Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 23-12-2020

WEDNESDAY 23 rd December, 2020

’ No. 106222

China Harbour to ‘foot’ additional US$9M CJIA expansion work PAGE

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–– company to install two more air bridges; rectify, complete all remedial work –– work to be completed

by December 2021

An artist’s impression of the completed airport expansion project, as was outlined in the initial agreement between the Government and CHEC

1,500 house lots to be delivered in two days

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Persons filled a section of the stadium awaiting their turn to be processed by the Housing Ministry’s team at the ‘Dream Realised Housing Drive 2020’ at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora, West Coast Demerara (Delano Williams photo)

One Laptop Per Family Dr Ramcharran’s claims back onstream 07 on ICJ ruling erroneous 08 PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 23, 2020

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 23, 2020

China Harbour to ‘foot’ additional US$9M CJIA expansion work –– company to install two more air bridges; rectify, complete all remedial work –– work to be completed by December 2021

AFTER four months of resisting the government’s request to have the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) expansion project completed in accordance with the initial contract, Chinese company, China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), has agreed to foot a US$9 million bill for additional work at the airport.

Pressure was mounting on the company to deliver the project based on the conditions outlined in the initial contract, as the government had halted all payments and threatened to take legal action as a final route of recourse.

The CJIA expansion project has been subjected to criticisms from the new government since it took office in August 2020.

President, Dr. Irfaan Ali and other officials of the government have said that Guyana will not be tolerant of unsatisfactory work and made it clear that the project will only be accepted if it is done in accordance with the “original contract” that was signed in 2011.

The government’s persistence has paid off, as it was announced on Tuesday that

CHEC and the local authorities have signed an agreement for additional work, valuing US$9 million, to be executed at the airport, at the sole expense of the contractor.

The agreement was signed by the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Public Works, Vladim Persaud and Project Manager of CHEC, Liu Keliang.

Based on the particulars of the agreement, there will be an extension of the airport’s boarding corridor in order to accommodate two more passenger boarding bridges, taking the total number of boarding bridges to six.

All bridges are capable of servicing aircraft such as the Boeing 777 Dreamliner, AirBus and similar trans-Atlantic aircraft.

Additional work includes extension of the terminal building to provide accommodation for food courts and duty-free shops, among other things. The extended building will also feature a modern airport façade, covering the full length of the departure terminal.

The company also agreed to rectify and

complete all outstanding remedial works within prescribed timelines. It was agreed that all work will be completed by December 31, 2021.

When the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition assumed office in May 2015, the project, which had been slated for a December 2017 completion, was halted for review.

MUST BE DELIVERED Following that review, the scope of work was adjusted, several changes were made, and a new deadline was set for December 2018. But the new government was adamant that the conditions agreed to in 2011 must be delivered, or legal action will be taken against CHEC. In a letter to the company, dated December 8, 2020, Attorney-General Anil Nandlall said: “Your company has failed to satisfy the employer’s requirement, contractor’s proposal and schedules, and all works necessary for the stability, safe and proper operation and

completion of the whole works.”

The Attorney-General said the Ministry of Public Works entered into a “Fixed Priced Contract” to the tune of US$138 million to CHEC for the extension of the CJIA on November 11, 2011, and its subsequent addenda on September 15, 2014; July 28, 2015; March 15, 2017; December 12, 2017; and November 10, 2018, collectively forming the existing contract.

“In accordance with the terms of the underlying contract, CHEC Ltd’s contractual obligations are to carry out the planning, design and construction of the Extension of the CJIA, which is listed as one of the top-priority development projects of Guyana,” Nandlall reasoned.

The project includes the construction of a New Terminal Building (NTB), and the extension of the existing main runway to allow for Code E Aircraft operations at the CJIA. This project, when completed, is expected to attract more international airlines and travellers, to promote tourism and to provide economic development.

Stable power expected for Christmas, says Prime Minister PRIME Minister, Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips was satisfied Tuesday afternoon after inspecting the repairs done to the recently damaged Guyana Power and Light Company (GPL) 69kV submarine cable.

The Prime Minister was accompanied

by Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar; Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Cui Jianchun; Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GPL, Bharat Dindyal; Deputy CEO (strategic operations) of GPL, Samaroo Ramtahal and representative of China National Machinery Import and Export Cooperation, Andrew Jin. The 69kV submarine cable links GPL’s Vreed-en-Hoop and the Kingston substations and allows for the transfer of electrical power into the Demerara-Berbice Interconnected System (DBIS).

According to the Prime Minister, the

A section of the GPL’s damaged 69kV submarine cable

repairs to the damaged cable have been completed and was tested on Tuesday evening.

“We will be testing the cable tonight, into tomorrow and based on what I’m told, by tomorrow evening it should be up and running and we will be able to have the balancing of the (electrical) load from Vreed-en-Hoop into the rest of the Demerara-Berbice Interconnected System.”

The Prime Minister said this means that Guyanese on the Coastland can now expect a stable supply of electricity for Christmas.

The Prime Minister also expressed his gratitude to the Chinese Ambassador for bringing a team of four engineers from China to Guyana, to assist with the repairs.

Ambassador Jianchun said he was happy to help.

He added that China and Guyana are good friends and that it is expected that friends help each other in difficult times.

“We always say that China and Guyana share a strong relationship and we are good friends… this is not about the money; this is really about needs and I commend the government for being a people-centred Government” the ambassador said.

According to Minister Indar, the cable was severely damaged and the government will be seeking to recover the cost spent for it to be repaired. He said the cost has already been estimated at around US$500,000.

“It’s not plug and play, it’s a serious job that required logistics… we’re going to go

Prime Minister, Phillips inspects the completion of the works done on GPL’s recently damaged 69kV submarine cable after the ship owners, the insurance and the agents, to recover every single dollar that we spent. It was not our fault that this happened,” he said.

The minister added that the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) has already issued instructions to maritime operators that Area B (the vicinity in which the cable is situated), is now a restricted zone and operators are prohibited from

anchoring their vessels there.

“Because the cable has been damaged four times, every time it is severed it gets shorter… ships can’t be anchoring there, we have to monitor that” the minister stated.

The 69kV submarine cable was damaged in late November after it was struck by the anchor of a vessel in the Demerara River.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Virtual system launched to eliminate investment bottlenecks

By Navendra Seoraj

CRITICAL in creating an environment, which is conducive for economic advancement, is the reduction of bureaucracy and red tapes; issues which the Guyana Office for Investment (Go-Invest) is hoping to address

through its new online investment portal.

This new investment portal will allow investors to search and initiate direct exchanges with Go-Invest, and will also encourage local companies, startups and individuals to build and present their projects to potential partners and

Wednesday, December 23, 00:30hrs - 02:00hrs

investors.

Such a platform is seen as timely because there has been an unprecedented in-

crease in investor interest in Guyana.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Go-Invest, Dr.

Peter Ramsaroop, in a recent statement, explained that the portal is basically the transformation of the agency’s website into an investment portal - www. goinvest.gov.gy.

“Our new mandate is in sync with His Excellency, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali’s commitment to make Guyana the number one investment destination by making it easier to access Guyana’s diverse investment portfolio.

“This new portal is a significant step towards the development of a single-window investment process. Guyana is an exciting investment destination; this portal reflects our excitement and defines what’s available and how to progress with your investment in Guyana,” Dr Ramsaroop said.

The investment portal is intuitive and easy to navigate, as it can be used effectively by both local and foreign investors.

It showcases investable

projects and opportunities across all economic sectors, and affords investors the opportunity to search, view and respond to investment projects and opportunities.

Persons or companies looking for investors, partners, buyers or distributors, could build and present their projects on the portal, among other things.

“Go-invest is focused on fast tracking our economic development and are re-engineering our systems and resources to actively respond to the increased investor interest in Guyana… the portal is a significant tool to expedite the process and deliver higher levels of efficiency,” Dr Ramsaroop said.

This is the first stage of the portal’s release. More features and functionalities will be added as the agency progresses with its development plan which includes the integration of various ministries and agencies, and the introduction of a mobile app.

With renewed and increased interest in the local economy, Guyana has an opportunity to assess its systems and create processes which are business-friendly and encouraging for not just international investors, but locals as well.

According to a study done by the Government of Germany and other stakeholders, a perfectly sensible bureaucratic procedure can become clumsy through poor interfaces between people, or through poor communication on how the process works.

The study found that streamlining procedures and increasing the service orientation of administrative personnel can, therefore, play an important role in reducing inefficiency and thus reducing costs.

Red tape shows up in and between all kinds of organisations, such as the different spheres of the government, in the private sector and in civil society.

An example of this, in Guyana’s perspective, is the difficulty faced by local businesses when trying to access contracts, particularly in the oil and gas sector.

The new government has already committed to creating an enabling environment for business development through a seven-point plan which includes preserving the rule of law and democracy; improving the ease of doing business; enhancing national competitiveness; facilitating trade and investment; and supporting small businesses.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Coalition challenges appointment of two parliamentary secretaries –– wants them removed from National Assembly

A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) has approached the High Court seeking a declaration to have Parliamentary Secretaries, Sarah Browne and Vikash Ramkissoon removed from the National Assembly.

A fixed date application filed in the name of Opposition Chief Whip Christopher Jones claims that the two were illegally appointed.

Jones is being represent-

Opposition Chief Whip Christopher Jones ed by Attorneys-at-law Senior Counsel Roysdale Ford, Mayo Robertson, Raphael Trotman, Geeta Chandan-Edmond, Amanza Walton-Desir, Olayne Joseph and Darren Wade Browne, Ramkissoon, Attorney General and Minster of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall and Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir are all listed as respondents.

In the application, Jones is asking the court for a declaration that Browne and Ramkissoon are not lawful members of the National Assembly of the 12th Parliament of Guyana and are also not validly appointed Parliamentary Secretaries.

Brown is the Parliamentary Secretary to the Amerindian Affairs Ministry, while Ramkissoon is the Parliamentary Secretary to the Agriculture Ministry. Both are Members of Parliament.

The applicant is also seeking an order from the court

pointed as a minister before December 1.

In light of Walrond re-taking her oath of of-

Parliamentary Secretaries Sarah Browne and Vikash Ramkissoon directing the Speaker of the Roxane George, ruled that National Assembly to prevent the appointment of Tourism, Browne and Ramkissoon Industry and Commerce Minfrom sitting in or participating ister, Oneidge Walrond, was in the business of the National unlawful.

Assembly.

The Chief Justice also In his grounds, Jones granted another declaration contends that Browne and stating that Walrond was not Ramkissoon are not valid and a lawful member of the 12th legal members of the National Parliament of Guyana when Assembly, a breach of the she was sworn in on SeptemConstitution of Guyana. ber 1, 2020.

This, he claims occurred In November, Jones had on September 15, 2020, when approached the High Court Browne and Ramkissoon took seeking a declaration to have their oaths as non-elected Walrond moved from her seat members of the National in the National Assembly, Assembly. which they claimed she was He is contending too that illegally occupying. the duo was named on the During the commenceList of Candidates presented ment of the virtual hearing by the People’s Progressive held on December 10, AtParty/Civic in accordance torney-General Nandlall with the Representation of conceded that government the People Act Cap. 1:03 for recognised that Walrond’s the March 2nd General and appointment might have colRegional Elections. lided with the Constitution of To back up his grounds Guyana, since she was still a for the application, Jones citizen of the United States of listed Articles 103 (3), and America when she took the 186 of the Constitution which oath to become a minister and states “Not more than four parliamentarian.

