort-

ed to the Port Kaituma Public Hospital. Police said no visible marks of violence were detected on the body. However, a thorough check will be done at the hospital’s mortuary.

Fernandes, of Mabaruma compound, North West District, was last seen alive on April 5 at his campsite located at the 13 Miles trail line backdam, Arakaka.

Guyana stands ready ...

Meanwhile, Gonsalves made a stage three declaration, which under the NEMO Act orders the relevant agencies to prepare for a possible eruption of the volcano.

The next stage is four, indicating that an explosive eruption is actually taking place.

The Prime Minister noted that no evacuation order had been given, but that there is a declaration that there is a substantial prospect that a disaster will strike.

This alert stays within the framework of an orange alert, Gonsalves said, referring to the stage at which the alert has been since the effusive eruption began in December. He said that his government will follow the science and will continue to take the advice of Robertson and his team of scientists.

“And if the occasion arises within the next few hours or the next few days, that it becomes necessary and desirable for an evacuation order to be issued, then it will be issued and this is the stage where that

Dead: Avinash Fernandes

FROM PAGE

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declaration is made within the framework of the law,” he said.

He said that Robertson had told the government that if the volcano erupts explosively, there might be a four-month period of evacuation. The Prime Minister said that his government has been in contact with friendly nations, including the United States, Cuba, and Venezuela to discuss possible assistance.

He said that Barbados and St. Lucia are willing to receive evacuees, but they will have to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Further, Royal Caribbean has indicated that it could get to St. Vincent

by Wednesday night, a cruise ship that can house 1,500 persons, who will also have to be vaccinated before they are allowed to occupy the vessel.

Next Monday’s scheduled reopening of school has been suspended until further notice.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, April 9, 2021

Heavy rainfall, above-normal tides expected over the next two days RESIDENTS are advised to take all necessary precautions, as the National Weather Watch Center has reported that moderate to heavy rainfall and above normal tides are expected from Friday, April 9, 2021 to Sunday, April 11, 2021.

The anticipated inclement weather will be as a result of troughs which are expected to oscillate throughout Guyana from Friday to Sunday.

A trough is defined as an elongated region of relatively low atmospheric pressure without a closed isobaric contour that would define it as a low-pressure area. Its motion induces upper-level wind divergence, lifting and cooling the air ahead (downstream) of the trough and helping to produce cloudy and rain conditions there.

According to the center, weather conditions are likely to deteriorate as these systems move across Guyana.

The result of this natural occurrence will be continuous moderate to heavy rain showers and thundershowers across Guyana. Periodic high intensity rainfall events are anticipated over coastal areas within the early morning hours.

Rainfall, according to the center, is anticipated between 60.0 mm to 100.0 mm within a 24-hour period, with the high-

est rainfall values expected over coastal areas on Saturday and Sunday.

Persons are advised to take the necessary precaution in these conditions. In addition, drivers and road users are also advised to exercise caution on roadways, as visibility can be significantly hindered in periods of heavy showers and roads will become slippery.

The center cautioned too that, in addition to inclement weather, there will be above normal high tides, which will likely lead to flooding in low lying, poorly drained and riverine areas. There is a possibility of landslides in hilly areas as well.

It was noted by the center that the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) will provide more updates as they become available.

The Guyana Chronicle had reported recently that as Guyana continues to face threats of global warming and rising sea levels, the government has allocated a total of $5.1 billion to further strengthen the country’s sea and river defence infrastructure.

“Earmarked for this year is the construction, rehabilitation and maintenance of sea and river defence infrastructure in areas including Dantzig, Prospect, Content, Fairfield, Zealand, Cane Garden, Uit-

vlugt, Anna Catherina, No. 63 Beach, Manila, and Bygeval,” Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, said during his presentation of Budget 2021 in February.

During his presentation, Dr. Singh had said that the consequences of climate change, including rising sea levels, on Guyana’s sea and river defence infrastructure can have a devastating impact on Guyana’s economy, since most of its inhabitants are on the low- lying coastal plain.

The minister made specific reference to the fragility of the Dantzig, Mahaicony sea defences, which recently suffered a massive breach that devastated residents, particularly the farming community, which suffered loss to property, livestock and farming activities.

“Mr. Speaker, government continues to keep close monitoring of our shore line, by reactivating the sea defence rangers, applying drone technology to monitor shoreline movement and the erosion and accretion cycle, intensifying routine maintenance, and deploying stockpiles of armour rocks to strategic locations, to ensure that quick response mechanisms are in place to avert breaches,” Singh indicated.

30 officers successfully complete GDF drill course

Corporal Letitia Myles receives her prize for the best-graduating student

SOME 30 officers, drawn from units across the military, graduated on Thursday, following their successful completion of the Drill Course 2021-01.

The six-week course was designed to improve the personal “drill standards” of all senior and junior non-commissioned officers of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).

Drill is defined as the preparation of soldiers for performance of their duties in peace and war through the practice and rehearsal of prescribed movements. In a practical

sense, drill consolidates soldiers into battle formations and familiarises them with their weapons.

In his address to officers who graduated from the drill course, Lieutenant Colonel, Matthew Chichester, congratulated them on their dedication and commitment throughout the course.

He charged them to avoid letting the ‘buts’ and ‘circumstances’ of life cause them to deviate from their professional and personal goals.

“The word ‘but’ is a dream killer! Ask anyone who is not

living to their full potential.

They would say, ‘I wanted to do this or that but this or that happened.’ Don’t be one of those people. Whatever you want you can achieve as long as there is hope. Anything is possible, and with discipline and commitment, success is continuously achieved,” he said.

Corporal Letitia Myles won the prize for best-graduating student while Staff Sergeant, Carlisa Benjamin, was runner-up for best-graduating student. Corporal, Devon Nurse, won the prize for best drill.

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Missing 10-year-old boy found

KEVIN James, a 10-year-old, who went missing on Monday, was found on Wednesday, not too far away from where he resides at Cullen, Essequibo, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

The child’s grandmother, Indira Peters, told the Guyana Chronicle that relatives found the boy hiding at the Cullen Beach, where he was initially last seen.

Peters said the child is known for running away from home, and it has even gotten to the point where welfare officers had to be called in to examine the situation.

The grandmother is, however, still baffled as to why the child keeps running away. But relatives, nonetheless, thanked all the neighbours who helped to search for him.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, April 9, 2021

Over 26 million jobs lost in Latin America and Caribbean during pandemic –– region records largest losses in hours worked worldwide says ILO

10-year-old Kevin James

THE Latin American and Caribbean Region has lost 26 million jobs as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and started 2021 with a complex employment landscape aggravated by new waves of contagion and slow vaccination processes that make the prospects for

recovery in labour markets more uncertain, says a new technical note from the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

“The quest for better normality will require ambitious action to recover from setbacks in the world of work,” ILO Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Vinícius Pinheiro, warned while commenting on the note, which presents the latest data on the impact of COVID-19 over the past year.

“It is now time to rebuild the jobs lost by the pandemic and create new decent work opportunities,” Pinheiro said, noting that despite adversity, action must be taken and consensus reached so that 2021 is the year of vaccination and economic recovery with more and better jobs.

However, the ILO Regional Director highlighted: “In the pursuit of recovery, addressing pre-existing conditions in the region will be unavoidable and those conditions are key to understanding why the impact of the pandemic on employment was so strong. Many of the challenges we had before the pandemic remain in place, although they are now more urgent.

“High informality, small fiscal spaces, persistent inequality, low productivity and poor coverage of social protection, coupled with problems that still persist such as child labour and forced labour, are part of the ongoing challenges in the region.”

The ILO’s regional technical note titled “the employment crisis in the pandemic: towards a human-centred job recovery,” emphasises that the labour impacts were devastating in the second quarter of 2020 when the employment and participation indicators plummeted, and then partially recovered.

However, by the end of 2020 the region’s average employment rate had fallen from 57.4 per cent to 51.7 per cent, a sharp drop equated to the loss of around 26 million jobs, of which 80 per cent, or more than 20 million people, left the workforce.

This significant exit from the workforce was unprecedented and has been the characteristic of 2020. By comparison, the unemployment rate has only partially reflected the magnitude of the difficulties faced by la-

bour markets in the region, increasing by just over two percentage points between 2019 and 2020, from 8.3 per cent to 10.6 per cent.

This situation would have begun to change, explained Roxana Maurizio, ILO Regional Labour Economics Specialist and author of the technical note, who commented that in 2021 there could be a significant increase in the employment rate when millions of people, who had ceased to participate in the labour force, return to the workforce.

In addition to lost jobs, the region experienced a sharp contraction in working hours, as well as a reduction in labour incomes, which account for 80 per cent of what people in Latin America and the Caribbean earn.

The region has recorded the largest losses in hours worked worldwide.

The ILO’s technical note indicates that during the crisis both formal and informal employment experienced very pronounced contractions, but with greater intensity for the latter and for this reason the informality rate was reduced (temporarily), in the context of the widespread collapse in employment demand, especially in the early months of the pandemic. But that situation has already started to change.

“There is a high risk of informalisation that adds to the already high levels of labour informality that countries had before the pandemic,” said Maurizio.

