Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 13-01-2021

WEDNESDAY 13 th January, 2021

’ No. 106241

Guyana, US zero in on regional threats –– no plan to build military base in Guyana or hemisphere, says US Admiral

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Chief of Staff, Brigadier Godfrey Bess and Commander of the U.S Southern Command, Admiral Craig Faller sign the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement that will pave the way for the exchange of goods and services of equal value, to support future Bilateral Defence Cooperation (Adrian Narine photograph)

Lawrence-Bond 19 CARICOM stands ‘connection’ under with Guyana 13 –– expresses concern over scrutiny by SOCU Venezuela’s latest decree PAGE

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Forensic reports, autopsy videos available to Argentine expert 16 PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 13, 2021

No plan to build military base in Guyana or hemisphere –– says Admiral Faller, focus is on peaceful resolution of border controversy

By Rabindra Rooplall THERE is no plan to set up a military base in Guyana or anywhere in the hemisphere, Commander of the Defence Department’s Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), Admiral Craig Faller said on Tuesday.

The Admiral was, at the time, responding to a question at a joint media conference with Chiefof-Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Brigadier, Godfrey Bess at State House.

Admiral Faller and Brigadier Bess signed an Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement to strengthen security cooperation in logistics,

repairs and supplies as well as trade in goods and services between the two countries.

“The United States does not seek to have bases anywhere in the hemisphere; we seek to have the right military presence as invited by our sovereign partners. We only come at the request of mutual agreed upon partnership for exercise or training,” he said.

He added that the US military’s future presence in Guyana will be determined by the host and friends.

“That presence will be in the form of exercises, training and working with forces in the jungle and the rivers and offshore,”

Chief-of-Staff, Brigadier Godfrey Bess the U.S admiral said.

When asked about the support of the U.S. military in response to aggression from Venezuela, the Admiral noted that his country supports a peaceful resolution of the border controversy and respect for the ongoing judicial process.

“We want to work

hard on education and training so we never have to fight. The US supports the international process in place for a peaceful resolution,” he noted, assuring that the focus now is working on areas to enhance bilateral relationships.

“Every nation deserves the right to sovereignty

Commander of the Defence Department’s Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), Admiral Craig Faller (Adrian Narine photo) and to make sovereign decisions over its resources,” he added.

Chief of Staff, Brigadier Godfrey Bess said Guyana remains committed to a peaceful resolution of the border controversy with Venezuela.

“We will continue to have cooperation with the United States of Ameri-

ca, what we call defence diplomacy and cooperation, to continue to build capacity in the GDF,” he said, noting that this will help Guyana to stand ready to ensure the national patrimony is always protected.

Underscoring that the GDF has noted with concern the rhetoric from leaders in Venezuela, Brigadier Bess said the Commander-in-Chief, Dr. Irfaan Ali, continues to work through diplomatic channels to ensure that the controversy is solved peacefully.

“We are using the diplomatic channel. As we speak, I am aware that the heads of CARICOM governments are meeting and the CARICOM community has denounced the position Venezuela has taken. T he OAS Secretary-General has also denounced that and lots of our bilateral and international partners have been in support of our position on the border issue,” Brigadier Bess said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 13, 2021

Guyana, US zero in on regional threats –– Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement signed

By Rabindra Rooplall

GUYANA and the United States of America will collaborate against regional threats and challenges and participate in military education programmes, capacity-building engagements, bilateral training and expertise exchanges.

This was solidified on Tuesday when Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Chief of Staff, Brigadier Godfrey Bess and Commander of the U.S Southern Command, Admiral Craig Faller, signed an Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement.

Admiral Faller is on a three-day visit to Guyana The agreement will also pave the way for exchanging goods and services of equal value to support future bilateral defence cooperation.

During a visit by US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo in 2020, Guyana and the USA signed a Shiprider agreement, which allows for maritime cooperation between the two countries.

The U.S. Southern Command’s top military leader last visited the country in 2017, when Guyana became the first South American nation to host the Caribbean Nations Security Conference.

The signing was witnessed by Prime Minister Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips; Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister, Kwame McCoy; National Security Adviser, Captain Gerry Gouveia; U.S. Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch; and other officials of the government.

Chief of Staff, Brigadier Godfrey Bess said Guyana

Chief of Staff, Brigadier Godfrey Bess and Commander of the U.S Southern Command, Admiral Craig Faller, sign the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement that will pave the way for the exchange of goods and services of equal value, to support future Bilateral Defence Cooperation (Adrian Narine photo) is in a region prone to natural hazards and man-made threats which have the potential to undermine security.

Aside from natural disasters, the GDF head explained that terrorism, trafficking in arms, narcotics and human trafficking undermine the rule of law and corrupt youths and institutions, resulting in threats to regional security and stability.

“These threats, if left unattended, can erode national security and undermine regional stability. The GDF looks increasing to defence cooperation with an aim to improving the responsiveness to natural disasters and transnational criminal threats,” he said.

Further, he said defence cooperation also contributes to the enhancement of professionalism and training of military officers.

Noting that the GDF has a long tradition of defence cooperation with the U.S, the Chief of Staff said the GDF participates in the annual “Exercise Tradewinds” that involves the U.S, Canada and other regional states.

He noted that officers and civilians have also benefitted from support and training under the international military education and training programme.

Adding that Guyana is a signatory to the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI), Brigadier Bess said that

this allows for the building of partnerships in the security sector along with all other international collaborations and cooperation between defence forces.

FORMAL EXCHANGE OF SERVICES He noted that the signed Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement allows predictability of partnership and establishes a formal basis for the exchange of services between the militaries of the two countries.

“The agreement is predicated with the respect for each other’s sovereignty and in accordance with the principle of non-interference

in each other’s international affairs. I am confident that this agreement will advance the partnership between the militaries of the US and Guyana,” Brigadier Bess said.

The Commander of the Defence Department’s Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), Admiral Craig Faller, said the signed agreement streamlines how the two governments efficiently and effectively exchange goods or services to support effective and mutually beneficial defence cooperation.

“With this agreement, we are entering a new era of defence partnership. For over half a century, our countries

have built a bond of friendship in our military-to- military cooperation; a kind of friendship we find amongst neighbours with shared values, neighbours who are committed to democracy,” the admiral explained.

Across the Latin American and Caribbean regions, he said the U.S has been the largest donor of COVID-related humanitarian assistance.

To date, he said, SOUTHCOM has donated $155, 000 to Guyana, and more than $33M to the region.

“Additionally, despite COVID, the U.S stepped up with enhanced operations against transnational criminal organisations, along with other regional and international allies and partners,” Admiral Faller said.

He continued: “These transnational organisations undermine democracy and they kill citizen’s right here in Georgetown and in my hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; so that is why we are here. These threats require all of us to work together.”

He said cooperation is key to success in every challenge the two countries face.

“We are stronger when we work together, and I am certain, together there is no challenge or threat that our shared security cannot face. I am proud of the work we have done and I look forward to our continued cooperation.

We have much work to do as neighbours, friends and, most importantly, as teammates who respect democracy and the rule of law and values,” the US Admiral emphasised.

Woman accused of ganja trafficking granted bail LATOYA Rose, who was allegedly caught with ganja in her handbag, on Tuesday, appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and was granted $20,000 bail by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

Rose of Third Street, Alberttown, denied the possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking charge when it was read to her.

It is alleged that, on January 8 at Fourth and Light Streets, Alberttown, George-

town, she had in her possession a narcotic specifically, 36 grams of cannabis, for the purpose of trafficking.

It was reported that, on the day in question, about 19:30 hours, ranks from the Alberttown Police Station

were on patrol duty when they observed Rose on the corner of Fourth and Light Streets, Alberttown, Georgetown, acting in a suspicious manner. A search was performed on Rose’s handbag.

During the search, a

white plastic bag with several small parcels of ziplock bags containing a quantity of leaves, seeds and stems, suspected to be cannabis, was discovered. Rose was told of the offence committed and cautioned.

While under caution she reportedly said “Officer is Wesley own. He gave me it fuh sell”.

She was arrested and charged for the offence.

The matter was adjourned until February 17.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 13, 2021

Political parties must meet with full Commission ―GECOM Chair says, debunks claims of refusal to meet with PNCR as ‘grossly misleading’

ANY political party desirous of expressing its views to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) must do so before the entire Commission, which includes the Chairperson, Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh, and the six commissioners appointed by the major political parties.

“Proposals made by stakeholders are always welcomed, and being heard by the full Commission allows for a more meaningful engagement at that level,” Justice Singh said in response to what she’s described as “grossly misleading” allegations by the Opposition-appointed commissioners about her refusing to meet with officials of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) on Tuesday.

General-Secretary of the PNCR, Amna Ally had written to Justice Singh on January 7, 2021 requesting to engage her “singularly” to proffer the party’s proposals on “matters at hand” before participating in any meeting of the entire commission.

In response to Ally’s letter, Justice Singh, on January 7, 2021, extended an invitation for the PNCR team to meet with the Commission at 14:00h on January 12, 2021.

“In a separate communication on the same day, I also requested that any issues likely to be raised are matters to be addressed by the Commission, and recommended that proposals should be forwarded, in writing, so that they may be dispatched to the commissioners for their perusal

and consideration prior to the meeting,” the GECOM Chair said in a statement on Tuesday.

Ally, again wrote the GECOM chairperson on January 11, 2021, reiterating her request to meet “singularly” to discuss matters in relation to registration [voter registration].

insisted that the PNCR team meet with the full Commission, as is customary when meeting with political parties.

“I explained that this methodology has been quite useful in ensuring all commissioners collectively benefit from the issues to be addressed for later deliber-

GECOM Chair, Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh

“It is public knowledge that you have facilitated meetings with other stakeholders, both foreign and domestic, without major formalities,” the PNCR General-Secretary said, reiterating that a meeting with the full Commission could be held subsequent to a meeting with the PNCR. Justice Singh, however,

ation and decision,” Justice Singh said.

Opposition-appointed Commissioners, Vincent Alexander, Charles Corbin and Desmond Trotman, registered their disappointment in the GECOM Chair’s decision by exiting the Commission’s statutory meeting on Tuesday.

Subsequent to their

exit from the meeting, the commissioners, in a press statement, said: “The APNU-AFC is a major stakeholder, and as such we consider it discourteous, at the least, for her not to have entertained their presence.

The current environment in the Commission is not conductive for a briefing of the sort sought.

“Presently, GECOM is on the verge of major decision-making with regards to voter registration, a matter that was litigated, and requires serious and indepth consideration before a decision is made. In that regard, at least a briefing of any major stakeholder should be useful, if not essential.”

It is for this reason that those commissioners left

the meeting, and ‘advised’ Justice Singh to review her decision, which, in their view, was unprecedented.

Justice Singh contended, however, that the claim made by Commissioners Alexander, Corbin and Trotman that she refused to meet because such a meeting is unprecedented is “grossly misleading” at the very least.

“As Chairperson of GECOM, I have never engaged with any political party on my own. In any event, as Chairperson, I reiterate that it is appropriate to engage political parties at the level of the Commission, so that their concerns may be discussed, and, where necessary, action taken,” Justice Singh affirmed.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 13, 2021

Majeed Hussain hailed as ‘Man of the People’

By Mesha Sealey

AS the people of Guyana rise to start their day, as per usual, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, today marks the burial of one of many in the fight against the deadly virus, People’s Progressive Party/Civic ( PPP/C) Central Committee member, Majeed Hussain.

Hussain was described by many as an “easygoing, helpful guy”, a stalwart, and a friend. Leader of the Liberty and Justice Party (JLP), and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Lennox Shuman, had previously taken to social media platform, Facebook to express his condolences.

“He was an excellent and passionate friend, and didn’t mind much where you met, nor the circumstances under which you were there; he was simply

happy to see you,” Shuman wrote.

“He was someone who I saw as a leader,” one of the doctors who had previously worked with Hussain

the Muslim Youth Organisation (MYO), longstanding members of the PPP/C also recalled his being one of the PPP/C’s most tireless workers, who played a key role

tivists of this nature often.”

“He was always positive; even on the last day that we spoke,” President Irfaan Ali reminisced of the 59-year-old. “It is unfortunate that Guyana never got to see the full potential of Majeed Hussain,” he said.

The Diamond, East

recalled, speaking at the reflections service on Tuesday. “Someone who would be there to tell people what to do, and ensure that they get it done,” he said.

Speaking at the function, which was reflection held at

in the success of the PPP/C. “Majeed was always in the thick of things; in every single one of those attachments that we took,” Vice-President Bharrat Jagdeo recollected on Tuesday, adding: “You don’t find ac-

Allam is a licensed firearm holder. The robbery occurred between 23:00hrs and 23:32hrs at Allam’s Port Kaituma Waterfront property.

