Guyana_Chronicle_Epaper_03_22_2021

TUESDAY 23rd March, 2021

' No.106309

US$25M Chinese seafood company creates 240 local jobs –– opens new markets for local fishermen See story on page 03

Employees of the Grandeast Seafood Processing facility, at Garden of Eden, on the East Bank of Demerara, hard at work ‘prepping’ and packaging fish for the market (Adrian Narine photo)

City Hall to get $100M in advance taxes from gov’t

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Albion Estate surpasses From losing two children, fourth-week target PAGE

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to beating COVAX ‘short changes’ Guyana, COVID-19

C’bbean countries on vaccines

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–– UG’s Belizean couple aspires to build children’s home

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, March 23, 2021

President Ali announces…

City Hall to get $100M in advance taxes from gov’t –– says central gov’t and M&CC must work together HEAD-of-State, Dr. Irfaan Ali on Monday committed to an advance payment of taxes to City Hall to the tune of $100M, in an effort to assist the cashstrapped Mayor & City Council (M&CC) to offset its expenses, and commence the rehabilitation of the dilapidated building.

During an engagement with the Mayor of Georgetown Ubraj Narine, the Deputy Mayor Alfred Mentore, and a ministerial team at State House on Monday, President Ali discussed a range of issues affecting City Hall, as well as ways of strengthening collaboration between Central Government and the M&CC, the Office of the President has noted in a press release.

According to the release, the President said during the course of the meeting that “the city and the national heritage of the city is a reflection of ourselves,” and that as such there’s need for protection and preservation.

In describing City Hall and its adjacent buildings as important historical sites that need to be maintained, President Ali told the Mayor: “These things will cost a fortune to rehabilitate, but we have to start; we will pay a sum of the government taxes in advance towards these projects. So, we can have

President Dr. Irfaan Ali (centre); Mayor of Georgetown Ubraj Narine (second right); Deputy Mayor Alfred Mentore (right); and Junior Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Anand Persaud (left) during their meeting on Monday at State House (Office of the President photo)

approval on that, so you can move that forward.”

Also at the meeting were Senior Minister within the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh; Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall; and Minister within the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Anand Persaud.

SINGLE-WINDOW PERMIT Among the other areas discussed was the implementation of a ‘Single-Window Permitting System’, which

will not only have linkages to several key agencies, but also address issues of slothfulness.

“We all know whether it’s the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), whether it’s the NDCs, or the City Council, our greatest criticism is the slothfulness with which things get done, in terms of approvals and so on. And, at the end of the day, it is the elected officials who get the blame. So, the first thing I think we have to do is look at a modern permitting system that integrates all agencies, via health, the city, CH&PA etc., into one

single window. So, when an application comes, it goes to everybody simultaneously,” President Ali was quoted as saying in the release.

According to the Headof-State, the mechanism at reference will also address the allegation of corruption, and will go a long way in improving the investment climate in the city itself.

The president and his team also engaged the mayor and his deputy on the subject of ‘sprucing up’ of the capital, especially for the 55th Independence Anniversary, and the allocation of the necessary funds to make this

a reality.

PARKING IN THE CITY The Head-of-State said, too, that the issues of congestion and parking are paramount, since structured systems are the hallmark of modern cities.

He proposed that the City Council work in tandem with the private sector on infrastructural projects such as the enhancement and maintenance of parapets and drains in key parts of Georgetown, as well as the construction of modern parking facilities.

ENHANCED COLLABORATION President Ali noted, too, that collaboration between Central Government and City Hall is vital in addressing key and critical issues which affect the city.

To the question of how do we build a deeper, more structured relationship between what the government does and what the city does, President Ali said: “I understand that at the level of the Council, the type of arguments that are made there, there are different political interests there, but there must be a place in which you can reach out to the minister, and we can discuss important issues that are critical and key for the city itself.”

He reiterated that with the major transformation expected and the impending big projects on the horizon, there will be a greater need for strengthened collaboration between Central Government and the M&CC. Mayor Narine used the forum to address the various challenges faced by the Council, including outstanding taxes. He assured the

president that as city mayor, he is willing to work along with the government for the benefit and development of Georgetown and its citizens.

“I know you have spoken many times about procrastination at the level of many agencies within the M&CC,” Mayor Narine began. “We want to discuss how we can be able to implement some of your strategies; some of your vision, so that we can be able to work with the investor, and the business community at large, so that we can be able to deliver in a timelier manner,” he added.

Following the engagement, the mayor expressed appreciation to the Headof-State for hosting what he found to be “a fruitful meeting,” and said he is looking forward to having similar collaborations and further engagements between the M&CC and Central Government.

“Firstly, I want to thank the President for reaching with us; the Mayor and City Council, myself, and the Deputy Mayor. We had numerous discussions, and we are looking to work along with the government for the development of the City and its people,” Mayor Narine said, adding that he was happy with the President’s commitments. He also expressed anticipation of strengthened collaboration with the Ministries “to get these things quickly done”.

Following Monday’s engagement, it is expected that City Hall officials will work in tandem with the Ministry of Local Government to finalise the plans that were proposed during the meet, and to chart the way forward.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, March 23, 2021

US$25M Chinese seafood company – opens new markets creates 240 local jobs for local fishermen

By Naomi Parris GUYANA’S aquaculture sector has been boosted by a US$25 million investment from a renowned Chinese fish processing company, Grandeast Seafood Inc., which has constructed a facility at Garden of Eden on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) and created employment for 240 persons.

The Chinese-owned company is a subsidiary of Hong Dong Fisheries Co., Ltd., a company headquartered in China which specialises in processing and trading of fishery products. The business of Hong Dong Fisheries Co., Ltd. involves ocean fishing, fishery base operations, cold chain logistics, fish processing, import and export trade, marine biology research, and aquatic product market operations management.

It is the largest comprehensive fishery enterprise and has the largest number of fishing vessels in China, abundant product categories and a complete industrial chain. Given the track record of the parent company, it is anticipated that Grandeast Seafood Inc. will reveal the hidden potential of Guyana’s aquaculture sector, which is pegged to be an economic powerhouse in the coming years.

The company has already been issued a certificate of approval for operation, a certificate of inspection, and permanent national registration number by the Ministry of Health, and will soon begin exporting processed seafood products to China.

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, following a tour of the Grandeast facility on Monday, said that Guyana is developing its fisheries sector and a facility like this is in line with the plans and the vision of President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, who envisages a thriving aquaculture and fisheries sector.

General Manager of Grandeast Seafood Inc., Hu Junyu, said the growing company has been working closely with fishermen from the West Bank of Demerara (WBD) and has been in talks with other fisher folks from the Berbice region. He added too that several interactions with Guyanese fisher folks have created an avenue for greater partnerships and investments in the country’s

Guyana’s Foreign Secretary, Robert Persaud (left), and Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha (centre), along with the Economic and Commercial Counsellor of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, Mr. Hanming Hu (right), during a ‘taste test’ of Grandeast processed shrimp (Adrian Narine photo)

Economic and Commercial Counsellor of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, Mr. Hanming Hu (left); Guyana’s Foreign Secretary, Robert Persaud (centre); and Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha (right), with employees of the Grandeast Seafood Processing facility during a tour (Adrian Narine photo)

fisheries sector.

In commending the company’s vision and investment, Minister Mustapha said: “Right now we are about to develop our aquaculture industry especially our shrimp industry… we look forward to working with you

guys and we want to invite you to continue these kinds of investment.

“So far I am quite impressed with the facility. This was a massive investment and it provides a ready market for our fishermen. Most of this company’s suppliers

are fishermen from the West Coast of Demerara.”

Additionally, the minister stated that the processing facility will aid in providing markets for Guyanese fisher folks.

“Our local fishermen would usually discard certain

species of shrimp because there was no market for them locally. This company has provided that market and fishermen are now encouraged to work more hours weekly to satisfy the demand.

“As a government, we support these types of invest-

ments and we will continue to support investments that benefit the people and the development of this country,” Minister Mustapha said.

The processing facility, which stretches across approximately 6.818 acres of land, processes different varieties of seafood products including bangamary, sea trout, croaker, basha, snook, white belly, Atlantic seabob, among other things. According to Junyu, the facility has established a comprehensive Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) system, which is a management system in which food safety is addressed through the analysis and control of biological, chemical, and physical hazards from raw material production, procurement and handling, to manufacturing, distribution and consumption of the finished product.

This system also allows for a processing capacity of 3,000 tonnes per year, which Minister Mustapha said will contribute to the development of Guyana's aquaculture sector and value-added sector.

Guyana’s Foreign Secretary, Robert Persaud, who accompanied Minister Mustapha on the tour, said that the government has been working through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation to improve international trade by building symbiotic relationships with other countries in the region and across the world.

Persaud added that through bilateral and multilateral engagements, the government would be able to remove barriers to trade not only in the agriculture sector, but also in other sectors as well.

"Given the mandate of the President, we're looking to open new markets and remove any barriers or any obstacles whether it's in the Caribbean, North America, or Europe. We have over 20 trade agreements with different countries and regions and we want companies in Guyana to take full advantage of these opportunities.

“When there are obstacles, our ministry, through our trade department, would step in and assist.

We're now working very closely with the Ministry of Agriculture to address issues of barriers to agricultural export,” Persaud said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, March 23, 2021

Albion Estate surpasses fourth-week target ―harvesters’ attendance reaches 80% as conditions remain favourable for work GUYANA’S largest sugar-producing estate, the Albion/Port Mourant Sugar Estate, continues to break production records, churning out a total of 2,021 tonnes of sugar for the week ending March 20, 2021.

According to information from the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), sugar production at the Albion estate continues to soar, as the estate moves into its fifth week of the first crop of 2021.

“As of March 20, 2021, the Albion/Port Mourant Estate produced a total of 6,890 MT of sugar, achieving 92 per cent of its targeted production for the crop to date, but intends to ramp up efforts aggressively to achieve its budgeted production targets,” the sugar corporation said in a statement on Monday.

This achievement comes immediately

after the estate’s second successful achievement of its weekly production target on March 20, 2021, which surpassed its weekly target of 1,999 by 22 tonnes.

The Albion/Port Mourant Sugar Estate is tasked with producing 50.6 per cent of the corporation’s first-crop sugar production target, which stands at 42,608 tonnes. Agriculture Manager of Albion/Port Mourant Estate, Mohendranauth Budhram, said high workers’ morale along with several significant interventions made for this crop have boosted production output.

“Everyone is working together as a team not only to achieve our sugar-production target, but also our tillage and replanting programmes. Achieving our tillage and replanting programmes will pave the way for improved sugar production for the year 2022 and onwards.

‘It’s about the hustle’

By Naomi Parris

GUYANA has always had an unpleasant history of gross minibus culture, and, with the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, operators are still not fazed.

The President of the United Minibus Association, during an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, revealed that despite the continuous spread of the deadly disease, several minibus operators are still not adhering to the measures to slow the spread of the virus.

Andrews was optimistic that the pandemic would have prompted minibus operators to be more compassionate to their passengers, as a means of putting their safety first during

the health crisis; however, there are still a few operators who work without wearing face masks and are overloading their buses.

force the rules, because what you find is that they are just thinking about making money; I mean there are a few decent driv-

“The workers are very motivated and we have seen an improvement in both attendance and productivity, particularity from our cane harvesters. The estate has two gangs cutting for bell- loading operations where over 300 punts are being loaded daily.

This has contributed significantly towards enhancing cane supply to the factory, thus enabling us to achieve two weekly production targets so far,” Budhram said.

The commencement of the first crop of 2021, especially during the period March 14 -19, 2021, one week after the successful achievement of its weekly performance target on March 6, 2021, the estate recorded an average of 66 per cent harvesters’ attendance for the week; however, for the latter three days of the period, same had increased to over 80 per cent.

Budhram further said that workers at the

estate are jubilant about the use of the billet harvester, which, coupled with improvements in the cane-transport route, have also resulted in reduced time taken to transport the harvested cane to the factory (Burn to Grinding Interval).

This, he explained, has resulted in less tonnage of harvested sugar cane required to produce higher tonnages of sugar.

“Our TC/TS continues to get better and a major contributing factor towards this has been our improved BGI. The factory must also be singled out for achieving 142.5 grinding hours for week ending March 20, 2021 and all factory staff and workers must also be commended,” Budhram said.

The two other grinding estates, Blairmont and Uitvlugt, have also achieved their weekly productions targets on two occasions for the first crop of 2021.

―COVID-19 and the minibus culture amount of passengers only to go a few miles and pick up more passengers.”

He added, “If one should turn up to a bus with no mask, you should not accept them, but they

portation.