According to available data from seven countries, employment recovery in the second half of 2020 has been almost entirely contracted by informal employment growth. These occupations account for more than 60 per cent of the total increase in employment.

“The formal work deficit, in turn, is likely to become more apparent to certain types of workers such as young people, women and adults with lower qualifications - groups that traditionally experience greater difficulties in accessing formal employment,” she added.

Further, she said: “The macroeconomic collapse has disproportionately impacted some segments of the population, amplifying labour and social gaps - especially gender gaps - that characterize the region,” she continued.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, April 9, 2021

Massive, virtual diaspora conference set for May 22 –– as authorities forge ahead with plans to leverage skills, capital overseas

By Vishani Ragobeer AS part of efforts geared at encouraging Guyanese living aboard to tap into the myriad of opportunities available locally, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation will be hosting a massive, virtual diaspora conference on May 22, 2021.

On Thursday, during a press briefing, Foreign Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Robert Persaud, highlighted the ministry’s plans to host this conference, emphasising that such an event aims to “elevate” efforts related to diaspora engagement.

President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, will be making the feature address at this conference.

It is also expected that key ministries and government agencies, wherein members of the diaspora may have an interest in engaging, will be part of this conference.

Some of the agencies which will feature prominently during the conference are the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce; Ministry of Housing and Water; the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the Guyana Office for Investment (Go-Invest).

Subsequent to the conference in May, Persaud said that there will be follow-up engagements at the country or regional level.

Shortly, the registration avenues for this conference will be made available. Since the conference is a virtual one, there is no limit to how many persons can register and attend.

Registration, according to the Foreign Secretary, would help the ministry populate its diaspora database.

“That will be an important virtual diaspora conference which we hope will attract the type of participation and the results that are necessary,” Persaud said.

As part of the impetus to engage the diaspora and encourage investments in the development of Guyana, the

government has been crafting a national Guyana Diaspora Engagement Strategy and Plan of Action.

Within this broader policy framework, there will be specific emphasis on re-migration and the establishment of a well-functioning structure for re-migrants. Additionally, focus has been placed on facilitating sustained collaboration between the government, civil society, the private sector and the diaspora.

Persaud said too that the ministry has been working with its overseas missions to “ramp up” diasporic engagement activities.

Though he acknowledged that a few of these missions are without their heads of mission - that is, the Ambassadors or High Commissioners - he affirmed that the efforts geared at promoting and facilitating diaspora engagement have not been severely limited or restricted.

DIASPORA DESKS Importantly, he noted that the establishment of a “Diaspora Desk” at the Consulate in New York has been yielding positive results for Guyana. This desk was established about two months ago with the aim of promoting trade and investment from the diaspora. There is a designated officer manning this desk in New York.

“It has proven very effective and it is something that we can seek to, in time, replicate, even utilising our existing staff, not necessarily going and appointing new persons all the time,” Persaud posited.

Further, the Foreign Secretary reasoned: “It is not a situation whereby we’re bringing people here and walking with them and leading them to opportunities. We want them to be in touch with the various agencies - private and public - and to search out for themselves what are the opportunities.”

The role of the ministry, and its diaspora unit, specifically, would be to offer guidance and raise awareness on the activities taking place in Guyana, according to the Foreign Secretary.

Guyana’s emerging oil and gas sector has opened doors for new areas of investment, while strengthening traditional sectors. In January, during an inter-

view with US-based radio personality Farook Juman, President Ali said there is “great potential” for the diaspora to bring their capital resources back home.

Foreign Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Robert Persaud (Delano Williams photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, April 9, 2021

No beef shortage in Guyana –– says Minister Mustapha; laments transportation woes caused by inclement weather, COVID-19 DESPITE transpor tation woes and challenges created by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, has assured stakeholders that there is no shortage of beef on the local market, as the government is continuously examining

ways to ensure that the commodity reaches consumers.

The minister provided this assurance during a recent meeting with stakeholders in the beef industry.

In recent weeks, concerns have been raised by consumers and meat vendors about a reduction

in beef supplies and a hike in prices due to limited quantities.

It is for this reason that the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) conducted an assessment of the complaints and found that the weather conditions and COVID-19 were affecting the transportation of

Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha (at the head of the table) and several stakeholders during the consultation on Wednesday. Also, in picture (to the Minister’s right) is the Director-General of the Ministry of Agriculture and Chairman of GLDA, Madanlall Ramraj (DPI photo)

Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha addresses stakeholders during the meeting (DPI photo)

meat from wholesalers to the markets.

“We can safely conclude that there is not a shortage of beef in the country, but there are some problems with supply and we can resolve that supply problem.

“As a government, it is very important that we sit with you, the main stakeholders in the industry, and look at what is causing some of the issues, and the factors which have also caused an increase in the cost of this important commodity,” Minister Mustapha told those persons gathered at the recent meeting.

He said efforts were being made to ensure that the quality and quantity of beef remain sufficient for consumers.

“My main aim as the Minister of Agriculture, and the government’s aim is to ensure that the cost of the meat is reachable. Consumers must afford to be able to purchase it and we don’t have a shortage.

“In the case of beef, the government is putting systems in place to ensure our local producers and stakeholders benefit handsomely from our interventions,” he said.

Minister Mustapha commended the stakeholders for attending the meeting, adding that it shows their interest in ensuring food security locally.

Statistics have shown that almost six million pounds of beef were produced locally in 2020, with the current price ranging between $360 to about $600 per pound.

Livestock Specialist at GLDA, Michael Welch, spoke about the significant contribution livestock makes to Guyana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

He said Guyana’s total domestic beef consumption stands at about three million kilogrammes, and more than 90 per cent of that amount is produced locally. (DPI) FROM PAGE

Over 26 million jobs lost in ...

“The outlook for economic recovery by 2021 is modest and still very uncertain, so expectations about a possible reversal of the critical labour market situation should be very cautious.”

The ILO has proposed developing recovery strategies based on a policy framework with four main pillars: stimulating the economy and employment;

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support businesses, jobs and incomes; protect workers in the workplace; and resort to social dialogue to find solutions.

The technical note highlights that in a scenario as complex as the current one, social dialogue and the building of new consensuses, pacts or agreements are more relevant than ever to advance the recovery of employment. (ILO)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, April 9, 2021

COVID-19 claims two more lives –– over 1,000 persons in home isolation

THE number of local deaths related to COVID-19 has reached 252, following the death of two men, ages 73 and 59, of Regions Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), respectively.

According to information from the Ministry of Health, both men succumbed while receiving medical care at a local health facility, on Wednesday. With those deaths, there are now 19 documented COVID-19 fatalities for the month of April.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health has recorded 135 new cases of COVID-19 from 2,344 tests carried out for Wednesday, April 7. This was shown in the ministry’s daily COVID-19 dashboard for April 8.

Of this total, seven were recorded in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); 18 in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); 87 in

Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica); seven in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); four in Region Six; eight in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), and four in Region 10 (Upper DemeraraUpper Berbice).

The group of newly infected persons comprise 70 males and 65 females. No other regions have confirmed new cases within the past 24 hours.

There are currently 13 persons within the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 69 in institutional isolation, 1,015 isolated at home, and 10 in institutional quarantine.

Guyana has confirmed a total of 10,853 cases of COVID-19 since it was first detected in Guyana during March, last year. Of that number, 1,107 are currently active, while 9,517 persons have recovered.

All Guyanese are urged to observe the protocols of the

COVID-19 emergency measures, which emphasise the need for correct and consis-

tent use of a face mask when leaving 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.

If anyone you know is displaying any of the symptoms associated with

COVID-19 or needs any additional information, kindly contact the COVID-19 Hotline on 231-1166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 immediately or visit the Ministry of Health at www.health.gov.gy.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, April 9, 2021

Preliminary work on Bartica-Timehri road project commences PRELIMINARY work on the new road corridor between Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), and Timehri, East Bank of Demerara (EBD), has commenced, according to Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill.

Minister Edghill and a team of technical personnel, including former President and Prime Minister, Samuel Hinds, inspected the proposed route for the road, on Wednesday.

Speaking with the Department of Public Information (DPI) at the Timehri section of the proposed route, Minister Edghill said: “the possibility of a road from Bartica to Timehri is no longer an idea, it is something that is doable.”

The inspection of the route began with a short boat ride from Bartica to Foulmouth Dock on the Essequibo River, then along

a logging trail to Makouria River, then to Sand Hills and Timehri.

Minister Edghill said the project would improve the commute between the coast and the hinterland, by significantly reducing travelling time, since commuters would no longer have to travel to Parika, then journey to Bartica, and vice versa.

Likewise, citizens will

not have to travel to Linden, then to Rockstone, through to Sherima Crossing for a barge, and then make their way to Bartica.

Minister Edghill said the project would complement a similar road link to be done from Bartica to Parika, Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara). That link will eventually see a network stretching from Parika

Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill (DPI photo)

Former President and Prime Minister, Samuel Hinds (DPI photo)

The team traverses one section of the route (DPI photo)

to Goshen and onwards to Bartica.

The Minister added that the project also ties into other major infrastructural works such as the Schoonord to Parika alignment.

