Guyana Chronicle Newspaper 03-07-2021

7th March, 2021

, No.106293

Teachings, sacrifices of Dr Cheddi Jagan still relevant –– says Minister Mustapha

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‘Transition to transform’ –– President Ali urges private sector at sod-turning for new US$15M ‘Aiden’ Hotel

–– says development is not ‘guesswork,’ there must be clarity of vision SEE STORY ON PAGE 03

Sol, other oil importers in hot water for abusing tax exemptions 02 PAGE

The female engineers propelling Guyana’s infrastructural transformation 20 PAGE

Cop crashes car, girlfriend dies 02 PAGE

President, Dr. Irfaan Ali (centre); CEO of Go-Invest, Dr. Peter Ramsaroop (left) and Co-Director of Arimu Investments Inc., Lorenzo Alphonso, do the ceremonial turning of the sod to initiate construction of the US$15M Aiden by Best Western Hotel at the corner of Robb and Oronoque Streets, Georgetown (Delano Williams photo)

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 7, 2021

Sol, other oil importers in hot water for abusing tax exemptions –– GRA recommends prosecution, recovery of duties and interest applicable based on the abuse

By Navendra Seoraj THE Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), following a reconciliation of exempted fuel against acquitted fuel, has found that several major oil importers, namely SoL, Rubis and GuyOil, were utilising exemption letters to clear fuel without regard for whom the fuel was destined.

The Sunday Chronicle was privy to a letter signed by GRA Commission-General Godfrey Statia, which stated that it was the practice of the revenue authority for several years to allow the major oil companies to import and enter tax-exempted fuel for various businesses which benefitted from partial or full exemptions on fuel.

The oil companies, should they choose to do this, are required and expected, among other things, to deliver the full exempted quantities imported and entered to all such beneficiaries, who, in turn, are expected to utilise said quanti-

ties for the intended purposes.

But, in recognising that there was a breach in protocol, Statia, in 2017, had instructed the Law Enforcement and Investigation Division (LEID) arm of the GRA to pay regular visits to the beneficiaries’ places of business to ensure that the fuel was being utilised as intended.

“In doing so, and during the reconciliation process, it was discovered that the import and clearing of fuel through the PID [Permission For Immediate Delivery] system was flawed, since oil importers were utilising exemption letters to clear PIDs without regard to whom the fuel was destined for, i.e., whether the fuel was fully exempted, partially exempted, or subjected to the tax,” the Commissioner-General said in the letter which was addressed to Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh.

This discovery prompted a request for explanations,

to which the oil importers responded by saying that the fuel was being held in so-called “virtual tanks” for delivery to the beneficiaries as and when needed.

“This explanation shows distinctly that there was commingling, and the oil importers were abusing the system, whereby not all exempted fuel cleared by the importer was being acquitted by the beneficiary, thereby allowing the oil importer to benefit from increased cash flow by not paying the government on the required basis,” Statia said.

The LEID and Customs, Excise and Trade Operations (CE&TO) were again instructed to commence reconciliation exercises between the fuel importers and fuel beneficiaries, beginning with the major beneficiaries, namely Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA), Bosai, AGM, Rusal, and in late 2020, ExxonMobil.

STARTLING RESULTS The results of the recon-

GRA Commissioner-General Godfrey Statia

ciliation exercises were described by Statia as startling, as it was found that in each case, a trend was observed whereby some of the major oil importers would have imported and entered the fuel at duty-free rate, using the beneficiaries’ tax exemption letters, but failed to deliver the full quantities to the beneficiaries as required.

In the case of ExxonMobil, evidence has so far revealed that since 2015, the system was being abused by SoL Guyana Inc. It was found that the exemption letters were being utilised by SoL to clear fuel, but the full quantity was not being delivered to the beneficiary.

Also, for the period January 1, 2020 to September 30, 2020, a total quantity of 34,554,080 litres of gas oil was imported and duly

entered by Sol Guyana Inc., using both Bosai companies’ tax exemption letters.

Of this quantity, Statia said certified records submitted by SoL Guyana Inc. and both Bosai companies revealed that only the accumulated quantity of 20,691,379 liters was delivered to the beneficiaries. This meant that the remaining 13,862,701 liters should have stayed in SoL’s possession.

“To this effect, and based on the incontrovertible evidence obtained, the revenue authority demanded the forgone excise tax, in the sum of six hundred and six million, nine hundred and seventy-eight thousand, three hundred and sixty-three dollars ($606,978,363) on the 13,862,701 liters of gas oil which was imported duly entered free of excise tax and

was not delivered to both Bosai companies to be utilised for the intended purpose,” Statia lamented.

In an email dated November 27, 2020, Sol Guyana Inc. accepted the liability, but alleged that in past periods, notably during 2018-2019, it supplied in excess of 24 million liters of duty-paid diesel at duty-free prices to both Bosai companies without exemption letters.

When this quantity was reconciled, the GRA found that only 20.3 million liters was supplied, clear evidence that Sol Inc. does not keep adequate records of acquittals.

The GRA officers are still examining Bosai’s exemption records to see whether the company acquitted fuel from other importers in 2018 and 2019, since they were in receipt of exemptions during the period claimed.

Considering the extent of abuse uncovered by the authority, Statia recommended that GRA should find a way to prosecute the company, and recover duties and interest applicable based on the abuses.

The Attorney-General, Anil Nandlall’s advice would be sought in moving forward, the GRA boss said in his letter to Dr. Singh.

Cop crashes car, girlfriend dies

The car in which the cop and his girlfriend were travelling when the fatal accident occurred

A 26-year-old woman who allegedly held onto the steering wheel of her boyfriend’s car during a heated argument died on Saturday after he lost control of the vehicle and crashed on the Hibernia Public Road, on the Essequibo Coast.

Dead is Simona Williams of Good Hope, East Coast Demerara; the car, PMM 5509, was being driven by her boyfriend, Terry Samuels, 23, a Police Constable.

The parked car into which the policeman crashed

The Sunday Chronicle was informed that the policeman was allegedly speeding when he and Williams had a heated argument, and she held onto the steering wheel resulting in his losing control and slamming into a parked car at around 13:20h.

Samuels told reporters that he and Williams were heading to Supenaam; he claimed that the argument started after she accused him of being unfaithful. The Con-

stable alleged that Williams pulled the steering to the left, and that it was while pulling it back to the right that he lost control and crashed into motorcar PPP 4196, which was parked on the eastern parapet.

Williams was pronounced dead at the Suddie Public Hospital, and Constable Samuels is under close arrest.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 7, 2021

‘Transition to transform’ –– President Ali urges private sector at sod-turning for new US$15M ‘Aiden’ Hotel ––says development is not ‘guesswork,’ there must be clarity of vision

By Navendra Seoraj THOUGH progress is anticipated across every section of Guyana’s economy, President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, has said that moving forward and embracing this potential growth and development would require transition, not just physically, but also in the way people act, think, celebrate Guyana and conduct business.

“We have to transition to create the transformation we want. It is not only physical, it is the human transformation, the way of thinking, acting, celebration of country, the way we do business and organisational culture. It has to be incorporated into every aspect of our lives and every level of service has to be transformed.

“It should be something to take us to optimisation,” President Ali said on Saturday during his remarks at a ceremonial sod-turning event for the construction of a US$15 million Aiden by Best Western Hotel at the corner of Robb and Oronoque Streets, Georgetown.

Guyana, with its newfound oil wealth and thriving productive sectors, is on the cusp of economic transformation and has already received the title of “investment capital” of the Region and possibly the world. Positioning ahead of this economic ascension is essential, since it is only through this that businesses and individuals would be able to capitalise on the opportunities which would accrue to Guyana.

The developers of the Aiden Hotel, Arimu Investments Inc., are seen as trailblazers in this regard, as they have placed themselves in a position to accommodate expatriates and tourists, who have already set their sights on Guyana. The US$15 million project, President Ali said, demonstrates what he means by ‘transition to transform.’

“The developers went after a transformative project and did so in a way to optimise the potential in the design of the project... we have a culture that we like to

Co-Director of Arimu Investments Inc., Lorenzo Alphonso

President Dr Irfaan Ali delivering the feature address at the sod-turning ceremony for the hotel

tor driven, people-centred and results- oriented. The government’s vision is already clear, and while policy changes are pertinent in creating a conducive and enabling environment, the right infrastructure is also required.

“We need to have the right infrastructure. We have to build and modernise and

An artist’s impression of the proposed nine-storey Aiden Hotel

do things ourselves, but the new standards that will come will necessitate us investing in human-resource talent.

And, this shows the proactive nature of this group [Arimu] in researching and understanding before investing,” the Head-of-State reasoned.

Arimu’s ‘transition’ is one to emulate, especially if the barriers to business development are to be removed.

“We need to break down barriers within the business environment and this calls for a new wave of thinking in the private sector, in order for them to capitalise on the opportunities,” President Ali said.

The President acknowledged, however, that the removal of barriers cannot be a one-man task, as it would require a consolidation of efforts to have true progress and advancement. He

advised private-sector stakeholders to form consortiums, since this would not only allow businesses to grow effectively, but also create an avenue for there to be forward and backward linkages to critical sectors such as petroleum and agriculture.

“So, whatever it is, we have to build the capacity and start now… In every sphere of development, you can be guaranteed the government will be backing every Guyanese. The government has a responsibility to ensure that the investment climate is secured [sic] and that investors are protected,” President Ali said.

One of the immediate aims of the government in creating an environment that is conducive for business, is to “flat-line” bureaucracy through the creation of a single-window approval system.

In referring directly to the

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the City Council, President Ali said no modern society could operate with an approval system of two to three years.

“We have to break down the little walls of God that believe they have a God-given right to hold approval on a desk and you to prostrate before them before you get your approval. Those days are oldand-gone days, we have to transition to a professional approach, a business-oriented approach and that is why we are moving aggressively on the single-window approval system,” the Head-ofState affirmed.

DEVELOPMENT IS NOT GUESSWORK Development, the President said, is not “guesswork,” there needs to be clarity of vision. This vision must be private-sec-

do what is necessary for growth and development, but there cannot be an overreach and over spending,” President Ali said, noting that the critical infrastructural links have to and will be created.

Already, the government is working to reduce the cost of energy by at least 50 per cent through an energy mix and building roads and bridges, which will serve as arteries to development, linking communities and villages even in remote areas.

Importantly too, as said by the President, is investment in training and development for every Guyanese, who should be in a position to capitalise as well on the potential opportunities.

While the government is doing its part in this regard, he said it is important for the private sector to also invest in its people and create more employment opportunities.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 7, 2021

Teachings, sacrifices of Dr Cheddi Jagan still relevant

–– says Minister Mustapha MEMBERS of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), along with supporters on Saturday paid tribute via a wreath-laying ceremony in remembrance of former President of Guyana, Dr. Cheddi Jagan, on the occasion of his 24th death anniversary.

Delivering remarks at the simple ceremony which was held at the crematorium at Babu Jaan, Port Mourant, East Berbice-Corentyne, was long-standing member of the PPP and current Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, who reflected on the life, principles and teachings of the past leader.

Mustapha emphasised that it was due to Dr. Jagan’s teachings and legacy that the PPP/C was able to overcome the recent attack on democracy. He said the PPP/C has

Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha lays a wreath in remembrance of Dr. Cheddi Jagan at the Crematorium site at Babu Jaan, Port Mourant, on Saturday

remained true to the founding principles of the great leader.

“Today as we continue the struggle, as we continue the development of our country--two days ago we had the passage of one of the largest budgets in our country--and I think Comrade Cheddi would have been proud to know of

Sunday March7, 2021 –– 00:30& 11:00hrs Monday March 8, 2021 –– 01:00& 12:30hrs

those measures that are in this budget.

“Measures that would enhance the lives of the poor and vulnerable, measures that will help to alleviate poverty and suffering in our country and that is the way we have learnt from the struggles and teaching of Cheddi Jagan,” Mustapha told those gathered.

He added, “So after 24 years, the struggle and sacrifice and teaching of Cheddi Jagan is relevant today as it was when he started. As members, as supporters, let us rededicate our energy to continue the development in our country, alleviate pover-

ty and improve the lives of every citizen.”

Meanwhile, Regional Chairman David Armogan echoed those sentiments and noted that Dr. Jagan was able to achieve what he had set out to and has earned the right to be called the ‘Father of the Nation.”

“In his 79 years on earth, he was able to create history and to write the history of this country in the way he wanted it. He was able to bring liberation to his people from the colonial masters; he was able to fight for freedom and democracy after 28 years in the wilderness and eventually became the first Indo Guyanese democratically elected President of Guyana; and today he is rightly described as the “Father of the Nation.” We are here to pay our respect,” Armogan said.

Dr. Jagan was born on March 22, 1918 and died on March 6, 1997. He suffered a heart attack on February 15, 1997 and was taken to the Georgetown Hospital before being flown

by U.S. military aircraft to the Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington D.C. He underwent heart surgery there and died in Washington, 16 days before his 79th birthday.

COVID-19 death toll now at 201 THE Ministry of Health has reported that another person who tested positive for COVID-19 has succumbed.

The victim is a 57-year-old male from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), who died while receiving care at a medical facility on Saturday.

His is the fourth death for March 2021, and takes the overall COVID-19 death toll for Guyana to 201.

In the meantime, Guyana has recorded 43 new cases of the virus from 674 tests conducted on March 5, 2021.

Of that number, 11 were recorded in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), 25 in Region Four, two in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), one in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), and four in Region Ten (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice).

To date, seven persons are convalescing in the COVID-19 Intensive Care

Unit (ICU); 40 are institutionally isolated; 419 are isolated at home and 11 are institutionally quarantined.

Guyana has confirmed a total of 8,772 cases since the arrival here of COVID-19 in March 2020, 477 of which are currently active.

All Guyanese are urged to observe the protocols of the COVID-19 emergency measures, which emphasise the need for correct and consistent use of a face mask when leaving home, the importance of maintaining the six-foot physical distance from others, and the need for good hand-hygiene to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

If anyone you know is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19, or need any additional information, kindly contact the COVID-19 Hotline 231-1166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 immediately or visit the Ministry of Health at www.health.gov.gy.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 7, 2021

JW.ORG offers practical tools to cope with pandemic anxiety

FEW events in modern history have harmed the emotional well-being of people around the world as has the COVID-19 pandemic. The threat of contracting or transmitting a life-threatening disease and the added challenges of anxiety and isolation has had an immeasurable impact on people of all backgrounds.

To help address this situation, the official website of Jehovah’s Witnesses, jw.org, is featuring a video entitled ‘Virus Outbreaks – What You Can Do’. The three-minute whiteboard animation offers families practical methods to cope emotionally and spiritually with the effects of the pandemic. Since the pandemic

began, jw.org has featured information designed to assist people of all ages and backgrounds to remain calm,

informed, and healthy. With content in an unprecedented 1,027 languages, the site also addresses often-asked

questions and points to the Bible’s assurance of a bright future.

Some of these articles

‘Transition to ...

FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND HOTEL HERE Arimu Investments Inc., through its new investment, will be contributing to the further employment of Guyanese by creating 150 jobs during the construction phase and 50 jobs after the hotel is commissioned. Co-Director of Arimu, Lorenzo Alphonso, said the Aiden is a boutique-style hotel under the world renowned Best Western Hotel and Resorts.

The Aiden hotel is a trendy collection of laid-back boutique hotels that blends cool, casual charm with an eclectic neighbourly feel. No two hotels are alike, with each designed to reflect the unique personality of each community/country they serve.

