Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 20-08-2021

FRIDAY 20th August, 2021

' No.106459

Minister Manickchand: Schools expected to be reopened with individualised plans

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Guyana, Suriname mull profiting, together, from intact rainforests 03 PAGE

Model for bridge 02 connecting Guyana, Suriname finalised PAGE

Be bold and 09 aggressive in going after opportunities PAGE

Single market space being ‘touted’ for 03 Guyana to benefit from Guyana-Suriname Suriname’s access 10 –– President Ali tells Guyana, Suriname private sectors

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On Thursday, Suriname’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation, Albert Ramdin (left), and Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, witnessed the opening of Optiek Ninon, a Surinamese-owned optical store on Camp Street, Georgetown (Adrian Narine photo)

to European market

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 20, 2021

Model for bridge connecting Guyana, Suriname finalised

By Navendra Seoraj

ENHANCING trade and connectivity between Guyana and Suriname, through the construction of a bridge across the Corentyne River, has been an idea since 2010, but plans to actualise this vision are far ahead today than ever before, as the two governments of the continental neighbours have decided on a model for design and financing of the physical link.

The announcement of a model for the project followed three days of engagements between high-level teams from both Guyana and Suriname, led by the respective Presidents, Dr. Irfaan Ali and Chandrikapersad Santokhi.

Speaking at a joint press conference at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre on Thursday, Dr. Ali said it was decided that the Design, Build, Own and Operate Model should be adopted for the construction of the bridge.

An American engineering, design, construction, and consultation firm, METCO, defines the Design, Build, Own and Operate Model as a project financing system used in the construction services where a single contractor is

given the responsibility for design, construction, operation and maintenance of a facility for a specified period

vertised for Expressions of Interests (EoIs). And from the submissions received, the authorities shortlisted eight

(France); Exp Services Inc.; Pedelta, Arcadis; CEMCO (Canada, Spain, Netherlands, Guyana); FIGG/Sunecon,

action to choose from the companies that have submitted EoIs for the construction of this bridge,” President Ali

President of Guyana, Dr. Irfaan Ali (left) and Suriname’s President, Chandrikapersad Santokhi prior to handing it over to the client.

After concretising plans to construct a bridge across the Corentyne River last year, the two governments ad-

companies which will be further evaluated.

According to reports, the shortlisted companies are China Road and Bridge Corporation (China); EGIS

SRKN’gineering & Associates/E&A Consultans / P-ALL Consultants/ Environmental Management Consultant (United States of America); Politecnica and Rina JV / ILACO / SRKN’gineering & Associates (Italy, Suriname, Guyana); SYSTRA International Bridge Technologies Inc. / AP&G Consultancy Suriname NV / Delta Marine Consultants / Deltares (Dubai, Suriname, Netherlands); TYPSA/ Leonard, Andra und Partner GmbH/ FIRM (Spain, Germany, Suriname); and WSP Caribbean Ltd. (Trinidad).

“We need to consolidate

said.

In November last, the Head of State was quoted as saying: “Once constructed, the bridge will serve as a permanent physical link between the people of Guyana and Suriname and be of enormous benefit to the tourism, transportation and trade sectors.”

As part of increasing the momentum on this project, Dr. Ali said the two governments have agreed that a working group would be established and it would include the nations’ Finance Ministers, who will determine the investment and concession packages that would accom-

pany the EoI. “That would be in terms of securing financing, building, operating and owning of the bridge,” the President explained.

With a model for the project being identified, President Santokhi said the technical advice of the maritime authorities in both countries would now be sought to determine where and how the bridge will be built.

To arrive at a decision, the authorities, according to the Surinamese President, would also be examining a study on the development of west Suriname done by the country’s oil and gold company, Staatsolie. A deadline of four weeks was set for the completion of this process.

After the conclusion of this aspect of the project, the ball will be in the court of a joint evaluation commission which will evaluate the shortlisted contractors.

“In one week, a joint evaluation commission will evaluate if the selected eight companies meet the requirements,” President Santokhi related.

While there will be major emphasis on the Corentyne Bridge project, both Presidents said there were discussions on other areas of infrastructure and transportation, which are crucial for the improvement of cooperation and advancement between the two nations.

To this end, President Santokhi said that the ferry service between Guyana and Suriname will be back up within a matter of days, following the certification and release of the vessel by the Suriname Drydock and Shipbuilding company.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 20, 2021

Guyana, Suriname mull profiting from intact rainforests together

By Navendra Seoraj

LEVERAGING the benefits of their pristine rainforests for profits on the carbon credit market together is a possibility being explored by continental neighbours, Guyana and Suriname.

With over 87 per cent forest cover, Guyana, according to the Rainforest Foundation, is one of the most heavily forested countries in South America. The same could be said of Suriname, which, according to REDD+, has forest cover of over 93 per cent.

This mass of greenery, aside from its natural beauty and role as a home for both nations’ wide biodiversity, serves as one of the major tools in the combat against climate change.

“We recognise that we share similar conditions and opportunities as it relates to the environment and climate change,” President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, said during a joint press conference with the visiting Surinamese President, Chandrikapersad Santokhi, at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, on Thursday.

Considering the fact that both nations have had good credentials in the area of environmental preservation, the plan, ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP26, is to develop a common strategy for management of the environment and coun-

set aside for climate change that we did not receive yet but there is a new pledge for new money.

tering climate change.

To this end, he said: “We are going to jointly approach the area of environment and climate change to come up with a common strategy for both Guyana and Suriname ahead of COP26… and in exploring the possibility of merging forest assets in the carbon credit market.”

Carbon credits are considered market mechanisms for the minimisation of greenhouse gases emissions.

To advance discussions on the existing possibility of benefitting collectively from the carbon credit market, Vice-President, Bharrat Jagdeo, will be leading a delegation to Suriname before COP26.

The Vice-President will be tasked with coordinating

Guyana’s strategy and working with Surinamese authorities to develop a common strategy to deal with climate change and the environment.

On Guyana’s end, there are already plans to reintroduce the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).

AVOIDED DEFORESTATION This strategy is premised on the concept of avoided deforestation, which allows Guyana’s 15 million hectares of rainforest to serve as a carbon sink, a process that is critical to combating global climate change. Deforestation accounts for about 20 per cent of human-generated greenhouse emissions.

To support the LCDS, the Governments of Guyana and Norway had agreed on a ground-breaking model where Norway will pay US$250 million towards Guyana’s forest climate services between 2010 and 2015. This is the second largest deal of its kind in the world.

It was reported that the government has already started to re-engage the European nation on this area of support.

Not just the re-engagement of Norway, but also the discussions between Suriname and Guyana are timely since the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), in its most recent statement, said: “Many of the changes observed in the climate are unprecedented in

thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of years, and some of the changes already set in motion, such as continued sea level rise, are irreversible over hundreds to thousands of years. However, strong and sustained reductions in emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases would limit climate change.”

When asked how Guyana plans to balance the preservation of its environment with the operations of its burgeoning oil and gas sector in light of the IPCC’s report, President Ali said: “There is a gap as to when the targets will be realised… there are many targets that were set for climate change and money that the developed world

OUTMATCH ANYONE “Our credentials on the environment outmatch anyone, so we can say in a net way, we are a positive story on the environment side.”

For this reason, he believes that there is room for Guyana to capitalise on the benefits of its petroleum sector and still be able to maintain its credentials in the area of environmental preservation.

Speaking along the same line during the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC), Vice-President Jagdeo said: “Because there is this Climate Change imperative to decarbonise, our policy is to get as much oil out of the ground as quickly as possible. It sounds a bit harsh for those who think you should be environmentally sound but that is the reality of it.

“We have to maximise the benefit from the industry and use those benefits to change our people’s lives…

We don’t know how swiftly we’ll get to a decarbonised world but we have to make use of this period when there is still demand to get as much as possible out of the ground and that is why we support the rapid pace of the industry but it must be done safely.”

Single market space being touted for Guyana-Suriname GUYANA and Suriname seem to be taking an integrated approach as it relates to investments.

As a matter of fact, Suriname’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Co-operation, Albert Ramdin, said that the two countries, continental neighbours, are eying the possibility of merging the two economies into a single market space, thereby boosting opportunities in both territories.

Ramdin’s comments were shared during the opening of Optiek Ninon, a Surinamese-owned optical store, which opened its doors on Camp Street in Georgetown, Guyana on Thursday. Ramdin, who is part of a visiting delegation led by Suriname’s

Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh (Adrian Narine photo)

President, Chandrikpersad Santokhi, said that the opening of Optiek Ninon represents the realisation of what is being touted by President, Dr. Irfaan Ali and his Surinamese counterpart.

Ramdin said that an integrated approach is one that is convenient, owing to the closeness of the two countries and their economic similarities.

“We strongly believe that these two markets must be seen as one market,” the Suriname minister emphasised.

Similar sentiments were shared by Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, who lauded the Surinamese company for its confidence in Guyana’s economy. He

Suriname’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Co-operation, Albert Ramdin (Adrian Narine photo)

further urged Guyanese companies to expand beyond Guyana’s border and explore similar investments in Suriname.

As it is, both President Ali and Santokhi have called on the private sectors of the two countries to establish partnerships for cross-border investments.

Expressing his delight that bilateral talks between Guyana and Suriname have been speedily bearing fruit, Minister Singh reminded those present that Suriname is one of Guyana’s immediate neighbours and has always been an obvious and natural option for Guyanese businesses considering expansion and vice versa.

It was explained that the expansion of Optiek Ninon

to Guyana peaked after President Ali’s visit to Suriname last November, shortly after the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) assumed office.

During that visit, both Presidents Ali and Santokhi shared a mutual interest in enhanced collaboration geared towards the improvement of their countries’ citizens through social and economic benefits.

“At this very moment, Presidents Ali and Santokhi are meeting at the Pegasus Hotel with the private sectors of Guyana and Suriname discussing the incredibly exciting opportunities that there are for greater private sector See page 4

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 20, 2021

Single market space being touted ...

From page 3

expansion from the cross-border perspective,” Dr. Singh told those gathered at the optical store’s opening.

FORTUITOUS, SPECIAL COINCIDENCE He related that the launch must have been “a fortuitous and particularly special coincidence,” as the private sectors of the two countries are meeting to discuss what the store’s opening ultimately demonstrates.

Dr. Singh said that the launch was also symbolic due to the fact that Guyana and Suriname have been neighbours for time immemorial and while there has been movement of people back and forth across the Corentyne River, the economic potential of that proximity has not nearly realised the fullness of its potential.

“President Irfaan Ali could not be more emphatic in his conviction that the pri-

vate sector will be the driver of economic growth and transformation. Internally, in our respective countries we are committed to making every aspect of doing business easier and simpler, and right now work is ongoing to identify ways in which bureaucratic processes can be simplified,” Minister Singh emphasised.

Meanwhile, in congratulating the company on its 50th anniversary, Suriname’s Ramdin, expressed satisfaction that a business in his country had grown and expanded its brand in Guyana.

“This is the first branch in Georgetown. Establishing Optiek Ninon in Guyana is kind of a branding of Suriname as well. We take that as a value that we should not underestimate. We strongly believe that these two markets must be seen as one single market,” Ramdin said.

He too emphasised the benefits of cross-border investments, and the need for

Friday, 20 August, 02:00hrs - 03:30hrs 13:30hrs - 15:00hrs

Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal was present at the store’s opening and opted to get his eyes tested (Adrian Narine photo) businesses to expand their markets and create additional business opportunities.

“It creates opportunities for growth, investment and employment,” the Surinamese minister noted. He also expressed hope that Guyanese

businesses will also expand and open their doors in Suriname, as a means of creating opportunities for the people of his country as well.

Optiek Ninon is a leading optical business in Suriname with over 50 years of expe-

rience and six branches in that country. The new store in Guyana is its seventh and first multinational branch.

The business’ founder was the late Ninon Brunings, who opened her first store in Suriname in 1971. According to the business’ representatives, Ms. Ninon’s goal and passion was to make good eyesight and good quality glasses accessible to everyone.

They expressed their enthusiasm and excitement at having ventured to Guyana to open the business’ doors and lauded Guyanese for their hospitality and welcoming spirit during the time they spent here making arrangements for the business start-up.

The company has also employed a number of Guyanese as part of its team.

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Several healthcare workers still not vaccinated GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 20, 2021

– Health Minister reports

MINISTER of Health Dr. Frank Anthony has noted that though the government has granted healthcare workers, public transport operators and conductors two more weeks to comply with the COVID-19 Emergency Measures (No.20), which took effect on August 01, 2021, a number of healthcare workers are yet to be vaccinated.

According to the updated COVID-19 guidelines, healthcare workers, and operators of public transportation, including minibus operators, taxi drivers and speed boat operators, must be vaccinated in an effort to minimise the spread of the virus.

The guidelines state that unvaccinated people will only be allowed to access in-person services at any government agency or min-

istry by appointment, while members of the public who are vaccinated will be allowed to access the services offered by the bodies freely.

The Ministry of Health has indicated that anyone who does not take the COVID-19 vaccines, inclusive of staff and visitors of government agencies, will be required to provide negative PCR tests.

Minister Anthony noted that while the number of persons getting vaccinated daily has increased since the implementation of the updated guidelines on August 1, 2021, healthcare workers are still lagging behind.

“In the health sector, we still have a number of persons who have not been vaccinated, and they probably have different reasons why they are not vaccinated,” Minister Anthony said, adding: “But unfortu-

Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony nately, healthcare workers are at greater risk, and you would remember that early in the pandemic, healthcare workers were labelled as frontline workers, because they were interfacing with persons who were sick with ‘COVID’ on a daily basis.

The healthcare workers had to interface with them, which put them at higher

risk. And if you’re going to be at higher risk, then, obviously, you should get protection.”

He noted, too, that while healthcare workers had utilises just Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) at the beginning of the pandemic, it was a great risk to their lives, and the lives of their loved ones.

“Initial protection in the early days of the pandemic was to use PPEs and so forth, but now, in addition to PPEs, we also have vaccination,” Minister Anthony said. “Our vaccines, we know, work. Vaccines are safe; they are protective, and the evidence we have had so far is that people who are fully vaccinated are not going to get the more severe form of the disease, or end up in the ICU, or dying from ‘COVID’. So we want to urge our healthcare workers to ensure that they are protected,” he added.

