Guyana Chronicle E-paper 10-20-2020

TUESDAY 20th October, 2020

' No.106158

Well-being of Guyanese paramount –– VP Jagdeo says focus is on rebooting economy, increasing spending power

SEE PAGE 03

Help for ‘genuine’ Success squatters

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Three more COVID-19 deaths take toll to 114

–– Guyana to get vaccines for free, says Dr. Anthony

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SAFETY FIRST! Shoppers, about to enter the Regent Multiplex Mall on Regent Street, Georgetown, wash their hands, as they play their part in curbing the spread of COVID-19 (Delano Williams photo)

Law books charge against AG dropped

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–– says he feels ‘vindicated’

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 20, 2020

81 COVID-19 deaths recorded at GPHC

By Navendra Seoraj

GUYANA, like many countries around the world, has been unable to escape the severe effects of the dreaded novel coronavirus (COVID-19), a disease which has so far claimed 114 lives, locally.

The severity of this scourge is evidenced by the consistent rise in the number of deaths, which has so far climbed to 32 for this month alone.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Guyana has the fourth highest number of COVID-19 deaths in CARICOM, following behind Bahamas (third), Jamaica (second) and Haiti (first).

Guyana recorded its first death and case on March 11 and at the end of July, the total number of deaths was 20 but this figure has since quadrupled in three months.

Statistics seen by this newspaper show that the majority of the COVID-19 patients have died at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), which is the only facility equipped

with a COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

The Guyana Chronicle was informed that 81 COVID-19 patients died at this hospital between March, 2020 and October 19, 2020.

This figure is just one less than the amount of persons who died in GHPC’s regular ICU. Of the 81 COVID-19 patients who died at the hospital, 48 died in the COVID-19 ICU and 33 died while either receiving treatment in the “transitional ward” or in the emergency unit before testing positive for COVID-19.

In explaining the local situation, head of GPHC’s COVID-19 task force, Dr. Mahendra Carpen, had told this newspaper: “A lot of people assigned as COVID-19 deaths are dying from so many other things, but just happen to be COVID-19 positive.

“There are a number of patients who died from stroke, kidney failure, diabetic ketoacidosis, but unfortunately that is the way deaths are reported during the pandemic… that is just how it is.”

The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (File photo)

And, while authorities have been utilising various remedies and medication to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 on patients, Dr. Carpen lamented the late recognition of symptoms, and consequently late treatment.

“People are coming late to the hospital and are not recognising symptoms…what is more important, when people come late, we have to think about what happened to them before, who they were exposed to and who they put at risk,” said the renowned

Cardiologist.

It is for this reason that the “medical mantra,” ‘test, trace, isolate and treat,’ remains important not just in Guyana, but across the world.

Medical institutions the world over, through doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers, have been leading the fight against this “invisible killer.”

And, with no existing treatment or vaccine for this deadly disease, medical institutions have been forced to be innovative in their approach to

fighting it, while also catering for the needs of persons who suffer from pre-existing ailments or other injuries.

This is where the GPHC comes in, as it has been leading the way by putting systems in place to ensure that its facilities are properly separated, so that transmission of the disease would not occur.

It was reported that this process started way back in December 2019, when the alarm bells were first sounded in China, so when the scourge did hit Guyana in March this

year, GPHC was prepared to lead the fight against it.

“We have advanced from there; we have developed systems from the gate to the wards,” said Director of Medical and Professional Services, Dr. Fawcett Jeffery, adding: “Screening is being done at every entrance, and we have set up triage points. We used to have a physical tent for triaging, but we have since constructed a building, so we have a special complex to house doctors from the COVID-19 unit.”

The new complex houses the general medical unit for COVID-19 patients, and the Pediatric COVID-19 Unit, a unit established specifically to treat children.

Anyone who displays any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19, or needs any additional information, can contact the COVID-19 Emergency numbers: 231 1166, 226 7480 or 624 6674 immediately, or visit the ministry’s website at www. health.gov.gy.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 20, 2020

Well-being of Guyanese paramount

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––VP Jagdeo says focus is on rebooting economy, increasing spending power– business climate still ripe for investment, says GCCI president

By Vishani Ragobeer THOUGH the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has reduced the projected positive growth rate of Guyana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Vice-President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo says the Government is more keen on improving the well-being of Guyanese.

In the October edition of its World Economic Outlook (WEO) report, the IMF projected that Guyana’s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) would increase by 26.2 per cent.

And though Guyana’s growth was the only positive one for the entire Caribbean and Latin America region, this figure was a downward revision of the previous 52.8 per cent GDP growth projection, which was a revision to the pre-pandemic 86 per cent growth projection.

Real GDP is an inflation-adjusted measure that reflects the value of all goods and services produced by an economy (in this case Guyana’s) in a given year.

In simpler terms, real GDP measures a country’s total economic output, adjusted for price changes.

Dr. Jagdeo, however, said he is cautious about linking GDP growth to the well-being of the population, because a massive growth in GDP does not necessarily correspond to a major positive increase in revenues or employment.

Greater well-being for Guyanese, he explained, includes increasing employment, ensuring that individuals have greater disposable income, and that there are direct interventions, such as the COVID-19 cash grant geared at providing relief.

“That is why we have focused heavily, in this 2020 Emergency Budget, on restarting the economy through a series of concessions to reduce costs to the Private Sector, and to also leave more money in people’s pockets through lower taxes, and to spend more directly on welfare,” the Vice-President related.

According to Attor-

PSC Chairman and GCCI President, Mr. Nicholas Boyer

Vice-President, Dr. Bharrat Jadgeo

One of the concession stalls at the City Mall on Camp and Regent Streets, Georgetown (Delano Williams photo)

ney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, all of the Bills and Orders with respect to the regime of tax measures which were part of the 2020 National Budget came into effect on October 5.

WILL TAKE TIME While the changes brought about by these Orders would

have been implemented from that date, Dr. Jagdeo explained that it may take some time before the budgetary measures can translate into relief. In the field of economics, this is known as a “time lag”.

The Vice-President highlighted that the country’s own recent projections show that the economy is set to grow

by about 44 per cent, which is a slight downward revision to previous figures. Guyana’s positive growth is largely attributed to its nascent oil-andgas sector. Guyana’s non-oil economy, however, which comprises the traditional, labour-intensive sectors, shrunk by 4.9 per cent in the first half of the year.

The Vice-President noted that the budgetary measures also targetted non-oil growth and expansion, but he added that it may take some time before the real effect of those measures is felt.

Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) and President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce

and Industry (GCCI), Nicholas Boyer, on the other hand, said that business activity will soon increase and stimulate the non-oil sector, because of the 2020 Budget. This increase, however, is contingent upon the actual implementation of those measures.

At the City Mall, on downtown Regent Street, business owners are lamenting the ‘slowdown’ of business because of the COVID-19 pandemic. One small-business owner, whose store is located on the ground floor, related that her sales have decreased by about half. The manager of Mobile Tech (no name given) indicated that his business has been “consistently slow” since March.

Manager of the Mall, Nazim Zaman, related that many of the businesses in the mall share these complaints, to the extent that some have even been forced to shut down. To remedy this, the businesses have only been paying for rent at half-price.

“We understand that everybody is feeling it, and that is why we hope the $25,000 (cash grant) and the tax-relief from the Budget will encourage more people to spend,” Zaman said.

INTEREST IN INVESTMENTS Boyer, however, does not believe that the IMF’s projection illustrates the level of investor interest in Guyana.

“On the ground level, feedback I’ve received shows that people are still very positive about investments in this country. In most industries, investors both local and foreign are basically ‘throwing their belly out’; they are still coming to make their investments,” Boyer told the Guyana Chronicle on Monday.

He highlighted also that with Guyana’s airports now reopened, foreign investors are rushing to Guyana to “kickoff” the projects they planned to invest in.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 20, 2020

Closing one door opens new ‘window’ for youngsters

By Navendra Seoraj CLOSING the door behind him as he walked out of what was considered a ‘toxic’ work environment, turned out to be the best decision 29-year-old Samuel Sergobin ever made, as the ‘major’ step opened a new ‘window’ of opportunity for him.

For a very short time in his life, Sergobin worked with a Chinese window manufacturing company, which, though toxic, taught him a valuable trade which he has since used to create a viable small business in Berbice.

The young man, first a former employee of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), lost his job when the former administration closed the Skeldon Sugar Estate in 2017.

This, however, proved

Founders of ‘Fantastic Four Aluminum and Doors’.

From right are: Samuel Sergobin; Wayne Jr. Amsterdam; Lakeram Tamasar; and Naresh Deo

Wayne Jr. Amsterdam examines one of the doors installed by his team

to be the turning point in his life, as he immediately found a job with the Chinese manufacturing company in

Tuesday, October 20, 2020 -- 05:00 HRS

Berbice.

“After leaving GuySuCo, I was employed by a Chinese window manufacturing company, where, over a very short period of time, I became very versatile in my job,” said Sergobin during a recent interview with the Guyana Chronicle.

Even though he was making positive strides, the owners of the manufacturing company were making demands without offering him the requisite ‘pay’.

In talking about his expe-

rience, the young entrepreneur said: “They were making more and more demands when it came to working extra hours and weekends, and due to the fact that the payment wasn’t right and the boss was miserable, I left.

“Soon after, a friend of mine needed some windows and glass cases for a new shop, so I spoke to him and got the job. And that was when I realised we could make an honest hustle and maintain ourselves.”

The young man, after

One of the unique windows created by the young entrepreneurs

realising his potential, and the viability of this venture, chose to share his idea with three of his friends: Wayne Jr. Amsterdam, Lakeram Tamasar and Naresh Deo, all of whom are now his business partners.

Working out of Sergobin’s yard at Coriverton, Berbice, the four men channeled their skills into unique and creative products such as aluminum windows, doors and ‘double design’ glass for buildings.

Operating under the name, ‘Fantastic Four Aluminum and Doors’, the four men have used their work to penetrate the market in Berbice, and are looking to expand in the near future.

“Like any good business, there are challenges, and one of our main challenges right now is access to materials.

To get these materials, we have to travel all the way to Georgetown; and then there is the price factor…

We would buy the materials here, but it is too costly,” said

Sergobin.

Another “bump in the road” for these young men is the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), which has impacted every sector across the country.

“Due to COVID-19, customers are unable to finance their own projects; we are taking the necessary measures, but we are just not getting the business,” Sergobin lamented.

The young entrepreneur said his team plans to “weather the storm” and keep their eyes on the long-term goal, which includes maintaining a high standard and creating employment.

“It’s a dream to one day be able to finance our business, to the extent where we could import our own materials and equipment and not depend on local suppliers.

But we are taking it one step at a time,” said Sergobin.

