Guyana Chronicle E-paper 8-23-2020

23rd August, 2020

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Over $50M No. 106100

–– spent by coalition gov’t on frivolous court cases

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Generous gesture!

Attorney-General, Anil Nandlall, during a virtual press conference, displays his law books against those he purchased to donate to the then coalition government which was not accepted but will donate to any State agency currently in need (See story on page 17)

West Berbice farmers return to the land 16 PAGE

Shuman, Ramkarran, Gouveia appointed 03 gov’t advisers PAGE

One dead, one hospitalised in Kuru kuru accident 02 PAGE

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Queen Elizabeth II congratulates President Ali

President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali PRESIDENT, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, has received a congratulatory letter from Her Majesty Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms, who has expressed her desire to further strengthen the ties between the two countries.

In her letter, Queen Elizabeth said, “The ties between our two countries

Queen Elizabeth II and people are long-standing, and I look forward to your Presidency bringing renewed opportunities to build on the friendship between the United Kingdom and Guyana as fellow members of the Commonwealth.”

Queen Elizabeth also wished President Ali and “the Guyanese people every success for the future”. (DPI)

SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 23, 2020

One dead, one hospitalised in Kuru kuru accident

AN accident on the Kuru kuru Public Road, Soesdyke-Linden Highway on Saturday has left one dead and another receiving medical attention at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Kevon Newland of Wisroc, Linden, a father of three died in the accident that occurred around 11:20 am which involved motor lorry GYY 8992 with trailer TYY 959 and motor car HC 6304.

According to police information, the driver of motor car PLL 182 was proceeding north along the western side of the said road when he observed motor lorry GYY 8990 with trailer attached turn north onto the western side of the road.

A slow down resulted to allow the motor lorry to complete the turn but the driver of hire car HC 6304 which Newland was in, proceeding north, some distance behind, overtook motor car PLL 182 on a double yellow line, at a fast rate of speed.

And in doing so pulled west and collided with the left side rear wheel of the trailer before slamming into the left side of the lorry.

The badly-damaged car following the accident The driver of HC 6304, Orin Rose and the other occupant of that vehicle, Shemron Niles were injured in the collision. Niles was treated at the GPHC and sent away but the driver of the hire car who suffered lacerations about the head and body was admitted a patient

in the Male Surgical Ward of the said hospital.

The body of Newland is at the Georgetown Public Hospital Mortuary awaiting post-mortem.

The driver of motor lorry GYY 8992 is in custody assisting police with their investigations.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 23, 2020

Over $50M –– spent by coalition gov’t on frivolous court cases

A FORENSIC audit will soon be done within the office of the Attorney-General on all invoices and payments made, especially in private retainer contracts that have cost the Ministry of Legal Affairs millions of dollars.

Attorney-General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall revealed, on Saturday, during a virtual press conference that each of the political cases initiated by the APNU+AFC Government under the stewardship of Basil Williams was without merit but was paid for by taxpayers.

The lawyers were hired by the State to represent the State’s interest and “we continue to maintain that every one of those cases was without merit and the previous government, through its various machinations, kept filing

Attorney-General, Anil Nandlall them one after the other and the population was always wondering who was paying for the cases and lawyers.”

He said some of the invoices and financial information need special audits.

Underscoring that the cases at his disposal are only the tip of the iceberg,

Nandlall, in giving examples, noted that the former attorney-general retained the services of Barbadian Queens Counsel, Ralph A. Thorne and Hal Gallop for a case billed between the AG’s office verses Zulfikar Mustapha that cost taxpayers US$30,920 “Mr. Hal Gallop in the same case billed for US$15,566 and this does not include ticket and hotel accommodation which were all paid for and are in the retainer contracts which can be made public,” Nandlall said.

Further, Attorney Ralph Thorne was paid G$4.2M in the case against former Deputy Solicitor-General, Pritima Kissoon against Basil Williams (not in his position as former AG).

In one case, the Barbadian lawyers, Queens Counsel Hal Gallop and Ralph Thorne, were paid

approximately $10M for representing the State in a matter challenging the unilateral appointment of then Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Justice (r’td) James Patterson.

In the no-confidence motion case, Nandlall said Attorney Maxwell Edwards was paid a total of G$3.8M for his services to the then Attorney-General, Basil Williams, for cases against former Speaker of the National Assembly, Barton Scotland; then Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo and Christopher Ram. Another case that challenged the no-confidence motion passed in the National Assembly on December 21, 2018 filed by private citizen Compton Reid was paid for by the then AG Basil Williams.

Attorneys Rex MacKay

and Neil Boston were paid G$12M by the AG chambers for legal advice to his chambers.

Additionally, Attorney Mayo Robertson in the no-confidence case was also paid $1.9M for his services and another $600,000 in the election-related case.

Queens Counsel (QC), Dr. Francis Alexis, a former AG of Grenada, was also hired by the APNU+AFC government for US$25, 000 to argue its case at the Court of Appeal in the same no-confidence motion matter.

The then government, along with the lawyers, lost the case at the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) which reaffirmed that the motion was successfully passed.

Further, attorney Roysdale Forde, who is expected to represent APNU+AFC as a parliamen-

tarian was paid more than $1.7M by the Coalition government to represent Winston Jordan (not as Minister of Finance) in private charges filed against Juan Anthony Edghill who is now minister of public works.

Jordan, who was then the minister of finance, had filed a $200M lawsuit, in his private capacity, against Edghill for malicious prosecution.

Another case with the AG chambers against Mohabir Anil Nandlall, Attorney Mayo Roberson was paid $1M. For the case Eslyn David against the Chief Elections Officer, Attorney-at-Law, Maxwell Edwards, pocketed G$1.8M for the High Court matter and another $3M when the matter was taken to the Court of Appeal.

The case was lost at the CCJ.

Shuman, Ramkarran, Gouveia appointed advisers to government THE Office of the President, on Saturday, announced the appointments of Captain Gerald Gouveia, Lennox Shuman and Ralph Ramkarran as advisers to government.

Captain Gerald Gouveia has been appointed National Security Adviser to the President; Lennox Shuman as Adviser to the Minister of Public Works on Civil Aviation, and Ralph Ramkarran as Adviser to the Minister of Foreign Affairs on Border Issues.

Current chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Gerry Gouveia, is a veteran airline transport rated pilot with 40 years of service in the aviation, security and tourism sectors in Guyana.

He is a former military officer with in excess of a decade of service in the Guyana Defence Force where he

served as the chief pilot of the Army Aircorps.

Captain Gouveia graduated from the Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida.

In addition to his wealth of knowledge and expertise, he has formal training from institutions such as the NTSB Academy in Washington DC in Aircraft Accident Investigations; George Washington University in Virginia, USA in Aviation Safety and Security; and the Centre for Hemispheric Defence Studies in the National Defence University, all in Washington DC, in area of National Defence and Security.

He is a fellow of the Centre for Hemispheric Defence Studies in the National Defence University in Washington DC. He is the current chairman of the Private Sec-

Adviser to the Minister of Public Works on Civil Aviation, Lennox Shuman tor Commission.

Lennox Shuman, who is Leader of the Liberty and Justice Party, is a licensed pilot with a wealth of aviation experience.

An old student of the North Georgetown Second-

National Security Adviser to the President, Capt. Gerald Gouveia ary School, Shuman furthered his studies in Canada where he gained his piloting qualifications and experience.

His 8,000 hours of flight experience was garnered through his flying of the following types of Aircrafts -

and Multi-Engine Land and Sea Aircraft ratings.

No stranger to service, Shuman served as toshao for Pakuri from 2015 to 2018 and vice- chairman of the National Toshao Council.

Meanwhile, Senior Counsel Ralph Ramkarran, founding member of A New and United Guyana (ANUG), is no stranger to the Guyana/ Venezuela territorial controversy.

From 1994, Ramkarran Adviser to the Minister of was appointed Guyana’s faForeign Affairs on Border Issues, Ralph Ramkarran cilitator in Guyana/Venezuela Border UN Good Officer Pa-31; NMK-II: C-172, 180, process.

185, 206; Pa-34; Beech BarHe also continued to on: DHC-2, 3; Be-18, 100, serve on the Ministerial 200, 1900D; DHC-8Q400; Team for the Guyana/Venand B738, 757,767. ezuela Border Dispute from He is the holder of Cana1994 to present. Ramkardian and US Airline Transran also served as Speaker port Pilot License with Single of the National Assembly.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 23, 2020

Coronavirus pandemic: Children aged 12 and over should wear masks – WHO (BBC) The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued guidance saying children over the age of 12 should wear masks, in line with recommended practice for adults in their country or area.

It admits little is known about how children transmit the virus but cites evidence that teenagers can infect others in the same way as adults.

Children aged five and under should not normally wear masks, the WHO said.

More than 800,000 people have now died with coronavirus worldwide.

At least 23 million cases of infection have been registered, according to Johns Hopkins University, with most of them recorded in the US, Brazil and India.

However the true number of people who have had the virus is believed to be far higher, due to insufficient testing and asymptomatic cases.

The numbers have been rising again in countries as diverse as South Korea, EU states and Lebanon.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has said he hopes the pandemic will be over in two years but a top scientific adviser in the UK warned Covid-19 might never be eradicated, with people needing regular vaccinations.

What is the WHO guidance for children and masks?

The advice published on the WHO website covers three age groups: * Children aged 12 and over should wear a mask under the same conditions as adults, in particular when they cannot guarantee a distance of at least one metre from others and

there is widespread transmission in the area * For children aged between six and 11, the WHO advises taking into account how widespread the transmission of the virus is and whether the child is interacting with high-risk individuals such as the elderly. It also stresses the need for adult supervision to help children use, put on and take off masks safely * Children aged five and under should not, under normal circumstances, wear masks For teachers, the WHO says: “In areas where there is widespread transmission, all adults under the age of 60 and who are in general good health should wear fabric masks when they cannot guarantee at least a one-metre distance from others.

“This is particularly important for adults working with children who may have close contact with children and one another.”

Adults aged 60 or over, or those with underlying health conditions, should wear medical masks, it says.

In England, face coverings in relevant settings are recommended for children over the age of 11.

Fredie Blom: ‘World’s oldest man’ dies aged 116 in South Africa A child in a mask on Wall Street this week

Sunday, August 23, 14:30hrs - 16:00hrs

(BBC) A South African who was thought to be the oldest man in the world has died at the age of 116.

Fredie Blom’s identity documents showed he was born in Eastern Cape province in May 1904, although that was never verified by Guinness World Records.

When he was teenager, his entire family was wiped out by the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic. He went on to survive two world wars and apartheid.

Mr Blom told the BBC in 2018 that there was no special secret to his longevity.

“There’s only one thing - it’s the man above [God]. He’s got all the power. I have nothing. I can drop over any time but He holds me,” he said.

Mr Blom spent most of his life as a labourer - first on a farm and then in the construction industry - and only retired when he was in his 80s.

Although he gave up drinking many years ago, he was a regular smoker.

However, a coronavirus-related lockdown imposed by the South African government reportedly meant he was unable to buy tobacco to roll his

own cigarettes on his 116th birthday.

Mr Blom’s family said he died of natural causes in Cape Town on Saturday.

“Two weeks ago oupa [grandfather] was still chopping wood,” family spokesman Andre Naidoo told AFP news agency. “He was a strong man, full of pride.”

But within days Mr Blom shrank “from a big man to a small person”, he added.

Mr Naidoo said the family did not believe his death was related to Covid-19.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 23, 2020

PM in self-quarantine until Monday (TRINIDAD GUARDIAN) Government members are on heightened COVID alert.

This, after Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley was tested for COVID-19 following exposure on August 10 to someone who tested positive for the virus.

Rowley’s test was negative.

Rowley, who revealed the situation around noon yesterday on his Facebook page, said he has been advised to self-quarantine.

His announcement followed former UNC MP Dr Tim Gopeesingh’s confirmation on Thursday that he (Gopeesingh) has COVID-19.

Also yesterday Independent Liberal Party leader Jack Warner confirmed he’ll be testing for COVID-19 after two of his employees tested positive for the virus.

Rowley stated on his Facebook page yesterday, “It came to my attention, last night that on Monday 10th, I was exposed to someone who later tested positive for Covid-19.”

“I have been tested and the results are negative. Out of an abundance of caution I have been advised to remain in quarantine at home until next Monday when the full fourteen-day period would have expired.”

“Given the circumstances under which we all now live I once again take this opportunity to appeal to ALL citizens to each do their part to help fight this virus by strictly following the health instructions of regular attentive hand washing and sanitiza-

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley delivers his victory speech at Balisier House on election night. tion, physical distancing and no congregation in groups above five persons and additionally most importantly wear a mask once outside the home or in an enclosed space which is being shared at close quarters.

“With the discipline that is expected of us together, we can fight and beat the uncontrolled expansion of this virus.”

This will be Rowley’s second self- quarantine. He had also quarantined when he returned from a Ghana-London trip in early March.

PNM officials couldn’t shed light on where the person who tested positive might have been. They said strict COVID protocols were followed at Balisier House where Rowley was on election night.

There’s been no word on the rest of the Rowley family and quarantining. Rowley’s wife Sharon was at his side

on election night at Balisier House. Their eldest daughter and her family had also been resident with them at the Diplomatic Centre. The family was also at President’s House for Wednesday’s swearing-in function.

Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh didn’t reply yesterday on the situation.

The Whitehall office which Rowley used was being sanitised yesterday, Government officials said, as the staff was sent home. It was projected that the Office of the Prime Minister at St Clair will also be sanitised.

At President’s House, Communication Adviser Cheryl Lala confirmed sanitising was being done - with fogging- in an arrangement that was organised prior to Wednesday’s function. She said the planning of the function was in the works for more than three weeks for whoever won the election.

Planning was done with the County Medical officer who went through all rooms and recommended what should be done to have the function under COVID protocols.

