Guyana Chronicle E-paper 10-25-2020

MONDAY 26th October, 2020

' No.106164

GuySuCo is here to stay

–– Minister Mustapha assures Skeldon private cane farmers

SEE PAGE 03

Elderly woman murdered in 14 La Grange house PAGE

05 5,000 online scholarships to be available next year PAGE

SEE PAGE 08

Fire guts

Norton Street house

–– 4-year-old among five homeless

Cancer survivor now looking over her shoulder for COVID-19 08 PAGE

Firefighters extinguishing the flames at the Norton Street, Lodge, Georgetown property (Elvin Croker photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 26, 2020

Coconut industry on ‘towering path’

–– to meet local demand and export markets

By Tamica Garnett OUTSIDE of rice and sugar, not many know that coconut is the third major agricultural export, earning some US$7M in export revenues in 2017 and there are concerted efforts afoot to transform the industry in the years to come.

With demand globally

forecasted to experience huge growth, with right positioning, Guyana could get a fair share of the global market. Currently, there are massive investments, both at the private and public levels, geared at putting Guyana on the right path.

“The present demand for coconuts and its by-products are on the increase and

this augurs well both for farmers and other stakeholders involved in this non-traditional sector,” said Ricky Roopchand, General Manager of Hope Coconut Industries Limited (HCIL).

HCIL is a semi-autonomous agency that falls under the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) and is commonly called “Hope Estate.” Hope

Estate is a component of the government’s overall plans to see the development of the coconut industry.

The estate currently runs a coconut nursery that produces 100,000 coconut seedlings per year, and to meet demand, it will soon add a branch on the Essequibo Coast and another on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway,

NAREI CEO Dr. Oudho Homenauth

Hope Estate General Manager Ricky Roopchand

Minister Mustapha engaging in a coconut tree planting exercise at Hope Estate recently

each of which will have a capacity to produce 12,000 seedlings per year.

Roopchand said as farmers expand cultivation, demand for seedlings countrywide will increase exponentially.

The local coconut industry currently has about 1,800 farmers who collectively cultivate some 24,000 acres of coconut in Regions One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six and 10.

Guyana on average produces 92 million nuts annually, much of which is exported for coconut copra and water, mainly to Barbados, Trinidad and The Dominican Republic.

MAIN VARIETIES The main varieties grown in Guyana are the Jamaican Tall, Malaysian Dwarf and the Suriname Brown, the latter being the most popular of the set due to its shorter time to mature and higher sucrose content in its water.

“Coconut is the third most important crop, and as such, the coconut industry will be given importance by the government to promote expansion in acreages, inter-cropping, utilisation of coconut by-products, [and] increasing production/ productivity,” Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha said.

The expansion and increased demand for coconuts in Guyana and abroad is evidenced at all levels by the increase of exports, to increased investments in value-added development, to the simple coconut- water vendors on the roadside.

Latchman Ramsook, 32, is a second-generation coconut-water vendor in Georgetown. He has been plying the trade for over 35 years, starting off by helping his father since he was a kid before making the trade his livelihood. A father of four, today his sons sometimes spend time with him at his vending location at the north-western corner of Forshaw Street and Vlissengen Road.

Ramsook said over the years, as a vendor, he has seen the demand for coconut increase massively.

“Ten years ago you would sell about 45 -50 coconuts per day. Nowadays, the business goes and comes sometimes you catch it, but per day we sell close to about 80, on a lil’ skimpy day,” he said.

He believes that better awareness of the health benefits of coconut water over aerated sodas, may just be one of the driving forces behind more persons turning to coconut water.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 26, 2020

GuySuCo is here to stay

3

–– Minister Mustapha assures Skeldon private cane farmers

By Nafeeza Yahya-Sakur AGRICULTURE Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, has assured private cane farmers at Skeldon that GuySuCo is here to stay and the operations at the factory would be more reliable than before, during a meeting with them at the Skeldon Training Centre, East Berbice, Corentyne, on Saturday.

On the recommendation of the European Union, one third of the cane at the Skeldon factory is expected to be supplied by private farmers from the Upper Corentyne, and the meeting between the farmers and the minister sought to address any issues or concerns ahead of the re-opening of the factory.

that was made.

According to the farmers, a tri-partite agreement was made between the farmers, the bank and GuySuCo when the factory opened.

The terms of the agreement stated that GuySuCo essentially guaranteed all of the loans and agreed to take over the farms and repay the bank in the event that the farmers defaulted on their loans.

It was projected that the loans would have been repaid within three years but this never materialised since the factory was plagued with many issues. This put a financial strain on the farmers, rendering many of them bankrupt after they would have invested millions of

cess of the industry.

“We need a guarantee that the factory would not be running for a few years then shut down like what happened the last time. We were left high and dry by the previous Government with the banks on our backs for loans and debts that we inherited due to no fault of ours and we need assistance in this regard if we are to go back into cane plantation.

GuySuCo or the Government needs to help us out on this,” one cane farmer explained to Minister Mustapha.

In response, the Agriculture Minister said the Government remains committed to seeing the successful re-opening and operation of the estates as promised in the

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, speaks with private cane farmers at the Skeldon Training Centre

mittee with the cane farmers and GuySuCo so that we can trash out all the issues before we go into cultivation.”

COMMITMENTS In the interim, the minister stated that while he cannot provide financial assistance to the farmers at this time, he can commit to ensuring immediate drainage and irrigation works commence and look towards offering concessions to farmers as well as make good on a commitment to remove the corporate tax on the loans as promised previously.

“Yes, we can give help but we cannot give cash to

Private cane farmer, David Subnauth makes a point at the meeting on Saturday

Subsequent to the meeting, a six-member committee was formed with three representatives each from the private cane farmers and GuySuCo to record and follow up on concerns raised by the farmers with the Agriculture Minister and team. The committee will report to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GuySuCo, Sasenarine Singh.

The farmers, many of whom are now being forced to service loans that they took to invest into the private plantation, without any return on their investments, have expressed some reluctance to return to cane cultivation after they were left “high and dry” by the previous administration.

The factory was closed in 2017. The farmers wanted assurance that there would not be a repeat before committing to re-planting sugar cane and have GuySuCo honour the terms of the agreement

their personal finances into the farms.

SALT TO WOUNDS When the factory was closed by the APNU+AFC Government in December, 2017, farmers still had canes ready for harvesting. To add salt to the wounds of the farmers, GuySuCo refused to honour the terms of the tri-partite agreement, leaving the farmers abandoned with the banks threatening to take them to court and move against their personal property.

This according to the farmers would take them out of the cane business and cripple their other existing businesses since they cannot repay the loans, given the sizes and interest accrued. The farmers are asking that GuySuCo honour the terms of the agreements, in addition to them being more involved in the decision-making pro-

party’s manifesto. He noted that GuySuCo is more than just sugar and the socio-economic role the industry plays is far too important for the Government to allow the industry to fail.

“The aim of this Government is to reach a breakeven point then we start to talk about profitability but we have to look at the social aspect GuySuCo has been playing over the years and, if we wait to be perfect, the people of Guyana will suffer and this Government will not allow people to suffer,” he said.

He continued: “These issues that you were facing before like not having a representative to see your cane weighed or being present when samples are taken, all those things will change; you will have a better say in the management of GuySuCo. That is why I’m starting out today to set up this joint com-

every farmer. We have to look at the practicality of things that can benefit all the farmers... what we can do is have GuySuCo do the D&I works that can benefit all the farmers, the canals and the dams and things like that, then later on we can look at your tillage of lands and things like that, but as it stands now I can make that commitment to you this morning that we can start the D & I aspect immediately.

Also we can look at the concession.... We have removed the input on equipment and agriculture so is less monies being spent by farmers and we could also look at other

incentives that we can extend,” the minister said.

Also present at the meeting were GuySuCo CEO, Sasenarine Singh; Skeldon Estate Manager, Vishnu Pandey and heads of the various departments of the Skeldon Estate and Ministry of Agriculture.

The private cane farmers provided employment for approximately 500 persons previously and many expressed optimism to the minister and team that the Skeldon Estate can be profitable.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 26, 2020

Housing Ministry to acquire lands in Bartica

–– to develop housing schemes

Monday, October 26, 2020 -- 01:30 & 14:30 HRS

RESIDENTS of Bartica in Region Seven have been assured of the government’s commitment to develop new housing schemes and enhance infrastructure in the various communities.