With a solid team, a big dream, and a clear vision, the entrepreneur believes that success is inevitable.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 20, 2020

Help for ‘genuine’ Success D'Urban Street squatters, says VP Jagdeo woman, charged with fraud granted bail

By Vishani Ragobeer VICE-PRESIDENT Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo said that the government will provide assistance to some of the squatters occupying lands illegally at Success on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD).

Squatters have been occupying the Success lands that belong to the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) for months. The Corporation has begun flooding the lands to prepare for the resumption of cultivation after years of dormancy and it has been emphasised that these persons cannot stay on the lands.

Recently, some of these squatters took their plight to State House where they were able to meet with Vice-President Bharrat Jagdeo. During an interview with the Guyana Chronicle on Monday, Dr. Jagdeo said that the group seemed “very genuine.”

Subsequently, the Vice-President organised a meeting between the group and the Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal.

“This is GuySuCo’s land but the government’s intention is to help people, all of the people who have legitimate needs who are now at Success, but it has to be done in a manner that prioritises those who have urgent needs (as opposed to) those who are just land grabbers,” the Vice-President told this newspaper.

Importantly, he mentioned that the government will provide those squatters with gen-

One of the classrooms at the Graham’s Hall Primary school prepared for the squatters to use (Delano Williams photos)

uine challenges with a “permanent place… a piece of land.”

The challenge, however, is that there are several other persons who began occupying the Success lands after they were told that the government would regularise the land. This is not the case, as the Success lands are needed for cultivation of sugarcane as production at the Enmore Estate will restart soon.

Many of the squatters have lamented that they have been occupying these lands because the COVID-19 pandemic has drastically affected them, leaving them with no other alternative.

Dallyan (only name given) said that she has nowhere else to go, but indicated that if the government provides her with a permanent house lot elsewhere, she would readily move there. The woman said that she has no qualms paying for this space.

Another squatter, Junior (only name given) said that he has applied for a house lot since 2015 and he has not yet been successful.

“I would move right away if they (the government) give me a piece of land to live somewhere else,” Junior said.

“I just want my own place to rest my head.”

Recently, the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) began streamlining the land applications of squatters occupying those lands unlawfully, in an attempt to provide some redress. The CEO of the CH&PA, Sherywn Greaves, in an invited comment, said that the authority was doing all that it could to assist those persons, but the authority is still distributing lands in a structured manner — giving lands to persons with the oldest applications first.

On Saturday, Prime Minister, Brigadier (ret’d)

Farmer charged with murdering co-worker MAGISTRATE Zamilla Ali-Seepaul, on Monday, remanded a farmer to prison for the murder of his co-worker, whose lifeless body was found in a canal at Morasi Backdam, East Bank Essequibo last week.

Randy Williams appeared before the Leonora Magistrate’s Court and was not required to plead to the indictable charge.

It is alleged that, between October 10 and October 13, 2020, he murdered 21-yearold Timol Harris of Waramuri, Moruca, Region 1.

The case was adjourned

Timol Harris

to January 22, 2021.

According to reports, Williams and Harris worked together on an East Bank

Essequibo farm. On October 9 they were involved in an argument during which Williams threatened to kill Harris.

On October 10, Harris left for work and days later his body was discovered floating in a canal a few miles from where he worked, with a chop wound on the neck.

Following the discovery, Williams was arrested by the police and allegedly confessed to the crime under caution.

Mark Phillips, met with the squatters at Success and offered to set up a temporary shelter nearby for them but this offer was not met with a favourable response. Despite this, the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) has prepared the Graham’s Hall Primary school to be used as a shelter.

SHANETTE MERCUNOW, was, on Friday, October 16, 2020, brought before Magistrate Delon Bess at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, charged with fraudulent misappropriation.

Mercunow, of Durban Street, Lodge, Georgetown, denied that she, on Friday, August 2, 2019, and Friday, September 6, 2019, at Durban Street, Lodge, Georgetown, being solely entrusted by Roshawn London with $616,000 to deliver to Cherryl Williams, fraudulently misappropriated it to her own use and benefit.

According to information provided in court, Mercunow and London are friends. London currently resides overseas and wanted her grandmother’s house, located at Guyhoc Gardens, West Ruimveldt,

Georgetown, to be renovated. Trusting Mercunow, London requested from her relative a sum of $616,000 to be given to Mercunow.

Mercunow was entrusted with the money and was asked to oversee the work and pay the contractor. Issues concerning the contractor emanated. As such, Mercunow was ordered to relinquish the money to a relative. However, the accused claimed that the money was handed over to a relative who denied receiving any money. A report was made to the police and Mercunow was told of the allegation and was arrested.

Magistrate Bess ordered that Mercunow be placed on $100,000 bail.

The matter was adjourned until Friday, October 23, 2020, and was transferred to Court 2.

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guyana CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 20, 2020

Humanity in back seat THE human condition has metamorphosed in some ways, yet remains static in others; but if the resonances in the human equation bring our humanity to the fore, then, with goodwill to all will precipitate the dynamics of sharing and caring in the global village that is our world, as expounded by Dr. Jagan in his UN-adopted “A new global human order.”

The equations and definitions constraining human and humane conduct have largely become statistics by a society saturated in the sensual and the sensational.

Value systems relate to the dynamics of materialistic configurations, instead of the applicability of good

conduct, consideration for others, respect for authority and even parents.

The resilience of the human spirit may endure, as it has in centuries of natural and man-made catastrophes and evolved over time to predominate over individual and societal anomalies; but to what extent has the human collective transmigrated into the quintessential replica of that divine lifeforce most of us pray to for charting the course of our lives?

How many of us see ourselves as our brother’s and sister’s keepers? And how many of us can see a suffering child and feel constrained to intercede on its behalf, even if it creates

problems for us in our personal lives?

The quality of mercy is largely constrained within the parameters of our individual comfort zones – and this also applies to leaders of nations.

To be a real leader, and a good human being, one has to adopt and maintain principled positions, even when the world turns against you for refusing to compromise integrity for the convenience of popularity.

It is a rare human being and one whose self-respect and moral code are unshakeable, who can withstand the buffeting of a societal, national, regional, and global tsunami and emerge with moral pristinity.

Too many persons are like chaff blowing hither-thither in the wind of public opinion, without consideration for truths and for the greater good.

But the Lord adjured us to build our houses upon the rock of truth, so that it can withstand the elements and endure – and all our religions teach us that good triumphs over evil, light over darkness.

It is extremely difficult to refuse our peers in the pursuit of wrongdoing, especially when ostracism from their society would ensue as a consequence, unless one has a strong and in-built moral code that transposes one above the norm to rise unsullied by the machinations

of those who take joy in marginalising the existence of others – or policy-makers who gain satisfaction in strategising the dislocation of the socio-economic contours of vulnerable societies.

The sad reality that has hallmarked the evolutionary processes of societies is that moral integrity has majorly been relegated to a dimension of alienation within the mainstream norm, and the acquisition of power and wealth has taken precedence over the adjurations of all our holy texts.

The hypocrisy of many elders who attend mosques, mandirs, temples, churches, and other places of worship, whose lifestyles cannot bear scrutiny, have created ag-

nostics and cynics out of the younger generation, so authority figures – and consequentially the supreme being they purport to worship-- have become suspect and unworthy of respect.

This phenomenon has fractured societies, because the various religions of the world have historically and traditionally been the grounding force melding families and societies into a cohesive unit, mainly harmonising within the philosophies of their doctrines to create communities and countries with soul.

The churches may today be full, but the mechanical, materialistic applications have, except for exceptional instances,

Coalition was the biggest squatter in the land Dear editor,

THE talk of the town in Guyana is about land (talk is cheap). Music is in the air (bitter and sweet) but land is not, it is on the ground. It is interesting to note who owns most land in the world. Perhaps, what may be more interesting is, who owns most of the private lands in Guyana? By far the world’s largest non-governmental landowner, Queen Elizabeth II, is the head of the British Commonwealth and therefore legal owner of around 2.7 billion hectares of land, as estimated

by The New Statesman.

That’s as much as onesixth of the earth’s land surface. The Catholic Church is estimated to hold an incredible 71.6 million hectares of land in its bulging real estate

portfolio, an area larger than France. Needless to say, the Holy See is the second-largest non-government landowner in the world, with vast swathes of land in countries from Germany to India. The third are the Inuit people of Canada’s central and eastern Northwest Territories, holding the title to an enormous 35 million hectares in the region. Gina Rinehart, an Australian mining magnate and number one private landowner too, owns some 12 million hectares of land to be in fourth place.

The world’s largest farm is the 9.1 million-hectare Mudanjiang City Mega Farm in China, jointly owned by China’s Zhongding Dairy Farming and Russia’s Severny Bur. The dairy farm, which is the size of Portugal, supplies the Russian market and is home to

100,000 cows that pump out 800 million litres of milk a year. They vie for the fifth position.

Guyana, the only English-speaking country in South America, is compartmentally of many races and is the land of many waters with almost 87% of it composed of forests. The Indigenous peoples are the original occupiers and inhabitants of this land and owns some 14 per cent of it, most of them without legal titles to date.

They have conspicuously handled this affair in a sober, quiet and patient manner, much to their disadvantage. Guyanese reside mostly on the coastal belt in the three counties and are engaged in a number of agricultural products around the surrounding arable lands.

Mining and forestry are op-

erations in the interior. The city as well as the towns are congested and housing areas for livable space are available beyond these areas.

The Guyanese society is a mixture of all levels of financial worthiness, the majority dominating the lower income level and representing the struggling class. Since the days of the arrival of the Europeans to current, it has been an uphill task for survival and most Guyanese have had to scrape the bottom of the pot for survival.

While some have admirably advanced not to level the field, but to climb the ladder to a higher altitude, many have shrunk further to the lower rounds.

Many sociological elements are factored into these attributes, the past governments are inclusive under

different administrations.

The echoing cry for land to build a house has reverberated a shrilling and cringing sound from the coastal belt to the mountainous areas in the history of Guyana.

From slavery and indentured days to independence and republic nights, this has been an on-going battle left unresolved and conveniently ignored by the past PNC and APNU+AFC governments during their terms of governance.

They have tried unsuccessfully to harness this problem and it was only when the PPP/C government managed during their 23 years, much in-road was made with progress. The PPP/C perfected a plan on paper to a policy of production and perseverance.

President Irfaan Ali, then

Housing Minister, was the back bone for this success, having established an unbeatable record, only to be challenged under his leadership once again. Squatting has been an age-old dilemma and squatters squat for different reasons.

Squatting is illegal and the biggest squatter remains the APNU+AFC party that was squatting in office for almost two years, occupying 83,000 square miles of land that belonged to the Guyanese people, but refusing to give up ownership! They have created an unbeaten precedent and thus, innocent Guyanese have succumbed to their mentality and have indulged in a patterned behaviour.

They have illegally distributed lands to various See page 7

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guyana CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 20, 2020

Who should be held for libel against Chronicle?