Lala said apart from the MPs who sat in the ballroom where the Oath of Office was administered to appointees, MPs were seated in three other rooms. Everyone who entered the compound was temperature-tested and sanitisation was done.

Anyone sneezing, coughing or showing symptoms wouldn’t have been allowed to enter, Lala added.

MINISTERS RESPOND Communication Minister Symon de Nobriga yesterday said that all safety protocols were observed at President’s House on Wednesday when the prime minister MPs took their oaths.

Several Ministers such

as Colm Imbert, Nyan Gadsby-Dolly and other front-liners who were in the same room with Rowley didn’t answer yesterday on whether they’d been tested or will be.

However, Planning Minister Camille Robinson-Regis said she was tested for the virus after recently feeling flu-ish and was found to be negative.

Robinson-Regis said, “I’ve had no suspicion that I was exposed to anyone with COVID, but at one point after the campaign, I started feeling a bit flu-ish. I had no fever but felt headachy and some dizzyness so out of an abundance of caution I did go and have the COVID test and it was negative.”

“Since the campaign, I have been more or less inside. I haven’t gone to (Planning) yet, but I know the permanent secretaries are very diligent. The Social Development Ministry where I was, did have someone in the Accounts section who’d tested positive. They shut the unit down and all staff were quarantined and tested.

Also, a messenger there tested positive and more tests were done. But they’re following protocols.”

Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi had sat by himself, in social distanced spacing in the front row at President’s House, abreast of Rowley’s seat. He said he’s limited circulation among others to minimal post-election and practices all protocols.

“I have a personal responsibility to everyone - ministry, relatives, people around me. My mask is on all of the

time, I examine all the literature. None of us is taking this lightly,” Al-Rawi said.

He added, “In this situation, one should first try to maintain one’s health keep your immune system as strong as possible. It’s no secret I take my health seriously. I exercise regularly, follow medical advice and have a careful diet.”

“What hurts me however is I haven’t been able to see my constituents personally to give them a huge thankyou as I want to. Many have reached out to me. We discussed it in a larger circle recently and the Prime Minister asked us keep away from activities like large gatherings.

But when it is safe, I’ll see them.”

Trade Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon who’d headed the PNM’s Chaguanas East campaign, said, “During elections, we were very COVID sensitive, I haven’t received any call from Health about being exposed to any primary contact. But I’m observing precautions strenuously. I have my Vitamin C right here next to me. I’m over 60 and I have my challenges as we all do from time to time.”

Social Development Minister Donna Cox added, “I wasn’t in contact with the Prime Minister so I don’t need tests. But I’m observing protocols extra sternly since my mother, 88 is very high risk with key illnesses. The Ministry’s also observing protocols strictly as they had come issues with the virus before.”

One new COVID case, two recoveries

(NATIONNEWS) Barbados’ newest COVID-19 patient is a 25-year-old woman who arrived at the Grantley Adams International Airport on August 17, 2020.

The Barbadian woman travelled from the United States via Jamaica, arriving on Caribbean Airlines.

She was in quarantine prior to her positive retest on Friday and is now in isolation at Harrison Point, St Lucy.

That was among 171 tests performed by the Bestdos Santos Public Health Laboratory and this diag-

nosis raises the confirmed cases to 158, comprising 83 females and 75 males.

Meanwhile, two people recovered and were dis-

charged from isolation after a second consecutive negative test.

Overall, 25 people remain in isolation, 126 recov-

ered and there were seven deaths.

Up to Friday, the public health laboratory completed 15 503 tests. (PR/SAT)

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE , August 23, 2020

Restoring the Garden City THE venerable and brilliant Pat Dial wrote in this publication a few years ago, “Over the last few months, one of the major consumer concerns has been the flooding of the City of Georgetown and the farmlands over the Coastal Regions. These disastrous floods have been occurring annually and the media and leaders of public opinion have, in one way or another, been saying that the remedy lies in expending a great deal of scarcely available funds on pumps and other costly infrastructure.

“Older folk remember when Georgetown and most of the Coast rarely ever flooded, despite torrential rains. The drainage system bequeathed by the Dutch served Guyana very well until it began to be neglected over many years and the neglect has had a direct relationship to the flooding.

“Most who speak about flooding never mention the suffering and loss communities and individuals suffer: House foundations become weakened or are destroyed; homes are flooded, sometimes for days, destroying furniture and equipment and valuable and unique books and personal records; the roads deteriorate; gardens are destroyed and, today, there are no well-kept gardens in Georgetown and its environs. The poor, the old and the sick suffer terribly since they are unable to move about or to cook or to buy food and often go hungry. And the floods bring diseases and ailments which particularly affect these vulnerable groups.

“From time to time over the last several years, there have been clean-up campaigns, especially in Georgetown. Many of the City’s canals have been intermittently desilted but the flooding still persists because the smaller feeder drains are still silted up and the culverts are all damaged or choked.

These smaller drains have to be cleaned if any relief is to be brought to citizens.”

Mr. Dial then listed a menu of measures, proposed over the years by the Guyana Consumers Association, that he

is convinced would alleviate the problems that flooding cause by reducing the build-up of water in communities, especially in urban areas.

However, the solutions that he proposes are largely dependent on the cooperation of the public, but until recently the public is the main culprit in precipitating the problems, listed by Mr. Dial, through their blatant littering of public spaces, which is the main cause of the incessant problems caused by flooding in the country.

Once a country with a culture of cleanliness ingrained within its national psyche, the current state of Guyana’s environment from end to end of the coastland bespeaks a converse attitude of disregard for the health and wellbeing of the nation, as well as unconcern for the gradual deterioration in the scenic landscape of this paradise-like country, once described by colonials as “The Magnificent Province”.

The evidence of Guyana’s current culture of littering, which has become endemic to the Guyanese society, is manifest to visitors on the highway from the CJIA – heaped intermittently in piles right until they reach their destination; sadly, in or out of the city.

Littering is a serious environmental issue in many countries. Litter can exist in the environment for long periods of time before degrading and be transported large distances into the world’s oceans. Litter can affect quality of life of both humans and lesser animals on land; as well as aquatic life.

Various areas in Guyana proliferate with garbage and shows extensive littering of plastic and paper. Human waste, illustrated by males urinating, oftentimes like dogs against lamp posts, as well as fecal matter deposited in drains by homeless people, increase bacteria levels on land and in the water.

Throughout animal history, people have disposed of

unwanted materials without fear of retribution, onto streets, roadsides, in small local dumps or often in remote locations.

Prior to reforms within cities in the mid-to-late 19th century, sanitation was not a government priority. The growing piles of waste led to the spread of disease, with plagues often wiping away thousands of lives at one instance of affliction.

Negligent or lenient law enforcement contributes to littering behaviour. Other causes are inconvenience, a feeling of entitlement and economic conditions. Also, unavailability of public trash and recycling service, shortage of enforcement, and habit are possible causes. The presence of litter invites more littering.

The implications of understanding the different types of litter reduction interventions that will most effectively reduce littering in a given environment are essential to enhance quality of human life.

Litter can remain either visible for extended periods of time before it eventually biodegrades, with some items made of condensed glass, styrofoam or plastic, possibly remaining in the environment for long periods.

Litter also carries substantial cost to the economy as cleaning up litter costs millions of dollars, much more than the cost of proper trash disposal.

Public waste containers or street bins should be provided by local authorities to be used as a convenient place for the disposal and collection of litter.

Government continually expend huge amounts of national revenue in trying to curtail the habit of irresponsible waste disposal, but the long-term solution to the problem lies in the citizens themselves becoming aware that it is not a ‘them’ problem, it is a ‘us’ problem; because the threat to health and public safety means that if an epidemic breaks out, the entire country would be affected.

Trinidad & Tobago experiences in O&G sector present valuable lessons for Guyana Dear Editor,

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO has long been the example that everyone in the Caribbean envied when it came to oil and gas. But the protracted decline that seems to have happened there should be a lesson for us here in Guyana. As Kevin Ramnarine, T&T’s former Energy Minister, has pointed out publicly, his country desperately needs to change its approach to contracts and exploration if it

wants to remain a fossil fuel powerhouse.

For decades, Trinidad allowed oil exploration only on terms that greatly favoured the government.

From profit sharing to strict local content rules, Trinidad was the gold standard.

Our own government’s new local content consultant, Anthony Paul, was instrumental in developing these rules. And for a while,

companies were willing to pay that price and Trinidad benefitted.

And then they weren’t. Fracking and other new technologies unlocked vast new deposits of natural gas around the world and suddenly Trinidad didn’t look so appealing. Companies took their investment dollars elsewhere. The country coasted, depleting existing wells and remaining in denial of the problem for years until it finally has to face facts: offshore exploration off the coast has declined so much

and for so long that now the country is running out of gas.

Look at the closing of Petrotrin in 2018 and the thousands of workers laid off in the shutdown of steel and ammonia plants and you will see what happens when a country that builds an industrial base around hydrocarbons runs out. Analysts estimate that Trinidad has maybe one decade of gas left and small discoveries have not been enough to stop the plummeting revenues and dwindling sovereign wealth fund.

Guyana should be wary of making the same mistake. Governments are right to want the most out of their resources, but there must be a balance. Offshore exploration is expensive and risky. If the math of breakeven costs, government take, local content rules and global markets doesn’t work, they will move elsewhere. It’s just business.

Yours sincerely Donald Singh

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE , August 23, 2020

Budget consultation would assess needs and allocation Dear Editor, THE government is preparing the budget for Fiscal Year (September 2020-Aug 2021). Many may not know what a budget is and why it is needed. Often the nation is not given an input on how the budget is prepared -- how the numbers are derived in revenue intakes and expenditures.

There was hardly any national consultation during the last regime. A budget was prepared and rammed down the throats of the public. Inputs from the opposition or the public were ignored. The country should consider emulating the US model.

The President presents a budget and the Congress debates and changes the budget – historically, Congress amended the budget after consultation with the public.

Anyone who studies economics would know what is a budget (plan on estimated income and expenses for a given period) and why it is necessary. Economists know the essentials of budget preparation of a country as well as the importance of wide consultation.

It is a mandatory course for anyone majoring in economics and most certainly for those doing MA or PhD in the subject; it is part of the training in becoming an economist. Even organisations, universities, schools must have a budget (revenues and expenditures)

that are reviewed and approved by the full body. When I taught economics, students were required to learn the importance of how to prepare a budget. In a country or an organisation, money cannot be expended without approval unless there is a proven emergency.

When I was elected to student government and held the post of Treasurer, I had to present a budget for approval (by the entire elected body) normally in September and could not even order refreshments without authorisation of expenditures in a vote. The same was true when I served at City College President’s Council; even the President could not expend money without approval. There is consultation with stakeholders in the preparation of the budget for the student government and the same for the Presidency of the college before its submission for approval by the respective full voting bodies. The same should be true of a country’s budget that is the most important decision and vote in parliament that a government has to make.

In Guyana, the young government would be undertaking a needs assessment and a review of revenues at hand and projected intakes. The budget “preparers” should consult with the communities (organisations, businesses, ordinary folks, etc.) and various state entities and ministries for inputs. Government needs wide national approval not just parlia-

mentary approval for its planned expenditures to balance demands against affordability (revenues coming in). It would also help the government on the feasibility and desirability of the budget, from a macroeconomic as well as microeconomic perspective.

Democratic countries mandate that the legislature debate and approve the budget. In the US, the President presents the budget early in the year for the coming fiscal year (Oct 1 to Sept 30) and must be approved before the year. Several times, the deadline is not met.

Stopgap measures were implemented or else the government shuts down – workers, other than emergency staff, were sent home because government has no money to pay them for work performed. Once approved, items cannot be added or funds amended without approval by the legislature. The President cannot expend money without approval of Congress, but he can also reject changes made

by Congress. Normally, there is compromise once the budget gets to Congress that largely accepts the President’s budget with minor changes (adding items and playing around with dollars amounts) that are self-serving to members of Congress.

Normally, for any country or organisation or educational institution, the budget is a redo

of the previous fiscal year with the revenue and expenditure numbers changing, a few items removed and a few items added. The same would be true of Guyana where technical experts prepare the budget guided by a Finance Minister and his team. Vice-President Jagdeo is very experienced and skilled in this area. He is also very good in revenue creation that his worse critics would admit.

This year, there is an additional burden across all items and perhaps the introduction of a new item on the budget – the impact of COVID-19 that and it is likely to take up a large chunk of the expenditure side of the budget. Guyana has devastated

by COVID-19, not in terms of infected cases but its effects – closure of businesses, loss of jobs and income, and contraction of GDP. And it is compounded by the effects of bad polices and governance by the predecessor regime that sent home some 20K workers. Government must allocate money to provide assistance to so many that are now on the bread line.

An assessment through as wide a consultation as possible would help to understand the needs of the population.

Yours truly, Dr. Vishnu Bisram

The presidential family will be guiding example for the nation Dear Editor,

SEEMS as if the Democratic Convention in Washington was orchestrated to facilitate the completion of Guyana’s election so that, the local scenario can play a pivotal role and all the salient events can be capitalised upon to drive home and support the various speakers’ presentations.

President Donald Trump was portrayed as being the wrong person to represent the interest of the American people because he lacked empathy and what he allowed to go on in the country is not right and not what the people want to be. So typical of the former president of Guyana, who completely misrepresented the mass and failed to keep in touch. Mr. Granger ran a campaign on truth, honesty and integrity. We know how far at sea he was from this slogan with all the corruption being highlighted, seen as the tip of the

iceberg then, and now, we are getting a deeper insight as to the reality of the deep destruction and to the magnitude of the catastrophic damage. “Unlocking the shackles of lies and mistrust with the only thing that can truly set us free: the cold hard truth,” Michelle Obama had stressed at the closing of the first night on Tuesday. A lie fact sheet as monitored by the Washington Post confirmed that Trump made some 20,000 misleading statements to the public. Everything about Granger was intertwined with lies and deceit.