Like the other major roadworks, the Bartica-Timehri route will open up new lands, leading to an increase in agriculture, trade, housing and tourism opportunities.

In explaining the plan, Minister Edghill said: “We will go to the drawing board with the coordinates. We will look at all of the practicalities and of course, the shortest possible route is what we will be examining. We will proba-

bly have to get a geologist to do some soil testing to ensure that we have materials in the closest proximity for the building of that road.

“I would suspect that within another five to six weeks after this trip, my engineers will be able to do some designing and the monies that are appropriated in 2021 will start cutting an alignment.”

Further, he said the ministry will later decide on the best option to facilitate barge crossings where the road terminates at both the Timehri and Bartica sections.

Meanwhile, Hinds played an instrumental role in Wednesday’s exercise since

he has institutional knowledge of the route.

The former Prime Minister noted that the new road network is an important component of the government’s development agenda.

“Development is a process that requires us to work at extending roads and infrastructure…This is a step, I think, a good step in the general development of our country,” Hinds reasoned.

This year’s budget provides $25.6 billion for the construction of roads and bridges through the Ministry of Public Works.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, April 9, 2021

Three-phase testing for re-installed gas ––two phases completed compressor underway already says ExxonMobil

THE repaired and upgraded components of the flash gas compression system, aboard ExxonMobil’s Liza Destiny Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, have been safely re-installed, but a comprehensive three-phase testing programme is being undertaken to ensure full safety.

The compressor was damaged in January and resulted in the company having to temporarily increase gas-flaring above pilot levels in order to maintain safe operations. The faulty contraption was subsequently removed and sent to Germany for immediate repairs.

According to updated information from ExxonMobil, a technical team has successfully completed the first two phases, which were intended to verify the effectiveness of the modifications to the equipment and control system logic.

Pilot level flare was attained during the testing and a significant volume of process and mechanical data collected.

The final stage of testing will take place this week, after the removal of temporary instrumentation. The third phase involves monitoring the performance of the machine closely in normal, steady-state operation.

It was reported that an

The Liza Destiny FPSO

order has been placed for a new flash gas compressor, which will be available closer to the end of this year, given the complex nature of the equipment.

The company has since reduced production levels at its operations offshore Guyana in order to accommodate the repair of the defective gas compressor.

It was noted that the com-

pany continues to produce oil at 120,000 barrels per day, while the current daily levels of flaring are between 16 and 18 million cubic feet.

Back in 2019, ExxonMobil had explained to the media that for the first period, after ‘first oil’, there would be initial start-up flaring, as authorised by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which occurs during

the commissioning and initial start-up phases of the FPSO when gas and liquids are introduced into new facilities and equipment.

This flaring, it said, would not continue as a routine, and will only take place again in the case of an emergency, whereby flaring will be used to immediately de-pressurise the facility as part of a shutdown process to reduce risk.

Executive Director of the Payne Institute for Earth Resources and Research, Professor of Public Policy at the Colorado School of Mines, Dr. Morgan Bazilian, had said that general regulatory and technical measures must be implemented to mitigate gas-flaring in future projects.

“Yes, flaring itself has environmental impacts, and is a waste of resources, eco-

nomically and environmentally bad,” said Dr. Bazilian during a virtual session with local reporters in October 2020.

He further added that there are technical ways to reduce flaring, but there must be a combination of technical measures which will come in quickly, and regulatory measures. Most countries take “a long time” to develop a regulatory framework for gas-flaring, but from the expert’s understanding, the projects in Guyana are engineered to have zero routine flaring.

Dr. Bazilian pointed to the “Zero Routine Flaring by 2030” initiative introduced by the World Bank, which brings together governments, oil companies, and development institutions which recognise the dangers of flaring. According to the World Bank, this initiative pertains to ‘routine flaring’, and not to ‘flaring’ for safety reasons or non-routine flaring, which, nevertheless, should be minimised.

ExxonMobil has since said that it remains committed and focused on the quality of the work to ensure successful re-start of the flash gas compression system, which will lessen flaring, once fully operational.

Rosalina Rasul heads Diaspora Unit –– tasked with ensuring remigration, investment interests are met THE recently established Diaspora and Remigration Unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, which was created with the intention of bolstering diasporic engagement and helping to streamline re-migration, is now led by Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Transport and Harbours Department’s Advisory Council, Rosalinda Rasul.

Rasul’s position was announced by the ministry’s Foreign Secretary, Robert Persaud, during an engagement with members of the media at his South Road office, on Thursday.

In addition to her position at the Transport and Harbours

Department, Rasul serves as a Director on the Board of Directors for the Canawaima Ferry Service Incorporated.

Last year, she served as Executive Director of the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA).

Meanwhile, it was also related that Rasul will be supported by a member of Guyana’s Foreign Service Staff, Leroy Adolphus. He has served the ministry as the First Secretary at the Embassy of Guyana to the Kingdom of Belgium, Guyana’s Permanent Mission to the European Union and as a foreign trade officer. Prior to his work in foreign relations, he worked as a media correspondent.

Head of the Diaspora and Remigration Unit, Rosalinda Rasul

The Foreign Secretary noted that Rasul and Adolphus, together with him, will be spearheading the day-to-

Leroy Adolphus

day work of the unit.

High on the agenda for the unit will be to enhance engagement efforts with members of the diaspora, through social media engagement,

outreach activities and providing necessary information to them.

Additionally, the Foreign Secretary noted that much emphasis will be placed on strengthening overseas missions so that they would be able to reach out to members of the diaspora.

“There has been a keen interest in persons coming here,” the Foreign Secretary said, adding: “We’ve been able to streamline the system in terms of remigration.”

The Diaspora and Remigration Unit allows for an enhanced, sustained, and coordinated engagement with all Guyanese abroad.

The foreign affairs minis-

try noted that a priority of the unit will be to foster collaboration with the diaspora in the areas of trade and investment, philanthropy, tourism, youth engagement, attraction of skill and remigration, as well as streamlining the contributions and resources of the diaspora to effectively aid Guyana’s development agenda.

The Foreign Secretary highlighted that in the 2021 National budget, nearly $50 million has been allocated to advance diaspora engagement efforts. This sum, he said, will help to propel the efforts geared at encouraging members of the diaspora to invest in Guyana.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, April 9, 2021

Construction of 190 houses at Cummings Lodge begins Information (DPI) following the inspection.

The infrastructural works, which include the construction of roads, bridges and drainage channels, will stretch from Cummings Lodge to Aubrey Barker Road, South Ruimveldt.

And, due to this distance, Minister Croal said an area has been identified for a police outpost.

“It is intended it will be further, closer to the Aubrey

Barker end because already, you have the Turkeyen Police Station from this end of Sophia so you can have security being placed from both sides,” the minister related.

The construction of those houses form part of the 1,000 young professional and low-income housing units, which the ministry plans to build this year as part of CH&PA’s National Housing Development Pro-

gramme.

Through this programme, units will be built at Cummings Lodge, Prospect, Providence, Little Diamond and Great Diamond in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica); Onderneeming and Wales in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); Ordnance/Fortlands, Hampshire and Williamsburg in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and Amelia’s

Ward in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

Last month, 51 contracts were signed to start the construction of 290 homes. Of that lot, 190 elevated, two-bedroom houses will be built in Cummings Lodge, while another 100 flat, two-bedroom units would be constructed at Prospect, East Bank of Demerara (EBD).

Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal

WORK has started on the construction of 190 low-income houses at plots 1,767 and 1,768 Cummings Lodge, Greater Georgetown.

Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, following an inspection of the site on Wednesday, said that the foundation for the 20x30 elevated units is being laid, and construction is expected to be completed within four months.

Minister Croal, during his visit, was accompanied

by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), Sherwyn Greaves; Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Housing and Water, Andre Ally, and officials of the ministry’s community development and projects and enforcement departments.

Also on the visit, was a team from the Guyana Police Force, which comprised Senior Superintendent of Police, Calvin Brutus; Deputy Commissioner of Police (ag), Clifton Hicken and Commander of Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Simon McBean.

“Only a few weeks ago, you would have seen we signed about $1.5 billion infrastructure works for these two areas. It would take you all the way to Aubrey Barker Road so it’s a massive development.

“In the first phase, we are constructing about 190 elevated houses. Behind me you can see the commencement because at the contract signing too, we also signed the contract for the contractors to commence those houses,” Minister Croal told the Department of Public

Workers laying the foundation for the construction of houses at Cummings Lodge, Greater Georgetown (DPI photo)

‘Don’t wait for calamity, get insurance’ –– Dr. Singh advises Guyanese, calls on insurers to educate the public SENIOR Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, has said that it is vital for Guyanese businesses, homes and individuals to be insured.

Insurance is defined as a means of protection from financial loss. It is a form of risk management, primarily used to hedge against the risk of a contingent or uncertain loss. An entity which provides insurance is known as an insurer, an insurance company, an insurance carrier or an underwriter.

Dr. Singh referred to insurance as an “indispensable staple” during his address at the sod-turning ceremony for the new Assuria General and Life Insurance Company’s headquarters in

Georgetown, on Wednesday.

“You might not appreciate the importance of insurance until you consider, perhaps, at a household level, what happens to your family if you suffer a calamity,” he reasoned.

