Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 09-06-2021

WEDNESDAY 9th June, 2021

' No.106386

Health Ministry on the lookout for water-borne diseases

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‘We’ll help you get back on your feet’03 PAGE

–– President Ali assures flooded communities

President Dr. Irfaan Ali interacting with residents and farmers in Mahaica Creek as part of a flood-assessment exercise in Region Five on Tuesday (Office of the President photo)

Water slowly receding in Kwakwani 17 Attention placed on $10B in supplemental Discrimination of Two escape from Lusignan Prison 15 minimising effects 08 persons with HIV funding being sought of floods on 02 second rice crop to address flooding 09 to become illegal PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 9, 2021

Work being done to minimise effects of flood on second rice crop

-- Agriculture Minister THE Ministry of Agriculture is working to minimise the effects of the current flood on the country’s second rice crop for 2021. Customarily, the May/June period would see rice farmers across the country engaged in preparing their fields and sowing seeds for harvest in October-November.

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, has confirmed that so far, approximately 30,000 acres of rice have already been sown, with inclement weather threatening the outcome of the intended harvest.

The minister said that even though many rice lands are facing threats of being flooded, only a small amount of the current rice crop has been damaged. Mustapha said that another 70,000 acres of rice lands are yet to be sown. “We are doing monitoring,” the minister said.

He explained that, currently, Extension Officers from the Ministry of Agriculture are working along with farmers to minimise damage and safeguard the rice being planted.

“A substantial amount of rice crop that has been sown would be saved, but we still have to wait and see at the end of it all,” Mustapha said.

He noted that various field officers, including those from the National Drainage and Irrigation

Authority (NDIA), are tasked with executing daily monitoring. Stemming from this, the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) is tasked with providing daily updates.

“It’s a work in progress,” Mustapha acknowledged.

He said that in some areas along the Mahaica/Mahaicony district, flood waters have started to recede as a result of aggressive drainage monitoring and action. “We just visited Big Biaboo, and we made a number of interventions that have already been implemented,” the minister posited.

He explained that once the May/June season passes, rice farmers will not be able to participate in the second rice crop, thereby affecting the outcome of the second rice crop for 2021, and the country’s economy as a whole.

Guyana’s rice industry has always been a leading income earner for the country. In 2020, the industry raked in US$236.2 million, which accounts for more than G$51 billion.

This earning came from the exportation of 574,312 tonnes of paddy, rice and its by-products for that year. During January-December 2020, Guyana exported rice and rice products to 40 countries, with the major buyers being Jamaica, Trinidad, Belgium, Holland, France,

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, displaying the GRDB16, Guyana’s newest rice variety

Italy, Poland, Portugal, Spain, the United Kingdom, Columbia, Haiti, Honduras and Venezuela.

As far as this year goes, Guyana was previously expected to be able to export 649,480

tonnes of paddy, rice and its by-products, valuing close to US$ 257.3 million.

The Agriculture Ministry was hopeful that Guyana’s newest rice variety, the GRDB16, has the potential to increase Guyana’s rice output significantly, having possessed the potential of producing up to nine tonnes or 60 bags per acre.

As it is, Minister Mustapha said that all efforts are being made to minimise the flooding, and support rice farmers

who have been affected, and who are likely to be affected as the inclement weather persists. “We are monitoring the situation closely,” the minister said.

He explained that, presently, farmers are being advised and updated based on the projected “timeline and forecast” being garnered from the country’s Hydrometeorological Service.

“We are trying our utmost to ensure we bring back some form of normalcy,” the minister assured.

As heavy rainfall continues, only some 30,000 acres of rice have been sown; approximately 70,000 acres or rice lands are still to be planted (Dhanash Ramroop)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 9, 2021

‘We’ll help you get back on your feet’ –– President Ali assures flooded communities

PRESIDENT, Dr. Irfaan Ali, has reiterated his government’s commitment to addressing the needs of all communities affected by the ongoing floods. More importantly, he said that these support initiatives will come in the form of short-term, medium-term and long-term interventions.

The President made this commitment during an assessment visit to Big Biaboo located in Mahaica Creek, Region Five, on Tuesday.

“We’ll be having a comprehensive assessment; our priority is to see all possible ways in which we can get the water off this land as quickly as possible,” Dr. Ali told the residents.

He said that the medium and long-term issues relate to persons being able to get back into their farms and other means of livelihood.

“The losses you have occurred…the Government will help you to get back on your feet again,” the President assured.

In listening to the con-

President Ali engages flood-affected residents of Mortice, Mahaicony, Branch Road cerns and plights of the flood-affected residents, Dr. Ali related how heartbroken he was by the prevailing situation in not only Mahaica, but in all flooded communities throughout the country.

“Today we are here to let you know that we are with you in this, and that we are not going to disappear; that

is not how we are going to operate,” the President assured.

He said that the members of government are deeply concerned about the devastation being faced by thousands of Guyanese, and that every action will be taken to bring relief to those who have been affected.

“We care about you; we care about your losses and we intend to take action to help you…. I am here to let you know that, from the level of the Presidency itself, we are committed to helping; we are committed to working with you so that we can help you in the medium and long term

A section of the gathering at the meeting

also,” President Ali told the residents.

He said that based on the immediate needs, the government’s priority surrounds the provision of adequate food supplies, shelter and access to health facilities. He said that additional systems are being put in place to allow for more

long-term solutions.

Ever since water levels began to rise more than two weeks ago, President Ali has been on the ground visiting a number of flooded communities across the country, including those located in the heavily-affected Region 10, where water levels have reached 15 feet, submerging houses and vehicles alike. The President has also visited communities in Regions Two, Three, Five, Six and Seven.

During his Tuesday visit, the Head of State visited several other communities in Region Five, including the riverine areas of Mahaicony.

He was accompanied by a team of officials, including Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha; Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall; and the Director-General of the Civil Defence Commission, Lieutenant Colonel, Kester Craig.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 9, 2021

Kamala Harris under pressure to visit US-Mexico border US Vice-President Kamala Harris has faced pressure to visit the US-Mexico border, as she tackled a record migration spike on her first official foreign trip.

Harris had a testy exchange with a news anchor who asked why she had not gone to the US’ southern boundary.

Members of Harris’ own Democratic party meanwhile assailed her after she warned against illegal immigration.

Some 178,000 undocumented migrants arrived at the border this April, the highest total in more than two decades.

The Vice-President’s staff initially said the border was part of Harris’ portfolio when US President Joe Biden assigned her in March to stem migration from Latin America. But aides have recently been seeking to distance her from the politically toxic crisis.

While recent public polling suggests a generally favourable view of the Biden administration’s policies on the economy and pandemic, its handling of the immigration crisis has proven less popular.

Asked in an interview with NBC News aired on

Children detained at a holding facility for undocumented migrants in Donna, Texas, in March (Reuters photo)

Tuesday morning whether she had any plans to visit the border, Harris threw up her arms and responded: “At some point. You know... we are going to the border. We have been to the border.”

When the host pointed out that she had not herself visited the region, she said with a laugh: “And I haven’t been to Europe. I don’t understand the point you’re making.”

Harris again brushed off

questions about why she had not gone to the border as she spoke to reporters on Tuesday in Mexico.

“It would be very easy to say,” she said, “we’ll travel to one place and therefore it’s solved. I don’t think anybody thinks that that would be the solution.”

Pressed on why she would not visit the border, Harris said she had done so when she was a senator for California.

Harris’ remarks came at

the end of a two-day visit to Guatemala and Mexico, where she met both countries’ leaders in a bid to bolster diplomatic ties and help stem undocumented migration to the US. Capping off her trip on Tuesday, Harris met Mexico President Andrés Manuel López Obrador privately for more than an hour, said the Vice-President’s aides.

It is unclear whether Harris pushed Mexico’s President to do more to

detain migrants en route to the US. López Obrador, a left-wing leader, has previously blamed the Biden administration for causing the record surge in undocumented migration.

An aide to Harris later said she had pledged $130m (£92m) in US aid to support Mexican workers’ rights. She has already promised $310m to alleviate the impact of the pandemic and hurricanes last year in Central America.

Back at the White House daily briefing on Tuesday, Biden spokeswoman Jen Psaki was asked why Harris had not visited the US-Mexico boundary.

“I think that at some point she may go to the border,” Psaki said. “We’ll see.”

Critics across the political spectrum said Harris’ remarks in Guatemala

on Monday contradicted the Biden administration’s promise to usher in a more humane approach on migration.

“Do not come. Do not come,” the Vice-President warned illegal immigrants, adding: “If you come to our border, you will be turned back.”

While running for the presidency in 2019, Harris lambasted then-President Donald Trump for turning away undocumented immigrants at the border.

“What does Donald Trump do?” she said. “He says, ‘go back where you came from.’ That is not reflective of our America and our values and it’s got to end.”

Harris’ remarks on Monday provided fodder for her regular Republican critics, but they also provoked rare rebukes from left-wing members of her own party.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the influential New York City Democratic congresswoman, called the remark “disappointing”.

“First, seeking asylum at any US border is a 100 per cent legal method of arrival,” she tweeted.

“Second, the US spent decades contributing to regime change and destabilisation in Latin America. We can’t help set someone’s house on fire and then blame them for fleeing.”

Fellow members of her ultraliberal group known as the Squad also criticised Harris, who is herself the daughter of migrants - an Indian-born mother and a Jamaican-born father.

“The right to seek asylum is not just legally protected. It is a foundational universal human right,” tweeted Minnesota congresswoman Ilhan Omar, who was born in Somalia.

Michigan’s Rashida Tlaib also hit out at Harris, writing: “This whole ‘stay there and die’ approach is not how our country will promote a more humane and just immigration system.”

Asked later about the criticism, Harris said: “I’m really clear. We have to deal with the root causes and that is my hope.

Period.” (BBC)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 9, 2021

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Peru candidate cries foul as she falls behind

The right-wing candidate in Peru’s presidential election, Keiko Fujimori, alleges there have been “signs of fraud” in Sunday’s run-off election.

“There is a clear intention to boycott the popular will,” she said without offering detailed evidence.

She made the allegation after her left-wing rival, Pedro Castillo, pulled past her in the vote count.

With 97.3 per cent of the votes counted, Castillo had a razor-thin lead of less than 0.5 percentage points.

In a news conference, Fujimori alleged that there had been a “strategy by Peru Libre [Free Peru, the party of Castillo] to distort and delay the results which reflect the

Keiko Fujimori is running for President for the third time (Reuters photo)

popular will”.

Peru Libre rejected the accusation, tweeting that it had “never resorted to electoral fraud, to the contrary, we’ve always been victims of it”.

After accusing her rival’s party of fraud, Fujimori struck a more optimistic note, saying that the tables could still turn once the votes from Peruvians abroad were counted. The votes that are still to be counted come mainly from remote rural areas in Peru and from Peruvians who cast their ballots in consulates across the world.

Castillo has strong support in rural areas but Fujimori has done well with Peruvians living outside their homeland, making the final result extremely hard to predict.

Whoever wins will have a tough task ahead bringing together a polarised nation which has seen its economy crumble as it was hit hard by

the coronavirus pandemic.

After changing the methodology of how it registers COVID deaths, Peru became the country with the highest per capita death rate from coronavirus in the world.

In an attempt to woo those hit by the pandemic, Fujimori said that if elected, her government would give 10,000 soles ($2,600; $1,830) to families who had lost a relative to COVID-19.

But many Peruvians fear that if she wins, the country’s “old guard” could return to power. Fujimori is the daughter of former President Alberto Fujimori, who is in jail serving a 25-year-sentence for crimes including corruption and human rights abuses.

She has said that if she is

elected she will pardon her father, who remains a deeply divisive figure - praised by some for his fight against Shining Path guerrillas and denounced by others for abuses carried out during his time in power, including forced sterilisations of indigenous women.