Ministers and two ParliaHowever, Nandlall said mentary Secretaries shall be government had already taken appointed by the President the necessary steps to rectify from among persons who that breach by having Walare qualified to be elected as rond re-sworn as a minster member of the National As- on December 1, 2020, by sembly” and “Parliamentary President Dr. Irfaan Ali. At Secretaries may be appointed the next practical sitting of from among persons who National Assembly, she will are elected members of the be sworn in as an MP. National Assembly or are The Chief Justice granted qualified to be elected as such the application and declared members.” that Walrond, an attorney, Earlier this month the was not a lawful member of Coalition won a similar case the National Assembly of the in the Demerara High Court. 12th Parliament of Guyana The acting Chief Justice, and was also not lawfully ap-

fice, the Chief Justice noted that she does not see the need for the Speaker of the National Assembly to pre-

vent Walrond from sitting in or participating in the business of the National Assembly.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 23, 2020

The no-confidence motion THE closure of the sugar estates and the unendurable suffering of retrenched workers and their families decimated the Alliance For Change (AFC). All their leaders had promised, prior to elections of 2015, that they would not countenance the eradication and/or downsizing of the sugar industry, but would instead invest in its re-capitalisation, and increase the remuneration and benefits of the sugar workers.

They even hijacked the PPP/C’s mantra, “Sugar is too big to fail”.

Fast forward to 2017, when the APNU+AFC Government announced the closure of several sugar estates. Initially, the Wales Sugar Estate was named as the first to be closed.

The PPP/C made a solemn 2020 pre-election promise to re-open the sugar estates. In delivering his maiden address to the nation at his inauguration as Guyana’s ninth Executive President, His Excellency, Dr. Irfaan Ali said, “The picture of the industry appears deeply distressing.”

He revealed that the assets of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) “seemed” to have been stripped by the Government’s privatisation arm, NICIL, and “disposed of in a criminal manner”, and lamented, “The once greatest contributor to our nation’s economy has been beaten down to its knees, and the workers tossed to a heap of unemployment and misery.” He re-iterated his party’s pre-election promise, “We intend to raise up the industry, and to help it and its workers resume the once proud place in our economy.”

The President said the sugar workers have been made to suffer “untold hardship,” averring, “Once proud men

who worked in the sugar industry from sun-up to sundown, never complaining about the back-breaking nature of their jobs, are today barely scratching a living. Their anguish is not only that they can’t earn a decent wage; it is that they cannot feed their families. Hunger and malnutrition abound; it is certainly not a Guyana we should allow to continue.”

The former Government closed the Rose Hall, Skeldon, Wales and Enmore sugar estates in a grand plan to restructure the sugar industry. However, their plan sent thousands of Guyanese, some their own supporters, on the breadline.

Charrandass Persaud, who hails from a sugar-producing community, Rose Hall, and whose entire family are strong PPP supporters, decided to take a diverse course and joined the AFC, in the process alienating many former friends and even some family members. But he believed in the lofty promises and grandiose plans of AFC leaders, especially Khemraj Ramjattan.

He used all his coercive powers to sway fellow Berbicians to follow suit. Aggrieved sugar workers, rice and cash-crop farmers, and members of the Berbice communities who had been mesmerised and encouraged by his rhetoric, abandoned the PPP; the party their families had supported for generations, and joined the APNU+AFC coalition, which was elected to Government in 2015. And then reality hit, and the horror that catalysed the downward spiral of the lives of hundreds of thousands of Guyanese began its catastrophic deceleration of the nation’s development paradigm.

The AFC leaders became the most hated members of the

Coalition Cabinet, and Charandass Persaud became a pariah in his community, to the extent that not only his private life and communal relations were negatively impacted, but his law practice also was disastrously affected. He went from hero to zero in his home community.

Worse of all, he witnessed, first-hand, the suffering of the people in his community, whose lives had become hellish nightmares, to the point where parents had to truncate their children’s education, and some had to endure seeing their children go hungry.

Former Opposition Leader, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo announced the filing of the No-Confidence motion on November 15, and debated in the National Assembly on Friday, December 21.

When the vote was taken, AFC Parliamentarian, Charandass Persaud, courageously, at great risk to his safety, voted affirmatively in favour of the Opposition, toppling the PNC-led coalition government in one fell swoop.

The Speaker of the House allowed the Clerk of the Assembly to call a recount of Government’s votes from the start, but Persaud did not recant, and adamantly repeated, “Yes! Yes! Yes!” However, despite constitutional diktat stipulates that general elections be held within 90 days of the vote of no-confidence in the Government, unless postponed by a two-thirds majority of the House, the illegal de facto Granger Government defiantly refused to adhere to constitutional prerequisites, and the aftermath now forms an inglorious part of Guyana’s history.

We must all pledge to work to free Guyana from poverty, crime and unemployment Dear Editor,

December 25 is Christmas Day the most celebrated holiday in Guyana and Guyanese from all walks of life, regardless of their religion or race will be celebrating Christmas at home and in the diaspora.

Christmas is a time of joy, peace and goodwill towards all mankind and to strengthen bonds with loved ones. In the Guyanese tradition, Christmas is a time to spread happiness with family and friends, enjoy the festivities, attend parties and partake in some of the finest Christmas dishes.

This Yuletide season should serve as a period of reflection on our lives and how we must redouble our efforts in the coming year to live in peace and harmony, and to make Guyana prosperous. It is a time when Christians come together to sing carols and joyously celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

Christmas 2020 will greet some of us feeling on top of the world, happy, despite the various challenges we faced. However, it will find many others feeling down, some

through faults of their own, while others are victims of circumstance––joblessness, poverty or personal illness.

We hope that the less fortunate will get the opportunity to experience the joy of Christmas through the generous acts of kindness from those who are better off and are conscious of their obligation to their fellowman. On this festive occasion, all must pray for peace, for those who are bed-ridden in hospitals, the less fortunate, and those who have lost loved ones during the year. We must also pray for those battling depression and alcohol and substance abuse, and hope that their spirits will be lifted.

It is that time of the year when the poor feel, most acutely, the deep distress of not being able to provide for their families as they would like, particularly their children who are too young to even understand the meaning of poverty. We should show compassion to them as Jesus Christ did in an earlier time period. The nativity scene of Jesus’ birth essentially depicts the poor human conditions in Guyana, where those

deserving of help are the elderly, the homeless and single mothers.

Christmas is also a time for healing and to forget the hurt, animosity, persecution and bitterness, and to renew our love for one another; hold out a hand of friendship to neighbours and friends; to those from whom we have been estranged and have done us wrong. We must recapture the spirit of the message that brought joy to the world 2000 years ago by the Babe of Bethlehem.

However, the spirit of giving has not been made easy for many who wanted to give but are not in a position to do so. Needless to say, the true meaning of Christmas continues to elude the downtrodden in Guyana. Too often, it is the greedy, not the needy; the rich and not the poor who enjoy Christmas.

We must not forget the tragedies the country has experienced, the goodness and kindness shown to us by others, and be thankful for the peace that surrounded our nation during a testing election period and subsequent change of administration.

Perhaps the holidays will give the polit-

ical directorate and the opposition a chance to reflect on themselves and the importance of inclusiveness of all in society, so that they can make better decisions in the interest of the people, and that 2021 will be a year of healing, atonement, cooperation, and genuine and competent leadership. We must all pledge to work to free Guyana from poverty, crime and unemployment; pray for all its leaders and its resilient, loving and caring people, and hope they may live to see many more Christmases.

Best wishes for a safe, happy and enjoyable Christmas to everyone.

We at Globe-Span Television in New York take this opportunity to wish Merry Christmas to all our sponsors, guests and listeners/viewers in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, Guyana and elsewhere!

Yours faithfully, Noar Singh, CEO, Globe-Span TV Devin Bissoon, Technical Director, Charles Sugrim, Producer and Moderator Dr. Asquith Rose, Initiator and Moderator

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 23, 2020

10 win in annual GNNL Christmas promotion

By A.Lashley

THE Guyana National Newspapers Limited (GNNL), publisher of the Guyana Chronicle, on Tuesday distributed prizes to 10 persons who participated in its annual Christmas promotion.

The month-long competition garnered over a thousand entries.

The entity’s General Manager, Moshamie Ramotar, during her address at a simple ceremony, thanked the winners for their continuous support towards the news agency. She encouraged them to not only support the publication when there is a promotion, but throughout the year.

The General Manager further noted that support should be given to the sponsors because without them the promotion would not have been possible.

Meanwhile, GNNL’s Marketing Coordinator, Akash Persaud, in his remarks, stated that, this is the seventh year that the promo-

tion is being held.

He informed those present that the prizes were donated by Riaz Computer Centre, Church’s Chicken

under Camex Restaurants Inc., Java Coffee Bar, Roraima Group of Companies, I&S Trading and D Singh Trading.

A cake hamper from the Guyana Chronicle, an Amazon Fire HD Tablet, a trip for two to Arrowpoint Resort and food vouchers and ham-

The proud winners of the Chronicle Christmas promotion pose for a photograph. Also pictured are GNNL’s General Manager Moshamie Ramotar; Marketing Manager, Reshma Ajoda; Circulation Officer, Kim Harry; Marketing and Distribution Manger, Beverly Barrow and Marketing Coordinator, Akash Persaud (Adrian Narine photo)

pers were among the prizes up for grabs.

Desiree Sobers, who won a food hamper, congratulated the company on its work over the years. She used the opportunity to inform that the Pepperpot Magazine which is usually found in the Sunday publication, is her favorite part of the newspaper.

“I really enjoy reading about the different villages that the newspaper features on Sundays. It has become a norm for me to clean on Sundays, relax and then proceed to read the paper’s Pepperpot Magazine,” Sobers said.

She described the promotion as an amazing initiative.

Sarojanie Persaud, who won the trip for two, said she was elated to be receiving her prize. She commended the GNNL team for the quality content they have been producing over the years.

One Laptop Per Family back on stream PRESIDENT, Dr Irfaan Ali has announced the re-introduction of the One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) initiative.

The Head of State told residents of Kato in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), on Tuesday, that the programme will be re-started in 2021 with the aim of placing Guyanese on par with the rest of the technological world.

The issuing of laptop computers would go handin-hand with access to the internet, which the President indicated is earmarked for interior locations.

“Next year we will also restart the One Laptop Per Family programme to en-

sure that every child has the opportunity to not only be connected to the hub but has the instrument through which they can pursue their studies.”

President Ali noted that technology is important in an advanced world and that Guyana would not be left behind.

“The pandemic has taught us how important it is to be in line with technology… and we have to increase our investment to bring greater technological access through our hinterland and riverine areas,” he said.

The President, who had journeyed to Kato to assess the needs of its residents, told

the gathering that they will soon benefit from an Information and Communications Technology (ICT) hub.

“I’m very happy to report to you that very soon, we will commence the building of your ICT hub and put the infrastructure in that hub, so that you will have access to good internet facilities and you can pursue the opportunities that come with that.”

The One Laptop Per Family programme was launched in January of 2011 with the aim of providing ‘at-home’ Information and Communications Technology to tens of thousands of Guyanese families.