The Minister noted that while some persons may see insurance as unnecessary, or may purchase minimum policies, they should first consider what the untimely death or incapacitation of a breadwinner could mean for a family.

“I feel very strongly that insurance is not discretionary or optional expenditure. Insurance is an indispensable staple in any company’s and any household’s risk management toolkit,” Dr. Singh said.

While there are several

Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh

insurance companies operating in Guyana, Dr. Singh believes the sector needs to do more to educate the public about the importance and necessity of insurance.

At the same time, the Minister said the government is firmly commit-

ted to creating a robust operating environment through strong regulation and supervision for insurance companies. He said the authorities also intend to stay closely engaged with the industry as it expands. (DPI)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, April 9, 202I

The goal of Kids Fest is to celebrate the beauty of being a child

NATALYA Thomas-Small has always nurtured a childhood dream of going to Disneyland. As she noticed a shortage of family-oriented events here, she decided, ‘Why not bring Disney Land to Guyana instead?’

And that she did with the introduction of Kids Fest 592 in 2017 which encompasses music, dance, fashion and pageants, games, and more recently, impromptu

Kids Fest 592 participatory hands-on access to the arts for children and their families, to raise an appreciation and awareness of the arts, to demonstrate the talent and ability of our community’s chil-

Participants learn stage presence, self-confidence, and pride in personal grooming

speech and spelling B competitions.

This year’s Kids Fest started March 26 and concluded yesterday with its founder Natalya happy that the event was able to be pulled off indoors at Movietowne despite the challenges and limitations brought on by the Coronavirus pandemic.

Prior to this, the last Kids Fest was held in 2019 in the Promenade Gardens with a ‘wonderland’ theme. It included such fun activities as vending, a bouncy castle, puppet show, pageant and tea party. Mascots were also present from Mr. Bunny Rabbit and Alice in Wonderland with her friends.

“I would love Kids Fest to become a household name. I would also love to build an amusement park to bring a world of possibilities to children,” Natalya said during an interview with the Buzz this week.

For this year’s event, 12 children participated in the pageant; four in the impromp-

tu speech Founder of Kids Fest Natalya Thomas-Small with the winners of competithe recently concluded pageant tion; and seven in the spelldren and to create a ing B competition.

Kids Fest, according to Natalya, aims visible, broad-based to work with a variety of quality children event adhering to Kids brands and entertainment companies to Fest 592 mission.

Kids Fest 592 is a platform that allows put on this festival, which is usually held outdoors. “The demand for quality children kids to express themselves and to help entertainment and activities in Guyana far them find their passion and explore it exceeds the availability of such events,” further. “The concept is to bring Disney Land and children’s wildest imagination she observed.

By putting on the show, she said chil- alive. Kids and their family are greeted by dren are encouraged not only to dream princesses and superhero characters while but to experience what childhood should they walk through the festival, giving them be like. “Kids Fest 592 would like to fur- a storybook feel.”

The goal of Kids Fest 592 is to celether family involvement throughout the community and to excite our area youth’s brate the beauty of being a child and having fun, a right all children should have. senses and creativity through arts.”

The purpose of the festival is to provide It’s about family, community, education,

Kids Fest was birthed out of a desire

by Natalya Thomas-Small to bring ‘Disney Land’ to kids here in Guyana

adventure, and excitement for every child.

Participants who share in the pageants learn stage presence, self-confidence, and pride in personal grooming. “And let’s face it! Who doesn’t want to dress up like a princess for the day!” Natalya noted.

A talent section is usually included where the children can dance, perform magic, show off their karate skills and so forth. There is also an interview section where they are asked a question and they have to answer. The basis for the judging panel is personality, spirit and overall performance.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, April 9, 202I

moves her to teach others

GROWING up, Lisa Andrea Narine has always been fascinated with the dances she saw in movies. Be it Bollywood music, ballet or contemporary, she’d try to mimic the dancers the best way she could. Little did she know that such love and a keen interest in the arts would help her shape the person she’d eventually become.

The 22-year-old, who hails from Canal Number One, can still remember the experience she had in third grade when she froze on stage during an unrehearsed dance that she and other classmates were put on stage to do.

Simple as it seemed at the time, the experience turned into one that would propel her into a more confident, outgoing individual, especially when it came to performing in front of others. “ We

Lisa took inspiration from the dances she saw in movies

Her passion for dancing has moved her to volunteer her time teaching others

were just supposed to go up on the stage and freestyle.

I remember standing on that stage scared and stiff; I turned and watched the other girl throwing out every move she knew. I never wanted to feel like Lisa Andrea Narine that again. I was embarrassed and felt like I had disappointed my parents. That third-grade experience was etched in me; I came back like a force to every school dance I could, up to the point where I started to help choreograph dances to represent my school,” Lisa recalled in an interview with the Buzz.

She feels that she owes her cultural values to her mother, Molly Ram, who was always the one to inspire and encourage her. “She always wanted to see that side of me flourish, but the opportunities were limited and there were no classes offered in our community to nurture that passion and the ones that were available were either too expensive or too far away from home.”

Fortunately, though, a few years later, Lisa managed to enter the world of pageantry and then joined the Jeewan Ka Nritya Dance Group where she found a new love for dancing, boosted by people that shared the same passion. Because others recognized and aided her potential, Lisa said she wanted to do the same.

“I wanted to incorporate this inspiration, coupled with my drive, to break traditional barriers of suppressing women, something I witnessed my mother and even I experienced firsthand; to diminish this stigma in rural communities, starting in my own, and to be able to help empower youths and women with confidence and leadership abilities,” she expressed.

After graduating high school, Lisa began volunteering at the Manram Memorial Health Centre where she first developed a love for working with children. Even though the options were limited in terms of youth voluntary groups, she’d always find herself reaching out in any way she could, including offering tutoring at the Ashram or teaching kids to play the harmonium.

Lisa has also been inspired to start up a project alongside a team of volunteers for a youth and women empowerment group at the Akshardham Ashram located in Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara, which focuses on creating a safe space for women and children to learn and grow.

For children, the aim is to expose and encourage them in curricular activities in areas such as arts and culture, academics and various skills classes. The group is also aiming for classes in cooking, sewing, crafts, sports and the academic aspects of marketing, business and entrepreneurship.

“I believe that we the young people are the guardians of the earth and our children will take our place in higher chambers so we need to be mindful of our actions now so it will be positively impacted later.” She said this mentality is what fuels her ever-growing drive and aspiration to be a beacon of hope to others.

Lisa is also the founder of The Green Hub, one of Guyana’s first online shops to offer sustainable products as a means of reducing carbon footprint. The initiative began with her growing interest in the current health of the environment.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, April 9, 202I

KARAOKE Thursdays is the latest addition to 592 Movements, a company owned by Jumo ‘Rubber Waist’ Primo that has expanded over the past four years and has now come to include a chilling spot and night club, bar and grill, and a studio.

Operating from 12 noon to 21:30 hrs., Jumo’s bar and grill offers lunch and a place to hang out with friends while aiming to be strictly compliant with COVID-19 guidelines.

though he did not win in the competition, he said he is satisfied that he was able to contribute to the event and get an important message out through his performance.

His song “In ma House” promoted social distancing and staying at home while discouraging people from ganging up to party at nightspots. The song advocated for people to instead party at home.

Not winning, Jumo expressed, gave him the

With his dancers at his recent performance in the soca monarch competition

“Come showcase your talent every Thursday night,” Jumo announced this week about his new feature at the bar. Starting at 6 pm, customers will have an opportunity to sing if they feel like it. Next on the agenda is a sing-off competition which Jumo is hoping to release soon.

In an interview with Buzz this week, the popular and well-loved artiste bemoaned the mentality of some Guyanese who feel that they must start their evening late to be able to have a good time.

But he is firm in his decision to follow the COVID taskforce guidelines and close the bar one hour before curfew time to allow for patrons to leave and make their way home.

“We have a temperament of coming out late.

We need to realise that there is a situation and adapt to it; start changing their mindset to come out early, enjoy ourselves, and then go back home,” he advised.

Just recently, he participated in the soca monarch competition held by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, and even

energy to create more and contribute more to the arts.

“It was about getting the message out. I’m still winning because the song is still playing in the streets and cars; the message is still being disseminated.”

Meanwhile, Jumo is one of the local artistes who have been severely affected by the Coronavirus Pandemic. His livelihood has practically been halted as he continues to try to find alternatives means of bringing in an income for him and his family.

For persons like him who want to adhere to the safety guidelines, though, life is very difficult at the moment, financially.

“Music is my daily bread and knowing that you cannot perform, travel, earn money for your family, it’s hard. The entertainment business in the whole is suffering because there is nothing in place for artistes. Some of us might be having a day time job, but I invested in my studio, in my night club. So it’s been hard for me; every day you have to study your kids, mortgage, etc.” he said in a previous interview.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, April 9, 202I

‘Exemplary’ Holder an inspiration during SL series

― chief selector Harper

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Chief selector Roger Harper has praised deposed captain Jason Holder’s attitude during the recent Sri Lanka series, contending the all-rounder had been “exemplary” in his approach and a source of inspiration for his teammates.