No wonder he choose to hide from the nation rather than hold regular meetings with the press and media.

Not surprising, the PPP/C Party was able to capitalise on the APNU+AFC Party’s misfortunes because, “when they go low, we go high,” according to Michelle Obama. She also said, “If you think things cannot possibly get worse,

trust me, they can; and they will if we don’t make a change in this election.”

Luckily for Guyana, with the help of the domestic and international community, Guyana was able to avoid a state of pariah and the popular will of the people saw the PPP/C Party replacing a beaten APNU+AFC Party for a changing of the guard. Trinidad Prime Minister, Keith Rowley had exclaimed, “Things will not end well.” Perhaps he had a premonition that the APNU+AFC Party will experience a state of dismantling with all hell breaking loose as is currently happening.

More analogies were replicated to capture the attention of Guyanese and to make pertinent comparisons. The first Black and Asian woman to be on a national ticket for a major party, Kamla Harris, underscored our ethnic issue saying, “There is no vaccine for racism. We have got to put in the work.” The strife created by many guilty

perpetrators, tried to undermine the peaceful divide in this country but thankfully, they were unsuccessful and when the new president was declared the winner and sworn in, there was no disturbance and, violence did not materialise in the streets as the instigators were hoping. Guyanese have learnt a lesson and are unprepared to revisit the past and indulge in irresponsible behaviour.

This generation is more mature and sober and cannot be easily fooled. Those bygone days are shelved and Guyanese are more united and will not replay the race match that translates to violence and animosity. The new breed of political leaders have to be cognisant of this sensitive issue and never again “try a thing” because the “slo fiya, mo fiya” will only boomerang. Hillary Clinton’s speech was on the money, this can’t be another “woulda, coulda, shoulda” thought to entertain that can impede the relationship of Guyanese and

the progress of this nation.

Guyana was snatched from the mouth of “Jaws” just in time and democracy was given a new life. Bernie Sanders hit the nail on the head synchronising America and Guyana when he commented, “During this president’s term, the unthinkable has become normal, I and my family and many of yours know the insidious way authoritarianism destroys democracy, decency and humanity.” Under this PPP/C Party’s mantle-ship, society will be allowed to function with the decency of humanity and freedom and equality will not be questionable. With this youthful generation in parliament, this concept becomes necessary for the admonishment of the First Lady and so, there is no choice for the President but to endorse. The Presidential family is grounded in a deep seeded culture that permeates around decency and dignity and will be the guiding example for the rest of the nation.

To supplement America

and Guyana’s comparisons, John Kasich who alluded that even though he is “proud” of his Republican heritage, Trump is a leader who “belies those principles.” “I’m a lifelong Republican, but that attachment holds second place to my responsibility to my country. It’s a matter of conscience.” After holding this nation at duress for five months and wanted power illegitimately as the ransom, Guyanese from all walks of the electorate saw the true nature of the APNU+AFC Party and, like the NCM, it was a conscience call that motivated many of the Coalition supporters to become critical of them and switched side to uphold truth and defend democracy. The APNU+AFC Party has an uphill task and restless nights for the next five years to retain the confidence of their supporters.

Respectfully, Jai Lall

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE , August 23, 2020

Eugene F. Correia International Airport remains a public utility infrastructure in need of governance review

Dear Editor,

In a bizarre twist of the narrative, Mr. Nascimento - the Public Relations Officer for Ogle Airport Inc., in his recent comments in an article published in the Guyana Chronicle (Domestic airlines prohibited from transporting foreigners from Interior), downplayed the Government of Guyana’s stake in the Eugene F. Correia International Airport by stating that the airport is a “private enterprise”.

While Mr. Nascimento’s statement may seem true and came on the heels of a recent visit of the Airport by the Hon. Deodat Indar – Junior Minister of Public Works, it is merely a half-truth. The lands which the Airport and all its facilities are built on still remains the property of the government; so too is the control tower and its equipment. There was even a USD$2M EU developmental soft loan that was made available to the airport through the Government of Guyana with

the option of converting all or part of that loan into equity for the Government of Guyana, not to mention several grants.

The accurate description of the airport is a public-private partnership. Although the impact of COVID-19 is severe on the aviation sector, domestic flights and helicopter operations for the Oil and Gas Sector continue to operate under strict COVID-19 safety protocols from the airport daily. Only the scheduled international flight opera-

tions have been suspended.

However, Mr. Nascimento has claimed that the airport is facing losses at some 60 per cent while he deliberately ignored mentioning the huge revenue stream the airport had recently benefitted from the subleasing of lands to the many companies including some big players within the Oil and Gas Sector. Over the years, many stakeholders have raised serious concerns over the governance of the airport by Ogle Airport Inc.

– the airport operator. There are still pressing issues that are in urgent need of addressing by the new government such as, the airport’s non-compliance with the agreement it has with the Government of Guyana for the establishment of a Capital Replacement Reserved Fund; the non-compliance of having an independent Airport Review Panel instituted; the need to ensure equity through a balanced board with the right mix of competent, relevant

and independent directors; and the need to practice transparency through disclosure.

It is important that while our new government is reviewing many deals they should also pay close attention to inherent issues in public-private partnership arrangements such as that between itself and Ogle Airport Inc. Yours faithfully, Capt. A. Mazahar Ally Shareholder for ASL, AMS and GRSI

PNC/R list of parliamentarians reminiscent of class character Dear Editor, THE People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R) recently announced list of parliamentarians is eerily reminiscent of the class character of certain organisations of yesteryear, namely the Manpower Citizens’ Association, the National Democratic Party and the League of Coloured People. These organisations may be physically dead, but they are spiritually and ideologically alive in today’s PNC/R. These three organisations were founded and controlled by the African and Indian petty bourgeoisie.

Their leaders were disconnected from and contemptuous of the poor and vulnerable members of the society. They were not only anti-working class, but were Anglophiles to the core, just like the present-day PNC/R, as it will be constituted in parliament in 2020.

After Mr. Granger finally conceded defeat, he gave a rare interview on Benschop Radio, where, once again, he paid lip service to Burnham’s ideas in a final effort to deceive the base of the party. The deceptive behaviour of Mr. Granger, who boasted of his honesty and integrity, is shameful. The truth is, there is not a shred of Burnham’s

ideas to be found anywhere amongst the present-day PNC/R hierarchy.

Those political commentators who insist that the last five years of PNC/R rule and the recent election debacle is somehow reminiscent of the Burnham era are wrong. As one who was a member of Burnham’s administration, I can testify to the fact that this current crop of PNC/R leaders has nothing, whatsoever, in common with the patriotic, anti-imperialist, visionary leaders, President Forbes Burnham and Prime Minister, Dr. Ptolemy Reid.

These two servant-leaders waged a war on poverty and inequality, and

were committed to the economic and social empowerment of what they called “the small man”. Does that sound like anything that we have witnessed since 2015? On the contrary, the PNC/R facilitated those who were already empowered and extremely wealthy, while doing absolutely nothing to empower the “small man and woman”.

Those looking for an organisation that embodies the ideas of Forbes Burnham’s PNC will find a home within OVP. Like Burnham, we fight for true independence, self-reliance and economic justice. Even Mr. Burnham and Dr. Reid’s most vociferous critics

cannot erase their commitment to these principles, principles that are fundamental prerequisites for the creation of an egalitarian and democratic society. To build a nation based on such principles is possible but it requires courageous leadership and radical socio-economic and political transformation. The one thing we can be sure of at this juncture, is that the PNC/R of 2015 and 2020 is clearly not up to the task.

Yours sincerely, Gerald A. Perreira Organisation for the Victory of the People (OVP)

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 23, 2020

Gov’t working to recover monies invested in Ponzi scheme ATTORNEY GENERAL (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, has announced that the government is working to ensure that thousands of Guyanese who invested in a ‘Ponzi scheme’, operating on East Coast Demerara, will have their monies re-imbursed.

“Our main priority is to ensure that if this scheme is unlawful, and from all indications it is unlawful, then our main priority is to ensure that the persons who have put money into this scheme are reimbursed… we also have to build a database of persons who have invested and the amount they invested so that they can be reimbursed if possible,” the AG assured during a virtual press briefing on Saturday.

While in opposition, and on assuming office, the government received numerous complaints from members of the public, concerning the operations of the financial outfit, known as Accelerated Capital Firm Inc. (ACFI).

In a press release issued earlier in the week from the Attorney General Chambers, it was explained that thousands of citizens enrolled and invested some US$20 Million in the Ponzi scheme which

claims it uses a foreign exchange platform to trade.

According to the release, it appears that all aspects of the scheme operate online via training webinars, WhatsApp and emails. The methods of payment used to invest and trade are credit cards or by wire transfer.

AG Nandlall expressed his shock at learning the number of Guyanese that were ensnared in this scheme. “…the volume of money they have invested, it is staggering, shocking … we ask that members of the public and persons who invested their monies in this scheme come forward and assist the police with their investigations.”

It was disclosed that the government has launched a multi-sectoral approach to deal with the issue.

Agencies involved in the investigation include the Attorney General Chambers, Guyana Securities Council, the Bank of Guyana, the Guyana Police Force, and the Financial Intelligence Unit.

It was also pointed out that ACFI is not licensed by the Guyana Securities Council to solicit investments from the public.

Applications made to the Guyana Securi-

ties Council for a licence, as well as the Bank of Guyana for a corporate account were rejected since the firm has “violated several pieces of legislation across the fiscal, regulatory architecture.” “… The government does not grant licences; it is granted by agencies of the state which operate under statutory provisions. The licence is granted in the exercise of those statutory powers based upon the requirements laid down in the particular statute.

Applicants and applications are vetted by those agencies’ staff with the technical people and those agencies determine whether an application has merit or an applicant is qualified to be granted the licence for which he/she/it has applied,” the attorney-general outlined Based on investigations, the firm has no bank account at any of the local commercial banks.

Under the previous administration, the relevant agencies informed the various Ministers of this scheme operating without a licence but received no

response.

The person, who is in police custody assisting with investigations, is a Cuban national who is Guyanese by naturalisation.

According to the AG, when his naturalisation was advertised in the newspapers, the Security Council wrote to the relevant ministers, former Ministers of Citizenship, Mr. Winston Felix and Public Security, Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan informing them of the historical antecedents of the gentlemen but that letter also received no response.

“If it was allowed to grow bigger, it would have ensnared more money… so the police force and the various agencies are working to get to the bottom of this operation,” he reiterated.

The attorney general said the government will prior-itise strengthening the country’s legislation to prevent such from happening again. One such legislation is the Securities Bill which is being worked on at the AG chambers.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 23, 2020

Understanding Energy

Examining Local Content Requirements in Context

AS the new government aims to make its own mark on our nation’s nascent oil industry, local content requirements have become front and centre.

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, last week, made clear his party’s desire to see legislation passed dictating the use of Guyanese companies in the oil and gas sector.

Historically, local content requirements have been attempted to be used by governments to build the domestic economy and increase local participation in the oil and gas industry. It is naturally in a country’s best interest to get the highest value possible from any resources, and local content policies are one tool used to protect jobs and optimize local businesses. These policies can take many forms—from more flexible contract provisions laying out the steps companies should take to hire and train locals to strict minimum rules that govern what percentage of suppliers and contractors must be hired locally. But we should heed lessons from countries that were overly proscriptive with local content targets, to the detriment of investment.

It’s important to note that local content is only a small contributor to the wealth a

country gains from oil. While fossil fuel development does create employment opportunities, the largest benefits to Guyana will come from revenues from the sale of the oil and profit sharing. That’s one reason that, like many issues in the industry, local content rules have to be balanced carefully to avoid delaying development too much or making it less cost-effective, since Guyana will pay that price through diminished future revenues.

Excessively onerous local content requirements can present a number of challenges for the host country hoping to attract continuous investment. Smaller and developing countries often don’t have the local expertise needed to meet the needs of the energy industry which tend to be both highly technical and very specialized. Many roles in the industry, like deep sea robotics operations and underwater seismic analysis can be performed by only a handful of companies in the world. And to reach necessary targets, options many times are to pull semi-skilled and skilled personnel from other sectors which can harm those sectors.

Even for more basic services, without the appropriate capacity building – which takes

time -- hard-to-meet local content requirements can force workers and businesses that are not experienced in a field or with certain types of projects to be hired. That can lead to safety hazards in an industry where operating in dangerous offshore conditions is standard.

Some countries have also found that local content can become intertwined with corruption. Smaller markets are inevitably less likely to have multiple companies with experience in industrial operations, which can create a de-facto closed bidding process where only a small group of select companies are eligible to receive contracts. Instead of a system that is based on a meritocracy that rewards the best-prepared and most capable companies, there could be a troubling opportunity for cronyism and industry monopolization.

But certain measures like training and education for companies and workers can help local companies compete without placing limits on development. Government and industry-funded projects like the Centre for Local Business Development are helping to satisfy these challenges.

While the industry is still growing, Guyana is already making significant progress

in building local capacity under its existing local content policies. More than half of the Stabroek Consortium’s total workforce is Guyanese as of August and Exxon has said it has spent more than GY$14 billion with over 600 Guyanese vendors for goods and services ranging from food services to engineering.

The companies drilling in the Stabroek Block have also provided over 100,000 hours of training to Guyanese staff in the first half of 2020, mostly in technical fields to increase capabilities of the Guyanese labor force in the future. That’s included sending Guyanese to Canada, Singapore and elsewhere for specialized training.

This process represents positive long-term progress for Guyana, but any new requirements must be considered carefully to avoid hindering development and delaying or reducing Guyana’s eventual revenues.

Our oil industry is young and immature, and the sector is still building labor expertise, business capabilities, and offshore experience.

A cautious approach will allow Guyana to develop its local industry without the risk of derailing development.