Guests would discover local flair and imaginative design with Aiden as their welcom-

ing and stylish host.

“The Aiden being developed by Arimu Investments Inc. would be the 12th in existence worldwide, the first to be completed in South America, the only one in the Caribbean and Guyana’s first franchised boutique hotel,” Alphonso said.

The Aiden Midtown Georgetown would be a nine-storey, 74,000 squarefoot modern building, equipped with 101 executive smart rooms. The hotel will also include amenities such as conference rooms, an English Restaurant and bar, coffee shop, gym/sauna area, executive boardrooms and a terrace bar.

The main feature of the Aiden hotel would be its rooftop bar and lounge, featuring nothing less than international furnishings, lights,

sounds and designs.

“It would be the first bar in Guyana to feature a humidor with a collection of world-renowned cigars. The invisible, styled rails and barriers concept would give a feeling of dining with the stars and a sight second to none,” Alphonso said.

The Aiden would be providing guests with executive chauffeur services, shuttle bus tours around Guyana, Demerara River tours and also engaging the aviation sector for helicopter tour packages around the city.

Arimu’s plan to partner

with tour operators is one which should be adopted by other businesses, as Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond, believes that it is important for stakeholders to expand their plans to integrate local tour operators.

In her view, those linkages would widen the market to benefit every stakeholder.

Guyana, she said, has become a preferred destination for travel, so facilities such as the Aiden Hotel and other tour operations would be well-placed to support the new thrust.

are: Virus Outbreaks—What You Can Do; How to Beat Pandemic Fatigue, How to Deal With Isolation, Can the Bible Help Me if I’m Depressed?, Anxiety in Men— How the Bible Can Help, When Staying Home Isn’t Safe, and What Does the Bible Say About Pandemics?

Andre Darrell, spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses, says: “Since the outbreak of the pandemic, many have felt that their life is slipping out of their control. The material on jw.org helps people of all ages and backgrounds to successfully govern their feelings by using the timeless wisdom found in the Bible.”

Those who do not have a Bible can download a

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“The concept of expanding the tourism sector is not an idle dream of this administration… the fact that we would have [sic] facilitated this investment [the Aiden hotel] speaks to the seriousness of the government in getting the agenda moving,” Minister Walrond reasoned.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Office for Investment (Go-Invest), Dr. Peter Ramsaroop, also recognised Arimu’s step, which is in line with the government’s aggressive economic agenda for the country.

copy or read it free of charge on jw.org—no signup or personal information is required. Darrell can be contacted at Lot 135 Fern Drive, South Ruimveldt Park, Georgetown, on telephone number 617 9089, or at andredarrell@ yahoo.com.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 7, 2021

A delusional mindset

PROBING and introspecting and analysing how this country got to where it is today is an absolute necessity if Guyana is to really move forward.

It is becoming clear to Guyanese everywhere, when the nation considers the warped, unbecoming, disruptive tantrums of the Opposition, that this country suffers under the rude behaviour of a major political camp, and this is not healthy for the welfare of the body politic.

Despite the courageous bravery and positive response from Government Members of Parliament to the disruption that halted proceedings in the House this week, Guyanese cannot continue to turn a blind eye to what appears to be a deliberate strategy of Opposition Members to cause mayhem and madness in the hallowed chambers and to adopt a stance on the national stage of non-cooperation, denial of its own shortcomings and failings, and to refuse to play its part in the development agenda.

President Ali again reiterated to media personnel this week that government is open and welcoming to the Opposition for its members, and every Guyanese, to play a constructive role in national development, but had to repeat his admonition to Opposition Leader Joe Harmon for the Opposition to respect a legitimate path for such engagement, and to recognise the government is legally elected to office, with a President, Prime Minister and Ministers duly elected in free and fair national elections.

It is gross disrespect to the majority of voters in this country, and to the international community and foreign

diplomats in Georgetown, to the Carter Center, to every right-thinking Guyanese, that the Opposition would insist on its obstinate stance of refusal to recognise Guyana’s legitimately elected Head of State and government.

Guyanese know that the People’s National Congress (PNC) committed atrocious political acts of indecency in this land, and today it leads the Opposition camp, as the main party in the Coalition. In fact, the other parties that make up the Opposition Coalition, such as the Working People’s Alliance, the Alliance For Change, the Guyana Action Party, are negligible on the political landscape, lacking voter appeal or grassroot support.

How could Guyana move forward when the lethargic, inertia-prone PNC controls a major political camp, inserting its historical heavy foot on the brake of this country’s progress, and at times, peaceful existence?

The PNC never once apologised for its role in rigging national elections for 28 years, never once expressed remorse to the Guyanese nation for dragging the people through excruciating economic disaster in its tenure of an autocratic regime, and never once admitted fault for its stupendous failures and incomprehensible incompetence, inefficiency and mismanagement during its term of office from 2015 to 2020. Never once did it see fit to hang its head in shame and ask Guyanese for forgiveness after the shameful attempt to foist a dictatorship on the country, first denying to hold elections after its defeat at the No Confidence Motion, and then refusing to

leave office after defeat at the polls. Not once did the main party, the PNC, nor its minions in the Opposition Coalition, reach out to the people of this country with heartfelt compassion and sympathy for what they caused on poor people, with 200 draconian taxes and severe economic pressure.

The PNC threw a tantrum and invented all manner of conspiracy theory and accusations against former President, Donald Ramotar, when the former Head of State appointed the Presidential Commission of Inquiry to right the injustice that saw Dr Walter Rodney assassinated.

Guyanese were making right a wrong that had gone on for decades, and the PNC and its cohorts fought to deny even that justice from coming to fruit, disbanding the Commission with unceremonious dispatch of the distinguished Caribbean jurists when it assumed government in 2015.

It is clear that this country is suffering from five decades of the PNC foisting all manner of wrongs against this nation, from social and economic degradation, to tearing away at the democratic fabric, and to accusing the entire world of conspiring against it at elections. It is several months since the Coalition resigned in shame and defeat, and yet the PNC and its parties in tow refuse to acknowledge the legitimate Guyana Government, and to admit that it broke the laws, as the Caribbean Court of Justice ruled, and violated the Constitution, and verbally assaulted the leaders of every country who stood up for Guyana, criticising Caribbean leaders, the United States, Canada, England,

and the European Union.

Could everybody across the country, and the world, be wrong, and the PNC alone, with its cronies, right? It there any right-thinking leader within the PNC or the Opposition Coalition willing enough to show leadership professionalism, ethical stamina and moral fortitude, and just plain old integrity, to speak up for what is right and sensible and rational?

In Carl Greenidge and Dominic Gaskin, two professionals and senior members of the Coalition Government, Guyanese saw inside testimony to how wrong the PNC and Opposition Coalition are in their behaviour. This bunch of Coalition parliamentarians need to take a leaf out of their book.

How long more must Guyanese put up with this state of affairs?

The narrative that members of the PNC and Opposition Coalition adopt is that most Guyanese, especially the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), but also even international diplomats, harbour racist and biased sentiment against them. This fiction they believe with hardcore arrogance, refusing to see how ridiculous it is, even in the face of Guyanese enjoying living out a wonderful mosaic as a multicultural nation.

At some point, the Guyanese society must stand up and analyse the impact that the PNC historically caused the nation, and to implement safety nets to safeguard against such disruptions in the future, and even today to ensure PNC acrimony and strife cannot derail the development agenda.

I was never assaulted by Kwame McCoy Dear Editor, IT has been brought to my attention that there is a letter in circulation authored by Mr. Hamilton Green which alludes to an alleged incident I was involved in with the current Minister Within the Office of the Prime Minister, the Honourable Kwame McCoy, during his employ as the Mayor’s Special Assistant at the Georgetown Municipality.

Regrettably, this statement is a com-

plete misrepresentation since, at no point in time, have I ever been attacked, let alone slapped by Mr. McCoy. A dichotomy is apparent when Mr. Green states “when confronted, his response was to allegedly slap Ms. Etwaroo” but in the very next sentence can be quoted as writing “the above facts are known to all those who operated within the Mayoral Complex.” How is it that the occurrence Mr. Green is referring to is an allegation (which means that it is unproven), but is also factual and known

by many?

One of my greater concerns in his missive was Mr. Green’s statement that ‘they begged me not to hand him over to the police’. Firstly, these persons unknown would have been complicit in supporting violence against women if not for the fallacious nature of the accusation, but more importantly, Mr. Green (whose duty it was to protect the staff under his charge and who holds himself out to be an advocate against violence and abuse of all types) would have

completely absconded his responsibility from reporting the matter to the relevant authorities and or the police as he stated that he was begged not to, if all of this were true.

I would like to state empathetically and unreservedly that I was never assailed upon by Mr. Kwame McCoy and I resent my name being used to further a political agenda.

Yours sincerely, Eva Etwaroo-Orderson

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 7, 2021

GECOM riggers must never be allowed to hold this nation to ransom

Dear Editor,

MARCH 2, 2021 marks one year since the PNC/APNU+AFC tried to steal the right to govern Guyana by attempting to disembowel the overwhelming choice of our citizens at the General and Regional Elections.

The consequential threat to the civility of our nation and its likely impact on the CARICOM Region as a collective has not been greater since the return to democracy in 1992.

It is therefore pleasing and even sweeter to see a united Guyana celebrating and recognising the triumph.

Notwithstanding, this nation

must have the assurance that the PNC and GECOM riggers will never be allowed to hold us to ransom again.

The notoriously venal group within the GECOM Secretariat, conjured up a sequence of events that brought the curtains down on the most wicked onscreen dictatorship show to have occurred in the CARICOM Region or perhaps globally in decades.

While the March 2 Elections Day casting of ballots was peaceful, Guyanese will never forget March 5 when David Granger and his cabal tried to “CHOOK” the Guyanese people in their eyes.

Clairmont Mingo was just the pawn in the game of the false

spreadsheet representing an attempt to rig votes in Region Four. What the “riggers” did not contemplate, however, was the robust confrontation with the party representatives in the presence of the powerful international observers, which resulted in the merging of the most significant united front in Guyana.

The national Guardians of Democracy must be recognised for the national unity they forged in the nation. The relentless pursuit of many involved in the day and night guarding of containers of ballot boxes was achieved in threatening all-weather conditions and at the risk to their lives. Together with the

outspoken pressure from the diplomats in Guyana, forced the PNC cabal to make serious mistakes in their clandestine and eventually, ‘don’t care’ public spectacle.

The overwhelming nasty public insults and open threats to expel the observers were taking very seriously by the diplomats. The APNU+AFC shamelessly denied the reputable Carter Center International mission entry to Guyana to overserve the now ‘Infamous” recount was also a serious slap in their face because they knew that they lost the confidence of the nation and were effectively voted out based on the tally of the Statements of Poll

PPP/C saved Linden from the APNU+AFC Dear Editor, UNDOUBTEDLY, the APNU+AFC opposition’s poor attempt to discredit the PPP/C Government’s efforts geared toward the development of Region 10 does not go unnoticed. It has been noted that publications were made by the APNU+AFC Coalition stating that the PPP/C is “discriminating against” and “stifling” Linden and Region 10.

These lies are only intended to create division and undermine the government’s commitment to the development of Guyana. Here are the facts.

The APNU+AFC did very little for Region 10 during the period 2015-2020.

In fact, it was the PPP/C Government that transformed the region up to 2015 and is committed to continuously build on such transformation to give the region an economic boost. Looking back at the development works undertaken by the PPP/C, it is clear that the government is focused on the well-being of all residents within the region, unlike the APNU+AFC who neglected countless areas.

In terms of Health, the PPP/C Administration has improved healthcare delivery across Region 10 by investing billions into building and rehabilitating hospitals and health centres over the years.

Notable projects included the $1.8 billion state-of-the-

art McKenzie Hospital, a new hospital at Ituni and a complete rehabilitation of the Kwakwani Hospital. In addition, the government had established several health huts across the region so as to provide residents with better access to healthcare.

Additionally, in terms of education, the PPP/C has focused on Region 10 over the years in order to boost education delivery. In fact, the government built the Linden Foundation Secondary School along with schools in Wisroc, One Mile and Kwakwani. Primary schools were also built under the PPP/C Administration in areas like Watooka, Mackenzie, Ituni, Coomacka, 47 and 58 Miles to name a few. Rehabilitation works were also done on the Mackenzie High School as well as the Wisburg Multilateral Secondary School under the PPP/C Administration.

In terms of housing and water, the PPP/C has invested into massive housing drives in Linden over the years that saw the allocation of over 2,500 house lots to residents. At the same time, a fire station was constructed at Mackenzie, a courthouse at Wismar and police outposts at Amelia’s Ward and Wisroc to better serve residents.

Two new water treatment plants were also constructed in Amelia’s Ward and Wisroc amounting to in excess of $1.7 billion.

The PPP/C as a government also spent over $22

billion on electricity subsidies in Linden-Ituni and approximately $800 million in Kwakwani during its tenure up to 2015. Solar electrification projects were also undertaken in Region 10 to provide electricity to Amerindian villages. At the same time, over $200 million was injected into agricultural projects at West Watooka and Moblissa over the years.

Notably, other projects included the Women of Worth (WoW) project that saw single parents being supported.

In fact, over 44 loans were issued to assist in this regard from 2013 to 2015 under the PPP/C Government.

The PPP/C also injected billions into the bauxite industry in Region 10 to keep it operational over the years. In fact, up until the investment of LINMINE, the government was injecting around US$5 million annually to keep the bauxite industry afloat so that jobs would be secured. Even with the privatisation of LINMINE and the loss of jobs, the PPP/C paid out over $2.5 billion to affected workers and introduced the LEAP Programme that saw over $700 million in loans being issued to persons for works across the region. Some of these works included the rehabilitation of the Mackenzie car park, improvement to the Mackenzie waterfront and the building of the Benjamin Centre to honour the first mayor Linden. In addition, the govern-

ment had also built the first ever call centre in the region which saw employment opportunities being created for over 100 residents. However, it was the APNU+AFC Coalition that decided to cease operations and displace these workers.

The PPP/C Government led by President Irfaan Ali is committed to the development of Region 10. In fact, during the campaigning period leading up to the 2020 elections, the President outlined his vision of making the region a hub for economic activities given the prospects associated with the oil and gas sector.

Further emphasis has also been placed on building the Linden to Lethem road which will commence this year. Such a PPP/C- led project will see significant growth opportunities for the region as well as residents alike.

In this regard, the PPP/C rejects the efforts made by the APNU+AFC Coalition to discredit the government’s commitment to the development of Region 10 as well as to create further division within the Guyanese populace.

The PPP/C will continue to serve in the best interest of the people by developing every region so that Guyana can become an economically strong country.

Yours sincerely, Alvin Hamilton

(SoPs). The court cases after court cases were all used to delay the election results and frustrate Guyanese people.

The fact is that the PNC and elements at GECOM were hell bent on thieving the government!

At the time of writing (March 5, 2021), it is recalled that the nation witnessed the unacceptable obnoxious behaviour of elements in the opposition as they falsely proclaimed victory based on Clairmont Mingo’s unacceptable pronouncements. The subsequent Keith Lowenfield abominations could not have been more revealing of the scheme, since it is known that he had evidence of the SoPs and must have known the final vote count.