Dear editor, WITH regard to your editorial on the $6 billion lawsuits (Oct 19) under the preceding management of the paper, the editor-in-chief and or editor (s) who allowed those irresponsible statements to be published should be required to pay the damages. The editorial department acted injudiciously.

In addition, there was mismanagement as a result of policies of specific individuals. Those responsible for that state of affairs must be held liable.

The then editor-in-chief or reporter who was responsible for the careless contents of what were published must be held personally responsible for all lawsuits.

They cannot claim ignorance. They know the rules of journalism. They must be the ones to compensate those they injured. An editor is trained in ethical and respon-

sible, impartial journalism.

He ought to know that certain information is libellous.

And therefore, he or they should have exercised editorial restraint in publishing information that would be considered libellous If the editor was instructed to publish the information by government ministers, then the person (s) who instructed the editor to commit libel should be held accountable. The paper or government should not have to bear that burden of libel.

Aside from civil penalties, if the editor acted very irresponsibly, he should also face criminal charges.

Having expressed the above view, as a media operative over the last 45 years, and as someone who supports open, transparent governance, I am opposed to measures meant to restrict press freedom.

Thus, I am against libel (written) or slander (spoken) lawsuits. I see these

court actions as efforts to stifle free speech -- to silence news publication or broadcasting. Publications should be free to publish factual information and to entertain fair, objective commentaries. Some bad speech is better than no speech. The US Supreme Court has taken that position; some American President (forgot name) had also made that very point over 200 years ago.

However, free speech must be cautious and responsible and not attack people’s characters. Commentaries and reporting must not be defamatory (purposely attacking or damageable) and contain (damning or objectionable) information that were/are known to be false.

Journalists undergo training on such concepts as defamation and journalistic negligence and ethics.

They (editors in particular) are trained on what crosses the line of defamation and

libel. And therefore, they should not be attacking. If they do, then surely they should and must be held accountable. The person who were/are responsible for the libel should be roasted, not the paper, unless the papers takes responsibility through the editor.

Inaccurate information is not automatically libellous, not in the US anyway. The American standard on libel is very high. A publisher is libellous if it can be proven that there was recklessness with the truth.

The libel must prove that the falsehood was/is intentionally published – the editor or writer knew the information is/was false and went ahead and published it anyway. If a publication publishes information even if damaging to someone and the editor or writer did not know it was false, a court would not grant a libel.

The court would throw it out if the publisher (editor) can prove that he/she did not know the information was false; an apology is not even granted for the falsehood. A few times I penned letters that contain inaccurate information, but I did not know they were inaccurate. When brought to my attention, I issued an apology or retraction.

In Guyana and in the British Commonwealth, the standard on libel is much lower. If the information is thought to be inaccurate, the court may grant libel. People run to the court for any little matter published on or about them that they feel is false or defamatory.

The bar should be raised.

Publications are careful what they publish. It is not unusual that a publication (as was the case with the Chronicle over the last five years) or writers don’t care what they publish against people whom they consider as opponents.

Some of the articles were defamatory and libellous; they contain virtually no truth and were intended to ridicule political opponents or those thought to be supportive of the opposition.

Why were they published?

The then government wanted to defame people and or justify some of its policies and decisions and used the state media to do its hatchet job. The then government believed that if they defamed people, the public would support their decisions or policies.

In any publication, there must be a balance between the public’s right to know (or free speech) and terrible speech that damages peoples’ reputations. Articles that knowingly and deliberately have falsehoods must not be published.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

Praise and criticism for Mayor Narine Dear editor IN Guyana, one often hears the term, ‘You have got to give Jack his Jacket.’

And so I must say, that in terms of the mayor of our capital, one must admit that since he has assumed office, there has been a significant reduction in the lavish exorbitance that was enjoyed by some through the misspending of property rates, in the rampant duplicity and well-known profligacy at City Hall.

Gone are the very expensive monthly overseas jaunts to the farthest corners of the world without any tangible returns as was undertaken by his predecessor; gone are the wasteful projects such as the ‘Presidential Park’ on the Merriman Mall, gone are the luxury staff conferences and seminars at high- end resorts

around the country; gone are the mega billboards trumpeting what was deemed to be City Hall’s successes.

However, there seems to be considerable reluctance on the part of the Chief Citizen to reduce the bloated payroll and the plenitude of purposeless departments.

Why does the city need a Public Relations Department with a super-salaried head and a tonne of underutilised staffers that are lollygagging all day long? The citizens do not need window dressing, they are well aware of the realities and shortcomings of the municipality.

Varnishing the truth about stray animals roaming the streets makes no sense, everyone would be better off if the stray animals were impounded, or mosquitoes were fogged,or non-functioning street

lights fixed, potholes mended, or the abattoir restored to working order, or the cemetery debushed, or the shuttered day care centres reopened. Having a Public Relations Department that is paid millions of dollars each month to put up a façade that everything is bright and beautiful at City Hall makes no sense and it should be immediately disbanded.

Then there is the underperforming Personnel Section, which in such circumstances of low achievement any serious and progressive organisation would have made the tough and sensible decisions of considering a new leader-assimilation process and educating and training the rest of the team to be able to successfully deliver; but what did they do? They aggrandised that

section into a mega department promoting the same non-performers and a number of persons to numerous high-paying and non-essential positions, causing the payroll to become even more turgid. This needs to be corrected by deflating the department back to a small but efficient section.

Additionally, the council is also saddled with a huge nugatory internal audit section which is heavily staffed by persons who are highly paid, but which has never ensured that internal control processes are operating effectively within that organisation.

With the amount of fraudulent activity, corruption and systemic breaches that were discovered by external sources over time, is it not time that this section be demobilised and

dissolved and the services of a competent audit company be contracted when needed?

Mr. Mayor, it is time for some layoffs, downsizing, and outsourcing at

City Hall, if services are to improve.

Sincerely, Modi Sankar

Coalition was the biggest ...

From page 6

entities, thankfully, five good-natured parties have returned the lands in good faith. They must be commended for their honesty and integrity. The APNU+AFC’s irresponsibility and inability to handle the squatting issue under their tenure, now becomes the problem baby for the new government. This stench will stink all the way to the next elections. The

PPP/C government is once again forced to clean up their predecessor’s mess that dirtied the landscape of this nation. Do they have enough toilet paper and gloves? There is a shortage of potable water!

COVID-19 doesn’t help the situation either!

Respectfully, Jai Lall.

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Three more die from COVID-19

–– 31 new cases reported

THE novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has claimed three lives in one day, taking the death toll to 114.

The Ministry of Health identified the recent victims as all females: 74-year-old and

two 64-year-olds from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica).

This newspaper was reliably informed that one of the victims was 64-year-old Agnes Johnson of Riverview, Ruimveldt. Johnson

was said to be a patient of the Georgetown Public Hospital’s COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

The Ministry of Health has since expressed its condolences to the families of those victims and pledged to make every effort to provide all the necessary support during this difficult time.

Meanwhile, Guyana, on Monday, recorded 31 new cases, taking the overall number of known cases in the country to 3,765. There are 74 persons in institutional isolation, 819 in home isolation and 12 persons

in the COVID-19 ICU. Of the positive cases, 2,749 persons have recovered, while 55 are in institutional quarantine. A total of 17,135 persons have been tested thus far.

Anyone who displays any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19, or needs any additional information, can contact the COVID-19 Emergency numbers: 231 1166, 226 7480 or 624 6674 immediately, or visit the ministry’s website at www. health.gov.gy.

Haslington murder trial gets underway with six witnesses THE trial of murder accused, Les Charles Critchlow commenced on Monday with the testimony of six witnesses.

Critchlow, 64, formerly of Haslington, East Coast Demerara, had pleaded not guilty to stabbing his brother-in-law, Terrence Adams, called “Uncle Terry” or “Sleepy”, to death on May 12, 2016 during an argument.

The murder occurred at Haslington.

Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry is presiding over the High Court trial, while the accused is being represented by Attorney-at-Law Max McKay. Posecutors Tiffani Lyken and Nafeeza Baig entered an appearance on behalf of the State.

DECEASED: Terrence Adams

The trial commenced with the testimony of the victim’s sons, Orin and Terrence Adams, followed by his widow, Christine Pierson.

Adams’ brother, Leyland, and sister, Janis Nelson also

Les Charles Critchlow

took the witness stand. The hearing concluded with the testimony of a police witness.

The trial will continue on Wednesday.

According to reports, Adams, 56, of North Haslington, was found around 20:15 hrs

on the day in question on the roadway in the village with stab wounds about his body.

He had been stabbed to the left and right side of his chest, and his neck was partially slashed. He was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC), where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The incident reportedly stemmed from a derogatory remark he’d made about Critchlow, which subsequently developed into a heated argument.

Adams had reportedly told Critchlow, “You don’t even wuk no more, and can’t maintain my sister.” This is what reportedly caused Critchlow to fly into a rage and repeatedly stab him.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 20, 2020

First set of COVID-19 vaccines free for Guyana – Health Minister

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony

THE initial set of vaccines which will be used

by Guyana to protect against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) will be secured free of cost, according to Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony.

Guyana has signed up with COVAX Facility, a global initiative geared at accelerating the development and manufacture of the COVID-19 vaccines, and then providing them in a guaranteed rapid, fair and equitable manner to those countries which need them. COVAX currently has the world’s largest and most diverse portfolio of COVID-19 vaccines.

Dr. Anthony, through his daily COVID-19 briefing with the Department of Public Information (DPI), explained on Monday that through COVAX, countries would be pooling their financial resources so that they can pay for the research and manufacture of these resources.

Currently, these vaccines are in the third stage of the clinical trials; only after the trials have been done can it be more definitively said that these vaccines are effective.

However, what COVAX has been doing is paying for some of those vaccines even before the trial has been completed, so that manufacturers can scale up the manufacturing process as soon as any one of the vaccines shows positive results.

Though signing up with COVAX carries a

fee, Guyana’s costs are being met through GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, which is coordinating COVAX, along with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the World Health Organisation (WHO).

“We have been able to benefit under a different scheme; we were not required to pay, because there are 10 countries in the Caribbean that GAVI is going to pay for, and they will take care of our initial costs,” Dr. Anthony said.

“We are not required to pay, but we will still get vaccines,” he added.

Many other Caribbean countries will not benefit from this, and therefore they will have to pay.

Through funding from the European Union, the Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO), in partnership with the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), has secured downpayments to purchase over one million doses of the expected COVID-19 vaccine(s) for Caribbean Member States.

“Since we are already getting ours free, CARPHA is going to help other countries that have to pay for theirs,” Minister Anthony explained.

