Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 15-03-2021

MONDAY 15th March, 2021

'

2021 a promising No.106301

year for O&G sector –– with 16 exploration wells planned

See story on page 03

–– each discovery so far holds, on average, 300M barrels of oil equivalent, says Rystad

Senior citizens take COVID-19 'jab' See story on page 11

Girl, 19, stabbed to death

PAGE

09

Boy, 11, diagnosed with end-stage renal disease 11 PAGE

Owner of SleepIn Hotel arrested again Nurse Tamika Threlfall administers a shot of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine to a senior citizen, on Sunday, at the Ministry of Health secretariat on Brickdam, Georgetown (Elvin Croker photo)

-plans to take legal action

PAGE

04

2

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 15, 2021

3

2021 a promising year for O&G sector

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 15, 2021

–– with 16 exploration wells planned –– each discovery so far holds on average 300M barrels of oil equivalent, says Rystad

By Navendra Seoraj WITH 16 exploration wells planned for this year, Norwegian independent energy research and business intelligence firm, Rystad Energy, has said that 2021 holds “a lot of promise” for Guyana’s burgeoning petroleum sector.

Oil giant, ExxonMobil, operator of the Stabroek, Canje and Kaieteur blocks offshore Guyana will be spearheading the local exploration activities, having already set an ambitious divestment target of $15 billion by expelling mature assets in Asia, Europe and Africa, so as to prioritise investments in “high-value” assets such as Stabroek.

According to Rystad Energy, the company’s drilling activity will focus on “firming up” resources in the southeastern part of the Stabroek Block, where deeper plays have been observed underneath the existing discoveries.

The Stabroek Block is 6.6 million acres (26,800 square kilometers), with current discovered recoverable resources estimated at more than nine billion oil-equivalent barrels. The 18 discoveries on the block to date have established the potential for at least five floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels producing more than 750,000 barrels of oil per day by 2026.

ExxonMobil’s first offshore Guyana project, Liza Phase One, began producing in late 2019, well ahead of the industry average for development time. Liza Phase Two remains on track to begin producing oil by early 2022.

Liza Phase Two will produce up to 220,000 barrels of oil per day at peak rates, using the Liza Unity FPSO. Recently, the oil giant, following an agreement

four FPSO vessels to develop the existing resources within the block.

Noble Sam Croft (Photo courtesy of Noble Corporation)

with the Government of Guyana, decided to proceed with the Payara field development offshore Guyana.

Payara is ExxonMobil’s third project in the Stabroek Block, and is expected to produce up to 220,000 barrels of oil per day, after start-up in 2024, using the FPSO vessel. The US$9 billion development will target an estimated resource base of about 600 million oil-equivalent barrels.

“Rystad Energy data suggests that close to 300 million barrels of oil equivalent has been discovered on average for each exploration well (wildcat and appraisal) drilled in the country over the past six years,” Analyst attached to Rystad Energy’s upstream team, Santosh Kumar, said in a recent report.

This aside, with around 16 exploration wells planned, including some in riskier frontier regions, 2021 holds a lot of promise, Kumar said. And, not only is ExxonMobil “firming up” resources in the southeastern part of the Stabroek block, it is also eyeing the unexplored northwestern parts of the block. In addition, work is also lined up for the Canje Block.

MORE DRILL SHIPS Additionally, according to Rystad Energy, ExxonMobil’s fleet of contracted drill ships in Guyana is set to increase to six with the arrival of the Noble Sam Croft in April, 2021. The company is expected to ramp up drilling activities, as it plans to have at least five FPSO vessels online by 2026.

Rystad believes that drilling results will be eagerly watched by the services industry, as more exploration success off Guyana would translate into welcomed opportunities after the market slump of 2020.

The country’s oil-andgas-sector is already pumping finances into its Natural Resources Fund (NRF), with some US$61,090,968 (approximately G$13B) being earned from the sale of the nation’s fifth oil lift.

The Government, in keeping with its commitment to accountability and transparency in the petroleum sector, has announced that

The year’s first completed well, Bulletwood-1, in the Canje block, encountered quality reservoirs but non-commercial hydrocarbons, according to Westmount Energy, which holds a stake in Canje partner JHI Associates.

The well was targetting more than 500 million barrels of mean prospective resources in a prospect similar to Liza in the neighboring Stabroek block. On the Can-

to drill two wells in 2021 in addition to the non-commercial Bulletwood-1 find, with the Jabillo-1 well already in progress.

The Stena DrillMAX arrived recently and initiated drilling activities on the Longtail-2 appraisal well, while the Stena Carron drillship, which recently concluded drilling Bulletwood-1, has spudded the Jabillo-1 exploration well in the Canje block. The oil company and

je block, plans are in place

per year, by block its partners planWells to deploy

the country received its latest payment after the sale of 997,420 barrels of oil which were lifted from ExxonMobil’s Liza Destiny on February 5, 2021.

The nation, new to the petroleum sector, sold its first one million barrels of crude on February 19, 2020, raking in nearly US$55 million. In its second million-barrel sale, the country received US$35 million, US$46 million as proceeds from the sale of its third million-barrel of crude, and US$49.3 million from its fourth oil lift.

Based on a consoli dation of all the lifts to date, the country has sold 5,009,797 barrels of oil valuing US$246,542,662.

Along with the earnings from the oil lifts and over US$21 million in royalties and interest, Guyana has close to US$267,668,709 in its NRF, at the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank. Under the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA), Guyana receives two per cent royalty and 50 per cent profit oil, which is what remains after the producer recovers the production cost.

4

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 15, 2021

Owner of SleepIn Hotel arrested again for breaching curfew –– plans to take legal action –– party-goers arrested at Cigars and Cognac bar

By Vishani Ragobeer LESS than 24 hours after he was arrested by ranks of the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF), the proprietor of SleepIn Hotel and Casino on Church Street, Georgetown, Clifton Bacchus, was taken into custody on Saturday night for again breaching the national curfew.

The Guyana Chronicle was reliably informed that the task force executed an operation on Saturday night to ensure that popular night spots on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) and Georgetown were closed in accordance with the national curfew. Ranks visited the Cigars and Cognac bar located at Melanie on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD), where they arrested several party-goers for being in breach of the curfew.

In Georgetown, following an operation carried out the night before, members

of the Task Force visited the SleepIn Hotel and Casino and, at around 22:41 hrs, this newspaper received reports that the proprietor, Clifton Bacchus was arrested.

On Friday, the night before, Bacchus was also arrested by members of the Task Force while two bartenders were detained in addition to 10 Chinese nationals – eight males and two females– who were at the casino. On that night as well, at Club Altitude, which is located at Sandy Babb Street, Kitty, the proprietor, Meer Rahaman, along with ten male and female patrons were detained. In Charlotte Street, Bourda, at the Kairos Bar, only the manager, Mark Alleyne was detained.

Finally, at the Tower Hotel on Main Street, the ranks detained the Bartender, Delon Moffett and his assistant, Akeem Carmichael at the Hotel’s Club Privilege.

The Guyana Chronicle understands that these businesses were operating in

and that has to be closed by 10:30 (pm) and the man has to go long his way.”

Bacchus contended that if the local authorities do not wish for his bar to be opened, then the gazetted COVID-19 measures ought to reflect that, so that he would be able to revise his operations and the offers he makes to his customers.

“You can’t tell me open the hotel- because opening the hotel is alright- and then people coming to the hotel and you’re trying to lock up people in the hotel because they’re sitting down there (at the bar),” the businessman lamented.

guidelines”, stronger actions have become necessary.

Governing the operations of the local authorities within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic is the 1934 Public Health Ordinance.

This ordinance, according to Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, S.C, is an archaic piece of legislation that is outmoded and unfitting to reflect the current realities of society. Under the COVID-19 Emergency Measures, any person who fails to comply with the measures commits an offence under Section 152 of the Public Health Ordinance and is li-

Officers of the armed forces detaining the SleepIn Hotel and Casino proprietor, Clifton Bacchus, on Saturday night

breach of the national curfew, which is from 22:30 hrs to 04:00 hrs each day. Additionally, as per the COVID-19 guidelines, food services, restaurants and bars can only operate during the hours of 04:00 hrs and 21:30 hrs (9:30 pm).

COMPLETE SERVICE In an invited comment on Sunday, Bacchus told this newspaper that the majority of the patrons at the hotel’s bar are also customers who are staying at the hotel. As such, he reasoned that these patrons are expecting a “complete service” where they can get food and drinks at the hotel’s bar, before retiring

to their rooms at night. He emphasised that the national COVID-19 guidelines permit the operations of hotels, and that service forms part of his operations. Bacchus stressed that he does not operate a “penitentiary” whereby he has to force his customers to retire to their rooms by a certain time.

“If a man pays me money, he’s looking out for a certain service. If he goes on the road after a certain time well, he has to deal with the police, that doesn’t have nothing to do with me, but if the man is here, he is paying to be here,” Bacchus said, adding: “If the man goes to (a named city bar) then that is a pure bar The 1934 Public Health Ordinance

Monday March 15, 2021 –– 04:30 hrs

On Sunday, Bacchus said that he will be taking legal action against the NCTF since he believes that he was detained wrongfully on both nights. Over the past few months, the NCTF has been issuing warning letters to businesses operating in breach of the COVID-19 guidelines. In an invited comment on Saturday, Director of the NCTF, Colonel Nazrul Hussain had noted that since previous efforts geared at bringing these businesses into compliance have failed, the Task Force will now arrest and charge business persons whose entities are acting in contravention of the gazetted measures.

He clarified that the Friday night to Saturday morning operation did not shut down the operations of the businesses, but he lamented that since these businesses are “repeatedly flouting the

able on summary conviction to the penalty provided under that section.

Any person found guilty of an offence, under Section 152, shall, unless some other penalty is provided thereof, be liable to a penalty not exceeding $50, or, in default of payment thereof, to imprisonment with or without hard labour for any term not exceeding two months.

In the event that it is a continuing offence, Section 152(2) of the Ordinance provides that the offender shall be liable to a further penalty not exceeding $10 for everyday which the offence continues, and in default of payment, to imprisonment, for any period not exceeding six months.

Cognisant of the outdated nature of this ordinance, a new Public Health Act is being formulated.

5

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 15, 2021

Reinstallation of gas compressor at Liza Destiny FPSO to commence –– as equipment, technical experts arrive in Guyana

INCREASED gas-flaring at ExxonMobil’s Liza Destiny floating production sharing and offloading (FPSO) vessel offshore Guyana is anticipated to be reduced very soon, as the company has acquired the repaired and upgraded flash gas compressor that was previously damaged.