Four arrested after dumping cannabis in Berbice River A WOMAN is among four persons arrested and are being processed for court after they were caught dumping a bulky bag of six kilos of cannabis in the Berbice River Friday night.

The suspects, who were in a wooden vessel, were identified as a 25-year-old labourer of Canefield Village, East Canje; a 28-year-old logger of Edinburg Village, East Bank Berbice (EBB); a 39-year-old barber of West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, and the lone female, age 39, unemployed of Edinburg.

Reports indicate that cops in Region Six were conducting a river patrol at about 22:15hrs in the vicinity of Sisters

Some of the cannabis that was seized by police

The vessel seized by police

Village, EBB, when they observed one of the suspects dropping the bag in the river. The bag was retrieved and found to contain the illegal drugs.

Police further disclosed that in a separate event on Thursday last, ranks, during a mo-

bile patrol, arrested a 31-year-old mason of Providence, East Bank Demerara after he was found with 23 pounds of ganja in three parcels on the Fort Wellington Public Road, West Coast Berbice.

Enquiries disclosed

that while the ranks were on patrol on the said public road, the observed the suspect standing on the roadway with a black handbag.

A search of the man and the bag was carried out and the illegal substance was found.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 23, 2020

Young entrepreneurs launch online market for small businesses

By Naomi Parris

DESPITE COVID-19 causing some amount of fear across Guyana, many young creatives have used their time at home, during the partial lockdown, to birth innovative and unique business ideas.

However, given the COVID-19 protocols, many entrepreneurs who are new to the business world have found it difficult to market their business safely, while meeting their customers’ demands during the pandemic.

Cognisant of this, a computer science student and an administrative assistant teamed up to create the Guyanese version of the Amazon website, which provides a local online market for entrepreneurs to promote their businesses and consumers to purchase various items from the safety of their homes.

The duo, 39-year-old Jay Carter and 21-year-old Malika Allicock designed and recently launched their online market place website called “Bringgy”.

During an interview with Guyana Chronicle, Allicock, one of the creators of the website noted that the initiative gives way for business owners to build their online presence and make their products accessible to consumers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Bringgy is an online delivery and market place that basically allows sellers to list their items on the website and customers can shop for them wherever they are.

What that basically means is that the customers can create an account and shop from the sellers’ store front,” she explained.

The young woman added that the website also relieves entrepreneurs of having to carry the weight of building and managing an online website.

“Having a store front is like having your own personal website; however, you don’t have to worry about the additional work that you have to put in to manage your own website so Bringgy is a much accessible and easy version of that,” he said.

Allicock disclosed that herself and Carter reached out to a few small businesses which were reeling for an opportunity to have an online platform like theirs to advance their businesses into digital marketing.

“We reached out to small businesses… so we saw businesses were popping up on Instagram and Facebook through adds and when you visit most of the pages they don’t have a website or they don’t have a link to their website so what we did we reached out to them and said hey what are the challenges you are facing during this COVID-19 time,” she said.

TIME SOLUTION Meanwhile, the technological brain behind the website, Jay Carter said, “During the whole COVID-19 pandemic, you know a lot of small businesses they were now ba-

sically looking at a way to take their businesses virtual [and] have an online presence or in some cases even boost their online presence.”

He noted that many of the business owners who they have interacted with were not up-to-date with the technical details of building an online platform and website; however, after seeing the need for such a platform, he decided to put his talent and knowledge to the test to build ‘Bringgy’.

“So we decided to create a market place, because what it does is offset a lot of the cost instead of everybody having to go and build their website. There is a space where they can go and still give links to their customers and their customers can still come to this place and see their products and order from them,” he said.

Carter noted that the easy-to-use website, ‘Bringgy’, can be described as the middle man or messenger that connects the seller to the buyer.

“The idea of the market place was actually birthed during the start, height or should I say the beginning of the whole COVID-19 situation, especially in Guyana when we went into the lockdown; so again the ultimate goal was for [persons] to come to this site and get anything you need and have it brought to your home so that is where the name ‘Bringgy’ came,” he said.

He added: “We wanted you to kno immwediately

Millions in cannabis set ablaze in Berbice A DEPUTY police commander, and his charges, on Saturday, destroyed one acre of cannabis trees measuring three to five feet in height and a camp in West Canje, Berbice, Region Six. Reports indicate that the plants were

cut down and subsequently set ablaze.

Also destroyed was a quantity of suspected dried cannabis found under the camp with an approximate weight of 25 pounds and a street value of some $19M.

A section of the farm that was eventually set alight

what it is about from the name so that is why we went with something like Bringgy.”

In addition, Carter noted that if a business owner has difficulty making a delivery to a customer, the Bringgy team will step in and make the delivery on the owner’s behalf.

“If the sellers are not able to handle the delivery, the market place handles the delivery so once somebody makes an order we also get notified and we will be that middle person to arrange the delivery let the courier go to the seller and collect the product and then take it to the customer,” he said.

The duo noted that they are currently in the works of building a mobile application that will have a tracking feature which will allow consumers to track an item they would have purchased upon its delivery as well as pay for their items digitally.

A glimpse of the Bringgy website

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 23, 2020

Swift appointment of commissioners to Law Reform Commission –– as IDB threatens to ‘pull the plug’ on funding for two projects

By Navendra Seoraj THE sluggish execution of two Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)-funded projects, related to the establishment of a Law Reform Commission and prison reform, has left the new government with a challenge, as the international financial institution has threatened to “pull the plug” on funding, unless swift action is taken to get those projects “off the ground.”

Over the past five years, the A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) administration had failed to successfully execute the US$8 million prison reform project and establish a Law Reform Commission, leaving the IDB dissatisfied.

The US$8 million project is aimed at tackling overcrowding at local prison facilities. Through the project,

there was supposed to be support for the criminal justice system as it moves ahead to reduce the number of pre-trial detentions of prisoners, while increasing use of alternative sentencing (outside of jail time).

Meanwhile, the permanent Law Reform Commission seeks to reform and modernise Guyana’s laws—the majority of which were inherited from its colonial masters and are long overdue for review.

With no intention of losing such ‘critical’ projects, Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, assured Guyanese that the new People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) administration will do everything possible to save those projects, starting with the appointment of commissioners to the Law Reform Commission.

In terms of the commission, the AG, during a virtual press briefing on Saturday,

reminded persons that a bill was passed in the National Assembly since 2016 and the commission was established and later staffed in 2017.

Nandlall said the previous administration had hired 11 employees at a cost of $2.1 million a month, but there was no appointment of commissioners, and, in effect, no commission, although there were multiple promises by the past administration to appoint commissioners.

It was reported that a legal officer, three legal clerks, three typists, an office assistant, cleaner and driver were hired. The legal officer is being paid over $700,000, while the legal clerks are being over paid $150,000 each; the typists are paid over $130,000 each; office assistants are being paid over $100,000; while the cleaner and driver are being paid gross salaries of over $75,000 and over $120,000 respectively.

In addition to the employment cost, the former government had rented the middle and top floors of a building located at 59 Robb Street Bourda. The building was being rented for $850,000 monthly.

MASSIVE SUMS BUT NO WORK “They have been renting a building and I have calculated the expenses from 2017 to now…it cost $28 million to rent a building, and no work has been done,” said the attorney-general.

The consolidated expenses, including those which were mentioned, totalled $92.3 million, said Nandlall.

“Nearly $100 million from 2017 has been expended and the commissioners to the commission have not been appointed… the IDB has since indicated that they will pull it (the funding) unless we move swiftly,” said the attorney general.

To this end, Nandlall promised that government will move quickly to appoint commissioners, and officially establish the Law Reform Commission.

The PPP/C while in opposition was, however, critical about the legislation governing the appointment of commissioners. It is stipulated that the President

will appoint seven commissioners, but the PPP/C had advocated for there to be a system of nomination, which would allow widespread representation.

“We think that the whole statute should be refashioned so that the law reform commission, when it sits, represents the interest of the entire country,” said the attorney general.

An inclusive commission is especially important in a modern society like Guyana because it will help to keep the legal architecture up-to-date and up-tostandard.

Amending the legislation is, however, unattainable right now, considering the IDB’s warning, but Nandlall promised that it will soon be refashioned so that the commission can be properly constituted in a manner that reflects the best interest of the country.

UNDER THE NOSE OF THE PUBLIC While the new government plans on working in the best interest of the country and its people, the attorney-general said projects such as the criminal justice initiative had gone “under the nose” of the public over the past five years.

Nandlall, in a past report, had said the public is

Attorney General, Anil Nandlall not aware of the project’s nature or objective.

Nandlall noted had visited the office of the project on Hadfield Street, Georgetown – the same building that housed the former Opposition Leader David Granger.

The attorney general had said he was pleased that such a project was ongoing in Guyana and expressed his unwavering support to it, but expressed deep regret that, since the commencement of the project in 2017, the public is not aware of its nature, nor objective.

“Nandlall expressed dissatisfaction with the manner in which the project is unfolding and that its impact is not being felt by the people of Guyana,” said the Ministry of Legal Affairs in a recent press statement.

The attorney general intends to review the project documents to ensure that the project is being efficiently and effectively managed.

He related that a sentencing policy is lacking in Guyana but noted that there are sentencing guidelines which were drafted under a previous project but never implemented. In this regard, the attorney general tasked the team with reviewing and modifying those guidelines, if necessary, so as to avoid duplicity.

OP flags bogus Facebook account of First Lady THE Office of the President (OP) is urging the public to be aware of a bogus page on social media platform, Facebook, purporting to be the official account of the First Lady of Guyana, Arya Ali. A release from the Office of the President said the fake account, which has been created under the name ‘H.E Arya Ali’ is not affiliated with the First Lady, her office or the Office of the President in any way.

“The public is therefore advised that the account is fake and that they should refrain from engaging the page,” the release concluded.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 23, 2020

44 new COVID-19 cases in 24 hours –– 11 persons in COVID-19 ICU

By Navendra Seoraj THERE continues to be a consistent increase in the number of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases, with the country recording 44 cases in just 24 hours.

The steady rise has caused panic across the country, but authorities have said that cases are being detected because more tests are being done. Sample taking was also increased across the country because authorities had believed that many cases were going “under the radar.”

This suspicion had prompted authorities to distribute more sample kits across the country, especially to regions where the infection rate is high. Most of the cases have so far been recorded in Regions One (Barima-Waini), Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).

“We are sending out more kits, so there will be an increase in sample collection… the testing itself has components… one is sample collection and then there is the processing of samples,” said Minister of Health, Frank Anthony in a recent report.

The actual testing will be done centrally, at the National Reference Laboratory because regional facilities lack the capacity and technical skills needed to get it done. While government hopes to improve capacity in those regions, the immediate need for sample testing takes precedence, especially with the high

number of asymptomatic cases.

Health authorities have so far tested 6,760 persons, with 5,835 being negative and 925 positive. Of the total positive cases, 426 persons have recovered and 31 persons have lost their lives, but there are 468 active cases which are being monitored by authorities.

Authorities have said that 383 of those cases are in home isolation, while 74 are in institutional isolation and 11 persons are being treated in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

THREAT TO EVERYONE It is clear that COVID-19 remains a threat to everyone in all areas of Guyana, but within the last few days, there have been lots of concerns about testing and laboratory confirmation of COVID-19.

“I would like to assure members of the public that the test conducted by the Ministry of Health is the WHO-recommended molecular PCR test for the coronavirus. There are also available antibody rapid test which may indicate that someone was exposed to the virus but is not recommended to diagnose the infection,” said Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shamdeo Persaud in a recent report.

He advised persons to desist from comparing these two distinctly different methods of testing, since the rapid antibody test is not approved to diagnose active COVID-19 cases, and only the molecular PCR can credibly identify

Health ministry opens bids for emergency medicines and supplies AS the fight against the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) rages on, the need for critical medical supplies remains important and health authorities have opened bids for qualified suppliers to provide emergency medicines and supplies.

The Ministry of Health said it is desirous of obtaining bids from qualified suppliers to supply emergency medicines and supplies which are readily available in country.

A complete list of items required and instructions for bid submission can be obtained from the Procurement Department of the Ministry of Health at Lot 1 Brickdam, Georgetown or via email at procurementhealth3@gmail.com. Deadline for bid submission is August 26, 2020 at 16:00hrs.

Those medical supplies will not only be used in the fight against COVID-19, but to also treat other diseases and ailments, which are sometimes overlooked by the public because of the coronavirus pandemic. The areas identified for supplies are pharmaceuticals, medical supplies, radiology supplies and dental supplies.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by a newly-discovered coronavirus. Most people, who fall sick with COVID-19, will experience mild to moderate symptoms and recover without special treatment.

There are, however, vulnerable groups such as persons with underlying conditions and elderly patients, who may develop the severe forms of the disease.

infected persons.

The CMO encouraged persons to adhere to the safety guidelines as outlined in the COVID-19 emergency measures.

He reminded persons that COVID-19 is in Guyana and will not go away by denial or ignorance. It is real, said the CMO, noting that it is evidenced by the many persons who died and the agony and sadness of their families and friends.

The emergency measures in place are often hard to cope with, but considering the prevailing circumstances, persons must be cautious and vigilant, as they continue to do their part in the fight against COVID-19.

“We are stronger together. So, stay

vigilant, observe all the measures, wear a mask in public, maintain physical distance and practise good hygiene for a safer and healthier Guyana,” the CMO advised.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by a newly-discovered coronavirus. Most people, who fall sick with COVID-19, will experience mild to moderate symptoms and recover without special treatment.

There are, however, vulnerable groups such as persons with underlying conditions and elderly patients, who may develop the severe forms of the disease.

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In the past month…

SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 23, 2020

24 foreigners entered Guyana via Suriname ‘backtrack’ route

TWENTY-FOUR foreign nationals, within the past month, have been nabbed for entering Guyana illegally via the Suriname ‘backtrack’ route as law enforcement officials heightened vigilance of the country’s borders to ensure compliance with COVID-19 restrictions.