(Office of the President)

President, Dr Irfaan Ali interacting with Kato residents on Tuesday

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Dr Ramcharran’s claims on ICJ ruling erroneous –– distinguished attorneys contend

By Vishani Ragobeer FORMER Speaker of the National Assembly, Ralph Ramkarran, said that the ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that it has the jurisdiction to hear Guyana’s application on the Guyana, Venezuela border case is a ‘historic victory’ for the country.

On Friday, in a 12-4 majority decision, judges at the ICJ found that they have jurisdiction to hear a suit brought by Guyana, arguing the border was established by an 1899 arbitration between Venezuela and the then colony of British Guiana. This ruling paves the way for Guyana to make a substantive case on the border controversy, through which the country seeks to obtain the final and binding judgement of the 1899 Arbitral Award.

Though Guyanese jurist and international public

servant, Dr. Bertrand Ramcharan, was of the opinion that the ICJ’s ruling was “reckless”, possibly harming Guyana’s case, Ramkarran posited, “... the Court’s jurisdiction to hear Guyana’s application on the validity of the 1899 Award and the consequential validity of Guyana’s border, Guyana has won an historic victory.”

In a column published in the Stabroek News, Dr. Ramcharan opined that the World Court’s framing of the issue was problematic, given that the ruling deemed the border controversy a “land boundary dispute” while Guyana’s case, until now, has been that there is no issue with the land boundary establishing, in 1899, that Essequibo belongs to Guyana. The substantive matter, Dr. Ramcharan said, is the confirmation of this 1899 decision.

The Former Speaker, a distinguished attorney-at-law

himself, disagreed with this reasoning, however. In a letter to the Stabroek News, he posited, “It is abundantly clear from the decision that the World Court did not invent a land or territorial dispute. It was Guyana that raised the issue in the context of the 1899 Award.”

What this meant, he explained, was that the court did not invent a land boundary dispute. Instead, he posited that recognising that there is an existing controversy about the boundary is inextricably linked to Guyana’s assertion that the 1899 award-which upheld the boundary that illustrates British Guiana owned the territory west of the Essequibo River-- is valid.

For further context, both Venezuela and Great Britain accepted that 1899 award and subsequently, a mixed-boundary commission appointed jointly by the

Statement from lawyers representing Guyana

WE have read with considerable surprise the article written by Dr. Bertrand Ramcharran, in Stabroek News. This is all the more so, having known Dr. Ramcharran for many years. He has expertise and experience in many areas, but the practise of the International Court of Justice is not, as far as we are aware, one of them.

The Court was faced with a novel situation, in which its jurisdiction was premised on a decision of the Secretary-General of the United Nations. The Court has ruled, by a large majority, that ‘it has jurisdiction to entertain the Application filed by the Co-operative Republic of Guyana on 29 March 2018 in so far as it concerns the validity of the Arbitral Award of 3 October 1899 and the related question of the definitive settlement of the land boundary dispute between the Co-operative Republic of Guyana and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela’.

The ruling follows the careful and considered approach of the Court, as reflected in its practise. The Court has expressed no view on whether there is or is not a land boundary dispute between Guyana and Venezuela. Rather, it has decided to exercise jurisdiction on the question of whether such a dispute has been subject to a “definitive settlement”, a question that turns on the validity of the Arbitral Award of 1899.

That, according to last week’s careful Court judgment, is the definitive issue.

Quite how that approach may be said to be “reckless” is unclear, and it may be that on carefully re-reading it Dr. Ramcharran will come to a clearer understanding of what it has actually said. Having between us practised before the Court for more than

six decades, the judgment appears to us to be reasonable in its approach, and one that is entirely favourable to Guyana.

For over 50 years, since the signing of the Geneva Agreement in 1966 and pursuant to its procedures, Guyana has been hoping to obtain a final and binding judgment from the Court on the validity of the 1899 Award and the resulting land boundary. Finally, as a result of its perseverance and diplomatic skill, it obtained from the United Nations Secretary-General, in January 2018, authorisation to take the matter to the ICJ. Two months later, Guyana filed its case with the Court. Venezuela immediately objected, contending that the Court lacked jurisdiction to consider the validity of the 1899 Award or the land boundary.

Guyana gave us the honour, under the leadership of Hon. Carl Greenidge and Sir Shridath Ramphal, and accompanied by a team of distinguished international lawyers, to argue the jurisdictional issues on its behalf. The Court’s decision of 18 December is a historic victory for Guyana.

It gives Guyana exactly what it has been seeking since independence in 1966, an opportunity to obtain a final and binding judgment from the world’s highest court on the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award, and the boundary that was fixed in accordance with it, and to confirm Guyana’s exclusive and undisputed sovereignty over the entire Essequibo Region.

Mr Paul Reichler, Foley Hoag LLP, Washington DC Professor Philippe Sands QC, London December 22, 2020 (From the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation)

Former Speaker of the National Assembly, Ralph Ramkarran two countries, carried out a survey and demarcation, between 1901 and 1905, of the boundary as stipulated by the award. This brought the 1905 valid and binding agreement about the boundary between Guyana and Venezuela.

DOES NOT SHARE DR RAMCHARRAN’S VIEWS In a short statement issued on Monday night, the Government of Guyana stated that it does not share the reservations of Dr. Ramcharran.

“The Government and people of Guyana welcome the World Court’s decision which represents a notable victory for the rule of law internationally and for Guyana,” the statement read.

The lawyers representing Guyana at the ICJ, Mr Paul Reichler and Professor Philippe Sands, QC, also dismissed Dr Ramcharran’s reservation, affirming that this ruling provides Guyana with the opportunity to obtain a final and binding judgement on the validity of the 1899 award-- something

the country had been seeking since independence in 1966.

“The ruling follows the careful and considered approach of the court, as reflected in its practise. The court has expressed no view on whether there is or is not a land boundary dispute between Guyana and Venezuela,” the duo said, as reported

by Demerara Waves.

“Rather, it has decided to exercise jurisdiction on the question of whether such a dispute has been subject to a ‘definitive settlement’, a question that turns on the validity of the Arbitral Award of 1899,” they added in the Demerara Waves report.

ENTIRELY FAVOURABLE TO GUYANA They also submitted that through their combined experience, they believe that the judgement is reasonable and “one that is entirely favourable to Guyana”.

Despite that 1899 Arbitral Award, Venezuela still claimed a large portion of Guyana’s territory. Eventually, in 1966, a few months before Guyana became an independent nation, the Geneva Agreement (formally known as the Agreement to Resolve the Controversy over the Frontier between Venezuela and British Guiana) was signed. Essentially, this agreement governs the controversy and intended to allow two countries to resolve the controversy in a peaceful manner.

Article IV of the Geneva Agreement, however, makes provision for the involvement of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, who “shall choose another means stipulated in Article 33 of the Charter of the Unit-

ed Nations, and so on until the controversy has been resolved or until all means of peaceful settlement there contemplated have been exhausted”.

This provision is what paved the way for the “Good Officer” process, which was a framework that allowed for discussions on the resolution of the controversy. In 2016, outgoing United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, agreed with his successor, António Guterres, to continue to use the Good Officer Process until the end of 2017 as a means of arriving at a settlement. After this process failed, in 2018, the UN Secretary-General referred the case to the ICJ. And this is where Guyana is currently hoping to resolve the matter, favourably, once and for all.

However, Ramkarran did state that he is “disappointed” that the ICJ declined jurisdiction for the events after the date of the Geneva Agreement. Following the Geneva Agreement, however, Venezuela has been aggressive towards Guyana, acting in clear breach of that agreement. That country seized Guyana’s half of the Ankoko Island and military aggression at the border area has been reported.

Ramkarran’s letter emphasised that he was speaking on behalf of himself and not the Government nor the lawyers who appeared for the Government at the ICJ. It is important to note that he served on the Ministerial Team for the Guyana/Venezuela Border Controversy from 1994 to present.

In August, this year, he was appointed as an advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs on Border Issues.

$15B being channelled for infrastructural development –– 1,500 house lots to be delivered at two-day housing drive at Leonora

By Rabindra Rooplall OVER $15 billion has been set aside for infrastructural development throughout the country, said Prime Minister, Mark Phillips, as he noted that in the past few months, significant investments have been made in the housing sector.

These are geared towards linking new roads to modern housing schemes with the objective of improving the lives of citizens.

The Prime Minister was, at the time, delivering the feature address at the Government’s ‘Dream Realised Housing Drive 2020’ hosted Tuesday at the National

Track and Field Centre, Leonora, West Coast Demerara, Region Three.

A total of 1,500 house lots are expected to be delivered at the two-day event hosted by the Ministry of Housing and Water, Central Housing and Planning Authority.

“While our Government will continue to make these investments, it is clear to us that the housing sector has the potential to drive our country’s economy and there are spin-off benefits to be reaped. For instance, the opening of new schemes in the various administrative regions will see a boom in the construction sector, and this will See page 9

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 23, 2020

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From page 8

translate into business for suppliers and job creation for skilled workers,” the Prime Minister explained.

He said Government’s strategic plan will include engaging the private sector to work along in realising the vision for the housing sector.

“It is important that we partner with the private sector so that we can quickly achieve what we envision for the betterment of Guyanese. It requires all of us playing our part in building our nation and it is simply impossible to get where we want to be without a collective effort,” he added.

Standing-in for President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, the Prime Minister said the occasion was especially dear to the President since it was in his hometown.

The Government is happy and passionate about the development and progress of all Guyanese.

“Many of you have waited a very long time for this day and I wish to congratulate all of you who will be allocated house lots today, as this marks the beginning of a new chapter in many of your lives as you work towards building your future for yourselves and families,” the Prime Minister said.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING Noting that providing affordable housing is high on Government’s agenda, the Prime Minister said all the infrastructure necessary for citizens to live comfortably will be provided and this includes running water, roads and electricity.

“Just over two months ago, our Government reversed the VAT on building materials, so that alone has reduced the cost for construction by a significant percentage and will enable you to construct your homes at a reduced cost than before,” he said, while adding: “We also increased the Mortgage Interest Relief ceiling to $30M, so those of you who will be applying for loans to build will no longer face the burden of hefty interest for up to $30M. This measure which was passed in Parliament by our Government back in October has been welcomed greatly by all, moreso young, first time home owners who are now eager and positive about their future.”

This means, he said that more money is available to build decent, high quality houses at an affordable cost.

“So, we don’t just come to you promising affordable housing without a plan for you to achieve affordable housing. We have already implemented measures from the time we assumed office to pave the way for delivering

to have your own home; this pandemic has made us reconsider the need for adequate living spaces for families and

Prime Minister Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips affordable housing to you,” the Prime Minister emphasised.

He underscored that plans for the Housing sector have already started to roll out with the distribution of thousands of land titles and allocation of house lots across the country.

“You would have seen that the ministers have been very active and making themselves available to you to address your concerns and needs. We have been coming back into your communities the very same way we campaigned because it is the only way we can effectively deliver to you and truly understand what your needs are,” the Prime Minister noted.

Shaneeza Yacoob, 25, of Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara, who filed an application, years ago, was among the first group of persons to receive her land from the Prime Minister.

“I think this is a good initiative and I am extremely happy to own my own home, soon I will start to build,” she said.

ECSTATIC Another recipient, Dorcel Farley of Bagotville, was also high in praise.