The Health Minister further reminded citizens that the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus continues to threaten the health system of several First World countries, and urged that they be cognizant of the impact it would have on the country should persons

remain unvaccinated.

According to research, the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus (SARSCoV 2) is deadlier than the original COVID-19 virus; almost 100 per cent more transmissible, particularly so in younger persons. Additionally, the Delta variant affects children more than the original COVID-19 virus.

“We need to protect ourselves; all of us, because we are seeing around the world that there is a surge now with the Delta variant,” Minister Anthony said, adding: “And with the Delta variant, if you’re unvaccinated, unfortunately, you can get a severe form of the infection. In almost every country where there is a surge of Delta variants, we have seen that happen.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 20, 2021

A Shared Vision

PRESIDENT, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali hosted a four-day official visit of his Surinamese counterpart, Mr. Chandrikapersad Santokhi.

It is the second visit to Guyana by the Surinamese Head of State since he assumed the presidency just over a year ago. President Ali, it will be recalled, also paid an official visit to that country, his first overseas engagement since he was sworn in as President on August last. These are indeed indications of the strong bonds of friendship and co-operation between the two leaders as they seek to deepen mutually beneficial relations.

The objectives of the visit are to examine ways for enhanced collaboration in order to improve the quality of life for all citizens through economic and social benefits. According to President Ali, the discussions between the Surinamese President and himself are not “time wasting” exercises, but are aimed at reducing existing gaps and barriers and to create new opportunities for co-operation.

Both Heads of State shared the same level of optimism regarding the prospects for enhanced co-operation and improved relations between the two countries. “We are not

on a time-wasting exercise. We are here to make decisions today for a better tomorrow, and we are going to advance at a rapid pace from today all commitments and decisions that we will take,” President Ali stressed.

According to President Ali, both countries have small populations, similar challenges and similar opportunities. “We have to see how to merge our thinking and make sure that our policies reflected that integrated approach to bring betterment for the people of the two countries,” he said. Additionally, the two leaders examined possible areas of collaboration in areas such as the COVID-19 pandemic, oil and gas and infrastructural development, among others. Also discussed by the two Presidents were local content and legislation governing local content policy, tourism, linkages between Suriname, Guyana and Brazil, agriculture, trade and enhanced security.

According to President Santokhi, the visit provided an opportunity for the two sides to evaluate progress made at the bilateral level within the context of the current dialogue and the co-operation platform established one year ago. He reiterated the importance of Guyana both as a neighbour

and as a strategic partner.

The visit could not have come at a more opportune time in the history of both countries. Both have had a chequered political past, interspersing between periods of authoritarian and democratic rule. Guyana, like Suriname, is blessed with fertile land, tropical pristine forests and an abundance of natural resources. And as luck would have it, both countries now have significant oil and gas reserves estimated at a combined ten billion barrels of oil equivalent. At the socio-cultural level, both countries have diverse populations. It is no secret that thousands of Guyanese were forced to seek a new life in Suriname during the dark period of PNC authoritarian rule.

Given the similarities at the economic and cultural levels, it is only natural that both countries seek to forge a shared developmental path. Suriname and Guyana share a common border, separated by the Corentyne River.

It is said that one can live without one’s friends but not without one’s neighbours.

There is a lot of truth in that saying. It is even better when our neighbours are also our

friends and partners. It is in this context that the current bilateral discussions between the two nations have to be seen.

Works are currently in place to further cement those bonds by way of the construction of a bridge across the Corentyne River.

This, along with the Takatu Bridge and improved road infrastructure will result in enhanced trade relations not only between the two countries but in Latin America and beyond.

There are now strong indications that the current level of co-operation will be taken to an even higher level with a common gas strategy based on significant discoveries of oil offshore Guyana and Suriname, laying the foundations for sustained and transformative economic growth and prosperity.

The tide has certainly changed in favour of a better life for the peoples of both countries.

The leaders of the two countries must be commended for their common vision on the way forward and for not wasting any time in optimising the development potential of both countries, not only for their own citizens but for the region as a whole.

JOINT COMMUNIQUE ISSUED ON THE CONCLUSION OF THE OFFICIAL VISIT TO GUYANA BY HIS EXCELLENCY CHANDRIKAPERSAD SANTOKHI, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SURINAME 1. At the invitation of His Excellency, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, His Excellency Chandrikapersad Santokhi, President of the Republic of Suriname, paid a four-day visit to Guyana from August 17-20, 2021.

His Excellency President Santokhi was accompanied by First Lady Mrs. Mellisa Santokhi-Seenacherry, H.E. Ambassador Albert R. Ramdin, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation, H.E. Parmanand Sewdien, Minister of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries, H.E. Raid Nurmohamed, Minister of Public Works, H.E. Albert E. Jubitahana, Minister of Transport, Communication and Tourism, H.E. David Abiamofo, Minister of Natural Resources and representatives of the State Oil Company and private sector of the Republic of Suriname.

2. In their review of the relations between Guyana and Suriname since their last meeting

in November 2020 in Paramaribo, their Excellencies, Presidents Ali and Santokhi, noted that the Guyana/ Suriname Strategic Dialogue and Cooperation Platform (SDCP) has provided added impetus to the enhancement of cooperation between their two countries, and is indeed proving useful to their collective goal of furthering the development of their peoples through mutually beneficial cooperation.

3. Their Excellencies received reports of the meetings and consultations held by the various working groups under the SDCP. They noted, with satisfaction, the collaboration and coordination initiatives in Foreign Policy Coordination and Political Dialogue; Environment; Security; Health; Infrastructure and Transportation; Agriculture; Investment, Trade and Enhancement of the Private Sector.

4. Their Excellencies expressed satisfaction with the progress to implement initiatives geared to improve the unhindered movement of people and goods across the Guyana/Suriname border. They noted, too,

the coordination of the policies of Guyana and Suriname in matters of hemispheric and regional significance, including the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, combatting crime, enhancing security and the Agri-Food Systems Agenda of CARICOM. 5. They directed that strategies be developed to hasten the implementation rate of other cooperation activities under the SDCP. They further directed their respective Foreign Ministers to closely monitor the execution of the activities under the SDCP. 6. The Presidents underscored the importance of enhancing bilateral and multilateral security cooperation between Guyana and Suriname and expressed their support for the initiation of practical measures towards this end, in the context of maintaining peace and stability in both countries.

7. Both Presidents agreed to initiate discussions between their Ministers responsible for legal affairs towards the conclusion of a mutual legal assistance agreement and an

extradition agreement.

8. Their Excellencies expressed satisfaction at the signing of the historic Air Services Agreement on December 7, 2020, between the two countries and the progress made towards the realisation of the construction of the Corentyne River Bridge, both of which they believe will improve interconnectivity, not only between Guyana and Suriname, but with the rest of the Caribbean and South America, and further afield, and thereby remove obstacles to increased trade, the growth of the tourism sector and the unimpeded movement of people, goods and services between Guyana and Suriname.

9. The two Presidents noted that, based on responses to the issuance of invitations from both Governments for expressions of interest in the construction of the Corentyne River Bridge, several reputable international companies responded, eight of which See page 8

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 20, 2021

HEARTS Technical Package to be implemented at primary health care level

GUYANA continues to collaborate with the Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO), the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other countries to implement the HEARTS Technical Package which will strengthen the Ministry of Health’s approach to improving cardiovascular at the primary health care level.

The HEARTS Technical Package provides a set of effective, practical interventions for strengthening the management of risk factors for cardiovascular in primary health care and also aims to prevent cardiovascular disease (heart attacks and strokes) by ensuring reasonable access to continuous, standardised, high-quality care for people at high risk.

It is aligned with and builds on the WHO’s package of Essential Non-Communicable Disease Interventions and responds to the agreement that sustainable, effective action is urgently required to prevent cardiovascular diseases, through which millions of lives could be saved.

The HEARTS Technical Package comprises of six elements which cover areas of H-Healthy lifestyle; EEvidence-based treatment protocol; A-Access to essential medicine and technology; R-Risk-based management; T-Team care andTask Sharing and S-System for Monitoring In 2018, the PAHO/ WHO collaborated with the Ministry of Health (MOH) to conduct a workshop for the HEARTS Technical Package. Fifty health care professionals from private and public health across all 10 administrative regions were trained to take on this new approach in health facilities across Guyana.

Since this implementation, doctors from the MoH Chronic Disease Unit have participated in webinars and began the process of raising awareness on the HEARTS Technical Package along with involving key stakeholders such as the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and local Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), through discussions to initiate the implementation of this project countrywide.

Focal Point of High

Blood Pressure and the HEARTS Technical Package Initiative, Dr. Michael Pereira, explained that the Chronic Disease Unit has since established a system of collecting data to facilitate an easy transfer of data into the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) as the HEARTS Technical Package is rolled out.

“We have utilised the patients (chronic disease) medical records along with their clinical passport and continuation sheet to keep track of how they have been coping with the disease over the years”, he explained.

He further highlighted that there are already more than 30 health centres and various regional hospitals across the country that are currently utilising these chronic disease medical records, continuation sheets and passports.

EMBRACING The MoH is embracing the HEARTS approach with the implementation of same which will kickstart at seven health facilities: The Lethem Hospital, Port Mourant Health Centre, Anna Regina Health Centre, Campbellville Health Centre, Industry Health Centre, Lusignan Health Centre, Eccles Health Centre and Grove Health Centre.

“This package is at a primary health care level which involves physicians and non-physicians and training of these personnel at the selected implementation sites will commence very soon,” Pereira said.

He further added that plans are in place to collaborate with PAHO/WHO to conduct stakeholder meetings with various focal points and training of health-care providers in delivering effective, high-quality behaviour modification interventions, such as smoking cessation and nutrition counselling, using motivational interviewing techniques to improve people’s knowledge about CVDs risk factors and complications, as well as to promote the importance of self-care and adherence.

Dr. Pereira said that all health facilities will be required to adopt strict measures to ensure that the HEARTS approach is car-

ried out in all aspects.

This involves Evi dence-Based Treatment Protocols, where treatment algorithms have already been created and will soon be standardised since the MoH has been collaborating with experts/consultants from GPHC and Private Hospitals, particularly experts in Internal Medicine and Cardiology to help create and standardise these treatment protocols, since the use of these simplified, treatment protocols is important for scaling up CVD management, particularly in primary health care, as they are essential for decentralisation of care, the involvement of non-physician health workers and defining a core set of medicines.

STRATEGICALLY PLACED Dr. Pereira stated that these protocols will be strategically placed in areas where they can be easily identified and followed by physicians and other healthcare workers across various communities.

Additionally, Pereira is urging all healthcare professionals to support the MOH’s efforts to implement the rolling out of the HEARTS Technical Package which is also a PAHO/ WHO initiative to facilitate effective, practical interventions for strengthening the management of risk factors for CVDs in primary health care, and also aims to prevent cardiovascular disease (heart attacks and strokes) by ensuring reasonable access to continuous, standardized, high-quality care for people at high risk.

Reports from WHO have shown an estimated 17.5 million people in 2012, and if current trends should continue the annual number of deaths from CVD will rise to 22.2 million by 2030.

Of these deaths, 80 per cent are due to heart attacks and strokes, and over three quarters occur in low- and middle-income countries where the economic and social burden is highest amongst poor and disadvantaged groups.

The risk factors for CVD are Behavioural Factors, Physiological Factors and Social Determinants and Drivers. The Be-

havioural Factors include tobacco use, an unhealthy diet, harmful use of alcohol and inadequate physical activity. Social Determinants and Drivers focus on areas of income, housing, globalisation, aging and urbanisation. Meanwhile, Physiological Factors include high blood pressure (hypertension), high blood cholesterol and high blood sugar or glucose which are linked to underlying social determinants and drivers.

Hypertension is a major risk factor and key driver of CVD globally. It is es-

timated to have caused 9.4 million deaths in 2010 but remains widely undetected, undertreated and poorly controlled.

There is a significant number of people with prior heart disease or stroke that do not have access to essential medicines such as aspirin, statins, beta-blockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors which have proven to be effective to prevent recurrent events and reduce mortality.

The increase in the burden of CVDs in LMICs is driven by both

Dr. Michael Pereira an increased prevalence of risk factors and a relative lack of access to medical care in often under-resourced health systems.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 20, 2021

JOINT COMMUNIQUE ISSUED ON THE CONCLUSION OF THE OFFICIAL VISIT TO GUYANA BY HIS EXCELLENCY CHANDRIKAPERSAD ...

From page 6

have been selected, after joint evaluation, to submit proposals for its construction by October 2021.

The two Presidents exchanged views on the concessions to be granted in relation to the project, the creation of a development zone in the vicinity of the bridge on both sides and a management structure to oversee its construction. For this purpose, a meeting will be convened within two weeks with the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Finance and Public Works to initiate discussions on a comprehensive investment framework.

10. Their Excellencies noted that the oil and gas sector of Guyana and Suriname held the promise of transformational development opportunities for both countries and agreed that taking advantage of the emerging synergies in the sector was of utmost importance to both accelerate and deepen the prospects engendered by the development of hydrocarbons offshore. In that regard, they discussed a possible framework for joint actions/strategy, joint ventures and the promotion of local content to maximize the benefits from the sector.

11. The Heads of State took the opportunity to further expand their views on the initiatives aimed at establishing strategic economic and investment linkages between Guyana and Suriname to take advantage of possible savings from the avoidance of duplications in

the areas of infrastructure to facilitate the production of electrical energy from natural gas to promote manufacturing and the creation of petrochemical industry as well as the refining of natural resources such as bauxite; and the exportation of surplus clean electrical energy.

12. Within two weeks a working group will be established to pursue concrete proposals for a joint gas strategy (inclusive of gasto-shore infrastructure and the establishment of a plant to generate electricity from natural gas) and a sub-regional development strategy.

13. They emphasised that coupled with the construction of the Corentyne River Bridge, the creation of a joint frontier development strategy focused on East Berbice in Guyana and Nickerie in Suriname were components that were pivotal to an over-arching strategy aimed at harnessing the natural resources and human capital assets of Guyana and Suriname to accelerate the prosperity of both countries and their peoples. They therefore directed that a new working group on oil and gas is created and convened.