“There is no sector more important than the minibus sector and the minibus service providers, because you have people coming from everywhere

the culture to change.

“There are some buses who give persons masks.

For example, I went to Berbice and there was a passenger who came in the bus without a mask, but the

Minibus Association President, Eon Andrews

He said it is the “dogeat-dog, hustle” mentality that keeps some operators from following the necessary protocols.

“The minibus persons and their sector [are] not disciplined enough to en-

ers and decent operators.”

‘NO MASK, NO RIDE’ Reiterating that it is the ‘hustle mentality’ that keeps operators from placing their health and the health of others first, Andrews said, “There are still buses that are accepting people in the bus without mask, buses are leaving the parks with the correct

An afternoon on the route 42 bus park

are not doing that, unless there are serious penalties attached to transgressors, it’s not going to stop.”

Andrews said commuters have to be cognisant of the fact that everyone is travelling to and from different places on a daily basis, hence it is mandatory to wear a face mask when travelling in public trans-

and going everywhere,” he said.

According to Andrews, various complaints show that Guyana’s minibus culture is still based on the ‘hustle’ and not people’s safety. Nevertheless, he noted that there are a few operators who are adhering to the measures – a sign that there is still hope for

driver of the bus had a box of masks and gave him.”

Andrews further disclosed that heavy touting is also a concern, since several visits to the various parks revealed that touts are rarely found wearing masks, even though the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has been clamping down on them.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, March 23, 2021

Balancing COVID-19 and other health concerns crucial

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–– Dr. Carpen warns of ‘excess deaths’

By Vishani Ragobeer THE effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have impacted health systems for more than one year now and Head of Internal Medicine at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), Dr. Mahendra Carpen, emphasised that treating other medical problems should not be neglected, so that excess deaths can be prevented.

Due to the emergence and spread of the novel coronavirus and the resulting pandemic, much emphasis

(PAHO)’s Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) progress monitor for Guyana stated that 4,400 deaths (or 68 per cent of all deaths) were caused by NCDs. Heart diseases, strokes, cancers, diabetes and chronic lung diseases are examples of NCDs. This PAHO report was published in March 2020, which meant that this information was applicable to the year before. This, therefore, meant that the total number of deaths would have been approximately 6,471.

Dr. Carpen emphasised, “It is important that as we

non of “excess deaths” has manifested here, as it has around the world.

An increasing focus has been directed to the burden of mortality that could be directly or indirectly related to the pandemic. The questions: “Were there many more deaths than normally expected?” and “Was this because of the novel coronavirus?” have become important for understanding mortality in countries.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a national public health institute in the United

An ambulance at the Accident and Emergency area of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC)

has been placed on upgrading the local health sector to cater for COVID-19 cases. Over the past few months, monitors, cold-storage equipment, ventilators and other specialised equipment and supplies were procured. There is a COVID-19 vaccination rollout occurring in all 10 regions, currently, as well.

“As much as our attention is now focused on COVID-19, chronic Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) are still our number one cause of diseases and disability in this country,” Dr. Carpen said in a recent interview, emphasising: “Cardiovascular [disease] remains the number cause of death and disability or mortality or morbidity.”

In 2020, the Pan-American Health Organisation’s

continue to fight COVID-19, we do not lose sight of all of the other medical problems we have as a country.”

It is also important to note that persons with underlying conditions--such as NCDs--are increasingly vulnerable to the more severe effects of COVID-19. These underlying conditions are termed comorbidities. And, Dr. Carpen cautioned that if enough focus is not given to these comorbidities, many more persons would fall ill and possibly die because they are not receiving the required treatment.

EXCESS DEATHS In Guyana, limited available data and statistics impede an analysis of the health sector, but, Dr. Carpen is of the view that the phenome-

States, defines excess deaths as the difference between the deaths observed in a specific time period (such as one year) and the number of deaths that were expected for that same specific period.

The “expected” deaths are calculated from the average number of deaths during the period over the past five years.

“What we have seen across the world -- and I don’t know if we have the numbers to back it up in Guyana but I suspect that we do, if we look deep enough -there has been a phenomenon of excess deaths that has been recognised,” Dr. Carpen said.

He explained that these excess deaths are not attributed to COVID-19 alone, since there are a much larger number of deaths (compared

to the expected deaths) than there are COVID-19 deaths.

He contended that these excess deaths occur in persons with comorbidities who are not seeking the required treatment.

“If we lose sight of all of the other things that can cause real problems as well, we’re going to end up with problems just like that where people are at home with chest pain, at home having a stroke and they don’t come to hospital or they come to hospital too late when too

Head of Internal Medicine at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), Dr. Mahendra Carpen

much damage is done, or they miss their preventative health screening and

follow up and clinic visits and so forth,” Dr. Carpen lamented.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, March 23, 2021

Making over the markets ICONIC natural landmarks dot this country from coast to coast, including the Kaieteur Falls, Roraima Mountain, and such places as the local tourist destination Fort Island, and lesser known ones like the rubber trees at Mabaruma which short-sighted local officials wanted to slash and burn, and then there are the common man-made landmarks that define populated communities across the coast, such as the major market centres, Stabroek, Bourda, New Amsterdam, Anna Regina, Parika, Port Mourant, and Charity and Corriverton, along with the recreational evening liming spot, the Kingston seawall. As the nation ramps up new development and launches mega projects across the land, these iconic community historic centres cannot be forgotten and left behind, but must come into focus for upgrade, improved design, and futuristic development.

These public spaces and market centres bring Guyanese together in a sweet spot of community togetherness, and on display one could see the exemplary Guyanese multiculturalism at work in all its resplendent colourful liveliness, a multi-ethnic people who, over their 55 years of Independence from colonial rule, learned to co-exist in peace, progress and prosperity, overcoming challenges and obstacles and odds, beating every roadblock that shows up, to today stand on the threshold of not only monumental socioeconomic development, but greatness on the 21st century world stage as the legendary Guyanese nation.

Folks who ferment a blind viewpoint that this nation suffers from deep racism fail to

walk the path of Guyanese every day as they rub shoulders on the street, a people living with loud laughter and tremendous mirth and easy cooperation. Though not at all a paradise or a society without aberrations and imperfections and short-comings, it seems that it is only at the abstract levels of the society, like among those who dwell within some narrow academia walls, or slow-witted politicians, or old out-worn former leaders who see the world in black and white, only these launch a negative tirade of division and schisms in the body politic upon the society’s soul. Thankfully, today they are fading fast. So the Guyanese nation advances, leaving behind such narrow-minded people to fend for their own short-comings, and hopefully one day they would catch up with the progressive movement of the nation.

Such progressive movements must include the old iconic centres, which have served this country well over the past five-plus decades.

Were the markets to see a new visionary makeover into modern establishments that, while still serving their market purposes for which they evolved, present an aesthetic, artistic, ambitious set of local landmarks to their communities, how inspired and motivated people would be across the country.

Is there any reason why the Stabroek Market could not be made-over, with a second story that becomes a mall as glitzy as the Giftland Mall? Public Works Minister, Bishop Juan Edghill, indicated that this market and the wharf aback of it would be upgraded and enhanced.

Such plans do well to include futuristic design and a vision for a world class Georgetown

recreation centre.

The Splashmins transformation of an ordinary creek on the Linden highway into what is today a an aesthetic national recreation icon, and the development that turned Mainstay Lake into an aqua resort of international appeal, and the rolling out of several eco-tourism spots and resorts in Bartica and other places, these showcase the amazing possibilities for Guyanese to transform their ordinary places into brilliant new visionary projects.

How could the markets become digital hotbeds? How could these spaces tap into the new global society whereby innovation and digital online enterprises and ecommerce play a major role in their operation? As planners and visionaries roll out the new Guyana, looking at the status quo to see how new thinking could be applied to old iconic spaces and places where Guyanese have come to rely on for their cultural, social and economic well-being would contribute greatly to the country’s rapid rise.

In the private sector, such creativity, to come up with brilliant ideas and initiatives and design concepts, to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary, is a natural playbook. Hence, it would be fruitful for GO-Invest and other catalyst organisations to brainstorm and mindmap constantly for new ideas and new thinking and new visions, and to network with national private sector bodies, to see how new projects could transform the old, ordinary side of Guyana, into spanking new visionary projects that bring value and uplift to local communities.

Government is rolling out new communities with new housing schemes, and transforming

virgin land into thriving futuristic spaces. In this scenario, the old, common areas could do with some local development attention.

Such attention, though, lies within the realm of local leaders, mostly within regional and municipal Government and organisations like the Upper Corentyne Chamber of Commerce and other such outlying rural bodies.

Guyanese cannot leave such thinking only to Central Government or the big private sector players. Locally, every person could dream up new ways of transforming their community, of doing their bit to help the country move into the future, and at the same time build personal enterprises.

Were this country to see a major movement and new thinking within regional and municipal administrations, working with their local private sector operators, and other stakeholders, to transform their public markets into futuristic new spaces that still accommodate their market purposes, but also be upgraded and uplifted into new purposes, what a wonderful contribution to local life it would be all across the country.

Government is showing what could be accomplished when big thinking is applied to the job of how Guyanese see their country.

In President Ali’s speeches, Guyanese hear a constant flow of visionary and ambitious thinking, and this is replicated among all the Ministers. Such a mindset on the local front across every village and town and the city would generate a Guyana that hums with excited prospects, seeing the converting of the ordinary iconic landmarks into something of extraordinary Guyanese accomplishment.

Democracy in Holland and Guyana Dear Editor,

AN interesting development occurred in Holland last January on constitutional governance of which Guyanese politicians must take cognisance and must emulate. Holland illustrates how a government should act. There has been respect for democracy in Holland.

The same could not be said to have happened in Guyana by the APNU-led Coalition. The Prime Minister of Holland and his government resigned because of a financial scandal.

Rather than continue in office, the government did the honourable thing – resigned to face the electorate.

With The Netherlands being a constitutional monarchy, the king who is head of state, asked the PM to run a caretaker administration till elections were held and a new government is formed. As is the norm in any democratic country that embraces constitutional governance, new business cannot be undertaken during caretaker status and Parliament cannot meet till new elections. The caretaker administration in Holland respects the law and democratic principles and did not pursue any new business or attempted to extend its stay in office through constitutional manipulation. It submitted itself to the will of the voters.

In Guyana, the opposite happened when the government lost a no-confidence motion in December 2018. The APNU-led government

conducted new business and violated the laws of the country as well as various democratic principles and established parliamentary precedents.

The Coalition should have resigned and immediately set a date for elections within 90 days.

Instead, Parliament met after the government lost the vote, unprecedented in democratic governance, and passed legislation. Worse, the government held on to power for 15 months, 12 more than the law allows. And it scheduled elections only because of growing international pressure.

In the Dutch elections held over three days, the first for a European country, because of the pandemic, the incumbent Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s party (VVD) won the most seats -- 35, a gain of two from the last election of 2017. The ballots were protected daily with no election worker attempting to manipulate the outcome or stuff ballots in the boxes as was done in Guyana when elections were held on one day.

Dozens of parties contested the elections.

Most parties lost seats from the last elections in 2017. Some 76 seats are needed for government formation. The VVD will look for partners to meet the threshold. Alternatively, other parties may try to build an alliance to cobble together 76.

Rutte will remain caretaker till a government is formed. In 2017, he took 225 days to form a government. He is attempting to garner partners in his fourth coalition government over the last decade.

My studies of comparative political systems reveal that like Guyana, Holland has a Proportional Representation system. Some 16 other European states have the PR system. It has slight variations from Guyana’s, but the principle is the same in that seats are allocated based on percentage of votes received. Guyana also has geographic seats based on a combination of First Past The Post and PR. But unlike in Guyana, Holland and European countries use the D’Hondt PR system.

In Holland, candidates are listed in order of preference on a list based on party popularity or leadership to sit in Parliament. But it is also a ranked-choice voting system – complex and complicated in which the voters decide on their own preference of who sits in Parliament as MPs. Voters can choose a candidate lower down on the ranked list (say number 150, for example) and if he or she gets enough votes will be awarded the seat instead of a candidate who is ranked number five on the list). In Guyana, the party leaders or heads of lists decide who sits in Parliament, even if a candidate is very unpopular; very popular candidates are known to be excluded by the head of a list. There is no ranked choice in Guyana. There was ranked choice in 1964 thru 1973 elections. Then Burnham changed the system in 1980 retaining ranked choice, but it was abolished in 2007. The head of a list chooses MPs and selection is based on loyalty to political leaders rather than voter preference or competence. A MP in Europe has power to disagree with party

leadership. Leadership respects views and gives consideration to ideas of MPs. In both Guyana and Holland, seats are allocated based on the proportion of votes received.