This was disclosed by Minister of Housing and Water Collin Croal on Saturday as he met with residents at Mora Camp, Four and Five Mile scheme, Agatash and Dagg Point.

During these engagements residents urged the establishment of new housing schemes and improved access to potable water.

Speaking on the issue of housing, Minister Croal said the ministry is working with the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission for the acquisition of lands while, under the Ministry’s 2021

Minister of Housing and Water Collin Croal engages residents of several communities during an outreach in Bartica on Saturday

work programme, land-clearing will commence along with other infrastructural works.

These plans the minister said will accelerate the overall housing drive not only for Bartica, but also for other regions around the country.

Responding to complaints about housing services in the region, the minister said plans are already in place to strengthen regional housing offices.

As a short-term intervention to address the issues,

Coconut industry on ...

FROM PAGE

“A person might say before

I buy a bottle of drink is better

I buy a coconut water,” he told the Guyana Chronicle.

MY CALLING Though he also works parttime as a bus driver, Ramsook said coconut-vending is his calling.

“I know to do other things but the coconut work just leaves in me; it’s a comfortable work. You make a reasonable profit even after you take out for ice, plastic bags, bottles and straws. This hey is what I depend on. I have four children, so this mind me my wife and my four children, run the house, pay the bills,” he said.

Ramsook buys approximately 1,200 coconuts per week from a farmer in the Pomeroon, Guyana’s most popular area for coconut cultivation. To match the increasing demand by vendors like Ramsook and growth in the

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value-added industry, many farmers are expanding their cultivations.

Cognisant of Guyana’s coconut industry potential, in 2017, Guyana was one of three countries selected for focus on the implementation of a partnership with the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) in the EU-funded projects looking at the coconut sector.

At the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), developments are afoot to ensure the necessary research is done to align improvements with the demand and growth of the industry.

“We are a major player in the coconut business; we’re working together with Hope Estate and with farmers. We’re currently promoting intercropping of coconut to the farmers,

the minister committed to sending a team from the Central Housing and Planning Authority to the region for a one-day exercise.

Additionally, the ministry will be working on strengthening customer service which is aimed at reducing the large number of people who flock the ministry’s head office in Georgetown.

Meanwhile, Minister Croal also addressed issues of squatting in several areas, including Mora Camp and a section of Five Mile Housing scheme. It was noted that the Guyana Forestry Commission and the Lands and Surveys Commission will find a solution for this.

But Minister Croal reiterated government’s zero-tolerance policy for squatting, noting that there are certain systems and processes that need to be followed for the legal acquisition of land. because when you plant the coconut it takes, three-five years before you can harvest anything. So in the interim we have been promoting intercropping using different crops,” said NAREI Chief Executive Officer Dr. Oudho Homenauth.

MUCH ROOM Dr Homenauth explained that a lot of the coconuts exported from Guyana actually go into the making of value-added products in other countries. There is room for Guyana to capitalise on producing those very value-added products right here in the Land of Many Waters, he said.

“We export quite a bit of our dry nuts currently, so if we can utilise those to make the same value-added products here, it would make quite a difference,” Dr. Homenauth posited He added: “Right now it's the virgin coconut oil that has the biggest potential, but there’s also the coconut milk, the dehydrated coconut, and coconut flour. We produce some of them here but in small scale.”

Guyana’s untapped potential for growth in this area has not gone unnoticed, as several investors have already begun work in this area.

At Marudi Creek on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway, a Canada-based Guyanese has invested some US$6 million in a factory which will be dealing with production of coconut oil, desiccated coconut, charcoal and coco peat.

On the West Demerara, Amazonia Expert Services Ltd (AES) has been leased some 700 acres of land at the Wales Estate for the growing and processing of coconuts.

Another overseas-based Guyanese businessman Dudley Stephens had made public his plans to inject some $500 million into the development of the coconut industry on the Essequibo Coast, with the establishment of a coconut estate in Capoey.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 26, 2020

5,000 online scholarships to be available next year ––First preference for vulnerable groups- says Min. Parag

By Navendra Seoraj IMPROVING access to education is a top priority for the new People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government and this is evidenced by its plan to provide 5,000 online scholarships next year.

Education is undoubtedly a key element of any progressive economy, but affordability, especially at the tertiary level, is a challenge and barrier for many persons.

Cognisant of this financial burden and the inability of many persons to access university education, the President Irfaan Ali-led administration has committed to providing 20,000 online scholarships over the next five years, a process which will commence next year. “…We are going to grant 20,000 scholarships across our country, in every single field from next year… the first 5,000 will be made available next year, and we are already in discussion with more than ten universities across the world,” said President Ali during his remarks at the opening ceremony for the Dr. Yesu Persaud Clini-

President Irfaan Ali

cal Education Centre at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, on Saturday.

Many universities have been offering online courses for years, but more focus has been placed on this aspect of learning over the past eight months due to the dreaded novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which has forced persons to practise physical distancing.

According to a recent study done by the World

Economic Forum, education has changed dramatically, with the distinctive rise of electronic-learning (e-learning), whereby teaching is undertaken remotely and on digital platforms.

Research done by the forum suggests that online learning has been shown to increase retention of information, and take less time, meaning the changes coronavirus have caused might be here to stay.

Minister of Public Service, Sonia Parag

“One spin off of the COVID-19 pandemic is it accelerated the development plan of many universities in providing distancing education, so plans for 10 years down the road, came up now,” said President Ali. The President also referred to a study which shows that by 2030, less than 20 per cent of the student population at any university will be in a building.

Students, locally, will have to position themselves not only to adapt to the changing times, but to also capitalise on the opportunities which will be presented next year and beyond.

The government is also wrapping up preparations from its end, to be able to provide these opportunities in a timely manner.

Policies and other technical aspects of the scholarship programme are still being finalised by the Ministry of Public Service, said subject Minister, Sonia Parag, in an invited comment, on Sunday.

“We are looking at the policies and so regarding the scholarships, and we are going to deal with the selection committees and so on… we are in that phase right now and we are looking to get collaboration in relation to putting things in place for those scholarships,” said Minister Parag.

Preparatory work also includes finalising an opening date for applications, the criteria for acceptance and other critical elements of the programme.

While there will be criteria for acceptance, Minister

Parag said the aim of the programme is to give vulnerable persons an opportunity to access tertiary education.

“Well we are aiming to give scholarships to vulnerable persons in society…especially those persons whose parents would not have an income that can sustain their education,” said the Minister.

Opportunities are not just limited to the online scholarship programme, as the Ministry of Public Service would have allocated 90 per cent of its over $1 billion budget, for academic scholarship, grants and training.

Scholarships are currently being offered in dozens of subject areas at the bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD levels to the University of Guyana, the University of the West Indies and various universities in China, the United Kingdom, the United States and India. It was reported that the Ministry has already received over 700 scholarship applications.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 26, 2020

(ag)

Religion and national brotherhood GUYANA is a land of deeply religious people; regardless of whatever faith or denomination by which pathway each citizen communes with his/her Supreme Lord, their faith is deep and persevering.

Yet, although each religion in Guyana adjures the faithful to practise brotherly love, we remain a divided nation, distrustful of each other, with false prophets continually creating further rifts with inflammatory sermons preaching messages that create further rifts and widens the divide.

However, this aberration is an anomaly and not a common practice, because, increasingly, the socio-political situation in Guyana has been constraining the attention of caring religious leaders to a sphere outside of the box of orthodox religion and secular tenets – moving away from the dogmas, to incorporate the social dynamics of the country with its multiplicity of religions and cultures, and focusing less on theology and more on social problems.

This focus concentrates more on the

role of God in human life, rather than in formal worship by any religion or denomination. The differences of how Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, or any other religion conceives of God are irrelevant. The only imperative is that this family of humanity recognises that there is a universal rock on which mankind can stand, and which should not create divisions is the basic foundation on which all religions are premised and take root. This is the sublime message underpinning the texts and guiding philosophies of every religion – to carry a message of unity in purpose to all religious and social communities; all-embracing and all-inclusive of religious covenances.

Government has been trying to reach out to the fraternities of religions to join forces and lift a collective voice in a national-front movement advocating peace and unity in Guyana because, as ably articulated by the head of one religious organisation: “All Guyanese need to stand together on one spiritual rock and feel comfortable.”