It is for the mentioned and other surreptitious agendas executed by Keith Lowenfield and his cohorts that have been subsequently linked to the plot, that the absolute divorce of these unworthy elements from GECOM must be attended, to inform an acceptable institution. Further, it is also necessary that a review of the fixing of boundaries for some Local Government Areas, that were subtly changed by Lowenfield to confuse PPP/C strongholds or rather, effect an advantage for the PNC. The PPP/C Government

has allocated more than one billion dollars for the Local Government Elections this year, and GECOM will have to cleanse itself from unscrupulous persons before any spending commence. There can be no “House-to-House’ registration before this year’s LGEs. So GECOM must do what they must do, first of all, get rid of all the “riggers” and those persons who held this nation at ransom for five long months.

A smooth period of continuous registration along with a period of claims and objection will be sufficient to update the list in preparation for the LGEs. The Chairperson of GECOM must act and be very decisive in respect to the ‘riggers’ who are before the court. Guyanese must hold GECOM accountable.

Certainly, the Chairperson and the Commissioners at GECOM cannot be thinking that the Guyanese people will accept any less.

As such, we look forward to the immediate assertive measures that will guarantee the preservation of a truly democratic environment and prevent the development of future ransom conditions.

Yours sincerely, Neil Kumar

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 7, 2021

ILO: 13 million women in Latin America, Caribbean lost their jobs due to COVID-19 THE recovery plans for the world of work after the COVID-19 pandemic in Latin America and the Caribbean must include special measures to promote the return to work for women who were especially hit by a crisis that caused significant exits from the workforce, unemployment and large demands for unpaid care, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) says.

“This unprecedented crisis has exacerbated gender gaps in the region’s labour markets, pulling millions of women out of the workforce, and negated previous advances.

We have gone back 10 years in 10 months, and now we need to recover those jobs, and step on the accelerator of gender equality,” said Vinicius Pinheiro, ILO Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Before the pandemic, gender equality was a pending issue that challenged labour policy makers to confront its structural roots, even though significant progress had been made over decades. With the current crisis, “new dimensions have appeared that widen the gaps”.

“Recovery from the crisis at work must remove the amplification of inequalities caused by COVID-19, if we want to achieve sustainable economic growth with productive and quality jobs. On this International Women’s Day, it is crucial to reaffirm the

commitment to recover the ground lost during the economic and social debacle in our countries,” added the ILO Regional Director.

The latest available data indicates that in 2020, the labour participation rate of women experienced a historical decline of 5.4 percentage points (a decline of 10.3 per cent), reaching a level of 46.4 per cent. Lagging behind percentage rates, this means that nearly 12 million women left the regional workforce due to the destruction of jobs.

The decline in women’s labour force participation came after decades during which there had been a steady increase in their incorporation into paid employment. According to data from the latest ILO Labour Overview of Latin America and the Caribbean, it has been more than 15 years since there was such a low rate of participation by women.

On the other hand, the regional unemployment rate for women in 2020 increased from 10.3 to 12.1 per cent, above the general unemployment average, which rose to 10.6 per cent, as highlighted in the Labour Overview.

This means that approximately 1.1 million women became unemployed.

ABRUPT DROP The 13.1 million women who have seen their jobs disappear due to the

abrupt drop in labour participation and the increase in unemployment this past year added to about 12 million who were already affected by unemployment before the pandemic.

In total, around 25 million women are currently unemployed, or out of the workforce.

Women have also been affected in the labour market due to their greater presence in economic sectors strongly affected by this crisis, such as services, where about 50 per cent of the female labour force works, and commerce, at 26 per cent.

According to the regional ILO Labour Overview, the contraction in employment in 2020 was particularly important in service sectors such as hotels (-17.6 per cent) and commerce (-12.0 per cent). Added to this is the higher incidence of informal occupations that were particularly hit by the crisis in women’s employment.

Another factor that has affected and, even more, may impede women’s job recovery prospects are the growing difficulties of reconciling paid work with family responsibilities. They face a context where educational and care services have been deeply affected and altered hand-in-hand with health measures for distancing and reducing the mobility of people.

“The pandemic, on the one hand, highlighted the vital importance of these tasks. On the other hand, it further exacerbated tensions regarding the reconciliation between labour market work and family responsibilities.

To all this must be added the increase in teleworking and work at home in a context of closure or suspension of care spaces associated with confinement and physical distancing measures,” explained ILO Regional Employment Specialist, Roxana Maurizio.

According to the ILO, the consequences can extend beyond the health crisis,

if due support is not generated from the public care systems (for the sick, the elderly and children), and the face-to-face school system, which facilitate the return of women to the labour market.

UNDER-UTILISATION OF LABOUR FORCE In turn, the significant increase in the under-utilisation of the labour force during 2020 may also generate greater difficulties for their reintegration into work in the future.

Thus, the regional economic crisis may even have more permanent impacts, if suitable socio-labour policy responses are not implemented.

“Policies that include women are not only required, but policies for the recovery of employment and labour markets that, from their design and implementation, have a gender perspective so as not to reproduce the difficulties they face in inserting themselves and staying in the labour market,” commented Maurizio.

Vocational training institutes and systems can play an important role in promoting the participation of women in occupations that are not traditional for them, but with greater future and productivity. It is also important to create a training route for women with low educational levels who have suffered much more from the impact of the crisis, and to close the digital gaps between men and women to ensure their participation.

Maurizio added that the challenge goes beyond recovering the heavy labour losses that occurred as a result of the pandemic. “It is necessary to underpin, even more strongly than before, a process that ensures women greater opportunities for quality employment, training and access to new technologies, reduction of gaps and full compliance with labour rights.” (ILO)

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 7, 2021

The Science of COVID-19

COVID-19 and Treatment of Adults

Contributed by: Moti Ramgopal, MD, FACP, FIDSA Medical Director, Midway Immunology and Research Center Founder, Midway Specialty Care Associate Professor, Florida State University

SINCE March this year, I have treated hundreds of cases of patients infected with COVID-19, but three cases in particular have aroused my curiosity about the genetic relationship of COVID-19.

Do genes play a role in how severe symptoms will be? Take the case of JT, age 61, I saw over a month ago with a history of COPD, hypertension and diabetes, who developed fatigue, body aches, cough, shortness of breath, and a temperature of 101.6 degrees Fahrenheit. His COVID test was positive.

His oxygen saturation was 94percent on 3.5 L. Indicators of severe disease are marked tachypnea (respiratory rate, ?30 breaths per minute), hypoxemia (oxygen saturation, ?93percent; ratio of partial pressure of arterial oxygen to fraction of inspired oxygen, 50percent of the lung field involved within 24 to 48 hours).

Once admitted, he started treatment with decadron, remdesivir, convalescent plasma, vitamin C, zinc and anticoagulants. With a history of diabetes and obesity, iron deteriorated, and he was enrolled into clinical trials and received several investigational drugs as well as Actemra, an immunomodulator.

30 days later, he is currently hospitalised with a tracheostomy tube and a feeding tube.

His brother PT, with diabetes, hypertension, and obesity as well as bladder cancer, was admitted two days prior to his brother’s admission with cough and a positive COVID-19 test.

PT was hospitalised for four days and discharged on oxygen after he clinically improved. PT was readmitted five days later with worsening shortness of breath and he was started on Remdesivir, Decadron, heparin and plasma. PT’s condition improved

over the next three days, but then went into cardiac arrest with ventricular arrhythmia and died.

Their 82-year-old mother was infected with COVID as well, but was asymptomatic until she presented three weeks later for thromboembolic event, or a blood clot, involving her right leg.

She developed ischemia, an inadequate blood supply, requiring amputation.

The family decided on hospice care.

GENETIC COMPOSITION These three cases question the genetic component of COVID-19.

A UK group studying more than 2,200 COVID-19 patients has pinned down common gene variants that are linked to the most severe cases of the disease.

In June, one such genome wide association study in “The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM)” found two “hits” linked to respiratory failure in 1,600 Italian and Spanish COVID-19 patients: a marker within the ABO gene, which determines a person’s blood type, and a stretch of chromosome three that holds a half-dozen genes.

A gene called IFNAR2 codes for a cell receptor for interferon. A variant of this gene raises the risk of severe COVID-19 by 30 per cent.

There are genes which code proteins, that can activate an enzyme that breaks down viral RNA changes in this gene, and this activation allows the virus to flourish.

Also, genes can code for proteins to ramp-up the inflammatory response to lung damage triggered by COVID-19. Genes DPP9 and TYK2 are involved in inflammation and blocking these enzymes may be beneficial. CCR2 is a gene that encodes a receptor for cytokine proteins that play a role in inflammation. But other data points to SLC6Z20, which codes for a protein that interacts with the main cell receptor used by COVID-19 to enter cells.

The importance of recognizing the genetic impact may influence treatment strat-

egies.

It is still unknown why African-American or Hispanic patients had such a higher risk of infection, but this can be related back to pre-existing conditions.

However, I would not be surprised if there is a genetic relationship that can be found.

Blood type A is associated with higher risk of respiratory failure. COVID-19 is primarily spread from person to person through respiratory particles, probably of varying sizes, which are released when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or speaks. Because both smaller particles (aerosols) and larger particles (droplets) are concentrated within a few meters, the likelihood of transmission decreases with physical distancing and increased ventilation.

Aerosols can be generated under circumstances, such as talking, singing, or shouting indoors in poorly ventilated environments. In these situations, transmission over longer distances may occur. Respiratory transmission is probably the main mode of transmission, hence masking and physical distancing markedly decrease the chance of transmission.

Under laboratory conditions, COVID-19 may persist on cardboard, plastic and stainless steel for days.

Patients can be infectious one to three days before symptom onset, and up to 40-to-50 percent of cases may be attributable to transmission from asymptomatic or presymptomatic people.

Just before and soon after symptom onset, patients have high nasopharyngeal viral levels, which then fall over a period of one to two weeks.

A patient maybe positive for weeks to months, but viable virus and contact-tracing assessments suggest that the duration of infectivity is much shorter and isolation can be lifted in most patients 10 days after symptom onset if fever has been absent for at least 24 hours and other symptoms have decreased.

CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS

The clinical spectrum of COVID-19 infection ranges from asymptomatic infection to critical illness. Among patients who are symptomatic, the median incubation period is approximately four to five days, and 97.5percent have symptoms within 11.5 days after infection.

Symptoms may include fever, cough, sore throat, malaise and myalgias. Some patients have gastrointestinal symptoms, including anorexia, nausea and diarrhoea.

Anosmia (loss of smell) and ageusia (loss of taste) have been reported in up to 68 percent of patients and are more common in women than in men Risk factors for complications of COVID-19 include older age, cardiovascular disease, chronic lung disease,

smoking, pregnancy, diabetes, and obesity. It is unclear whether other conditions (example, uncontrolled HIV infection or use of immunosuppressive medications) confer an increased risk of complications, but these conditions may be associated with worse outcomes after infection with other viruses.

Laboratory findings in hospitalised patients may include lymphopenia and elevated levels of d-dimer, lactate dehydrogenase, C-reactive protein and ferritin.

These inflammatory markers are important to trend during the clinical course.

Evaluation of COVID-19 is guided by the severity of illness. According to data from China, 81 percent of people with COVID-19 had mild or moderate disease

Dr. Moti Ramgopal is the Guyanese doctor who led the clinical trial on COVID-19 treatment given to US President Donald Trump (including people without pneumonia and people with mild pneumonia), 14 percent had severe disease, and five percent had critical illness.

Patients who have mild signs and symptoms generally do not need additional evaluation.

However, some patients who have mild symptoms initially will subsequently have precipitous clinical deterioration that occurs approximately one week See page 12

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 7, 2021

Politics & Society Forum

One year later, anxieties of electoral rigging are still raw: an apology is needed!

THS week marks the first anniversary of the failed attempt by the APNU+AFC Coalition and its planted sidekicks in GECOM to steal the March 2, 2020, general elections.

The Coalition failed to deliver on its promises to the citizenry, and, therefore, turned to GECOM to extend its political life in office. I am convinced that the Coalition dug its own grave because of self-centred attitudes of governance, not to mention incompetence. The syzygy of the Coalition - PNC (Sun), AFC (Moon), WPA (Earth), and small parties (Sea) - revolved around omnipotence and omniscience. However, the Coalition was hardly omnipresent when needed. It was missing in action.

Take, for example, the no-show at press conferences as well as limited serious involvement and investment in its own support base. The Coalition developed

a manana attitude towards governance, that is, a tendency to put things off for tomorrow. Things never get done because tomorrow is always tomorrow, never in the present.

Concomitant with the manana attitude was the carnival of corruption.

More investigations will open the floodgates of how the public coffers were used for personal gains. What is unsettling, however, is that Transparency International claims that Guyana improved its Corruption Perception Index (CPI) scores from 40 in 2019 to 41 out of 100 in 2020. Sigh! The required wearing of masks during the current Covid-19 pandemic might have prevented these “inspectors” from noticing that democracy, for the past twenty years, was at its lowest ebb in Guyana and the Caribbean from January 1 to August 1, 2020. A CPI score of 20 out

of 100 seems more realistic. To support my position, I share with you a sort of facetious lyrical coverage of the Coalition from when it entered and exited political office from 2015 to 2020. The message here is: are you willing to give these individuals a third chance to govern Guyana?

Pseudonym (Dey Investigator): Where are you?

Coalition, Coalition, Coalition (CCC): Here I am, here I am.

DI: How do you do?

CCC: Am doing good, am doing good.

DI: Release the report on the commission of inquiry on Walter Rodney.

CCC: Nah Bhai, that would need another commission of inquiry.

DI: Release the contract with ExxonMobil.

CCC: Nah Bhai, that is confidential.

DI: We will not campaign for you next time.

CCC: Bhai, why hurry, the good life is coming, have patience.

DI: What happened to $9,000 per bag paddy you promised?

CCC: We never said dat… ayou hear da from somebody else.

DI: What is going to happen to all those sugar estates’ land?

CCC: Bhai, wait nah, the commission of enquiry on land will decide on that soon.

DI: Am I going to get any land?

CCC: Nah Bhai, it will be divided up according to ancestral rights?

DI: What about the good life?

CCC: We going to provide that.

DI: What about the green economy?

CCC: We will provide that.

DI: What will become of the estates?

CCC: We are working on that.

DI: What about salary increases for the civil service?

CCC: We will act on that.

DI: What about the No-Confidence Motion?

CCC: 33 is not the majority of 65 DI: Choose one person to Chair GECOM, nah CCC: Bhai, wait nah, we have a lot of time to find dey fit and proper

Professor Lomarsh Roopnarine

person.

DI: What about the voters’ list?

CCC: It is bloated by 200,000 names after the local 2018 elections DI: Did you lose the 2018 local election?

CCC: No, only a small percentage of people voted DI: When will we have the General Elections?

CCC: GECOM will decide on that DI: Did you lose the March 2, 2020 general elections?

CCC: No, we won it four times, ask Mango in dey Field DI: Did we have foreign interference in the general elections?

CCC: Bhai, dem Russians wanted to, but we catch dem fair, fair DI: What about the international observers, did they interfere with the general elections?

CCC: Yeah, yeah, White, Black, Brown, all of them, are imperialists, former slave masters. We wanted to tek way their accreditation.

DI: What did they do?

CCC: They were messing with our sovereignty; they were acting like Massa days.

I am sure that I have missed many more eccentricities of the Coalition, but the ones provided here are sufficient to drive the strongest minds insane.

