Guyana_Chronicle_Epaper_04_16_2020

THURSDAY 16th April, 2020

' No.105971

COVID-19 cases jump to 55 –– CMO urges persons with underlying conditions to take extra precautions

SEE STORY ON PAGE 03

says recounting 'We're not only ...Alexander process will look into a range of issues counting ballots' PAGE

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MoE working on new plan for schools PAGE

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Amid COVID-19 pandemic...

New WHO report urges greater investments in the nursing workforce 14 PAGE

Spike in domestic violence cases 09 PAGE

Chairperson of GECOM, Justice Claudette Singh, addresses the media, following an inspection of the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, the venue for the national recount of the votes cast at the March 2, 2020 General and Regional elections (Adrian Narine photo)

---activist urges more support for those trapped with abusers

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 16, 2020

MoE working on new plan for schools

WITH the number of confirmed novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases continuing to climb, and schools not likely to reopen next Monday as planned, word is that the Ministry of Education (MoE) is currently working on an alternative arrangement to address the issue.

Reached Wednesday for a comment on the situation, MoE Public Relations Officer Brushell Blackman said while he could not confirm whether or not or when schools will be reopened, the Ministry is currently assessing the situation.

“A new plan is being formalized; even as we speak, that plan is being formalised, and when that is done that will be made public. Until then I have nothing else to say,” was all Blackman would offer.

According to an official, the decision on the way forward where the reopening of schools is concerned is expected to be determined by the National COVID-19 Task Force, after consultations with the Ministry. Among key gov-

ernment officials on that Task Force are Minister of Education Nicolette Henry, and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, who is the Chairman.

After Guyana recorded its first case of the coronavirus on March 11, the MoE took the decision to close schools, effective March 16, to help curtail the spread of the virus. The decision also saw the postponement of upcoming national exams such as the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), while the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) announced the postponement of the secondary school examinations offered by that body across the Caribbean.

Similar closures and other measures were effected all across the Caribbean and other parts of the world.

FILL THE GAP In their attempt to mitigate the gap in learning, the MoE has been providing interactive teaching sessions via television, on the Learning

The Ministry of Education (MoE) is currently working on a new plan as it pertains to whether or not schools would reopen their doors

Channel, as well as by radio, and on their website.

Here in Guyana, the closure of schools was expected to last until April 3, which marked the end of the school term, leading straight into the

two-week Easter vacation. As such, students and teachers were expected to return to school for scheduled reopening on April 20.

However, over the past five weeks, the COVID-19 sit-

uation the world over has only gotten worse, resulting in even more stringent measures being implemented, which require persons to remain at home as much as is practicable.

According to World

Health Organisation (WHO) statistics, as of last Wednesday, the pandemic had already infected over 1.9 million persons globally, and been responsible for over 123,000 deaths.

As the numbers continue to climb exponentially climb, and with a possible vaccine for the virus some 12 – 18 months away, some countries are projecting that their schools will remain closed at least for the rest of the year.

That has been the case in the United States. Closer to home, sister CARICOM country, Trinidad and Tobago does not foresee their schools reopening their doors before September.

In Jamaica, schools were initially closed until April 22, but the latest is that the authorities there are also expected to shortly pronounce on the way forward for their schools.

'We're not only counting ballots'

...Alexander says recounting process will look into a range of issues ....GECOM to decide on number of workstations to be used today

By Svetlana Marshall HAVING visited the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), today, is expect-

ed to decide on the number of workstations needed to facilitate the national recount – a move that would influence the duration of the process, and hopefully draw the commission one

step closer to finalising the operational plan.

ACCC’s capacity will be among factors influencing the decision of the Elections Commission on the number of workstations that would be uti-

lised during the recount of the votes cast during the March 2020 General and Regional Elections. On Wednesday, the Chair of GECOM, Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh, visited the Conference Centre at Liliendaal along with five of the six Commissioners – Vincent Alexander, Sase Gunraj, Desmond Trotman, Robeson Benn and Charles Corbin.

They were accompanied by the Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield; the Deputy Chief Elections Officer, Roxanne Myers; the Public Relations Officer, Yolanda Ward and other officials from GECOM and the Ministry of Public Telecommunications.

The Chair and the commissioners initially met at GECOM’s Headquarters before conducting the site visit and once the mission was completed, they returned to the headquarters for the continuation of the meeting.

At the Conference Centre, when approached by the press, Justice Singh said it was critical for GECOM to visit the site designated for the national recount. “Well we need to advise ourselves to determine how many workstations we would have,” the GECOM Chair said, while expressing satisfaction with the visit.

At the conclusion of the meeting at GECOM’s Headquarters, Commissioner Alexander told reporters that

Commissioners Vincent Alexander and Sase Gunraj inspecting the Arthur Chung Conference Centre

a number of important decisions were taken on procedural matters; however, the critical issue on the number of workstations will be determined today. “That pivotal matter is complex; that is the number of workstations and consequentially the duration of the exercise because those two things have not been finalised,” he said.

In the Chief Elections Officer’s revised draft of the operational plan, he proposed a total of five workstations – two more than he had initially suggested. In a counter proposal, Alexander said based on his assessment of the Conference Centre, there should be a total of eight workstations, while Commissioner Gunraj is holding firm to his position that there should be 20.

“Those who are proposing 20 workstations are saying, let’s not even work in the building and let’s work under tents in the yard. I have a dif-

ficulty with working in tents in the yard. I think it poses a serious security problem. It’s likely to lead us into the kind of mob behaviour that occurred at Ashmin’s (building) and we have to avoid that. If you use rooms, you have far more control over your operations as opposed to going into a big open courtyard where people are going to decide that they don’t want to be here and they want to be there, and create the kind of confusion they have already been exposed to,” Alexander reasoned.

But Commissioner Gunraj told reporters that the ACCC could comfortably accommodate the 20 workstations he had proposed. “The 20 workstations that I have proposed is easily achievable. If you want to do them outside alone, it is easily achievable, if you want to do a combination inside and outside utilising the facility, TURN TO PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 16, 2020

COVID-19 cases jump to 55

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---CMO urges persons with underlying conditions to take extra precautions

By Navendra Seoraj THERE continues to be a rise in the number of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Guyana, with the latest statistics showing that the country has recorded seven new cases of the disease, taking the total number of cases to 55.

Deaths caused by the disease remain at six, but the number of cases continue to climb, and according to Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shamdeo Persaud, health authorities have so far tested 250 persons of which 195 persons were negative.

Concerns are, however, growing because from the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19, only four were classified as imported, while the others have been transmitted through community spread.

The public health ministry, however, continues to monitor the situation and so far, 41 persons have been placed in institutional isolation while 25 are in institutional quarantine. Five persons are receiving treatment in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

“Confirmed cases in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) represent more than 80

per cent and most of those persons who have tested positive are males,” said Dr. Persaud during a virtual update on the COVID-19 pandemic, on Wednesday.

He said the “over 50” age group of males and females show equal infection, but of the ages 30-49 years old, males account for most of the cases.

Regardless of how the cases are distributed, Dr. Persaud said the issue remains serious, especially for persons who have underlying conditions.

Persons, who suffer from chronic lung diseases such as asthma, bronchitis or those who suffer from high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and other diseases associated with immune-compromised cases, are more at risk.