It takes about .67 per cent of votes to win a seat in Holland’s 150- member Parliament. In Guyana, it is more than doubled and is based on votes received rather than percentage. Interestingly, three Caribbean islands – Bonaire, Saba, St Eustatius (not Aruba, Curacao, Saint Martin) do vote in Holland’s general elections as they are administered directly from Holland and each may have a MP sitting in the legislature in Amsterdam similar to French-administered territories in the Caribbean.

A new government may take a long time to be formed after this week’s elections. Rutte will remain caretaker until a coalition of parties makes a claim that it has enough seats to form a government. The Coalition will approach the king with signatures of a majority of MPs. The king will ask the projected leader to form a government and pass a confidence motion in Parliament.

Guyana should examine and give consideration to the Holland method of parliamentary selection and government formation, including choosing the head of government, as the country ponders electoral and constitutional reforms.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, March 23, 2021

Government should act on Cheltenham’s report

By Oscar Ramjeet IT is more than five years since Sir Richard Cheltenham handed in his report to the Guyana Government following a three-member Commission of inquiry into the assassination of Dr. Walter Rodney, world renowned historian turned politician. President of the APNU+AFC Coalition Government, David Granger refused to receive the report and the Chairman was forced to deliver it to a low ranking Secretary attached the Ministry of Justice.

The lengthy report was never made public, but it leaked and bits and pieces were reported in the media which reportedly linked the PNC and its leader, Forbes Burnham, to the brutal murder.

A former GDF sergeant, Gregory Smith, made the bomb in the form of a ‘walkie talkie’ and handed it to Rodney who died when the bomb exploded as he (Rodney) was trying to activate the so called ‘walkie talkie’ near to the Camp Street Prison.

Smith was whisked out of the country by a GDF helicopter hours later. He ended up in Cayenne French Guiana where efforts to extradite him were fruitless since the French laws do not permit extradition on capital offence charges where

the penalty is death. He however died several years later in Cayenne from cancer.

The PNC Government under Forbes Burnham never tried to investigate the bomb blast which caused Rodney’s death despite wide scale protests both locally and internationally. However, President Desmond Hoyte in 1988 - eight long years after the slaying, ordered an inquest, only after Rodney’s widow, Patricia, sent a sorrowful letter followed by protest from a group called “Women in Guyana” and a week-long vigil by Rodney’s son, Shaka. The coroner inquest conducted by Magistrate Edwin Pratt, a former Prison Officer, found that the death was by accident or misadventure. The International Commission of Jurist (ICJ), when it visited Guyana, later said the findings were “marred by grave defects.”

When the PPP took over the government in 1992, after 28 years in the opposition, President Cheddi Jagan failed to carry out a proper inquiry. He contended what a conviction and imprisonment of the suspect (Gregory Smith) would do to Rodney. Instead he announced that brilliant historian will be awarded the country’s highest honour, Order of Excellence, (OE) posthumously. Of course, this did not go down well with the family and the general pub-

lic. It was two decades later when Donald Ramotar was President in 2014 (34 years after the assassination) the Cheltenham Commission was established with the Barbadian as Chairman and Jamaican QC, Jacquline Samuels Brown, and Trinidadian/Guyanese, Seenath Jairam, SC as members. After several setbacks and postponements, the inquiry was prematurely concluded without at least two main persons, Rupert Roopnarine co-leader of the WPA, and a close friend of Rodney, and Crime Chief, Skip Roberts (who investigated the bomb blast) and personally knew the WPA leader, testifying. President Granger argued that the hearing lasted far too long and must be concluded immediately since it was costing taxpayers too much money.

Unconfirmed reports state that the commission made certain recommendations which might be helpful to preserve law and order. After all, the Guyana Government spent millions of dollars on the inquiry and it should not be dumped in a cabinet accumulating dust.

The findings have not yet been officially announced. It should have been five years ago, but was concealed because it was too revealing and critical of the PNC and the founder leader.

March 23 is the 79th birth anniversary of the famous his-

‘Night of the Living Dead’ Dear Editor,

The ‘Alliance on the Move’ Programme aired in Berbice has now become a hilarious version of the ‘Night of the Living Dead’, the only difference being that these presenters are oblivious of the fact that the AFC have been pronounced dead on more than one occasion and buried deep a long time ago. It baffles the mind to say the least and it’s most pathetic to watch Mr Khemraj Ramjattan and Mrs Cathy Hughes trying to convince Berbicians that the PPP/C rigged the 2020 Elections and that sugar is dead.

Moreover, the young Member of Parliament, Ms Juretha Hughes was at a loss to augment their argument as she struggled to find the right words to say that the PPP/C rigged the elections.

The MP began to narrate what happened at the recount but never provided any example of rigging. She should follow in the footsteps of the many young and talented persons such as former MP, Mr Reynard Ward, Mr Joel Edmond and Mr Michael Leonard just to name a few, who made their exit before becoming tainted by the PNC’s corruption brush.

Ramjattan and Hughes should explain the ‘rigging’ when the entire world at large saw the many Coalition attempts to rig the 2020 Elections. Those attempts are well documented. Where are the SoPs of the Coalition? Until now their supporters have been deprived of the privilege to have a look at these documents. The PPP/C submitted theirs even before the recount started and it coincided with the recount results.

That is also well documented and published for the world to peruse. The AFC should use their

parliamentary seats to support the Government and so ‘save some face’ and salvage some respect of the Guyanese populace. The spurious legal challenges have done more harm than good for the image of the Coalition. The AFC should realise that Berbicians, especially the rice farmers and the sugar workers will not be fooled again. They had emphatically proven this in the 2020 Elections.

The AFC cannot convince anyone anymore that they are of any relevance to Guyana’s political landscape. Even its main political partner in crime, the PNC cannot fool their supporters anymore that the PPP/C rigged the elections now that they have seen that the PPP/C Government is effectively governing on behalf of all Guyanese. Equal opportunities are given to all Guyanese and the 2021 Budget ensured that all Guyanese are the recipients of the real good life, not the delusion foisted on the Guyanese by the Coalition. Year after year for five years they made theirs, their families and friends ‘sucked the blood’ of the taxpayers. Christopher Jones and Ramjattan deliberately shifted this label in a vain attempt to fit the sugar workers, but everyone knows that this is not true.

The sugar workers gave this country their blood, sweat, and tears to transform it into a better place. Some paid the ultimate price by sacrificing their lives.

Ramjattan and his panel on the programme denigrated the job of cane harvesting as being menial and akin to slavery. Probably, as a politician Ramjattan has failed to read about the dignity of all types of labour. John D Rockefeller Jnr had said that “I believe in the dignity of labour, whether with head or hand…” It is time

that the AFC and the PNC learn to respect the sugar workers who take pride in doing their job. Any cane cutter will boast that their job is independent and they love it. Ramjattan should understand better than most that Berbicians love the fields. It is the reward of manual labour which made him a lawyer not unlike like the many others who have reached great heights, but some are indeed ungrateful. There will always be need for manual labour in a world where not everyone can be lawyers and doctors.

It was the height of callousness when Ramjattan bragged about the closure of the Estates which snatched bread from more than 7,000 workers and their families, with their children going hungry and suffer severe deprivations, some even dropped out of school. How can anyone justify such a move? He and Hughes submitted that the decision to close was the best decision. The AFC presenters lambasted the PPP/Cs decision to reopen the estates and made a very illogical conclusion that sugar will fail simply because there will be a shortage of labour. This showed how little they know about what is happening in GuySuCo. They should keep abreast of the various facets of development which are ongoing including the mechanisation and the value-added investments. At this juncture, there is no place for lies and propaganda, be a responsible Opposition.

In conclusion, the AFC is simply being vindictive since the sugar workers who made them powerful in 2015, have now realised the deceitfulness of the AFC. Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf

torian who was an idol in Tanzania, Jamaica and other parts of the world, and could not be employed by the University of Guyana because he was a critic of Burnham. Rodney’s widow, Patricia, has set up a foundation

in his honour in which distinguished historians and other intellectuals deliver lectures every year to mark his birthday.

This year Angela David, a global icon, is the speaker. Her topic is “Democracy Under Stress”.

President Irfaan Ali please make the report public and act on its recommendation. Only then there will be some sort of closure to the brutal assassination of this country’s and the Caribbean’s most brilliant son.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, March 23, 2021

CIOG to build home for elderly women, centre for battered women

By Jared Liddell A HOME for elderly women, and a centre for battered women will soon come on stream, General Manager of the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG) Shameena Haniff disclosed on Monday.

Haniff has always championed women’s causes, and has worked strategically to use her platform as general manager to lend support to women in need.

This support, she said, is extended to not just members of the Islamic community but to any female in need, as the CIOG offers its services to both Muslims and non-Muslims.

As the organisation’s general manager, she has also played a significant role in the development of its soonto-be-constructed Children and Maternity Hospital.

Haniff has also led and facilitated several medical outreaches, empowerment programmes, and training sessions, as well as extensions of various units within the organisation, including the orphans and vulnerable children's project.

She told the Guyana Chronicle that her appointment as GM has allowed

CIOG General Manager, Shameena Haniff

for greater representation of women, particularly where helping them realise that they could achieve anything that they put their minds to is concerned.

SURPRISE She is the first female GM the CIOG has ever had since it was founded in 1976, so, understandably, the appointment took her by surprise.

“I was a little taken back by it, because an Islamic organisation generally is headed by a male for as long as I know, and their appointing a female General Manager at that time was very much shocking and surprising. But,

at the same time, I was excited to go on this journey,” Ms. Haniff said in retrospect.

Before becoming General Manager, Haniff held several other posts, including that of a teacher at the Al-Ghazali Islamic Academy (AIA); Orphans and Vulnerable Children Officer; and acting General Secretary of the CIOG. She stated that while she’s always dreamt big, she’d never imagined that someday she would be at the helm of the CIOG. She believes that it is her drive, determination and innovativeness that landed her the job.

TURN TO PAGE

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19 new COVID-19 cases recorded from 433 tests THE Ministry of Health has recorded 19 new cases of COVID-19 from 433 tests, taking the country’s overall known cases to 9,668 since recording its first case in March 2020.

Of the new cases, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) recorded one; Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), nine; Region Four, six; Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), one; Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), one, and Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice), one.

The newly infected persons were nine males and 10 females. Additionally, the death of a 69-year-old man from Region Four (Demer-

ara-Mahaica), whose passing was reported in Sunday’s edition of the Chronicle, was confirmed on Monday by the Health Ministry, marking the 17th of 18 deaths recorded for the month of March. The current death toll remains at 217, but only 216 are reflected in the Ministry’s COVID-19 dashboard for March 22.

To date, there are 11 persons within the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU); 63 in institutional isolation; 856 isolated at home; and 11 in institutional quarantine.

There are 941 active cases and a total of 8,522 recoveries, 24 of which were recorded within the past 24 hours.

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 you or anyone you know is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19, or need any additional information, kindly contact the COVID-19 Hotline 2311166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 immediately or visit the Ministry of Health at www. health.gov.gy.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, March 23, 2021

CIOG to build home for elderly ...

FROM PAGE

“I would like to think it was because of the way I was getting my work done, because, one thing I pride myself in, is being very detailed and committed to my work. If I'm doing something, I like to get it done the way it's expected or beyond expectation. And nothing had made me feel that one day I would actually be the General Manager of CIOG,” Haniff stated.

She draws her strength as a woman from her mother, who she says is “the strongest female influence” in her life.

She said that her mother was keen on her and her siblings valuing the importance of education.

Haniff, the eldest of her mother's five children, recalled being the first in the family to achieve a tertiary education.

She related that her success in her career could not have been possible without the support and guidance of her mother, who made significant sacrifices to ensure that she could pursue and complete her studies.

Her mother continues to be supportive of her pursuing further studies.

INVOLVEMENT Haniff has also had a significant hand in facilitating greater involvement of women at the CIOG, both as paid staff and voluntary workers.

Medical outreaches, empowerment programmes, and training sessions, as well as extensions of various units within the organisation, including the Orphans and Vulnerable Children's Project, were done under the leadership of Haniff.

She said that the CIOG’s being the premier Islamic organisation in Guyana does not mean that it caters exclusively to Muslims, as it also renders assistance to non-Muslims.

A significant number of the more than 500 children who have benefited from the Orphans and Vulnerable Children's Project are not Muslim.

Haniff also related that as a woman in a position in power, she would always

08

advise younger girls to dream big, and to work strategically to achieve them.