“I feel ecstatic about it, ever since I received the call I couldn’t stop smiling and rejoicing with my family.

This is a great step for me, I think it’s a step in the right direction, because it has always been my dream to have my own property.”

Patsy Singh, 64, a mother of six, who had been waiting more than 25 years for a plot of land, was also happy to have received a lot at Cornelia Ida, West Coast Demerara.

Meanwhile, Housing and Water Minister, Collin Croal said Government is committed to providing housing solutions for all citizens even as the country grapples with a global pandemic and other challenges in 2020.

“We remain undaunted in our resolve to ensure that this land that belongs to all of us provides homes for all of us.

I know how important it is

the changing approaches to education forces us to think about the needs of children too for space,” Minister Croal

said.

He explained that adequate and affordable housing was a challenge but

Government was committed to making homeownership See page 11

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Health Ministry seeking expertise for COVID-19 vaccine storage

By Vishani Ragobeer

GUYANA does not have prior experience working with vaccines stored in ultra-cold storage and, ahead of the distribution of the

COVID-19 vaccine, expected early next year, the Health Ministry is seeking this necessary expertise.

While providing his daily COVID-19 update, Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Antho-

ny, related that Guyana has applied for a grant from the COVAX facility to secure the technical expertise needed to work with the ultra-cold chain storage in which the COVID-19 vaccines should

be stored.

The COVAX facility is a global initiative geared at accelerating the development and manufacture of COVID-19 vaccines, and then providing them in a guaranteed rapid, fair and equitable manner to those countries which need them.

“We have not had such vaccines in Guyana where you require these types of temperatures (and) it is important that we get some expertise in this area and we work with people who understand how to utlise this ultra-cold chain,” the minister said.

He said the country is expecting a favourable response and explained that if the vaccines are not stored in the appropriate temperatures, they could spoil and therefore be wasted.

The U.S. drug company, Moderna, had announced that its vaccine, the mRNA-1273 from Biotech, could be stored in a standard refrigerator with temperatures of two to eight degrees Celsius (36 degrees to 46 degrees Fahrenheit) for 30 days. The rollout of this vaccine began only on Monday, in the U.S.

Meanwhile, the other vaccine that is already being distributed, the Pfizer vaccine, however, must be stored at very cold temperatures of minus 70 to 80 degrees. Measures are being put in place to ensure that the country’s cold-storage chain could accommodate either.

Ahead of the vaccination rollout, the minister also said that medical professionals will be trained early in the New Year. A large part of Guyana’s vaccination programme involves dealing with babies and children, but this COVID-19 vaccine is one which will be administered to adults.

And this, Dr. Anthony

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony explained, would require training on various components including who to register them, inform them of possible side-effects and what they should expect, in addition to getting their consent and actually administering the vaccine.

Depending on which vaccine is acquired and used by Guyana, medical professionals would also need to do follow-up vaccinations -- administering the second dose.

CANU intercepts, arrest known smuggler in Berbice LAW enforcement ranks of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), on Tuesday morning, seized a quantity of un-customed goods, two vehicles and arrested a known smuggler.

The operations were carried out in the Skeldon, Crabwood Creek, East Berbice area. The vehicles and goods were handed over to the Guyana Revenue Authority.

Most of the items consisted of alcohol and firecrackers, that were smuggled from neighbouring Suriname.

A CANU official described the detainee as a known smuggler who has had several brushes with the law.

Driver arrested in cyclist death on Stewartville Public Road GEORGE Douglas, 41, was arrested on Monday night after he crashed into a pedal cyclist, killing him on the Stewartville Public Road, West Coast Demerara (WCD).

Dead is Rajendra Doodnauth, 55, of Uitvlugt Pasture, WCD. He was pronounced dead at the Leonora Cottage Hospital.

Reports indicate that the accident occurred about 10:40 hrs and Douglas was speeding along the northern side of the road when the pedal cyclist, who was proceeding in the same direction as the car, allegedly made a sudden turn across the road, resulting in the collision.

Doodnauth landed on the front windscreen of the car and was dragged several feet way until he ended up in the northern trench.

The body was then taken to the Ezekiel Funeral Parlour, awaiting an autopsy.

The driver remains in custody as investigations continue.

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affordable.

“When our Government invests in the housing sector, there is a direct positive effect on job creation in the construction sector, increased spending and a greater demand for basic goods and services. All of this results in good things for small and medium scale businesses, truckers, taxi drivers, bus operators, carpenters, painters and many others,” the Housing Minister said.

With approximately 1,500 new house lots, he said this can only contribute directly towards improved wellbeing and standard of living, as Government sets the stage for a socioeconomic drive that will increase wealth among Guyanese, starting with helping them to have their own homes.

“There are many de-

ter Croal said more than $3 billion was allocated in the national budget to improve infrastructure in new and existing housing areas and to acquire lands for people to build their houses.

He added that more than $5.1 billion will be invested here in Region Three for infrastructure works within the coming year.

“We have increase the limit for Mortgage Interest Relief for low and middle-income homeowners and low-income loans, and removed VAT on building materials; this means that construction materials will be more affordable. As we have committed, we will continue to engage our partners in the private sector to ensure that prices are kept competitive and that materials are always available,”

Superintendent, Boodnarine Persaud, pulled out lot number 79 from the Cornelia Ida, West Coast Demerara Housing Scheme package held by Housing and Water Minister, Collin Croal (Delano Williams photo) cisions ahead that you will have to make, from deciding on the size and style of your house to the kind of materials that you will use. I’d like to remind you to make use of sustainable materials as much as possible, consider creating green spaces for you and your families to enjoy and importantly the changing needs of your loved ones.

And while you make those decisions, know that your Government will stand with you to ensure that this process brings you joy rather than frustrations,” Minister Croal explained.

SIGNIFICANT WORK In just five short months since Government came into office, Minis-

he reminded the gathering at Lenora.

Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues, said the home ownership policy will guide the ministry over the next five years.

“Not land allocation, but home ownership, promoting families, promotion of community life and building sustainable communities.

This is our vision for the next five years. As development comes to our country, we want it to touch each and every single Guyanese across the country,” Minister Rodrigues said.

She also said that it is the Government’s aim to ensure that no one is left behind regardless of race, class, religion, political affiliation or current location.

CHPA’s Chief Executive Officer, Sherwyn Greaves, also attended the event.

Government plans to

create sustainable housing and has promised to distribute at least 50,000 house lots within its first term in office.

The ‘Dream Realised’ housing drive is the brainchild of President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali. Ap-

proximately 3,500 house lots have already been distributed under this programme.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Appeal Court reduces murder convict’s sentence STEVE Allicock, who is currently serving 60 years in prison for a 2009 murder, on Monday had his sentence reduced to 25 years by the Guyana Court of Appeal.

In 2017, Justice Navindra Singh at the Demerara High Court had sentenced Allicock after a 12-member jury found him guilty of murdering Wendell Tappin

on December 31, 2009, at Hill Street, Albouystown.

The Guyana Chronicle had reported that Tappin, 23, called “Wendell Keyco” was involved in an argument with Allicock, who inflicted stab wounds to the man’s chest and escaped.

The father of two was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Dissatisfied with his sentence, Allicock through his attorney Mark Conway filed an appeal. It was argued that the conviction could not stand, given the evidence adduced during the trial.

Allicock had also contended that his sentence was excessive in all the circumstances of the case.

The appeal was heard

by Chancellor (ag), Yonette Cummings-Edwards and Justices of Appeal Dawn Gregory and Brassington Reynolds. The state was represented by Prosecutor Stacy Gooding.

Justice Cummings-Edwards while delivering the ruling, noted that the court had accepted the ground of appeal that the sentence was manifestly excessive.

“We are of the view that the sentence is indeed harsh…,” she said before noting that a jail sentence of 25 years would be appropriate.

The court, having taken into consideration the life expectancy as outlined by the United Nations, sentencing guidelines and its previous rulings, allowed the appeal in respect of the

Steven Allicock sentence and reduced it from 60 to 25 years.

Nevertheless, Allicock’s conviction for murder was upheld.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Silk is for attorneys of the exceptional ilk

By Richard Bhainie THE topic of Senior Counsel, or Silk, as it is commonly referred to, has recently been at the centre of attention in light of the appointments conferred

by President Irfaan Ali and the legal battle in relation to the matter.

However, with the title being discussed widely, little information has been disseminated to elucidate on its significance and the criteria required for the attainment and elevation to the rank within the legal fraternity.

The Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George, S.C. at the historic Special Sitting of the Full Court in Berbice, to admit Attorney-at-law Mursaline Bacchus, S.C. to the Inner Bar of Court, expounded on the historical origination of the title, along with the honours associated with it.

She explained that the honour of Silk is conferred upon eminent attorneys-at-law, for their distinguished contributions to the law. It was originally conferred by the Crown, where the name King’s/Queen’s Counsel (K.C. or Q.C.) originated from, which later became Senior Counsel (S.C.) in republics such as Guyana.

“Senior Counsel were originally appointed to the Monarch to be the Monarch’s Counsel-- one who is learned in the law-- but the term is also recognised as being honorific,” the Chief Justice

explained.

She added: “the status of senior counsel is recognised by the courts and they have the privilege of sitting within the bar of the court; this is to say they are considered to be members of the Inner Bar with other counsel being designated as members of the outer bar.”

The Chief Justice explained that the term ‘Silk’ is derived from the Silk gowns of a special design, similar to a Judge’s in Guyana’s Civil gown, worn by individuals when they are elevated to the status of Senior Counsel, a ceremony informally known as ‘taking silk’.

PRIVILEGES She further explained that apart from the honour of distinction accorded with the title, Senior Counsel are accorded certain privileges, such as being given precedence in having their matters called and dealt with in the Courts.

The Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, S.C., who presented Bacchus’s petition to the Full Court, explained that one of the criteria utilised in the measurement of eligibility for Silk is the number of reported cases in the law reports.

The main Law Reports resorted to for guidance in the local jurisdiction is the West Indian Law Reports (WIR) and Law Reports of

the Commonwealth (LRC).

The LRC contains reported cases from 54 Commonwealth countries, while the WIR contains reported cases from most of the English Speaking Caribbean countries. For a case to be reported in these law reports, it must be of prominence, with a fundamental legal principle being argued upon.

“I did some brief and very cursory examination of the West Indian Law Reports as I consider it is a barometer to measure the accomplishment of Counsel, looking at how many cases they have appeared in which have found themselves in the law reports. In this case, I used the West Indian Reports,” Nandlall explained.

In pronouncing on Bacchus’s eligibility for admittance to the Inner Bar, the Attorney-General explained that Bacchus has a number of reported cases published in the WIR, with most of them dealing in the Criminal Law; however, having discussed significant issues and these cases have served as a guide to law students, lawyers and the bench.

Nandlall, himself, who was admitted to the Bar in 1998 and was recently appointment Senior Counsel

by President Irfaan Ali, to date has 16 reported cases in the WIR and LRC, being the youngest Silk with the most reported cases.

Mr. Timothy Jonas, S.C. who was admitted to the Bar

Priest found murdered in home ANGLICAN Reverend (r’td), George Chuck-ASang, 82, was found murdered, with several stab wounds about his body in his Vlissengen Road, Georgetown home on Monday night.

Police said the former Chairman of the Lands Right Commission was murdered between December 18-21.

