Guyana_Chronicle_Epaper_03_31_2021

WEDNESDAY 31 st March , 2021

’ No. 106317

Double-digit growth to remain –– despite challenges posed by COVID-19, says World Bank 03 PAGE

Construction activities ongoing in Providence, East Bank of Demerara. As Guyana continues its economic ascension, activities like this will be more common, especially with the Government working to create an environment that is more conducive for business (Delano Williams photo)

National Trade Policy to be 2A established PAGE

President Irfaan Ali

… as Guyana prepares for ‘tsunami of opportunities’

PCR testing for ‘COVD’ now Jagdeo offered at four local labs 15 to contest PAGE

libel 02 judgement PAGE

Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo

Pensioner found dead in West Coast Berbice house

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Jagdeo to contest libel judgement

By Richard Bhainie VICE-PRESIDENT, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo and his legal team is preparing an application to have a judgement which was granted without the knowledge of Jagdeo and his Attorneys-at-Law, and in their absence, set aside.

The default judgment stemmed from libel proceedings filed on January 9, 2020, by former Minister of Housing, Annettee Ferguson, who served under the A Partnership for National Unity Plus Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) administration.

The proceedings resulted from statements made

by Jagdeo alleging that Ferguson had acquired significant wealth in only two years of being the housing minister, and used her public office to acquire

Former Minister of Housing, Annettee Ferguson

several plots of lands at Eccles, East Bank Demerara on which she was constructing a mansion, which was published in the Guyana Times Newspapers.

Marshals of the High Court, on Tuesday, served upon the Office of Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo, an Order of Court which states that Default Judgement was granted on March 11, 2021, against him in the sum of $20,000,000 along with costs in the sum of $75,000.

When the proceedings were filed, Jagdeo was represented by the current Attorney- General and Minister of Legal

Affairs, Anil Nandlall, S.C, who appeared at the hearings for injunctions which were also applied for in proceedings, filed the required affidavits, and made legal submissions.

Subsequently on February 25, 2020, the court dismissed the applications filed for injunctions after considering the affidavits and hearing the legal submissions made. Jagdeo pleaded the defence of justification and fair comment in his affidavits.

At or about February 24, 2020, a defence on behalf of Jagdeo became due under the Rules of Court; however, that defence, though prepared was inadvertently never filed.

The non-filing of the defence on behalf of Jagdeo was consequent to a series of exceptional circumstances which resulted in the Jagdeo and his legal team being unreservedly occupied, and caused the non-filing to not be detected by them.

The defence was due to be filed a mere week

prior to the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections; Jagdeo and Nandlall had both been immersed with responsibilities pertaining to the elections.

Jagdeo was at the time the General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) and Leader of the List of Candidates for the PPP/C, while Nandlall was an Executive Member of the PPP/C, Legal Adviser to the PPP/C, a Candidate on the List, as well as the party’s Assistant Chief Elections Scrutineer.

They both had multiple responsibilities in relation to and in connection with the impending elections, including meeting with the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), meeting with international observer teams, planning and preparing for election day as well as campaigning across the country.

Further the fiasco that accompanied the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections, which includ-

Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo ed a series of unforeseen events, a string of lawsuits pertaining to the elections and a national recount.

And the detection of the first case of the COVID-19 virus in Guyana on March 11, 2020, which led to drastic measures being employed to stem the spread of the virus, including the closure of the operations of the Court’s Registries and lawyers’ chambers.

“It is interesting to note, that the default judgement was obtained over one year after the defence became due and Mr. Jagdeo, nor his lawyers were in any manner notified, whatsoever, so that their default could have been remedied,” a press release from Jagdeo’s legal team stated.

“Significantly, it appears as though damages were assessed, an examination of the court’s record does not indicate that there was any hearing where these damages were assessed,” it added.

It was noted that Jagdeo and his lawyers, even without the filing of the defence, ought to have been notified of such a hearing to be able to interrogate, the evidence presented to the court, which was not done.

Section 12.03 of the Supreme Court of Guyana, Civil Procedure Rules 2016 provides that the Court may, on its own initiative or upon application, make an order setting aside or varying a Default Judgement.

Up to press time an application to set aside default judgment was being prepared by the Jagdeo’s legal team and it was noted that the Vice-President has every intention of defending the proceedings.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Double-digit growth to remain

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–– despite challenges posed by COVID-19, says World Bank

By Navendra Seoraj GUYANA’S economy will remain resilient against the effects of the dreaded novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, maintaining its positive growth trajectory as the burgeoning petroleum sector ‘picks up steam’, the World Bank has said.

Based on the latest estimates, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the Latin American and Caribbean Region will be 2.6 per cent lower at the end of 2021 than it was at the end of 2019.

The World Bank, in its semi-annual report on the region, said while most of the region should be enjoying strong economic rebound in 2021, Haiti and Suriname are expected to experience negative growth. On the other hand, Guyana’s growth rate will remain in the double digits, the bank said.

Guyana grew at an extraordinary rate of 43.5 per cent in 2020, having completed a year of oil production. The positive spillover effects were, however, dampened by a deep contraction in the non-oil economy, triggered by measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite the lingering adversities, projections remain positive, with the country set to record economic growth of 20.9 per cent at the end of 2021, 26.0 per cent in 2022 and 23.0 per cent in 2023.

The country’s GDP of about $6.8 billion is expected to more than double by 2025, reaching over $14 billion.

Guyana, a middle-income developing country, is covered by dense forests and is home to fertile agricultural lands and abundant natural resources. Gold, bauxite, sugar, rice, timber, and shrimp are among its leading exports.

This nation, however,

attracted international attention after ExxonMobil made the first commercial discovery of oil offshore Guyana in 2015 and started production in December 2019.

In September 2020, ExxonMobil made its 18th discovery offshore Guyana at the Redtail-1 well. And, according to the second largest stock exchange in the world by market capitalisation, NASDAQ, Guyana, with its estimated recoverable resources of about nine billion

including some in riskier frontier regions, 2021 holds a lot of promise, Rystad Energy said.

The energy research firm believes that drilling results will be eagerly watched by the services industry, as more exploration success off Guyana would translate into welcomed opportunities after the market slump of 2020.

barrels of oil valuing US$246,542,662.

The country is anticipating its sixth lift within the next two weeks. Along with the earnings from the oil lifts and over US$21 million in royalties and interest, Guyana has close to US$267,668,709 in its NRF, at the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank.

MANAGEMENT OF OIL WEALTH Oil production is un-

ing finances into its Natural Resources Fund (NRF), with some US$61,090,968 (approximately G$13B) being earned from the sale of the nation’s fifth oil lift. The Government, in keeping with its commitment to accountability and transparency in the petroleum sector, has announced that the country received its latest payment after the sale of 997,420 barrels of oil which were lifted from ExxonMobil’s Liza Destiny on Febru-

BETTER STANDARD OF LIVING Considering the coun-

es of geographic location, will need more help than others to join our national advance,” President Ali reasoned in an address to the nation in January.

The country will have to identify those communities, assess their needs, identify solutions, and implement plans to change their circumstances. This change will not occur overnight, it will take time. But every journey begins with a first step, the President said.

barrels of oil equivalents is projected to be among the world’s largest per capita oil producer by 2025.

Data from Norwegian independent energy research and business intelligence firm, Rystad Energy, suggests that close to 300 million barrels of oil equivalent has been discovered on average for each exploration well (wildcat and appraisal) drilled in the country over the past six years. This aside, with around 16 exploration wells planned,

doubtedly contributing significantly to local growth, but the World Bank cautioned Guyana that risks related to the management of wealth generated from the sector remain.

“Guyana will be challenged to transform its burgeoning oil wealth into human capital, physical capital, and financial assets for broad-based welfare increases,” the World Bank advised.

The country’s oil-andgas-sector is already pump-

ary 5, 2021.

The nation, new to the petroleum sector, sold its first one million barrels of crude on February 19, 2020, raking in nearly US$55 million. In its second million-barrel sale, the country received US$35 million, US$46 million as proceeds from the sale of its third million-barrel of crude, and US$49.3 million from its fourth oil lift.

Based on a consolidation of all the lifts to date, the country has sold 5,009,797

try’s oil revenue and other lucrative sources of income, President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, has said that the standard of living and the quality of life must be lifted for all. Work will be rewarded; hard work will be rewarded even more, he said.

“Opportunities will be created to join in such work, and they will be made available to all. I recognise that there are communities within our society which, because of disadvantag-

“I am confident that the steps which our Government will take in 2021 will continue to lift up our economy, and improve the fortunes of every person within our nation.

The task before us in 2021 is to reaffirm our belief in ourselves as one people and one nation, determined to rise together in harmony, showing the world the strength and determination of which we are capable,” President Ali related.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Local Government Ministry debunks claims of discrimination THE Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development has issued a statement debunking claims which it describes as “mischievous” pertaining to alleged discrimination within the ministry.

The claims were made in a letter signed by a ‘Concerned Senior Staff’ to President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, and copied to Vice-President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo; Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton and Leader of the Opposition, Joseph Harmon.

In the letter, the staff purported serious allegations against current Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, including that of racism and nepotism, seeking the President’s “urgent intervention” to address these claims.

The letter was made public by Opposition Member of Parliament, Ganesh Mahipaul, a former staff of the ministry, whose employment was recently terminated by the Public Service Commission.

A press release from the ministry, addressing the allegations, noted that the letter presents a false narrative about the ministry and its operation, and is “riddled with inaccuracies, speculations and conjecture.”

“The ministry wishes to deflate any theories being bandied about, that the ministry is anti-Black and pro-Hin-

du. In fact, 98 per cent of the minister’s secretariat is not of East Indian ethnicity,” the release noted.

The letter to the President noted that since the Permanent Secretary assumed office, at least four contractual staff of African descent lost their job, while others are awaiting the end of their contracts.

The ministry’s press release noted that “everyone remains on staff including known members of the APNU+AFC who served as polling agents and activists and no staff was terminated from the ministry except those who were political appointees”.