“You need to introspect yourself time and time again, and see where you're going wrong at the same time,” she said, adding: “One of the things that helped me to get this far is that I listened to advice. You should also be able to accept constructive criticism, because we can't see what we are doing wrong or right at the same time. So that advice would be very beneficial.”

She also noted that without the support of experienced persons, she would not have been able to be a part of the CIOG journey, and be able to make an impactful contribution to society. And in this regard, she acknowledged the support of COIG President, AlHajj Shahabudeen Ahmad; Deputy-President Goolzar Namdar; and Sheikh Moen ul-Hack.

Five years jail for man who beat relative with hammer HIGH Court Judge, Justice Brassington Reynolds, on Monday, sentenced Compton Fecker, called “Chappy” to five years in prison for beating a man with a hammer in 2015.

In January, Fecker was arraigned at the High Court for the attempted murder of his son’s father-in-law, Alvin Melville; the incident took place on March 19, 2015, at Parika Sea Dam, East Bank

Essequibo.

Following a trial, the jury found Fecker guilty of felonious wounding and he was remanded to prison pending sentencing. Fecker, to avoid being sentenced, had opted to compensate Melville, who had indicated that he was willing to accept compensation, which would go towards his medical bills.

Justice Reynolds, however, after considering the

mitigating factors, sentenced Fecker to five years in prison.

According to reports, on the day in question, Melville was confronted

by Fecker, who was armed with a hammer. Fecker dealt Melville several blows to his head and body with the hammer. Melville collapsed and was taken to the hospital where he was treated for a fractured skull, among other injuries.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, March 23, 2021

Over $3B in expired drugs dumped

…defunct monitoring systems fixed, upgraded to reduce drug shortages – Health Ministry

By Vishani Ragobeer AFTER recently dumping about $3 billion in expired drugs and medical supplies from its Materials Management Unit (MMU) and other health facilities, efforts have been made to fix the previously defunct modern warehouse Management Information System (MIS) and install pharmaceutical monitors in each administrative region to reduce future shortages.

During a press conference on Monday, Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony highlighted that the incumbent administration was forced to dump about $3 billion worth of expired medicines and medical supplies since taking office. This accounted for about 300 truckloads of these medical supplies. These supplies were stored at the Health Ministry’s MMU, located at Diamond on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD), while some supplies were stored by the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

About 70 percent of the MMU’s supplies had expired, according to the minister, and he noted that the ministry’s records show that about $10 billion in drugs and supplies were dumped over the past five years under the previous administration. This had led

Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony

to shortages in drugs and supplies.

The Health Minister noted that a comprehensive audit was ordered to help inform a gap analysis of the drug-shortage situation. This audit has since been completed and the minister underscored, “We are now getting a sense of the types of medication that are short and we are able to quantify that and ensure in the next round that we can fill that gap.”

It was noted that many of the drugs purchased were stockpiled in the MMU (the central drugs bond), since these were not the drugs in high demand within the regions. At the press conference, Adviser to the Health Ministry, Dr. Leslie Ram-

sammy, said that it seemed as though consumption reports -- which provide insight into what drugs specific regions used -- were not being utilised.

Additionally, Dr. Anthony said that it was found that many of the drugs bought were close to their expiration dates. Finally, the defunct MIS contributed to an extended lull in the distribution process.

“Having done this audit at the MMU and having identified this problem that we have and the magnitude of the problem, we have now been able to restore back the electronic medical system [the MACS] that we have at the MMU and we have updated that, so all the records now

going forward, we’re able to use that now to make timely decisions,” Dr. Anthony highlighted.

Additionally, the minister noted that in every region, someone responsible for pharmaceutical supplies has been appointed to check the level of their region’s stock and constantly report that to the MMU. “We are trying to be more proactive with this and get things out to the regional bond and for them to get it to be able to send it out to the various health facilities,” the Health Minister affirmed.

Moving forward, Dr. An-

thony said that focus will be placed on computerising the entire distribution system, so that the distribution, monitoring and management can be done in real time.

Recently, Dr. Ramsammy in a statement to the media had highlighted that Guyana’s medicinal needs are expected to be remedied by June, as intensive procurement efforts are being made to supply the local health sector with medicines and medical supplies.

At Monday’s press conference, Dr. Anthony related that $12 billion was already spent in 2020 to procure essential medicines, personal and

protective equipment (PPE) and laboratory reagents. To bolster current supplies and meet future needs, additional tenders have been published.

These tenders are expected to carry larger costs and are geared at stabilising supplies

by June/July.

Aside from stabilising supplies and ensuring that the population’s needs are met, the Health Minister said that he expects that recommendations from the audit will inform efforts to hold the persons responsible for mismanagement of the drugs and supplies.

Medical supplies stored by the Ministry of Health (Ministry of Health photo)

Agriculture to be centre of Reg. 10 development

By Naomi Parris

IN an effort to ensure food security in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice), the relevant authorities are putting agriculture at the fore of the region’s development agenda.

Mark Goring, head of the region’s agriculture committee, told the Guyana Chronicle that while the region is wellknown for mining, there is great potential for the region to be recognised as an agricultural hub.

“We can have a rounded agriculture sector, we want Region 10 to be the heart of the country, since it is connected to seven regions, and we could export to other regions,” Goring highlighted adding: “We got things that would grow in Region 10 that would not grow on the coastland, like nuts and pineapples and these are the things that we must be exporting to other regions.”

Goring stated that with emphasis being placed on agriculture, the region’s economy

can be elevated. “We are going to push agriculture; we see agriculture as the vehicle to drive employment and also the [sic] drive the economy of Region 10 and not just mining.”

PROJECTS Goring disclosed that at the level of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), there are a number of projects underway to address the immediate needs of farmers in the region, with the main one being the construction

of a conservancy dam.

He further explained that the project will see better drainage and irrigation services for farmers in the region.

“We are going to build a conservancy dam in West Watooka. This dam will trap the water that is coming from the hills and the swamps and so the farmers now will have yearround water to plant,” he said.

Goring stated that the RDC is also working along with the National Drainage and

Scenes from the recent farmers’ market held at the Wismar Market Square, Linden (RDC photo)

Mark Goring, head of the Region 10 Agriculture Committee

Irrigation Authority (NDIA) to ensure that there is sufficient water for farmlands and that all the canals and drains in farming communities are clear.

“We are trying from the RDC level whereby we are helping people clear lands and canals, if we can’t do it on our own, we call in NDIA to send in a machine to help in drainage and irrigation so that we can ensure that water is there for persons to plant year-round.”

Additionally, to provide a market for farmers, the RDC through its agriculture committee recently launched its farmers’ market initiative under the

theme, “Buy local, grow local, consume local.”

According to Goring, the initiative, which is expected to become a monthly event, will give farmers the reassurance that there is a stable market for them to sell their produce.

“The market day is the driving force because it gives persons now the opportunity to know that they have an output, they have confidence now that they can plant and don’t have to study if there is a market there.”

TRAINING Goring disclosed that the agriculture committee will also be placing emphasis on training farmers and the youths of the region to change the way agriculture is traditionally done.

“Two of the main factors that affect agriculture in Guyana and the Caribbean are attitude and weather. So, in terms of attitude, we are going to harbour attitude by integrating ICT [Information and Communication Technology] in agriculture.”

Goring disclosed that sever-

al training programmes have already commenced in the region.

“Last week we had a training programme for some farmers where we trained them smartagriculture…we incorporated technology using devices and we believe this will actually get young people more interested in agriculture.”

He added, “I know sometimes farmers are not versed in technology, but we are going to train them, we want them to be up to date with everything that has been going on.”

Goring said the goal is to increase the region’s exports, ensure food security and provide employment.

“The endgame basically is for Linden and the region on a whole to have food security.

We know for a fact there is oil and there is bauxite, but things are non- renewable resources and we know that people have to eat. We believe that food security is the way to go.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, March 23, 2021

COVAX ‘short changes’ Guyana, Caribbean countries on vaccines

By Vishani Ragobeer THE COVAX facility, a global mechanism that was created to ensure the equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, has not been able to readily supply countries with vaccines needed to immunise their populations and now it has significantly reduced the number of vaccines it will be giving to Guyana and other Caribbean countries in the initial phase.

On Monday morning, Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony reminded the media that through the COVAX facility, Guyana was expected to receive an initial set of 100,800 Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines. He however noted that last month COVAX told him that a quantity of about 33,000 doses will come first.

He did not have concrete information on the exact date of arrival.

On Monday afternoon at a press conference, Dr. Anthony said that he was informed that COVAX has revised that total and said that Guyana can expect 24,000 doses of the vaccine in the

first distribution.

“They have not only done this to Guyana, but they have done this to Suriname and some of the other Caribbean countries, where they have constantly reduced the amount of the allocation to these countries and that is worrying for us,” the Health Minister lamented at the press conference.

Amid the pandemic, COVAX emerged as the global effort between the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI); Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance Gavi; the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF); the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the World Health Organization (WHO). While this facility was created with an ambitious mandate of ensuring equitable distribution of vaccines, which are seen as the exit strategy for countries amid the pandemic, a wider issue of ‘vaccine nationalism’ has overshadowed its work.

The advanced economies of the world have been able to procure and stockpile vaccines--some securing enough

to vaccinate their populations more than once, according to reports from American news agency, NPR -- while many countries around the world have not been able to procure vaccines as yet, or only in much smaller quantities.

According to allocation figures on Gavi’s website, 15 Caribbean countries will receive just over 2.1 million doses of COVAX vaccines

by May. Jamaica was the first Caribbean country to receive vaccines through COVAX; this country received 14,400 doses out of the 124,800 allocated to the country in the initial rollout phase. Importantly, however, Jamaica has engaged COVAX as a self-financing participant.

Guyana, on the other hand, is part of the smaller grouping of Advance Market Commitment (AMC) countries which will receive their first tranche of vaccines for free. While COVAX has now indicated that Guyana will get 24,000 doses first, the rest of the 100,800 batch is expected by the end of May, according to PAHO. Guyana, like many Caribbean countries, has only been able

Minister of Health and Wellness in Jamaica Dr. Christopher Tufton (center) receives the 14,400 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, which Jamaica procured under the COVAX Facility (Jamaica Observer photo)

to start its vaccination rollout from vaccine donations. The country received 3,000 Oxford-AstraZeneca doses from Barbados; 20,000 Sinopharm vaccines from China and 80,000 for Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines from India.

“So far, all the vaccines

that we have been using are because we have gone to other bilateral arrangements to be able to secure those vaccines for our citizens, and so in a lot of cases we have to buy these vaccines”, Dr. Anthony said at the press conference.

From next week, Guyana is expected to receive weekly consignments of the Sputnik V vaccine from Russia, since the country is paying for 200,000 doses of the vaccine.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, March 23, 2021

Hundreds benefit from Human Services Ministry outreach RESIDENTS of Region Three (Essequibo Islan ds -Wes t D emerara) turned out in their numbers on Saturday to benefit from healthcare resources during an outreach held at the Tuschen Primary School, East Bank Essequibo, by the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security (MHSSS).

The outreach, part of the ministry’s mandate to provide services to the vulnerable, and the community in general, began at 10:00hrs and saw organisations such as Modern Optical Services and the Dr. Cheddi Jagan Dental Centre partnering with the ministry to grant access to free eye testing, dental care (inclusive of tooth extraction and cleaning), as well as blood and sugar testing.

A team from the Ministry of Health was also present to

administer COVID-19 vaccines.

“The message that we’re carrying with us is one that benefits all the people of Guyana. We are trying to eradicate all the ills of society. We see, aside from the COVID-19 pandemic, we have things like violence; violence, especially against women and children.

And those of you here today, please carry our message of zero tolerance. No more beating up of people, no more killing of women, and no more abuse of babies. We should not be seeing that in our country,” subject minister, Dr. Vindhya Persaud expressed in her opening remarks to the gathering at Tuschen.

She also expressed her satisfaction with the number of senior citizens who turned out and registered for assistance, drawing their attention to the administration of

COVID-19 vaccines. She also highlighted the issue of elderly abuse, and admonished residents to exercise vigilance in curbing this, and all forms of abuse.

When the exercise con-

cluded at 14:30hrs, approximately 550 persons had registered to benefit from the services offered, with the doctors, the eye specialist and dental services receiving the highest numbers in regis-

tration.

“I think it’s an overwhelming turnout, and clearly, people have responded to the services that we have brought to the community.

This is a part of the outreach

Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, addressing residents of Region Three

had taken the vaccine, and was not harmed by its effects.

“They ain’t really get much side effects. Meh get lil pain, lil bad feelings, but after I sit down couple minutes, it gone,” one of the seniors, who gave her name as “Savitri”, said, of the vaccine.

