Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 22-07-2021

THURSDAY 22ndJuly, 2021

' No.106429

Charity, sacrifice and prayer essential in Eid ul Adha celebrations

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Room for new ICT businesses, 03 advanced technologies in Essequibo PAGE

–– with new E-Networks’ submarine cable, says President Ali

E-Networks’ Chairman, Rakesh Puri and CEO Vishok Persaud during their meeting with President, Dr Irfaan Ali and Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d), Mark Phillips at the Office of the President on Tuesday (Office of the President photo)

Attorney-General: Education’s 08 ‘paramount priority’ on government’s agenda PAGE

Teen driver dies in 03 Mahaicony accident PAGE

Dead: Chandramala Singh

Homemade wine, ganja, weapons seized in 09 Lusignan Prison raid PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, July 22, 2021

Charity, sacrifice and prayer essential in Eid ul Adha celebrations

By Rabindra Rooplall

MUSLIMS countrywide, on Wednesday, celebrated Eid ul Adha while adhering to the COVID-19 protocols as animal sacrifices were made to reflect on Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to give up his son Ismail, for the sake of God. Many mosques and masjids were not a hive of activity as happened before the arrival of COVID-19 here, but that did not stop their work in observance of the charitable day.

Imam of the MetenMeer-Zorg West Masjid,

Goolzar Namdar, said the festival is also known as Qurbani and, annually, during the Islamic month of Dhul Hijjah, Muslims around the world slaughter an animal, a goat, sheep or cow to reflect Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail.

Ismail, he said was spared because Ibrahim proved he would sacrifice his son as an act of piety, despite the grief it would have caused him. The continued practice of sacrifice acts as a reminder of Ibrahim’s obedience to God. Don Rahim, a member of Kitty Masjid, said the

Meat being parcelled for distribution at the Kitty Masjid ‘Festival of Sacrifice’ reminds all of the importance of being supportive to others during trying times.

Other Muslims, Rahim said celebrate by going to the mosque in the morning for special prayers. Later, family and friends get together for a big meal. There are lots of delicious food, including sweets.

“This year’s gatherings will most likely be much smaller and families may meet online,” he added.

Further, Rahim said the festival highlights the important sacrifices many Muslims make during their daily lives.

“From giving charity to sharing a smile with another person, Eid teaches us to be at peace and sacrifice little things that lead us towards selflessness and awareness of one’s being,” Rahim explained.

Meanwhile, Imam of Meten-Meer-Zorg (East) Masjid, Halim Khan, said when families receive Qurbani meat, it fosters a real sense of hope for them and allows them to celebrate this important occasion along with millions of other Muslims across the world.

This year, Khan said that, with social distancing in place, the event had been scaled back and only a limited number of persons were allowed inside the masjid.

“Not all Muslims sacrifice an animal themselves.

They can buy special meat from shops and donate that.

Or they can donate money to charities that give special meat to others. All these ways honour the story of Ibrahim. Taking care of

others is a very important part of being a Muslim,” the Imam said.

Khan explained that by sacrificing an animal “we are confirming that we are willing to sacrifice whatever Allah asks of us and to submit to HIM completely.

No matter which school you follow, performing the Qurbani carries a great reward as this is something the Prophet did personally and encouraged his followers to do too.”

Further, the Imam, who is also a businessman, said the meat of a sacrificed animal should be divided into three parts: One part for the

person who supplied the animal; one part to be shared out among family, friends or neighbours; and one part to be given to those in need.

Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG), President Al Hajj Shahabudeen Ahmad, said Eid-ulAdha is the celebration of the reformation of the human condition from that of servitude to men to the Creator of all living and non-living things.

“We must remain humble and do not fall into the trap of considering yourself better than others,” he noted.

He added: “Let us pray

for peaceful co-existence in Guyana and the entire world. Change begins with the person in the mirror.

Our actions must prove that we mean no ill to anyone and we must remember that we are all part of one humanity. Each one of us has to be the change that we desire. Verily, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change themselves.

As we enjoy ourselves, let us keep the remembrance of God ever-present on our tongues and in our hearts. Let us extend kindness to our less fortunate.”

Meten-Meer-Zorg West Masjid, Imam Goolzar Namdar (at extreme right) overlooks the parcelling and distribution of meat

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, July 22, 2021

Room for new ICT businesses, advanced technologies in Essequibo

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_with new E-Networks’ submarine cable, says President Ali

IMPROVED connectivity in Essequibo, through the installation of E-Networks’ submarine cable, could open doors for new Information and Communication Technology (ICT) businesses and the employment of advanced technologies to further develop the Cinderella County, President, Dr. Irfaan Ali has said.

Following a meeting, on Tuesday, with E-Networks’ Chairman, Rakesh Puri and the company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Vishok Persaud, President Ali said: “This improved connectivity in Essequibo enables the region to support advanced technologies, allowing for the establishment of new ICT businesses in the region, such as call centres, which will offer employment to hundreds, if not thousands, of Guyanese.”

With this cable, E-Networks can now offer Essequibians the same services at the same prices as those available in Georgetown, with up to a gigabit (1,000 Mbps) Internet speeds on its business fiber and up to 75 Mbps on its 4G/5G fixed wireless service.

It was reported that E-Networks, the only locally-owned internet service provider in the country, said that it has already moved to roll out testing of the improved services in several areas along the Essequibo Coast, with ongoing expansions to most areas between Aurora and Charity.

“With these new services, E-Networks looks forward to connecting more persons to

President, Dr. Irfaan Ali and Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips share a moment with E-Networks’ Chairman, Rakesh Puri (right) and the company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Vishok Persaud, following a meeting on Tuesday

the transformational power of the Internet, which has been highlighted during COVID-19 as the crucial link to education, work, and keeping informed,” the company related.

It boasted, too, that with E-Networks’ faster and more reliable connectivity, Essequibo residents will now have more access to online options for socio-economic development, remote learning, entertainment, e-commerce, collaboration, and connecting with family and friends.

In speaking about the importance of this $1.2 bil-

lion investment, President Ali said that the cable is a significant development for Essequibo and that it will create numerous opportunities for socio-economic development, job creation and wealth generation in the county.

President Ali applauded E-Networks for this achievement, and noted that the project aligns with the government’s national development agenda, which aims to create jobs and generate wealth for all citizens across Guyana.

Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, who was present at the meeting

on Tuesday, also commended E-Networks for its commitment to the development of the telecommunications sector and its progressive contributions to liberalisation by expanding its services.

The Prime Minister encouraged the company to ensure that the hinterland and rural areas do not escape its attention as the government is focused on connecting everyone.

Both Puri and Persaud provided key updates to the President and Prime Minister on E-Networks’ investments and expansion plans, includ-

ing landing Essequibo’s first submarine cable.

In his remarks, Puri reiterated that President Ali’s call to improve connectivity in Essequibo was the motivation for making the large ICT investment just nine months after the liberalisation of the telecommunication sector.

The Government of Guyana, in October, had issued Commencement Orders, fully bringing into force the Telecommunications Act 2016 and the Public Utilities Commission Act 2016.

The orders, which were issued within two months

of the government assuming office, are historic, as they align Guyana’s telecommunications regime to those found in other countries the world over, including most Caribbean countries.

It, in effect, ended a 30year anti-competitive telecommunications monopoly that has left Guyanese weary, frustrated and lagging behind in the telecommunications arena.

In 1990, the then PNC government had signed an “exclusive agreement” with Atlantic Tele Network, leading to the creation of GTT. It was reported that the first exclusive licence was for 20 years with an option of automatic renewal for an additional 15 years in 2010.

News that the new government moved quickly to remove the 31-year GTT telecoms monopoly inspired companies like Digicel and E-Networks to forge ahead with plans to expand their services.

Specifically, since the liberalisation, E-Networks has stimulated considerable competition, forcing the complacent incumbent providers to upgrade their services reactively.

“E-Networks offers businesses the fastest Internet access available in Guyana, and at lower pricing. The company’s network is also widened to cover more of the country’s densely populated areas, with continuous expansion to new areas almost weekly,” the company said in a recent statement.

Teen driver dies in Mahaicony accident

NINETEEN-year-old Chandramala Singh lost her life on Tuesday night, after losing control of her vehicle and slamming into a signboard and a utility pole near the Content Public Road, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

According to a police statement, Singh of Lot 13 Novar Mahaicony, ECD lost control of her vehicle at around 20:15 hrs while proceeding east along the northern side of the public road, at a fast rate.