14. The two Presidents noted that the agricultural sector offers similar strong opportunities for enhanced growth and development through increased cooperation and coordination in terms of production and market access to Europe and North America – utilising the respective experiences and strengths in those

two large markets.

15. They noted that the same approach would be beneficial by promoting their two countries as a twin tourism product and engaging Brazil in a trilateral programme to boost their tourist industries. They agreed to an early discussion in pursuit of this initiative.

16. The Presidents discussed the issuance of SK fishing licences to Guyanese fisherfolk and agreed that both Ministers responsible would work towards the issuance of fishing licences in that category by January 1, 2022 keeping in mind the established quota on the Surinamese side.

17. They noted that advantage should be taken of the Inter-Guiana Games and Inter-Guiana Cultural Festivals for increasing people-to-people contact. They further acknowledged the importance of strengthening the collaboration between universities.

18. Their Excellencies engaged with representatives of the private sector of Guyana and Suriname and supported moves to establish a Guyana/ Suriname Business Council.

They applauded the healthy partnership between the two private sector groupings and their efforts to advance the commercial relations between Guyana and Suriname.

19. Their Excellencies discussed priority issues on the CARICOM agenda including regional food security and controlling the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccine inequity, vaccine hesitancy, the resulting economic and social shock engendered by the pandemic and the security and stability of the region.

20. They expressed sadness at the recent assassination of His Excellency Jovenel Moise, the then sitting President of Haiti and reiterated their Governments’ solidarity with the people of Haiti as they seek to overcome the many challenges facing their security, and the stability and development of their country. They supported the request of the Haitian Government for United Nations support in the investigation of the assassination.

Further, the Presidents underscored the need for the region to continuously work collectively, guided by the CARICOM Charter of Civil Society, to strengthen and safeguard democratic governance and to strenuously condemn political violence.

21. In the wake of the recent devastating 7.2. magnitude earthquake that struck Haiti, Their Excellencies reiterated solidarity with the Haitian Government and its people for the unfortunate loss of lives and considerable material destruction. Both leaders underscored the urgency of coordinated regional relief and recovery efforts and are awaiting the outcome of the assessment by the Haitian authorities concerning the critical areas of need.

22. The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the further strengthening of the Caribbean Community and to working with their Colleague Heads of Government of CARICOM towards the full implementation of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy. They welcomed the new Secretary-General of CARICOM, Her Excellency Dr. Carla Barnett who assumed duties on 15 August 2021, and expressed their appreciation for the outstanding service of the former Secretary-General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, CCH.

23. Their Excellencies acknowledged the roles of PROSUR and CELAC in bringing the Latin American and Caribbean region closer together and providing an enhanced voice for the region in international fora on issues of interest and concern, including peace and security, climate change and sustainable development.

24. Their Excellencies agreed to collaborate in their preparations for COP 26 in Glasgow. They noted that as two high forest, low deforestation countries there is much scope for advancing the joint positions and interests of Guyana and Suriname at that most important Summit and beyond.

Particular emphasis was placed on the wider area of REDD Plus, including low carbon development and forest management, forest conservation, land reclamation and general climate change mitigation initiatives. They agreed that an expert mission to Suriname would be led by the Honourable Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, Vice President of Guyana, given his experience, international visibility and profile in the areas of the environment and climate change mitigation to advance the agreed bilateral agenda regarding the development of a joint strategy for environmental services and climate change.

25. They agreed to convene a trilateral Summit with the President of Brazil, in Suriname, at a mutually agreed date to discuss strategic collaboration in light of the potential offered by oil and gas industry in both countries 26. Their Excellencies were pleased to witness the signing by their respective Ministers of the Protocol concerning the Trade in Fresh Agricultural Produce between the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and the Republic of Suriname and the Agreement on the establishment of services in the field of health care between the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Suriname and the Ministry of Health of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.

27. In concluding their discussions, both Presidents expressed their full satisfaction with the results of their dialogue. They further expressed their convictions that the several far-reaching decisions taken to advance cooperation on bilateral, regional and international matters were testimony to the political will which they both shared for a new paradigm in the relations between their countries; driven by their vision for the sustained economic and social development of Guyana and Suriname and the enhancement of the living standards for all of their peoples.

28. His Excellency President Chandrikapersad Santokhi expressed also on behalf of First Lady Mellisa Santokhi-Seenacherry and the members of his delegation, gratitude to His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, First Lady Arya Ali, and to the Government and people of Guyana for the hospitality afforded him and his delegation during his Official visit and extended an invitation to His Excellency President Mohamed Irfaan Ali to pay a visit to Suriname at a mutually convenient time.

Issued on this 19th day of August, 2021, in Georgetown.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 20, 2021

Be bold and aggressive in going after opportunities

9

–– President Ali tells Guyana, Suriname private sectors PRESIDENT, Dr Irfaan Ali, has urged the private sector in both Guyana and Suriname to think big and be bold and aggressive in going after the opportunities on the horizon.

The Head of State gave this charge during a working breakfast hosted by the Private Sector Commission (PSC) on Thursday. The forum also featured President of Suriname, Chandrikapersad Santokhi and members of his delegation.

In his keynote address, President Ali emphasised that the two countries have many opportunities that lie ahead, and that it is important to set the right tone in an effort to fully capitalise on those opportunities. A press statement from the Office of the President quoted him as saying that “Today we are two countries; neighbours not talking about competing with each other, but talking about cooperating with each other; talking about coordinating with each other to develop the seamless path for the prosperity of the people of both countries.”

The Guyanese leader, in his presentation, recognised that, in an effort to achieve this, both countries have to be able to cultivate and nurture high levels of trust.

“That is why President Santokhi and I made the point that we lead from the front in demonstrating to the people of both countries that we trust the process, we trust each other and we trust the policies and programmes that will be designed to take the countries forward,” Dr. Ali noted.

He said that now that both countries have made commitments at the highest level, it is now up to the private sector entities and agencies of Suriname and Guyana to work towards building trust. “When you build trust, you build partnerships; when you build partnerships, you build capacity; when you build capacity, you build a foundation to win,” Dr. Ali asserted He explained that realistically, individual businesses will not be able to fully capitalise on all the opportunities that exist; however, if they form consortiums, they can pool together their efforts and take advantage of more of what is available.

This, President Ali said, is demonstrative of local content and private sector involvement that are important for both countries going forward.

THINK BIG “’That is why we are connected today.

We have to think big; in a bold manner; in an aggressive manner…. I am saying that the opportunities are there. Don’t sit down, do nothing and when the opportunities go away from the local private sector you say ‘where do these outsiders come from and take the opportunities? Why we never had the opportunities?’”

The President pointed to the many opportunities that exist within the various sectors including food production, oil and gas, infrastructure projects, security, natural resources and the environment among many other areas.

He also encouraged those present to commit to the uni-

Surinamese President, Chandrikapersad Santokhi (Office of the President photo) fication of efforts in the interest of both economies and the people of both countries.

“Today members of the private sector, you are the foundation of this partnership. We can create the best enabling environment, the best policy environment, but if there are no takers then we are just creating policies in a vacuum and no one benefits.

We recognise clearly that the engines to drive this is the private sector,” Dr. Ali posited.

He said that while this may be the case, the private sector must also understand its social and economic responsibility to ensure that grassroots people are included in the prosperity.

“Let me assure you that the aggression that is coming after the opportunities from the private sector outside of Suriname and Guyana is unbelievable.

The only way you can

create a winning culture is if we cultivate the conditions to win,” President Ali emphasised.

NEW FUTURE Meanwhile, President Santokhi, in his address to the forum, said that the discussions between the two Presidents over the last few days were grounded in a “new future” for the countries.

He assured that the private sector will be involved in all initiatives either independently or through public-private partnerships. “Our two governments will be your vehicles to all these markets.”

In his welcoming remarks, Vice-Chairman of the PSC, Krishnand Jaichand expressed pleasure that the private sector was being consulted by the Ali Administration. “This is the kind of commitment we are talking about and we are looking forward to the same with our Surinamese counterparts.”

Meanwhile, in his presentation, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, noted that it was indeed a great privilege to host such a large delegation from Suriname.

He described the discussions with his counterparts as being “extremely fruitful” and productive.

Dr. Singh also acknowledged the unprecedented number of private sector leaders who form part of President Santokhi’s delegation. He referenced the fact that both countries are at a unique juncture economically, particularly with the opportunities in the oil and gas sector.

“We have an opportunity to transform Guyana [in a way] that has never been seen before…We would like you to see Guyana as a place to do business, explore new markets, deliver new services and expand business,” Dr. Singh encouraged.

Also delivering remarks was Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond, who provided a brief overview of the key investment opportunities in Guyana’s tourism sector –one of the largest export sectors in the country. She outlined the opportunities that exist for strategic partnerships between operators from the two countries and the twinning of the two destinations. “Guyana is serious about our tourism product and where it can take us… we wish to work with you

as investors to develop the tourism sector,” she said.

Following the speeches and presentations, the PSC programme facilitated a question-and-answer segment, where attendees had the opportunity to interact with both Presidents on various areas of concern.

President, Dr. Irfaan Ali (Office of the President photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 20, 2021

Guyana to benefit from Suriname’s access to European market

PRESIDENTS of Guyana and Suriname, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali and Chandrikapersad Santokhi, overlooked the sign-

ing of two cooperation agreements between their two countries at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre on Thursday.

Guyana’s Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha and Suriname’s Minister of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries,

Dr. Frank Anthony, Minister of Health, performing duties as Guyana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Suriname’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation, Albert Ramdin, inked the agreement on the establishment of services in the field of healthcare (DPI photo) Parmanand Sewdien, signed the Protocol concerning the Trade in Fresh Agricultural Produce.

Its terms and conditions relate only to commercial shipments of agricultural produce. Its focus is on the local and organic production of the fresh produce by providing guidelines with respect to conditions under which they will be produced, stored in pack houses and eventually packaged and transported to each country.

Effort will be made to ensure international obligations, standards and guidelines are met, which relate to the production, certification, processing, packaging, storing and transporting of agricultural produce between the two countries.

The protocol would see the two nations assisting each other to access new

markets as they seek to trade agricultural produce.

Guyana would benefit from Suriname’s access to the European market, while Suriname would benefit from Guyana’s access to the North American market.

Dr. Frank Anthony, Minister of Health who is performing duties as Guyana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Suriname’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation, Albert Ramdin, signed the Agreement on the establishment of services in the field of healthcare.

The Ministries of Health are expected to strengthen strategic collaboration, provide effective capacity building for healthcare personnel and specialty treatment for patients. The Ministries will also develop joint programmes, especial-

ly in professional healthcare and public health services, disease control, diagnostic imaging, laboratory services, pharmaceutical services and research.

The parties also agree that, in the area of the COVID-19 pandemic, they will coordinate their efforts with respective cross-border diagnostics in COVID-19, contact tracing and quarantine, developing a risk communications strategy, COVID-19 awareness and COVID-19 vaccination awareness.

The parties will also cooperate and share experiences in the COVID-19 vaccination campaign.

These two cooperation agreements form part of the efforts of the Governments of Guyana and Suriname to improve the lives of their citizens.

(DPI)

Guyana’s Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, and Suriname’s Minister of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries, Parmanand Sewdien, sign the Protocol concerning the Trade in Fresh Agricultural Produce

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 20, 2021

AG commences legal proceedings against NevPro, Patterson et al – as saga over non-delivery of multi-million-dollar motion scales gains momentum ATTORNEY-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, S.C., on Thursday began legal proceedings against NevPro Realization Limited of Jamaica, and Former Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, essentially over a breach of contract that was entered into almost five years ago.

The matter at reference has to do with the non-delivery of three mobile motion scales bought by the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) government for a whopping $72.264 million back in December 2016.

In his statements of claim filed at the Demerara High Court on Thursday, the AG has also named former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Balraj Balram, and the ministry’s former Head of the Special Projects Unit, Lawrence Mentis as respondents.

On behalf of the State, Nandlall is seeking $50M in general damages from the Jamaican company for loss and damage suffered as a result of the breach of the contract, dated December 6, 2016, for the supply and delivery of three scales.

He is also claiming for liquidated damages in the sum of $7.245M, calculated at ten per cent of the contract price for breach of contract by the said company.

Alternatively, the AG is also seeking an Order of Restitution against the company for all monies received as full payment under the contract which was breached.

In the case of Patterson, Balram and Mentis, Nandlall is claiming damages of in excess of $50M, for loss and damage suffered as a result of negligence to the State of Guyana, and an additional $50M for the loss and damages suffered as the result of the misfeasance in public office committed by the trio.

Again, as a result of the trio’s alleged misuse, misapplication and improper disposal of public money, contrary to the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act, Cap 73:02, Laws of Guyana, Minister Nandlall is further seeking an additional $50M for loss and damage suffered by the State because of their actions.

Lastly, the AG is seeking $50M each from the respondents for aggravated and exemplary damages.

According to the AG in his application, he has a duty in law to preserve the patrimony of Guyana by recovering land, money or other property that would be a financial loss to the State and the people of Guyana, if found to have been taken or occasioned in, or by the contravention of the laws of Guyana.

APNU+AFC CAMPAIGN MANAGER In the court documents seen by this newspaper, Minister Nandlall is alleging that the director of the Jamaican company was the campaign manager of the A Partnership for National Unity+ Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) for the 2015 General and Regional Elections,

Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, S.C. and was closely associated with the AFC, the political party of which Patterson is a founding member.

Against the foregoing backdrop, Nandlall is contending that for the Fiscal Year 2016, the sum of $631.7M was allocated, through public funding, to the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, under Project Code 1902800: Sub-Head - Equipment, for the purchase of road-building equipment for the Special Projects Unit of the then Ministry of Public Infrastructure.

According to the application, “On the 1st day of November, 2016, the Ministry invited suppliers, through the National Competitive Bidding and Restricted Tendering method of procurement, to bid for the procurement of fourteen (14) different Lots of specified goods, which included three (3) Mettler Toledo Weight-In-Motion Scales.”

The AG also disclosed in his application that El Dorado Trading, a Guyanese company, had also submitted a bid for $10.2M for the supply and delivery of the said Motion Scales, but was allegedly disqualified from the tender procedure on account of its submission of a fraudulent manufacturer’s authorisation for one of the said lots.