Meanwhile, there are also those who fear that Pedro Castillo, a primary teacher who was little known before winning the first round of the election, could destabilise the country’s economy.

The left-wing trade unionist campaigned on a promise to help the poor by introducing higher taxes on powerful mining firms in this copper-producing nation.

On Monday, the Peruvian

currency fell to an all-time low as Castillo overtook Fujimori in the vote count.

He has also said that he wants to rewrite the Constitution “to end all inequalities” and promised to make human rights a priority.

Whoever becomes President will also have to contend with a Congress in which 10 parties squabble for control and which in the past has toppled presidents.

Over the past four years, Peru has had four leaders: one resigned over a vote-buying scandal, another was impeached, a third stepped down after less than a week in the post, and the fourth is the current interim President.

(BBC)

lungs and possibly a punctured lung as well. She’s currently receiving help to breathe.

“Both Georgia and Melissa are on heavy doses of intravenous antibiotics, so we’re really hoping that if any infection does develop that they’ll be able to catch it really quickly,” says Hana.

Hana says Georgia is an experienced diver, but was “so frightened” when she came face to face with the croc.

“Thank goodness she’s had that training. She said her adrenaline kicked in and she knew what to do.”

Their dad is in contact with the British Embassy in Mexico to try and get support for his daughters, but Hana

say it’s stressful being so far away from her sisters.

Their concern now is how they’ll pay for Georgia and Melissa’s hospital stay - they’re not sure yet if their insurance will cover the treatment they’re receiving.

But they’ve been able to speak with Georgia on WhatsApp and she’s made FaceTime calls from her hospital bed.

“Georgia’s getting sporadic updates from the doctors as they come in to see her, about Melissa’s condition. It’s difficult,” says Hana.

“She is so brave and I think she’s still in shock.

But I just had to tell her how proud I was of her.

“I’d have one less sister if I didn’t have such an excellent other sister.” (BBC)

‘Brit’ saves twin sister by punching crocodile in the face

WHEN a crocodile grabbed her sister, there was only one option for Georgia Laurie - she punched it in the face.

The 28-year-old twins were swimming in Mexico when Melissa was dragged underwater by the reptile.

The sisters, from Berkshire, were in a lagoon near Puerto Escondido, on Sunday, when the attack happened.

They’d been travelling, volunteering and working in animal sanctuaries - their sister Hana tells Radio 1 Newsbeat.

Both sisters, who live in Berkshire, are now in hospital in Mexico - and Melissa is currently in an induced coma, because of worries of infection from the injuries she sustained.

While they were swimming, Melissa disappeared under the water and Georgia had been trying to find her.

Crocodiles try to drown their victims.

“Georgia found her unre-

Georgia (right) saved Melissa from the jaws of a crocodile (BBC photo)

sponsive and started to drag her back to the safety of a boat,” says 33-year-old Hana from her home in Alton, Hampshire.

“She dragged her back as the crocodile kept coming back for more - so she just started hitting it.

“She’d heard that with some animals, that’s what you’ve got to do.”

Hana says Melissa was thrown about like a “rag doll” by the crocodile.

“Luckily, her super-badass twin sister was there to punch it repeatedly - as it

came back about three times - to try and save her.”

Doctors are concerned about the water the sisters were swimming in, as well as anything that might have been passed on from the crocodile’s mouth and teeth.

Melissa has water on her

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 9, 2021

Climate change and Guyana’s vulnerability

GUYANA is very vulnerable to the effects of climate change. This is so for several reasons, the main reason being our flat coastland which is home to the vast majority of the Guyanese people.

It is a reality of our national existence that our coastland is six feet below sea level at high tide.

That in itself is a frightening scenario. As children growing up, we were taught how prone we are to flood waters invading our shores which potentially could emanate from rising sea and river levels.

Our flat coastlines are particularly susceptible to rapid accumulation of rainfall, especially during periods of heavy downpour.

We are known to experience two rainy seasons-the December-January

and the May-June-- and, within recent times, what is known as high-intensity rainfall.

One consequence of such heavy rainfall is that it makes natural drainage into rivers and seas extremely difficult, especially during the high tides.

Our drainage and irrigation systems are therefore put under severe stress during the rainy seasons.

Climate change poses an enormous threat to our existing sea defence infrastructure which was designed and built, for the most part, since the early days of Dutch and British colonisation.

It is in the above context that the current flood situation in the country has to be situated. The problem is further compounded by changing global dynamics

due to global warming.

The Guyana Government is not unaware of these challenges and the country’s vulnerability to climate change.

The current administration, despite budgetary constraints, has been making every effort to mitigate the effects of climate change by way of several policy interventions, which include construction of new sea defences and rehabilitation of existing ones. In addition, substantial sums of money are being spent annually on the desilting of drainage and irrigation systems across the country.

The current flood situation we are experiencing, though not entirely new, has once again brought home the harsh reality of our national life, namely,

that we cannot take our existence for granted in the face of climate change and the unpredictability such changes can engender.

Still fresh in the minds of many Guyanese is the devastation caused by the 2005 flood when approximately 290,000 people or roughly 39 per cent of the country’s population were affected. The economic impact of the flood was estimated at US$465 million or 59 per cent of the country’s GDP. Thankfully, the magnitude of our devastation is not comparable to some of the worst hit regions in the world but it does serve to remind us that we are not completely, as it were, out of the woods when it comes to natural disasters of one kind or the other.

President Mohamed Ir-

faan Ali, his entire Cabinet and team of officials, both technical and administrative, have been extremely proactive in terms of disaster mitigation and bringing relief to affected communities. It is the timely and personal touch of a caring hand that matters in situations such as these and the President has not been found wanting.

True enough, the full extent of the losses may not be fully and adequately compensated but the soothing hand of a caring leader meant a lot in times of distress.

This is no time to play politics with the lives and livelihoods of the Guyanese people.

Too much is at stake.

Apart from the several homes that have been affected by flood wa-

ters, there is also the adverse effect on agricultural production and livestock. President Ali has indicated that no effort will be spared to bring the situation under control. An inter-agency approach involving the Government, NGOs and the Private Sector has already been set in motion to bring relief to individuals and communities affected by the flood.

The recent floods that are taking place in Guyana and for that matter the world at large is symptomatic of a much bigger problem which scientists have warned quite some time ago, but which seemed to have been ignored by policymakers, especially in the highly industrialised world.

Urgency necessary in reaching out to flood-affected Guyanese Dear Editor,

THE move is indeed most necessary, and I hope that it will be totally automatic. I speak here of “When the National Assembly resumes sittings on Thursday, the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Government will be using the occasion to seek supplemental funding to the tune of $10 billion, to assist with flood mitigation measures throughout the country.”

We just cannot wait.

The devastation is unprecedented and I am all for the government in its move to make pre-emptive plans

to aid those affected by the torrential rainfalls and flooding that has plagued communities, particularly in Region Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, and 10.

Let me state clearly that nothing should stand in the way of reaching out from a national standpoint. It is the duty of the government of the day, and the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) is obligated to take the necessary steps, and hopefully will not be stymied in this planned effort.

I add that experiencing damage caused by extreme weather such as storms or flooding is not easy to deal with. At the mental level,

there can be an increase in the chances of facing mental health problems such as stress and depression by 50 per cent. Data can be accessed that show a quarter of people who have been flooded still live with these issues, at least two years after the event.

So, when the government goes to the Parliament for supplementary provisions to address the flooding issues, seeking $10 billion in supplementary provisions, I hope that all Guyanese will be able to grasp the magnitude of what has happened and what must be done.

According to Vice-Pres-

ident, Bharrat Jagdeo, “It (the money) would help us to give enough to the farmers, the miners, all of those who have had their livelihoods disrupted, so we can give them some help to get back to productive activities. And of course, it would assist us in continuing to provide immediate assistance.”

In this regard, it is essential we be certain of a few realities for life after flooding: Find out if the water supply is safe to drink before consuming water; avoid floodwaters, as they may be contaminated; drive cautiously as roads and dams are prone to

be undermined after flooding.

I like the fact that the Vice-President brought up the study done by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) on the 2005 floods and its economic impact. As we can all see, it was found that Guyana lost approximately 59 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). So quite wisely, Jagdeo stated that “We have to plan for the future.

We have to find solutions by building bypass canals, where if we want to open up more lands in the inner depth of the country so you can bypass the settlement

and take inner water into the Atlantic Ocean. And we’re considering that even now.”

Readers must appreciate that torrential rainfall and flooding leave almost permanent scars, one way or another-uprooting of lives, disrupting livelihoods of persons as well as communities; and the setting back of sectors such as agriculture and mining. The onus is on the government to alleviate the issue and corporate Guyana must lend full support.

Yours truly, Attiya Baksh

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 9, 2021

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Coalition-introduced reckless spending at GWI must be corrected Dear Editor,

to flippantly state that the purpose was for food and studies, is to display a high level of arrogance.

As expected, by August 2020, GWI was on the verge of collapse and one of the reasons for this was the “reckless spending” that characterised GWI during the APNU+AFC tenure.

When I go through the list of spending, it is

most immoral in nature: In 2018, $26.8M was spent for overseas travel; in 2019, $26M for overseas travel; in 2019, $50M in meals, and ‘enough is enough.’ I think that the atmosphere at GWI, under Van-West, was one of happy travelling and eating.

Let us remember that GWI’s was essentially cashstrapped to the point where it could not pay its electric-

ity bill for a year and had owed Guyana Power and Light (GPL) some $7B for the period 2018 to 2020.

If on hand we had wanton waste, on the other side, it was a classic example of not knowing how to prioritise.

I really hope that there is a legal way of calling to account those responsible for the financial mess that GWI was left in and is now

so hard trying to disentangle itself from.

This GWI fiasco makes me recall what transpired with APNU+AFC supporter Larry London, who was paid $500,000 separately for a Director of Parks position even though the man was out of Guyana. He also was the one who spearheaded the controversial Durban Park project.

I have my doubts if many of these improprieties will ever be fully dealt with. But for now, the GWI is being cleaned up, and when surplus employees are sent home, I hope the supporters of APNU+AFC will not cry foul.

THERE is in existence a grouping whom former leader of the People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R), Robert Corbin, once famously described as a ‘’bunch of wild men.’’ Their public views are extremist, sometimes seditious and often calculated to excite racial hostilities in this land. Frequently, they attempt to varnish their verbiage with a repugnant veneer of warped interpretations of law and the Constitution, acquired autodidactically.

During ‘’the five (5) months of madness’’ which succeeded the March 2, 2020 elections, the nation heard them, repeatedly, calling on President David Granger to ‘’discipline’’ the Guyana Elec-

tions Commission (GECOM) for not accepting Clairmont Mingo’s fraudulent declaration of the results of the elections for District No. Four and Keith Lowenfield’s perverse report of the final results of the National Recount, as well as, advising the President to ‘’ignore’’ the elections results declared by GECOM and to remain in government ‘’in the best interest of the nation.”

Such verbal idiocies and the depraved minds from which they emanate, have no place in modern civilisation. They resonate from an era to which modern Guyana will never revert; but their authors are so delusional that this self-evident truth is lost upon them.

One eminent member of this rogue gang cannot apprehend the possible lawful existence of criminal pro-

ceedings in the justice system and departmental disciplinary proceeding being maintained simultaneously against the same individual. As a result, with blissful ignorance, he attacks the Chairperson of GECOM for directing the Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield; Deputy Chief Elections Officer, Roxanne Myers and Returning Officer for Region Four, Clairmont Mingo, to show cause why they should not be removed from office, consequent upon motions being laid before the Commission seeking their removal. That the Chairperson is affording to these individuals the facility of natural justice, completely eludes this obtuse mind.

The truth is that there is sufficient evidence within the personal knowledge of the

Commission, including acts of attempted fraud, dishonesty, insubordination and wilful refusal to comply with clear statutory provisions, that ought to render these persons dismissed, instantaneously with cause, over nine months ago!