Enquires disclosed that as the teen was negotiating a left

Dead: Chandramala Singh

turn, she suddenly lost control and ended up on the southern side of the road parapet and collided with an erected signboard which is owned by the Ministry of Public Works. The vehicle then crashed into a utility pole on the said side of the roadway.

She was taken out of the vehicle by public-spirited citizens and rushed to Mahaicony Public Hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

The body is currently at Anthony’s Funeral Home, Fort Wellington, West Coast Berbice, awaiting post-mortem examination.

The damaged vehicle following the accident

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, July 22, 2021

More than 200 people sought in US monkeypox case

More than 200 people in 27 US states are being tracked for possible rare monkeypox infections, health officials say.

They fear people may have come in to contact with a Texas man who brought the disease in from Nigeria earlier this month.

The man -- believed to be the first monkeypox case in the US since 2003 -- was taken to hospital but is in a stable condition.

So far, no new cases have been found.

The Centers for Disease Control and Pre-

Human monkeypox cases are extremely rare (BBC/GETTY IMAGES)

vention (CDC) says it is concerned passengers

who were on board two flights the man-made may have been exposed to the disease.

He flew into Atlanta, Georgia from Lagos, Nigeria on 9 July, before taking a flight to Dallas, where he was hospitalised, the CDC said.

It said it was working with the airlines to assess "potential risks to those who may have had close contact with the traveller".

But the chances of the disease spreading on the plane were low because passengers had

to wear face masks, it added.

A CDC spokesperson told the BBC it was "working with state and local health departments to follow up with individuals who may have been exposed to monkeypox".

"The risk to the general public is thought to be low," the spokesperson said, adding that none of the 200 people they were monitoring were thought to be "high risk".

Monkeypox is a rare viral disease from the same family as smallpox, but is much less severe.

It occurs mostly in

remote parts of central and west African countries, near tropical rainforests.

The symptoms include initially fever, headaches, swellings, back pain, aching muscles and a general listlessness; once the fever breaks, a rash can develop, often beginning on the face then spreading to other parts of the body, most commonly the palms of the hands and soles of the feet; and the rash, which can be extremely itchy, changes and goes through different stages before finally forming a scab, which later falls off. The lesions can cause scarring.

Most cases of the virus are mild, somet i m e s re s e m b l i n g chickenpox, and clear up on their own within a few weeks. Monkeypox can sometimes be more severe, however, with one in 100 cases being deadly, according to the CDC. Though rare, the disease has been discovered in the US before. A 2003 outbreak caused 47 confirmed or probable cases, and was linked to rats flown into the country. (BBC)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, July 22, 2021

Nandlall appeals to public to get vaccinated –– precedent suggests mandatory vaccination not unconstitutional

By Richard Bhainie ATTORNEY-GENERAL and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, S.C., has appealed to the public at large to get vaccinated in a bid to protect themselves and their loved ones against the deadly COVID-19 virus, and for the population at large to refute misinformation which is being peddled to perpetuate vaccine hesitancy.

Nandlall made the plea during his weekly television broadcast, ‘Issues In The News’, and during his visits to various parts of the country to kickstart the distribution of the ‘Because We Care’ education cash grant where he specially appealed to teachers and parents.

“Not a single person who has taken the vaccine has died. It means that the vaccines are working… you have to be really reckless to continue to expose yourself to this deadly virus when there is a vaccine that you can have access to free of cost,” Nandlall said.

“You should protect, if not yourself, the ones that you love because when you get the virus you expose others, you expose your family, you expose your friends, you expose those

with whom you come in contact,” he added.

As of Tuesday last, Guyana has been able to vaccinate some 50 per cent of its population with one of the three vaccines the government has procured and made available to citizens. The Attorney-General acknowledged the major milestone; however, he posited that the country still has a long way to go.

“While 50 per cent vaccination of our adult population is quite an accomplishment, there is still a large number of adult Guyanese who are yet to be vaccinated and there is no good reason why they are not being vaccinated or they are refusing to take the vaccines,” he said.

TAKE THE VACCINE During his visit to the Rosignol Secondary School and Blairmont Primary School, Region Five, Nandlall appealed to teachers and parents to get vaccinated in anticipation of the reopening of schools, which he explained the government is hopeful may be possible for the New Year.

“We are hoping to have all of our public schools reopen for the New Year, all things being equal, but

we need our teachers to get vaccinated. All of you need to be vaccinated. [It] is the only thing available to help you to battle that fatal and deadly virus,” he said.

“I implore you teachers; you have to lead by example; you are our leaders; our children look to you for emulation, for guidance, and for inspiration. To the parents, I say, I know most of you have been vaccinated, but please, those who have not been we need to get you vaccinated,” he added.

The Attorney-General expressed that Guyana is fortunate to have an abundance of vaccines that are readily available, free of cost. He urged that persons take full advantage of the opportunity to protect themselves so that the country can return to normalcy, especially the school system.

“It costs the government in just providing worksheets alone nearly US$400,000 per month.

When we have to do these online programmes, and provide worksheets and distribute them across the country it costs a lot of money to keep the children in school, while the schools are closed,” he explained.

The Attorney-General explained that the legal view, based on precedents and a comprehensive analysis of the situation, suggests that mandatory vaccination is not a violation of one’s guaranteed constitutional rights.

“If the government was to impose a mandatory obligation on citizens to take the vaccines the government will not be violating the fundamental rights and freedoms of the citizens, that is the prevailing view of academics across the region,” the Attorney-General said.

Nandlall cited that Professor Rose-Marie Belle Antoine, Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, wrote extensively on the topic in various publications where she established detailed arguments supported by legal authorities in support of mandatory vaccinations.

NOT UNCONSTITUTIONAL Additionally, the Attorney-General noted that there is a case which was decided at the level of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) which is in alignment of the view that mandatory

Attorney-General, Anil Nandlall, S.C. vaccination is not unconstitutional.

“Public policy is an important component of the legal framework of any country and laws of any country will always be influenced by public policy considerations,” Nandlall said as he explained that in the interest of public policy, a greater number of vaccines should be administered, a logic the law will follow.

Nandlall opined that in the near future, governments will impose restrictions which mandate that prior to accessing certain services, persons must be vaccinated. He referenced the current travel restrictions which are imposed worldwide, which prevent

unvaccinated persons to enter certain countries.

“That will extend throughout the Caribbean, not only to aircrafts but to public buildings. Leaders in the Caribbean have already voiced their opinions on this matter and they have indicated that they will be moving in that direction unless there is some drastic change in the circumstances,” he said.

The Attorney-General expressed that Guyana needs to be fully reopened to function at its pinnacle, children need to get back into schools and that would not be possible unless more people receive their vaccines.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, July 22, 2021

Tajeram Mohabir

A firmer approach to tackling COVID-19 FRANCE has announced that from next month those citizens who choose the right to remain unvaccinated will now face a more stringent set of policy measures and laws designed to protect the vaccinated and economy from going further into crisis.

This new robust policy, announced

by French President Emmanuel Macron, will see unvaccinated persons having to pay for PCR testing and antigen test for COVID-19. It will also see them producing the documents and a negative result to get access to nightclubs, restaurants and theatres, public places, and events. This change also seeks to tackle the employment sector as persons who remain unvaccinated will now be required to get tested at their expenses, especially frontline workers and public employees, if they

want to be paid and stay on the job.

According to Macron, the government is no longer putting the vaccinated people at risk with the new COVID-19 variant. He said: “I no longer have any intention of sacrificing my life, my time, and my freedom.”

He said he was doing those things for those who refuse to be vaccinated.

He declared that, this time for the unvaccinated to stay at home, not the vaccinated.

And as we expected, there would be a section of the political opposition which is opposed to this policy shift to make France deal with the pandemic more successfully. Opposition politicians feel that the government is being drastic and unrealistic in its approach to vaccine hesitancy and misinformation. Additionally, these politicians

Has WPA’s Trotman gotten the memo?

WHY is Desmond Trotman behaving like a born again PNC acolyte.

He is supposed to be the WPA representative on GECOM. Hello! Has Trotman got the memo that the WPA has withdrawn from APNU. He, along with Vincent Alexander walked out of the recent GECOM meeting effectively depriving it of a quorum.