His Holiness Swami Purnanandaji Maharaj, founder of the Guyana Sevashram Sangha in Cove and John, recognised the imperative of interfaith unity in Guyana’s multi-religious landscape and as far back as the 1950s when he began hosting the first interfaith services ever held in Guyana.

The philosophies of what some current-day religious leaders are expounding seek to accentuate what unites us. There is an element of belief and practice that unites all Guyanese and all humanity in terms of what we believe in, and in terms of what we practise.

For example, no religion advocates divorce, or separation of families; nor does the Supreme Father advocate in any religious pathway that hatred rather than love is the way to seek his favour; but God embraces all of us and tells us to put our palms together and call His name – the name by which we know him, and be inspired deep within to find solutions together. That is something about which all religions are on the same platform – the same page.

One cannot divorce politics from social issues, and from time immemorial leaders of nations have been advised by religious seers, because of the recognition that only the spiritual pathway can resolve national problems where the confluences of all the national dynamics can find a common rock on which everyone can feel comfortable, and at one with each under the unifying force of the universal Lord.

What has become a parliamentary pastime: creating gridlocks that hamper the nation’s developmental processes, surely is a negative synergy that makes imperative a national day of prayer, because Guyanese are a deeply spiritual people and maybe the entire nation would feel comfortable to leave mediation on national issues in the hands of the Lord.

Surely, if we search the scriptures answers could be found on vexing and perplexing problems that are hampering and inhibiting the upward socio-economic developmental trajectory of our country.

Evil doers seem busy of late

Dear editor,

DAILY villainous events occur as if rules and regulations can be circumvented at the whims and fancies of robbers, thieves, pick-pockets, choke and robbers, bandits, burglars and just about anyone, young, middle-aged or old, who chooses to adopt those methods of making a living. Not to get into the economic, political, sociological or any other problematic reasons for this mishap, the blame game certainly does not help.

The bottom line remains that there are those who are determined not to work the honest way for a living but choose the dishonest way to earn an income. This cannot be condoned, encouraged, accepted, overlooked, ignored, permitted or continued and, this cannot be an answer to provide for survival.

Whether it is sanctioned, organised or orchestrated by a figure-head, whether it’s in collusion or co-operation with some authority; whether it’s gangsters or individuals, this sad state of affairs must come to a full stop in order for Guyanese to live peacefully.

There is great uncertainty whether or not law enforcement is being exercised at its maximum in order to address this situation.

What is certain is that this operation continues to damage the morality of the police and the

Minister of Home Affairs. Is there some underground force that is administering this habit of the transgressors to be in control of circumstances and maintaining the upper hand?

Are there variable inadequacies in terms of providing protection to the Guyanese public throughout Guyana? Is the police unable to cope with the prevailing factor? Is the police surveying the sensitive areas? How involved is the neighbourhood watch in the communities?

Isn’t there a need for more police patrols?

Guyana is not at war and the availability of manpower from the Guyana Defence Force should be explored. There is need for a conversation about soldiers taking part in assisting to keep law and order.

Their frequent presence at different hours in different places may prove as a deterrent to this malfeasance. Perhaps the police are at their wits end and are doing their allotted “best” to grapple with the on-going. But, there are many angry and tense questions to be asked as the entire Guyana remains hurt and disturbed by these awful happenings.

The suffering and losses are tremendous and people are genuinely scared. A degree of fear has seized the public and this is conveniently accepted in some quarters. Is this a designed result from a reprehensible entity?

A quick look at some of the recent incidents that occurred are deplorable and

frightening: two men last Wednesday invaded the premises at a residence on East Coast of Demerara and escaped with a generator; last Wednesday, a man was caught red-handed in the act of stealing in a house at Bushy Park, East Bank Essequibo; again last Wednesday, two men robbed a security guard of his valuables at Miss Phobe, Port Mourant; last Wednesday, there was a break and entry at Vreed-en-Hoop, WCD, where a man suffered tremendous losses; a shop was burglarised last Wednesday at Anna Catherina, WCD, and a woman lost some $600,000 in stocks; again, on last Wednesday, two bandits robbed a teenager of her purse at Sussex Street, Charlestown; the previous Tuesday, there was a daring robbery by four men on an East Canje, Berbice family, who lost some $70,000 in cash and other valuables; a pensioner was beaten and robbed by two men the previous Saturday at Plaintainwalk, West Bank Demerara.

Indeed, all these incidents spread a tale and they have a damaging effect on the Guyanese society. Do you reconcile this behaviour with the repercussions of COVID-19 and/or the failure of the past government to resolve the unemployment and crime problem? This new government has inherited this sick disease and needs to implement a rigid strategy quickly in order to curb this situation, otherwise, it will become a worse tragedy.

To crown the eventualities is the Chief Justice fiasco that is an unimaginable reality.

This latest calamity is catastrophic and devastating. One newspaper claims it was a fourman attack and others claim it was a one-man attack. Regardless, it was criminal in nature and the ultimate intent is unknown. There are many speculations surrounding this issue at a most sensitive time and two and two does not add up to four. It seems as if there is more than meets the eye and the ears are vibrating with other ringing tones.

There is classic political waxing and the freedom of expression is curried with mischief and mayhem. Opinions are flying left, right and centre and the creative force of unpleasant vicissitude is certainly at work overnight. How this game will play out will run into overtime and the umpires will be hard-tasked to comply with the rules to make a conclusive decision.

Is this the artistry of another Shakespeare drama and the work of its writer will again unfold in later scenes? Guyana is certainly an unwelcome audience and will refute and refuse any such material! But Guyana continues to march onwards with democracy being undermined under the test of time and the patience of tolerance.

Respectfully, Jai Lall

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 26, 2020

It is high time to reconsider the dual-citizen provision in the constitution Dear editor, ONCE again, the issue of dual citizenship has surfaced in Guyana as it relates to serving in the National Assembly.

In the latest episode, Minister of Tourism, Industry, and Commerce Oneidge Walrond was forced to issue a public statement reassuring Guyanese that her U.S. citizenship was renounced before being sworn in as a Member of Parliament (MP). This is apparently after questions were raised in the public domain regarding her eligibility to sit in the National Assembly.

As the minister noted, she was advised that the “sections of the constitution prohibiting elected members from being dual citizens” did not apply to her as a technocrat. Regardless, she took the commendable position to renounce her U.S. citizenship, thereby removing any doubt or opportunities for political mileage. While I am sure some legal minds will argue that this provision also applies to technocrats, the minister appears to have gone above and beyond what was required of her.

In a broader lens, the constitutional provision prohibiting dual citizens from serving as MPs places an imprudent limitation on how dual citizens can serve their country of birth.

While this constitutional provision may have had its genesis due to Janet Jagan’s presidency, it is hurting the prospects of highly qualified Guyanese holding dual citizenship the freedom to serve in the highest levels of government.

This is unfortunate given that Guyana now more than ever before needs highly skilled people to help steer its development trajectory in the coming decade and beyond.

More so, it is disappointing that dual citizens have to choose. We have seen what happened when the young MP Adrian V. Anamayah was asked to decide. In the end, Guyana lost.

It is worth reemphasising that many dual citizens left Guyana’s shores not because they wanted to pledge allegiance to a foreign power, but primarily because of better educational and economic opportunities. Many of these opportunities would not have materialised if they had remained in Guyana, even if they were already highly qualified.

And pursuing or accepting dual citizenship was not only a means to solidify their educational and economic gains in a foreign land but, more importantly, to support or sponsor immediate and extended family members still struggling to make ends meet in Guyana.

Regardless of the reason for their migration, many dual citizens have contributed to Guyana’s development over the years through vacations, remittances, and investments, however large or small. Many dual citizens in the diaspora have also contributed to political parties’ fund-raising activities in places such as Miami, New York City, and Toronto.

Furthermore, dual citizens can vote, and some returned to Guyana and voted in the recent regional and general elections. Despite all of these benefits provided by dual citizens, they are told that they are not good enough to

Some kudos for the Guyana Chronicle editorial team Dear editor, I WRITE to thank your editorial team for featuring Dr. Vishnu Bisram’s articles.

He informs us about so much unknown or unrecorded history and of unsung heroes.

The public learns so much from them. And I also want to applaud Dr. Bisram for his outpourings on varied subjects, especially on issues pertaining to Guyana and her diaspora.

