Guyana Chronicle E-paper 9-20-2020

20th September 2020

’ No. 106128

People must live in dignity – Min. Rodrigues announces $1.7B to make serviced lots available 03 PAGE

Two dead, five injured in Lusignan Prison protest 8

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First Lady Aria Ali and these beautiful children on Saturday unveiled a mosaic of the national map showing the importance of working together for a more unified Guyana. The project is a collaboration between the Office of the First Lady and Impressions Branding, and is in keeping with the First Lady’s ‘One Guyana’ platform. Quite fittingly, the map was unveiled at the ‘I LOVE GUYANA’ sign in Kingston, Georgetown. Mrs. Ali, in brief remarks, underscored that Guyana’s children are the future of the country, and all should open their hearts wide and continue to stay true to the country’s motto: One People, One Nation, and One Destiny (Adrian Narine photo)

First Lady Arya Ali and these beautiful children on Saturday unveiled a mosaic of the national map showing the importance of working together for a more unified Guyana. The project is a collaboration between the Office of the First Lady and Impressions Branding, and is in keeping with the First Lady’s ‘One Guyana’ platform. Quite fittingly, the map was unveiled in the vicinity of the ‘I LOVE GUYANA’ sign in Kingston, Georgetown. Mrs. Ali, in brief remarks, underscored that Guyana’s children are the future of the country, and all should open their hearts wide and continue to stay true to the country’s motto: One People, One Nation, and One Destiny (Adrian Narine photo)

Five more arrested as investigations deepen into Henry boys’ murder 9 PAGE

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE September 20, 2020

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE September 20, 2020

People must live in dignity –- Min. Rodrigues announces $1.7B to make serviced lots available

–– funds to be used for acquisition of land from NICIL, GuySuCo and GL&SC

By Navendra Seoraj BUILDING on its promises and actions in the past, the new People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government has renewed its commitment to making housing available and affordable for every Guyanese, starting with the allocation of $1.7 billion for infrastructural development to make serviced lots available.

Arguing that the former APNU+AFC administration couldn’t care less about “housing the nation”, Minister within the Ministry of Housing, Susan Rodrigues said: “Under the APNU+AFC administration, there was a lazy, haphazard, uninspiring approach to housing, with emphasis on allocations and not on providing housing/shelter for Guyanese.”

Contrary to what obtained under the past administration, the new government is committed to making housing affordable through a housing development programme, which is designed to implement national housing and settlement policies through an efficient, well-planned, coordinated and structured

framework.

“As in our Manifesto for the 2020 elections, and indeed for all the elections going back to 1992, we are determined to enable every Guyanese family to have a proper home in a safe, secure and proper neighbourhood; not as squatters or as tenants, but as responsible and proud owners, with titles that Banks and other lending institutions will regard as good security,” said Minister Rodrigues during her recent presentation to the National Assembly.

In giving a detailed breakdown of the new government’s plans for housing, the minister first said that $1.7 billion has been allocated for infrastructural development to make serviced lots available, and this allocation includes funds for the acquisition of lands from the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GL&SC).

Additionally, $292.8 million has been budgeted for the preparation of land for residential lots. This allocation will be used for the construction of roads and bridges to access lands for

preparatory work in RechtDoor-Zee; Block AI Annandale; Cummings Lodge; Industry; Vigilance; Lethem; and Kwakwani among many other locations.

“So, Guyanese can look forward to an aggressive and fair allocation exercise as these lots become available,” Minister Rodrigues said.

This exercise, she said, will be different from the past administration’s massive distribution of house lots in the lead up to the General and Regional Elections.

POLITICAL GIMMICK “This was a political gimmick, and in the period following, as a final grab before the official announcement of their defeat,” the minister argued, noting that from January to July 2020 alone, the former administration made 1,987 allocations, of which only 251 titles were processed.

In continuing her argument, the minister said: “These lots were allocated to our people in areas not even under the ownership of CH&PA; a far cry from the promised community experience.

“This PPP/C administration will rectify that, and deliver serviced lots through a comprehensive and coordinated approach between CH&PA and GWI, so that Guyanese can live in dignity, and not be pumping water from the canal two years after occupying their lots, like the residents in Lust-en-Rust.”

APNU+AFC, in their 2018 budget presentation, had promised Guyanese “a community experience”, which would have entailed not just units or lots, but also roads, drainage, sidewalks, lighting, social services and recreational facilities.

This “failed promise”, will be realised by the new government, said Minister Rodrigues, noting that $200 million has already been budgeted for the procurement of electrical line hardware material for installation of electricity in 16 housing areas, including Cummings Lodge; Annandale; Prospect; No. 79 Skeldon Estate Backland; No. 75 Village; Hampshire; and Williamsburg.

Essential to the development of housing schemes is the adequate supply of potable water, so the government has also budgeted $80 million for the installation

of wells at Lust-en-Rust and Prospect.

“Mr. Speaker, many residents in housing areas on the West Demerara, East Bank Essequibo, East Berbice, Lethem and Linden suffer greatly from poor security, especially single-mothers who fear to get home, or to venture out after the sun sets,” said Minister Rodrigues.

After assessing the problem, government has allocated $49.2 million for LED street lamps in 16 housing areas, including Belle West; Schoonord; Zeelugt; Uitvlugt; Farm; Covent Garden; Herstelling; Peter’s Hall; Kilcoy/Chesney; and Wisroc among other areas.

Work will also be completed on the upgrading of 4km of main access roads, and bridges to industrial and commercial areas in Prospect, Perseverance, Little and Great Diamond; $150 million is allocated for these projects.

MORE LOTS The upgrading of the main access road and bridges for private developers in Prospect and Perseverance will allow for access and commencement of work on approximately 500 house lots, while the upgrading

Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues of the main access road for industrial and commercial purposes in Little and Great Diamond will allow for access and commencement of work on a further 300 house lots.

Another $150 million has been proposed for the upgrading of 3km roads to asphaltic concrete in La Parfaite Harmonie; Herstelling; Eccles; and Zeelugt. This will bring great relief to more than 800 people, or 200 existing house lot beneficiaries.

This 2020 programme sets the conditions for the ‘awakening’ of the housing sector under the PPP/C, said Minister Rodrigues.

2,000+ land transports and titles to be distributed in next 4 months

THE Ministry of Housing and Water’s Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) will be distributing over 2,000 land transports and tittles within the next four months.

According to subject minister, Collin Croal, the processing of these documents had slowed tremendously under the previous administration, reducing the rate of security of tenure and land title distribution.

“In 2014, under the PPP/C, 4079 transports were processed. At

best the Coalition did 2556; and at worse 1,207 during the period 20152019,” the minister said.

The security of tenure gives the applicant the right to occupy the land, and a delay could result in significant losses and other implications for applicants and restrict developments in the housing sector.

A new board was installed at CH&PA to reduce the backlog.

Minister Croal also recommitted to the allocation of 10,000 house lots Minister of Housing and Water, per year, over the next five years, Collin Croal

in line with the PPP/C’s Manifesto promise.

Citizens can also look forward to seeing bolstered measures to improve water service, transportation networks, and to ensure affordability through access to sustainable financing options and mortgage relief.

Budget 2020 highlights the importance of these and other initiatives, with plans to inject over $3 billion into the housing sector and $2.8 billion for Guyana Water Incorporated. (DPI)

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE September 20, 2020

Ruth Bader Ginsburg: Trump wants replacement 'without delay'

(BBC) President Donald Trump has said he wants a new US Supreme Court judge to be sworn in "without delay", following the death of the long serving liberal justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg.

Ginsburg, 87, died on Friday, just six weeks before the presidential election.

Mr Trump's Democrat rival, Joe Biden, insists the decision on her replacement must wait until after the vote.

The ideological balance of the nine-member court is crucial to its rulings on the most important issues in US law.

In 2016, Senate Republicans blocked Democratic President Barack Obama's pick for the US top court.

At the time, Senate Majority

Leader Mitch McConnell justified the move on grounds that it was an election year.

But on Friday Senator McConnell said he intended to act on any nomination Mr Trump made.

Ginsburg, a liberal icon and feminist standard-bearer, died of metastatic pancreatic cancer at her home in Washington DC, surrounded by her family. She was only the second-ever woman to sit on the US Supreme Court.

Supporters gathered outside the court on Friday night to pay tribute to the woman who had become affectionately known as "The Notorious RBG".

What is the row about?

The appointment of judges in the US is a political question which means the

president gets to choose who is put forward. The Senate then votes to confirm - or reject - the choice.

Ginsburg, who served for 27 years, was one of only four liberals on the nine-seat bench. Her death means that, should the Republicans get the vote through, the balance of power would shift decisively towards the conservatives.

Mr Trump, who has already chosen two Supreme Court justices during his presidency, is well aware that getting his nominee in would give conservatives

Trump's nominee will receive a vote on the floor of the United States Senate".

The senator had argued in 2016 that "the American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court Justice" which meant "this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new president".

But now he says the Senate was within its rights to act because it was Republican-controlled, and Mr Trump is a Republican president.

Democrats, however, began echoing Mr McConnell's words from 2016.

The Senate Democratic leader, Chuck Schumer, sent a tweet repeating his exact phrase, while Mr Biden told reporters: "There is no doubt - let me be clear - that the voters should pick the president and the president should pick the justice for the Senate to consider."

Ginsburg had also made her feelings clear in the days before her death.

"My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed," she wrote in a statement to her granddaughter, according to National Public Radio (NPR).

Ex-UK diplomat suspected of selling information to undercover Chinese spies

(BBC) A former British diplomat is under investigation for allegedly selling information to undercover Chinese spies, a Whitehall official says.

Fraser Cameron, who

Sunday, September 20, 2020–– 5:30hrs & 7:00

control over key decisions for decades to come. Justices can serve for life, unless they decide to retire.

"We were put in this position of power and importance to make decisions for the people who so proudly elected us, the most important of which has long been considered to be the selection of United States Supreme Court Justices. We have this obligation, without delay!," he wrote on Twitter on Saturday.

Earlier, Mr McConnell said in a statement which included a tribute to Ginsburg - that "President

runs the EU-Asia Centre think tank, is suspected of passing sensitive information about the EU to two spies allegedly posing as Brussels-based journalists.

He is alleged to have

exchanged the information for thousands of Euros.

But Mr Cameron told The Times the allegations were "ridiculous".

The former diplomat, who has worked for the Foreign Office and European Commission, says he has no access to any "secret or confidential information".

He told Politico that the allegations "are without foundation", saying he has "a wide range of Chinese contacts as part of my duties with the EU-Asia Centre and some of them may have a double function".

A senior Whitehall official, who asked not to be named, told the BBC the investigation had been a long-running joint inquiry between British and Belgian intelligence and claimed that a breakthrough had

come in recent months.

He said this was a great example of how closely British intelligence worked with its European partners.

The BBC's security correspondent Frank Gardner says there have been growing fears about the extent of covert Chinese intelligence-gathering in Europe, including over sensitive negotiations between the EU and Britain over Brexit.

Belgium's state security service is quoted by the Financial Times as saying Mr Cameron's alleged actions posed "a clear threat towards the European institutions" based in the Belgian capital.

The investigation is reportedly being run by Belgium's federal prosecutors.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE September 20, 2020

--paving the way for the indigenous leaders of today

By Naomi Parris

particularly passionate in his fight for equal opportunities for Indigenous Peoples during his tenure as a politician.

GUYANA is celebrating Indigenous Heritage Month and although this year’s celebration has been jolted by COVID-19, the AN ADVOCATE FOR HIS PEOPLE Ministry of Amerindian Affairs and several A strong believer in empowerment and other stakeholders have so far managed to self-sufficiency, Campbell fought vigorously host a number of virtual events within the during his parliamentary days for educational past few weeks. Guyanese can expect to opportunities and land rights for indigenous see even more exciting programmes in the communities. upcoming days.

During the colonial days, the then rulers However, if one were to ask, why was allowed Amerindians to live their life in ‘resSeptember selected for the recognition of In- ervations’, according to their traditions and digenous Heritage Month, very few might be practices, subject to certain limitations. able to respond competently.

The answer to that question can be summed up in the name of one man, Stephen Campbell.

On December 26, 1897, in Santa Rosa, Moruca, British Guiana, Maria Dos Santos and her husband, Tiburtio Campbell welcomed their baby boy, Stephen Esterban Campbell, who, little did they know, would one day become a legend and hero for many Amerindians and Guyanese.

Unfortunately, neither of his parents lived to see him become a living legend. Following the death of his parents, Campbell, who, belonged to the Arawak Tribe, was raised by his grandmother where he attended the Catholic Santa Rosa Primary School.

There is not much information about him in his teenage years, nevertheless, he was described as a man who never limited his a abilities to naysayers, which led him to become the first Indigenous politician to become a Stephen Campbell with a petition presented at the member of the British Guiana London Constitutional Conference Legislative Council that is now called Parliament.