This compressor was damaged in January and resulted in the company having to temporarily increase gas-flaring above pilot levels in order to maintain safe operations. Subsequently, the company removed the faulty compressor and sent it for repairs in Germany.

According to a statement issued by ExxonMobil on Saturday, the repaired and upgraded flash gas compressor and silencers for the Liza Destiny FPSO have arrived offshore Guyana for reinstallation. The critical part arrived on target, since the company had previously said that the equipment should be back in Guyana by March.

ExxonMobil said too that not only is the part here, but the necessary technical experts have also arrived in country after being appropriately tested and isolated in novel coronavirus (COVID-19) quarantining

The flash gas compressor and other equipment that were returned for reinstallation on the Liza Destiny FPSO (Oil Now photo)

facilities. They will support experts in the country with the reinstallation.

Although the issue will be resolved shortly, an order has been placed for a new flash gas compressor, which will be available closer to the end of the year, given the complex nature of the equipment.

Previously, ExxonMobil had said that production levels at its operations offshore Guyana have been reduced in order to accommodate the repair of the defective gas compressor. It was noted that the company continues

to produce oil at 120,000 barrels per day, while the current daily levels of flaring are between 16 to 18 million cubic feet.

But the company had said that reducing production would not necessarily limit the amount of gas that is being flared.

“In order for us to get back to pilot-flaring levels, we need that flash gas compressor or we need to reduce production to zero… that’s just a fact,” ExxonMobil’s Production Manager Mike Ryan had said in a previous

report.

Back in 2019, ExxonMobil had explained to the media that for the first period, after ‘first oil,’ there would be initial start-up flaring as authorised by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which occurs during the commissioning and initial start-up phases of the FPSO when gas and liquids are introduced into new facilities and equipment.

This flaring, it said, would not continue as a routine, and would only take place again in the case of an emergency,

whereby flaring will be used to immediately de-pressure the facility as part of a shutdown process to reduce risk.

Executive Director of the Payne Institute for Earth Resources and Research, Professor of Public Policy at the Colorado School of Mines, Dr. Morgan Bazilian, had said that general regulatory and technical measures must be implemented to mitigate gas-flaring in future projects.

“Yes, flaring itself has environmental impacts, and is a waste of resources, economically and environmentally bad,” said Dr. Bazilian during a virtual session with local reporters in October 2020.

He further added that there are technical ways to reduce flaring, but there must be a combination of technical measures which will come in quickly, and regulatory measures. Most countries take “a long time” to develop a regulatory framework for gas-flaring, but from the expert’s understanding, the projects in Guyana are engineered to have zero routine flaring.

Dr. Bazilian pointed to the “Zero Routine Flaring by 2030” initiative introduced by the World Bank, which brings together governments, oil companies, and devel-

opment institutions which recognise the dangers of flaring. According to the World Bank, this initiative pertains to ‘routine flaring’, and not to ‘flaring’ for safety reasons or non-routine flaring, which, nevertheless, should be minimised.

“Routine flaring of gas is flaring during normal oil production operations in the absence of sufficient facilities, or amenable geology to re-inject the produced gas, utilise it on-site, or dispatch it to a market. Venting is not an acceptable substitute for flaring,” said the World Bank.

According to the World Bank, during oil production, associated gas is produced from the reservoir together with the oil; much of this gas is utilised or conserved, because governments and oil companies have made substantial investments to capture it, but some of it is flared because of technical, regulatory, or economic constraints.

Dr. Bazilian said gas-flaring is controlled through power plants, or reinjection into wells, and in Guyana’s case, while ExxonMobil has started reinjection, there are already talks locally to establish a gas-to-energy system.

6

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 15, 2021

Writing the Future GUYANESE today wake up to face their future with tremendous optimism, zeal, and a feeling of motivated energy, all because of a document that the Government of Guyana wrote out and implements with solid integrity, daily lining up the promises of that written document with the practice of how they go about rolling out macroeconomic and far-reaching social progress all across this land.

That document comes enshrined in the party manifesto that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) wrote and presented to the nation for national and regional elections.

The PPP/C went to the electorate with their wrote-out manifesto blueprint for national development, for a progressive and prosperous Guyana, at the time just a written document on paper, a blueprint for what the country’s future could possibly look like, and after winning the elections, the government committed with heart and soul to implement those promises it made to the people. The PPP/C thus differs in a crucial way from the previous government.

There is a significant and important reason why the Coalition regime failed so miserably from 2015 to 2020, and why this PPP/C government is succeeding with spectacular achievements today, and it is worthwhile to examine this reason, both to glean valuable lessons for Guyana’s future, and to gain some insight out of hindsight examination, into how the nation conducts its governance process. What is this vital reason?

It is that the Coalition governed completely out of integrity, becoming misaligned with

their inner values, which Guyanese saw with stark and vivid shock. They said one thing at elections time on the campaign trail in 2015, and they did something completely different in office. The Coalition never presented the policies, plans and programmes that they implemented in government, to the electorate in their elections manifesto in 2015.

As a government, the Coalition ingloriously shut down the historical sugar industry and fired 5,000 GuySuCo workers with wanton disregard for their welfare and family well-being, and imposed 200 hard taxes on senior citizens, the middle class, and Public Service workers, and implemented policies for only the well-off, such as banning used motor vehicle tyres and allowing only expensive, brand new tyres to be imported.

None of these major moves showed up in the Coalition’s manifesto. The Coalition got into government and threw away whatever they had promised in their elections manifesto.

Hence, they lacked a blueprint for governance, because they disregarded the value of a written document as the guidebook and roadmap to the development process. It seems the leaders of the Coalition expected that the programmes, policies and plans that would form their governance would drop from the sky. They winged it, and sought to operate without a written guidebook.

They suffered the consequences with a rude awakening to their own shortsightedness and lack of wisdom, even though they comfort themselves in opposition with an ingenious, inauthentic, ineffective exercising of the scapegoating phenomenon.

What could the nation learn from this hard lesson? When Guyanese look at the fact that the PPP/C government is working in absolute alignment with the written word they presented and promised to the people, showing integrity to keep their written promises to the people, as opposed to the Coalition’s ignoring and disdain of their own manifesto that they presented to the nation in 2015, to instead implement ad hoc, hair-brained policies as a government, one clear lesson jumps out: the Guyanese nation must write out their future first, and proceed to implement that written plan with total lining up of the intent and promise and practice, full and absolute alignment, which is integrity at work.

The PPP/C imagined a world-class, developed Guyana, and researched the ramifications of the big dreams and magnificent vision that President’s government is setting out to achieve, and then supplied the nation with a written plan that paints the picture of this future of the Guyanese nation. Guyanese believed the written plan would work, and elected the party, and today citizens are satisfied and enrolled in that visionary future.

One laments the failure of the Guyana Prize for Literature lacking this kind of impact on the national sensibility over the time of its operation, in being unable to raise up a national cadre of literary writers, creative thought-leaders, and imaginative thinkers who are Guyanese literary visionaries, originators, futurists, and designers of the future of Guyana. The Guyana Prize did not care about such things, only focusing on a parochial and narrow comprehension of

‘Guyanese literature’, including a limited preference for colloquial sentimentality.

With their political lenses, the PPP/C has found within its ranks the enlightenment to bridge that vision gap, able to write the future of Guyana with visionary practicality.

The country would do well to cultivate writers of the future, including authors for national speeches that leaders deliver at special occasions, that awaken the Guyanese heart to new heights of feeling, thinking, and believing in new Guyanese possibilities.

The nation ought to always remember that it is visionary, original writings that have carved out the nation’s heroes, such as Dr Cheddi Jagan with his many books and that globally loved document that the United Nations embraced for a new global human order. And then there is the written Constitution of the country that Sir Shridat Ramphal led in writing, and the speeches of Forbes Burnham that found a ready audience among oratory pundits, and the writings of Dr Walter Rodney, and also the international recognition of this country in the great novelist residing in England, Wilson Harris.

Writers make society, both here at home and all over the world. It is a human truism.

Guyana would do well to cultivate, even within government, but nationally also, a crop of writers of the future to craft futuristic speeches, tell the unfolding Guyana story, and design the evolving historical Guyanese record.

The writers of the PPP/C 2020 elections manifesto are the real architects of Guyana’s future today.

NY diaspora reporter passes on Dear Editor,

community activist, helping with organising many events planned by mandirs, The CaribI WRITE to pay tribute to New York Guy- bean Voice (TCV) and businesses. He was anese reporter Govind Dhaya who recently very supportive of the struggle against the passed on. He made a significant contri- Guyana dictatorship and praised the work bution in the field of NY Guyanese media, of those of us who were committed to that reporting on the activities of the diaspora. movement.

He was literally immersed in community I would see Govind, as we called him, at affairs, and he was one of the finest journal- community events and funerals or wakes over ists I encountered in the community. He and the last three decades. He was very active I were perhaps the only ones who dedicated among Guyanese, attending services at sevour lives to media promotion of the NY com- eral mandirs and the Ashram in Jamaica. He munity for decades. hardly missed a Phagwah or Holi celebration I started writing on community affairs or any festival or community gathering or since the late 1970s and am very familiar Guyanese reunion. His reports would appear with those who had a presence in the media in several publications in the New York Guyor were active in community affairs. Govind anese community. was more active in Guyanese affairs than Govind served mostly as a volunteer most Guyanese from the late 1980s. He reporter, although some businesses employed was well known in the Indo-Guyanese and him to pen articles or prepare newsletters Indo-Caribbean communities of New York about their products. Govind was introduced for his reporting in local ethnic media. He by Ramesh Kalicharran to many community kept Guyanese informed of events and activ- leaders. He would make his presence felt ities for almost three decades. He was also a as he was seen quietly taking notes for his

reporting and clicking pics. And he was seen at many, many events. Through his attendance at Indo-Caribbean events, he got to know politicians from Guyana and Trinidad.

He reported on visits to New York by every politician from Guyana including Dr Jagan, Janet, Jagdeo, and Ramotar. And he would express his concern about happenings in the homeland.

Govind worked very closely with eminent journalist, Annan Boodram. According to Boodram, Govind was the typical, inquisitive kind of reporter. “He loved to meet people. He did a lot to help. He helped students to fill out admission application forms for college or grants or loans. He was also very helpful to numerous students at both high school and college levels, including providing tutoring and generally providing advice. He helped businesses to promote their products. He knew the governmental system and he would help people to navigate the bureaucracy. He was also very knowledgeable in nutrition, offering guidance on healthy

eating habits and healthy lifestyles. He helped many individuals to manage various afflictions by sourcing supplements and advising of foods.”