Police said one of the suspects is identifiable and ranks have retrieved surveillance footage of the incident.

The suspects escaped in a boat along the Aruka River, and, as such, police

ranks, along with ranks from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guard based at Morwhanna, responded to the robbery.

Police said while the ranks were searching along the Aruka River, they came under fire from the suspects.

The ranks returned fire but the suspects inside the boat managed to escape in

Impeachment: Republicans begin to turn on Trump

A race by Democrats to remove President Donald Trump from office is gathering momentum as some of his fellow Republicans begin to break ranks.

The House of Representatives’ third most senior Republican, Liz Cheney, said she would vote to impeach Mr Trump over last week’s US Capitol riot. arlier in the day the president took no responsibility for the breach of Congress by supporters of his.

He will be succeeded by Joe Biden, a Democrat, on 20 January.

The House plans to vote on Wednesday to charge Mr Trump with inciting insurrection, which would make him the first US president ever to be impeached twice.

Ms Cheney, the daughter of former Vice-President

02:15hrs today, followed by another at Freedom House for the singing of the party song, after which he will be laid to rest at the Cummings Lodge Cemetery, just outside Georgetown, on the lower East Coast Demerara.

Vice-President Bharrat Jagdeo reflecting on the life and contributions of Majeed Hussain

Part of the gathering at the Reflection Service held at the Muslim Youth Organisation (Adrian Narine photos)

Venezuelans allegedly rob businessman, wife $10M, guns and jewellery VENEZUELANS, on Monday, allegedly robbed a Port Kaituma, Region One businessman and his wife at gunpoint of $10M, four gold chains and four rings, along with firearms.

The victims were identified as Elroy Allam, 56, and his 22-year-old reputed wife, Shonna Campbell.

Reports indicated that

Bank Demerara resident leaves to mourn his wife and three children, his many friends and colleagues within the political arena, his party comrades in the PPP/C, and some within the Parliamentary Opposition.

Viewing of Majeed Hussain will begin at

Dick Cheney, vowed to back impeachment, the first time a leader of the president’s own party has done so since Richard Nixon’s time in office. She said in a statement: “There has never been a greater betrayal by a President of the United States of his office and his oath to the Constitution.”

The Wyoming representative added that Mr Trump had “summoned this mob, assembled the mob, lit the flame of this attack”.

Two other Republican House members, John Katko and Adam Kinzinger, said they would also vote for impeachment.

House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy, a Trump ally who has said he opposes impeachment, has reportedly decided not to ask rank-and-file members of the party to vote against the measure.

According to the New York Times, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell has told confidants he is pleased Democrats want to impeach the president because he believes it will help rid the Republican party of Mr Trump.

Mr McConnell has also told associates he believes the president committed impeachable offences, reports the Washington Post.

On Tuesday evening, House Republican Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania introduced a resolution to censure Mr Trump - a congressional rebuke less severe than impeachment.

The measure accuses Mr Trump of “trying to unlawfully overturn” the results of November’s presidential election and of having “imperiled a coequal branch of Government”. (BBC)

the direction of the Guyana/ Venezuela border.

It is unclear at this time if any of the suspects was injured but police said that none of the ranks was injured during the shooting.

Police are investigating the robbery.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 13, 2021

Engaging civil society RECOGNISING that solutions to the myriad of problems and challenges that inevitably arise as a society develops and advances emanate out of an entire nation, it is laudable that the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) is reaching out in a real way to civic society, thereby ensuring every Guyanese could play a role in national development.

The PPP, this historic political socioeconomic movement, stands out as one of the only entrenched political forces in the world that embraces civic society as its structural working partner. This unique politics-civic alignment of the party that now forms the Guyana Government, the PPP/C, allows for a national leadership platform that is inclusive, all-embracing, and considerate of every facet of national life. Every Guyanese has an opportunity to play a role in national development. Such a relationship must be nurtured, cultivated with responsibility, professional ethics, and deep consideration for the national good.

Just as Government never abuses its political lordship over the civic component in its rank and in Parliament, always treating everybody with equal standing, civic leaders across the society must exercise responsible leadership ethics in playing their role. This usually happens, as with the Private Sector’s affinity with the PPP/C, and the intimate working relationship between the two. However, some sections of Guyana embark on irresponsible nastiness, especially some sections of the private media, always seeking to poke holes in the confidence of citizens to carry on the business of national development. They criticise, find fault, and point fingers, with little regard to their role as responsible leaders of society who could do much more to engineer a Guyana of

robust togetherness and positive citizen engagement. They seem bent on causing mischief.

One recognises the role of critical thinking as a necessary facet of development. However, critical verbiage that is based on unfounded suspicion, and downright vindictiveness cannot play a positive role in society. Citizens must resolve to build a national culture of respectful national discourse, sound debate, and intelligent interaction.

For example, the custom of some folks to scream unfounded accusations high and low that Government is signing away oil rights to the international oil companies cannot be a good thing. In constantly berating Government for its role in signing investment deals, harping always that corruption is everywhere, these shallow screamers could scare away investment opportunities. Yes, there must be a watchdog media role, but it must be based on professional ethics, fairness, balance of information shared with the public, both sides always consulted, and respect for facts, as against emotive suspicions, innuendos, and false feelings.

If Guyana is to command the respect of the global village as a world-class society, these little things need cleaning up. So much effort goes into engaging Guyanese from all walks of life within the leadership structure of the country, through the political-civic partnership, through real democracy and a robust media environment, through Government outreach into communities everywhere, through free and fair elections, and through an open forum on Social Media, where anybody could directly interact with Government Ministers, that it is puzzling to see some people resort to cheap, emotive negativity in engaging the public. Were one to bother with the

negativity, one would think Government is deliberately selling all Guyana’s oil to foreigners. It is irrational and ridiculous, yet, every day, such absurdity is peddled on the streets of this nation.

Every Guyanese has to understand what it takes to fine-tune and refine and define the social space of this land, so that this country thrives in an environment of positive energy.

Along with the PPP/C’s partnership, on the political front, with civic society, Guyana also demonstrates its inner strength and resolve to, with determination, operate a functional democracy, thereby maintaining a national media pool where the public easily expresses itself through letters to the newspapers and digital media, and through TV and radio programmes. Guyana cultivates a culture and embedded system of strong citizen engagement in how the society develops and grows. Government ministers meeting through regular outreach with citizens across the country adds to this structure of a strong relationship between citizens and political leaders. Indeed, Guyana enjoys the blessing of, in reality, having a people’s government. And so the onus is on the people who venture out to play a role, to take stock of what role they choose to play; positive or negative.

One notes that the main Opposition Party, the People’s National Congress (PNC) copied the concept of linking its political organisation with civic society, when it formed its Reform arm. However, that effort has since failed, and the PNC is back to being a mere political entity, with no civic component. When the PNC led the Coalition Government, Guyanese became frustrated with the utter lack of engagement between the Coalition Government and citizens, with shockingly few media conferences, an arrogant pride

from Coalition officials towards ordinary citizens, and draconian austerity measures against vulnerable citizens that put untold pressure on senior citizens, the poor, and the unemployed. The Coalition appointed only its political stalwarts to Government positions, as opposed to the PPP/C’s habit of selecting a member of civic society to serve as Prime Minister, along with other ministers from the Civic pool.

So, Guyanese cannot take for granted that this alignment of the PPP/C, between the nation’s most trusted historical socioeconomic political movement, the PPP, and civic society, is a light thing. It is, profoundly, a blessing to the nation.

And it must never be taken for granted.

Therefore, all of civic society would want to play a positive, engaging, responsible and professional role in building the social environment under which this country cultivates Guyanese to build for tomorrow.

Both Government and civic society must reach out to each other in good faith, sound dialogue and debate, and responsible respect for each other. Starting with suspicion that one side is out to get the other, as the Coalition did with accusing the Private Sector of skulduggery at every turn, and in how some sections of the private media, and some subgroup leaders shout irrational, irresponsible, and unfounded accusations against Government and the international oil companies, would damage the good intent of the PPP/C in forming this admirable alignment between the political front and civic society.

Guyana could set a golden standard for the world as to how politics and civic society interact and align.

That takes intentional nationwide cultivation of a spirit of camaraderie, trust, and Guyanese believing in each other.

Water subsidy for pensioners already in effect Dear Editor, GUYANA Water Incorporated (GWI) wishes to respond to the first question raised by Mr Mohamed Azad in his letter to the Editor on Monday, January 11, 2021, titled: “When will pensioners start getting their free water?”

In that correspondence, he asks:

“When will pensioners start getting the 10 cubic metre free water?”

The utility wishes to inform the general public that we have credited to each pensioner with a registered GWI account, the sum of GYD$2,960, representing pension subsidies for the period October – December 2020 and January 2021.

Further, on the first working day of

each remaining month of 2021, we will credit to each registered pensioner the sum of $740, representing the pension subsidy for that month. The credit already given, and those to come, will be reflected on the bill received by the pensioner as “PAYMENT MADE SINCE LAST BILL.” If any member of the public has any

further questions regarding the water subsidy for pensioners, please feel free to contact any of GWI’s regional offices or our Customer Call Centre on 227-8701.

Chriseana Ramrekha Assistant Public Relations Officer GWI

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 13, 2021

Celebrating Swami Vivekananda’s 158th Jayanti

Dear Editor,

THE 12th of January is celebrated as “National Youth day” (Yuva Diwas) in India, to commemorate the birth, the contribution and to pay obeisance to the universality of Swami Vivekananda, a world-renowned outstanding Indian Hindu monk, a bridge between the East-West gap in religion, a modern-day teacher and a practical social reformer, having been born on 12th January, 1863, in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.

The name Swami Vivekananda (the bliss of discerning wisdom), is a household name in India, any Hindu home throughout the world and in the home of any student, devotee or lover of Hinduism. The name is again synonymous with the Vedanta philosophy. The four famous signature words, “Sisters and brothers of America,” is his hallmark and, Swami Vivekananda was given a standing two-minute ovation accompanied by thunderous applause from the crowd of 7.000 participants, as he addressed the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago on 11th September, 1893. With those opening words as the Hindu representative from India, he introduced Hinduism and Yoga to the West and immediately became famous and popular.

This opportunity was made possible through his introduction letter by Professor John Henry Wright from Harvard University, having arrived from India without any credentials from a bona fide organisation, a prerequisite for any delegate. That opened the door for him and he was immediately accepted to speak as a guest at universities, colleges and other simple gatherings in churches and homes. Swamiji’s 473-word speech blew everyone’s mind. He spoke about the basic yet important things one should follow in life: being patriotic; loving all religions; analyzing religion; being acquainted with science; knowing the importance and necessity of rituals; being aware of the roots of Hinduism; being aware of the goal of science; being aware of the cause of the downfall of India and being against religious conversions. After listening to him, Har-

vard psychology professor William James said, “That man is simply a wonder for oratorical power. He is an honour to humanity.” When in doubt, despair or delusional, Guyanese youths of all ethnicities should embrace his advice, “Anything that makes you weak – physically, intellectually and spiritually -- reject it as poison.” Considered as one of the greatest 19th century spiritual leaders of India, he was a “great Indian youth icon.” Swamiji laid a lot of emphasis on youth power towards nation-building and universal brotherhood. According to The University Grants Commission (UGC), “Swamiji considered education to be a continuous process in which all aspects of life, physical, intellectual, emotional, moral and spiritual, should be imbibed. His contribution to the creation of a new, modern India is incredible.”

Born as Narendranath Datta at three, Gourmohan Mukherjee Street in British Calcutta, Swamiji was the sixth child of nine siblings (a sister died) to his father Vishwanath, an attorney, and his mother Bhuvaneshwari Devi. She was the bedrock of the home, a pillar of foundation, a house wife and self-taught English scholar, who counselled her children to always be truthful, chaste, dignified and humane, imprinting the eternal values of healthy living, education, morality and religion. She instilled and emphasised the same interests for both sons and daughters. The progressive, rational attitude of his father and the religious temperament of his mother helped shape his thinking and personality. Of her molding, Narendra paid tribute, exclaiming, “I am indebted to my mother for the efflorescence of my knowledge.” Perhaps, fathers and mothers especially in Guyana, may take a page from his story and the crime rate may not be so high. At age eight, Narendranath enrolled at Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar’s Metropolitan Institution and was the only student to receive first-division marks in the Presidency College entrance examination in 1879. He was an avid reader in a wide range of subjects including Indian and Western philosophy, religion, European and Indian history, social science, art and literature.