The borders were closed since March in an effort to help curtail the spread of the novel coronavirus, but have been a challenge since Guyana shares borders with three other countries.

Guyana has seen a surge in the number of positive cases as more testing are being done and many have been blaming this increase on the illegal immigrants from Brazil, Venezuela and Suriname as well as Guyanese returning from the said countries.

Within the past month, in East Berbice, Corentyne, some 24 foreign nationals have been arrested and placed in quarantine. The most recent being on Friday night when two separate police operations intercepted 11 Cubans.

Previously, two other sets of seven and six foreigners were arrested and tested.

Five from the group of seven tested positive while a Guyanese, who was the taxi driver for the group, escaped from the quarantine facility in East Canje, Berbice before he could be tested.

Officials are still trying to locate him. The second group of six was swabbed but the results are yet to be returned.

They remain in quarantine.

Boat operators have been charging as much as US$500 per person to ferry them

Some of the Cubans who were intercepted at the Berbice Bridge on Friday evening from Nikerie to Guyana using modified fishing vessels and passenger boats fitted with larger engines to outrun the coastguard or police boats.

Previously, this journey cost a maximum of US$20.

Given the economic slowdown due to the virus, many have jumped at the opportunity and have been making ar-

rangements with taxi drivers hoping to capitalise on the situation. Commander of District 6, Calvin Brutus, in an invited comment, appealed to the operators to let good sense prevail and to cease their operations for the safety of all Guyanese.

“Look beyond the profits. Consider the safety of yourself and family. But more importantly, you are breaking the law and putting the entire society at risk for a few dollars. Is it really worth the risk?” he asked.

The divisional top cop continued that those found guilty will be prosecuted and is appealing to residents to speak out and expose the guilty since these rogue individuals are endangering the lives of all by their selfish actions.

Brutus explained to the Guyana Chronicle that the “smuggling” usually occurs mainly in the nights and there is no fixed point of entry which makes it difficult

to track. Depending on the tide, there are a myriad of areas where boats can moor to offload passengers.

This distance spans several miles between the Corentyne River. Most of these points of entries are within walking distance of the public road and major streets where pre-arranged taxis usually await the passengers to take them to their destination before the cops arrive.

Notwithstanding this challenge, intelligence-led operations have netted some success over the past weeks with approximately 30 persons arrested.

The ‘B’ Division commander is expanding his efforts to try and capture the boat operators as well so that their vessels can be seized, which will put a dent into the illegal operations while setting an example that will hopefully deter others from trying to commit similar acts.

Divisional Commander, Region Six, Calvin Brutus

East Berbice, Corentyne, until a week ago, recorded only one positive case but now have eight new cases of the COVID-19 virus, five of these are Cubans who entered the country illegally through the Guyana-Suriname ‘backtrack’ route.

A section of the Number 63 Beach where boat operators would use as a point of entry

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 23, 2020

Mobile pump installed at #52 Village THE National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), on Friday, installed a mobile pump at the No. 52 outfall channel on the Corentyne

Coast, Region Six. According to the NDIA, the installation will assist with draining the No. 51 canal.

The mobile pump that was installed at the No. 52 outfall channel, Corentyne Coast, Region Six on Friday (DPI photo) Farmers from several East Berbice communities were affected by major flooding over the last few weeks due to heavy rains.

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, during his visit to the region, days after the flooding occurred, immediately ordered machines be deployed to affected areas to carry out much-needed clearing of several drains and canals that were clogged for some period of time.

During his engagement with farmers and residents, the minister said mechanisms will immediately be put in place to

Water being drained off the land (DPI photo)

ensure flooding in the region is monitored and controlled. “I have instructed my officers to address these issues immediately. We are working to have mobile pumps deployed to areas that need urgent attention,� Minister Mustapha said.

During his visit, Minister Mustapha visited areas from Union and No. 53 to No. 58 Villages.

He also visited the Mocundo dam, the sluice at No. 52 Village and drainage pump stations at Joppa and Eversham.

(DPI)

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 23, 2020

West Berbice farmers return to the land –– after forceful eviction under coalition gov’t

By Nafeeza Yahya-Sakur

ATTORNEY GENERAL (AG) and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall, on Saturday, told Region Five farmers that they will return to the lands that were taken over by the previous administration for a multi-million dollar model farm project that was a failure.

The pronouncement by the attorney-general was in keeping with a promise made by President Irfaan Ali during the

from you, ensure that the rates and rent at MMA/ADA, the exorbitant increase that were imposed will all be reversed and we are in the process of doing that right now,” he said.

In 2016, then Regional Executive officer (REO) of Region Five, Ovid Morrison, under the APNU+AFC government, sought funding for a modern farm to the tune of $200M. In late 2016, farmers were forcibly removed from their lands at Bath, Naarst-

REO. Some $600M was spent on the project with little or no benefit to the residents.

Some farmers at that time had occupied and developed the land for as many as 20 years, he said.

Legal proceedings were filed on behalf of the farmers by Nandlall against the then REO and judgement was awarded in favour of the farmers by Justice Simone Ramlall.

The AG described the actions of Mor-

Farmers listening keenly to Attorney-General, Anil Nandlall Farmer, Wilfred Archer 2020 elections campaign.

Standing at the now defunct model farm in Fort Wellington, West Coast Berbice, Mr Nandlall, to a resounding applause, told residents that the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) has been instructed to ensure each farmer that was forcibly removed be returned to the lands.

“I am here to tell you that we have instructed the RDC because the land falls under the administration of the RDC to put you back on the land, but it will have to be done in a processed way. Each of you will get a plot, it may not be the exact plot that you previously had but you will get a plot of land in this vicinity. Every one of you who were here before and were removed will get back a plot of land,” he said.

The attorney-general noted that, in addition to returning the farmers to their lands, he will ensure that judgement, in the form of $5.3M in compensation, as was ordered by the judge to be executed, as well as the fulfillment of the other promises made on the campaign trail.

“Importantly, we promised while we were in opposition, we promised that when we return to government we will as far as possible correct all the injustices and the abuses of power that the people of Guyana endured at the hand of the last administration. The President at Bath rally committed to working with farmers and ensure that they get back the lands that were taken

igheid and Fort Wellington despite not getting the blessing or approval from the RDC that had control over the land.

The farms, some that had produce were bulldozed to make way for the modern farm project spearheaded by Morrison.

WASTEFUL SPENDING Regional Chairman, Vickchand Ramphal told Guyana Chronicle that approximately 50 farmers were affected by the callous actions of the former

rison as that of waging war against the farmers while assuring the farmers that he will execute the judgement as ordered by the judge.

“The REO acting contrary to the instructions of the RDC began to wage war against farmers who were occupying plots of land here and along the roadway that they were occupying for about 20 years prior. In so doing, he destroyed growing crops, he assaulted several farmers. As a result, we filed legal proceedings. You are aware that we won the case and the REO

A section of the farm with overgrown vegetation

Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, speaking to Region Five farmers is ordered by the judge to pay in excess of $5M in compensation. I have been unable to execute judgement because we had the elections issues for the past five months and judgement came around that period and also with the COVID-19 lockdown.

But as the place is opening back, it is my every intention to execute that judgement and ensure that the farmers receive the damages and the compensation that were ordered by the judge,” Nandlall said.

HAPPY Wilfred Arthur, one of the farmers who were affected said he was happy that he can return to the lands.

He recalled that, at the time he was evicted, he had plantains, cassava, lime and other cash crops that were ready for harvesting and did not receive any compensation.

“I had to switch to making furniture after the land was bulldozed and I lose everything but the furniture is slow and many days we had nothing. When we had a farm, it was easier cause you could pick something and cook but I happy now that we can plant again and even happier that we should be getting we compensation for the damages,” a happy Arthur said.

Nandlall assured the farmers that, despite emerging sectors, agriculture will remain the cornerstone of the economy and every effort will be made to expand the sector even further.

He added: “In our government, the farmers are a significant sector, the agriculture sector remains the base of our economy. I know you are hearing a lot about oil and gas, that is very important too, but our country will remain an agriculture base. Oil and gas and the other new sectors, the revenue will be used to move you from one agricultural stage to another.”

SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 23, 2020

Nandlall giving new law books to State –– reveals his books helped to boot coalition gov’t from office

THE 14 Commonwealth Law Reports, which Anil Nandlall was persecuted for and eventually placed before the court under the APNU+AFC administration, was the same books that assisted him in removing that government from office.

It was alleged that between May 8, 2015, and May 29, 2015, having 14 law reports, valued at $2,313,853 and property of the Ministry of Legal Affairs, Nandlall fraudulently took or converted the law books to his own use and benefit.

Attorney-General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, revealed on Saturday during a virtual press conference that “those very books I was charged for, was very instrumental in removing them from office. Those books served their very purpose to putting them out of office.”

Nandlall explained that a number of cases cited in those books emerged during the legal battles which followed the March 2, 2020, General and Regional Elections.

“The charges are still pending and we will have to see how that proceeds.

I will not use my influence as minister to interfere although an injustice was done to me,” he noted.

Nandlall said if he cannot defend himself and his own property as a lawyer, then he is unfit to represent anybody and unfit to hold office as AG. “An audit was done

by Mr. (Basil) Williams by the Audit Office of Guyana into those law books in February 2016 and the report said in con-

clusions in relation to the law report, the Commonwealth law book/reports acquired by the ministry were not subject to storekeeping procedures and were not required to since the Commonwealth law reports purchased by the ministry during the period was delivered to the former Attorney-General, Anil Nandlall, as part of his conditions of service as attorney-general and Minister of Legal Affairs,” Nandlall said.

He said the 2016 audit report had exonerated him and the law books from any wrong doing “but Basil Williams instructed and directed SOCU to institute those charges against me. When those charges were instituted, I said it publicly that it was never a matter of the books, it was a matter of principle and those books are my property.”

He said he told SOCU representative that if the State was in need of law books, he would donate new ones.

Nandlall then went ahead and ordered the exact 14 books he was accused of taking from the ministry and offered it to the Ministry of Legal Affairs, or any other State agency that was in need.

“I purchased the 14 books and will donate to the State. They refused to accept it and proceeded to charge me for larceny. It was a matter of principle. I could have gone to jail for my property, in defence of my rights.

Whichever arm of the State needs it, I will donate it,” the AG said while holding up one of the new books on Saturday.

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Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, during a virtual press conference, displays his law books against those he purchased to donate to the then coalition government which was not accepted but will be donated to any State agency currently in need

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 23, 2020

Practice makes perfect

Masecimo Hartman

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 23, 2020

Finalisation of National Youth Policy must be priority

–– for Youth Advocacy Committee, says social activist

By Navendra Seoraj YOUTH participation in governance has been a mantra touted by successive governments over the years, and though some may argue that there has been more rhetoric than action, newly elected President, Dr. Irfaan Ali has repeated this commitment and has started work to fulfil it.

Dr. Ali, in a show of his commitment, had sworn in 19 members of Cabinet, comprising a mixture of youthful and well experienced individuals, who have all expressed that they are eager to bring about positive change in Guyana.

This commitment was further extended when the President announced that he will be establishing a Youth Advisory Committee in the coming weeks. He promised that the committee will reflect the country’s rich religious and ethnic diversity.

“The future is theirs; it is right that, even now, they should help to shape it,” said Dr. Ali during his inaugural speech.

According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), youth represents one-third of the world population and over 85 per cent of them live in developing countries. In many places, they represent more than 30 per cent

Social Activist, Derwayne Wills

ment of the social, emotional and cultural skills of young people; the encouragement of

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr. of the population (OECD, 2018), as is the case with Guyana, where approximately 54 per cent of the population are youth.

Considering Guyana’s demographic construct, it is imperative that youth be included in various aspects of governance.

To this end, Social Activist, Derwayne Wills said the idea of a Youth Advisory Committee is a positive step, giving life to Article 13 of Guyana’s Constitution which identifies the main role of the political system in promoting an inclusive democracy by creating opportunities for groups, like youth, to positively engage in decision-making processes of the country, especially decisions that affect their well-being.

Article 13 highlights a process of governance that must be created by central, regional and local governments, which all make up the political system, and the National Assembly.

In an effort to effect change in the existing system and promote youth participation, the previous administration had drafted a National Youth Policy, but discussions around the policy had “dried up” after a while.

The four-year (20172020) policy document had set out a wide-reaching framework of plans, including the improve-

a productive and enterprising youth workforce; the development of quality leadership and

market-oriented skills; the encouragement of leadership, participation and representation and

the promotion of good health; and security and See page 20

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 23, 2020

Finalisation of National Youth ...

From page 14

safety of youths across Guyana.

COMATOSE STATE “High on the agenda for the Youth Advisory Committee and the Minister (Minister of Culture Youth and Sport)

would be the finalisation of Guyana’s National Youth Policy which, bizarrely, remains in a state of comatose despite consultations many years ago,” said Wills.

The document was taken to the Na-

tional Assembly already, debated on and approved by majority. There was nothing since, said the social activist, adding that the youth policy is the social contract between leaders and youth, which form a very large demographic group that remains on the margins of social, economic and political power.

“Actually, the youth policy itself has a shelf-life of approximately four years.

The policy expired this year. Youth as a demographic group is always changing and we are creating more space for inclusion every day.

“What must happen now is a revisiting of the youth policy in full to see if the provisions made four years ago are still relevant today,” Wills advised.

Once that revision is completed through a consultative process involving young people from across Guyana, including their representative groups, an action plan must be created to give life to the youth policy.

He believes there should be specific outcomes, indicators and activities that can be monitored so that when the youth policy is revised again in four years, stakeholders can look to see what worked, what did not work, what can be kept, what must be taken away and what must be revised.

Specifically, on the composition of the Youth Advisory Committee, Wills said the process for appointment should be publicly advertised and open to all, with special considerations and incentives for persons from groups that are usually underrepresented in these consultative processes, for different reasons.