He said that on December 6, 2016, rather than inviting suppliers again, by way of tender, Balram entered into a contract with NevPro Realization Limited for the supply and delivery of the said motion scales. Then, seven days later, he reportedly sent a letter to the former Chairman of the National Procurement and Tender Administration (NPTA), Berkeley Wickham, requesting “a waiver of the Tender Board Procedures, and for the purchase, through sole-sourcing” of the scales from the Jamaican company.

According to Minister Nandlall, Balram did not advance or satisfy any of the conditions set out in the Procurement Act as a reason for the request to use the single-source procurement procedure for the supply and delivery of the scales in his letter.

Subsequently, an undated Memorandum by the former Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, was submitted to Cabinet for its examination and “No Objection” in relation to the said request.

FALSE CLAIM As it relates to the memoran-

dum, Nandlall said the document falsely stated that no bids were received for the motion scales, although a bid was received by El Dorado Trading. Among other things, Nandlall said that the memorandum in which the basis of Single-Source Procurement Procedure is being sought included the urgent need for the item, although no catastrophic event had occurred to occasion that need as specified in section 28(c) of the Procurement Act. According to Nandlall, on December 29, 2016, before Cabinet approved the grant of its No-Objection to facilitate the award of the contract to the company, in breach of the Procurement Act, an advance payment certificate was approved and certified by Balram and Mentis for US$172, 500, representing a fifty per cent (50%) advance payment under the terms of the contract.

Balram and Mentis would subsequently write the Commissioner-General of the Guyana Revenue Authority, Godfrey Statia, requesting the waiver of duties and taxes by falsely stating that the request was being made in accordance with a contract signed December 29, 2016 between the Ministry of Public Infrastructure and Massy Industries for the Supply and Delivery of the Motion Scales.

The next day, again ex post facto, Cabinet considered the memorandum and approved the grant of its No objection to the waiver of tender procedures to facilitate the award of the contract through the Single-Source Procurement Procedure for the supply of the Motion Scales from the foreign company.

According to Nandlall, on January 4, 2017, inexplicably but corruptly, and without receipt of the scales, a final payment certificate for US$172, 500, representing the final payment for the delivery of the motion scales was approved and certified by Balram and Mentis again.

PAYMENT CERTIFICATE The said payment certificate was reportedly approved and certified by Balram and Mentis six days after the advance certificate was granted to the company, and 29 days after the signing of the said contract to supply and deliver the scales.

The AG is contending that for the entirety of 2017, there is no evidence that any steps, whatsoever, were taken by Patterson, Balram and Mentis to pursue any form of communication with NevPro Realization Limited to ensure delivery of the scales.

In short, the AG said, the alacrity to make full and final payment to the company for the sales “was not in the faintest way replicated in efforts to ensure delivery of that which was paid for”.

On March 15, 2018, more than one year after the 90-day period for delivery, six packages purporting to be the scales were shipped to Guyana by the company.

“To date, only three (3) out of the six (6) packages were found at the Laparkan Trading Ltd’s storage bond

in Georgetown. None of the packages was opened to verify that the contents of the packages actually were the Motion

Scales, or components of the Motion Scales.” the AG said in his application.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 20, 2021

COVID-19 claims another life –– taking death toll to 588, new cases to 141

THE Ministry of health has reported that one more person has died after contracting COVID-19, taking Guyana’s overall death toll

to 588.

The latest fatality is a 35-year-old man from Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), who died while receiving

treatment at a Ministry of Health facility.

Meanwhile, there are currently 1,157 active COVID-19 cases in Guyana,

following the addition of 141 new cases on Aug 18, 2021, after 1,253 tests.

The 141 newly-confirmed cases were recorded in Regions One (Barima-Waini), Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Five, Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).

Region Four accounted for 75 of the new cases, while Regions One and Seven recorded one each; Region Two 18; Region Three 35; Region Five two; and Regions Six and Nine four and five respectively.

Even as new cases were

being recorded, 68 persons were reported to have recovered from the virus, bringing the total number of recoveries to 22,193.

The country has now recorded a total of 23,936 confirmed cases, since the first COVID-19 case was reported here in March 2020.

Of the current crop of 1,157 active cases, 15 are under observation at the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the National Infectious Diseases Hospital, at Liliendaal on the lower East Coast Demerara; 92 are in institutional isolation; 1048 are in home isolation, and two are in institutional quarantine.

Many of the persons infected with the virus are said to be asymptomatic, meaning that they are not exhibiting any of the myriad symptoms

associated with COVID-19.

The updated COVID-19 Emergency Measures are in force from August 1, 2021 until August 31, 2021, but may be extended or amended by notice of the Minister of Health after an assessment of the prevailing public health conditions of the pandemic.

As per the current measures, however, all persons are required to wear face masks when leaving their homes, and maintain the recommended physical distancing and sanitisation.

The current curfew begins at 22:30hrs and ends at 04:00hrs.

Persons with symptoms of COVID-19 are asked to call the COVID-19 hotline numbers: 231-1166; 226-7480; or 180/181 for assistance.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 20, 2021

Schools expected to reopen with individualised plan – Minister Manickchand THE Ministry of Education (MoE) is currently putting together a plan to guide the moving forward of the physical reopening of schools, which will be based on individualised plans, and it will be up to the schools to decide whether they will reopen fully or whether it would do a rotation system for the students.

With students currently out on their August vacation, schools are scheduled to reopen to virtual learning from September 6; however, the ministry has not yet announced definitely on the physical reopening of schools for face-to-face learning.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle on Thursday, Education Minister, Priya

Manickchand reaffirmed that the ministry is moving ahead with the physical reopening of public schools but is still in the process of examining what that reopening will look like.

“Schools are going to reopen because COVID is going nowhere. We are opening,” Minister Manickchand said.

The ministry is gathering data and is expected to make an official announcement shortly.

“What reopening means might not be what we are accustomed to. It will look different for different schools in different regions, and even for different villages,” Manickchand explained.

She further added: “We’re trying to individualise it. For example, if a

school has eight children but might be built to accommodate 40, then everyone can go back, but where a school might have 1,000 children but is built to accommodate 600 then we can’t reopen [fully] there, we would have to do a rotation. If for example and entire village is vaccinated -- all the parents, all the teachers, and the village is under lockdown then we would not have a problem with everyone coming back out.”

The minister noted that the ministry is also looking at how to deal with assessing students and mitigating learning loss that would have been caused by the physical closure of schools for over one year now.

“On the issue of learning loss we have consolidated all

of our curriculum [and] we have a plan,” Manickchand said.

Schools in Guyana have largely remained physically closed since March 2020 as part of measures implemented to curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Schools officially reopened virtually in September 2020.

In November 2020, schools were partially reopened physically for Grades 10, 11 and 12 students to help them prepare for their Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) examinations.

In May of this year, Minister Manickchand had first announced, in a video address, that the ministry was considering the physical reopening of school this September.

The minister had noted

that the decision was taken based on the fact that though there has been no cure for the deadly COVID-19 virus, the vaccines have proven to be effective enough to guard against serious symptoms and, more importantly, death.

Guyana is currently engaged in a robust vaccination campaign and thus far, over half of the country's adult population has received one dose of the vaccines being administered. Guyana is also set to procure a supply of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine which has been approved for use by children from 12 years old and other.

This will be done with the consent of parents and the ministry has begun issuing consent forms over the past few weeks, with favourable

13

Education Minister, Priya Manickchand responses.

Minister Manickchand noted that the ministry is also working along with private schools to make the vaccine available to those students as well.

“For the purposes of vaccines, we treated private schools the same way we have treated the public schools -- they have forms.

Then we will go to them and vaccinate them too if that’s what they want,” she explained.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 20, 2021

Suspected cocaine in Fernleaf milk powder proved false

AFTER spending several days in police custody, two persons who were arrested on Monday with suspected cocaine in 12 packets of Fernleaf powdered milk were released, on Thursday, when further tests revealed no narcotics in the products.

The police had, on Monday, initially seized the dairy products which were found in the luggage of a 34-yearold self-employed female of New Street Cumberland,

Canje, who was an outgoing passenger at the Eugene F. Correia International Airport, Ogle.

A male was also subsequently arrested.

However, in a twist on Thursday, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) announced that there was never any cocaine in the products and the persons have been released.

“Further tests conducted yesterday, August 18, 2021, by the Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory on twelve

The 12 packets of Fernleaf milk suspected to have been mixed with cocaine packets labelled Fernleaf Milk, that were suspected by the police to have contained a mixture of cocaine, have revealed no trace of the narcotic in their contents,” the report informed.

The police did not offer any apology to the humiliated pair, notwithstanding the woman having missed her flight due to the situation, spent time in the lockups and had her milk confiscated.

Both the man and the

woman had maintained no knowledge of narcotics being in the product.

It was on Monday the police issued a statement, noting that the female passenger, who was bound for Barbados on a Caribbean Airlines Flight BW 217, had been arrested after a search of her luggage revealed the milk packets, among her clothing.

According to the police, a rank tested the milk “using the Narcotic testing kit” and

“there was an indication of a narcotic suspected to be cocaine”.

The woman and man were escorted to the Criminal Investigations Department Narcotics Branch and placed in custody while the milk powder was weighed and had amounted to 4.873kg.

The police had said that “the search was prompted after the woman was seen acting in a suspicious manner”.

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$26M for restoration of National Psychiatric Hospital

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 20, 2021

THE Ministry of Health has invested some $26 million in the restoration of the National Psychiatric Hospital, to provide better living conditions for its patients.

The regional mental health institution is the only one of its kind, which provides services to persons diagnosed with mental illnesses.

On August 8, the institution, located at Fort Canje, New Amsterdam, in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), suffered major losses as a result of intense fires.

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony said works have since been

Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony executed to refurbish the mental health facility.

Making the announcement on Thursday during his regular COVID-19 update, Dr. Anthony

said: “Well, we have been doing some work at the National Psychiatric Hospital. As you would recall, about a couple weeks ago, we had a fire, and we had to redo that particular building; it is almost complete.

“We continue to work to expand the facilities there, and to create better conditions for our patients. So this investment certainly would have helped to restore the building, and put in some additional protections there.”

The section of the regional health unit which was exposed to the fire will see the replacement of 18 beds. (DPI)

Yesim Oruc is new UN Resident Coordinator in Guyana UNITED NATIONS Secretary-General, António Guterres, has appointed Yesim Oruc of Turkey as the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Guyana, with the host government’s approval.

She will take up her post on August 22.

According to a release, Oruc brings more than 20 years of experience in international relations and sustainable development to her new role. At the United Nations, she held leadership positions with the United

Nations Development Programme (UNDP), including, most recently, a senior role at the UNDP Representation Office in Washington D.C., USA where she managed key organisational strategies and partnerships.

She also served as UNDP Country Director in Albania and led programme and partnership initiatives for UNDP country operations in Romania as well as Turkey.

Prior to joining the United Nations, Oruc worked as a copy editor in Cairo,

New UN Resident Coordinator, Yesim Oruc Egypt.

She holds a master degree in Middle Eastern studies from the American University in Cairo, Egypt, and a bachelor degree in political science and comparative governments from Yale University in Connecticut, USA.

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‘Crack-Skull’ finds life sentence unconscionable –– moves to redress it

SELWIN Dawson, called ‘Crack-Skull’, who confessed to the fatal shooting of Purcell Moore Jr. during a robbery at Craig Old Road, East Bank Demerara (EBD) in 2017, has moved to the Court of Appeal to challenge his life sentence.

Dawson is contending that the sentence is manifestly excessive and severe in all the circumstances of the cases.

He and his accomplice, Kevin Persaud, were indicted

for murder, but they both opted to plead guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter. The duo admitted that on December 20, 2017, they unlawfully killed 40-year-old Moore during the course of a robbery.

In June, Justice Sandil Kissoon, who sits at the Demerara High Court, sentenced them both to life imprisonment, with the possibility of parole after serving 15 years.

However, Persaud has not

filed an appeal against his sentence.

According to reports, Moore, the father of two, who was robbed of his gold chain and other jewellery, sustained two gunshot wounds to the head during the attack, which occurred one street away from his mother’s home at Craig.

Reports are that the man had returned from abroad several weeks prior, and might have been monitored by his attackers.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 20, 2021

Pfizer vaccines will arrive in time for school reopening –– Minister Anthony

Selwin Dawson, called ‘Crack-Skull’

HEALTH Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony, has said that the Pfizer vaccine will arrive here in time for students to return to school in September.

He made the announcement during Thursday’s COVID-19 Update. The minister said his ministry is working along with the Ministry of Education in preparation for the roll out of the vaccines for children ages 12-17.

Minister Anthony also noted earlier in the week that the Education Ministry has already commenced the distribution of consent letters to parents seeking to have their children vaccinated.

“If they agree then they really don’t have to

do anything but if they disagree, then they would fill the form and send it back to the school so that they don’t want their child getting the vaccine and the ministry will have to respect those wishes.”

The minister said when the consent forms return, it will allow the ministry’s health team to ensure that they have enough vaccines to accommodate the children at the various locations.

“So, what we are now trying to do is to see which school, how many children would be at that school to get the vaccine. So, we are working out these things in advance to make sure that when we send the health team to that school, they would have enough vaccines for the children.”

For parents, who do not wish to have their children vaccinated, Minister Anthony said the Ministry of Education will have to explore alternatives, so that those children can continue learning.

“So, we’ll see what happens, but so far from my discussions with Minister Manickchand, I understand that a lot of schools have sent out these letters. They are coming in back and most of the parents have agreed.”

Dr. Anthony had noted earlier that these vaccines are safe for the children to take as the relevant clinical trials have been conducted.

Making reference to the United States, Dr. Anthony said a large number of children have been vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine. He noted that there have not been reports of significant issues.

The minister is cautioning parents that once the vaccine is administered, children may experience some side effects like fever and some aches.

Minister Anthony explained that these side effects are common after taking any vaccine.

Guyana is expected to receive 100,000 doses of the US-made Pfizer vaccine. (DPI)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 20, 2021

CDC Director-General appointed to top regional post

DIRECTOR-General of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), Lieutenant-Colonel Kester Craig, was recently appointed Vice-Chairman of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) Special Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction.