His alma mater was the University of Calcutta (BA -1884). He was also known for his prodigious memory (shrutidhara), the ability at speed-reading and was fluent in English, Hindi and Bengali. From a young age he used to meditate before the images of deities such as Shiva, Rama, Sita and Hanuman. Growing up, his interest increased in Hindu scriptures, including the Vedas, Upanishads, Gita, Ramayana, Mahabharata and Puranas. Regularly, he would participate in physical exercises and sports.

Swami Vivekananda pointed out that, “The world is the great gymnasium where we come to make ourselves strong.”

As this youthful lad (naujawan), he circumambulated as a roving seeker, he dabbled as a member of a “Freemasonry lodge,” followed “Sadharan Brahmo Samaj,” active in “Band of Hope,” joined “Nava Vidhan” and finally settled with Ramakrishna after reconverting from “Christianity.” During this tenure as an adventure in his exposure to life and reality, he became acquainted with Western esotericism and his burning question to all whom he met remained unanswered if not dissatisfied, have they seen and come “face to face with God?” The young man in his 20s found solace in the comfort of Ramakrishna and his wife’s company and conversation and resonated in the answers and explanations to his burning queries and questions. He accepted Ramakrishna as his Guru, becoming his chief disciple and when Ramakrishna died in 1886, Narendra and eight other disciples took the monastic vows, formed the Ramakrishna Math in Baranagar Math, Kolkata, and he took up the mantle for the Ramakrishna Mission. They adopted the monastic lifestyle and Narendra became Swami Vivekananda. From 1888 to 1893, Swamiji became a wondering monk living on alms and travelling the length and breadth of India; experiencing the fruits of diversified culture, people and system; exposure to concepts and principles of different philosophies; observing and absorbing the political and economic stagnation of India under harsh British domination; and the poverty, suffering

and limitation of prejudice, victimisation and discrimination pervading as social injustices. As he made all these pilgrimages while visiting historical sites and holy shrines, staying with leaders of Hindu, Muslim and Christian religions and meeting and greeting with Indians of all walks of life, including the high society, politicians, teachers, social workers, farmers and “low-caste workers,” he advocated the awareness of freedom from this strangulation of tyranny, inequality and high level of illiteracy and inculcated a beginning process for India to gain independence from England.

His work bore fruit, nationally and was also internationally recognised, acknowledged and awarded.

During his first visit to the West from 1893 to 1897, he toured many states in the USA, including Chicago, Detroit, Boston and New York while establishing the Vedanta Society, lecturing, giving classes in yoga and making important and influential friends and acquaintances with politicians, professors, teachers, businessmen, religious leaders and ordinary people from all walks of life. He visited Europe twice in 1895 and 1896, meeting Max Muller in the UK, Paul Deussen in Germany, Romain Rolland in France and a of host of other personalities.

Swamiji was offered lecturing positions at Harvard and Columbia Universities, but declined. He also met

Margaret Noble, an Irish woman, writer and social worker, who later became Sister Nivedita and accompanied him back to India in 1897, remaining there to work with Indian women, immersed herself in activities pursuing the interest of the Swadeshi movement.

Back in India, he went on to establish various monasteries throughout the country, paying special attention to the propagation of education, promoting science and industrialisation, addressing widespread poverty and suffering and ending colonial rule. He returned to the West from 1899 to 1892 to complete his overseas commitments, specifically raised interfaith awareness, bringing Hinduism to the status as a major world religion during the 19th century. Sailing back to India, he aroused a new awakening in India and her people. Many international figures have paid tribute to his legacy and were easily influenced by his work, including Mahatma Gandhi, Subash C. Bose, Rabindranath Tagore and Sri Aurobondo, among many more. His works, writings, lectures and speeches have been preserved in volumes of books authored by a number of writers. Many sites and institutions are named after him. Last November, Prime Minister Narendra Modi (Swamiji’s original first name), unveiled a statue of Swami Vivekananda on the campus of Jawaharlal Nehru University

in Delhi. Vice Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar said, “Swami Vivekananda is one of the most beloved intellectuals and spiritual leaders India has been fortunate to produce. He enthused the youth with his message of freedom, development, harmony and peace in India.

He inspired citizens to take pride in Indian civilisation, culture and its industrious spirit.” On July 4th, 1902, Swami Vivekananda went to his room to meditate at 7PM and asked not to be disturbed after a hectic day of teaching, yoga, discussion and planning. He died at 9:20PM from the rupture of a blood vessel in the brain, the rupture due to his brahmarandhra (an opening in the crown of his head), being pierced when he attained mahasamadhi (the act of consciously and intentionally leaving one’s body at the time of death).

He gave of himself for 39 years, five months and 22 days to the world, thereby fulfilling his prophecy that he will not live 40 years.

Swami Vivekananda was cremated on the bank of the Ganga in Belur, opposite where his guru, Ramakrishna, was cremated 16 years earlier.

His inspiring, motivating, captivating and famous perpetual quotation remains yet to be exhausted and replaced: “Arise, awake, stop not until the goal is reached.”

Respectfully, Jai Lall

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ICT driving agricultural advancement in Region 10

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 13, 2021

–– being sustained through $20M E-agriculture project

By Navendra Seoraj AGRICULTURE has been the engine of growth for many economies, including Guyana’s, for centuries, but just as butter complements bread, and forms a solid combination, the injection of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) into agriculture could open the door to endless possibilities for this ancient economic activity.

With the hope of unlocking this door, and tapping the plethora of opportunities therein, Triple-C Consultancy Group has created a digital platform through which it

aims to create a sustainable and lucrative linkage between ICT and agriculture.

“We have developed a platform built on E-services, so it incorporates E-agriculture, mobile extension services, and artificial intelligence… These three, when combined, builds an e-services platform for agriculture, where you can have live interaction, Online and Offline services, mobile applications, technical services and so on,” Founder of Triple-C Consultancy, Dr. Bissasar Chintamanie said during a recent interview with the Guyana Chronicle.

This US$100,000

(G$20M) platform can be accessed through the company’s website, under the tab, “agro advisory services”.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), ICT has always mattered in agriculture. Ever since people have grown crops, raised livestock, and caught fish, they have sought information from one another.

The FAO believes that ICT represents a tremendous opportunity for rural populations to improve productivity, enhance food and nutrition security, access markets, and find employ-

ment opportunities in a revitalised sector.

ICT has unleashed incredible potential to improve agriculture, and it has found a foothold even in poor small-holder farms.

Guyana has been late in implementing ICT-driven initiatives over the years, but with the need for innovation being greater now more than ever, because of the country’s fledgling oil-and-gas sector, Triple-C Consultancy plans on filling the void through its new platform, which has already been launched in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

“We decided to launch it in Region 10, because it was observed that this region has not been self-sufficient in most of the agricultural commodities, and has been importing products from other regions and other countries,” Dr. Chintamanie said.

Considering this gap, and the region’s evident potential, the investor thought it best to launch the e-services platform, and a sustainable agricultural project there to catalyse growth, and encourage persons to get involved.

“Because the potential is so high, I thought of using it as a platform for launching the programme, and encouraging the youths in Region 10 to get involved, because we need to lift the bar and achieve self-sufficiency, and produce for the neighbouring regions,” Dr. Chintamanie reasoned.

NEW CHANCES Outside of the existing opportunities, the proposed road from Linden to Lethem will create new chances, which persons from Region 10 will have to position themselves to

Founder of Triple-C Consultancy, Dr. Bissasar Chintamanie speaking at one of the induction ceremonies capitalise on. And, Dr. Chintamanie sees his project being a mode of preparation, and a conduit for progression.

Following consultations with the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region Ten, which immediately bought into Triple-C’s plan, the team recruited participants from ten different areas in the region. The 10 participants have been given the necessary tools, including smartphones and ‘tablets’, loaded with the necessary applications and software.

“Those participants were trained to use the software and platform, and went through two weeks of technical training in agriculture… One issue we have is that people have been jumping into sophisticated agriculture, and not being aware of basic agriculture.

So they need to understand the basics,” Dr. Chintamanie reasoned, adding that growth must be gradual.

It is for this reason that Triple-C administered a two-week training programme on basic agriculture, and provided technical material Online. The programme has been set up in such a way that participants would have access to 15 technical experts on a 24-

One of the participants cultivating his plot of land

hour basis.

The long-term plan is to recruit at least 500 agricultural advocates from this region, and equip them with the knowledge and skills to advance agriculture.

Not only will those participants have technical and theoretical training, but they will also have opportunities to visit farms and other agricultural operations across the country.

The initial ten participants would have already visited and analysed some operations in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), Dr. Chintamanie said, noting that there is more in store for them when the programme, which took a break for the holiday, resumes in about two weeks.

As it is now, the progamme is solely private sector-driven, but the Triple-C founder said his team is engaging the Ministry of Agriculture, with the hope of forming a private-public partnership.

Triple-C Consultancy already provides advice to government agencies, climate authorities, institutions and private sector clients in the fields of environment, water, agriculture, economics and communities. The company also provides policy, planning design and technical consulting services, to ensure a healthy future for the environment, industry and communities by helping them to plan and implement change.

The company’s highbrand equity is propelled by reliable and efficient services, which have resulted in fundamental partnerships with private sector, governments and NGOs both here and overseas.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 13, 2021

GLDA to turn defunct REPAHA building into modern training hub –– farmers, agriculture students to benefit

THE building which once housed students pursuing the Regional Educational Programme for Animal Health Assistants (REPAHA) will soon be renovated and turned into a training hub where virtual learning will be offered to farmers and agriculture students countrywide.

The facility will also be made available to Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) staff and those residing in sister Caribbean countries who are pursuing studies in agriculture.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the GLDA, Grayson Halley, made these disclosures to Guyana Chronicle during an interview on Sunday.

He said talks are already underway to see the rehabilitation of the building which is located at GLDA’s Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara headquarters. He recently inspected the structure.

Halley told this publication that the institution, at one point, along with the Guyana School of Agricul-

ture (GSA), were the leading agriculture institutions in the Caribbean; however, after the REPAHA was merged with the GSA, the building was left to deteriorate.

“They use to have children coming from all over the Caribbean to attend that school. Back then they didn’t have UWI [University of the West Indies] and agriculture programmes.

GSA and REPAHA used to be the leading agriculture institutions in the Caribbean,” he said.

The building, he informed, once housed the library, anatomy laboratory and chemistry laboratory.

“That building there was the library and the anatomy lab and another portion of it was the chemistry lab.

Some of the things went over to GSA and the school picked up that animal health programme and the building was given to the NDDP [National Dairy Department Programme],” he informed.

The GLDA later took over the compound and renovations were only done

on the main buildings leaving that REPAHA building neglected.

Nevertheless, Halley noted that the building will now be equipped with modern technology to keep up with the times as well as to facilitate virtual learning.

“Students can go and do training there and we will put in some modern technology, like smart board, online teaching [equipment] like computers and those kinds of things,” he said adding: “We are going to try and make it a virtual environment because with COVID we are doing a lot of things online and this way, if we do that our teaching activity can reach hinterland areas.

Whatever programme we are doing on the coast we can broadcast it to other regions,” he explained.

The current vision of the GLDA, he added, is to transform the space into a modern training centre equipped within smart board and other modern futuristic equipment/gadgets that will help to better train and deliver information to staff,

The current state of the building which will soon be transformed into a futuristic training centre for the GLDA staff, farmers and agriculture students

farmers and agriculture students.

These plans, he said,

are part of the 2021 budget. However, at the time of the interview he could

GLDA CEO, Grayson Halley not disclose the estimated amount the rehabilitation works will cost.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 13, 2021

Mathews Ridge Airstrip cleared for landing AIRCRAFT operators have been ‘green-lighted’ to resume use of the Mathew’s

Ridge Airstrip in Region One (Barima-Waini).

The airstrip, along with

its associated taxiway, has been reopened to facilitate normal air transport oper-

ations into the region, following remedial emergency repairs carried out by the Ministry of Public Works on Saturday, January 9, 2021.

This is according to a

recent statement from the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA). The agency recently announced closure of the airstrip, owing to damage caused by heavy rainfall.

“The ministry and the GCAA remain committed to ensuring the safety of passengers and aircraft operations,” the GCAA statement said.

Mysterious fire destroys fuel tankers in Parika

Approaching the Mathews Ridge airstrip (Jerome Khan photo)

TWO fuel tankers which were discharging fuel, burst into flames at Parika Salem First Koker on the East Bank of Essequibo (EBE) on Tuesday.

The two fuel tankers, GRR 2059 and GVV 5905 are owned by Nazhir Khan, a 39-year-old businessman of Tuschen New Scheme, EBE. According to police, Zahir Villa of Tuschen, EBE, jumped into the cabin of one of the trucks to switch off the engine during the fire and was injured.