In his tribute to Govind, Boodram stated: “He was extremely smart. He matched my skills in language usage. In some ways, he was even better, surpassed mine. He had a wide range of vocabulary [sic] and had them at his finger tips with a quick capacity to find words to describe situations. He was sharp and quick. He was a ‘storer’ of news – cut clippings and kept them in piles. I would call him a news hound, and he was more knowledgeable about Guyana’s politics than most Guyanese.”

Govind Dhaya leaves behind an outstanding record of service. His death is a loss to the Guyanese media.

The spirit of his kind acts and goodness will live on.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

7

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 15, 2021

GECOM must cleanse itself now and put Local Government Elections on the agenda!

Dear Editor, THE nation is saddened by the recent brutal and unnecessary murder of 10-year-old Anthony Cort of Sophia, Georgetown.

As we share the pain and unfillable void created in the soul of his parents and loved ones, we must endeavour to continuously support, ensuring that the perpetrators are made to face the full consequences of our laws.

Our failure in such pursuits is like promoting the daylight bandits and murderers who miscarry our nation, and definitively exacerbates the wanton erosion of the basic level of protection that our citizens should be guaranteed.

One, therefore, must responsibly adopt the mindset and posture of assurance that these societal undercurrents will never be permitted.

The attempts at the rape of our entire nation’s security through some manipulated staff of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) must be treated with equal or even greater consternation.

This, since it would have contributed to the environment for a more broad-based level of fuelled, explosive lawlessness if controlling interventions were not put in place from outside of the GECOM setting.

I vividly recalled on elections night of 2nd March, 2020, an occurrence at the Polling Station # 412235B (A-Z) opposite the Windsor Estate sugarcane fields Eccles- Ramsburg came under attack. It was after 6 PM with polling closed, when a silly but serious incident took place. As I look at the face and size of young Anthony Cort, I vividly recall the fear of that night when our assigned polling agent’s request in keeping with his ‘Rights” to seal the ballot box, and receive a signed copy of the Statements of Poll.

The GECOM presiding officer who

turned out to be a known PNC activist created an ugly scene and the polling booth was quickly blocked by known PNC activists who tried to prevent the smooth completion of the process. They went at length to lock the young polling agent in the building and threatened to kill him. As we requested to take the polling agent out of the building, the small but raucous crowd went wild. However, our external security asserted themselves and the matter was resolved peacefully.

The need to curb such escalations is not unique to this area, but certainly as a result of encouraging infiltration of GECOM which must be cleansed.

We as a nation have witnessed through the lens of our televisions, some of the chosen staff in action at the Ashmin’s Building and also from the headquarters in Kingston following the High Court’s instructions to Clairmont Mingo. Guyanese must never again allow the likes of these people to attempt to thwart our collective will.

It took a special brand of maturity in leadership for this nation to survive the onslaught unleashed at these elections by the PNC and their acolytes in the infiltrated secretariat. One must, therefore, applaud the sound approach of the PPP, particularly Dr. Bharat Jagdeo’s influence over the ‘exemplary, peaceful assertiveness’ demonstrated to the world during the gruelling five-month ordeal of frustration and suffering. It was indeed admirable and strategic, although painstaking to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic and the PNC cabal’s desperation to stay in government.

Astute leadership maturity was indeed the key to Guyana’s survival and success.

Certainly, the emerged Guardians of Democracy and some youthful exuberance were running out of patience and this offered a greater threat of our people faltering to the PNC’s plan to create a state of emergency before the results of

the elections could be properly finalised.

The ‘Jagdeo” leadership was, however, able to carefully control all attempts of violence. Today, Guyana’s struggle is an example to the world of the positive result that can be realised from a peaceful approach. Hence, the electoral victory in Guyana can and will be emulated globally.

Notwithstanding, as the only country where the electorate had to wait for five long and frustrating months for the declaration of elections results, is indeed an abomination that must never be allowed to re-occur. Consequently, the Guyana Elections Commission must take all the necessary actions to cleanse the staff at GECOM. There must be no space for the riggers or place for those who had their knees on the necks of our people for five long months. Against the myriad allegations and reports of fraudulent practices ongoing at the hands of persons in the secretariat, it is a misnomer that those persons are still on the payroll of GECOM. It is on record that after all the hurdles before 2nd March, 2020, on March 7th, 2020 the Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield flouted the court order regarding the approach for the verification approach to be applied. Tougher times were realised when on April 1st, 2020, APNU+AFC commissioners tried to push through Lowenfield’s report that included “fake Results.” On April 8th, 2020, Lowenfield’s timeline for the agreed recount of the votes agreed by the commission, proposed to delay finalising of elections results until September 2020. It was more serious and unacceptable when on July 11th, 2020, Keith Lowenfield refused to comply with the GECOM Chairperson’s instructions.

In the decisive actions of July 13th, the 10 district declarations made before the national recount were set assertively aside by the Chairperson of the Guyana

Elections Commission. These were previously held in abeyance and included the blatant and proved fraudulent reports by Region Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo.

Further, the GECOM Chairperson made it clear that the “Fraudulent Reports” submitted to the commission by the embattled Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield was set aside and requested the reports based on the results of the recount. For the umpteenth time, Lowenfield reneged, while providing frivolous reasons as he held our people to ransom in concert with the PNC. The decision to instruct Lowenfield was arrived at after GECOM’s Chair, retired Justice Claudette Singh, held a meeting to discuss the CEO’s conduct following the submission of the fraudulent report on July 11th, 2020. Lowenfield was given another deadline of 14:00hrs on July 14th, 2020. It was deadline after deadline!

On August 2nd, 2020, a date to be remembered, Keith Lowenfield was instructed to produce the results to GECOM by 10:00hrs. He failed and the last chance was given up to 14:00hrs (2 pm) by the assertive Claudette Singh, to produce the results obeying the instructions of the commission, contrary to his previous “lone ranger” avocations in keeping with the High Court’s ruling. How can the Chairperson of GECOM still have this ‘Lone Ranger’ in office?

Keith Lowenfield’s unpardonable sins remain indelible like the bandits’ who shot young Anthony Cort.

The chairperson and the commission must remove all such persons from their employ and place the discussion of Local Government Elections on the agenda.

Yours sincerely, Neil Kumar

Please ‘Hetty,’ seek the coaching help you need Dear Editor I BELIEVE I speak for his legions of fans globally when I say that Shimron Hetmyer must do what is necessary to win back his test place and do so with urgency.

No one doubts that “Hetty” potentially is the next Windies batting star in the

mould of greats like Lara, Chanderpaul, Richards, Lloyd and so on.

But now that the test team is being somewhat reconstituted with a new dispensation that has seen some former players on the outside and the inclusion of players who are showing more discipline, better shot selection and the capacity to place premiums on

their wickets, “Hetty” need to inculcate these traits maximally in his cricketing makeup.

So please “Hetty,” seek the coaching help you need, engage in the kind of practice that will ensure you can eliminate your flaws, especially shot selection and batting indiscipline.

The West Indies team needs you even

though you’re currently on the outside.

Your fans, including me, want to see you back on the field of play so we can delight in what we know you’re capable of.

The onus is on you as it has been on every great player.

Sincerely, Annan Boodram

8

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 15, 2021

Reg. 2 RDC expresses concern over millions owed to rice farmers

–– plans to write Minister Mustapha

By Indrawattie Natram SEVERAL rice farmers residing in the Pomeroon-Supenaam region are still patiently waiting on millers to honour outstanding payments for paddy supplied to them over a five-year period.

The outstanding sum amounts to millions of dollars, and to date, the farmers have received no positive word as to when they will be paid.

This situation recently caught the attention of regional officials, who, on Friday, convened an emergency meeting to address the

matter.

The Regional Democratic Council (RDC) officials, including the Regional Chairperson, Vilma De Silva; Regional Vice-Chairman, Humace Oodit, and Regional Executive Officer (REO), Devanand Ramdatt, agreed, during a multi-stakeholder meeting that a letter will soon be dispatched to Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha, with the aim of bringing relief to the affected farmers.

Addressing the multi-stakeholder meeting which included rice farmers and members of the Water Users Association (WUA), Ramdatt said that rice farm-

ers within the region are suffering too long due to non payment of money owed to them. He disclosed that two prominent millers operating in the region owe the farmers millions of dollars.

Ramdatt reminded the gathering that rice cultivation is the main economic activity in the region and as such, the farmers’ rights need to be represented.

The REO pointed out that some millers were left in a position where they could not have paid rice farmers since they are owed by the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB).

“At this point, the most

prudent decision will be to write the minister asking for feedback to see how soon these farmers can be paid,” Ramdatt said.

During the meeting, it was revealed by farmers that Wazir Hussain Rice Mill and the Ramlakhan Rice Mill are among those who, allegedly, owe money.

One rice farmer related that for the past one and a half years, more than $1.5 million in payments remain outstanding.

Another rice farmer told this publication that he is owed money for approximately three crops. Those paddy sales, he said, amount

to about two million dollars. The farmer explained that to re-invest, he had to eventually agree to purchase $600,000 worth of fertilizer from the miller, which was deducted from the amount the miller owed.

The Guyana Chronicle understands that millers would usually purchase rice farmers' paddy and instead of paying them, they would give them fertilizer in lieu of payments.

The move was deemed as “conning”, according to RDC Councillor and Prime Minister’s representative, Arnold Adams. Adams said that the fertilizer business is another attempt by millers to have their debts deducted.

“This is troubling. Farm-

ers find it difficult to re-invest in the next crop…the millers will usually credit fertilizer to farmers at a higher cost, plus charge interest on the farmers for late payment on the fertilizer… but they don’t pay the farmers interest when they owe the farmers,” Adams emphasised.

This newspaper understands that while Ramlakhan Rice Mills is making payments, they still owe many rice farmers large sums of money from as far back as 2015. The Regional officials have since informed the rice farmers that the RDC will be engaging the Minister of Agriculture on the matter.

Spike in sexual abuse cases prompts call for psychologist in Reg. 2

By Indrawattie Natram REGION Two Chairperson, Vilma De Silva, has assured that she will be working diligently with the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security to tackle the rising number of sexual abuse cases involving children in the region.

During a recent statutory meeting of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) when numerous concerns were raised by a Child Protection Officer, the urgent need for a psychologist in the region was underscored.

The officer, Tannecisa Spellen-Singh, disclosed that 12 new cases have been recorded so far for the month of March. She provided this information shortly after the Standing Order was amended to allow her to speak.