In this regard, the Commission itself is guilty of dereliction of its constitutional duty to the people of Guyana for not acting decisively and condignly on this matter. But that is a debate for another time and place.

This reckless critic of the GECOM Chairperson’s actions blatantly refuses to recognise that both the Constitution and the Elections Law Amendment Act expressly mandate that its employees are to be hired by the Commission and must remain, at all times, subject to the direction and control of the

said Commission. During the ‘’5 months of madness’’ when the Chief Elections Officer went rogue, the High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Caribbean Court of Justice pronounced that he is not a ‘’lone ranger’’, but subject to the direction and control of the Commission, citing the very constitutional and statutory provisions to which I have made reference. The Courts further emphasised that the Commission reserves the power to discipline and dismiss officers as it sees fit. There is no obligation known to law which enjoins the Commission to await the determination of any criminal proceedings before it activates its lawful powers of dismissal.

This self-same wild man views the activation by the Prime Minister of a constitu-

tionally provided mechanism, which the Prime Minister is expressly empowered to do, in respect of the members of the Police Service Commission, as a violation of the law and of citizens’ rights. Such irrational insipience is unworthy of a response.

Dear Editor,

GEORGETOWN’S biggest eye-sore happens to be no other than the City Hall building itself. Recently, the Guyana Fire Service conducted a survey on the City Hall Building and this resulted in its condemnation, deemed to be a public hazard, as per their inspection report. The Mayor, His Lordship Ubraj Narine, himself had confirmed that the building was even condemned since in 2016 as they continued to occupy it.

Some well-known personalities who served as mayor for the City of Georgetown include, LFS Burnham, Claude Merriman, John Ford, Patricia-Chase Green and Hamilton Green. Notably, the Georgetown Mayor and City Council has always remained under the

dominance of a PNC-controlled body and by extension, one of its surrogates.

Aligned in the jurisdiction of Region Four, this region is predominantly influenced by a PNC affluence and has always been one of the strong arms of the party with their supporters residing in the vicinity.

Plagued with a history of corruption, scandals, collusions, financial misappropriations, fraud, money squandering, bankruptcy, payment delays to contractors, court proceedings, poor management, mal practices, neglect, un-audited reports, bullish and dictatorial attitudes, an unhealthy public relationship, and non-co-operation with PPP/C administration, this consistency has resulted in a “Garden City” being run down to a “Garbage City.”

The building itself is in such

a poor state, its shabby appearance makes the small man’s hut looks like a castle in comparison to this disdainful and despicable sight.

But then again, the people in charge of the City and its administration are progeny of a PNC elite group who are pronged for a type of organisation who can break only, rather than make reputation.

They have skillfully established a blatant track record for the reverse Midas Touch.

Anything they put their hands on turn to not gold but old.

They seem to lack any concept of planning for the future and remain visionless.

Trust them to squander every penny they inherited and then turn around and beg or borrow, as evident by the many years the PNC has been in power ruling the nation and ruining the country to economic disaster. The M & CC

has always been in need of a bail-out situation.

It is unimaginable how all the revenues collected cannot suffice for the running of the City’s administration. So often, eyebrows are raised when the question of finance arises, giving way to seeded speculations as a result of gross inefficiency and defective controlled mechanism.

Too much of a relaxed and laid-back attitude, incorporating the “bullish standoffishness” from management and the politically secured barrier barricading legitimate reproach from exterior sources, contribute to the M&CC remaining as an impregnable fort. This laxity was not only condoned by previous mayors but more so, encouraged by the previous PNC government. All of the City’s mayors have been a mouth piece for the PNC Party and

so they do no wrong in the eyes of all the years of PNC administration.

Head of State, President Dr. Irfaan Ali, had stressed on the swearing-in of the mayors and their deputies last March that, “Councils are facilitators of development and should not be barriers, creating unnecessary bureaucracy.” Unfortunately, this advice fell on some deaf ears as seen recently by the heavy rainfall and the flood. There were obvious reasons for insinuating that mischief was a foot and those guilty are agencies of the enemy within the state. Former President, Dr. Bharat Jagdeo, now Vice-President, appeared this week on a social media programme and adumbrated that the government remains committed to helping the M&CC

towards the restoration of the City Hall Building. He mentioned that $100M will be available towards this programme but the money will not be handed over to them, thus denying them its control. This action speaks volumes and underlines the unscrupulous behaviour of the team at City Hall. This is certainly a slap in the face and confirms that honesty and integrity must form an integral part of the M&CC infrastructure. Trust is certainly one of the missing elements in the equation and as long as the mayor-ship remains under the fold of the PNC, this flock will never have the confidence of any PPP/C administration. The M&CC needs to redeem itself. Can they?

IT is beyond embarrassing. I am reading that “In two years, GWI spent $103M on overseas travel and food.” The former boss, Dr. Van-West Charles explains that “… it was for studies and overtime meals.” On one level, this kind of wanton waste speaks of corruption, and

Yours sincerely, Alvin Hamilton

GECOM reserves the power to discipline and dismiss officers as it sees fit Dear Editor,

In the end, an absurd irony becomes clear: these ‘’wild men’’ are so accustomed to ignominiously advocating for abrogation of the rule of law, that they cannot see compliance with the rule of law, even if it hits them in the face.

Yours faithfully, Mohabir Anil Nandlall SC MP Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs

The M&CC needs to redeem itself

Respectfully, Jai Lall

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 9, 2021

Discrimination of persons with HIV to become illegal

-- says President Ali, underscores policies will see inclusion of vulnerable groups, mental-health component

PRESIDENT, Dr. Irfaan Ali, on Tuesday, addressed a United Nations’ High-Level Meeting on the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), where he recommitted Guyana’s efforts to providing universal access to prevention, care and treatment for persons living with the virus.

“When my country launched its HIV National Strategic Plan 2021-2025, we recommitted to the UNAIDS Global AIDS Strategy, which aspires

to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030,” President Ali said.

He related that during the upcoming period, Guyana’s HIV efforts will focus heavily on a number of areas, including making the discrimination of HIV unacceptable, illegal, and punitive, throughout society.

The Head of State also said that reaching out to vulnerable groups such as the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) community, sex workers and

President, Dr. Irfaan Ali

immigrants would be a priority.

President Ali said too that there are plans to integrate a mental-health component in all of the administration’s HIV policies and programmes.

In keeping with technological advancements, Dr. Ali said that efforts will also be made to transform the current paper-based HIV monitoring system into an Information Technology (IT)-based system.

“Guyana is keen on ensuring that these areas of focus are reflected in the 2021 Political Declaration,” President Ali said.

He noted that Guyana’s HIV programme results are among the best in the Caribbean, with a total of 95 per cent of

those living with HIV having been properly diagnosed. “Seventy-three per cent who are aware of their HIV status are on treatment and almost nine out of every 10 of these were virally suppressed,” the Head of State posited.

He said that over the past 20 years, Guyana has reduced new HIV infections by more than half.

“While impressive, like many countries around the world, we came close but missed the UN 2020 90-90-90 targets,” President Ali said.

The 90–90–90 targets refer to ensuring that 90 per cent of people living with HIV know their status; that 90 per cent of people who know their status are on antiretroviral (ARVs); and lastly, that 90 per cent of all patients

Dr. Ali said that efforts are underway to transform the current paper-based HIV monitoring system into an Information Technology (IT)-based system (MedicineNet photo)

receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) are virally suppressed by 2020.

Dr. Ali said that during the 2021-2025 period, Guyana is committed to reaching the new global 95-95-95 goal set out by the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).

“Guyana has already embarked on a comprehensive pre-exposure prophylaxis programme, ensuring that anyone, anywhere in Guyana, who is at risk of an HIV infection, can access pre-exposure prophylaxis,” the President indicated.

He said that another innovative focus of Guyana’s comprehensive response is increasing self-testing. “We have already integrated testing, diagnosis and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases in our primary healthcare system. In addition, we are committed to the elimination of gonorrhoea and syphilis in our maternal population,” President Ali noted.

He added too that “the global inequity that facilitated AIDS to leave a trail of death for 40 years is very much evident as we combat the COVID-19 pandemic. The truth is we still live in two very different worlds. COVID-19 vaccine inequity is a moral dilemma.”

The High-Level Meeting was hosted even as UNAIDS observes its 25th anniversary of its formation, and President Ali believes that the 2021 Political Declaration emanating out of the meeting must ensure funding for UNAIDS and the Global Fund.

“This 2021 High-Level meeting must become a trigger for concerted and sustained action over the next decade so as to root out the conditions which contribute to and fuel the HIV pandemic,” the Head of State noted.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 9, 2021

$10B in supplemental funding being sought to address flooding

COME tomorrow, the Government of Guyana will be utilising the resumption of the sitting of the National Assembly to seek $10 billion in supplementary funding to address issues stemming from the ongoing floods, which have affected more than 25,000 households in at least 300 communities countrywide.

According to Vice-President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, the additional monies will be used to rebuild and repair public infrastructures such as roads and bridges that have been destroyed by floodwater.

Earlier in the week, Public Works Minister, Juan Edghill told the Guyana Chronicle that a countrywide assess-

ment was underway to determine the level of damage that was done, and to estimate the cost of emergency repairs.

During a broadcast programme aired on Monday night via “GlobeSpan 24x 7”, Dr. Jagdeo said that the funds at reference will also enable the government to respond to the needs of those whose livelihoods have been devastated by this unprecedented flooding.

“It would help us to give enough help to the farmers; the miners, all of those who have had their livelihoods disrupted, so we can give them some help to get back to productive activities,” the Vice-President posited.

He said, too, that a portion of the monies

will be spent on intensifying the government’s ongoing flood-relief efforts, which has seen the distribution of some 30,000 food, sanitary and medical hampers.

Farmers have also been assisted with seeds, feed and other necessities for their crops and livestock.

“I can understand the level of frustration and the concerns that people have, but I can assure people that the government will assist,” Jagdeo asserted.

The Member of Parliament also referenced the role of the Northern Relief Channel at Hope/ Dochfour, on the East Coast Demerara, which has continued to safeguard Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) from the possibility of any

catastrophic flooding.

In its early stages, the project, widely referred to as ‘Hope Canal’, had been heavily criticised by members of the Opposition, and some groups who all said that the discharge channel “would not work”.

With Guyana situated below sea-level, Jagdeo said that the country’s infrastructural transformation will have to be done in a manner which seeks to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

Specifically, Jagdeo related the government’s intention to “open up” more savannah lands in Berbice, which he said will have to be done in such a way as to safeguard persons and their investments from the threat of flooding. “[We]

will have to build bypass canals,” the Vice-President noted.

He projected that so far, it is likely that the floods have put a massive dent in the country’s economy, which has managed to record positive growth, even amidst a global health crisis.

“More importantly, this loss represents a devastating impact at the personal level, because people see their entire livelihood washed away or damaged,” Jagdeo said.

Asked to provide an update on the current weather projections, the Vice-President said, “We have had unusual levels of rainfall and extreme high tides, and tomorrow, I am told, the next wave of high

9

Vice-President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo tides will start. This will further complicate matters; the forecast is ‘iffy’. We hope that the rain will subside, so that we can return to economic activities.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 9, 2021

Second doses of Sputnik V to arrive soon

– Minister Anthony

MINISTER of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony has confirmed that the government is currently engaging the supplier of the Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine to ensure the second doses are shipped to Guyana soon.

Minister Anthony made this disclosure during Tuesday’s COVID-19 update.

“We have already paid for these second doses; it’s just a matter of getting the supply into Guyana. Hopefully, we will get that by the ending of the week or early next week,” the health minister said.

On Monday, Guyana received 100,000 first doses of the Sputnik V vaccine at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), thereby boosting the country’s COVID-19 vaccination campaign.

