Guyana Chronicle E-paper 10-27-2020

TUESDAY 27th October, 2020

' No.106165

Elections are over

SEE PAGE 08

Vilma Audrey DeSilva being sworn in by President Irfaan Ali as Chairwoman of Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) (Office of the President photo)

-- time to lead, President tells newly sworn-in regional chairs, vice-chairs

GECOM must be fixed …before Local Gov’t Elections –– Gunraj says GECOM not in state of readiness – President Ali

City Hall earned over $12B in four years, but still cash-strapped

SEE PAGE 03

Taking education to the communities

–– Min. Dharamlall requests audit of all municipalities 12 PAGE

Authorities probe illegal gold mining, smuggling

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Canadian company interested in Guyana’s milk industry - Can achieve 2000 litres of pasteurized milk per day

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Nine-year-old Roshana Pickett (third from right) and 11-year-old Nicholas Martin (second from left) were among a number of children who took interest and copied work from this chalkboard set up outside of the Assembly of God church on Durban Street, Georgetown. (Adrian Narine photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 27, 2020

‘Minister Walrond is an honourable woman’ –– President Ali defends Tourism Minister in dual citizenship fiasco PRESIDENT Irfaan Ali has come out in defence of his Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond who is being accused of sitting in the National Assembly illegally because she did not renounce her United States (US) citizenship before she took the oath as a Member of Parliament (MP).

Minister Walrond has already clarified that she’d received her Certificate of Loss of Nationality prior to taking the oath to serve as a Parliamentarian on September 1, but she did not provide a specific date.

As a result, the Opposition A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Coalition said it is considering to legally challenge Minister Walrond’s MP status as they called for her to resign.

But President Ali, while admitting that he did not request a copy of Minister Walrond’s certificate, told reporters on Monday that she is “an honourable woman”, and as such he is confident that she did the right thing.

“I am very comfortable that Minister Oneidge did what she had to do; Minister Oneidge is an honourable woman, and before she was sworn in, she advised the

President of her dual citizenship, and that she did what had to be done in accordance with the Constitution. And I can tell you that she did it, and she has advised me that she has her certificate,” President Ali said when questioned by reporters on the sidelines of an event at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.

President Ali said he did not enquire whether the Clerk of the National Assembly, Mr. Sherlock Isaacs had received a copy of Minister Walrond’s certificate, but he again defended his Minister.

“What I can tell you is that I have no doubt that she would have communicated to the Clerk and to the Speaker, and would have demonstrated to them exactly what I am telling you,” the President said, adding: “Minister Oneidge has nothing to hide; she is not in the category of those who went to an elections on a slate, and they did not denounce their citizenship. She is an honourable woman.”

Walrond, an attorney by profession, said in a statement on Saturday that she was asked by President Ali on August 5, 2020 to serve as a member of his Cabinet, an offer which she said she accepted, because it afforded her the opportunity to serve

Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond

the people of Guyana.

According to the minister, she was advised by her lawyer that the sections of the Constitution prohibiting elected members from being dual citizens do not apply to her, since she is a Technocrat Minister. But she decided to renounce her US citizenship “out of an abundance of caution” and to “avoid any distraction to the good work of the government.”

According to the Tourism Minister, she wrote the U.S. Consular Office on August 18, 2020, renouncing her citizenship to that country with immediate effect, and complied with the process by August 27.

The minister was not a candidate for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) in the March 02, 2020 elections, but was selected to be a Technocrat Minister, which basically

means that she has no voting power in the National Assembly. The Constitution provides for four technocrats to sit in the National Assembly, once they meet the citizenship requirement to do so.

The issue of dual citizenship came up in 2019, after former AFC member, Mr. Charrandass Persaud crossed the floor in favour of the then Opposition PPP/C in a No-Confidence Motion against the APNU+AFC Government in December 2018.

Following legal challenges, the Court of Appeal ruled that a person holding dual citizenship was not entitled to be a member of the National Assembly.

Article 155 of the Constitution states: “(1) No person shall be qualified for election as a member of the National Assembly who, (a) is, by virtue of his or her own act, under any acknowledgement of allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign power or state.”

In 2019, this led to the relinquishment of foreign citizenship by Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira and her colleagues, Adrian Anamayah and Odinga Lumumba. It also saw former Ministers of government Joseph Harmon, Carl Greenidge, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine and Dominic Gaskin resigning as MPs, while Harmon and Greenidge relinquished their foreign citizenships.

Murdered La Grange businesswoman was robbed in July –– was in the process of closing down business

Dead: Bibi Ramjit

RELATIVES of 86-yearold Bibi Ramjit remain baffled at her brutal murder and are calling on the Guyana Police Force to conduct a thorough probe to bring the perpetrator (s) to justice.

A relative, who prefers to remain anonymous, told the Guyana Chronicle that the businesswoman was robbed in July this year and so she had decided to close down the business; she was in the process of doing so by selling out the items from her shop.

Ramjit, who operated a grocery shop on the lower flat of her Lot 63 Old Road,

La Grange, West Bank Demerara (WBD) house, was found gagged and her hands and feet tied on her bed in the upper flat of the house.

The gruesome discovery was made on Sunday afternoon between 15:00hrs and 17:00hrs by one of her customers. According to a report from the police, the customer – a 59-year-old farmer of Schoonard, WBD, went to purchase eddoes from Ramjit on Sunday but she did not have change for his $5,000 and so he told Ramjit that he will drop her money later and went away.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 27, 2020

GECOM must be ‘fixed’ before Local Gov’t Elections …says President Ali

–– Gunraj says GECOM not in a state of readiness

By Navendra Seoraj GUYANA’S elections machinery, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), will have to be ‘fixed’ before Local Government Elections are held, said President Irfaan Ali. Those elections are due next year, and while President Ali said he will not override anyone’s right to vote, he believes that the commission lost public trust due to the events that followed the March 2, General and Regional Elections, which ended on August 2, 2020. The protracted electoral process had “raised eyebrows” not just in Guyana, but internationally.

“I will not override anyone’s right to vote…I have received letters from many stakeholders and they have told me that they do not want to go back to a process that they went through in those five months.

“That is the general consensus in this population and that is of uttermost importance in the minds of our people, and that is what we have to address and the commission has to address this also,” said President Ali in response to questions from the media at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, on Monday.

Rebuilding trust in the elections machinery will be no easy task, but President Ali said it must be done.

In further expressing his view, the President noted: “I am not getting into Local Government Elections now….what we have to do is fix what is there first to ensure we have a system that is working, a system that we can trust, a system that is professional, and a system that operates in an unbiased manner, so that the people of our country can have confidence.”

The President was clear that he is not saying no to Local Government Elections, but is merely acknowledging and highlighting the need to fix the electoral machinery.

President Ali had committed to reviewing the events related to the protracted electoral process and launching an international Commission of Inquiry (CoI) to probe the weaknesses of the elections body.

The CoI is expected to help in identifying issues, challenges, weakness, opportunities and threats related to the electoral system and the machinery.

When asked about the status of the potential CoI, President Ali said: “We have not named anyone as yet… there are many issues going

President Irfaan Ali

on simultaneously in relation to the elections commission, so that team has not yet been identified…we have not named that team, but I have been engaging various international stakeholders.

“I would like it (CoI) to happen quickly…the COVID-19 pandemic also (forced) some restrictions on international stakeholders, but I am in constant dialogue with them.”

GECOM NOT READY Outside of the impending review of GECOM and other matters involving the elections machinery, People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C)-appointed GECOM Commissioner, Sase Gunraj said the commission is not in a state of readiness for Local Government Elections.

The commissioner said

there are several issues which need to be addressed in order for GECOM to be in a state of readiness, and those include reviewing the voters’ list, completing the issuance of new identification cards (IDs), among other things.

“There are also matters of public notarising…plus a lot of shenanigans went on recently, and seven officers with responsibility for operationalising, maintaining and supervising the machinery have been charged,” Gunraj told the Guyana Chronicle on Monday during an interview.

Those who have been charged with offences relating to electoral fraud and misconduct in public office are: Chairperson of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R), Volda Lawrence; Opposition activist, Carol Joseph; Deputy Chief

PPP/C appointed GECOM Commissioner, Sase Gunraj

Elections Officer, Roxanne Myers and Chief Elections Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Keith Lowenfield, along with his clerks, Michelle Miller, Denise Bob-Cummings, Returning Officer for Region Four, Clairmont Mingo, GECOM Elections Officer, Shefern February and Information Technology Officer, Enrique Livan.

They are all accused of inflating the results of Region Four – Guyana’s largest voting district – to give the APNU+AFC Coalition a majority win at the March 2 polls when in fact, the PPP/C had won by 15,000 more votes.

“As a consequence, it is my hope that all of those

things will have to be taken care of before any election is called…it is also my hope that these things are done in a timely manner,” said Gunraj.

The commission, he said, has met every Tuesday during this month, but the main issues being dealt with are those related to the elections petition filed by the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition.

At the commencement of the case management conference (CMC) last Thursday, Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George raised several issues into the APNU+AFC’s Elections Petition which seeks to challenge the validity of the March polls.

On August 31, the Coalition, through its lawyer, Roysdale Forde, filed the documents on behalf of Claudette Thorne while on September 17, Attorney Mayo Robertson filed documents on behalf of Heston Bostwick, who both want the High Court to determine the legality of the elections, and the results that led to the declaration and allocation of seats in the National Assembly.

According to Guyana’s laws, the validity of votes can be challenged only through an election petition after the overall election result has been declared, and a Government is in place.

At this point, an investigation will be done, and the case tried in court, based on the evidence presented.

Schools may be reopened for CSEC/CAPE students THE preparation ongoing for students to write the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) is likely to see the partial reopening of schools -- but just for this purpose.

This was related by Minister of Education Priya Manickchand on Monday, when a team from the ministry met, virtually, with hundreds of teachers and parents from Georgetown and Region Three respectively, to begin consultations on the way forward.

"Our purpose is to make sure that we can help the students under our care to be the best version of themselves and that their futures are secure," Minister Manickchand remarked.

Work is currently being

done at schools across the country to prepare them for an eventual reopening, including the installation of facilities necessary to guard against the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Priority for school reopening is being given to students in the examination classes.

For some weeks now, teachers have been lobbying the ministry, seeking permission to return to school so that they can conduct face-to-face teaching and properly assist students with their School Based Assessments (SBAs) and Internal Assessments (IA).

A proposal that the Ministry of Education (MoE) is under active consideration.

The Ministry is said to also be assessing the possibility of allowing students who are so desirous, of repeating the Fourth Form, after they received multiple requests for

such.

The ministry currently has a policy that does not allow students to repeat a level, so honouring a request for students to repeat would require a policy change. Regional Education Officers are now required to send in lists with the number of students who have made requests, to further assess the situation.

Schools in Guyana have been closed since March because of the COVID-19 pandemic and teaching began virtually only in September; however, many parents believe that their children are severely affected by the learning loss and so they are not sufficiently prepared for the regional examinations.

The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC), has not yet disclosed what format the 2021 exams will take, after

the council had administered a modified version of its exams for 2020.

Many of the teachers believe that the virtual learning is insufficient to prepare the students in the time remaining.

According to a statement from the ministry, during Monday’s meeting, Minister Manickchand told the teachers that the engagement between the CXC and the ministry has raised issues on how Guyana will handle these two important examinations next year.