No other political party, dubbed as a Coalition, has misused power so much in Guyana than the APNU+AFC Coalition. The evidence is here, there, and everywhere, which makes documentation easy. Given the newly released information of corruption, controversy, and the continuation of frivolous court cases, I am convinced that the meaning and application of coalition politics, as a form of good governance, in Guyana was a farce. Except for a few individuals, most leaders in the APNU+AFC Coalition were self-centred. It was all about themselves. They chose politics to serve themselves rather than citizenry.

These individuals were mum to the reality that their actions were detrimental to public trust and democratic institutional practices. Guyana is damaged by the wrong people in the right places.

The country is bleeding (lomarsh. roopnarine@jsums.edu).

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 7, 2021

Understanding Energy

Local content policy and a diversified economy THE new local content policy, which is open to public comment for the next week, represents the government’s best intentions to include businesses in the future of the oil and gas industry.

More participation in the high-value chain processes like design and fabrication can lead to lucrative returns, increased local technical expertise and ultimately a homegrown sector capable of supplying critical inputs to the oil and gas sector and competing externally.

The draft policy has led to discussions about how to build expertise and develop the local suppliers. Everyone understands that the wrong approach could lead to bad outcomes despite the best of intentions.

More specifically, efforts underway to increase agricultural production, improve public infrastructure and open Guyana to the world via tourism could be blocked if too many employees and investment funds shift away from those industries toward the oil and gas sector. This resource shift is one symptom of what economists call the “Dutch disease.”

One important way to prevent this outcome is a local content policy that takes a sustainable and realistic approach toward targets and implementation. Guyana is unique, and the goals of the local content policy should be closely aligned with our nation’s current reality as the government recognised when it released the draft policy and requested public comments on the objectives and targets.

The potential for “catching” the Dutch disease can’t be taken lightly. It’s a well-studied phenomenon that takes place in countries that experience a sudden influx of wealth from natural resources. The boom in oil and gas exports can quickly increase the value of the local currency. This would make it easier for Guyanese to buy foreign goods but make it harder to local businesses to compete at home and internationally.

Guyana is already taking steps to avoid this, like establishing and updating a

sovereign wealth fund. But it is also critical that the government addresses some of the other impacts of this phenomenon.

Focussing too many resources on the oil and gas sector is one example. If too many resources like labour and investment go towards oil and gas production too quickly, other industries will not be able to grow and the economy won’t diversify. Governments need a well-designed local content policy to avoid stripping talent and resources away from other sectors of the economy and making the country more dependent on oil revenue.

Realistic targets that grow along with capacity in the country are necessary to avoid this problem. Careful analysis will be critical. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) predicts the Guyanese workforce will grow to 328,000 by 2024, just 6,000 more than it currently is. That represents a major human resource constraint. For the government to meet its ambitious goals to build new infrastructure and revitalise industries like agriculture, businesses in other sectors will also need to attract workers and build capacity. Overdependence on the oil and gas sector driven by unrealistic targets would make this harder.

Currently, there are 114 categories in the local content policy in which the government wants to substantially increase Guyanese participation, from front end design and engineering to steel manufacturing and seismic surveys. Many of these targets may not be practical. For example, mandating that Guyanese companies produce 100 percent of the deep-sea pipelines within 10 years would require massive capital investments. Let’s remember that oil and gas development is new to Guyana. We are starting from scratch so it is unrealistic to assume we can produce the highly technical materials needed for this industry in such a brief period of time.

Local stakeholders currently have the chance to review and comment on the local content policy. Many

have already provided comments to the government’s local content expert panel as well.

Afterward the government will be well-placed to balance capacity building in the oil and gas sector with growing sectors like agriculture, ecotourism and infrastructure. It’s crucial to set priorities in the short term as local businesses in all these sectors will require workers and companies to transform the country.

Our local businesses are already making progress in the oil and gas sector, as demonstrated by the recent steel strike ceremonies at local fabrication companies.

Targets are not always the only policy, and not always the best policy, to create a diversified economy with local participation up and down the value chain. Reforms in the banking sector, infrastructure investments and other parts of the local content policy are even more critical to encourage more commerce and give opportunities to local suppliers and local workers.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 7, 2021

COVID-19 and Treatment ...

From page 9

after symptom onset. In patients who have risk factors for severe disease, close monitoring for clinical progression is warranted, with a low threshold for additional evaluation. If new or worsening symptoms (example, dyspnea) develop in patients with initially mild illness, additional evaluation is warranted.

Physical examination should be performed to assess

for tachypnea, hypoxemia, and abnormal lung findings.

In addition, testing for other pathogens (example, influenza virus, depending on the season, and other respiratory viruses) should be performed, if available, and chest imaging should be done. Typical findings are ground-glass opacifications or consolidation.

Hallmarks of moderate disease are the presence of

clinical or radiographic evidence of lower respiratory tract disease, but with a blood oxygen saturation of 94 percent or higher while the patient is breathing ambient air.

Indicators of severe disease are marked tachypnea (respiratory rate, ?30 breaths per minute), hypoxemia (oxygen saturation, ?93 percent; ratio of partial pressure of arterial oxygen to fraction of inspired oxy-

gen, 50 percent of the lung field involved within 24 to 48 hours).

TREATMENTS Remdesivir, an inhibitor of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, has activity against COVID-19 in vitro and in animals.

In the Adaptive COVID-19 Treatment Trial 1 (ACTT-1), which involved hospitalised patients with

evidence of lower respiratory tract infection, those randomly assigned to receive 10 days of intravenous remdesivir recovered more rapidly than those assigned to receive placebo (median recovery time, 10 vs. 15 days); mortality estimates by day 29 were 11.4 percent and 15.2 percent, respectively. In another trial, clinical outcomes with five days of remdesivir were similar to those with 10 days of remdesivir.

Currently, remdesivir is recommended for the treatment of hospitalised patients with severe COVID-19, but consider data to be insufficient to recommend for or against the routine use of this drug for moderate disease – studies are ongoing.

Data from patients with COVID-19 who were enrolled in a large expanded-access programme for convalescent plasma in the United States suggested that mortality might be lower with receipt of plasma with a high titer of antibody than with receipt of plasma with a low titer of antibody; the data also suggested that mortality might be lower when plasma is given within three days after diagnosis than when plasma is given more than three days after diagnosis.

Ongoing randomized trials must be completed to determine the role of convalescent plasma.

Monoclonal antibodies directed against the COVID-19 spike protein are being evaluated in randomized trials as treatment for people with mild or moderate COVID-19 and as prophylaxis for household contacts of persons with COVID-19.

In the recovery trial, dexamethasone reduced mortality among hospitalised patients with COVID-19, but the benefit was limited to patients who received supplemental oxygen and was greatest among patients who underwent mechanical ventilation.

Clinical studies have shown that in 1,703 critically able patients, glucocorticoid reduced mortality versus standard of care passivity of 32 percent versus 40 percent.

Dexamethasone can be given at dose of 6 mg a day for 10 days or until discharge.

Other steroids maybe similarly effective, such as hydrocortisone, methylprednisolone, and prednisone.

Dexamethasone did not improve outcomes, and may have caused harm, among patients who did not receive supplemental oxygen, and thus it is not recommended

for the treatment of mild or moderate COVID-19.

Use of Concomitant Medications in People with COVID-19 Because COVID-19 enters human cells through the ACE2 receptor, questions were raised regarding whether the use of ACE inhibitors or angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs) – which may increase ACE2 levels – might affect the course of COVID-19.

However, large observational studies have not shown an association with increased risk.

Patients who are receiving ACE inhibitors or ARBs for another indication should not stop taking these agents, even if they have COVID-19.

Regeneron cov 2 antibody cocktail has shown to rapidly reduce viral load and associated symptoms and cause an antibody to spike protein that neutralizes the virus. Broadly direct acting antivirals are now in clinical trials. They have been shown to inhibit replication of viral pathogens from multiple RNA virus family including SARS influenza RSV, filovirus, flavivirus to name a few.

The mechanism of antiviral activities viral error catastrophe is a concept that’s predicated on increasing the viral mutation rate beyond a biologically tolerable threshold resulting in impairment of viral fitness and activity leading to viral extinction.

There are multiple other strategies for antiviral work.

Another mechanism in treatment is the role of light cytokine which belongs to the TNF family, which is secreted in high-level general viral infection by reducing the cytokine. This is associated with related lung fibrosis and cytokine storm.

Infection Control and Prevention health care workers must be protected from acquiring COVID-19 when they are providing clinical care. Using telehealth when possible, reducing the number of health care workers who interact with infected patients, ensuring appropriate ventilation, and performing assiduous environmental cleaning are critical.

PPEs used while caring for patients with known or suspected COVID-19 should include, at a minimum, an isolation gown, gloves, a face mask, and eye protection (goggles or a face shield).

This article is submitted as part of the Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 public information and education programme

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 7, 2021

Selected Quote from Dr. Cheddi Jagan “My parents made the necessary sacrifices for my formal education.

My wife insisted that though bread is important, man does not live by bread alone; that life is not just two cars in every garage and 2 chickens in every pot. Karl Marx made me understand what makes the world go around. Our own heroes and Lenin, Gandhi and King taught me how to change Guyana and inspired me to struggle: Gandhi for independence, King for equality and against racism, Lenin for socialism.

And my comrades’ steadfastness gave me the strength to continue, especially in times of adversity.”Dec 18, 1987

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 7, 2021

Internet ‘blackout’ after continuing tremors in Katoonarib

By Vishani Ragobeer WITH aftershocks continuing in the South Rupununi area, in Region Nine, (Upper Essequibo-Upper Takutu) since the January 31 earthquake that struck Guyana, the village of Katoonarib has had to contend with an internet ‘blackout’ following the disconnection of the government WiFi, caused by the tremors.

Last week, when the Sunday Chronicle visited the

community, Deputy Toshao of Katoonarib, Floria Singh, highlighted that tremors have been a daily occurrence in the community since January 31.

“We are [on] everyday alert to see if anything would happen, especially at night…

Everyone here has houses with zinc and cement blocks, and so we would hear the tremors and wake up and wait for it to calm down before we go back to sleep,” the Deputy Toshao highlighted.

She also related, “At first

it was really bad, if you sit here you would feel it shocking you….at this time now, you don’t feel the tremors very hard, but you can still feel it shaking you.”

According to Singh, since that occurrence and due to the resulting aftershocks, no one in the village feels as comfortable as they did before. In fact, she related that villagers are constantly worried, and one villager even relocated to another village.

The Deputy Toshao ex-

Therefore, the area experiencing the ‘stress’ would have some aftershocks spreading throughout the space.

“It’s highly unlikely that [these aftershocks] will lead to something stronger,” the research fellow noted, while explaining that such occurrences gradually lose their strength as the days go by.

Nevertheless, he highlighted that the gradual decline is not an absolute occurrence; it is possible for the tremors to become stronger.

Deputy Toshao of Katoonarib, Floria Singh

SDRC ACTION Despite the engagement with Minister Benn, many

The Katoonarib Village Office, where the government WiFi has been disconnected following the tremors

pressed her appreciation for the visit from Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, who is a geologist, and a team from the Civil Defence Commission (CDC).

This visit, she said, provided some relief to the villagers.

And it was during this visit that the villagers learnt that the tremors are a normal occurrence after an earthquake and that these aftershocks would eventually dissipate.

The earthquake had a magnitude of 5.7, which, according to the Richter scale that categorises the magnitude of earthquakes, means that the occurrence was a moderate one. Importantly, the epicentre of the earthquake was recorded in the South Rupununi area of Guyana and the communities of Katoonarib, Sawariwau and Aishalton were among those more seriously affected. In these communities, cracks on the earth surface were observed and few buildings were damaged.

But in Katoonarib, in particular, the earthquake and the resulting tremors disconnected the community’s WiFi in the village council’s

building. When the WiFi was first disconnected, Singh highlighted that the National Data Management Authority (NDMA) responded by visiting the community and restoring the connection.

Subsequent tremors, however, caused the internet to disconnect again.

In an interview with this newspaper, following the earthquake, Research Fellow at the University of the West Indies (UWI)’s Seismic Research Centre, Lloyd Lynch, related that the occurrence of tremors after an earthquake is normal.

In simple terms, an earthquake is caused by sudden movement of the material that makes up the earth’s crust. The shaking that is felt is caused by the energy that is released in waves, which travel through this crust following a sudden release of ‘stress’ and caused by the continuous movements of the earth’s tectonic plates (which are pieces of the earth’s crust).

And Lynch explained that, simply, sometimes a rupture is not complete following the earthquake.

villagers are still concerned.

It has been more than a month since the earthquake occurred and the tremors have not yet disappeared.

The South Rupununi District Council (SRDC), however, has been attempting to educate persons and allay some of the prevailing concerns.

“What we did is actually tried to talk to people who really know about it, and through our partners-- the Global Justice Clinic at the New York Clinic-- they were able to connect us with a scientist and he explained everything to us,” Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the SRDC, Callistos Wilson, said.

Following that engagement, the SRDC began crafting presentations and plans to disseminate the information gathered to villagers in the three affected communities. Wilson also noted that the council has been considering whether they should translate the information into the Wapichan language, so that more persons would be able to understand what has been transpiring.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 7, 2021

‘Heroine’ Kowsilla a symbol of democracy and workers’ rights Guyana is forging a new path, which regards and respects all Guyanese. He spoke of the importance of

- President Ali

President Dr Irfaan Ali is about to lay a wreath at the grave of Kowsilla (Alice) at the Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara burial ground in observance of her 57th death anniversary

PRESIDENT Dr Irfaan Ali on Saturday hailed Leonora’s ‘heroine’ Kowsilla (Alice) on her 57th death anniversary for her unwavering stance in fighting for the working people of Guyana.

During a small remembrance ceremony at Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara, the President pointed out that Kowsilla’s life and legacy are an education and should be a reminder of the struggles that built what we enjoy today.

“Comrade Kowsilla left her name eternally marked in the history books and in the history of Guyana. She is still alive, she’s still honoured, her name will continue for generations, and why would her name continue? Because she made the ultimate sacrifice for what she believed in,” President Ali was quoted as saying in a release from the Office of the President.

He told the gathering that though half-a-century has passed, Kowsilla’s actions are still felt today. He pointed out that she represents hope, inspiration and patriotism.

“As we reflect today, some may say you come every year for the same message, but it’s not the same message, it is the importance of the message.

When we were sitting down at Ashmin’s Building a year ago on a morning like this, I remember Comrade Harrinarine Nawbatt coming to me in tears and he said to me, ‘I never thought I would relive a day like this in Guyana.’

“That is why these occasions are significant, because sometimes we get too comfortable. We get too comfortable and we do not understand the context of the sacrifices of people like Comrade Kowsilla,” the Head-of-State said.

The President said that he was humbled and proud that like Kowsilla, Guyana’s younger generation fought for democracy last year, during

President Ali and others at the remembrance ceremony of Kowsilla held at the Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara burial ground

the attempted rigging of the general and regional elections.

He said too that like Kowsilla, their stance against oppression would also be remembered.

Kowsilla was murdered on March 6, 1964, when she was run over by a tractor while standing her ground in protest.

She and several other women were with striking sugar workers who were protesting against being denied work and for recognition of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU).

Although only Kowsilla was killed, several other women suffered life-long injuries, including broken backs.

The President said that Kowsilla’s sacrifice was not for herself, but for her community and the workers. He said that at the age of 16, he first spoke about her life and fell in love with her determination and resolve.

The Head-of-State noted that his government would always look to protect its workers and ensure that they enjoy the fruits of their labour.

He said that the stance took

by Kowsilla and her female companions are reflected in the sugar industry up to today.