He entered the Council on September 10, However, Amerindians at that time had no 1957; hence, September was chosen to hon- formal title of ownership or established legal our the national contribution of Indigenous rights to the lands which they used or where Guyanese. they lived, which saw fear arising when there HE DID IT ALL were talks of then British Guiana becoming an Campbell was the holder of many profes- Independent country. sional caps. He was a teacher at various villagThe people feared that after the country es and settlements, from the Pomeroon to the gained Independence, whatever rights they Rupununi. According to research, his teaching enjoyed would have been trampled upon and career allowed him to interact with persons ignored and the lands on which they lived and of various cultures and beliefs. He worked in built their families on for thousands of years bauxite mines and he did farming. His work would have been expropriated. with common labourers and the difficulties he In 1962, Campbell travelled to London to endured, certainly shaped his views and influ- present a petition and lobby the British govenced his activism for education for Indigenous ernment for recognition of Amerindian land Peoples. rights. On that first visit to London, Campbell Campbell was at the age of 60 when he took with him a petition which was written on a entered party politics, joining a party called long scroll and signed by dozens of Indigenous the National Labour Front (NLF). He was leaders of the day. He presented it to the British

Secretary of State, Duncan Sandys, in London, after having a private, one-hour meeting with him.

Sadly on May 12, 1966, two weeks before British Guiana gained Independence, Campbell passed away while he was receiving treatment in Canada where he was later laid to rest.

However, the works

that he did during his last days made sure that when Guyana attained its Independence on May 26 1966, Indigenous Peoples

had legal ownership of land and rights of occupancy and these were embodied in the Independence provisions.

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THE late Minister within the Ministry of Education Dr. Desrey Caesar-Fox, has contributed immensely to the awareness of every aspect of Guyana’s indigenous people’s culture and Guyana needs to keep her memory alive, primarily because she was such a shining example of what our First Peoples can achieve when provided requisite opportunities, such as those promised to Amerindians in the PPP/C Manifesto.

At an inaugural lecture at the Umana Yana in Kingston in June 2012, organised by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport under the then PPP/C Government, to honour the life and work of the late minister within the Ministry of Education, a number of prominent persons reflected on Dr Fox’s many accomplishments and her passion for the development and preservation of Amerindian languages.

At the time of her death, Dr. Fox, along with Ms Teixeira and Foreign Affairs Minister, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, was in the process of translating the National Anthem into the nine Amerindian languages Dr. Fox was born on January 2, 1956, at Waramadong Village, Region Seven and was Christened Desrey Clementine Caesar. She was awarded a nursing scholarship in 1973, and was a trained midwife at the Georgetown Hospital School of Nursing.

She secured a Master of Arts in Environmental Anthropology from the University of Kent at Canterbury in the United Kingdom in 1997, then a PhD in Linguistics from Rice University in Houston, Texas, in 2003, and a Master of Arts in Linguistics at the same university in 2003. She also obtained a BSc in Sociology from the University of Guyana.

After completing her primary education, Fox was sent to Georgetown to attend Secondary School, but, after just two terms, she was forced through penurious circumstances to return to Waramadong.

However, teachers from the coastland came to the village and tutored the children, preparing them to write the GCE Exams.

Minister Fox became one of the founding members of the Amerindian Language Project at the University of Guyana, subsequently called the Amerindian Research Unit.

Fox spent 29 years at the Amerindian Affairs Unit, where she became instrumental in the publishing of many publications on Amerindian languages and culture, as well as dictionaries on Amerindian languages, which were re-

printed by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport.

She had also helped to produce the radio programme , ‘Focus on Amerindians,” with the intention of demystifying the hinterland.

She went on to pursue a degree in Sociology at the University of Guyana and was awarded the Dennis Irving Prize.

In 1996, Fox won a European Union scholarship to read for the Master of Arts in Environmental Anthropology at the University of Kent at Canterbury. For her Masters dissertation, she decided to study the age-old tale of the Kanaimas.

She excelled at Rice and subsequently became president of the University’s Graduate School. In 2000, she won the Robert Lowery Pattern Prize from her university. In 2001, she won the “Who’s Who among students in American University Award” from Rice. That same year she also won Rice University’s ‘Women’s Impact Award’. In 2002, she was the recipient of the Post-Doctoral National Science Foundation Grant to complete her studies at Rice University.

She became the Co-ordinator of the Amerindian Affairs Unit, as well as curator of the Walter Roth Museum of Anthropology in Georgetown. Some of Fox’s selected works include, among others: “The Indigenous Condition in Guyana: A Situational Analysis of the Mabura Great Falls Community”, co-authored with Professor George K. Danns of the University of Guyana; “Caught within the Cracks: the case of the Amerindian Women of Guyana,” published in Polygloth, USA; “Zauro’no dok Akawaio Yau: Variants of Akawaio spoken in the village of Waramadong,” Ph.D thesis, Rice University; “Body Metaphors in Akawaio House Construction,” published in the Journal of Anthropology, USA. Dr. Fox had translated extracts of then President Bharrat Jagdeo’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) into the Akawaio language to make it comprehensible to older folk.

Dr. Fox was appointed Minister within the Ministry of Education by then President Bharrat Jagdeo after the 2006 elections. Her appointment was celebrated in a unique ceremony, presided over by toshaos of the Amerindian community. Along with another dynamic Amerindian woman, former Amerindian Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodriques, Dr. Desrey Fox played a major role in bridging the dichotomy between coastlanders and hinterland dwellers.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE September 20 2020

Minister Desrey Fox was mandated with direct responsibility for the development of Technical and Vocational Education, Health and Family Life Education, Schools Welfare Services, School Sports and Physical Education, in which she excelled; and the promotion of culture through music, dance and drama. She also played a role in reactivation of the National Schools Choir and Steel Orchestras.

Dr. Fox played a vital role in the process of Guyana achieving the UN Millennium Development Goals in Primary Education. She represented Guyana at the 48th session of the International Conference of Education in Geneva in November, when she presented a paper titled ‘Inclusive Education: Approaches, Scope and Content to Broaden the Understanding of the Theory and Practices of Inclusive Education.’ It was her belief that inclusive education ?- a children rights-based approach that develops the capacity to work with and maintain the diversity in Guyana ?- was becoming an important element in the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.

According to a letter penned by Alister Charlie, “Dr Fox had always remained a humble daughter of the Amerindian people, proud of her heritage, loyal to her community, and a patriotic citizen of our country.”

He posited: “A shining star of the Amerindian people was extinguished in the aftermath of a tragic accident on December 11, 2009.

“But the lives of great men and women indeed live after them, and the legacy of Dr. Desrey Fox is lighting the lamp of knowledge in scholars who study from her works and the people of the Akawaio tribe who continue to propagate their language and culture because of her sterling contributions to Amerindian academia.”

It is within this light that it is also important to note that remarks made by Deputy Speaker of the House, M.P., Lenox Shuman during his budget presentation, when he attempted to link PNC-led governments with successive PPP/C administrations for not providing enough resources and assistance for the preservation of the Amerindian culture, heritage and languages, could hardly be seen as well-informed.

On the occasion of Amerindian Heritage Month, Guyana salutes this outstanding daughter of this nation’s First Peoples, Dr. Desrey Fox.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE September 20, 2020

Dear Editor,

WITHIN the space of less than 48 hours, in the wink of an eye, the dream became a reality and it was over before the fireworks exploded to light up the sky.

After all the “hullabaloo,” the speculations, the fears, the anticipations, the predictions and the reservations, the commotion and excitement subsided with the departure of U.S. Secretary of State, Mr. Michael Pompeo. Although it was royalty from America, the highest-ranking officer to visit Guyana’s shores, the trip was not celebrated in the regular pomp, grandeur and Guyanese style, all because of the COVID-19 protocols restricting the splendour of this country’s cultural hospitality and beautiful sceneries to be exhibited in full glamour. Nevertheless, it was strictly business from the minute the eagle landed.

There was no chance for “squandermania at its best” to occur, as anything parallel to what the attorney general in parliament reflected on from the APNU+AFC Party’s handling of an US$8M justice-reform project. Not only did the U.S. secretary learn about this mishandling, but he also was present himself to get first-hand knowledge about the lackadaisical

attitude and carelessness of the past caretakers who spent some $1 billion on expired medicines and medical supplies, thus wasting hard-earned taxpayers’ money.

Imagine all that wastage only for the perks involved! How can America ever again have faith and trust with such dishonesty and callousness from the perpetrators responsible for such a colossal destruction? No wonder Guyanese from all sides of the political divide were left “hand to mouth,” not knowing where the next meal would come from. Again, he (Pompeo) was privy to the gross mismanagement of GWI, one of the public utilities that was singled out for scrutiny at the Public Utilities Commission by the new administration, who had earlier relieved their chairman, one of the politically appointed officers.

GWI did not pay GPL for the past two years, having accumulated a $7 billion bill for electricity usage.

If you cannot run a utility company successfully, how can you run a country progressively? Shame on you PNC! Secretary Pompeo was privileged to enjoy the circus show that was hosted at the court where the second petition was filed to challenge the 2020 poll, asking the court to nullify the declaration of Dr. Irfaan Ali as President. Imagine

the tricksters, defrauders and riggers having the cahoots to want to get rid of a person whom the U.S. Secretary of State himself helped to put in office legitimately! Oh, what a jovial laugh he must have enjoyed. How preposterous can silliness publicly advertise its vanity! A well-timed PNC propaganda misfired.

But it is good that such a high-ranking American officer could have witnessed the bombastic behaviour of the PNC’s shrewd characters. Perhaps, now he intimately understands how the callous PNC incalcitrants dragged this country down to its knees and strangled the growth of Guyanese by wasting time, while engaging in frivolous and expensive activities.

Now he knows how far these ruffians would go, drawing no line for a boundary. If there is one impression that Secretary Pompeo has left with, it is the devious past caretaker government of the APNU+AFC led by a heartless President, was not only a corrupted and callous administration, but one that was truly engaged in instability, destabilisation, were a pack of shrewd tricksters and greedy fraudsters, who never had the interest of the people at heart, who never cared for the development of the nation, but were primarily interested in fully taking care of themselves and protecting and safeguarding

their personal futures. Secretary Pompeo made it clear that he has no reason to want to deal with such inhumane characters and America will not hesitate to deal with such monstrosity to protect any friendly nation. On Secretary Pompeo’s next visit to Guyana, as an anticipated higher representative, the PPP/C government would want to assure him that he will be welcomed to a different tune playing to serenade him in a different scenario, one that will be more appeasing to his taste and comfort and to an environment that is more conducive to the traditional hospitability that does not languish skepticism and attack on his fellow grounded marines. There is more to this trip than the eyes and ears were privileged to.

The atmosphere under which all business was conducted dispelled any fear for the unnecessary concerns expressed by patriotic Guyanese and also hypocritical Guyanese. Some Guyanese love this country and genuinely mean well when they rationalise that politicians will sell out the birthright of the land at the expense of the real working masses. While some Guyanese fake an impression behind disguised sentiments when they accuse an administration of rogue activities, knowing fully well that “a

guilty conscience speaks louder than words.” One thing is clearly pellucid to the U.S. Secretary of State and that is, he does not want the international community or anyone else to try to convince him that the PNC/R is a well-oiled machine dedicated to the cause of undermining the interest of the PPP/C government and as such, they will continue to destabilise this country on the long run and in the end, it is the poor Guyanese people who will suffer, regardless of political affiliation or ethnicity.

So, all the inputs from the American government, financial or otherwise, will be at stake and their hard work and effort are subject to be in jeopardy. Will the United States want to risk that or will they implement all preventative methods possibly available? The arms of the United States are long, strong and uncertain. Anyone involved in entertaining the thought of thwarting democracy in Guyana in any form, kind or shape, at any one time or in any part of this lovely country that wants to unite and move forward, has to think twice under U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo’s watch. Thank you again for your visit, Sir. Respectfully, Jai Lall

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE September 20, 2020

Two dead, five injured in Lusignan Prison protest –– Home Affairs, Health Ministers came under attack during visit

By Rabindra Rooplall

TWO inmates at the Lusignan Prison Holding Bay were shot dead and five others injured during a rowdy protest on Saturday.

The dead inmates were identified as Earl Graham, 51, who was sentenced to three months imprisonment for malicious wounding, assault and resisting arrest and Winston Herbert, 21, who was in custody for rape.

Five other inmates were injured; two are at the Georgetown Public Hospital and three at the Lusignan Prison. Their conditions have been listed as stable.

Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels, said the protest was brought to the attention of the facility administrators who engaged the prisoners to hear their concerns and to offer remedy where possible.