“A large portion of adults are affected by these conditions so they are more at risk of the serious forms of COVID-19 which could lead to hospitalisation, ICU treatment and even death,” said Dr. Persaud.

Globally, there are more than 1.8 million cases of COVID-19, with over 117,000 deaths. And, with no approved treatment or cure, there is no assurance that persons will survive

Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shamdeo Persaud

after contracting the disease.

In the absence of approved medication, governments and authorities across the world have employed a number of preventative measures to contain the spread of the disease.

Locally, the government had extended its emergency measures to combat the dreaded disease, with the imposition of a 12-hour curfew on citizens. These emergency measures were taken pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) (b) of the directions issued by the President, in accordance with the Public Health Ordinance, Cap. 145, and published in the Official Gazette, Legal Supplement B on March 16 2020, the government said in a notice issued on Friday evening.

The measures at reference took effect from April 3, 2020, and will last one month, unless earlier terminated, extended or amended by notice of the Minister of Public Health, after an assessment of the prevailing public health conditions.

President David Granger, in an address to the nation on Saturday evening, said Guyana is in line to receive approximately 30,000 masks, a number of ventilators and other medical equipment from the People’s Republic of China as it ups its fight against COVID-19. Added to that, the country has turned to the Government of India for financial assistance.

According to President Granger, the fight requires

unprecedented expenditure and outlay of resources to enable identification and testing, isolation, protection and treatment. These added resources will complement systems already in place to suppress the spread of the virus and provide appropriate medical attention.

As the country wages war against the deadly disease, the Head of State said the efforts of the country’s frontline workers, in particular, those within the medical field, should not go unnoticed.

“I ask you, however, to think tenderly of our public health professionals and service providers, that is to say, our doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists and all other supporting staff – medical and non-medical – who are providing the required care for those in distress.

Public health practitioners are on the frontline of protecting those stricken by the disease. They have been working tirelessly through this very difficult situation to provide quality healthcare to those who have been infected and afflicted. Everyone in the public health system has played a vital part in the fight against this disease,” he said.

According to the World

'We're not only counting ... it’s easily achievable,” he posited. According to Gunraj, were five workstations to be used, it would take a lengthy period to execute the recount.

“Five stations, moving up from three stations, does not in any significant way reduce the time for the recount to be done,” he posited, while rejecting that aspect of the CEO’s proposed operational plan.

However, the CEO, in his revised proposal, reportedly took into consideration the CARICOM arrangement, in which the high-level team, which had arrived in Guyana mid-March to oversee the recount, consisted of five persons. The high-level mission withdrew from the process as a result of a series of legal action, which blocked the recount, however, GECOM, on Tuesday, reengaged the CARICOM Secretariat to have them return.

Notably, in the CEO’s revised proposal, a timeframe was not given. He had initially proposed 156 days but this

number is likely to be reduced when the commission decides on the number of workstations that would be used.

There is a total of 2,339 ballot boxes, and, according to the CEO’s estimation, it will take each team approximately two (2) hours to count each of the boxes. It was explained that each ballot would need to be projected on a screen, but before arriving at that stage, the contents of the ballot boxes would have to be examined to ascertain the number of electors on the list, the number of electors who voted, counting votes cast for both general and regional elections and validation of spoilt, questioned and rejected ballots. In his proposed operational plan, the workstations would operate simultaneously for a period of nine hours daily.

Alexander said the Elections Commission, during Wednesday’s meeting, also emphasised that the national recount is not merely numerical. “The recount would not be

a mere numerical recount; the recount would mirror processes

plained.

It was noted that while the

While GECOM, in a statement had indicated that

Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield (centre) in discussion with the Chair of GECOM Justice, (Ret’d) Claudette Singh, and other commissioners and officials at the ACCC on Wednesday

that take place at the polling stations in terms of accounting for your ballots, accounting for your destroyed ballots, accounting for your spoilt ballots, correlating the number of votes cast…with the names struck off on the list,” Alexander ex-

recount is not provided for under the Representation of the People Act, the commission has agreed that it would rely on Sections 83, 84, 87 and 89 (1) of the Act for guidance in the execution of the National Recount.

the recount would be done in chronological order – Regions One to 10, Alexander said there is proposal to have the count executed simultaneously. “The proposition on the table, which is very much live, is parallel operations where Regions Four

Health Organisation (WHO), COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by the newly discovered coronavirus.

WHO said most people infected with the COVID-19 virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illnesses and recover without requiring special treatment. Older persons and those with underlying medical problems such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer, are more likely to develop serious illness.

The WHO believes that the best way to prevent and slow down transmission is to be well informed about the virus, the disease it causes and how it is spread.

“Protect yourself and others from infection by washing your hands or using an alcohol-based rub frequently and not touching your face. The COVID-19 virus spreads primarily through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose when an infected person coughs or sneezes, so it’s important that you also practise respiratory etiquette (for example, by coughing into a flexed elbow),” the WHO has advised.

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and other regions would be done at the same time. The idea being is that we do not arrive at a conclusion of the exercise with a region hanging,” he explained.

Additionally, the Elections Commission took a decision that each workstation would have four GECOM personnel in addition one representative from each of the political party that contested the elections, one CARICOM representative, a local observer and international observer. “In the case of the observers, it is not the individual teams that field observers. The teams have to come together, and for each workstation, among themselves, identify one person,” Alexander explained.

While GECOM has written CARICOM to have it return to Guyana to participate in the process, the CARICOM Secretary-General, Ambassador LaRocque, up to press time, had not responded to the correspondence.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday April 16, 2020

Coronavirus: Trump’s WHO defunding ‘as dangerous as it sounds’

(BBC) US President Donald Trump has been heavily criticised for halting funding for the World Health Organization (WHO) amid the global coronavirus pandemic.

Philanthropist Bill Gates, a major funder of the WHO, said it was “as dangerous as it sounds”.

President Trump said on Tuesday that the body had “failed in its basic duty” in its response to coronavirus.

The head of the WHO said it was reviewing the cuts’ impact “to ensure our work continues uninterrupted”.

“We regret the decision of the President of the United States to order a halt in the funding to the WHO,” Director-General

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a press conference, adding that the US has been “a long-standing and generous friend... and we hope it will continue to be so”.

Earlier on Twitter he said it was the agency’s “singular focus” was to stop the outbreak.

UN Secretary General António Guterres said it was “not the time” to cut funds to the WHO, which “is absolutely critical to the world’s efforts to win the war against Covid-19”.

Mr Trump has accused the WHO of making deadly mistakes and overly trusting China.

“I am directing my administration to halt funding while a review is conducted to assess the World

Health Organization’s role in severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus,” Mr Trump told reporters on Tuesday.

A White House statement on Wednesday said the agency had “failed” the US people.

“The American people deserve better from the WHO, and no more funding will be provided until its mismanagement, cover-ups and failures can be investigated,” it read.

Mr Trump has been under fire for his own handling of the pandemic.

He has sought to deflect persistent criticism that he acted too slowly to stop the virus’s spread by pointing to his decision in late January to place restrictions on travel from China.

He has accused the WHO of having “criticised” that decision, an apparent reference to general advice from the agency against travel restrictions.

The US is the global health body’s largest single funder and gave it more than $400m in 2019. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which is funding Covid-19 treatment and vaccine research, is the second-largest funder.