Reports indicate that about 09:00 hours, the two motor lorries which were driven by Ramsharan Dean, a 38-year-old resident of Stewartville, West Coast Demerara and Zahir

Villa, a 40 year-old resident of Tuschen New Scheme, EBE, were parked at the Parika Salem first Koker discharging fuel.

According to the 38-year-old driver, he left the vehicle and was about 25 feet away when he smoke emanating from behind his cabin area.

The smoke quickly burst into a huge fire spreading to the other motor lorry. Villa in an effort to save one of the motor lorries jumped in the cabin and tried to turn off the vehicle and received burns to the hand.

He was rushed to the Leonora Cottage Hospital by public-spirited citizens. The fire was subsequently extinguished by firefighters.

The fuel tanks that were destroyed

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 13, 2021

AG holds talks with PSC head over police promotions fiasco – more ranks file legal challenges

ATTORNEY General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, SC, on Tuesday, disclosed that he has had discussions with Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Paul Slowe, regarding the legal challenge before the High Court to block the 2020 year-end police promotions.

Nandlall was, at the time, addressing Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George, SC, at a hearing for the case filed by Senior Superintendent of Police, Calvin Brutus, against the PSC. Brutus, in his legal documents, claims that he was bypassed for a promotion due to an ongoing investigation. Brutus believes the action by the commission was irrational, unreasonable, arbitrary, and unlawful.

Nandlall told the court that despite Mr Slowe, a retired Assistant Commissioner of Police, being in Bangladesh performing duties with the West Indies cricket team, they had met

Chairman, Police Service Commission, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ret'd), Paul Slowe via Zoom. Based on the preliminary discussions with Slowe, the parties are on a “path to resolution.”

The parties are expected to meet again on Friday, and will continue to meet until a resolution is met. Nandlall, in turn, is expected to update the court on the outcome of the meetings, on February 5.

Meanwhile, several other senior ranks have filed cases to challenge their promotion bypass.

Attorney General, Senior Counsel Anil Nandlall Superintendents, Ravindra Stanley and Shivpersaud Manni Bacchus; Assistant Superintendent of Police, Shavon Jupiter; and Inspector of Police, Prem Narine, have moved to the court seeking reliefs similar to those being pursued by Brutus.

Police officers Dennis Stephen, Hugh Winter, Monica Washington, Edmond Cooper, Kurleigh Simon Stanton, and Phillip Azore were, on Tuesday, admitted as interested parties in the case by the CJ. Brutus is asking the court to grant a declaration that the policy of the PSC not to promote or consider for promotion officers with pending disciplinary matters before it is unlawful.

He is also asking for a declaration that he is entitled to be promoted to the office of Assistant Commissioner of Police.

Further, he is seeking an Order of Certiorari quashing, nullifying and/or cancelling the decision of the PSC to deny him the appointment to the office of Assistant Commissioner of Police.

He is also praying for an Order of Certiorari quashing, nullifying and/or cancelling the decision of the PSC to promote Cooper, Philip and Kurleigh Simon, who are all Senior Superintendents of Police, to the office of Assistant Commissioner of Police.

Lastly, he is asking the court to grant an Order of Mandamus compelling the commission to reconsider its decision not to promote

him in accordance with law, and in accordance with his legitimate expectation.

Five officers - Brutus, Wendell Blanhum, Ravindranauth Budhram, Errol Watts and Fazil Karimbaksh have been recommended for promotion by the Commissioner of Police. However, the PSC had taken a decision to promote Blanhum, Budhram, Watts, Cooper, Azore and Simon to that rank.

“It has been the practice of the commission not to promote police officers with pending disciplinary complaints, regardless of

Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George the nature or seriousness of such complaints. Trivial and unsubstantiated complaints have been accorded the same weight as grave or serious allegations of indiscipline in denying promotion to those against whom disciplinary complaints have been lodged with the commission,” Brutus’ court documents stated.

Senior Superintendent of Police, Calvin Brutus

Brutus was appointed to the rank of Senior Superintendent of Police in 2015. In October 2019, it was alleged by the Deputy Commissioner – Administration, that Brutus committed a breach of discipline. The commission appointed Assistant Commissioner, Royston Andires-Junor to investigate that allegation.

A breach of discipline notice was not served upon Brutus until October 2020.

The investigation has not pro-

gressed beyond the issuance of the breach of discipline notice.

In keeping with its practice, the commission purportedly refused and/or failed to consider and/or denied Brutus for promotion to the office of Assistant Commissioner of Police, relying on the said allegation of indiscipline.

“The allegation is frivolous. The applicant knows of no other reason why he was denied the promotion he was recommended for,” the document stated.

According to the court documents, Cooper, Azore and Simon, who are being promoted outside of the recommendation of the Commissioner of Police, are under investigation for alleged disciplinary and/or criminal offences.

The said officers were promoted to the rank of Senior Superintendent in the years 2016, 2017 and 2017 respectively, and were, therefore, junior to Brutus.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 13, 2021

UG projecting return to campus in June

AS the University of Guyana continues to map out returning to normalcy following the restrictions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is projecting a tentative June 2021 return to its physical campuses.

This is according to the UG Annual Report 2019/2020, which was released on Tuesday. The report noted that, in the meantime, the university is in the process of creating 15 rooms to host Zoom meetings, and these are expected to be completed by the end of this month.

“The new Office of the Occupational Health and

Safety (OOHAS) has created several protocols and training, and is managing the gradual re-opening of the university in accordance with assessments and GoG [Government of Guyana] ordinances,” the report said.

The report explained that, in the interim, the campuses have not been abandoned and “small teams of essential staff are continuously ensuring security, cleanliness, fumigation and maintenance of labs and centres that are running sensitive and continuous processes”.

The 2020/2021 Semester One which already started will end in Febru-

ary 2021, while Semester 2 will run from March – July, 2021, and graduation for the 2020 graduating class is scheduled for March 2021.

The report said that all matters for the graduating students “are to be prioritised to enable their graduation”.

“Letter of completion or transcripts, in the first instance, are to be supplied gratis till graduation,” the report noted.

In the report, the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Dr. Paloma Mohamed Martin, gave a “Special Summary Report” on “UG’s Institutional Response to the New COVID-19” which

covered actions taken during the period March 11 – November 30, 2020, to deal with the affects that the COVID-19 caused in the country.

The first case of COVID-19 was recorded in Guyana on March 11, and learning institutions were ordered to close by law from March 16. That law was not lifted until November 2020.

The VC emphasised that notwithstanding learning institutions having been required to close, and challenges faced in light of this, UG never ceased for a day.

NOT INSURMOUNTABLE “Despite being totally unprepared for this pandemic and though the challenges were real and stubborn in some cases, they were not insurmountable and we have proven that despite all of these challenges that UG has not stopped functioning for one single day,” Mohamed noted in the report.

She credits this to the

actions taken by the university, including the creation of two task forces: an “Emergency Task Force for Infectious Disease” and an “Emergency Communications Task Force”, which crafted actions UG should take.

“As a result, UG was the first national entity to announce working online in ‘safe mode’ based on internal modelling. Simultaneously, a task force to support online transition of academic and service systems was activated and this enabled the ensuing actions and applications within two weeks of the safe mode being called,” she said.

The report said the Infectious Disease Task Force is working closely with the Government to support research and policy on the infectious disease, and a full institute has now emerged out of this process. Staffers were also trained to test for the virus.

“We continue to work with our national and in-

UG VC, Dr. Paloma Mohamed Martin ternal scientists and geneticists on long-term solutions regarding the testing, prevention, management and curative aspects of managing the disease.

Through the office of the DVC-AE, 12 staff at UG were trained to take tests and manage cases. It is expected that UG will do its own testing for suspected cases under a special agreement with the Ministry of Health,” the report relayed.

The university eventually transitioned to being online-based. UG also hired 438 part-time and over 400 full-time staff to increase use on its Moodle platform. Some 1026 or 80 per cent of all courses are moving to online.

Staff members were also provided with laptops to aid in the carrying out of the university’s work.

Rape convict loses appeal THE Guyana Court of Appeal, on Tuesday, affirmed the 23 years’ jail sentence imposed on Calvin Ramcharran for the rape and assault of a woman in 2012.

The 28-year-old appellant was challenging his conviction and sentence which he argued could not stand and therefore ought to be set aside or overturned.

In 2015, a 12-member jury found Ramcharran guilty of the rape and brutal assault that was committed on an adult female at a dance at Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara, on July 22, 2012.

The first charge stated that on July 22, 2012, in the county of Demerara, Ramcharran engaged in sexual penetration of an adult female without her consent.

The second charge reads that on the same date, he assaulted the young woman, causing her actual bodily harm.

The Guyana Chronicle had reported that on the day in question, the young woman went to urinate and Ramcharran followed her, asking if she was “doing business” and she said no. Although he had heard that, he still assaulted the young woman and raped her.

Trial judge, Jo-Ann Barlow, at the High Court, had sentenced him to serve 23 years for the rape and four years for the assault charge.

The sentences are running concurrently.

The appeal was heard

by Chancellor (ag), Yonette Cummings-Edwards, Justice Dawn Gregory and, Justice

Calvin Ramcharran Rishi Persaud. Ramcharran was represented by attorney-at-law Nigel Hughes and associates Ronald Daniels and Sophia Findlay, while the state was represented by Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions, Dionne McCammon.

The Chancellor rejected arguments made on behalf of the convict and said the court did not find that the trial judge erred in her sentencing. As such, the court dismissed Ramcharran’s appeal and affirmed his conviction and sentence.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 13, 2021

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CARICOM stands with Guyana – expresses concern over Venezuela’s latest decree

By Navendra Seoraj

IN light of Venezuela’s recent claims to the seas and seabed adjacent to the coast west of the Essequibo River, which belong to Guyana, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has reiterated its firm and unswerving support for the maintenance and preservation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its sister nation, Guyana.

A recent decree and subsequent statements by Venezuela regarding that country’s border controversy with Guyana, have ‘deeply’ disappointed CARICOM and caused concern among member states since this regional bloc holds firm the view that Guyana’s sovereignty must be respected and preserved.

President of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, on January 7, 2021, issued a decree claiming Venezuela’s sovereignty and exclusive sovereign rights in the waters and seabed adjacent to Guyana’s coast, west of the Essequibo River.

“The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is deeply disappointed and concerned at the decree and subsequent statements by Venezuela with respect to that country’s border controversy with Guyana, including intimations of the creation of a strategic area of national development called Territory for the Development of the Atlantic Façade,” the regional bloc said in a statement on Tuesday.

Based on reports emanating from Venezuela, the decree points to the creation of a strategic zone for national development called the “Territory for the Development of the Atlantic Façade”, which the Bolivarian Republic envisages will provide adequate protection and safeguard its jurisdiction.

However, since Guyana has sovereign rights over the coast west of the Essequibo River, as far as Punta Playa, it follows, consequently, that only Guyana can enjoy sovereignty and exclusive sovereign rights over the adjacent sea and seabed.

This is precisely the issue that is before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), and which, on December 18, 2020, the ICJ decided to resolve, i.e., whether Guyana or Venezuela has sovereignty over that territory.

It was reported that Guyana is confident that the international court will resolve the issue in its favour, and that this will also settle the issue of maritime rights in the adjacent sea and seabed. But, under international law, this is now for the ICJ to decide.

This judicial process is one which CARICOM supports, since the regional bloc believes that it is intended to bring a peaceful and definitive end to the long-standing controversy between the two countries.

PELLUCID Even though CARICOM supports the ongoing judicial process, it was pellucid that any acts of aggression by Venezuela against Guyana will be rejected.

Both Canada and the United States of

America (U.S.) have also called on Venezuela to respect this judicial process.

The Canadian High Commission, in a statement posted on its Facebook page on Monday, stated that Venezuela’s recent claim that it has sovereignty over the area adjacent to Guyana’s Essequibo coast is concerning.

“The decision is in the hands of the International Court of Justice, and this judicial process must be respected,” the High Commission said.

Assistant Secretary (ag) of the US Department of State’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, Michael Kozak said, last Sunday, that the U.S. supports the ICJ’s ruling that it has jurisdiction in the Guyana, Venezuela territorial border issue, which is the legal and peaceful way forward.

“Maduro’s aggressive claims don’t change this; they only show the world his disregard for his neighbours and international law,” Kozak asserted in a post on his official Twitter page.

Also, U.S. Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch, reiterated the North American country’s call for a legal, peaceful resolution to the border controversy.

1899 ARBITRAL AWARD “I remind that sovereignty over this coast, and the land territory to which it is attached, were awarded to Guyana (then British Guiana) in the 1899 Arbitral Award, whose validity and legally binding character Guyana is confident the International Court of Justice (ICJ) will uphold unequivocally,” President, Dr. Irfaan Ali affirmed in an address to the nation on Saturday.