Yours respectfully, Sultan Mohamed

feel that the government is not doing enough, in terms of PR campaigning and education to stem the tide or create the change it wants to see in the economy.

But we looked at the statistics and they are telling a whole different story.

Soon after, more than 1.7 million persons made appointments, via a website, to get their vaccines, according to statistics provided by the French health authorities.

It was reported that last Friday, nearly 880,000 people received a shot in a single day, a record. Added to the numbers, the New York Times reported that 55 per cent of the French population received the first shot so far, and 40 per cent has gotten vaccinated completely.

As a result of more COVID-19 tests, the number of daily infections has skyrocketed in cases since May 2021.

Guyana can learn a valuable and important lesson from the French Government in handling the pandemic more robustly in the coming weeks and months. The authorities must get stricter with the vaccination policy on COVID-19. The health of the nation should not be jeopardised by allowing the unvaccinated Guyanese to be carefree without any sanctions or measures in place that seek to get them into the vaccinated population.

The adoption of a new set of policy measures by the government-led COVID-19 Task Force that will require getting the vaccination rates up will help as the mortality rates will come down.

Vaccination remains the most effective way of winning the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

PNC, GTU rejection of education cash grant heartless Dear Editor, THE popular “Because We Care” cash grant programme is back, bigger and better than the PPP/C Government’s 2014 version, courtesy of President Irfaan Ali’s PPP/C Government.

This education cash grant is an example of non-contributory cash transfers from the consolidated fund to families. Social scientists around the world have shown the effectiveness and efficacy of non-contributory cash transfers to families. For example, in a study published in 2018 by the University of Cambridge,

UK, social scientists reviewed 165 studies of non-contributory cash transfers in low and middle-income countries between 2000 and 2015 and concluded that such cash transfers reduced monetary poverty and improved health and nutrition, education, savings and production.

Similarly, a 2021 publication from SEED (Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration) reported a study done by a group of social scientists led by Dr. Stacia West of the University of Tennessee and Dr. Amy Castro Baker of the University of Pennsylvania found a cash grant of USD$500 for 24 months to 125

persons living in the town of Stockton positively impacted on their physical and mental health. There was little or no evidence that such non-contributory cash transfers led to negative unintended consequences, such as dependency syndrome or as a disincentive to work etc.

There are numerous studies reflecting the effectiveness and efficacy of non-contributory cash transfers like the “Because We Care” cash transfer programme.

UNICEF, the World Bank, IDB and other organisations have declared See page 7

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, July 22, 2021

PNC, GTU rejection of education ...

From page 6

that cash transfers for children is one of the surest ways to reduce poverty.

While hampers, school uniforms, laptops etc. are beneficial, long-term cash transfers to families promote human development by empowering people to make certain decisions for themselves – how best to use the cash transfers to improve the welfare of children and families in general.

But these studies have revealed certain pitfalls. One of the pitfalls is the potential for discrimination. When cash transfer programmes identify sub-groups to benefit, the potential for discrimination abounds.

The “Because We Care” cash transfer programme extends benefits to all families with children in public schools and is likely to extend to all families with children in public and private schools.

Setting an income limit would have introduced the potential for discrimination.

With such strong evidence for cash transfers, it is shocking that leaders of the PNC (APNU+AFC) would spout nonsense such as the education cash grant is a wasteful way of spending taxpayers’ money and that the programme will promote dependency syndrome in Guyana, leading to greater poverty. These assertions have been uniformly rejected by social scientists in hundreds of studies around the world.

It is in this context that I raise one example of spending taxpayers’ money that makes absolutely no sense. In May 2019, having lost a no-confidence vote and desperately trying to stave off elections, APNU+AFC decided to bring Buju Banton to Guyana for a show. The APNU+AFC Coalition Government it was reported procured $50M worth of tickets for distribution among their supporters.

Unfortunately, the Buju Banton splash is just one of the many examples of APNU+AFC squandermania. It is vexing, therefore, that leaders of the PNC and the APNU+AFC Coalition are out dubbing the PPP/C’s government education cash grant as a waste of money.

The cash grant programme for 2021 places $3.2B in the hands of ordinary Guyanese family to spend in the economy. In 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025, the amount in the form of an education

cash grant for every child in school will be more than $3.2B. In fact, Dr. Irfaan Ali and the PPP/C had promised that the cash grants will grow to $50,000 per child by the end of President Irfaan Ali’s first term. This means that in 2025, the Irfaan Ali-led PPP/C Government would put more than $7B in the hands of ordinary families to spend in support of their community economy. The almost $20B that the Irfaan Ali’s PPP/C Government would have placed in the hands of ordinary citizens through just one programme – the education cash grant programme – in President Irfaan Ali’s first term will support the local grocery store, the local seamstresses and tailors, the vendors in the community market, etc. But for the PNC and APNU+AFC, they see this as a waste of money. The PNC clearly believes that only they can decide how best to spend money for people. Buying Buju Banton tickets for a small group of Guyanese citizens is deemed more worthwhile than giving every family with a child in school a cash grant which in turn stimulates the economy. This posture by the PNC is irresponsible and an utter insult to the Guyanese people.

Their assertion that the programme is a total “waste of money” never gained traction. Now PNC leaders are alleging discrimination. But every parent with a child in public schools is eligible to receive the cash grant. If there are two or three or more children from one family, each child is eligible for the grant. It is for this reason that some families are getting multiple grants. The programme is not restricted to any particular region – every family in every region is eligible, once there is a child in school, from nursery to high school. Ethnicity does not matter, religion does not qualify or disqualifies anyone and, definitely, who a family supports or votes for is irrelevant. Every family qualifies, as long as a family has a child in school. So where is the discrimination?

Coretta Macdonald, the General-Secretary of the Guyana Teachers Union and a PNC MP in the APNU+AFC faction has been the most vocal of the PNC leaders against the cash grant programme, dubbing it an absolute waste. It is despicable that Ms. Macdonald claims

she represents the teachers, the majority of whom have lauded the PPP/C Government’s programme, whether it is the 2014 version or the 2021 version. Ms. Macdonald spoke both as the General-Secretary of the GTU and a PNC MP. Many teachers have already publicly dissociated themselves from her statement. Some did so by publicly and enthusiastically joining in the distribution of the cash to parents.

Others have come out and vigorously rejected Ms. Macdonald’s demand that they desist from helping the Ministry of Education in the distribution of the cash.

No one in the PNC has chastised Ms. Macdonald and, therefore, we must accept that she was stating a position of the PNC and the APNU+AFC Coalition. In fact, Aubrey Norton, another PNC leader, one running to dethrone David Granger as

the leader of the PNC, has now come out with his own condemnation of the cash grant to children. Aubrey Norton wants to be leader of the PNC and he is prepared to oppose anything and everything the PPP/C Government does. The PNC (APNU+AFC) stand indicted – they are heartless, but also prepared to stupidly work against science. Just as they are engaged in a silent whisper campaign discouraging people from taking vaccines, so too they are now trying desperately to discourage the education cash grant.

The people are rejecting their ant-vaccination whisper campaign and also visibly rejecting the call to end the education cash grant.

Yours sincerely, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, July 22, 2021

Education’s ‘paramount priority’ on government’s agenda –– investment in this sector can never be a waste of time, says Min. Nandlall

By Richard Bhainie EDUCATING the nation is of “paramount priority” to the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) government, as the administration views education as a vehicle to transport Guyanese out of a cycle of poverty.

Investment in the education of the nation’s children will never be a waste of time, said Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, S.C., during a visit to Rosignol Secondary and Blairmont Primary Schools, both located in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), as part of the distribution of the ‘Because We Care’ education cash grant on Tuesday.

“We as Guyanese, we come from poverty. All of us, whether we came here as slaves, or whether we came here as indentured servants, we came here in abject poverty,” Minister Nandlall said.

“Over the years, one thing has assured us an exit from that cycle of poverty, and that thing has been education,” he added.

He recalled that many of the success stories that would have come out of communities such as Blairmont, originally a plantation village, is because the people who live there would have equipped themselves with the requisite knowledge and qualifications to escape the cycle of poverty.

“The medium through which those persons would have been elevated would have been through education; it is the real and only way of being empowered, and our government understands that, and that is why we are investing so heavily in our education sector,” Minister Nandlall said.

The Attorney-General explained that the PPP/C Government views human resources as the most important component of a society, and that it for this very reason that every budget and policy it has tabled since 1992 is aimed at enhancing and improving the lives and welfare of the Guyanese people, specifically its young people.