The 29-year-old Holder was sacked as captain prior to the series and replaced by fellow Barbadian Kraigg Brathwaite, but remained a seminal figure throughout the two-Test rubber which ended in a nil-all stalemate on Good Friday.

He averaged 69 with the bat while scoring an unbeaten half-century in the second Test, and also finished the series with seven wickets after taking a five-wicket haul in the first innings of the opening Test.

“I thought Jason performed very well. He got a five-wicket haul in the first Test match and then of course the 71 not out in the last innings as well,” Harper pointed out.

“But even more than his performance was the way he went about his business. I think from watching him in the nets and on the field you always heard him encouraging the players, trying to lift the guys and keep them really in high spirits.

“He’s been the livewire.

He’s really handled things very well and in an exemplary fashion, and has continued to be the type of leader we know someone with his experience can be and that’s important for the team.”

One of the youngest ever Windies Test captains when he was appointed at age 23, Holder led West Indies in 37 of his 47 Tests – winning 11, losing 21 and drawing five games.

His captaincy came under intense scrutiny following the side’s heavy defeats in New Zealand last December and his fate was sealed when he skipped the tour of Bangladesh earlier

this year and stand-in skipper Brathwaite inspired a severely weakened side to a 2-0 whitewash.

Harper said the decision to remove Holder as captain had been a sober one but had also been necessary in helping to maintain the new culture formed in Bangladesh.

“It was a decision that took a lot of thought, a lot of deliberation,” the former Guyana and West Indies off-spinner told Starcom Radio’s Mason and Guest cricket show.

“But I think the sort of spirit we saw in Bangladesh – the performance of course made a big difference – but the sort of spirit, the sort of fight, the sort of determination we saw in that team, we wanted that to continue so that really influenced our decision.”

Brathwaite, however, appeared fired up by the mantle of leadership and broke a long drought to post his first Test century in three years, en route to gathering 237 runs at an average of 59.

The hundred – 126 in the first innings of the second Test – was his ninth overall and saw him become the 16th West Indies batsman to pass 4 000 runs in the longest format.

Performance apart, Harper said Brathwaite’s willingness to be innovative especially on the flat wickets at the Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium in Antigua, made his captaincy stand out.

“I think that Kraigg has done a good job in this series. I think the pitch as you know has been very flat but what you saw from Kraigg was his willingness to try different things,” Harper stressed.

“A willingness, not just to sit back, but a willingness to try things to see if they could create opportunities and that’s a positive going forward. I think with Kraigg as well, you see a lot more of the team involved in supporting, so that’s good.”

Cloth Cap heads Grand National field as The Storyteller is withdrawn THE Storyteller was the only withdrawal as the final field of 40 horses - headed by Cloth Cap - was named for the Grand National tomorrow.

It means Blaklion is the last horse to be guaranteed a run in the big race at Aintree. Some Neck and Welsh Grand National winner Secret Reprieve are the top reserves.

Patrick Mullins will ride leading contender Burrows Saint for his trainer father Willie Mullins.

Stable jockey Paul Townsend will miss the ride after suffering a foot injury.

A reserve can make the line-up if any contenders are pulled out before 13:00 BST today.

Cloth Cap, trained by Jonjo O’Neill, is the 4-1 favourite to give owner Trevor Hemmings a record fourth win in his green, yellow and white colours.

Mullins is one of four amateur jockeys to be booked for rides in the race - with Jamie Codd on Milan Native, Derek O’Connor riding OK Corral and Sam Waley-Cohen aboard Jett.

They will be bidding to be the first amateur rider to triumph since Marcus Armytage on Mr Frisk in 1990 and are permitted to ride after the latest easing of lockdown restrictions, having been barred from competing at last month’s Cheltenham Festival.

One contender who looks sure to be popular is Minella Times, the mount of Rachael Blackmore - who made history at Cheltenham by becoming the first woman to be the leading jockey at the meeting.

Bryony Frost is on Yala Enki and Tabitha Worsley rides Sub Lieutenant in the hunt to be the first female jockey to win the Grand National.

Last year’s meeting was called off because of the COVID-19 pandemic, while this year’s contest will be held without spectators.

Police are stepping up patrols around the meeting, with residents close to the Merseyside track warned not to gather in groups larger than six in their gardens during the races. (BBC Sport)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, April 9, 202I

South Australia slump to first winless season in 35 years

SOUTH Australia’s (SA) nightmare summer is over, with their Marsh Sheffield Shield and Marsh One-Day Cup teams failing to win a domestic game in 2020-21.

Victoria prevailed over SA by 21 runs in their one-day game yesterday, handing Redbacks a 0-5 record to end their season.

Also winless in the Shield this summer, the Redbacks are the first men’s team to go through a summer of top-level interstate cricket without success in either format since Tasmania’s pair of winless seasons from 1984 to 1986.

Played in glorious conditions at the CitiPower Centre in St Kilda, a spirited chase by the Redbacks wasn’t enough as they just fell short of an unlikely comeback, losing by 21 runs.

Travis Head top-scored with 77 and Harry Nielsen added 51 of his own, but smart bowling in the final overs got Victoria across the line.

It was the Victorians who lost the toss and were put in to bat with captain Peter Handscomb and Jonathan Merlo shining.

The home side set a total of 333-7, scoring at 6.66 runs per over and were led by centuries to Handscomb (131) and Merlo (111).

The fourth-wicket partnership of 205 runs was the fourth highest in Victoria’s history.

Victoria’s strong showing was only marred by the early loss of Sam Harper, who was given out in bizarre fashion after obstructing a would-be run-out throw by Dan Worrall

grabbed the crucial wicket of Travis Head.

Elliott, the son of former Test cricketer Matthew Elliot, finished with 2-60 off nine overs.

South Australia’s innings looked likely to deflate when Harry Nielsen was dismissed

Jonathan Merlo scored his first century for Victoria (Getty Images)

Wes Agar finished with 3-46 to top the bowling for Redbacks, as their attack struggled to crack the partnership of Handscomb and Merlo, which finally ended in the 45th over.

South Australia’s top five batsmen combined for 239 runs and were looking strong before debutant Sam Elliott

with the score at 267-7, but Sam Kerber and Corey Kelly showed resilience with 22 and 23 respectively.

In the end, their efforts weren’t enough as Merlo and Elliott saw off the tail-enders, capping off Victoria’s season with their first win. (Cricket. com.au)

WA grab double bonus point to surge into Marsh Cup final Jason Behrendorff fires on his return as WA thump Tasmania and will play NSW in Sunday’s Marsh Cup final

WESTERN Australia have cruised into the final of the Marsh One-Day Cup, comfortably, seeing off Tasmania in Perth and securing the bonus point they needed to make Sunday’s final against NSW. WA posted 307 all out and needed to keep Tasmania to a score of less than 245 to secure a bonus point and pass Queensland into second spot on the table.

They did it easily, bowling the Tigers out for 148 to secure two bonus points, and will meet NSW in Sunday’s decider at Bankstown Oval.

In great conditions at the WACA Ground, it was the visiting side who won

the toss and bowled first as they too looked to gain a bonus-point win to reach the decider.

But they couldn’t handle a strong WA top order who raced out of the blocks, with WA jumping to 128-3 off 18 overs before Mitchell Marsh was dismissed for 63 off just 48 balls.

Sam Whiteman and Josh Inglis followed, but not before posting 59 and 60 respectively.

Jackson Bird and Sam Rainbird each bagged three wickets for Tasmania, while Tom Rogers and Tom Andrews took two wickets apiece.

A late-innings flourish by

Jason Behrendorff of 35 off 33 balls capped off a solid batting display for a side looking red-hot to defend their Marsh Cup trophy.

Ominous signs came early for Tigers in their chase, losing Ben McDermott to a golden duck as none of their batmen could find a foothold.

Tasmania lost four wickets in the opening 10 overs, three of them to Behrendroff, and it didn’t take long before they capitulated to be all out for 148 in just 25.1 overs.

Beau Webster topscored with an unbeaten 51 and the loss means Tasmania finish fourth on the ladder. (Cricket.com.au)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, April 9, 202I

Fit-again Durant scores 17 points off bench as Nets hammer New Orleans 139-111 KEVIN Durant came off the bench and scored 17 points on his return from a 23-game injury lay-off to help Brooklyn Nets thrash New Orleans Pelicans 139-111.

Durant hit all five of his shots, including two three-pointers, after being introduced in the second quarter.

It was just the second time in the 32-year-old’s career that he came off the bench in

a game.

“I just wanted to go out there and dive right into the action,” he said.

“I expected to come out here and play the way I played.

I wasn’t trying to ease into the game.

“The game was fast-paced already so from watching it from the bench I knew exactly how I needed to approach it. It was pretty cool coming

off the bench, I can’t lie.”

The two-time NBA champion, who also came up with seven rebounds five assists, had not played since February 13 because of a hamstring strain.

But while Nets head coach Steve Nash said it was good to see Durant back “with a big smile on his face”, they will now be without point guard James Harden for at least 10 days because of a hamstring

Kevin Durant (7) was one of seven Brooklyn players to score double figures against New Orleans

injury.