“She reminded the teachers that the two examinations are controlled by CXC and as such Guyana has to ensure it puts systems in place that allow its students to be prepared to sit the examinations,” the statement said.

As engagements continue, the ministry is expected to meet with teachers from

Minister of Education Priya Manickchand (second row, third from left) and other ministry officials during a virtual Zoom meeting with teachers on Monday

Regions Four, Five, Six and Seven on Tuesday and Regions One, Two, Eight, Nine

and 10 On Wednesday. All meetings are scheduled to begin at 10:00hrs.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 27, 2020

Reopening of UG ‘on track’ –– says Vice-Chancellor

Tuesday, October 27, 2020 -- 02:30 & 14:30 HRS

AHEAD of the commencement of the first day of classes, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Guyana (UG), Professor Paloma Mohamed-Martin has assured that everything is on track for the reopening of campuses and the delivery of virtual classes to the student population.

Due to the unfortunate circumstances brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, the university took a decision to push back the first day of classes for the new semester from October 12 to November 2, 2020.

Professor Paloma Mohamed-Martin recently told the Guyana Chronicle that the university is ready to begin its online classes on its slated re-opening date.

“As far as our projections go, I am informed by the Registrar, Dr. Nigel Gravesande and DVC of academics, Dr. Emmauel Cummings that we are on track. We have commenced orientations today in view of keeping that date,” she informed.

UG’s Transitional Management Committee had initiated a total lockdown at both the Turkeyen and Tain campuses because of COVID-19, but later rescind-

Vice-Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Professor Paloma Mohamed-Martin

ed that decision in favour of hosting online classes. While this elicited a mixed reactions from students, it later became the new “normal”.

With the recommencing of online classes a week away, the Guyana Chronicle, caught up with a few students, all of whom expressed their readiness for the new school semester .

Third Year Faculty of Social Sciences student, Stephon Gabriel, said, “I am prepared to continue online classes, because the amount of work that we can get done online now, [it] is amazing and it’s an avenue that wasn’t fully explored before.”

He further posited that, “The burden of travelling to the campus is now eliminated. You save money, and time. And now you can actually have a better time in

class. Only thing that would make it better is learning on your own time, with an

continue his studies from the comfort of his home although he misses class-

Third year student, Stephon Gabriel

Final year student, Courtlee Rodrigues

overall deadline. Like that of overseas online learning platforms.”

It was also noted that the university should make improvements to their online platforms for the submission of assignments and writing of exams. “We also need the human resources to be better au fait with the platforms and somewhat better prepared to handle the online era. Understandably so, this is something that the university is now working on, and errors are expected.

But for a smoother flow, the mentioned needs to happen, especially when it comes to grades. Personally, the experience has not been too troubling for me, and I commend the university for its efforts,” Gabriel said.

Courtlee Rodrigues, who is about to enter his final year, says he is ready to

room interactions. Rodrigues would have faced varying issues arising out of the current COVID-19 situation.

When asked what the university can do to improve its services, he expressed, “While UG cannot solve the issues of connectivity to internet and also the availability of devices for all students suffering from these things…they can improve their hotlines services so that students can get help, by being more open, reliable and offer easier access to contacts that students can use for information.”

A few months back, the university, in a statement explained its plans to operate in the new semester. “65% of the University’s classes will be held Online, and the remaining 35%, mostly consisting of laboratory and field exercises, are expected to be blended and face-toface delivered at the various campuses for specific courses, or parts of courses only,” the statement said.

The statement noted too that “The University is in the process of putting all contagion protection protocols and physical arrangements in place to address this. Students will be notified directly of the schedule and safety measures if any of their courses are expected to be face-to- face.”

The Vice-Chancellor had also, articulated that despite the COVID-19 conditions, this year has seen the largest number of student applicants ever; almost 7000 just one day after its 57th anniversary.

Just over 3000 of the 7000 applicants would have received a response from the university up to that point.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 27, 2020

Canadian company interested Teen murdered in Anna Catherina in Guyana’s dairy industry –– Can produce 2000 litres of pasteurised milk per day –– To expand into cheese, yogurt and butter production A CANADIAN company has signalled its interest in the establishment of a state-of-the-art milking facility in the Mahaica/Berbice area while aiming to expand into cheese, yogurt and butter production, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha has confirmed.

The company is known for its work in the Caribbean and the United States and will soon be registering here under the name, ‘Mahaica Mill Company.’

During a recent meeting with officials of the company, Minister Mustapha said that it was recognised that the company has a tremendous amount of knowledge and experience in what it takes to build and manage a modern dairy operation.

He told the Guyana Chronicle that the company works at every step of the process, from site development to physical installation, milk collection, processing and marketing.

The company, Minister Mustapha said, has indicated that it will be working with farmers directly to help them achieve increased production by providing the advice and equipment needed to help them feed and milk more efficiently.

This, he said, will be a significant boost for local farmers since they have been lacking such technologies and facilities.

“The Ministry of Agriculture indeed takes pride to welcome such investments and encourages our local farmers to take full advantage of this kind of facility,” the Agriculture Minister told this newspaper.

The company, he explained, has informed the ministry that they will establish a system that will be pasteurising the milk using the High Temperature Short Time (HTST) method, as milk pasteurised this way will retain all of its nutrients and remain fresh and wholesome.

“This is great news since majority of the milk that we import are reconstituted milk.

The company has the expertise to work with local dairy farmers to grow their herds, using methods that have been proven effective in Canada and the US,” Minister Zulfikar noted.

Underscoring that this enables them to meet the demand for milk and milk products, the minister said the company is also aiming to achieve an output of about 2,000 litres of pasteurised milk per day, which will be bottled in glass bottles (for return) for distribution.

“This will see Guyanese gaining full-time employment at the facility as well as local cattle farmers within Regions Five and Six gaining meaningful employment. At full capacity, the company will be paying out more than $25M per month to local cattle farmers who [will be supplying the facility,” the Agriculture Minister noted.

The Canadian company, he said, highlighted that once a solid market for fresh milk has been established, the next step is to expand into cheese, yogurt and butter production for the local and export markets.

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha

POLICE are investigating the murder of 19-yearold Sanjay Hanoman, also known as Drill, who was, allegedly, chopped by another teenager, on Sunday night, at Bus Shed Street, Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara.

Police Headquarters, in a statement, noted that Hanoman, a construction worker, who resided at Fourth Street, Anna Catherina, was pronounced dead on arrival at the Leonora Diagnostic Centre. The 19-year-old suspect has since been arrested.

According to the police report, Hanoman and the suspect were observed standing on the road at around 23:30h by one of Hanoman’s friends. The friend told the

police that he saw the suspect with what appeared to be a cutlass in his hand.

The friend alleged that the suspect chopped Hanoman on the left thigh and the latter collapsed. The suspect then rode away on a bicycle with the object in his hands.

The friend said he tried to render assistance to Hanoman who was bleeding profusely, but he was unable to do so by himself since no one else was willing to help transport him to the hospital.

About one hour later, Hanoman was taken to the Leonora Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Hanoman’s body is at the Ezekiel Funeral Parlour awaiting a post mortem examination.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 27, 2020

Tackling an evil RAPE is a traumatic experience that impacts the victim in physical, psychological, and sociological ways. Even though the effects and aftermath of rape differ among victims, individuals tend to suffer from similar issues.

Long-term reactions may involve the development of coping mechanisms that will either benefit the victim, such as social support, or inhibit their recovery.

Seeking support and professional resources may assist the victim in numerous ways – Wikipedia.

The free online encyclopaedia elucidates on consequences affecting victims, i.e: 1) Physical impacts may include gynaecological; pregnancy; sexually transmitted diseases: 2) psychological impacts, such as anxiety; post-traumatic stress disorder; depression; self-blame; suicide: sociological impacts and mistreatment of victims; secondary victimisation and victim-blaming.

Continuing, Wikipedia specifies: “Survivors of rape may often have anxiety and fear directly following their attack.” According

to a study on the reactions after rape by the American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 96 per cent of women said they were scared, shaking, or trembling a few hours after their attacks. After even more time passed, the previous symptoms decreased while the levels of depression, exhaustion, and restlessness increased.

After an attack, rape survivors experience heightened anxiety and fear. According to Dean G. Kilpatrick, a distinguished psychologist, survivors of rape have high levels of anxiety and phobia-related anxiety. This includes, but is not limited to feelings of dread; feeling nervous; feeling tense or uneasy; having panic attacks; having an irrational response to certain stimuli and having avoidance and/ or escape responses.

The National Victim Centre and the Crime Victim's Research and Treatment Centre released a report that found 31 per cent of women who were raped developed post-traumatic stress disorder at some point in their lives following their attacks.

A U.S. media house reported

that a Washington daycare worker was arrested after the father of a five-year-old girl walked in on the man raping his daughter, according to police. The report stated that, looking for his daughter, the father walked into a classroom at the daycare building and found the 31-year-old male teacher with her, crouched behind a bookshelf, officials said. The man allegedly told him that he was just having a “tickle fight” with the little girl.

Once they left the building, his daughter allegedly told her father that her teacher had touched her inappropriately and he immediately called Child Protective Services. After CPS workers interviewed the girl, whom they described as bright and articulate, they went to talk to the teacher.

When asked to explain the allegations, the man admitted to touching her underneath her underwear, but said it was accidental.

Incidents of this nature proliferate worldwide in every society and even developed countries such as the USA have not been able to effectively deal with this scourge.

In Guyana, laws have been enacted to protect the vulnerable in society, but some of these predators are protected – most often because of the fear and/or the age-inhibiting inability of the victims, or worse; the complicity of the mother because she herself is fearful of consequences, especially if the authorities prove to be uncaring or unhelpful and the perpetrator is left free to wreak vengeance on the hapless and helpless mother and child; or he is the breadwinner, so they prefer to protect the child molester from the mandatory jail term for such offences rather than protect their children. Most often feel they have no choice because of lack of support systems; or lack of knowledge of and/or access to same.

What then could a society do to protect the innocents who are voiceless and absolutely vulnerable?

Education is the key. There is a dearth of information to the general public as to the measures one should take if they suspect that a child – or anyone -- is being molested sexually, or abused in

Government needs to act urgently on CARICOM team recommendation

Dear editor,

THE three-member CARICOM team that witnessed the complete recount of the March 2, 2020 General and Regonal Elections recommended among other things that “a political audit of GECOM (its successes and failings and the factors contributing to this), both the commission and its administrative arm, is urgently warranted. It therefore behooves whichever political party emerges victorious from these elections to initiate an immediate political audit;in a real sense, GECOM betrayed its obligations to behave impartially and independently.”

GECOM is the constituted permanent operational institution to conduct our periodic General and Local Elections; hence, constant evaluation and assessment of its performance after every elections is of paramount interest

in order to build public confidence and trust in all the various stakeholders.

The time is very opportune for the government to initiate this political audit, since all of the international donors have directly or tangentially indicated their willingness and support for such an audit.

We should capitalise on this assistance to assemble an independent international audit team that would have the confidence of all the concerned parties and citizens. The next general elections that are scheduled for 2025 will be on us in no time; hence the sooner we start the ball rolling, the better shall we be prepared to conduct an election that would be transparent, fair and credible.