“You are witnessing, or you are participating in another initiative in which we are demonstrating, in the most manifested and pal-

the coast on Tuesday.

She explained that for Monday, just one of the three days during the distribution process, of 23 schools that were targeted, some 14 schools were able to meet a 100 per cent distribution rate, with others ranging in

Regional Education Officer Deon Lyn Lewis-Clarke

Azeer Hussain

Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, S.C., along with Government Member of Parliament and representative for Region Five, Faizal Jafferally opening one of the boxes containing the cash grant

Ravendra Richmangal pable way, our commitment to our young people, and the education of our young people in our country,” he told those parents gathered to receive the $19,000 per child grant on behalf of their children.

SERIES OF OTHER MEASURES Nandlall highlighted that the education cash grant is not in isolation, as it complements the series of other measures the PPP/C administration has implemented and plans on undertaking, all of which are intended to alleviate the suffering of the Guyanese people.

One such initiative is the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) scholarships, which saw some 8,800 persons applying for one of the many qualifications offered through the initiative, which is geared to equip as much persons as possible with a certificate qualification which they can use to prepare themselves for the oil boom and the gamut of opportunities which will arise from the industry.

“You can have a piece of

paper that says that you’re qualified for the new jobs that will be created when our economic boom takes place, and that’s coming. That’s coming but we want you to be equipped, we want you to be qualified and all of this is an investment in our country’s future,” Nandlall said.

The Attorney-General highlighted that the government is embarking on the cash grant initiative amidst one of the worst known pandemics in living memory, the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as when the country is battling one of its national disasters, in the form of flooding.

“The economy is terribly affected by these events yet we are able to make this kind of money, and cash payout available to our people. How are we able to do it? We are able to do it simply by stopping the corruption that used to take place, by stopping the squandermania that used to take place and by prudently managing our economy, that’s all we’re doing,” he said.

Against that background, Nandlall pleaded with the parents and guardians who received the cash grant to spend it on their children’s educational needs, which it is intended for. He added that the grant will eventually, in an incremental manner, be increased to the sum of $50,000.

“Others are criticising us that we are wasting money,

how? How is investing in our young people’s education can ever be a waste of money?

When they had an opportunity they gave you not one dollar! We are giving you $19,000 and they are criticising,” Nandlall said.

“As responsible leaders, one would have expected them to call upon us to raise it to $20,000 or $25,000; they are not saying that, they are saying that it is a waste of time.

I ask you to ignore them and to receive your cash grant and use it for the betterment of your children’s welfare,” he added.

‘THANKFUL’ Speaking to the Guyana Chronicle, Pulmattie Parag, of Blairmonth Village, a parent of six nursery and primary school children, explained that she is “thankful” for the cash grant, which will help to offset some of her expenses as she intends to purchase sanitisers, gloves, masks and schools supplies for her children in preparation for the reopening of schools.

Anita Robertson, of Ithaca Village and a mother of three, told this publication that as a stay-at-home mother, she applauds the initiative, which will not only benefit her “real good”, but also her peers, who are parents and are not working at the moment.

Azeer Hussain, a father of three, shared similar senti-

Pulmattie Parag

Anita Robertson ments. He explained that currently, he is without access to running water, as his supply was recently disconnected; however, personal finances which he would have had to expend on his children can be diverted to deal with that issue, as the cash grant is now available.

A teacher attached to the Blairmont Primary School, Ravendra Richmangal told this publication that as a teacher he believes the cash grant is a timely initiative as students are in need of the disposable incomes. He advised that parents use the money to purchase devices which may facilitate online learning since most schools have free wireless Internet connections.

In terms of assisting with the distribution of the cash grant, Richmangal said, “I have no problem coming out, and I can speak for my colleagues as well, they are all happy to be here and do be doing what we are doing.”

Regional Education Officer (REDO), Deon Lyn Lewis Clarke told this publication that the initiative commenced in Region Five on Sunday, July 18, 2021, in the depths of the region at Mahaicony creek and was wrapped up on

the 90s.

“Overall for the two days we had a few glitches but we were able to address those with the support of the auditors, the security and the other officers within the department of education,” Clarke said as he extended heartfelt gratitude to her team at the Department of Education, Region Five and everyone, especially teachers, who worked “collaboratively” to executive the initiative.

“I would also want to say a big thank you to the Minister of Education and Government of Guyana and I want to put a big thank you for my staff, if it wasn’t for them we could not have rolled out three days of good work and I think we need to applaud ourselves, we did an awesome job and I think the staff must be commended.”

Government Member of Parliament and representative for Region Five, Faizal Jafferally, was also present at the distribution exercise. He expressed that he was “delighted at the tremendous response of parents recognising the need and the importance of this help”.

“I also want to thank the teachers of Region Five who came out to assist with the initiative going against what McDonald would have said. Teachers are volunteering across Region Five.

We are working until the last parent comes to the school and receive his or her cash grant,” he said.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, July 22, 2021

Refrain from using education grants for personal use

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–– Labour Minister tells parents

LABOUR Minister, Joseph Hamilton, launched the distribution of the ‘Because We Care’ cash grant at the Number Eight Secondary School and the Number 29 Primary School in Region Five on Tuesday.

As the minister engaged the hundreds of parents that gathered, he stressed the importance of the cash grant that will see each child in the public school system receiving

$15,000, coupled with the $4,000 school uniform and supplies voucher, which gives a total of $19,000 per child.

He highlighted that the cash grant programme was the brainchild of the government that saw students receiving $10,000 every year until 2015 when a new government took office. The minister lamented that when the APNU+AFC Government took office in 2015 the

programme was discontinued and saw many Guyanese students deprived of the much-needed funds.

On that note, Minister Hamilton boasted of the government’s plan to increase the cash grant over the next five years.

According to the minister, the money given every year will increase until it reaches $50,000.

That was also said by the Chief Education Officer, Dr. Marcel Hutson,

Labour Minister, Joseph Hamilton, interacts with a pupil during his visit to Region Five

A section of the gathering of parents at one of the meetings in Region Five

who sat alongside the minister at the Number 29 Primary School, where approximately 460 learners were to receive their cash grants.

Dr. Hutson said that the distribution marks the beginning of the process to deliver on a promise made to the citizens of this country, and it will continue. In addition, he said the government was concerned with the delivery of ed-

ucation, which needed to occur through a holistic approach.

Also noted was the importance of parents’ level of involvement in the delivery of education to their children. According to the Chief Education Officer, it plays a vital role in creating an environment that will bolster their development.

Meanwhile, Minister Hamilton warned the parents to refrain from using

the cash grant as a “productive grant”, meaning that it must be spent on things that are necessary for their children’s academic journey amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and not for their own personal use.

In the coming days, the minister is expected to launch distributions at several other locations as the government continues to roll out its programme.

Homemade wine, ganja, weapons seized in Lusignan Prison raid MEMBERS of the Guyana Prison Service, the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force, on Wednesday morning, conducted a search at the Lusignan Prison during which a number of prohibited items were discovered.

The joint prison search was conducted between 07:00hrs and 10:10hrs in the holding cells.

Among the items seized in Holding Bay One were 25 improvised weapons, two cellular phones, two cellular phone cases, eight lighters, a quantity of ziplock bags, and two metal objects.

In Holding Bay Two, 14 improvised weapons, five charger heads, seven light-

ers, three scissors, a quantity of ziplock bags, one cellphone, one cellphone housing, two cellphone batteries, one cell phone charger, a quantity of wires and two metal objects were found.

Ten small transparent ziplock bags of suspected cannabis, amounting to three grammes, were also found in the holding bay.

In Holding Bays Three and Four, a small quantity of homemade wine, 12 improvised weapons, 14 lighters, two scissors, one cellphone charger, one cellphone cable, a quantity of wires, and one small transparent ziplock bag of suspected cannabis, amounting to 1/2 grammes, were found.

Some of the prohibited items found during the prison raid

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, July 22, 2021

Oscar Joseph District Hospital to be upgraded

THE Oscar Joseph District Hospital in Charity, Region Two, is set to be upgraded to ensure the provision of efficient health care services to residents in the region.

This decision was made following a recent meeting between Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall and hospital staff.