Pelicans coach Stan Van Gundy said his side “got dominated at both ends of the floor”.

Brooklyn also ended Zion Williamson’s 25-game run of scoring 20-plus points on 50%

shooting or better.

Williamson, who finished with just 16 points on four of 12 shooting from the floor, is tied with former Los Angeles Lakers star Shaquille O’Neal for the longest such streak in the NBA.

Meanwhile, Devin Booker and Chris Paul led Phoenix Suns to a 117-113 overtime win over the visiting Utah Jazz in a game between the NBA’s best two teams.

Booker scored 35 points and Chris Paul contributed 29 points nine assists as Suns, who have the NBA’s second-best record, held on for their seventh victory in a row.

Donovan Mitchell registered 41 points eight rebounds for the NBA-leading Jazz, and forced the game into overtime with a clutch three-pointer.

Utah, however, never led in overtime, with Booker getting Suns off to a quick start with a lay-up, while Paul finished it off with free throws late on. (BBC Sport)

French Open postponed to May 30 amid COVID-19 crisis PARIS, France (Reuters) This year’s French Open has been postponed by a week due to the COVID-19 pandemic and will begin on May 30, the French Tennis Federation (FFT) said yesterday.

The claycourt Grand Slam, which was postponed by four months last year and took place in front of limited crowds, will finish on June 13, two weeks before the expected start of Wimbledon.

The grasscourt Grand Slam said it would not change its dates following the French Open’s decision, which it supported.

“This decision has been discussed with the Grand Slam Board, and, given the exceptional circumstances, is fully supported by the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open,” Wimbledon said in a statement.

The postponement means grasscourt events scheduled to start on June 7 in s’Hertogenbosch (WTA and ATP), Stuttgart (ATP) and Nottingham (WTA) are set to clash with the second week of the claycourt major.

FFT president Gilles Moreton said it had made the decision after consulting with public authorities, the

governing bodies of international tennis, and its partners and broadcasters.

It hoped the delay would let them welcome more fans on the grounds than last year, when only 1 000 were allowed at Roland Garros every day.

year’s tournament until the end of September without consulting the elite men’s and women’s tours, who this time have been kept in the loop.

“Both the ATP and WTA are working in consultation with all parties impacted by the

Matches at the 2020 French Open were played in front of a maximum capacity of 1 000 fans

“It will give the health situation more time to improve and should optimise our chances of welcoming spectators at Roland Garros ...,” he added.

“For the fans, the players and the atmosphere, the presence of spectators is vital for our tournament, the spring’s most important international sporting event.”

The FFT had been heavily criticised for postponing last

postponement to optimise the calendar for players, tournaments, and fans, in the lead-up to and following Roland Garros,” the WTA and ATP said in a joint statement.

France last Saturday entered a third nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus, with President Emmanuel Macron saying he was hoping to “re-open” the country around mid-May. 13:254 hrs Ornua 13:55 hrs Champagne Beauty 14:25 hrs Whispering Waters

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, April 9, 202I

From King Kohli to Universe Boss: five to watch in the IPL

TOP players from around the world have gathered for the 14th Indian Premier League, which starts today for a 52day Twenty20 extravaganza played in empty stadiums because of the coronavirus pandemic.

But with critics, including former India opener Gautam Gambhir, suggesting there needs to be a changing of the guard at Bangalore, ‘King’ Kohli, who said he will open the batting in T20 internationals and in the IPL, will be determined to shine

last year, with Stokes only joining the team late due to his late father’s illness.

He scored 285 runs, including an unbeaten 107, in eight matches for a team that ran hot and cold.

Royals’ new director of

Royals last year, could find it tough to make the starting XI in a power-packed Delhi lineup including skipper Rishabh Pant, Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw and Shimron Hetmyer.

But coach Ricky Ponting

Virat Kohli

Steve Smiyh

cricket Kumar Sangakkara believes Stokes is “exactly the type of player any side would want”.

- Steve Smith (Delhi Capitals) A new start awaits Australia’s Steve Smith after he was bought by Delhi Capitals for $300,000 in this year’s auction following his release from Rajasthan Royals.

Smith, who captained

insists Smith, a prolific top-order batsman who has amassed 2,333 runs in 95 IPL matches, will be hungry to perform in a T20 World Cup year.

“I think the fact that he’s been released from the franchise that he’s been at for a long time will make him a bit hungry as well this year,” Ponting said on the Cricket Australia website.

He added Smith’s chance to play would be in the top three of the batting order.

- Chris Morris (Rajasthan Royals) The Royals broke the bank for the South African all-rounder in the IPL auction as the 33-year-old became the most expensive player in IPL history at $2.25 million.

Morris, who has claimed

Kings) Still a force in Twenty20 cricket at the age of 41, the veteran remains a vital part of the Punjab Kings’ batting arsenal.

The self-styled “Universe Boss” exploded last season after making the side midway through the tournament to hit three half-centuries in seven matches.

Chris Morris

Here, AFP highlights five stars who could be key in stopping Mumbai Indians winning for a third straight year: - Virat Kohli (Royal Challengers Bangalore) The India captain and prolific batsman is pivotal to Royal Challengers Bangalore’s hopes of winning a maiden IPL title.

He led his team to an improved showing last year with 466 runs in 15 matches as Bangalore made the play-offs in the United Arab Emirates.

ahead of the T20 World Cup later this year.

- Ben Stokes (Rajasthan Royals) The England all-rounder has proved his worth across all formats and his form with bat and ball will be crucial as the inconsistent Rajasthan strive to follow up their inaugural IPL triumph in 2008.

Royals, who will be captained by India’s Sanju Samson this season, finished bottom of the eight-team table

Chris Gayle

80 wickets and scored 551 runs in 70 IPL games, admitted the price “blew my mind”.

“There is a little bit of added pressure, but the pressure that you get from a price tag doesn’t affect you on a cricket field at the end of the day,” Morris said.

- Chris Gayle (Punjab

Punjab missed out on a play-offs spot, but the destructive left-hander, who is targeting his third T20 World Cup title with West Indies later this year, said he believed the change in the team’s name from Kings XI Punjab would also bring them a change in luck.

Risks of hosting the Indian Premier League during a pandemic THE richest and most glamorous tournament in world cricket is on schedule in India, even as the country battles a deadly second wave of COVID-19 infections.

Beginning today, the Indian Premier League (IPL) will have eight teams play 52 games at six venues behind closed doors across the country. The final will be played on May 30.

The matches will be held in Chennai, Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Ahmedabad. Most of these cities are seeing a sharp rise in infections and hospitalisations.

More than 165 000 people have died with COVID-19 in India, and there have been 12.5 million confirmed infections. The country has been averaging more than 90 000 daily cases in April in a second wave largely attributed to laxity in public safety protocols.

A senior official of the Indian cricket board (BCCI) has said he is confident the 14th edition of the IPL will go ahead “without any problem”.

Rajiv Shukla, vice-president of the board, told ANI news agency that secure bio-bubbles had been created for the players and other people associated with the tournament, and that they were getting tested for the virus.

“Keeping in mind all the precautions, the tournament will go ahead without any

problems,” Mr Shukla said.

NOT EVERYONE IS SO SURE

Four cricketers and a team consultant have already tested positive for COVID-19 and have been put in isolation before the start of the tournament.

who plays for Royal Challengers Bangalore, became the first foreign player to test positive after his arrival in Chennai (formerly Madras).

Ten ground staff at Mumbai’s Wankhede stadium, which will host 10 games, have also tested positive. Five of the

Last year, IPL was moved to the UAE

Devdutt Padikkal, an opening batsman for the Bangalore franchise, is in quarantine at home. Delhi Capitals spinner Axar Patel and Kolkata Knight Riders’ Nitish Rana have also tested positive for the virus.

Kiran More, the former India wicketkeeper and Mumbai Indians consultant, has become the “first case of a franchise representative being infected in a bio-bubble,” according to one report.

And on Wednesday, Australian all-rounder Daniel Sams,

eight teams are now living and training in different grounds in Mumbai, the city worst hit by India’s second wave.

“Dark COVID cloud looms over IPL”, headlined The Times of India. The newspaper also posed a number of pertinent questions: Why is the tournament being played in six cities when spectators are not allowed in the stadium? Why did the cricket board not move this year’s edition to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), like last year? “Is this edition a ticking time bomb

now?” it enquired.

The teams are said to be staying in secure accommodation, and don’t come into contact with anyone outside the bubble.

The cricket board has hired “bubble integrity managers” for each team, says one report.

According to ESPNCricinfo,

and more than 100 commentators living in eight separate bubbles, the Hindustan Times reported.

“The officials have taken a big risk. If one secure bubble collapses, the tournament will be in jeopardy,” a former IPL team official, who preferred to remain unnamed, told the BBC.

The IPL will be played in several cities where COVID-19 caseloads are rising

the stadium staff in Mumbai are being “tested every two days”.

Many believe it will not be easy to maintain the security of the bubbles, however.