A decision on whether the US resumes funding will be made after the review, which Mr Trump said would last 60 to 90 days.

In other reaction: * A spokesman for UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said there were “no plans” to halt funding and said the WHO had “an important role to play in leading the global health response”. The UK gives most of any country apart from the US * Germany’s foreign minister Heiko Mass tweeted that strengthening the “under-funded” WHO was one of the best investments

that could be made at this time * Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said that the decision would “undermine international co-operation” in fighting the virus * The American Medical Association said it was a “dangerous step in the wrong direction” * There was no justification for the move at a time when the WHO was “needed more than ever”, said the EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell * Australian PM Scott Morrison said he sympathised with Mr Trump’s criticisms but that the WHO also does “a lot of important work” * New Zealand leader Jacinda Ardern said the WHO had provided “advice we can rely on” * The president was doing “whatever it takes to deflect from the fact that his administration mismanaged this crisis”, said Democratic representative Eliot Engel * The decision was “exactly right”, said US Senator Josh Hawley, among many Republicans who share Mr Trump’s views on the WHO What is Donald Trump’s argument?

The US has by far the highest number of coronavirus cases and deaths worldwide - with more than 600,000 cases and 26,000 deaths.

Mr Trump accused the WHO of having failed to adequately assess the outbreak when it first emerged in the city of Wuhan, losing precious time.

“Had the WHO done its job to get medical experts into China to objectively assess the situation on the ground and to call out China’s lack of transparency, the outbreak could have been contained at its source with very little death,” he

told reporters.

“This would have saved thousands of lives and avoided worldwide economic damage. Instead, the WHO willingly took China’s assurances to face value... and defended the actions of the Chinese government.”

What is the WHO - and who funds it? * Founded in 1948 and based in Geneva, Switzerland, it is the UN agency responsible for global public health * Has 194 member states, and aims to “promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable” * Involved in vaccination campaigns, health emergencies and supporting countries in primary care * Funded by a combination of members’ fees based on wealth and population, and voluntary contributions * US provided 15% of its 2018-19 budget - with more than $400m * China gave about $86m in 2018-19 Chinese officials initially covered up the outbreak of the virus in Wuhan, and punished whistleblowers who tried to raise the alarm. Beijing later imposed draconian restrictions, including quarantine zones on an unprecedented scale, drawing effusive praise from the WHO and Mr Tedros.

But WHO experts were only allowed to visit China and investigate the outbreak on 10 February, by which time the country had more than 40,000 cases.

White House reporters pointed out, however, that Mr Trump himself had praised China’s response to the outbreak and downplayed the danger of the virus at home long after the WHO had declared a “public health emergency

of international concern”.

Why has the WHO faced criticism?

It is not the first time the WHO’s response to the outbreak has come under scrutiny.

On 14 January, the organisation tweeted that preliminary Chinese investigations had found “no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission” of the new virus.

Mr Trump and others have used the tweet to attack the WHO for simply believing China, despite evidence to the contrary.

But about a week after that tweet, on 22 January, the agency released a public statement saying that human-to-human transmission did appear to be taking place in Wuhan.

At the end of January, on the same day it declared a public health emergency, the WHO said that travel restrictions were not needed to stop the spread of Covid-19 - advice that was eventually ignored by most countries, including by the Trump administration the next day.

In March, the UN agency was also accused of being unduly influenced by China after a senior official refused to discuss Taiwan’s response to the outbreak.

Meanwhile, some health experts also say that the WHO’s guidance on face masks has led to public confusion.

Other frequently-made criticisms of the WHO more generally are that it is constrained by politics and a sprawling bureaucracy. It came under particular fire for its response to the 2014-16 Ebola outbreak in West Africa and how long it took to declare a public health emergency, leading the organisation to announce reforms in response.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 16, 2020

American citizens leave for home

AN Eastern Airlines Flight 2D110 departed the Cheddi Jagan International Airport CJIA) at 19:34hrs on Tuesday for Miami. The 200 passengers onboard may possibly be the last set to leave here, with the country’s airports under lockdown.

The arrival of the aircraft to transport American citizens, who were desirous of leaving Guyana, stemmed from an arrangement between the United States Embassy here and authorities at the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).

Guyana, like several Caribbean and other countries, had, on March 18, 2020, closed its ports to international travel. The closure has since been extended to May 1, 2020.

Since the ban was imposed, three other flights were granted

The National Airline flight which transported Exxon Mobil employees to Texas, on the tarmac at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri

special approval to transport persons to the US, including a National Airline aircraft that took 78 Exxon Mobil employees to Texas.

However, there is no guarantee following Tuesday’s flight to Miami, Americans

who, for whatever reason/s, were unable to travel out of the country, would be accommodated anytime soon.

The US Embassy, in a travel advisory to US citizens and legal permanent residents of the US, had strongly en-

couraged that they take the April 15, 2020 flight or “prepare to shelter in place indefinitely”.

Over at the Eugene F. Correira International Airport, Ogle, approval was granted for a flight transporting 20

CH&PA extends jubilee promotion to August ---CEO says processing of applications still ongoing

IN recognising the effects of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the local economy, the Central Housing and Planning Authority has taken a decision to extend the Republic/ Jubilee promotion, which was created to commemorate Guyana’s 50th Republic Anniversary.

Initially, the duration of the promotion was for three months, starting from March 1, 2020 and ending on May 26, 2020, but Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CH&PA, Lelon Saul, said the promotion will last from June to August.

Persons, who were recently allocated land, valued $2 million or less, will be required to make a down-payment of 50 per cent on their land by June 31, 2020 and will have until August 31 to pay the remainder.

“There are persons who are currently out of employment because of COVID-1, so we have decided that it is necessary for us to extend the timeline so that the target group can benefit from the Jubilee promotion,” said Saul during a telephone interview with the Guyana Chronicle, on Wednesday.

Saul, in a past report, had said the promotion will cost the authority $90 million in subsidies, and it (authority) was already subsidising the cost of house lots by about 90 per cent. He said it costs the authority about $3.5 million to develop house lots and they are sold for as low as $100,000, in some cases.

“We are fulfilling our mandate to provide housing for this country…we are putting people in communities and, with this promotion, we will have greater occupancy

and we will build sustainable communities,” said Saul.

Over the past few months, lands were distributed in Prospect, Mon Repos, LBI, Annandale, Lusignan, Bladen Hall and Experiment, among other places.

“We continue to provide services in a limited way because of COVID-19… we have staff working from home but they would come in to the office from time to time…there are land applications in the system, so we are continuing to process those applications,” said Saul, on Wednesday.

It was recently reported that the CH&PA, in its quest to meet the high housing demand in the country, will be providing approximately 1,600 housing solutions to Guyanese for 2020.

Of that number, approximately 400 house lots, total-

ling 70 acres, will be allocated to the Joint Services – the Guyana Defence Force, the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana Fire Service and the Guyana Prison Service.

Saul had said an additional 1,200 housing solutions, comprising both house lots and built units, will be developed, and allocated to applicants during 2020. It was noted that between 2015 and 2019, a total of 6,541 house lots were allocated to citizens across the country, in addition to 444 built units in Regions Three, Four, Five and 10 – amounting to approximately 7,000 in total.