He said that regrettably, by decreeing that the seas adjacent to this territory belong to Venezuela, at least two fundamental principles of international law have been violated.

In the first violation, as outlined by President Ali, no State can unilaterally determine its international boundaries, whether land or maritime.

President Ali contended that the fixing of an international boundary under international law can only result from an agreement between neighbouring States, or a binding determination by an international court or arbitral tribunal.

“Therefore, this attempt by Venezuela to attempt, unilaterally, to fix both its land and maritime boundaries with Guyana is a legal nullity, which cannot, and will not, be respected by any other State in the world, including Guyana,” the Head of State affirmed.

The second violation of fundamental international law referenced by President Ali is based on the fact that under well-established rules of international law, there is a fundamental principle that says, “the land dominates the sea”.

This means that sovereignty, and sovereign rights in the sea and seabed emanate from title to the land that forms the coast to which those seas and seabed are adjacent.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 13, 2021

Moraikobai Village, dormitories see increase in COVID-19 cases

By Vishani Ragobeer THE Moraikobai village in Region Five has recorded a significant increase in the number of persons who tested positive for the virus, COVID-19, and health authorities are currently

trying to mitigate the further spread of the virus in that village.

According to the ministry’s COVID-19 Dashboard for January 12, Region Five recorded 35 new cases, taking the total number of cases recorded in the region to

148. On Tuesday, Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony said that 33 of those positive cases were recorded in Moraikobai.

These tests were garnered from a total of 71 tests done there, and Minister Anthony said that health officials will

Students at the North West Secondary school, who reside at the dormitory there, participating in an online ‘Zoom’ class be going back into the village to conduct further testing.

“We are hoping that we can get more cooperation from the village council and other members of the community because we need their cooperation and collaboration so that we can increase testing,” Dr. Anthony said during his daily COVID-19 update with the Department of Public Information (DPI).

He also indicated that additional measures would have to be put in place to mitigate further spread of the virus, and that a medical team may have to stay on site if the number of cases continues to rise.

Previously, when spikes in the number of positive cases were recorded in communities, restrictions on travel in and out of the communities were put in place.

Such was a measure employed to curb the spread to other communities and persons.

INCREASE IN SCHOOLS Since the reopening of schools last week Monday, Dr. Anthony also indicated that about 45 students and 13 teachers, at dormitory facilities across the country, have tested positive for COVID-19.

This means that an additional 15 students have tested positive. Additionally, some 13 other staff members at the dormitory facilities have also tested positive.

All of these individuals are being isolated, either in institutional isolation where possible or in separate areas in the dormitories where there are no closeby facilities for institutional isolation. Here,

Dr. Anthony said, much emphasis is placed on abiding by safety protocols.

There are dormitories in Regions One, Two, Four, Five, Seven, Eight, Nine and 10. There have been cases recorded in all of these regions but the students who are in isolation are being provided with their worksheets to continue with their school work as per normal.

The exercise of testing students returning to dormitories is an ongoing one and the number of students, teachers and other staff who test positive may increase.

Minister Anthony advised that persons continue to take all necessary precautions, even when they are away from school as these individuals were during the Christmas vacation.

Cop charged with uttering forged documents A 21-year-old police constable, on Tuesday, found himself on the wrong side of the law when he appeared in court to answer to forgery-related charges.

Omali Lloyd appeared before Magistrate Wanda Fortune at the Linden Magistrate’s Court on three counts of uttering a forged document committed on

Public Justice.

He was granted bail in the sum of 25,000 each on two matters and self-bail for the third.

The magistrate ordered Lloyd to lodge his passport at the court and to report to the Wismar Police Station the last Friday of every month.

The case was adjourned to January 22.

Police Constable Omali Lloyd

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 13, 2021

Joe Singh appointed chair of NAREI –– new board to develop programmes to advance coconut industry, bioethanol, mangrove

AGRICULTURE Minister Zulfikar Mustapha has officially instated members of the Board of Directors for the National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (NAREI).

The new board members, who will serve in this capacity for one year, were encouraged to work together in order to lay the groundwork to take the agency to the next level.

While offering remarks, Minister Mustapha said that the board is expected to develop programmes aligned with Government’s policies, as were outlined in its 2020-2025 Manifesto.

“Some of those policies are to create a supporting environment for other-crops development, promoting agriculture diversification with focus on coconut and horticulture. NAREI is also tasked with promoting an agro-energy industry; producing bioethanol through palm oil, cassava and corn. I recently had a discussion with the chairman about palm oil in Region One, and I’ve asked him to prepare a programme for the ministry, so that we can see the kind of funding necessary for that,” Minister Mustapha said.

The board was also tasked with developing guidelines to expand import-substitution crops, as well as soya bean, corn and other crops in the hinterland savannahs. The subject minister noted that in last year’s emergency budget, incentives were given in the soya bean and corn industry, and that the board should work to promote the cultivation of these two crops.

Furthermore, Minister Mustapha encouraged the board to pay special attention to developing strategies to boost Guyana’s coconut industry.

“You know for a fact that our coconut

industry is about to take off, and we’ve been putting a lot of emphasis on its success and development. We’ve had budgetary allocation last year to develop two new coconut nurseries, and this year we are proposing an additional seven nurseries for other areas around the country. We are optimistic that we’ll have those projects approved by the Ministry of Finance, so that we can begin constructing these nurseries. The coconut industry, for me, is probably the third most important crop in our country, and has the potential to be a very large foreign exchange earner for Guyana.

We’ve also made great progress with joining the International Coconut Community (ICC),” Minister Mustapha said.

Newly-appointed Chairman of the Board, Major General (Ret’d) Joe Singh, while offering remarks, stated that the board will work together to address the areas identified by Minister Mustapha.

COMPREHENSIVE OUTLINE “The minister has given us a very comprehensive outline of his and Cabinet’s expectations of the board, and direction on what is considered priorities as it relates to NAREI’s mandate. I don’t expect us to only be sitting in a boardroom, but we’ll also be visiting other areas across the country.

In this way, we’ll be able to see the results of NAREI’s research, as well as interact with farmers. I really would like us to think from a national perspective; how is what we’re doing as a board is not only supporting, tasking and monitoring what NAREI is doing, but what it is that we can bring to the board. I don’t expect persons to just be rubber stamps,” Singh said.

The chairman further stated that there are a number of outstanding issues that the board will be dealing with during their statutory meetings.

The board was also tasked with guiding NAREI on ways to expand on training, and its extension service capabilities. Minister Mustapha stressed the importance of ensuring NAREI’s extension officers are more responsive to the needs of the farmers. He further said that one of the major challenges in research in Guyana is getting the technology to farmers.

“Our extension officers need to be more engaged with farmers’ groups to assist with the establishment of demonstration plots, and place more emphasis on the dissemination of agriculture technology to these groups. There also needs to be some amount of work directed towards plant protection. During the ministerial visit to Suriname last year, I had discussions with Surinamese authorities, and we’ll have areas of corporation that NAREI will have to play a very important role. I know we’ve made some progress in this regard with diseases that

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Major General (Ret’d) Joe Singh were detected in Suriname and Brazil, and I think at the level of the board, these issues have to be looked at very closely,” Minister Mustapha said.

The board was also asked to play close attention to the development and implementation of the mangrove development plan for 2021-2025. Minister Mustapha urged the new board to develop a programme to guide Government’s five-year strategic plan for strengthening Guyana’s sea defences through the integration of mangroves, inclusive of the execution of mangrove replanting exercises in vulnerable areas across the coast.

The new members of the NAREI Board of Directors include Major General (Ret’d) Joe Singh (Chairman); Dr. Dindyal Permaul; Anjanie Narine; Andrew Forsythe; Natasha Beerjit-Deonarine; Bibi Shadick; Jainarine Narine; Suresh Amichand; Pooran Seeraj; Ricky Roopchand; Christopher Vandeyar; Dr. Garvin Cummings; Porandatt Narine; Raymond Ramsaroop; and Dr. Oudho Homenauth (Ex officio).

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 13, 2021

West Coast Berbice murders

Forensic reports, autopsy videos available to Argentine expert FORENSIC reports and videos of the autopsies conducted on the bodies of the Henry cousins and Haresh Singh, who were brutally killed last September have been made available to Argentine Forensic Anthropologist, Dr. Luis Fondebrider.

This was disclosed by the Home Affairs Ministry in response to a letter headlined, “I never received an offer to view videos of autopsies on murdered West Berbice boys” penned by Dr. Fondebrider that appeared in Stabroek News on Tuesday.

The letter by Dr. Fondebrider claimed that “… at no time did I receive such an offer…” and goes on to state that “During my visit to Guyana, a formal meeting with the minister constituted my only contact with officials since my efforts to meet the pathologist who performed the autopsy and the Crime Chief were not successful.”

According to the ministry, in a release, subject Minister Robeson Benn held a meeting on December 15, 2020, at his office with Dr. Fondebrider and the Ambassador of Argentina to Guyana, Felipe

The ministry noted that Dr. Fondebrider was also advised that should the need arise for assistance from his agency beyond the normal resorts which are employed, contact will be made with him.

From left: Argentine Forensic Anthropologist, Dr. Luis Fondebrider; the Argentine Ambassador to Guyana, Felipe Alejandro Gardella; Permanent Secretary of the Home Affairs Ministry, Mae Toussaint Thomas; Home Affairs Minister, Robeson Benn; and Police Commissioner (ag) Nigel Hoppie during their meeting on December 15, 2020 Alejandro Gardella.

Also present at the meeting were Co-President of the Guyana Human Rights Association, Mike McCormack; Commissioner of Police (ag), Nigel Hoppie; and Crime Chief, Wendell Blanhum.

At this meeting, the ministry noted that Dr. Luis Fondebrider was advised that he would be provided with the videos of the autopsies conducted in relation to the Berbice incidents, and the forensic reports of those autopsies.

OFFER The police, in a separate statement, said that in the same meeting, in the presence of all the attendees, the offer was made for the Guyana Police Force to share with Dr Fondebrider a copy of the videos of the post-mortem examinations conducted on the victims.

To date, the Administration of the Guyana Police Force is not in receipt of a formal response from Dr. Luis Fondebrider as it relates

to that offer, the police statement said.

An offer was also made for Dr. Luis Fondebrider to have a meeting with Dr. Nehaul Singh, the Government Pathologist, who, at the time, was on his way to duty in Lethem, the ministry noted.

However, the meeting with Dr. Nehaul Singh and Dr. Luis Fondebrider did not materialise because it was understood that Dr. Fondebrider was leaving Guyana the very next day, December 16, 2020.

IRRESPONSIBLE Police Public Relations Office (PRO), Assistant Commissioner Royston Andries-Junor deems some of the claims made by the Argentine forensic expert as irresponsible.

“In a matter of this nature that has national importance, it is irresponsible to make such public claims that are contrary to the facts of the reality of what transpired.

This is unfortunate and the intention behind same can easily be inferred. Rest assured that the Guyana Police Force remains committed to ensuring that justice is served in this matter,” the assistant commissioner noted.

The mutilated bodies of the Henry boys were found on September 6, 2020 in the Cotton Tree backdam in West Berbice. Their gruesome murders sparked a week of

violent protests in that region.

On September 9, three days after the Henry boys were found, 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.

A post-mortem found that the Henry boys died from haemorrhage and shock, due to multiple incised wounds.

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.

The post-mortem on Singh indicated that he died from brain haemorrhage and blunt trauma to the head, compounded by compression injuries to the neck.

Parika-Supenaam speedboat operators, passengers adhering to COVID-19 guidelines FOLLOWING a recent upsurge in the number of passengers using the Parika to the Supenaam route, the Parika-Supenaam Speedboat Association has tightened measures to ensure everyone is protected against COVID-19.

No more than three passengers in a seat, and the constant sanitising of life-jackets are among the safety measures being followed by all boat operators.

According to the Association’s Chairman, Otis Roberts, constant monitoring is also ongoing at the port of entry by assigned persons to ensure that the guidelines are being followed.

Roberts said operators are thankful that they are allowed to work despite the pandemic.

He also expressed his gratitude to the Maritime Administration Department

Chairman of the Parika-Supenaam Speedboat Association, Otis Roberts (MARAD) for allowing the Association to operate independently.

He said that under the previous administration, MARAD controlled its operations, and did not include members in the decision-making process.

According to Roberts, decisions are now being made

Speedboats waiting to be loaded at the Supenaam Stelling independently, after consultation with MARAD. “This Association was not running independently under the previous administration; it had Maritime representatives who were authoritative, and controlled everything. I am very happy

that we can now function independently, and manage our affairs,” Roberts said.