However, Samuels said the prisoners refused to engage the administrators and demanded to see Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn.

“This standoff continued unto 12:30 hours but when attempts were made to distribute the midday meal the prisoners continued their refusal and increased their demand to see the minister,” the prison director related.

He explained that this resulted in a visit from Minister Benn and Health Minister,

A drone view of new holding area of the Lusignan Prison (File photo) Dr. Frank Anthony at the prison at about 13:15 hours.

“The ministers were loudly cheered and welcomed on entering the facility. They commenced a discussion with nominated representatives of the prisoners from Holding Bay Two. During this engagement all the prisoners appeared calm and those being engaged appeared receptive,” the director said.

Concerns surrounding the extensive timelines between court hearings and remand, among other issues were raised with the ministers, who committed to address

the issues within their scope of work. They also informed the prisoners that the issues within the remit of the courts were outside their mandate but would be brought to the attention of the relevant authorities.

“The issue of overcrowding and the risk of exposure to the COVID-19 pandemic due to recent positive test returns among inmates were also raised. The response was generally well received but during the subsequent discussion by the ministers with inmates of Holding Bay One, some prisoners from

Contractor falls to death at construction site POLICE are investigating the death of a 69-year-old engineer who fell from a four-storey building at Lot 112-113 Happy Acres, East Coast Demerara (ECD), on Saturday.

Dead is Keith Scipio of Lot 12 Kissoon Scheme, Good Hope, ECD. Enquiries disclosed that, on Saturday, Scipio left home and went to work at the construction site of the four-storey steel and concrete building and, at about 10:35hrs, held a meeting with all the workers on site, on the fourth floor, after which everyone returned to work.

He was subsequently observed walking towards a hole, which is located at

the centre of the building and eventually fell through it.

One of the workers, who witnessed the incident, said he tried to alert the engineer about the danger but was unsuccessful. After raising an alarm, he went to the bottom floor of the building and there he saw Scipio lying motionless on the concrete surface, with injuries to the head.

His body was picked up by co-workers and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where he was pronounced dead by a doctor on duty.

The body is at the hospital’s mortuary awaiting post-mortem.

Bays Two, Three and Four became aggressive and began throwing missiles which caused the ministers to end the engagement and exit the confines of the compound,” Samuels said.

After the ministers exited the main gate, he said the situation rapidly degenerated and became riotous with some prisoners scaling the inner fence of the Holding Bay, entering the restricted area and attacking prison officers within the compound, who fled for their safety.

“After the officers left the main compound, the situa-

tion rapidly deteriorated into mass disorder with inmates rushing the main gate in a bid to break same. In response to situation and in a bid to contain same, ranks posted within the towers discharged several shots in the general direction of the gate which resulted in the injury of seven inmates and restoration of relative calm to the situation,” Samuels said.

Following the return to order, the director said that the injured prisoners were extracted and initially attended to by medical personnel on the ground. Two of them were sent for further treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital corporation.

Three inmates continued to be attended to at the Lusignan facility while two were pronounced dead.

In a recent interview, Samuels had also said provisions are being made for more inmates to be tested following the confirmation of two positive COVID-19 cases at the Lusignan Prison.

Principal among them is the training of the doctors of the Guyana Prison Service to effectively administer the COVID-19 test to the inmates.

The prisons director had said that despite taking all precautions, two prisoners tested positive for the disease last week “The circumstances under

Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels which the two prisoners contracted the virus are presently unknown, and contact tracing has begun. All steps are being taken to segregate persons with whom they came into contact. Resources are being gathered to prevent further spread,” the prisons director had said.

He noted that all persons who are exhibiting signs and symptoms of COVID-19 will be examined and undergo the standard operating procedures outlined by the Ministry of Health.

It was also pointed out that the steps taken over the last few months to prevent the spread of the virus will be revisited and expanded.

Slumbering driver kills female cyclist on Zeeburg Public Road

SOMATTIE PERSAUD, 39, a fish vendor of Lot 75 Mandal Street, Zeeburg, West Coast Demerara (WCD), died on Saturday, after she was struck down on the Zeeburg Public Road by a 44-yearold contractor who, allegedly, fell asleep ‘on the wheel’.

Reports indicated that Persaud, who was on a bicycle, was riding west on the southern side of the Zeeburg Public Road while the motor car was proceeding in the said direction behind her, at a normal rate of speed, when the driver reportedly fell asleep and drove into her.

As the driver came out from his vehicle, he observed that he had crashed into a

concrete fence on the southern side of the said road, and a female with a pedal cycle was lying on the southern grass parapet, motionless, with injuries about her body.

The driver was assisted by a passerby who took the woman to the Leonora Cottage Hospital where she was seen and examined by a doctor on duty. She died while receiving treatment.

Her body was taken to Ezekiel Mortuary for storage and post mortem.

The driver was arrested and is in custody.

A breathalyzer test was conducted on him but no trace of alcohol was found in his breath.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE September 20, 2020

Five more arrested

9

–– as investigations deepen into Henry boys’ murder

FIVE suspects have been detained as investigations continue into the murders of teens, Isaiah Henry, and his cousin Joel Henry, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum has confirmed.

The Henry cousins were brutally murdered on September 6, 2020 at Cotton Tree, West Coast Berbice (WCB).

Blanhum noted that the five persons include someone who was last seen with the victims, while some of those in custody were detained during the early stages of the investigation.

Attorney-General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall on Friday said a tribunal comprising international jurists will be established to investigate the

Dead: Isaiah Henry murder of the teens.

Sixteen-year-old Isaiah Henry and 18-year-old Joel Henry were brutally mur-

dered somewhere else, and then dumped in the backlands of Cotton Tree, WCB. The mutilated bodies of the teen cousins were found with several chop wounds.

Nandlall said the President has promised a Commission of Inquiry into the unfortunate events at West Coast Berbice as part of the government’s effort to pursue truth and justice, in light of the mayhem that followed the killing of the Henry boys.

On Thursday, a total of 75 ranks drawn from Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), the Major Crimes Unit and the Guyana Defence Force led

by Region Five Divisional Commander and a Lt. Colonel, along with Government Pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh, combed the backlands

of Number Two and Three Villages on the West Coast of Berbice with the hope of finding the area where the teen cousins were killed.

Ranks on the ground also received aerial support via an helicopter from the Guyana Defence Force.

Police noted that the “methodical search” was conducted between 07:00 hours and 14:00 hours, but “nothing of evidential value was found”.

Recently, investigators determined that the teenagers were murdered somewhere else and then dumped in the backlands of Cotton Tree, West Coast Berbice (WCB), and with no solid case against the suspects, all of them were released and placed on station bail.

Dead: Joel Henry Police had said that the primary crime scene “would greatly assist in the probe”, as it will have an abundance of

evidence linking the perpetrators to the crime.

The police are calling on the public to come forward with any information which can assist investigators in locating the crime scene.

The gruesome murder of the teen boys sparked protests across the country.

An autopsy found that they both died from haemorrhage and shock due to multiple incised injuries, including severed spines.

The killers carved out a huge ‘X’ on Isaiah’s head, while they cut open Joel’s chest.

They had left their Number Three Village, West Coast Berbice home to go into the backdam to pick coconuts on September 5, and that was the last time they were seen alive.

EU open to broadening support for Guyana –– COVID-19, environmental management, investment and trade, among areas of focus

By Navendra Seoraj THE European Union (EU) has been a longstanding partner of Guyana for over four decades, lending assistance in environmental management and other critical areas, assistance which will continue and even broaden as the country begins a new chapter under the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) administration.

The EU’s commitment to supporting Guyana was reaffirmed by the bloc’s Ambassador to Guyana, Fernando Ponz Canto, during an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle on Saturday.

According to the EU’s official website, its delegation in Guyana is part of the European External Action

Service (EEAS) and is one of the more than 140 delegations of the EU, in the world.

The delegation in Guyana was established in December 1972 following the signature of the first Lomé Convention.

The EU, on its website, said its delegation represents the bloc in all matters of its competence. The delegation actively promotes the values and policies of the EU, in an open and equal partnership with the governments and people of the countries to which it is accredited.

The delegation also plays a key role in the implementation of the EU’s cooperation programmes and trade policies, focusing on poverty reduction and the smooth and gradual integration of the countries into the world economy.

In Guyana’s context,

EU Ambassador, Fernando Ponz Canto (Adrian Narine photo) Ambassador Canto said the EU has been the country’s partner in the area of development cooperation.

To this end, the EU has

invested millions of dollars to assist Guyana in strengthening its sea defence. It was reported that the bloc has provided over $20.1 billion (€85 million) in grant funding for the construction and rehabilitation of the country’s sea defence structures.

Environmental management in general, has been a critical focus of the EU, stretching from forest management and combatting climate change to protecting Indigenous communities.

Ambassador Canto also said the EU has been present in the socio-economic sectors, providing support to civil society and funding human-development projects.

Going forward, the ambassador said one of the main areas of focus, in this regard, will be assisting the country in the fight against the novel

coronavirus (COVID-19).

“We want to continue supporting in this area…we have already done a lot… there have been many donations through Rotary, which have gone to help people, but we want to do more,” said Ambassador Canto.

On the political front, Ambassador Canto said it is important to look at good governance and reforms, noting: “I am encouraged by the reforms that the administration is proposing, some of them concerning a possible constitutional reform, but it is up to Guyana to decide… our approach is not to impose but to support.”

The ambassador said the EU has so far conducted ‘useful’ and ‘good’ discussions with President, Dr. Irfaan Ali and ministers, on general issues like trade, and economic

and business investments.

“My response is enthusiastic, we want to support increased EU investment, trade and all kind of relations with Guyana, but we have not gotten into specificities because we understand that the government is still within the first hundred days.”

“I have made it clear that I am happy to try to convince the European Union and we are already taking action to explain to the EU that it is a moment of opportunity and it is good for Europe to be present,” said Ambassador Canto.

While being optimistic about the future, the ambassador did not deny that there are challenges, but he is confident that those challenges will be addressed in an effective way, resulting in a brighter future for Guyana.

Nationwide consultation on constitutional reform – Attorney-General tells National Assembly

GOVERNMENT will shortly commence the process on constitutional reform with nationwide consultation, but will start the discussions in the National Assembly, Attorney-General (AG) and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall said.

“Work will begin shortly, right here in this House, utilising the Standing Committee on Constitutional Reform as the launching

pad to execute our government’s agenda on constitutional reform. I must emphasise that this process will be driven by a very broadbased vehicle, comprising of Government, the Opposition on the one hand, and civil society on the other hand, in an equal partnership, and will embrace nationwide consultation,” the Attorney-General said during the 2020 Budget debates on Friday.

Nandlall said the Legal Affairs Ministry was dormant for the past five years under the previous administration. As such, work is being done on several critical bills within the next four months.

They include a Bail Bill, a Hire Purchase Bill, and an Arbitration Bill, amendments to the Companies Act, as well as a series of legislation for the petroleum industry.

With only four months left in the year, the work will begin on constitutional reform through the budget, Nandlall said.

Discussions will be held in the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Constitutional Reform, where the modalities will be worked out.

“Our approach to constitutional reform will not be government-driven; it will be government in partnership with the Parliamentary Opposition, in partnership with civil society in a multi-stakeholder drive, and it will be driven by the people of this country, who will be consulted nationally,” the Attorney-General stated.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE September 20, 2020

Understanding Energy

Harnessing Guyana’s – people greatest resource

LOCAL content is a hot topic in the discussion space on oil and gas in Guyana—as it should be. Guyanese are eager to get a well-deserved piece of the pie that is this newly discovered oil resource.

Guyana’s local content policy is defined as the “active participation and development of Guyanese labour and suppliers in the petroleum sector and the benefits that arise from expenditure in the sector on labour, goods and services for Guyanese industry, the economy and wider society.”

Simply put, local content is building a skilled workforce and a competitive supplier base to enable Guyanese people and companies to actively and fairly participate in the opportunities available in the sector. As noble and necessary as these goals may be, they are not attainable overnight. In fact, it will take a concerted effort by all involved: proper policies and regulations by the government and a commitment on the part of foreign investors and companies.

From all indications, these parties seem serious about their respective roles. The new government has taken commendable steps by setting up what appears to be a qualified and experienced advisory panel on local content to review the existing policy with the expressed intent of drafting related legislation.

And ExxonMobil, operator in the Stabroek Block, has said more than 2,000 Guyanese are already working on its overall activities and that it has spent more than GY $60B with more than 700 local businesses since 2015. At the just-concluded Caribbean Virtual Oil and Gas Summit (CARIVS), ExxonMobil Guyana President Alistair Routledge mentioned the 24 operations and maintenance technicians who just returned from 18 months of training in Canada and the others who have been trained in Brazil, Singapore and the United States. According to Routledge, Guyanese staff were exposed to more than 100,000 hours of training in the first half of the year alone. And the Centre

for Local Business Development (CLBD) continues to offer courses and to mentor local businesses in an effort to enhance their competitiveness.