He is undoubtedly the most recognised name in the media writing from the diaspora and also in opinion polling in Trinidad and Guyana. I can’t think of anyone who writes on so many issues, including on the Caribbean and Indian diasporas, and he has been corresponding for so many media outlets. That is not surprising, given his multi-dimensional background and his multiple doctorates in various subjects.

Dr. Bisram writes voluminously in the media, not only in Guyana, but around the Caribbean as well, and in North America and India. I read his contributions in papers in Trinidad and other Caribbean territories.

And he has also contributed countless pieces in academic conferences, journals, magazines, books, and on zoom or webex conferences, some in joint appearance with me. I can’t think of anyone from the diaspora who has made a bigger impact or contribution in the Guyanese media or in the diaspora.

Through his prolific writings, Dr. Bisram has kept Guyana and the Guyanese diaspora updated on happenings in the diaspora, including some that he organised or spearheaded. His recent historical pieces on the activities of the Guyanese diaspora in America during the 1970s through the 1990s and on unsung heroes are deeply appreciated.

They make for interesting reading. His commentaries are also quite penetrating and revealing, giving perspectives that few dare. He is a rare, courageous writer. He is very outspoken not for his own good in professional advancement. His pieces on the emergence of the terms Guyanese or Caribbean or Indian diasporas and his personal role in their coinage are very insightful and are for the history books.

Thank you editor for featuring a balanced view of reports and commentaries in the paper, something we have not seen for over five years.

This allows for the views of Dr. Bisram and other leading scholars to be featured.

For the first time in five years, I have seen the Chronicle being managed professionally and with competence. A change in leadership and editorial team was long overdue.

Yours truly, Dr. Kumar Mahabir

serve as MPs, or in the halls of power as a dual citizen. Thus, to constitutionally restrict their participation in government is insulting.

Of course, the overarching argument is that dual citizens hold allegiance to another country and may not put Guyana’s interest first and foremost. This may be a legitimate concern, but it is equally applicable to Guyanese that do not hold dual citizenship.

We do not need to look further than the production-sharing agreement for the Stabroek oil block, which was negotiated by a (non-dual citizen) Guyanese or the group of (non-dual citizen) Guyanese that tried to rig the March 2 elections and send the country into the international wilderness. Did they have Guyana’s best interest at heart?

In a recent interview, Mr. Peter Ramsaroop echoed renewed calls for members of the diaspora to invest in Guyana. As one of the lucky ones who emigrated to the United States and subsequently returned to Guyana after 20-odd years, Mr. Ramsaroop understands firsthand the importance of dual citizens and their contributions to the country’s development.

Thus, it is time for dual citizens to have an equal say in how the country is governed now and in the future. It is high time to reconsider the dual-citizen provision in the constitution.

Yours faithfully, Omchand Mahdu

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 26, 2020

Cancer survivor now looking over her shoulder for COVID-19

By Vishani Ragobeer IN 2016, Rosaline Clarke felt a sharp pain in her left breast while on a family vacation in the United States. At first thought, she reasoned that it was probably the strain from fetching the Guyanese delicacies she took for her family in the extra suitcase. But, it was not.

Her brother, sister, and uncle all died from cancer, and then, while on vacation, another sister told her that she had been secretly battling breast cancer. The worry started to creep in on Rosaline.

“I said ‘you’re a child of God, don’t tek this thing on’ and so I came home and went to the [Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association] and got it checked out,” Rosaline recollected, in a recent interview with the Guyana Chronicle.

Upon examination, a lump was found in her breast.

She was sent to the Mercy Hospital to do a mammogram (a medical breast examination) and an ultrasound. The lump was removed and a biopsy, which is an examination of tissue removed,

to determine whether it is cancerous, was done. Clarke recalled the six-weeks wait being “agonising” for her.

When she received the call to uplift her results, she left instantly, not even informing her husband. That was when she found out that she had breast cancer in her left breast. She didn’t believe right away and so she visited the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) for a second opinion; it was confirmed there as well.

“I tell them right away to take off the breast, because I don’t want to wait for it to get to no big stage and then I gotta do chemotherapy and radiation because those are not nice,” Rosaline said.

Shortly after, she went for the surgery. She recalled how anxious she was, sitting in the waiting room before surgery; she became hypertensive and had to be calmed down before she could enter the surgical room. Rosaline said she imagined what it would be like only having one breast.

The journey of her recovery was not an easy one; she said she sometimes felt her husband was not taking her condition seriously, and

Rosaline showing where she felt the pain before being diagnosed with breast cancer (Delano Williams photo)

psychologically, she was not the best. Nevertheless, it was the support from her Pastor, church members, and family members that have kept her

going, even after she lost her mother and husband afterwards.

Recently, Rosaline experienced another sharp pain,

this time on the right side of her body. She has done another mammogram which revealed a cyst in the right breast. Due to this, she has to go every six months for a checkup.

As a cancer survivor, Rosaline related that it is heartwarming to see so many people supporting survivors and trying to raise awareness on breast cancer each October. First Lady, Arya Ali’s support to breast cancer survivors was one activity Rosaline was particularly happy with. She contended, however, that this support should not only be extended in October, once a year.

“We’re battling with our lives every day in the year and now this COVID-19 is here, we are more vulnerable than anybody else,” she said.

Indeed, studies have shown that individuals with comorbidities (meaning persons with more than one disease or condition present at the same time) are more vulnerable to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Additionally, older folks are more likely to experience the more severe symptoms of COVID-19. Sixty-two-yearold Rosaline had cancer, is

hypertensive and well, is an “old woman.” This means that she is especially vulnerable to this virus and has to take all precautions.

She explained that when she has to go to the clinic, she is usually the first one there to avoid the crowd and whenever she goes out, she always washes up as soon as she returns home.

But Rosaline is constantly fearful because she believes there aren’t many people who are as concerned about the coronavirus as she is.

Rosaline recalled travelling in a taxi and the driver told her that he was not wearing a mask because he is unafraid of COVID-19.

“I think people are not taking COVID-19 seriously and they’re only going to take it seriously when it hits close to home; to somebody they love or so,” she said.

While she is unsure of how to convince people that they should adhere to the COVID-19 protocols, Rosaline is hopeful that the government would provide assistance to cancer survivors like herself, who are more vulnerable to this virus.

Fire guts Norton Street house

By Jared Liddell

A FIRE of unknown origin, on Sunday afternoon, completely gutted a two-storey wooden and concrete house at Lot 62 Norton Street, Lodge, Georgetown, and, a as a result, five persons have been rendered homeless.

Head of the Guyana Trans United, Quincy McEwan,

–– 4-year-old among five homeless

resided at the property with her four-year-old son and three adults but the house is owned by her brother, Calvin Waterton.

A distraught McEwan told the Guyana Chronicle that she was in the yard doing laundry

at around 14:45h when she noticed fire in the backroom located on the upper flat.

The fire also destroyed a shop at the property and scorched a neighbouring house.

“It happened so fast,” McEwan said, adding that she was unable to save anything from the house, leaving them with millions of dollars in losses.

They, however, managed to save a television set and a refrigerator from the shop.

McEwan said they were all in the yard when the fire started.

“I was at home. I was downstairs soaking clothes; my friend was cooking; I went on the phone inviting my friend for some food and I hear ‘pow!’ and when I hear the pow, I raise my head same time to know what is going on upstairs. When I look up, I see fire coming from the backroom, that’s all I know,”

McEwan told this newspaper.

McEwan has been living at the property for over 23 years.

Meanwhile, quick action by the Guyana Fire Service prevented the house on the western side from being destroyed.

Deputy Fire Chief, Kamaladeen Edoo, who was at the scene, told the media that three fire service vehicles were dispatched to take control of the fire after the report was received.

According to Edoo, by the time the firefighters showed up, the house was already engulfed in flames and the top floor of the building had already caved in.

The Guyana Trans United is an advocacy group whose main goals are to improve the quality of life of trans Guyanese and to ensure that their rights are recognised and upheld in all domains.

Head of the Guyana Trans United, Quincy McEwan (extreme right)

The charred remains of the items from the shop.

‘Iconic character in Guyana’s history’

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 26, 2020

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–– Janet Jagan remembered on 100th birth anniversary at Babu Jaan A MEMORIAL activity to commemorate the 100th birth anniversary of the late President, Janet Jagan, was held at the Babu Jaan memorial site located in Port Mourant (East Berbice-Corentyne), on Saturday, by the Women’s Progressive Organisation (WPO).