The built units included duplexes, upper elevated two-bedroom houses, single flat two and three-bedroom houses.

Molsen Creek man dies after hit-and-run accident A young father of two, who was struck down on Monday night, succumbed to his injuries at the New Amsterdam Hospital on Tuesday morning.

Ron Thomas, 23, was struck down around 20:55hrs on Monday night, moments after taking his sister home.

He was walking back to his Molsen Creek, East Berbice Corentyne home when the accident occured.

According to his sister, Nadeen Thomas, 30, Ron followed their younger sister,

Zalena, home and was on his way back when a white car, which was proceeding towards the Molsen Creek Stelling, struck him down and continued along its way.

“He did just left to carry we smaller sister Zalena home; she living couple houses away from here. When he gone, a lil bit after a car fly past we and we hear a noise, but the car just slow down and speed up back and gone further up the road. When we come out, we see Ron and a set a blood on the road and

the car man gone. He just hit he down like a dog on the road” The police was notified and arrived at the scene promptly while the young man remained on the ground in an unconscious state. As efforts were being made to take Ron to the hospital, the car made its way back out and was trying to pass the police van by driving on the shoulders of the road, but quick reaction by relatives and neighbours managed to block the vehicle.

According to a brotherin-law of the deceased, the car was wet as it appeared that the driver washed it before he made his way back. The car was subsequently impounded and the driver detained. Ron was taken to the Skeldon Hospital in an unconscious state and was transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital since he suffered severe head trauma. He eventually succumbed on Tuesday morning around 08:00hrs.

Guyanese who were stranded in Barbados, to deplane at there on March 25, 2020. The agreement was made under the conditions that the passengers would be placed under quarantine, as stipulated by the Ministry of Public Health as part of the measures to curb the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, once the passengers deplaned, some reneged on the prior promise, which has led to a situation where other Guyanese who remain stranded overseas are left in an unfortunate situation.

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, commenting on a plea for assistance by the Guyanese who remain stranded, is on record as saying that the country’s airspace will not be re-opening to facilitate such persons. He had also alluded to the March 25, incident.

Meanwhile on April 4, a Trans Guyana Airways flight reportedly facilitated two flights transporting citizens of Canada to Barbados. From there the passengers joined an

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Air Canada flight to Toronto, Canada.

The ban does not affect cargo and medevac flights and technical stops by airplanes for fuel.

Operations at the Guyana/ Suriname ferry have also been temporary halted with the closure of the ports. That led to a number of Guyana and Suriname nationals being left stranded at both ports. However, the Suriname authorities subsequently agreed to open the South Drain terminal to enable the stranded nationals to return to their homeland. Health authorities were on hand at Moleson Creek, Corentyne, on the Guyana side to screen the returning passengers.

The closure has also been extended to the back-track operations at Springlands; however, officers of the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit are on the lookout for persons who may want to flout the restrictions.

Thursday April 16, 2020 –– 1:00hrs & 13:00hrs

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday April 16, 2020

COVID-19 and food security FOOD security are now the buzzwords across the global community, which has become much more literate about the linkage between food and issues of development.

No longer is this term and concept nestled in discourses among erudite agricultural scientists and armchair economists; it has correctly become part of popular discourse and thinking that cut across social class and other social divides. Here in Guyana amid the global COVID-19 pandemic, it behooves us all to embrace it as both rhetoric and policy.

The World Food Programme (WFP) defines food security in the following way: “People are considered foodsecure when they have availability and adequate access at all times to sufficient, safe, nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life.” It also lists “Food availability,” “Food access” and Food utilisation” as pivotal central planks of food security.

As we battle through this pandemic it is worth reflecting on the extent to which our country meets that test of food security. As a traditional agriculture-based society, we often take food availability for granted. This is understandable, given the relatively high production of food here compared to other countries across the globe. We are blessed with lots of land and water which are key ingredients for food production. Thus, despite declines in some areas of production, we have ostensibly continued to produce enough food for local consumption and trade.

But food production is only part of food security. Do

Guyanese have adequate access to food and if they do, is that food nutritious enough to lead to proper health? It is in these latter areas that our government is challenged to make real. Many in the poorer classes of our society would argue that adequate access to food is dependent on their financial capacity to access those foods. Given the relatively high rate of poverty that still exists in Guyana, it is fair to conclude that this must be an area of food security that should be targeted by government.

Those who produce the food we consume would also have something to say about food security. In a rapidly changing world, where powerful governments subsidise agriculture in their countries, does our government do enough in that area? Does the government even have the financial capacity to adequately meet that challenge? These and other related questions must be pondered by the government as it attempts to reshape our agricultural thrust to meet the demands of the new technological age.

We know of the negative impact of globalisation on small, local agriculture-based economies such as ours. It is now cheaper to import some foods into countries such as Guyana, than to produce them locally; this has been a negative development for us as far as local farmers are concerned. How the government gets around this thorny issue is yet to be seen, but it is one that must be confronted.

Cheap, imported food has not improved access by poor communities, but it has sadly contributed to the utilisation of sub-standard food. Mass production of food has severely

hampered food security.

Of course, local food production would be enhanced by the expansion of manufacturing initiatives. This has been a troublesome area, as our entrepreneurs have not been as robust in their exploration of this sector; it is another area that cries out for adequate interrogation during Agriculture Month.

The apparent hinterland thrust of the government is welcomed. From all indications, there are vast acreages of land in the hinterland which could be used to produce both traditional and non-traditional foods. We have always talked about a hinterland agriculture thrust–the Burnham government made some strides in this regard in the 1960s and 1970s–but these were not sustained. It would be helpful to study these experiments to tease out what worked and what didn’t.

We must confront agriculture, not just as economics and food production, but as culture. Many in the African-Guyanese community, for example, have advocated the return of the village economy which was essentially an agriculture-based economy. But they have had to confront the fact that the new generations do not have the same relationship to agriculture as previous ones.

Finally, as Guyana ventures into the world of oil and gas, there is the temptation to downplay sectors such as agriculture; this would be a huge mistake. We, therefore, should use this crisis to drive home that critical point.

Post COVID-19 and Guyana’s economy Dear Editor, THE International Monetary Fund (IMF) defines a global recession as “a decline in annual per?capita real World GDP (purchasing power parity weighted), backed up by a decline or worsening for one or more of the seven other global macroeconomic indicators: Industrial production, trade, capital flows, oil consumption, unemployment rate, per?capita investment, and per?capita consumption”. The Coronavirus poses risks to the global economy’s fragile recovery: The IMF says global economic recovery will be shallow and could be derailed by a further spread of the coronavirus. International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said the coronavirus outbreak was a stark reminder of how unforeseen events could threaten a fragile re-

covery. The coronavirus pandemic has already disrupted economic growth in China, and a further spread to other countries could derail a “highly fragile” projected recovery in the global economy in 2020, the International Mvonetary Fund warned. Georgieva said the outlook for global growth was negative, and the IMF now expected “a recession at least as bad as during the global financial crisis or worse.

How can Guyana protect its economy?

This recent pandemic should be used as an oppturnity to reduce imports and for the growth of our agribusinesses. Due to the current COVID-19 crisis, production will not be sufficient for exports at this time. However, we would be able to provide for our own that will be sold cheaper than the items that were imported; when we are ready to export prices can increase so that

we would be able to earn profits.