Subsequently, De Silva registered her concern over the rise in the cases.

Despite efforts, this newspaper was unable to gather figures for previous months.

Officials were hesitant to release the numbers and insisted that there is an increase in the number of cases.

The council had requested previously that someone from the region’s Department of Human Services and Social Security be present at the meeting to provide an update on the situation.

Spellen-Singh, during her presentation, made calls for a psychologist in the region

The Child Protection Officer briefing the RDC on the sexual abuse situation in Region Two

to offer psychotherapy to the underage victims. In addition to the 12 cases which are being investigated, there are three teenagers who are pregnant and another three who were physically abused.

According to SpellenSingh, the Human Services Department is working diligently to address cases that

are reported. She, however, said that the department continues to face numerous challenges which include offering psychotherapy to abused children. She also requested that there be a holding centre to house the juveniles while their cases are being investigated.

She explained that due to

the absence of such a facility, victims are placed in a medical institution.

She stressed that it is critical that the region gets psychologists to not only counsel the children but to also give advice to the authorities.

Further, the officer urged persons to take up a responsible role in society and report

any act of mistreatment or neglect omitted against a child or children. She said the department continues to work collaboratively with the Guyana Police Force to pursue such cases in region.

She also reminded the council that the age for consent for a child is 16 years and that anyone who forces a

child to perform a sexual act will be punished once found guilty by the court.

After listening to the officer’s report, the Regional Chairperson said that she will be looking into the availability of an already-identified building.

She said that the RDC does not have keys for that building since the previous Regional Executive Officer, Rupert Hopkinson, had locked it up and claimed ownership. The council heard that that matter is presently before the court.

Meanwhile, another People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) councillor, Raghunauth Doodnauth, requested that full-time counsellors be placed at schools. He said that the Department of Education provides School Welfare Officers who offer counselling to children. However, he believes that this should be on a full- time basis.

Regional Executive Officer, Devanand Ramdatt, who is the clerk of the RDC, said he is very concerned about the situation. He expressed concern that the abused children are being held at a medical facility. He then used the opportunity to urge that the acquisition of a suitable building be expedited.

Anyone wishing to report a case of abuse meted out to a child can contact the department’s hotline number: 623-1789.

9

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 15, 2021

Girl, 19, stabbed to death POLICE are investigating the murder of 19-year-old Kameel Calistro of Swan Kuru Kururu, Soesdyke/ Linden Highway, who was stabbed to death in the wee hours of Sunday, during an argument of “which girl can dance better.”

The suspect has been identified as Kristophe Stoll, 20, of the same village. Police said Stoll was arrested

in a highly intoxicated state; a knife was found in his possession.

According to a police report, the young lady was stabbed by Stoll during an argument of “which girl can dance better” at a birthday party in the village at around 03:45hrs on Sunday. Calistro was at a birthday party for her aunt, Shavon Calistro at Lot 11 Swan Kuru Kururu,

where she was imbibing and dancing with others.

It is alleged that at around 02:00hrs, Stoll started the argument about which girl can dance better between Stoll and relatives of the victim. During the argument, Stoll pulled out a knife from his right-side waist and attempted to stab 29-year-old Adolph Joseph, a cousin of the victim. Police said Joseph

received a minor laceration to the lower left side abdomen.

The victim then intervened and Stoll allegedly stabbed her to the left side abdomen; she collapsed and was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where she was pronounced dead. The body is at the said hospital mortuary awaiting an autopsy.

Another COVID-19 death, 39 new cases recorded

ANOTHER woman who tested positive for COVID-19 has succumbed, as of March 14, 2021. The Guyana Chronicle has been reliably informed that the victim died on Sunday morning while receiving care.

Although this is not reflected in Sunday’s daily dashboard, her demise takes the overall COVID-19 death toll to 208. Over the past 24 hours, the Ministry of Health has recorded 39 new cases of COVID-19 from 935 tests; three of which were recorded in Region Three (Essequibo

Islands-West Demerara), and 36 in Region Four. No other regions have confirmed new cases within the past 24 hours.

To date, there are six persons admitted to the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU); 35 remain institutionally isolated; 624 are isolated at home, and 5 persons are institutionally quarantined.

Guyana has confirmed a total of 9,160 cases since the arrival of COVID-19 in Guyana, 670 of which are currently active, and a total of 8,288 recoveries.

All Guyanese are urged to observe the protocols of the COVID-19 emergency measures, which emphasise the need for correct and consistent use of a face mask when leaving home, the importance of maintaining the six feet physical distance from others, and the need for good hand-hygiene to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

If anyone you know is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19, or need any additional information, kindly contact the COVID-19

Hotline 231-1166, 2267480 or 624-6674 immediately or visit the Ministry of Health at www.health. gov.gy.

Dead: Kameel Calistro

10

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 15, 2021

A little extra care

WHEN a baby is born, the experience is unique and special to the family.

Babies are protected and cared for exclusively as they can do very little for themselves. As they grow they will be alerted to the perils around them, but they still need to be monitored and protected.

For instance, a mother washing clothes with a tub of water on the floor for rinsing cannot take her eyes off her toddler, who is playing nearby for more than a moment.

He may appear to be engaged or absorbed in his activity, but children can flit between one activity and another in the blink of an eye. It only takes a distracting phone call or a pot boiling over on the stove to divert his mother’s full attention and thereby put him in danger.

Children should not frequent vicinities where an accident is possible, for example, in the kitchen where food is cooking, in the yard where rubbish is burning or in the garage where cars are reversing in or out. The safeguarding of children should be paramount in the mind of a parent. There are far too many avoidable accidents that maim or kill children; when all that is required is a little forethought and better judgement from their parents, guardians and carers.

When it comes to the well-being and care of children, parents should not take risks.

They should, however, evaluate and avoid even the slightest chance of endangerment.

When accidents do occur, you hear things like, ‘this child has never run out in the road like that before. Or ‘you know how many times I’ve sent them to the shop, and nothing happened?’. As the adage goes, ‘what doesn’t happen in a year does happen in a day.

Children find enough perilous things to occupy themselves, such as climbing on bedframes or pushing beads or small coins up their noses, without adults adding to the mix by not being attentive or showing little regard for their safety. Anticipating potential dangers and avoiding them should come naturally to parents. If children are playing with pointed sticks, there is a potential that careless play could hurt or damage an eye. A beautiful girl child aged eight, lived the rest of her life with a glass eye. Her eye was damaged beyond repair, due to an innocent game of stick ‘swords’ with her sister.

Younger children such as three and four-year-olds and toddlers can misjudge their balance while leaning out of windows and topple out if not properly supervised.

Small children also have a habit of trying to do things on their own when unsupervised.

Therefore, windows should have working locks or latches that are childproof.

Having an armchair under an open, ungrilled window in a living room can be

dangerous for climbing children. You may tell yourself, ‘it could never happen, my child can never fall out, I watch my toddler like a hawk’. But there are always unguarded moments; no one can watch a child 24/7.

It would be a better idea not to set up furniture precariously in the first place. Aim for a child-friendly, child-safe environment where your child can feel free to explore securely - a setting where a carer or parent can turn his/her back for a moment, confident in the knowledge that attention was given to potential hazards.

It’s the same result for one who shows a disregard for child safety, regardless of one’s social standing, background, or whether one is affluent or poverty-stricken, avoidable accidents will happen. Two-year-old twin brothers drowned in a back-yard pool, and the first thing the public thought and said was, ‘where were the parents?’ But it did not occur to the parents (or the nanny) that the twin boys could firstly sneak off and, secondly, manage to open the gate to the pool by themselves.

Making allowances for the unexpected might be asking too much from parents. But when allowances for possibilities are considered, action can be taken before harm occurs.

Parents need to be one step ahead of children in all respects, preventing burns, severe cuts and bruises, serious injury or death. Parents should be vigilant and take extra care to protect children and prevent mishaps.

Parents should not leave detergents, disinfectants, poisons, and corrosive liquids in cupboards where children have easy access.

Neither should they be stored in non-transparent or recycled drink bottles.

Children might take a swig of the contents based upon the label and become severely ill or even worse if immediate attention is not forthcoming. An innocent chest of drawers in a child’s bedroom caused a toddler’s demise because he liked to climb. It wasn’t until the mother could not open the bedroom door as the chest had fallen behind it, did she realise the danger it posed for her child. The ever-curious threeyear-old wanted to retrieve his aeroplane from the top of the chest.

He pulled out the bottom drawer to stand on the side, which resulted in the entire chest of drawers toppling on top of him.

There are freak accidents, foreseeable accidents, avoidable accidents and unexpected accidents, but the bottom-line is - are you doing all you can to safeguard your children?

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

11

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 15, 2021

Senior citizens take COVID-19 'jab'

A healthcare worker interviewing a senior citizen to ensure eligibility before the COVID-19 vaccine is administered

By Richard Bhainie

SCORES of senior citizens on Sunday turned up at the Ministry of Health secretariat on Brickdam, Georgetown, in high spirits to receive their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

The Guyana Chronicle visited the secretariat on Sunday afternoon where the COVID-19 immunisation campaign was in full swing and spoke with some of the folk who took the jab, as well as the health care professionals who were administering the shots.

Dr. Oneka Scott, a maternity child health officer at the vaccination site, praised the high turnout of senior citizens who showed up throughout the day, and who were enthusiastic to be vaccinated.

“We understand [the excitement] because vaccines work, vaccines are one of the biggest public health miracles of our 21st century and people are now understanding the importance of being immunised, training our bodies to protect us so that we don’t suffer fatal consequences of diseases that we can eradicate by just taking a shot,” Dr. Scott noted.

The vaccination drive began at 10:30hrs and concluded at 15:00hrs. Upon visiting the vaccination site, persons sanitised themselves and moved on to the registration and screening checklist area where they were asked a series of medical questions to ensure that they were eligible to receive the vaccine.

Once eligibility was confirmed, registration was conducted and persons then moved on to receive their shots of the vaccine by a vaccinating officer who briefs them on the possible side effects. They are then placed in an observation area for 15 minutes, after which they made their way home.

“Most persons will be receiving a telephone call within a 24 to 48 hours period to find out how they are doing. So far, most of the calls have been positively fed back to us,” Dr. Scott noted.

The “jab” has to be administered twice: for the Oxford/ AstraZeneca vaccine from India, the second dose is given three months apart, while for the Sinopharm vaccine from China, it is 28 days apart.