Last Sunday, we heard the eagerness of some of the technicians who are starting to head off to the Liza Destiny. Among them was an impressive 22-year-old woman, Faudia Ramjohn, who has vowed to hold herself, her colleagues and her employer accountable for doing a good job ,while ensuring that Guyana gets value from the production of this resource.

While there are some critics who downplay what has been achieved already in the local content space, it is remarkable, considering we are so new to oil- and- gas production, thus do not count on a bank of experience and skilled workers or technical expertise found in more mature producing countries. These critics also ignore the many success stories being written by ambitious Guyanese companies.

At CARIVS, a group of local businesses

that have benefitted from the services at the CLBD, either by attending the courses or being mentored for ISO certification, even forming partnerships with foreign companies shared their experiences. Of note was Panthera Solutions, which is a Guyanese joint-venture that seems to be built on due diligence, a commitment by both partners and knowledge transfer.

CEO Andrew Mendes on a local content panel said his company has been challenged to “improve all of our processes and practices to really become a consistent supplier of goods and services to the industry.” He also mentioned that this translates to the other sector his company supports.

This is exactly the kind of capacity-building that is needed and should be augmented.

The oil-and -gas industry requires highly skilled participants, which can only be developed over time, guided by careful strategy that considers the broader economic landscape.

Croal talks up impact of Budget 2020 on Housing sector’s image –– in terms of its contribution to the country’s GDP, as well as making homeownership, more disposal income a reality for the average Guyanese WITH a housing programme based on a profound understanding of the needs of the Guyanese people, measures contained in the 2020 National Budget increases access and availability to financing, and puts homeownership within the reach of every citizen, Minister of Housing and Water Colin Croal told the National Assembly on Friday.

Making his contribution to the House as the 2020 Budget Debates entered Day Five, Croal pointed to the mortgage interest relief for low and middle-income homeowners, as well as the increase in the limit for low-income loans, and the reversal of Value Added Tax (VAT) on building materials as measures that citizens will greatly benefit from.

“These are measures to give increased access and availability to financing for homeownership within the reach of every citizen; it is part of the government’s continued drive to increase the disposable income of every household, which will increase cash-in-hand, and improve living conditions,” Croal pointed out.

The suite of measures as outlined by

the Minister includes: Improving transportation and water networks, affordability and access to finance, and mortgage relief among others, all of which will reinvigorate the housing sector.

“These measures will increase the contribution of the housing sector to the Gross Domestic Product GDP), jobs, and ease the burden of electricity and water that complements dwelling in new and existing homes. More money in people’s hand, and command of more disposable income through adjustment measures for all Guyanese are sure to be directed to their own priorities; one we have seen over the years and most recently to be housing,” Croal said.

Aside from deeming the budget one which will aid the sector’s contribution to the country’s GDP, Croal also emphasised that the national estimates cater to the ordinary Man, who has weathered the storm and is deserving of a bright future.

“I rise to give support and sustenance to the 2020 Budget presented by Bishop Juan Edghill, Minister of Public Works,” he emphatically stated in his opening re-

marks.

“The 2020 Budget has been crafted to ensure that every stratum and every sector in our country benefits. This budget provides an economic stimulus for the individual and his community,” he added.

Minister Croal further assured citizens that the budget ensures that measures implemented by his Ministry will rebound positively on the employment rate and by extension see an increase in income as well as spending.

In the 2020 Budget, the low-income loan ceiling has moved from $8M to $10M, which will allow for a larger number of persons to qualify for loans of up to $10 million giving them the opportunity to improve on the quality of houses built.

An increase in the ceiling for which tax-deductible Mortgage Interest Relief (MIR) has also been offered in this year’s budget. While MIR previously offered refunds on interest paid on mortgages of up to $15M, it will now be offered on mortgages of up to $30M. What this means for the ordinary man is that they will get back a portion of the

money paid on their monthly mortgage that went to the interest. Introduced in 2013 under the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), the relief takes the form of tax refund that the GRA credits to the beneficiary, after they would have filed their annual income tax.

Speaking to the Water Sector, the Minister pointed to the former government’s poor administration and mismanagement of the sector.

He said that his government will remove the Value Added Taxes (VAT) on the commodity, thus allowing more than 170,000 residents to benefit immensely from the service “Leakages in the system will also be a thing of the past,” assured the Minister.

Additionally, pensioners will see the return of subsidy on their water bill.

A total of 25,620 pensioners across the country will benefit from free metered water to the value of $227 M. He pointed out that giving Guyana’s expected growth through the oil and gas sector, sanitation and water will play an important role in driving the economy.”

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE September 20, 2020

Guyana banking on ‘hydro’, wind and solar power –– to fulfill immediate energy demands, Prime Minister Mark Phillips tells House

By Rabindra Rooplall

GOVERNMENT is aiming to fulfill immediate power demands with investments in ‘hydro’, solar and wind-powered infrastructures, Prime Minister (PM) Mark Phillips said on Friday.

The Prime Minister, who was at the time addressing the House during his budget presentation, reported that some $3 billion has been allocated for power generation.

This, he said, will enhance the quality of life of Guyanese as government tackles the irregular power supply and frequent blackouts.

“A total of $3B has been budgeted for power companies and projects across over Guyana: Lethem Power Company, Kwakwani Utilities, LINMINE, Mabaruma Power Company, Mahdia Power and Light Company Inc, Maruca Power and Light Company Inc, Mathew’s Ridge Power and Light Company Inc, Port Kaituma Power and Light Company,” PM Phillips said.

He said government will provide affordable, stable and reliable energy to benefit households and businesses, by utilising an energy mix of hydropower, solar and wind.

Government, he said, has already advanced a transparent Expressions of Interest (EoIs) process to engage local suppliers to fulfil the country’s growing immediate power demand.

Government, the prime minister said, is also pursuing a medium-to-long-term path that will allow for the completion of the Amaila Falls Hydro-Project while exploring the possibilities for the use of natural gas to ensure cheaper and more reliable electricity supply.

“We will continue to pursue low-carbon initiatives such as mini-hydro grid-tied systems as part of our energy diversification efforts. The GEA will install hydrological measurement equipment to assess the potential for mini and micro-hydropower development at various locations across the country,” the Prime Minister said.

He noted that data has

already been collected at Paruima, in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), and the hydropower engineers are currently preparing a pre-feasibility study for the site.

Further, he said data is also currently being collected at Waramadong, also in Region Seven. Subject to travel restrictions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, hydrological loggers will soon be installed at Monkey Mountain, in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), and Eclipse Falls in Region One (Barima-Waini) to determine the hydropower potential of those sites.

Adding that solar and wind systems for off-grid areas will be advanced as a top priority to provide renewable energy for the hinterland, PM Phillips said this will be done under the Hinterland Electrification Programme.

The GEA will also be advancing the installation of solar farms at Bartica and Lethem.

“The GEA is supporting the Hinterland Electrification Company Inc. (HECI) by conducting Energy Needs Assessments for all 200+ hinterland communities across our country. Assessments have already been completed at Sebai, Mainstay/Whyaka and Tapakuma/St. Denny’s, Moraikobai, Paruima, Waramadong, Kurukabaru, Annai and Ituni,” the PM told the National Assembly.

REPAIRS The GEA’s solar maintenance programme, he said, will effect repairs to solar photovoltaic systems at the Caria-Caria Nursery and Primary Schools, the Caria- Caria Health Outpost, Capoey Nursery and Primary Schools, La Parfaite Harmonie Primary School, St. Denny’s Health Centre, Tapakuma Lake Primary School, Abrams Creek Primary School, Bethany Primary School, 47 Miles Health Centre, and St. Monica Health Post.

“As a first step towards providing low-carbon energy, some 25,000 households in Amerindian, hinterland, and deep riverine communities

the socio-economic development of the associated communities.

Prime Minister, Brigadier (r’td) Mark Phillips can expect an upgrade and replacement of their solar panels,” the Prime Minister said.

He noted that the GEA’s energy efficiency programmes will advance the installation of energy-efficient lights at government buildings, and hinterland homes and businesses.

“The Agency will continue to manage the issuance of licences for importing, importing/wholesale, wholesale, retail, consumer installation, bulk transportation carriers and storage of petroleum and petroleum products, and will continue to administer the Fuel Marking Programme to mark and test fuel under the GEA Act and Government policy, and prosecute offenders in accordance with the law,” PM Phillips told the House.

It is envisaged, the PM said, that this extensive programme under the GEA will lead to more than 400 megawatts of newly-installed capacity for residential and commercial-industrial users over the period 2020 to 2025.

Some $42.2M has also been budgeted for the Hinterland Electrification Company Inc. (HECI).

“Approximately 15 per cent of Guyana’s 750,000 inhabitants live in the hinterland in about 200 communities. Mr. Speaker, these communities are often neglected, with basic necessities such as power leaving them to fend in the proverbial and literal darkness, while citizens in other parts of the country

enjoy these amenities. As such, the Hinterland Electrification Programme is a top priority for this government, with $400.6 million allocated towards its expansion,” he emphasised.

Adding that the electrification strategy for the hinterland was developed under the PPP/C Government since 2006, PM Phillips said the programme saw about 20,000 households being provided with access to electricity through the provision of solar home systems, or the extension of electricity grids.

However, he added, the households that were supplied with solar PV home systems were just able to satisfy a fundamental demand for electricity. Today, these households have a much greater demand for electricity.

In that regard, the PM said that government intends to implement projects at the community level to provide hinterland communities with increased access to modern energy to support the delivery of social services, and create new economic opportunities in these communities.

The economic development that follows is expected to facilitate the gradual expansion of electricity service to meet the needs at the household level.

In addition, he said the electricity grid systems will continue to be upgraded and expanded, adding renewable energy technologies to reduce dependency on fossil fuels to support

GPL Meanwhile, the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Inc. is currently owed over $18.1 billion by government agencies and private entities, and this shortfall in payments declined from 2015 to date, and has impacted the company’s financial standing.

Adding that GPL must receive the support it needs to develop its capacity to meet these demands of citizens, PM Phillips said the institution, over the years, has faced numerous challenges to supply industrial and domestic consumers with a low-cost reliable supply of electricity.

He explained that added to these insufficiencies, GPL has to face the issue of the unavailability of operating funds to adequately meet its operating expenditures.

This mess, he said, was

inherited from the APNU+AFC Administration, and has placed the institution at a further disadvantage with regard to its own capacity building and operations.

Noting that these are problems which the government has the task of rectifying, PM Phillips said the 2020 budget includes provisions that will fund activities geared towards improving the operations of the power company.

Attention will be placed on infrastructural upgrade to decrease losses, reinforcement of infrastructure to improve reliability, institutional strengthening through training at the executive and senior management levels and operational efficiency through consultancies in System Planning, Economic Demand Forecasting, Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) operation and maintenance.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE September 20, 2020

Guyana re-engaging Norway on GRIF –– Jagdeo upbraids APNU+AFC for killing ‘big, green’ initiatives

By Navendra Seoraj GUYANA has leveraged its environmental assets over the years to earn revenue from the Kingdom of Norway and the new People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government has already started to re-engage the European nation on this area of support.

In signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Guyana on November 9, 2009, the Government of Norway had committed to providing financial support of up to U.S.$250 million for results achieved by Guyana in limiting emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.

As part of the agreement, the two countries had agreed to establish the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund (GRIF) as

the financial intermediary mechanism for the performance-based payments from contributors to Guyana.

The GRIF represented an effort to create an innovative climate finance mechanism which balances national sovereignty over investment priorities, while ensuring that REDD+ funds adhere to the Partner Entities financial, environmental and social safeguards.

Norway in December had announced the release of $393.4 million Norwegian Kroner or G$9.1 billion, its final disbursement to the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund. The fund, administered by the World Bank, is used to finance developmental projects here in Guyana.

Vice-president Bharrat Jagdeo, however, said that Norway had put the last tranche on hold because of the “lack of democracy.”

“We have started to engage Norway to move forward again,” the vice-president confirmed during the final day of the Budget 2020 debate.

Jagdeo said the country was able to benefit because it is a carbon sink-- any reservoir, natural or otherwise, that absorbs more carbon than it releases-- and thereby lowers the concentration of CO 2 from the atmosphere.

“Guyana is a carbon sink and we have to leverage assets to bring money into this country to support economic development,” said the vice-president, noting that this is what the past PPP/C administration sought to do through the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).

REVOLUTIONARY PLAN In June 2009, the then

Government of Guyana launched its LCDS, which aimed to transform Guyana’s economy on to a low-carbon, sustainable development trajectory, while simultaneously combating climate change.