It’s a post the veteran soldier and disaster management specialist will share over the next year with a colleague of his from the Dominican Republic.

Described by his peers as a “committed, results-oriented Disaster Risk Management (DRM) practitioner,” Lieutenant-Colonel

Craig, boasts 25 years of military service, and more than 15 years of experience working with community groups, government agencies, and national, regional, and international Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in the local government, health, security, energy, and environmental sectors.

He has a Master’s in Public Administration, a BA in Emergency and Disaster Management, and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP)..

Among positions he’s previously held within the CDC are Deputy Director-General, and

Operations and Training Officer. He’s also previously served as Adjutant and Avionics Supervisor in the Guyana Defence Force (GDF)’s Air Corps, as well as Infantry Commander/Platoon Commander.

Besides being Chairman of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) Plan Development and Review Subcommittee, he’s also the Founder and President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Alumni (Guyana).

ACS BACKGROUNDER

The ACS is an advisory body which represents the interests of its 35 Contracting States, Countries and Territories of the Greater Caribbean.

It was formed with the aim of promoting consultation, cooperation, and concerted action among all the countries of the Caribbean coastal area.

The objectives of the ACS are based on the strengthening of the regional co-operation and integration process, with a view to creating an enhanced economic space in the region; preserving the environmental integrity of the Caribbean

Sea which is regarded as the common patrimony of the peoples of the region; and promoting the sustainable development of the Greater Caribbean.

The primary purpose of the ACS is to promote greater trade between and among the nations, enhance transportation, develop sustainable tourism, and facilitate greater and more effective responses to local natural disasters.

In terms of its role, the ACS Executive Board for the Special Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction serves to foster co-operation among the organisations responsible for disaster

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CDC Director-General, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig planning and relief in the region.

This will allow for the prevention and mitigation of risks, for the purpose of incorporating knowledge on prevention, education and planning with respect to the effects of disasters.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 20, 2021

New IOM study aims to contribute to Guyana migration policy framework

IMPLEMENTING electronic passports, collecting migration data across borders, and facilitating automatic information-sharing between migration-related entities can significantly improve migration governance in Guyana.

These actions were identified by the Government of Guyana in a recent report, entitled Guyana Needs Assessment on Migration Governance. The report was recently launched at a virtual event with several government, private sector, and civil society stakeholders.

The Guyana Needs Assessment on Migration Governance was implemented by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) under the Western Hemisphere Programme (WHP), generously funded by the US Department of State Bureau of Population, Refugees and

Migration.

The event offered an introduction to IOM’s Needs Assessments on Migration Governance and presented the key findings and needs identified in the report, which were facilitated by IOM Research Officer, Briana Mawby, and Lead Research Consultant, Tiarra Simon.

Chief of Mission in Guyana and Coordination Officer for the Caribbean, Robert Natiello, said that the Guyana Needs Assessment on Migration Governance is part of a series of other reports that covers the Caribbean and Central America.

Natiello explained that the reports address the challenges and opportunities that exist through well managed migration management policies, a release said.

“The report for Guyana has been contextualised to the countries’ particular situation

and provides key information to support the government in understanding current migration governance systems and the steps we can take to improve those systems,” shared the IOM Guyana official. He added that IOM is currently working with the Government of Guyana on the development of the Guyana Migration Profile.

This profile will provide a summary of the state of migration in the Guyana and will contribute to the development of migration policy and law.

OPPORTUNE TIME In his address, Foreign Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Robert Persaud, said that the Guyana Needs Assessment on Migration Governance comes at an opportune time in the country’s

The migration governance report recommends the development and implementation of a labour policy and strategy that has provisions for the integration of migrants into the formal labour force (Photo credit: Yancey Haywood) national development.

“We recognise that migration and its potential socioeconomic impact on the country must be carefully considered,” said the government official. “We are cognisant that a comprehensive whole-of-society response must be formulated and supported, as well as properly implemented.”

Foreign Secretary Persaud explained that the Government of Guyana has worked closely with the IOM on projects that provide data to better understand the impact of migration and is committed to work towards creating policies that would lead to successful migration governance. According to Persaud, better migration governance policy will guarantee that all the people of Guyana, both native and foreign born will be able to contribute to society.

The official noted that the Guyana Needs Assessment also complements the work of the Migration Profile.

EASY-TO-USE TOOL IOM, through the WHP, conducts research to provide governments with evidence on which to base the development and review of policies and practices related to migration

and migration governance.

This report provides an easy-to-use tool and reference for government officials and other stakeholders on which to base proposals and activities.

The report is divided into six themes to guide policymakers’ consideration on the areas most relevant to their field as it relates to migration governance. These are Migration Policies and Adherence to International Standards, Migration and Border Management, Migrant Protection and Assistance, Migration Management in Situations of Emergencies and Disasters, Migration and Health, and Labour Migration and Human Development.

Among the report’s findings were that the specific needs of migrants are not considered in policy documents, particularly in relation to disaster risk reduction. Thus, it is possible that many migrants are not being reached by crisis plans and communications. To address these concerns, the study recommended that language translations for emergency situations and essential migration information be available in Spanish, Portuguese, Indigenous languages, and Haitian Creole. This would offset the negative impacts of environmental changes as

drivers of forced migration.

A key recommendation was made to manage labour migration including the development of a multi-agency coordination mechanism and to develop and implement a labour policy and strategy with provisions on the integration of migrants into the formal labour force.

Furthermore, the study also recommended amendments to the Prevention Against Discrimination Act to include migrant status, and persons of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Intersex and Queer (LGBTIQ+) community, as well as the decriminalisation of homosexuality under the Criminal Law (Offences) Act. In addressing the vulnerabilities of women and girls, the report noted government’s commitment to enhancing officials’ capacity on gender-based violence referrals.

These are among the several observations noted in the study that are desegregated in its thematic areas.

The report was developed in an accessible format that provides data on the structures and policies in regulating migration governance and identify priorities for strengthening government capacity to manage migration effectively.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 20, 2021

Goal of ending hunger by 2030 is ‘reachable’

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–– FAO Director-General

THE world can get back on track to achieve the goal of eradicating hunger by 2030 “with the right balance of interventions,” QU Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), told the sixth Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministerial Meeting on Food Security on Thursday.

Despite the additional challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the objective of eradicating hunger (Sustainable Development Goal 2, or SDG2) by 2030 is “reachable”, he noted through a video message, emphasising the need for “collective and immediate attention”.

Qu highlighted strategic priorities in the mission to reverse the trend of growing food insecurity.

“Growth in the agricultural sector is the most significant sector to effectively reduce poverty and hunger in middle to low income countries,” the Director-General said.

Assuring additional investments in agriculture in national development strategies, as well as bilateral and multilateral initiatives is critical, and “the cost is manageable”, amounting to around eight per cent of the size of the world’s food markets, Qu said. He urged targeting the countries most in need and focusing resources on “impactful” investments.

Efficiency – producing

more with less resources and fewer carbon emissions – and innovation are the best and often only way forward, he stressed, noting that FAO has modelling tools that can help policy makers navigate the trade-offs that transforming agri-food systems will entail.

Among the appropriate interventions to be crafted into a holistic approach, the Director-General pointed to consumer incentives, repurposing subsidies to research and development, digital and “green” technologies, value-chain boosting investments such as irrigation for smallholders, reducing food loss and waste, keeping international trade open, and protecting the most vulnerable people with safety nets.

FAO’s Investment Centre and global network of investment officers is committed to support the work of moving from the drawing table to the enabling policies and investments required, he said.

Qu emphasised the need to think and act beyond sectoral boundaries. Systematic approaches that can generate win-win solutions range from territorial approaches – such as FAO’s Hand-inHand Initiative – to ecosystems approaches, approaches that empower women and that bolster Indigenous Peoples’ agri-food systems, and address protracted crisis conditions.

In the run-up to the UN Food Systems Summit later in 2021, “our attention is fo-

cused on the development of coalitions” capable of fostering game-changing solutions to overcome challenges to achieving the SDGs, FAO’s Director-General said.

Qu urged APEC countries to commit to the effort and lead it as champions.

“The APEC region has a key role to play in implementing the concrete actions needed to support the transformation to more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agri-food systems,” he said.

APEC, founded in 1989, works to ensure that goods, services, investments and people move easily across borders, to promote common standards and synchronised regulatory systems, and to help all residents of the re-

FAO Director-General, QU Dongyu gion to participate in the growing economy. It now has 21 members on four continents, including food-producing powerhouses such as Australia, China, the Russian Federation and the United States of America.

FAO’s Director-General spoke at the sixth APEC Ministerial Meeting on Food Security, chaired by New Zealand Minister of Agriculture, Damien O’Connor.

The ministers issued a joint statement and endorsed a “2030 Roadmap”. (FAO)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 20, 2021

Shammal Seeram – the budding musician from Bartica

Aaliyah McFarlane

What some might have dismissed as being just another millennial phase, Shammal Shawn Seeram saw as a dream waiting to become reality. This aspiring 23-year-old resident of Bartica, Region Seven, Cuyuni-Mazaruni, has his head and heart set on making it big in the local music industry. The aspiring musician is taking a step further to put in the work required to overcome the critics and fulfil his dreams.

Seeram, like many, grew up around the sweet symphonies of music. He described his passion for the art form as being in-

tense, saying that he is quite eager to bring his unique flare t o

Local musician, Shammal Shawn Seeram

Guyana’s music industry.

He stated that his inspiration stemmed from his mother, who is his biggest supporter, as well as the late ‘Xxtentacion’ and overseas-based Guyanese, Saint Jhn, who has been creating quite a stir on the international scene, especially with his hit song, ‘Brown Skin Girl’, which was voiced in collaboration with Beyonce, and also featured her daughter, Blue Ivy. Seeram, the budding musician, said that his passion for creating intriguing sounds and beats is rooted deep, and started to materialise when he was just about 13 years old.

At that time, his instruments weren’t bought at exorbitant prices; they were found in his mother’s kitchen.

A teenaged Seeram, known by his stage name, DynastiiXVX, would utilise all of his mother’s pots, pans, spoons, and every other utensil and/or appliance he

could find, to could deliver the sounds he needed for his masterpieces.

As he got older, Seeram started accompanying his mother, Shelly Ann Josiah to karaoke nights, where he was able perform. This only made a career in music seem far more enticing, and within reach.

E v e n t u a l l y, S e e r a m joined a local rap group called The Pyramid Star, which provided an even more incredible opportunity for him to evolve as a young, aspiring musician. As a member of the group, Seeram was able to perform at the openings of several concerts which featured some of the region’s leading musicians such as reggae and dancehall stars Christopher Martin, Shelly G and a number of others.

While he has dabbled in different genres of music, Seeram is particularly passionate about a unique

sound which mixes hip hop and soul. Going forward, he recognises the challenge that surround an audience’s immediate acceptance of the new sound, but the young musician said that he is not deterred. As a matter of fact, he is even more motivated, and is currently directing much of his efforts towards overcoming such barrier and making a name for himself.

Seeram hopes that the new genre would eventually become the next big hit in the local music industry. “I plan to pave the way for unique musicians as myself so that our production can be recognized not only locally but globally. We will be heard and favoured,” the young man projected.

Added to music, Seeram also as a knack for visuals, more specifically, digital editing, which he hopes to utilise in making his sound look appealing.

DynastiiXVX in his natural element

Raphael Eurus releasing new ‘Fly’ single next week…

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 20, 2021

Inspired by his own life story LOCAL artiste Dillon Mohamed, known by his stage name Raphael Eurus, is all set to officially release his new ‘Fly’ single on August 25.

The much-anticipated track has been inspired by his own life story in which he found the strength to overcome mountainous challenges that impacted his mental health.

Speaking with the Buzz this week, Dillon reflected on the episodes of depression that he

apy’s Mental Health Awareness month celebration, in front of an audience that was both welcoming and inspired by the lyrics. He wants to do a video for the song, but will have to put this project on hold for now due to unaccommodating circumstances.

However, young musician does have another new song that has been completed and will be ready for released in September, just in time for the

At the ‘Art Therapy’ event with friends where he performed ‘Fly’ for the first time has had to endure over the years as a result of societal pressures.

“The pressures of society and fitting in, and not being accepted the way you are and being very different from everyone else,” Dillon expressed.

He shared that “Being born into a society that pressures you to change yourself is a very painful experience and freeing yourself from that experience is what the song is about.”

It is his hope that other young people who are similarly struggling with their mental health may be able to take courage and comfort from his experience which is ever-present in his new song.

“This song is to bring awareness to those kinds of situations and for the rest of society to understand the damages societal pressures do to people who are different from the majority,” he explained.

Dillion performed the song for the first time at an Art Ther-

country’s Amerindian Heritage Month celebrations.

Dillon especially loves singing his songs in multiple languages. “I love how it impacts people when you sing in their own language; you get to reach them,” he said.

The 28-year-old had expressed his love for music and the arts in a previous interview where he said that singing makes his feel better on his bad days. “It’s my escape from the harsh realities of life. Sometimes I experience horrible days and a bit of depression and I just get on my keyboard and start playing and singing and everything just feels better,” he related.

With the main music influence being his mom who was also a musician, Dillon got new motivation when he started to sing in church, and when he started attending Queen’s College, and was doing ‘music’ as a subject. “During that time in

school, I not only learned the theory, but took some time outside of the class during breaks to learn to play instruments.

I took it upon myself to start learning to play the piano and guitar on my own,” Dillon told the Buzz.

At just 17 years old, he became the music director in the church and later, the worship director; he remained as the latter for 12 years.

Today, Dillon writes, plays and records music with the CFanatik music studio in Sophia. “My genres are pretty diverse. I love cultural, ethnic music, especially being mixed race. I love to do cultural blends of music, soul, R&B, alterna-

Dillon Mohamed, known as Raphael Eurus tive, rock and classical music.”

In his music career so far, Dillon has performed sever-

al times at the National Music Festival, and at many art events. He released his first mu-

sic video “One” last February.

He has had his share of negativity to deal with in the industry, where he was told unkind things about his music career, but he’s never allowed it to keep him down. “It did hurt but I felt even more driven to chase my passion.”

The journey has not been easy. Dillion said that he also struggled on account of the finances and being able to gather the other resources needed to get things done. However, because of his love for creating music, he’s able to continue.