“We’ve had a lot of curiosity, interest and positivity; the staff has been working overtime because of the importance

of having this activity done and having it continued in order to get to the stage of herd immunity. We are enthusiastic and ready to work beyond the call of duty if that is what it takes,” Dr. Scott said.

The vaccines are being administered in stages: frontline

fast” and the health officials administering the vaccine are “very polite and calming.”

Howard Cox, 70 and his wife, who did not want to be named, a cancer survivor herself, posited that scientists have worked long and hard to develop a vaccine that can work to limit the severe consequences of the virus.

They believe it is important to take the vaccine to protect themselves and others around them.

The couple explained that while they felt “okay” after taking the vaccine, some side effects are normal, but they are not too worried about it.

Haimraj Singh, 66 of Ogle, East Coast Demerara, told the Guyana Chronicle that he took the vaccine as a precaution against the spread of the virus. He ex-

Desiree Edghill displaying her immunisation booklet after taking her COVID-19 vaccine

healthcare workers were the first to be vaccinated and now Guyana is vaccinating persons 60 years and older.

“So currently, all the remaining categories of healthcare workers have been targeted; those on the frontline who missed their first chance and those who are in the primary healthcare sphere and those who are allied healthcare workers and of course we’re targeting persons who are 60 and above,” Dr. Scott added.

She noted that the Government of Guyana has made provision, for everyone who is eligible to be vaccinated and new sites will be opened across the country to make the service more accessible.

Meanwhile, Desiree Edghill, 65 of Perseverance, East Bank Demerara, Executive Director of Artistes In Direct Support (AIDS), was one of the persons to receive her vaccine on Sunday. She explained that she was encouraged by her sister, a healthcare worker in the United States of America (USA), to take the vaccine.

Edghill, a cancer survivor, explained that not only did she take the vaccine to protect herself, but also to set an example for persons she works with, most of whom are affected by HIV or AIDS. She commended the staff at the Ministry of Health secretariat.

“From registration to vaccination, the process is very

tended gratitude towards the government for making senior citizens a priority in the administration of the vaccine, as well as the Governments of India and China for their donations and support.

Singh, who was advised by his daughter, a healthcare worker in the United Kingdom, to take the “jab,” is advising his peers to do so as well.

Tamika Threlfall, a registered midwife, who was also

part of the administration team on Sunday, noted that persons who got the vaccine responded very well.

Threlfall, who received the vaccine herself, noted that as a health worker, she took the vaccine with great

confidence and she feels happy that she is able to help in curbing the spread of the deadly virus.

12

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 15, 2021

‘He doesn’t have a normal childhood’ –– says mother of boy, 11, diagnosed with end stage renal disease –– family hopeful for kidney transplant

son is affected, his mother also noted that there has been a great mental strain on her throughout the entire ordeal.

Trevon Johnson and his mother, Nicola Lyken

11-year-old Trevon Johnson

By Vishani Ragobeer TREVON JOHNSON is an 11-year-old boy, who, like many other boys his age, enjoys Spiderman and spending time playing with his three siblings. At the age of four, however, he was diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome, a kidney disorder.

And last year May he was diagnosed with end stage renal disease, which caused him to lose both kidneys.

End stage renal disease, often referred to as ‘kidney failure’, is the final stage of chronic kidney disease, which is marked by the gradual loss of kidney function. According to the Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO), the kidneys filter waste and excess fluids from the blood, which are then excreted in the urine. When chronic kidney disease reaches an advanced stage, dangerous levels of fluid, electrolytes and wastes can build up in the body.

“It’s the most difficult

situation- trust me- because from the moment you tell a patient or they hear ‘end stage kidney disease’, patients think of death. Immediately you can see patients fall into depression, some get sad, anxious, some think about finances and so forth,” Lasean Davis-Semple, a Medical Social Worker attached to the Nephrology Department at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) related.

But, Davis-Semple noted that the disease does not necessarily have fatal consequences. In fact, to remedy the loss of kidney function, she highlighted that there are two treatment options: dialysis and kidney transplant.

Dialysis is the process - an expensive one at that - of removing the excess water, solutes, and toxins from the blood of those persons whose kidneys can no longer perform these functions naturally, or, who do not have kidneys.

On the other hand, a kidney transplant is an operation that

Lasean Davis-Semple, a Medical Social Worker attached to the Nephrology Department at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC)

places a healthy kidney in the body.

“Because dialysis is a large financial venture and most persons cannot afford it, many of them would take home-based care,” Davis-Semple said during an interview with this newspaper.

She explained that through home-based care, patients are just offered treatment until

they pass away.

But that is not the treatment route for young Trevon Johnson. In a recent interview with the Guyana Chronicle, his mother, Nicola Lyken, related that the young boy has been receiving dialysis for the past year. First, he received his dialysis with the Doobay Medical Centre in New Amsterdam, Berbice. Since that

centre shut its door a few months ago, he has since been receiving his treatment at the GPHC. The treatment, however, is a taxing one. Financially, as aforementioned but also physically. That means that for a lot of the time, Johnson is confined to the ward.

“He doesn’t have a normal childhood,” the mother lamented, trying her best to hold back her tears. “He’s constantly crying to come back home with his family.”

“Being diagnosed with kidney disease can be a huge challenge, both for the patient and those people around them,” Dr. Areefa Alladin said recently, in her World Kidney Day Message.

Dr. Alladin emphasised that diagnosis and management, particularly in advanced stages of kidney disease, impacts severely upon their lives by reducing their ability, and that of their family and friends, to participate in everyday activities. While John-

TRANSPLANT But there is greater hope for young Johnson now as his mother said that he may be receiving a kidney transplant by the end of the month.

Lyken noted that the family is hopeful for this transplant.

Last month, 15-year-old Aditya Mohabir underwent a successful kidney transplant at the GPHC following the work of Dr. Kishore Persaud, Head of Department, Multi-Organ Transplant and Vascular Access Surgery and his team.

Johnson’s expected transplant and Mohabir’s successful transplant come amid the recent announcement by the government that there will be a new human tissue transplant legislation. This legislation will provide the regulatory framework which will enable Guyana to perform cadaveric transplantation; this is the transplant of tissue from ‘brain dead’ individuals, or cadaver as they are referred to, to living persons.

Currently, there is no legislation governing this area in Guyana, which means there is no legally provided criteria for identifying and labelling someone as ‘brain-dead’, whether a ‘brain-dead’ person can be removed from a ventilator and the method and procedure on how to do so.

This new legislation will also provide systematic regulations and guidelines to govern living donor transplants, which is the only type of transplantation currently performed in Guyana, along with a section pertaining to blood transfusion.

In the meanwhile, young Johnson’s mother is appealing for any assistance that can be provided to the family at this time given that the young boy’s continued dialysis treatment and his expected surgery will be costly. She can be contacted on: +592 689 3509

Girl, 13, stabs Belle Vue man A 23-year-old labourer is nursing serious injuries at the West Demerara Regional Hospital after he was attacked and stabbed by a 13-year-old female relative on Saturday night.

Police, in a statement, noted that

Chetram Chandra, a labourer of Bell Vue, West Bank Demerara, received three cuts to his left side face and both his hands at around 17:45h at his house.

It is alleged that Chandra was in

his yard watching a movie on his cell phone when the teenager arrived and reportedly started to ‘cuss’ her 55-yearold grandmother, who is also the mother of the victim. As such, Chandra scolded the teen about her behaviour

which caused her to become annoyed.

It is alleged that the teen then took out a surgical blade from her pants pocket and attacked the victim; she then ran away.

The matter was reported and the

victim was rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where he was seen, examined and admitted in the male medical ward.

Investigations are in progress.

13

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 15, 2021

MoE to place aggressive emphasis on VET THE Ministry of Education (MoE) is looking to roll out an aggressive Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme across the country which will include the creation of Practical Instruction Centres (PIC) in Regions One, Seven and Nine.

The rehabilitation and expansion of a number of technical institutes across the country are also expected.

Under the ministry’s $60.7 billion allocation in Budget 2021, over $968 million will be used for various programmes that seek to develop the technical and vocational (tech-voc) sector.

Minister of Education Priya Manickchand explained that this was a deliberate move to illustrate the ministry’s emphasised focus on this sector.

“I see great scope for technical and vocational education, not as a cliché but as a place and institution across the country that can prepare young people for employment that will make a huge difference in their life,” the minister commented in a recent interview with the Guyana Chronicle.

involving, in addition to general education, the study of technologies and related sciences, and the acquisition of practical skills, attitudes, understanding and knowledge relating to occupants in various sectors of economic and social life. It involves more skills-based practical aspects as opposed to general theoretic academia in schools.

“I really like for us to refashion and restructure how we have been dealing with TVET, and there are some specific things that we want to do because TVET is extremely important. You will see a very aggressive roll out of TVET in the country,” the minister conveyed.

The MoE has a TVET Unit and a Deputy Chief Education Officer (TVET) that manages the technical institutions under its administration across the country.

These include the Government Technical Institute (GTI), Guyana Industrial Training Centre (GITC), Linden Technical Institute (LTI), Essequibo Technical Institute (ETI), Mahaicony TVET Centre, and the Upper Corentyne Industrial Training Centre (UCITC). There

This programme also covers work on PICs in Fellowship, Beterverwagting and Hopetown, as well as the training of instructors and a revision of the Tech-Voc curriculum.

“Cabinet only recently offered it’s no objection to building Practical Instruction Centres in Region One and Region Nine (at St Ignatius), to buttress the capacity of the high schools there to offer improved access to facilities to the students who are interested in the tech-voc areas in the country,” Manickchand said.

Another $360 million is also included in the ministry’s budget for rehabilitation works at a number of the technical institutes. These include works on the LTI, NATI and UCITC. The work at the LTI pertains to construction of the dormitories, which had started in 2018, under a $398.173 million contract awarded to Courtney Benn Construction Services Limited. The government later terminated the contract due to unmet deadlines. The ministry is now hoping to have it completed under another contractor.

Additionally, $168 million has been budgeted for

The incomplete dormitories at the Linden Technical Institute

She added: “The world is moving more to a skillbased human resource manpower-driven type economy, so we have to make sure we are ready for that and prepared for it.”

Guyana’s rise over the past few years as an oil and gas economy has highlighted the need for more human resource in the tech-voc area, and has seen a rise in emphasis on TVET. TVET refers to aspects of the educational process

are also a number of PICs across the country.

In Guyana, TVET is also administered by the Council for TVET which was established in 2004 by the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Act of 2004.

The upgrading and expansion of the PICs in Regions One, Seven and Nine, are covered under a $440 million allocation under the “Skills and Development and Employability Project”.

the much-anticipated Hospitality and Training institute.