The LCDS was geared at protecting and maintaining the forests in an effort to reduce global carbon emissions and at the same time attract payments from developed countries for the climate services that the forests provide to the world.

This strategy was, however, cast aside by the former APNU+AFC administration, which released its “Green State Development Strategy.”

“The green state strategy was a sham… they farmed it out to the international consultants, so it was not grounded in the Guyanese reality and could not solve our problems,” Vice-president Jagdeo ar-

gued, noting that the former administration practically ‘killed’ the “big green” initiatives such as the Amaila Falls Hydro Project.

The Guyana Chronicle had reported that the Amaila Falls Hydro Project, which is being re-examined by the new government, is expected to cost just under US$1 billion and will be able to generate 165 megawatts of stable and reliable electricity for 11 solid months of the year, with the additional month during the dry season being used for scheduled maintenance.

The last time this newspaper checked, the project is still bankable, meaning that the financiers are still open to the idea of funding the project and all the technical studies are still relevant. Therefore, the restart timeline is expected to be much shorter than it was before 2015.

The Guyana Power and Light Incorporat-

Vice-president Bharrat Jagdeo ed (GPL) currently sells electricity to the nation at about US$0.33 per kWh and this is expected to be reduced by 25 per cent within the first year of the operations of the Amaila Falls project, and by 50 per cent within five years; and by the end of 20 years, by as much as 80 per cent.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE September 20, 2020

Manickchand declares ‘zero tolerance’ on incompetence –– says MoE will not countenance contractors delivering late on projects, providing shoddy service or shortchanging the gov’t

By Tamica Garnett ALTHOUGH over $200 million have already been paid over to the contractor, only 3.5 per cent of the work has been completed on the Yarrowkabra Secondary School, and Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand on Friday established that the Ministry will be taking a zero tolerance policy to slothfulness from contractors going forward.

Yarrowkabra Secondary is among a number of schools facing construction issues, with others including the yet to be completed St. Rose’s High School, which was scheduled to have been ready

by March 2020, but to date is only 8 per cent done. There is also the matter of the incomplete state of yet another school that was scheduled to have been ready by January 2020, but to date is only 74 per cent done.

“It is indefensible; it is unacceptable. And together we must say to contractors, ‘You cannot give us service like this; our children deserve better.’ I am sounding a warning now to contractors who are going to work with us; that we are not going to tolerate this kind of sloth and neglect on the projects this government has,” Minister Manickchand declared as she made her contribution to the 2020 Budget Debates on Friday before the National Assembly.

The Ministry of Education (MoE) has been allocated $52 billion in this year’s national budget, accounting for the biggest share in the budget than any other Ministry.

As she argued in favour of her budgetary allocation, Minister Manickchand passionately conveyed that when it comes to education under the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C), slothfulness from contractors will not be tolerated; teachers will get the attention they deserve; and stakeholders will have a ministry that has direction and finds solutions to the country’s education needs.

As she got into her speech, Manickchand ripped into the former A Partnership for National Unity+ Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) government

for their handling of contracts to build schools, even when, in some cases, the money, plans and drawing for the buildings were completed since prior to the PPP/C leaving office in 2015.

‘BACK IT UP WITH ACTION’ “You tell me about loving teachers, and this is the condition you have them in!

Back up your words with action, or you are going to be deemed to be politically exploiting people!” she charged.

“We are saying to the people of these communities that we will finish these schools; we understand how important it is for your children to have comfort,” she added.

Even as she and General Secretary of the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU), Coretta McDonald, who is a Member of Parliament (MP) for the APNU+AFC Opposition, have divergent views, Manickchand underscored that teachers will finally get the attention they deserve under her watch.

“There is nobody in the political system that love teachers more than we do, and we will show the teachers that. We will not have Ms. McDonald on the road beating a drum and standing up in the sun or the rain to get attention,” Manickchand said, referencing an impasse that the GTU experienced under the APNU+AFC to get attention on salary increase issues.

In 2018, the GTU locked horns with the MoE, and had to resort to teachers taking strike action to get the attention of the MoE, which at the time was headed by then Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry.

Extending a proverbial olive branch, Manickchand called on the Opposition to put their differences aside and come on board to support the Ministry in its mandate to bring education to the nation’s children.

“On behalf of the PPP/C, our arms are outstretched, and we are prepared to work with you. If you are not prepared to reach our outstretched hands, we will do it alone. The people of this country require that,” Man-

Education Minister, Priya Manickchand ickchand expressed.

The Minister reminded the Opposition that even though they may criticise plans being implemented by the MoE to deal with the current trying times and situations brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the current administration’s plans may not be perfect, they had none to offer.

“You have to work with us, because you don’t have a plan; and you are incapable of doing that,” Manickchand contended.

“We came in on August 5, and the Ministry had no direction; no policy from the government, or anything that said how our children would be engaged in this period.

Nothing we attempt to do in this period will be perfect or meet everybody, but we are not in perfect times.

We are trying very hard to engage our students; we cannot do as your government did and do nothing.”

CLOSED SINCE MARCH Schools in Guyana have been closed since March 16, as part of measures to curb the spread the COVID-19 virus which was first recorded in Guyana on March 11.

Since then, the cases have continuously climbed, effecting the need for continuous closure of the school buildings.

During the period of closure, the then administration continued to dodge enquiries on a way forward for the school system, even as stakeholders continued to agree that the learning loss was taking a toll on the students.

It wasn’t until the change

of government last month that the Minister Manickchand, began putting steps in place for the re-engagement of students through “a multifaceted learning approach” that will utilise the Learning Channel and Online teaching among other methods.

“I don’t hold the view that in the absence of being able to deliver something perfect you deliver nothing at all; we don’t have that option as leaders. We don’t give ourselves that as an option; we must find solutions to problems,” Manickchand said.

She further told the Opposition: “You left your

teachers undirected! You left your students unengaged; you did nothing! So what we ask you to do now, when we have a programme in place… is for you to join hands with us and make sure we can educate Guyana’s

children.”

In addition to re-engaging students, the Ministry has also begun training the teachers in innovation and ICT, so that they can be better equipped to teach their students virtually.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE September 20, 2020

‘What’s cooking in Guyana’ –– offers authentic and delicious recipes

By Telesha Ramnarine THE Carnegie School of Home Economics (CSHE) is hoping that its bestselling ‘What’s Cooking in Guyana’ book, first published in 1973, will be revised and a new edition will soon be available.

The book, with over 30,000 copies sold worldwide, was initially a collaborative effort between the school and the then Ministry of National Development and Agriculture.

This project aimed to showcase the agricultural products of Guyana, while

CSHE Principal, Sharmaine Marshall

tive ways to get them done efficiently.

Copies of the book can be bought at CSHE, located at Lot 211 Durban and High Streets, Werk-enRust, Georgetown.

“The CSHE is at an important juncture in the history of the school. It is with great anticipation that we embrace the major upgrade of the programmes offered and future development of the institution,” Marshall expressed.

Formerly known as the Carnegie Trade School, the CSHE was founded on a grant by the Carne-

Students from the Catering and Hospitality Programme

The general cosmetology batch

gie Trustee in 1933 and the first principal, Beatrix Briant, was entrusted with the task of establishing the school. Thanks to her “careful management and zeal”, the government assumed full responsibility for the school in 1937, Marshall informed.

During this time, a trading section was developed.

This section produced custom made ladies’ garments and uniforms for government messengers. Largescale catering was also undertaken on request.

In 1958, the school was renamed the Carnegie School of Home Econom-

formulated by the Catering Department, Indigenous dishes and well-known Indo-Guyanese dishes.

“We are confident that when you use the ‘What’s Cooking in Guyana’ to prepare meals, you will experience a unique and enjoyable culinary experience of Guyanese Cuisine, CSHE Principal, Sharmaine Marshall, has said.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle on Saturday, Marshall said many people may not know about the book and even the services that are offered at the CSHE. Responses to the programmes offered have been slow recently due to the onset of the Coronavirus pandemic.

However, Marshall said the programmes are continuing online and that they have been finding innova-

The cover of the second edition of ‘What’s Cooking in Guyana’

utilising the skills of the home economists to prepare local dishes; thus, the use of cassava and the experimentation of different cassava products were highlighted.

The fourth edition was produced in 1994, and reprints of the book were done in 2004 to mark the institution’s 70th anniversary.

The book is one of the many great success stories of the CSHE with each edition being modified to enrich the product offered.

Each recipe was laboratory tested and all are proven authentic and delicious.

The meals are prepared and served to guests in the Hibiscus Training Restaurant and to clients from the catering service. The current edition adds recipes

ics. The curriculum, then, was aimed at improving the skills and attitudes essential for a good family and community life. Women were trained to fill roles as domestic helpers overseas and many graduates migrated to Canada and other countries. Some were sent as domestic helpers to Guyanese ambassador on their postings in this period.

In the 1960s, training of teachers in Home Economics was conducted at the school and in 1971, a separate catering section was established to give more specialised training in food preparation and service.

Consequently, the public was offered economic and attractive meals of high standards in a delightful atmosphere.

During the period 1988 to 1990, financial and technical assistance were given by the Association of Canadian Community Colleges and the International Development Agency to enhance the Catering Programme. In 2000, the General Cosmetology Programme and the Garment Construction Programme were developed with the help of the Social Impact Amelioration Project.

“Our objective is to offer services that continuously improve the lives of individuals and families. The programmes and services that are offered are continually upgraded, and as we embrace our achievements, we anticipate new programmes to meet the ever-increasing demands of the tourism and hospitality and other related industries.

With this vision comes rebranding, retooling and expansion. Hence, despite the adversity of COVID-19, we remain committed to our primary goals of delivering high standards in teaching/learning for our full time programmes and part-time CareGivers programme,” Marshall said, adding, “We do anticipate the recommencing of the other part-time courses when it is safe to do so.”

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Guyana records 66 new COVID-19 cases GUYANA continues to record a consistent rise in the number of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases, with recent statistics showing that the country recorded 66 new cases within the past 24 hours.

Health authorities have so far tested 11,913 persons, with 9,745 being negative and 2,168 positive. Of the positive cases, 1,331 persons have recovered and 64 persons have lost their lives.

The remaining cases include 82 persons in institutional isolation, 675 in home isolation and 15 in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

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.

The WHO had said that 81 per cent of persons who contracted COVID-19 will have mild symptoms, while 14 per cent will have severe symptoms and five per cent will need intensive care.

But the COVID-19 disease has proven to be a “real killer,” especially in cases involving persons who have co-morbidities such as diabetes and hypertension, among others.

Persons were encouraged to take extra precautions because there is no approved cure or specific treatment for the disease. Guyanese were also reminded to observe the protocols established in the COVID-19 emergency measures.

Anyone who displays any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19,

or needs any additional information, can contact

the COVID-19 Emergency numbers – 231 1166, 226

7480 or 624 6674 immediately – or visit the min-

istry’s website at www. health.gov.gy.

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Scenes from visit of State, Mich

U.S. Secretary of State, Michael Pompeo, arrived in Guyana on Thursday (Adrian Narine photo)

U.S. Secretary of State, Michael Pompeo, speaks with Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd, as U.S. Ambassador, Sarah-Ann Lynch pays keen attention (DPI photo)

The U.S. Secretary of State is escorted to dinner by President Irfaan Ali (Latchman Singh/Office of the President photo)

A scene at the dinner hosted for the visiting U.S. delegation by President Dr. Mohammed Irfaan Ali at State House, on Thursday (DPI photo)

US Secretary of State, Michael Pompeo, at State House on Friday, speaking at the signing of agreements to tackle narco-trafficking and facilitate growth and development (Adrian Narine photo)

President, Dr Irfaan Ali, and U.S. Secretary of State, Michael Pompeo, in discussion, during the signing of several bilateral agreements on Friday (Adrian Narine photo)

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of U.S. Secretary hael Pompeo

President, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, and First Lady, Arya Ali, welcomed the U.S. Secretary of State on his arrival at State House with members of the U.S. delegation, Thursday evening (DPI photo)

President Irfaan Ali speaks at the signing of two major agreements, at State House, on Friday (Adrian Narine photo)

Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd, on Friday, held discussions with U.S. Secretary of State, Michael Pompeo, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. Also present at the meeting were U.S. Ambassador, Sarah- Ann Lynch, and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Audrey Waddell (DPI photo)

U.S. Secretary of State, Michael Pompeo, and his delegation are welcomed by Government of Guyana officials, including Vice-president Dr Bharrat Jagdeo; Attorney-General, Anil Nandlall; and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd (DPI photo)

Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd, and US Secretary of State, Michael Pompeo, exchanged copies of the Shiprider agreement signed at the Baridi Benab, State House, on Friday (Adrian Narine photo)

U.S. Secretary of State, Michael Pompeo, with local security forces, before departing Guyana on Friday (DPI photo)

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APNU+AFC ‘sanctimonious outpourings’ useless

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–– says Attorney-General, tells House Guyana set to be new Dubai in this part of the hemisphere AT the start of the budget debate, Attorney General (AG) and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall said Guyanese have been fed a well-known diet from the APNU+AFC of rhetoric and “sanctimonious outpourings” of their great performance when in office.