UNCHANGED It further stated that all Head of Departments remains unchanged, except in the case of the Sanitation Unit where the Head has surpassed the age of retirement, and has since been retained in an advisory capacity, with salary and benefits unchanged.

The letter noted that the Permanent Secretary “dismantled” the Procurement Department, and placed the procurement manager under the guidance of an engineer; in turn placing the Procurement Department under the Engineering Department and made the procurement manager a “rubber stamp”.

manent Secretary Secretariat was denied a duty-free concession, allegedly due her ethnicity, while others were afforded the opportunity.

Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall (left) and Minister within the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Anand Persaud (right) In addressing this, the press release from the ministry noted that the procurement manager has not been relieved of his duties and is still being allowed to function in that capacity.

“However, his department has now been subsumed as part of the restructuring of the Engineering and Procurement Services Unit.

His salary also remains unchanged,” the release noted.

The letter makes mention of two drivers who are also awaiting the end of their contracts; however, the ministry cleared the air noting that one of those drivers is currently interdicted pending a criminal matter, while the other has surpassed the age of retirement and his contract has expired.

It also claims that a young woman of African descent attached to the Per-

REASSIGNED “The issue with the staff not being granted duty-free concession, the staff mentioned has been reassigned within the ministry in a capacity that does not require field work,” the press release noted.

Further, the “concerned senior staff” noted that the Permanent Secretary has formulated a Social Committee to plan activities for the ministry, of which 98 per cent of members are of East Indian descent or of Hindu religion, with the only person of African descent being that of the Deputy Permanent Secretary.

The release explained that this is far from the truth, as the committee comprises of three staff of African de-

scent and three staff of East Indian descent, with religious diversification.

It was also reported in the letter that at the ministry’s Camp Street, Georgetown Annex, staffers at that branch are being treated differently based on political alignment.

The ministry in response to this claim maintains that any qualified member of the public has access to employment as long as a vacancy exists therein.

“The ministers and their managerial teams all have an open-door policy and all attempts to sow seeds of discord and disunity will continue to be rebuffed,” the release noted.

“The ministry wishes to reinforce government’s position of inclusion and unity and finds it reprehensible that agent provocateurs are seeking to create tension and ethnic division among staff members,” it added.

Pensioner found dead in West Coast Berbice house A PENSIONER, who is said to be at the centre of a land dispute, was found dead with what appeared to be several chop wounds about the body, in his house at Number Three Village, West Coast Berbice, on Tuesday.

The man has since been identified as 68-year-old Surojdeo ‘Sargee’ Deochand, who residents say is at the centre of a land dispute, which may have turned deadly.

Initial reports indicated that the pensioner was found

in an unconscious state in his house by his niece and other relatives, who immediately summoned the police.

Further, reports are that officers responded promptly to the call and, upon arrival at the pensioner’s house, found him in a pool of blood.

The officers later escorted Deochand to the Fort Wellington Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead by a doctor on duty.

Based on preliminary observations, the man suffered

injuries to the left side of his face, the back of his head, the left wrist, and the right hand.

Investigation into the incident is ongoing.

According to reports, the pensioner was arrested in the initial investigations of the murder of teen cousins, Isaiah and Joel Henry, whose mutilated bodies were found at Cotton Tree backlands, West Coast Berbice, last September.

January last, three men were charged and remanded to prison for the brutal murder of the teen cousins.

Akash Singh, 20, called “Monkey”, of Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo (EBE); his stepbrother, Anil Sancharra, 33, called

DEAD: 68-year-old, Surojdeo ‘Sargee’ Deochand “Dan-Pole” and “Rasta”, of D’Edward Village, WCB; and Vinod Gopaul, 34, called “Magga”, of Yakusari, Black Bush Polder, Corentyne, Berbice were charged for the murders.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 31, 2021

No additional COVID samples sent for sequencing ... health minister says arrangements being made for genetic analysis

By Vishani Ragobeer SINCE the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), in collaboration with a team from the University of the West Indies (UWI) St. Augustine Campus, tested 10 COVID-19 samples from Guyana early this year, no additional samples have been sent abroad to help analyse whether variants of the coronavirus are in Guyana.

Responding to a question from the Guyana Chronicle during his daily COVID-19 update, the Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony, noted that CARPHA had suspended the genomic sequencing it was conducting on COVID-19 positive samples for some time. This suspension came after the agency tested Guyana’s 10 samples in February.

Genomic sequencing is a type of genetic analysis used to determine whether COVID-19 samples are the ‘normal’ strain or variants.

According to the BBC, it is not unusual for viruses to mutate, and more often than not, mutations are usually insignificant. Sometimes, however, viruses do mutate into ‘stronger’ or more advantageous forms of the virus.

This was the case with the SARS-CoV-2 virus (the virus that causes the disease COVID-19) which mutated into three variants of concern thus far. These are the P1/ Brazil variant, the B.1.1.7/ United Kingdom (UK) variant, and the B.1.351/ South Africa variant.

The advantage that these variants have is that they are more transmissible (meaning that more persons can become infected) and in some cases, able to bypass the immune response produced by the COVID-19 vaccines.

Dr. Anthony has emphasised, on numerous occasions, that Guyana does not have the capacity to conclusively identify newer variants (or strains) because the country is unable to perform genomic sequencing. But, he has not rejected the possibil-

ity that the variants may be in Guyana.

However, he said: “They (CARPHA) have since notified us that they’ll be able to do some additional sequencing and once we put all the arrangements in place, we’ll be able to send samples to them.”

Additionally, he related that Guyana has been trying to engage bodies in the United States so that additional samples can be analysed.

The Guyana Chronicle reported that the country will be able to test more positive COVID-19 samples through an arrangement brokered with the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York.

In an invited comment Dr. Anthony told this newspaper that local health authorities have been attempting to intensify surveillance efforts to detect whether these variants are present in the country.

A strategy has been to obtain all positive samples detected in the border communities and send those samples to the Icahn School of Medicine so that the genetic analysis can be conducted.

On Tuesday, Dr. Anthony said that the local authorities were still trying to finalise details of getting samples to the US. Even though Guyana has not been able to identify and confirm the presence of these variants, the health minister highlighted: “Variants can pose challenges, especially those variants that have an increased transmissibility... and in some cases with these variants, even if you had the infection in the past, you can be re-infected.”

To protect against the variants, and also from the ‘normal’ coronavirus, Dr. Anthony emphasised that simple public health measures can be used. These include wearing a mask, washing hands, avoiding large spaces, and maintaining an adequate physical distance.

He also emphasised that vaccines do not prevent persons from becoming infected with the virus;

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony instead, vaccines prevent persons from becoming severely infected. As such, persons who already received the vaccine should not cease adhering to the COVID-19 guidelines. The health minister said that persons must be aware of their “individual responsibility”.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Perseverance and success

OFTEN the top students of the University of Guyana hug the media spotlight on graduation day, and soon after, the attention on them and those who graduated disappear.

However, things took a different turn this year, due largely to COVID-19, which necessitated adjustments be made to ensure adherence to social distancing and other factors in keeping with national guidelines to safeguard against the contraction and spread of the pandemic.

As such, unlike previous years when the graduation was a one-day affair, this year it was spread across several days and held virtually, a first for the University of Guyana.

This undoubtedly demonstrates the ability of the University of Guyana to adapt to change and deliver in a challenging environment. Despite its own challenges, Guyana’s premier tertiary education provider quickly adopted to the new COVID-19 environment by putting systems in place that enable online learning at a time when universities

the world over were shutting their doors as a result of operational strains occasioned by the pandemic.

These efforts by the University of Guyana under the leadership of Vice-Chancellor, Professor Paloma Mohamed, are deserving of much praise. It should also be noted that Professor Mohamed is no stranger to the media, having facilitated numerous training sessions for local journalists and served as judge in several media awards competitions celebrating excellence in journalism.

She understands the value of keeping the public informed and it is within this light that the work by the university’s public relations team with regards to the happenings at the extended graduation is most commendable.

It has placed the spotlight not only on the top graduating students of the respective faculties, but also on those who, against great odds, persevered and graduated from UG. Immediately, the story of 20-year-old Rajni Persaud comes to mind. Despite the challenges battling cerebral palsy (CP), a

disorder that affects movements, muscle tone or posture due to damage to the brain, Persaud motored on and stood out in her class.

The young lady, who did the Diploma in Accountancy programme, did not just graduate, but graduated with distinction. Her story is a living testimony that disability does not mean inability and what the mind conceives, one could achieve once effort is dedicatedly channeled towards achieving the set goal.

This determination of spirit was adequately captured by Persaud, who, in relating her struggles, said: “It was sometimes difficult to get into some of the classrooms, but that did not stop me from achieving my goals. Quitting was not an option, no matter what happened.”

Her story is an inspiration to the many people in Guyana battling disability of varying kinds as it underscored that one should not give up without trying and focus, dedication and hard work are key factors that enable change and success.

While Persaud’s story was one of tri-

umph despite physical challenges, the story of Nicolas Ariston Chesney, also a young UG graduate, featured in our Tuesday’s edition, is one of determination to succeed and some would say daring entrepreneurship.

Confronted with challenges to meet his expenses, young Chesney never contemplated dropping out at university but found a simple, clean and legitimate way to help fund his studies and did not shy away from relating his method.

“I sold plantain chips, chicken foot, cassava chips, sweet potato chips,” related the young man, who started small but expanded and earned the name “Chips man” in the process.

Chesney, who injured a nerve during his chip-making, is an epitome of perseverance and a testimony that perspiration turns inspiration into reality.

It was most rewarding when he was awarded a Bachelor Degree in Engineering from the University of Guyana, during one of its recent convocation exercises.

Vaccine Maitri: Together we emerge stronger

By Dr. K.J. Srinivasa, Indian High Commissioner to Guyana GUYANA came on the COVID-19 radar when it confirmed its first imported case of Coronavirus in Georgetown on 11th March 2020. More than a year has elapsed, and the pandemic shows no signs of abating.