“The building of the sugar industry is part of the legacy of

Kowsilla; the protection of the workers is part of her legacy.

When we fail to protect the workers, when we stop protecting sugar, we’re failing her legacy and we’re going to stop protecting what she fought for.

“It is a very simple equation and we in this government have no interest in failing workers, wherever they are.

We not only made a commitment to restore jobs to the sugar sector… we made a commitment to support those families who are still on the breadline that were removed from employment and that commitment is as strong today as the day it was made and we are going to fulfil that too.”

He said that the family of Kowsilla gave the country a gift—hope – noting that she did not see colour; she saw the need to represent Guyanese families and Guyanese workers.

“When Kowsilla went out there she didn’t care whether it was a brown, black, orange, pink, green person sitting next to her, her only objective was the people; betterment for the people, all the people, and that is the only objective of this government and the PPP -- to create an environment for all the people.”

The President said that

the ‘One Guyana’ campaign and the need to represent our cultures and differences, while bonding together with

love, hope and an understanding that our lives will be better.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 7, 2021

Dularay Bhownauth rescued from among tombs

By Jeune Van Keric SEVENTY-one-year-old Dularay Bhownauth lived among the tombs at Skeldon Cemetery for many months before he was rescued.

Like the Biblical story, Bhownauth said he was of unsound mind and could not clearly recall the events which led to him living

among the dead.

But what he remembered was the fact that he once worked for over 30 years as a cane harvester at the Skeldon Sugar Estate.

Bhownauth claimed he had many bad experiences in life, which are way too private for him to share. Nevertheless, he quickly notified the Guyana Chronicle that while he was in the dement-

ed state, a named individual uplifted his monthly pensions and converted the money for his own use.

It was during his homeless state that he was involved in an accident which resulted in a fractured foot.

This injury affected his mobility, and as such, he spent most of his time in the graveyard.

Overtime, his health dete-

Caretaker Gary Erskine wheels away Dularay Bhownauth shortly after he was rescued from among the tombs

riorated and concerned residents observed his homeless state and informed the relevant authorities.

On Thursday, social services officers removed him from among the tombs and took him to the Skeldon Public Hospital where he was treated before being handed over to Gary Erskine, caretaker of the Dharam Shala in Fort Canje, Berbice.

He now has his pension books and life is much better, he said.

“But I want rest, I want me bed,” he was overheard telling his fellow residents at the geriatric home, before being wheeled away

by Erskine.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 7, 2021

Illegal mining continues to plague Iwokrama Protected Area

DESPITE several warnings, and even police intervention, illegal mining continues along the protected areas of the Iwokrama Forest. In a press release on Friday night, the Iwokrama International Centre said that the mining activities which were detected in 2019 have escalated during 2020, owing to the COVID -19 pandemic, which resulted in a reduction of monitoring.

“As such, small dug pits escalated to felling of trees and use of small dredges to extract the gold hence creating huge gaps,” the statement highlighted.

It further noted that over the past week, the Centre’s staff, “together with teams from the Corps of Wardens under the Ministry of Natural Resources, Guyana Geology and Mines, Guyana Forestry Commission and Guyana Police Force carried out a monitoring and enforcement exercise in the Iwokrama Forest and buffer zone area, along the Siparuni River.”

This resulted in the detection of continued breaches

An aerial view of some of the illegal operations detected along the protected areas of the Iwokrama Forest

occurring within or near the one Kilometer buffer zone area, on the other side of the Siparuni River, “even though they were told repeatedly to remove from this zone by the regulatory agencies previously.”

The statement said that the camps were once more dismantled and removed. It reminded that in September 2019, a miner was arrested for illegally mining in the Iwokrama forest and that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had advised that

the individual be charged and brought before the court under the Iwokrama Act. Section two of the clause titled “Control of the Programme Site” of the Iwokrama Act states: “Subject to section 6 (1), and notwithstanding anything in any other written law –(a) no mining, forestry or other resources utilisation activity shall be carried out on the Programme Site by any person other than the Centre, except with the prior written permission of

the Centre; and (b) no lease of land or permission to use land in the Programme Site shall be issued by any person other than the Centre, and all activities on the Programme Site shall be in accordance with regulations prescribed therefor under this Act.” Section three of the Act prescribes penalties, specifically indicating that “Any person who contravenes the provisions of subsection (2) shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine of one hundred thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a period of one year, and where the offence is of a continuing nature, to a further fine not exceeding twenty-five thousand dollars for each day during which the offence continues after conviction.”

Iwokrama’s authorities said that its staff, along with the Government of Guyana,

has expended “enough time and resources on education and awareness with regard to these illegal activities, and, as such, Iwokrama Management is continuing its zero-tolerance approach to these activities, especially gold mining and other illegal activities.”

The centre believes that the only way to target the illegal mining activities is to maintain the five-agency task force, which continues to detect and dismantle illegal operations.

“Therefore, in keeping with the mandate of Iwokrama, the Centre’s monitoring team, together with the regulatory institutions in Guyana, will increase monitoring and targetted enforcement activities within the environs of the Iwokrama Forest.”

Further, the press release indicated that the centre will

also be rigidly enforcing the prescribed penalties under the Iwokrama Act and other laws of Guyana to any person(s) found illegally operating in the Iwokrama Forest. Iwokrama also plans to continue offering rewards for any information leading to the arrest and successful prosecution of persons(s) involved in illegal activities in the Iwokrama Forest. “The Centre will also be following up on information it received on specific mining operators within the Iwokrama Forest. Any convictions will be fully publicized,” the statement noted.

Persons with information on the illegal activities are advised to reach out only to Dr Raquel Thomas, the Centre’s Director of Resource Management – rthomas@ iwokrama.org.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 7, 2021

Linden nurses engaging in illegal strike action – Health Ministry

…PS urges GPSU to call off strike THE Ministry of Health has said that the nurses attached to the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC) are engaged in an illegal strike and is calling on the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) to return to the table with the authorities to resolve the ongoing issue pertaining to the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Rudy Small.

Small, who made a comment about nurses clocking in at work and leaving to “meet their sweet man,” was temporarily removed from his position as CEO on Tues-

day last, but was subsequently reinstated. On Wednesday last, Small distributed a letter of apology to the nurses in which he sought to take responsibility for his comment, which has now been deemed reckless and dangerous.

Since then, the nurses of the hospital have taken up protest and strike action, leaving a skeleton staff to care for the patients. But the Permanent Secretary (PS) of the Ministry of Health, Malcolm Watkins, said the strike action by the nurses is “premature” and “illegal,” especially since the ministry

was engaging the nurses and the GPSU. “The Health Ministry is concerned that, in spite of agreeing to engage the nursing staff and the union through the Ministry of Labour, the nurses continued to restrict the full complement of staff at the Linden Hospital Complex. We consider the strike action by nurses at the LHC illegal and that the resort to strike action before engaging the MoH is premature,” Watkins noted in his statement Saturday.

According to Watkins, the ministry treated the con-

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Rudy Small

cerns of the nurses seriously from the inception.

“The statements made by the CEO, Mr. Rudy Small, is unacceptable and the ministry immediately demanded a retraction. Prior to the matter coming to our attention, Mr. Small had issued an apology. Mr. Small, nevertheless, was immediately instructed to report to the permanent

Permanent Secretary of the Health Ministry, Malcolm Watkins

secretary’s office, where he was rebuked and warned that any further such uncalled-for behaviour will not be accepted without consequence,” Watkins noted.

He added, “Mr. Small issued a further apology both to the staff of the LHC and to the Health Ministry. He

recommitted his pledge to service and to the ideals and mission of the MoH and the LHC.” The permanent secretary noted that the ministry agreed at the meeting with the chief labour officer to engage the nurses and the GPSU on a way forward, but not until the strike is called off.

“The permanent secretary informed the union in a discussion with their representative on March 5, 2021, that the ministry remains open and ready to discuss the concerns of the nurses at the LHC. We will, however, not negotiate under duress. We remain in contact with the union and with the Ministry of Labour and we are ready at any time to resume the discussions we started on March 4th at the Ministry of Labour.”

Nurses of the Linden Hospital Complex during a recent strike

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 7, 2021

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 7, 2021

The female engineers propelling Guyana’s infrastructural transformation

By Rehana Ahamad YEARS ago, when I first entered the world of work, my mother would vehemently insist that I “dress the part.” Admittedly, however, I have always been a “trunks and vest” kind of gal, and genuinely, if I were allowed to show up for work that way, I would rejoice. But I do understand what she meant; first impressions are everything, and maintaining a neat image commands a certain level of instant respect; it opens doors and can rope in many incredible opportunities.

Similarly, as Guyana embarks on her revolutionary path to magnanimous multi-sectoral transformation, it is important that she looks the part. It is an indisputable fact that Guyana is a gem; she is home to almost every enviable resource known to man, and her children represent an amalgamation of all of the world’s most magnificent cultures. However, despite all that she is and all that she has, it is not difficult to recognise that Guyana is not as celebrated as she should be. It reminds me of a local expression I often hear: “you’z a nice girl inno? Yuh just need lil caring.” That’s how I feel about Guyana; she is the underdog that needs to go through a light makeover in order to become the star of the show.

Fortunately, the Ministry of Public Works has within its employ, several visionary female Civil Engineers who are committed to ensuring that Guyana is accessorised in a manner that commands instant respect and attracts all the admiration that she so rightfully deserves.

Among those women is Shinella Quintyn, a Civil Engineer, and the manager of the Design Department of the Ministry of Public Works. The 36-year-old heads a competent team of qualified professionals tasked with coming up with the designs for roads, bridges and several other public infrastructures throughout the country.

Although a trailblazer in a male-dominated field now, Quintyn was well intentioned to become a doctor. She eventually outgrew those desires and wanted to pursue a career as an educator, much like the strong, capable women she grew up around. Eventually, the St. Joseph’s High School student would be exposed to a “talk” from representatives of the University of Guyana (UG), and shortly after, in an

uncalculated move, Quintyn enrolled for the university’s Engineering Programme.

tually understood the root cause of the problem, and began learning the art of

Civil Engineer, Denita Crandon

“I didn’t know much about engineering, actually; I didn’t even know what a Civil Engineer was,” Quintyn confessed. She would later realise that being an engineer required much more effort than she had previously imagined. “It was a lot of work…but it became something that I really wanted to pursue and excel in,” she admitted.

Having fallen deeply in love with the field of engineering, Quintyn spared no hesitation in securing employment in her field.

“I really enjoyed the challenge that it brought. I really like thinking on my feet,” Quintyn told the Sunday Chronicle.

She related that entering the world of work was quite a humbling experience, as it was vastly different from what she had experienced throughout her university life. Quintyn explained that even though females were always astoundingly outnumbered in the civil engineering courses, “gender issues” had never presented themselves. However, things would soon change, and an eager Quintyn would finally face those “gender issues” that never seemed to be a worry on campus.

“I would have to tell a man what to do and how to do it, and so, we would always be butting heads,” Quintyn recalled. She even-

compromise.

“As a young engineer, you think you know everything, and so when you get into the world of work, and you start talking to the guys with the experience, they kind of tend to shun you first because they’re a little offended by the fact that you are leading them as a [qualified] engineer while they have been working in the field for years,” Quintyn opined.

Soon enough, she would be mentored into being a better and more understanding team leader. Her mentor was notable Engineer Heidi Gillette, Head of the Inspectorate Division of the Ministry of Public Works.

“That really helped me to grow as an engineer…a guy who has all the years of experience is just as important as me, who has the education without the experience. It was always important for me to see eye-to-eye with those guys,” Quintyn posited.

Soon after getting the “hands-on” experience, the budding engineer secured a scholarship to pursue her Master Degree in Australia. Upon completing her studies, the young woman returned to the Public Works Ministry where she assumed the position of a Specialist Materials Engineer.

She would later resign in 2020 to dabble in entrepreneurship, establishing and

running her own start-up company. “It was a rewarding experience, but it was a

Having started off as a regional engineer attached to Region Three (Essequibo

Civil Engineer, Shinella Quintin

challenge that I was not prepared for,” Quintyn recalled.

The uncertainties and tragedies of 2020 took its toll, and Quintyn made a decision to return to the Public Works Ministry, where she is currently pursuing her second Master Degree; this time, in geotechnical engineering.

Reflecting on her life, Quintyn said that she was quite fortunate to have been brought up in a home where she was encouraged to follow her dreams, and never pressured into upholding the status quo. The young wife and mother related that she is often able to fulfill the demands of her job, owing to the unwavering support of her family, especially her partner. “I think I have the best husband,” Quintyn boasted.

As far as her daughter and two sons are concerned, the young woman said that they are being raised to understand equality, and to know that they can be anything they set their minds to, whether it is something traditional or groundbreaking.

FULFILLING GRANDFATHER’S DREAM Essequibian, Denita Crandon is also a female Civil Engineer whose dedication has manifested in her elevation within the Public Works Ministry.

Islands-West Demerara), Crandon is now the manager of the Miscellaneous and Urban Roads Department of the ministry.

Unlike Quintyn, Crandon’s love for “building things” was ignited since she was just a little girl, following her father around. “He was a contractor, and I had a keen interest in the things he did…I used to love seeing my father work; watching him build things and so,” Crandon related.

As it turns out, both Crandon’s father’s and grandfather shared a passion for engineering, but as circumstances would have it, neither of them was afforded the opportunity to pursue a formal education in engineering. Crandon, on the other hand, remained resolute in ensuring that she chases the dream that she inherited from her father and grandfather. At that time, the young woman was sure that her dream was that of becoming a well-qualified architect. As a student of President’s College, Crandon would be the only female who “stuck it out” in the “tech stream.” As she moved on to the University of Guyana however, Crandon would realise her passion for engineering taking precedence over her love for architecture.

Crandon, now fondly referred to as ‘engine,’ went

on to complete her Master Degree in Project Management at the UCI – the University of International Cooperation (Universidad para la Cooperación Internacional). Today, she stands proud, having fulfilled the aspirations of two generations before her.

As International Women’s Day (IWD) approaches on Monday, March 8, 2021, Crandon is hopeful that more young girls will consider civil engineering to be a lucrative and fulfilling career path.

“We are a team of about 15 persons, and other than myself, there is only one other female engineer,” Crandon said.

She believes that, oftentimes, young girls are misled into believing that civil engineering involves too much “heavy lifting” for the female gender. “It is actually more about a person’s ability to solve problems using mathematics and basic tenets of science,” Crandon surmised.

She expressed her appreciation to the Public Works Ministry, which she says has been quite fair in its staff assessment, and promoting persons based entirely on competence.

“For me, for as long as I have been with the ministry, I feel as though once you can do the work, you will be promoted. Capability is paramount,” Crandon told the Sunday Chronicle.

She is hopeful that the handful of female engineers at the Public Works Ministry would leave behind a legacy that emphasises the importance of women in male-dominated fields.

Meanwhile, Public Works Minister, Juan Edghill, in his International Women's Day message said that the ministry has “some of the strongest, most dedicated, hardworking and energetic women as administrators, managers, engineers, technicians, and of course, among the rank and file in our staff compliment.”

Edghill went on to assure the women that they are respected and very much appreciated for the role they play in helping to develop and modernise Guyana. International Women's Day 2021 is being observed under the theme 'Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world.'