The scope of the political audit should seek to determine if the present configuration of the commission is conducive to impartiality and for engendering public trust, examine the conduct/misconduct of the ad-

ministrative arm(secretariat) in the elections, review of the standard operating procedures and if breaches of same were systemic or intentional, commitment of acts of conspiracy to render unfair advantage to any particular political party and the effectiveness of the organisational structure of GECOM to provide credible elections. Based on the findings and recommendations of the political audit, the internal inquiries and changes can then be instituted and we can get on with the business of a complete house-to-house voter registration. I cannot envisage the preparation for the 2025 elections under the supervision of the present GECOM administrative arm. Can you?

Regards, Reggie Bhagwandin

some way.

And there should be some escape avenues for victims that would not further traumatise them, such as separating them from their mothers, or a trusted, trustworthy caregiver.

There ought to be an inundation of pertinent information that could guide the society in the rights and wrongs of certain actions and the steps members of the public could take to deal with such situations, even if it is merely a suspicion it is always better to be safe rather than take the cautious route and a victim cannot find succour from horrendous circumstances and actions that colour their lives black.

Society needs to be au fait with the course of action open to the public for a holistic approach involving all stakeholders, so that perpetrators of such heinous crimes become aware that there is zero tolerance for abusive and predatory actions because, in the words of national poet Martin Carter, “All are involved.”

Formal apology to GECOM chair

Dear editor,

I, RYAN Williams, am writing this letter as a formal apology for the absolutely unacceptable posts that I made on Facebook on the 9th June, 2020 under the name “Raheem Raahman.” The Facebook account under the name ‘Raheem Raahman’ was created and exclusively controlled by me. The threats to your life were reckless and irresponsible. I made these Facebook posts without thinking about the consequences they would have on the recipient’s life. I take complete responsibility for my posts and wish to convey my sincerest apology to you and your family for the pain and any harm the threats have caused.

The contents of the post were deeply hurtful and I am unreservedly asking for your forgiveness.

Sincerest apologies, Ryan Williams

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 27, 2020

China Harbour responds to allegations in the media Dear editor, CHINA Harbour and Engineering Company wishes to offer the following clarifications and accurate facts about the Airport Expansion Project (AEP) of the CJIA: 1. The contract for the AEP, which was signed on November 11, 2011 for U.S.138M between the Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana (hereinafter referred to as the employer) and China Harbour Engineering Company (hereinafter referred to as the contractor), had a specific Scope of Works to be included in the price and officially started on January 16, 2013.

2. The contract established that the ccontractor’s submission of the price had certain conditions; importantly, it excluded the handling equipment and removal of the existing terminal, among other things, and specifically established the employer’s responsibility to supply the equipment for eight bridges and other handling equipment.

3. Geotechnical investigations of the specified location revealed

unforeseen conditions compared to the original data provided to the contractor. After discussions, both parties reached an agreement that the original contract plan could not be implemented. The employer then instructed the contractor to provide alternatives.

4. In 2013, the contractor provided several options, each of which included an increase in the sizes of the apron and taxiway areas with the relevant cost due to the variation to the employer and in January 2015, the employer informed the contractor that it had chosen one of the alternative proposals submitted.

Note: During the period January 2013 to May 2015, budget allocations for the project were not approved by Parliament, which prevented the contractor from executing the works as planned.

5) Works restarted on the Project in May 2015, but were halted when the new administration requested a review of the project and notified the contractor to suspend construction during the review period.

6. After the review period end-

ed, both parties agreed to the revised terms, which considered the government’s budget, changes, and claims to the project prior to 2015.

It also included an adjustment to the scope of work to adapt to the total contract value. Both parties signed a Variation of the Contract Agreement in October 2015.

7. The revised scope of work replaced the new terminal building, parking aprons, and eight boarding bridges – to be supplied by the Government of Guyana -- with a renovation of and new construction area in the existing terminal building, parking aprons and four boarding bridges, two of which were to be supplied by the contractor and the two by the employer.

Note: Due to the General and Regional Elections held in Guyana in 2015 and the contract variations that arose after, China’s Exim Bank, because of the risks involved, stopped disbursements on the loan.

From January 2013 to the early months of 2016, CHEC funded the execution and construction of the project from its financial resources.

8. In January 2016, the preliminary plan for redesigning the terminal building was agreed upon between the parties. The renovation

of the original building and the construction of the new terminal building began. However, the employer could not provide the original terminal building’s as-built drawings to the contractor and this impacted the execution of the redesign. The employer at the same time instructed that the construction works could not affect the airport service and operations. This development severely impacted the work scheme and project- implementation schedule.

9. By the end of 2019, the project was 97 per cent complete.

But the General and Regional Elections of 2020, coupled with the global pandemic, forced CHEC to significantly reduce its workforce, which again affected the project’s completion.

10.

Following the declaration of the elections, the new Government of Guyana through the Ministers of Public Works and HE President Irfaan Ali visited the project site and made several public observations and statements. CHEC has paid careful attention to those statements and, on September 29th and 30th, immediately dispatched its Vice President Liu from Beijing

and the President of its Americas Division Dr. Zhimin Hu. Since then, CHEC has provided to the Government of Guyana through the Ministers of Public Works and the Office of the President comprehensive updates on the project, including a revised schedule of works and other outstanding matters as per the present existing contract.

CHEC wishes to take the opportunity to clarify that its commitments to the employer are to comply with the request under the current contract signed between the parties. Presently, CHEC is engaged in discussions with the employer and is fully cooperating with the government to seek delivery of the project according to its contractual obligations.

It is our hope that the comprehensive synopsis provided here will bring clarity about the project, so that future reports can be accurate in their interpretations of the scope of the project.

CHEC remains a friend to the Government and People of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, and a ready partner of competent support to Guyana’s infrastructural trajectory.

The famous Dean Jones incident Dear editor

DEAN Mervyn Jones, Australian cricketer turned television commentator died on September 24, 2020 while covering the present IPL matches. He played 52 tests, scored 3631 runs, highest score 261, average 46.55.

He had 11 centuries and 14 half-centuries. In the ODIs he played 164 matches, scored 6068 runs, highest score 145, average 44.61.

He smashed seven centuries and 46 half-centuries. He was a top-order right-hand batsman.

News of this irreparable loss of life jarred my mind and I immediately recalled the famous/ infamous ‘ wristband incident’ during the first oneday final between the West Indies and Australia in 1993.

These matches were played between the fourth and fifth test matches during the tour.

The real action started when Australia was chasing 240 to win the first of the finals. The home team lost two early wickets and Dean Jones went in to bat. He had not even faced a delivery when umpire Terry Prue went to Ambrose and said that Dean Jones had asked for Ambrose to remove his wristbands, as there was a perceived issue with the white ball clashing with the white

wristbands. Ambrose thought that he (Jones) was joking as he Ambrose was wearing wristbands on each hand throughout his career.

Initially they were red, gold and green, but then the ICC ruled that they must be white. In addition, Dean Jones had faced Ambrose before with those wristbands with no complaint from him. According to Ambrose, he used to sweat a lot and didn’t want to get the ball wet and needed something dry to wipe his brow with. He also had a white rag tucked in his trousers, which he used to dry his fingers to stop the ball from slipping out of his fingers. It was not a fashion thing for him.

Ambrose was angry. He refused. He told the umpire that it was piffle. Captain Richie Richardson and Ian Bishop joined in the confabulation. The conversation became heated. It went on for several minutes. For the sake of the game Ambrose relented and took off both wristbands and handed them to the umpire.

Ambrose in his book, “Curtly Ambrose -- A Time To Talk” with Richard Sydenham elaborated: “ After Jones’s request, I thought: ‘You should not have woken a sleeping lion.’ I was furious and started to bowl twice as fast and seri-

ously wanted to knock Dean Jones out with the ball. I was really upset. I couldn’t bowl too short because of the rules and regulations in one-day internationals, but I still managed to send a few towards his ribcage and made his life pretty uncomfortable, though he negotiated me well. I didn’t get him out but I didn’t intend to; I just wanted to make his life uncomfortable for that stupid request. “ Ambrose disclosed that what many people did not know is that an over after Dean Jones had made his request and he was standing at the non-striker’s end, he whispered to Ambrose that if Ambrose wanted to put his wristbands back on he would not have a problem.

Ambrose opined: “He realised what was happening, but by then it was too late to put the lion back to sleep. I thought, ‘you made your bed, brother; you’re in some serious trouble now,’ I finished with 5 or 32 and we won the game quite easily. I understand that his team mates were not too happy with him and rightly so.

I should have thanked him for motivating me.”

West Indies went on to win the one -day series. Sometimes in life if we want to be successful, we must turn our negatives into positives or our weakness-

es into strenghts as Ambrose did in Australia. Many more interesting facts about that ‘wristband incident’ and the 1993 tour ‘Down Under’ can

be gleaned from Ambrose’s book alluded to above.

May Dean Mervyn Jones rest in peace.

Yours faithfully Clinton Conway Assistant Commissioner of Police (Retired)

Elections are over

8

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 27, 2020

–– time to lead, President Ali tells newly sworn-in regional chairs, vice-chairs

By Navendra Seoraj WITH the exception of

Region Eight, chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of the respective Region-

President Irfaan Ali addressing chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of the various Regional Democratic Councils (Adrian Narine photo)

President, Irfaan Ali flanked by recently sworn-in chairpersons of every Regional Democratic Council except Region Eight (Adrian Narine photo)

al Democratic Councils (RDCs) were sworn in by President Irfaan Ali, and while those persons have different political preferences, the President emphasised the need for them to work in the best interest of every Guyanese.

The President referred to the RDCs as the ‘second tier’ of government, noting that they function as an important bridge between central and local government, serving the interest of all people.

He emphasised the need for there to be focus on every Guyanese because of the difference in political leadership, with six of the 10 regions being controlled by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and the remainder, the A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU/ AFC) coalition.

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) had declared that the PPP/C won the March 2, General and Regional Elections after amassing 233,336 votes.

They unseated the coalition, which received 217,920 votes.

“Elections are over, you are now elected to lead… the task is to serve for all the people… this is the core message I wish to leave with you, service to all the people and other regions,” said President Ali during his remarks following the swearing-in ceremony at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, on Monday.

The President affirmed Central Government’s support for the local organs,

noting that his administration stands ready to provide necessary support and to enable those leaders to facilitate development and upward movement of people in every region.

“This is a journey of leadership, one that all of us have been entrusted with by the people… it is not an easy task, but it must be a selfless task, a task that you take seriously… our oath of office and your oath is one which you would have committed to serving the people without favour or fear, which means that although we represent different parties, by assuming these roles, your conduct and actions have to be for all the people,” said President Ali. The need to represent every Guyanese is especially important now, as Guyana continues to experience the direct and indirect effects of the dreaded novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

“You are assuming office under trying conditions, not only locally, but globally, as the world is dealing with COVID-19… it requires leadership, as it (the conditions) does not end with a vaccine for us. Our work has been cut out by this pandemic, at least for the next two years,” said President Ali, noting that regional leaders must work towards returning communities to sustainability.

The necessary measures, implemented to slow the spread of the disease, have effected a reduction in economic activities across all regions. The economic and

social impacts have been tremendous in some regions more than others, and the President has confirmed receipt of letters from regional leaders, outlining the extent of those impacts.

On a national level, government has reprogrammed US$60 million for relief efforts and measures to create some level of normalcy.

INTEGRAL ROLE Regional leaders have an integral role to play in ensuring that those measures and efforts are implemented properly and in a way that benefits every Guyanese.