There is no room for exclusion here, said the activist.

“My advice to the government is to give the youth the respect that is owed to them as active, interested citizens of this country,” Wills advised.

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr. echoed the sentiments of Wills, noting that while the committee will fall directly under President Ali, it is still a welcome initiative, which will promote youth participation in governance.

“Having that direct line of youth policy engagement to the leader of the country in the form of the president is important for any president, especially our president who knows the importance of young people,” said Minister Ramson, adding that this is evidenced by the recent appointments to Cabinet.

He believes the committee is an excellent idea, and shows how important young people are to the incumbent.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 23, 2020

Cops help with funeral expenses for slain child

By Indrawattie Natram

COMMANDER of ‘G’ Division, Crystal Robinson and her team defined the true meaning of serving humanity when ranks from the division pooled their resources to help cover the funeral expense of three-year-old Kissoon Williams.

Williams was brutally stabbed on August 15, 2020, by his uncle who went berserk at Bat Creek, Upper Pomeroon River.

After the autopsy was performed by the government pathologists recently, family members told police that they could not afford to offset the funeral expense of the toddler. They related that they were very poor and would welcome any assistance.

Police from the Charity Police Station, along with

members of the business community, immediately came on board and assisted.

The child was interred at Onderneeming and the service was conducted by Suddie Police Station District Cops and Faith group representa-

21

tive, Arlene Paul.

Grandmother of the child, Malinda Daniels, received $35,000 and a coffin to assist. She extended gratitude to the commander of the ‘G’ Division and her team for their kind support.

Police from Charity handing over the money to the grandmother of the deceased

The house where the family lived at Bat Creek, Upper Pomeroon

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 23, 2020

Food supplies shipped off to Region One

THE Civil Defence Commission (CDC), on Friday, handed over 1,200 food hampers to the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs that were donated to provide relief to the residents of Moruca, Region One, who are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the simple handing-over ceremony, Amerindian Affairs Minister, Pauline Sukhai, said “these hampers are being shipped to Santa Rosa from where they will then be transported to the vulnerable communities.

“We say vulnerable because communities under the lockdown were unable to conduct their village activities the way that they should and the lockdown also caused some limitation to supplies, goods and services getting into the area.

Therefore, our response will have an impact in terms of food security and support for those who were unable to work,” said Minister Sukhai.

CDC Director-General, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig acknowledged the support of its partners to this initiative such as the Private Sector Commission (PSC), the

International Office for Migration (IOM), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Food For the

Amerindian Affairs Minister, Pauline Campbell-Sukhai Poor (FFP) and the Rotary Club.

He encouraged other partners to come forward since the CDC welcomes donations of food supplies, personal care and sanitation supplies, or financing. Items can be sent to the CDCs headquarters, Thomas Road, Thomas Lands, daily between the hours of 09:00 hrs to 15.00hrs.

Also, funds can be deposited to the commission’s Republic Bank account number 962356519938.

The communities of Kwebanna, Waramuri, Santa Cruz, Father’s Beach, Manawarin, Assakata, Warapoka, Kariako, Waikarebi, Kokerite and Chinese Landing are the communities that will benefit from the hampers

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 23, 2020

‘Nations’ records 98% pass rate at IGCSE exams

SCHOOL of the Nations has again proved why it is one the leading private academic institutions in the country, producing a 98 per cent pass rate at the recent International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) examinations.

The IGCSE is a widely recognised English language-based examination, which was developed by the University of Cambridge.

Additional Maths, and Environmental Management.

Onsay Grant, a student who achieved five distinctions, one A and three Bs, said she was extremely happy with her results, but said it took hard work and dedication to make it through.

“Much more importantly, these results could never have been achieved without God and prayers, my parents, brothers, teachers, since grade 6 and onward, School of the Nations and their support system and the rest of my family.

“These results have been achieved in a troubling time; therefore, my heart goes out to all the doctors, nurses, healthcare workers and frontline providers who are trying to protect us during the covid-19 pandemic,” said Grant.

The parents of another

Onsay Grant Cambridge University only recently released the revised results of IGCSE and A Levels for more than one million students from 136 countries worldwide.

At School of the Nations, 66 students wrote a total of 407 IGCSE exams in 24

John McGrath

Raymacie Phillips subjects, including six fourth form students who wrote Mathematics. The overall pass rate was 98 per cent, said the university.

In a breakdown of the results, the school said 44 per cent of all exams written by students in fifth form, earned a Distinction, or an A or a B grade.

The school recorded 100 per cent passes in ICT, Business, Accounts, Economics, Global Perspectives, Geography, History, Travel & Tourism, English Literature, English Language, Spanish,

student, John McGrath, who achieved one distinction, five As and four Bs, congratulated School of Nations, their Board of Directors and teachers for the years of hard work, dedication and discipline provided to the students.

Nations Incorporated, formerly Nations University, is a private tertiary education provider which evolved from School of the Nations almost two decades ago. Nations Incorporated runs a number of schools of excellence, offering courses in the fields of Business, Management, Law, Education, Accounting and Technology.

Registered with the National Accreditation Council (NAC) to operate as an educational institution in Guyana, Nations Incorporated offers a wide range of qualifications, including MBA, LLB (add) LLM, MA Education, BA (Top Up) Business Adminis-

tration and a number of Advanced Diplomas and Certificates from vari-

ous awarding bodies, including the University of London, University of

Cambridge, University of Bedfordshire, ACCA, Project Management In-

stitute (PMI) and the Association of Business Executives (ABE).

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Warriors overcome Russell threat to defend...

CONTINUED FROM BACKPAGE

to 100kph, Mujeeb gave it more air and teased King into a slog on a fuller length but the missed swipe resulted in the leg bail being dislodged.

Mujeeb then went back to a quicker, skiddier delivery to greet Shimron Hetmyer, who played for the turn when there was none and dragged a cut onto his leg stump to put Mujeeb on a hat trick.

Two overs later, Mujeeb was at it again against Nicholas Pooran. To a similar line and length ball with which Hetmyer was dismissed, Pooran played for no turn. But on a delivery that was given more air, it produced more turn and clipped the outside edge of an attempted cut for a catch to be snatched

by Glenn Phillips. From 56 for no loss, Mujeeb’s intervention had reduced the Warriors to 67 for 4.

Lamichhane brings the Sand-storm The inability of the Warriors batsmen to handle Lamichhane’s turn resulted in a marvellous display of both economy and wickets, as the Nepal legspinner ended with 2 for 8 from his four overs.

The first wicket came with a bit of fortune as Sherfane Rutherford’s attempted cut to a googly that spun far enough out of reach resulted in a thick edge flying to Mujeeb at short third man.

Lamichhane then fooled Green with a legbreak for his second wicket as the Warriors captain went too far across his stumps and was bowled around his pads to leave the Warriors at 92 for 7. Carlos Brathwaite helped clean up the tail to end with three wickets as the Warriors were bowled out with five balls left unused.

Russell left to clean up top-order mess Green has been a galvanising leader in his short time as the Warriors captain and proved it on this occasion with an inspiring opening spell.

He struck with the first ball of the Tallawahs’ reply, trapping Chadwick Walton lbw with an arm ball. In the third over, he was aided by an extremely favourable decision from umpire Gregory Brathwaite when Nkrumah Bonner missed a pull to a half-tracker that struck Bonner near the waistline.

Debutant left-arm spinner Ashmead Nedd followed up in the next over, gaining extra bounce off his first ball to induce a false cut to point by Phillips, leaving the Tallawahs shell-shocked.

By the time Russell arrived in the 13th over it was 48 for 5, soon to be 50 for 6 when Rovman Powell flat-batted a slower bouncer from Naveen-ul-Haq to long-on.

Accompanied by Lamichhane and then Fidel Edwards for the rest of the innings, Russell regularly turned down singles as he decided on boundaries or nothing as the way to an increasingly unlikely victory. The strategy almost paid off.

With 60 needed from four overs, Russell bashed a pair of boundaries over midwicket and third man off Keemo Paul in an 11-run over.

He then began the 18th over tonking Imran Tahir for back-to-back sixes over the leg side before a cut was misfielded at point to provide another boundary. With 32 needed off 12 balls, he creamed a slower ball from Naveen over midwicket again for six before edging an attempted yorker through third man for four.

Suddenly, 22 from ten looked very gettable. But Naveen held his nerve, mixing up his pace through the final four balls to hold Russell scoreless, an effort which helped earn him Player-of-the-Match award. Edwards took a single off Paul to begin the final over, but Russell scuffed the next two balls to boundary riders, leaving a Tallawahs victory mathematically impossible barring any extras.(ESPN Cricinfo).

SUNDAY CHRONICLE , August 23, 2020

Champions League final today

50-year-old ‘newcomers’ PSG finally make the biggest stage

By Simon Evans

LISBON, Portugal (Reuters) - The Champions League final between Bayern Munich and Paris St Germain today is a clash of two of the modern giants of the European game but in terms of footballing history, the French club are the relative newcomers.

For not only will this be PSG’s first final in the competition, it comes 11 days after they celebrated only their 50th anniversary as a club.

To give some perspective, Bayern are 120 years old while last year’s winners Liverpool were formed in 1892.

Indeed, when Bayern won the first of their five European Cup titles in 1973, PSG were just three years old and playing in the French third division.

While French football has a long and rich history, the capital city was noticeably absent from the elite with Parisians showing little interest in the game, as provincial clubs like St Etienne and Reims enjoyed continental success.

Those in the capital who followed the game made the most of brief moments of promise for the small, older traditional clubs,

Paris Saint-Germain is the first French club to reach the UEFA Champions League final since AS Monaco in 2004.

Red Star and Racing Club, until the creation of PSG. The merger of the new Paris Football Club and Stade Saint-Germanois in 1970 created a team for the changing population of the capital. A French Cup win came in 1982 and four years later, they won their first league title.

With backing from television company Canal Plus, the club attracted top talent such as winger David Ginola and Liberian striker George Weah.

By 1996, the club had made its mark on the international stage with a team featuring Brazil midfielder Rai and France international Youri Djorkaeff helping them win the European Cup Winners’ Cup with a 1-0 victory over Rapid Vienna.

PSG started being able to attract big names, with Ronaldinho joining in 2001, but the key moment of change came 10 years later when Qatar Sports Investment took control of the club.

The Qataris began a huge investment in talent and top managers as they sought to create a ‘superclub’ to match global brands such as Barcelona and Real Madrid.

David Beckham ended his career at PSG

while Zlatan Ibrahimovic brought his huge personality to Paris and, domestically, the club have dominated the French league, winning seven of the last eight championships.

Success in Europe has been harder to find however. For all the money spent, including a world record 222 million euros for Brazilian Neymar, PSG failed to get beyond the quarter-finals stage in the Champions League.

UNTIL THIS YEAR Wins over Italy’s Atalanta and Germany’s RB Leipzig have propelled Thomas Tuchel’s side, powered by local hero Kylian Mbappe, to a place in club football’s biggest game.

Luis Fernandez, who played for the club in the 1970s and ’80s and was manager of the team which won the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1996, appreciates the sense of history.

“Generations follow one another, but you can feel that those who have lived our adventure know it and have loved it,” he said.

“I also remember playing in the Champions League. It’s always a beautiful night of football, it’s a different approach. Every year there are expectations. We opened the way with the Cup Winners’ Cup.”

Clippers top Mavs; Doncic injured

KAWHI Leonard recorded 36 points 9 rebounds 8 assists to lead Los Angeles Clippers over Dallas Mavericks 130-122 on Friday night, to grab a 2-1 lead in a Western Conference first-round playoff series near Orlando.

Dallas star Luka Doncic finished the game watching from the bench due to a sprained left ankle. Doncic had 13 points 10 rebounds 10 assists in 29 minutes, but he hit just 4 of 14 shots from the floor.

Landry Shamet scored 18 points, Ivica Zubac added 15 and Marcus Morris Sr had 14 points to help second-seeded Clippers move to front in the best-of-seven series. Kristaps Porzingis registered 34 points 13 rebounds, Seth Curry added 22 on 9-of-11 shooting, and Tim Hardaway also scored 22 for Mavericks.

Doncic sprained his left ankle with 3:58 left in the third quarter. He couldn’t put weight on the leg and hopped off the court. Doncic returned at the start of the fourth quarter, but he left for good with 9:02 remaining and Mavericks trailing by 15. Doncic underwent X-rays on the ankle,

which he also injured in Game 1 of the series.

Toronto Raptors 117 - Brooklyn Nets 92 Pascal Siakam scored 26 points, Fred VanVleet added 22 and Toronto Raptors never trailed in taking a commanding lead over Brooklyn in their Eastern Conference first-round series.

The second-seeded Raptors own a 3-0 series edge for the first time in team history. They can close out Nets tonight in Game 4.

The Nets’ Tyler Johnson was elevated to the starting lineup and scored a playoff career-high 23 points while starting for Joe Harris, who missed the game for personal reasons.

Boston Celtics 102 - Philadelphia 76ers 94 Boston made three key defensive plays down the stretch and overtook Philadelphia to grab a 3-0 lead in their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series.

Kemba Walker scored a teamhigh 24 points, including a key jumper with 1:05 remaining, that put

third-seeded Boston up by four and set the stage for a possible sweep in the best-of-seven series. Game 4 is set for today.

Joel Embiid led all scorers with 30 points for the sixth-seeded 76ers.

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Utah Jazz 124 - Denver Nuggets

Mike Conley scored 27 points and Rudy Gobert added 24 points 14 rebounds to power Utah to a 2-1 series lead over Denver in their first-round series in the Western Conference playoffs. Game 4 is today.

Donovan Mitchell added 20 points while Georges Niang scored a playoff career-high 16 points off the bench.