On April 2, Guyana received its first consignment of 25,000 doses of the Sputnik V from Russia. This was followed by an additional 30,000 on April 12, then the largest consignment of 83, 000 on April 19. The vaccines are part of the 200,000 doses purchased by the Government of Guyana from the Government of the Russian Federation for approximately $800 million (US$4 million).

Meanwhile, Minister Anthony is again appealing to citizens to come forward for the second dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca and Sinopharm vaccines, as both doses are needed for the vaccines to be effective.

“You can receive that second dose anytime between

Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony

four weeks and twelve weeks.

I know that earlier we had put on the card for people to come back after 12 weeks, but the guidance is anytime between four weeks to 12 weeks that you can come for that second dose,” Dr. Anthony said, adding: “Similarly, we still have a few persons who would have received the Sinopharm vaccine, but they have not come forward to get their second dose… So, come and get that second dose, because, without the second dose, you would not be fully immunised.”

Minster Anthony noted that the vaccines are safe, and that several fixed sites are still open to facilitate persons interested in getting inoculated. To date, 212,541 persons, or 43 per cent of the country’s adult population, have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, while 77,980, or 15 per cent,

have been fully vaccinated against the disease. (DPI)

Persons are encouraged to get vaccinated against COVID-19

The Sputnik V vaccine that arrived at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 9, 2021

Region 6 ‘agri’ sector hard hit by flooding –– damage to farms, infrastructure being assessed

By Naomi Parris AFTER heavy rainfall and severe flooding for almost three weeks, the floodwaters in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) is slowly receding, according to Regional Chairman, David Armogan.

Armogan, in an interview, on Tuesday, told the Guyana Chronicle that besides interrupting residents’ daily lives, the heavy torrential rainfall and increased flooding has also affected the region’s agriculture sector, with many reporting losses of crops and poultry.

“Well, you know that the big agriculture area that we have is the Black Bush Polder area which deals not only with rice but also with animals and poultry and cash crop,” he said.

Armogan added: “A lot of damages have taken place there (Black Bush) and in a lot of other areas, in terms of

crops, people would have lost their entire cash crop. They have to go back and start all over again. In terms of the rice, luckily not too many people would have sown for the new crop.”

He stated that several animal farmers have also been affected since the floods saw many loosing their cattle, chickens and other farm animals. Kitchen gardens were also destroyed.

Meanwhile, in the Numbers 52 and 74 Villages, and the Crabwood Creek area, which are also agriculture hubs, many rice farmers have reported losses.

“All the cash crop virtually has been damaged where water would have lodged, and so people have to go back now and plant. So that is why you find that vegetable in the market right now is extremely expensive because of the fact that there is a very short supply,” Armogan stressed.

Additionally, he stated

that the heavy rainfall has restricted the ability of farmers to transport their paddy, since access dams and agricultural roads are severely damaged.

“The agricultural dams, they are all badly damaged, so you really cannot go back into the next crop. They are virtually non-existent, completely damaged so in all the agriculture areas…dams have to be rebuilt so we can go back into the new crop,” he added.

He added that while water has begun to recede in some parts of the region, there are still a few communities that are affected by floods. However, in the meantime, the regional authorities are on the ground providing machinery to clear several dams and waterways.

“We have machines working to see if we can do some more exaction to let the water drain out as quickly as possible,” he told this publication.

One of the many agricultural dams that were severely damaged as a result of severe flooding in Region Six During a virtual event on there is a need for a robust impact on our food and the Monday, Agriculture Minis- approach to achieve food safety of our food. ter, Zulfikar Mustapha, said safety and security across So, it is important to the current climate of heavy Guyana. recognize that the health torrential rainfall and severe “Right now, the major of people is very important flooding is threatening the sector in our country is ex- and, at this junction, as we country’s agriculture sector periencing severe disruption See page 13 and that now, more than ever, and that can have a serious

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Foreign Minister receives courtesy call from French Ambassador FOREIGN Affairs and International Cooperation Minister, Hugh Hilton Todd, on Monday, met with the Ambassador of the French Republic to the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, Antoine Joly, who was accompanied

by General Martin Klotz.

Among areas of mutual interest they discussed was the strength-

ening of bilateral cooperation and other matters pertaining to security and the environment. Ambassador Joly and Minister Todd also discussed the establishment of a French Embassy in Georgetown.

To this end, Ambassador Joly committed to the first step of achieving the establishment of the Embassy by hav-

ing a Permanent Representative at the level of Chargé d’affaires based in Georgetown as early as August.

The Foreign Minister and French Ambassador further committed to continued advancement of relations between Guyana and France.

Guyana and France established diplomatic relations on June 22, 1967. (DPI)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 9, 2021

Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister, Hugh Hilton Todd, during his meeting with Ambassador of the French Republic to the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, Antoine Joly. Ambassador Joly was accompanied by General Martin Klotz

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 9, 2021

CARICOM could benefit from Guyana’s oil wealth –– but barriers to trade must be removed, President Ali says

PRESIDENT Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali says the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) could benefit from Guyana’s oiland-gas sector if countries remove their barriers to trade which have historically targeted Guyana.

The President made this statement on Saturday, during his address at the launch of Saipem’s offshore construction facility.

“We are in this together; a better Guyana is a better CARICOM; a better CARICOM is a better world,” President Ali said.

Dr. Ali stressed that Guyana always took its regional responsibility seriously. Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves in April dubbed Guyana “the head cornerstone of CARICOM” when the country provided aid to his nation in the wake of the La Soufriere volcano eruption.

Guyana is willing to support the rest of the region, President Ali said, adding: “At the same time,

COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) initiative.

In February, CARICOM complained about the inequitable access to vaccines for smaller, developing nations, as richer nations had taken the lion’s share of the supply.

In the meantime, Guyana has been securing vaccines through other means. (DPI)

President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali the region must help us to grow. Just as enthusiastic as the private sector, for example, in Trinidad is to invest in Guyana, I want them to be enthusiastic in the same way to remove the barriers in Trinidad for our trade, and our agricultural produce to enter the market.”

He said the government is the private sector’s part-

ner, but things must be done in a way that would transform the lives of Guyanese.

Further, the president said if CARICOM had more resources, it would have been able to fully vaccinate the region much faster. CARICOM has been lagging in its vaccination because of its dependence on the

Region 6 ‘agri’ sector ...

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From page 11 observe World Food Safety Day 2021, the first call to action is that this government must ensure safe and nutritious food for all,” he said.

He later urged agriculture stakeholders and Guyanese at large to recognize that the health of people, animals and the environment are interconnected and that any safety-adverse event, especially now with the incidence of flooding being experienced, may have an impact on public health, trade and economy.

A section of the region which is still flooded

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 9, 2021

Health Ministry on the lookout for water-borne diseases

GIVEN the likelihood of various water-borne diseases spreading as a result of recent flooding, teams of Ministry of Health workers have been deployed to flood-affected areas across the country to monitor the situation.

Minister of Heath, Dr Frank Anthony, who made

this disclosure during Tuesday’s COVID-19 update with the Department of Public Information (DPI), said there have been no reports, thus far, of water-borne diseases in the areas being monitored.

“In Region One, they have been constantly monitoring. From the reports that I’ve had this morning, they

(Region One) haven’t had any outbreaks of anything.

The same goes for Regions Seven, Eight and Nine. There are a few isolated cases of skin rashes and so on that people have been reporting, but that has been dealt with,” he stated.

He further noted that an outreach team responsible

for making checks in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) would be revisiting the Pomeroon on Tuesday to do additional checks for diseases.

“The team has been there before, but they’re going back in today. In addition to monitoring water-borne diseases, they would also be doing vaccination in the Pomeroon. In Region Seven, we have teams that have gone into the Upper and Middle [Mazaruni], and they are monitoring for water diseases caused by flooding, and they are also going to be doing vaccination in those communities that they visit,” Anthony explained.

In Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), the outreach

team has assisted the CDC in moving flood-affected residents in the area of Tumatumari to the primary school there, where a shelter has been set up in the instance that a resident or family is in need of a place to stay, he said.

He noted that similar exercises to the ones in Regions One, Two, Seven, Eight and Nine are being conducted in Regions Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

He added that the distribution of skin ointments, bleach to be used for purifying water supplies, and Oral Rehydration Salts, is currently ongoing, as the Ministry remains on the lookout for water-borne and diarroheal

Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony diseases.

“So, this is an ongoing exercise, and we continue to monitor to make sure that all the health centres, health posts… they have adequate supplies of medicines,” the minister concluded.

Pomona man to be charged with bestiality A 28-year-old taxi driver of Pomona Housing Scheme, in Region Two, is expected to be charged with bestiality after he was, allegedly, caught having sex with a cow.

Guyana Chronicle was informed that the man was released on $50,000 station bail on Monday afternoon. The matter was sent to the Director of Public

Prosecutions (DPP) and the man is expected to make his first appearance before an Essequibo magistrate next Wednesday.

According to reports, cattle farmers were in the Pomona Backdam, on Monday, when they observed the man having sex with a cow. The farmers subsequently made a report to the Aurora Police Station.

Police ranks, who journeyed to the scene to investigate, reportedly caught him in the act. He was arrested and taken to the police station where he admitted that he had sex with one cow and four calves.

He reportedly told detectives that he was advised by a doctor to have sex with animals to help cure him of his cancer.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 9, 2021

Draft merger-control, review bill at consultative stage THE Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission (CCAC) has advertised an invitation for public and private sector

stakeholders and members of civil society to review the draft Merger Control and Review Bill for Guyana, and submit

Life-sentence convict among Lusignan Prison escapees WHEN the Lusignan Prison authorities unlocked the facility on Tuesday, two prisoners were discovered missing from the quarantine section of the East Coast Demerara jail.

The inmates who are missing were identified as 26-year-old Andrew Chaung, who was admitted to the prison on April 20, 2021, on remand for breaking and entering and larceny. His last known address is Lot 73 New Road Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara; and 24-year-old Shazam Kalil, also known as “Boi” who was, in 2016, sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his girlfriend.

According to Director of Prisons (ag) Nicklon Elliot, on Tuesday about 07:30 hours during the unlocking of the Lusignan Prison (Quarantine Section), which was supervised by the duty officer and four other ranks, it was observed that two prisoners were unaccounted for Wanted: Andrew during the checking of the Chaung tally.

The matter was immediately reported to the Officer-in-Charge, Lusignan Prison, David Shepherd, Superintendent of Prisons (ag) who immediately ordered a roll call to confirm the information and, upon conclusion, it was confirmed.

The Prison Director said that the Emergency Action Plan with respect to the escaping of inmates was immediately activated.

The director then informed Minister of Home Wanted: Shazam Kalil Affairs, Robeson Benn and the Joint Services Heads, and said a Joint Patrol was established to search for the escapees.

The director is also advising the public that aiding and abetting of prison escapees is a criminal offence.

Kalil’s last known address is Lot 53 Shieldstown, West Bank Berbice.

He was found guilty of murdering Shazina Mohamed, 19, of Edinburgh Housing Scheme, East Bank Berbice.

The woman was brutally stabbed about her body around 19:00 hrs on Saturday, January 17, 2015, outside the Yang Yi Chinese Restaurant in Rosignol, West Bank Berbice.

feedback for consideration.

A merger of companies, as opposed to takeovers, is effected by the undertakings of two or more companies of approximately the same size consolidating into one of those companies, or into a completely new company.

Legislation to control the merger and acquisition of companies is imperative, as the consolidating enterprises may significantly reduce, or even eliminate market competition. The most obvious way of preventing companies from gaining too much market power, which may be to the detriment of consumers, is to prohibit mergers which seem likely to result in a substantial lessening of competition.

A short title of the draft Merger Control and Review Bill for Guyana states, if

enacted, that the Act will provide for the review and control of mergers for the purpose of promoting, maintaining and encouraging competition.