The Hospitality Institute is being funded through a collaboration between the Caribbean Development Bank and the Government of Guyana.

The institute is being constructed in response to the growing demand for services in the hospitality sector in Guyana. Once completed, the institute is expected to mimic a mini four-star hotel with provision for fine

The Hopetown Practical Instruction Centre is one of several expected to see works done this year

dining, banquet halls, classrooms and recreational facilities such as a tennis court and swimming pool.

Also, towards the advancing of TVET, the Ministry will be relooking at the implementation of the Caribbean Vocational Qualifications (CVQ) in schools.

However, the implementation of the CVQ requires the provision of furniture, equipment, and teaching and learning resources to meet facility standards required.

“We started talking to

the CVQ body in 2012 about getting us CVQ ready; you don’t get CVQ unless you have certain facilities in place. CVQ tells organisations that you are qualified to the level of universal Caribbean. This requires some things that have to be in place. It’s been too slow.

For me every subject, every institution should have been ready by now,” the minister noted.

CVQ, as it is commonly called, is based on a competency-based approach

to training, assessment and certification. Candidates are expected to demonstrate competence in attaining occupational standards developed by practitioners, industry experts and employers. Those standards when approved

by CARICOM allow for easy movement across the region. Currently, CVQs are planned to reflect a qualification framework of five levels.

14

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 15, 2021

CIOG hosts medical outreach for the homeless

Representatives of the CIOG with some items of clothing that were distributed to the homeless

THE Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG) in collaboration with the Guyana Cancer Foundation (GCF) and the National Blood Transfusion Service hosted a medical outreach on Saturday aimed at providing homeless persons with medical treatment and sensitisation on health and safety.

General Manager of CIOG, Shameena Haniff, stated that the initiative was conceptualised with the aim of providing medical care to citizens who may not always be in a position to access it.

She explained that the idea was to ensure that those persons who are homeless have the opportunity to have check-ups done, their pres-

sure tested, and be taught health and safety practices, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We wanted to do something for the homeless people around Georgetown, in terms of giving back, because while people pay more attention to orphanages and so on, I don’t really see many people doing stuff directly for the

homeless people, so what we did today is the mini-medical outreach.”

She explained that the initiative was planned before the COVID-19 virus hit Guyana, adding that while the CIOG intended to have it done on a larger scale, the planning team had to adjust to the COVID-19 preventative measures. According to Haniff, the CIOG worked to ensure that the persons would not just benefit from pressure and blood-sugar testing, but that they could also benefit from HIV testing and cancer screening.

Haniff further disclosed that the CIOG, as part of its outreach, provided free refreshments, clothing, vitamins, and sanitisation items such as soap to those persons who visited the medical outreach. Bibi Saeedah Akhtar Hassan, Founder of the Guyana Cancer Foundation (GCF), stated that she believes the initiative would be instrumental in the lives of those homeless persons in central Georgetown.

“We want to reach out to especially the homeless persons because we know usually, they aren’t able to go into a medical facility to get screened or even get cancer information, how to detect it

and what to do next,” Hassan said.

She stated that the Guyana Cancer Foundation aimed to provide not just screening, but also general education and awareness on cancer. At the outreach, persons were taught about cervical cancer, breast cancer, and even breast self-examination techniques.

Additionally, representatives of the National Blood Transfusion Service encouraged persons to donate blood to the blood bank. Medical Technologist Latoya Cudjoe stated that blood donation is an essential service that has seen a decline due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

She stated that since the pandemic began in March

2020, many of its blood drives were postponed due to persons’ uncertainty of the safety at the time. She further stated that since then, the National Blood Transfusion Service has worked to implement strategies that would ensure a safe environment for the donors.

At the outreach, medical officials also assisted persons in identifying their blood group to promote further health and safety.

Cudjoe explained that this is a pivotal part of medical information, as it could save much-needed time in an emergency if someone requires blood and is already aware of his/her blood group.

One of the persons who was tested at the medical outreach

Speeding cop crashes into parked car, pedestrian POLICE are investigating an accident on the Houston Public Road, East Bank Demerara, which occurred in the wee hours of Sunday and resulted in the hospitalisation of two persons.

Police Headquarters, in a statement, noted that motorcar, PSS 6964, which was

being driven by Hakeem Marques, a 23-year-old police constable, was speeding south along the road in the vicinity of D’Aguiar Park when he lost control. The car spun several times before crashing into Sohanlall Lochan, 22, of Alexander Village, Georgetown.

The impact caused the pedestrian to be pitched into the drain on the eastern side of the road, while the cop then collided with the rear of motorcar, PNN 5675, which was parked with the driver still inside. The driver was identified as 28-year-old Ryan Chandra of Garnett and Delph Streets, Campbelville. The accident occurred around 03:05hrs.

As a result of the collision, both vehicles sustained extensive damage while the pedestrian and both drivers received injuries about their bodies. The cop and the pedestrian were picked up in a conscious state, with help from public spirited citizens, and placed into an ambulance.

At the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, the cop was treated for injuries to his forehead and he was discharged, while the pedestrian was admitted with a broken leg.

Chandra was also admitted with head injuries and fractured ribs.

15

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 15, 2021

4-month-old girl dies, young father arrested POLICE have arrested Troy Williams, 18, of Annandale, Essequibo Coast, in connection with the death of his four-monthold baby girl, Kaylee.

Police Headquarters, in a statement on Sunday, revealed that Williams’ right foot was found on the child’s chest and belly after he went to bed in a drunken state in the wee hours of Sunday.

According to the police

report, the baby’s mother, Tricia Atkinson, said that the father usually consumes alcohol and returns home drunk and on Saturday night, he arrived home at around 20:10h in a drunken state and fell asleep on the floor of the kitchen.

The mother went to bed with her two children, Kaylee and her 23-month-old sister, and Williams later joined them at around 22:25h. At

about 01:55h, Tricia said she woke to breastfeed Kaylee when she noticed Williams’ foot on top the child and a “whitish substance” coming out of her mouth.

Tricia woke her husband and they rushed Kaylee to the Suddie Public Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

The body was examined by the police but no marks of violence were seen. The body is at Suddie Public Hospital

Pregnant mother of 7 dies on the way to hospital POLICE are investigating the death of 40-year-old Beverly Bumbury, a mother of seven, who collapsed and died in the wee hours of Sunday on her way to the hospital.

A police report noted that Bumbury, who was eight months pregnant, complained of feeling unwell to her husband, 45-year-old Ray Bumbury, while at their Bonasika, Essequibo River house. The husband, who is

a farmer, told police that his wife suffered from hypertension.

He decided to take her to the hospital and so they departed Bonasika via boat but during the journey, the pregnant woman continued to feel unwell and upon their arrival at the Hubu landing on the East Bank of the Essequibo River at around 01:00hrs, she appeared to have lost consciousness.

A report was made to the

police at the Parika Police Station, East Bank Demerara, and efforts were made to rush her to the Leonora Cottage Hospital, West Coast Demerara, where she was examined by a doctor on duty and pronounced dead.

The body was examined by the police for any marks of violence but none was found. Investigations are ongoing.

Mortuary awaiting post mortem examination.

When contacted, the grieving mother told this newspaper that it was an accident and her husband “did not do it willfully.” She is pleading with the authorities to release him from police custody since they are a poor family and she does not have money to bail him or plan the funeral.

Dead: Kaylee Williams

16

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 15, 2021

Minister Manickchand named Commonwealth Wise Woman

HAVING engaged extensively with the Commonwealth of Learning (CoL) to launch the Workforce Recovery Initiative in Guyana along with Coursera, Minister of Education Priya Manickchand has been recognised as a Commonwealth Wise Woman and is

now a mentor on the Commonwealth Wise Woman Mentoring Project.

The Education Minister was instrumental in launching the Workforce Recovery Initiative programme in Guyana that offered 4000 free online courses to Guyanese from reputable universities

through Coursera, a press release from her ministry noted on Saturday.

Since launching this programme on September 5, 2020, over 53,371 Guyanese registered to pursue courses in various areas and 43,305 certificates have been issued to 9,473 persons. Guyana has

become the leading country under the Workforce Recovery Initiative as it relates to persons registered and graduates. According to the release, the advocacy for continuous and lifelong learning and the proactiveness of the minister most likely came to the attention of the Common-

Minister of Education Priya Manickchand

wealth of Learning, because of the successful rolling out of the Coursera programme spearheaded by the minister and the outstanding response from Guyanese.

According to the Commonwealth of Learning, through the Commonwealth Wise Women (CWW) Mentoring project, the organisation plans to engage girls and women at the grassroots level in underserved communities to become part of the programme. Through the CWW project, the Commonwealth of Learning plans to promote change by empowering girls and women to become leaders.

Minister Manickchand joins other global leaders as mentors such as the Chief Executive Officer of the Commonwealth of Learning, Professor Asha Kanwar; Pro

Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of the West Indies Open Campus, Dr. Luz Longsworth; United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women, Dr. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Patricia Scotland QC and fellow Guyanese, Dr. Paulette Henry.

Minister Manickchand also plans to launch the Guyana Chapter of the Commonwealth Wise Women Mentoring Project here in Guyana to assist girls and women to recognise their value and achieve their full potential. She plans to involve mentors from all sectors to help with the successful mentoring of candidates from all across Guyana.

Venezuelan girl dies in EBD accident

AN accident on the Prospect Public Road, East Bank Demerara, on Sunday morning, resulted in the death of 18-year-old Nazaretlt Palacia, a Venezuelan national.

A police report noted that Palacia was running across the road in the vicinity of Bikers’ Sports Bar when motorcar, PTT 3955, struck her down.

She was flung into the air before landing on the right side of the front window screen and then onto the roadway some distance away.

She died at the scene and was later transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where she was officially pronounced dead. The body was subsequently taken to the Lyken Funeral Parlour.

The car was being driven by 21-year-old Ronaldo Hussain of Diamond, East Bank Demerara, who is in police custody. He told police he was driving at about 50kmph. The police did not find any alcohol in his system.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 15, 2021

Faith-based leaders undergo conflict-resolution training

The one-day workshop was hosted at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara

HEALTHY conflict resolution is a major component of maintaining pleasant and respectful relations among peoples and parties. To this end, the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security has embarked on an initiative to train more than 30 faithbased leaders in the art of effective conflict resolution.

These members of the religious community, along with several of the ministry’s staff, were trained during a one-day workshop on Conflict Resolution hosted on Saturday at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, located at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara.