Among the persons, who were sworn in by President Ali, are, for Region One, Chairman, Brentnol Ashley and Vice-Chairperson, Anasha Peters; Region Two, Chairperson, Vilma Audrey De Silva and ViceChairman, Humace Odit; Region Three, Chairman, Ishan Ayube and Vice-Chairman, Omesh Satyanand; Region Four, Chairman, Daniel Seeram and Vice-Chairman, Samuel Sandy; and Region Five, Chairman, Vickchand Ramphal and Vice-Chairman, Rion Lancedale Peters.

Also, for Region Six the Chairman is Permaul Armogan and Vice-Chairman, Zamal Hussain; Region Seven, Chairman, Kenneth Williams and Vice-Chairperson, Kamal Persaud; Region Nine, Chairman, Bryan Allicock and Vice-Chairman, Bertie Xavier; and Region Ten, Chairman, Deron Adams and Vice-Chariman, Douglas Gittens.

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9

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 27, 2020

Taking education to the communities

By Tamica Garnett A NUMBER of blackboards which were set up in several underprivileged communities in the city, have already piqued the interest of several students, who have copied the work and are looking forward to seeing what other school work will be placed on the board as the days go by.

The chalkboards were set up on Saturday at locations in East Ruimveldt, Albouystown, Rasville and Wortmanville, during visits from an education team led

by Chief Education Officer, Dr. Marcel Hutson.

“I like the blackboard because it has work that I can do,” nine-year-old Roshana Pickett told the Guyana Chronicle, as she copied work from one of the boards set up outside of the Assembly of God Church on Durban Street.

The aspiring school teach-

er said she is looking forward to seeing more Mathematics and Science work placed on the board, as Mathematics is her favourite subject and Science is the subject she has the most difficulty with.

Learning materials were also distributed to the children during the visits. Dr Hutson was accompanied by District Education Officer, Deborah Hutson; Technical Facilitator, Kerwyn Jacob; School Inspector Lisa Ryce and teachers Leanchor Rowland and Caren Charles.

The chalkboard initiative is an adoption of a project that started a few weeks ago in Jamaica by school teacher, Taneka McKoy Phipp, as a means of assisting students as they continue to navigate getting an education during the closure of schools due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Schools in Guyana have been closed since March, with learners currently being FROM PAGE

2

Murdered La Grange businesswoman ...

According to the police, at about 17:00hrs, the farmer returned and observed the shop door and the back door to the upper flat wide open; he called out several times for Ramjit but got no response.

As a result, he proceeded to the upper flat of the house where he looked into a bedroom and saw the businesswoman lying motionless on her back on her bed with her feet and hands tied.

“He immediately raised an alarm and the Police was summoned to the scene,” Police Headquarters said.

It was further noted that detectives did not find any marks of violence on Ramjit’s body but they observed that the house was ransacked. Ramjit lived alone as her six children reside overseas.

INDEPENDENT AND ACTIVE The relative described Ramjit as an “independent and active” woman who did not allow her age to deter her from doing the

things she loved.

According to the relative, members of the family did not visit Ramjit on a daily basis due to the fact that her age made her a high risk for contracting the COVID-19 virus.

The relative stated that while she was not able to see Ramjit’s body or enter the house, the neighbours gave her a detailed description of the state of Ramjit and her home.

“I cannot say what happened up there because the police told us we can’t go in because it’s an active scene, but the neighbours that found her told us that the house was ransacked.

“They said her mouth was tied, her feet were bound together and her arms were tied.”

According to the relative, neighbours would usually check in on Ramjit on a daily basis. The body of Ramjit is currently at the Ezekiel Funeral Parlour awaiting a post-mortem examination.

One of the chalkboards set up in Albouystown, Georgetown (Adrian Narine photo)

engaged virtually via a number of media and through the distribution of learning material to learners without access.

“It’s best they do work than to be lingering and playing,” commented Izetta Rog-

ers, a mother of three who lives across the street from the chalkboard set up on Durban Street.

She said her children were excited to copy the work from the board even though it was

not for their grade level.

Also excited about copying work from the blackboard was 11-year-old Nicholas Martin from Ketley Primary School who is currently preparing to write the 2021 Na-

tional Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), and is very serious about his education as he is looking forward to running the country one day.

“I want to be the President to make Guyana better,” Martin shared with this newspaper.

Many of the children shared that they are eagerly awaiting the moment when the schools can reopen. They would prefer to be back in their classrooms, and have face-to-face teaching with the teachers.

“We need to go back to the school because sometimes you need the teachers to help you to understand better,” shared Maison, who said that she does encounter a lot of distractions at home.

Maison is a Grade Eight student who attends the Tutorial High School.

Full cooperation between Gov’t, Two new COVID-19 Chinese contractor on CJIA expansion CHINA Harbour Engi- the review period,” CHEC said. was outlined in the original cases neering Company (CHEC), After the review period 2011 contract, and will not which has been tasked with ended, both parties agreed accept the unsatisfactory work the Cheddi Ja- to the revised terms, which done so far. recorded completing gan International Airport considered the government’s “I am holding everyone re-

ONLY two new positive cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) were recorded out of a total of 72 tests, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 4,026, according to the Ministry of Health.

The two cases were recorded in Region Four. Additionally, there are 15 patients in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit, 108 patients in institutional isolation and 775 in home isolation. A total of 3,009 patients have recovered overall, which means that nine additional persons have recovered over the 24-hour period. The number of deaths remains at 119.

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 persons with comorbidities and the elderly are said to be more vulnerable to this virus.

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

(CJIA) expansion project, has said it is cooperating fully with the government to deliver the job in accordance with the existing contractual obligations.

According to a press release from CHEC, the US$138M contract for the project, which was signed on November 11, 2011 between Guyana and CHEC, had a specific scope of works to be included in the price, and officially started on January 16, 2013.

The contract reportedly established that the contractor’s submission of the price had certain conditions, and it excluded the handling of equipment and the removal of the existing terminal among other things, and specifically established government’s responsibility to supply the equipment for eight bridges and other handling equipment.

During the period January 2013 to May 2015, budget allocations for the project were not approved by Parliament, which prevented the contractor from executing the works as planned.

“Works restarted on the project in May 2015, but were halted when the new administration (APNU+AFC) requested a review of the project, and notified the contractor to suspend construction during

budget, changes, and claims to the project prior to 2015.

It also included an adjustment to the scope of work to adapt to the total contract value. Both parties signed a Variation of the Contract Agreement in October 2015.

The revised scope of work replaced the new terminal building, parking aprons, and eight boarding bridges – to be supplied by government - with a renovation of and new construction area in the existing terminal building, parking aprons and four boarding bridges, two of which were to be supplied by the contractor, and the other two by the employer.

The company said that by the end of 2019, the project was 97 per cent complete.

But the General and Regional Elections of 2020, coupled with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, forced CHEC to significantly reduce its workforce, which again affected the project’s completion.

Following the declaration of the elections result in August this year, President Irfaan Ali visited the project site, and made several public observations and statements. Glaring inefficiencies and shortcomings in the project had forced President Ali to say that Guyana will only accept work as

sponsible: 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, 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.

President Ali’s concerns led to the company sending its Vice-President from Beijing, and the President of its Americas Division, Dr. Zhimin Hu to Guyana.

“Since then, CHEC has provided to the Government of Guyana through the Ministers of Public Works and the Office of the President comprehensive updates on the Project, including a revised schedule of works and other outstanding matters as per the present existing contract,” said CHEC. While the new 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. The company has since agreed to work along with the government and complete the project based on conditions in the revised contract.

10

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 27, 2020

‘Get on board and ‘Five Miles’ to finally get potable water do what is right’ –– President Ali tells Harmon

President Irfaan Ali engaging members of the media at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre on Monday

By Navendra Seoraj

POTENTIAL discussions between President Irfaan Ali and Opposition Leader, Joseph Harmon, hinge on the Opposition’s ability to acknowledge the legitimacy of the new People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government.

“I cannot hold talks with someone who believes I am illegitimate,” said President Ali while responding to questions from the media at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, on Monday.

Even though the General and Regional Elections were held on March 2, 2020, the country was faced with a five-month impasse due to a slew of legal challenges to the results which were allegedly inflated to give the A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Coalition a victory.

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), following a recount of the votes, had declared that the PPP/C won the elections after amassing 233,336 votes. The

then political opposition, with that victory, unseated the coalition, which received 217,920 votes.

Even after the declaration of those results, the coalition refused to acknowledge the legitimacy of the government, with its leader, Harmon, referring to the government and the President as illegal and illegitimate on several occasions. The coalition has since filed an elections petition.

Harmon, in a recent press statement, had said that the constitution sets no pre-condition for engagement between the two sides.

President Ali, however, maintains that he cannot speak to someone who does not recognise his government as legitimate and legal.

“The Opposition Leader has to understand that he cannot act in the way he acted in the five months when the country was dragged through an undemocratic path…the fact is, we have a legitimately elected government and the Opposition Leader needs to get on board and do what is right morally, ethically and

Leader of the Opposition, Joseph Harmon

what is right in the interest of country,” said President Ali. The President was asked if he is willing to set aside those concerns to address national issues, to which he replied: “I have been speaking about issues regarding our country, with the population…I have a duty to speak to the population and that is what I will do…you have a President who is willing and ready to work with all of Guyana.”

President Ali, in his first address as Head of State, assured that he will uphold the oath taken and will work for the best interest of the people of Guyana.

“There is only one future and that requires a united, strong Guyana. That future requires every Guyanese to play a part in building our country and ensuring we leave a better Guyana for the next generation.

“We are in this together. We are not separated by class, by ethnicity, religion or political persuasion. We are united in the true Guyanese spirit,” said President Ali.

Authorities probe illegal gold mining, smuggling MINISTER of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, said that there is evidence to support that Guyana’s gold, which may have been illegally mined, is being smuggled to neighbouring countries.

During an interview with members of the media on Monday, the Minister related that concerns have been raised about the mixing of gold smuggled from Venezuela with Guyana’s gold.

“As it is now, there is no

Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat

substantial evidence to point to gold coming across the border from Venezuela. If you ask me, there is enough evidence to support the otherwise- that Guyana’s gold is leaving our borders and going to Brazil and Venezuela,” he said.

There are also concerns that the gold may have been obtained through illegal mining activities conducted by both foreign and local individuals.

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12

AFTER years of paying $5,000 and $10,000 per tank of water to service their needs, residents of Five Miles, Bartica, in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) are brimming with gratitude at news that the community is expected to receive potable water piped to their homes within the next two months, in time for the Christmas holidays.

The project is being carried out under the $50 million allocated to Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) for the expansion of the Bartica Water Supply System. The small Five Miles community currently consists

a part of it, because we need it. Water is the most essential thing, and without it, it’s really hard. I thank God for this,” Primus conveyed.

More than anything, Primus is looking forward to being relieved of the financial strain her family endures to purchase water by the tank.

“We pay $10,000 per tank, and we have to buy that steady; it all depends on how the rain falls. If the rain falls, we have no need to buy water; but all like that dry-weather season, most of the time your money just going back to buying water.

It’s been hard, because we are a family of seven persons;

the water being delivered to them before the end of 2020, the Minister spoke to the residents about the removal of the Value Added Tax (VAT) on water, and the subsidy for pensioners, both of which took effect this month.

According to a statement from the water company, distribution pipelines have already been laid in the community, while GWI will be installing a 12-inch transmission main to increase the water intake from the river, which will be filtered through the existing water treatment

Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal (left) during a visit to the Bartica Water Treatment Plant on Saturday

of some 60 households, all of which are scheduled to benefit from the initiative.