Private investments can be used to help this sector at this time; grants should also be provided by the government. Here are some of many proposed solutions which we can use to help grow our agricultural sector, thus boosting our economy during this COVID-19 crisis:The creation of jobs during and after COVID-19; bio-degradable packaging, including the ones made by banana leaves can be made by any Guyanese with a banana tree in his/her yard. Human resources would also be needed post COVID-19 to work in factories, plantations, and with the distribution of goods.

The National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), can continue their work by finding ways in which crops that cannot grow in our climate and soil type can be grow;, more research should be done into how we can

better preserve items so they could have a longer and safer shelf life.

Climate change and its impacts: in villages that experience droughts, water tanks should be installed; connected to these tanks should be pipes that can run along the area to ensure that the plants are receiving water, water trucks can then be used to transport water from creeks/rivers to refill the tanks when necessary. Areas prone to floods, especially those that are affected by the constant overtopping of the Atlantic Ocean should seek to; 1) have better sea defences and a well-designed drainage plan or 2) relocate farther inland. The establishment of more household’s/ community gardens and looking for innovative/climate-smart ways of growing crops. For example, cutting plastic bottles and planting crops in them. Teaching the general public, this can be done with ads on the television, and a website that can be accessed to provide training.

Other systems will be in place for

those who do not have access to such, and by encouraging them to go and grow local. Guyanese can also adopt new skills that can be innovative.

Guyana would be able to overcome this recession. Keep planting, keep buying local. This is embedded in the Guyanese way of life. There is no need to panic, as opportunities would be provided so that production will be done on a larger scale. We have been advancing as a society slowly but surely.

I really want to see my Guyanese people prosper, each of us has a skill, a talent we can use. Agriculture and agroprocessing will now be used to sustain our economy. We have the potential to once again become the food basket for not only the Caribbean, but for the world also.

Regards Chelsea Pearson

OP-ED GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday April 16, 2020

By Gillian Smith, FAO Representative in Guyana

In addition to the impact on health systems, lives and families, COVID-19 is also challenging the global economy and unravelling decades of development in many countries. In the effort to reduce further health and economic dislocation, many countries are taking steps to protect their borders and their trade.

In this scenario, it is vital to ensure that the global food trade continues to flow freely and in a safe way that protects livelihoods and health. This is a central message of the joint statement made on 31 March 2020, by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Trade Organization (WTO). Titled mitigating the impacts of COVID-19 on food trade and markets, the heads of these Organizations - Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (WHO), QU Dongyu (FAO) and Roberto Azevedo (WTO) - called for global cooperation and action to prevent disruptions in food supply chains and trade, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The statement recognizes the critical interconnectedness of the global food trade. For Guyana, this message is relevant to its agrifood system, because it refers to Guyana’s ability to provide food for both domestic consumption and export earnings. Beyond agriculture production, agrifood systems have a broader economic and social perspective. It encompasses all aspects, from agriculture input supplies, to production and harvesting, processing, food distribution and trade, all the way through to consumption. This broader concept takes into consideration, the critical linkages of all stakeholders and their impact one another’s livelihoods.

Agriculture in Guyana accounts for between 15 – 20% of GDP. Estimates indicate more than half of local food consumption may be provided by local production. Agriculture also accounts

Building resilient agriculture and food systems in Guyana

for an estimated 30% of the country’s employment and drives export earnings of USD $8M. Sustainable development of the country and its economy, realization of livelihood opportunities, particularly in rural territories, also depends on the success of agriculture.

We are all connected to the global and national food supply chains. This is true, whether you produce food for local sale in supermarkets or markets; produce food for export and trade, import food, provide seeds, agro-chemicals and other supplies and services to farmers; run a restaurant, bakery or snackette or prepare food for our families and friends.

The COVID-19 pandemic is a timely reminder that our food systems are vulnerable to external economic shocks, often of a global nature. This pandemic presents us with a timely opportunity to reflect on our vulnerabilities, take stock of our position and reinforce or introduce measures to address these vulnerabilities. Building resilience into our agri-food systems is the best way to survive shocks. Even as we react to the inevitable challenges that evolve from the crisis, it is useful to take a longer-term view of our food systems and their resilience in protecting our food and nutrition security.

Here are some ways to build or reinforce the resilience of the Guyana agrifood system: Monitor global market and trade trends that impact exports. The world is already experiencing an economic slowdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), joined other development and financial organizations in noting that global economic slowdown will have multiple impacts on the economies of Latin American and Caribbean countries. In a recent article it noted that the downturn in the global economic situation will weaken already anemic growth in the region, including by affecting value chains, reducing market demand for some products and drops in commodity prices. As an exporter of rice and sugar, Guyana

monitors the trends in markets and the potential impact of economic downturn on rice and sugar. Exploring market opportunities, pursuing agriculture production diversification, value-added production and building value chains continues to be a good mixed strategy that will build the resilience of the agrifood system. Timely data collection and analysis in all aspects of the agrifood systems will help the country to plan better and be more agile in global markets.

Collaborate with partners. Working with regional trade partners within CARICOM is also a strategy that can mitigate market uncertainties. Through regional and other organizations, Guyana can also participate in developing common strategies to mitigate the effects of COVID-19. As an example, CARICOM has convened its Member States, development and donor partners and other key stakeholders to identify and implement collective response measures to address the risks to food production and trade in the Community and to guide those of individual Member States. At the level of the Latin American and Caribbean region, FAO has supported Ministers of Agriculture in their declaration which defines concrete actions to support agricultural production and trade in the region.

Support national systems that promote the safe distribution of food. Guyana continues to have sufficient food available to meet it’s local requirements. A diverse, nutritious offering of locally produced vegetables, fruits, staples and meat continues to be available. It is a good time to ensure that distribution outlets remain available to the population, particularly to the most vulnerable who typically feel the stress of changes first and more severely. Effective monitoring of market trends and logistical changes along supply chains is necessary to identify trends that are likely to interrupt or affect supply chains or reduce the competitiveness of traditional markets.

In the longer term, a sustainable and resilient agrifood system in Guyana benefits from a multi-sectoral

approach. Supply chains for both food and agriculture inputs, labour supply and availability, food production and distribution, food safety, water and land resources and other related activities are managed by numerous agencies and ministries which must work coherently to ensure a coordinated response to emergencies such as COVID-19.

It is also a good time to identify and reduce points of food waste and loss throughout the agri-food system. In the medium to long term, the strategy of diversification of food production remains very relevant.

Vulnerable groups need special support to ensure access to adequate food. Accessing the agrifood system can be challenging for vulnerable groups such as single-female headed households, rural dwellers, indigenous peoples, the elderly, the unemployed and under-employed and persons living below or on the poverty line. The Guyana Poverty Reduction Strategy 2011 – 2015, notes that in 2006, 36% of the population lived in moderate poverty while 19 %lived in extreme poverty.

Although the information may not be recent, there are still varying levels of poverty in the country.

For these persons, sometimes clustered in communities, measures put in place to reduce the spread COVID-19 can inadvertently reduce their physical access to the complete range of dietary requirements as well as the affordability of food. For this reason, it is vital to ensure that local food distribution (delivery) continues to occur, including in remote communities and locations. The most vulnerable need consistent and systematic social protection interventions against the added pressures due to any changes that may occur in buying food including higher travel costs. It is also important to remember persons who will lose their livelihoods due to reduced economic activities. The International Labour Organization (ILO) recently noted that the current economic and labour crisis created by the COVID-19 pandemic could increase global unemployment by almost 25 million.