This initial set of vaccines that Guyana will be receiving for free is expected to cover 20 per cent of the population at the commencement stage of distribution process. (Vishani Ragobeer)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 20, 2020

350 COVID-19 relief packages Restaurant Week, other events planned to boost tourism distributed to Reg. 3 communities

Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar, distributing the hampers to residents of Washington Housing Scheme on the East Bank of Essequibo.

A NUMBER of vulnerable households in Region Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara) benefitted from 350 relief packages at the weekend, part of government’s plans to help them cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The hampers were distributed by Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar, who noted that the government recognises that the vulnerable communities in Guyana continue to face hardship, as a result of the deadly virus.

Residents of Harmony, Free and Easy, Vriesland, Patentia (East and West), Sisters, Good Intent, Belle Vue, Stanleytown villages on the West Bank of Demerara, and Washington Housing Scheme

on the East Bank of Essequibo, among others, benefitted from the COVID-19 relief initiative.

The exercise was a partnership with the private sector which responded to President Irfaan Ali’s call for assistance.

“We are sharing out some hampers to some of the residents as part of the COVID-19 relief. We, the government, understand the financial strain many families are under due to the pandemic and we are working to provide them with some assistance,” Minister Indar stated.

Regional Vice Chairman, Omesh Satyanand, reminded that hampers are distributed to the communities on a regular basis and this has been

the norm since the closure of the Wales Sugar Estate four years ago.

“We have been doing this for the last four and a half years and we will continue to do this to help the residents of these nearby communities that were affected due to the closure of Wales [Sugar Estate],” Satyanand said.

Meanwhile, the residents lauded the initiative and said it was “much needed” during this difficult time.

Gaitree Datadin, who resides in the Washington Housing Scheme said, “I appreciate the hamper, I have my family and we can’t really work as normal so I’m happy that the Minister decided to offer us this assistance.”

Another resident, Michael McWatt, also expressed gratitude.

“Well I have my wife and a child and I’m happy that we have the chance to get some assistance. I work as a contractor but for a while things were slow, so I’m glad for this relief from the government. It will help my family and the rest of families a great lot,” said McWatt.

In addition to the relief hampers, the government is also providing $25,000 cash relief to every household; this initiative has commenced in Regions One and Nine and is currently being rolled out in the other regions across the country.

Some of the residents who benefitted from the hamper distribution in Washington Housing Scheme. (Adrian Narine photos)

Linden Hospital soon to offer dialysis services –– a first for Region 10

Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Linden Hospital, Michelle Bollers

THE works on the dialysis centre located at the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC) were recently completed and the public will soon be able to access its services.

These dialysis services will be the first of its kind to be offered at the institution and in Region 10 where LHC is located.

The hospital’s Chief Executive Officer (ag), Michelle Bollers, expressed hope that the centre will be operational

by November 1.

In a recent interview she said, “All of the nurses that would be working in the area have completed their training, the machines were tested and everything, and so now it’s just for us to open the centre and start the operations. I guess with the transitions and so on with the Government, I guess now that we’ve completed the budget also, they will be able to visit the location and then to decide the way forward as to when we open.”

There are eight dialysis patients seeking to transfer from Georgetown and current patients attached to the Linden Hospital seeking to be registered for the dialysis services. Bollers expressed that these patients will be able to access the services for free but the logistics in relations to cost for the walk-in patients is still being finalized.

Once the centre is up and running, patients in Region 10 will be able to have easier access to the services.

Currently, some persons are paying between $25,000 and $30,000 per session for dialysis treatment in Georgetown.

The rooms that were prepared for these services are located at the old Mackenzie Hospital building.

The LHC management has also been utilising space at that location to provide a number of services to the residents of Region Ten. In 2018, a spanking new ophthalmology department, with its own surgical unit was opened. A social service unit for abused children, a mental health department, a daycare centre and an antenatal centre were all established at the old hospital.

Further, the CT department of the hospital is also

expected to be completed soon.

Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton, during a recent visit to the hospital, noted that the Upper Demerara-Berbice (Region Ten) has seen a decrease in the staff complement of doctors over the past three years, but with the practicalities in the 2021 Budget, mechanisms will be put in place to ensure five-year scholarship programmes for doctors can resume, thus increasing the quality of health care that will be provided at the Linden Hospital.

The Linden Hospital Complex

President of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG), Mitra Ramkumar

By Jared Liddell IN an effort to revitalise Guyana’s ailing tourism sector, the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) has announced that several events, including Guyana Restaurant Week (GRW) and ‘Rediscover Home’ will be launched next month.

President of THAG, Mitra Ramkumar, told the Guyana Chronicle, during an interview on Monday that GRW will be facilitated from November 20 to November 29, 2020 while the dates were being finalised for ‘Rediscover Home.’

Ramkumar believes the tourism sector can be reopened safely during the COVID-19 pandemic, which is responsible for devastating economies across the world. He noted that once the necessary precautions are taken, the spread of the COVID-19 virus can be minimised.

Given that November is Tourism Awareness month, THAG will use the opportunity to execute GRW with a twist since this will be the first large entertainment event since the COVID-19 pandemic hit Guyana in March.

“We are expecting a huge turnout. I believe people will welcome the experience because it’s going to be special,” Ramkumar said.

He assured that several measures to guard against the spread of COVID-19 will be implemented, in an effort to make consumers comfortable and feel safe. As such, food will be delivered in addition to outdoor dining.

“Sometimes persons may still be skeptical about coming out and dining; we have catered for it, we are partnering with several local delivery organisations to facilitate delivery. And this in itself is positive because it allows the tourism sector to provide an additional set of persons with employment opportunities.”

Usually, GRW is held twice per year but due to the pandemic, it was cancelled for the first half of 2020.

Ramkumar disclosed that major restaurants in Guyana

are participating this year, including Cara Lodge, Aagman, OMG, Café Belvana, The Duke, Jaxx International, Guyana Marriott, Park Vue Hotel, Antonio’s Grille, Herdmanston Lodge, Xie Xie, Wind Jammer, and Java Coffee Bar. Guyana Restaurant Week commenced in November 2014 and was launched as a means of making restaurant meals more affordable and accessible to the Guyanese public.

REDISCOVER HOME Meanwhile, the ‘Rediscover Home’ event will target locals and facilitate a space where they can explore and enjoy the vast tourism activities the country has to offer.

“We want to encourage them to come out and bring their families, and their friends to experience Guyana’s Tourism and its beauty. There is so much beauty and culture here that a lot of Guyanese have never had the opportunity to explore; we plan to change that this year,” the THAG President said.

The event will see locals having the opportunity to take part in several events, including hiking, Kayaking and nature walks. Ramkumar clarified that this will be facilitated through collaboration with several local tourism companies.

“We want Guyanese to have the opportunity to come out and to experience these tourism activities, so we had to work to ensure that the cost attached is affordable; we want every Guyanese to have access.”

Based on figures provided by the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), it is estimated that tourism injected approximately GY$62.6B directly into Guyana’s economy in 2018 and GY$69.9B in 2019.

This reflects an estimated increase of GY$7.2B over 2018.

Tourism was verified to be the second largest export sector in Guyana after gold.

Beginning in 2020, it is expected to become the third largest export sector after the oil and gas and gold.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 20, 2020

Law books charge against Nandlall dropped ...says he feels 'vindicated'

Attorney General (AG) and Minster of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall

THE simple larceny charge against Attorney General (AG) and Minster of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, in relation to the theft of over $2M worth in law books has been withdrawn, based on instructions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack.

The charge was officially discontinued, on Friday last,

by Senior Magistrate Fabayo Azore, at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

Nandlall was on trial for the charge which alleged that between May 18 and May 29, 2015, while being a bailee

in his capacity as Attorney General, he fraudulently converted 14 Commonwealth Law Reports valued at $2,313,853, property of the Ministry of Legal Affairs, to his own use and benefit.

On November 23, 2018, Magistrate Azore had ruled that a prima facie case against Nandlall was established and called on him to lead his defence but he did not.

Nandlall and his lawyers, Sanjeev Datadin and Glenn Hanoman, had moved to the High Court and the Appeal Court to challenge the Magistrate’s decision; they also

asked for a judicial review.

However in December 2019, the Court of Appeal threw out Nandlall’s application to have the larceny charge quashed.

The ruling was handed down by Chancellor (ag) Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards and Justices Rishi Persaud and Franklin Holder forcing Nandlall to move to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

Meanwhile, Nandlall told the Department of Public Information (DPI) that he feels “vindicated” by the decision of the DPP. “That confirms my initial response that that charge was politically motivated and I was politically prosecuted because I was critical of the Attorney General. He told me to my face that if I did not stop criticising him, that I would be charged,” Nandlall was quoted as saying.

The Attorney General said his predecessor Basil Williams continued the charges, although a review by the Auditor General proved that no offence had been committed.

Nandlall said from the moment the law books became an issue, he immediately ordered the very books from LexisNexis and presented them to the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) but they were refused.

The reports were recently handed over to the Permanent

Secretary of the Ministry of Legal Affairs.

Over the past few years, Nandlall repeatedly stated that the law books were purchased for him by the State with the approval of former President Donald Ramotar.

Nandlall had explained that the law books were in his possession and he had no intention of returning them to the State. He subsequently secured an order in the High Court, which barred the police from seizing the books.

Nandlall had stated that the books were acquired during his term in office as Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs.

He previously stated that he commenced subscribing to Lexis Nexis (U.K.), publishers of the Commonwealth Law Reports, sometime in 2003, and the arrangement was that the reports were to be shipped to him, along with an invoice.

He noted that, before his appointment as Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, he had requested that, as a condition of his service, the State should stand the related expenses.

After the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) lost the May 2015 elections, Nandlall vacated his office and took the law books with him.

Fifteen students to get STEM training scholarships THE New York American Choral Directors Association (NY-ACDA), a non-profit organisation, has partnered with STEMGuyana to fund scholarships for 15 Guyanese students

dents to learn artificial intelligence and building projects with scratch programming kit, as well,“ she said.

Abrams informed that the organisation which launched its STEMGuyana Interna-

to attend the STEMGuyana virtual academy for 6 months.

Director of STEMGuyana, Karen Abrams, in a recent interview with this publication, said the scholarships target children, ages 7 to 15 with the aim of inspiring the next generation of global innovators from Guyana to be problem-solvers and critical thinkers and to develop their conflict resolution skills.

She articulated that children from around the world will meet on Saturdays to engage in an integrated, fun, challenging and exciting curriculum.

“We integrated Maths, Science, English, Arts and Technology in our lesson plans and we’ll also use topics from MoE’s Math and Science curricula for stu-

tional Academy programme on Sunday, has received registrations from varying regions across Guyana, the US and the Caribbean, and is expected to collaborate with the Ministry of Sports, Youth & Culture and the Ministry of Education (MoE).

The programme began with preparatory Scratch coding classes for registered students.