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 7, 2021

A+ for ‘strategic’ rollout of vaccines in the Caribbean …but disparities in procurement a concern, CARPHA head says

By Vishani Ragobeer EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR of the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), Dr. Joy St John, says that the Caribbean has approached its vaccination rollout strategically, noting that vaccinating a significant portion of the population is a mechanism through which herd immunity can be accomplished, thereby allowing countries to exit the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We sat and we watched at the end of last year, big countries like the United States (US), Canada and the United Kingdom (UK), who were able to purchase vaccines, we watched their citizens getting immunised… the Caribbean was strategic enough to allow procurement after, even if it was initially by donation, through philanthropy,” Dr. St. John said, in an exclusive interview with the Sunday Chronicle.

Though these countries were able to pre-order tranches of vaccines, issue Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) and begin immunising their populations while the rest of the world was still trying to make arrangements for procurement, Dr. St. John explained that this allowed the Caribbean region to commence its vaccination rollout with approved vaccines.

The Oxford-AstraZeneca, which has been donated to countries in the Caribbean from India, was granted EUA by the World Health Organisation (WHO) by the time distribution began in February. Barbados and Dominica were the first countries to receive this vaccine, which is produced by the Serum Institute of India and is called ‘Covishield’.

Subsequently, those two

countries donated smaller portions to other Caribbean countries. Guyana received 3,000 doses from Barbados and was able to commence

Executive Director of the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), Dr. Joy St John

vaccinating some of its frontline health care workers. On Monday, Guyana will receive its own donation of ‘Covishield’ vaccines from India.

As such, CARPHA’s Executive Director posited, “The Caribbean was supremely strategic in how it has gone about getting vaccines.” She also noted that ahead of the vaccination rollout in Caribbean countries, the Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO) and the World Bank were involved in surveying the readiness of countries to vaccinate their adult populations against COVID-19.

Legislation, communication, storage and equipment were among the areas of readiness surveyed. And, Dr. St. John explained that this allowed Caribbean countries to gauge whether they would distribute the vaccines to their

(Flashback, late Feb.) Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony (second right) and Chief Medical Officer, Dr Narine Singh, collect the vaccines, donated by Barbados to Guyana, at the Ogle Airport, on the East Coast of Demerara (Adrian Narine photo)

adult populations quickly and safely.

“So, the procurement has allowed these systems to be actually tested before the COVAX supplies start arriving... so it isn’t just that we say we are ready, but we’ve actually been doing it with the Covishield, so you know actually getting it to people.”

COVAX FACILITY Months ago, Caribbean countries signed up with the COVAX facility, which is geared at accelerating the development and manufacture of the COVID-19 vaccines, and then providing them in a guaranteed rapid, fair and equitable manner. COVAX is coordinated by GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the WHO. And, all of the countries participating in COVAX, regardless of income

levels, will have equal access to these vaccines once they are developed.

“The initial aim is to have two billion doses available by the end of 2021, which should be enough to protect high risk and vulnerable people, as well as frontline healthcare workers,” the GAVI website noted.

GAVI also noted, “For lower-income funded nations, who would otherwise be unable to afford these vaccines, as well as a number of higher-income self-financing countries that have no bilateral deals with manufacturers, COVAX is quite literally a lifeline and the only viable way in which their citizens will get access to COVID-19 vaccines.”

Under the COVAX mechanism, Guyana will be receiving its first tranche of vaccines- which is expected to immunise some 20 per cent of the population- for free.

These vaccines are expected to arrive sometime this month.

“If the Caribbean people are anything, they are practical (and) pragmatic. I say that what the Caribbean did was that they observed what was going on and they made their own conclusions,” Dr. St. John contended.

“They decided ‘Okay well this is going on in x countrythis is good we were going to do this, or this is not going well we will not do this’ and I think that observation and application of best practices have served the Caribbean well.”

DISPARITIES IN PROCUREMENT Despite the Caribbean’s pragmatism, however, there is still the overarching concern of vaccine nationalism and Dr. St. John said the fact that less than 10 countries of the world have the majority of

vaccines cannot be negated.

“We have not been able to access vaccines the way we anticipated… suppliers are saying they are unable to accept orders from us because the large countries are purchasing them out,” Chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Keith Rowley, said during a virtual press conference following the conclusion of the 32nd inter-sessional meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government The Trinidadian Prime Minister also raised his concerns at a recent WHO forum, where he lamented the disparities in vaccination procurement.

“The Chair of the Conference of Heads of Government, the Honorable Keith Rowley was very correct to make a strong statement on this and to go to the WHO to make it there too,” the St. John affirmed.

She also lamented, “We witnessed some very unfortunate things happen to the Caribbean and we cannot afford to sit back and not say anything and it happens with vaccines.”

Dr. St. John emphasised that unless a great majority of people are immunised, the Caribbean will be struggling with the virus and its ramifications for a long time.

She, however, acknowledged, “We have been really punching above our weight in the way that we have approached the management of the COVID-19 pandemic and we should continue with that during the vaccination.”

Businessman attacked, robbed at Vryheid’s Lust A NIGHT out for a Chinese national ended badly when he was attacked and robbed by two men as he was about to enter his Vryheid’s Lust, East Coast Demerara house in the wee hours

of Saturday.

A statement from the Guyana Police Force noted that Awei Huo Die, a 39-year-old Chinese national and businessman, was robbed of $500,000 in cash and a cell phone

valued $80,000.

The incident occurred outside the AWEI Supermarket at Vryheid’s Lust Public Road at around 02:00hrs. The victim told the po-

lice that he had just returned home from an outing and was about to enter his yard when he saw the two suspects passing on the road.

The men then approached,

attacked and took away the cash and phone from the victim before escaping. Police investigations are ongoing.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 7, 2021

GRA seizes over 6,000 lbs of smuggled chicken –– armed perpetrators escape ENFORCEMENT officers attached to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) seized a boatload of smuggled chicken in the wee hours of Saturday in the waterways shared between Annandale/Buxton, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

The Sunday Chronicle understands that the GRA officers acted on information and intercepted the vessel, but they came under gunfire from the perpetrators who

eventually escaped, leaving the smuggled meat behind.

Over 6,000 pounds of chicken with the ‘Rockingham’ label was discovered in the speedboat by the GRA officers.

“If this chicken had evaded law enforcement and was dispatched to various sellers and supermarkets later, then the consumers will be placed at a major health risk; these things do not pass through any health inspection before Law-enforcements officers remove the smuggled chicken from the vessel

it[sic] is sold,” one GRA officer, who prefers not to be named, told the Sunday Chronicle.

Another law-enforcement officer explained that bacteria via contaminated or spoilt chicken can provoke a number of symptoms within 72 hours of exposure and could last for four to seven days,

necessitating hospitalisation in some cases.

Infection with salmonella, he said, could be life-threatening, especially to those with weak immune systems such as infants and the elderly.

Poultry farmers in the past had expressed frustration over smuggling.

Bandits chop, rob Craig resident in home invasion A 45-year-old resident of Buzz Bee Dam, Craig, East Bank Demerara, is nursing a ‘chop wound’ to the head after three bandits, armed with a gun and cutlasses, invaded his house in the wee hours of Saturday.

Police Headquarters, in a statement, noted that Eyon Campbell was robbed of $350,000 cash, one DVD player, one 42-inch Sony television and one black Samsung J2 Core cell phone valued $35,000.

Campbell, who lives alone in his flat concrete house, told the police that he secured his house and retired to bed at around 21:00hrs but at around 02:30hrs, he was awakened by footsteps in his bedroom and was subsequently confronted by the three

assailants who demanded cash and valuables.

The victim immediately handed over his money but the bandits demanded more; the victim indicated he did not have more money when one of the armed men chopped him to the head and beat him with the cutlass about the body.

They took the other items and then escaped via a northern door, where they initially gained entry. Campbell sought medical attention at the Woodlands Hospital in Georgetown and was later discharged.

He lodged a police report at the Golden Grove Police Station.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 7, 2021

4 arrested, 8 stolen motorcycles seized

…during police operation POLICE have arrested four persons following a cordon and search operation early Saturday in connection with the illegal possession of cannabis, stolen motorcycles and armed robbery.

Police Headquarters, in a statement, noted that searches were carried out in Guyhoc Park; A, B, C, D, E and Plum Park Sophia; Prashad Nagar; Gordon Street, Kitty; Alexander Street, Kitty; William Street, Kitty; Alberttown; Bourda and Stabroek markets; Tiger Bay and Leopold Street.

Additionally, several mechanic shops, suspected drug houses, houses, motorists and pedestrians were searched and resulted in the arrest of four persons: a 28-year-old construction worker of Guyhoc Park for being in posses-

sion of 105 grams of cannabis at Plum Park Sophia; a 40 year-old broker of ‘A’ Field Sophia for the possession of five grams of cannabis; a 28

year-old mechanic of Tucville for the unlawful possession of motorcycles; a 24-yearold unemployed male of ‘C’ Field Sophia Squatting Area,

in connection with armed robbery.

Eight motorcycles, including an XR, Trip, and Honjue were seized while 92 grams of cannabis was found abandoned at the Stabroek Market.

Some of the motorcycles seized by the police

Some of the marijuana found by the police

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 7, 2021

BUDGET WOES AND THE DRAMATIC OPPOSITION

BY MICHAEL YOUNGE IT is no surprise that the Irfaan Ali Administration was focussed on the passage of the $383.1B Budget, despite the drama and scene which

was put on by the A Partnership For National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Coalition in National Assembly.

There were plans uncovered to derail this budget since it was presented in February.

There were twists and turns which unfolded during the

debate presentation but none managed to catch the Government unprepared or surprised.

What’s shocking is the opposition’s defence of their

actions in Parliament when it was time to consider the estimates of the budget in the Committee of Supply. From day one, each question was met with an answer so the opposition would not use the argument that the administration was hiding facts and evidence away from the public. This heat rolled over to the next day and the sitting.

Suddenly, there was an infraction which occurred while the Parliament was “asleep”.

Opposition member and Parliamentarian Tabitha Sarabo-Halley was the victim of an alleged assault at the hands of Government Minister Kwame McCoy. It just happened that she didn’t have any real or material evidence of the assault nor was there any footage from the cameras present to frame Mc Coy. This incident was particularly timed and positioned, it appears from the statements.

Also, the exchange of words that took place is sure to have caught the attention of the onlookers in the public. This, it is said, hardly had any except for Minister Anand Persaud and one other member Amanza Desir. The police were called in and the matter is being investigated fully.

Now, the opposition used the opportunity of an alleged assault against one of its members to fuel its rage and called on the Speaker Manzoor Nadir to suspend Mc Coy. When he would not, ruckus broke out. There was tampering on desks and allegations after the next both in Parliament and in the realm of mass and social media. All guns were oiled by the opposition who staged protest for alleged women rights and against the Speaker. It all ended with the Speaker rightfully ignoring their concerns and the opposition breached the traditions and procedures in Parliament when dealing with its campaign. Several members were suspended for the sitting and time was taken for the passage of the budget.

What is alarming about the most recent opposition cries of injustice apart from the lack of evidence and the air of distrust that swept both the media and Government parliamentarians was how the opposition dealt with it. They allowed their emotions to get the best of them. And there was a witch hunt for Mc Coy even before any reasonable doubt. There wasn’t any levelheadedness.

No leadership that was capable of thinking above the fray or

rationally. Not even sober and academia were involved. This was seen as they took to social media with the usual suspects in the person of Sherod “stolen” Duncan and Christopher “Barbershop” Jones among others levelling all manners of things against the Government and using Mr Mc Coy as a fall man or bait.

Secondly, the opposition is making a mockery out of the very serious nature of gender-based violence. Let Tabitha Sarabo-Halley go through what every victim passes through if she was indeed a victim. Get the information first. The medical report will ensure you are vindicated to a point. Get back with the police and then you can exact your pound of flesh politically from the Government.

Behave like you are the victim and don’t make statements that lead to more questions than answers and the public watching you with a side eye. Get on to your Minister of Human Services and find out how you can deal with alleged trauma that you faced and insecurities that still exist while the matter is being addressed. There is a whole lot of things you could do as opposed to being on the TV and Internet running the Government down.

Thirdly, the opposition voluntarily lost out the opportunity to scrutinise the estimates of expenditure of the Government. They chose to allow drama and rhetoric to consume their time in Parliament. They gave up their roles to challenge the Government by ensuring transparency and accountability were there where the people’s monies were concerned. This means the opposition is full of talks and no actions on the financial front. Not to trivialise the issue of violence, but it could be dealt with effectively outside the chamber.

Now, the argument will shift. The opposition will say they didn’t have the opportunity to scrutinise the estimates in the budget and there was a race to the finish line.

While there should be widespread condemnation of how the issue was dealt with by the opposition, there should be a breath of fresh air because the budget passed the first hurdle it faced.

Policy implementation and policy execution are the next hurdles it will face in its way to benefit the people.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 7, 2021

46.6% decrease in serious crimes; 19% decrease in fatal accidents

Nigel Hoppie, Commissioner of Police (ag)

THE Guyana Police Force has recorded a 46.6 per cent decrease in serious crimes and a 19 per cent decrease in fatal accidents for the period January 1 to March 5, 2021.

In 2020, there was a 14% increase in road fatalities and 5.9% decrease in serious crimes. This is according to Commissioner of Police (ag), Nigel Hoppie, who made the disclosure at the opening ceremony of the Police Officers’ Annual Conference, on Thursday last, at the National Cultural Centre.

“Indeed, while police have no direct control over crime, no effort was spared to exercise crime control by utilising methods of prevention and detection,” the Top Cop told his officers.

Serious crimes include murder, robbery under arms, robbery with violence, robbery with aggravation, larceny from a person, break and enter and larceny, burglary, rape, and kidnapping.

Meanwhile, in touching on the issue of fatal accidents, Hoppie said speeding continues to be a major contributing factor and resulted in 106 fatal accidents of 2020.

Hoppie said that driving under the influence of alcohol, distracted or inattentive driving and non-compliance to traffic signals and road markings are also among the contributing factors.

DRUG CONTROL The Top Cop disclosed that during 2020, the police seized some 490 kilograms of cocaine, which resulted in 29 cases being made and 30 persons being charged and placed before the court.

He stated that this was done through the establishment of frequent stop and search patrols, as well as divisional checkpoints that were set up

to aid in drug control.

Hoppie added that 809kg of marijuana were also ceased and destroyed, of which 313 cases were made and 423 persons charged.

“Along with intensified collaboration with local, regional and international law enforcement agencies, we will continue to maintain our focus in the fight against illicit drugs,” he said.

He further stated that the police have intensified its fight against trafficking in persons and domestic violence. He said that the force is continuing its multi-agency approach to create policies that would enable them to innovate ways to combatting this social ill.

According to the top cop, training sessions are held with ranks to keep them in line with the correct standard practices for handling issues of trafficking in persons and domestic violence.

“In relation to domestic violence, the forces’ zero tolerance approach in policy teaches that no rank can settle any matter but must take appropriate action leading to the matter being placed before the court. We are aware that the government, in addressing such crimes, has established a 914 domestic hotline where persons can seek assistance, and we have been working to ensure that those matters are handled according to the law,” Hoppie explained.

He assured that the police force will continue to work diligently to promote security through raids, roadblocks, robust anti-crime patrol, and intelligence network bolstered by divisional anti-crime units and analytical work by way of data collection through the integrated crime information system.

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Danns anxious for Golden Jaguars World Cup Qualifiers call-up

By Rawle Toney

WITH nine goals scored in 15 outings for Guyana, Neil Danns at age 38 is still committed to representing the Golden Jaguars and is hoping to receive a call from coach Marcio Maximo for Guyana’s Qatar 2022 World Cup qualifiers campaign.