The attorney general made the observation while addressing the House during the 2020 Budget debate on Friday.

“We heard of the hypocritical illusions of a good life, similar to their hollow and fallacious campaign themes such as honesty and decency and their fabled and fanciful Decade of Development – all being warped fabrications of their fertile imaginations,” the AG said.

Fortunately, the legal affairs minister said actions speak louder

than words and Guyanese along with the entire world have seen the coalition on display, not only since 2015, but more particularly from March 3, 2020 until August 2020.

By July 2020, Nandlall said due to APNU+AFC’s conspiratorial and relentless efforts to massacre democracy, they pushed the nation-state of Guyana agonisingly close to the precipice of total collapse and utter destruction.

“It took the combined efforts of resolute political leadership, the patience, perseverance and restraint of every right-thinking Guyanese and the Herculean help of 100 odd countries worldwide, to navigate the ship of Guyana from those tumultuous waters back to the safe harbour of democracy and the rule of law,” Nandlall said.

Under the stewardship of the PPP/C administration, the attorney general said Guyana will become the “New Dubai” of the hemisphere.

Underscoring that the 2020 budget is merely the first intake of fuel for the ship of Guyana as it begins to chart this new course, Nandlall said the theme, “Our Plan for Prosperity” is most apt.

“Firstly, almost half of the monies budgeted here have already been spent by the APNU+AFC and I dare say, illegally so, in violation of the constitution and the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act and without any parliamentary scrutiny whatsoever. Most importantly, there is no evidence to show that it was spent wisely. No project of worth can be pointed to by anyone. My grandmother would say that they

‘bilaway’ the money,” Nandlall Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall said.

The attorney general said that no during his presentation government in the English-speaking and thuggery.

“It was an unparalleled melee of Caribbean since independence has been found guilty more times by the madness never before witnessed in judiciary of violating the constitu- the western hemisphere. Expectedtion and trampling upon the rule of ly, it ended the political careers of many, but it should have ended the law than the APNU+AFC. He said that after the elections of careers of all involved. UnfortunateMarch 2, 2020, the world witnessed ly, vestiges remain with us and now five months of an admixture of want to lecture the Guyanese people manifest vulgarity, rank fraud and about democracy and the rule of law – the sheer audacity,” Nandlall trickery.

This was accompanied by a exclaimed.

Additionally, the legal affairs series of nonsensical litigation; vitriolic abuse of the diplomatic, minister said the carnage of taxregional and international commu- payers’ dollars will also be halted nity; non-stop comical propaganda; under the current administration a mountain of the most asinine as the 2021 Budget will unfold the political argumentations and veiled other plans to spend taxes wisely and not-so-veiled threats of violence for the development of all citizens.

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Winners of GEA’s art competition to be announced in November THE Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) recently concluded the judging of the pieces that were submitted for their annual art competition 2020.

Initially launched in March of 2020, under the theme ‘My Vision for a Smart City/Town in Guyana in the Year 2040’, the competition attracted 43 entries.

GEA’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr. Mahender Sharma, selected the theme with the aim of having persons between the ages of 15 and 19 choose a part of an actual city/town in Guyana to depict/illustrate their vision of a modern, smart, green, low carbon and sustainable future.

He posited that “it is im-

portant for our young people to think of what a sustainable, smart future for our country could look like. It is the beginning of the creation of interest and discussion regarding a sustainable energy future for Guyana from the perspective of our next leaders.”

Meanwhile, Sean Thomas, instructor at the E.R.

Burrowes School of Art, who sat on the judging panel, indicated that he was impressed with the number of entries that spoke to the theme of the competition.

He said that “… the participants should be commended for accessing the materials and the quality of work submitted, in spite of the pandemic situation.”

He also posited that the art competition was a very good initiative as it aides the Burrowes School of Art in creating interest in visual art.

“Competitions such as these help to create interest and motivation among youth, into moving to the next level by enrolling in the school to further enhance their skills… so once again it was a plea-

sure to partner with the GEA on this initiative”, he concluded.

The GEA art competition started in 2014 and has since become an annual feature of the agency.

The judges at this year’s competition included: Shevon Wood, Head of the See page 29

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Winners of GEA’s art competition ...

From page 28 Energy and Energy Statistics Division-GEA; Rosshanda Bagot, Economist-GEA; Juanita Thomas, Project Assistant-Office of Climate Change; Sean Thomas, Instructor-Burrowes School of Art; and Regina Torrington-Ministry of Education Allied Arts Division.

In addition to the first, second and third place winners, 10 additional pieces were selected for inclusion in the design of the agency’s 2021 Calendar.

The announcing of winners and awarding of prizes and trophies will be done in November to commemorate CARICOM Energy Month 2020.

Judges perusing the submissions

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Vendor who celebrated birthday found dead A 23-year-old man was killed Saturday morning in a hit-and-run accident outside his Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara home after celebrating his birthday.

Dead is Devanand Bansie, a vendor of Lot 27 Mon Repos Railway and Embankment, ECD.

Police said the accident occurred sometime between 02:00h and 04:00h Saturday morning on the Mon Repos Railway and Embankment.

Reports indicate that Bansie had celebrated his 23rd birthday on Friday, and returned home around 02:00 hours, however, he met his door locked and

could not gain entry.

It is unclear what transpired, but police said at about 04:00h, he was found lying motionless on the southern side of Railway and Embankment, just in front of his residence, and from all appearances, he had been severely injured.

When the paramedics arrived on

the scene, after being summoned, they examined Bansie was determined that he was already dead.

The body was subsequently picked up and taken to the Lyken Funeral Parlour where it is awaiting an autopsy as investigations continue.

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Rayudu,, ...

Rayudu

CONTINUED FROM BACKPAGE

while the veteran South African batsman, who was electric in the field, provided able support with a fifty.

Rayudu walked in when CSK were in a spot of bother, having lost openers Shane Watson (4) and Murali Vijay (1) inside the 1st 2 overs. Rayudu batted at No.4 yesterday in the rejigged CSK batting order due to the absence of vice-captain Suresh Raina who had pulled out of IPL 2020.

Rayudu continued doing what he does best for CSK as he went after the Mumbai Indians bowlers. Rayudu and du Plessis took their time to steady the innings after Trent Boult and James Pattinson jolted the CSK batting unit.

However, both Rayudu and du Plessis got into their groove, ably supported by MI fielders who were rusty after the long break enforced by the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Rayudu cared very little for reputations as he took on the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult while dominating spinners Krunal Pandya and Rahul Chahar. Rayudu and du Plessis added 115 runs for the 3rd wicket as they not just steered CSK out of trouble but took them closer to a win.

Rayudu was handed a lifeline

by Krunal Pandya in the 16th over, right after the time-out when the all-rounder dropped a tough chance on a poor fielding day for the Mumbai Indians.

However, Rahul Chahar got the big wicket of Rayudu in the 16th over. Krunal made up for his error by removing Ravindra Jadeja cheaply.

However, all-rounder Sam Curran, who walked out ahead of MS Dhoni, came up with a stunning cameo to make sure CSK crossed the finish line without giving their fans a nervous last-over finish.

Diamond...

FROM BACKPAGE

last in 11.42.

The event was Thompson’s first outside of Jamaica this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic which has crippled international sport for most of the year.

And her time eclipsed that of countrywoman Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce who held the previous world’s fastest time of 10.86 seconds, recorded in Kingston last month.

Thompson, who became the first woman in 28 years to win both sprint finals at an Olympics when she dominated in Rio four years ago, said it had been refreshing to finally encounter strong rivalry.

“We had some competitions in Jamaica, but obviously the field was not as strong as it is here,” the 28-year-old pointed out.

In the men’s equivalent, Jamaican Julian Forte finished sixth in 10.15 seconds and Barbadian Mario Burke last in 10.34, as South African Akani Simbine claimed victory on 9.96.

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Davis posts 37 as Lakers top Nuggets in Game 1

ANTHONY Davis had 37 points 10 rebounds and Los Angeles Lakers cruised to a 126-114 victory over Denver Nuggets in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals on Friday near Orlando.

Davis, who converted 12 of 21 shots from the floor, scored 20 points in the second half.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 18 points on 6-of-10 shooting, including 3-of-5 on 3-pointers, while LeBron James added 15 points 12 assists six rebounds for Lakers. Dwight Howard had 13 points off the bench and effectively defended Nuggets centre Nikola Jokic.

Rajon Rondo, a key contributor off the Los Angeles bench with seven points nine assists, said, “They actually got off to a great start in the first quarter, so they hit us in the mouth in the first quarter and we had to respond, and we hunkered down the rest of game.”

Jamal Murray and Jokic each

Nuggets also were forced to play much of the quarter without Jokic, who picked up his third foul with 7:22 remaining. Murray picked up his third with 3:53 left in the second.

Denver coach Michael Malone said of the second period, “I’ll have to go back and watch the film, but I know that they only shot 42 percent in that quarter but they went to the

Anthony Davis scored 37 points and 10 rebounds scored 21 points for Denver. Michael Porter Jr had 14 points, but no other Denver player reached double figures.

Game 2 is on today.

Lakers bolted to a double-digit lead in the second quarter and stayed in control for the rest of the contest. Los Angeles increased an 11-point halftime edge to 21 in the third quarter after a jumper by

Davis gave them a 92-71 lead with 2:43 left. By the end of the quarter, Lakers led 103-79.

Los Angeles outscored Denver 33-20 in the third.

A free throw by Danny Green after a technical-foul call on Murray capped a 17-1 Lakers run in the opening five minutes of the second quarter for a 53-39 advantage with 6:59 left.

Former T&T cricketer Sheldon Gomes dies

... hailed as excellent team man by WI wicketkeeper Deryck Murray FORMER T&T cricketer Sheldon Gomes has been hailed “as an excellent team man with an infectious personality” by former West Indies wicket-keeper Deryck Murray.

Gomes, who is the older brother of former West Indies cricketer Larry Gomes, passed away at his home in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Tuesday. He was 69 years old just over a month shy of celebrating his 70th birthday.

Widely regarded as one of the best fielders to have played the game in this country, Gomes represented T&T at the First-Class level 55 times. He scored five centuries and 45 half-centuries. He also played 14 List A matches for this country.

Murray, who played with Gomes in the T&T team of the 1970s said, “What really stands out for me about Sheldon is that he was an excellent team man.

There was nothing that he wouldn’t do to help the team and no matter what the situation was. He was always cheerful, always enthusiastic and eager to get on with the game and he had this infectious personality that it was great to be around him in the dressing room.”

Murray also expanded on Gomes’ fielding prowess saying, “I think he was a brilliant fieldsman in any position and he was one of

Sheldon Gomes (right) at a public function with brother Larry Gomes

those persons who would volunteer to go to bat-pad or silly point in the days when protection wasn’t around in the game so it was just sheer bravery. He was the one to do it.”

Gomes also had the distinction of being in the regional championship winning team when T&T copped the Shell Shield Tournament in 1975. His highest score of 213 was recorded against Jamaica in the 1976-1977 season which, incidentally, was his most prolific in regional cricket when he chalked up 633 runs for an impressive average of 70.33 per innings with three centuries.

He also played for North, East Trinidad and Queen’s Park Cricket Club.

President of the T&T Cricket Board (TTCB) Azim Bassarath also extended his condolences and Cricket West Indies’, on the passing

of Gomes describing him as a gifted cricketer whose exploits especially in the field added an exciting dimension to the game.

“You were always sure that something could happen when Sheldon Gomes was prowling in the covers or fielding close up to the batsman as he possessed the safest pair of hands, and a quick turn of foot that left no ball struck by the batsman unchallenged within range,” said Bassarath.

Among his peers in his First-Class career from 1969 to 1983 were many other standout cricketers including Bernard Julien, Rangy Nanan (deceased), Kenrick Bainey, Dudnath Ramkessoon, Imtiaz Ali, Raphick Jumadeen, Prince Bartholomew (deceased) and Inshan Ali (deceased).

(Reprinted from Trinidad Guardian)

foul line 24 times in one quarter, which is an extremely high number.

We were called for 16 personal fouls in that quarter.”

Still, Nuggets stayed within striking distance, trailing Lakers 70-59 at the break despite being outscored 34-21 in the second quarter.

Los Angeles made 22 of 32 foul shots in the first half compared

to 13 of 16 for Denver. Overall, Lakers sank 27 of 37 free throws to 23 of 28 for Nuggets.