The situation is no better in most countries of the world. Out of the few known ways to combat the novel coronavirus is the COVID-19 vaccine, developed simultaneously by many companies and countries across the world. It was personally a matter of great honour to receive a consignment of 80,000 ‘Made in India’, WHO-approved Oxford-AstraZeneca COVISHIELD vaccine doses on 7th March at Cheddi Jagan International Airport, alongside Hon. Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, Prime Minister of Guyana, Hon. Dr. Frank Anthony, Health Minister, and Hon. Hugh Todd, Minister of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation.

The vaccine consignment is a gift from the people and the Government of India to the people of Guyana. With Guyana having now started the vaccination process, I am hopeful that the ‘Made in India’ vaccines will prove helpful in safeguarding the most vulnerable and those at the forefront in the fight against COVID-19.

The vaccine consignment to Guyana is part of India’s larger effort named ‘Vaccine Maitri’ or ‘Vaccine Friendship’, under which India has so far shipped 58 million doses of vaccines to 71 countries in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and Africa. The recipient countries include UK, Canada, Brazil and Mexico. Both Covishield and Covaxin have

been exported so far - some in the form of “gifts”, others in line with commercial agreements signed between the vaccine makers and the recipient nations, and the rest under the Covax scheme, which is led by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and hopes to deliver more than two billion doses to people in 190 countries in less than a year. In the coming days, India will supply vaccines to more countries in Europe, North America, Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, SouthEast Asia and the Pacific Islands. Recently, India gifted 175,000 doses of ‘Made in India’ Covid-19 vaccine - COVISHIELD for the benefit of several CARICOM countries, Antigua and Barbuda (40,000 doses), St. Kitts and Nevis (20,000 doses), St. Lucia (25,000 doses), St. Vincent and Grenadines (40,000 doses) and Suriname (50,000 doses) which is part of an overall 570,000 vaccine donation to the CARICOM region. This is done as we undertake the world’s largest vaccination drive back home, having inoculated close to 30 million including health and frontline workers and those over 60 years of age.

While expressing his profound gratitude to India, H.E. Dr. Irfaan Ali, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana said that, as President, he wishes to thank Prime Minister Modi and the people of India for the kind donation of 80,000 vaccines to Guyana. He added, “indeed, this generosity speaks to a government and a people that are committed to the welfare and well-being of humanity.

Prime Minister Modi has demonstrated, through his own management of COVID - this pandemic, great responsibility, not only for India, but globally. Guyana is not the only country that benefitted from the kindness of

India. And it’s not only about kindness, it is a responsibility India took in ensuring underprivileged developing countries also have access to the vaccines. So, on behalf of the people of Guyana, we are grateful to Prime Minister Modi and the people of India. We wish you and the people of India continued good health, prosperity as we partner together to bring this pandemic to an end and ensuring there is equality in access to vaccines. Thank you very much”.

The Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Hon. Gaston Browne, thanked the Hon. Prime Minister of India, Mr. Narendra Modi, for the kind gesture of India at this difficult time. He said that he was extremely grateful to India and that, in fact, Prime Minister Modi would have demonstrated, perhaps, the most significant act of benevolence, kindness and certainly of empathy that would have been seen in recent times compared to any act by any leader globally. He said that it was “one of the most notable acts of benevolence within the last 100 years”. He considered India to be a significant development partner for the Government and people of Antigua and Barbuda and in the wider Caribbean.

Many have asked in hushed tones what India seeks in return from distributing the COVID-19 vaccine. “There is more than meets the eye,” they say. “There is definitely some quid pro quo,” others state. I feel a sense of ‘déjà vu’ remembering that similar questions were raised when India’s Cipla company had slashed the price of AIDS-recommended fixed-drug combination in 2001 from US$12,000 by Western companies to US$350 per year, or less than a dollar per day, benefitting many in poor regions of Asia,

Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr. K.J. Srinivasa Africa, and Latin America.

By delivering the COVISHIELD vaccine within days of its rollout, India has once again demonstrated its willingness and ability to act as a First Responder to crises in the World, including in Guyana. In the case of coronavirus, India has realised that it is impossible to control the pandemic by restricting vaccination only to India. Global problems such as these cannot be solved by adhering to national boundaries.

This is also the reason that, besides starting vaccination in India and gifting to developing countries, India has also opened up the ‘Made in India’ COVID-19 vaccines See page 7

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Vaccine Maitri: Together we ...

From page 6

for use in COVAX facility, GAVI Alliance and for commercial procurement around the world.

The logic behind India’s approach can also be found in its age-old philosophy of “Vasudheva kutumbakam,” which means that the world is one family. This philosophy is not just a speak-sake but has informed the Indian mind and our outlook to the world since time immemorial.

It is this philosophy that is the core of India’s foreign policy approach and our emphasis on South-South cooperation. Dr. S. Jaishankar, Foreign Minister of India said “The Bhagavad Gita states do your work with the welfare of others always in mind and that is Vaccine Maitri=Vaccine Friendship”. It is in this spirit that India also provided more than US$ one million worth of 35 life-saving ventilators and COVID-related medicines and medical equipment, including Hydroxichloroquine, personal protection equipment kits and masks to Guyana that I personally handed over on 2nd September 2020.

Another reason India could pull off Vaccine Maitri and medical donations is because of its huge pharmaceutical manu-

facturing and vaccine development capacity, built painstakingly over the years. India is the largest provider of generic medicines globally, and also the only country with the largest number of US FDA-compliant pharma plants outside the USA. With more than 3,000 pharma companies and over 10,000 manufacturing facilities, India is referred to as the pharmacy of the world. Over 62 per cent of the world’s vaccines also come from India and form the backbone of mass vaccination programmes by entities like UNICEF and WHO. Indian vaccines are not only uncompromising in quality and safety, but are also the most affordable in the world.

This is what prompted United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, to recently say that in the times of COVID-19, the vaccine production capacity of India is “the best asset the world has today”. The people across the globe have expressed concern about the need for larger countries not to engage in the practice of ‘vaccine hoarding’.

WHO Director-General, Tedros Ghebreyesus, has also said that the world is “on the brink of a moral catastrophic failure” and has warned that a “me-first approach” in distributing vaccines “will only prolong the

pandemic”.

As far as COVID-19 vaccines are concerned, India has thus far approved two ‘Made in India’ vaccines for emergency use.

The first is the COVISHIELD being produced by Serum Institute of India. The other is COVAXIN, developed by Bharat Biotech, one of the largest vaccine developers in India. COVAXIN has already been administered to many millions in India, including to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with little or no side effects. Recently, the preliminary results from COVAXIN’s Phase 3 clinical trials have shown 81 per cent efficacy. It is also claimed that COVAXIN is effective against the UK strain of COVID-19. The medical journal Lancet has also called COVAXIN “safe, immunogenic with no serious side effects”.

COVAXIN is also being considered for import by Guyana and other countries in the region, including Brazil (which has already ordered 20 million doses), Nicaragua, Paraguay, Ecuador, Cuba, Venezuela, Colombia, etc. along with multiple other nations such as Iran, Malaysia, Myanmar, Mauritius, some Gulf nations, etc. subject to approval from their regulatory authorities. About

half a dozen other COVID-19 vaccines are in different stages of development in India, including an intra-nasal vaccine by Bharat Biotech.

India firmly believes that the only way to defeat the virus is through cooperation and sharing of resources between countries. In the words of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, “Today India, with not one but two ‘Made in India’ vaccines, is ready to protect humanity.”

I have no doubt that with closer cooperation we will be able to make progress in not only tackling the pandemic but other global issues like global warming, poverty and terrorism.

I conclude with another ancient Sanskrit couplet, a part of which is also incidentally printed on the COVID-19 vaccine consignment that landed in Guyana: “Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah, Sarve Bhavantu Niramayah Sarve Bhadrani Pasyantu, Ma Kascidduh Khabhagbhaveta “May all be at peace, may no one suffer from illness, May all see what is auspicious, may no one suffer.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 31, 2021

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 31, 2021

On the path to success!

How the USAID helped a young Guyanese teen turn his life around

By Ayesha Lett (USAID) “I WANT to be a mechanical engineer!” That enthusiastic declaration comes from 15-year-old Shemar Thomas, who lives in the community of Lodge, Georgetown.

Shemar wasn’t always so focused on the future.

In his early teens, Shemar struggled as change entered his life.

He spent a majority of his time living with his grandparents to ensure he had proper supervision, while his mother, Marilyn, worked 12-hour shifts as a security guard to provide income for the family.

Despite that, Shemar’s behaviour was out of control, with him prone to violent outbursts and turning in poor quality work at school.

His grandparents and mother believed if they didn’t solicit additional help soon, he wouldn’t be able to reverse course and turn his life around before the consequences of his actions became serious or before he fell in with bad company.

In parts of the Caribbean, this risk is all too real.

Many families face the prospect of being economically and socially marginalised, making their youth more at risk for involvement in delinquent behaviour that leads to crime and violence.

With youth unemployment ranging from 20 to 40 per cent, compounded by concerning levels of illiteracy and increased drug trafficking, youth are at a higher risk for involvement in crime

and violence. So reducing crime and violence is a high priority for citizens and governments in the Eastern and Southern Caribbean.

To help get Shemar back on the right path, Marilyn decided to enroll him in the USAID-funded Family Matters project, which targets at-risk youth in St. Lucia, Guyana and St. Kitts and Nevis.

Once enrolled in the year-long programme, families participate in a series of scheduled home visits with certified Community, Family and Youth Resilience Programme (CYFR) family counsellors to change risky behaviours, strengthen families, and build greater family cohesion, youth self-esteem and better coping skills.

After six months, “youth risk levels” are reassessed to evaluate progress, and treatment is tailored to best benefit the child and family.

After joining the programme and with encouragement from his grandfather, Shemar’s behaviour and performance in school began to improve drastically. He became more engaged with his schoolwork, especially marine biology, a natural fit with Guyana’s diverse marine life. Like many teenagers, Shemar’s interests soon shifted to a new love: engineering.

“I’m doing a lot better in school, thanks to the programme. I really want to be a mechanical engineer now, so I am studying the subjects that will allow me to become an engineer,” Shemar explained.