A free market that is competitive significantly benefits consumers, and is also good for business. Competition between enterprises encourages innovation among firms, resulting in quality products, efficient processes and cheaper prices of goods and services, as consumers will ultimately have the benefit to choose from an array of choices produced and offered by competing enterprises.

Section 3 of the draft Merger Control and Review Bill lists the ‘objects of the act’ as being to regulate mergers which could result in, harm to competition and adverse effects to the interest of consumers and the economy and to create

a business environment which promotes, maintains and encourages competition and enhances economic efficiency in production, trade and commerce.

Section 10 of the draft bill lists the ‘general powers of the Commission’ as being able to order an enterprise to provide the CCAC with information necessary to assist it in its investigations.

Additionally, the Commission shall have the power to summon and examine witnesses and take evidence relevant to investigations.

Further, as Section 28 of the draft bill notes, the CCAC finds that a proposed merger is likely to result in unfair competition or adverse effects to the interests of consumers or the economy, it may apply to the High Court for various orders, including but not limited to an order to pre-

vent the merger.

The draft bill also equips the CCAC to revoke its decision to authorise a merger, if an enterprise that is a party to the merger appears to have breached an obligation or condition that was the basis upon which the Commission’s approval was granted, pursuant to Section 31, a breach of which will result in an offence.

Persons interested in scrutinising the draft bill may access it on the CCAC website at ccac.gov.gy and those desirous of offering written feedback may email the Commission at cpu@ ccac.gov.gy. The deadline for submission of comments is June 21, 2021.

The CCAC will also hold virtual consultations on June 11 and 18, 2021 via Zoom. The meeting ID is list as 898 151 1226 and passcode g7JRRr.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 9, 2021

Food safety is everyone’s business –– FAO and WHO join forces to celebrate science, encourage action on World Food Safety Day

SCIENCE plays a fundamental role in ensuring the safety of our food, now as well as tomorrow, as we prepare for new and emerging challenges.

That was the tenet of the main message at a virtual event organised by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organiasation (WHO) to celebrate the third edition of World Food Safety Day. Food safety is vital for people, the planet, world economies and our future, yet millions of people every year still fall ill from eating

contaminated food, both the FAO and WHO contend, adding that making sure food is safe is a critical enabler to achieving food security.

Tuesday’s virtual event, both organisation say, highlighted the major role that science plays in ensuring food safety and security, and preventing foodborne diseases, as well as raising awareness of the topic and calling on everyone to play their part.

In a pre-recorded video message at the event, FAO’s Director-General QU Dongyu described food safety as “a basic requirement for foods with a complex process

from farm to table.”

“Food safety is essential to achieve more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agri-food systems which provide healthy foods for everyone and everywhere,” he said, as he called on everyone to “work collectively for global actions”.

WHO’s Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also recorded a video message for the event, highlighting further that the responsibility to ensure safe, healthy and nutritious food is a collective one and that in times of crisis, food safety is more important

than ever.

SCIENCE IS KEY Both the Chief Scientist of FAO, Ismahane Elouafi, and her WHO counterpart, Soumya Swaminathan, took part in a live panel as part of the event to discuss the ways science is helping to innovate and keep our food safe along the food supply chain.

Governments, food producers and health professionals use science and innovation to detect food safety hazards and prevent the spread of foodborne diseases.

“I think science is the

foundation on which food safety is built,” said Ismahane, during the discussion that highlighted the science-based policy support, technical guidance and capacity development activities that are making a difference across the world.

Both Ismahane and Soumya were passionate about the role of innovation in food safety. “We need to harness innovation,” Ismahane continued, saying that “the increased role of new and emerging technology in food production, processing, packaging etc is key for food safety”.

She highlighted the potential role that genome sequencing, big data and nanotechnology could play in protecting us and increase food safety.

Ismahane noted that FAO’s new Strategic Framework is based on four pillars – better production, better nutrition, better environment and better life – and that “innovation and food safety is at the heart of achieving the Four Betters, to leave no one behind.”

WHO AND FAO Food safety is a shared responsibility, and everyone has a role to play including governments, industry, producers, business operators and consumers.

The theme of the event, ‘Safe food now for a healthy tomorrow’, recognises that the current global crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has emphasised

more than ever before the importance of monitoring and addressing food safety.

The day also highlights the need for food safety systems to be adapted to respond to disruptions in supply chains and ensure continued access to safe food, event in unprecedented situations like the pandemic.

FAO and WHO are supporting their members in efforts to provide enough safe food for all and to enable their populations to trust that food safety protects their health. This includes the production of up-to-date publications such as the Microbiological Risk Assessment Guidance for Food (MRA 36), launched at the event, which provides a structured framework for assessing the risk of microbiological hazards in food utilising a variety of tools and techniques.

FAO and WHO also collaborate to provide food safety scientific advice to the Codex Alimentarius Commission, a joint body with 189 members developing international food standards, guidelines and codes of practice to protect consumer health and promote fair practices in food trade.

World Food Safety Day has been celebrated annually by the United Nations since 2019 and aims to draw attention and inspire action to help prevent, detect and manage foodborne risks, contributing to food security, human health, economic prosperity, agriculture, market access, tourism and sustainable development. (FAO)

Bandits rob taxi driver in Rasville TWO gunmen, on Monday, robbed a 53-year-old taxi driver of his silver-grey Toyota 212 car (PKK 1580), his Samsung cellphone and $8,000 in cash.

The armed robbery occurred at Rasville, Georgetown around 23:30hrs.

The driver told police that he uses the car to do private hire, and so, he was at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) when one of the perpetrators approached him and requested his service to go to Back School in West Ruimveldt.

The perpetrator sat in the front seat and they proceeded to the location. Upon arrival, the bandit made a cell call and then requested to be taken to Rasville next to the New Guyana School.

Upon arrival at the said location, the other bandit appeared, placed a gun to the head of the driver and demanded that he exit the car; the driver complied. The gunman entered the car and escaped with his accomplice still in the front seat.

The victim’s cell phone and cash were in the car at the time.

The incident was reported to the police as investigations continue.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 9, 2021

Water slowly receding in Kwakwani

ALTHOUGH floodwaters have started to recede in some parts of the country, water levels in Region 10 remain at an all-time high, forcing over 100 persons to relocate to shelters.

Regional Chairman, Deron Adams, told the Guyana Chronicle, on Tuesday, that the conditions in the region are still severe, even with water levels dropping to two inches in Kwakwani.

This community is the most severely affected one in the region.

“The water in Kwakwani is still high. It just receded about two inches, which is nothing to talk about; persons are still displaced,” he stressed.

Currently, some 35 persons are being housed at the Kwakwani Primary School which was converted into a shelter in May, 36 persons

Teens arrested with gun, stolen motorcycle in South Ruimveldt TWO teenagers are in police custody after they were found with an illegal firearm with ammunition, along with a stolen motorcycle in South Ruimveldt, Georgetown on Monday.

Reports indicate that at around 16:30hrs on Monday, ranks on a ‘motorbike’ patrol observed the two teens on a motorcycle in Tucville, Georgetown.

As the patrol team proceeded to stop them, they began to drive south on Tucville Turning Point, and proceeded south into High Palm Drive, South Ruimveldt Gardens,

The loaded .38 Taurus revolver that was seized on Monday Georgetown.

The ranks gave chase, and the two males were intercepted on High Palm Drive.

A search conducted on the 18-year-old rider, whose name and particulars were provided, unearthed a .38 Taurus revolver containing four matching rounds of ammunition in his pants crotch.

Another carried out on the 16-year-old pillion rider, whose particulars were also provided, yielded nothing evidential.

The suspect was told of the offence he’d committed and cautioned, but opted to remain silent.

Both lads were arrested and taken to the East La Penitence Police Station, where the suspected firearm and ammunition were marked, sealed, and lodged.

The motorcycle is also lodged at the East La Penitence Station.

Further investigations revealed that the owner of the motorcycle the boys were moving around on was relieved of it at gunpoint on May 5, 2021 at North Road by two men, one of whom was armed with a handgun.

have been placed in a shelter at Aroaima and 41 persons are being housed at the recently established shelter at Hururu.

During the interview, Adams disclosed that additional shelters were being set up at Rockstone and Hururu.

He said the shelters at Kwakwani and Aroaima have enough supplies to last to the end of this week while there are needs at those in Hururu and Rockstone.

Adams stated that persons in the flood-affected communities are in need of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and sanitization products to protect themselves against the coronavirus.

“While food levels are up now, they are asking for simple things like face mask and sanitizers to still be in conformity with the COVID-19 guidelines. In terms of not having persons discard garbage in an irresponsible manner, hey have asked for some jumbo size [garbage] bags,” he added.

According to the chairman, regional authorities have since made requests for persons in the region to receive financial aid and other forms of assistance since there is no telling when again they will see dry land.

“We have asked for financial grants for every household that has been affected. We have asked that businesses that would have lost severely [that] they do receive assistance and persons who are involved in agriculture,” he said.

Additionally, the regional chairman called on the government and the opposition to merge their energies to bring relief to the country’s flood-affected residents.

“This is a humanitarian issue, this is humanitarian crisis. This crisis hasn’t shown any discriminatory position of who to affected and so therefore the government and the opposition should have a bipartisan approach,” Adams stressed.

Meanwhile, the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) is working with stakeholders including Central Government, Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs), Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs), the private sector and non-governmen-

A house under water at Kwakwani in Region Ten (Region 10 RDC photo) tal organisations to provide food, cleaning supplies and shelter to those affected.

To date, through its coordinated approach, CDC has distributed 15, 580 food hampers and 13,534 cleaning hampers to flood-affected

households countrywide.

Persons and organisations desirous of donating to the national flood relief efforts can contact the CDC on telephone number 6049967 to make the necessary arrangements.

Region Ten residents who are severely affected are asked to make contact using hotline number, 444-6121. Persons can also make emergency contact with the region via WhatsApp using 680-0022.

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Life at the Berbice Dharm Shala --where former teacher, ex-convict found refuge and now call home

By Jeune Bailey Van Keric ABOUT three years ago, 65-year-old Prabhawati Lachman was dropped off at the Dharm Shala in East Berbice, with a not working television set and a bedside cupboard in her possession.

She was unkempt. Her hair was matted and infested with lice. She was incoherent and had apparently suffered a nervous breakdown.

According to one of the caretakers of the home, Gary Erskine, the woman was once a teacher, and had lived in her property at Number 79 Village, Corentyne, prior to being “dumped” at the facility. It is believed that she has a son who resides overseas and that he may be sending financial support for her through a relative. This support, however, has not been reaching Prabhawati.

Erskine recalled that a female relative would turn up on Mother’s Day with a bunch of roses and would leave after taking pictures. She always promised to return but never did. On one such visit, claims were made that an application was made for her to access the public assistance grant for Prabhawati, but it was never given to the caretakers at the Dharm Shala.

In the meantime, Prabhawati remains incoherent and is unable to tidy herself. She depends heavily on the other residents for help.

ABANDONED BY HER SON Savitri Kowlessar was left at the home by her only child, more than two months ago. The man told caretakers that her inability to control her bowel movements had transformed his wife into a “quarrelsome” woman.

Shala. Nevertheless, she longs to return home.

Charles Goodluck

Removing his mother from her home was apparently the easiest solution.

She arrived at the home which is located under the famous Canje

was never seen again.

Savitri who was born on October 25 1956, smiled throughout the short discourse with this publication. Despite the challenges faced, her eyes

Prabhawati Lachman and her not working television set

Bridge on a late Friday afternoon. The son was told of the required interview with officers of the Probation and Social Services Department, but he left hurriedly and promised to return the following Monday. He

sparkled when she reminisced about her son. She clings to the hope that he will return someday for her. She confessed too, that she has some health problems, and that may have been the reason why she was left at the Dharm

DROPPED OFF BY PRISON OFFICERS Seventy-two-year-old Charles Goodluck, sits in his wheelchair at the corner of the room that serves as a recreational, dining and waiting area.