Danns recently signed with Wales side Connah’s Quay Nomads and he told Chronicle Sport that he’s still the same player that rocked English football since bursting onto the scenes with Blackburn Rovers in the Champions League 20 years ago.

“I’ve been training full-time for the last couple of months. I was signed with Halifax FC just over a month ago, so I was training full time.

I’m feeling good, much fitter and hopefully I’ll be given the chance to represent Guyana in the World Cup Qualifiers.

I’m fully committed to representing the country as well, so hopefully I’m given that chance,” Danns told Chronicle Sport.

Age is nothing but a number for Danns, who made his Golden Jaguars debut in 2015 against Grenada at the Guyana National Stadium. He has placed himself in the discussion as one of the best players to ever lace-up their cleats for the National team.

Asked what fuels his competitiveness to keep playing, Danns said, “Just the pure love for football.”

“Anyone who would have seen me play would say I have the same enthusiasm as a youngster and I’m filled with passion for the game, which helps me to keep going and keep myself in good

condition and always ready,” Danns reasoned.

The former Leicester City and Crystal Palace midfield player said, “Irrespective of a players’ age, if you perform well enough and are fit, you should be allowed to keep playing.”

The midfielder started his career at Blackburn Rovers, during which time he had loan spells at Blackpool, Hartlepool United and Colchester United where he spent two years before joining Birmingham City.

The Guyana international made 103 appearances for Crystal Palace, whilst also having permanent spells in the Football League at Leicester City, Bolton Wanderers, Bury FC and Tranmere Rovers.

Most recently, Danns has played for the likes of Radcliffe, Halifax Town and was on trial at Chorley, where the Nomads spotted him after their season was curtailed.

The Golden Jaguars are set to travel to The Dominican Republic to take on Trinidad and Tobago in their first away match in the World Cup qualifiers.

After their clash with the ‘Trinis’, Golden Jaguars will return home to roar against The Bahamas on Tuesday, March 30.

On Friday, June 4, Guyana will travel to St Kitts & Nevis for their third game and then host Puerto Rico on Tuesday, June 8.

Guyana last faced Trinidad and Tobago during the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup, where, despite a beautiful goal scored by Neil Danns, the two sides ended the match with a 1-1 draw.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 7, 2021

Dorado Swim Club protests action

by National COVID-19 Task Force THE Dorado Swim Club yesterday held a protest outside of the National Aquatic Centre at Lilleendaal, East Coast Demerara, calling on the National COVID-19 Task Force, to allow the club and other swimmers a chance to train ahead of up-coming regional and international engagements.

The club, home to some of Guyana’s top swimmers, believes that given the fact that there’s no physical contact in swimming, protocols can be put in place to see the safe return to the pool.

They are calling on the Task Force to give their swimmers a chance to at least train.

According to Stephanie Fraser, the swim club’s head coach, “Some of the competitive swimmers along with their parents decided to stage a peaceful protest after seeing other groups, who are more at risk of contracting the

virus than swimmers, whose medium used during training is chlorinated water, being given permission to train and hold competitions.”

The swimmers and their parents/guardians, Fraser said, are seeking answers …“why they are not being allowed to train. All of their Caribbean swimming friends are allowed back into the pool, training while following strict COVID-19 guidelines.”

Several of the clubs’ age group swimmers had made the 2019 CARIFTA Qualifying times before the lockdown.

Fraser said, “The competitive swimmers are feeling frustrated, especially after seeing competition results from their sister Caribbean countries, and still no permission is being given for them to reopen the pool for training.”

The long-serving swim coach lauded the efforts made

by recently-elected president, Dwayne Scott, who she said “has been working assiduously in trying to get the authorities responsible to grant permission for a limited number of swimmers who have been considered as our “CARIFTA” medal hopefuls to train ...but to no avail.”

It was stated by the club that since September 2020, Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA), had written to, and meetings were held with Minister Anthony, Minister Ramson and the COVID-19 Task Force.

According to the Dorado Swim Club, FINA – swimming’s International body – COVID-19 guidelines allow for four swimmers per lane in the 25-metre pool and eight per lane in the 50-metre pool.

FINA, the club said, has determined that they can safely have 112 swimmers training simultaneously

at the National Aquatic Centre, since it is an Olympic-size (50 metres) pool.

The GASA wrote to the Task Force seeking permission for 18 swimmers per session; that is one swimmer per lane in each pool.

The lanes of the pools are over two metres wide, which will automatically allow swimmers to be more than the mandated “social distance” of six feet.

The club said competitive swimmers inhale above the water and exhale into the water; they are therefore breathing out into chlorinated water - the lowest possibility of transmitting any respiratory disease.

The physical and mental effects on its young swimmers, who have not trained for a year, are major concerns, the club reasoned.

Celebrations at Motera on 50th anniversary of Sunil Gavaskar’s Test debut

… BCCI marks occasion by presenting former captain with commemorative Test cap IT was exactly 50 years ago, on March 6, 1971, that Sunil Gavaskar made his Test debut in Port of Spain on India’s tour of the West Indies and which they won 1-0 - a seminal achievement, one of the high points in the history of Indian cricket.

To mark the occasion, BCCI felicitated Gavaskar at the lunch break on the third day of the ongoing fourth and final Test between India and England in Ahmedabad with a commemorative Test cap. For his part, Gavaskar chose to make another debut of sorts on the day, on Instagram.

Back in 1971, the debutant opening batsman made 65 in that first innings and 67 not out in the second, as India won the Test by seven wickets. He scored 774 runs in four Tests on that tour. That remains the record for the most runs in a Test series by an India batsman, and joint 12th (with Steven Smith, in the 2019 Ashes) in the overall list of batsmen with most runs in a Test series.

Gavaskar went on to achieve many milestones in his career, including becoming the first to score 10 000 runs in Test cricket, which he got to in Ahmedabad, at the same Motera stadium (though it was far from being the massive facility it is today) where the current Test match is being played. That was in March 1987, against Imran Khan’s Pakistan.

Gavaskar retired from the game later that year with 10 122 runs from 125 Tests at an average of 51.12, with a-then record 34 centuries in the format. He also played 108 ODIs, scoring 3 092 runs at an average of 35.13.

He has since worn many hats including being the president of the BCCI for a short period in 2014. But it is as one of the busiest television commentators that he is most recognised these days. (CRICINFO)

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 7, 2021

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India thump England to advance to WTC final … record 13th consecutive Test series victory at home

AHMEDABAD, India (Reuters) - Virat Kohli’s India burnished their formidable home record with a 3-1 series victory over England day, the tourists flunking another trial-by-spin inside three days in the fourth and final Test.

India’s 13th consecutive Test series victory at home also secured their place in the June final of the World Test Championship against New Zealand.

I n a s i g n o f I n d i a ’s strength, they won the last two matches in a total of five days - the usual duration of one Test match - at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium.

Once again, Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel were the architects of their victory by an innings and 25 runs in the final match.

The spinners took all 10 wickets in England’s second innings. They finished the series with a combined haul of 59 wickets, even though Patel did not play the opening Test which England won.

“The first game was a bit of an aberration, just a hiccup, when England outplayed us,” Kohli said.

“You’re obviously happy when you’re winning so many series but there are always things to improve, like after the first game in Chennai we had to pick up our body language.”

After a below-par 205

in the first innings, England needed a vastly-improved batting performance in the second to stay alive, but their frontline batsmen let them down again.

Barring Dan Lawrence, who scored 46 and 50, the rest looked scarred from their struggles against spin in the previous match at the same venue.

ing his 218 in the first Test, but it was otherwise a miserable batting display by his side.

ROTATION POLICY England crossed the 200mark only twice in eight innings and repeatedly rejigged their combination in line with their policy to rest multi-format players.

They failed to read the

spin and then fell to deliveries that did not turn.

“The last three games have been testing for us and we haven’t been able to match India,” said Root, backing their rotation policy.

“The world we are living in now is not going to go away, it’s really important we understand that and look after our players.

From left: Virat Kohli, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Mohammed Siraj and Rishabh Pant (Getty)

Jonny Bairstow registered his third duck in four innings, which may render his place in England’s Test squad untenable.

Root finished as the top-scorer in the series follow-

third-Test track, fielding a four-pronged seam attack on a spinners’ paradise.

By contrast, India’s spinners sowed seeds of doubt in the mind of the English batsmen; most of whom played for

“It’s a big year of cricket, there are three formats to consider and we can’t keep playing guys until they fall over.”

India exploited their home advantage to win three match-

Windies pacer Kemar Roach to join Surrey for Barcelona beat Osasuna to close gap at the top first seven County Championship matches

Kemar Roach took eight wickets during the three-match Test series against England last season

WEST Indies pace bowler Kemar Roach is to join Surrey for their first seven County Championship fixtures.

Roach, 32, is expected to join the county at the end of the Test series against Sri Lanka after April 2.

Subject to COVID-19 restrictions and quarantine, he could make his debut at Gloucestershire on April 8.

Roach’s only previous stint in county cricket came in 2011 when he played four first-class matches for Worcestershire, taking 14 wickets.

“I’m absolutely thrilled to be joining Surrey for the early part of the summer,”

he said. “Two grounds I wanted to play at as a kid were the two Ovals, Kensington and The Oval, home of Surrey.

“When Alec Stewart showed an interest in me, I had no hesitation in saying yes to him. The club has a strong squad with a nice balance of youth and experience.”

Right-armer Roach is expected to return to the Caribbean at the end of May after Surrey’s match with Middlesex for a scheduled international programme.

He has taken 205 wickets in 61 Tests since his debut against Bangladesh in 2009.

(BBC Sport)

EIGHTEEN-year-old Ilaix Moriba scored his first goal for Barcelona to help them overcome Osasuna and move back to within two points of La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid.

Lionel Messi set Jordi Alba up for the opener, while Barca’s Marc-Andre ter Stegen saved well from Kike Barja and Ruben Garcia before the break.

Moriba ensured victory with an excellent finish from outside the area.

Barcelona’s crucial presidential election takes place on Sunday.

Barca, a club grappling with financial problems while also attempting to keep six-time Ballon d’Or award winner Messi, will elect a new president on Sunday from three candidates - Joan Laporta, Victor Font and Toni Freixa.

Victory was Barcelona’s second since the club’s Nou Camp offices were raided on Monday and former presi-

dent Josep Maria Bartomeu was arrested in a probe related to allegations of improper management and business corruption.

Osasuna, a side 11 places adrift of Barca, were first to threaten, with Ter Stegen at full stretch to push Barja’s effort wide.

A brilliantly threaded pass from Messi and fierce finish from Alba into the roof of the net put Barca ahead, but it was Ter Stegen who ensured they maintained that lead after foiling Garcia.

Osasuna worked hard to limit Barca after the break, but they failed to find an equaliser before substitute Moriba opened his Barca account with a fine curled finish.

La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid, who were 10 points clear of Barca at the end of January, host third-placed city rivals Real Madrid today. (BBC Sport)

es in a row.

Ashwin’s all-round brilliance helped level the series in Chennai and Patel bowled them to victory inside two days in the third match in Ahmedabad.

Rishabh Pant turned the

final Test with a match-winning century before the spinners completed the rout.

The white-ball leg of the series begins on March 12 with a five-match Twenty20 series followed by three oneday internationals.

SCORECARD ENGLAND 1st innings 205 INDIA 1st innings o/n 294 for 7 Shubman Gill lbw James Anderson

0 Rohit Sharma lbw Ben Stokes

49 Cheteshwar Pujara lbw Jack Leach

17 Virat Kohli c Ben Foakes b Ben Stokes

0 Ajinkya Rahane c Ben Stokes b James Anderson 27 Rishabh Pant c Joe Root b James Anderson 101 Ravichandran Ashwin c Ollie Pope b Jack Leach 13 Washington Sundar not out

96 Axar Patel run-out Jonny Bairstow

43 Ishant Sharma lbw Ben Stokes

0 Mohammed Siraj b Ben Stokes

0 EXTRAS: (b-10, lb-6, nb-3)

19 TOTAL: (all out, 114.4 overs)

365 Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-40, 3-41, 4-80, 5-121, 6-146, 7-259, 8-365 9-365.

Bowling: James Anderson 25-14-44-3, Ben Stokes 27.4- 6-894 (nb-1), Jack Leach 27-5-89-2 (nb-1), Dom Bess 17-1-71-0 (nb-1), Joe Root 18-1-56-0.

ENGLAND 2nd innings Zak Crawley c Ajinkya Rahane b Ravichandran Ashwin 5 Dominic Sibley c Rishabh Pant b Axar Patel 3 Jonny Bairstow c Rohit Sharma b Ravichandran Ashwin 0 Joe Root lbw Ravichandran Ashwin 30 Ben Stokes c Virat Kohli b Axar Patel

2 Ollie Pope stp. Rishabh Pant b Axar Patel

15 Dan Lawrence b Ravichandran Ashwin

50 Ben Foakes c Ajinkya Rahane b Axar Patel 13 Dom Bess c Rishabh Pant b Axar Patel

2 Jack Leach c Ajinkya Rahane b Ravichandran Ashwin 2 James Anderson not out

1 EXTRAS: (b-4, lb-8) 12 TOTAL: (all out, 54.5 overs)

135 Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-10, 3-20, 4-30, 5-65, 6-65, 7-109, 8-111, 9-134.

Bowling: Mohammed Siraj 4-0-12-0, Axar Patel 24-6-48-5, Ravichandran Ashwin 22.5-4-47-5, Washington Sundar 4-0-16-0.

India vs England 2021, T20I series Schedule T20Is Θ 1st T20 - March 12 (Ahmedabad), 19:00 local - 13:30

GMT​ Θ 2nd T20 - March 14 (Ahmedabad), 19:00 local - 13:30 GMT​ Θ 3rd T20 - March 16 (Ahmedabad), 19:00 local - 13:30 GMT Θ 4th T20 - March 18 (Ahmedabad), 19:00 local - 13:30 GMT Θ 5th T20 - March 20 (Ahmedabad), 19:00 local - 13:30 GMT ODIs Θ 1st ODI, March 23 (Pune), 13:30 local - 08:00 GMT Θ 2nd ODI, March 26 (Pune), 13:30 local - 08:00 GMT Θ 3rd ODI, March 28 (Pune), 13:30 local - 09:00 BST

English Racing Tips Huntingdon 10:00 hrs Marada 10:30 hrs Supremely Lucky 11:05 hrs Juniper 11:35 hrs Onemorefortheroad 12:05 hrs Quest For Life 112:40 hrs Midnight Aurora 13:10 hrs Quid Pro Quo

13:00 hrs Ragamuffin

Sedgefield 09:50 hrs Dargiannini 10:20 hrs Who’s In The Box 10:55 hrs Tomorrow’s Angel 11:25 hrs Mr Muldoon 11:55 hrs Another Theatre 12:30 hrs Oxwich Bay

South Africa Racing Tips Greyville 08:25 hrs Fists Of Fire 09:00 hrs Sniper Shot 09:35 hrs Mama Pyjama 10;10 hrs Drunken Sailor 10:45 hrs Drogarati

Irish Racing Tips Leopardstown 10:10 hrs He’s OK 11:15 hrs Royal Illusion 11:45 hrs Smiths Girl 12:20 hrs Steer Clear 12:50 hrs Best Behavior 13:20 hrs Hunters Yarn

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 7, 2021

CONMEBOL suspends March World Cup qualifiers in South America ― af ter clubs refuse to release player s

THE South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) has suspended March’s double-header of World Cup qualifiers for Qatar 2022 amid concern over the COVID-19 pandemic and strict quarantine restrictions.