“The one thing that I really loved about the programme was learning to play the steel pan… I love it,” Shemar said. In 2019, Shemar played the steel pan during a visit from the U.S. Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch (USAID photo) While the programme member of the family who has helped Shemar focus benefitted. His mom, Maron his schoolwork, it has ilyn, said it helped her imalso provided him with op- prove her parenting.

“It really was a good portunities to try activities he wouldn’t normally have programme,” she said, addaccess to, such as playing a ing: “It helped me to control musical instrument. myself when I had to deal “The one thing that I really loved about the program was learning to play the steel pan… I love it,” Shemar said.

He was also proud to have the opportunity to play a piece on the steel pan for U.S. Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch, when she visited a CFYR-sponsored summer programme.

“The Family Matters programme was very great and I am grateful for USAID for it. I have learned to better control my anger and deal with my emotions when things aren’t going my way,” Shemar added.

Shemar is not the only

with Shemar. They taught us activities that pulled us closer together as a family, and to resolve any differences. It helped my entire family, and I am so happy that Shemar is on a better path now.”

Thanks to Shemar’s success, Marilyn also enrolled one of Shemar’s brothers in the Family Matters programme and has since noticed significant improvements in his schoolwork and overall behaviour.

Marilyn noted that she is especially thankful to their family counsellor who assisted the entire family with anger management, conflict resolution, and ultimately helped them build a happier and stronger family.

While the programme concluded in November 2020, long-term sustainability was a critical component of the USAID project. Today in Guyana and St. Kitts, government ministries continue to provide Family Matters

counselling to at-risk youth and their families.

Regional Representative of USAID Eastern and Southern Caribbean, Clinton White said: “We are thrilled that the Family Matters program had a positive impact on the Thomas family as well as so many others in Guyana. High levels of crime and violence endanger citizens’ lives and lead to instability that hinders societies’ ability to thrive.

“USAID is proud to partner with the people of the Caribbean to move education, health, economic development, and prosperity forward, so they are able to have opportunities to better their lives and to promote more vibrant communities.

When we build stronger and more vibrant societies, we provide more opportunities that allow both people and communities to flourish.”

And Shemar is doing just that.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Enhanced security in Berbice expected –– as high-level security team engages regional authorities

AS part of an effort to enhance security and improve the response to crime in Berbice, Commissioner of Police (ag), Nigel Hoppie; Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Brigadier Godfrey Bess, and other officials of the armed forces of Guyana, engaged regional au-

thorities during a recent visit to the area.

During the visit, the team, which also included Presidential Advisor on National Security, Captain Gerald Gouveia, and Director of Prisons (ag), Nicklon Elliot, met and interacted with Divisional Commander of Region Six (East

Commissioner of Police (ag) Nigel Hoppie (centre) flanked by Director of Prisons (ag) Nicklon Elliot (left) and Presidential Advisor on National Security, Captain Gerald Gouveia (right) during a tour of the New Amsterdam Prison

Berbice-Corentyne), Jairam Ramlakhan, his administrative team and executive members of the Central Station Management Committee.

The team’s first stop was at the Central Police Station, New Amsterdam, where Hoppie used the opportunity to acknowledge members of corporate society, community policing groups and other civil society bodies for the support they provide to the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

“We recognise the importance of working together so we can be able to reduce crime and make our communities safer for residents,” he said, adding: “We are in the final year of the strategic plan, which runs from 2019 to 2021, and we have rolled out a set of initiatives that are about to come on stream and we are pushing to ensure that most of the activities are set out.”

Further, he said: “We also need to foster more collaboration to ensure that the police is public and the public is the

police.”

The Police Commissioner also utilised the opportunity to commend Divisional Commander, Ramlakhan, for his leadership style and urged him to continue community engagements. Superintendent Ramlakhan took command of Region Six in October 2020.

Ramlakhan had hit the ground running and has since been engaging with members of the public throughout the length and breadth of Region Six. His work was acknowledged by the team, which also visited the New Amsterdam Prison. The team, guided by Elliot and Superintendent and Officer-in-Charge of the prison, Udistair Holligan, conducted a tour of the facility.

During the tour of the fa-

Commissioner of Police (ag) Nigel Hoppie (left) and Divisional Commander, Superintendent Jairam Ramlakhan, in discussion on matters related to security cility, Holligan highlighted areas which could be enhanced with support from the relevant authorities.

The team, in response,

pitched ideas and strategies which could be employed to improve not just the prison, but also the response to crime in the area.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 31, 2021

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Chronicle launches comprehensive quarterly supplement WITH a focus on more diverse and in-depth content and coverage, the Guyana National Newspapers Limited (GNNL), on Tuesday, launched the first edition of its “quarterly supplement” and delivered copies of same to Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister, Kwame McCoy. The copies of the 28-page supplement were presented to the minister by GNNL’s Editor-in-Chief, Tajeram Mohabir, who, during a visit to McCoy’s office, was accompanied by GNNL’s General Manager, Moshamie Ramotar; Advertising Clerk, Sarah Boyce; Senior Reporter, Tamica Garnett and Reporter, Jared Liddell.

McCoy commended the company for implementing the initiative, which, he said, is also a good marketing strategy.

“In browsing through, I think it is in keeping with the dynamics of the society in terms of where we are headed as a country. And I would ask everyone from the business community to support this initiative.

“The supplement provides important information and facts about what’s happening in Guyana. The effort by the staff, marketing and editorial departments is commendable,” Minister McCoy said.

The quarterly supple-

ment was conceptualised by the Board of Directors of the GNNL, publishers of the Guyana Chronicle, and it focuses on business and development to add variety and content to the company’s regular publication.

Stories included in the first quarterly cover the need for an improved legal framework to create a more conducive business environment; a look at the COVID-19 pandemic in Guyana one year on; how the COVID-19 situation affected tourism in Lethem; job creation; Guyana becoming the energy capital; and a look at the music industry and women in business.

Ramotar, in her remarks, said she hoped that the initiative is appreciated by the readers and gains needed popularity.

“It’s a very good initiative. I see it as a vital piece of information. It’s to inform the public and could be a pull out and be kept as a keepsake. Students from UG and other institutions can even use it as a research paper,” she said.

The new quarterly supplement follows the newspaper’s publishing of a successful 16-page COVID-19 supplement that was produced to mark one year since the first case was diagnosed here.

Umbrella body for fisherfolk revived AFTER years of being dormant, the Guyana National Fisherfolk Organisation

Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha

(GNFO) was resuscitated following its elections last Friday.

During a brief ceremony and election exercise held in the Ministry of Agriculture’s boardroom, subject Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, told the gathering that great responsibility comes with the restoration of the organisation.

He said the officers, who will be placed in various areas, should keep in mind that their job is to serve the fishermen of Guyana to the best of their abilities.

“As a government, we want to ensure that the See page 14

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Minister within the Prime Minister’s Office, Kwame McCoy (third left) examines a copy of the Guyana Chronicle Quarterly, as General Manager of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited, Moshamie Ramotar (left) and Editor-in-Chief, Tajeram Mohabir (second left) pay keen attention. Also in the photograph are, Advertising Clerk, Sarah Boyce; Reporter, Jared Liddell; and Senior Reporter, Tamica Garnett, fourth, fifth and sixth left, respectively

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Umbrella body for fisherfolk ...

From page 13 benefit of the programmes and policies that we have put in place reach the real beneficiaries, and we have some very unscrupulous persons in this country who want to make maximum profit at the expense of the poor and the working class of this country, and we will not tolerate it,” Minister

Chairman of the GNFO, Pameshwar Jainarine Mustapha affirmed.

Further, he said: “This is happening at an opportune time when the Ministry of Agriculture and the Government of Guyana are encouraging our fisherfolk to become more aware of your role and responsibility, and also your participatory approach to fisheries management and decision-making process of our country.”

Additionally, Minister Mustapha told the fisherfolk that the organisation will receive the full support of the Government of Guyana in the development of the country’s fisheries sector.

“The government is committed to giving you the kind of support and, as a matter of fact, what we recognise is that the fishing industry as a whole has the potential to bring in much-needed revenue to the country,” the minister said.

Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton, also told the newly elected members of the organisation that “co-op societies” should remodel and modernise themselves to better fulfil their mandates.

“When I got into this job, the first thing I learnt is that one of the richest countries in this world, Switzerland, is built and the pillar that it stands on is cooperative societies,” Minister Hamilton said, adding: “I think too long in Guyana we have done an injustice to cooperative society and, in a lot of instances, we have given it a bad name and it has left a bad taste in people’s mouth.”

Hamilton further told the gathering that through his

ministry, cooperative societies like the fisherfolk organisation will benefit from a number of training opportunities, which he hopes they, the group, would take advantage of.

“We will support every cooperative society by training because a lot of times the society dies, not because of money, it is because of the management of it and so we are hoping at the level of the cooperative department and at the Board of Industrial Training to give technical training to officers of coops,” Minister Hamilton said.

He added that the training exercises will help cooperative societies to improve the management of their respective organisations, and it will also teach persons how to handle finances and make smart investments choices on behalf of their organisations.

Speaking about the issues facing fisherfolk, newly elected Chairman, Pameshwar Jainarine, said:

Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton “Some of the issues faced when the organisation was resuscitated in 2015 are the same issues we face now.

These include inadequate boarding facilities, rundown wharfs, bad roads leading to some of the landing sites, lack of trained personnel managing the landing sites, poor markets and prices for our catch, and payment of VAT on items that were made to no longer attract VAT. “The GNFO members couldn’t deal with the issues.

They were under the thought process that the former Minister of Agriculture would’ve assisted, and after seeing that nothing was being done, they became frustrated and stopped attending meetings.

We are functioning but not as we’d like.

This is why we’ve embarked on a nationwide scoping exercise to bring more landing sites, or what we would say ‘the primary fisherfolk organisations’ into the GNFO,” Jainarine said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 31, 2021

PCR testing for ‘COVD-19’ now offered at four local labs

By Vishani Ragobeer TWO additional laboratories-- the Coastal Diagnostic Laboratory and the Sheriff Medical Centre Laboratory-- have been granted provisional licences by the Ministry of Health to offer Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test for COVID-19, which means that there are now four laboratories offering PCR testing.