She expressed her belief that everyone in Guyana should take the vaccine to safeguard against the coronavirus.

“Because this thing serious bad,” the woman went on to note, “is nah best you get the vaccine and get the lil side effects than you get expose to the virus and dead?” she reasoned.

Residents of Tuschen and its surrounding areas were quick to laud the initiative, calling it a “convenient, helpful and brilliant idea.”

“Nobody should be scared to take the vaccine.

In fact, I would encourage

A resident of Region Three undergoes a tooth extraction

An elderly woman prepares to have her blood sugar tested

programmes that we are doing from the ministry that we had started before, and we are continuing with Region Three, and we will continue for the rest of the year, across the country,” Dr. Persaud said.

“It’s a comprehensive approach to people. Health, wellness, and also our services from the Ministry, including childcare, pension, public assistance, the elderly, and we’re also looking at persons with difficult circumstances. With collaboration between the Region, the Ministry of Health and us, we’ve been able to deal with vaccinations today.”

The vaccinations, which were made available for persons over 60, also saw a surprisingly large number of registrations, following the minister’s assurance that she

it. And then you come to take the vaccine, and you get all these other thing you could benefit from,” Harry, a 67-year-old resident of Parika asserted. “The Minister and the Ministry, they do a very good job.”

Representatives of various units of the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, including the Counter-Trafficking in Persons (C-TIP) Unit, the Gender Affairs Bureau, the Support and Heal Network (SAHN), the Guyana Women’s Leadership Institute (GWLI), the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA), and the Probation and Social Services Department, also took part in the outreach to offer counselling, guidance and other support services.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, March 23, 2021

Caribbean public health workers to benefit from HIV management course

THE Pan-Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP), the body that provides a structured and unified approach to the Caribbean’s response to HIV, is providing financial support for 20 public health practitioners to attend the Clinical Management of HIV course at the University of Washington Global Health E-Learning Programme, which is slated to begin in April 2021.

The aim of the course is to provide a global perspective on the diagnoses and clinical management of HIV. Participants will learn from experts in the field, who offer real-world examples of diagnosing and treating HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) in both resource-rich and resource-constrained settings, focusing on US-based guidelines.

PANCAP Director Dr Rosmond Adams, during a virtual orientation, highlighted the course’s occurrence at

a critical time when public health practitioners are being challenged with maintaining the response to HIV, while simultaneously tracking and tackling COVID-19.

“Our public health practitioners have mounted an extraordinary response to COVID-19”, Dr Adams stated, according to a press release by PANCAP. “Within a few months, the Region reacted with COVID-19 testing, appropriate safety measures and public health education. Now, we’re witnessing the rollout of effective COVID-19 vaccines within a year after the start of the pandemic. Our healthcare workers were responding to COVID-19 while maintaining the gains made in the HIV response. PANCAP is pleased to enhance their ability to test, treat and provide care for HIV by facilitating access to the course,” Adams added.

PANCAP Coordinator

of Knowledge Management, Dr Shanti Singh-Anthony, detailed that the online graduate-level course consists of video lectures, readings, discussion forums, and quizzes. She further emphasised the encouragement of group participation, noting that it “provides a platform” for discussing course concepts and applying them to the Caribbean.

Singh-Anthony further highlighted that the course is part of PANCAP’s overarching Knowledge Management strategy to empower regional public health practitioners to achieve the 2030 goal of ending AIDS through providing the requisite capacity building, training and knowledge.

According to PANCAP, the course is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through support to the PANCAP Coordinating Unit. USAID Country Representative to Guyana, Jason

PANCAP Virtual Orientation Clinical Management of HIV Course

Fraser, expressed pleasure on behalf of USAID in their ability to support the initiative to build capacity, as the Region advances action

towards ending AIDS. Mr Malcolm Watkins, Permanent Secretary within the Ministry of Health, Guyana, also thanked PAN-

CAP for spearheading the initiative and stated that it would build capacity for practitioners working in HIV to advance national and international targets.

Participants of the course include medical doctors, nurses, physician assistants/ medexes, National AIDS Programme Managers, and Civil Society Organisation (CSO) representatives with clinical backgrounds.

The course is the first phase of a planned capacity-building initiative by PANCAP, encompassing more training opportunities and virtual courses for public health practitioners working in the Region’s HIV response.

14

Gender-based violence service app to soon be available for downloading

THE Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), recently launched a mobile application to assist in its mandate to eliminate violence and abuse across Guyana.

According to Human Services and Social Security Minister Dr Vindhya

Persaud, the gender-based violence referral application will be available on all android devices, and is in the process of being approved for the iOS app store.

“The App lists the various gender-based violence service providers in all 10 administrative regions and provides yet another alternative mechanism to address the needs of gender-based

violence survivors; individuals at risk of gender-based violence; individuals directly affected by gender-based violence; and members of the public who may be seeking to support individuals within their communities,” she highlighted during a press briefing with members of the media on Friday last.

The application was developed under the Spotlight

Initiative, with US$11,700 budgeted to support its development and rollout.

“What this does, is it allows persons who have the app on their phones to link to all of our services, every one of them, also information.

So it’s taking technology and using it in such a way that is helpful across the country. It’s also tapping into the population of young

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, March 23, 2021

people who are always using their phones, and this is our way of complementing the whole movement in dealing with violence and abuse,” Minister Persaud detailed, in a briefing with various media houses.

“So we have 914 and we have the app. We will be rolling out more programmes, for support, in terms of advocacy. The advocacy programme is also there, and we’re hoping to have those persons placed across all of the regions, so when you call in, it’s not only someone on the other end of the line; you would

have personal support for your issues, so that people can walk you through it,” she expressed.

These issues include access to justice; assistance in sourcing a lawyer; information on court and court-related issues; financial support and training programmes within the ministry.

The Gender Based Violence (GBV) Services Guide App is a complementary support mechanism funded by the United Nations Population Fund, and will be made available on all app stores by March 24, 2020.

Mason accused of murdering relative remanded

Dead: Daniel Boutrin

Martin Blair

A 25-year-old mason was, on Monday, remanded to prison for the murder of his brother-in-law, Daniel Boutrin, who was stabbed during an argument over a bicycle.

Martin Blair appeared before Magistrate Roshell Liverpool at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court, East Coast Demerara, and was remanded to prison until May 28.

Blair was not required to plead to the charge, which alleged that, on March 15, 2021, at ‘D’ Field Sophia, he murdered Boutrin. The Guyana Chronicle had reported that, on March 15, Boutrin,

23, died at the Georgetown Public Hospital, two days after he was stabbed.

According to the police report, Boutrin and his brother-in-law got into an argument over a bicycle Boutrin borrowed last year and subsequently lost. As the argument escalated, it is alleged that Blair picked up a cutlass while Boutrin armed himself with a knife.

Police said Blair’s parents intervened and asked Boutrin to leave. As he was about to enter a taxi, he was confronted by the suspect, who allegedly stabbed him several times.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, March 23, 2021

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, March 23, 2021

From losing two children, to beating COVID-19 …UG’s Belizean couple aspires to build children’s home

By Rehana Ahamad THE loss of a child is often described as the ultimate tragedy for any parent, and Vanessa and Rahim Thimbriel have faced this devastation twice.

The pain of losing their first son was excruciating, but when they lost their second baby boy the following year, the Thimbriels were completely shattered.

“Our baby boy passed in 2015 and his brother passed away in 2016…roughly six months apart,” Vanessa Thimbriel told the Guyana Chronicle on Sunday.

The couple became so overwhelmed by grief that they packed up their lives and moved to Guyana, from Cayo, Belize.

“Our families were worried sick. They call and checked up on us all the time…the new focus was our health,” Mrs. Thimbriel said. She explained that as a coping mechanism, she and her husband redirected their intense emotions towards their studies; four years later, they were content with the fruits of their efforts.

Vanessa, age 25, recently graduated from the University of Guyana (UG) with a Bachelor of Sociology Degree, passing with Distinction. Her 28-year-old husband, Rahim, graduated from the same institution with a Bachelor Degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering, passing with Credits; they dedicated their achievements to their fallen sons.

Reflecting on their time here in Guyana, the couple

admitted that the journey to achieving their qualifications was a tough one. From experiencing intense bouts of homesickness, to maneuvering the struggles of a global pandemic, Rahim and Vanessa relied on each other’s unending support.

Mr. Thimbriel said that even though their move to Guyana was greeted with an almost instant culture shock, their stint here has been wholesome, and even contributed to a more impactful academic experience.

“Vanessa even did a research proposal titled, ‘Challenges of an International Student’, where she talked about all the times we got lost trying to find a place, and our process to finding an apartment, and even our journey to making friends and so on,” the engineer informed.

As the months turned into years, Guyana had become their new home, and they had a newfound support system in the form of classmates, teachers, and Guyana’s relatively small Belizean community.

“We got together a lot of the times to cook our national dish, ‘rice and beans, chicken and salad’. We would go to the National Park, and we also met Mr. and Mrs. Porter, who took care of us like we were their kids,” a contented Mr. Thimbriel related.

As they continued their studies, Mr. Thimbriel maintained a part-time job of “drawing blueprints”, while his wife managed a thriving crafting business.

BEATING COVID-19 The engineer said that

they had begun experiencing the full beauty of life in Guyana when the novel coronavirus hit in March

next steps the university was taking in terms of safety. We would always be checking emails and so,” Mrs. Thim-

said candidly.

“Who would have thought that someday in late February would have been the last time we would see them [UG colleagues and friends],” Mr. Thimbriel interjected.

Once their courses were completed, the Thimbriels returned to their home in Belize in July, 2020. “Travelling was expensive and complicated because of all the restrictions,” Mrs. Thimbriel recalled.

Unfortunately, after a few months of being home, the Thimbriels contracted the coronavirus. Mr. Thimbriel told the Guyana Chronicle that he and his wife have always been each other’s support. Within the last few years, they have managed to overcome tremendous loss

and a deadly virus.

“When days were difficult and when one of us felt like throwing in the towel, the other would say something like, ‘yu kyant kohm so faar fi gi up now’,” Mrs. Thimbriel related via text.

She said that she and her husband have always been great achievers, and that they continue to inspire each other to do even better, and to be even better.

Asked about their plans for the future, the Thimbriels maintained that traveling and exploring the world together has always been a shared dream; however, this is expected to take a brief pause, as they work towards building a children’s home for those in need.

Two wanted for execution of ‘Paper Shorts’ Rahim and Vanessa Thimbriel

2020. The uncertainties of the pandemic, coupled with the violence that erupted following the General and Regional Elections earlier in the month, was cause for much of the couple’s worries.

The closure of schools and the abrupt switch to online learning further compounded their woes.

“All our classes went online…the dates were all pushed back, but we always kept up to date with the happenings globally and with the

briel posited.

As it relates to the transition to virtual school, the Sociology graduate said that she and her husband adapted “rather quickly to the new mode of learning.”

She explained that most of the difficulties they experienced during the early days of the pandemic had to do with their lack of opportunities to socialise. “We really missed our peers, and our lecturers and just being on campus,” the young woman Dead: Ricardo Fagundes called “Paper Shorts”

THE police are hunting two men who were caught on surveillance camera gunning down popular gold dealer and biker, 42-yearold Ricardo Fagundes, called “Paper Shorts,” on Main Street, Georgetown, Sunday night.

The CCTV footage showed Fagundes walking towards a black vehicle after exiting the Palm Court nightclub, when two gunmen jumped out of a parked white car across the road and opened fire on him.

Fagundes was seen lying on the roadway as the two men stood over him and riddled his body with bullets before escaping in the white vehicle.

Police said that the murder occurred around 22:00hrs and that Fagundes, of Sandy

Babb Street, Kitty, Georgetown, was at Palm Court drinking with a known colleague when he received a telephone call. He came under a hail of bullets shortly after.

Police retrieved several spent shells at the scene and he was pronounced dead at the scene by a doctor from the EMT Ambulance Services attached to the Stabroek Fire Station. Fagundes’ body is at the Lyken Funeral Home awaiting an autopsy as investigations continue.

Fagundes is no stranger to the police; in April, 2017, he was arrested by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) as part of an investigation into a moneylaundering scheme but he was never charged.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, March 23, 2021

Official Gazette to be made more accessible

THE Official Gazette of Guyana will soon be available at more locations countrywide and the online databases where it can be sourced are currently being expanded.

These are part of government’s efforts to ensure persons are better acquainted with the document, and to strengthen security and enhance protection against proprietary fraud.