He is unable to move unaided. According to caretaker Dennis Erskine, he cannot navigate from that area to his room which is less than thirty feet away because of his blindness.

Charles was taken to the home by the prison authorities after former President, David Granger, granted him amnesty just over a year ago. Initially, a relative visited, but no one has come by in months.

On August 27, 2018, Charles, who was no stranger to the courtroom, was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment by Justice Jo Ann Barlow after he had pleaded guilty to a lesser count of manslaughter. He was initially charged with murder and had denied that allegation.

At his sentencing, he was sporting sunglasses, and had to be guided up the stairway of the Berbice High Court by officers of the Guyana Prison Service.

He admitted that he unlawfully killed Chandradatt Hussain on August 22, 2013 at Kwakwani, Upper Berbice River, and after doing so, hung the deceased so that it would appear as if he had committed suicide.

The septuagenarian, who is a father of five, grandfather of 12, and great-grandfather of four, was convicted of wounding and attempted murder.

DUMPING GROUND The Erskines lamented that persons are using the facility as a dumping

Savitri Kowlessar

ground for their relatives.

According to the caretakers, often times very little or nothing is behind for their maintenance which puts added strain on the operation of the home.

“Many of the residents would have contributed to society in some way or another, but their relatives who would have benefitted are no longer willing to extend the same benevolence now that their relatives are aged,” said Erskine, who has been the caretaker for several decades.

While some of the residents are able-bodied, others are dependent on others and are in need of medical care.

He said when residents are taken to the nearby New Amsterdam Hospital for treatment or checkups, the waiting time is very long. He said many would opt to return to the home without treatment. A regular visit by a medical doctor would be most welcome, he said.

Dharm Shala, a ‘Home of Benevolence

for all races’ was birthed by the late Pandit Ramsaroop Maharaj, whose vision in 1940 was to address the needs of the poor, the sick and the homeless in Berbice.

C o n s e q u e n t l y, a t Garrison Road under the Canje Bridge and a short distance from the National Psychiatric Hospital, five buildings were erected through donations from individuals.

The home was opened the following year by Governor of British Guiana, Sir Wilfred Jackson, L.C.M.G .

Initially, the bottom flat of the building was used as a school to address the education needs of children in the environs. Subsequently, the building was rebuilt and modernised by Pandit Mahahraj, who managed and maintained the facility until his demise.

In 2013, the mantle of management was passed on to his daughters Kella and Pamela Ramsaroop.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 9, 2021

16 youth groups participating in Speaker’s national youth debating contest

SPEAKER of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir, said the ‘Speaker’s National Youth Debating Competition’ aims to promote the work of the country’s democratic institutions.

The competition was, on Tuesday, launched in the Chamber of the National Assembly. The debate will feature groups from the 11 educational districts across the country.

“The rationale behind these initiatives from the Parliament is to promote the culture of democracy and the work of democratic institutions among our people at all ages and across all locations,” he said.

Due to COVID-19, the competition will be held in a short window with virtual and in-person presentations.

“It is going to be run from June 15 to July 9. There will be 16 youth groups par-

ticipating in the competition and there will be four rounds.

The competition itself will be held on Tuesdays and Fridays with two debating contests each day. One running from 10 to 11 am and the other from 2pm to 3pm,” he said.

The participating groups are the Oronoque Sports Group, Queens Town Youth Group, Anna Regina Youth Group, West Bank Young Achievers, Small Steps Big Impact Youth Group, Young Professional, Grove/Diamond Youths in Development, Berbice Development Youth Group, Golden Om Youth Group, No. 58 Swing Star Youth Group, Angoy’s Avenue Youth Group, Mahdia Youth Group, Linden Super Star Youth Group, Kast Talent Management, Cummings Lodge Youth Movement

Judge to sum up evidence in Lusignan beautician’s murder trial COME Friday, Justice Sandil Kissoon is expected to sum up the evidence in the retrial of Lennox Wayne called ‘Two Colours’, who is accused of murdering cosmetologist, Ashmini Harriram, in 2014.

Wayne had pleaded not guilty to the charge which alleged that on July 10, 2014, at Lusignan, Railway Embankment, East Coast Demerara, he murdered Harriram.

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

He is being represented by attorney-at-law Nigel Hughes and associates, while prosecutor Lisa Cave is on record for the state.

On Tuesday, Cave closed her case. Closing arguments were also made by the defence.

The murder case was first tried in 2017 before Justice JoAnn Barlow and a 12-member jury at the Georgetown High Court, but ended in a hung jury. Justice Barlow subsequently ordered a retrial, and the matter was listed to be heard during the January 2021 session of the Demerara Assizes.

In April, Wayne’s co-accused, Melroy Doris, had pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to five years.

Lennox Wayne called ‘Two Colours’ The Guyana Chronicle had reported that it was alleged that Wayne was the triggerman while Doris was the taxi driver who drove Wayne to the scene of the crime to execute Harriram. It is also alleged that following the act, Doris reportedly transported Wayne back to the city where the victim’s phone was handed over to one of the two persons who contracted the duo to carry out the murderous act for a price tag of $2.5 million.

The two men were reportedly contracted by the brother-in-law of the hairdresser and an accomplice who wanted her dead after they suspected that she had snitched on them.

They believed that it was she who had informed the police of a drug operation they were engaged in, resulting in the narcotics being seized.

and the University of Guyana Student’s Society.

The competition will feature nine judges, namely, Nazima Raghubir, Neil Marks, Delon Fraser, Monette Garnett-Christopher, Dr. Valerie Goorsammy-Smith, Breanna Ramnarain, Melissa Dow-Richardson, Sonia Maxwell and Rayon Miller.

The debates will be featured on the Parliament’s website, Facebook page and

YouTube channel. It will also be rebroadcast at times to be decided.

Additionally, the Speaker said 24 persons from the competition will be featured in the National Youth Parliament set for August. He said this is to ensure the event is more inclusive.

Attractive prizes will be given to all participants with the ‘best speaker’ receiving a laptop. (DPI)

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Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 9, 2021

Five more COVID-19 deaths take June’s toll to 18

THE Ministry of Health, on Tuesday, reported that five more persons who tested positive for COVID-19, have succumbed to the deadly virus.

The total number of deaths, which is now 416, is reflected in the ministry’s daily COVID-19 dashboard for June 8.

The latest fatalities are a 72-year-old woman

from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), who died on June 6; a 66-year-old man from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), who died on June 7; a 56-year-old woman from Region Three who died on June 6; a 70-yearold woman from Region Four who died on June 7; and a 65-year-old man from Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), who died on

June 6.

They all died while receiving medical treatment at a Ministry of Health facility, and their deaths push the COVID-19 toll for June to 18.

In the meantime, the Ministry of Health, on Monday, recorded 87 new cases of COVID-19 from the 1,078 tests conducted for June 7.

Of these, Region One

(Barima-Waini) recorded nine; Region Three, three; Region Four, 31; Region Five, two; Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), 12; Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), 20, and Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice), 10.

The newly infected persons include 32 males and 55 females.

Currently, there are 17

persons in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 95 in institutional isolation, 1,649 isolated at home, and three in institutional quarantine.

Guyana has confirmed a total of 17,805 cases of COVID-19 since the discovery of the deadly virus in the country. Of that number, 1,764 are currently active; and of the 15,628 recoveries, 108 were recorded within the past 24 hours.

All Guyanese are urged to observe the protocols of the COVID-19 emergency measures, which emphasise the need

for correct and consistent 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.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 9, 2021

Phillipai gets $3.5M, farming equipment

AMERINDIAN Affairs Minister, Pauline Sukhai, on Monday, handed over two cheques totalling $3.5 million to Toshao, Mark Joseph, for the construction of two canteens in Phillipai and its satellite Wayalayeng, Region Seven.

She also handed over a quantity of farming equipment and a boat engine to assist farmers to restart their

this part of the hinterland, but this is what the village approved.”

The minister also gave the village two sewing machines to start a micro garment business to boost its economy.

“The ministry now is paying $4,000 now per child for school uniform every academic year.

So, the women can use

Farming equipment given to Phillipai (DPI photo) livelihoods.

Minister Sukhai led a team of Civil Defence Commission and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission officials to assess the gravity of the flooding in the region at the weekend.

“We’ve also brought with us for Phillipai, the $2 million cheque for the construction of the village canteen. That’s a proposal which I think the previous council had proposed and every proposal the ministry expects the village would have given the approval of that project before it comes to us… I know it is going to be rough in this time but if that is what the purpose is and the new council is in, then you have some work on hand when the flooding is over,” Minister Sukhai said.

She also delivered a $1.5 million cheque for the construction of the village canteen in Wayalayeng.

“Children who have to travel very far to come to the school that you have usually need to be fed and I think the canteen… I don’t know how you manage the canteen in

the machines to sew, to create a uniform business so when the money is paid, they will be able to have uniforms to sell to the villagers, to the students and the parents, so that they can create a small business and be able to earn something from the sewing business.”

Additionally, she handed over a 40-horsepower engine, a weeding machine and a quantity of forks, hoes and cutlasses to the community.

Meanwhile, Toshao Joseph said the equipment will assist persons in the farming community.

“We are going to better our agricultural crops that we are going to do. We are looking forward to do better farming with the tools provided from the ministry. I hope that my people, residents of Phillipai are going to benefit out of all the tools that we are looking forward to prepare for our future. Generally, we would like to thank the minister for bringing all that is said for us such as cheques that we received from the minister,” Joseph said.

He noted that the village will be better able to sustain itself with the donations received. (DPI)

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Amerindian Affairs Minister, Pauline Sukhai, hands over a cheque to Toshao of Phillipai, Mark Joseph (DPI photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 9, 2021

Chelsea Edghill is Smalta Brand Ambassador TABLE tennis star, Chelsea Edghill, on Monday picked up a long-term deal with Smalta as its newest Brand Ambassador ahead of her Olympic voyage to Tokyo, Japan.

Edghill, who is a former Under-21 Caribbean Champion and 2018 National Sports Woman-of-the-Year, recently got her ticket for the Olympics, a first for the sport of table tennis.

A release from Ansa McAl stated that the contract will not just be for the Olympics but will also last until 2022 as Smalta aims to foster a significant partnership with the rising star.

The Lindenwood University graduate expressed her gratitude to Smalta and highlighted during the contract-signing that this is probably a first for any athlete in amateur sports aspiring to be a professional in Guyana.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to partner with a brand like Smalta, I’m happy with this route that this brand has taken as it pertains to supporting athletes, the investing approach is a pioneering one. This partnership will go a long way with supporting my efforts at home and abroad to achieve the goals set for the future,” Edghill said.

The former Youth Olympian also noted that “this opportunity also paves the way for future athletes of Guyana who will one day aspire to greatness. Once again, I’d like to say thank you to the Smalta brand for seeing the potential and acknowledging my abilities as an athlete and individual.”

Country Manager of Carib Brewery Limited (CBL) Kelvin Singh noted that this was a significant moment for Smalta, while pointing out they’re “extremely happy

and proud to partner with Chelsea Edghill as a Brand Ambassador to the Smalta Brand. This strategic partnership we are looking to continue beyond the Olympic Games and the next 12 months as Chelsea continues to evolve and take her career to the next level.”

“Also, we would like to thank Chelsea and her team for working with us to finalise this agreement within such a short time frame. All engagements and communications have been great. On behalf of the team, I would like to wish Chelsea safe travels to her various destinations to reach Tokyo, and best of luck for the Olympics. Do continue to inspire, motivate, and make your fans, family, and country proud.” Singh expressed during the contract-signing.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) in a statement

shared that such relationships, between corporate Guyana and athletes, foster development of the athlete.

The GTTA called the signing a “ground-breaking” and pioneering move on behalf of the company in the sponsorship approach and agreement with Edghill in terms of the long-term arrangement It gives Chelsea the scope to engage with multiple sponsors of non-competing product lines and with simple athlete contribution elements.