By way of Public notice, the health ministry announced that four laboratories are authorised to conduct real-time reverse transcription PCR (rRTPCR) testing for COVID-19.

These are the National Public Health Reference Laboratory (NPHRL), the Eureka Medical Laboratory Incorporated and the two newly licensed laboratories-- Coastal Diagnostic Laboratory and the Sheriff Medical Laboratory.

The NPHRL and Eureka have been offering PCR testing since last year. And, even though these two laboratories were the only two licensed places to conduct this “gold standard” test for COVID-19, several local establishments were also offering the test.

The local authorities were forced to crackdown on these establishments and, instead, encouraged them to get laboratories up to standard then apply to the health ministry for the relevant licences.

On Tuesday, during his daily COVID-19 update, Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, noted that provisional licences have been granted to the Coastal Diagnostic Laboratory, which is located at the St. Paul’s Retreat Centre at Vryheid’s Lust on the East Coast Demerara (ECD) and the Sheriff Medical Centre Laboratory, located at Sheriff Street.

“We tend to monitor for a period of at least three months, and once they satisfy everything we’re looking for and they meet the standards, they’ll get the licence,” Dr. Anthony explained.

The laboratories which

are conducting PCR tests are required to provide daily updates to the ministry on how many tests were conducted and information on whether those tests yielded positive results; this is reflected in the daily COVID-19 dashboard.

The information provided to the ministry helps the local authorities to conduct their surveillance for the virus and manage those persons who are COVID-positive.

In addition to these four laboratories, eight laboratories at medical facilities are offering antigen tests for COVID-19.

These are: The Balwant Singh Hospital; the Eureka Medical Laboratories; the Dr. Leslie Persaud Clinic: Diagnostic Centre; the Woodlands Hospital Limited Laboratory; the Sheriff Medical Centre; the Quest Medical Centre (Georgetown); the Anamayah Memorial Hospital and the Coastland Diagnostic Centre.

UPTAKE OF VACCINES In addition to testing, the health minister said there has been an increasing uptake of the COVID-19 vaccines that Guyana has been able to secure.

Guyana has so far received 20,000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine as a donation from China; 80,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine as a donation from India, and 24,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine through the COVAX facility.

In addition, Barbados extended to Guyana 3,000 doses of its Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines which were donated to them by the Government of India. Additional doses of the COVID-19 vaccines-- the Sputnik V vaccine from Russia-- are expected this week.

On Monday, it was announced that 31,000 persons have been vaccinated so far.

Additionally, it is important to note that vaccination is ongoing in all ten administrative regions.

Minister Anthony noted that the constant

challenge has been that people of different age groups are visiting the vaccination sites to receive vaccines; however, only persons over the age of 60 and frontline workers, including frontline health workers, have been receiving vaccines. From today, persons over the age of 40 will be inoculated.

The Sheriff Medical Centre (Delano Williams photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Consensus reached on importation of Florida goods

By Richard Bhainie THE Government of Guyana and the busi-

ness community, particularly importers and manufacturers, have reached a compromise

pertaining to an issue surrounding the importation of goods from the state of Florida,

United States of America (USA), which has plagued the business community for the past

At Tuesday’s consultations at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, at Liliendaal East Coast Demerara, are, from left: Adviser to the Ministry of Health, Dr Leslie Ramsammy; Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, S.C; and Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond (DPI Photo) five years.

This was according to Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, S.C, who was at the time speaking on the sidelines of a consultation with stakeholders to hear their concerns, at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Liliendaal, on Tuesday.

The issue at hand stemmed from the Guyana Government Analyst Food and Drug Department’s (GA-FDD’s) refusal to accept certificates of free sale issued

by Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI), a non-profit, public/private entity which certifies products for exports on behalf of the Florida Department of Health and the Florida Department of Agriculture.

The GA-FDD has insisted on a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) certification for such goods; however, the FDA’s certificate is no longer issued in respect of goods exported from Florida, and that function

is now performed by Enterprise Florida Inc. “Unfortunately, our food and drugs department has difficulties with that process.

They feel that the quality control is not there with the Florida Enterprise Certificate, that there is no warranty of the suitability of the goods certified by that agency for export and as a result they have not been accepting foods certified by that agency for importation into Guyana and that has caused repeated problems,” Nandlall said.

SOLUTION He explained that the solution agreed to is that the FDA certificate will be required for goods that are imported by an authorised distributorship, since the distributors incur no difficulty in obtaining that particular certificate, and the importation of those See page 17

A section of the gathering at the consultation exercise (DPI photo)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Consensus reached on importation of Florida ...

From page 16 goods will be done solely by those authorised distributors.

Further, in relation to goods that are not the subject of distributorship, the Government of Guyana and GA-FDD will accept the certificates of free sale issued by Enterprise Florida, Inc. The Attorney-General noted that accepting the certificates of free sale issued by Enterprise Florida, Inc. is normal, since the certificates are widely accepted by many counties in the Caribbean. It is for this reason that Guyana will not be unique in accepting that documentation.

He explained that the Government of Guyana is committed to hassle free trade, ensuring that the business community flourishes and that Guyanese consumers are able to enjoy the widest variety of goods, while maintaining quality control for the importation of goods into Guyana, especially food products.

“So we have to strike that balance of competing interests, one you don’t want to make Guyana a dumping ground and at the same time you want to facilitate free trade as possible and those were the guiding principles that inspired the discussions,” he said.

Also present at the consultations were the Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond; Advisor to the Ministry of

Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, and others, who were tasked with the responsibility by Cabinet to conduct the engagement and derive a solution.

Given that a compromise was successfully arrived at between the stakeholders and the Government, the recommendation on the way forward will now be taken to Cabinet for approval and implementation.

“In the interregnum, we have agreed to a date from now to May 1, all goods that are enroute will be accepted using the Enterprise Florida Certificate until we concretise this decision and we implement it,” Nandlall said.

The Attorney-General, in February, 2021, had met with Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham), Zulfikar Ally; AmCham’s Economist, Stephen Kissoon, and the United States Embassy’s Deputy Chief of Mission, Mark Cullinane and Economic/Commercial Officer, Benjamin Hulefeld, on the matter.

During that meeting, Nandlall had reiterated Guyana’s commitment to free trade and market economy, subject of course to obligations established under various treaties.

He had also cautioned that the government and the state apparatus must remain vigilant to protect Guyana from “dumping”, a problem facing countries all over the globe.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 31, 2021

76 persons recover from COVID-19 AS the fight against COVID-19 continues, an additional 76 persons have recovered after being infected, while ten persons have tested positive for the virus, according to the Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 dashboard for March 30 2021.

With 76 persons being medically cleared within the past 24 hours, the total number of persons, who have recovered, moves to 8,998.

Meanwhile, the ten new cases were recorded from a total of 452 tests conducted; the country has now recorded a total of 10,192 confirmed cases since the first COVID-19 case was reported in March 2020.

Six of the latest confirmed cases were recorded in Region Four; two new cases were recorded in Region Three; and Regions Six and Seven recorded one new case each.

Six of the newly confirmed cases were females and the remaining four were males. There are currently 981 active cases.

Twelve of the active cases are being kept at the

COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the National Infectious Diseases Hospital at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown; 58 are in institutional isolation; 893 are in home isolation and 18 are in institutional quarantine. Many of the persons infected with the virus are said to be asymptomatic, that is, exhibiting no symptoms.

The updated COVID–19 Emergency Measures (No. Nine) are in force from March 1, 2021 until March 31, 2021. They may be extended or amended by notice of the Minister of Health, after an assessment of the prevailing public health conditions of the pandemic.

As per these current measures, however, all persons are required to wear face masks when leaving their homes.

Physical distancing and adequate sanitisation are also important. The current curfew is 22:30 hours to 04:00 hours. Persons with symptoms of COVID-19 are asked to call the COVID-19 hotline numbers: 231-1166; 226-7480; or 180/181 for assistance.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Fake and sensational – how Western media choose their Xinjiang story

(CGTN) -- Western media have a terrible track record on fact-checking or questioning serious charges made against those that their governments consider as geopolitical adversaries.

Though no photographic evidence or satellite photos have proven it to be true and no UN body has validated the accusation, the Xinjiang-”genocide”-narrative gained traction within the media circle. The thirst for any sources – credible or not – on this fiction seemed unquenchable. Any sliver of information could be quoted, used and pushed in major media organizations without due diligence or validation.

A recent report from the Newlines Institute for Strategy and Policy is the latest media-favorite. The report claimed that China’s Xinjiang policies constitute “genocide” and that China has “breached provision of the UN Genocide Convention.” CNN ran a story on this report under the headline “First independent report into Xinjiang genocide allegations claim evidence of Beijing’s ‘intent to destroy’ Uyghur people.”

The organisation describes itself as a Washington, D.C.-based think-tank affiliated with Fairfax University of America, previously known as Virginia International University until 2019. Before changing its name, it was almost shut down by state regulators over rampant plagiarism, the admission of large numbers of students with poor English skills, and online classes that were “patently deficient.” Most of its 153 students come from overseas. Only one studies foreign affairs.

The school appears to be more like a front for getting visas for unqualified foreigners than a school for reputable scholarship.

The think-tank and university were founded by Ahmed Alwani, who, according to the school’s website, “has served as a member of the advisory board of the U.S. military’s Africa Command.” Many of the staff have links to the intelligence community. One of the listed contributors to the think-tank is far-right Christian and pseudo-scholar, Adrian Zenz, whose role in previous anti-China disinformation campaigns is well documented. The “genocide” report was made in cooperation with the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights (RWCHR), whose

founder, Irwin Cotler, has a history of pushing disinformation campaigns against China.

So, this brand-new think-tank, stocked with people tied to the U.S. intelligence community operated by a diploma mill and with politically biased “scholars,” became the source that’s been chased by media and politicians alike. An independent journalist might think this is a very thin reed on which to build accusations of genocide.

Did Western media act with any skepticism or doubt at this source?