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Promote consumption of nutritious food to promote good health.

This is a good moment to encourage consumption of nutritious foods that promote well-being, including support for strong immune systems. Foodbased Dietary Guidelines for Guyana provide good messages to caregivers and persons responsible for preparing food, about the importance of health, balanced and affordable meals. Fresh, locally produced fruits, vegetables, staples and meats are a vital part of a healthy diet that has quality nutrients and vitamins. Communicating public awareness messages about matters such as healthy eating and market arrangements will help to maintain confidence in food system, which can avoid negative perceptions.

While school attendance is temporarily suspended, attention should be paid to students who may have been dependent on school meals for part of their diets. Alternative means should, therefore, be sought for these children to continue to get at least one healthy meal per day. This is an excellent opportunity for the private sector, particularly restaurants to fill this void until the situation returns to the new normal.

There are valuable lessons to be learned from every challenge, including COVID-19. A resilient agrifood system will support Guyana’s efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 2 – zero poverty.

All stakeholders in the agrifood sector must support resilience along the value chain to ensure that all people – particularly the poor and vulnerable, at all times – even during pandemics such as this - have access to safe, sufficient and nutritious food for a healthy lifestyle. In this way, agriculture-related economic development can thrive. FAO, like other partners, will continue to work with Guyana to promote inclusive market access and will ensure that agriculture can withstand external shocks as well as to position the country to take advantage of emerging market opportunities.

It’s absolutely important that all categories of the vulnerable be reached Dear Editor IT is good, really commendable that organisations and individuals have been joining with the government in bringing relief packages to members of the public in their respective communities, and even to the homeless. It is another reminder that mitigating the effects of the pandemic, must not be confined to efforts on the part of the State, as it is a matter of very grave consequences involving all of us.

These are actions which speak of humanitarianism, even it had to be exemplified in a situation which threatens all of us.

But comments must be made on the very thoughtful measures that were taken to the homeless by some of the Miss World Guyana candidates. I refer to “Miss World contestants reach out to the homeless”, Guyana Chronicle, April 14, but moreso, the negative comments by some persons who

witnessed the act of thoughtfulness.

In this terrifying bio-threat situation, the chain of assistance that is being given to citizens is as strong as its weakest link, in terms of who are refused. It means that whatever support measure is given, ought to be done without condition, to all who can be reached, or is available to receive.

For given the virus’s asymptomatic nature, with its subtle carrier ability to transmit, no one, regardless of social condition, should be discriminated against. For to even exclude a single person in this categor, can result in untold consequences. This explains why contact tracing has been so vital, in mitigating somewhat, the transmission/spread of this killer disease, named COVID-19. One has no doubt that there are going to be stepped- up efforts to bring mitigating assistance to this much unfortunate category, and this should include, seeking to place them into whatever available state care facilities that are available.

For given their very destitute circumstance, with many presumably having underlying health issues, they are among the most vulnerable.

This leads into another, not too dissimilar category of citizens: those within indigent homes, as well as at the National Geriatric Home, otherwise called The Palms.

Editor, this is an area which has seen a very high casualty rate in Europe, where it has been reported that dozens of bodies have been removed from homes, particularly in Italy, Spain, and even in England, where many such cases were also reported.

Given that most of those residents would be also medically challenged, with many with very serious non-communicable diseases (NCDs), it stands to reason that testing for this very vulnerable grouping should be mandatory, as a means of ascertaining the possible presence of COVID-19 stricken victims, and their immediate removal to quarantine or isolation

segments. The possibility of a virus implosion in these home are immensely high, given that they are in what can be called a restrictive situation.

Maybe, the fact that visits to these homes have been stopped, are what may have been responsible for the non-incidents of COVID-19 cases.

However, nothing should be taken for granted, because of their occupants’ shut- in status. They should be tested as a matter of urgent priority once the means for doing so become available.

The health system must not be caught unawares.

Finally, one must come to the question of those in the penal system. Immediately, this is going to be a rather controversial issue, given the concerns about crime. It has been the current experience in some jurisdictions to have some kind of prisoner release, based on type of crime committed, for one does not envisage that very dangerous criminals should be released, even in the

kind of environment that currently prevails. There are going to be suggestions for social distancing, or total confinement to cell, as a means of coping with any eventuality of a climbing infection rate, which is always an inevitable possibility in any such crowded arena as a prison, which will also affect vital manpower. As to whether this is already being practised in the nation’s prisons, in addition to masks being worn, there has been no update.

Objectively, though, there should be some consideration of prisoner release, but only for those in the minor-offence category. In making this suggestion, this is not the time for archaic mindsets, but for wise decisions that may translate into slowing or stopping the relentless march of COVID-19, effectively saving lives.

Regards Aditya Panday

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday April 16, 2020

COVID-19, hydroxychloroquine GECOM needs and azithromycin: what to be mindful you need to know Dear Editor,

FURTHER to my letter of April 12, 2020 in which a call was made for the Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to adopt the chief elections officer (CEO)’s final report for the March 2, 2020 declared election results, permit me to posit some added reasons.

A few days after the General Elections (GE), the presidential candidate of the People’s Republican Party (PRP), a professed God-fearing party, made a startling confession..

Rev. Pastor Phyllis Jordan confessed before the Lord and the Guyanese nation that a leading political party had furnished the PRP with a spreadsheet of the GE results that conflicted with those of original Statements of Poll (SOPs) from her party’s agents. It is widely suspected that the PRP was supplied with those conflicting totals from the PPP, since the APNU+/ AFC denied doing so.

Madam Jordan’s confession was a timely revelation that exposed the PPP’s crude account of results, which varied from those that supported GECOM’s official declarations obtained from original SOPs. If intelligence received after the close of polls on March 2, 2020 is anything to go by, spreadsheet results similar to those given to the PRP were also supplied to the plethora of other small parties that contested ‘in only some regions’ of the GE, and persons associated with leading foreign Heads of Mission stationed in Guyana.

There have been numerous complaints, allegations and reports that the PPP and their surrogates have systematically reproduced conflicting SOPs and summaries of total votes, in their attempt to create doubt, confusion, and besmirch the official SOPs and final declarations for each administrative region by GECOM. It is therefore not surprising that the unified attack against GECOM flowed from all those who were provided with unofficial results from PPP-manufactured spreadsheets. GECOM is the only authorised body that can declare election results.

GECOM needs to be wary of the much-embraced post-declaration recounting of votes, which although made in good faith and not expected to change the winner, has already seen signs of reneging by the main opposition from what was originally agreed.. GECOM should seek to untangle itself from a well-orchestrated ploy by the PPP as it constantly keeps shifting the goal posts, thereby creating deeper constitutional confusion.

Apart from the APNU/+AFC, the PPP was the only other significant contestant of the March 2 General and Regional elections; elections that were duly won by the APNU/+AFC coalition, according to declared results.

It is understood that the Chairperson of GECOM may be operating under intense duress, as there have been a barrage of threats from the gang of PPP-aligned entities and foreign delegations here. The insinuation that international sanctions may be forthcoming against individuals, and the Guyanese nation as a whole, if GECOM adopts the officially declared results is a direct usurpation and attempt to destabilise a legitimate government.