Utah earned their second straight lopsided victory over Denver after going 18-for-37 from 3-point range. Conley led the way, going a career-playoff-best 7-for-8 from long distance.

Nikola Jokic scored 15 points and Jamal Murray added 12 to lead Nuggets. Both players added five rebounds six assists. Denver shot just 37.5 percent from the floor, compared to 51.2 percent for the Jazz. (Field Level Media)

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE , August 23, 2020

RHTYSC 30th Anniversary Celebrations 1990-2020

Fudadin, Crandon among players named in RHTYSC All-Time XI team

FORMER West Indies players Assad Fudadin and Royston Crandon were among the notable stars to make the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club’s (RHTYSC) All-Time XI team, that was unveiled recently as part of the club’s 30th anniversary celebrations.

Fudadin, former West Indies Test batsman along with Crandon who represented the Windies in limited overs cricket, headlined a star-studded line-up. The XI also features some of Guyana’s and the Region’s top national cricketers; including Andre Percival, 5-time Regional 4-Day winning coach Esaun Crandon who was named skipper, Delbert Hicks and other familiar Ancient County names.

Two active players who made the cut were former Guyana U-19 skipper Shawn Pereira and veteran off-spinner Eon Hooper. The pair replaced Ravi Narine and Shawn Grant from the last selected all-time eleven.

The batting order is very strong on paper with Batson, Fraser, Fudadin, Crandon, Neil Williams, Percival, Mahadeo and Hicks - all having scored over 6 000 runs in their RHTYSC careers with a combined 38 centuries while Hooper, Crandon and Pereira are useful all-rounders.

Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster stated that a 5-member committee selected the team based on performance

… Campbelle leads female team

Assad Fudadin on the cricket field, personal discipline, team spirit, loyalty to the club and role model status.

He disclosed that numerous RHTYSC members were considered, with Clinton Pestano, Kevlon Anderson, Junior Sinclair, Keith Simpson, Kevin Sinclair, Jason Sinclair, Ravi Narine, Shawn Grant, Abdel Fudadin, Rajiv Ivan, Michael Trim being among those who were unluckily left out.

Esaun Crandon Foster expressed confident that Pestano, Anderson, Junior Sinclair, Kevin Sinclair and Keith Simpson would be included in 2025 in the 35th anniversary all-time team. The RHTYSC was founded in September, 1990 by three-time Commonwealth Youth Service Awardee, the ST. Francis Community Developers. The club is the only youth and sports club in the history of Guyana to receive a national

Shemaine Campbelle

Shabika Gajnabi

award. The All-Time XI team represents the best cricketers in the club’s history Meanwhile the club has also disclosed that West Indies batting star Shemaine Campbelle was named skipper of the club’s All-Time Female XI. The team in batting order is Meliane Henry, Marian Samaroo, Shabika Gajnabi, Shemaine Campbelle, Sheneta Grimmond, Sherika Campbelle, Jackie Singh, Nikita Toney, Dian Prahalad, Plaffina Millington and

Erva Giddings, Gajnabi would serve as the vice-captain.

The RHTYSC is the only cricket club in Guyana to have a female team and every member of the team - except Sherika Campbelle, who is a senior Berbice player - has represented Guyana at either the junior or senior level.

Shemaine Campbelle, Giddings, Gajnabi and Grimmond are all senior West Indies players.

‘Disappointing’: FICA on delay in appointing ICC chairperson

LONDON, UK, (ANI): Heath Mills, one of the directors at the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FICA) has said that the delay in appointing chairperson of the International Cricket Council (ICC) is “unacceptable”.

Mills is also the CEO of New Zealand Players Association and he has added that ICC Board should be looking at the future health of the game.

“It is a very disappointing situation at the moment with the lack of leadership at the international level in our sport. It is a very poor reflection on the game actually.

The previous chairman stepped down a couple of months ago now, but prior to that, I’m not sure how engaged he was there for some time,” ESPNCricinfo quoted Mills as saying.

“And sadly it appears that the ICC Board can’t even organise itself to determine a process to elect a new chairman, let alone appoint someone. It is really disappointing especially at this particular juncture in time when we need global leadership given the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on many countries and the fact that the current events cycle ends in a couple of years.

“Electing a chairperson for any board should be a pretty basic democratic election process and the fact that can’t be achieved should have all cricket people concerned,” he added.

On July 1, ICC Chairman Shashank Manohar had stepped down from the post after two, two-year tenures. The Board had then agreed that deputy chairman Imran Khwaja will be assuming the responsibilities of the chairperson

Heath Mills is worried that the ICC and its member boards are yet to draw up the post-2023 cricket schedule. (Getty Images) until a successor is elected.

“Frankly I just think that’s just unacceptable. Someone needs to stand up and explain to the cricketing stakeholders why they can’t agree with a process, and why all the secrecy?

The ICC Board, whether they like it or not, effectively represents all the various cricketing stakeholders around the world.

“They have a high office and they need to be accountable. We just hope they can get together, agree to a process, elect the leader, and stop any games occurring behind the scenes. At the moment it just feels like everyone’s in a state of inertia,” Mills said.

Over the past few months, there has been severe speculation as to who replaces Shashank

Manohar as ICC chairman.

Earlier, Cricket South Africa’s (CSA) director of cricket, Graeme Smith, caused a huge stir among the cricketing fraternity as he publicly vouched for Sourav Ganguly to head the ICC. However, it is important to note Ganguly has not said anything about wanting to head the ICC. PCB chairman Ehsan Mani was also picked by some to head the apex cricketing body.

However, Mani told ANI that he was never in the fray for the job.

“I was never in the running, I do not aspire for the role and I only came back to serve Pakistan cricket,” Mani had told ANI. (ANI)

Paris police to hand out masks as PSG face Bayern Munich in Champions League final PARIS, France (Reuters) - Paris’ Champs Elysee avenue will be pedestrianised this evening and wearing face masks will be compulsory, officials said on the eve of Paris St Germain taking on Bayern Munich in soccer’s Champions League final.

Several thousand people flocked to the famed avenue on Tuesday night to celebrate the Ligue 1 champions reaching the final of Europe’s premier club tournament for the first time after they beat RB Leipzig.

Few wore protective face gear despite a spike in coronavirus infections in France, while bars were also packed as people watched the game, sparking concern over social distancing.

Police will be deployed to the Champs Elysee and the area around PSG’s Parc des Princes stadium tonight, when PSG meet German champions Bayern in Lisbon, France’s Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said.

They will hand out

face masks to anyone not wearing one, Darmanin added.

“It’s a unique and important moment, I hope you too will respect protective measures,” defender Thiago Silva said on a video distributed by the club on Twitter.

On Friday, the French health ministry reported 4 586 new coronavirus infections over the past 24 hours, after the country reached a post-lockdown record the previous day.

Seventeen metro stations will be closed in Paris this evening, Darmanin said. On Tuesday, 37 people were arrested for disturbances following the semi-final celebrations.

“I’m calling on everyone to act responsibly to ensure (the event) can be an expression of joy and not a source of problems for Parisians,” Darmanin said in televised comments.

Some PSG players also urged fans to take care.

30

SUNDAY CHRONICLE , August 23, 2020

James Wren-Gilkes should be properly honoured – Hutson

By Rawle Toney

PRESIDENT of the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) Aubrey Hutson will be making a plea to recently-named Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr, for his People’s Progressive Party/ Civic Government, to do right by recognising current National 200m record-holder, James Wren-Gilkes.

James Wren-Gilkes, the man who many still believe would have won gold in the men’s 200m at the 1976 Olympic Games, was never shy about speaking on his disappointment at not being able to win what would have been Guyana’s first medal at

an Olympic Games.

Gilkes, now 67, had his hopes crushed when former President Forbes Burnham decided to be one of the 29 countries, mostly African, that boycotted the Montreal Games when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) refused to ban New Zealand, after the New Zealand National Rugby team had toured South Africa earlier in 1976 in defiance of the United Nations’ calls for a sporting embargo.

According to Hutson, the one thing that is not being spoken of was that Gilkes, at the time of Guyana boycotting the 1976 Olympics, was in line to sign an endorsement deal

Hero CPL welcomes more sponsors on board for 2020 season HERO Caribbean Premier League (CPL) recently announced more partners on board for the ongoing 2020 bio-bubble tournament played in Trinidad and Tobago.

Among those who hopped on the CPL party wagon this season are; Turbo who joined as Official Energy Drink, Oasis as Official Water, Lifebuoy as Official Hygiene Partner, Degree as Official Deodorant and Rainforest Seafoods as Official Protein.

Dr Tara Wilkinson-McLean, Sponsorship Manager, said: “We are delighted to welcome these new sponsors to the Hero CPL family and pleased to welcome back Rainforest Seafoods. Hydration, hygiene and nutritious food are very important to a successful event in the bio-bubble, and we thank all of these great brands for their support.”

The Hero CPL is taking place in Trinidad at two venues and is being played behind closed doors as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The final will take place on September 10 at Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (SUNDAY AUGUST 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) TKR defeated GAW by 4 wickets (2) Sunil Narine (TKR) Today’s Quiz: (1)How many matches are scheduled for this

season’s Hero CPL?

(2)Who has scored most runs for the Warriors in all CPL cricket to date? Who has scored most runs for the Warriors in all CPL cricket to date?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

FLASHBACK! James Gilkes (R), competing for USC, crosses the line first against Guy Abrahams during a U.S. Collegiate championship race. (Photo by Bettmann Archive/Getty Images)

with one of the leading athletics brand and the shun had financial ramifications for the Guyanese sprinter.

Hutson, who made the comments while appearing on NCN’s Sports Magazine, hosted by veteran journalist Edwin Seeraj, said while Gilkes, during the last host-

ing of the Aliann Pompey Invitational in Guyana, was honoured along with other Olympians by the Guyana Olympics Association (GOA), the former Fisk University standout is worthy of a higher recognition.

Hutson, whose AAG met with Minister Ramson last

week during the Minister’s interaction of sports associations and federations, said soon, the local governing body for track and field in Guyana, will be making a formal pitch to the Government on Gilkes’ behalf.

At the 1976 Olympic Games, after Guyana did not participate, Gilkes could have only watched in tears as Jamaica’s Donald Quarrie win gold in the men’s 200m.

Quarrie, whom Gilkes usually defeated in the distance, ran 20.23 seconds to win ahead of Americans Millard Hampton (20.29s) and Dwayne Evans (20.43s).

Gilkes’ time of 20.14 seconds in the 200 metres, ran in 1978 in Berlin, German, still stands as Guyana’s National record.

Gilkes won gold at the 1975 Pan Am Games in Mexico City, running 20.43 seconds ahead of the USA’s Larry Brown (20.69s) and current president of the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association, from The Bahamas, Mike Sands (20.98s).

Cuba’s 1980 Olympics 100m silver medallist, Silvio Leonard, had the better

of Gilkes in the 1979 Pan Am Games in the 200m at the event that year, running 20.37 seconds, relegating the Guyana to silver (20.43s) and American Don Coleman to third (20.56s).

At the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, Canada, Allan Wells, who went on to win gold (100m) and silver (200m) for England at the 1980 Olympic Games, finished first ahead of Gilkes in the 200m.

Wells ran 20.12 seconds to narrowly defeat Gilkes, who had clocked 20.18 seconds. Jamaica’s Colin Bradford was third (20.43s).

Competing at the Weltklasse Zürich, in Switzerland, which fell under the IAAF Golden Sprints, Gilkes, in 1979, took bronze in the men’s 200m. The event is by invitation only and featured only the world’s top elite athletics.

Gilkes was also a standout athlete at Fisk University and the University of Southern California (USC) and as of 2012, he was still ranked in the top 10 alltime performers for the USC Trojans at 100m and 200m.

Williams says U.S. Open title would not be diminished by pullouts (REUTERS) - Serena Williams believes the withdrawal of some of the world’s top tennis players from this year’s U.S. Open amid the COVID-19 pandemic will not take the shine off a potential record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title for her.

Six of the top 10 women’s players, including defending champion Bianca Andreescu and world number 1 Ash Barty, have dropped out of the August 31-September 13 U.S. Open, boosting Williams’ chance of winning the major for the first time since 2014.

“It still has to be tennis that’s played, asterisks or not,” the six-time U.S. Open champion told reporters on Friday. “I think this whole year deserves an asterisk,

Serena Williams of the U.S. during the match against China’s Qiang Wang at the Australian Open - Third Round - Melbourne Park, Australia - January 24, 2020.

(REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach)

because it’s such a special year - history we have never been through in this world.”

“I think we are living a future history lesson. I think regardless, there is

always going to be some asterisk by it, because it’s never been done before.

“If you win, it was, like, wow, I was able to win in this crazy circumstance

where there were no fans.

It was just so sterile and weird, but I mentally came through. It might be a more mental test than anything.”

Williams, who has a history of blood clots and pulmonary embolisms, said she had concerns over travelling to New York and is living in a rented house instead of the official players’ hotel as a precaution.

“I have health issues and I don’t necessarily want to get sick, and if I do, I want the good version,” she said.

“I didn’t want to be in the hotel because I have lung issues and felt it was a big risk for me personally. In a house, I can control more. I needed to put my mind at rest so that I could perform.”

31

SUNDAY CHRONICLE , August 23, 2020

England dominate Pakistan after Crawley 267, Buttler 152

ZAK Crawley’s superlative 267 and 152 from Jos Buttler led an England run-fest on the second day of the final Test against Pakistan at the Ageas Bowl.

Crawley, 22, became the third-youngest England player to make a double-century and posted their 10th highest score in history.

Buttler overturned being given out on 99 to complete his second Test ton and their fifth-wicket stand of 359 is England’s best of all-time as well as their joint-sixth best for any wicket.

Chris Woakes, Dom Bess and Stuart Broad had some fun to lift England to 583-8 declared, their highest total in four years.