To CNN’s credit, its reporting used terms like “alleged” throughout. However, the report simply parrots the claims in the think-tank’s production, without questioning its background or motivations of the authors.

And accompanying the report is a photo of what looks like an innocuous large school or compound. But it carries the frightening caption, “This photo taken on June 4, 2019 shows a facility believed to be a re-education camp where

mostly Muslim ethnic minorities are detained, north of Akto in China’s northwestern Xinjiang region.” A normal reader could come away with the impression this is proof genocide is taking place.

This isn’t the first time that Western media has championed geopolitics instead of journalistic ethics. Most famously, media bought into the bogus narrative that Iraq, then led by Saddam Hussein, was hiding dangerous weapons of mass destruction. A few contemporary reports citing unnamed U.S. intelligence analysts cast doubt on the claims. Nonetheless, media chose to ignore the lack of evidence and existence of countervailing information in its reporting. Up to one million Iraqis died as a result of the invasion. And no weapons of mass destruction were ever found.

Another example of the media buying into a bogus narrative is the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia from March 24, 1999 to June 10, 1999. Then-president Bill Clinton justified the air

strikes as stopping “deliberate, systemic efforts at ethnic cleansing and genocide.” Clinton spoke of “at least 100,000” Kosovar Albanians missing.

The then Secretary of Defense, William Cohen, said the 100,000 missing military-age men “may have been murdered.”

However, no evidence of a genocide was ever found. And Chinese journalists were among the casualties of NATO’s bombing of Chinese embassy in Belgrade.

There are many examples of Western media buying into false news narratives about China.

For example, in 2008, ahead of the Beijing Olympics, riots broke out in Lhasa with shops belonging to Han Chinese targeted. Foreign media and human rights organizations reacted with skepticism, painting a picture of authorities shooting protestors based on unnamed sources and “independent organizations” that supported Tibetan separatism.

In a more recent example, during the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020, Western media repeated lies from then-U.S. Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo and others, suggesting there was strong evidence that the virus leaked from a Chinese lab. U.S. intelligence services denied there was any such evidence, as did other top-ranking U.S. officials. Nonetheless, certain media and officials continue to echo this false assertion, even though there was never any evidence in the first place, and an international UN team reiterated that such a possibility is “extremely unlikely.”

In all of these cases, the media grabbed on to a sensational storyline that fits well with the narrative that China is sinister. In the absence of credible facts, Western media organizations simply go with stories based on the slimmest of sources — including sources that are obviously biased or not credible.

This kind of narrative-grabbing makes for good politics and exciting television.

It’s hard to say whether this is because these journalists are gullible, lazy, can’t resist a good story, or are powerless to stand against a narrative being pushed hard by officials or politicians.

What’s easy to say is that this Xinjiang genocide narrative is pushed based on the flimsiest of evidence.

Xinhua Commentary: BCI’s cotton boycott against China is hasty and doomed to fail (Xinhua) -- Shortly after the Swiss-based Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) launched its so-called Xinjiang cotton boycott, the group’s Shanghai representative’s office confirmed last weekend it has never found a single case related to “forced labour” in China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Though the BCI claims to be “not-for-profit” and “the largest cotton sustainability programme,” a close look at its behavior would find that it is anything but professional, independent and transparent.

Firstly, the BCI has proven itself a part of the western smear campaign against China.

When some institutions in the United States and Australia fabricated inaccurate reports on Xinjiang last year, the BCI, without any field investigation, immediately suspended its assurance activities in Xinjiang and wrongfully cited concerns about so-called increasing risks of forced labour in Xinjiang.

In fact, the baseless accusation intentionally ignores the fact that cotton production in Xinjiang has already achieved a high degree of mechanisation.

After its team in China refuted findings of any incident related to forced labour in Xinjiang,

one would expect that since its own branch had a first-hand on-site investigation, the BCI headquarters should have responded promptly by correcting its previous wrongdoings. Instead, the BCI headquarters chose to remain silent and indifferent.

Secondly, though the BCI bills itself as a non-profit, independent organization, one of its major funding partners is the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which bluntly admits that its work “advances U.S. national security and economic prosperity.”

For decades, the USAID has repeatedly been accused of interfering in the internal affairs of other countries. Its nature as a tool to maintain American hegemony overseas is self-evident. With such a financial backer, it is hard not to question BCI’s independence.

What is more, Marc Lewkowitz, the current chairperson of the BCI Council, is also the president and CEO of Supima, the promotional and marketing organization for American Pima cotton growers. Since Pima cotton and Xinjiang cotton are competitors, one cannot help raise concerns of any conflict of interest.

Lastly, the BCI has serious problems with

transparency. Xinhua correspondents were recently refused an interview at BCI’s headquarters in Geneva. To the reporters’ surprise, its headquarters has just a few rented offices on the first floor of an office building and a few researchers.

In the past year, the BCI repeatedly issued false statements on the issue related to cotton production in Xinjiang without presenting any

reliable evidence except botched-up reports by anti-China organizations in the West. It appears the BCI, in this regard, doesn’t have a mind of its own.

The BCI may profess to preach decent labour and high environmental standards, but its own operations are not decent and of low standards. By selling a contemptible lie to the world, the BCI is risking its own credibility.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 31, 2021

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 31, 2021

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 31, 2021

One granted bail, another on the run –– following attempted murder of colleague fisherman

A FORTY-YEAR-OLD fisherman was, on Tuesday, released on $300,000 bail when he appeared before Magistrate Sunil Scarce, via Zoom, at the Mabaruma Magistrate’s Court for attempted murder.

Joel Marks, who hails from the Essequibo Coast, was not required to plead to the charge which states that on March 22, 2021, at Mabaruma, he and another fisherman wounded 27-yearold Christof Bridgemohan, a colleague of theirs, with

intent to commit murder.

According to reports, Bridgemohan, of Kumaka Waterfront, in Mabaruma, was so badly chopped about the body that they couldn’t keep him at the district’s hospital, but had to airlift him instead to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Word is that the police are currently on the hunt for the second suspect, while Marks is scheduled to return to court on May 18.

Joel Marks

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Funding a major concern for stakeholders … as consultation on Local Content Policy wraps up

WITH the rise of a lucrative petroleum sector, many Guyanese are worried that limited access to financing, coupled with inadequate opportunities for capacity building will hinder their efforts to compete against international players.

These were among the concerns registered during the latest round of consultation on the government’s Draft Local Content Policy, hosted by the Ministry of Natural Resources.

The three-week “strategic engagement” attracted in excess of 180 public and private sector players, who are either directly or indirectly involved in the growth and development of Guyana’s hydrocarbon sector.

Coordinator of the consultations, Bobby Gossai Jr. explained that the issues raised were being taken seriously and efforts will be made to fill the gaps, wherever they exist.

As it relates to access to financing and capital, Gossai told the Guyana Chronicle that authorities plan to engage a number of financial banking and non-banking institutions to ensure that convenient systems are in place for Guyanese wanting to access such support.

“We would also be going back to Bank of Guyana,” Gossai said.

In relation to training and capacity build- Bobby Gossai Jr. heads the consultaing, the coordinator said that plans are afoot to tion efforts on the Local Content Policy ensure that Guyanese benefit from the “right ties and capacity building within the energy level of training,” so that they can compete sector for Guyanese,” the statement read. effectively with foreigners entering the local It explained too that outside of financing oil and gas arena. and capacity building, the engagements also “We have had several meetings with highlighted concerns relating to the need for those institutions, both public and private the transformation and modernisation of key institutions as well as technical and vocational sectors such as education and finance. training for persons to work in the oil and gas “The Ministry of Natural Resources is industry,” Gossai indicated. also encouraging all interested stakeholders He noted, too, that the policy, though on the draft Local Content Policy to submit comprehensive, provides avenues for ad- their comments and feedback by Wednesday, justments, based on the needs and concerns 31st March 2021,” the statement added. of Guyanese in and out of the petroleum The Draft Local Content Policy may be industry. viewed at https://nre.gov.gy. Comments can “One of the things to note is that this is not be sent to ministry@nre.gov.gy. a stagnant policy, and it is not a policy just for It noted too that all contributions received oil and gas,” Gossai reasoned. are taken under constructive consideration for According to a statement from the Minis- the preparation of the next phase of work on try of Natural Resources, the policy initiative the policy. is in line with President, Dr. Irfaan Ali’s Once the final policy is completed, the commitment to ensuring that Guyanese play government has said that it will re-engage a greater role in the advancement of the pe- stakeholders to ensure that the final docutroleum sector. ment satisfies the needs of the people, while “The revised policy document seeks to put remaining aligned to its national objectives into context the current and evolving state of of local participation, benefits, enhancing Guyana’s oil and gas sector and to enable an business growth, increased revenue-genimproved level of local business participation erating systems and local ownership along through value-addition, access to opportuni- the value-chain of the oil and gas sector.

The final lap of consultations hosted by the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR photo)

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West Indies second Test, day two …

Big numbers posted as match evenly poised

(ESPNCRICINFO) - Kraigg Brathwaite completed a ninth Test century in the first over of the day, before Rahkeem Cornwall and later Lahiru Thirimanne completed half-centuries during a meandering day of Test cricket that ended with neither team ascendant again.

West Indies’ eventual 354 was more than Sri Lanka would have liked to concede.

But at stumps, Sri Lanka had gotten to a reasonable 134 for 3. On a pitch that offered little assistance to the bowlers, they were still in the hunt to haul in the opposition’s lead.

This was, however, a slow day of Test cricket. Only six wickets fell, and despite that, only 203 runs were scored across 86 overs - a scoring rate of 2.36. Only Cornwall batted with adventure, in the first hour of the day, with both West Indies’ and Sri Lanka’s remaining batsmen choosing to dig in on a slow track. The visitors had Dinesh Chandimal and Dhananjaya de Silva not out at the close. Chandimal was 34 off 80; de Silva 23 off 95.

There had been some ex-

citement in the earliest overs of the day, however, as Brathwaite moved from his overnight 99 into triple figures with a single to fine leg. Cornwall then also completed a half-century, edging a ball behind point for four in the third over of the day.