“The CONMEBOL Council decided to suspend the double date of the Qualifiers for Qatar 2022 scheduled for March,” a statement from CONMEBOL said yesterday. “The decision is due to the impossibility of having all the South American players in a timely manner.

“FIFA will analyse the rescheduling of the date, in coordination with CONMEBOL and the member associations. Soon, the different options for holding the matches will be studied.”

The 10 South American teams were due to play two games on March 25-26 and March 30, but CONMEBOL acknowledged that tightening lockdown and quarantine regulations mean many of the European-based players will be unable to travel.

Among the matches affected are Brazil’s games against Argentina and Colombia, and the River Plate derby between Argentina and Uruguay.

Each team had played four of their 18 qualifiers.

The top four in the 10team group qualify automatically for Qatar and the fifth-placed side go into an inter-regional playoff.

The move to postpone the matches comes after prominent managers such as Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola and Liverpool’s

Karunaratne returns for West Indies Tests

Dimuth Karunaratne will return to captain Sri Lanka

SRI Lanka have picked a 17-member squad for the twoTest series against West Indies starting on March 21.

Dimuth Karunaratne, who missed the Test series versus England due to a thumb injury, is back in the Test squad and will captain the side.

Incidentally, he will also lead the side in the upcoming ODI series against the same opponents. Dhananjaya de Silva and Pathum Nissanka have also made it to the squad. Dhananjaya was ruled out of the Test series versus England after he sustained a thigh injury in South Africa.

Meanwhile, Pathum Nissanka is still to make his Test debut. The promising batsman averages an impressive 67.54 in first-class cricket and has played two T20Is for the country.

On the other hand, Lahiru Kumara, the quick bowler, will miss the series after he was tested positive for COVID-19. Kasun Rajitha, who suffered an injury in South Africa hasn’t found a place in the squad. Minod Bhanuka, the middle order batsman, has also been left out.

“Lahiru Thirimanne, Dhananjaya De Silva, Roshen Silva, Vishwa Fernando, and Lasith Embuldeniya will leave for the Caribbean tonight to take part in the Test series,” Sri Lanka Cricket said in a release.

Sri Lanka squad: Dimuth Karunaratne (captain), Dasun Shanaka, Pathum Nissanka, Oshada Fernando, Lahiru Thirimanne, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Niroshan Dickwella, Roshen Silva, Dhananjaya De Silva, Wanindu Hasaranga, Ramesh Mendis, Vishwa Fernando, Suranga Lakmal, Asitha Fernando, Dushmantha Chameera, Lasith Embuldeniya. (Cricbuzz)

Jurgen Klopp spoke out against releasing players for the games.

“We’ve worked incredibly tough for seven, eight or nine months and after the

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp

“I think it makes no sense if the players go to the national team and then have to isolate for 10 days when they come back. It makes no sense,” Guardiola said on Friday.

international break comes the real part of the season, and important players, maybe six, seven, eight, nine players cannot play for 10 days, it makes no sense. They are not going to fly. That’s for sure.”

Klopp questioned the feasibility of players having to isolate upon their return.

“I think all the clubs agree that we cannot just let the boys go and solve the situation when they come back, with our players having a 10-day quarantine in a hotel or whatever,” Klopp said.

“That is just not possible.

I understand the need of the different FAs, but this is a time when we cannot make everybody happy. So we have to admit that the players are paid by the clubs, which means we have to be first priority. That’s how it is.”

All 10 South American countries feature on the U.K. government’s “red list” travel ban, which does not include exemptions for athletes and sports people.

Any U.K.-based players who went to South America

would face 10 days in hotel quarantine on return.

Further complicating matters, Colombia on Friday said it would not allow a Brazilian charter flight to land, throwing the March 26 game between the two nations into doubt.

“The chance of receiving any flight from Brazil is very remote, there’s no way to justify the arrival of a charter flight,” the minister, Fernando Ruiz, said in a statement released on Friday.

Sources told ESPN that one alternative option discussed was playing the qualifiers in a “bubble” in a European city. Recent Champions League and Europa League matches have been played in neutral venues in Athens, Bucharest, and Budapest.

(ESPN)

Minister Ramson walks GABA through plans for National Gymnasium basketball court THE Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA) on Friday met with Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr, his team from the Ministry and engineer Sherwin Moore, with regard to the upgrade of the National Gymnasium basketball court.The facility, when completed, apart from serving the surrounding community, will be the GABA’s ‘home base’ for the sport in the city.

The president, Jermaine Slater, along with executives Rawle Toney and Darcel Harris, shared the association’s ideas while listening to those of the minister and the engineer.

The main basketball court will have an arena-like look, fitted with changing rooms for males and females as well as a concession area.

Following the passing of the Ministry’s $1.5B allocation for sports, funding was made available for the project’s completion.

“GABA is happy to see the realisation of this project which we believe will help tremendously in our plans to help develop the sport of basketball in the

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr (centre) makes a suggestion to GABA officials during their walkthrough of the Gymnasium basketball court project on Mandela Avenue

city,” Slater said.

Slater said he was happy that the minister was respectful in ensuring that the basketball fraternity is being consulted on the project, adding, “We’re excited to see the finished product of the facility, and we know that our affiliated clubs and players are going to make good use and care of the facility.”

A completion date has not been set by the ministry, but, with most of the groundwork already completed, it was noted that it should not be long.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER Sunday, March 07, 2021

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

ANSWERS TO YESTERDAY’S QUIZ: ((1) Jeff Dujon-204 dismissals (183 catches/21 stumpings) (2) Kumar sangakkara-473 dismissals (377 catches/96 stumpings)

(1) (2)

TODAY’S QUIZ:

Which WI has played most ODI games to date?

Which SL has played most ODI matches to date?

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 7, 2021

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Reagal in all three finals as President’s T20 Softball League climaxes today at Everest

THE Georgetown Softball Cricket League (GSCL) Incorporated, President’s T20 Softball three-day League, climaxes at the Everest Cricket Club ground, Camp Road, today with the finals in all three categories of the inaugural tournament.

Unlike previous finals, today’s action will see limited spectators in attendance, based on the Ministry of Health and National COVID-19 Task Force guidelines. Regal, the country’s most successful softball team will play in all three finals.

Regal All Star and Speedboat will vie for supremacy in the Open category, in what is slated to be a mouth-watering contest from 13:00hrs.

Regal Masters will oppose Wellman Masters in the Masters Over-40 final, while Regal Legends and Parika play each other in the Legends final.

Those two games are scheduled for 09:00hrs start.

Meanwhile, in the Open semifinals, Regal All Star got

the better over Venom by one wicket. Regal All Stars 158-9 in 18 overs. Ricky Sargent 42, Ravindra Ramnauth 28, Sewchand Budha 29. Venom All Stars 157-8 in 20 overs.

(Akeem Vieira 31, Dhanraj Singh 21; Ravindra Ramnauth 4/30, Karamchand Persaud 2/15).

However, the other semi-final endured some controver-

sies with Speedboat lodging a protest, claiming that Ariel All Stars field a short team in their final preliminary game.

However, after some discussions between both teams, and the organisers, Ariel All Stars were disqualified from the tournament; hence Speedboat was awarded the other semi-final spot against Cosscutters All Stars.

Wellman Masters celebrate after taking a wicket

No backing down from Windies in today’s series decider

ST JOHN’S, Antigua, (CMC) – Despite suffering a chastening defeat in Friday’s second game, West Indies will not be in retreat when they face Sri Lanka in today’s decisive Twenty20 International, as they chase only their third series victory in nearly three years.

The Caribbean side won the opening match last Wednesday by four wickets after successfully chasing 132 but tumbled to a 43-run loss two days later in pursuit of 161, to leave the series wide open.

And even though they paid the price for their adventurous batting in Friday’s contest at Coolidge Cricket Ground, captain Kieron Pollard said his side would not back down from their robust brand of cricket but wanted to be smarter in their approach.

“To be honest, the guys know what we have to do.

We’re going to have a chat about how we’re going to go about it and we’re going to come back with the same sort of positive intent come Sunday,” said Pollard.

“There’s all to play for.

We’re looking to come out and win and we’re looking to come out and still be positive. At the end of the day, that’s the type of cricket we want to be playing – with intent.

“And it’s just a matter of using a little bit of cricket smarts and using our match-ups well and we’ll be fine.”

The batting collapse that led to West Indies’ defeat was not entirely surprising.

In the opening T20 International, they struggled to chase

down a modest 132, after being undermined by leg-spinners Akila Dananjaya and Hasaranga de Silva who both snared three-wicket hauls.

And their collapse from 45 for one in the second contest to 117 all out was also instigated by three-wicket bursts from Hasaranga and left-arm spinner Lakshan Sandakan, the latter of whom was added to the attack after missing the first game.

West Indies T20 captain Kieron Pollard

Head coach Phil Simmons told media on Saturday that the key to any success would be how West Indies’ batsmen navigated Sri Lanka’s spinners but also reiterated Pollard’s position about playing positively.

“The key is to make sure we’re looking to play them (spinners) in the right way,” Simmons explained.

“You can’t be too tentative when you’re playing against good spinners so we have to still go out there looking to score against them, and playing cricket how we know to play cricket.

“All the guys who played IPL would have played

against most of these spinners are even better spinners so that’s what we have to make sure we do tomorrow.”

Despite the success of Sri Lanka’s spinners, West Indies have opted for just one in off-spinner Kevin Sinclair, preferring rather to centre their attack around pace.

And Simmons said he was not overly concerned about the bowling attack, especially having limited Sri Lanka to below par totals, and then watched his batsmen struggle to chase.

“There’s another spinner in the squad but there is more thought about how we negotiate, how we play, how we score runs against their spinners,” he stressed.

“I think right now that’s more important because the bowlers and in the field, we’ve done an excellent job. [Restricting Sri Lanka to] 160 after being 94 after 10 overs, it means the bowlers are doing their jobs so it’s more about how the batsmen do their job tomorrow.”

Even so, Pollard said West Indies would not be placing themselves under unnecessary pressure.

“We’re going to be sitting back thinking about what we need to do, having conversations,” he noted.

“We can’t do much from a technical point of view in 48 hours. It’s a quick turnaround for us.

“Sometimes we get too much into different things [but] we’ll keep it as simple as possible and come back and play cricket with a smile on our faces.”

Speed Boat 240 for 5 (18 overs) (Navin Singh 105, Wazim Hussain 43, Vickash Dhaniram 32; Arif Samad 2/38, R Jairam 2/54) beat Cosscutters All Stars 136 all out 15.4 overs (Ajay Persaud 36,; Travis Alphonso 24; Safraz Hussain 2/12, Mark Harold 2/22) by 104 runs.

Masters Over-40 Semifinals

Regal Masters 83-1 (7.4 overs) (Chien Gittens 61*; Arjune Deroop 1/14) beat Ariel Masters 82 all out 18.4 overs (Samuel Kingston 27; Mohammed Ayume 4/24, Roy Persaud 2/14) by nine wickets.

Wellman Masters 181 for 7 (20 overs) (Rawl Reid 65, Greg DeFranca 43; Danny Thomas 3/25) beat Fisherman Masters 144 all out 18.3 overs (Dubraj

Anil Durga bagged 5 for 25

Singh 25; Anil Durga 5/25) by 37 runs.

Legends Cup Semifinals Regal Legends 106-1 (15.1 overs) (Mahesh Chunilall 52*, Eion Abel 37; Bryan Singh 1/5) beat President’s XI 103-4 (Peter Persaud 33, Dhamendra Mohabir 17, Tony Fernandes 16; Laurie Singh 2/21, Parsram Persaud 1/11, David Harper 1/20) by nine wickets.

Parika - 192 all out in 19.5 overs (Ramesh Narine 94, Romeo Malone 62, Uniss Yusuf 19; Imtiaz Mohamed 3/31, Lester Thom 3/31) beat Wellman Legends 186-7 (20 overs) Lloyd Ruplall 33, Nandram Samlall 25, Gopaul Deen 26, Sahadeo Budhu 22; Uniss Yusuf 2-15, Ramesh Narine 2-25, Romeo Malone 3-30) by six runs.

The winning teams in each category will receive $500 000 and a trophy while the runners-up will collect $100 000 and a trophy. There will be other incentives (trophies) for individual performances.

Root says his team would be ‘stupid’ not to learn from defeat Captain Joe Root says England would be “stupid” not to learn lessons from their 3-1 Test series defeat in India.

The tourists lost the final Test by an innings and 25 runs after being bowled out for 135 in their second innings.

England’s batsmen floundered on turning pitches against India’s spinners, but are not due to play their next Test in Asia until the end of 2022.

“The guys have to embrace what has happened, understand it and be realistic,” said Root.

“We would be stupid to come away from this trip and say ‘it was India, it was extreme conditions, it is impossible to bat’. That is the wrong attitude.

“The most important thing is to know there are things we can get better at. Yes, they have world-class spinners, but we can be better.”

England won 2-0 in Sri Lanka before defeating India in the first Test of the series, one of only two losses the hosts have suffered at home in 38 matches going back to 2013.

However, England’s performances have declined since then, culminating in a final batting collapse on the third afternoon of the fourth Test in Ahmedabad.

Needing 160 to make India bat again, England found themselves 10-2, 20-3 and 30-4 before being bowled out for 135.

With Axar Patel and Ravichandran Ashwin taking five wickets each, England lost all 10 wickets to spin for the third time in the series.

“It was disappointing,” said Root. “It was a frustrating way to finish. India showed us how to bat on that wicket.”

England have rested and rotated their players across the winter in a bid to manage their

physical and mental well-being.

Root’s side will play a total of 16 or 17 Tests in the calendar year, while Eoin Morgan’s white-ball team will bid to win the T20 World Cup in October.

All of Jofra Archer, Ben Stokes, Mark Wood, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Mark Wood, Moeen Ali and Chris Woakes have been rested at times during the Tests in Sri Lanka and India.

the England team, the three formats across the whole year.

“There might have been areas where we could have done things slightly differently. Looking back, that’s very easy to say.

“It’s not the ideal scenario.

As a captain, you always want all of your players available for selection.

“But we have to get away from playing guys until they fall over. We might not get

Joe Root (left) has lost his past three Test matches as England captain

In Bairstow’s case, he regained his place in the Test side in Sri Lanka, then missed the first two Tests in India, only to then register three ducks in four innings on his return.

Moeen was recalled for the second Test in India, just before he was scheduled to miss the last two as part of a planned rest, taking the place of Dom Bess.

When Moeen opted against England’s request for him to stay on, England went back to Bess for the final Test, with the off-spinner visibly low on confidence.

“The rotation policy is there to look after the players,” said Root. “It was all done with the best interests of

it right all of the time, but it is going to be really important that we look after everyone.”

England’s next overseas tour is a bid to regain the Ashes in Australia and Root was asked if the rotation policy will still be in place down under next winter.

“If we are in a bubble environment, there will be an element of this that will carry over,” he said.

“It would be silly for us to look at this and not make it better for the next tour. It does deserve a lot of time, attention and thought before any decisions are made on it.” (BBC Sport)

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… calls for swimmers to be given opportunity to at least train

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… BCCI marks occasion by presenting former captain with commemorative Test cap

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Reagal in all three finals as President’s T20 Softball League climaxes today at Everest Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limited, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 226-3243-9 (General); Editorial: 227-5204, 227-5216. Fax:227-5208

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, MARCH 7, 2021