Chuck-A-Sang lived alone in a two-storey concrete structure located within the compound of the St Sidwell’s Church.

Reports indicate that his daughter, Renata Chuck-ASang, last spoke to her father on December 18, via his cell phone. However, on December 21, about 15:00hrs, she called him via Whatapp and his phone rang out.

She, later, then went to

Dead: George Chuck-A-Sang his residence and called out to him but she did not get any response and the house was secured.

She then visited the residence of the current priest, Monsell Alves, of North-East

La Penitence and related that she was trying to contact her father but she got no response and the building was secured.

As a result, she, along with the priest, visited her father’s home and gained entry and found him lying motionless on the floor between the kitchen and dining hall.

The body was partly decomposed. When the police were summoned, they discovered that the reverend had stab wounds about his chest and abdomen and his forehead appeared to be swollen.

Upon further inspection, police noted that the house was not ransacked and there was no sign of breakage seen on the building.

His body was taken to the Lyken Funeral Home, awaiting an autopsy.

The Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George, S.C.

in 1996 and also recently appointed Senior Counsel

by President Ali after being overlooked by former President, David Granger, to date has eight reported cases in the WIR and LRC. After a 20-year hiatus, the honour of Senior Counsel was once again conferred upon Attorneys-at-law by former President, David Granger, in 2016. During his tenure he appointed 23 individuals as Senior Counsel.

There will be a special sitting of the Full Court in Demerara on December 29, 2020 for the admittance of Attorneys-at-law appointed Senior Counsel in Demerara that are yet to be admitted to the Inner Bar.

The Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, S.C.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Revision of Amerindian Act 2006 is of highest priority

By Mesha Sealey A GROUP of Indigenous leaders intend to present a joint statement to the Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai, indicating their collective decision that the revision of the Amerindian Act 2006 is of highest priority; they also plan to seek a meeting with the minister to submit their proposal.

This decision was finalised by the Amerindian Peoples’ Association (APA) and the National

… say Indigenous Leaders

Members of the Amerindian Peoples’ Association (APA) and the National Toshaos Council (NTC) at the joint meeting on Friday last Toshaos Council (NTC) on Friday last when they concluded a three-day joint meeting to discuss priority issues.

They are of the firm belief that the Act does not thoroughly recognise the rights of Indigenous Peoples’ and does not meet international standards or the provisions of the constitution of Guyana.

The meeting took place from December 16-18, 2020 at the Regency Suites Hotel, with representatives from several Indigenous bodies, including The Moruca District Council (MDC) Region 1; Hinterland Affairs Committee (HAC) Region 2; Upper Mazaruni District Council (UMDC) Region 7; North Pakaraimas District Council (NPDC) Region 8; North Rupununi District Development Board (NRDDB), Kanuku Mountain Community Representative Group (KMCRG), South Rupununi District Council (SRDC) all of Region 9; and the Region 10 Regional Toshaos Council (RTC).

Also in attendance were representatives from the Mabaruma sub-region, Matarkai sub-region, Middle Mazaruni, Lower Mazaruni and the Potaro region, where there are no district coun-

cil bodies.

The Amerindian Act, which is the primary legislation governing the affairs of the Indigenous peoples of Guyana, has been pending revision since 2017, according to a press release by the APA. As part of the meeting, the Indigenous leaders engaged in extensive discussions on recommendations for the proposed revision of Act done previously and submitted to the Ministry in 2019.

Among these are amendments to existing arrangements that fall under Land Titling, Free, Prior and Informed Consent and Village Governance.

Speaking at the opening of the workshop, President of the APA, Lemmel Benson Thomas, reminded participants to be responsible with their lifestyles as Indigenous peoples, noting that that meetings of this kind were “the aspirations of other indigenous groups in other countries”, and suggested they take advantage of the opportunity to place continued focus on the protection of their rights and lands.

“Our political landscape is changing; our economies are changing, socially, our lives are changing but, we have to adapt to it,” Thomas added.

In March 2017, public commitment from the former A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition government to have the Act revised had prompted the APA and National Toshaos Council to jointly facilitate activities aimed at jumpstarting the revision process.

The APA and NTC had conducted various training programmes, conventions, capacity-building programmes and district level meetings during that time.

The programmes were aimed at understanding the provisions of the current Act and working towards arriving at specific recommendations for revision, but due to the implications of the no-confidence motion, the meeting slated to take place between the government and the relevant stakeholders never occurred.

The People’s Progressive Party/ Civic, before their subsequent election to office, had also made public promises to have the Act revised. This was included in their manifesto in the run-up to the general elections of March 2020. However, with the five-month lapse before the final declaration of the 2020 General and Regional Elections results in August 2020, legislative action was, once again, delayed.

The Indigenous Peoples expressed their confidence that the new government will commit to its promise in prioritising the revision of the Amerindian Act 2006.

Several organisations including the APA, NTC, UMDC, NPDC and SRDC, have since met with the current Minister of Amerindian Affairs, and have discussed the revision of the Act as part of their general discussions with her.

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Region Two RDC honours media operatives THE Region Two Regional Democratic Council (RDC), on Monday, honoured reporters based in the region, at their last statutory meeting for the month of December. Clerk of the RDC and Regional Executive Officer, Devanand Ramdatt, said the media have been very supportive in highlighting work done in the region.

He also said that whenever they are invited, reporters are always present and have undoubtedly helped to present positive stories highlighting the region’s works.

As such, he said the council decided to recognise their efforts.

Those recognised were Indrawattie Natram of the Guyana Chronicle; Remario Blair of Kaieteur News; Mohanlal Suelall of The Guyana Times; Shawn Marks of local RCA Television; and Deoshankar Mohan, owner of advertising agency.

The media personnel with the Regional Chairperson, Vilma Da Silva; Regional Executive Officer, Devanand Ramdatt and Regional Vice Chairman, Humace Odit

Indrawattie Natram of the Guyana Chronicle

No decision yet on UK travel ban amid new COVID-19 strain –– Health Ministry awaiting guidance from CARPHA THE Ministry of Health has not yet banned travel from the United Kingdom (UK), where a mutation of COVID-19 has emerged, but is awaiting further scientific information to guide any decision, as advised by the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA).

During his daily COVID-19 update, Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, related that Guyana’s Health Ministry held discussions with CARPHA on Monday, in an attempt to get a Caribbean consensus on how these travel bans would be approached.

“Our advice from CARPHA was that we should wait a little bit and to get more scientific information before we make a decision,” Dr. Anthony said.

Over the past few days, a mutation of the virus COVID-19 has been recorded in the UK and this has prompted many countries to ban travel from this country, to mitigate the spread of this mutation.

So far, the BBC reported that the mutated virus has shown an increased ability of infecting cells and that it is also spreading more easily. It, however, has not proven more deadly.

Dr. Anthony indicated that virologists have been contacted so that the impact of the mutations can be understood and confirmed. Two Caribbean countries-- Jamaica and Grenada-- have already instituted travel bans on persons travelling from the UK, however.

On Tuesday, the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Narine Singh, also met with key stakeholders in an attempt to prepare Guyana’s medical response team for the possibility

that the new strain may spread to Guyana and what actions may be needed.

Guyana has had 6,216 confirmed cases of COVID-19 since March. Of this number, 5,385 persons have recovered while there have been 160 deaths. There are currently 831 active cases, but the Health Ministry has continuously said that many of these infected persons are asymptomatic-- meaning they are not displaying any of the common symptoms of COVID-19.

The Ministry of Health reported, on Tuesday morning, that the latest fatality is a 73-year-old male from Region Five. The man died while receiving care at a medical facility.

There are five persons in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 15 in institutional quarantine, 31 in institutional isolation and 635 in home isolation.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Guyana’s first Important Bird and Biodiversity Area established

By Rehana Ahamad

AMONG the many incredible things that Guyana is known for is its vast species of birds. More specifically, Guyana is home to more than 250 species of birds, including the endangered Red Siskin (Spinus cucullatus).

Over the past years, various bird species have decreased tremendously. This worrisome situation has been compounded by Guyana’s ‘caged birds’ tradition, which continues in various parts of the country as both a business and a hobby.

In an effort to reverse the decline of the Red Siskin, a group of ‘friends’ got together and formed the South Rupununi Conservation Society (SRCS), the Executive Committee of

The endangered Red Siskin (Spinus cucullatus) which comprises its president, Leroy Ignacio; vice president, Angelbert Johnny; Treasurer, Erin Earl; Secretary, Kimmy Spencer; Assistant Secretary/Treasurer, Eian Gray; and Programme Coordinator, Neal Millar.

Members of the South Rupununi Conservation Society (SRCS) During an interview with this publication, Millar explained that before confirmation, there were 10 proposed Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) in Guyana. He said that the majority of the IBAs, especially for the Rupununi, were first proposed by the Guyana Amazon Tropical Birds Society.

“IBAs have different criteria to be confirmed. For example, for endangered birds, you need 25 pairs to be confirmed as existing within that proposed IBA. The SRCS received funding to monitor the population of the Red Siskin, which was the bird that caused South Central Rupununi to be proposed as an IBA,” Millar said.

He noted that through monitoring, more than 25 pairs of the Red Siskin were identified, and the observations were from an organization, Birdlife International, which is the authority for confirming IBAs. “Once they validated this data with their scientific team, South Central Rupununi was confirmed as the first IBA in Guyana,” Millar noted.

He said that the confirmation of South Central as an IBA gives it international recognition. This means that scientists, researchers and tourists from around the world would now be encouraged to visit for their various

conservation-related reasons.

“Also, as the IBA is confirmed, it can now lead to the area gaining formal protection as it is confirmed that a critical number of Red Siskins exist there. This formal protection will be done by the local communities and facilitated by SRCS. This status also gives the organisation the authority to create rules and propose regulations that will further add to the protection efforts of the Red Siskin.

“SRCS trains rangers from the local communities, found within the IBA, to monitor the Red Siskin population and be alert for instances of trapping and habitat destruction.

The rangers also monitor other threatened species and assess what is happening to their local populations,” Millar said.

Meanwhile, president of the SRCS, Leroy Ignacio, is hoping to assist other groups across Guyana that are still working to establish their own biodiversity areas as a means of securing the future of several other species.

“We would love to see the remaining IBAs be confirmed and also many other areas in Guyana. Now that we have helped to confirm South Central Rupununi, we would like to assist other NGOs and communities to confirm these IBAs,” Ignacio said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Father who admitted killing his children loses appeal THE Court of Appeal, on Monday, upheld the life sentence of John Blanchard, who had admitted that he hacked his three children to death.

Blanchard, in 2016, was sentenced by Judge Jo-Ann Barlow at the De-

merara High Court, after he opted to plead guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter.

He admitted that, on October 11, 2011, at Dr. Charles Sand Road, Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara, he killed the children – six-year-old

Joy, four-year-old Daniel and 10-year-old Belika Blanchard.

On October 11, 2011, Blanchard was detained following the chopping to death of the children.

Belika and Daniel died almost instantly, while Joy succumbed a day later at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where she was receiving treatment.

The family resided at the location where the murders occurred, and, according to reports, at the time of the incident, the children’s mother had left for the interior to seek a betterment.

Judge Barlow indicated that Blanchard had to serve 30 years before he could be

John Blanchard eligible for parole.

Blanchard had moved to the Appeal Court arguing that the sentence was manifestly excessive and severe in all the circumstances of the case.