Emmanuel Sookram, a boat operator, expressed gratitude to the relevant authorities for allowing them to operate daily. He said he is able to provide for his family

Speedboat operators assisting a passenger into one of the vessels at the Supernaam Stelling amidst the pandemic.

Another boat operator, Curtis Adams, made similar comments. Adams said he is happy that the regional administration has permitted the speedboat service to remain open

during the pandemic. He used the opportunity to remind passengers that all COVID-19 rules must be followed.

No one is allowed in any of the vessels without a mask.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 13, 2021

Region Two could become a major agro-tourism attraction

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–– Regional Chairperson says Dawa pump station to be transformed into a tourist site

By Indrawattie Natram GIVEN that Region Two is home to fascinating farmlands and several agricultural operations, Chairperson Vilma De Silva firmly believes that it can take up the lead role in developing a successful agro-tourism industry in Guyana.

She expressed this view during a recent interview with members of the media at her Anna Regina office.

De Silva said this agricultural-based region can use its vast farmlands and its massive Drainage and Irrigation (D&I) network system to promote itself.

She recalled a recent visit to the state-of-the-art Dawa pump station, located in the backlands of Tapakuma, saying how fascinated she was by the greenness and physical beauty of the Amerindian community.

“Anyone would pay to see that! It’s a beautiful scene; fresh air and won-

derful vegetation. With the right investment, that place can attract many visitors, locally and internationally,” De Silva expressed.

De Silva explained that the Dawa Pump Station is a drainage system with ancient history, having been built in the 1960s, and rehabilitated at a cost of $409M under a European Union (EU) funded project in 2008.

The pump station provides irrigation to 32,500 acres of rice lands on the Essequibo Coast; it has four pumps, and auxiliary engines that were made in Germany and the Netherlands.

De Silva said that apart from the agriculture sector, the tourism industry will flourish in 2021. She pointed out that the region has black-water lakes at Mainstay and Capoey, which can be transformed into huge tourist sites.

Further, she said the Pomeroon area has an abun-

The view from the Dawa pump station

A section of the Dawa pump station

The Dawa pump station located at Tapakuma in Region Two

dance of land that is being utilised for coconut cultivation, and this can be incorporated into the agro-tourism plans.

The Regional Chairperson further explained that she is confident that visitors would want to pay to see such investments, and the way things

are done. She, therefore, said the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) can play its part by developing infrastructure for these tourist sites, to make them comfortable for tourists to visit.

“Region Two has a lot to offer in terms of black water and agri-tourism, but we

need to develop these areas, and it can be a huge revenue earner for the private sector,” she stressed.

The Regional Democratic Council will be working alongside various stakeholders to develop the region’s tourism industry.

Regional Chairperson Vilma Silva

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 13, 2021

‘Men’s Only’ virtual hangout set for January 14 A VIRTUAL safe-space for men to be candid about issues affecting them will be launched by the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security (MoHSSS) on Thursday.

During the first hangout, men will have an opportunity to weigh in on how they are ‘coping with expectations.’

The men’s only forum was conceptualised by Human Services and Social Security Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud, following the ministry’s International Men’s Day rally on November 19, 2020.

“We heard what the men had to say, and it was only fitting for us to devise programmes that are male

driven. Therefore, it was prudent to create a medium where they can open up to each other without judgement; instead, advice and solutions will be given and friendships formed,” Dr. Persaud noted.

The weekly one-hour programme will span over a two-month period, and will attract male panelists from various backgrounds to “engage with the men”.

“This is not a forum where men will be lectured. It will be a relaxed atmosphere where men in various environments can relate their anxieties, experiences and encourage each other,” Minister Persaud explained, adding: “Under the direction of mentors and experts, we

want men to walk away from these sessions with a better understanding of how to address their insecurities, coping mechanisms and gain fresh perspectives and advice in their personal development.”

Feedback from the sessions will be reviewed and integrated into existing and future programmes developed by the Gender Affairs Bureau (GAB) for men.

Manager of the GAB, Adel Lilly, and Senior Gender Affairs Officer, Diego Alphonso, will host the sessions.

Each session, which will be hosted via ZOOM, will begin at 18:00 hours.

Every Monday, the topic for the week will be up-

loaded to the Ministry’s Facebook page: https:// www.facebook.com/ mhsssgy.

The link for the Zoom hangout: meeting1@ mhsss.gov.gy, password: 2020#Video (DPI)

Man gets 36 months jail for illegal firearm and ‘ammo’ A man, who admitted being in possession of an illegal gun and matching ammunition, was, on Tuesday, fined $100, 000 and sentenced to 36 months in prison by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

Jonathan McKenzie pleaded guilty to the two firearm-related charges during his appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

The charges stated that, on January 10, at Lot 69 Cross and Durban Streets, Werk - en - Rust, Georgetown, McKenzie had in his possession one .32 Taurus pistol and four live .32 rounds of ammunition when he was not the holder of a firearm licence at the time.

According to the facts, on the day in question, police were given information concerning McKenzie having a gun in his possession. In response, ranks visited the location mentioned in the charge. Shortly after arriving, the ranks observed McKenzie, who was at the front of the building, holding his right-side pants waist.

He then entered a glass door at the bottom flat of the building where a small apartment is located. The ranks, who chased after McKenzie, observed him putting the firearm in the top drawer of a vanity.

Police took possession of the weapon which, when checked, had four live rounds of ammunition in the magazine. McKenzie was told of the offence and then cautioned (told of his rights). He admitted that he owns the firearm and ammunition. McKenzie was arrested and escorted to the Brickdam Police Station where he gave a statement under caution.

Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan fined McKenzie $50,000 and sentenced him to 18 months in prison for each charge laid against him.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 13, 2021

Lawrence-Bond ‘connection’ under scrutiny by SOCU

By Richard Bhainie

FORMER Minister of Public Health and chairperson of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R), Volda Lawrence, made an appearance at the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) headquarters on Tuesday morning.

Speaking to members of the media outside the Camp Road, Georgetown location, Lawrence said that her visit to SOCU pertained to clarifying a transaction with her name attached to it.

“It’s not anything really,

NICIL, which was presiding over the leasing of the lands.

Two businessmen embroiled in the scandal – Life 1 Pharms Inc. Director, Avalon Jagnandan, and Director of A-Z Pharmaceuticals Medical Supplies and Equipment Inc., Eddie Doolal – were also arrested and, reportedly, told investigators that it was Bond who facilitated the deals which saw 30 acres of prime State lands being transferred to Chinese, Jianfen Yu. The businessmen had reportedly disclosed to police that it was Bond who

Former Minister of Public Health and chairperson of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R), Volda Lawrence, leaving SOCU (Adrian Narine photo) it’s just a clarification of a transaction that had my name on it and that was basically it; I decided that I will come in, I wouldn’t speak to people on the phone because I don’t know who I‘m talking to,” Lawrence said.

A reliable source revealed that Lawrence was hauled before SOCU to assist with the investigations pertaining to the award of State lands at Peter’s Hall, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

Attorney-at-law, James Bond, and National Industrial & Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) former Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Colvin Heath-London, are also being investigated in relation to the same matter.

Bond is accused of benefitting from land deals emanating from the sale of State lands while purportedly looking after the interest of the

encouraged them to startup pharmaceutical companies and apply to NICIL to acquire lands; also that it was Bond, not them, who received a hefty payoff from both deals, amounting to more than $100M. Bond also reportedly received a US$1M payment from Trinidad logistics company, Lennox Petroleum, for the sale of 10 acres of land leased to ARKEN Group Inc. In that deal, ARKEN and its principal leased from NICIL 20.3 acres of land at Peter’s Hall on May 9, 2018, for a 20-year period at US$16,224 per year.

ARKEN later sold the 10 acres to local logistics company, GLASS Holdings Inc. on October 10, 2019, for $200M. The source disclosed that the said transaction Lawrence was questioned about had to do with the account

of James Bond and involves the transfer of a large sum of money.

The source also disclosed that suspicions were raised with regards to the relation between Lawrence and Bond; and Lawrence’s capacity as Minister of Health and the companies being

pharmaceutical in nature.

When questioned by reporters whether there is a link between the lands giveaway scandal and her appearance at SOCU, Lawrence said “I don’t thief, I don’t deh in thieving nothing, underhand nothing, overhand nothing.”

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Former Minister of Public Health and chairperson of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R), Volda Lawrence arriving at SOCU (Adrian Narine photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 13, 2021

Aquaculture masterplan in crafting stage, says President

PRESIDENT, Dr. Irfaan Ali, said government is in the process of formulating an aquaculture masterplan which will form part of the country’s agriculture diversification programme.

The Head of State made this disclosure on Monday during a site visit to the Pritipaul Singh Investment Inc. (PSI) Providence facility, where he viewed plans underway for the company’s expanded operations.

“As you know, we are supposed to have a conference on aquaculture; so we are putting together the plans for an aquaculture masterplan and to identify one corridor. Right now we

are looking at Region Five because they have all the right conditions for aquaculture… also we are looking at other areas as part of the diversified economy that we’re talking about.”

President Ali initially announced plans for the hosting of the high-level aquaculture conference while speaking at the Guyana/European Union joint press conference on December 10, 2020, where he explained that the conference would help Guyana define a “pathway as to how we can develop the aquaculture industry to the extent that we are globally competitive and become a serious player in

the market.”

During the site visit on Monday, President Ali used the opportunity to elaborate on particulars of the plan.

“So the plan is to build up aquaculture to increase our production, to increase volume, reduce cost… of course in another three years our energy costs will come down. But we are also looking at value added in the protein plant from natural gas to see how that can also support not only the livestock industry but the aquaculture industry.”

On this note, the President pointed to the importance of finding a “synergy” in both the aquaculture and

livestock industry.

“We have to look at the output of the livestock industry as an input to the aquaculture industry and to see how you can first of all build the capacity, increase the volume, get the market and then satisfy that capacity with local inputs. That is the master plan in a nutshell.”

He said that talks between government and the livestock industry have unearthed a desire for them to diversify and enter into corn and soya production.

Meanwhile, PSI’s CEO, Pritipaul Singh assured the Head of State that the government can count on PSI as a driving force to sup-

port the aquaculture drive.

He said too that part of his company’s responsibility in building Guyana’s economy lies in supporting fishermen and those in the industry.

Singh lauded the President for his commitment to developing the country’s aquaculture sector.

“I like what you said that you have a master plan and in this master plan if we can have the studies done to support all the stages in the development of the sector… you can count on PSI as a driving force to support this aquaculture drive. You have our 100 per cent support,” the CEO said.

President Ali and his

President, Dr. Irfaan Ali team were taken on a guided tour of PSI’s expanding operations at Providence, they were also privy to firsthand experience of the processing of shrimp, fish and tuna at the Mc Doom facility.

PSI is a diversified fish and shrimp processing producer in Guyana.

Their operations consist of several entities which aid in the harvesting, processing, packaging and storage of seafoods.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 13, 2021

National Stadium is owned by the people of Guyana, not a particular sport – Minister Ramson

By Rawle Toney

FOLLOWING reports in various sections of the media

by Manager of the Guyana National Stadium, Anthony Xavier, that the December 29 – January 1 Kashif and Shanghai tournament has ‘badly damaged’ the pitch at Guyana’s lone international cricket facility, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr, has double-down on the fact that the venue belongs to the people of Guyana and not a particular entity.

“Let’s be clear that the Guyana National Stadium is not owned by anyone; it’s owned by the people of the country. It’s not owned by any sport; it is owned by the various sports which require its usage in order for them to

be able to advance their standing nationally and globally,” Ramson told reporters, after wrapping up a visit with other members of his ministry, to Guyana National Stadium.

The football tournament, hosted at Guyana National Stadium, saw the return of the Kashif and Shanghai tournament.

The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) saw the event as part of its UEFA ‘BounceBack’ Programme as well as preparation for the Qatar World Cup qualifiers, which will kick off on March 25 against Trinidad and Tobago.

Facts show that it has been almost four years since football was last hosted at Guyana National Stadium, prior to December 29, while cricket was last played at the end of February last year.

Government of Guyana ...

we are not engaging with them formally because we do not recognise them as the legitimate body representing cricket in Guyana on a National basis, until they are compliant with the Act.” “There is a court decision that will come in a matter of a couple of days which will direct when those elections are held but until that occurs, we are not engaging any illegitimate body,” Ramson reaffirmed.

Meanwhile, Minister Ramson, an Attorney-at-Law by profession, reiterated that as Minister of Sport, he intends to work with all stakeholders of the ‘Gentleman’s Game’, in an effort to preserve the rich history of Cricket in Guyana, and safeguard the future of the sport.