It was in the first hour of play that West Indies made the most ground, and it was Cornwall who did most of the damage: flicking, punching, driving and sometimes edging fortuitously as Sri Lanka grew visibly frustrated that the eighth wicket had taken them so long.

The pair batted through the first hour and wound up producing a century stand, the first of the innings. Their partnership was worth 103 when Cornwall holed out to mid-on to give Suranga Lakmal his fourth wicket, ending with 73 off 92 balls.

Kemar Roach attempted to hang in and managed to stick around for 36 balls while Brathwaite continued to hold his end tight, progressing only gradually.

Dushmantha Chameera put an end to the innings though,

having Roach caught behind and getting Brathwaite to play on for 126 in successive overs.

Still, West Indies had frustrated the visitors for an entire session, and grown their total by 67 runs.

Sri Lanka’s response was sedate from the outset. Although Thirimanne began confidently, driving his second ball through mid-off for four, he quickly settled into a measured rhythm. That first boundary did set up something of a trend as Thirimanne collected four of his eventual six boundaries down the ground.

But it was the less ambitious strokes that defined the innings - the blocks, the leaves and the singles square of the wicket. Not long after tea, he reached 50 with a run to point.

It was his third consecutive half-century.

Around him though, the top order faltered. Dimuth Karunaratne fell cheaply again. He took a single off the first delivery he faced, remained scoreless for the next 15 balls, then fell attempting an expansive drive off the bowling of Alzarri Joseph.

Karunaratne’s thick edge might have passed between the cordon and gully, but Nkrumah Bonner provided the best piece of

catching in the series when he leapt hard to his right and clinched the ball one-handed as it threatened to zip rapidly past him.

SCORECARD

WEST INDIES 1st innings (o/n 287 for seven) K. Brathwaite b Chameera 126 J. Campbell c wkp. Dickwella b Lakmal 5 N. Bonner b Lakmal 0 K. Mayers c wkp. Dickwella b V Fernando 49 J. Blackwood c wkp. Dickwella b Lakmal 18 J. Holder c Thirimanne b de Silva 30 J. Da Silva c wkp. Dickwella b Chameera 1 A. Joseph lbw b Embuldeniya 29 R. Cornwall c V Fernando b Lakmal 73 K. Roach c wkp. Dickwella b Chameera 9 S. Gabriel not out 1 EXTRAS: (lb-6, nb-7) 13 TOTAL: (all out, 111.1 overs) 354 Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-15, 3-86, 4-120, 5-171, 6-185, 7-222, 8-325, 9-351.

Bowling: Lakmal 28-11-94-4 (nb-1), V. Fernando 27-4-71-1, Embuldeniya 25-5-88-1 (nb-5), Chameera 21.1-4-69-3, Dhananjaya 10-3-26-1 (nb-1).

SRI LANKA 1st innings D. Karunaratne c Bonner b Joseph 1 L. Thirimanne b Roach 55 O. Fernando lbw b Mayers 18 D. Chandimal not out 34 D. de Silva not out 23 EXTRAS: (lb-2, nb-3) 5 TOTAL: (3 wkts, 61 overs) 136 Fall of wickets: 1-18, 2-64, 3-77.

Bowling: Roach 12-4-39-1 (nb-1), Gabriel 10-2-28-0, Joseph 10-2-31-1, Holder 12-2-20-0 (nb-2), Mayers 7-4-6-1, Cornwall 9-5-8-0, Blackwood 1-0-2-0.

Golden Jaguars rout The Bahamas 4-0 … Guyana keep World Cup dream alive

By Rawle Toney

IT was a must-win game for Guyana and it took Terrence Vancooten (8), Kadell Daniel (54), Omari Glasgow (75) and Emery Welshman (81), to hand the Golden Jaguars a life-saving 4-0 win over The Bahamas in the Dominican Republic.

The Golden Jaguars were out for the second time in Group F of the CONCACAF qualifiers, and following their 0-3 defeat to Trinidad and Tobago, coach Marcio Maximo was optimistic of a victory to keep his team’s Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup dreams alive.

Former Liverpool goalkeeper Kai McKenzie-Lyle, who now suits up for Cambridge United, made his return to international football for the first time since 2018 due to injury.

M c K e n z i e - Ly l e w a s Maximo’s lone change from the team that faced Trinidad and Tobago, replacing Akel Clarke.

Former Colchester United defender Miguel Scarlett was in the right-back position, Terrence Vancooten and Matthew Briggs were the centre-backs, and Kadell Daniel in the leftback position.

Captain Sam Cox paired

with Daniel Wilson as Maximo’s centre-midfielders, while Callum Harriott (left) and Trayon Bobb (right) flanked the wings.

Keanu Marsh-Brown and Israel-based forward Emery Welshman worked up-front.

At the halfway mark against The Bahamas, Maximo’s men had a 2-0 cushion, as they continued the hunt for goals at the Estadio Panamericano.

Maximo injected more pace in the game, bringing in 17-year-old wonder boy Omari Glasgow for Harriott in the 70th minute and it took the Fruta Conquerors

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER Wednesday, March 31, 2021

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Who has led the WI to most victories in Tests to date?

Who has led SL to most Test victories to date?

TODAY’S QUIZ:

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

forward just five minutes to score his first international goal in his second outing.

Bournemouth FC’s Nathan Moriah-Welsh had his first taste of international football, replacing Trayon Bobb in the 78th minute.

Marsh-Brown made way for Pernell Schultz (70), Jobe Caesar came in for Wilson and Nicolai Andrews, another debutant, came on for Scarlett.

Guyana did not just need the victory, but also a win-margin to keep their hopes alive of advancing to the next stage of the qualifier, since as per CONCACAF rules, only one team 11:20 hrs Enforcement

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will advance.

Golden Jaguars, with today’s victory, are in third place with three points behind Trinidad and Tobago (four points) and table-leaders St Kitts and Nevis (six points).

Puerto Rico with their draw against Trinidad are on one point. Each team would have played two games so far, with only St Kitts claiming full points.

Guyana will next face St Kitts and Nevis and Puerto Rico in the up-coming FIFA match windows.

The players are expected to return to Guyana today.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 31, 2021

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New Zealand beat Bangladesh to grab series (ESPNCRINCIFO) - In a rain-interrupted fixture on a drizzly Tuesday evening in Napier, New Zealand, bowling with a wet ball that was becoming increasingly hard to grip, had to work hard to eke out a 28-run win over Bangladesh via the DLS method.

This gave them an unprecedented ninth straight home series victory, with Glenn Phillips playing a key role with both bat and ball, even though most of the wickets were picked up by their pace bowlers.

The DLS drama Sheets of rain, which interrupted play twice during the New Zealand innings, brought about a bizarre passage of play soon after Bangladesh had begun their reply to New Zealand’s 173 for 5, scored in 17.5 overs.

For nine deliveries of their chase, Bangladesh were in the dark about their target.

Or, well, thought incorrectly that their target was 148. Play was stopped for over five

minutes even as match referee Jeff Crowe worked through frenetically to sign-off on a revised DLS target of 171 first broadcast as 170 - off 16 overs.

Soumya on a mission When play resumed, Soumya Sarkar batted like a man on a mission, shellacking four fours and three sixes in his first 15 deliveries to entertain hopes of Bangladesh’s first win on tour. At the end of seven overs, Bangladesh were well placed at 76 for 1, needing a further 95 off 54 balls with nine wickets in hand.

Ish Sodhi, taken for 19 off his first over, struggled to grip the ball. Adam Milne, returning to New Zealand’s XI for the first time since 2018, struggled to hit the right lengths.

The game was afoot Sodhi, Phillips amped up pressure then Sarkar started to try and manufacture strokes attempting reverse sweeps and paddles, and looking to make

room to muscle the ball on the face of some disciplined spin from part-timer Phillips.

His two overs went for just

spinners, Southee used his slower variations, the cutters and the knuckle ball, to tighten the screws. Bangladesh had

60 off 23 balls. It was a task too steep, with Milne, Hamish Bennett and Southee taking two apiece to close out the

Bangladesh had a shot as long as Soumya Sarkar was at the crease (Getty Images)

13 runs, while Sodhi bounced back to concede just five off his second over. The asking rate crept up and Sarkar soon holed out to long-on off Tim Southee for a 27-ball 51.

Taking a cue from the

reached a point of no return and had to go for broke. Mohammad Naim fell to give Phillips his first international wicket, leaving Mahmudullah to do the bulk of the hitting.

At that stage, they needed

game.

Sustained aggression wins the day Earlier, in the 17.3 overs that were possible in their innings, New Zealand displayed

their formidable batting depth and sustained aggression most reminiscent of England’s white-ball template. This helped them post a big total despite none of the top four managing more than Martin Guptill’s 21, after Bangladesh elected to make first use of some moisture on the surface.

The start of the innings was hectic, with Finn Allen, bowled for a first-ball duck on debut, looking to give impetus. Backing away to use brute force, he clubbed the returning Taskin Ahmed down the ground and over midwicket to set the tone, but ran out of luck at 17, as he mistimed a hoick to square leg off the last delivery off the first over.

Then, Ahmed, off whom four catches were dropped in the ODIs, showed his athleticism in pulling off a one-handed stunner, throwing himself to his left at short fine-leg to dismiss Guptill. When Devon Conway was out top-edging to deep square next delivery, New Zealand had slipped to 61 for 3.

James’ late header denies Czech Republic Jota, Ronaldo help Portugal past Luxembourg

(BBC) - Daniel James’ late header gave Wales a precious win over the Czech Republic in a fiery World Cup qualifier in which both teams had a man sent off.

The visitors dominated a goalless first half with Jakub Jankto missing several chances, while Gareth Bale wasted the best opportunity of all for Wales.

Czech striker Patrik Schick was shown a straight red card early in the second half for raising his hand to the face of Connor Roberts, who was later sent off for a second booking.

As both sides searched desperately for a winning goal, Bale delivered an inviting cross from the left wing, which James met with a brilliantly directed header to secure Wales’ first win of the campaign.