GECOM ought not to be coerced nor intimidated by innuendos, but recognise the rights of the majority of Guyanese who evidently voted to re-elect the APNU+ AFC government, according to the officially declared results.

More disastrous may be the outcome should GECOM not to do so by allowing itself to be hoodwinked by those who seek to undermine the integrity of that august body and our electoral processes. GECOM must comply with all legal provisions, which are pellucid under the Representation of the People Act. Our laws are unequivocal regarding challenges to declared election results by aggrieved parties – Laws of Guyana, Cap. 1:03 Sec 61 (2)(b) b. There is also precedence by which GECOM may be guided, exemplified by the December 1997 GE petition. Those laws must be respected and upheld by GECOM, since vitiating already declared results is a premise of illegality and may lead to a total breakdown of law and order.

While a group of enthusiasts aligned with the PPP clamour for democracy, they should understand it in a universal context and not mere fantasies of those with personal ambitions and ulterior motives. Our democracy has permitted multiparty participation in the electoral process,, the secrecy of polling, freedom of expression and the right to judicial review, to name a few.

In closing, due recognition is given to the APNU+AFC government for completing an even Sixty (60) months in office, from May 11, 2015 to April 11, 2020 notwithstanding numerous hostile attempts to discredit its accomplished tenure!

Yours faithfully, Orette Cutting

Dear Editor,

I DO wish to lend my voice to the debate on the use of hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malarial medication and azithromycin, an antibiotic, in the treatment of COVID-19. Before I venture into this medically directed missive, it behoves me to emphatically state that presently a curative treatment for COVID-19 is outside of our medical knowledge, hence there is some justification in using the aforementioned medications at the time of this paralysing pandemic.

Having said that, both hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin do come with contraindications, that is circumstances and conditions that they should be avoided in. These contraindications need to be carefully considered when one is undertaking a risk-benefit analysis.

Most, if not all readers would be understandably confusticated by the proposition of doctors using an anti-malarial and antibiotic to treat a viral condition.

Surely, the only comparable “preposterous” act that can closely compete with this medical irregularity is someone using their car to mow the lawn.

The fact is, the associated potential curative treatment of COVID-19 with hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin occurred by chance, even as we are still in the process of understanding the mechanisms of actions. I must hasten to add that this chance occurrence, or coincidence for want of a better word, is not unusual with a notable example being minoxidil(Rogaine) which is an anti-hypertensive, that was later found to be effective in testosterone- driven hair loss.

At this time of great uncertainty- driven questioning, I would not be overly surprised if readers at this stage would wish to rightfully probe the medical rationale underpinning the use of hydrocychloroquine and azithromycin for the curative treatment of COVID-19, when there are many unanswered questions. I shall address these uncertainties utilising a two- part answering schema. Firstly, it is without doubt that both hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin were both extensively studied in malarial and bacterial infections respectively, with good safety profiles. Secondly, with these good safety profiles and limited evidence of benefit in COVID-19, it could be argued that in a potentially fatal condition where there is no curative treatment, there is justification for using hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin, provided the benefits far outweigh the risks. This argument somewhat loses substance due to the absence of quality studies for the aforementioned drugs in COVID-19.

Notwithstanding these limitations, the fact that hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin both have good safety profiles in the curative treatment of

malarial and bacterial infections respectively, along with limited promise and absence of curative treatment in COVID-19, then it was not a complete surprise that the FDA provided emergency approval in the treatment of COVID-19. In my humble opinion, if these two medications were completely new with no pharmacological history, then it is unlikely that the FDA would have taken this position., Further, it is my professional view that the limitations of both hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin in treating COVID-19, are multifactoral. For the reader to have a better appreciation of these limitations, it is imperative that they first have a basic understanding of the processes involved in testing drugs efficacy for any medical condition.

Firstly, the efficacy of any drug in treating any given condition is assessed by a process known as a, Randomised Control Trials(RCT). A RCT, which is the gold standard research process for assessing the efficacy of a medical intervention generally involves two cohorts of patients. One cohort of patients would have the condition in question and are known as the cases, while the other cohort without the condition are known as the controls. The drug to be tested is compared to an unidentifiable placebo.

The placebo is a completely impotent drug-mimic, since it has no drugs inside and sometimes could simply be a sweet that has the shape of a capsule. For simplicity I will denote the real drug as A and the placebo as B. Following on, the drugs A or B are then randomly administered to each case and control.

This simply means that the cases or controls will randomly receive either A or B, but not both. The cases and controls are completely unaware of what they are given. Using researchers language, the cases and controls are blinded to A or B. They don’t know what was administered, hence they cannot fake benefits.

On some occasions the researcher may also be blinded to the drugs administered to any given case or control. Since cases, controls and researchers are all blinded,- then the research is considered to be double- blinded. To have a wider cross-section of patients and improve credibility of the results, the research may be undertaken in many hospitals. As a result, the research may now have another label of being multi-centred. This would result in research of this nature to be called a “Double- blinded, Multi-centred RCT.” This is the gold standard in medical research and takes years from start to completion.This is the type of rigorous testing that any drug would undergo before it is given approval by the relevant authorities. Once completed the data is analysed by researchers and statisticians and the findings are ultimately published in medical journals and presented at medical conferences.

Now armed with this knowledge, I will expound on the limitations of

hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin. The fact is that approximately 80% of patients with COVID-19 will recover on their own, without medical intervention. Approximately 17% may require some form of medical intervention and will recover without any drug administration. Approximately 3% would unfortunately die despite medical intervention. From examining those numbers, it can be concluded that 97% of patients with COVID-19 will make a complete recovery without drug treatment. Therefore, if a patient is given Hydroxychloroquine and/or azithromycin and recovers, it is difficult to determine what contributed to this recovery. Was this recovery down to the fact that the patient would have recovered anyway, or was this recovery down to the intervention of administering hydroxychloroquine and/or azithromycin? It is these questions that any future RCT would hope to answer before we can confidently state that hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin are both curative treatments for COVID-19.

This in a nutshell outlines the limitations of both hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin in the present- day treatment of COVID-19. There is no RCT to support its use, hence they have no research legs to stand on.

On the other hand, many would swear by hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin because Donald Trump has endorsed them. The reality is that medicine is not a political race of endorsements. The danger, for want of a better word, is that Donald Trump is a businessman and not a medical doctor, therefore he is completely oblivious to the medical information and drug- testing protocol. For all we know, Donald Trump may be advancing his own business interest. More concerningly, all President Trump has to support his weak case is anecdotal or hearsay evidence, which is frowned upon in the scientific world, since It is the lowest level in the hierarchy of scientific evidence. In summary, both hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin can be used in COVID-19, but it is critical that one carefully considers their limitations and contraindications. Finally, I do wish to extend condolences to those who have lost loved ones from COVID-19. I would also like to wish those afflicted with COVID-19 a quick recovery. And for the rest of the citizenry, I would like to stress the importance of following the guidelines outlined by the government to reduce COVID-19 transmission.