Ramson had stated that it is not for him to “cherry-pick individuals who would represent Guyana’s interest, it is the process that is important to me. I’ve said that to all of the

stakeholders and that is what I intend to stick by.”

Based on the Act, the first elections of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) by law should be called by the Minister of Sport in consultation with the West Indies Cricket Board (now Cricket West Indies).

A section of the Act also addressed the issue of phantom voting for the election of persons for administrative positions and at the same time will give limited power to the Minister of Sport. The role of the minister under the legislation will be only to appoint the Ombudsman and his role ceases.

The Act, as a previous article in Chronicle Sport had pointed out, also provides for better financial accountability with the cricket board being required to present timely audited financial reports to the National Assembly, as well as the National Sports Commission (NSC).

There’s no immediate plan to host cricket at the venue, but Secretary of the Guyana Cricket Board (GBB), Annand Sanasie, was quoted in an article: “Nowhere in the world would anyone play club football on an international cricket ‘square’ (area where the pitches are laid) in the rain.

“We wrote to the Stadium last week to seek permission for usage to prepare the 50-over Regional squad with some game assimilation sessions. We are yet to get a response.”

“It is brought to my attention, that a body that calls themselves the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), wrote to the Management of the Stadium on January 6, to request the usage of the Guyana National Stadium in order for them to get ready

for the Regional Super50,” Minister Ramson said.

He added that “in any event, I’m advised, the groundsmen require three weeks notice, in order for them to get the pitch squared in a ready condition for them to get to use it.”

Xavier, according to a Kaieteur News article, said “the six pitches on the square and almost the entire playing area on the ground, including the bowler’s run-ups are in a terrible condition due to the football which was played there in the rain”.

However, Ramson was perplexed after his visit yesterday. The ground staff at the stadium showed a different picture to what was reported.

Ramson believes that the report was a “concerted attempt to malign the ministry

and also to prevent the use of the national stadium for football.”

According to Ramson, “The GFF is required to also be prepared for their World Cup preparation and representation which is going to be in March of this year.”

“There is no damage to this pitch to stop its usage in its normal preparatory timing.

So then the question is, why would there then be a disconcerted attempt, to malign the stadium and the ministry, only for the usage of cricket and persons who are favoured,” the minister stressed Ramson lamented, that in order for the people of the country to have maximum usage of the Guyana National Stadium, “We have to be able to have activities for people to actually use it.”

Pogba strike sends Man United top of Premier League PAUL Pogba’s second-half volley was enough to give Manchester United victory at Burnley and send them three points clear at the top of the Premier League.

United dominated a contest in which Burnley failed to register a single shot on target until stoppage time.

But they were struggling to make a breakthrough until Marcus Rashford picked Pogba out with an excellent cross to the edge of the area.

The Frenchman’s connection was perfect, although it took a deflection off Matthew Lowton to ensure the ball went past Nick Pope and into the Burnley net.

Although Burnley had three decent chances in a frantic ending, United secured the win to head the table after 17 rounds of

matches.

It is the first time that has happened this many games into the season since December 2012, in Sir Alex Ferguson’s final, title-winning campaign.

NEW TERRITORY FOR POST-FERGUSON UNITED In the seven seasons since Ferguson retired, United have never been higher than second at this stage of the season.

But they were already well adrift of Manchester City during that 201718 campaign under Jose Mourinho.

Surprisingly, in points terms, the nearest they have been to the top at this stage was under David Moyes, when they were eighth but only eight points

behind the leaders after 17 games.

They made hard work of their ninth win in 11 Premier League games. On his return from a three-match ban, Edinson Cavani wasted two excellent chances and Bruno Fernandes fired a first-half effort straight at Nick Pope.

Anthony Martial was off target with two first-half chances before failing to convert in the final seconds after he had been sent clean through.

None of this matters now though and, while manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was right to say nobody remembers what the table looks like in January, Pogba’s clenched fist as Burnley’s last chance went begging indicated the importance of these three points. (BBC Sport)

‘No pool, no room service, no housekeeping’ … Indians upset with DIY life at Brisbane hotel

By Nagraj Gollapudi

MAKING the bed. Cleaning the toilet. No room service. Ordering food on apps. No access to the swimming pool.

Not only will Ajinkya Rahane’s India have to deal with the mounting injuries on the field, they will also have to contend with new house - and housekeeping - rules on the final leg of their Australian journey. And it has rankled the Indian camp, who - along with the Australians - landed in Brisbane yesterday afternoon for the final Test at the Gabba, starting Friday.

India were very reluctant to travel to Brisbane because of a combination of factors. The big one was the fear of being restricted in their hotel rooms when not at the ground, reminiscent of the two-week hard quarantine the visitors observed upon landing in

Sydney in November.

However, through lengthy deliberations over the past few weeks, Cricket Australia has assured BCCI that the Indian squad would not have to deal with a hard quarantine. As an example, though their movement would still be restricted between the hotel and the Gabba, they would be able to mingle in the team room. That finally paved the way for India agreeing to travel to Brisbane.

What annoyed the squad, though, was discovering on their arrival at the team hotel that there would be no housekeeping.

More than one person in the Indian camp said they had never been told about the DIY life at the hotel. Although they were not allowed to roam freely in Sydney during the third Test either, they had room service and housekeeping facilities at the hotel. Here, not so. “There is a gym, a basic one,”

one person said. “No pool, no room service, no housekeeping.”

There is no in-house food or beverage option at the hotel either.

It is understood that an external contractor has been hired to provide catering to the two teams but they cannot order anything customised. They do have the option, though, of ordering via food apps.

One reason behind the absence of housekeeping and other hotel staff could be that the BCCI had told CA it would want the Indian squad to fly out of Brisbane immediately after the Test. To ensure maximum safeguards, it is possible CA agreed to having the bare minimum hotel staff to avoid unnecessary contact with a person outside the bio-secure environment.

However,AA the Indian camp is not satisfied with the arrangements, especially considering there are some players travelling

with families.

The other major point of irritation for the Indian camp is the ban on using the hotel pool.

Several players with niggles or injuries, including key bowlers - Jasprit Bumrah and R Ashwin - would want to utilise the swimming pool as part of the recovery process. However, the pools are off limits because of the fear of community spread of the COVID-19 virus.

The Indians were also afraid of being asked to isolate for a further two weeks on their return to India from Brisbane because of one reported case of a person being infected by the new UKstrain of the virus in Brisbane.

That would have affected their plans for the home series against England, starting February 5.

As of now, though, there is no ban on travellers flying into India from Brisbane. (Cricinfo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 13, 2021

Inaugural President’s T20 Softball tournament set for March … Dr Irfaan Ali to attend launching on January 29 FOLLOWING on the heels of the successful staging of the fourth edition of the Prime Minister’s Softball Cup in November last year, Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc. (GSCL), in collaboration with Guyana’s ‘Honorary Consul’ in Florida, will be staging the inaugural President’s T20 Softball Cricket Tournament scheduled for the weekend of March 5, 6 and 7 in Guyana.

Unlike the Prime Minister’s Cup, GSCL is making strenuous efforts to attract teams from New York, Florida and Canada and invitations have been sent out to these overseas organisations.

President Dr Irfaan Ali has reportedly consented to attend the tournament’s launching which is set for Everest Cricket Club (ECC) pavilion on Friday, January 29 at 17:00hrs. Interested teams are also required to confirm their participation on the said date.

The tournament will be played in three categories: Open (any age), Masters

(Over 40 years old) and teams in each category are Legends (Over 50 years guaranteed entrance to the old). According to the or- tournament. ganisers, they are aiming Interested teams are to have a minimum of eight asked to contact Russell teams per category, includ- Jadbeer on 225-4802, 626ing teams from overseas.

8228.

There is no entrance fee Meanwhile, GSCL is to participate. Howconfident of gaining the ever, it is expected approval of the Nathat all participating tional COVID-19 Task teams will be in full Force and has written uniform and also the body seeking its have a scorer. The approval. It has adorganisers will envised the body that sure the venues are due to the ongoing up to standard, virus, the tourappoint umnament will be pires, prorestricted to vide lunchECC, Guyana es, water Police Force, and balls Guyana Dethroughout fence Force and the tournaQueen’s Colment. lege grounds.

President Dr Irfaan Ali T h e The GSCL winning teams in each cat- stressed that all the neegory will receive $500 000 cessary guidelines by the and a trophy while the run- Task Force were adhered ners-up will collect $100 000 to during the staging of and a trophy. There will be the Prime Minister’s Cup other incentives (trophies) in November and assured for individual performances that same will be done as well and teams are re- for the President’s Cup, minded only the first eight i n c l u d i n g h a v i n g t w o

Abdominal strain ends Bumrah’s Australia sojourn

… sustained while fielding during SCG Test INDIAN fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out of the fourth and final Test, starting January 15 at The Gabba in Brisbane.

The speedster suffered an abdominal strain while fielding during the third SCG Test and won’t be able to recover in time for India’s final game on the tour.

However, the Ahmedabad-born is set to attain the desired fitness levels for India’s home campaign against England that starts a few weeks after the conclusion on the ongoing tour. India’s home series versus the Three Lions gets underway on February 5.

“Jasprit Bumrah suffered an abdominal strain while fielding in Sydney.

He is going to sit out the Brisbane Test but is expected to be available against England,” a BCCI source was quoted as saying in Outlook.

Bumrah not being there invariably means that either Shardul Thakur or T. Natarajan will play the final Test. Even as Shardul came in as Mohammed Shami’s replacement, the left-armer

Natarajan got his maiden Test call-up after Umesh Yadav was ruled out of the Sydney and Brisbane Tests.

It goes without saying India’s pace attack has been severely weakened after missing out on the quartet of Shami, Umesh, Bumrah and Ishant Sharma. Due to the trail of injuries, the visitors have already handed Mohammed Siraj and Navdeep Saini their maiden Test caps.

India are to win the 2020-21 edition of the Border Gavaskar Trophy.

In the absence of all their experienced pacers, a lot will depend on spinner Ravi Ashwin. Going into the last Test, India have reasons to worry about as they are yet to win a single Test at The Gabba out of six matches, losing five of them.

The Aussies, on the other hand, have won over

India fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah is ruled out of the Brisbane Test

And after Bumrah not being there, one of Thakur and Natarajan will be having a massive task of filling the void. Saini and Siraj have been fairly impressive thus far, but they will have to bring forth their A-game if

40 Tests at the venue and have numbers in their favour. However, the visitors would be high on confidence especially after the resilience they showed in the third Sydney Test.

(CricTracker)

certified medical doctors present at the venues to

screen all players and to ensure they are wearing

masks and are sanitised upon entry.

30

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 13, 2021

Court shuts FIFA out of case investigating Infantino ZURICH, Switzerland (Reuters) - Global soccer body FIFA has failed to win access to case files compiled by the special prosecutor named last year to handle an investigation into its president Gianni Infantino and his dealings with Switzerland’s former attorney general.

Special prosecutor Stefan Keller in July opened criminal proceedings over undocumented meetings Infantino and former top prosecutor Michael Lauber held while Lauber’s office investigated alleged corruption in world soccer.

Infantino and Lauber, who has since resigned, have

denied any wrongdoing.

FIFA’s ethics committee cleared Infantino in August of any code breaches.

In a verdict released yesterday, the Federal Criminal Court rejected FIFA’s request for access to files in the investigation as a third party directly involved in the proceedings.

FIFA, which complained that opening a criminal case against its president had damaged its reputation, had argued that Keller was unauthorised to start such proceedings and appealed against his decision to deny FIFA’s bid to see case files.

In a statement, FIFA said

Keller had given “a misleading impression that something illegal or untoward may have happened when the FIFA

FIFA president Gianni Infantino

president met with the former Attorney General of Switzerland. Any such suggestion or implication is entirely rejected.”

It said neither FIFA nor Infantino had been informed about alleged wrongdoing nor had the FIFA president been given any opportunity to respond.

“FIFA and the FIFA President will, of course, continue to cooperate with this investigation, assuming they are ever given the chance to do so,” it added.

Infantino was elected in 2016 to clean up FIFA after it became embroiled in a corruption scandal.

Smith’s runs in Sydney see him narrow gap to Williamson STEVE Smith’s player-ofthe-match performance at the SCG has seen him leapfrog Virat Kohli into second place on the official Test batting rankings but the Australia still trails New Zealand captain Kane Williamson.

Smith scored 131 and 81 in the drawn third Vodafone Test in Sydney, a performance that saw him move ahead of Kohli on 900 rating points, 19 points behind Williamson, who posted 238 against Pakistan in Christchurch.