“We keep hearing a lot of issues to delivery of our services and these issues are not limited to Region Two and Oscar Joseph Hospital but across the country… for us as Government, we have

a commitment that we have a covenant that we signed with people on Election Day. One of those covenants is that we must enhance the services that we provide,” he said.

The upgrade to the hospital will include staff training, improved record-keeping, addressing drug shortages and enhancement works.

Minister Dharamlall said he hopes the facility would be able to provide 24-hour service and noted that changes needed to be made for the benefit of all, especially the attitude of the staff towards patients.

“So, I think when people

come into this hospital, they must feel like this is a place that they would like to be in.

We should not want to be in a hospital, but when you come to the hospital, you must feel like I’m going to leave here healthy; so you can’t come into the hospital and people do not speak or welcome you nicely.

“If it’s one thing that this government will not tolerate is disrespect and we don’t care how superior you feel you are. We will not tolerate disrespect and disrespect goes both ways.

People should not disrespect you and you should not dis-

Some of the staffers of the Oscar Joseph District Hospital in Charity, Region Two, during the meeting respect them,” he said.

Currently, four doctors and over 20 nurses are attached to the hospital.

Moving forward, the hospital is expected to

broaden its reach via radio and television shows, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Minister Dharamlall said such will allow the

medical teams to educate persons on the importance of the vaccine, since the region’s vaccination rate has been stagnant for some time.

UNICEF donates two million water purification tablets –– in aid of flood-relief effort THE United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has handed over two million water purification tablets to the Civil Defence Commission (CDC). UNICEF representative, Irfan Akhtar, stated that clean water is essential for life, especially during times of flooding The donation of the two million water purification tablets on Tuesday, which will treat 10 million litres of water, will ensure the provision of safe drinking water to thousands of Guyanese.

The CDC is a valued partner of UNICEF and the organisations have worked together on many issues.

The UNICEF representative assured that support will continue to be provided once the need arises.

“When the recent flooding disaster occurred, UNICEF recognised that children and families would be among the most affected and we immediately responded, based on the needs list issued by the CDC. We recognise

UNICEF representative, Irfan Akhtar (left) during the presentation on Tuesday (CDC photo)

that when children don’t have access to clean water, it affects their health, nutrition, education and learning abilities, thus impacting many aspects of their lives. Clean and safe water is essential for children’s health, survival and development,” said Akhtar.

Accepting the donation was CDC’s Deputy Director General, Major Loring Benons, who lauded the sustained assistance from the United Nations in Guyana.

Major Benons said that the water purification tablets play a very important role in response and recovery and the CDC will begin distributing the supplies to affected areas immediately.

This donation of the water purification tablets complements emergency support provided by UNICEF through the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security for flood relief.

UNICEF has supported the Ministry to procure shelter supplies, WASH and hygiene kits, water storage containers, and some material for child-friendly spaces.

The CDC continues to work with non-governmental organisations to provide relief to flood affected residents countrywide.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, July 22, 2021

Tremendous wealth, job creation potential in BPO industry

–– says Dr Singh during tour of Express International

SENIOR Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, said more finances and job opportunities are available for persons and entities interested in the local Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry.

The Finance Minister made the comments on Tues-

beyond its current size for several reasons. Guyana of course is an English-speaking country. We have a very well-educated population.

We are strategically located on the same time zone as the East Coast of North America, and we’re very close to the US and Canada. We’re very easily accessible to the big North American cities. As

Express International agents at work (DPI photo) day, following a tour of Express International, a BPO company established several years ago by Ken Deocharran.

During the tour, Dr. Singh spoke of the attractiveness of Guyana as a BPO destination.

“As a Government, we would like to see the BPO sector continue to grow. It has the potential to grow far

you know, we are five or six hours away from New York.

We are four or five hours away from Miami,” a release from the Department of Public Information (DPI) quoted him as saying.

The minister said even prior to 2015, the PPP/C Government had invested policy effort towards attracting BPO businesses to Guy-

ana, and has now renewed its commitment to doing so.

He also commended the company’s owner for demonstrating what the diaspora can do. He said the Government has been on a campaign to encourage Guyanese living abroad to return and invest.

“We have for a long time been saying that the Guyanese diaspora has a lot of talent, a lot of experience, and a lot of expertise, and indeed a lot of capital, and that that capital and that experience and expertise can be harnessed in a way that brings benefit to the owner but also brings national benefit.”

Dr. Singh encouraged the company to expand in Guyana. Deocharran told the Minister that rapid expansion is his goal.

“We have come into Guyana and made a huge impact on the labour market, providing great job opportunities for Guyanese people, and I’m looking to continue to grow that as fast as I can to potentially get to a bigger number than 285, with the hopes of getting it into the thousands.”

Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Office for Investment (Go-Invest), Dr. Peter Ramsaroop, accompanied Dr. Singh on the tour.

Four held over guns, ‘ammo’ find FOUR men are in police custody after being allegedly found with two 12-gauge shotguns and matching ammunition at 19 Miles Kwakwani/ Ituni in Region 10, on Wednesday.

According to police reports, the men, whose ages are 34, 23, 62 and 55 respectively, were traveling in an unlicensed tractor when they were stopped by ranks on patrol in the Ituni Station District. The ranks had observed that the tractor did not have a registration number.

Following a request for information made by the ranks, a search of the tractor and its occupants resulted in the discovery of the shotguns which were hidden at the side of the vehicle and behind the driver’s seat respectively.

Police disclosed that 11 matching rounds were also allegedly discovered in The shotguns and matching ammunithe pockets of two of the suspects. tion that were discovered by the police The men were arrested and taken to The firearms and ammunition are the Mackenzie Police Station where they lodged in police custody as part of the remain in custody. ongoing investigation.

Left to right: CEO, Express International, Ken Deocharran; Chief Executive Officer, GO-Invest, Dr. Peter Ramsaroop; Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh during the tour of Express International, a BPO company established several years ago by Ken Deocharran (DPI photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, July 22, 2021

China to build a community of life for man and nature with rest of world

By Wan Xiubin, Huang Xian, People’s Daily

THE Eco Forum Global Guiyang 2021, a national-level high-end platform on ecological civilization, concluded in Guiyang, capital of southwest China’s Guizhou province, on July 13.

The two-day event, themed “Green and Low-carbon Development — Fostering a Community of Life for Man and Nature”, was joined by more than 1,800 guests from 78 countries and regions who held in-depth discussions on the strategies of transformation toward green and low-carbon development, and on how to achieve harmony between man and nature.

The Guiyang Consensus 2021 was released on the forum, which urged to build a community of life for

man and nature, focus on the general picture of ecological governance, adopt a broad and long-term perspective, and avoid being penny-wise and pound-foolish, so as to realise systematic governance and harmonious co-existence among production, life and ecology.

Ten green projects totalling 55 billion yuan ($8.51 billion) were inked at the closing ceremony of the forum.

The forum was in line with the current trend of the world to build an ecological civilization, met the common expectations of the international community, and provided an important opportunity for international cooperation and exchange on eco-development, said Wu Jianghao, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs of China.

Tongan Prime Minister Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa addressed the forum via video link, say-

ing he hoped that through that platform, countries can share, with different languages, perspectives and stories, how they have spread and put into practice the notion of ecological civilization.

Thai Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn said things in the world are interconnected, and it’s a perfect time to integrate human civilization into ecology. Ecological civilization shall be made into a common pursuit of the world, she added.

Three international advisory meetings, 22 themed forums, and an exhibition of ecological civilization construction achievements were held during the event, where participants agreed to protect the ecological environment with the strictest system and the strongest rule of law, and address climate change through multilateralism.

A bulletin on China’s water resources in 2020 was

issued by China’s Ministry of Water Resources at one of the themed forums — “Protect the Ecology of Rivers and Lakes, Practice Ecological Civilization.”

According to the bulletin, water consumption per 10,000 yuan worth of GDP decreased by 28 per cent in comparable prices last year compared with 2015, and that of per 10,000 yuan industrial value added went down 39.6 percent from 2015.

Guizhou’s ecological progress is the epitome of China’s achievements in ecological civilization construction. Over the past decade, the province’s forest coverage has grown by an average of two percentage points each year to 61.5 per cent.

Last year, air quality in cities above county level in the province met quality on 99.4 per cent of the days, and the water of all major outbound sections was of good quality.

The province has witnessed synchronised progress in its economy, social development, and ecology.