The Guyana Chronicle understands that Scratch coding is integrated into STEMGuyana’s curriculum and all registered students are required to have a basic understanding of it prior to enrolment. Those classes are free and aid in preparing registered students before the academic programme begins in November.

TURN TO PAGE

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38 cadets undergo rigorous Reserve Officers’ Course –– participants include doctors, engineers, teachers, economists, accountants THIRTY-eight cadets are currently undergoing rigorous training for the Reserve Officers’ Course 17 (ROC 17).

The cadets are in the fourth week of the six-week programme, during which phase they are being immersed in field craft, drills and skill-at-arms training, the GDF has noted on its Facebook page.

Declaring the course open at the weekend, Chief-ofStaff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Brigadier Godfrey Bess underscored some of the tools that the cadets would need to successfully complete it, and realise their goal of becoming Reserve Officers.

Among those tools, he said, are discipline, respect for authority, academic acuity, physical prowess, mental

acuity and determination, according to the GDF. On ROC 17, there are several doctors, engineers, teachers, economists, accountants and other professionals, 28 of whom are males while 10 are females.

According to the GDF, the Chief-of-Staff also challenged ROC17 participants to keep moving, regardless of the challenges they may face during their training.

“You will be faced with obstacles and boundaries, all of which are deliberately designed as tools to enable you to navigate the terrain of this training on your path towards becoming Reserve Officers,” he was quoted as saying.

While noting that each of the Reserve Officer Cadets are already professionals in their own right, Brigadier Bess pleaded

with them not to let their academic and professional achievements cause them to lose sight of the essentials of the course.

In highlighting the physical requirements of the course, the Chief-of-Staff emphasised the need for the Cadets to be fit.

“The Reserve Officers’ Course is physically demanding, though, perhaps not as much as if you had enlisted in the Standard Officers’ Course. Nevertheless, you will be challenged, and expected to display very high levels of fitness. You will be expected to master a plethora of drills. Why? Because an officer worth his or her salt must be fit. You must mould your bodies into hardy instruments which will weather the natural elements, be they rain, sun or storm,” Brigadier Bess said, adding: “You are likely to be deployed into harsh environments, where you deal with the vagaries of the jungle, have to cross dangerous streams, rivers and rapids, and complete miles

upon miles of patrols over all kinds of terrain. Here, we prepare you for a life of such realities.”

The cadets were also encouraged to apply themselves with diligence, and demonstrate integrity in everything they do, since the GDF needs

officers who are selfless in their service, and committed to doing their best to better it, and enhance the quality of service it delivers to the nation.

The Reserve Officers’ Course is designed to produce an officer capable of

leading and administering soldiers in augmenting the regular Force, as well as fulfilling the civil defence and other roles of a reserve soldier, while at the same time upholding the values and standards of the Guyana Defence Force.

Chief-of-Staff Brigadier Godfrey Bess welcoming participants at the commencement of ROC 17 (Photo courtesy of the GDF)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 20, 2020

Coalition welcomes help from Chinese contractor yet to submit revised work plan Canada on electoral reform AFTER being accused of supporting electoral fraud and delaying the 2020 Regional and General results for five months, Opposition Leader, Joseph Harmon, has now indicated that the APNU+AFC Coalition will support any assistance provided by the Canadian Government to reform Guyana’s electoral system.

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall, had noted that the government is seeking the assistance of the Canadian Government to help reform its electoral legislation.

Nandlall had noted that electoral reform will ensure that the tragedy which unfolded after the March 2 General and Regional Elections never recurs.

During a press briefing on Monday, Harmon who was asked his position on electoral reform said Canada has always demonstrated a willingness to provide any form of assistance to Guyana.

“Canada has been one country that has helped us significantly in this. In fact, I believe it is the leading country with respect to aid to Guyana. I know that, for many years, the Canadians have looked at our electoral system to try to see how best they can facilitate the early declaration of results. I think it is in that area that they are focused on,” Harmon said.

He continued: “I recall in the period 2011-2015, they brought in several machines to see how best it can be utilised to ensure that we can have from the time of the close of poll until you have a declaration…to ensure that time is significantly reduced.”

The Opposition Leader noted that funding for elec-

Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon

toral reform is important.

“What will be important is funding for electoral reform and the work which has to be done with respect to any changes which have to be done with the Constitution.”

Among the reforms, the People’s Progressive Party/C (PPP/C) Government wants systems in place to ensure that Statements of Poll (SOPs) are published by the respective political parties on a website and made public within hours of receipt.

The Attorney General had noted that the reforms should ensure that there are oversight mechanisms in place to scrutinise the work of the Returning Officers (ROs), thereby guarding against the declaration of false results.

The proposals also include a system where employment procedures and practices are used to ensure the best candidates are selected to work during elections, and to also have fixed qualifications, character references and testimonials for those officials.

It is also seeking to ensure that there is a heavy penal system accompanying

Fifteen students to...

FROM PAGE

The programme is designed for small batches of students from around the country in keeping with the COVID-19 preventative measures.

“We are not sure how long COVID-19 will continue to affect our children, so we’ve decided to design this programme as a model which can be quickly expanded after the pandemic is over,” Abrams expressed.

According to the 2017 LAPTOP survey of the Guyanese population, less

10

than 50% of households have access to computers and internet connectivity. In this regard, STEM-Guyana is working with sponsors, local churches, NGOs and the National Data Management Authority (NDMA) to allow vulnerable children access to the virtual academy programme via internet hubs and other facilities with internet access.

electoral offences that will deter any official from doing wrong during the elections.

Chairperson of the People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R), Volda Lawrence, on October 14, 2020 appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court after she was charged with two counts of conspiracy to defraud.

Lawrence, a former Health Minister, was released on $100,000 bail by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

The charges alleged that Lawrence, on March 5, 2020, at High and Hadfield Streets, Georgetown, conspired with GECOM’s Returning Officer for Region Four, Clairmont Mingo, and others to declare a fraudulent account of votes for District Four in the March 2 elections.

The Chief Magistrate released Lawrence on $50,000 bail on each count and adjourned the case to December 9. It was her second appearance before the court to answer elections fraud charges.

On August 24, 2020, she was placed on $100,000 bail

by Magistrate McLennan in relation to a private criminal charge filed against her for

the alleged fraudulent elections declaration of March 5, 2020.

She was jointly charged with Mingo, who is currently on self-bail for the indictment.

That charge was filed given that their signatures were on said declaration, and a national vote recount subsequently found that the numbers were inflated in favour of the APNU+AFC. Mingo is also before the court on several fraud charges, including uttering a forged document with intent to defraud the public, contrary to Section 278 of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act. He was granted $600,000 bail and the case adjourned to November 16, to allow the prosecution time to complete the filing of statements.

Lawrence and Mingo are among several who are before the court charged with various offences pertaining to the March 2 elections.

Earlier this month, Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO), Roxanne Myers, was released on $300,000 bail, after pleading not guilty to two counts of misconduct in public office, when she appeared before the Chief Magistrate.

Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield, is before the court on three private criminal fraud charges and is expected to go on trial next month.

Lowenfield has been accused of presenting elections results with the exact inflated figures in favour of the APNU+AFC. Those same figures were declared

by Mingo. He was not required to plead and was released on $450,000 bail.

for CJIA expansion

THE Government of Guyana is still awaiting the submission of a revised work plan from China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) for the protracted US$150 million Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) expansion project.

President Irfaan Ali had expressed dissatisfaction with the work done so far by the contractor and asked that they “get it right.”

Getting it right involves producing a revised worked plan which captures the terms agreed to in the initial contract signed by the former People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government and the contractor in 2011.

This project was due for completion in December 2017, but the scope of work and deadline were reviewed by the former A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) government, and a deadline of December 31, 2018 was set.

The project, under the PPP/C, was signed as an agreed package, including design, building and handing over, but over US$144 million has already been expended on the project and the work has been deemed unsatisfactory.

The initial project, before being reviewed by the past administration, included the extension of the runway from 7,500 to 10,800 feet, so as to accommodate the BOEING 747-400 aircraft. It also included eight passenger boarding bridges, among other things.

Through the revised contract, only four air bridges were installed, because no new building was built for the apron.

As part of the original contract, the CHEC was expected to tear down the existing terminal building, and construct a new one which could accommodate eight air bridges.

But what the new contract

actually did was facilitate the refurbishing of the terminal building, and installation of only four air bridges. There is also a myriad of other issues plaguing the facility, including a malfunctioning sewerage system.

“The government expects the delivery of an airport in keeping with the initial contract that was signed between the government and CHEC,” said Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, in an invited comment, on Monday.

Although work is ongoing at the facility, the Minister said government is yet to receive the revised work plan, which includes the new timeline for completion from CHEC. Glaring inefficiencies and shortcomings in the project had forced President Ali to say that Guyana will only accept work as was outlined in the original contract and will not accept the unsatisfactory work done so far.

“I am holding everyone responsible; the contractor, the consultant, the project management team… This is not acceptable for the Guyanese people. In this current position, it is very clear, from all that I have seen and heard, and from all the questions asked, it is very clear that something is horribly wrong. The right decision at this moment is that we cannot accept this, “President Ali had said last month during an inspection of the works at the airport.

While the new PPP/C administration believes that concerns and problems related to the project are many, their intention is to see its completion in keeping with the agreed scope that was signed.

Outside of the revision of the project, Minister Edghill, during the recent budget debates and consideration, had said it will need over $1.3 billion to “fix things” not included in the contract.

Pensioner appeals rape conviction, 19-year sentence A 67-year-old pensioner, who is currently serving 19 years’ imprisonment for raping a 16-year-old girl in 2017, is now moving to the Appeal Court to have his conviction and sentence overturn.

George Robin, a former shop owner of West Coast Berbice, on June 25, 2019, was found guilty by a 12-member jury of engaging in sexual penetration with a 16-year-old girl in 2017.

He was sentenced by Justice Brassington Reynolds at the Demerara High Court.

Dissatisfied with his sentence, Robin, in his appeal, argued that the trial Judge erred in law.

During his sentencing hearing in 2019, a probation officer told the court that villagers in Robin’s community said that he was known for his perverted behaviour towards young girls in the community.

It was revealed that Robin was involved in a relationship with an underaged girl in the village and she later gave birth to a child for him but the matter was never

reported to the police.

The probation officer had explained that Robin operated a shop at a nearby primary school in the village and, based on reports, he would request kisses from the school girls.

The probation officer reported that Robin committed the act on a Grade Three child and when a teacher confronted him, he said he was showing the girl his dentures.

The probation officer had described Robin as “vain and vulgar.”

George Robin

12

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 20, 2020

Finance Minister expected before year-end GUYANA’s new Finance Minister under the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) government will be appointed before the end of 2020, according to Vice-President Bharrat Jagdeo.

Though several Ministers were appointed since August, days after President Irfaan Ali’s inauguration, a Minister of Finance was not appointed.