Lakers connected on 53 percent of their field-goal attempts to 49.4 percent for Nuggets.

Murray said, “Obviously, it’s the first game, so we’re not going to overreact. But we just have to be better.” (Field Level Media)

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McCullum: Borde a massive positive for TKR WHEN teams win titles the players get all the accolades but this time around the coach of the successful Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR), Brendan McCullum, is heaping praises on manager Colin Borde after his team won the 2020 Hero Caribbean Premier

League (CPL) crown, to record their fourth lien on the trophy.

TKR defeated St Lucia Zouks in the final of the tournament recently at Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, to take away the title. They became the first team to play unbeaten for the entire season, winning all

12 matches on the trot.

McCullum speaking about the importance of the manager said: “‘Manage’ has a deep understanding about T&T, he cares dearly about T&T and is well connected in T&T and this works for us. He garners respect with the local guys who love and

TKR manager Colin Borde with yet another CPL trophy respect him dearly. The way he welcomes the overseas guys is also tremendous. They are included as friends and well-taken care of. Colin is a massive positive for the TKR side.”

Borde has now won four CPL titles, as he was manager of T&T Red Steel which won the title in 2015 as well and then three titles under the TKR banner.

“Colin has four titles and he

has been the constant. Coaches come and go but he has remained there and my role is made easy because of Colin. Nothing is ever a problem. He makes things move, issues are dealt with officially.

“He breaks things down, processes them and then strategically puts them back together for positive outcomes.”

The New Zealander also poked fun at Borde saying: “He is real fun, talks a bit too much but he is the heartbeat of the team. I am lucky to have him there. We work really well together. We have all found our niche in this my second year and as a new support staff they have done well.”

McCullum, who played under Borde’s management before turning coach, stressed the importance of off-the-field support.

“Success has a lot to do with structure off the field and this we have. ‘Manage’ is a champion bloke and we love him.”

Borde’s four CPL titles came in 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2020, while he managed the T&T Red Force to the second spot in the Champions League in 2009. He

managed the T&T Red Force when it finished second in the Regional Four-Day tournament back in 2009.

In addition to this, he got stints as manager of West Indies A team and also the President’s XI. His success rate is tremendous as his Red Force team won the Stanford Trophy in 2009, while they twice won the Regional Super50 in 2008 and 2009.

Away from the cricket field, he is also a director at the firm Dream Big Management, a player management group, director - one-man outfit a videography and photography company, director at House Hunters Real Estate and a consultant at CB2000 Limited.

Added to all this, Borde is a commercial pilot and also served on the executive of the T&T Cricket Board (TTCB).

He is also a former member of the Cricket West Indies (CWI) marketing committee and a former sports consultant for the government on compliance when it came to dealing with National Governing Bodies.

(Reprinted from Trinidad Guardian)

Maestro Maxwell sets new ODI world record AUSTRALIAN Glenn Maxwell has become the fastest man to score 3 000 ODI runs, reaching the milestone in 92 fewer balls than his nearest rival.

Against England in the third ODI in Manchester last Wednesday, Maxwell became just the sixth man to reach 3 000 ODI runs at a strike-rate exceeding 100, reaching the mark from the 2,440th ball of his career – a remarkable strike-rate of 122.95.

It puts him well ahead of the other five men to have reached the mark at better than a run a ball.

England trio Jos Buttler (2 532 balls), Jason Roy (2 824) and Jonny Bairstow (2 842) all managed it at better than run-a-ball pace, as did Indian legend Kapil Dev (2 957) and South African power hitter David Miller (2 997).

But Maxwell is streets ahead of them all and even when measured against players who have played far less cricket than he has, his strike-rate is one of the best in the one-day game’s 50-year history.

Of all players to have faced more than 500 balls in ODI cricket, only West Indian Andre Russell (1 034 runs at 130.22) has a better strike-rate than Maxwell, while Buttler (3 855 runs at 119.05) is third on that list.

Among Australians, James Faulkner (1 032 runs at 104.24) is the only other man to have faced more than 500 balls and scored at

Aussie middle-order man becomes quickest in terms of balls faced to reach 3 000 runs during third ODI against England. a strike-rate exceeding 100.

Maxwell was shifted down to the No.7 position in the opening game of the series and produced his highest ODI in 12 innings, a quick-fire 77 from 59 balls that paved the way for an Australian win.

The Victorian missed out in the second game but was at his absolute best in the third, hitting his second ball for six and producing an extraordinary partnership with Alex Carey to secure the win and the series.

While Maxwell reached 3 000 runs in the fewest balls in ODI history, he is well down the list of the fastest men to the milestone in terms of innings played.

South African Hashim Amla (57 innings) holds that mark from West Indian Shai Hope (67) and Pakistan’s Babar Azam (68), while Maxwell got there in his 103rd innings.

By that measure, Steve Smith (79 inns) is the fastest Australian to the mark.

Fastest to 3 000 ODI runs (balls faced) 2 440 – Glenn Maxwell (Australia) 2 532 – Jos Buttler (England) 2 824 – Jason Roy (England) 2 842 – Jonny Bairstow (England) 2 957 – Kapil Dev (India) 2 997 – David Miller (South Africa). (Cricketcom.au)

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Pogacar poised for Tour de France glory after stunning Roglic

By Julien Pretot RONCHAMPS, France (Reuters) - Slovenia’s Tadej Pogacar pulled off a major upset at the Tour de France by stunning compatriot Primoz Roglic to claim the overall leader’s yellow jersey with a monumental victory in the final individual time trial yesterday.

The 21-year-old won the 36.2-km solo effort against the clock as Roglic, who had started the day with a 57-second lead in the general classification, cracked in the uphill section, a 5.9-km climb at an average gradient of 8.5%.

“I don’t know what to say, it’s a dream,” said Pogacar, who now leads second-placed Roglic by 59 seconds ahead of today’s final stage, a largely processional ride to the Champs Elysees in Paris where only the final sprint is contested.

“Getting the yellow jersey on the final day, we were dreaming of it since the start. I knew every corner on the road, thanks to the work of my team.

“I think that my head is going to explode.”

Pogacar, who is set to become the youngest winner of the Tour since Henri Cornet in 1904, clocked 55 minutes 55 seconds

Tadej Pogacar in yellow after stage 20 of the Tour de France 2020 (Photo by MARCO BERTORELLO/POOL/ AFP via Getty Images) - the perfection of the numbers matching his performance.

Roglic only took fifth place, 1:56 off the pace after what

appeared to be a cautious start turned into a major meltdown.

The 30-year-old, who had controlled the whole race with his dominant Jumbo-Visma team, imploded on the climb and crossed the line with a livid face before sitting down on the road.

A raw talent who holds no fear, Pogacar, who celebrates his 22nd birthday on Monday, now holds three distinctive jerseys the yellow, the white jersey for the best Under-25 rider and the polka dot jersey for the mountains classification.

The upset echoes that of the last day of the 1989 Tour de France when American Greg LeMond won the race by eight

seconds over France’s Laurent Fignon after starting the time-trial 50 seconds off the pace.

There was another major change yesterday as Australian Richie Porte leapfrogged Colombian Miguel Angel Lopez into third place overall by finishing the 20th stage in third spot.

After losing all hope of overall victory following a crash in the opening stage, Frenchman Thibaut Pinot rode through impressive crowds and smoke in his hometown of Melisey, where the roads had his name and that of his goat Kim painted all over them, adding to the sense of surrealism on the day

Vibrant Leeds off the mark but fans set for rollercoaster ride (REUTERS) - It may not be good for their blood pressure but Leeds United fans look set for a thrilling rollercoaster ride as they follow their club’s first Premier League campaign for 16 years.

Far from tailoring the expansive style that got them promoted as champions last season, Marcelo Bielsa’s side have brought it to the top flight in fearless fashion.

They served notice of their intent as they went toe-to-toe with champions Liverpool at Anfield

last week, going down 4-3. On Saturday, sadly at an empty Elland Road, they were at it again as this time they prevailed 4-3 against Fulham.

Had it finished 8-7 it would not have been a surprise as both sides decided attack was the best form of defence.

Two goals by Portuguese forward Helder Coster and one each for Mateusz Klich and Patrick Bamford, his second in two league games, just about proved sufficient as Fulham, for whom Aleksandar Mitrovic scored twice, battled back

from 4-1 down.

Recent history suggests a gung-ho approach to the Premier League does not usually end well -- as Fulham themselves proved two seasons ago and as Norwich City did last year.

The canny Bielsa will know that too, but he is unlikely to drastically alter his side’s refreshing approach.

“What the match showed was we have to continue what made us successful in the first place,” Bielsa said. “The best way to get a result, rather than putting men behind the ball.

“As the competition goes on I think we will be able to improve our defence.”

While acknowledging that the defending was a worry, Bielsa praised his side’s clinical attacking play and the way they managed to resist Fulham in the final stages.

“Normally we need to create a lot to score goals and the opposite is happening,” he said.

“After the two goals we conceded in a short time and a shot that hit the post, we defended well and

attacked well. That final period was the best part of this game.”

His Fulham counterpart Scott Parker faces a similar conundrum with his side’s attack looking better-equipped for life in the top flight than his defence which, like Leeds, has conceded seven goals in two games.

“Overall, you can’t expect to score four or five and get something out of the game,” he said.

“At 4-1, the floodgates could have opened but the team kept believing.”

VAR drama as Zaha double earns Palace shock 3-1 win at Man Utd

By Peter Hall

MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - Manchester United’s season got underway with a shock 3-1 defeat by Crystal Palace as Wilfried Zaha grabbed a late brace for the visitors in the Premier League yesterday although VAR was once again the centre of attention over a re-taken penalty.

United looked off the pace early on as Andros Townsend put Palace in front after seven minutes, with the home side’s campaign starting a week later than initially scheduled due to last season’s Europa League commitments running into

mid-August.

The defending was poor as Victor Lindelof allowed Jeffrey Schlupp to square the ball for Townsend, whose first goal in 20 league games was aided by slack marking at the far post.

Paul Pogba and Scott McTominay went close for United but they could have been two goals behind at halftime, with a superb David De Gea save keeping out a goal-bound Jordan Ayew strike.

United brought teenager Mason Greenwood on at halftime but their task was made more difficult when the VAR decided that referee Martin Atkinson should consult the pitch-side monitor

Crystal Palace’s Zaha (centre) celebrates with teammates after scoring the 3-1 lead. (Photo: EPA-EFE)

and he awarded Palace

a penalty for handball

against Lindelof.

Ayew, whose shot was handled by the defender, had his spot kick brilliantly saved by De Gea. The VAR drama was not done though, with Atkinson informed that the keeper came off his line and the penalty was retaken, with Zaha converting this time.

New signing Donny van de Beek came off the bench to get the home side back in the contest with a goal on his debut after a fortunate ricochet, but former United forward Zaha made sure of a deserved win for Palace with a fine finish late on.

“I feel that it’s not a penalty,” United manag-

er Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said. “I think the ball comes from so close to Victor, where can he put his hands? The decision to retake it, though, was the right one if you follow the rules.”

There is a new directive this season to crack down on keeper encroachment at penalties but, even with VAR being on their side twice in quick succession, Palace were good value for their win, with manager Roy Hodgson full of praise for Zaha.

“I’m very pleased for him and the club,” he said. “He’s worked hard on getting strikes on target when he gets the chances, and that work is showing now.”

46

SUNDAY CHRONICLE September 20, 2020

We Stand United CC mourns loss of former national cyclist Wilbert Benjamin THE president, executive and members of We Stand United Cycle Club (WSUCC) extend sincere condolences to the wife, children, relatives and cycling fraternity of the late Wilbert Benjamin who is being described as an unsung hero of the sport.

WSUCC stated that, “The nation has lost a true son whose life was a blessing to so many cyclists.”

“Wilbert, did not keep his blessings to himself, he always looked out for his fellow Guyanese cyclists especially the young riders.

Once any cyclist was in

need and he knew, he was sure to get assistance from Benjie, as he was familiarly known.”

His passing has left a void in the sport even in these challenging times. The quiet but affable Wilbert, himself a former National cyclist who would have, like so many, been a part of the annual Summer ‘Teach Them Young’ cycling Programme in the National Park, run by National coach Hassan Mohamed, ensured that whenever he was in Guyana he not only competed but was present at races when not riding.

FLASHBACK: Wilbert Benjamin seen with His Worship, Mayor of Bartica Gifford Marshall (left) and former Guyana Cycling Federation president, Horace Burrowes, at the Bartica Cycling Challenge.

He was very much a part of the gathering when the inaugural Bartica Cycling Challenge was held last March.

Former president of the

Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) Horace Burrowes described Benjamin as a personal friend who loved the sport and had a burning passion for the development and

empowerment of youths.