President of the WPO, Indra Chandrapal, described Mrs. Jagan as “a remarkable iconic character in our country’s history” as she shared stories on how the former President shaped and influenced lives.

Chandrapal and Mrs Jagan were close friends for some 39 years until she died.

Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, who delivered the feature address, credited the late President for her decision to venture into politics. He recalled it was in 1994 when he was only 14-years-old that a conversation with Mrs. Jagan made him realise that by being a politician he will be in a better position to make a difference in the lives of others.

“I was young and we kept hearing ‘politics is a dirty game’ over and over and it deterred many from wanting to get into the field but after a short conversation with comrade Janet Jagan, I decided there and then that I will become a politician because she showed me and helped me to understand that the adage ‘politics is a dirty game’ was not necessarily true but it is how you play the game that mattered and the unlimited possibilities and impact I can make by becoming a politician,” Minister Bharrat told the gathering.

He reflected on the many sacrifices Mrs Jagan made as a young person after she married Guyanese politician who later founded the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Dr Cheddi Jagan, and left her home in the United States of America to live in Guyana.

According to Minister

Bharrat, Mrs Jagan gave up her US citizenship, a mere four years later, in 1943, to participate in the general and regional elections.

The Natural Resources

Minister noted that Mrs. Jagan managed to be on par with her husband, who was often classified as the father of the nation, due to her selflessness and genuine care

Former President of Guyana, the late Janet Jagan

for the well-being of others, especially those who were oppressed.

Minister Bharrat said it was Mrs Jagan who was responsible for many of the developments in Guyana including becoming an oil producing nation.

“It was comrade Janet that signed the oil exploration licence in 1999, even though she was criticised at that point in time but she did what was best for Guyana. At

that time, no one knew there was oil there but Comrade Janet took the risk and she took the initiative to sign the exploration licence so that Exxon Mobil can start drilling offshore Guyana and today we are an oil-producing country because of Janet Jagan.”

Minister Bharrat noted that one of the most notable traits of Mrs. Jagan and her husband was the ability to remain grounded with the

Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, delivering the feature address at the event

A section of the gathering at the memorial activity to commemorate the 100th birth anniversary of the late President Janet Jagan at the Babu Jaan memorial site

people despite their busy schedules.

“Today, as we reflect to keep the legacy of Comrade Janet and comrade Cheddie alive, we need to stay grounded with our people.

We need to ensure we go out and listen to the cries and concerns of our people; that we ensure that we represent the working class in our country because sometimes we tend to forget and only remember when election is around and this is something that needs to change if we want to keep the Jagan legacy alive.”

Meanwhile, Chandrapal expressed thanks to the speakers who captured different aspects of Mrs Jagan’s life.

“I was really impressed with the messages that came out of this celebration here today [Saturday], all the sentiments that [were] expressed with respect to her work, her life, her struggles, her commitment, her love, her leadership, her honesty, her bravery and all the things that highlighted different aspects of her character and we want to thank you for what you have said because she is indeed a remarkable iconic character in our country’s history,” the WPO President said.

The other speakers included Members of Parliament, Dharamkumar Seeraj, Dr. Vishwa Mahadeo and Regional Chairman David Armogan.

Janet Jagan was born on October 20, 1920 and died on March 28, 2009; she was the recipient of many awards including the Order of Excellence in 1993 as well as the UNESCO Mahatma Ghandi Gold medal for women’s rights in 1998. She was the first female Prime Minister and President of Guyana.

She served as President from December 19, 1997 to August 11, 1999 and as Prime Minister from March 17, 1997 to December 19, 1997.

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Caring for those who were sexually abused

PEOPLE have various methods when dealing with a person who has been sexually abused or raped, and some approaches are insensitive. Some think the victim is somewhat to blame, e.g. 'what was he/she doing in his room anyway at that time of night?' or 'He/she got what he/she was looking for, if you play with fire, you're going to get burn'. These connotations do nothing to help or heal the pain and trauma felt by the victim. They were violated by someone who exerted power over them by subduing and sexually assaulting them.

When a person struggles to get away, that person has not consented to sex. If the person screams, 'No' just once, or multiple times, and yet the perpetrator pursues, then a crime has been committed, which is punishable by law.

Why the victim was there, and what actions preceded the sexual abuse or rape, cannot outweigh the fact that 'NO is NO' and forcing someone to

have sexual intercourse against one’s will is an evil act.

Another method which is equally as tactless is the 'cover-up'. This method is used mainly in families where children are victims of sexual abuse, and parents turn a blind eye. They refuse to acknowledge the assault for what it truly is; sometimes because the perpetrator is a family member and sometimes because, they too were sexually abused as a child, so they pass it off as if it is nothing. They send a heartless message to the child through their nonchalance you're not the first, you won't be the last, get over it! They may or may not put measures in place to prevent the child from continuing to cross paths with the abuser.

Children need to feel worthy; they need to feel loved and cared for by people who have their backs. Boys and girls need love and attention from the adults in their lives.

Most people assume that boys need less attention, but this is not true, children need adults

to protect and nurture them regardless of gender. If by chance a child or adolescent confides in you that someone had (or attempted to) sexually abuse or rape him/her, how would you react? And how would you deal with it?

Of course, you would be alarmed and initially might want to believe, you heard wrong, but no, those are the facts; a loved one has experienced this horrendous trauma and has turned to you for support. The first thing you need to do is to stay calm; stop whatever you may be doing and give the person your undivided attention. Do not become overly dramatic or accuse the person of lying because you are in denial. Neither should you behave in a judgmental manner and start accusing or blaming the victim. These are cultural traits that hinder rather than help victims, in coming to grips with the situation.

Allow the person to speak freely, without interrupting and asking for details, but make a mental note of anything that

might need clarification later.

Listen carefully and show concern for how he/she is feeling. When appropriate, commend them for disclosing the ordeal. For many victims, especially children, support is an essential part of the healing process and receiving sympathetic, thoughtful responses from loved ones can make a difference.

Violation of a loved one is bound to affect you and a cascade of emotions, including, helplessness, anger and revenge may enter your thoughts, but you must remain calm enough to think sensibly about what to do next. Give yourself some space to decide the best way to respond. If it is a child, you must make a report to the Police or the Childcare and Protection Agency. For an older person, whatever you do next, the victim must agree before you proceed.

Bullying, badgering or cajoling a victim into telling other people about the sexual assault, when he/she is not ready, could add to the trauma, and

he/she may become isolated or depressed as a result. However, most people will eventually listen to reason when given sensible suggestions.

Positive affirmations will help the victim to overcome feelings of shame, worthlessness, and self-hate, so let him/ her know that you believe in him/her and you don't blame him/her; you are supportive, come what may.

It is never easy to heal from sexual violence; it takes time, and sometimes even counselling, for victims to become survivors. The victim will have flashbacks, and any aspect of everyday life could trigger remembrance of the incident for years to come. But with patience and the reassurance that things will get better, the victim can make small steps forward.

Parents and adults must report child sexual abuse to the Police or the Childcare and Protection Agency without delay. They must not take the law into their hands and obstruct prosecution, by seeking com-

pensation from the perpetrator for their silence; or by beating the culprit to within an inch of his life. Both these actions are accessories to the crime.

There are people in the '70s and '80s who still remember being sexually assaulted or raped as a child, as clearly as if it happened yesterday.

Many of them never reported the incident or told anyone about their ordeal. Today we are wiser and know what we can do to seek justice and possibly to protect others from a similar fate.

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

Comprehensive cancer care programme a priority for Health Ministry

By Vishani Ragobeer OVER the next few years, developing a comprehensive cancer-care programme, geared at improving cancer and chronic disease control, will be a priority for the Ministry of Health, according to Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony.

Based on data from the Ministry in 2017, cancer is the third leading cause of death in Guyana. It was reported that there is a mortality rate of 21.0 per 100,000 persons.

“A lot of the cancers that we have in Guyana, we have been making attempts over the years to get a better understanding of them, getting better information on prevalence and so forth but I don’t think we’re there yet because we really don’t have a good picture of the various cancers that we have and the true prevalence of these diseases,” Minister Anthony told the Guyana Chronicle in a recent interview.