The Official Gazette is considered the ‘legal newspaper’ of a country as it has the statutory authority to publish public and legal notices, on a periodic basis. It also plays a major role in the conveyancing of property, as prior to the passing of a title for a property, a notice of the conveyance must be published in the Official Gazette.

The importance of the document is emphasised by the Interpretation and General Clauses Act. Section 15 states that all Acts of Parliament must be published in the Official Gazette and shall come into operation on the date of publication, while Section 21 states that the same applies to all proclamations, rules, regulations, orders, and by-laws.

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, S.C., during an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, on Sunday, disclosed that last Thursday, he made several recommendations to Cabinet to make the document more accessible, which were approved.

Nandlall noted that the entire system is being reviewed to correct weaknesses at the different levels which contribute to proprietary fraud.

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

He identified one of the weaknesses as the inaccessibility of the Official Gazette to the ordinary Guyanese.

The print edition of the Official Gazette was available only at the Office of the President for sale. Nandlall had previously noted that this has been a significant disservice to the people of Guyana and steps will be taken to see that it is distributed countrywide.

Acting upon that, the Attorney General has made the necessary arrangements for the print edition to be on sale at the Guyana National Printers Ltd, Lot 1 Public Road, La Penitence, Georgetown, Guyana.

It will also be available at Neighbourhood Democratic Councils, Regional Democratic Councils, post offices, and other government agencies countrywide, for perusal

free of cost.

The Attorney General noted that based on the demand and feasibility, steps will be taken to have the document available for sale countrywide.

Additionally, the print edition, by virtue of the Official Gazette Bill 2012, is published online for free at www.officialgazette.gov.gy.

“In my last tenure as Attorney General, I had tabled a law in the parliament which was passed to put the Official Gazette online and the Legal Affairs Ministry has since been posting gazettes online on a website created by the Ministry; however, persons are still not utilizing that facility which is free,” Nandlall said.

He explained to the Guyana Chronicle that a massive public awareness campaign must be launched to educate

Two Kaieteur News security guards charged with murder

Dead: Mohabir Singh

TWO security guards attached to the National Media and Publishing Company, publisher of the Kaieteur News, were on Monday remanded to prison for the murder of a homeless man who was beaten to death at the newspaper’s premises at Saffon Street, La Penitence, Georgetown.

Tony Waldron, 39, and Yan Licorish, also 49, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the

Yan Licorish and Tony Waldron

Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and were not required to plead to the charge, which alleged that on March 16, 2021, they murdered 58-yearold Mohabir Singh.

The duo was represented by attorney-at-law Latchmie Rahamat and were remanded to prison until April 19, 2021.

According to reports, on the day in question, Singh’s lifeless body was found under a shed on the Kaieteur News premises.

A post-mortem done by Government Pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh, gave Singh’s cause of death as brain haemorrhage due to blunt trauma to the head.

Initial investigations led to the arrest of the two security officers after detectives reviewed footage from CCTV cameras nearby.

A screenshot of the newly established Official Gazette Facebook Page

persons on how important the Official Gazette is, as well as how it can be accessed.

He noted that we now live in a world where technology plays an important role in our everyday lives.

The majority of persons are equipped with internet-ready devices and have access to various social media plat-

forms. Against this backdrop, an Official Gazette Facebook Page has been launched.

“I’m appealing to persons to go on that page, like it, and my ministry will be uploading the Official Gazette in a format that is readable on Facebook. I have also requested my staff to make the website more user

friendly,” Nandlall noted.

He said that other recommendations agreed to

by Cabinet include having every ministry’s website and the Department of Public Information website linked to the Official Gazette, so persons can access it from those platforms.

Nandlall said that through the expanded online access, overseas-based Guyanese who have been victims of property fraud will get the chance to peruse the document for themselves.

In a recent matter, Rohit Lall, age 60, an electrical engineer of Lot 42 Eccles Old Road, East Bank Demerara, discovered that his property was sold to an alleged non-existent individual without his knowledge. This matter is currently being investigated.

Further, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), in the case of Merlene Todd v Desiree Price and Jenifer Jeboo [2021] CCJ 2 (AJ) GY, a case of proprietary fraud, ruled that significant reforms are to be made to prevent such from happening.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, March 23, 2021

NDIA to spend $6M on Region Two access dams

–– Minister Mustapha tells rice farmers AGRICULTURE Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, has informed Region Two rice farmers that the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) will be investing $6 million in the rehabilitation of access dams leading to their farmlands.

He was at the time responding to a farmer’s request for upgraded dams in the Westbury and Cozier areas.

During his address to rice farmers at the Cotton Field Secondary School on Tuesday, Minister Mustapha said that NDIA will be using machinery and bulldozers to enhance infrastructure in the backlands. He said the necessary interventions are being made, so that rice farmers can transport their harvests

on smoother dams.

“I have been dealing with farmers for a long time, whether Black Bush [Polder] or Essequibo, the same issues are affecting farmers, and as such, we at the Ministry of Agriculture are working to put mechanisms in place,” Minister Mustapha said.

Additionally, Minister Mustapha said that he has recognised that there are numerous issues in the rice industry and so he visited the Essequibo region to deal with “rice issues” with the anticipation that there will be immediate solutions. He said that the agricultural sector is budding again and is taking its rightful place.

“We have seen over the last five years… a decline in the agriculture sector and funds were not invested into

major areas in the agriculture sector, and last year, $18.6 billion from the emergency budget. We have seen an increase of 23% this year in the agriculture sector,” he told the farmers.

He mentioned to them that the region will be benefiting from drying floors, boom sprayers, and two excavators, along with a pontoon for the Pomeroon River.

The minister also brought hope to flood-affected rice farmers that they will each be given one bag of seed paddy.

The farms were inundated after intense rainfall across the region in February. Over 700 acres of rice were affected.

The region’s farmers and millers, who attended separate meetings with the minister, have commended him for reaching out to them.

Rice miller Aadil Baksh who praised the minister for his intervention

Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha speaking to Region Two rice farmers during Tuesday’s meeting

A rice farmer raising a matter of concern during the meeting with Minister Mustapha

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Imam Bacchus and Sons, Aadil Baksh, said that he is very pleased with the minister's intervention and promptness. Baksh said

that he thinks that Minister Mustapha is listening to the concerns of farmers and millers and commended the minister and his team for their approach to the issues raised.

Farmers and millers had complained of being unable to meet former Agriculture Minister, Noel Holder to have their concerns addressed.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, March 23, 2021

State and media communications

BY MICHAEL YOUNGE

SINCE its accession to office in August 2020, the Irfaan Ali-Administration has vowed that it will be different, not repeat the glaring mistakes of the APNU+AFC Government, and work tirelessly on improving the livelihood of its citizen.

Also, Ministers of Government have been hard at work correcting the policy deficiencies that existed by the previous administration while at the same time engineering new and wholistic policies that are well-thought out to meet the current and future needs of the populace.

This is mixed by them going to join the other Government Members of Parliament in the National Assembly of Guyana where they are expected to pass the requisite laws and amend the necessary legislation for a smooth policy trajectory, and again meeting the needs of the people.

Perhaps, the Office of the Prime Minister plays the most integral role in this respect because of the structure of government. It has divided up the responsibility and passed on the bit that deals with public communications and information to the Minister of Public Affairs, Kwame McCoy. He is perhaps the glue that has the ability to hold the government together as far as informing citizens of what the government is doing and intends to do, as well as keeping them fully sensitised about issues that the country faces as a whole. He must also have a real plan for the sector as far as plans and policies are concerned.

In his budget speech of March this year, the minister went at length to point out the government’s vision for the sector coupled with investments that will be made.

The minister pointed out, laboriously, how the State media was being used for the benefit of the political party in power, and how qualified as well as competent people could not [get] a simple job if they didn’t pledge allegiance to the APNU+AFC Government.

This was quickly addressed and largely reduced.

Now, it would appear that

the focus is on content and proliferation to the masses as the minister has his eyes set on improving the coverage of various national events, government’s agenda for the people, and other things.

This is very commendable in this age of information communications and technology. The minister must stress the need to get and keep a track of the way that persons are communicating now if he wants to achieve success with being the first one to properly understand the real impacts of information communication technologies. The State media must use facebook, twitter and Instagram as well as other types of platforms to get its messaging across.

It must be highly interactive with the social media platforms or new media as it is called.

The State agencies of the Chronicle, National Communications Network, National Printers Limited and the Guyana Broadcasting Agency must be further modernised with cross-cutting and edge-of-line equipment and resources to ply their trade effectively and disseminating information to the public. The staff must come on par with the new working order or they will have to be changes where necessary. And broadcasters must come in line with the vision that Minister McCoy has eloquently adumbrated for the sector.

Perhaps, the minister would be best suited occasioning a plan which would be brought to him with how government communications could be more effective among agencies when a panel is devised and set up. Training and development opportunities could also be looked at, and unbiased recommendations made to the relevant agencies made to bolster the effectiveness and quality of State media communications as well as other media.

The truth is, the people of Guyana want to be served exclusive content about the government and the country, content that is unbiased, frank, factual and true. The amount of filtering and coaxing the information must be significantly reduced

if this is to be achieved. And access to information must not be heavily guarded out of fear that it going to start up a revolution against the government if they are doing the right thing and they are certainly in the right areas.

And President Ali is on the right track giving the media unfettered access to him and his agenda, unlike the President before him.

The President, certainly, should keep his post-Cabinet engagements or press confer-

ences with the media corps because he will need those partners to get his message across to people who don’t trust his government.

Minister McCoy is doing a great job but to whom much is given, much more

is required as is the case with all the ministers. He must rise to the occasion and meet some of the challenges head-on because the previous administration did not at all.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, March 23, 2021

Failed bank robbery: Magistrate to rule on no-case submission COME April 14, Senior Magistrate Leron Daly is expected to rule on a nocase submission in the case

against four men, who are on trial for the 2017 failed armed robbery on Republic Bank’s Water Street,

Georgetown branch.

Ex-Police Constable, Anfernee Blackman, of Laing Avenue, West Ruimveldt,

Georgetown; former Republic Bank employee, Shawn Grimmond of Pike Street, Kitty; Ex-Rural Constable Gladstone George, of Princes Street, Lodge, Georgetown; and Keron Saunders, of Burnham Boulevard, Mocha, East Bank Demerara (EBD), are on trial at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court for the offence. They are currently on $500,000 bail each.

Recently, after the prosecution closed its case, the defendants’ lawyers – Nigel Hughes and Associates along with Dexter Todd - made a no-case submission on the grounds that the State failed to make out a case against the men. Both parties have already submitted their arguments to the court and so the

Magistrate has set April 14 for ruling.

Another former Republic Bank employee, Jamal Haynes, of Norton Street, Wortmanville, Georgetown, who was also implicated with the four men, had pleaded guilty to the charge and was jailed for six years.

Both Grimmond and Haynes were employees of Republic Bank at the time of the attempted robbery while George and Blackman were constables attached to the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

The latter two reportedly aided in the robbery attempt by providing the firearms that were used. In his bid to escape, Haynes was shot to his leg.

It was reported that, on

the morning of July 4, 2017, three armed men entered the bank before it was opened to the public. Haynes and his alleged gang members, including deceased Elton Wray, had reportedly planned on getting their hands on the night’s deposits, since it was a three-day weekend and companies would have deposited millions of dollars in cash.

Wray, a 25-year-old China-trained agronomist, who was at the time employed at the National Agriculture Research Extension Institute (NAREI), was shot in the chest during the robbery. He succumbed to his injuries the same day, while receiving medical attention.

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Paul reaches 10 000 assists Preparation has been a tough hill as Suns beat Lakers to climb -GBA president Americas Olympic Boxing Qualifiers …

CHRIS Paul became the sixth man in NBA history to reach 10 000 assists as his Phoenix Suns team beat a Los Angeles Lakers side without LeBron James.

Paul, 35, scored 11 points, with 10 rebounds 13 assists as Suns beat Lakers 111-94.

James injured his ankle in a defeat by the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday.

Charlotte Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball could be out for the season after he broke his wrist against Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday.

NBA results Houston Rockets slumped to their 20th straight loss, a 114-112 defeat by Oklahoma City Thunder, despite Christian Wood scoring 27 points for Rockets.

J u l i u s R a n d l e ’s l a t e three-pointer for New York Knicks forced overtime, but he then missed a potential game-winner as Philadelphia 76ers edged to a thrilling 101100 victory.

The result also went down

to the wire in Florida, where last season’s finalists Miami Heat fell to Indiana Pacers 109-106.

Blake Griffin had a successful debut for Brooklyn Nets as he made his first dunk since 2019 in the 113-106 win over Washington Wizards.