Andreanna Teixeira, a 42-year-old mother of two, has been living in the community for some three years now, since the family was allotted a low-income house lot. She said the lack of water supply has been a financial strain on the family.

“It’s hard; very hard. If rain doesn’t fall, we have to buy the water for $5,000 a tank. A tank might last a week, or week-and-a-half, and when that tank finish, you have to buy again. Sometimes you buy two, three times a month,” Teixeira told the Guyana Chronicle.

Her sentiments were shared by fellow resident, Odessa Primus.

“I am happy about it; I am excited. I want to thank the Minister and whoever is

I have a baby also, so I use a lot of water,” she noted.

Primus has been living in the community for the past five years with her husband and five children.

“I’ve lived without water for five years, but I know some persons living in here without water for seven, eight years; since this Scheme opened,” Primus said.

The Five Miles community was among a list of areas in Bartica that was visited by Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal on Saturday for a series of community meetings, and to assess the current water situation, with the aim of addressing any concerns.

The Minister was accompanied on the visit by a team from GWI, including Director of Operations Dwayne Shako. Aside from assuring the community of

plant for distribution to the community.

The visit included a tour of the Bartica Water Treatment plant, where GWI’s Director of Operations explained the treatment process.

Meanwhile, over in the community of Four Miles, Minister Croal explained that once that area is regularised, provision will be made for water to be supplied there too. Addtionally, during a visit to the community of Dagg Point, the Minister said an assessment will be made to identify the best method of supplying water to that village, and it would be catered for under the 2021 Budget programme.

11

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 27, 2020

‘Cayenne’ appeals 60-year sentence for `child-mother’ murder –– says it is ‘unduly severe’ ALLAN Sim, who was recently sentenced to 60 years imprisonment for the murder of his ‘child-mother’ has now moved to the Appeal Court to have his conviction and sentence overturned.

Earlier this month, Sim, called “Cayenne”, of Paradise Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara (ECD), was found guilty of the capital offence by a 12-member jury at the Demerara High Court and was sentenced by Justice Navindra Singh.

Justice Singh sentenced the former taxi driver to 60 years in prison, with the possibility of parole after serving 40 years for killing Melissa Skeete, called Lisa, a Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) dispatcher, on November 23, 2015.

In his grounds of appeal, Sim is contending that the

trial Judge erred in law and that the sentence was unduly severe.

He is also contending that the trial Judge admitted evidence that was prejudicial to a fair trial.

According to reports, Sim and Skeete, shared two kids and on the day in question, at about 15:00 hours, he picked her up from work in his motorcar. However, about 30 minutes later, she was found on Carmichael Street, bleeding profusely from several stab wounds about her body.

She was rushed to the GPHC, but died while receiving treatment.

During the course of an investigation, Sim was arrested, and, under caution, reportedly admitted committing the offence. His car was found five days later, with the passenger seat already refurbished.

To his credit, he’d turned FROM PAGE

Elections are ...

Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall, said Region Eight has no council because many of the councillors had tested positive for COVID-19.

Those persons have since been cleared of this disease, and will soon elect their chairpersons.

Some of the regional leaders have already outlined plans for their various constituencies. And, it was reported recently that improved health, education, economic development and youth development are among key areas of focus for some of those leaders.

“The people know me and I know the people. We have a beautiful team with a lot of youngsters and I am happy that we have a lot of young brains coming in, because these are the ones that are going to take over from us older ones someday.

I love to have the youths on board; they have a lot of energy,” said Allicock in a recent report.

Over in Region Seven, Williams said: “We would have seen tremendous growth over the last couple of years at the town council, so based on that experience I would have gotten the passion to serve even higher. I would have recognised that more was needed for the region is not just Bartica.”

Meanwhile, with 35

8

seats, Seeram will be heading the largest council of the 10 regions, and when it comes to this region, health, social cohesion, economic stability and education are the areas he will be targeting as he leads the region for the next five years.

“In health, what I want to do is focus on the relief of the general public in all sectors. A lot of people were put out of business in this pandemic, even with the $25,000, we at the RDC will need to see what we can do to further boost and buffer the man on the ground and assist them within their situation,” Seeram said.

He added: “One of the major issues that I want to deal with is curbing the COVID-19 pandemic; we also want to foster social cohesion and to establish economic stability in the region; in education, for the region, we want to ensure that we get education to everyone that needs it.”

It is the function of the RDCs to administer services such as health, education, and public works in the region; coordinate activities with the local democratic councils; and identify economic projects, while assisting Central Government in executing work necessary for the development of the respective regions.

himself in to the police at the Alberttown Police Station on November 25, 2015, after news surfaced that he had killed Skeete.

The woman was stabbed no less than eight times about the body, before being left on the roadway.

The post-mortem re-

vealed that it was a single stab wound to her stomach that was largely responsible for her death.

Skeete’s relatives alleged that the two had shared an “on-and-off” relationship for more than 10 years, although he was married. Further, they claimed that he was controlling and abusive.

Allan Sim, called ‘Cayenne’

Melissa Skeete, called ‘Lisa’

12

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 27, 2020

RSS team satisfied local police can probe murder of Berbice boys

THE team from the CARICOM Regional Security System (RSS), which recently visited Guyana, has expressed satisfaction with the work being done by the Guyana Police Force in relation to the brutal murders of 16-year-old Isaiah Henry, his cousin, 18-year-old Joel Henry, and 17-year-old Haresh Singh, all of Number Three Village, West Coast Berbice (WCB).

The team visited Guyana on September 28, and spent one week assisting local detectives with the case. Their final report has since been submitted to the Guyana Police Force.

Speaking with reporters on the sidelines of an event at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre on Monday, President Irfaan Ali said he did not receive a copy of the team’s report, but he was briefed on its contents.

“What I’ve been told is that the RSS did some work; they recommended some additional work to be done, but in total, they were satisfied with the work that the local police [have] been doing,” President Ali said.

The mutilated bodies of

DEAD: Isaiah and Joel Henry, and Haresh Singh

the teen cousins were found on September 6, 2020 in the Cotton Tree backdam in West Berbice. Their gruesome murders sparked violent protests across the country for almost a week.

Three days after the Henry boys were found, on September 9, Singh was found, in a bloodied state as well,

in the Number Three Village backdam hours after he left home on his motorcycle to transport water for his relatives who were working on their farm.

He was found unconscious by his 12-year-old brother, while his motorcycle was found torched. He died while on the way to the New

Amsterdam Hospital. Singh’s murder is viewed as a reprisal killing for the Henry boys, after news spread that two of his relatives were arrested in connection with their murders.

Police had arrested over seven persons in connection with the murder of the Henry boys, but they were all re-

City Hall earned over $12B in four years, but still cash-strapped –– Min. Dharamlall requests audit of all municipalities

By Rabindra Rooplall THE Mayor and City Council (M&CC) of Georgetown garnered in excess of $12.7 billion in revenue but is still in deep financial crisis as it is unable to execute several projects in the city.

This is according to Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall, who has since written to the Auditor General and requested a financial audit of all municipalities countrywide.

Minister Dharamlall made the revelation during a meeting with residents of Glasgow Housing Scheme in Greater New Amsterdam, East Bank Berbice at the weekend.

“I think there are things that are going wrong in New Amsterdam that we need to get fixed and get fixed urgently. I have written to the Auditor General to have an audit of all the towns. We need to know how the money was spent, why it was spent and how the decisions were made of how it was spent and

Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall

what impact it had. You pay rates and taxes to the town so you expect certain benefits out of paying,” said Dharamlall.

The Minister, during an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, said that many municipalities have managed their resources poorly. He revealed that from 2015 - 2019, the revenue garnered for Linden was $1.2 billion; New Amsterdam, $645M, while Corriverton, Anna Regina and

Rose Hall garnered $425M, $272 million, $216 million, respectively.

“I believe with an audit or at least 10 audits… in these local democratic organs, we will be able to get a good idea of what are the gaps and where are the inefficiencies so we can work with the administration of these municipalities to manage their resources better,” Minister Dharamlall told this newspaper.

He said the Terms of Reference for the audit will be established once the Auditor General approves the request.

Minister Dharamall is of the view that the Georgetown M&CC is not being managed effectively to optimise its potential.

He believes that professionals should be hired outside of City Hall to help manage the resources of the M&CC. Minister Dharamlall explained that the hiring practices at the M&CC are more in line with political likeness than one based on professionalism and the ability to execute mandated duties.

The Minister noted that the new People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government released $2M to each municipality to ensure that employees are paid on time.

He said the monies were released after the government recognised that municipalities have not been able to generate revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

leased, as there was no firm case against them. As a matter of fact, it took the Police more than a week to reveal that the cousins were killed elsewhere, and then dumped in Cotton Tree.

A Post Mortem Examination (PME) found that they both died from haemorrhage and shock, due to multiple

incised injuries. They both sustained severed spines, along with multiple chops about the body.

The killers carved out a huge ‘X’ on Isaiah’s head, while they cut open Joel’s chest. It is suspected that the boys had died some 36 hours prior to being found.

No one was arrested for the murder of Singh, and a PME found that he died from brain haemorrhage and blunt trauma to the head, compounded by compression injuries to the neck.

Following countrywide protests against the murders, President Ali had sought international help, and talks were underway to secure the services of one of the world’s foremost agencies in forensic anthropology to support the investigation of the Police.

The Argentine Team of Forensic Anthropology, which has worked on highprofile cases in many parts of the world, had offered to send a team to Guyana, including a forensic pathologist, a forensic anthropologist and a forensic radiologist.

It is unknown at this time whether this team did arrive.

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Authorities probe illegal gold mining ...

Minister Bharrat acknowledged that there is no “solid way” of differentiating between Guyana and Venezuela’s gold.

Several local agencies, including the Guyana Gold Board, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and the Guyana Gold & Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) are investigating the matter. The Gold Board, in particular, is reviewing previous declarations and other information they have on dealers.

At the end of 2019, Guyana’s gold declarations were recorded at 634,906 ounces compared to the 616, 223 ounces declared in 2018.

Minister Bharrat also highlighted that illegal mining and logging were detected in the Iwokrama Conservation, one of Guyana’s protected areas. So far, he said that one person was charged for illegal mining there.

According to him, nu-

merous cases of illegal mining and illegal logging were discovered upon his assuming office. Though efforts have been geared at clamping down on these activities, Guyana’s porous borders and large landmass are challenges to be surmounted.

Recently, the cost of gold has climbed to over US$1,900 per ounce. While this presents great opportunities for local miners, it also breeds ‘desperation’ in the form of illegal mining operations, which, in some cases, are being protected by the notorious Venezuelan gang, ‘Syndicato’.

There have been multiple reports in recent times that the gang has been operating within the border regions and have been terrorising Guyanese citizens.

Minister Bharrat said that he believes this gang has been protecting some of the illegal miners.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 27, 2020

‘Deportee’ on trial for murder of Parika fuel dealer

THE trial of murder accused, Curt Thomas, called “Deportee”, commenced on Monday with the testimony of three police witnesses.

Thomas, 52, formerly of Hyde Park, Parika, East Bank Essequibo, pleaded not guilty to the capital indictment when he appeared before Justice Navindra Singh and a mixed jury at the High Court.

It is alleged that Thomas, on April 30, 2016, at Parika Outfall, murdered 52-yearold fuel dealer and businessman Seeram Singh, during the course or furtherance of a robbery.