Between them, the eight teams have some 200 players living in bubbles. Then there are hundreds of support staff, team management staff, commentators, broadcast crew, groundsmen and caterers living in different bubbles. Star Sports, the broadcasters of the tournament, alone have some 700 crew members

Sourav Ganguly, the former Indian captain and the current chief of the cricket board, has been quoted as saying that last year’s IPL in the UAE showed that “once everything settles down and is in bubble, things come under control”.

But safeguarding bubble security in Indian cities where cricketers are treated as superstars may not be as simple.

When the IPL was moved to the UAE last summer,

COVID-19 infection rates there were far lower than they are in India now. The games were played at only three venues - in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah - and there was no air travel involved, unlike this time.

It is true that cancelling the tournament now would result in a big financial hit for the Indian cricket board. Calling off the IPL last year would have led to losses upwards of $500M from media rights alone, according to one estimate.

“It is true that a lot of money is riding on the tournament. The IPL also brings lots of money to domestic cricket. But I personally feel they should not play the tournament,” Suresh Menon, editor of Wisden India Almanack, told the BBC. He says if there’s a major outbreak of infection in the bubbles, the tournament will have to be called off. India has a packed cricketing calendar ahead: between now and the next IPL in 2022, India are scheduled to play 14 Tests, 12 ODIs and 22 Twenty20s. This is besides the World Twenty20 in India in October.

“Through a combination of well-planned bubbles, player discipline, and good fortune, India played through the pandemic year in 2020 without casualties and without, so far as we know, significant mental issues. But the pressures of playing in such conditions cannot be exaggerated,” says Mr Menon. (BBC News)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, April 9, 202I

Pollock criticises de Kock ‘deception’ over Zaman run-out (AFP) - Former South African captain Shaun Pollock yesterday said he believed South African wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock was guilty of deception in the runout of Pakistan batsman Fakhar Zaman during the second one-international in Johannesburg on Sunday.

But Pollock said he believed de Kock was not aware of a law which outlaws wilful attempts to “distract, deceive or obstruct” a batsman.

Speaking in his role as a commentator for SuperSport television in the build-up to the third and final match in Centurion, Pollock said he believed the incident should have been sent to the third umpire for a ruling.

It happened off the first ball of the final over, which started with Pakistan needing 31 to win. Fakhar hit the ball to long-off and was run-out when he slowed down before completing a second run, with

de Kock seemingly indicating that a throw from Aiden Markram should be aimed at the bowler’s end.

Fakhar was out for 193.

If the umpires had decided that there was deliberate deception, they could have awarded five penalty runs to Pakistan, which would have kept the touring team in with a chance of winning, with Fakhar remaining on strike.

“When you look at the incident and analyse it, it’s the action of putting the hand up, you can see the distraction for the batsman and the fact that he laughed afterwards,” said Pollock.

“I’m not saying that if he did that he knew it was wrong. I don’t think a lot of the players know about this rule,” said Pollock, who was on the MCC committee which brought in the rule to prevent the practice of fielders pretending they had stopped the

India legend Sachin Tendulkar leaves hospital

INDIA legend Sachin Tendulkar has been released from hospital a week after he was admitted having contracted COVID-19.

Tendulkar, 47, said on March 27 he had tested positive and was taken to a Mumbai hospital six days later “as a matter of abundant precaution”.

The former batsman says he has returned home and “will remain isolated while continuing to rest and recuperate”.

“I would like to thank everyone for all the good wishes and prayers,” he said.

“I remain ever grateful to all the medical staff who took such good care of me and have been working tirelessly for over a year in such difficult circumstances.”

Tendulkar, who retired in 2013, is widely regarded as one of cricket’s greatest batsmen.

He scored a record 15 921

runs in 200 Tests and another 18 426 in 463 one-day internationals.

Sachin Tendulkar scored a record 100 international centuries during his 24-year career

India is seeing a spike in coronavirus cases with an average of more than 90 000 daily cases in April.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) begins today.

(BBC Sport)

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ANSWERS TO YESTERDAY’S:

Geoff Boycott (ENG vs AUST, Melbourne, 1971) Graham Mc Kenzie (AUST)

TODAY’S QUIZ:

Who faced the first ball in T20 International cricket?

Who delivered it?

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

ball in order to dissuade batsmen from taking second runs.

“Looking at it, it didn’t

feel right and I think it was definitely done on purpose to try and deceive,”

said Pollock. “If you slow it down, it looks as though he was trying something (but)

Pakistan’s Fakhar Zaman (right) after being run-out as South African wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock (left) looks on

I don’t think he was trying to cheat.”

Former Pakistan batsman Ramiz Raja said he believed it was a borderline case.

“There was no conclusive evidence that he was involved in serious mischief,” he said.

Raja joked that he believed deception was “part of a wicketkeeper’s DNA”.

He recalled an incident in a one-day international against India in 1986 when Indian wicketkeeper Sadanand Viswanath “tried to make believe he had missed the ball and I was run-out”.

Raja said the ultimate responsibility lay with the batsman. “The onus was on Fakhar to make his ground,” he said.

“You feel like a fool,” he said of the Pune incident.

“Not only the Indian fielders were laughing at me, so was Javed Miandad at the non-striker’s end.”

JFF, Reggae Boyz close to a deal, save for one issue

THE Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) is said to be close to a resolution in the wage impasse with the Reggae Boyz.

Sources told Sportsmax.TV that the parties have agreed to terms on all but one matter for a two-year deal that will include the next two CONCACAF Gold Cups, Nations League, the World Cup and international friendlies.

However, they were unable to disclose what that sticking point is.

In late March, prior to an international friendly against the USA in Austria, the JFF and Reggae Boyz arrived at an impasse over match fees and bonuses and what the Reggae Boyz said were issues beyond money.

The Reggae Boyz initially requested match fees of US$7000 plus bonuses for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. However, the cash-strapped JFF rejected

that offer and put US$2000 plus bonuses on the table, an offer the players rejected.

The players also claimed that JFF needed to treat them better and with greater levels of respect.

Reggae Boyz captain Andre Blake said the players have

now decided to take a stand because they believe the abuse at the hands of JFF has been going on for too long. “It’s been generation on top of generation, anybody who has played for Jamaica can attest to this,” he said.

The Reggae Boyz players claimed the JFF needed to treat them better

“If we don’t put a stop to this, 20 years later, my kids’ kids or other players’ kids or public members’ kids are going to be playing for the same money and under the same poor organisation, structure and poor professionalism and poor communication and Jamaica football will never get better.”

JFF, meanwhile, was forced to constitute a squad mainly of debutants, several of whom were English-born players hoping to help Jamaica get to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, for the friendly against the USA that Jamaica lost 4-1.

Reggae Boyz subsequently released a statement in which they said they were keen to finalise the negotiations with the JFF so that the coaching staff can select the best team to participate in the World Cup qualifiers that begin in less than two months.

Jaguar Harriott up for Colchester’s relegation fight

LONDON, England (CMC) – Guyana international Callum Harriott, who has been fighting jet lag while juggling club and country commitments, says he is thriving on the pressure of helping Colchester United maintain their English Football League status and lift them to League Two safety.

The 27-year-old UK-born winger, who has been busy recently on international duty in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, was on target in Colchester’s 1-1 draw with Barrow on Easter Monday and has scored four of their last nine goals, as they battle to beat the drop.

They go again tomorrow night with a visit to Oldham Athletic, which will mark his 75th appearance for the club.

He scored against Oldham in the earlier 3-3 draw.

Harriott is now Colchester’s

leading league scorer with nine goals and is closing in on reaching double figures in a league season for the first time in his professional career.

His team-mate, former Young Reggae Boyz attacking midfielder Jevani Brown, has scored 11 goals in all competitions for Colchester this season, including seven in the league. He bagged two hat-tricks in a week, but has not scored since November.

Harriott, who began his career at Charlton Athletic in 2011, enjoying a loan spell at Colchester before moving to Reading in 2016 and then signing for Colchester in 2019, says he is embracing the challenge that awaits his club, who are five points above the relegation zone with six games remaining.

Harriott told the Colchester Gazette newspaper: “Pressure is

good – I like pressure. You either come out and be a lion or you come out being a sheep.

“We have six games to go now and we haven’t got time to dwell on things. We have to get ourselves right, go again and try to get a win.”

Harriott scored on his return to Colchester’s starting line-up, following a four-game absence owing to his international call-up with Guyana.

His well-taken first-half strike against fellow strugglers Barrow was cancelled out by substitute Tom Beadling’s late equaliser, at the JobServe Community Stadium in England’s southeast.

“Everyone was disappointed and we obviously set out to win the game,” said Harriott, who arrived back in the UK last Thursday, having played two World Cup quali-

fiers for Guyana against Trinidad and Tobago and The Bahamas, in the Dominican Republic.

The winger said he loved playing international football, despite the gruelling travelling requirements.

Harriott added: “It’s an honour – I love it. I enjoy the football and the training; the intensity of it is really hard and it’s crazy hot but it’s good.

“We lost the first game against Trinidad (0-3). We won our second game 4-0 (against The Bahamas) and it should have been eight.

“The travelling was horrific – I’m not going to lie. I hate long flights but once I’m there, I’m there.