Without a Finance Minister, the Office of the President has assumed responsibility

for the sector.

“We are hoping to name somebody soon,” the Vice-President said on Monday, in an interview with the Guyana Chronicle. He later added that the appointment of the Minister “would be long before the end of the year.”

The Vice-President also assured that President Ali was considering a number of persons for the position.

In August, President Ali said the post of Finance Minister remains critical and

Vice-President Bharrat Jagdeo

explained that more “critical” appointments will be made soon. Vice-President Jagdeo, who is a former President and served as Finance Minister from 1995-1999, has been providing advisory services in the finance sector to the Ali administration.

The position of a Minister of Finance in Guyana is a critical one as that person is charged with oversight of the country’s finance sector and on government’s spending.

A key function of the Finance

Minister is to oversee the preparation of the annual, national budget and present it to the National Assembly, where it will be debated before its passage.

In September, an emergency budget- the first national budget for 2020- was passed. It was presented by Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, but the Vice-President was the one who provided assistance in crafting that $330 billion budget.

Revised Petroleum Commission Bill expected after local content policy

Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat

THE revised Petroleum Commission Bill will be presented to the National Assembly only after the local content policy is adequately developed, according to Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat.

The Bill was tabled in 2017 by the previous administration but it was flagged by several stakeholders for concentrating too many powers in the hands of the Minister of Natural Resources. Then, before assuming office, the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) indicated that it would revise this Bill before it is passed into legislation.

In a recent interview with the Guyana Chronicle, Minister Bharrat emphasised, “Our position remains the same as in 2017; we believe that the sector should not be run by politicians but by technical, capable people who are qualified and trained to manage the sector effectively without political interference.”

Bharrat explained that currently, stakeholders are reworking this Bill before it is re-tabled in Parliament; however, he said that there is a panel of experts currently working on the local content policy which will also be made into legislation. Local content, he explained, is a prerequisite for the petroleum

commission.

“We are hoping that we can tie both into each other because the Petroleum Commission Bill will have to make provisions for the local content too; so you would appreciate that we will have to get the local content out first and then factor that into the petroleum commission,” the minister explained.

While he could not provide a definitive timeline, he opined that the Petroleum Commission Bill could be re-tabled sometime next year, in the first quarter at earliest, paving the way for constitution of the commission, which will govern the operations of Guyana’s nascent oil-and-gas industry.

“Hopefully, we can have that commission in place sometime year- and mid-next year would be ideal but it is something we have to work towards,” the minister said.

In 2017 former Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, tabled the Petroleum Commission of Guyana Bill of 2017 during the 64th sitting of the 11th Parliament. The Bill was to be taken to a Special Select Committee at a later sitting of the National Assembly after its second reading; however, to date, it has not yet been passed.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 20, 2020

Commander Ramlakhan takes up Berbice post

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…to launch massive PR campaign HOURS after taking up his new post as Commander of Region Six (East Berbice/ Corentyne), Senior Superintendent, Jairam Ramlakhan, during a familarisation session on Friday last, met with the Senior Divisional Administrators, along with the Station Sergeants and instructed them to prepare and submit a plan of action within 48 hours to effectively police the division in an effort to maintain law and order.

The Station Sergeants should include in their plans the statuses of the Station Management Committees,

scouts, and drug raids along with the identification of known drug houses.

Thereafter, a massive public relation campaign will be launched through community engagements. It is expected that the Station Sergeants will take the lead in team policing across the region, with the support of the Commander and other senior administrators.

Commander Ramlakhan promised that standard procedures will be adhered to during all operations, including road blocks.

Meanwhile, shortly after

Commander Ramlakhan took up his post, the Managing Director of Ashiek and Son Motor Supply, of Palmyra, East Canje, Ashraf A. Jahoor, pledged to freely service all of the police motorcycles every three months.

The senior cop was reassigned to the Berbice division where he took over from Commander Linden Isles, after spending about two months in Region One (Barima -Waini) where he served as Commander.

He previously held the position as Police Public Relation and Press Officer.

Detention facilities upgraded at Lusignan Prison …to ease congestion –– systems in place to curb spread of COVID-19 THE detention facilities at the Lusignan Prison on the East Coast of Demerara have been upgraded to house inmates in an effort to ease the overcrowding and to curb the spread of the deadly COVID-19.

Adviser to the Home Affairs Minister on the Security Sector, Harry Gill, told the Guyana Chronicle that new systems have been activated to prevent the further spread of COVID-19.

Over 200 inmates at the Lusignan Prison were diagnosed with COVID-19 last month following an ongoing screening campaign at the facility.

The security adviser noted that prisoners who had tested positive and were relocated to a government facility for isolation on the East Bank of Demerara have now returned to the prison under better conditions.

He explained that huge

Adviser to the Home Affairs Minister on the Security Sector, Harry Gill

tents with fences, wooden floors and washrooms were created in order to ensure that prisoners are safe and in better living conditions. Each tent has the capacity to house 204 inmates.

Additionally, Gill said two new watch towers were constructed and the drainage networks were improved at the penitentiary.

A screening and testing campaign for COVID-19 was

initiated in the prison and since then, the Ministry of Health, along with the Guyana Prison Service, has been working to put measures in place to mitigate the spread of the disease.

The Lusignan Prison had been overrun since the destruction of a large part of the 133-year-old Camp Street prison in 2017, a little over a year after 17 prisoners were killed in a fire at the same facility.

The situation at Lusignan was worsened earlier this year following a fire which destroyed one of the facility’s main buildings that housed an administrative office, kitchen and facilities for approximately 185 to 190 prisoners.

Overcrowding at the facility has been a long-standing concern and earlier this year, about 350 inmates who had almost completed their sentences were released early as part of efforts to address the issue.

An aerial view of the Lusignan Prison (File photo)

Commander Jairam Ramlakhan (fourth from left) with senior police administrators at the Central Police Station in New Amsterdam, hours after taking over the helm of Region Six division.

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Shariff wins virtual U-20 ...

From Backpage

missing were the Johnson sisters--Waveney and Nellisha, and Jessica Callender.

Most of the players have been honing their skills with renowned International Chess Master, Atanu Lahiri.

Coach Lahiri is a former Commonwealth chess champion, who has coached and mentored national and international chess players who have won major Indian tournaments as well as World Championships in various categories. The most notable among those players is Grandmaster, Surya Shekhar Ganguly, who won the Indian Championship for six consecutive years.

In Guyana, he is helping the U-20 and U-16 players fine-tune their skills.

Meanwhile, the federation is appealing to all junior chess players and enthusiasts to join its online programme by contacting Marcia Lee on 609-4116 and Anand Raghunauth on 681-8771.

No date ...

From Backpage

well as regionally."

"I'm confident and hopeful that the situation with COVID-19 next year presents itself in such a way that we can say safely, for everyone's sake, host the meet in a manner that doesn't exacerbate the situation with the pandemic," said Pompey.

At the 2018 AP Invitational, Kirani James, the 2012 Olympic Champion and 2016 Olympic silver medallist, clocked 44.99 seconds to not only win the ‘AP’ Invitational 400 metres, but also set a new ‘Track Record’.

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guyana CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 20, 2020

U.S., Britain call out Russian hacking spree, cyberattacks against Olympics

By Jack Stubbs, Christopher Bing LONDON/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Britain and the United States on Monday condemned what they said were a litany of malicious

cyberattacks orchestrated

by Russian military intelligence, including attempts to disrupt next year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo.

British and U.S. officials said the attacks were conduct-

ed by Unit 74455 of Russia’s GRU military intelligence agency, also known as the Main Centre for Special Technologies. In an indictment unsealed on Monday, the U.S. Justice Department said six members of the unit had

played key roles in attacks on targets ranging from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to the 2017 French elections. The charges covered four years of malicious cyber activity, from 2015 to 2019. British officials said the GRU hackers had also conducted “cyber reconnaissance” operations against organisers of the 2020 Tokyo Games, which were originally scheduled to be held this year but postponed because of the coronavirus outbreak.

The officials declined to give specific details about the attacks or whether they were successful, but said they had targeted Games organisers, logistics suppliers and sponsors.

Justice Department Assistant Attorney General John Demers declined to discuss the more recent attacks against the 2020 Games.

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: “The GRU’s actions against the Olympic and Paralympic Games are cynical and reckless. We condemn them in the strongest possible terms.”

FBI Deputy Director David Bowdich said: “The FBI has repeatedly warned that Russia is a highly capable cyber adversary, and the information revealed in this indictment illustrates how pervasive and destructive Russia’s cyber activities truly are.”

Russia was banned from the world’s top sporting events for four years in December over widespread doping offences, including the Tokyo Games which were originally scheduled for this year but postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The attacks on the 2020 Games are the latest in a string of hacking attempts against international sporting organisations that Western officials and cybersecurity experts say have been orchestrated by Russia since its doping scandal erupted five years ago. Moscow has repeatedly denied the allegations.

Britain and the United States said on Monday the hackers were involved in other attacks, such as the hack of the 2018 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in South Korea, which compromised hundreds of computers, took down Internet access and disrupted broadcast feeds.

Hutson worried about track field athletes' chance of reaching Tokyo Olympics

By Rawle Toney WITH time ticking away for track and field athletes to make the qualifying standard times and distances listed by World Athletics for the Tokyo Olympic Games, president of the Athletic Association of Guyana (AAG), Aubrey Hutson, believes that the overseas-based athletes stand a better chance of qualifying, as compared to those in Guyana.

Qualification for the Tokyo Games must be completed by June 29, 2021; the International Olympic Committee (IOC) had said following a revision after the advent of COVID-19 had forced a cancellation of the Tokyo Olympic Games. The final deadline for entries to be submitted to the IOC is July 5.

The new deadlines were named as part of a series of amendments to the Tokyo 2020 Qualification System Principles, approved by the IOC qualification taskforce.

Hutson, speaking exclusively to Chronicle Sport, said the locally-based athletes were more affected by the pandemic than their colleagues in the Diaspora.

Aliyah Abrams is so far the lone Guyanese to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics.

"Most of our athletes who we think are going to make that Olympic team are on scholarship in the USA. While I have great hope in folks like Davin Fraser, Devon Barrington and Akeem Stewart and Leslyn Baird, who are in Guyana to make it, I'm more concerned about them and their lack of competition," Hutson said.

The AAG president said even if the Association had wanted to expose the aforementioned athletes to competition overseas, "the airports were closed and they couldn't have gone anywhere. We've had some opportunities to send athletes to compete on the European circuit, but they couldn't leave."

The COVID-19 pandemic, according to Hutson, has hit the sport of track and field

the hardest, since it can turn out to be the primary reason some of Guyana's top local athletes were prevented from reaching the Olympic Games.

In the interim, Hutson said the AAG is keeping a close eye on the athletes overseas.