The late Wilbert Benjamin was also a young businessman who owned Benjamin Sports and Fitness Centre located in the village of Fyrish, Corentyne, Berbice. He allowed many sportsmen and women to utilise his gym free of cost as a way of encouraging them in their particular endeavour.

He also owned a cycle store in Canada where he lived with his wife and five daughters. His love for Guyana resulted in his setting up business here as well.

The club also notes that the legacy Wilbert Benjamin has left is one of unselfish-

ness - showing love and care for his fellow Guyanese, especially those in need.

His death has rocked the cycling fraternity, occurring mere months after the passing of another young cyclist and businessman, Jude Bentley, owner of The Bike Shop in Robb Street, Georgetown.

Both riders died from injuries sustained as a result of vehicular accidents. In the case of Bentley, he died on the spot. There are growing concerns for the safety of cyclists using the roadways as they continue to feel unsafe.

May the soul of Wilbert Benjamin rest in peace and rise in glory!

Italy to allow 1,000 Barca chief Bartomeu will fans at Serie A not go to war with Messi games from today ROME (Reuters) - Italy will allow up to 1,000 supporters to attend top flight Serie A soccer matches from today following an agreement between the regions and various government departments, sports minister Vincenzo Spadafora said on Saturday.

The regions of Emilia Romagna -- home to Parma, Sassuolo and Bologna -- and Veneto -- where Verona are based -- had already announced that fans could watch matches in their jurisdiction but Spadafora said the measure had been extended to nationwide.

Spectators have been barred from Serie A matches since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“To avoid disparities between the teams and as an experiment in view of the further openings, I asked that this decision be extended to the entire national territory,” Spadafora said on his Facebook page.

“I thank (Health Minister Roberto) Speranza and the re-

gions for sharing this view.”

Spadafora said he would now work towards allowing spectators at matches in the lower tiers.

“My goal is to allow the participation of the public for all sports and for all categories, arriving at a single protocol that provides for a percentage of spectators based on the actual capacity of the facilities,” he added.

“We made a commitment during the meeting to get down to work on this right away”.

Serie A kicked off on Saturday with two matches, Fiorentina-Torino and Verona-AS Roma.

Verona did not have time to sell tickets for their game following the Veneto region’s decision but allowed a small number of friends and relatives to watch their game. Fiorentina’s match was played behind closed doors.

Earlier on Saturday, 1,000 fans were allowed to watch a pre-season friendly at Milan’s San Siro stadium between Inter Milan and Serie B side Pisa.

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu said he does not wish to have any more disputes with captain Lionel Messi after the Argentinian

this month that Bartomeu had not fulfilled a promise to allow him to break his contract unilaterally and leave the club without a transfer fee, also lashing out at the presi-

Barcelona captain Lionel Messi reluctantly opted to stay at the club this month after failing to force through a move.

“I won’t get into any conflict with him. He’s our captain and the leader of our team,” Bartomeu told Catalan television network TV3 before the team’s 1-0 friendly win over Elche on Saturday.

“I couldn’t let him leave the club, he is the best player of all time and the team needs him. Having Messi is a guarantee of success.”

Messi had complained earlier

dent’s leadership.

But Bartomeu chose not to fire back against Barca’s all-time top scorer, instead praising Messi for turning a page and performing well in the team’s pre-season matches, including scoring twice in a 3-1 win over Girona last week.

“We have seen him do his talking on the pitch and we have moved on from the saga,” Bartomeu added.

“We should congratulate ourselves for getting Messi to stay with

us and for how he has behaved in the last few days. The best player in the world should stay at our home.”

Bartomeu has been in the fir-

with two-thirds of 150,000 members needing to vote against Bartomeu to force his dismissal.

Yet Bartomeu, who will be

Barcelona club president Josep Maria Bartomeu ing line ever since Barca’s historic 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals last month.

He came under renewed pressure after a campaign group gathered over 20,000 signatures from members to force a vote of no-confidence against him.

In compliance with the club’s statutes, Barca are currently validating the votes and if over 16,520 are approved, then a referendum will be held in the next three months,

leaving the role after elections in March regardless of what happens with the motion of censure, ruled out resigning.

“The board and I will keep working to ensure we have the most competitive team possible,” he said.

“We will speak again after validating the votes but right now noone wants to quit. The club won’t stop and we will keep working, we have lots of issues to sort out.”

47

SUNDAY CHRONICLE September 20, 2020

The clock of fate ticking away on the continuous football saga in T&T

By Ras Wadada

FIFA, the world governing body for the ‘Beautiful Game’, has given the ousted Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) until this coming Wednesday September 23 to withdraw their legal claim.

The ongoing saga in the Twin Island Republic has seen many twists and serious accusations against FIFA, the disbanded William Wallace executive and the displaced former TTFA president John Williams since the appointment of the Robert Hadad-led Normalisation Committee on March 17 of this year.

In the latest correspondence via email, from Secretary General of FIFA, Fatma Samoura, to Hadad last Friday it was emphasised that it is the last attempt to resolve the impasse.

“Given the seriousness of the matter addressed therein, the FIFA Council has decided to give a final deadline to the relevant parties to

withdraw all types of claims against FIFA before the Trinidad and Tobago courts and comply with all their obligations under the FIFA Statutes, in particular Arts 57 et seqq of the FIFA Statutes, by September 23 at 15:00hrs AST (21:00hrs CET).

Failure to comply with this directive within the revised deadline will result in the matter being brought to the attention of the relevant FIFA bodies to decide on the suspension of the TTFA. Finally, we kindly request the TTFA to communicate the abovementioned to all relevant persons and to keep FIFA closely informed on all further developments regarding the matter.”

While no International Sports Association/Federation can supersede the laws of any country the TTFA is obligated to recognise and respect the Statutes of FIFA as a long-standing member, hence the installation of a Normalisation Committee is within the powers of the Bureau of Council.

The root cause for the removal of the Wallace administration, after being democratically elected on November 24 last year, has been described by FIFA as “financial impropriety” and that was the chief catalyst that brought about the end of Williams’ reign as the head of football in the country, according to an adamant Wallace who took legal recourse in opposing the decision

by FIFA. Despite not having total support of the football fraternity in `Soca Warriors’ country and appeals by former International stars of the country, including Dwight Yorke and David Nakid to withdraw the court proceedings against the world governing body, knowing the consequences, Wallace and several of his executives are confident of an unprecedented victory.

Meantime another court battle is brewing as the disposed Williams has indicated while publicly refuting recent information/stories by a leading Media house and investigating

journalist of Trinbago, accusing him of wrongdoing with regard to FIFA funding for the construction of TTFA’s ‘home for football’ while he was in office, at the helm.

In a statement last Thursday the former TTFA president stated that they are “both liable for the false and defamatory allegations contained and made in these articles and television news stories which they continue to publish and carry”, adding, “I deprecate in the strongest terms possible … attempts to elevate sensationalism and character assassination to the ranks of journalism and I await my day in court when I will clear my name.”

The current tense situation in the country of former `Caribbean Kings’ of football has attracted global following over the last six months.

The frail Caribbean Football Union (CFU) has been very silent on the issue and quite understandably so, as it is no secret how powerless and meaningless it has become.

The suspension hammer of FIFA

TTFA president William Wallace

is expected to be felt should Wallace and his cohorts hold firm to their selfish position. Consequently boundless football talents of the nation will suffer.

With just three days to go before the final tick of fate, it is the wish of the Region that common sense will prevail and save the impending suspension, thus allowing the business of the `Beautiful Game’ to be brought back to normalcy via the guidance of the FIFA-appointed Hadad-led Normalisation Committee.

that will help to preserve the sport, while finding new talent.

Dey, who also suited up for the ‘Green Machine’ at a number of regional and international tournaments, said they are yet to have an audience with the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr, but if or when that time comes, an all-inclusive plan will be handed over and discussed.

T h e GRFU pres-

By Rawle Toney PRESIDENT of Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) Ryan Dey says his body will be reaching out to the Government of Guyana and the Private Sector, with a comprehensive plan - a plan which will see them, among other things, address the dire need for their own ‘home’ for the sport.

The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport received a $2.7B allocation from the country’s National Budget ($330B), of which $805.3M will be given to sports.

Additionally, $185M will go to the National Sports Commission

Claudius Butts makes a tackle on his Trinidadian counterpart during a clash last year in Guyana.

Ryan Dey - GRFU president

GRFU to lobby Government, Private Sector for own facility

(NSC), which is to be spent on advancing the ongoing works at the synthetic tracks in Berbice and Linden, purchasing of sport gear and the Government’s Ground Enhancement Programme.

“We have a comprehensive budget and a five-year plan that we’re working on, so we don’t want to say this is what we need etc. We want to say this is our plan and this is where we want to go,” Dey told Chronicle Sport in an exclusive interview.

Dey further stated: “We know in this time we’re strapped for cash

around the world and we’re trying to give, not only rugby, but Guyana, value for their money.”

It has been four years since the rugby field at National Park, where the GRFU had called their home for years, was forced to close for rehabilitative work, which had commenced under then Director of Sport, Christopher Jones.

Due to a series of events, one of which included inadequate funding to see the completion of the rehabilitative work, the GRFU was forced to remain at the part of the National Park which is usually utilised by the

… Dey wants to give investors value for money Athletics Association of Guyana.

“With a ground of our own, we can do a lot of things, mainly training. We don’t have the time or daylight enough to train because most of the people who play rugby have their regular day job(s). So we can set our time, just like most parts of the world where the players get off work, get a chance to go home do what they have to and then come out to play or train,” Dey said.

He continued: “This is what

countries like Jamaica and Trinidad have been doing and we’ve never been able to really do that and we still hold our own internationally. So I think if we have our own venue, we can see Guyana moving at a faster pace on the world ranking and so much more.”

Rugby, over the years, held a reputation for being Guyana’s decorated team sport with the ‘Green Machine’ chalking up a number of Regional tournament titles, while

featuring at some of World Rugby’s most prestigious events with considerable success.

However, their success has never been credited to any support from Government and Private Sector, with the GRFU usually struggling to make ends meet.

Dey is of the belief that time has come, especially with Guyana’s usual faces that brought them success over the years coming of age, for the sport to receive adequate funding

Rayudu, du Plessis help CSK beat Rayudu, Mumbai Indians by five wickets Ambati Rayudu goes for the big one in his top score of 71 for CSK. (BCCI photo)

MUMBAI Indians’ (MI) horror run in the UAE continues as Rohit Sharma’s men suffered their 6th straight defeat in the Middle East.

The defending champions were handed a 5-wicket thrashing

by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the opening match of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 at the almost empty Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi yesterday.

It was a winning return for MS Dhoni who was back playing competitive cricket for the 1st time in 437 days. It was the 3rd straight opening-day victory for CSK who had beaten MI and Royal Challengers Bangalore in their IPL 2018, 2019 campaign openers.

Dhoni, who had retired from international cricket on August 15, marshalled his troops well

ident did not divulge information with regard to what those plans are, but he mentioned that the Media will be updated once it’s completed.

Meanwhile, with Rugby, both locally and internationally cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, Dey said GRFU will use the time to strategise and plan their new season in anticipation of a busy schedule once the sport returns.

Reigning double Olympic champion Jamaican Elaine Thompson

Diamond League win gives Thompson clarity for Tokyo despite making some surprising calls by leaving out the likes of Dwayne Bravo and Imran Tahir for the campaign opener.

It was CSK’s dependable top-order batsmen, Ambati Rayudu and Faf du Plessis, who got the job done in chase of 163 with a 115-run stand for the 3rd wicket. Rayudu hit a solid 71 in just 48 balls - his 19th IPL fifty

SEE PAGE 42

ROME, Italy (CMC) – Reigning double Olympic sprint queen, Elaine Thompson, says Thursday’s world-leading win had given her a clear outline of her form ahead of next year’s Tokyo Olympics.

The Jamaican stormed to a swift 10.85 seconds victory at the Diamond League meet ahead of American Aleia Hobbs who was second in 11.12 and Marie Josée Ta Lou of Côte d’Ivoire who finished third in 11.14.

“I leave here with the world leading time. I am super excited. This tells me where I am at the end of this season, and tells me how I can prepare for next year. I am super excited,” an elated Thompson said afterwards.

“This year required me adjusting and the goal was to push back and motivate myself. I am the double Olympic champion and I want to be in top form next season.”

Running out of lane five, Thompson left the blocks quickly to assert herself early, with Hobbs in lane four attempting to stay with her and Ta Lou keeping tabs from lane seven.

However, Thompson had no equal over the last 40 metres as she motored to line well ahead of the competition, with Hobbs and Ta Lou hitting the line together for season-best finishes.

Anthonique Strachan of The Bahamas finished

SEE PAGE 42

Barca chief Bartomeu will not go to war with Messi 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 SEPTEMBER 20, 2020