Dillion related that the lack of effective copyright legislation in Guyana is one of the major challenges that he has had to face. He is hopeful that a day would come when he can finally be adequately compensated for his talent.

Guyana-born SAINt JHN gets triple VMA nomination

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Just months after he copped two Grammy Awards, United States-based Guyanese

rapper, SAINt JHN has been nominated for not one, not two, but three 2021 Video

Music Awards (VMA)s.

Born Carlos St. John Phillips, the former Georgetown

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 20, 2021

resident is in line and well-positioned to claim the VMA’s Best R&B Video of the Year – a nomination he shares with Beyonce and her daughter, Blue Ivy Carter who lent their voices to the iconic ‘Brown Skin Girl’ song, which he

ago.”

The 3x-platinum, “Roses – Imanbek Remix,” peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2020 and soared to No. 1 in countries such as the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The song

have known that it was possible. But I promise you, the next 12-year-old kid, now they know it is possible. Now they know they have a personal example of how it could happen,” the artist said during the interview.

Two-time Grammy Award winner, SAINt JHN (DancehallMag photo) wrote.

The piece, which tackles colourism in an artistic manner, has also been nominated for its compelling cinematography. Outside of ‘Brown Skin Girl’, Phillips has also been nominated for ‘Push Performer’ of the Year, for his song, ‘Gorgeous’.

Previously, at the Grammy Awards, Phillips’ popular hit song “Roses – Imanbek Remix” claimed the award for Best Remixed Recording.

“Brown Skin Girl” also secured Best Music Video.

Phillips, who reacted on twitter at that time, said, “Two songs I wrote won Grammys today in real life.” He wrote to his 80,000 followers, “Imagine not believing in me a year

also has over a billion Spotify streams, with its music video boasting 145 million views on YouTube.

The artist, who was recently in Guyana, and was interviewed on local radio station, 94.1 Boom FM mid-last year, said his homeland played a major part of his life story and who he is today.

He related that during his younger years, he was bouncing between Brooklyn, New York and Dennis Street, Campbellville, in Georgetown, and had become well exposed to two different worlds.

The 34-year-old artist said that Guyana helped him get to where he is. “This is part of my story. If I was a kid, and I was 12 years old, I wouldn’t

Carlos ‘SAINt JHN’ Phillips with his mother at the iconic Square of the Revolution in Georgetown (Tropix photo)

During his previous visit to Guyana, SAINt JHN also met with a number of officials from the People’s Progressive Party/Civic, including First Lady, Mrs. Arya Ali. In a post on her official Facebook page, the First Lady said, “It was truly my pleasure to host this international icon who has brought much positive energy and international attention to Guyana…we discussed many issues of mutual interest; most of which were related to the welfare of children and how we can both use our platforms to help some of those vulnerable groups in Guyana.”

Mrs. Ali in her post said that Saint JHN had also expressed his desire to continue working with the Office of the First Lady, along with other groups to provide much needed support and expertise.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to have been able to share my ideas with him as we both seek to build a better life for children all across Guyana,” Mrs. Ali concluded.

Meanwhile, SAINt JHN has also pledged to utilise his newfound international fame to pave the way for young Guyanese to make their way to the international arena, and share a space on the big stage. We at the Buzz are encouraged by SAINt JHN’s approach and we wish him well.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 20, 2021

The movies have reopened, and we are ecstatic!

It has been more than a year and a half since us movie lovers have been able to immerse ourselves in the wonders of the big screen.

Because of the coronavirus and the pandemic that it has brought upon us, we were restricted to our homes for an extended period of time.

But no more! The cinemas have reopened and vaccinated persons have already been given the go-ahead to indulge; safe to say that we are ecstatic!

The theatres, mainly MovieTowne and Caribbean Cinemas at Giftland Mall have all pledged to reopen in accordance with the guidelines established by the Government of Guyana’s COVID-19 Taskforce.

Caribbean Cinemas has committed to operating at 40

are particularly looking forward to the ‘Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard’, the action comedy which stars the gorgeous Salma Hayek, a true heartthrob, Ryan Reynolds and of course, the legendary, no-nonsense, Samuel L. Jackson.

We are also gearing up to watch the 2021 fantasy ad-

per cent capacity in an effort to maintain social distancing.

It is also requiring movie-goers to present their proof of vaccination and identification card before entering each theatre. This applies to all persons above the age of 18, with the exception of pregnant women.

So far, the theatres have been restricted from selling our favourite movie snacks such as popcorn and nachos, but we fully understand the need for the restrictions, so we are not even that upset; we are, however, excited; excited to sit the chairs that fold once you get up; excited to lose our-

selves in the happenings on the big screen; excited to hear the voice of a handsome Ryan Reynolds permeate the entire room. We are ready, and we are glad that the vaccinations have been working and that we have reached this stage of reopening.

As we prepare to take on a movie-filled weekend, there is much to look forward to. So far, the theatres have announced the showing of the much-anticipated “F9”, the ninth film in the ‘Fast and Furious’ franchise which has surpassed US$500 million in global ticket sales, solidifying its place as Hollywood’s biggest theatrical hit of the pandemic era. We can also prepare ourselves for ‘Wonder Woman 1984’ and watch as Gal Gadot delivers on the intriguing role of Princess Diana.

Because we at the Buzz love a good, hearty laugh, we

venture film, ‘Jungle Cruise’, which is based on Walt Disney’s theme park attraction of the same name. The film stars Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, Édgar Ramírez, Jack Whitehall, Jesse Plemons, and Paul Giamatti, and follows the captain of a small riverboat who takes a scientist and her

brother through a jungle in search of the Tree of Life.

Intriguing, right? We think so too.

For the more PG audiences, the films to look forward to include the iconic “Peter Rabbit 2: The Runway”, and Paw Patrol, among others.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 20, 2021

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 20, 2021

Man United great, Windies seek batting lift after Law, diagnosed thriller against wounded Pakistan with Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia Second Test s at Sabina Park

By Danyal Rasool

THE agonisingly tense denouement to the first Test between these sides would be enough to inject life into any series, and the shot in the arm West Indies gained from that thrilling one-wicket win should serve them extremely well.

Having struggled in the format over recent years, it felt like the sort of Test West Indies tend to end up on the wrong side of, and when Kemar Roach nudged one through the covers to send the Caribbean into raptures, you might be tempted to wonder if this was something of a new beginning.

It helps that the victory was timed as sweetly as a Jason Holder extra-cover drive, coming as it does right at the start of this World Test Championship cycle.

It catapults West Indies to second spot on the table, but against a dispirited Pakistan, the second Test represents an ideal opportunity for a perfect start to this twoyear period.

West Indies were by no means perfect, which of course indicates there’s room for improvement. But having outbowled Pakistan for sig-

nificant periods of the Test, Phil Simmons’ side will be aware they have to keep up that quality when it comes to fast bowling, while working out how to put more runs on the board.

The coach had been vocal about calling on his batters to improve, and after that first Test, it’s not hard to see why.

There might not be too many changes in personnel, but with the home side’s top order capitulating in both innings, there remains the risk of a wounded Pakistan bowling unit looking to rip through an innings.

There’s been an uneasy calm in the days that followed that Pakistan defeat, but likely little appetite for stomaching another one. Pakistan will feel disconsolate at the manner in which they let the game slip out of their grasp, given the multitude of opportunities they had to put distance between the sides on the first three days, and clearcut opportunities to seal it on the last. Individual errors aside, Pakistan’s opening pair looks well short of the quality required at this level, with the extra burden that places on the middle order leaving the side looking unbalanced.

The complete lack of influence spin bowling played in that first Test came as something of a surprise.

With both sides opting to field a spinner, it’s clear that startled the teams, too, with all 39 wickets falling to the quick bowlers. With the second Test to be played at the same venue, under similar conditions, team selection around spin options might be something worth watching out for.

Wi t h a l l t h e d r a m a around the climax of the first Test, Kemar Roach, Kraigg Brathwaite and Jayden Seales took the plaudits, but Jermaine Blackwood’s role ended up being slightly underrated.

On a treacherously difficult surface for batting, he came in on both occasions with his side in trouble, bravely looking to go after the bowlers. It translated into key partnerships, taking the pressure off his captain in the first innings by lifting the run rate.

But it was the second innings where his contributions really shone, batting at perhaps the hardest time of the game. Shaheen Afridi was on fire and had just removed three top-order batters. Just

before lunch, Blackwood lofted him for two leg-side fours, halting Pakistan’s momentum in a priceless 55-run knock. His role might have been overshadowed, but both sides recognise his quality, and importance to this side.

For much of his career, Yasir Shah was close to the first name on the Pakistan Test team sheet, but it’s difficult not to wonder whether those days might be gone for good.

Returning from an injury that kept him out of the Zimbabwe Test series, the legspinner who took 10 more wickets than any other bowler the last time Pakistan toured the West Indies was conspicuous by his absence.

He went wicketless through the game for just the third time in his career, struggling visibly with his length and failing to generate much spin.

It was admittedly a game dominated by fast bowling, but in a low-scoring fourth-innings chase, Babar Azam turned to him for just three overs. With Nauman Ali in the squad, Shah might consider himself lucky to get picked for this game, and he certainly has a point to prove if he does. (Cricinfo).

(REUTERS) - Manchester United and Scotland great, Denis Law, has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia, the 81-year-old said in a statement yesterday.

Striker Law, who won the Ballon d’Or in 1964 and is third on United’s all-time list of scorers with 237 goals in 404 matches behind Bobby Charlton and Wayne Rooney, said that the road ahead would be “hard, demanding, painful and ever changing.

“I’m at the point where I feel I want to be open about my condition. I’ve been diagnosed with ‘mixed dementia’, which is more than one type of dementia, in my case ... Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia,” Law said on United’s website.

“This has been an extremely difficult year for everyone and the long periods of isolation have certainly not helped.”

Law described the disease as “incredibly challenging” and that he had witnessed many friends go through it.

“You hope that it won’t happen to you, even make jokes about it whilst ignoring the early signs because you don’t want it to be true,” Law added.

“You get angry, frustrated, confused and then worried, worried for your family, as they will be the ones dealing with it. However, the time has come to tackle this head on, excuse the pun.

“I recognise how my brain is deteriorating and how my memory evades me when I don’t want it to and how this causes me distress in situations that are beyond my control.

Tokyo Olympics 100m champion

English Racing Tips Kempton 08:30 hrs Natasha 09:05 hrs Mo ‘Assess 09:35 hrs Sayf Al Dawla 10:10 hrs Vina Bay 10:45 hrs Toussarok 11:20 hrs Bowman 11:50 hrs Dual Indentity York 08:50 hrs Wink Of An Eye 09:25 hrs Stradivarius 10:00 hrs Fearby 10:35 hrs Golden Pal 11:10 hrs Broadspear 11:40 hrs Sea La Rosa 12:10 hrs Royal Fleet Salisbury 12:23 hrs Pride Of Hawridge 12:53 hrs War Of Heaven 13:23 hrs Tartan Chief 13:53 hrs Albahr 14:23 hrs Wild Rhythm 14:53 hrs Amalfi Bay Irish Racing Tips Killarney 11:25 hrs Strand Staunch 12:00 hrs The Little Yank 12:30 hrs Ferdia 13:00 hrs Western Run

13:30 hrs I’m Not Alone 14:00 hrs Stealthy Tom 14:30 hrs Duc D’Allier 15:00 hrs Inspiteofourselves American Racing Tips Saratoga Race 1 Subsidize Race 2 Makin My Move Race 3 Scuttle Buzz Race 4 Abdan Race 5 Achilles Heel Race 6 Flighty Lady Race 7 Road To Success Race 8 Likeable South Africa Racing Tips Fairview 08:05 hrs Victoria Tower 08:40 hrs Sullenberger 09:20 hrs Santa Therese 09:55 hrs Grazinginthegrass 10:30 hrs Emaline Canadian Racing Tips Woodbine Race 1 Pino In A Purse Race 2 Salty Candy Race 3 James Bay Race 4 Blockbuster

Jacobs won’t run again until 2022 OLYMPIC 100m champion Lamont Marcell Jacobs has said he will not compete again until next year.

In response to a question on social media about when he would next race, the 26-year-old responded with “2022”.

Jacobs followed up his shock 100m victory in Tokyo with another gold as part of Italy’s 4x100m relay team.

His manager Marcello Magnani said injury was not a factor in the decision to take a break, but the time off is a preventative measure.

“It is simply that Marcell has given so much this year, all he had, so to insist [on competing] would only mean risking an injury,”

Magnani added.

European indoor 60m champion Jacobs, who only switched away from long jump in 2018, produced one of the biggest surprises in Tokyo when he won 100m gold in in 9.80 seconds.

It was only in May that he broke the 10-second barrier for the first time.

He was next scheduled to run on August 21 at the Eugene Diamond League meet in the United States.

After that, Jacobs was to appear on 3 September in Brussels and then anticipated to compete on 9 September in Zurich for the season-ending Diamond League Finals.(BBC Sport)

Lamont Marcell Jacobs became the first Italian to win Olympic 100m gold.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 20, 2021

Afghanistan-Pakistan ODI series to go ahead despite Taliban’s takeover …Three-match series to begin September 3 in Hambantota

AFGHANISTAN’S series with Pakistan is set to go ahead as scheduled, despite the surrounding uncertainty following the Taliban’s takeover of the country.

The three-match ODI series will take place in Sri Lanka, a venue decided before political events in recent days saw the Taliban take charge following the withdrawal of western forces and the collapse of the elected government.

All three games will be played in Hambantota. The series is due to begin on September 3, but will involve a three-day quarantine period on arrival for both sides.

That commitment, as well as an Under-19 tour to Bangladesh later in September, has been the focus of immediate concern, although ACB CEO Hamid Shinwari said both tours were on, pending logistical issues around the departure of the side. Kabul airport has been the focus of international attention, as many Afghans attempt to leave the country.

“Cricket is doing very well,” Shinwari told ESPNcricinfo. “We are going to the office (ACB). The cricket team is preparing for the Pakistan series in Sri Lanka. It is confirmed. We are committed to sending a team to Sri Lanka

as soon as possible.

“There is transition going on here in Afghanistan hence there is a vacuum in flight operations and availability is affected. But we will fly out as soon as we find a flight. We have our boys assembled in Kabul and they are preparing for the series.