The State is being represented by prosecutors Tuanna Hardy and Tyra Bakker, while attorney-at-law Lyndon Amsterdam is representing Thomas.

The trial commenced with the testimony of Sergeant Keon DeSouza, who tendered a total of seven photographs which showed the injuries Singh received on his body.

Also testifying was Corporal Damion Williams, who arrested Thomas, and Delon Young, a police officer stationed at the Parika Police Station who responded to

the crime scene on the day in question.

The trial will continue today.

The Guyana Chronicle had reported that on April 30, 2016, around 21:00 hours, Singh was walking along the roadway at Parika Outfall when he was pounced upon by an armed man.

Singh was reportedly shot in the back and fell onto the

Curt Thomas, called ‘Deportee’

Seeram Singh

ground, and as he lay there, the gunman discharged two more rounds, hitting him in the head and chest, before relieving him of the two gold chains he was wearing and making good his escape.

By the time the police arrived on the scene, Singh had already died, but they found a live .32 round and a bullet casing of a similar calibre, along with his wallet, cell-phone and a few gold rings, which the gunman had apparently missed in his haste to flee the scene.

On May 4, 2016, Thomas

was arrested at a Parika betting shop, and when placed on an identification parade, was allegedly fingered by an eyewitness as the shooter.

A swab test done on Thomas’ hands reportedly tested positive for gunpowder residue. The police also carried out a search at his home and found clothing which matched what eyewitnesses said the shooter was wearing.

Teen battling for life after stabbing incident A 15-year-old boy is battling for his life at the New Amsterdam Hospital after he was stabbed by a 41-year-old man who told him his mother had contracted COVID-19.

The Guyana Chronicle understands that Riyaad Hussain, of St Magdelene Street, was standing with a friend at Main and Pope Streets at around 18:00hrs on Sunday, when the suspect told him that his mother, who is a nurse, had contracted the

deadly virus.

It is alleged that Hussain confronted the suspect and a scuffle ensued, during which the suspect stabbed him to the left side chest with an ice picker. The Guyana Chronicle understands that the teenager’s lungs are punctured and the wound is 0.5cm from his heart.

The suspect has been arrested and is in police custody assisting with the investigation.

Motorcyclist killed in Sheriff Street accident A 68-year-old resident of La Penitence, Georgetown, was Monday morning killed after a motorcar collided with his motorcycle on Sheriff and Dadanawa Streets, Campbellville, Georgetown.

Dead is Martin Monize; the 43-year-old driver of the car, of Mocha, East Bank Demerara, was arrested.

Police, in a report, said that the car was proceeding north along the western lane on Sheriff Street, while motorcycle, CF 9989, was proceeding south along the eastern lane on the said street.

As both vehicles approached Dadanawa Street, the car turned east and collided with the motorcyclist.

According to police, the motorcyclist was flung into the eastern gutter on Sheriff Street.

He was picked up in an unconscious condition by the driver and public- spirited citizens and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The body is at the Memorial Gardens Mortuary awaiting a post-mortem examination.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 27, 2020

Int’l companies interested in designing, constructing Demerara crossing

ALMOST 40 international companies have expressed interest in designing and constructing the new Demerara River crossing.

Public Works Minister, Juan Edghill, during an appearance on NCN’s televised programme, Insight, noted that this interest from around the world spans Holland, United States, France, Trinidad and Tobago, Brazil and China.

“People around the world, because of our approach to de-

velopment, have shown interest.

We anticipate that when we close those bids and there is an evaluation, we can have a contractor engaged and we hope to deliver this bridge 2023-end, 2024-mid because we want the people to get the new bridge,” Minister Edghill said.

Last month, the Guyana Government invited Expressions of Interest (EoIs) for the prequalification process for the design-build of the new bridge across the Demerara River.

“…because we have gone out for Expressions of Interest and request of proposals, we have had 40, or thereabout, international companies expressing interest, registering, paying for their bid documents and many of them already signed their Non-Disclosure Agreements, which give them access to information to prepare their proposals,” Edghill said.

Government is looking to construct a four-lane, high-span fixed bridge from Nandy Park,

East Bank Demerara, to La Grange, West Bank Demerara.

In its advertisement for EoIs, Government said the new design of the Demerara Harbour Bridge will not require opening or retraction to allow for maritime traffic and will be built with a life span of at least 50 years. All EoIs for the new bridge are to be submitted to the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) by 14:000hrs on December 4, 2020.

Public Works Minister, Juan Edghill

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guyana CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 27, 2020

Ben Stokes dedicates unbeaten 107 for Rajasthan Royals to ill father ENGLAND's Ben Stokes has dedicated his unbeaten 107 for the Rajasthan Royals to his father Ged, who is ill in New Zealand.

In August, Stokes senior revealed he had been diagnosed with brain cancer.

The England captain spent time with his family before travelling to play in the Indian Premier League.

"I take a bit of solace that back home, where things are a bit rough, hopefully that gives him a bit of happiness," said Stokes.

The all-rounder raised

Ben Stokes arrived late to the IPL after compassionate leave

his bat and hand with a folded finger after the hundred as a gesture to his father, whose middle finger was amputated because of injuries received while playing and coaching rugby league.

Stokes' performance led the Royals to an eight-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians to keep their IPL hopes alive.

He shared 152 with Sanju Samson to get the Royals to their target of 196 with 10 balls to spare.

Jofra Archer earlier took a spectacular one-handed catch during Mumbai's 195-5.

The win lifts the Royals from bottom to fifth place in the eight-team table, two points off the play-off places.

They are level on 10 points with Kings XI Punjab and two behind the Eoin Morgan-led Kolkata Knight Riders, who occupy the fourth and final play-off spot.

Rajasthan's last two matches are against Kings XI and Kolkata, while Kings XI and Kolkata meet

on Monday.

Stokes had previously struggled to make an impact in the competition and cut a frustrated figure in the Royals' defeat by the Sunrisers Hyderabad in their previous game.

"I had my best net yesterday and came into this game with more confidence," he added.

"I wish I could have played like this two or three games ago."

Opening the batting, he could have been caught at deep mid-wicket on 26, only for a diving Hardik Pandya to drop the chance.

He went on to complete a century from 59 balls with his third six, clubbed over mid-wicket off James Pattinson, one of the Australia bowlers punished by Stokes in his remarkable century in the third Ashes Test at Headingley in the summer of 2019.

From the next ball, he drove to the point boundary to complete the run chase, with Samson ending unbeaten 54 from 31 balls. Earlier, England fast bowler Archer took a magnificent tumbling take on the third man boundary, falling backwards and holding the ball in one hand to dismiss Ishan Kishan.

Pandya smashed 60 not out from only 21 balls, including seven sixes, to lift Mumbai to their challenging total, only for Stokes to make light of the chase.

(BBC Sport)

Darlington appointed USA ...

From page 21 that he has an immense amount of enthusiasm, skill and talent.

His coaching experience with the USA Men’s team will be a significant asset in driving our Men’s Youth team towards the important goal of qualification for the ICC Under 19 Cricket World Cup. Asif will bring a huge wealth of international experience as he becomes our first ever Women’s Youth Coach. He also has prior experience with the Senior USA Women’s team and we have a major focus going forward on expanding the quantity and quality of Women and Girls cricket.

Nadkarni concluded, “I would like to thank my colleagues on the interview panels and wish both coaches well in their roles. We are fortunate to have two such talented coaches based here in America to help take our Youth programs to the next level.”

Additionally, USA Cricket is pleased to confirm the final appointment to complete the list for all six Zonal Selection Panels, as Jalal Uddin is announced as Zonal Selector for the South West Zone, where he will join Orlando Baker and Jannisar Khan on the three-man Zonal Panel. (USA Cricket)

‘Bleak hope' for ...

From back page to the selection panel and head coach, Marcio Maximo.

However, Forde revealed that the GFF remains optimistic that there may be an opportunity for us to do something, but added that they will not be "overly ambitious about that; we're just being optimistic."

Meanwhile, it was mentioned that the GFF would've met with Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr and his team, noting "we would've shared some ideas and listened to some coming from the Minister and his team. We are actively fine-tuning a plan that we are hoping, based on the commitment that the Minister made, that he will look at the plan and once it appears practical, (taking everything into consideration), then he will open up the dialog with the GFF and all the key stakeholders."

The GFF Elite League, the country's top football championship, has not seen any action since March of 2019.

Donald Quarrie slams JAAA's...

From back page well with Quarrie, who believes it is time for change.

“It’s the same people who are going to be in.

The same deck of cards, only shuffled a different way,” the six-time Commonwealth champion said, indicating that the current torpidity is proving to be detrimental to Jamaican athletics.

An indication of the stagnation, Quarrie said, was the JAAA’s inability to capitalize on the success eight-time Olympic champion Usain Bolt, when he was at the peak of his powers.

“It’s not even about taking advantage, we didn’t know how,” Quarrie declared on Saturday during an interview on Sportsnation Live on Nationwide Radio in Kingston.

“We didn’t have the personnel to do it.”

Quarrie revealed that there was a plan was in place to capitalise on the remarkable success Jamaica was experiencing just

over a decade ago when athletes like Usain Bolt, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Veronica Campbell-Brown and Yohan Blake, were the best in the world in what was arguably the most dominant period of the country’s track and field history.

However, that plan died along with then president Howard Aris.

“I was on the board up to 2011 after Howard passed.

At that period there was a move to do so but Howard passed. After that, everything stood still and we never reached out to get the experts who could market the association, experts who could guide us,” the 1976 Olympic champion said.

“Instead, we were holding to something that had great value but we couldn’t see it and we didn’t capitalize on it. That is why we are in the position we are now.”

Quarrie said his love and dedication to Jamaica’s athletics is what has motivated him to try and make a difference.(Sportsmax).

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Tuesday October 27, 2020)

COMPLIMENTS OF XTRA ENERGY DRINK STABROEK BAZAAR (Tel: 683-9500) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-- 83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to Sunday’s quiz: (1) 7 teams (2) Mumbai Indians – 4 times Today’s Quiz: (1) Who were the IPL 2012 Champions?

(2) Which team lost the final in IPL 2012?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

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guyana CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 27, 2020

'Fake news': Pogba denies quitting France team over Macron comments

Paul Pogba hit back at claims he was quitting the France national team (Picture: Getty/Instagram)

(REUTERS) - Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba on Monday denied media reports that said he quit the France national team over comments made by the country’s President Emmanuel Macron which were perceived to be against Islam.

Darlington appointed USA Men’s Youth Coach USA Cricket is delighted to announce the appointment of a Men’s Youth Coach and Women’s Youth Coach. Both roles will start at the beginning of November 2020.

Former Guyana cricketer Kevin Darlington has been appointed as the Men’s Youth Coach and will take on the primary responsibility for coaching the USA Cricket Men’s Under 19 team and other junior teams, as well as providing assistant coaching support to the Men’s National Team.

Darlington has more than twenty years of coaching experience across USA, Guyana and England.

He was the assistant coach to the USA Men’s team for a two-year period from 2018 to 2019 that culminated in USA gaining ODI status for the first time at ICC World Cricket League Division 2 in Namibia.

As a fast bowler , he played first-class cricket for Guyana before going on to debut for USA in 2010, where he opened the bowling at the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier in the UAE. Resident in Brooklyn, New York he is also well versed in local league and academy cricket right across the East Coast.