The GTTA would like to truly express our gratitude to Smalta and all the management and staff of this caring company for partnering with Chelsea on her quest for excellence,” the GTTA said.

Edghill is set to depart for Portugal shortly where she will train before heading to Tokyo for the Olympics that will begin on July 23.

Uncapped Seales is surprise inclusion in Windies 13...

(From back page)

in the inexperienced player’s favour.

“Jayden Seales is young, very enthusiastic and has a big heart,” Harper said in a statement on the squad.

“In the ‘Best v Best’ (inter-squad match) he bowled

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with pace, got movement and has displayed the ability to take wickets. We think he is capable of adding potency to the bowling attack.”

Seales has managed to leapfrog the likes of 24-year-old pacer Keon Harding who was Irish Racing Tips Cork 08:10 hrs Impeachdalexander 08:45 hrs Stalingrad 09:20 hrs Logo Hunter 09:55 hrs Mrs Bouquet 10:30 hrs Moll 11:00 hrs Federica Sophia 11:35 hrs Praying Mantis 12:05 hrs Miss Florentine American Racing Tips Delaware Race 1 Foggy Flight Race 2 Above The Limit Race 3 Mumbai Race 4 Mujlenberg Race 5 Walk Up Music Race 6 Aspect Race 7 Not Shy Race 8 Bajan Girl South Africa Racing Tips Kenilworth 08:20 hrs Celtic Night 08:55 hrs Secret Depths 09:30 hrs Kissing Point 10:05 hrs African Rain 10:40 hrs Giacomo Puccini

not even included in the provisional squad but is one of four seamers remaining from the just concluded 30-man high performance camp “to assist the Test squad with their preparations”.

Harding, a reserve on last year’s three-Test tour of England and who featured in Bangladesh with the one-day squad earlier this year, has taken 54 first class matches from 17 matches.

In the last first-class season, curtailed with two rounds still left last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Harding snatched 29 wickets at 23 wickets apiece.

He picked up two wickets in the first innings of the recent inter-squad fixture.

As expected, Hope has earned a recall to the Test side, less than a year after being dropped following a protracted run of poor form.

But he has continued to score heavily in ODIs, averaging 86 in the three-match series against Sri Lanka last March, and his 79 and 106 in the inter-squad fixture only further served to pave the way back to the longest format.

The left-handed Powell, meanwhile, has not featured in Test colours for nearly 2-½ years but struck 95 in the second innings of the practice match to

impress, on the back of a decent 2019/20 first class campaign.

“Kieran Powell we know is a very capable batsman whom we expect to add quality and depth to the batting department,” Harper pointed out.

“He put himself in the mix with his performance in the Best v Best match.

“Shai Hope has performed very well in the red-ball matches he has played, following on the back of his highly successful One-Day International series against Sri Lanka, so he has forced his way into the squad by performance.”

There is no room for Bravo, who failed twice in the inter-squad game and has averaged 11 from his last seven Tests.

Kraigg Brathwaite, who missed the high performance camp due to his commitments with English county Gloucestershire, has returned to lead West Indies who are unbeaten this year in four Tests.

SQUAD – Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Jermaine Blackwood (vice-captain), Nkrumah Bonner, Roston Chase, Rahkeem Cornwall, Joshua Da Silva, Jason Holder, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Kyle Mayers, Kieran Powell, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 9, 2021

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French Open tennis ...

Sri Lanka emerge as contender to host T20 World Cup

Zidansek beats Badosa to reach first Grand Slam semi-final SLOVENIAN Tamara Zidansek reached her maiden Grand Slam semi-final with a hardfought victory over Spain's Paula Badosa at the French Open.

World number 85 Zidansek, who had never previously been beyond the second round of a major, won 7-5, 4-6, 8-6.

She prevailed in a tense third set, saving three break points to lead 7-6 before breaking Badosa to seal the win.

Zidansek will play Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova or Kazakh Elena Rybakina for a spot in Saturday's final.

The women's draw has been thrown wide open after seven of the top 10 players departed in the first week.

Of Zidansek's possible opponents, Pavlyuchenkova reached her first French Open quarter-final for a decade by beating 15th seed Victoria Azarenka on Sunday, while world number 22 Rybakina is the highest ranked player in this half of

Tamara Zidansek had never been beyond the first round of the French Open before this year.

the draw after beating Serena Williams.

With both players making their first quarter-final appearance at Roland Garros, Serbia Open winner Badosa made the more confident start as she established a 3-0 lead with an early double break.

But Zidansek, 23, battled back impressively with a three-game streak of her own and began to find her rhythm as she edged in front for the first time in the match at 5-4.

The Slovenian once again applied the pressure with a delightful drop shot to lead 6-5 and, though Ba-

dosa saved a first set point with an emphatic forehand, Zidansek tied up an engrossing 53-minute first set at the next opportunity.

Badosa, 23, initially struggled with the pace offered by her opponent and a superior Zidansek moved 3-1 ahead in the second set - yet the momentum swung dramatically once more as the Spaniard broke Zidansek in three successive service games on her way to levelling the match.

World number 35 Badosa continued her fightback as she consolidated a break of serve to lead 2-0. However in keeping with the topsy-turvy nature of the contest Zidansek ended her slump and claimed a second break point to draw level.

With a first French Open semi-final on the line, the errors began to creep in, but both players ground out crucial holds and Zidansek saved three break points to move 7-6 ahead before taking her second match point in the next game. (BBC Sport)

Fowler, Sanmoogan to benefit from FINA’s high-performance training THE Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA) was able to enter national swimmers Andrew Fowler and Jamila Sanmoogan into a FINA high-performance training camp in preparation for the 2021 Tokyo games.

This initiative, GASA said, was made possible with the support of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA).

The training camp which will be hosted at the AZURA Aquatics facility in Florida, USA, will be run

by FINA-approved coach Gianluca Alberani and will conclude on July 10.

Sanmoogan and Fowler were selected for this programme after picking up Guyana’s two International Swimming Federation (FINA) Universality spots

for the Tokyo Olympics.

While Fowler departed Guyana for the camp on June 1, Sanmoogan’s departure is still pending due to commitments with school.

Meanwhile, Young Leon Seaton who is currently on a Scholarship at the AZURA facility is scheduled to return to Guyana at the end of this month.

Additionally, a team of local swimmers is set to depart Guyana to take part in a regional meet in Bahamas at the end of the month.

“We are extremely grateful to the Olympic Association for supporting this initiative and we know our swimmers will benefit greatly from this, taking into consideration all the challenges we face,” stated GASA president Dwayne Scott.

Sanmoogan will make her second Olympics appearance, having first represented Guyana at the games in Rio, Brazil in 2016, where she competed in the Women’s 50 metres freestyle.

Her time of 28.88 seconds was not good enough to see her advance. However, she was 63rd overall. Sanmoogan also represented Guyana at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, as well as the 2019 World Swimming Championships.

Fowler, 23, on the other hand, has been one of Guyana’s top swimmers over the years, with experience at the Commonwealth Games, the World S w i m m i n g C h a m p i o nships and other notable international and regional meets.

THE term dark horse has a nice ring attached to it.

Often when we expect the stronger team to win the World Cup or any important bilateral tournaments, the team which is least likely to win, suddenly out of nowhere emerge on top.

While it was expected that the UAE will most likely be the hosts for the ICC T20 World Cup 2021, a dark horse has emerged to host the global event – Sri Lanka.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) officials on June 1 had requested ICC to give a month’s time to decide if it can still host the event among the COVID-19 situation and find solutions for other logistical challenges. Any updates on the same are awaited.

However, with the re-

mainder of the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) being conducted in the UAE from September 19 to October 15, the pitches in UAE might get slower and lower by the time the peak matches of the T20 World Cup arrive. Therefore, the BCCI is keeping Sri Lanka as an option.

“See, there is no denying the fact that BCCI and ECB officials have been having discussions on taking the showpiece event to UAE with an eye on the COVID-19 situation in India. But, what also needs to be kept in mind here is that hosting the IPL would mean quite a few games, not to forget other tournaments or matches that might be held in some of the venues and tired wickets by the time of

the World Cup,” a source was quoted as saying, as reported by Sportskeeda.

The BCCI is still in the early stages of talks with Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) officials on the possibility of the event shifting to the Island nation and UAE is still the preferred choice.

“Keeping the playing conditions in mind, there have been some talks with SLC officials (on hosting the event in Sri Lanka) and just basic discussions, to be honest. Too early to get into the details, but we still have some time before we need to get back to the ICC to inform them on the situation as the BCCI will continue to have the hosting rights even if it is played outside India.”

(CricTracker)

Durant steers Brooklyn Nets to huge win over Milwaukee Bucks KEVIN Durant scored 32 points in three quarters to help Brooklyn Nets cruise to an empathic 125-86 victory over Milwaukee Bucks and take a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference semi-final series.

The Nets, without James Harden who had a tight hamstring, led by 49 points in the fourth quarter. The victory is their fifth double-digit win of the post-season.

Elsewhere, Phoenix Suns beat Denver Nuggets 122-105 in game one of the Western Conference semi-finals.

At Brooklyn's Barclays Centre, Durant, who registered his fourth 30-point game of the post-season, shot 12 from 18 on the field, alongside four three-pointers.

Durant also added six assists, while Kyrie Irving scored 22 points as the second-seeded Nets set a franchise post-season record of 21 three-pointers.

It is the fourth time in seven post-season games that the Nets have shot at least 50% from the floor.

"I like our attention to detail - I like how we didn't

Kevin Durant scored 32 points in three quarters to help Brooklyn Nets to victory.

get a lot of plays perfect but we made second and third efforts," said Durant.

"For the most part we just did what we were supposed to do, win two at home now we got to see if this game is going to travel on the road for us."

Game three is in Milwaukee tomorrow night, with the series-winners to face Atlanta Hawks or Philadelphia 76ers for a place in next month's NBA Finals. Atlanta lead that series 1-0.

In the night's other game, Nuggets led 72-63 at one stage, but Suns outscored

them 59-33 in the final 20 minutes to take the win.

The second game of that series is in Phoenix tonight, with the winners facing Utah Jazz or Los Angeles Clippers in the Western final.

Meanwhile, the New York Knicks' Tom Thibodeau was announced as the 2020-21 NBA Coach of the Year on Monday after ending the Knicks' seven-year absence from the play-offs.

It is the second time Thibodeau has won the award after doing so with Chicago Bulls in 2010-11.

(BBC Sport)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 9, 2021

Indian cricketers to get three-week break between WTC final and England series THE Indian team management has decided to give a three-week break to its players after the World Test Championship (WTC) final in a bid to address the mental fatigue that might be triggered by lengthy spells in a bio-bubble.

The WTC final against New Zealand will be held from June 18 to 22 at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton and the members of the Indian squad will disperse for close to three weeks (20 days) before regrouping on July 14 to prepare for the five-match series against England starting in Nottingham on August 4.

"As skipper Virat Kohli and coach Ravi Shastri had told the media at the pre-departure press conference, there will be a break.

“There is a six-week gap between WTC final and opening Test against

England, so we had to address the issue of players' well-being. Within UK, they can disperse off, go for a holiday, meet friends and family," a senior BCCI official said.

Obviously, there could be some team get-togethers also but players would be free to choose how they want to spend their time.

"Most of them have come to UK multiple times and have friends and acquaintances around the country. It's only fair that they can switch off," said the source.

In fact, skipper Kohli on June 2, during the pre-departure, had answered if the 42-day gap between the two assignments would affect the team's preparations. Kohli had termed it a welcome break for the team.