Low-carbon transition and green development are two buzzwords on Chinese social media. According to Guo Qingjun, an official with the National Forestry and Grassland Administration of China, the country’s annual carbon emission stands at about 10 billion tonnes. To realise its goal of peaking carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality before 2060, China needs to adjust energy structure, optimise industrial structure, improve energy efficiency, and explore green and low-carbon technologies and institutional innovation.

Peaking carbon dioxide emissions and achieving carbon neutrality represent an extensive, profound and systematic economic and social reform, which calls for the

participation and efforts of all individuals and organisations, said Zhu Qingfeng, chief accountant at the China Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection Group.

Guizhou ranked first in China in terms of the amount of bidding of subsidies for photovoltaic power generation projects, as well as construction speed and grid connection scale concerning such projects in 2019 and 2020, said Liu Qiang, deputy general manager of Guizhou Power Grid Co., Ltd. The company has initiated research into constructing a new power system to increase the proportion of power generated by new energy in Guizhou, stimulate the province’s renewable energy power generation, transmission, and utilisation, and make its power grid greener, Liu introduced.

Observer: China’s successes have been inspirational to people around the world

By Kenneth Hammond | People’s Daily

SINCE the establishment of the People’s Republic of China in 1949 the Communist Party of China has been the guiding force in the development of China’s economy and in the social and political affairs of the country.

The CPC has managed to meet these challenges as they have arisen, and has achieved tremendous progress in improving the lives of the people.

Life expectancy has risen dramatically, while infant mortality has been just as dramatically reduced. Housing, education, public health, and other social services and basic needs have been improved. Poverty has been reduced, and absolute poverty eliminated from the country.

The leadership of the CPC has been demonstrated in many ways, but a few examples can serve to high-

light the key role the Party has played. The process of economic development has been a complex interplay of public and private interests.

Using the mechanisms of markets to develop the productive economy has yielded great accomplishments in the improvement of the material standards of living for the 1.4 billion Chinese people.

There have also been problems associated with that process, including corruption, environmental stress, and issues of inequality. These contradictions arising in the course of development have been recognised by the CPC, and major policy programmes have been undertaken to address them. The Party has worked to ensure that the benefits of economic development will be shared by the people who produce social wealth.

China is still in the initial phase of building a socialist future, and much work remains to be done, but the work of the CPC in using

Kenneth Hammond, a history professor at New Mexico State University (Photo provided to People’s Daily) the core social functions of the socialist system to help tens of millions of workers survive the disruptions of the 2008 global financial crisis, and most recently in the latest mobilisation of state, party, and social human resources to contain and combat the

coronavirus, treating public health as a human right rather than as a commodity for corporate profit-seeking, show the vital central role the CPC plays in China.

China’s successes have also been inspirational to people around the world.

China has not sought to impose its system on other countries, but the impressive improvements in the lives of the Chinese people give hope to working people in many countries that they may be able to follow a similar path to a more prosperous future.

In my opinion the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a remarkable effort which should be respected and supported. It is in stark contrast with the predatory actions of the American-centred financial system, which seek to impose capitalist norms and practices on poor countries to expand the global reach of Western corporations.

The BRI has been developing new infrastructure within

many countries, and transportation and communication between countries, to facilitate economic growth and technological advancement. This is an undertaking which will both allow China to continue to pursue its course of socialist development with Chinese characteristics, and will advance economic resources and integrated networks of trade and exchange, promoting a shared future of humanity.

The BRI can be seen as one component in an overall effort to bring people together to seek a common future and build a better world that is more just and equitable as well as more prosperous in material terms.

The BRI is not a philanthropic project, nor a matter of China simply giving away resources. It is a project which will be of mutual benefit to China and to the many countries taking part around the world.

But it is focussed on shared goals of material progress, and can be a part of global efforts at addressing deeper issues like cli-

mate change, promoting clearer energy and green development.

It is a long term enterprise, and the eventual results will not become clear for many years. But it is a worthwhile endeavor to create new global relationships serving the needs of ordinary people around the planet.

My own view is that in many countries, including my own, the United States, we need to work to build mass-based political parties which will be devoted to the interests of the working class.

In America today both the “major” parties serve the purpose of supporting and protecting the wealth and power of a small elite. Through their control of mass media they are able to strongly shape the public debates about politics and economic questions.

Elections here are warped by the influence of money, with ordinary working people being excluded from public office because of the high costs of political campaigns.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, July 22, 2021

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, July 22, 2021

GDF to help develop National — President says Army will play Disaster Plan a bigger role in civil protection

PRESIDENT, Dr Irfaan Ali, has said that the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) would play an integral role in the development of a National Disaster plan to help protect Guyanese and the country’s resources from the effects of climate change.

The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces made the disclosure while addressing graduates of the GDF Standard Officers’ Course 52 at Base Camp Ayanganna.

The ranks were told that in addition to securing the country’s territorial integrity, the GDF will play a bigger

role in civil protection.

Ranks are currently involved in the COVID-19 vaccination campaign and members were actively involved in the national response to the country-wide flooding.

The President said that this proves that the GDF is suited to support civil protection, disaster preparedness and disaster response operations now and in the future.

He referenced his address at the recently concluded Annual GDF Officers’ Conference where he highlighted that the National Defence Policy will see greater involvement of the Guyana

Defence Force in search and rescue operations, disaster response, provision of infrastructural services, in the defence and protection of border communities, in medical outreaches, in response to medical emergencies and in coaching and honing the talents of our athletes.

“Guyana has no control over the forces of nature.

However, we can mitigate their effects and plan to better protect our people and assets.

In this regard, Guyana will develop a comprehensive national disaster prevention, preparedness and response plan to help protect our peo-

ple and our resources from natural and man-made disasters. The Guyana Defence Force will have an integral role in developing and giving effect to this plan.”

The new task would not diminish or detract attention from the GDF’s primary mission of protecting the country’s territorial integrity and defending its national sovereignty.

BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS AND DEFENCE CO-OPERATION The President noted that while climate change will not disappear and the world hopes that another pandemic will not occur, the GDF must always be ready for any eventuality.

He said that most of the non-traditional threats are not unique to Guyana, and as a result, the country would continue to build partnerships to collaborate and co-operate in combating and mitigating all threats.

“This is your force and these are the circumstances under which you are being inducted as officers of the Guyana Defence Force.

You will be expected to lead the efforts in defending our country’s territory, in protecting its national patrimony and the safety and well-being of its people; and in supporting our Caribbean brothers and sisters who may be affected by disasters.”

The 24-month course commenced with 40 students in June of 2019, but withered

down to 16 graduates—two from Belize, two from Antigua and Barbuda, two from St Kitts and Nevis, one from the Guyana Fire Service, one from the Guyana Prison Service and eight from the GDF. The Head of State added that the participation of other countries in the course is indicative of Guyana’s commitment to defence co-operation. He said this is also evident by Guyana’s recent hosting of Operation Tradewinds 2021—which also highlighted the country’s commitment to building the capacities of its neighbours’ respective defence forces.

“Guyana will continue the long tradition of welcoming officer cadets from our sister CARICOM states to train alongside our officers of the Joint Services.”

DIFFERENCE THROUGH LEADERSHIP President Ali charged the graduates to be prepared for life’s future eventualities through knowledge, commitment, respect and discipline. He told the ranks to be steady, focused and unwavering in the principles and values of their oaths.

“As you embark on your new careers as officers in your respective services, it is expected that you will exemplify the highest standards of discipline, excellence, professionalism and leadership.

Your mission is not simply to lead but to make a difference through your leadership.”

The President charged the graduates to uphold the Constitution, respect the law and to remain worthy of their uniforms.

The graduating ranks are Javid Mohamed, Delon Abrams, Jevon Reid, Ralph Williams, Joshua Ferdinand, Carlon Warde, Roy De Younge, Seanden David-Longe and Jermy Charles from the GDF; Mauro Cucul and Radmon Smith from the Belize Coast Guard; Rayon Emmanuel from the Guyana Prison Service; Mario O’Flaherty and Lakeem Crosse from the St Kitts and Nevis Defence Force; and Leshawn Andrews and Charles Batchelor from the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force.

Mohamed was awarded the Sword of Honour as the best graduating student while Smith received the best international student award. The best drill went to Batchelor, best military knowledge to Abrams, best shot to Smith and best fitness to Cucul.