Key areas in need of improvement include screening

capabilities with a focus on pathology in order to classify the cancers and stage them; laboratory capabilities and the type and quality of treatment offered (such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy). Of course, greater focus has to be placed on preventive measures.

But while these measures can be introduced and programmes developed, human resource capacity remains imperative. Dr. Anthony related that there are not many persons trained in the field of oncology (the study of cancer).

“That’s an area we have to look at, because if we are going to improve clinical care for cancer patients, then definitely [human capacity] is an area we have to look at,” he said, adding, “It’s not just in adult oncology, but we also have to look at paediatrics oncology.”

There is also a need for an improved cancer registry, the Minister said; data collection and analysis and then making this data publicly available have been an enduring bugbear for

ness month in October; it is not uncommon to see pink

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony

Guyana. Data is not only used for public information and record-keeping but it allows for trends to be studied among other things, thereby allowing for evidence-based medical interventions.

Cognisant of all of these areas where improvements can be made, Dr. Anthony said, “This is definitely one of the priority areas for the Ministry, and, over the next couple of years, we will have to build out a more comprehensive cancer care programme.”

The task ahead is exten-

sive; to better understand the need for improved cancer care in Guyana, let’s examine just one type of cancer - breast cancer. As per the 10-year Cancer Profile 2003-2012 of Guyana, breast cancer was one of the leading causes of death in Guyanese women and although awareness activities on this specific cancer have increased significantly, the debilitating effects continue to plague many women and few men.

Annually, Guyana observes Breast Cancer Aware-

Founder and President of the Guyana Cancer Foundation, Bibi Hassan

ribbons adorn workplaces, public spaces and even people’s attire. There are numerous commercial activities underpinning breast cancer awareness too.

Despite this, Founder and President of the Guyana Cancer Foundation, Bibi Hassan, lamented that many persons, women especially, are not aware of the signs and symptoms of this cancer.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), breast cancer develops from breast tissue; symptoms of

this cancer include a lump in the breast, dimpling of the skin, or other changes in the appearance of the breast area. If left untreated, cancer may metastasise (spread to other areas of the body) and this is typically fatal. But, if detected early enough, it can be treated successfully.

“A lot of cancer patients come when they’ve gone too far - at Stage Three and Four - where I can’t really do anything,” Hassan told the Guyana Chronicle in a recent interview.

She emphasised that once any bodily changes are observed, you should contact your healthcare provider immediately. Her mantra is: “Early detection helps save lives.”

Rosaline Clarke, a 62-year-old woman, and breast cancer survivor was one woman who was able to detect her cancer early enough. She told the Guyana Chronicle that soon after feeling a lump in her left breast, she sought medical attention.

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Elderly woman murdered in La Grange house

POLICE are investigating the murder of an elderly woman, whose bound body was found in her Old Road, La Grange, West Bank Demerara home on Sunday afternoon.

Dead is 86-year-old Bibi Ramjit. She lived alone at the property. The Guyana Chronicle was reliably informed that the woman’s body was discovered between 15:00 hours and 17:00 hours.

Police suspect that the motive is robbery as the woman’s house was found ransacked. It is unclear at this time how Ramjit was murdered. Up to press time, investigators were still at the scene.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 26, 2020

Comprehensive cancer care ...

FROM PAGE

While she was diagnosed with breast cancer and subsequently surgically removed her left breast, she has been able to avoid cancer’s fatality.

Clarke’s case, however, is not common with many other women, particularly in the hinterland regions, Hassan related. Many of those women discover their condition too late and would not benefit from sufficient cancer care.

“Our systems in the regions, especially cancer care, are very rudimentary,” the Health Minister acknowledged.

He, however, posited: “We will have to spend some time in developing a programme, not just one fragment here and another fragment there, but to look at the thing in a more holistic way; again it comes back to prevention treatment and care.”

Even if all of the neces-

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sary improvements cannot be made sooner rather than later, it is important that capacity is built out at various levels.

The Health Minister reasoned that if there is not an oncology programme in every regional hospital in another two years, then there must be doctors who are trained to at least do the preliminaries and then refer the patients into a more specialised programme.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 26, 2020

Professor of Toronto University donates $18M in musical, science equipment GUYANESE-BORN University of Toronto Professor Rita Persaud has donated $18M in musical and science equipment to five secondary schools and the University of Guyana.

Tapping into her network in Canada where she lives, Professor Persaud was able to procure drum sets, violins, saxophones, microscopes, telescopes among other equipment.

The items are valued at $18M and will be donated to Berbice High School (BHS), J.C Chandisingh secondary, Abrams Zuil secondary, Anna Regina Multilateral, Cotton Field secondary and the University of Guyana, the Ministry of Education noted in a press release on Saturday.

According to the release, Professor Persaud said the institutions reached out to her at different levels for assistance and she immediately agreed to assist.

“Professor Persaud said that, as someone who has intimate knowledge of the importance of music and science in education, she proposed to ensure she was able to deliver for the institutions. She said when she approached persons and organisations in an effort to secure the equipment they readily donated. Notwithstanding the benevolence of individuals, the scholar said she personally bought many of items and she was satisfied that she did,” the Education Ministry noted.

According to the release, the Guyanese-born scholar said that she was aware that many of students will, for the first time, be playing the saxophone and the violin and

Guyanese- born University of Toronto Professor Rita Persaud poses with the six complete seven piece drums sets

Some of the violins that were donated

this will serve as an avenue for brain development. With regards to the science equipment, she said these will create greater interest in science and will facilitate hands-on learning.

Minister of Education Priya Manickchand expressed gratitude to Professor Persuad and the other donors who contributed to making the venture a reality. At the handing over ceremony on Friday last, Permanent Secretary, Alfred King, said that the donation will improve the delivery of the Fine Arts and

Some of the equipment that were donated (Ministry of Education photos)

sciences in these institutions.

The items received are six complete seven-piece drum sets, one electronic violin, two saxophones, four clarinets, a television set, 16 microscopes electronic computer interface, two measuring scales for a laboratory, a trombone, three trumpets, six violins, a flute, a printer, two TASCO telescopes, six telescopes celestron astromaster (for Physics, Science, or Cosmology programme), four Chemistry kits, textbooks for the University of Guy-

ana Library, one laptop, two computer screens and one printer.

3,000 recover from COVID-19 --904 active cases being monitored GUYANA continues to record a consistent rise in the number of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases, but there is an equally high rate of recovery, with the latest statistics showing that some 3,000 persons have recovered so far from this disease.

Of the total recoveries, 30 persons were medically cleared within the past 24 hours, while 29 new cases were recorded within that time, taking Guyana’s total known cases over the 4,000 mark; there are 4,023 cases as of October 25.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by a newly-discovered coronavirus. Most people who become sick with COVID-19 will experience mild to moderate symptoms, and recover without special treatment.

The WHO had said that 81 per cent of those persons who contract COVID-19 will have mild symptoms, while 14 per cent will have severe symptoms, and five per cent will need intensive care.

Locally, the health authorities have so far tested 18,417 persons, with 14,394 being negative and

4,023 positive and while almost 75 per cent of those persons have recovered from this scourge, 119 persons have lost their lives.

According to the Ministry of Health, the latest fatalities are a 78-year-old male from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and an 86-year-old man from Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni).

Statistics show that there are 904 active cases. Of those cases, 101 persons are in institutional isolation, 788 in home isolation, and 15 in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

As cases continue to climb, authorities have asked persons to observe the COVID-19 emergency measures, which are still in effect. This order emphasises the need to always use a face mask correctly and consistently when leaving home, practise physical distancing, and observe good hygiene to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

If you do have symptoms of COVID-19 or any concerns about which you may need information, please contact the COVID-19 Hotline on 2311166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 or visit the Ministry of Health at www.health.gov.gy

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Gaikwad stars as Chennai beat RCB

(ESPNCRICINFO) -The Chennai Super Kings built a squad for the slow, turning pitches at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.

On Sunday, when they were all but out of IPL 2020, they got to play in conditions not dissimilar to those back in Chennai, and pulled off a performance that made you wonder how their season might have gone had Covid-19 not transplanted the tournament to the UAE. They were abetted by a Royal Challengers Bangalore batting display that seldom got out of second gear, which set them a target of just 146, but some of the hallmarks of the classic Super Kings performance were also on show. Accurate medium-fast bowling with frequent changes of pace, an expert middle-overs strangulation by spin featuring typically clever MS Dhoni fields, and a controlled chase featuring timely six-hitting to keep the required rate in check. There was also, as has often been the case, an opposition attack that wasn’t entirely suited to the conditions.