“We hope the squad will depart in the next four days.

We have updated both the PCB and Sri Lanka Cricket and both are on board. I am thankful to SLC for hosting us and that is really generous of them.”

There remain longer-term questions around the Taliban’s approach to the development

of the game in the country.

It is worth noting that the Afghanistan Cricket Federation (as the Afghanistan Cricket Board was then known) was formed in 1997, during the Taliban’s first stint in rule and they were inducted into the Asian Cricket Council not long after.

The game was at a different stage then to where it is now in the country and in much better health. The ICC is monitoring the situation as of now, with a little concern, but will provide support when and if needed on practical matters of playing cricket.

Shinwari was confident the game would not be affected adversely. “They (Taliban) are supporting cricket ever since the beginning,” he said. “They never had any issue with cricket. The thing is people love cricket here in Afghanistan and that’s why it has to go with the flow.

“My confidence that cricket will not be affected is because of two factors: firstly, the legacy. Cricket development in Afghanistan was initiated during Taliban’s first stint 20 years ago. Secondly ACB offices are operating. So far we have seen no issues.

Afghanistan players are committed to going to Sri Lanka, playing against Pakistan, and after that to the T20 World Cup’. (ACB CEO Abu Dhabi Cricket) “The cricketers are doing very well. They have been assured and they are also happy that cricket will be going on.

They are committed to going to Sri Lanka, playing against Pakistan, and after that to the T20 World Cup. Cricket has become an important tool for community development in the country. And the players in particular are icons, and understand the importance.”

One area where it is difficult to predict how the Taliban will proceed is in women’s cricket. Their first stint as rulers was especially regressive and damaging for women in the country.

The ACB announced central contracts for a pool of 25

women’s cricketers last year but that was very much the first step on a long road: to date, Afghanistan are the only Full Member side without a functioning women’s team.

Even then, ACB officials recognised the social, political and cultural difficulties in starting a women’s team in the country and that may become an even more distant prospect now.

“My assumption is women’s cricket could be stopped,” Shinwari said.

“But to be honest, I really don’t know the new policies of the government. That assumption was based on the previous stint of the Taliban.”(Cricinfo)

prit Bumrah dismissed both England openers for a duck.

From there, it was always a tall task and, once England skipper Joe Root departed, the writing was on the wall for the home team. During the match, there were also words exchanged between a few India and England players. During the ninth-wicket stand between Bumrah and Shami, a few England players Mark Wood, Jos Buttler, James Anderson, were seen giving back the duo.

Vaughan feels England have fired India up.

“England have prodded them. They have fired them up. It will take a very good England team to come back from here – and I don’t think they will. It’s going to be a long three Test matches from here,” Vaughan told BBC Virat Kohli feels on-field

banter with England motivated them to go win.

It all started on day four when Bumrah continuously bowled short-pitched stuff to Anderson, which didn’t go down well with the veteran seamer. England repeated the dose to Bumrah when he walked in to bat on day five and Kohli feels that kind of motivated them to go for the kill.

“The way we played in the second innings after being put under pressure – Jasprit and Shami were outstanding - we had the belief we can get them out in 60 overs.

“A bit of tension on the field really motivated us to finish the game,” Kohli said after India’s 151-run win.

(CricTracker)

England fired India up, difficult to win further Tests: Michael Vaughan

CRICKETER-turned-expert Michael Vaughan feels he does not see England winning games after their bitter 151-run loss against India in the second Test match at Lord’s.

It was the home team’s match to lose after reducing India in the third innings to 181 for 6 at the start of day five, but instead, the visitors turned a corner and stunned England by bowling them out for just 120 in the fourth innings.

India bowlers led by Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah shared an unbroken stand of 89 runs for the ninth wicket and enabled skipper Virat Kohli to declare boldly at 298, thereby setting England a target of 272 to get in 60 overs. The visitors’ bowlers were right on the money as Mohammed Siraj and Jas-

29

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 20, 2021

Inglis storms into Australia’s T20 World Cup squad JOSH Inglis could make his international debut at the upcoming T20 World Cup after the wicketkeeper-batter was a shock selection in Australia’s 15-man squad.

Steve Smith, David Warner, Glenn Maxwell and Pat Cummins are among the bigname stars to return to the squad as Aaron Finch’s men look to capture a maiden T20 title in the United Arab Emirates in October-November.

The Aussies have also named death-bowling specialist Nathan Ellis along with all-rounders Dan Christian and Daniel Sams as travelling reserves for the showpiece event.

Fast bowlers Jhye Richardson, Andrew Tye and Jason Behrendorff, along with top-order options Alex Carey, Moises Henriques, Josh Philippe and Ashton Turner, are the most notable omissions after Australia slumped to their fifth consecutive T20I series defeat against Bangladesh earlier this month.

Inglis has leapfrogged Carey and Philippe to win a spot as the back-up gloveman to Matthew Wade.

The Perth Scorchers star was the leading run-scorer

in England’s recent domestic T20 competition, cracking 531 runs from 14 games at a strike rate of 175.82 with Leicestershire He’s since played for the London Spirit in The Hundred and slammed his highest score of the tournament, 72 from 45 balls as an opener, in Cardiff overnight.

The Yorkshire-born righthander has impressed both as an opener and in the middle-order for Scorchers and his versatility proved vital in earning a national call-up for the first time.

“Josh has been on our radar for some time with his performances in white-ball cricket and more recently in the Vitality Blast where he topped the run charts,” selection chair George Bailey said.

“He offers the squad flexibility in the batting order with his adaptability, counterattacking ability and power striking. He is a player we are excited about for the future.”

Speaking to cricket.com. au earlier this year, Ricky Ponting tipped Inglis, who was arguably the best domestic player across all formats last year, as a potential World Cup bolter.

“He plays spin really well and you think about where the World Cup is going to be, he could be a name that could come up,” Ponting said.

“I know ‘Painey’ (Tim Paine) and ‘Hadds’ (Brad Haddin) have spent a fair bit of time with the keepers and Hadds said he’s very, very good with the gloves.”

Marcus Stoinis and Kane Richardson also return to the squad after missing the Bangladesh and Caribbean tours, while Smith has been included after recovering from an elbow injury Ellis’ selection is reward for remarkable perseverance; the right-arm quick moved from Sydney to Hobart four years ago without a state contract before becoming one of the KFC BBL’s best death bowlers with Hobart Hurricanes.

The 26-year-old won selection on Australia’s tours of the Caribbean and Bangladesh as a reserve before he was promoted to the main squad and took a hat-trick on international debut against Bangladesh. He then also impressed with a miserly haul of 2-16 in the final match of that series.

Josh Inglis Sams, another to pull out of the recent T20I tours, has also been a BBL standout.

The Sydney Thunder left-arm quick is one of the competition’s most prolific wicket-takers, while his improved lower-order hitting has only increased his appeal.

Christian, meanwhile, gets the nod as a back-up due to his ‘finishing’ skills, though his most notable contribution during his recent return to Australian colours was when he was sent in as a pinch-hitter against Bangladesh, smashing five sixes in the visitors’ only win of the series in Dhaka.

Leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson has unsurprising-

ly made the squad to give Australia three specialist spin-bowling options - along with Adam Zampa and Ashton Agar – on worn surfaces that are expected to take increasing amounts of turn due to the IPL being held immediately before the tournament.

“Mitchell has been impressive with the opportunities he has had,” Bailey said.

“Given the amount of cricket being played at the World Cup venues, we expect the wickets in the UAE to favour slow bowling, particularly in the latter stages, so he gives us another strong leg-spin option.”

Eleven of the 18 players

selected hold IPL deals, with the majority of those expected to take part. Cummins, however, is not expected to be among them so he can remain in Sydney for the birth of his first child.

“We are confident this squad has the ability to take the side deep into what will be an extremely competitive tournament,” said Bailey.

“We have some of the best players in the world in their respective roles combined with the collective experience to succeed against the very best T20 sides in the world.”

The squad is due to depart for the UAE in late September or early October, (Cricket.com.au) Australia’s T20 World Cup squad: Aaron Finch (c), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins (vc), Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa. Travelling reserves: Dan Christian, Nathan Ellis, Daniel Sams.

Osaka felt ‘ungrateful’ for ATP, WTA inch closer to merger after her attitude to tennis combining marketing operation

By Sudipto Ganguly

(REUTERS) - Naomi Osaka said she had felt “ungrateful” at times over the last year for not fully appreciating her life as one of the world’s top tennis players.

The world number two sealed a comeback victory over Coco Gauff at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati on Wednesday, her first event outside the Olympics since withdrawing from the French Open in May. She pulled out of Roland Garros after being punished for refusing to do media conferences, saying her mental health was adversely impacted by certain lines of questioning.

Osaka shed tears and briefly left a press conference in Cincinnati on Monday when asked about her relationship with the media and returned to the theme on Wednesday.

“I was wondering why was I so affected; I guess, like what made me not want to do media,” the 23-year-old told a news conference.

“I’m wondering if I was scared, because sometimes I

Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka would see headlines of like players losing and then the headline the next day would be like a collapse or they’re not that great anymore.

“So then I was thinking me waking up every day, for me, I should feel like I’m winning. Like, the choice to go out there and play, to go see fans that people come out and watch me play, that itself is an accomplishment.

“I’m not sure when along

the way I started de-sensitising that. Like it started not being like an accomplishment for me. So I felt like I was very ungrateful on that fact.”

The four-time Grand Slam champion said the restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic had made things “really stressful” for her but recent events in Haiti and Afghanistan led to a change in her outlook.

A 7.2-magnitude earthquake has killed more than 2 000 people in Haiti - the country where her father was born - while Afghanistan has been in turmoil.

“Seeing the state of the world, like how everything is in Haiti, Afghanistan right now, is definitely really crazy,” she said.

“And for me to just be hitting a tennis ball in the United States right now and have people come and watch me play ... I would want to be myself in this situation rather than anyone else in the world.”

MUMBAI, India (Reuters) - The first major project to come out of the combined ATP and WTA marketing operation was launched on Wednesday as the streamlining of the governance of tennis gathers pace.

The COVID-19 pandemic decimated the 2020 tennis calendar and prompted calls for a merger of the various bodies that run the game, a suggestion well received by both the women’s (WTA) and men’s (ATP) tours.

On Wednesday, ATP and WTA announced the second season of their digital show - Tennis United: CrossCourt which will feature newly-married couple Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils in the first episode on August 25.

“This is an exciting time for professional tennis,” WTA president Micky Lawler told Reuters.

“This past year, we gave the WTA a new visual identity while we simultaneously built a more formal collaboration with the ATP. Both initiatives have

resonated with our audience.

“We’re extremely pleased to announce our marketing alignment with ATP and look forward to delivering a new era of storytelling that celebrates the best of our sport.”

Tennis enjoys a massive worldwide following, but its governance is fractured with seven organisations - ATP, WTA, the four Grand Slams and the International Tennis Federation - running different parts of the game.

The unprecedented challenge of the global health crisis helped forge closer links between the bodies and chart a roadmap for a unified calendar, shared commercial offerings, sponsorships and TV deals.

‘Tennis United’ was first launched in 2020 and by the end of the year WTA rebranded its website and changed its tournament naming system to align with the ATP. The two marketing departments have been working together since January and in June they announced a joint commercial deal with e-learning platform TopCourt and a combined partnership with mobile

game Tennis Clash.

The two tours, however, still have different ranking systems, logos and websites while viewers need different pay-TV platforms to watch matches.

AT P c h a i r m a n A n d r e a Gaudenzi, a strong advocate of governance reform, says tennis overly relies on ticket sales and needs structural change.

The Italian presented a plan to revolutionise the sport soon after taking over as the ATP chief at the start of 2020, but the pandemic quickly forced all sporting bodies into crisis mode.

“It’s one of our sport’s unique selling points that we have such a strong product on the men’s and women’s side,” Gaudenzi told Reuters, adding that a unified sport was key to his plan.

“Our biggest events are combined, and fans see us as part of the same storytelling throughout the season.

“Bringing the tours’ marketing teams together is an important step towards packaging and distributing tennis as one sport, which ultimately will help us enhance the experience for fans.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 20, 2021

Obsession with white-ball schedule Rafiq accuses Yorkshire has damaged England’s Test batting of downplaying racism

By Nick Hoult

JUST two weeks after England’s World Cup victory in 2019 Ashley Giles, the men’s team director, signalled a policy shift towards Test cricket.

“Test cricket is really important to us in this country.

We haven’t neglected Test cricket for white-ball cricket but the focus has definitely been more on that side and we just need to redress that balance now,” he said at Lord’s.

Almost two years later, and after the last day surrender to India, English cricket is further than ever from redressing “that balance”.

This summer has perfectly highlighted the disparity. England’s third XI comfortably outplayed Pakistan in a one-day series after a Covid outbreak took down the first choice players.

Eoin Morgan has had first pick of all his senior players this year, barring the odd match, and they remain strong contenders to win the Twenty20 World Cup even without Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer, two of the world’s highest paid franchise stars.

But if it were not for rain you could put forward a strong argument that England would have lost all four Test matches so far this summer to New Zealand and India instead of escaping with two draws.

They have not won for seven Tests – their longest winless streak since 2014 – and while some leeway has to be given for the turkey shoot on poor pitches in India, the batting has crumbled whenever put under serious pressure.

Joe Root has scored 30.75 per cent of England’s runs in 2021 which, as things stand now, is the highest contribution to a team’s score by one player in a calendar year.

Just one other batsman, Rory Burns, has scored a hundred and only Root is averaging above 32. England have picked 22 players already in 2021 and will surely make more changes to the top three at Headingley next week with Dom Sibley’s race run.

But if you go further back it is the lack of progress in batting since the last

Ashes that is more worrying.

No batsman has emerged and no candidate to rival Root as captain. Stokes’s future is in doubt and Buttler cannot be expected to fill three roles and play all formats.

England are relying on the same faces – Root, Jonny Bairstow, Buttler and Moeen Ali – for their runs and the lower-middle order core is again their strongest point.

Dawid Malan is in contention for the third Test and

has been weakened by the schedule and techniques squeezed by T20.