Asif Mujtaba has been appointed as the Women’s Youth Coach and will take on primary responsibility for identifying and developing young female cricketers, and building a junior squad of players to compete for places in USA Cricket’s new Women’s Under 19 programme, as

Former Guyana fast bowler Kevin Darlington

well as providing assistant coaching support to the Women’s National Team.

Mujtaba has more than twenty years of coaching experience across USA, Pakistan, England, and Bangladesh.

He has most recently been working as a Youth Coach in Dallas, Texas. As a player, he had a 22-year first-class career that included 25 Tests and 66 ODIs for Pakistan. Resident in Plano, Texas, he has strong experience of Youth and Women’s coaching and cricket development.

Following the recent appointment of Youth and Zonal selectors, and the ongoing Zonal Trials taking place across the United States, appointments of the Youth Coaches are important steps in building the capacity for USA Cricket to deliver on some of the key priorities recently laid out in USA Cricket’s Foundational Plan, most notably to improve the performance of its international Youth teams and help to build a meaningful player pathway for talented boys and girls across the country.

USA Cricket Opera-

tions Director, Richard Done said, “After a comprehensive recruitment process, we are elated to be able to announce the appointments of Kevin and Asif to these important new coaching roles for USA Cricket. We are lucky to have had such an experienced field apply for the roles and we would like to thank everyone for their interest and input over recent months.

“As we continue to lay the platform for future growth in this country, we anticipate there will be more opportunities for those in the field to contribute to the success of USA Cricket going forward. We believe we have appointed two great coaches, with strong track records, who will make a big impact for American cricket and I am looking forward to working closely with them both.

Kevin and Asif’s roles will both have a specific focus on identifying and nurturing homegrown talent, as well as working closely on developing the player pathways and related programs to give the next generation of young girls and boys the best opportunity to succeed.”

Chair of the Cricket Committee, Sushil Nadkarni said, “We are delighted to have appointed two high quality coaches from an outstanding field of applicants and shortlisted candidates. Kevin will bring a huge level of cricketing knowledge and insight to the role, and I know from having played with him See page 20

The French leader this month declared war on “Islamist separatism”, which he believes is taking over some Muslim communities in France. The Sun newspaper alleged that Pogba, a practising Muslim, reacted to Macron’s comments by quitting the national team.

“Unacceptable,” the 27-year-old wrote on a Twitter post along with a “fake news” sticker on a screenshot of the headline from The Sun. “So The Sun did it again,” he added. “Absolutely 100% unfounded news about me are going around, stating things I have never said or thought.

“I am appalled, angry,

shocked and frustrated some ‘media’ sources use me to make total fake headlines in the sensible subject of French current events and adding the French national team to the pot.

“I am against any and all forms of terror and violence. Unfortunately, some press people don’t act responsibly when writing the news, abusing their press freedom, not verifying if what they write/reproduce is true, creating a gossip chain without caring (if) it affects people’s lives and my life.” Pogba added that he was taking legal action against the publishers.

“We reported on a story that Paul Pogba had tak-

en the decision to quit the French national football team after it was published on a sports website,” The Sun newspaper said in a statement.

“The story was also published by The Mirror, Mail Online and other websites.

“Subsequently, Paul Pogba has denied the claim and we have updated our story accordingly. We apologise for any upset caused.”

The report came days after Macron paid tribute to a French history teacher who was beheaded by an Islamist radical for using cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad in a class on freedom of expression for 13-year-olds.

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Injured Rohit, Ishant omitted from India's Australia tour squads NEW DELHI (Reuters) India left out the injured duo of opener, Rohit Sharma and quickie, Ishant Sharma from the Test and limited-overs squads for their upcoming tour of Australia but will continue to monitor their progress, the cricket board said on Monday.

Ishant has been ruled out of remainder of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) in the United Arab Emirates after suffering an abdominal muscle tear earlier in the tournament.

Rohit, who captains de-

fending champions Mumbai Indians in the Twenty20 competition, has also missed the last two IPL matches with a hamstring injury.

“The BCCI medical team will continue to monitor the progress of Rohit Sharma and Ishant Sharma,” Board of Control for Cricket in India secretary Jay Shah said in a statement.

Limited-overs stalwart Rohit has reinvented himself as a Test opener and his injury creates uncertainty around who would partner Mayank Agarwal at the top of the

batting order in the four-Test series.

India have named Prithvi Shaw, KL Rahul and Shubman Gill in the test squad and one of them could land the role should Rohit fail to recover.

Uncapped quick Mohammed Siraj was also named in the 18-member test squad, which contains two wicketkeepers in Wriddhiman Saha and Rishabh Pant.

Pant was omitted from limited-overs squads where Rahul was preferred.

Four additional bowlers -- Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Kartik

Mangal shines at GGA Cancer Awareness tourney FORMER Guyana Open champ, Mike Mangal, stormed a field of talented players to emerge victorious when the Guyana Golf Association (GGA) held its 'Shoot for Cash' event in support of Cancer Awareness Month, with proceeds going towards the fight against the disease.

Played under strict Covid guidelines, the event was coordinated by Al Junior Wilson, Sean Barrington, Lynette and Michelle Codrington and Philip Haynes.

Sunday's e excitement was visible and tension thick as player after player focused on the challenge at hand-- to hit 10 balls into a bullseye just 100 yards away with a chance to win $50,000 in cash!

But, despite the handicap of having to hit from a longer distance than the women and beginners, it was the veteran Mangal who carted off the grand prize.

In the men's Professional division, Mangal fought off the tough challenge from his son, Rohan Albert, who came out on his birthday to support the event, and narrowly bested Top position finisher, Satrohan Robin Tiwari and past LGC president, Aasroodeen Shaw, who came in second.

Samuel Carter, recently back from the UK, travelled twice all the way from Land of Canaan to qualify and compete in the men's Amateur division, his effort being rewarded as he took first place honors away from newcomer to the sport, Ryan

WINNERS ROW! from left: Adrian Barrow, standing in for Ryan Gonsalves; Shez Andrews; GGA president, Aleem Hussain; Tournament Winner, Mike Mangal; Yogendra Arjune; Robin Tiwari, Rudy Ramalingum and Aasroodeen Shaw.

Gonsalves.

But the women's Division, with more than 15 women competing, saw the biggest upsets with two newcomers to the sport, Leota King running away with first,and Shez Andrews taking second place. President of the GGA and Nexgen Golf Academy & Driving Range, Aleem Hussain, thanked the local fraternity for their support of the event.

"Golfers in Guyana have been active in supporting charities but especially Cancer Awareness for many years. Having experienced personal loss to cancer, our family of golfers are dedicated to helping as much as possible as was evident by the support by Banks DIH and Citizens Bank last year."

He thanked the corporate sponsors for this year's event that included Ramesh Sunich, Trophy Stall; Yogendra Arjune, Assuria General Insurance; Karan Mehra, Vi-

vaanta Ayurvedic Spa & Hair Salon; Sammy Arjune, Guyana Beverages; Paul Jiwanran, AR Printery; and Rudy Ramalingum of CIMGRO Maraiko Bay Golf Resort.

Hussain said he was especially grateful to see event attended by experienced players from the LGC including past president, Brian Hackett, Rakesh Harry, Mahindra Harry, Romel Bhagwandin, Ajay, Ian Gouveia, Adrian Barrow, as well as newcomers, Linden Pickett, Michelle Codrington, Ashley Chu, and Ms. Carter amongst the many who came out in support.

"With hundreds of golf clubs and balls now available, we expect to begin opening the sport region by region in the hopes of bringing Golf to the people in a manner that was never done before. Our goal is to have more than 2,000 new players by the end of 2021, and we will make it happen, " ended Hussain.

Rohit Sharma

Tyagi, Ishan Porel and T. Natarajan - will accompany the team on the tour.

India are scheduled to play four Test matches in December-January, preceded by three one-day internationals and as many Twenty20 matches, though the exact itinerary is yet to

be finalised.

The Virat Kohli-led team, who recorded India’s first ever test series victory in Australia last year, are scheduled to quarantine in Sydney next month.

Test squad: Virat Kohli (captain), Mayank Agarwal, Prithvi Shaw, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Shubman Gill, Wriddhiman Saha (wicketkeeper), Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Navdeep Saini, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Siraj T20I squad: Virat Kohli

(captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Mayank Agarwal, KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Hardik Pandya, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Navdeep Saini, Deepak Chahar, Varun Chakravarthy ODI squad: Virat Kohli (captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Hardik Pandya, Mayank Agarwal, Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Navdeep Saini, Shardul Thakur.

Gayle, Mandeep half-centuries put Kings XI into playoff contention SHARJAH, United Arab Emirates, (CMC )– Manof-the-Match Chris Gayle lashed his second half-century in five outings as Kings XI Punjab continued their surge with a dominant eight-wicket win over Sunil Narine’s Kolkata Knight Riders, to move into the playoff spots in the Indian Premier League here Monday.

Asked to chase a modest 150 for victory at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Kings XI overhauled their target with seven balls to spare to notch their fifth straight win and sixth in 12 this season.

Gayle was at the forefront of the run chase, hitting a sensational 51 from 29 deliveries in partnership with opener Mandeep Singh who stroked an unbeaten 66 from 56 balls.

Together, they posted exactly 100 for the second wicket to lay the platform for victory, after captain KL Rahul had made 28 from 25 balls in a 47-run opening stand with Mandeep.

Earlier, opener Shubman Gill had top-scored with 57 off 45 balls as KKR, without West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell, gathered 149 for nine off their 20 overs.

Sent in, KKR were slumping at 10 for three in the second over before Gill revived the innings in an 81run, fourth wicket partnership with captain Eoin Morgan who made a fluent 40 from 25 deliveries.

Gill struck three fours

Mandeep Singh and Chris Gayle's half-centuries guided Kings XI Punjab to victory against Kolkata Knight Riders.

and four sixes while the left-handed Morgan belted five fours and a couple of sixes before falling at the half-way stage of the innings.

His dismissal put in train another collapse for KKR as they lost six wickets for 58 runs off the last 61 balls of the innings. Narine, coming off a half-century in his last outing, made just six batting at number six before playing on to Barbados-born England seamer Chris Jordan who finished with two for 25.

In reply, Rahul struck four fours before falling lbw to leg-spinner Varun Chakravarthy in the eighth over but his dismissal paced the way for Gayle to launch his assault at number three.

The 41-year-old Jamaican, who missed Kings XI’s first seven matches, clobbered two fours and five sixes while Mandeep chipped in with eight fours and two sixes, to dominate the KKR

bowling.

Entering at the end of the eighth over, Gayle was kept quiet at first by Narine but got stuck into Varun in the 10th, smashing him for two sixes in three balls – the first over long on and the second over long off.

In the next over from Narine, Gayle smashed his Windies teammate over long on for his third six and repeated the stroke with the same outcome in the 13th over from the embattled off-spinner whose four overs cost 27 runs.

Gayle reached his 84th half-century in T20s in the 17th over when he top-edged fast bowler Lockie Ferguson for four, punched the next delivery for a six over long off before jogging a single.

He perished in the penultimate over with victory already assured, caught at short third man off a slower ball from Ferguson.

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guyana CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 27, 2020

Protect yourself at all times: Ninvalle to the Caribbean PRESIDENT of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) has labelled as unfortunate the recent disclosure that nine Caribbean countries have been named in a possible breach of AIBA election rules.