Along the way, there was even one unusual detail, a young player who batted with - let’s use the word spark, Ruturaj Gaikwad, who anchored the chase with an unbeaten 51-ball 65 while Faf du Plessis and Ambati Rayudu brought urgency at the other end.

W i t h t h e i r eight-wicket win, the Super Kings kept the barely flickering flame of their campaign alive, just about, but the result might have more of an impact on the Royal Challengers. They began the game with a chance of rising to the top of the table and ended it with their chances of a top-two finish sig-

nificantly diminished.

A BRISK BEGINNING Choosing to bat, the Royal Challengers made just the kind of start they would have wanted on a slow pitch, with Aaron Finch and Devdutt Padikkal showing every intention to maximise their returns when the ball was at its newest.

They hit three fours and a six in the first three overs before Sam Curran came on and made a vital intervention, both in terms of immediate and longer-term impact, getting Finch out with a slower delivery.

Padikkal hit two more opportunistic legside fours in the next two overs, helping the Royal Challengers end the powerplay at 46 for 1, before falling to the first ball of the seventh over, going after the left-arm spin of Mitchell Santner - who was playing his first game of the season - but failing to clear long-on.

KOHLI AND DE VILLIERS Those two names can give anyone the shivers if they’re together for 68 balls, but on this day, Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers only put on 82 off those 68 balls. This was partly down to intent - there’s a case to be made that de Villiers coming in as early as the seventh over causes him to bat more watchfully than he might if he enters in the second half of the innings - partly down to the slowness of the pitch, and partly down to some smart spin bowling from Santner, Imran Tahir and Ravindra Jadeja.

The Royal Challengers faced some flak for promoting two lefthanders above de Villiers against Kings XI Punjab ten days ago but the

thinking behind the move wasn’t entirely unsound, even if it failed to come off that day. Today, with the Super Kings attack featuring three international-class spinners who all turn the ball away from the right-hander, there may have been more of a case to push a left-hander up the order, particularly given that the Royal Challengers had an excellent candidate for that role today in Moeen Ali. They didn’t choose that option, and backed de Villiers instead. It was a perfectly reasonable choice, of course, but it didn’t come off today, as the three spinners got into their groove, bowling just short of a length at a good pace and not giving away the drive.

Against Kohli, Dhoni exaggerated the effectiveness of this mode of attack by placing a straight midwicket and a straight extra-cover (almost a short mid-off) to prevent easy singles down to long-on and longoff. Kohli, not a natural sweeper, didn’t look to hit squarer to evade these fielders, and kept backing his ability down the ground. It brought him a six and a four, but they were the only boundaries in his innings, and it also brought Tahir and Jadeja difficult caught-andbowled chances that they put down.

When a becalmed de Villiers holed out for a 39 off 36, the Royal Challengers were 128 for 3 in 17.3 overs, and the deathovers flourish they’d been building towards didn’t happen. Deepak Chahar and Curran varied their pace well and offered no drive balls or width, conceding just 20 off the last three overs while dismissing de Villiers, Moeen, Kohli and Chris Morris.

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Hamilton surpasses Schumacher with Portuguese GP Win

(BBC) - Lewis Hamilton passed Valtteri Bottas to take a commanding victory in the Portuguese Grand Prix and break Formula 1’s all-time win record.

Hamilton dropped to third in a manic first two laps that ended with McLaren’s Carlos Sainz leading, but fought back to crush Bottas’ hopes.

After both Mercedes passed Sainz, Hamilton tracked Bottas before taking the lead on lap 20.

From there, Hamilton dominated to take his 92nd career Grand Prix victory.

Hamilton received a standing ovation from the socially distanced crowd, before celebrating with team members and then a long embrace with father Anthony.

Hamilton said he “owed it all” to his Mercedes team, adding: “I could only ever have dreamed of being where I am today.

“I didn’t have a magic ball when I chose to come to this team and partner with these great people, but here I am.

“Everything we do together - we are all rowing in

(BBC) - UFC lightweight champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov has stunned the mixed martial arts world by announcing his immediate retirement from the sport.

The news came moments after Nurmagomedov had extended his perfect professional record to 29-0 with a second-round triangle-choke submission of interim champion, Justin Gaethje, at UFC 254.

The 32-year-old Russian had already been touted as the greatest MMA fighter of all time but his retirement immediately reignited the debate over where he ranks in the history of the sport.

Hamilton, Bottas and Verstappen have shared the podium together on seven occasions in 2020 the same direction and that’s why we’re doing what we’re doing.

“And my dad’s here and my step mum Linda, and Roscoe [Hamilton’s dog]. It is going to take some time for it to fully sink in. I was still pushing flat out as I came across the line. I can’t find the words at the moment.”

HOW DID IT ALL UNFOLD? His victory, on a humiliating day for team-mate Bottas, gave Hamilton a 77-point ad-

vantage in the championship as he moves ever closer to a seventh world title, which would match Schumacher’s other surviving record.

Hamilton had to do it the hard way, cool temperatures and a sprinkling of rain at the start leaving his Mercedes grip-less on its medium tyres on the opening lap, on which he was passed by both Bottas and Sainz.

Sainz, using his soft tyres to great advantage over the medium-shod Mercedes, produced a stellar opening lap from seventh on the grid and

passed Bottas for the lead at Turn Five on the second lap.

But once the Mercedes’ tyres were up to temperature, they wasted no time in dispatching the McLaren and disappeared into a race of their own.

Hamilton never let Bottas get much more than a couple of seconds ahead and then after 15 laps started to pour on the pace, setting fastest lap after fastest lap to close in on the Finn and then pass for the lead into Turn One.

Stokes century gives Royals playoff boost (ESPNCRICINFO) - Ben Stokes finally came to the party with an unbeaten 107 off 60 balls as the Rajasthan Royals chased down Mumbai Indians’ 195 for 5 with relative ease in the end in Abu Dhabi. The win not only kept the Royals in the race for the playoffs - they are now sixth on the points table with ten points from 12 games - but also brought the curtain down on the Chennai Super Kings’ campaign.

Earlier, Hardik Pandya had lit up the evening with an unbeaten 60 off 21 balls, which included seven sixes and two fours, but that didn’t prove enough as Stokes and Sanju Samson added 152 in 82 balls in an unbroken third-wicket partnership to take the Royals home with ten balls to spare.

Archer snares in-form de Kock early Quinton de Kock had scores of 53, 78*, 53 and 46* coming into this game. He looked primed for another

UFC lightweight champion Khabib retires

Ben Stokes is finding his range as T20 opener © BCCI good knock when he pulled tage of that. In the sixth over, a 149.6kph Jofra Archer de- both of them hit Rajpoot for livery for a six to get off a six each to take the side the mark. Archer, however, to 59 for 1 at the end of the pitched the next ball a little powerplay. fuller and a bit wider, and Gopal double-strike pulls de Kock chopped on with an Mumbai back angled bat.

The Royals turned to their From the other end, Ankit two legspinners - Shreyas Rajpoot was a bit wayward Gopal and Rahul Tewatia and Ishan Kishan, opening - after that and the move once again in the absence of worked straightaway as the Rohit Sharma, and Suryaku- next two overs produced mar Yadav took full advan- only eight runs. Yadav then

tried to take Gopal on by going inside-out but ended up slicing it over point for four.

He attempted the same shot on the next ball and this time ended up hitting it in the air towards deep cover. Tewatia charged towards the ball, put in the dive, got his fingers underneath the ball but couldn’t hold on to it.

Kishan, who was struggling to score beyond a run a ball, then slashed at Kartik Tyagi. The ball flew towards third man where Archer misjudged it before plucking it one-handed over his head to leave his team-mates gasping. A couple of overs later, Gopal dented Mumbai further by removing Yadav and Kieron Pollard in the same over. While Yadav holed out to longoff, Pollard failed to read a googly and was bowled through the gate. That was the first time Pollard was dismissed since the opening game of the tournament.

GOAT OR NOT, KHABIB LEAVES A LASTING LEGACY As a fighter who competed at the highest level of the sport, in arguably the most talent-filled weight class, his undefeated record has put him right in the middle of MMA’s ‘Greatest of All Time’ (GOAT) conversation, alongside fellow UFC legends Georges St-Pierre, Jon Jones, Daniel Cormier, Anderson Silva, Demetrious Johnson and Amanda Nunes.