“The jet lag was the toughest thing and it was tough getting back to sleep afterwards, but I feel like I’ve got back into the routine now.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, April 9, 202I

Harper rues missed opportunity in first Test but pleased with series outcome

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, (CMC) – Chairman of selectors, Roger Harper, believes the recent drawn series against Sri Lanka provided reason for continued optimism but rued the side’s inability to nick a victory in the opening Test.

Both matches proved to be attritional affairs on flat tracks at the Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium in Antigua, with neither side possessing the extra firepower to claim 20 wickets.

West Indies looked to be in with a chance of forcing an outright result in the first Test when they dismissed Sri Lanka cheaply for 169 in their first innings and then carved out a lead of 102 runs ahead of the

second innings.

But debutant Pathum Nissanka struck a century to power the visitors to 476 in their second innings, forcing West Indies to save the game after they were set an improbable victory target of 375.

“I think we really lost an opportunity in the first innings of the first Test. Having dismissed Sri Lanka for a relatively low total, we really needed to build a big lead and apply the pressure to Sri Lanka,” Harper pointed out.

“Instead, we got a lead of a little over 100 and the pitch got very flat, and we got ourselves batting to save the game, rather than applying pressure to the

Mystery surrounds return date of spinner Narine to international cricket

Sunil Narine has not appeared for the West Indies since 2019

WEST INDIES chief of selectors, Roger Harper, has revealed that the panel remains in the dark regarding the future of spinner Sunil Narine who remains unavailable for selection.

The 32-year-old Narine is widely regarded as one of the best spinners in the world but has not appeared for the West Indies since 2019. In total, Narine has played 6 Test matches, where he claimed 21 wickets, 65 One Day Internationals, where he has claimed 92 wickets, and 51 T20 Internationals where he has taken 52.

The player has, however, throughout his career been plagued by questions surrounding his bowling action. In 2015, Narine was suspended from bowling in international cricket, after his action was deemed to be illegal.

He was reported during the ODI series against Sri Lanka.

He was cleared a year later after doing remedial work on his action. Narine was reported again during the 2018 Pakistan Super League (PSL) but was cleared soon after.

Again, in October 2020, the spinner was reported by on-field umpires for his bowling action in the 2020 Indian Premier League, (IPL) which was cleared by IPL Suspect Bowling Action Committee in September.

According to Harper, at this point, the bowler does not seem comfortable enough with his technique to return to international cricket.

“Sunil Narine has indicated to us that he is not yet ready for the international scene,” Harper told the Mason and Guest radio programme.

“He was still in the process of fine-tuning his action. He had some issues with that so he is in the process of fine-tuning it,” he added.

“So, when he makes himself available and thinks that he is ready for international cricket, we will then have to make a determination at that point.” (Sportsmax)

Sri Lankans.

“I thought we lost an opportunity there not being able to build a big first innings lead in that first Test match, having bowled them out.”

to survive three sessions but Nkrumah Bonner struck his maiden Test hundred to erase any doubt.

Harper said the ease with which the home side batted out the final day was an indication

Test debutant Pathum Nissanka struck a century to power Sri Lanka to 476 in their second innings

West Indies resumed the final day on 34 for one with uncertainty over their ability

of their recent development.

“The pitch had a bit of moisture in that first innings

and we bowled and managed to use that to our advantage, but we did not bat and take advantage of it, and we let that opportunity slip away,” Harper noted.

“The fact that we were able to bat out the fourth innings for a draw was significant. I cannot tell the last time a West Indies test team was able to do that, to bat out the time for a draw, so that’s significant.”

The result meant West Indies went undefeated in the multi-format series after winning the Twenty20 series 2-1 and sweeping the three-match One-Day International series.

And following on from the Test series win in Bangladesh recently, Harper said the Sri Lanka series represented another step forward.

“I think overall, it was a very pleasing effort all-

round,” Harper told Starcom Radio’s Mason and Guest.

“We had a whole series where we played T20Is, ODIs and Tests, and to come away with a series victory in the T20Is, a complete 3-0 victory in the ODIs – and then as much as we would have liked to have won the two Tests or the Test series – to come away with two draws is a positive for us.

“I think we had a very good home series, and it is a performance we can continue to build on.”

He added: “I don’t think there were any disappointments. I think there were areas that we could improve on … and can get better at. I would say overall when you look at the performances of the teams, it was a pretty good Test series.”

Calling lockdown of athletics ‘destructive’, track coaches association calls for immediate resumption of competition THE Jamaica Track and Field Coaches Association (JATAFCA) believes the absence of track and field competitions because of the Covid-19 pandemic is proving to be destructive.

In light of this claim, they have called upon the relevant authorities to immediately authorise the resumption of track and field that will allow the country to maintain its standing in global athletics.

The last track meet was held on March 20, 2021, and with the ISSA Boys and Girls Championships and the World Relays in Poland looming, Jamaica’s athletes will be at a significant disadvantage.

“The current delay is destructive. The psychological and mental damage to our athletes and coaches is almost irreparable. As a nation, we cannot afford a cancellation of ISSA Champs 2021, which the delay will cause.

Not only is the competition a major pillar for our world-renowned track and field prowess, it provides the platform for student-athletes to earn athletics scholarships to overseas colleges and universities.”

JATAFCA said that the available data indicates that Jamaica’s student-athletes earn scholarships valued at over J$2 billion. This is a stark contrast to the

J$85.791 million allocated in the 2019-20 Estimates of Expenditures for the Ministry of Sports for Athlete’s insurance. No other line item was identified as applicable.

stand that the authorities are concerned about the spike in COVID-19 cases and the stress on the public health system,” the JATAFCA said in a statement Thursday.

The last track meet was held on March 20, 2021

“We, therefore, call upon the authorities to recognise the importance of track and field to the overall national development, the psyche and contribution to the young people of our nation. We implore them to partner with the JAAA, ISSA and their sponsors, to stage these competitions safely and successfully,” they said.

The inactivity, JATAFCA said, is due to the absence of approval by the authorities for the additional competitions organized and managed by the governing body the Jamaica Athletic Administrative Association (JAAA).

“We are made to under-

“Let it be clear that we too are equally concerned.

We are, however, of the opinion that concern for public health is not diametrically opposed to the staging of COVID-19 safe track and field competitions. It is all about striking a balance, minimize the fallouts, and pursue the things we are best at.”

The coaches’ association said that over a three-week period from February 27 to March 20th, the JAAA staged 20 competitions that saw 39 junior athletes - 27 boys and 12 girls - making the very rigorous qualifying standards for the World Under-20 Championships in Nairobi Kenya.

In addition, there was at least one world-leading performance from a senior athlete.

“With some 1500 juniors and close to 300 senior athletes competing in the Qualification Trial Series (QTS), there was no reported positive COVID-19 case(s) among athletes, officials or athlete support personnel,” the coaches said.

“The JAAA executed well and established a blueprint that several countries across the NACAC region, including USA and Canada, have now adopted.

“We also make the call for authorities to provide clear and immediate responses, within 24 hours, to the applications for permits now in their possession. Further delay would be tantamount to assisting our global competitors in making light of our efforts when we meet on the track or in the field later this year.

“As an association, we will continue to play our part in encouraging our members to practice all the COVID-19 protocols for mask-wearing, social distancing and hand hygiene.

They know we hold them to a high standard of compliance, a similar standard that has resulted in us being ranked third in World Athletics.” (Sportsmax)

Colin Ming laid to rest

Pallbears carry the body of Samuel Colin Ming into the church for viewing. Among them are his brother Stanley (Second on left), his nephew Calvin and (third on left) and his son Samuel (Third on right) (Elvin Croker Photo)

West Indies all-rounder Jason Holder, left, congratulates captain Kraigg Brathwaite for reaching his half-century during day one of the second Test against Sri Lanka at Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium in North Sound, Antigua (Photo by RANDY BROOKS/ AFP via Getty Images)

SAMUEL Colin Ming was yesterday laid to rest after succumbing to injuries sustained in a road accident at J.B Singh Road and Thomas Lands, Georgetown.

The body of the businessman, described as a giant in many sporting circles, was surrounded by family and close friends at the viewing at the Merriman’s Funeral Home.

Over the last week, tributes poured in from sport bodies across the country.

‘One of his overriding passions was the promotion of sports to youths, especially those who were in need, and it was in that spirit he donated hundreds of golf clubs to the NexGen Golf Academy for the school programme, a release said.

Ming was a former secretary of the Guyana Squash Association (GSA) and also president of the Caribbean Area Squash Association (CASA).

‘He spent endless hours over the years at the Georgetown Club on the squash courts working on the physical as well as the mental skills of his students and on fine-tuning their games.

They all reaped the success of his exploits.’ a GSA release said.

Ming was also a vice-president of the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG).

A Police report of Ming’s accident indicated that it took place around 14:15hrs last Thursday. He died around 13:45hrs the following day, in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH).

‘Exemplary’ Holder an inspiration during SL series - chief selector Harper SEE PAGE 22

Cloth Cap heads Grand National field as The Storyteller is withdrawn

SEE PAGE 22

SEE PAGE 25

Cloth Cap is the favourite for tomorrow’s race

Risks of hosting the Indian Premier League during a pandemic

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FRIDAY, APRIL 9, 2021