The Head of State was accompanied by Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d), the Honourable Mark Phillips; Minister within the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh; Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn; National Security Adviser, Gerry Gouveia; GDF’s Chief of Staff Brigadier, Godfrey Bess; acting Police Commissioner, Nigel Hoppie, and other high-level ranks. (DPI)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, July 22, 2021

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, July 22, 2021

West Indies WT20 squad to be selected September 17 … Cloud still exists over Narine’s return

CRICKET West Indies (CWI) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Johnny Grave has announced that on September 17 West Indies squad for this year’s World T20 title defence will be selected.

CWI selection panel consists of Roger Harper (Lead Selector), Miles Bascombe and Head Coach, Phil Simmons.

The selection will come two days after the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) concludes, and Grave said impressive performances there could count towards getting the nod for the World T20 which will be held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman from October 17 to November 14.

“The World Cup squad will be picked on the September 17 and may involve players who would have performed well in CPL but I personally would be surprised if anyone is picked who has not been involved in these 15 matches over the summer.

“But that is my personal opinion, I have not spoken to the selectors about their intentions,”

Cricket West Indies Chief Executive Officer, Johnny Grave Grave revealed while speaking Tuesday evening on the Barbadian radio programme Mason and Guest.

West Indies currently has an 18-man provisional squad which consists of: Kieron Pollard (captain), Nicholas Pooran (vice-captain), Fabian Allen, Dwayne Bravo, Sheldon Cottrell, Fidel Edwards, Andre Fletcher, Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, Evin Lewis, Obed McCoy, Andre Russell, Lendl Simmons, Hayden Walsh Jr, Kevin Sinclair, Oshane Thomas, Akeal Hosein and Jason Holder.

Those players have been rotated

throughout the 15 concluded Twenty20 International matches this year at home, and similar is expected against Pakistan for the five-match series which starts July 27 in Barbados.

“We got an 18-man squad that was picked for these matches and listening to Roger Harper and Phil Simmons, it is really that 18-man squad they are looking at, to try and jell but there will always be opportunities for players in CPL to make the last claim for a position in the final squad. I would be surprised if any came into the squad outside of that pool of 18.”

Grave added, “Certainly, from a Cricket West Indies point of view, we want everyone in the region available for selection; we want to make the job for the selectors harder than it is.”

What about Sunil Narine?

Grave who has been in the CEO position since his appointment in 2017 was questioned directly on the possibility of mystery spinner Sunil Narine featuring and he expressed uncertainty.

Grave is uncertain if Sunil Narine will return to West Indies colours anytime soon.

“I am not sure, to be honest; I selection.” know he had the finger injury In June, Pollard has said which caused him a lot of that Narine could return to problems with being able to put the T20 side after he regains revs on the ball and the last time confidence in his bowling he was formally asked by CWI, action. he didn’t feel he was ready to The spinner was warned for a suspect action at last step up to international cricket.

Indian Premier “But I personally like to think year’s that every player who plays in League (IPL), and last the CPL is available and would played for West Indies in want to go to a World Cup if August 2019, in a series selected and the deadline to against India, but there been complaints pick the squad is after the CPL. have So that is the last opportunity about his bowling action players have to make a case for since 2014.

Verwey new GSA president following AGM THE Guyana Squash Association (GSA) held its Annual General Meeting via Zoom on Wednesday, July 14, 2021.

The AGM sought to set a new path forward for the sport with a brand new board for the 2021/2022 period.

After serving a full term, outgoing president David Fernandes began by paying tribute to the late Colin Ming, whose contributions and legacy in squash span many years.

Fernandes went on to highlight the challenges the sport is facing due to the pandemic but was optimistic about its future in Guyana.

“I believe there are great things to come on the horizon for squash.” His President’s Report included plans for the growth of the sport and the urgency of getting safely back into training for a squad that will have international competitive opportunities before the end of the year.

Fernandes was nominated and elected to the position of vicepresident for the coming year.

Meanwhile, newly elected president, Owen Verwey, echoed Fernandes optimism of a potential rebound for the

New GSA president Owen Verwey players who have not been able to resume national training since March of 2020.

In a short acceptance address, Verwey was excited about the opportunity to be at the helm of what he described as a great team in the executive committee.

“COVID has really slowed us down and it’s been difficult on the players, especially the juniors, but we will get back to it, and we will expand our base.

We will get there.”

He applauded the magnificent job the board, the players and the squash community have done over the years and, despite the current situation, pledged to work hard for Guyana Squash, ‘I look forward to rising to the challenges, and to delivering!”

Stepping down as Chairperson for Competitions Committee was long-serving Tiffany Solomon who has successfully headed the Junior Programme for several years, providing a solid foundation for Guyanese players.

Tiffany made way for enthusiastic and talented Deje Dias, who was warmly welcomed to the board.

President – Owen Verwey Vice President – David Fernandes Treasurer – Garfield Wiltshire Secretary – Lorraine Ince Asst. Secretary/Treasurer – Anabelle Singh Chairperson for Clubs Committee – Robin Low Chairperson for Competitions Committee – Deje Dias Chairperson for Junior Affairs Committee – Juanita Fernandes Appointed Sub Committee Chairperson for Fundraising - Suzanne DeAbreu

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, July 22, 2021

‘I’ll create my own expectations’ - Chelsea Edghill

…Table tennis star not bowing to pressure of Olympic Games

By Rawle Toney CHELSEA Edghill arrived in Tokyo, Japan as Guyana’s firstever table tennis representative at an Olympic Games. She is set for action on July 24, one day after the opening, in the women’s singles event.

She has been a high-achiever throughout her illustrious career ever since she picked up a racquet as a nine-year-old.

However, her success and steady climb in the sport led to high expectations of many fans and pundits of table tennis,

particularly in Guyana.

Edghill is one of 86 women in Tokyo vying for Olympic glory and how she got there isn’t by luck, or winning the table tennis lottery, as some would say, but really through her brilliance over the years.

Along with Natalie Cummings, Shemar Britton and Joel Alleyne, Edghill competed at the Latin American Singles and Mixed Doubles Olympic Qualification tournament from April 13 to 17 in Rosario, Argentina.

In Argentina, Edghill reached the tournament’s Round-of-16 but

By Rawle Toney

GUYANA’S 100 metres champion, Emanuel Archibald, and his coach, Julian Edmonds, departed Guyana yesterday for the Island of Japan for the July 23–August 8 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Archibald, this year’s South American Senior Championships 100 metres silver medallist, will link up with sisters Aliyah and Jasmine Abrams, and will

continue their journey for the 32nd Olympiad.

Jasmine Abrams, who claimed bronze at the South American Senior Championships, and Archibald will be in action on July 31 in the men’s and women’s 100 metres.

Aliyah Abrams, the first Guyanese athlete, male or female, to qualify for the Olympic Games, will have another taste of Olympic competition on August 3, in the women’s 400 metres. This will be

she was stopped by Guatemalan Mabelyn Enrique 4-2. She was devastated and had already shifted her attention to qualifying for the 2024 Parris Games and the World Championships.

However, as fate would have it, the Tripartite Commission had two slots (one male and one female) to select from among National Olympic Committees that didn’t have more than eight athletes at the two previous Olympic Games in London (2012) and Rio (2016).

The Tripartite Commission selected Togo’s Dodji Fanni and

Guyana’s Chelsea Edghill.

“The feeling is unreal,” Edghill had told Chronicle Sport in an exclusive interview on May 22.

Since then, coupled with her already rise in the sport, expectation has been high for the 2014 Youth Olympic.

“The expectations of others aren’t mine. Therefore, everyone is allowed their own expectations but it doesn’t concern me at all,” Edghill said in a live interview with Sports Journalist Rawle Toney via her Facebook page.

“Granted, yes, I would love to please everybody in terms of

my expectations. But in terms of what I came here (in Japan) to do and what my goals are, you know, if those don’t align with your expectations, then all I can say is ‘sorry’,” Edghill said.

The usually candid table tennis player, who never backs down from ‘keeping it real’, added, “If I were to really look, listen and take-on everybody’s expectations, then that would place an immense amount of pressure that is unnecessary on me to perform at the games and that’s counterproductive.”

Edghill said she will remain

“focussed on what it is I can control and the expectations of myself and the goals that I’ve set for the tournament and the games.”