Khabib Nurmagomedov became the UFC lightweight champion under the tutelage of his father Abdulmanap, who died in July following complications caused by coronavirus Nurmagomedov’s three-fight title reign at lightweight may not match the lengthy championship tenures of some of his peers, but his sheer dominance of the cage, plus that zero in his loss column, means he’s undoubtedly in that elite group of fighters who can be considered the sport’s all-time greats.

But perhaps more important than his reputation as a great fighter and champion is the legacy Nurmagomedov leaves.

Together with his late father Abdulmanap, Nurmagomedov helped open the doors for Dagestani fighters to excel on the world stage, with the nation’s reputation for producing world-class amateur wrestlers now extending into the sport of mixed martial arts.

Nurmagomedov proved that Dagestani fighters can make it into the UFC and go all the way to the top, and a host of fighters are looking to follow in his footsteps.

It would be no surprise to see Nurmagomedov take up the mantle left by his father and become the figurehead and leader of his team as he helps develop and mentor the next generation of Dagestani fighters.

It may have been the last time we see him fighting in the octagon, but we may well see him in the corner for many years to come.

RESPECT FROM HIS PEERS Heading into his fight with Gaethje, the topic of Nurmagomedov’s potential retirement was already being discussed, but most believed the Russian would look to take his career to 30-0 - and potentially compete in a superfight with Canadian UFC legend St-Pierre - before deciding to hang up his four-ounce gloves for good.

But that decision came one fight early as he revealed to the world that his win over Gaethe in Abu Dhabi would be his final appearance in the UFC. Nurmagomedov’s retirement was met by tributes from fellow fighters.

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Matthews makes Golden duck at women’s BBL CMC – West Indies all-rounder Hayley Matthews made a wretched start to the Women’s Big Bash League season when she was dismissed for a first-ball “duck” as her Hobart Hurricanes went down by eight wickets to Adelaide Strikers here Sunday.

Playing on the opening day of the campaign at Hurstville Oval, Hurricanes were dismissed for 84 off 16.3 overs and Strikers easily overhauled their paltry target with six overs remaining.

Sent in, Hurricanes got a top score of 28 from Naomi Stalenberg but South African Chloe Tryon, batting at number seven, was the only other batsman to show any

enterprise with 20.

The Tasmanian franchise suffered a miserable start, losing New Zealander Rachel Priest to the first ball of the contest, bowled by fast bowler Megan Schutt (2-14) and Matthews to the very next delivery in identical fashion.

When the other new ball seamer, 17-year-old Darcie Brown (313), bowled Nicola Carey in the next over for one, Hurricanes were tottering on seven for three.

But Stalenberg struck four fours and a six in a 28-ball knock, inspiring a 37-run, third wicket stand with Corinne Hall (15) to temporarily revive the innings before the final collapse ensued.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 26, 2020

Wolves need to be ‘more clinical’ - Nuno West Indies batting star, Hayley Matthews, walks off after falling for a first-ball “duck” on Sunday.

In reply, Strikers – without West Indies Test captain Stafanie Taylor who is still undergoing quarantine – were powered by Laura Wolvaardt who carved out a handsome unbeaten 51 off 42 deliveries.

Seamer Belinda Vakarewa bowled Annie O’Neil for two with the sixth delivery of the run chase but Wolvaardt punched eight fours to dominate a 51-run stand with opener Dahlia McGrath (18) before adding a further 29 with Bridget Patterson (six not out) in an unbroken third wicket stand.

Matthews went wicket-less from two overs of off-spinner which cost 11 runs.

‘Muscles’ preparing for ‘Resilience’ bodybuilding competition –– Gets support from Fitness Express

SEASONED bodybuilder, Lindon ‘Muscles’ Burnett, has announced his intentions to compete in the Guyana Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (GBBFF) celebratory competition dubbed ‘Resilience,’ which is scheduled for December 12 at the National Cultural Centre.

Burnett, who had taken a hiatus from the stage for about eight years, before he re-appeared in 2019, said that he would use the upcoming event to get into competition mode, since he anticipates a packed calendar of events in 2021.

Since gyms closed earlier this year due to the pandemic, the 49-year-old has had limited training time.

“I lost a lot of muscle mass, a lot of size; remember all the gyms close. A lot of athletes lost a lot of size and a lot of muscle mass because they were not

doing weights training; they were doing the cardio, but not weights.”

To give the Space Gym trainer a boost before he hits the stage, Fitness Express recently assisted him with supplements.

Burnett has also amped up his training, which he is doing by a friend.

CONFIDENCE At the GBBFF event, competitors will battle in two main weight divisions: the Under 165 and the Over 165.

Burnett will compete in the heavier age group and intends to do his best.

“I always go in a competition to try my best. I always try to bring first.

I want to win my weight class; that is my goal.”

Resilience will be a spectator-free competition, which will be aired live via social media and on television.

President of the federation, Keavon Bess, was initially hoping to host the Senior Championships (Mr Guyana) in December, but the restrictions in place due to the pandemic have made it impossible for senior athletes to get stage-ready for such an event.

“We concluded that athletes would have not been afforded the time to prepare for a seniors competition and with the closure of gyms, it’s impossible for athletes to prepare their bodies for a competition of this magnitude….”

According to the GBBFF head, the date of the competition is only tentative “on the uncontrollable rise of cases or the restrictions that government may implement”.

(BBC) - Nuno Espirito Santo wants his side to be “more clinical” after Newcastle’s late equaliser denied Wolves a third consecutive win.

Jacob Murphy’s 89th-minute free-kick rescued a point for Newcastle shortly after Wolves had taken the lead through Raul Jimenez.

Newcastle midfielder, Murphy, bent his low effort around the wall and just inside the post past goalkeeper Rui Patricio.

It was just the second shot on target from the visitors in a match in which they had 63% of possession.

“We were patient, we were a threat, we didn’t concede many chances and it is a game that we should finish with a victory,” said Nuno.

Jimenez had fired home with 10 minutes to go of what had been a lacklustre encounter that Wolves had dominated for long stretches.

Both sides managed just one shot on target in the first half, and while Wolves seemed the likelier to take three points they had to settle for a point that takes them into seventh.

“The mistake is that we need to be more clinical,” Nuno added. “We had many chances but we did not test the goalkeeper too many times. We were the better team.”

Newcastle remain in 14th after the fourth consecutive 1-1 result between the two clubs.

Karl Darlow saved Daniel Podence’s shot in the sixth minute in what turned out to be Wolves’ best chance of the first half, while Allan Saint-Maximin’s effort pushed away by Patricio just before the break was Newcastle’s first attempt on target.

Blocks by Jamaal Lascelles and Federico Fernandez to deny Daniel Podence and Pedro Neto typified a dogged display by the away side in the second half, and they battled back strongly after Jimenez’s fine goal had seemed set to send them home empty-handed.

WOLVES FAIL TO LAND KILLER BLOW Wolves lived up to the statistic that says they are the Premier League’s slowest starters, failing to score in the first half for the 58th time - more than any other side in the top flight.

Podence forced Darlow into a save low to his left after six minutes, but after that the home side failed to make the most of having nearly two-thirds of the possession.

WOLVES NEED TO BE MORE CLINICAL - NUNO Nuno Espirito Santo’s side showed was more urgency after the break, and even had vague hopes of a penalty shout for handball when Fernandez got in the way of Podence’s effort, but replays showed the Newcastle defender could have done nothing to get the back of his arm out of the way.

Jimenez’s excellent shot from just outside the area from a corner had enough power behind it to take it in off Darlow’s left hand, giving Wolves’ leading scorer his fourth of this campaign and what seemed to be the game’s decisive moment.

But with their next three games all against sides near them in the table - versus Crystal Palace, Leicester and Southampton - Nuno will be keen for his team to finish off sides when they have the chance.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 26, 2020

23

Gaikwad stars as Chennai beat RCB

Hamilton surpasses Schumacher with Portuguese GP Win See story on page 21

Lewis Hamilton

See story on page 20

‘Muscles’ preparing for ‘Resilience’ bodybuilding competition –– Gets support from Fitness Express See story on page 22 Lindon ‘Muscles’ Burnett in action last year.

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2020