Aliyah Abrams, one of the top 400M athletes overseas, is poised to represent Guyana at her second Olympic Games, having participated at the 2016 event in Brazil.

Hutson said Arinze Chance is also close to qualifying, and will be hitting the US circuit in an effort to have the best chance of reaching Tokyo.

The AAG boss said the COVID-19 restrictions are not fair to track and field in Guyana, adding that they have a number of athletes, locally, who are "knocking on the doors and are just hoping to make the qualifying standards to get into the Olympics. Emmanuel Archibald is home and is working and I know he just can't wait to get back to Jamaica."

"There are many athletes, but with COVID-19, there's only so much we can do and no more, so we're hoping that the athletes who are based overseas can make us proud," Hutson said.

This year's Aliann Pompey’s Invitational can be seen as a last resort for Guyanese athletes to qualify for the Olympic Games in Japan.

Eleven athletes, none Guyanese, qualified for the Rio Olympic Games in 2016, from competing at the AP Invitational.

A date for next year's event, according to Pompey, will be announced soon, but certainly, the event will once again be the gateway to the Olympic Games.

Troy Doris (Triple Jump); Brenesa Thompson (100M and 200M); Winston George (400M) and Abrams (400M) suited up for Guyana in Track and Field at the 2016 Olympic Games.

Only Doris reached the final of his event, finishing seventh overall.

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guyana CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 20, 2020

County Championship: Competition returns in 2021 alongside Bob Willis Trophy A revamped County Championship will return next summer with the 18 first-class counties split into three groups.

The competition was replaced by the Bob Willis Trophy in 2020 after the domestic season started four months late amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The Bob Willis Trophy final, a five-day game at Lord's, will still take place in 2021 contested by the best two sides in the new-look County Championship.

Essex, county champions in 2019, will defend both trophies.

They also won the inaugural Bob Willis Trophy in September after the County Championship was cancelled for the first time since World War Two. The County Championship is usually split into two divisions with eight teams in Division One and 10 in Division Two. But with uncertainty surrounding how Covid-19 will continue to impact first-class cricket in 2021, the England and Wales Cricket Board said it wanted to restart the County Championship while mitigating against the impact of the pandemic.

"I am delighted that the counties have been able to reach this agreement less than three weeks after Essex won the Bob Willis Trophy final at Lord's," ECB chair Ian Watmore said.

the 2019 County Championship and the 2020 Bob Willis Trophy.

Playing conditions for both tournaments and dates will be announced "in due course".

The County Championship groups:

Sir Alastair Cook was part of the Essex side that won the most recent County Championship in 2019.

"The success of that competition provides reassurance that this structure can help safeguard against any impact the global pandemic may have on next season while also ensuring the integrity of the County Championship.

"It must be stressed that this structure has been agreed for next season only and during 2021 we will review and consult with the counties and other stakeholders to decide the appropriate next steps for the men's domestic structure in 2022 and beyond."

The three groups are seeded based on performances during

Group 1: Essex, Warwickshire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Worcestershire, Durham.

Group 2: Somerset, Hampshire, Surrey, Gloucestershire, Middlesex, Leicestershire.

Group 3: Kent, Yorkshire, Lancashire, Northamptonshire, Glamorgan, Sussex.

How will it work?

Each county will play 10 four-day games in the group stage - five home and five away.

The top two teams in each group will go through to a second group stage called Division One. The six teams in Division One play a further four matches, with the side that finishes top of Division One crowned 2021 County Championship winners.

The top two teams in Division One will contest five-day Bob Willis Trophy final at Lord's.

The remaining 12 teams that do not go into Division One will move into Divisions Two and Three, in which teams will play another four matches. (BBC Sport)

Sarfraz, Malik and Amir dropped for Zimbabwe series VE T ER A N S S a r f a r a z Ahmed, Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Amir have been left out of Pakistan's limited-overs squad of 22 for the home series against Zimbabwe next month.

Shadab Khan was appointed Pakistan's vice-captain in both limited-overs formats, while Abdullah Shafique, the uncapped 20year old, top order batsman has found a place following strong performances for Central Punjab in the recently-concluded National T20 Cup. Shafique, who hails from Sialkot, made a stunning century on T20 debut to help Central Punjab pull off a remarkable chase of 201.

He finished the tournament with 358 runs in 10

.. Shadab Khan appointed white-ball vice- captain

Mohammad Amir has been left out of Pakistan's limitedovers squad against Zimbabwe. (Getty Images).

innings, striking them at 133 with an average of 44.75.

These include two half-centuries and a century.

Shafique has also made a century in his only first-class

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CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Chennai Super Kings (2) Royal Challengers Bangalore Today’s Quiz: (1) Who was declared Man on the Match in

the IPL 2011 final?

(2) Who was voted Man of the Tournament in

IPL 2011?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

appearance so far, making him the first Pakistani and second in cricket history to manage debut hundreds at both the first-class and T20 cricket.

Although the squad has been named for the full tour, the team management and the Pakistan selectors will pick a squad for the ODIs and T20Is from this pool at a later date. A big pool has been picked to ensure all players can comply with strict covid-19 protocols in a bio-secure bubble that will be in place for the full series.

"The philosophy and throughout process behind the selection is that we don't want excessive experiments in ODIs and would rather play to our strengths," Misbah said before naming the list of probables. "Going for-

ward, we know how important every single ODI game will be in terms of qualification for the ICC event.

We want to win every game regardless of opponent as we know Zimbabwe didn't play much in the recent past and we don't know what to expect. So we have to be watchful against them. Our intention will be to regain our winning momentum from when we last played against Sri Lanka a year ago.

"In T20I squad, it's a bit different as we want to give young boys an extended run so that they can show what they are capable of at the highest level and cement their places for future assignments.

We all saw some outstanding individual performances in the National T20 Cup but not everyone got a chance and must be disappointed. But they have a chance for the New Zealand tour to get into the "A" team.

I want to reassure them that they will remain in consideration for the New Zealand tour and next year's home series. All they now need to do is to carry those impressive run of forms into the upcoming domestic competitions."

The axing of notable names - Malik, Amir and Sarfraz - meant Pakistan are compelled to dig deep into

their reserves in search of younger players. The senior trio lost Misbah's faith after their fading form. Amir was wicketless on the England tour and had a lacklustre stint in the National T20 cup with six wickets at 38.83.

ESPNcricinfo understands the Pakistan Cricket Board has decided to move on from veteran all-rounder Shoaib Malik, while Sarfaraz was dropped from every squad last year after he lost the captaincy, and only returned to the side for the England tour when Pakistan travelled with a larger group of players.

He was left out once more, allowing the youngster Rohail Nazir to be integrated into the squad, behind their first-choice wicket-keeper Mohammad Rizwan.

"Seniors like Shoaib Malik, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Amir are the notable absentees in this squad and that is mainly because we want to give youngsters a chance.

Having all of them in the squad makes it tough to play youngsters, and their absence will provide players like Abdullah Shafique, Haider Ali and Khushdil Shah better chances of featuring in the upcoming matches.

Dropping Sarfraz is meant to give him a chance to play first-class cricket, because on form Mohammad Rizwan is the first-

choice wicketkeeper. With an eye on future and as part of our succession planning, Rohail Nazir has been chosen as Rizwan's back-up wicketkeeper.

Instead of Sarfaraz sitting on the substitute bench, it makes sense that he plays in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy so that he retains his fitness and rediscovers form for the tour for the longer and more demanding tour of New Zealand."

Zimbabwe's tour of Pakistan will begin when their 32-man squad arrives in Islamabad tomorrow. They will then undergo an isolation period from October 21 to 27 before they can start training at the Pindi Cricket Stadium from October 28. Rawalpindi will be hosting the ODI series, scheduled for October 30, November 1 and 3 while both teams will travel to Lahore for the T20 series - set for November 7, 8 and 10.

Full squad: Babar Azam, Haider Ali, Abdullah Shafique, Imam ul Haq, Harris Sohail, Abid Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Rizwan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Imad Wasim, Rohail Nazir, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Haris Rauf, Musa Khan, Wahab Riaz, Usman Qadar, Zafar Gohar. (ESPN Cricinfo)

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Tavindra Mangra heads Zeelugt North Sports Club TAVINDRA Mangra was elected president of Zeelugt North Sports Club when the entity held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Sunday at Cold Fusion Sports Bar, Zeelugt, East Bank, Essequibo.

Formerly Cold Fusion Cricket Club, a unanimous decision was taken, following a motion at Sunday’s meeting, to rename the club which was formed in 2017.

Among the others elected at Sunday’s meeting were Vice President -- Keon Alexander; Secretary-- Trevayne Mohabir; Treasurer-- Boodram Robin Persaud; Assis-

tant Secretary/Treasurer-Kapildeo Charandeen. The committee members are: Deokinanan Maniram, Nicolas Williams, Taslim Inshan, Lalo Charandeen and two others.

Former president, Boodnarine Persaud, who was also a founder-member of the club, declined nomination for executive positions due to work commitments. Persaud, who is also Deputy Commander of the West Demerara district, was, however, conferred a life member by the body.

The club is affiliated to the East Bank Essequibo

The newly-elected members following Sunday’s AGM: President Tavindra Persaud is at centre (sitting). Outgoing president Boodnarine Persaud is third from left (standing).

Cricket Association and plans to inform the parent body of the change of name so that

it cab be properly registered with the relevant organisations.

Indian star pulls out of Sri Lanka cricket legend biopic after outcry A popular actor who was set to star as Sri Lanka's legendary spinner Muttiah Muralitharan in a biopic withdrew from the project on Monday after the cricketer warned he could face a backlash from India's Tamil minority.

Tamil politicians in India accuse Muralitharan, who retired from Test cricket in 2010, of betraying fellow Tamils in his country during a civil war that ended in 2009.

Vijay Sethupathi, 42, had been under pressure in his southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu to drop the role in "800" -- named after the world record number of Test wickets Muralitharan took in his celebrated career.

"I don't want one of the finest actors in Tamil Nadu to face any kind of trouble, hence I request him to drop out of the project," Muralitharan, 48, wrote in a letter tweeted by the actor.

Muttiah Muralitharan is a Sri Lankan hero

"There should be no obstacles for Sethupathi in the future because of this movie." Sethupathi wrote alongside the image of the letter: "Thank you and goodbye."

India's small MDMK party, which opposes the Sinhalese-led government in Sri Lanka, demanded Sethupathi reject the role, saying Muralitharan sided with Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, who as president defeated the separatist Tamil Tiger insurgency.

The enmity dates back to 2013, when Muralitharan told then British prime minister David Cameron that he may have been "misled" by Tamil women who complained to him about disappearances during the war.

Muralitharan, who is currently working as a bowling coach with Indian Premier League side Sunrisers Hyderabad for the ongoing tournament in the United Arab Emirates, had said that his remarks about Sri Lanka's

ethnic war were "misunderstood".