There was also a 116105 win for Cleveland Cavaliers over Toronto Raptors, and Chicago Bulls cruised past Detroit Pistons 100-86.

Most assists in NBA history

Chris Paul has twice won Olympic gold with the United States and played in the All-Star game on 11 occasions

Luka Doncic scored 37 points in Dallas Mavericks’ 132-92 thrashing of Portland Trail Blazers, New Orleans Pelicans defeated Denver Nuggets 113-108 and Jaylen Brown scored 10 three-pointers to lead Boston Celtics to a 11296 victory over Orlando Magic.

John Stockton 15,806 Jason Kidd 12,091 Steve Nash 10,335 Mark Jackson 10,334 Magic Johnson 10,141 Chris Paul 10,004 Oscar Robertson 9,887 LeBron James 9,669 Isiah Thomas 9,061 Gary Payton 8,966 (BBC Sport)

Archery Guyana Indoor v Competition commences soon

FURTHER to the submission of COVID-19 Protocols to the National COVID-19 Task Force, Archery Guyana secured the requisite approvals to commence shooting sessions.

As such, Archery Guyana’s Indoor Championship Style competition is the new initiative launched by Archery Guyana that will be held each quarter of 2021 with the first competition starting in March.

Archers will be able to showcase their skills in this specially designed virtual competition that will be 18 metres Recurve style for males and females of all ages held indoor or outdoor. Each

Archer is expected to shoot 60 arrows at 18 metres for the ranking round.

The Competition will feature an honour-based scoring system and will be subject to observation by the Directors of Shooting or their nominees. The scores will be recorded on a digital template provided by Archery Guyana and must include the total number of 10s and 9s shot by each archer. A WhatsApp Group will be created for recording scores and sharing photos among members.

The Competition is designed to give archers the opportunity to compete and enjoy the sport at select-

ed venues that are vetted and approved by specially formed Competitions Committee of Archery Guyana.

The Competitions Committee will ensure that each venue conforms to the national COVID-19 regulations as well as the necessary safety protocols for archery competitions. Archers will be able to select the dates and times for their shooting based on the availability of judges. Ranking rounds begin on March 22, 2021.

The Board of Directors wishes to thank the National COVID-19 Task Force and the Competitions Committee for organising this event.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER Tuesday, March 23, 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:

(1) (2)

WI: 77 players SL: 69 players

(1) (2)

Who scored the first Test hundred for the WI against SL? Who hit the first Test century for SL against the WI?

TODAY’S QUIZ:

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

LESS than two months of preparation remains for the Guyanese boxing team, scheduled to participate in the long-awaited Americas Olympic Boxing Qualifiers which unravels in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from May 10 to 16, 2021.

The five-member team consists of Keevin Allicock (a two-time current Caribbean champion), Desmond Amsterdam, Colin Lewis (former Caribbean champions) and Dennis Thomas (a Caribbean two-time silver medallist) and Canada-based Taveena Kum, the lone woman in the Guyanese team.

The event, to be held in the capital and largest city of Argentina, will allocate 49 Olympic quota places for the Tokyo Olympic Games.

When Chronicle Sport recently spoke to president of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) Steve Ninvalle about the team’s preparation, he said, “Training is quite okay, to put it in better grammar, the training is continuing and as the days go by it is intensifying. The issue that we have which is of concern to us is because of COVID-19 we can’t move as we would have expected to to facilitate adequate preparation.”

“What you have to understand is that this is not unique to Guyana; Trinidad can’t move, St. Lucia can’t move, so it is right through the Caribbean they have been hit by these problems.

“If you’ve noticed, cases have been rising in Brazil a

d Cuba has closed its doors.

So we can’t send our boxers to those places. We were trying to work something out with Ecuador but that has not come to fruition. So if you think that Guyana will not be adequately prepared then its right across the region because every single country has been affected and we are doing the best we can within the confines of COVID.” Cuba was also another option that did not come to fruition because the country has returned to a lockdown state. In January 2020, the four males on the team began a 3-month training stint in Cuba that was plagued by the pandemic. It caused the team to be stranded for 126 days in that country before the authorities decided to reopen the airports.

Ninvalle disclosed, “As president of the Guyana Boxing Association, I can’t want and I will not send any boxers out without me knowing how they are coming back, when they coming back and if he will be alright when he comes back. The safety of my boxers is paramount.”

“Now, while we are preparing for the Olympic Qualifiers, if you’re going to ask me and I have to be honest; if we were going to be as prepared as we were last year the answer will be no. We can’t! Because of all these things that COVID has done to us, but we are still prepared. Here again this is not unique to Guyana.”

Ninvalle also put forth his confidence in coaches Terrence Poole and Sebert Blake who have been in charge of the regular training activities with the team.

“We got some experienced coaches in Blake and Poole; they know what is to be done and they know to cut our cloth to suit what garment we are trying to make. It is not a best case scenario but we have to work with what we have at this time. It is not a usual time; it is an extraordinary time which calls for extraordinary measures.”

The psychological aspect of the boxers also has the attention of the GBA boss who believes a lot of evaluation needs to be done to keep the boxers in the right state of mind. It has been more than a year since the athletes had serious competition or sparring partners, levels above theirs, to garner more skill and experience.

Meanwhile, Kum will make her mark in the history once the Americas Qualifiers are competed since she will be the first female to represent Guyana at an Olympic Qualifiers. She will stake her claim in the Flyweight division which starts at 48kg.

At the Qualifiers, Allicock the Bantamweight will be competing at 56kg, Lewis will fight at Light Welterweight which is 64kg, Amsterdam is a Middleweight contender at 75kg and Thomas will battle in the Light Heavyweight category at 81kg.

Cornwall’s maiden Test ... drive at the same bowler to give Dhananjaya another catch at slip at 133 for five.

A 36-run, sixth wicket partnership between Da Silva and all-rounder Jason Holder (19) took West Indies to tea on 129 for five but Holder departed 21 minutes following the resumption, playing on to Lakmal.

When Alzarri Joseph fell without scoring 16 balls later with just two runs added, the Windies were tottering on 171 for seven, only two runs ahead.

But Da Silva, who faced 124 balls in a shade under three hours and struck five fours, joined forces with Cornwall to revive the innings.

Cornwall’s first scoring shot from the seventh ball he faced was a pulled four

off Embuldeniya and he proceeded to clear the ropes at mid-wicket with left-arm pacer Vishwa Fernando and then again with Embuldeniya, en route to his fifty off 62 deliveries.

FROM BACK PAGE

Da Silva perished in the fourth over before close, uncharacteristically attempting to upper cut Chameera but succeeding only in a feathering a catch behind.

SCORECARD SRI LANKA 1st innings 169 WEST INDIES 1st innings (o/r 13 without loss) K. Brathwaite c Dhananjaya b Lakmal 3 J. Campbell c wkp. Dickwella b Chameera 42 N. Bonner lbw b Embuldeniya 31 K. Mayers c Dhananjaya b Lakmal 45 J. Blackwood b Lakmal 2 J. Holder b Lakmal 19 J. Da Silva c wkp. Dickwella b Chameera 46 A. Joseph c Chandimal b Lakmal 0 R. Cornwall not out 60 K. Roach not out

4 EXTRAS: (lb-6, w-1, nb-9) 16 TOTAL: (8 wkts, 101 overs) 268 Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-69, 3-95, 4-120, 5-133, 6-169, 7-171, 8-261.

Bowling: Lakmal 24-9-45-5 (nb-3), V Fernando 16-5-52-0, Chameera 22-1-71-2 (w-1, nb-2), Embuldeniya 28-6-64-1 (nb-4), Dhananjaya 11-2-30-0.

Position: West Indies lead by 99 runs with two wickets intact.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, March 23, 2021

World Athletics launches huge survey to shape future

By Mitch Phillips

LONDON, England (Reuters) - World Athletics is launching an innovative plan asking for everyone connected to and interested in the sport to play a part in moulding its long-term future via a massive worldwide survey.

Termed the ‘Global Conversation’ the sport’s world governing body wants to consult with federations, athletes, coaches, officials, fans, meeting directors, partners and media to plan a roadmap for how the sport will look from 2022 to 2030.

“I think this is a great moment to have this conversation to see where we are and how we can be more relevant,” World Athletics president Sebastian Coe told

Reuters.

Athletics is the number one Olympic sport and in all its forms has more participants than any other.

But there is a perception of a disconnect between the elite level, where the confusing Diamond League series struggles for TV audiences, performances are clouded by controversial shoe technology, doping cases undermine the sport’s credibility and recreational running where participation has never been higher.

Coe feels the sport can play a greater role in improving the global health picture and, as the world emerges from the COVID-19 epidemic, wants to ensure that athletics is “part of the conversation” at government level.

Noble House Seafoods second division ...

Pierre grabs match-haul of 13 for 78 as Third Class beat Bel Air RUBiS

TEENAGED fast bowler Deon Pierre finished with a match-haul of 13 wickets for 78 runs to spur Third Class to a comefrom-behind win over Bel Air RUBiS II when the teams clashed over the weekend in the Noble House Seafoods second division two-day cricket competition at the Queen’s College ground.

Deon Pierre finished with 13 wickets for 78 runs over the weekend

RUBiS were in control of the match on Sunday morning having registered a first-innings lead, but deep batting and penetrative bowling from Pierre late in the afternoon propelled Third Class to victory.

Scores in the match: Third Class 179 and 217-9 declared and Bel Air RUBiS II 199 and 92.

On Saturday, Third Class batted first but were dismissed in 32 overs for 179. Sameer Housain led the attack with 47 (7x4, 2x6), while Donald Gauvia added 38 (6x4, 1x6) and Lenny Pancham 19 (1x4, 1x6).

T. Persaud and C Geenarine were the pick of the bowlers for Bel Air with 3-6 from five overs and 2-10 from four overs respectively.

In their turn at the wicket, R. Gonsalves exploded with the bat. He struck 13 fours and six sixes in a match-high 97 runs, but Pierre with his right-arm fast bowling was almost destructive.

The 17-year-old Pierre finished with 6-45 from 12 overs. Support came from T. George (2-25 from five) and C. Benjamin (2-30 from five).

Troy Thomas played a few shots on Sunday when Third Class batted again. He struck seven fours and three sixes in a score of 66, while Gauvia added 35 (4x4).

Geenarine was again among the wicket-takers with 3-31, while D. Jones picked up 2-11.

Pierre then delivered an aggressive spell, in which he picked up 7-33 from 10 overs to dismiss Bel Air short of their needed total.

L Pancham supported with 2-8 from 5.3 overs.

“We are embarking on an unprecedented Global Conversation with all those who love our sport and

cares about athletics to contribute their views during this process.

“Our strength as a sport

General view of the heats. World Athletics Championships - Doha 2019 - Men’s 800 metres - Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar - September 28, 2019 (REUTERS/Ibraheem Al Omari/File Photo)

want to have a say in its future,” he said. “I want to encourage everyone who

lies in the diversity of our community and we need to hear the voices of all of our

214 members and our key stakeholder groups to develop a plan that fully represents our global aspirations for athletics and will help us to grow and thrive together over the coming years.”

The process begins on Monday with a twomonth period of global consultation titled, ‘Your Voice, Our Future’. The results will be collated and presented to the sport’s Council with a view for eventual approval at November’s Congress.

The “Global Conversation” will comprise two online surveys – one to be completed by the Member Federations and the second by any person interested in the sport of athletics and wishing to contribute to its

future direction.

The stakeholder survey, which will be individually tailored to each interest group, will primarily be distributed through the Member Federations and will request responses to questions on a range of topics including the perception of athletics, participation in the sport, governance, development, innovation, fan engagement, social campaigning and partnerships.

The process is being overseen by the World Plan Working Group, which comprises seven Council Members, chaired by American former triple jump world record-holder Willie Banks, assisted by the Sports Business Group at Deloitte.

Windies pacer Alzarri Joseph signs for Worcestershire WORCESTERSHIRE have signed West Indies fast bowler Alzarri Joseph for the first half of the 2021 County Championship season.

The 24-year-old Antiguan is scheduled to arrive in early April, in time for the Pears’ first seven games.

“He’s a quality performer,” said ex-paceman Paul Pridgeon, now the Pears’ cricket steering group chairman.

Worcestershire’s coaching staff have injury concerns over fellow fast bowlers Josh Tongue and Pat Brown.

Those worries have come on top of also losing Wayne Parnell to Northamptonshire.

“With it looking like Josh Tongue and Pat Brown may not be match-fit for the start of the season, head coach Alex

Gidman and club captain Joe Leach both felt they needed another seamer,” added Pridgeon.