The 2018 Caribbean U-21 Champion who also holds a BSc in Chemistry, having graduated in 2019 from Lindenwood University in the USA, plays professionally in Portugal with Lusitania de Lourosa; a table tennis club located in the city of Lourosa in Santa Maria da Feira.

Aliyah’s second Games, having qualified and competed at the 2016 event in Rio, Brazil.

Just this week, Archibald told Chronicle Sport that he’s focussed on taking it one step at a time in Tokyo.

Archibald’s personal best in the distance is 10.22 seconds, set in 2018 in Kingston, Jamaica. He also clocked a wind-assisted 10.18 seconds to win Guyana’s senior Men’s 100 metres at the Athletics Association of Guyana’s (AAG)

National Championships in June.

Though representing Guyana at the Olympic Games in the 100 metres, Archibald is more versed and accomplished in the long jump, where he’s also the country’s National record-holder (8.12m).

Boxer Keevin Allicock, table tennis star Chelsea Edghill, and swimmers Aleka Persaud and Andrew Fowler are the other athletes who will represent Guyana at the biggest global sporting event.

freestyle, he became the first swimmer from Guyana to feature at the Olympic Games.

Meanwhile, Burnett, who also holds the 800m National record (one

minute 59.47 seconds) made her second Olympics appearance at the 2008 Games in China.

She ran two minutes 02.02 seconds.

Archibald, coach Edmonds depart for Tokyo

DID YOU KNOW?

By Rawle Toney EMANUEL Archibald will compete in the Men’s 100m on Saturday, July 31 at the Tokyo Olympics and his presence alone in Japan puts him in elite company with athletes from the Region 10 community.

Cyclist James ‘Joelyn’ Joseph and featherweight boxer, Dansford Brown, were the first Lindeners to compete at the Olympics, doing so at the 1980 Games in Moscow. In fact, Joseph also competed at the 1884 Games in Los Angeles, California.

In Russia, Joseph was exceptional to reach the third repechage (Heat 2) in the Men’s sprint event, while in 1984, his participation ended in the first repechage final 1.

Brown became the first boxer from Linden as part of the four-man team in Moscow for

James ‘Joelyn’ Joseph, who still competes, is the first cyclist from Linden to represent Guyana at the Olympics.

Coach Julian Edmonds and 100m National champion Emanuel Archibald prior to their departure from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport yesterday.

Emanuel Archibald will be the seventh athlete from Linden at the Olympic Games Guyana, alongside Michael Parris (bantamweight), Alfred Thomas (middleweight) and Barrington Cambridge (lightwelterweight).

Brown reached the round-of-16 in his division but was stopped

by Luis Pizarro of Puerto Rico.

Parris went on to the semifinals in the Bantamweight category. Despite losing, Parris, as per boxing rules, picked up bronze. His accomplishment today stands as Guyana’s lone Olympic medal.

Meanwhile, at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Mark Mason, Guyana’s former long jump record-holder and distance athlete Desmond Hector were part of the country’s contingent in Spain.

Mason was the last Guyanese athlete to compete in the men’s long jump at an Olympics, finishing 15th out of 53 athletes.

That event was won by USA’s Carl Lewis.

Mason’s long jump record of 8.07 metres, which he had set in April of 1993, was ironically broken by Archibald on March 7, 2019 at a meet in Jamaica, after the now Malta Carib athlete had leaped 8.08 metres.

Archibald on May 11, 2019, reset the National long jump record to 8.12 metres.

Hector clocked one minute 51.43 seconds in Heat Seven of the men’s 800m. He did not advance to the final.

Marian Burnett made her first of two appearances at Olympics at the 2004 Athens Games, along with Onan Thom.

Burnett clocked two minutes 02.12 seconds to finish fourth in Heat One and advance to the semi-finals of the women’s 800m. In the semis, Burnett’s time of two minutes 02.21 seconds was not enough to reach the finals.

When Thom entered the pool in Greece in the Men’s 100m

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER Thursday July 22, 2021

COMPLIMENTS OF CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD 83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown Tel: 225-6158 Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Jeff Dujon-33 dismissals (31 catches; 2 stumpings – 26 ODIs) (2) Jos Butler-24 dismissals (17 catches; 7 stumpings- 17 ODIs)

TODAY’S QUIZ:

(1) Which WI player has contested most ODI matches against PAK to date?

(2) Which PAK cricketer has played most ODI matches against the WI to date?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

23

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, July 22, 2021

Pollard wants more ‘fight’ with ODI series on the line

THE format has gotten a bit longer and it is ‘advantage’ Australia over West Indies for this threematch One-Day International series in Barbados.

After thrashing the Aussies 4-1 in the Twenty20 series, West Indies got a taste of their own medicine as they suffered a 133run defeat (D/L method) on Tuesday evening.

Chasing 257 in 29 overs, West Indies slumped to 27-6 in 7.4 overs, eventually to be bowled out for 123 in 26.2 overs. Captain Kieron Pollard top-scored

with 56.

Needing to win today’s match which gets underway at 14:30hrs, Pollard wants the guys to show more courage and put greater resistance.

“Yes, we lost one game and it is what it is. In cricket and in sports, someone has to win and someone has to lose and I thought Australia were better than we (were) on the night and hopefully, we can bounce back as a team with that fight and greater determination,” the skipper lamented at yesterday’s virtual media briefing.

The destruction of the West Indies was done by the towering pace duo of Mitchell Starc (5-48) and Josh Hazelwood (3-11), who used the new ball to menacing advantage. Conscious that more of such will come again, Pollard said the batsmen must come up with better plans.

“We just have to come up with better plans; we know for a fact the first couple of deliveries Starc is going to swing the ball back into the right-hander and away from the left, so technically we have to set

ourselves up for that and see what can happen.”

On the eve of the match, they were hit with injuries as the team’s marque batsman Shai Hope suffered an ankle injury while the in-form Fabian Allen was ruled out as well as fellow all-rounder Roston Chase.

“We started on the backfoot with our regular opener Shai not being there and we had to put someone else to do the job, but that is not an excuse. We have to find a way to come with a plan.”

Pollard hopes the guys who have been given a

chance, grab the opportunity and give a better account of themselves.

The skipper also said they will pay keen attention to the conditions which he deemed to be a bit difficult for both sides.

We s t I n d i e s O D I squad: Kieron Pollard (captain), Shai Hope (vice-captain), Fabian Allen, Darren Bravo, Hayden Walsh Jr, Sheldon Cottrell, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Evin Lewis, Jason Mohammed, Anderson Phillip, Nicholas Pooran,

Romario Shepherd Australia squad: Aaron Finch (captain), Ashton Agar, Wes Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey (vice-captain for ODIs), Dan Christian, Josh Hazlewood, Moises Henriques, Mitchell Marsh, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Josh Philippe, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye, Matthew Wade (vice-captain for T20Is), Adam Zampa.

Travelling reserves: Nathan Ellils, Tanveer Sangha.

BCB looking to restart season in September … donates stickers to RDC THE Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) is currently in the process of looking to restart their 2021 cricket season with September being their projected time for action.

Among other contentions, the board will be monitoring improvement in the weather while disclosing that all of the players have been fully vaccinated.

BCB president Hilbert Foster, along with executives of the board, would like to extend an official invitation to all clubs to attend a very important meeting on Wednesday, August 11.

Each club will be allowed

one delegate at the meeting.

Masks are compulsory while all COVID-19 regulations will be in effect.

BCB secretary Angela Haniff and executive member Lyken Edwards visited the office of the Executive Officer of Region Six, Navindra Persaud, to hand over a quantity of ‘Take the COVID-19’ stickers to the RDC. The stickers were printed by the proactive board as part of its social awareness outreach programme and would be placed on vehicles in an effort to get persons to take the vaccine.

Region Six REO, Navindra Persaud, accepts the donations from BCB secretary Angela Haniff in the presence of executive Lyken Edwards.

Pollard wants more ‘fight’ with ODI series on the line See page 23

Captain Kieron Pollard top-scored with 56 in his team’s paltry 123 in pursuit of 257.

‘I’ll create my own expectations’ - Chelsea Edghill

…Table tennis star not bowing to pressure of Olympic Games

West Indies WT20 squad to be selected September 17 West Indies WT20 squad to be selected September 17

See page 22

Chelsea Edghill in action for Guyana during the Olympic qualifier tournament in Argentina this year

See page 21

West Indies World T20 squad will be selected on September 17.

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| THURSDAY, JULY 22, 2021