"I feel like after you are done with WTC, I think it's

The break can rejuvenate the Indian cricketers as a series against England can be very daunting. (SPORTZPICS/BCCI)

a great opportunity to refresh and restructure. Hopefully, if things are okay, out in England, we would have finished our quarantine period and just for the guys to be

normal for a few periods of time just disconnect again," Kohli had said back then. "...Understanding that we have a pressure of a fivematch series so like in Aus-

tralia if we had to compete inside a bubble for that long a period of time, it would have been verym very tough. "(The) fact that we had little bit of freedom to go

out and access things gave us a bit more space and time to reset and refresh. So, I think it's absolutely fine as it gives us time to re-group as a side and prepare again for a long series," the skipper had explained.

The break can rejuvenate them as a series against England can be very daunting.

"That kind of set-up is very important before we go into a lengthy series. Test series in England can be challenging and daunting so we want to have most amount of time before that series," Kohli had said back then.

Head coach Shastri had also echoed his skipper's sentiments.

"Five Tests in six weeks is no joke - not only the physical side but also the mental side of it. You can be destroyed mentally being asked to do same things day in day out." (PTI)

FA names corporate boss Debbie Hewitt Vaccine passports to be used at Wembley Euro as first woman chair

By Indranil Sarkar (REUTERS) - England's Football Association yesterday named corporate executive and former RAC chief Debbie Hewitt as its first woman chair, ending months of speculation over Greg Clarke's successor following his exit over inappropriate remarks.

The FA, which was formed in 1863 and has been working to become more in-

clusive, launched its 'Pursuit of Progress' initiative in 2018 to increase the diversity of those playing, officiating, coaching, leading and governing English football.

Clarke resigned in November after a row over his reference to "coloured footballers" during questions from members of parliament.

Hewitt's appointment comes as the FA grapples with another race row after the England national team

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England’s Football Association first woman chair Debbie Hewitt

were booed by fans over the weekend for taking a knee to highlight racial injustice.

As the events in recent months have shown, this is a significant moment in time for English football, with a clear purpose for all stakeholders to secure the long-term health of the game at all levels," Hewitt said in a statement.

English football was also thrown into turmoil in recent

months after a failed attempt by 12 European clubs, including six from England, to set up a breakaway European Super League (ESL).

Hewitt, currently chairwoman of Wagamama-owner Restaurant Group (RTN.L), was the unanimous choice of the FA's seven-member selection panel, and will succeed interim Chair Peter McCormick, the FA said on its website. "(Hewitt's) experience across many different areas of business and general approach will allow her to work collaboratively across the game, while providing her own insight, experience and judgement on the issues that matter most," McCormick said.

Hewitt, currently also the non-executive chair of Visa Europe, BGL Group and White Stuff, will step down from her role in Restaurant Group when she joins the FA in January 2022.

2020 group fixtures ENGLAND'S Euro 2020 group games at Wembley Stadium will be the first sporting event at which vaccine passports will be used in the UK. UK-based ticket-holders aged 11 or over must show proof of full vaccination, with both doses having been received at least 14 days before the match.

Those not fully vaccinated must show proof of a negative lateral flow test taken within the previous 48 hours.

England play Croatia in their opening group game on Sunday.

Ticket-holders for matches taking place at Hampden Park will not be required to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test.

Fans who live in England attending games at Wembley must show their vaccination status via the NHS app.

Wembley will host a maximum of 22 500 fans - 25% of its capacity - for England's group D fixtures against Croatia, Scotland and Czech Republic.

The stadium is also due to host a last-16 tie as well as both semi-finals and the final. (BBC Sport)

Socially-distanced fans watched England's friendlies against Romania and Austria at Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 9, 2021

Golden Jaguars ‘defanged’ 2–0 by Puerto Rico ...Maximo unfazed; shifts focus to Gold Cup Qualifiers

By Rawle Toney HEAD coach Marcio Maximo and his troops exited Warner Park in St Kitts and Nevis a depleted bunch, following their 2-0 defeat against Puerto Rico.

This was the third meeting between Puerto Rico and Guyana. They first faced each other in 1993 where Guyana went down 0-2, but in their following meeting, in 2016, Golden Jaguars walked away 1-0 winners, thanks to a goal from King Solomon Austin.

Maximo once again shuffled his pack of players for the game against the men from the Spanish-speaking Island. He started with captain Matthew Briggs, Terrence Vancooten, Liam Gordon and Miguel Scarlett at the back, while in the midfield, Daniel Wilson was paired with Jobe Caesar.

The Brazilian went with Stephen Duke-McKenna, Keanu Marsh-Brown and Omari Glasgow as his attack.

Osafa Simpson was the lone striker used in the starting line-up.

It was Golden Jaguars’ final game in the FIFA 2022 Qatar World Cup Qualifi-

ers and though it was of no consequence since they were already knocked out of the group, they were hoping to end on a ‘high’.

It was 17-year-old Wilfredo Rivera who put the Puerto Ricans in front 12 minutes into the contest. Rivera, who plays with Orlando City in USA’s

Major League Soccer (MLS), was a thorn in the feet of the Guyanese defenders.

Dubious officiating in the 25th minute saw Puerto Rico being awarded a penalty, after the referee felt that defender Liam Gordon had brought the opposing player down in the ‘18’.

Omari Glasgow had a good showing against both Puerto Rico and St Kitts & Nevis.

However, video replays showed that Gordon did not touch the player. Former New England Revolution defender, Isaac Angking, stepped up and sent goalkeeper Kai McKenzie-Lyle in the opposite direction, putting the Puerto Ricans up 2-0.

Stephen Duke-McKenna, coming back into the National side after almost two years, proved his worth by creating several chances for his teammates. But the Queens Park Rangers players could not find the target to cap a solid performance in his team games played, though Guyana’s results were not what the team had wanted.

Maximo should be happy with the performance of Briggs, who was named captain for the first time. The Denmark-based defender was superb for Guyana, but in the two games against St Kitts and Puerto Rico, Guyana conceded five goals.

Meanwhile, speaking to the media after the game, Maximo said he was satisfied with the team’s performance, not only in the two matches played from June 4 to 8, but also the entire World Cup campaign.

In fact, yesterday’s game, according to Maximo, forms

Keanu Marsh-Brown in action for Guyana

part of Guyana’s preparation for the team’s July 3 CONCACAF Gold Cup qualifier match against Guatemala in the USA. “The team improved,” Maximo said, while adding that “everything is part of the preparation for Guatemala.

Everybody showed what he can do. We competed today.”

Guyana would finish

above only The Bahamas in the five-team group. St Kitts and Nevis will advance to the next round of the qualifiers, picking up three wins. Their only defeat came against Trinidad and Tobago.

The team will return to Guyana and will have less than a month to prepare for the Gold Cup Qualifiers.

Simmons targets added intensity against dangerous Proteas GROS ISLET, St Lucia (CMC) – Head coach Phil Simmons has cautioned West Indies not to take South Africa lightly in the upcoming two-Test series.

He believes his side will need to step up a gear from recent performances, if they are to break their long-running winless streak against the tourists.

West Indies have made a strong start to the new year drubbing Bangladesh 2-0 away last February before playing competitively to draw both Tests against Sri Lanka when the Asian side toured the Caribbean a month later.

The performances propelled West Indies to sixth in the International Cricket Council (ICC) rankings – their highest ranking in nearly a decade and one notch higher than South Africa.

However, Simmons said even though the home side were confident, the visitors presented a formidable challenge which West Indies

needed to be ready to counter when the series bowled off here tomorrow.

“The belief is there, the confidence is there. We’re above South Africa (in the rankings) but that doesn’t mean anything for me on Thursday (tomorrow) morning,” Simmons warned.

“I think we’ve got to put ourselves in a position by playing proper cricket and I think it’s getting to the stage where people know performance matters because we have seen what has happened since Bangladesh.

“I think that’s the important part we have improved on. Everyone knows performances will keep you in the team or get you out of the team, so that’s where we start.

“There’s no under-rating South Africa because they’re below us but I know the guys are up for it.”

South Africa have been set back by a flurry of retirements in recent years with the likes of batsmen AB de

Villiers, Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis all quitting the longest format.

Pace spearhead Dale Steyn also quit the game two years ago along with fast-bowling all-rounder Vernon Philander, a year after experienced fellow seamer Morne Morkel retired.

And though South Africa have travelled with a relatively inexperienced 19-man squad which includes six debutants, Simmons said they remained a “quality” unit which deserved respect.

“It’s always going to be hard playing against South Africa. They’ve got a quality team and we need to play even better than we played in our last four Test matches,” the Trinidadian pointed out.

“No disrespect to the other teams we played against but we know the rich quality that South Africa have and we’ve just got to step it up.

“We’ve got to go one per cent better than we were in our last game and keep getting that. (We’ve got) up

West Indies head coach Phil Simmons

to six (in the ICC Test rankings) but getting to six is just the start of things. We want to be up at the top and we need to play like we want to be there.”

He continued: “Any team you come up against, you have to look for where you can exploit them. They are very strong at the top with the captain (Dean Elgar) and

then later down with guys like (Quinton) de Kock.

“But you still have to get everyone out, and I think we have to bowl well at their middle order to get them out and get down to the (lower) order because they seem to have batting a long way down.”

West Indies were thwarted by a flat track in Antigua

for the two Tests against Sri Lanka recently, the fourpronged pace attack, along with off-spinner Rahkeem Cornwall, struggling for wickets.

And Simmons said taking 20 wickets will be the Caribbean side’s main aim in the coming Tests.

“I think the improvement I would like to see for the Test match is our ability to get the 20 wickets that we need to (win),” the former West Indies all-rounder stressed.

“I think we did it in Bangladesh on helpful wickets.

When the wicket wasn’t that helpful in Antigua, we struggled to do it. This wicket might be helpful, it might be flat – we’ll see when Thursday comes.

“But that’s what I want to see: our ability to get the 20 wickets that we need to win Test matches.”

West Indies have not beaten South Africa in a series in nearly three decades.

Chelsea Edghill is Smalta Brand Ambassador

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(Back left) Errol Nelson CBL Business Unit head, (back second left) Gabriella Lopes Brand Manager Smalta, (back extreme right) Godfrey Munroe GTTA president. (sitting left) Kelvin Singh CBL Country Manager and Tennis star Chelsea Edghill.

Uncapped Seales is surprise inclusion in Windies 13 to face Proteas in first Test

Uncapped West Indies fast bowler Jayden Seales

Fowler, Sanmoogan to benefit from FINA’s High Performance training PAGE

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… speedster Shannon Gabriel ruled out with injury GROS ISLET, St Lucia (CMC) – Uncapped teenaged fast bowler Jayden Seales is a shock inclusion in a 13-man West Indies squad announced yesterday for the opening Test against South Africa bowling off here tomorrow.

The 19-year-old, with a single first-class game and a single wicket to his name, will feature alongside openers Shai Hope and Kieran Powell, who have both gained a recall after contrasting spells on the sidelines.

Speedster Shannon Gabriel has been ruled out with injury, however, while veteran left-hander Darren Bravo has been dropped from the 17-man provisional squad named last weekend.

Wicketkeeper Jahmar Hamilton and left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican are the other two players to miss out for the opening Test which bowls off at the Darren Sammy National Stadium tomorrow.

Trinidadian Seales has been fast-tracked into the international setup since representing West Indies at the Under-19 World Cup last year, and was a member of the six reserves which travelled with the Test squad on last December’s tour of New Zealand.

However, the right-armer has never played a regional first-class match and has only turned out in the three List A games – all coming in this year’s Regional Super50 for Trinidad and Tobago.

His solitary first-class appearance came for West Indies A on the New Zealand tour when he sent down 21 overs with little to show for his efforts.

However, chief selector Roger Harper said Seales’ five-wicket match haul in last week’s inter-squad four-day warm-up match had swung the pendulum TURN TO PAGE 32 ►

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Andrew Fowler (L) and Jamila Sanmoogan

Golden Jaguars ‘defanged’ 2–0 by 35 Puerto Rico PAGE

...Maximo unfazed; shifts focus to Gold Cup Qualifiers

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, 2021