Worcestershire’s season is scheduled to start against 2019 and 2020 redball kings Essex at Chelmsford, followed by a trip to Derbyshire.

The Pears’ first two home games are against Nottinghamshire and Essex, which would both be switched to Kidderminster if New Road has not recovered on time from its winter flood damage.

Alzarri Joseph is one of West Indies’ brightest fast-bowling prospects (AFP/Getty Images)

ALZARRI JOSEPH’S STATISTICS Joseph has taken 34 wickets in his 14 Tests for

the West Indies, as well as a further 54 in 34 one-day internationals.

He is also a useful batsman, having hit half-centuries in two of his past three Test appearances, 86 against New Zealand in Hamilton and 82 in Dhaka against Bangladesh.

He also took 6-12 on his Mumbai Indians debut against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League in 2019 the best bowling figures in the competition’s 14-year history.

“When I heard the club was interested in me, I had no hesitation,” said Joseph.

“I’m really looking forward to working with bowling coach Alan Richardson.”

(BBC Sport)

Archer to miss India ODIs, early IPL season JOFRA Archer has been ruled out of England’s one-day series against India and will also miss the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL) due to his ongoing elbow injury.

The latest fitness setback for their key strike bowler will be a cause for concern for England, who view him as integral to their twin goals of the T20 World Cup and the Ashes in Australia later this year.

Archer has just completed five T20 appearances for England in the space of nine days, bowling his maximum allocation of 20 overs, but has been managing a painful right elbow throughout.

He missed two of the

four Tests against India as a result of the same issue and is now being sent back home for further assessment.

England’s express paceman Jofra Archer is sidelined by persistent injury

As a result, he will play no part in the three 50-over games in Pune and will no longer join up with Rajas-

than Royals for the beginning of the IPL campaign.

Archer, whose deal with the franchise is worth around $A1.4M, was tournament MVP in the last edition but it is now unclear when or if he will rejoin the Royals.

The fact that Archer is being taken out of the firing line now, rather than playing on and committing to a full two-month IPL schedule, will be seen as a positive by England.

While the injury is causing discomfort, he was still able to bowl quickly and effectively in his recent appearances and has yet to break down.

England head coach Chris Silverwood has

previously suggested Archer’s workload may need long-term management and it would now be no surprise to see him used carefully over the summer.

Otherwise, the 14-man squad selected for the ODIs on March 23, 26 and 28 is almost identical to that which was narrowly beaten 3-2 by India in the T20 series.

Leg-spinner Matt Parkinson has been promoted from the standby list to the main party.

Dawid Malan and Chris Jordan go in the other direction, but will travel and train as reserves alongside seamer Jake Ball. (Cricket.com.au)

31

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, March 23, 2021

Reduced spectators at Wimbledon this year

Kohli calls for player power in cricket scheduling

(AFP) - India skipper Virat Kohli yesterday said players should be consulted over the cricket calendar as the extended bubble life during the coronavirus pandemic has strengthened fears of burnout.

With India headed into three one-day internationals against England starting today after winning a gruelling Test series 3-1 and Twenty20 series 3-2, Kohli said more attention must be paid to cricketers’ mental health.

“The players need to be spoken to and consulted all round,” said Kohli.

The famous Wimbledon queue has been scrapped this year (Credit: (PA))

(REUTERS) - Wimbledon’s famous ticket queue will not operate this year and the number of fans inside the grounds at the grasscourt Grand Slam is likely to be reduced, the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) said on Thursday.

The queue, which has become part of Wimbledon folklore, with fans lining up from the early hours and even camping overnight to snap up tickets for the showcourts and grounds, will be abandoned for this year’s tournament in favour of online sales.

The Wimbledon Championships were cancelled last year for the first time in the Open era due to the COVID-19 pandemic but the AELTC board hopes to welcome fans back in June-July.

“At this point in time, the most likely outcome for this year’s Championships, as an outdoor venue, is a reduced number of spectators within the grounds,” it said in a statement.

“For this reason, we want to ensure that we can leave decisions on public capacity as late as we can in order to welcome the maximum number of guests, and manage our ticket distribution accordingly.

“Given the likelihood of continued social-distancing requirements and with consideration for the health and safety of all the

public, there will not be a Queue or Ticket Resale in operation for this year’s Championships.”

The board also said those who were successful in the public ballot last year will have the opportunity to purchase tickets for the 2022 edition for the same day and court.

The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) is not holding a ballot for tickets this year, with an online platform in place for ticket sales in June and there will be no reselling within the grounds.

“Both the queue and ticket resale remain much-loved and important traditions and we look forward to their return in 2022,” added the statement.

AELTC chairman Ian Hewitt said that while the promise of a return to a more normal existence was on the horizon, we are not there yet.

“As such, we have taken some key decisions in order to provide us with some certainty in our planning, and yet also to retain flexibility where we need it the most,” he said.

The AELTC also said that any players who wish to participate at the Championships this year must stay at the official hotels to minimise risk and curb the spread of the virus.

Karim, Sinclairm Andrews spur GDF to victory over GYO in NBS 40-over cricket A H A L F - C E N T U RY from Javed Karim and all-round performances from Junior Sinclair and Leon Andrews propelled the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) to a 68-run victory against the Gandhi Youth Organisation (GYO) when the two teams met on Sunday in an NBS Second-Division 40-over clash.

The win for GDF came on the heels of a defeat to the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) on Saturday in the same competition, which re-started last weekend after a lengthy break due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

GDF batted first at Queen’s College ground and posted 248 before they were bowled out in 35 overs.

Karim, playing in his first game for the lawmen, led the attack with 85.

The 21-year-old opener, who was selective in his stroke play, struck six fours and a six during his innings. He had support from Sinclair, who chipped in 18 and skipper Andrews who batted well

for 32.

When Andrews fell, Zameer Nazeer struck a quickfire 33, which included four sixes and a four.

in their chase with T. Liverpool and Yeudister Persaud both scoring half-centuries and pushing the score to 115 but the GDF spinners took control.

Former National Youth player Sinclair, who finished

with four wickets with his off-spin, had Persaud caught for 62 (7x4), while left-arm spinner Keith Simpson saw the back of Liverpool, who had struck eight fours and two sixes in his score of 65.

Andrews supported with three wickets.

India skipper Virat Kohli

“Otherwise it’s going to be a case of whoever can last through difficult times like this, plays, if not, then move away and someone else replaces that player.”

He added, “I don’t think that’s healthy for a cricket system and cricket culture moving forward which we definitely want to make stronger and stronger.”

Responding to suggestions that the 50-over games were out of place in a year dominated by the World Test Championship final and the T20 World Cup, Kohli said tournament scheduling “is something that is not in our control”.

“I think it’s very important to consider how much cricket you are playing. It’s not just the physical side of things but the mental side of things as well,” said Kohli.

“Scheduling workloads is something that everyone will have to be very aware,” he added. “Especially in today’s day and age where you just don’t know where restrictions might come in.”

Most players have been in secure bubbles, with only small breaks since last August.

From September until January, India’s players went through the Indian Premier League and a tour of Australia.

‘Umpire’s call creating confusion’ Kohli, though, stayed away from the debate of England’s rest and rotate policy in the pandemic, saying it was their “internal” matter.

But the Indian superstar slammed the “umpire’s call” in the game’s decision review system, saying it creates “confusion”.

The decision of an onfield umpire is critical when a batting or bowling side opts for a TV review during a leg-before-wicket call.

The batter escapes lbw even if the tracker shows the ball would have hit the stumps if a large part of the ball was not hitting the stumps and the on-field official had ruled it not out.

“The umpire’s call right now is creating a lot of confusion,” said Kohli.

“When you get bowled as a batsman you don’t expect the ball to hit 50 per cent into the stumps to consider yourself bowled, so when the ball is being shown as clipping the stumps the bails are going to fall.”

Kohli, last week suggested an “I don’t know” option for umpires in a catch review, said the game’s complexities must be done away with.

“It is a serious, serious thing that needs to be considered because there is a lot at stake in the future, in big tournaments,” said Kohli.

“And you don’t want some grey area factors in the game, which leave you with no clarity, to be the defining factors of those big tournaments and big games.”

Two members of Reggae Boyz delegation test positive for Covid-19 in Austria

Javed Karim made an impression in his first match for the Guyana Defence Force on Sunday

Richard Hoyte and Joshua Ramsammy were the pick of the GYO bowlers after finishing with three wickets each.

GYO were cruising

The Reggae Boyz will play an international friendly against the US on Thursday

Two members of Reggae Boyz delegation test positive for Covid-19 in Austria TWO members of the Reggae Boyz delegation in Austria for their international friendly against the United States on Thursday have tested positive for the Covid-19 virus, the Jamaica Football Federation announced yesterday.

The members of the delegation were tested when they arrived in Austria earlier yesterday.

The players have been isolation in their hotel rooms in keeping with UEFA protocols while they await another test before any activity can be initiated.

All the players subsequently took a PCR Covid-19 test with the results due 12 hours later.

Ten England-based players including Adrian Mariappa and Michael Hector, are among those who are now in Austria. (Sportsmax)

Rahkeem Cornwall cracks a smile after reaching his maiden Test half-century (RANDY BROOKS/AFP/Getty BROOKS/AFP/Getty Images) Images)

Sri Lanka pacer Suranga Lakmal claimed five for 45

Cornwall’s maiden Test 50 gives West Indies 99-run lead on second day NORTH SOUND, Antigua, (CMC) – Towering all-rounder Rahkeem Cornwall lashed his maiden Test half-century to headline a late order rally, as West Indies carved out a near hundred-run lead over Sri Lanka at the close of day two of the opening Test here yesterday.

Replying to Sri Lanka’s paltry first innings of 169, West Indies ended on 268 for eight – a 99-run advantage heading into the third day of the contest at the Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium.

The home side appeared to be capitulating in the final session after veteran fast bowler Suranga Lakmal, who claimed five for 45, reduced the innings to 171 for seven.

However, Cornwall arrived to stroke an audacious unbeaten 60 off 79 deliveries, punching nine fours and two sixes en route to becoming the first Antiguan to notch a Test half-century at the venue.

More significantly, Cornwall posted an invaluable 90 for the eighth wicket with

22-year-old wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva who impressed again with his excellent temperament in scoring 46.

Rookie Kyle Mayers had earlier entertained with a characteristically bold 45 while opener John Campbell hit a patient 42 in contrast, and Nkrumah Bonner weighed in with 31.

“I felt good in the middle. I just told myself I needed to come out and bat for the team and give the team something, and I just backed myself,” Cornwall said afterwards.

“It’s just a good feeling to get a fifty.

I know what I can do but I haven’t been showing that. Once I got out there and started building that confidence, there was no doubt I would get runs.” .West Indies’ fortunes swayed back and forth from the start after they resumed on their overnight 13 without loss.

They lost captain Kraigg Brathwaite in the morning’s third over for three without a run added to the total, the right-hander

losing concentration and stabbing at a wide ball from Lakmal for Dhananjaya de Silva to take a straightforward catch at second slip.

The start was a slow one, with the first run of the day coming in the fifth over as Campbell and Bonner cautiously went about building a 56-run second wicket stand, to see West Indies safely through the remainder of the hour.

Campbell faced 148 balls in 3-½ hours and counted four fours while Bonner hit five fours off 63 deliveries in 1-¾ hours.

Reprieved on 17 when he was caught at third slip off a Dushmantha Chameera (2-71) no ball, Bonner eventually fell lbw in the final over before lunch, missing a casual cross-batted stroke at an innocuous delivery from left-arm spinner Lasith Embuldeniya.

On 72 for two at the interval, West Indies tried to rebuild through the extravagant Mayers and Campbell, the pair adding 26 before

being separated.

The left-handed Campbell was eyeing a fifty when he pushed tentatively at one from Chameera which left him, and edged behind nearly half-hour after lunch.

Mayers played with familiar gay abandon, injecting some urgency into the Windies approach as he struck half-dozen fours and two sixes, to put on a further 25 for the fourth wicket with Jermaine Blackwood (2).

The left-hander’s intent was clear from his third scoring shot when he deposited Chameera over square leg for six before following up by hitting off-spinner Dhananjaya for a straight six a few overs later.

Mayers lost Blackwood in the penultimate over before the drinks break, bowled missing a drive at Lakmal off the first ball of a new spell, before he then succumbed half-hour before tea, edging an expansive

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GBA president Steve Ninvalle

Preparation has been a tough hill to climb -GBA president

Flyweight contender Taveena Kum

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TUESDAY, MARCH 23, 2021