The appeal was heard by acting Chancellor, Yonette Cummings-Edwards and Justices of Appeal, Dawn Gregory and Brassington Reynolds. The State was represented by prosecutor, Natasha Bakker while Blanchard was represented

by Attorney-at-law, Mark Conway.

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

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 23, 2020

20 COVID-19 cases imported since reopening of airports SINCE the reopening of its airports, Guyana has recorded 20 imported cases of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), Ministry of Health Dr. Frank Anthony revealed during his daily COVID-19 update on Monday.

Even as the country is welcoming another international airline to its aviation sector, the government is working to ensure that any potential spread of the COVID-19 virus is minimised.

JetBlue’s inaugural flight landed in Guyana on December 12, 2020 with 150 passengers. Even as this new airline brings great potential for investment, the government is still working to ensure that all COVID-19 preventative protocols are followed.

So far, there have been no imported cases of COVID-19 from the JetBlue flights that have come into the country since December 12, 2020.

Dr. Anthony stated that all 20 imported cases are currently being monitored, to ensure that those persons are complying with the necessary regulations for staying safe and minimising the spread of the virus.

“We have reached out to those persons and explained the measures that they need to take and we have been monitoring them,” Dr. Anthony said.

Further, he disclosed that passengers who were in close proximity to those who tested positive, were

also contacted by the ministry and asked to self-isolate or self-quarantine.

“We would normally reach out to the persons who sat next to them, like the rows in front, side and at the back because these other passengers would have been in close proximity to the infected persons and would have been for a number of hours, so the possibility of spread is there,” the Health Minister explained.

The airports were reopened on October 12, 2020 after being closed on March 8; since then, over 5,000 persons have arrived in Guyana.

At both the Cheddi Jagan International Airport and the Eugene. F. Correia international airport, PCR testing stations have been set up to facilitate testing of persons who were required to have a COVID-19 test before entering the country.

According to the new, established rule for travel, all persons entering the country via the airports are required to produce a negative PCR test within 72 hours of travelling; those persons whose PCR test exceed 72 hours are required to undergo an additional PCR test upon arrival at the airport. The passengers are required to isolate at home until they receive their results within 24 hours.

For persons who cannot isolate or quarantine at home, the Health Minister stated that the ministry will provide such facilities.

Nurses stationed at the testing units at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 23, 2020

EPA appeals for citizen participation in environmental assessment for new Harbour Bridge

THE Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is appealing to citizens, particularly those living between Nandy Park, East Bank Demerara and La Grange, West Bank Demerara, to make written submissions on the possible environmental impacts of the proposed Demerara Habour Bridge project

for its consideration.

The appeal is in keeping with the Environmental Protection Act, Cap. 20:05, which states that an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is required before a decision can be made to approve or reject a proposed project. Due to its magnitude, the proposed bridge project may have significant impacts

on the environment.

Presently, arrangements are being finalised for the construction of the new ‘fly over’, fourlane high-span bridge. Its construction is expected to catalyse Guyana’s infrastructural transformation.

The bridge which replaces the existing structure which was built in 1976, will facilitate improved

management of both vehicular and marine traffic.

It is expected to be completed three years after the commencement of construction works.

During the presentation of Budget 2020, Minister of Public Works, Bishop Edghill, in his remarks spoke about the proposed project.

“Mr. Speaker, we

The Nandy Park area where a section of the new bridge is expected to be (Adrian Narine photo) speak of the lamentable and pedantic efforts by the past regime to conclude any arrangement for the construction of the new Demerara River crossing. This Honourable House will recall the impropriety surrounding the conduct of the feasibility study for the bridge and the feeble effort to

es of Guyana’s financial laws.

The move by the Audit Office to “investigate” the award came after the completion of an investigation by the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) in 2018. The PPC report made clear that there were indeed deviations from standard

A replica of the what the new ‘fly over’ Demerara Harbour Bridge is expected to look like launch an Expression of Interest (EoI), which was a phenomenal adventure in incompetence. Within the last few weeks we have re-kindled huge interest in this project,” he had said.

The APNU+AFC administration, after it assumed office in 2015, said that it would be feasible to have the existing bridge untouched and to construct another close by.

The former government had commissioned a feasibility study, which was awarded to Dutch Company, Livense CSO. The awarding of that contract was marred in controversy, with Auditor General, Deodat Sharma flagging major breach-

procurement procedures.

It was noted that several companies had submitted bids for the project and 12 were shortlisted.

The report added that only two of the 12 companies made proposals. As a consequence, the bidding process was annulled.

On November 12, 2016, the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) had approved the re-tendering of the feasibility study contract, but that was not done.

Livense CSO ultimately got the contract with cabinet’s blessings.

The new bridge is expected to connect Houston, East Bank of Demerara and Versailles, West Bank Demerara.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 23, 2020

NIS Board gets down to work FINANCE Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, has met and briefed the new National Insurance Scheme (NIS) Board of the level of work needed and the challenges ahead in relation to the vari-

efits promptly.

Minister Singh related the Government’s grave concern at the number of complaints received from contributors about delays in receiving their benefits and entitlements, sometimes

Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, meeting with the newly appointed board of directors of the National Insurance Scheme ous problems to be addressed at the Scheme.

The minister first thanked the Chairman, Ramesh Persaud and Board members in attendance for accepting the appointments, as he also outlined some of his Government’s expectations in terms of the work necessary to return NIS to financial viability.

“Over the last several years, we have seen the progressive decline of the Scheme. The NIS faces a number of challenges at the macro level and has come under severe threat. It is therefore going to take a lot of work to return the Scheme to long-term financial viability,” the Senior Minister reiterated.

He also emphasised the level of importance his Government has placed on NIS, reminding the Board that pensioners and retirees look forward to their pension in a timely manner while current contributors expect to receive their ben-

as a result of incomplete records of their contributions to the scheme.

As such, he tasked the Board with addressing this problem immediately, with a view to ensuring that public satisfaction with the level of service provided by the NIS improves urgently.

Just over a week ago, the minister announced the appointment of former Private Sector Commission (PSC) Chairman, Ramesh Persaud as new Chairman of the NIS Board. Persaud is also currently the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Institute of Private Enterprise Development (IPED) and also serves as a member of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO) Board.

The other members of the Board are Holly Greaves (ex-Officio), Faizal Jaffarally, Yvonne Pearson, Maurice Solomon, Satanand Gopie, Kathleen Jason, Seepaul Narine and Jillian Burton-Persaud.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Rizwan’s 59-ball 89 CGI/ LBI cricket facility set to open this evening helps Pakistan register consolation win … Floodlights to be commissioned

NAPIER, New Zealand (IANS) A brilliant knock of 89 from wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan made sure the decent work done by the bowlers didn’t go in vain as Pakistan reg-

istered a four-wicket win in the third and final T20I against New Zealand yesterday.

Opting to field, Pakistan bowlers kept the New Zealand batsmen in check and despite Devon Conway’s 63run knock, the hosts musterws 173-7 in their allotted 20 overs at the McLean Park.

feez’s dismissal on his individual score of 41, Pakistan lost three quicks wickets in the form of Khushdil Shah (13), Faheem Ashraf (2) and captain Shadab Khan (0). Towards the end, Iftikhar Ahmed kept his calm and scored 14 unbeaten runs to take Pakistan over the line

CRICKET Guyana Inc. (CGI) will be unveiling its long-awaited new multi-purpose mini stadium and facility this evening, at the Jaguars’ new home located at La Bonne Intention (LBI) on the East Coast Demerara.

After months of rehabilitation and upgrading, the Jaguars’ new training and practice arena is set to break new ground, as it could be viewed as another mini Providence, inclusive of all the updated features including floodlights - a huge plus with contemporary cricket being fixated around Day/Night

games.

CGI confirmed that at roughly 18:30hrs, the gates to one of Guyana’s newly erected, high-end sporting venues will be opened followed by a brief ceremony.

Apart from the former 5-time champions Guyana Jaguars, the next generation of stars, the Academy players, will now be the first set of Guyanese cricketers to have such amenities available to them during their course of development and transition from the academy to the national senior and even West Indies team.

More so, with COVID-19 continuing its path of destruction and uncertainty heading into 2021, it is possible that with the opening of the LBI facility, cricketers can be closely monitored and housed in a sanitised environment due to the venue being new.

Also, with the CWI Regional season just around the corner it will be quite important for the Jaguars to commence their preparation as they look to finally shake the monkey off their backs and place themselves in contention to win the elusive Super50 title. (Clifton Ross)

Windies ‘amateurish’ fielding proving costly, laments Sir Viv

Mohammad Rizwan lines himself up to swat one away (Getty Images)

Besides Conway, Tim Seifert - who had been New Zealand’s hero in the first two games - contributed with 35 runs, which came off 20 deliveries. Glenn Phillips’ 31 off 20 was also another notable performance for the Black Caps.

For Pakistan, right-arm medium-fast bowler Faheem Ashraf was the pick of the bowlers as he returned with brilliant figures of 3-20 in his four overs. Haris Rauf and Shaheen Afridi also picked two wickets each, giving away 44 and 43 runs respectively.

Chasing the target, Pakistan started off well as Haider Ali and Rizwan made 40 runs for the first wicket in 5.2 overs. After Ali’s dismissal, Mohammad Hafeez joined forces with Rizwan and the duo shared a 72-run stand and put the visitors on track of their solitary win in the series.

However, after Ha-

with two balls to spare and end the T20I series with a scoreline of 1-2.

For the hosts, Tim Southee starred with the ball as he picked two wickets in his four overs while conceding 25 runs. Scott Kuggeleijn also scalped two wickets.

However, he was expensive as he gave away 40 runs in his four overs.

Rizwan, who smashed 10 fours and three sixes during his 59-ball innings, was adjudged the Playerof-the-Match while Seifert was declared the Player-ofthe-Series.

New Zealand and Pakistan will now compete in a two-Test series beginning Saturday at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui.

Brief scores: New Zealand 173-7 (Devon Conway 63; Faheem Ashraf 3-20) lose to Pakistan 177-6 (Mohammad Rizwan 89; Tim Southee 2-25).

ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) – Legendary former captain and batting maestro, Sir Vivian Richards, has labelled West Indies’ fielding as “amateurish” and said the Caribbean side could ill afford to be so poor in the field especially since their batting was not yet up to scratch.

Speaking against the backdrop of the recent 2-0 whitewash on the Test tour of New Zealand, Sir Viv said the lapses in the field were clear signs the concentration of West Indies players was also lacking.

“When you hear that you’re playing at that particular level, the catches that we are dropping are amateurish stuff because you cannot have a team that maybe cannot put bat to ball on a regular basis and continue to be dropping all those catches,” said Sir Viv, the only West Indies captain never to lose a Test series.

“If it’s one thing you do is make sure you continue to concentrate as hard as you can so you can see right

around the board that we are not concentrating as well as we should,” he added in a radio interview here.

West Indies suffered a chastening tour of New Zealand, losing the three-match Twenty20 International series, 2-0, before also going down by the same margin in the Test series.

The longest format was where West Indies found life particularly difficult, losing the first Test in Hamilton earlier this month by an innings and 134 runs before losing the second Test in Wellington by an innings and 12 runs.

Henry Nicholls struck a superb 174 in the second Test but was dropped five times en route to his career-best score.