England have made 39 ducks this year – 17 from the top four – and when Ollie Pope was bowled through the gate by Chris Rushworth for nought playing a poor attacking shot in the Royal London Cup for Surrey on Tuesday it perfectly highlighted the problem caused by the schedule. Pope is pushing for a Test place but had to get on with it in a

smaller crowds so would be less affected by Covid restrictions. The T20 Blast and Test cricket was given high priority in July and August when the board was more confident of lucrative full houses.

There is an acknowledgement at the highest levels at the ECB that the schedule has to change from the first priority being to schedule white ball cricket.

Sources have indicated this will change, with the Cham-

England batsman Joe Root hits out during day three of the Second Test Match between England and India at Lord’s Cricket Ground on August 14, 2021 in London, England - Getty Images

you could even see a scenario whereby James Vince is back too, such is the small pool of alternatives. England’s batting could soon look very similar to the team that lost 4-0 in Australia.

Burns has scored three centuries since that series and is the closest any player has come to becoming a regular for England but has been dropped once already and is not far away from being under serious pressure again after three ducks in five innings.

Replacing Sir Alastair Cook is proving as hard as expected. England have often struggled to find a consistent pairing at the top but normally had one constant be it Cook, Andrew Strauss, Michael Atherton, Graham Gooch or Geoffrey Boycott.

Haseeb Hameed is likely to be promoted after a golden duck and nine at Lord’s such is the crisis at the top of the order and the difficulty of finding players equipped to face the moving new ball because county cricket

white-ball game There were just eight days of Championship cricket scheduled between June 6 and August 30. There is no cricket before the Headingley Test for Zak Crawley, Dan Lawrence or Jack Leach (unless Crawley is picked for his Hundred team) and there is no second XI cricket. How can players prepare for facing such a fine Test attack with only Hundred cricket available to them?

“We have to make the best of what we have got.

It just makes it difficult to bring people in from the Hundred or the Royal London Cup,” said Chris Silverwood. “To throw them into Test cricket; the pressure is huge. This series has been played with a lot of passion.

It is difficult to transition and if people come in we have to work hard to get them up to speed quickly.”

The 2021 schedule was built with Covid in mind.

Championship cricket was placed at the start and end of summer because it attracts

pionship moving up the list.

England have made mistakes. There is a worrying sign of rigid thinking under Root and Silverwood from sticking to the rotation policy even when circumstances changed with the curtailment of the IPL. They did not assess the mood against New Zealand at Lord’s and were too cautious in not going for the runs because they worried about losing early wickets.

Root’s inability to spot the bouncer barrage to India’s tail on Sunday was losing him the game was yet more tunnel vision. For too long they failed to properly address the Broad and Anderson situation, keeping Ollie Robinson back for a year longer than necessary.

He is now a linchpin of the attack but has played only three Tests.

The nine day break has come at just the right time.

They can reflect on Lord’s but many of the problems need longer term solutions.

(PA Sport)

FORMER player Azeem Rafiq has accused Yorkshire of downplaying racism by calling him the victim of “inappropriate behaviour”.

Rafiq, 30, claimed last year that “institutional racism” at the club left him close to taking his own life Yorkshire have offered him their “profound apologies” after “several of the allegations” were upheld in an independent investigation.

“I’m frustrated and pretty angry,” Rafiq said.

Speaking to BBC Asian Network’s Ankur Desai, he added. “A year of pain, a year of trying to get people to listen, a year of giving people an opportunity to do the right thing and we end up with a statement that turns racism into inappropriate behaviour.”

The independent investigation into allegations commenced in September, with the ECB writing to the club this week to ask for a copy of the findings. The club responded by saying “several of the allegations” were upheld.

Yorkshire have yet to publish the report or the recommendations though they have responded to an ECB request for a timeline of publication by stating an aim to disclose the information “in the coming weeks”.

The club said the scope of the investigation - carried out by law firm Squire Patton Boggs - went beyond solely examining Rafiq’s allegations, also considering whether they were institutionally racist.

“The investigation has been in depth and far from easy,” the club said. “Sadly, historically, Azeem was the victim of inappropriate behaviour.”

Rafiq said: “To try and say that these are historical things, yes there are things that are 10 years ago but predominantly most of my allegations relate to people that are still there in leadership positions.

A former England youth captain, Azeem Rafiq captained Yorkshire in a Twenty20 fixture in 2012.

“It’s like saying ‘we’re going to punch you, knock you down and then pick you back up’. To be honest I’m absolutely sick and tired.

“I’m sick and tired of giving these people, the game, Yorkshire Cricket Club, the ECB, everyone, an opportunity to the detriment of myself.

“The damage that this last 12 months has caused me… I don’t know when I will actually know that.”

Rafiq also reiterated his anger at the pace of the investigation, saying he had given Yorkshire “countless opportunities to do the right thing”.

In May, he said he had “lost faith”, stating the process was flawed and that key supporting witnesses had not been approached to give evidence.

Yorkshire said “many witnesses” including Rafiq, current and former players, coaching staff and management, “willingly came forward” to contribute to the investigation.

In a separate process in June, Yorkshire and Rafiq failed to find a resolution in an employment tribunal case.

In that legal claim, the former England Under-19 captain alleged discrimination and harassment on the grounds of race, as well as victimisation detriment to his efforts in addressing racism at the club. (BBC Sport)

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Friday August 20, 2021)

COMPLIMENTS OF CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD 83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown Tel: 225-6158 Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Brian Lara (25 ODIs) (2) Sanath Jayasuriya (30 ODIs)

TODAY’S QUIZ:

(1) Which WI has scored most ODI runs versus SL to date?

(2) Which SL player has made most ODI runs against the WI to date?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

31

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 20, 2021

Already crowned ‘the greatest’, Felix Afghan footballer takes a victory lap falls to death from

By Amy Tennery

NEW YORK (Reuters) Allyson Felix isn’t done just yet. Just two weeks after she picked up gold in the 4x400m relay in Tokyo, her second of two medals from the 2020 Games to become the most decorated woman in track and field history, the 35-year-old American is returning to the track.

But after the pressure of competing in her fifth and final Games - and all of the expectations that came with them - Felix told Reuters the quick pivot to compete in tomorrow’s Prefontaine Classic is hardly a burden.

“For me it’s a lot of fun,” said Felix, who will race in her favourite event - the 200 metres - at Eugene, Orgeon’s Hayward Field, where she made a tearful farewell appearance at her final U.S. team trials earlier this summer.

“I really just want to be able to compete again and see the fans and do that. I think that the weight of trials and

what that all means, I think that was just a bit heavier.”

For the 11-time Olympic medallist and 13-time World champion, a bit of fun is long overdue.

After giving birth to her daughter, Camryn, via an emergency C-section in 2018, she became an advocate for working mothers, penning an opinion piece in the New York Times in which she said she faced pay cuts from sponsors including Nike after having her child.

“Becoming a mother inspired me in a whole new way, but also, you know, when I spoke out and hearing from women all across industries (who had) just a shared experience,” said Felix. “Knowing your story is not done, that you still have so much more to offer. I felt like I carried that with me to Tokyo.”

In Tokyo, she was wearing shoes from her own “Saysh” line, launched this year.

“To build Saysh during a pandemic was really chal-

US plane in Kabul

Allyson Felix - the most decorated woman in track and field history. lenging,” said Felix. “It was with things that she’s done my proudest moment at the and it’s just so interesting Olympics to be able to com- how we adapt,” said Felix.

“I saw her the other day, she pete in my own shoes.”

The challenges of the was giving her doll a COVID pandemic extended onto the test.”

As for her post-competitrack as well.

Like other athletes, Felix tion life, she is ready to tackle had a gruelling, year-long a new challenge: skiing leswait for Tokyo, training un- sons so she can finally join der COVID-19 restrictions the rest of her family on their and undergoing testing de- annual holiday trip to Vail.

“I’m always at the bottailed in the mini-documentary series ‘BD On Location’. tom of the hill like waitS h e w a s t e s t e d f o r ing for everybody to come COVID-19 so many times back,” said Felix. “There have just been so many that she lost count.

“My daughter, she’s taken sacrifices.” a number of tests as well, just

Africa Cup of Nations:

Draw made for delayed 2021 event in Cameroon

HOLDERS Algeria have drawn former winners Ivory Coast in the group stage of the delayed 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon next year.

At a star-studded ceremony in Yaounde on Tuesday, Algeria were drawn in Group E where they will also face Sierra Leone and Equatorial Guinea.

The tournament, which features 24 teams and runs from January 9 to February 6, will see the winners and runners-up in each of the six groups, plus the best four third-placed teams, reach the knockout phase.

A host of dignitaries attended the draw, including Confederation of African Football (Caf) president Patrice Motsepe, Cameroon legend Roger Milla and icons such as Didier Drogba, El Hadji Diouf and Samuel Eto’o.

In other draw highlights, Arsenal team-mates Thomas Partey and Pierre-Emerick

Algeria beat Senegal in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations final to win the tournament for a second time.

Aubameyang will meet in Group C after Partey’s Ghana drew Aubameyang’s Gabon.

Debutants Comoros make up the group alongside top seeds Morocco.

The other tournament debutants, Gambia, will play in Group F alongside Tunisia, Mali and Mauritania.

Nigeria - three-time winners of the competition have a tough test in Group D where they will face Mohamed Salah’s Egypt, Sudan and Guinea-Bissau.

Sadio Mane’s Senegal, who suffered the heartbreak of losing the 2019 final to Algeria, will take on Zimbabwe, Guinea and Malawi in Group B. Hosts Cameroon, seeking a sixth title, were put in Group A with Ethiopia, Cape Verde and Burkina Faso, whom they will face in the opening match in Yaounde.

Two stadiums in Yaounde plus newly-built or refurbished venues in Bafoussam, Douala, Garoua and Limbe

will be used in the tournament.

The 2021 Nations Cup had to be postponed twice due to wet weather concerns and COVID-19 and even the draw, originally set for June, was delayed by the pandemic.

Cameroon were selected to stage the 2019 tournament, but fell behind with their preparation and Egypt had to take over at short notice.

(BBC Sport) Africa Cup of Nations draw: Group A: Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Cape Verde Group B: Senegal, Zimbabwe, Guinea, Malawi Group C: Morocco, Ghana, Comoros, Gabon G ro u p D : N i g e r i a , Egypt, Sudan, Guinea-Bissau Group E: Algeria, Sierra Leone, Equatorial Guinea, Ivory Coast Group F: Tunisia, Mali, Mauritania, Gambia.

AFGHAN authorities have confirmed that a young footballer fell to his death after trying to stow away on a US military plane leaving Kabul airport.

Zaki Anwari, 19, had played for Afghanistan’s national youth team.

Further details of when he died have not been disclosed.

Since the Taliban’s recapture of Afghanistan, thousands of people have scrambled to Kabul’s airport as Western countries rush to evacuate their citizens and Afghan colleagues.

Zaki Anwari was a former Afghan national youth team footballer.

Images emerged on Monday showing hundreds of people running alongside a US air force plane as it moved down a runway. Some people were seen clinging to its side.

Local media reports said that at least two people fell to their deaths after it took off. The US air force has also confirmed that human remains were found in the landing gear of an aircraft after it arrived in Qatar.

In a statement on Facebook, Afghanistan’s General Directorate of Physical Education and Sports paid tribute to Mr Anwari.

“May he rest in heaven and pray to God for his family, friends and sports colleagues,” the sports body said.

Others have also been sharing their respects on social media.

“His departure is a great sorrow,” wrote one user on Instagram. “Your memory is always dear to me”.

Around 4,500 US troops are in temporary control of Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan’s capital.

The Taliban are blocking Afghans from entering the airport without travel documents - but even those with valid authorisation have struggled.

Amid chaotic scenes at the airport, US President Joe Biden has defended his handling of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.

“The idea that somehow there’s a way to have gotten out without chaos ensuing, I don’t know how that happens,” he told ABC News on Wednesday.

Mr Biden said that US troops may have to stay in Afghanistan beyond the planned 31 August deadline agreed with the Taliban, in order to help with EVACUATORS. (BBC Sport)

Guyana, Suriname Presidents welcome return of Inter-Guiana Games PRESIDENT, Dr Irfaan Ali, and his Surinamese counterpart, President Chandrikapersad Santokhi, have announced the return of the Inter-Guiana Games.

The two Heads-of-State will wrap-up their four-day visit today where they met on a series of areas to strengthen bilateral agreements, including the area of sports.

The return of the Inter-Guiana Games, according to President Ali, is part of the Guyana and Suriname ‘People to People’ partnership, which he said is “bringing our people together, in a safe space that they can share and appreciate each other.”

President Ali, at a joint Press Conference with President Santokhi, yesterday said, “We are committed to re-energising the Inter-Guiana Games, bringing back the Inter-Guiana Games, bringing back the Inter-Guiana Games cultural forum/ platform that was started, so we can have sports, culture and technological exchanges as part of forging greater unity, trust and understanding of our people.”

President Dr Irfaan Ali (L) and Suriname’s Head-of-State, Chandrikapersad Santokhi

Second Test s at Sabina Park

Windies seek batting lift after thriller against wounded Pakistan See page 27

Roston Chase will be itching to score more, like Kraigg Brathwaite did in the first innings of the opening Test ( AFP/Getty Images

The Inter-Guiana Games sees Suriname, Guyana and French Guiana, having exchanges in football, volleyball, basketball, cycling, swimming and track and field. Lately, chess and badminton were added to the list of events.

Catering to student-athletes at the U-20 level, the Inter-Guiana Games, which was last held in 2017 in Suriname, first took place in 1967.

Former National Football player, ‘QT’ Donald was sent to Suriname by former President Forbes Burnham to work with the Surinamese on Guyana’s behalf to outline the games that was formed as a means of fostering bilateral relations, through sports between the two countries.

Football (basketball started in 1972) was the first sport that was played between Guyana and Suriname at the Inter-Guiana Games. The two countries battled for the Forbes Burnham/Johan Pengel Trophy. Johan Adolf Pengel, in 1967, served as Prime Minister of Suriname.

Man United great, Law, diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia See page 27

Denis Law described the situation as incredibly challenging and that he had witnessed many friends go through the same thing.

Already crowned ‘the greatest’, Felix takes a victory lap 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

See page 31

| FRIDAY, AUGUST 20, 2021