Saint Maarten, The Bahamas, Antigua and Barbuda, Virgin Islands, Dominica, Anguilla, Bermuda, Haiti and Suriname have been named in a letter to the AIBA Ethics and Disciplinary Committees as countries who have, allegedly, had their annual AIBA fees recently paid by the Dominican Republic Boxing Federation.

The alleged payment has raised concerns as a possible breach of International Boxing Association (AIBA) election rules after the DRBF, which nominated one of the four candidates vying for President of AIBA, allegedly paid the membership fee of nine countries so they can vote in the December Congress.

Website, Insidethegames, reported last week that the

DRBF, which nominated Domingo Solano for President – transferred a total of $4,800 (£3,700/€4,000) to the Americas Boxing Confederation (AMBC) to cover the dues of nine National Federations.

AMBC president, Osvaldo Bisbal reported the "disturbing case" of the payment in a letter to the heads of the AIBA Disciplinary and Ethics Commissions, which he said was made "without previous approval from our side".

Bisbal alleged the DRBF told the AMBC that the money "was to pay for the membership fees for nine National Federations in order for them to be eligible for the upcoming Congress" on December 12 and 13, where AIBA is due to elect its new President.

The Argentinian, a vice-president of AIBA, also suggested the DRBF had asked for the source of the money to be covered up as it "requested AMBC to issue an individual receipt to each National Federation that AMBC

Steve Ninvalle

pretended to receive each fee from each of these nine National Federations".

The money was for AIBA's member federations in Saint Maarten, The Bahamas, Antigua and Barbuda, Virgin Islands, Dominica, Anguilla, Bermuda, Haiti and Suriname, according to the letter.

"I am reporting this to you because I believe that AIBA and AMBC could be affected from an ethical point of view," Bisbal wrote.

"As we are in critical situation to restore our damaged image, I am requesting your proper considerations on this case,” insidethegames reported.

Solano is a former pres-

Domingo Salano

Osvaldo Bisbal

ident of the DRBF and a current honorary AIBA vice president.

According to insidethegames, the alleged payment from the Dominican body could create problems for Solano as election statutes dictates that candidates "should in no case and under no pretext give presents or offer donations or gifts or grant, advantages or benefits of whatever nature to or at the request of any party who will vote in, or who may otherwise influence an election".

In an invited comment, Ninvalle, who, over three weeks ago, resigned as Chairman of the Caribbean Steering Committee for Boxing, said the situation is unfor-

tunate and may have come about because of a lack of experience.

I don’t believe that there was any intention by anyone of the Caribbean countries to go against any ethical rule laid out by AIBA. The Caribbean just does not operate in that way,” Ninvalle said.

“However, this is an election season and anything that is said and done will be immensely scrutinized, hence, we as region need to be extremely careful with our modus operandi. We also need to make sure that we don’t conform to the usual last-minute rush which is clearly the genesis of this issue. It is my sincere hope that we all learn from this,”

the Guyanese Vice President of AMBC added.

Bisbal has since been attacked for his actions which several countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have labelled unpatriotic to AMBC. However, Ninvalle claimed that the Argentine could have only acted because he was provided with the opportunity to do so.

“Everyone in boxing knows that you have to protect yourself at all times. If you drop your guards and get floored because of it, then you only have yourself to blame. This is an election season, so there will be no velvet gloves being used.

My hope is that this important lesson is not forgotten and our regional administrators will now better understand the value of acting in a prompt manner. We owe it to our country and those who elected us,” Ninvalle declared.

AIBA will shortly announce the list of countries eligible to vote in the upcoming elections.

TTFA votes overwhelmingly to end action against FIFA

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, (CMC) – The embattled Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) has voted overwhelmingly to halt all court action against football’s world governing body, FIFA, and immediately recognise the normalisation committee installed last March.

In an extraordinary general meeting on Sunday, the FA voted 33-2 to end the long-running dispute against the powerful Zurich-based organisation which was triggered by the sudden removal of the William Wallace-led executive after just five months in office.

Significantly, the devel-

TTFA president William Wallace.

opment comes two days after FIFA won a ruling in the Court of Appeal that the dispute with Wallace could not be heard in the Trinidad courts but by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The TTFA is now expect-

ed to swiftly communicate its decision to FIFA in an attempt to have the current international suspension of Trinidad and Tobago football rescinded.

In a formal motion tabled at the meeting, the TTFA resolved that “in view of the precarious position that the T&TFA now find itself, that this extraordinary general meeting of the T&TFA decides that the way forward for the T&TFA is for the T&TFA to fully comply with its obligations as a member of FIFA, recognising the legitimacy of the FIFA-appointed normalisation committee and bringing its own statutes in line with the FIFA statutes, and to fully coop-

erate with the normalisation committee in fulfilling its mandate as stated in FIFA’s letter of March 17, 2020.

“Be it further resolved that all court matters existing between the T&TFA and FIFA shall be immediately brought to a stop.”

Wallace and his administration had challenged FIFA’s decision to remove them from office, first putting the case before CAS before resorting to the High Court here after accusing CAS of “institutional bias”.

And Justice Carol Gobin ruled this month in favour of Wallace, stating that FIFA’s action “was unwarranted and indefensible” and also “made in bad faith and for an

improper and illegal motive”.

On Friday, Chief Justice Ivor Archie and Justice of Appeal Nolan Bereaux overturned Gobin’s ruling in favour of FIFA, however, saying that that Wallace and his TTFA executive members had violated the local governing body’s constitution by resorting to the local courts.

Wallace had previously indicated if he lost the case, he would not pursue any further action against FIFA. While the court action was ongoing, FIFA last month slapped an international ban on Trinidad for what it termed a “direct breach of article 59 of the FIFA Statutes, which expressly prohibits recourse to ordinary courts”

in disputes by member associations.

The ban subsequently put in danger the national side’s participation in next year’s CONCACAF Gold Cup with the continental governing body including Trinidad in last month’s qualifying draw but warning they would be replaced unless the FIFA suspension was lifted by December 18.

FIFA said last March it was installing the normalisation committee due to “extremely low overall financial management methods, combined with a massive debt”, which had left the TTFA “facing a very real risk of insolvency and illiquidity”.

Man Utd to provide 5,000 free school meals in October holidays

(REUTERS) - Manchester United said on Monday that they will be provide 5,000 free school meals during the October halfterm holidays to help forward Marcus Rashford’s campaign to end child food poverty in the United Kingdom.

Rashford has campaigned for the government to provide food vouchers during

school holidays to children who normally receive free meals during term time if their parents receive welfare support. Dozens of local organisations all over the country came forward last week to supply free school meals in response to the 22-yearold’s plea on social media.

Now, working together with the charity FareShare, meals will be prepared and

packaged individually at Old Trafford by club staff before being shipped to local Manchester United Foundation partner schools. Six local schools will receive the meals while others will be delivered to local charities.

“Many of Manchester’s children are going hungry and they are particularly vulnerable during school holidays when they cannot ben-

efit from the meal voucher programme,” Collette Roche, Chief Operating Officer at United said.

“In parallel with the brilliant work being done individually by Marcus Rashford, we’re proud that the club continues to step in alongside FareShare, the Foundation and their partner schools to help fill this void.”

Rashford forced a gov-

ernment U-turn in July when he won his battle to ensure free school meals during the summer holidays. He then proposed extending the campaign for families receiving financial assistance from the government. Parliament on Wednesday rejected a Labour Party motion to extend free school meals until Easter 2021 from the cut-off before the half-term and winter holi-

days, prompting the England international to launch his campaign on social media.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday he fully accepted that children going hungry during school holidays was a problem during the COVID-19 pandemic but said he had not spoken to Marcus Rashford over his plans to tackle it.

‘Bleak hope' for the return of local football any time soon ..GFF boss puts life over 'beautiful game'

D

By Rawle Toney

ESPITE being eager to see the return of competitive football, Wayne Forde, president of the Guyana Football Federation, says they're mindful of the adverse effects of COVID-19 in the country.

Competitive football in Guyana is currently at a halt since the advent of the Coronavirus in Guyana, with all onfield action suspended until further notice.

"At no one time do we (GFF) want to give the impression that playing football is more important than the public health of the citizens of this country of ours. So we will continue to work, continue to plan, but we must remain respectful to what is taking place and the efforts that others are making to bring this situation under control," Forde told Chronicle Sport in an exclusive interview yesterday.

According to Forde, ever since the known cases of the

coronavirus emerged in Guyana, the federation has been proactive in taking measures to guard against the spread, the foremost decision being the reduction of operations at the Secretariat to a minimal.

Forde said that while the fraternity is disappointed that no football is being played, stakeholders understand the need to exercise caution and adhere to the stipulated guidelines issued by health authorities.

Any decision on when it is safe for football to resume would be done in consultation with the relevant stakeholders.

Guyana is preparing for a hectic International season, as the Golden Jaguars, the country's senior Men's National football team, embark on qualification tournaments for the 2022 Qatar World Cup, and the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament.

Forde noted the importance of affording the local

GFF president - Wayne Forde

players, who are in contention for national duties selection, the best possible chance of showcasing their skills See page 20

Australia vs India:

MCG to allow crowd for the traditional Boxing Day Test

Olympian Donald Quarrie is campaigning to become the next president of (JAAA)

Donald Quarrie slams JAAA's failure to capitalise on Bolt success

OLYMPIAN Donald Quarrie believes the current administration of the Jamaica Administrative Athletic Association (JAAA) has been stagnant for too long and there is an urgent need for change if Jamaica’s track and field is to avoid falling behind the rest of the world.

Quarrie, 69, is cam-

paigning to become the next president of the association when votes are cast at the JAAA Annual General Meeting in late November.

Incumbent president Dr. Warren Blake has said that he will not seek re-election and General Secretary Garth Gayle is said to be favoured to replace him.

That has not gone down See page 20

The Melbourne Cricket Ground

T

HE Indian team looks all set to embark on much-awaited tour of Australia after the successful conclusion of IPL 2020 in UAE. The squad, along with the support staff, will board a flight from Dubai to Sydney. Adding much buzz to the tour, Melbourne is set to ‘allow crowd’ at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) for the Boxing Day Test between the two heavyweights.

India will lock horns with the hosts for three ODIs and as many T20Is along with four Tests from November to January. Cricket Australia (CA) is yet to officially announce the schedule. In the same context, Victoria state premier Daniel Andrews stated that MCG is set to allow the spectators, but it is not sure how big will it be.

In the wake of coronavirus, Melbourne was under lockdown and lifted it recently under stringent protocols.

Though no new case or death has been reported thereafter, it remains a thing to watch how many people are allowed in the stadium. The beautiful city of Australia is also looking

forward to allowing the crowd for the Melbourne Cup horse race, which is coming up next week.

“The Boxing Day Test of course, is very different (to the Melbourne Cup) because that is some way off. I am very confident that we will get a crowd at the MCG for the Boxing Day Test. I don’t know how big it will be, but there will be a crowd, that’s the advice that I have, that’s what we’re working towards,” said Daniel Andrews as quoted

by India Today.

When Virat Kohli and the company roared up against Australia the last time in the Boxing Day Test in 2018, more than 73,000 fans gathered to witness the splendid action.

With COVID-19 shaking the world in all terms, cricketing activities have been taking place only behind the closed doors.

Even the ongoing IPL season is taking place in empty stadiums. Cricket Australia has reserved Adelaide as a backup option to host the Boxing day Test between the cricketing giants. (CricTracker)

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See page 23 TUESDAY, oCTOBER 27, 2020