Fans had slammed the actor on social media, using the hashtag #shameonVijaySethupathi.

Muralitharan added in the letter that he hoped a new lead would be announced soon. "I accepted this biopic because I thought the movie will inspire and provide confidence to aspiring young cricketers," he wrote.

A source close to Muralitharan said in Colombo: "The movie project will go on without Vijay. Producers are already discussing ways to proceed."

The United Nations and international rights groups have accused Sri Lankan forces of killing at least 40,000 minority Tamils in the final campaign against the Tigers.

The government has denied that it killed civilians.

(AFP)

CWI to closely monitor progress of Bravo's recovery from injury Cricket West Indies (CWI) will be closely monitoring the health of all-rounder Dwayne Bravo as he works for a speedy recovery from a groin injury sustained while playing for Chennai Super Kings against the Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League on Saturday.

The injury is not only a concern for CSK but for

CWI, whose selectors picked the 36-year-old Trinidadian in their T20 squad to travel to New Zealand next month.

As such, the regional board is keen to be in the know about his rehabilitation. We are in contact with him and the CSK medical team, so we are being kept updated with his treatment and recovery,” CWI CEO Johnny Grave told Sportsmax.TV on Sunday.

Meanwhile, CSK have said they do not have a timeline for the recovery of the veteran player.

"He seems to have a right groin injury, I think, and it was obviously serious enough to keep him off the field," CSK head coach Stephen Fleming explained at the post-match press conference on Saturday.

"He will have to be reas-

sessed going forward, but at this stage, you'd imagine it's going to take a few days or a couple of weeks.”

Bravo had arrived for IPL duty in the UAE with an entirely different injury, a knee problem sustained during this season’s CPL. He missed the Super Kings' first three games, as the team had decided to take extra caution.(Sportsmax)

Among the aims of the club are to keep young people meaningfully occupied

through sports as several of them are alleged to be involved in other undesirable activities.

The club extended heartfelt thanks to all its supporters, including Narchand “Archie” Mohan of the Hawaiian Arctic Cricket Club of Canada and former Guyana Under-19 player, Shameer Sadloo, who resides in New York; both having given tremendous help to the body over the past few years.

Oswald Foo served as the Returning Officer for the proceedings which saw all the office-bearers being unanimously elected.

PCB warn of expulsion after breach of COVID-19 protocols (REUTERS) - The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) warned players and officials of expulsion if they breach COVID-19 protocols after 12 people violated the “bio-secure bubble” at the ongoing National Twenty20 Cup in Rawalpindi.

Nine players and three officials tested negative for the new coronavirus after they were found to have spent time outside the bubble area near their hotel.

The people, identified only as senior players and officials, received warnings and were made to pay for the tests, the board said in a statement.

Cricket - Pakistan Nets - Trent Bridge, Nottingham, Britain - May 16, 2019 General view during nets Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers

“They have put at risk the integrity of the tournament and, health and safety of their colleagues,” PCB director of high performance Nadeem Khan said in the statement, adding that the board was “disturbed and disappointed.”

“This is completely unacceptable to the PCB and following meetings with the concerned players and their team officials, it has been agreed there will be zero-tolerance for future breaches, and those violating the protocols will be expelled from the ongoing and future tournaments.”

Pakistan is scheduled to host Zimbabwe for three one-day internationals and as many Twenty20 matches in Rawalpindi and Lahore in a limited-overs series starting on Oct. 30.

“I expect the players and officials to show responsibility as the world is watching and international cricket is standing at our doorsteps,” Nadeem said.

“Their irresponsible actions can put into jeopardy all the efforts of the PCB in organising and inviting sides during these challenging COVID-19 times.”

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Noshavyah King heads new Guyana Gym Owners and Trainers Association

A mixture of experienced and professional individuals in the fitness industry recently teamed up to form the Guyana Gym Owners and Trainers Association (GGOTA).

According to a release, the association was officially registered yesterday and will be headed by owner of Genesis Fitness Gym, Noshavyah King, Guyana’s only licensed Zumba instructor.

Yannick Grimes and Roger Callender are the vice-presidents of the Association; Secretary is Jordana Ramsay-Gonsalves; Treasurer Kimberly Dos Santos and Assistant Secretary/Treasurer is Semonica Duke.

Emmerson Campbell will serve as the group's Public Relations Officer and Neil

Barry as Committee Member.

Birthed out of a group conversation due to the closure of gyms and the subsequent loss of revenue for trainers and gym owners owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, the association aims to build and represent a structured community for the betterment of the local fitness industry as a whole with focus on addressing the immediate and long-term problems. Gym Owners and Fitness Trainers Association is described as an association formed by the fitness industry for the fitness industry.

Their mission, the newly-formed Association said, is to improve the health of the nation by encouraging people to be more active, more often.

Buttler powers Rajasthan Royals to victory with unbeaten 70 JOS Buttler powered Rajasthan Royals (RR) to a much-needed victory in the Indian Premier League, his unbeaten 70 inspiring a seven-wicket defeat of Chennai Super Kings (CSK).

The Royals had lost six of their last seven matches heading into a meeting with a CSK side that also started the day on six points from nine games.

CSK won the toss and their decision to bat first ultimately proved ill-advised, though Rajasthan initially laboured in pursuit of 126.

Buttler came to the crease with the Royals teetering on 28-3 in the fifth over and had to exercise patience alongside Steve Smith (26 not out) before being able to cut loose.

When he was able to get into his rhythm, Buttler produced his brilliant best, hitting seven fours and a pair of sixes in a 48-ball knock that helped Rajasthan move within two points of the top four CSK earlier recovered from 56-4 to reach 125-5 thanks to a fifth-wicket stand between MS Dhoni (28) and Ravindra Jadeja (35 not out), however, a run out of the former by Jofra Archer and Sanju Samson proved key in keeping them under 130.

Archer Excels Again Archer has been outstanding for Rajasthan, adding to his reputation as one of the world's most fearsome fast bowlers in all formats.

He was excellent again on Monday, removing Faf du Plessis with the final ball of the third over and sending down 11 dot balls in his 1-20.

The England paceman ran out CSK skipper Dhoni to end an ominous partnership with Jadeja, though the Royals initially made heavy weather of a manageable chase.

Buttler Leads Royals Resurgence Though he and Smith had to deal with some concerted pressure early in their decisive stand of 98, Buttler eventually got his reward for frustrating the CSK attack.

His was an innings typically defined by precision and timing and a 15th over that saw Buttler hit England colleague Sam Curran for three successive fours effectively took the game away from CSK. Rajasthan were left needing just 18 off the final five overs and there was to be no dramatic collapse, Jadeja falling over the boundary rope at long-on for Buttler's final six in the 17th over before Smith then hit the winning run.

The Guyana Gym Owners and Trainers Association, via a release, vowed to selflessly work together and continue identifying problem areas in the fitness hemisphere and bring about improvements that would benefit all stakeholders across the country in a non-biased manner.

President Noshavyah King (second from right) along with her executives of the newly-formed Guyana Gym Owners and Trainers Association.

Arinze Chance, according to AAG president Aubrey Hutson, is likely to make to Tokyo 2020

See Story on Page 24

Aliyah Abrams is the lone Guyanese athlete to qualify for the Tokyo Olympic Games

Hutson worried about track field athletes' chance of reaching Tokyo Olympics No date set for 2021 AP Invitational

Sasha Shariff claimed another win in the female division.

AP Invitational organizer, Aliann Pompey

...Pompey anticipates 'big' 2021event; to be used as gateway to Tokyo Olympic Games

By Rawle Toney

Shariff wins virtual U-20 female chess competition REIGNING women’s champion, Sasha Shariff, emerged victorious in the Guyana Chess Federation U20 Female Chess Competition for the month of October, which was held online on Sunday afternoon.

The 16-year-old won by a slim margin against a strong nine-player lineup. In total, she claimed 5.5 wins in seven games.

Second place went to Angel Rahim with five wins, while Mahlia Rajkumar, also on five wins (but less tie-breaker points) finished third. Aniyah Couchman with a similar amount of wins, but less tie-breaker points than both Rahim and Rajkumar, settled for fourth position.

Despite the stellar performances by the podium

finishers, one of the surprises of the competition was that of Adia Alphonso, who was able to upset both Shariff and Rahim. Although she got past two of the better players in the lineup, Alphonso ended with four points, which placed her fifth overall.

Along with her loss to Alphonso, the University of Guyana student, Shariff ,was also held to a draw against Couchman. She, however, claimed wins against Rahim, Rajkumar, Anasie Fredericks and Italy Ton-Chung.

Fredericks and Ton Chung both finished with three points, while Kristin Xavier and Harmony Dodson finished on two points each.

Among the big names See Page 23

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ESPITE not having a definitive date for next year's AP Invitation, Aliann Pompey told Chronicle Sport that she's hoping to have the regional track and field showpiece held before the July 23 August 3 Tokyo Olympic Games.

The AP Invitational, which ran off its inaugural event in 2016, is seen as a gateway to Olympic qualification, with 11 athletes, all from overseas, from the first event, moving on to compete at the Olympic Games in Rio. Pompey, Guyana’s Commonwealth Games 400M gold and silver medallist, saw her fifth edition of the AP Invitational, like everything else this year, cancelled because of the Coronavirus.

However, the St John's University coach revealed that her organising committee is awaiting some vital information before announcing a new date for the event in 2021.

"We don't have a specific

date for the API in 2021 as yet. We're just awaiting some more information so we can finalise the date, but it would be sometime before the Olympics to give, not just the Guyanese ath-

their structured World Athletics Continental Tour.

World Athletics had stated that the impetus for creating the Continental Tour was to provide more competition and earning

FLASH BACK! Kirani James crossing the finish line unchallenged in his 44.99 seconds performance at the AP Invitational. (Delano Williams photos)

letes but the athletes within the Region and the athletes who come to the meet with a chance of possibly qualifying for the games," Pompey said.

In February, AP Invitational was announced by World Athletics as part of

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opportunities for more athletes.

"Everyone who would've supported the competition in the past, to a larger extent, committed to supporting it in 2021 which would enable it to once again be on the World Athletics Continen-

tal Tour which is tremendously prestigious. That is something that we could not have done with our supporters, both financially and in kind," the Guyanese standout track and field star said.

The AP Invitational will be one of two events that will be held in South America on the World Athletics Continental tour; the other – the Brazil Grand Prix.

Meanwhile, asked about Government's support, Pompey added that she has spoken to Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr, and while she was tightlipped about the details of the discussion, she told Chronicle Sport that she's optimistic of a bigger 2020 AP Invitational.

Pompey pointed to the fact the AP Invitational "aligns very much so with our Government's commitment to increasing opportunity for our young people using sports, as See Page 23 Tuesday, oCTOBER 20, 2020