New Zealand piled up 519 for seven in Hamilton and 460 all out at the Basin Reserve as West Indies four-pronged pace attack struggled despite the encouragement of grassy pitches in both matches.

Speedster Shannon Ga-

briel topped the wickets tally with six wickets while Alzarri Joseph, the youngest member of the regular attack, claimed four.

Sir Viv was critical of the way Joseph was being utilised in the attack, contending he needed to be introduced earlier.

“I think sometimes he should even have the ball before Jason (Holder) because you can’t be having a young man like that at that particular stage and not using him,” pointed out Sir Viv, the finest batsman of his time.

“So I just don’t believe he’s being handled particularly right at this time.”

Joseph, 24, was one of the heroes of the West Indies Under-19s side that won the 2016 ICC Youth World Cup in Bangladesh.

He made his international debut later that year and has so far taken 32 wickets from 13 Tests and 48 from 28 One-Day Internationals.

Joshua helps fund ...

down and training with them.

“I believe in the next 1015 years, you are going to see the leaders of tomorrow, but I hope it’s not 25-30 years because we have lost this next generation.”

Funding will be provided to the clubs most in need.

Gethin Jenkins, chairman of England Boxing, said: “We are delighted and we thank Anthony for this much-need-

ed financial support and for drawing attention to the role and support the clubs offer in their local communities and with it the need for greater government support to grassroots boxing clubs.”

Although boxing was not included in the government’s bailout last month, Sport England has distributed £2.5M to local clubs since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Joshua first became world champion in 2016 when he beat American Charles Martin to win the IBF title.

His most recent fight was a ninth-round stoppage of Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev at Wembley Arena on December 12. (BBC Sport)

Selectors should experiment ...

undergo a week-long quarantine before the tour gets underway on January 18 with a one-day tour fixture.

The opening two ODIs have been scheduled for Dhaka on January 20 and 22, with the final game three days

later in Chattogram, the city which will also host the first Test (February 3-7) before both teams return to Dhaka for the second Test beginning February 11.

The tour will be the third for West Indies amid

FROM BACK PAGE

FROM PAGE 35

the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Although a truncated tour, it is a much-needed competition for the home side who have not played any international cricket since hosting Zimbabwe this March.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Player safety enhanced by strict travel protocols ‒ Mansingh BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) - A member of Cricket West Indies’ (CWI) medical advisory committee, Dr Akshai Mansingh, has backed the travel and COVID-19 quarantine protocols put in place for the upcoming Bangladesh tour and believes players will not be placed at any unnecessary risk while on international duty.

The Caribbean side is set to arrive in Bangladesh on January 10 for three One-Day Internationals and two Tests, in a series that runs until February 15, their third tour amid the ongoing global pandemic.

Only Sunday, Bangladesh recorded 1 153 new COVID-19 cases to surpass the half-million infection mark to 500 713. There were also 38 new deaths taking the toll to 7 280.

But Dr Mansingh, who toured Bangladesh as part of an inspection team ahead of the tour, also warned that while the bio-secure bubble would keep players isolated

Dr Akshai Mansingh

from the general population, the bubble required “everybody playing his part”.

“When we toured En-

gland, England was one of the most infected countries in the world with the highest rate of infection, but the conditions were different, in that, what we had in England was what we call a contained bubble where everything was contained in a ground,” Dr Mansingh said in a radio interview here.

“The hotel was there, the playing ground was there … we were even transported by chartered planes because obviously there were no commercial flights from the Caribbean going that way.

“The integrity of the bubble is contingent upon the discipline of everybody in the bubble and even with that scenario we saw that Jofra Archer was able to slip out and had to be reintegrated… so the integrity of the bubble is

just not a plan, it’s everybody playing his part.”

He added: “Now once we get to Bangladesh, we have separate exit areas from which we will go into VIP lounges and will be totally isolated from the general population and from there on we’re in our bubble.”

West Indies were the first international team to see action following the global lockdown of cricket when they toured England for a three-Test series last July.

The women’s side followed for a five-match Twenty20 International series in September and the men undertook their second tour last month for three T20Is and two Tests in New Zealand.

And even with COVID cases continuing to surge globallym Dr Mansingh said

he did not believe that air travel subjected players to any danger.

“The rate of transmission in air travel now is extremely low and that’s because of two or three things. Firstly, not that many people are travelling right now,” said Dr Mansingh, also a member of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) medical advisory committee.

“Number two, there are a lot of precautions put in place - for example, when we go there you cannot enter that side of the world without negative COVID tests, so while you can get into the U.S. without a COVID test, you’re not going to get on that plane unless you showed a COVID test within (the last) 72 hours.

“And with that, it was important because you then had

the confidence that everybody with you on that flight had a negative test.

“Number three: everybody has to wear a mask, everybody is given disinfectant and so on, and you’re obviously spaced as well.”

Dr Mansingh also pointed out that airlines were using on-board filters which purged a high percentage of viruses, and also replenished the air regularly.

However, he once again cautioned that in spite of the strict measures, no protocol was “foolproof”.

“The travel restrictions and precautions are quite careful and those were the same when we went to New Zealand; but to say it’s a hundred per cent foolproof, well, no bubble is and no scenario is, but we’re trying to do that.”

TTFA players, coaches, staff paid PLAYERS, coaches and staff members of the T&T Football Association (TTFA) have been paid, Robert Hadad, the chairman of the FIFA-appointed Normalisation Committee has confirmed, thereby delivering on his promise to pay salaries before Christmas Day.

Under-15 Team).

Hadad told Guardian Media Sports: “Players were paid today (Monday), coaches were paid today and admin staff was paid today. Players were paid off 100 per cent, the coaches we paid many of them half of what we owed them up until August because we could

Businessman Robert Hadad - chairman of FIFA Normalisation Committee

Hadad said on Monday that they were all paid. The coaches - some are on contract others on agreement, some of which have expired - have not received salaries since taking up national duty in January when the technical committee which was headed by Keith Look Loy, appointed a cadre of coaches inclusive of senior team coach Terry Fenwick, Derek King (Men’s Under-20 Team), Angus Eve (Men’s Under-17 Team), Keith Jeffrey (Men’s Under-15 Team), Richard Hood (Women’s Under-20 and Under-17 Teams) and Jason Spence (Women’s

only pay what we have, and admin staff was paid up until the end of November.”

The local football boss said they can only pay what they have available to them.

With the payment to date, the staff will now be owed salaries for this month (December) alone, while many of the coaches were paid off in full, in particular, the ones with the smaller teams. The coaches at the senior teams, however, received half payment up until the end of August.

Hadad promised they will look into the balance of moneys available to them and

make a determination of what can be paid to them during the early part of January.

Hadad dismissed claims that his normalisation committee has been doing nothing, saying: “We working and we drowning in a flurry of stuff.”

Hadad and his normalisation committee, which consists of former banker Nigel Romano and attorney Judy Daniel, the deputy chairman, have had to sift through piles of claims by various contractors all claiming to be owed by the embattled football association.

It also has to deal with a plethora of contracts that did not receive approval from the Board of Directors of the TTFA. Ironically, Hadad’s appointment at the helm of an organisation with a mandate to stabilise local football, came after a combined team from FIFA and CONCACAF visited T&T in February and found the sport on the verge of insolvency, due mainly to rising debt and no means of clearing them.

Meanwhile, a debt of close to an estimated TT$80M, which has crippled local football, may soon be found and paid. Hadad said his committee had a close-to-a-three-hour meeting yesterday, discussing all the options available to them to clear the debt.”We are looking at how are we raising the money, because of course, if I start to go negotiating the debt without knowing what I have available, how can you negotiate?. The right way to do it is to know where the

money is coming from. Once I know where the money is coming from, then I can sit with people and give them a final settlement figure.”

The normalisation com-

mittee is currently in the process of getting football back up and running, Hadad noted that the aim is to try and get the government to relax the COVID-19 proto-

cols for the Pro League and the Super League, as well as to get Women football back on track since FIFA gave them money for it (women football).

Six teams to participate in Regional Super50 Cup

Defending Regional Super50 champions, West Indies Emerging Players, will not defend their title

DEFENDING Regional Super50 champions, West Indies Emerging Players, will not be able to defend their title when the Region’s premier One-Day tournament bowls off on February 4 in Antigua and Barbuda.

C r i c k e t We s t I n d i e s (CWI) had introduced the West Indies Emerging Players squad for the 2019 tournament as part of a crucial development initiative, aimed at providing young players

the avenue to express themselves at a competitive domestic level, and also to serve to further enhance their skills.

However, only the six main franchises-- Guyana Jaguars, Trinidad and Tobago Red Force, Jamaica Scorpions, Barbados Pride, Windward Islands Hurricanes and Leeward Islands Volcanoes-- will be a part of next year’s tournament.

More so, with the reduced fixture, the tourna-

ment will be played over one round with five matches per team.

The tournament concludes on February 27.

Meanwhile, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Regional championships was also forced to conclude after eight rounds this year with Barbados Pride dethroning Guyana Jaguars while the 2020 Regional Super50 was not held.

(Rajiv Bisnauth)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Tokyo Olympics to spend $900M on coronavirus measures - budget

By Ju-min Park, Antoni Slodkowski

TOKYO, Japan (Reuters) - Organisers of the Tokyo Olympics will spend $900M on measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus at next year’s Games, they said yesterday, as they unveiled their latest budget for the delayed tournament.

The organisers repeated their projection that the total cost of the postponement, including the COVID-19 countermeasures, would come to about $2.8B, bringing the entire cost of holding the Games to about $15.4B. “We want to build the best possible system by continuing to interact with the

relevant organisations of doctors and nurses,” Tokyo Olympics chief executive Toshiro Muto told reporters.

Tokyo Olympics Chief Executive Toshiro Muto

“It’s still a big issue for us to secure as many medical staff as we hope for when

Messi surpasses Pele and leads Barca to victory

VALLADOLID, Spain (Reuters) - Barcelona turned on the style to thrash Real Valladolid 3-0 away in La Liga on Tuesday as Lionel Messi scored his 644th goal to surpass Pele as the all-time record scorer for a single club.

hand in Barca’s second goal, laying on a pass for rightback Sergino Dest to latch on to down the right flank and play a cross into the path of Martin Braithwaite, who slid in to score in the 35th minute.

Record-breaking Messi

Barcelona’s Lionel Messi in action REUTERS/Juan Medina

Messi finally got his first assist of the season when he picked out defender Clement Lenglet with a splendid cross and the Frenchman rose to head Barca in front after 21 minutes.

The Argentine also had a

capped a brilliant individual and team display with a splendid goal of his own midway through the second half, running in behind to meet a pass from teenager Pedri and slotting the ball into the far bottom corner.

faced with a situation where private medical institutions are struggling with management because of the coronavirus,” Muto said.

The organisers took the unprecedented step of postponing the Olympics in March because of the pandemic and the government of Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, who has declared he will host the Olympics “at any cost”, is pressing ahead with the preparations.

The Games are the legacy of the ex-premier Shinzo Abe who resigned in September. Under his watch, Japan secured the Olympics and invested billions of dollars in their organisation, having gathered more than $3B in

domestic sponsorship.

Even before the postponement, the Olympics had gone above the initial budget with almost $13B already spent, according to the organisers.

The COVID-19 countermeasures will include PCR testing infrastructure, setting up a clinic, as well as creating remote coverage set-ups and countermeasures at food and drink processing centres, the budget summary showed.