They gave Pakistan just under an hour to bat, in which time James Anderson bowled beautifully to remove Shan Masood, Abid Ali and Babar Azam.

Pakistan closed on 24-3, while Anderson is only four short of becoming the first pace bowler to reach 600 Test wickets.

Even if Pakistan can rouse themselves to save this match, England - already leading 1-0 - are set to win the series.

ENGLAND GRIND PAKISTAN DOWN If the work Crawley and Buttler did on day one, when they took England to 332-4, flattened Pakistan, their relentless march on day two demoralised the tourists.

After a stop-start morning which

was twice interrupted by rain, Crawley in particular was so free-flowing there were times when it felt like he was toying with the bowling.

Not that the tourists bowled badly.

There was a period in the morning session when they challenged the England pair and wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan was excellent with the gloves throughout.

But by late afternoon, with the sun shining and wind gusting, Pakistan were out of ideas, waiting and hoping for the declaration.

When it came, their top order was tortured in the fading light by England’s new-ball pair Anderson and Broad, who were followed by Jofra Archer bowling 90mph rockets.

SCOREBOARD

England’s Jos Buttler celebrates his century, as play resumes behind closed doors. (Alastair Grant/Pool via REUTERS)

Highest scores by an England batsman in Test cricket 1. 364 - Len Hutton (Eng v Aus, 1938) 6. 294 - Alastair Cook (Eng v Ind, 2011) 2. 336* - Wally Hammond (Eng v NZ, 1933) 7. 287 - Tip Foster (Eng v Aus, 1903) 3. 333 - Graham Gooch (Eng v Ind, 1990) 8. 285* - Peter May (Eng v WI, 1957) 4. 325 - Andy Sandham (Eng v WI, 1930) 9. 278 - Denis Compton (Eng v Pak, 1954) 10. 267 - Zak Crawley (Eng v Pak, 2020) 5. 310* - John Edrich (Eng v NZ, 1965) Left-hander Masood overturned being given lbw to Broad before he yet again fell to Anderson, lbw to an inswinger, Abid edged an outswinger to Dom Sibley at third slip and Babar Azam was leg-before to the last ball of the day.

CLASSY CRAWLEY’S PLACE IN HISTORY What was so impressive about the 171 Crawley racked up on Friday was the ease and elegance with which he

amassed his runs.

After starting patiently yesterday - he took 25 deliveries to add to his account - Crawley again played all around the wicket with impunity.

Not since Kevin Pietersen’s prime has an England batsman dominated an attack and scored with such freedom.

Two strokes - an inside-out drive over extra cover for six off the leg-spin of Yasir Shah and a reverse-sweep from outside leg stump to the cover boundary off the off-spin of Asad Shafiq - were particularly audacious.

Kuggeleijn, Chase deny Patriots as Zouks win again TAROUBA, Trinidad, (CMC) – St Kitts and Nevis Patriots crumbled under the pressure of a record run chase and plummeted to a 10-run defeat to St Lucia Zouks to remain winless in the Caribbean Premier League here yesterday.

In pursuit of a venue-high 173 at the Brian Lara Stadium, Patriots started strongly but then fell away badly in the middle overs, as Black Caps seamer Scott Kuggeleijn with four for 33 and West Indies off-spinner Roston Chase, with three for 12, tore through the innings with an impressive fourover spells.

Former Test captain Denesh Ramdin, in his first season with Patriots, top-scored with 46 from 35 deliveries while opener Evin Lewis chipped in with 29 from 20 balls, but neither carried on and the remainder of the Patriots batting collapsed around them.

Tail-ender Sheldon Cottrell slammed a cameo 11-ball 26 not out at the death but the effort was a little too late, leaving patriots adrift on 162 for eight from their allotted 20 overs.

Opener Andre Fletcher had earlier top-scored with a chancy 46 off 33 balls as Zouks gathered 172 for six off their 20 overs to mark the highest total of the tournament.

Mohammad Nabi smashed an unbeaten 35 off 22 deliveries to give Zouks impetus towards the end while Trinidadian Mark Deyal punched a 17-ball 30 and Najibullah Zadran supported with 28 from 24 balls.

Sent in, Zouks lost Rahkeem

Off-spinner Roston Chase picked up three wickets.

Cornwall to illness in the third over and three sixes as Zouks gathered an with the score on 17, the burly important 35 runs from the last three all-rounder forced off with a spell of overs. dizziness after making just four.

In reply, Patriots lost wickets But Deyal arrived to rip into constantly and quickly found themPatriots’ bowling, combining with selves 54 for three in the seventh over.

Fletcher to stretch the first wicket Chris Lynn (14) was brilliantly stand to 73 with entertaining stroke- caught at square leg by a leaping play.

Najibullah Zadran in the third over, Fletcher, put down on 21 and Joshua DaSilva (1) holed out to long then again on 38, struck six fours and on in the fifth over off Chase who then one six while the left-handed Deyal had Lewis caught behind cutting after smashed three sixes – all clean blows striking four fours and two sixes. over mid-wicket.

Ramdin, who belted two fours Off-spinner Jon-Russ Jaggesar and sixes, tried to rescue the run chase, (2-29) then prised out both Fletcher posting 34 for the fourth wicket with and Roston Chase (4) to trigger a Ben Dunk (5) and a further 25 for the slide which saw five wickets tumble fifth wicket with Kieran Powell (7). for 35 runs, and suddenly Zouks were However, once Powell miscued tottering on 137 for seven at the start to the keeper off Kuggeleijn in the of the 18th over.

14th over and Ramdin skied the However, Nabi changed the com- same bowler to Nabi at long on in plexion of the innings, belting a four the 16th over, the run chase fizzled.

At 22 years and 201 days, Crawley is behind only Len Hutton and David Gower in the list of England’s youngest double-centurions.

He was primed to make England’s first triple-century since Graham Gooch 30 years ago when he ran past a Shafiq delivery and was stumped down the leg side, leaving to congratulations from the entire Pakistan team.

BUTTLER’S BEST Midway the first Test of this series, Buttler was under pressure, not

ENGLAND 1st innings Rory Burns c Shan Masood b Shaheen Afridi 6 Dominic Sibley lbw Yasir Shah 22 Zak Crawley stp. Mohammad Rizwan b Asad Shafiq 267 Joe Root c Mohammad Rizwan b Naseem Shah 29 Ollie Pope b Yasir Shah 3 Jos Buttler c & b Fawad Alam 152 Chris Woakes c Yasir Shah b Fawad Alam 40 Dom Bess not out 27 Stuart Broad b Shaheen Afridi 15 Extras: (b-4, lb-13, nb-3, w-1)22 Total: (154.4 overs) 583 decl.

Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-73, 3-114, 4-127, 5-486, 6-530, 7-547, 8-583.

Bowling: Shaheen Afridi

scoring enough runs to compensate for his mistakes behind the stumps.

Then came a match-winning innings at Emirates Old Trafford, followed by this; complete vindication of England’s faith, his highest first-class score and one that has made him the leading Test run-scorer of the summer.

After he resumed on 87, there was the heart-stopping moment when he was one run short of a century. Given out caught behind off Mohammad Abbas, the immediate review showed the bat had brushed the pad.

From the next ball he completed

33.4-5-121-2 (w-1, nb-3), Mohammad Abbas 33-882-0, Yasir Shah 39-3-1732, Naseem Shah 27-6-1091, Fawad Alam 12-0-46-2, Shan Masood 3-1-11-0, Asad Shafiq 7-0-24-1 (nb1).

PAKISTAN 1st innings Shan Masood lbw James Anderson 4 Abid Ali c Dominic Sibley b James Anderson 1 Azhar Ali not out 4 Babar Azam lbw James Anderson 11 Extras: (b-1, lb-1, w-2) 4 Total: (three wkys, 10.5 overs) 24 Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-11, 3-24.

Bowling: James Anderson 5.5-1-13-3, Stuart Broad 3-1-6-0, Jofra Archer 2-03-0 (w-1).

his second hundred two years after his first, but it was not the signal for Buttler to slip into limited-overs destruction.

Instead he remained patient throughout, leaving the ball with care.

He added only 27 runs between lunch and tea and at one stage went almost 38 overs without finding the boundary.

His determined accumulation was ended with a tame pat back to bowler Fawad Alam, signalling England’s acceleration towards the declaration. (BBC Sport)

Local boxing referee/judges receive certificates

Steve Ninvalle (seated centre) is flanked by Shenice Agard and Richard Braithwaite (left). Elton Chase (right) and Jermaine Craig are at the back.

FIVE local referee/judges, who participated in the historic two-day seminar recently for Caribbean officials, were presented with certificates on Friday.

The certificates were presented

by Americas Boxing Confederation (AMBC) vice-president Steve Ninvalle who organised the seminar.

Over 150 officials from the En-

glish-speaking Caribbean, Curacao, Haiti and Suriname participated.

Guyana was represented by AIBA One-Stars Lawrence Assanah and Richard Braithwaite and Elton Chase, Guyana’s first and only AIBA-certified International Technician Officer (ITO).

Jermaine Craig, Shenice Agard and Colin Rodney made up the rest of the local team.

Jubilant Amazon Warriors players celebrate after recording a dramatic 14-run win over the Jamaica Tallawahs.(CPL photo)

Warriors overcome Russell threat to defend lowest total in CPL history

By Rawle Toney DENMARK-based Golden Jaguars defender, Matthew Briggs, says he’s anxious to get into action for Guyana in the Qatar 2022 World Cup Qualifier.

Golden Jags will roar against rivals Trinidad and Tobago on October 8 in their opening Group F game at a venue to be announced in the Twin Island Republic.

After their clash with the ‘Trinis’, Guyana will return home to face The Bahamas on Tuesday October 13.

On November 13, Guyana will travel to St Kitts and Nevis for their third game and then host Puerto Rico three days later.

The first round will be played in a single round-robin format, meaning each team will play four matches; two (at) home and two away, during the FIFA International match window.

“Feels good and I’m buzzing to finally be able to play in the World Cup qualifiers especially since the last time we played in the Qualifiers, I was unable to play and now going into it off the back of our recent Gold Cup tournament is a great feeling and it shows how far our national team has come,” Briggs told Chronicle Sport in an exclusive interview.

Briggs, who is currently training with Vejle Boldklub in the Denmark’s Superliga, the country’s highest league, first tasted International football for the Golden Jaguars in March of 2015.

Briggs played an instrumental role in Guyana’s 2–0 win over Grenada at Guyana National Stadium on March 28, 2015. However, FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee overturned the result in favour of the men from the ‘Spice Isle’, claiming that the former Fulham FC English Premier League defender was ineligible to play for Guyana, since back then, he was yet to receive his Guyanese passport.

According to the FIFA Disciplinary Com-

FLASH BACK! Guyana’s Matthew Briggs (20) gets tangled up with USA forward Gyasi Zardes (9) during the first half in the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup at Allianz Field. (Photo by Leila Navidi/Star Tribune via Getty Images)

Briggs looking forward to Qatar 2020 World Cup Qualifiers

A valiant effort from Andre Russell with the bat fell just short in the Jamaica Tallawahs’ chase after a sterling spin-bowling display by Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Sandeep Lamichhane in the first innings was neutralised by Chris Green as the Guyana Amazon Warriors battled back after being bowled out for 118 to record a dramatic 14-run win and the lowest successful defence in Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) history at the Brian Lara Academy.

What seemed a simple target at the innings break turned into a steep uphill climb moments after the start of the reply as Green shocked the Tallawahs top order to leave them reeling at 4 for 3 in the fourth over.

(Scores: Guyana Amazon Warriors 118 (King 29, Brathwaite 3-14, Lamichhane 3-18) beat Jamaica Tallawahs 104 for 7 (Russell 52*, Green 2-10) by 14 runs The middle order soon went into their shell, culminating in 80 dot balls out of the 120 legal deliveries as the Warriors set a new mark for the lowest total successfully defended in CPL history.

Mujeeb mixes his speeds The Afghanistan mystery spinner was too much to handle for the Warriors, dismantling a red-hot start in the powerplay from Brandon King and Chandrapaul Hemraj.

After darting in his stock ball close

TURN TO PAGE 28

mittee, who met and deliberated over the matter before handing down the sanction, GFF was liable for the violation of Article 5 of the regulations governing the application of the Statutes as well as Article 55 paragraph 2 of FIFA Disciplinary Code, for having fielded the player, Matthew Briggs, without holding Guyanese nationality.

FIFA further noted that the match was declared a loss by forfeit by Guyana (3-0), citing FIFA Disciplinary Code. In addition, the Federation was ordered to pay a fine to the amount of 4 000 Swiss Francs.

Fast forward to over four years later, Briggs returned to the National team when Guyana qualified for the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup. According to Briggs, being kept out by a (then) unresolved issue of eligibility for the run-up to the 2018 World Cup Qualifiers where Guyana went out following their defeat to St Vincent and the Grenadines, was very “disappointing”.

“I’m happy that I can get an opportunity to once again suit up for Guyana. It’s always a pleasure. However, I know we have a chance to advance and I’m sure the guys are also excited to step out and give our best for our country,” Briggs noted.

Golden Jaguars’ best run in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers came during the lead-up to the 2014 tournament in Brazil, where they had reached the penultimate round of the CONCACAF zone.

It was during that run they had a memorable showing against Trinidad and Tobago on November 11, 2011 at Guyana National Stadium where Guyana had won 2-1, thanks to goals from Ricky Shakes and former English Premier League player Leon Cort.

Guyana only played Puerto Rico twice at the senior level internationally, with the U.S. territory winning 2-0 in 1993, and Golden Jaguars, with a goal from defender King Solomon Austin, winning 1-0 in 2016.

The clash against St Kitts and Nevis will mark the third meeting for Guyana, but it will also be the first time the two countries are clashing in a World Cup qualification tournament.

England dominate Pakistan after Crawley 267, Buttler 152 Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

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SUNDAY,AUGUST 23, 2020