Williamson’s tally of 919 points is the highest by any New Zealand batter ever, four more than the previous best of 915, also set by the Kiwi skipper in December 2018.

Smith wasn’t the only Australian to move up the

rankings, with fast bowler Josh Hazlewood climbing three places to be the fifth-

While individual rankings are updated after every Test, the team rankings are

Head coach Misbah-ul-Haq (centre) has come under fire over Pakistan’s defeats in New Zealand

PAKISTAN coach Misbah-ul-Haq said his fate was in the hands of the country’s cricket authorities after their New Zealand series defeat prompted speculation about his future.

Misbah, who has lost all three away Test series in his 15 months in charge, blamed an extended stay in New Zealand coronavirus isolation for the latest failure.

“I will brief the cricket committee … and it’s their right what they suggest to the board,” he told reporters.

Pakistan lost the Twenty20 series 2-1 and went down heavily in both Tests. They have also lost Test series in Australia and England under Misbah.

The New Zealand tour started badly when six players tested positive on arrival and the team were confined to their hotel. They were later warned for breaching coronavirus restrictions by mingling.

“We had to spend 18 to 19 days in the rooms, we could not do anything, not even running. We were in rooms and just walking in the rooms,” Misbah said.

“Leave aside our situation, it (COVID) is affecting all touring teams and you must be seeing that performances are up and down and injuries are there.”

Pakistan, whose captain Babar Azam was sidelined with a broken thumb, lost the first Test by 101 runs and the second by an innings and 176 runs.

South Africa Racing Tips Scottsville 08:20 hrs Alsflaminbeauty 08:55 hrs Matadora’s Parade 09:35 hrs Silva Magic 10:05 hrs Socrates 10:40 hrs Kileigh’s Fate Steve Smith scored 131 and 81 in the drawn third Vodafone Test

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Hazlewood claimed fig-

Pakistan coach Misbah under fire after New Zealand flop

ANSWERS TO YESTERDAY’S QUIZ: Shiv Chandrepaul-164 Tests Chris Gayle-298 ODIs

TODAY’S QUIZ:

(1) Who has scored most Test runs for the WI to date?

(2) Who has scored most ODI runs for the WI to date?

ANSWERS ANSWER S IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

ures of 4-82 against India to replace teammate Mitch Starc at No.5 (Starc had dropped to No.8) while Pat Cummins’ five wickets at the SCG saw him edge further clear at the top of the Test bowling rankings.

Unbelievable! Hazlewood brilliance runs out Vihari.

Marnus Labuschagne, who produced scores of 91 and 73 in Sydney, is now only four ranking points shy of Kohli in third place, and another good outing at the Gabba – his home turf – in the fourth Test could see him surpass the India superstar.

updated at the conclusion of each series.

With Australia and India locked at 1-1, the outcome of the fourth and final Test will have significant implications on the rankings.

A win to Tim Paine’s men will see them regain the No.1 ranking on 119 rating points, one clear of New Zealand, who took top spot for the first time after their 2-0 series win over Pakistan.

However, an India win will move them up to second and Australia to third on 113 points, while a draw will see no change to the table. (Cricket.com.au)

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31

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 13, 2021

Players have the right to choose, affirms Windies head coach DHAKA, Bangladesh (CMC) – Head coach Phil Simmons said yesterday he could not question the decision of any player who chose not to tour amid the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking for the first time since 10 first-choice players opted out of the One-Day International and Test series beginning next week, Simmons said regardless of the decisions players made, they possessed the right to determine whether they were comfortable playing in the prevailing conditions.

“I can’t say if it was the wrong call for them,” Simmons told an online media conference.

“Everybody has their reasons and their opinions on things. Their choices were made in consultation with whoever they con-

sulted with, and they think that’s the decision for them so I can’t decide what’s best for anyone else but Phil Simmons.”

He added: “All of our players were given that option (of declining selection) from the first series. Some chose it in the first series, some chose it in the last series and some in this series.

“People have different reasons for doing things and I can’t pre-judge or judge anyone’s reason for not going on a tour.”

Test captain Jason Holder and white-ball skipper Kieron Pollard were the two biggest named included in the exodus, due to what Cricket West Indies (CWI) labelled “COVID-related concerns or personal fears”.

Also included in the group were Darren Bravo, Roston Chase, Shamarh

Brooks, Sheldon Cottrell, Shai Hope, Nicholas Pooran, Shimron Hetmyer and Evin Lewis.

The pullout by players came despite assurances from CWI that the series could proceed safely, following a report provided by Dr Akshai Mansingh, a member of its medical advisory committee, who carried out an overview of the protocols and facilities during a reconnaissance trip here last November.

Yesterday, health authorities here confirmed another 718 new cases of COVID-19 and 16 deaths, taking the overall infections to just over 524 000 and the death toll to 7 819.

West Indies arrived here Sunday and have spent the last three days in isolation.

All players and officials have so far tested negative and training is expected to get

underway today.

Simmons said the protocols to date had been a replica of recent tours of England and New Zealand last year.

protocols in the other two places we went to,” he pointed out.

West Indies lost the threeTest series to England last

West Indies head coach Phil Simmons

“So far the protocols have been good. The first three days we’ve been in our rooms and were supplied with breakfast, lunch and dinner, so it’s the same

July, going down 2-1, and failed to win a single game in the Twenty20 International and Test series in New Zealand.

And though conceding

the COVID-19 environment brought with it challenges, Simmons backed his players to be focussed and ready to give 100 per cent on the current tour.

“It’s definitely not easy to be away from home in times like this for any of us but at the same time, the two series we played in once we got there, everything was given, every effort was put into the series and preparation was done in the right way,” he explained.

“We may not have had the results we wanted but we’ve put everything into it and it’s going to be the same for this series. No series away is easy these days but we’re here to give all.”

West Indies face Bangladesh in three ODIs from January 20 to 25 and in two Tests from February 3 to 15.

GBA, St Rose’s High host successful Air Badminton programme

GBA president Gokarn Ramdhani along with students of St Rose’s High during the recent Air Badminton programme

CWI pays tribute to Vivalyn Latty-Scott ST JOHN’S, Antigua Cricket West Indies (CWI) yesterdy paid tribute to Vivalyn Latty-Scott, the outstanding West Indies all-rounder and pioneer for women’s cricket in the Caribbean, who sadly passed away on Saturday.

She was a member of the first West Indies team to play a women’s Test match in 1976 against Australia and also served as an inspirational leader in the game in Jamaica.

After retirement she served as a coach at all levels and also an umpire.

During her career as an off-spinner and right-handed batter, Latty-Scott played 10 Test matches and six

One-Day Internationals. She was the first West Indian women to take five wickets in a Test innings – 5 for 48 off 41 overs on debut against the Australians in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

Ann Browne-John, CWI’s Lead Selector for women’s cricket and a former international player noted: “It is with great sadness we heard of the passing of Vivalyn Latty-Scott. She was always a fierce competitor and took her cricket very seriously.

She taught us how to put our all into the game and paved the way for what we see today. She was an excellent cricketer. She was truly one of the stalwarts of wom-

en’s cricket in the Caribbean.”

Dorothy Hobson, who played alongside Latty-Scott for Jamaica and West Indies described her as a “dedicated and committed cricketer and lifelong fan of the game”.

Louise Browne, the first West Indies women’s Test captain hailed Latty-Scott as a “passionate player with amazing knowledge of the game”.

“When I started as captain, ‘Latty’ was one of the senior members of that first West Indies women’s team and she excelled with bat and ball. Whenever I put the ball in her hand I had the confidence she would produce good figures and she never disappointed.

THE Guyana Badminton Association (GBA) got its 2021 season off to a smash with the official launch of Air Badminton.

Monday’s event was held at the new outdoor space of the St Rose’s High School. This marked the second official promotion since the initial launch at the National Park two weeks ago.

GBA president Gokarn Ramdhani and his team donated a number of racquets, shuttlecocks and nets to help boost the progress of the programme.

St Rose’s High sports coordinator, Alque Stanley, teamed up with Ramdhani and company as part of the introductory stages of Air Badminton.

The team also helped the students of St Rose’s High to have an interest in badminton especially since some of them will be writing Physical Education for CSEC. Mr Stanley has been a part of the programme within the last few years.

Meanwhile, GBA will continue to introduce AIR Badminton across the country while following COVID-19 Guidelines.

… hailed as pioneer of women’s cricket She was passionate about the game and was always aware of the statistics and what the team required. When the history of women’s cricket is updated, Vivalyn must be mentioned among the outstanding players,” Browne said.

Hobson said: “She was a great captain for Jamaica and a great player for the West Indies. She was a complete player with bat and ball, equally adept at both skills.

Cricket was ‘her game’, she was a dedicated and committed cricketer and she always had a dream of doing great things for the West Indies. Her legacy is that she contributed to the game at

Vivalyn Latty-Scott

all levels - boys, girls, men and women - she made a great impact at all levels.”

Stafanie Taylor, the current women’s captain and most successful women’s player in West Indies history also paid tribute to Latty-Scott.

“I have known this amazing lady from when I went on my first tour with the Jamaica team and she was very helpful to me.

She set a trail in women’s cricket and she played a very important role in my development and inspired many young cricketers in Jamaica to play the game and to excel. We all admired and respected her.”

Government of Guyana deems current GCB illegitimate

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr

… Minister Ramson signals court order to have elections in keeping with Cricket Administration Act

By Rawle Toney

FOLLOWING the restoration of the Cricket Administration Act last September, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr, said he will not be engaging the current Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) on matters relating to the game, calling the body ‘illegitimate’.

Minister Ramson, addressing reporters at the Guyana National Stadium, was stern in his comment that his ministry, and by extension the Government of Guyana, “does not recognise the body that calls themselves the Guyana Cricket Board, as the legitimate body that is supposed

to represent Cricket in Guyana”.

Under former Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr Frank Anthony (now Minister of Health), the Act was tabled in 2014 and sought to firstly make it legal for GCB to be established as a corporate body comprising the Demerara, Essequibo and Berbice cricket boards, all of which will also be made corporate entities.

Behind Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson, Government won an appeal against a High Court injunction at the Appellate Court, which now paves the way for the restoration of the Cricket Administration Act. “Since the restoration of the Act, until there

is an election where the persons who are elected to hold those positions in accordance with the Act;, until that occurs, the ministry is not engaging with a body that does not comply with the laws of Guyana,” Ramson stated.

The minister further pointed out, “that’s why, since the restoration of the Act, we have not engaged with the body that calls themselves the GCB and even though we have not done anything that would disallow them from carrying out activities, TURN TO PAGE 28 SEE PAGE 28

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr, during his visit to the Guyana National Stadium on January 12 (Photo compliments: Franklin Wilson)

National Stadium is owned by the people of Guyana, not a particular sport – Minister Ramson

Guyanese Persaud-McKinnon appointed to chair WAA Gender Equity Committee ARCHERY Guyana continues to make strides in the international arena, this time through its Secretary-General Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon, who was appointed Chair of the World Archery Americas (WAA) inaugural five-member Committee to deal with gender-equity matters in our continent.

The creation of this committee is an important step towards enhancing equal involvement of both genders in all archery-related areas.

Its members will coordinate with World Archery’s homonymous committee and Pan Am Sports’ Women SEE PAGE 31

in Sports Committee. The Committee is comprised of Persaud-McKinnon (Chair), Barbara Hernandez (DOM), Natalia Londoño (COL) Maria Andrea Mejicanos (GUA) and Cesar Otarola (CHI).

S p e a k i n g w i t h P e rsaud-McKinnon on her appointment, she said: “I’m very honoured, this is a big honour personally and for Guyana in the whole. It’s really going to put us on the map.

Persons have known about Guyana and it’s exciting to see what we have and what we can change and what we can transform.

“I have been very passionate about gender-equity issues, so this is exciting to hear the best practices from other countries on what we can do and what we can develop and put in place not just for us, but for the entire continent.”

The ecstatic Chair also disclosed that the committee convened its inaugural meeting on January 12, 2021 which she pointed out was very successful.

Touching lightly on a few important topics they reviewed during the meeting, she stated: “Well gender-equity is part of what we looked at today because

we said we need to reach out to all the National Archery bodies and do a statistics percentage to see how many women are in control; how many women take part in events; how many women medal, how many women are prize-winners and then we need to evaluate, why?.”

“We also don’t want to just pull numbers and say something should have half men and half women, because that’s sexist in itself. You should not just hold a position because you are a woman, you must have the skillset and you must qualify for it and that goes with everything.”

Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon has been appointed Chair of the World Archery America’s Gender Equity Committee

Players have the right to choose, affirms Windies head coach

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2021