The result moves Wales up to third place in Group E, one point behind the Czech Republic in second and four adrift of leaders Belgium, albeit having played one game fewer than both.

Despite only being Wales’ second game of the campaign, this fixture already had a heightened sense of significance for both sides.

When the draw was

made, Belgium were overwhelming favourites to top Group E and qualify automatically as the world’s number one-ranked team.

As a result, Wales and the Czech Republic were expected to battle it out for second place and a play-off spot, though the visitors might have set their sights higher after drawing with Belgium on Saturday.

The Czech Republic started purposefully, passing the ball confidently and pressing Wales into uncomfortable positions, forcing them to play long balls which came to nothing with their usual target Kieffer Moore on the bench.

With Wales unable to keep the ball in attack, the away side enjoyed as much

Jota has scored three goals in two games for Portugal during this international break

Daniel James’ goal came when both sides were down to 10 men

Wales may also have felt they could chance their arm for a shot at top spot because winning their Nations League group in November had already all-but guaranteed them a play-off place.

If they did have such lofty ambitions, Wales would have parked them during a first half in which they were overrun and outplayed.

as 75% possession and created three early chances for Jankto, who fired one shot at Danny Ward and another two narrowly wide.

Wales looked devoid of ideas, playing the kind of direct football Moore would relish - just without the Cardiff City striker on the pitch.

For all their struggles, however, it was the hosts who created the best chance of the first half.

(BBC) - Diogo Jota and Cristiano Ronaldo scored to help spare Portugal’s blushes and deny Luxembourg another major World Cup 2022 qualifying win.

Luxembourg beat Republic of Ireland on Saturday and led the European champions through Gerson Rodrigues’ header.

But Liverpool forward Jota headed home in the final attack of the first

half.

Ronaldo tapped in early in the second half to turn the tide in Portugal’s favour, with Joao Palhinha glancing in a header to seal the win.

Before that Jota had gone close with a header that hit the bar, while Ronaldo could have had a second goal himself, but failed twice to beat home goalkeeper Anthony Moris after running clear of the defence.

What at one stage looked to be a night of such promise for Luxembourg ended with them reduced to 10 men, as Maxime Chanot was shown a second yellow for a foul on Renato Sanches.

The win takes Portugal to seven points in qualifying Group A, level with Serbia, with whom they controversially drew 2-2 at the weekend.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Devon Ramnauth will host tournament again later this year THE DEVON Ramnauth Region Two Youth Development Cricket League will be played again this year, according to the organiser of the event.

Ramnauth, a former national youth cricketer, said he was impressed with the quality of cricket during the tournament and is heartened that he is playing a part in developing the young players in his home county.

The Canada-based Essequibian pointed out that there was a need for the event to become annual in the calendar of Essequibo cricket.

“The tournament was a

… promises All-Star clash for Essequibo cricketers

big success because we got to see the talent of all the youths.”

The tournament, which concluded this month, was originally scheduled for last year, but due to the pandemic and then the rain, it was postponed several times until it was held in the first quarter of this year.

“My second tournament, which is the 2021 tournament, will be played in August. However, I am not done with this tournament as yet … I am going to have an All-star game very soon with just Essequibo players … From that, I’m going to

pick a team and we will play Pomeroon. After that, we plan on doing the bridging

initiative with the rest of the county of Essequibo….”

He said that when the

teams to come out. We will keep it as club cricket so that the youngsters can be steered

Queenstown U-19 played unbeaten in the first Devon Ramnauth Region Two Youth Development Cricket League

tournament is played again this year, more teams will compete.

“Initially we wanted eight teams, but we only got six, we will encourage more

in the right direction by older members of the teams.”

He said that he also intends to increase the overs from a T20 tournament, so as to give the players expo-

sure to a different type of cricket, while he also plans to decrease the “out of town players”, .so that our local players can benefit more, the ones who will go on to represent Essequibo county.”

The winning side, Queenstown U-19, have several such players and they proved their might when they stormed to an unbeaten run during the competition.

In the final, they made light work of Reliance Hustlers. Queenstown batted first and scored 185-3 off their 20 overs with Seon Glasgow and Carl Gilgeous scoring 59 not out and 53 not out respectively.

In reply, Hustlers could only muster 46, before they were bowled out.

Glasgow took 5-10 in 3.3 overs and Jason Holder 3-7 from four overs.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 31, 2021

39

H. Nauth & Sons sponsors Khan wins 3rd edition GGA Easter Weekend tournament of Survival Phagwah Golf Tournament H. NAUTH & Sons Engineering Company recently announced that it was partnering with Guyana Golf Association (GGA) and Nexgen Golf Academy to host an Easter Weekend tournament.

The tournament, which imposes no entry fee, will be spread out over three days to ensure compliance with the COVID-19 Task Force approval and will offer prizes for the best amateur players who compete over 3 holes.

In addition, chipping and putting prizes will be up for grabs.

All players of every skill level and age group are invited and under strict COVID-19 guidelines, there will even be an Easter Golf Ball hunt - for all ages. In addition, there will be many prizes and trophies to take home as the GGA seeks to expand the game to as many persons, at little or no cost.

CEO of the sponsor said, “This opportunity is to help our children to get involved in a different sport (especially during this COVID-19 period). Giving them a chance to play a game that opens many once-closed doors (to the majority of our people), was not a difficult decision for me.

The GGA and Nexgen Golf Academy can count on our full support and commitment to grow this game.”

President of GGA, Aleem Hussain, said that with the support of such a major company, it would make it a lot easier to accomplish the goals set for the development of the game.

He said, “Having access to the vast knowledge and massive amount of machinery that H. Nauth & Sons has at its disposal allows us to move faster than ever. We are in a much stronger position because of the entity’s commitment and thousands

of children will benefit from its involvement.”

For more information about the event, Nexgen

Golf Academy or H. Nauth & Sons, visit them on Facebook or call 6450944/674-9206.

GGA president Aleem Hussain

John, Sampson credit wins to hard work

Kasim Khan is the champion of the third edition of the Survival Phagwah Golf Tournament

OVER the weekend, Lusignan Golf Club (LGC) held its annual Survival Phagwah Golf Tournament which was hosted at the Lusignan Golf Course.

An impressive participant turnout of 30 golfers saw Kasim Khan walk away with top honours while Shanella London finished in the runner-up position.

Khan accumulated a gross of 74 (HC 7, net 67) while London’s gross of 80 (HC 10, net 70) was good enough to beat Hilbert Shields.

Shields’ podium position was accomplished with a gross of 84 (HC 13, net 71) while Vijay Deo finished fourth with a gross of 82, playing at a handicap-11 (net 71).

During the presentation ceremony, LGC secretary Chet Bowling, said, “It was good, it was well-attended. We had an approximate total of 30 persons and what I would term as the highpoint of the tournament

was the fact that we had one or two other females competing in the competition.”

He also mentioned the intense level of competitiveness at the 19th hole since the competitors approached the final hole with their scores at loggerheads.

“There wasn’t much of a difference in the gross scores. It was fierce, but, of course, it was all done in camaraderie. The guys enjoyed the game’ so much so that they went back to play it again after the competition.”

The club also had a non-sponsored club tournament on Monday to bolster competition and participate in the efforts of seeing the sport grow. It is also important to note that all the LGC tournaments were contested under the COVID-19 guidelines.

The secretary further noted that the club has some interesting partnerships brewing for the staging of the Guyana Open, which is billed for the end of October.

BRITON John and Sherwin Sampson who won the Senior and Junior divisions of the Guyana Cycling Federation’s (GCF) 50-mile road race on Sunday, have credited their victories to persistent training.

John clocked the overall fastest time of one hour 49 minutes 13 seconds in the route which spanned the Mahaica to Georgetown toute, Following the victory, the We Stand United cyclist John, said: “The victory is a really good feeling; I’ve been putting in some hard work for this race and I finally came out on top, so I’m really glad.”

Reflecting on the race, John stated, “From the start, it wasn’t that kind of fast because everybody was taking his time to groove in, but then near Buxton the attack started to pass.”

“I was positioned in like - fifth or fourth and then when we hit Buxton I started attacking because nobody was really doing anything; everybody was looking at each other for attack. So I picked it up and there’s where everything started.”

Summing up the winning ordeal, he stated, “It was a tough race, it was a really tough race because it was

Briton John won the Seniors division of the Guyana Cycling Federation’s 50-mile road race

really good men in the race with everybody showing up and everybody’s real fit since we’ve been training for races for a long time and finally got races. So everybody’s very very fit, it was really tough.”

The National cyclist further mentioned that when he broke away, the only challenges left were to conquer the wind and endure minor cramps that occurred in the Ogle vicinity.

Meanwhile, the victor of the Junior category, Sampson was elated to have bettered the competition.

“I feel great and happy to win the race because the week before I came in third and now started back training, so I said I’m going to train hard this week and win the race.”

Sampson disclosed that as they traversed the round about at Mahaica, it did not take long to realise that a victory was possible.

He admitted that he was feeling a bit exhausted at the climax of the race, but through perseverance he kept believing that he could cross the line first.

The junior victor noted that the win was very important to the progression of the season as he plans to up the work ante and continue his winning ways.

West Indies second Test, day two …

Big numbers posted as match evenly poised SEE PAGE 36

Kraigg Brathwaite brought up his ninth Test century and first as West Indies captain, West Indies vs Sri Lanka, 2nd Test, 2nd Day, North Sound, yesterday

Rahkeem Cornwall raises his bat after his second Test match half-century vs Sri Lanka, 2nd Test, 2nd Day, North Sound, yesterday

Golden Jaguars rout The Bahamas 4-0 …Guyana keep World Cup dream alive SEE PAGE 36

17-year-old Omari Glasgow finds the net on his second outing for Guyana

SEE PAGE 39

Golden Jaguars roared to a 4-0 win over The Bahamas in the Dominican Republic

Khan wins 3rd edition of Survival Phagwah Golf Tournament

Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limited, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 226-3243-9 (General); Editorial: 227-5204, 227-5216. Fax:227-5208

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 2021