Some of the extra costs would be covered by additional sponsorship and insurance, organisers said this month. They would also tap a contingency fund detailed in last year’s budget to cover some costs.

(REUTERS) - World soccer’s governing body FIFA officials say they have filed a criminal complaint with Zurich’s cantonal prosecutor, claiming evidence of “criminal mismanagement” of a museum project set up by former president Sepp Blatter.

The officials said their complaint “identified the direct involvement of former FIFA president Joseph S. Blatter together with other persons” in the agreements made for the museum which is in central Zurich.

More misery for Arsenal in 4-1 League Cup exit to Man City LONDON (Reuters) - Arsenal’s miserable season continued as they slumped to a 4-1 home defeat by holders Manchester City in the League Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday. ity, who have won the trophy for the last three seasons, went in front after three minutes through Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus, who nodded home a fine Oleksandr Zinchenko cross.

Mikel Arteta’s struggling Arsenal side drew level in the 31st minute with a fine diving header from Alexandre Lacazette after an excellent cross from Brazilian Gabriel Martinelli but City took charge after the break.

A mistake by Arsenal Icelandic goalkeeper Runar Alex Runarsson gifted the visitors a 2-1 lead in the 54th as he let a relatively harmless Riyad Mahrez free-kick through his arms.

Phil Foden added a third, latching onto a ball into the box from Fernandinho and lifting it over the advancing Runarsson.

Aymeric Laporte then headed in a Foden cross to wrap up the win for Pep Guardiola’s side as they added to the troubles of the Gunners who are languishing in 15th spot in the Premier League, only four points above the relegation zone.

Arteta had declared before the game that he wanted

to see “fighters” and not “victims” and he said that despite the result he saw the fighting spirit he needs to turn the season around.

“I will focus on the fighters we have in the squad and the spirit we showed tonight against a really difficult opponent. I see a lot of fighters,” he said.

Arteta was assistant at Manchester City before he joined Arsenal a year ago and Guardiola defended him from his critics.

“What can I say -- in our position as a manager we’ll be judged by the results. I can only say I was with him a long period, the most successful period our club had.

“Sometimes in our job we need time. It’s time to be patient. He’s an outstanding manager, incredible work ethic and puts the club in front of any decisions he has to make,” Guardiola said of his fellow Spaniard.

City joined Brentford in the semi-finals after the second-tier (Championship) side enjoyed a 1-0 win over Premier League Newcastle United earlier on Tuesday.

In the remaining two quarter-finals, Everton host Manchester United and Championship team Stoke City welcome Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday.

EFL postpone League Cup final until April MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - The League Cup final has been put back by two months and will be held on April 25, in the hope that a later date will allow fans to attend, the Football League (EFL) announced on Monday.

The final of the competition, known by its sponsored name as the Carabao Cup, was due to be held on Feb. 28 at Wembley Stadium.

“It is the objective of the League to stage the final with as many supporters in attendance as possible and the decision has therefore been taken to move the final to... later in the year,” the EFL said in a statement.

FIFA files criminal complaint over Blatter’s role in museum project

“The number of fans permitted will be dependent on Government guidance in place at the time and it is hoped that moving the date to later in the year will give clubs and their fans the best opportunity to attend in person,” the EFL added.

The quarter-finals of the competition get under way on Tuesday with Brentford hosting Newcastle United and holders Manchester City at Arsenal.

Wednesday’s games include Championship side Stoke City at home to Tottenham Hotspur while Everton host Manchester United at Goodison Park.

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter

“The complaint includes the entire project costs at CHF 500 million ($564.59 million), and identifies that the previous FIFA administration poured CHF 140 million into renovating and refurbishing a building that the organisation doesn’t own, while also locking itself into a long-term rental agreement on unfavourable terms when compared to standard market rates, which, in total, will cost FIFA CHF 360 million by the date of expiration in 2045,” FIFA said in a statement.

“That is half a billion Swiss francs that could and should have been channelled into the development of global football.”

Lorenz Erni, Blatter’s lawyer, said in response: “The accusations are baseless

and are vehemently repudiated.”

Blatter, who was FIFA president for 17 years, was suspended and later banned by the soccer body’s ethics committee after he became the subject of criminal proceedings in Switzerland in 2015.

FIFA Deputy Secretary General Alasdair Bell said that a ‘forensic audit’ had been undertaken into the project.

“That audit revealed a wide range of suspicious circumstances and management failures, some of which may be criminal in nature and which therefore need to be properly investigated by the relevant authorities,” Bell said in the statement.

FIFA said it also plans to submit all relevant documentation to its own ethics committee.

Related Coverage The complaint is the latest in a series of legal issues surrounding FIFA. Current FIFA president Gianni Infantino is himself facing criminal proceedings by a special prosecutor looking into dealings the Swiss official had with former Swiss Attorney General Michael Lauber. Infantino and Lauber have denied any wrongdoing.

After the announcement of those proceedings, Blatter called for Infantino to be suspended.

Earlier this month, special prosecutor Stefan Keller said he had asked Swiss authorities to investigate Infantino’s use of private air travel.

“FIFA and its president will obviously take all necessary legal steps and remedies to put an end to these baseless and ill-intentioned accusation,” the organisation said in response to Keller.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER WEDNESDAY, December 23, 2020

COMPLIMENTS OF XTRA ENERGY DRINK – STABROEK BAZAAR (Tel: 683-9500) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD – 83 Garnett street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) ANSWERS TO YESTERDAY’S QUIZ:

(1) 269-Second Wicket (R. Fredericks & L. Rowe, Sabina Park, 1972) (2) 387-First Wicket (G. Turner & T. Jarvis, Bourda, 1972)

TODAY’S QUIZ:

(1) What was the result of the second Test of the recent WI/NZ series?

(2) Who was voted Man of the Match?

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

35

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Selectors should experiment for Bangladesh tour, says Perreira

By Rajiv Bisnauth

WITH the West Indies recent struggles on the tour of New Zealand, veteran cricket commentator Joseph ‘Reds’ Perreira believes that several changes should be considered ahead of the tour to Bangladesh.

West Indies wrapped up their New Zealand tour earlier this month when they were soundly beaten by an innings and 12 runs inside four days, to lose the series 2-0 following a similar innings loss in the opening Test.

truncated 2019-2020 West Indies Four-Day Championship (a tournament which used to scout potential Test players) with a chart-topping 50 wickets in eight games, extending his haul since the franchise-based Four-Day Championship began in 2014 to 290 wickets in 55 games at 16.90.

However, Permaul has been repeatedly overlooked by the selectors. CWI Chief Selector Roger Harper had recently suggested that the structure of the West Indies team now preluded the selection of Permaul.

Harper, a fellow Guya-

Veerasammy Permaul

The Caribbean side also suffered a sound thrashing in the preceding three-match T20 International series, and after widespread disappointment, where they failed to impress, Perreira is of the opinion that the selectors must make brave selection decisions.“Based on Bangladesh spinning conditions, I don’t expect Roach (Kemar), with the passing of his farther to turn around and go to Bangladesh, and it will not be wise for Gabriel (Shannon) to go where conditions really do not suit his fast-bowling.

“I think Shepherd (Romario) has shown both sides of the game, so he could be a major asset to Jason Holder, who along with Alzarri Joseph and Chemar Holder should be completing the fast-bowling unit,” Perreira told Chronicle Sport.

He added, “I think the attack should be based around spin. The last time West Indies toured Bangladesh, Devendra Bishoo and Jomel Warrican were selected. However, while Rahkeem Cornwall figures in New Zealand was not that great, I think he will go. I do think also Warrican will make the cut, but the selectors should be looking also at Veerasammy Permaul.

“Permaul must be given an opportunity. He has certainly taken wickets; he had done all what was required to do at the first-class level to get in,” Perreira reckoned.

Permaul, the 31-year-old Guyanese slow left-arm orthodox spinner, finished the

nese, had said while speaking on the Mason and Guest talk show in Barbados - prior to the team’s departure to England earlier this year - that Permaul’s success did not get him close enough.

Further with Kraigg Brathwaite, John Campbell, Darren Bravo and Royston Chase searching for form, West Indies are desperately looking for solidity in their batting.

To this end, Perreira, a former sports administrator in the Caribbean, is of the view that the selectors should experiment in the batting department.

“No Campbell or Brathwaite at the top, Joshua Da Silva, who had announced his readiness with a Test fifty on debut and Shane Moseley should be their replacements at the top. Shai Hope should be back as the wicketkeeper. He will definitely add some depth to the batting, while Nicholas Pooran should also come into selection.

“At the same time, I hope Shimron Hetmyer gets an opportunity to tour Bangladesh. However, he really needs to settle down, both on and off the field, and adjust his attitude and lifestyle slightly,” Perreira said.

He further noted that a lot will depend on specialist batsman Jermaine Blackwood. The Jamaican middle-order batsman has topped West Indies batting averages for a second straight tour, the only specialist Caribbean player to emerge unscathed from the miserable series against New Zealand.

The 29-year-old scored 216 runs at an average of 54 and was the only real bright spot. Blackwood’s 104 in the second innings of the opening Test in Hamilton was the only time a West Indies batsman saw triple figures in the series.

He followed that up with 69 in the first innings of the second Test at the Basin Re-

serve in Wellington. Leading opener Braithwaite managed only 55 runs, Shamarh Brooks struggled with 53 while Bravo could only scrape 32 runs.

Holder (103), who made a half-century in Wellington and tail-ender Joseph, who hit 86 in Hamilton (110), both passed 100 runs for the series.

Meanwhile, Harper is expected to announce the

approximately 25-member squad for the two Tests and three One-Day Internationals shortly.

However, unlike the England tour last July and the tour of New Zealand earlier this month, there will be no reserves included in the contingent, largely because of the brevity of the series.

For the Bangladesh tour,

the Windies support staff will again include a psychologist and medical doctor but this time, Paul Slowe will accompany the squad as a safety, security and compliance manager.

Once players arrive in BanglaTURN TO PAGE 32 desh, they will

SEE PAGE 32

CGI/ LBI cricket facility set to open this evening The LBI Cricket Facility will officially be opened this evening

… Floodlights to be commissioned Windies ‘amateurish’ fielding proving costly, laments Sir Viv SEE PAGE 32

Darren Bravo (right) reacts in disappointment after dropping one of two catches at slip off Henry Nicholls in the second Test

SEE PAGE 35

Joshua helps fund British amateur boxing WORLD heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has made a substantial donation to help fund amateur boxing in Britain - saying he hopes “we have not lost the next generation” of fighters.

Some clubs have closed and boxing was not included on a list of sports that received a £300M bailout in November.

Briton Joshua, 31, gave a six-figure sum to the amateur boxing federations of England, Wales and Scotland.

“Without grassroots boxing, there is no Anthony Joshua,” he said.

“The doors to these gyms are always open to any kid from any background,” Joshua, who turned professional after winning Olympic gold at London 2012, told BBC sports editor Dan Roan.

“If I was 18 again and I was in a position where the gym was closed and it might not open, I would be devastated.

“It’s not just financial help. I will often try and motivate these kids by being among them, TURN TO PAGE 32 bringing my belts

Anthony Joshua won gold as an amateur at the London 2012 Olympics

Selectors should experiment for Bangladesh tour, says Perreira

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2020