These religious leaders are also members of the ministry’s Support and Heal Network’ which was recently formalised to address a plethora of social issues being experienced by vulnerable groups and communities across Guyana.

The sessions were facilitated by staff from the ministry’s Gender Affairs Bureau (GAB), and are part of a series of “train the trainers” workshops being tailored to improve the capacity of the aforementioned network. The training is also expected to strengthen existing support and counselling programmes being offered by the Human Services and Social Security Ministry.

In her remarks to the participants, subject minister, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, underscored the significance of properly resolving conflict since “little things can be blown out of proportion, and cause rupture in our society.”

It was to this end that Dr. Persaud emphasised the important role of both the network as well as the wider ministry in ensuring that conflict resolution remains an integral component of its operations.

“Support is a very powerful word. Many persons find themselves in very difficult circumstances, and they have no support. Without support things can escalate very quickly, from the lack of support they can become violent. Without support, people can spiral quickly into depression. Without a network of persons, sometimes people feel as if they're alone in the world,” Dr. Persaud said.

She noted that the Human Services Ministry is optimistic that the session will directly address some of the societal ills, including the increased reportage of violence being committed against women and children. The minister opined that many of the reported cases would have arisen from unresolved conflict, fueled by lack of understanding.

“Conflict is something that should never fester in anyone to cause it to widen to such an extent where someone cannot sit and have rational, reasonable conversations,” Dr. Persaud surmised.

She said, too, that it is imperative for faith-based leaders to understand the varying perspectives of issues as they engage communities.

“Understanding is a very tough thing to achieve. You might have a world of respect, but you may not understand another's perspective. But, our mandate after this training will be to heal in a tangible way. Heal with empathy and compassion,” Minister Persaud charged.

So far, Dr. Persaud, accompanied by members of the network, has been reaching out to victims of various tragedies, to provide comfort and offer support.

Established in September 2020, the Support and Heal Network is the brainchild of Dr. Persaud, who wanted to see the faithbased and religious communities play a more heightened role in promoting peace, respect and harmony in Guyana. The network has been given the go-ahead to make recommendations and devise strategies that seek to effectively support the ministry’s work on varying social issues.

According to a statement issued by the ministry on Sunday afternoon, in excess of two dozen religious organisations are involved in the voluntary programme. These include the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana; the Guyana Islamic Trust; Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha; Guyana Pandits Council; Guyana Central Arya Samaj; Roman Catholic Church of Guyana; Assemblies of God; New Testament Church of God; Revealed Word Christian Centre; Guyana Conference of Seventh Day Adventists; Anglican Diocese Guyana; Inter Religious Organisation of Guyana; The Salvation Army of Guyana; The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints; Guyana Rastafari Council; Maha Sabha; National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Guyana; Guyana United Apostolic Mystical Council; Full Gospel Church – Guyana; Guyana Presbyterian Church; Guyana Lutheran Church; Guyana Brethren Church; Guyana Ahmadiyya Anjuman Isha’at-l-Islam (Lahore); Guyana Wesleyan Church; the Hare Krishna Movement; and the Guyana Islamic Forum.

17

18

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 15, 2021

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 15, 2021

19

20

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 15, 2021

Hamilton quotes rivals Red Bull as ‘different animals’ (BBC) - World champion Lewis Hamilton says rivals, Red Bull, will be a “different animal” in this year’s title after the conclusion of pre-season testing.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was fastest after testing in Bahrain, which hosts the first race on 2628 March.

Mercedes driver Hamilton said: “Red Bull have had some really good running. Both drivers have been looking strong.

“They are going to be a different animal this year. A strong line-up with the two drivers and a really good car.”

Hamilton had a spin on the final day of testing and set the fourth fastest time, also behind Alpha Tauri’s Japanese rookie, Yuki Tsunoda and new Ferrari signing, Carlos Sainz.

Verstappen’s new team-mate, Sergio Perez, set the fastest time of the morning session before

handing over to the Dutchman for the afternoon one, in which track conditions were faster.

Headline times in pre-season testing are notoriously unreliable as indicators of competitiveness as it is impossible to know the specification in which cars are running, and fuel loads and engine modes make significant

differences to lap time.

Nevertheless, Red Bull have looked more convincing than Mercedes, whose test has been hampered by reliability problems and concerns over the balance and stability of their car.

Hamilton also pointed to the fact that Verstappen won the final race of last season, a more relevant

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Monday March 15, 2021) COMPLIMENTS OF XTRA ENERGY DRINK – STABROEK BAZAAR (Tel: 683-9500) CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD- 83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

(1) 2 (1 catch/1 stumping) (2) 3 (2 catches/1stumping)

Today’s Quiz:

(1) What was the result of the just-concluded WI/SL T20 ODI series?

(2) Who was voted Man of Series?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

AMERICAN RACING TIPS Mahoning Valley Race 1 Exprimir Race 2 Flat Out Prize Race 3 Dark Temptress Race 4 Indiana Red Race 5 Fleet Run Race 6 Good Alternative Race 7 Ecru Race 8 Just Flashy Race 9 Double D’s Revenge SOUTH AFRICA RACING TIPS Greyville 08:05 hrs Spicy Hot 08:40 hrs Luxemburg 09:15 hrs Catch Me Holly 09:50 hrs Jackman 10:25 hrs Linnbara 10:58 hrs Enrapture ENGLISH RACING TIPS Stratford 08:30 hrs Casa Loupi 09:00 hrs Shut The Box 09:30 hrs Letsbe Avenue 10:03 hrs Orrisdale 10:33 hrs Twominutes Turkish 11:03 hrs Golden Tobouggan

11:33 hrs Earth Company PLUMPTON 09:45 hrs Smurphy Enki 10:17 hrs Invincible Cave 10:47 hrs Moroder 11:17 hrs Inspireus 11:47 hrs Sexy Lot 12:25 hrs Powerstown Park WOLVERHAMPTON 12:20 hrs Dramatica 12:50 hrs Hunters Step 13:20 hrs Excelinthejungle 13:50 hrs Kettle Hill 14:20 hrs Sky Lake 14:50 hrs Margaret Dumont 15:20 hrs Nellie French 15:50 hrs Shaqeeqa 16:20 hrs Trawlerman IRISH RACING TIPS Punchestown 09:55 hrs Jenny Flex 10:25 hrs Present Fair 10:55 hrs Grand Jury 11:25 hrs Lasr Quarter 11:55 hrs Sholsang 12:30 hrs Midnight It Is 13:00 hrs Choice Of Words 13:30 hrs Wall Of Fame

point than usual as teams have been forced to carry over large parts of their cars from last year as a cost-saving move in the pandemic.

Hamilton said: “Having won the last race, you can only assume they are going to be right there if not at the front at the first race and it is going to be a great long battle with them through the year.”

Verstappen said: “I had positive feelings in the car but we will find out at the first race where we are. It has been a good few days now but we always improve and try to be better.”

Hamilton’s team-mate, Valtteri Bottas, said Mercedes had made progress with their car after a difficult first day, when the Finn lost running with a gearbox problem and Hamilton suffered handling problems.

“It feels like we have made some steps forward,” Bottas said.

“We went in the right direction and it felt better.

Still not 100% happy with the car, as you would never be at this early stage of the season.

“We keep working and trying to get the balance better and the car behaving nicer and that way be faster. It is completely unknown where we are at the moment after three days of testing. With the first day being compromised, it is so hard to say.

“I have a feeling it is going to be close.”

The Aston Martin team, formerly known as Racing Point, had a difficult test, with new signing Sebastian Vettel particularly badly hit by reliability problems, and an engine issue on the final day restricting him to a total of just 117 laps over three days.

Alfa Romeo’s Kimi Raikkonen managed 166 laps on the final day alone.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 15, 2021

21

22

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 15, 2021

Rashid Khan helps Afghanistan beat out Zimbabwe (EPNCRICINFO) - Bowlers win Test matches, and on a slow, placid track at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, it took a monumental effort from Rashid Khan for Afghanistan to

pull off their third victory in only their sixth Test match.

Carrying what was effectively a three-man attack of otherwise modest penetration, Rashid bowled

99.2 overs across back-toback Zimbabwe innings and picked up 11 wickets.

The other bowlers from both sides picked up a combined 16 wickets from 327.1 overs.

Rashid Khan celebrates after dismissing Donald Tiripano, Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe, 2nd Test, Day 5, Abu Dhabi

Rashid is a global T20 superstar, but this performance - taking place in the outer reaches of Test cricket, outside the World Test Championship - showed off all the facets of his bowling that aren’t on view in the restricted canvas of limited-overs cricket. Most impressive was the tireless effort he put in, over after over, without losing the verve and zip to keep challenging both edges of the bat on a pitch with neither the pace nor the bounce to encourage wrist-spinners.

Oh, and he did all this with the middle finger of his bowling hand not yet fully healed from the fracture that had kept him out of the first Test.

Rashid’s efforts left Afghanistan needing 108 to win in the last 45 overs of the match. They got there for the loss of four wickets in 26.1 overs, with Rahmat Shah leading the way with

a confident half-century.

The target was too small to truly challenge Afghanistan on this pitch, and Zimbabwe’s bowlers didn’t attack the stumps often enough to test their batsmen. Rahmat breezed along to 58 off 76 balls before playing across the line of a Ryan Burl leg-break that kept low and bowled him. By then, Afghanistan were nearly home, needing just seven more to win.

Zimbabwe may have eventually stumbled to the defeat that seemed a foregone conclusion when they followed on 258 behind, but for 70.4 overs, Sean Williams and Donald Tiripano had made them dream.

Exactly 20 years after VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid had batted through an entire day’s play to turn a follow-on situation on its head, Williams and Tiripano were threatening to do something similar. They had batted through the entire post-tea session on day four, and they were within four minutes of batting through the entire first session of day

five.

They had put on 187 for the eighth wicket, and moved Zimbabwe from minus 116 for 7, effectively, to 71 for 7.

Then Tiripano, five runs away from a maiden Test hundred, ran into the Rashid wrong’un. He’d seemed to pick Rashid out of the hand right through his innings, and had dealt with his threat magnificently even when he was getting the ball to scoot through low. The slowness of the pitch had helped Tiripano negotiate Rashid for 108 balls, but no one is ever entirely safe against him, not even when he’s starting his 93rd over of the match.

For once, Tiripano didn’t pick Rashid out of his hand, and the pace of his delivery negated the slowness of the pitch, zipping through to strike him on the back pad and punish him for playing back to a goodlength ball.

The Zimbabwe innings ended with a similar wrong’un to dismiss Victor Nyauchi with Williams left stranded on 151.

Debutant Kishan brings India level in ODI series (ESPNCRICINFO) - A thrilling debut half-century from Ishan Kishan tore apart the second T20I in Ahmedabad, before a timely return to form from Virat Kohli sealed the contest with 13 balls to spare, as India bounced back from their opening rubber defeat to level the series with an emphatic seven-wicket win.

It was another sluggish deck at Motera, one which appeared, in the latter stages of England’s own innings, to have given up the ghost completely, as Shardul Thakur pointed the way to victory with a split-fingered masterclass in England’s sub-par total of 164 for 6.

But, even allowing for the dew-factor which kicked in under the lights, England’s own bowlers found nothing with which to respond -- at least after Sam Curran had launched their reply with an immaculate wicket-maiden that culminated in KL Rahul edging to the keeper for a duck.

That, however, would prove to be a false dawn.

Sam remained the pick of England’s bowlers with four

overs for 22 all told, and Jofra Archer proved economical while lacking his usual menace. But the remaining three seamers all endured chastening days, not least Tom Curran, who was back in the team after Mark Wood pulled up lame with a bruised ankle, but failed to turn up on a pitch which, to judge by India’s own efforts, ought to have suited his variation-laden style.

Instead, Tom might as well have been transported back to IPL duty in Sharjah, as Kishan ignited India’s powerplay effort by lashing his opening over-- the sixth-- for 16 runs, including a towering first-ball six over long-on.

It was a continuation of the form and confidence with which he had helped the Mumbai Indians seal the IPL in November, and having whipped his first ball in international cricket, from Archer, off his legs for four, he clattered along to his half-century from 28 balls. He struck four of India’s nine sixes-more than England’s entire line-up could muster between them-- and confirmed, at

the age of 22, that India’s conveyor belt of preternaturally talented youngsters is once again whirling like a treadmill.

Kohli goes back to basics Throughout his innings, Kishan had a calm old head at the other end to guide him, and cajole him in equal measure. After back-to-back ducks in his last two international innings, Kohli admitted at the post-match presentations that he had had to go back to “focussing on the basics” to turn his form around-- and even allowing for a notable moment of good fortune on 10 -- he managed just that with a final flourish that reaffirmed his majesty in this format.

Kohli’s winning hit, a pull over backward square off Chris Jordan, carried him to 3000 T20I runs, and was his third six of the night, along with five fours. Rishabh Pant -- overshadowed for once but never outmatched - served up a pitch--perfect cameo of 26 from 13 balls, with two fours and two sixes to reinforce the sense that normal service was being resumed after an off day on

Friday.

But on a night when England’s big guns had been spiked by a thinly-stretched but perfectly on-song fiveman India attack, Eoin Morgan could find no combination of pace, spin or seam to unlock India’s rebooted batting line-up, one in which Suryakumar Yadav, the second injection of batting from Mumbai’s IPL-winning stable, wasn’t even called upon.

Roy the lone ranger in flatlining innings For a man who had come into the series under a fair bit of scrutiny, Jason Roy’s desire to keep throwing the bat in spite of personal circumstance remains a priceless commodity. After opening the series with 49 from 32 in Friday’s uncomplicated chase, he again top-scored with 46 from 35 on Sunday - a scratchy affair while it was being compiled, but an innings that gained in stature as his team-mates’ struggles for fluency were revealed later in the innings.

At no stage of England’s innings was it easy to hit through the line- and by the time Thakur was causing Ben Stokes to tear out what

Ishan Kishan muscles the ball down the ground, India vs England, 2nd T20I, Ahmedabad, March 14, 2021 remains of his hair with a diet of scuttling cutters at the death, it seemed nigh on impossible.

But not that it stopped Roy from trying, as he flogged the first ball of the

second over, from Washington Sundar, high over longon for six, before avenging Jos Buttler’s first-ball duck with a hoick through midwicket to disrupt Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s length.

23

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 15, 2021

Bravo’s century drought ends as Windies whitewash Sri Lanka

(ESPNCRICINFO) - Darren Bravo’s first century in nearly five years, along with fifties from Shai Hope and Kieron Pollard, meant Wanindu Hasaranga’s rearguard 80 not out would ultimately be in vain,

ODIs to six games, but also means they remain rooted at the bottom of the World Cup Super League, yet to register any points.

And it was once more the familiar failings that cropped up to haunt Sri Lanka, as a

Lanka never quite seemed to trouble West Indies consistently, relying more on batsman error than anything else for their breakthroughs.

This despite Sri Lanka’s chief tormentors from the previous games, such as

Wanindu Hasaranga played a counterattacking hand, West Indies vs Sri Lanka, 3rd ODI, North Sound, March 14, 2021 as West Indies hunted down their target with five wickets to spare, to sweep the three-match ODI series.

The result not only extended Sri Lanka’s losing streak against West Indies in

middle-order collapse with the bat - despite a now-customary Hasaranga revival - meant their total was not quite imposing enough to trouble the West Indian big-hitters. With the ball, Sri

Evin Lewis and Nicholas Pooran, being removed relatively cheaply. It was only Hope that remained a constant, going on to register his sixth consecutive ODI score of fifty or more

- the tenth man to do so, with only Javed Miandad (9) having scored more and putting on a crucial 109-run third-wicket stand with Bravo.

Bravo’s 132-ball 102 was his fourth ODI century and his first since June 2016; it was also his first fifty-plus score in a little over two years. Along with Hope, he took the sting out of a Sri Lanka attack buoyed by two early scalps - the first time this series they had secure such early breakthroughs.

The pair occupied the crease between the 10th and 32nd over, when Hope miscued one to deep midwicket. Until that point they had gradually ground down the Lankan bowlers; yes, the number of dot balls was a concern, but both Hope and Bravo’s ability to find the boundary whenever the required rate threatened to get out of hand was uncanny.

Once Hope fell, and Pooran shortly after that, Sri Lanka once more might have scented a sniff of an opening, but that was again snuffed out by the home side’s adeptness at going big when needed.

Captain Pollard joined Bravo at the crease, and they put on 80 for the fifth wicket off 71 deliveries.

By the time Bravo was dismissed courtesy of a spectacular diving take by Dimuth Karunaratne at extra cover, the equation was down to 26 off 23 and never likely to go Sri Lanka’s way.

But it could have been much worse for them if not for a magnificent counterattack from Hasaranga and Ashen Bandara earlier in the day. The pair put on unbeaten 123-run seventh-wicket stand to rocket-charge the Sri Lanka innings, after the outstanding Akeal Hosein had again exposed the fault lines running through their batting.

Even more impressive was the fact that Hasaranga’s 60-ball 80 - the highest ODI score by a Sri Lanka No. 8 - was made on virtually oneleg, as injury saw the young allrounder limp through most of his knock.

But a heavily strapped leg be damned, Hasaranga would not be bowed.

Cutting, driving, hoicking, scooping, whipping, he played an innings that utilised all sides of the North Sound ground. Though he saved his best for the final over, taking Jason Holder - himself off the field for a much of the innings with an injury - for 20 runs, including a glorious front-foot swat-pull over midwicket for six.

Alongside him, Bandara did his claims for a permanent role in the Sri Lanka first XI no harm at all, providing the ideal foil to Hasaranga’s stand-and-deliver approach.

In comparison to his partner’s seven fours and three sixes, Bandara only managed four boundaries. However, most of them, including a smoked straight six off Fabian Allen,

came after the 45th over just as Sri Lanka would have been hoping to up the scoring.

Together, the pair plundered 63 runs off the final five overs to take Sri Lanka to their highest total of the series. When they came together, at 151 for 6 at the end of the 32nd, a score in that region would have been beyond even the most optimistic observer.

Much of the damage was done by the left-arm orthodox of Hosein, who had run roughshod through Sri Lanka’s middle order. Such was his impact that, having been introduced into the attack in the 19th over, Pollard proceeded to bowl out Hosein’s 10 overs in a solitary spell.

Accounting for the wickets of Pathum Nissanka, Dinesh Chandimal and Dasun Shanaka - all either bowled or lbw - he would finish on figures of 3 for 33.

Prior to that Alzarri Joseph had picked up the once again impressive Danushka Gunathilaka with a short ball that was too quick for him, the left-hander top edging a hook onto his helmet to lob an easy catch at point. Jason Mohammed meanwhile castled Dimuth Karunaratne straight after.

The pair had put on 68, before their wickets started a collapse that would see Hosein take a grip and Thisara Perera run-out, until Hasaranga and Bandara’s unexpected rescue act - one that was cruelly in the end not good enough.

Ronaldo scores hat-trick over Cagliari (BBC) - Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick inside the opening 32 minutes as Juventus bounced back from their midweek Champions League exit by beating Cagliari 3-1.

Ronaldo, 36, opened the scoring with a header before a right-footed penalty and a drilled, left-footed finish completed a ‘perfect’ treble.

Giovanni Simeone pulled a goal back for Cagliari in the second half.

Juventus stay third but are now three points clear of fourth-placed Atalanta.

Ronaldo came in for some criticism after Juventus’ extra-time defeat against Porto on Tuesday, the second year in a row they have been knocked out at the last-16 stage. But this performance was a reminder of just how devastating the former Manchester United forward can be.

He rose unmarked to meet Juan Cuadrado’s corner to send a towering header beyond Alessio Cragno after just 10 minutes, before drawing a foul from the goalkeeper for a penalty which he converted 15 minutes later.

The third goal was vintage Ronaldo, collecting Federico Chiesa’s pass just inside the area, shimmying away from a defender and powering the ball into the top corner.

Cagliari, who are just two points clear of the relegation zone, improved in the second half and got on the scoresheet when Simeone slid home Gabriele Zappa’s cross from the right.

Ronaldo could have scored his fourth goal with virtually the last kick of the game, but Cragno did well to rush out and block.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored the second-fastest hat-trick of his career, beaten only by the 20-minute treble he scored for Real Madrid against Espanyol in September 2015

The West Indies team celebrates with the trophy after winning the 3rd and final ODI match between West Indies and Sri Lanka at Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium in North Sound, Antigua and Barbuda, on March 14, 2021. (Photo by Randy Brooks / AFP) (Photo by RANDY BROOKS/AFP via Getty Images)

Bravo’s century drought ends as Windies whitewash Sri Lanka See story on page 23

Evin Lewis loses his off stump, West Indies vs Sri Lanka, 3rd ODI, North Sound, March 14, 2021

Darren Bravo made his first ODI fifty in two years © AFP/ Getty Images

Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

MONDAY, MARCH 15, 2021