Regards Dr. Mark Devonish MBBS MSc Med. Ed FRCP(Edin) FRCP(UK) Consultant Acute Medicine Nottingham University Hospital, UK

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 16, 2020

COVID-19 ‘lockdown’ triggers spike in domestic violence ―activist urges more support for those trapped with abusers UBBM’s Bonita Montague

By Lisa Hamilton “WHAT I’ve seen in the past three weeks I’ve actually managed in three months,” said activist and founder of United Bridge Builders Mission (UBBM), Bonita Montague addressing a recent spike in domestic violence cases.

Montague has spearheaded the organisation for some 28 years, actively seeking out ways to meet the social and physical needs of individuals and families. On Wednesday, she told this newspaper that the efforts of her organisation are being stretched thin, due to the numerous challenges that have arisen due to COVID-19-induced lockdown. The day before, the activist said, she received nine reports of domestic violence incidents in just three hours.

She described the situation as overwhelming, as the COVID-19 challenge has intensified previous challenges the organisation would have faced when it comes to transporting, housing and providing for persons fleeing abuse.

On April 3, the government instituted emergency measures which placed citizens nationwide under curfew, and saw the closure of all non-essential services in a quest to curb the spread of the deadly pandemic.

These measures have increased the time of enclosed contact with abusers and the abused, and in other cases, it has opened the door to potential abusers due to prolonged close contact. Montague has become a popular point of

contact for persons in need of help over the years.

She told the newspaper of one current case involving a woman whose husband, due to the lockdown, is no longer employed, and now spends his days drinking, to the point where he becomes violently abusive.

The UBBM is attempting to mediate certain situations which can allow for the abuse to escalate, but in other cases, it is crucial for the individual to leave the environment. Prior to COVID-19, the organisation faced challenges when it came to finding available shelters for

Social Protection, and Help and Shelter for assistance through collaboration, Montague understands that due to Guyana’s current elections stalemate, access to funding is not readily available.

The organisation does its best to assist with transporting persons across the country, accommodating them, and even providing for them, but longs for the day when access to greater funding will be made available.

“It’s very frustrating, and COVID did not help,” she said. “We haven’t had a resolution [regarding elections], and international funders have held on to their funds, so we are really in the crisis. We don’t have a cent of funding from anywhere;

Montage will travel all the way to Corentyne, Berbice to attend a domestic violence case in court, after which she will seek to facilitate the victim further.

in place to cater to the social needs of society’s most vulnerable.

She stated: “Right now, our vulnerable population is exposed to extreme harm,

lice Department on the East Coast of Demerara, UBBM has visited 250 families, which amounts to about 400 persons, providing them with food items, while simultane-

UBBM teams up with the Guyana Police Force to visit and assist vulnerable homes during COVID-19 ‘lockdown’

Activist and founder of United Bridge Builders Mission (UBBM), Bonita Montague distributing items to families in need

domestic violence cases, and now, with incidents rising, the challenge has grown greater.

LOW ON FUNDS While she is in regular contact with the Ministry of

everything that we do has to be generated and taken out of personal pockets to survived.”

The UBBM is currently working with a skeleton staff of volunteers. Today,

She maintains that social services funding should never be affected by the political situation of a country. The UBBM head believes that even if such a case arises, emergency funding must be

because funding has not been secured. And that is something our political figures should be concerned about, and our international funders should understand that regardless if a government is sworn in today, there are people that do have needs and they continue. They don’t stop having needs because we’re waiting on a government, or because there is an Opposition disagreement.

They have needs, and this goes across racial barriers; it goes across demographics, and across the age groups.”

On the topic of age groups, Montague said that many children are not a part of family circles which are child-friendly, and are being exposed to abuse, strenuous labour and poor nutrition.

Partnering with the Po-

ously checking on their home situations. “A lot of the children are experiencing their own hardship and emotional troubles being away from their normal schooling,” Montague has observed.

WORD OF ADVICE Leaving words of advice to individuals and families who may be affected by domestic abuse at such a time, the UBBM head urged them to remember that they are not alone.

She said that her organisation and others are here to support and persons affected should not lose hope.

Montague also advised that persons in tense situations which could lead to domestic violence to pursue deescalating methods until help can be received.

Miner recovering following chopping incident …police searching for suspect A MINER, who sustained stab and chop wounds on Sunday night at the Duquarie Backdam in the Cuyuni/Mazaruni, is recovering from his injuries.

The injured man, Randy Peters, a miner from the village of Paruima on the Guyana/ Venezuela border, was injured following an

altercation with another man on Sunday night.

Reports are that Peters and another man, said to be an excavator operator, had an exchange of words and this led to a fight. The assailant fired a chop at Peters neck and the victim also sustained stab wounds to his shoulders.

On Monday morning, a truck ventured into the area from the village of Cumang for Peters who, by this time, had lost a lot of blood. He was attended to by persons in the area.

He was taken to the Bartica Regional Hospital, some 6 to 7 hours from the scene of the incident, and was immediately given treatment

by hospital staff.

Reports are that police ventured into the area in search of the assailant. According to persons in the area, many similar incidents have occurred in the mining areas within the region; they go unchecked by the authorities.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 16, 2020

Men accused of the murder of ‘Lil Boy’ remanded TWO men were, on Wednesday, April 15, 2020, remanded to prison for the gruesome murder of 24-year-old Lawrence Raymond Benjamin, called ‘Lil boy’.

Winston Long, a 22-yearold farmer and Jermey Small, a 19-year-old labourer, both residents of Timehri Base Road, East Bank Demerara, appeared before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Diamond/ Golden Grove Magistrates’ Court, having been charged for the capital offence.

The charge alleged that the duo, on April 5, 2020, at Ice House Road, Timehri, murdered Benjamin.

The duo was remanded to prison until May 27, 2020.

Long was released from prison in March 2018, after

serving a one-year term of imprisonment for escaping from the Lusignan Prison, in

Lawrence Raymond Benjamin called ‘Lil boy’

July 2017.

Benjamin, of Ice House Road, Timehri, was stabbed and killed by two males on Sunday, April 5, 2020, at a shop in his village, around

09:45 hours.

He was reportedly chased by his assailants. His body

Winston Long

was discovered sitting in a white plastic chair with stab wounds to his neck and ribs.

He was clad in a white vest and blue short pants.

Benjamin was last seen alive by his mother, Alexis

Forde, on the same day, around 06:00 hours, when he told her that she would be left crying for him.

Police investigation revealed that, on March 31, 2020, Benjamin was arrested and placed in custody at the Timehri Police Station for threatening behaviour, language and assault committed on his foster father and others.

He was however released on April 4, 2020, and was expected to appear in court on April 7, but was killed before that time.

However, due to a collaborative effort among three divisions, the two men fingered in Benjamin’s death were arrested and confessed to their involvement in the crime.

Robbery accused remanded THREE men were, on Wednesday, April 15 ,2020, charged in connection with the armed robbery carried out on 40-year-old Ryan Rajmangal, and his family at Republic Park, East Bank Demerara.

Godfrey Lynch called "follower", 25, of Fifth Street, Albertown and Anthony Johnson called " Big life", 20, of Second Sgreet, Agricola East Bank Demerara were jointly charged for the armed robbery carried out on Rajmangal and his nephew, Nicholas Prince, on April 9, 2020.

The duo appeared before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Diamond/ Grove Magistrate's Court and pleaded not guilty to the charge. The men were remanded to prison until May 15, 2020.

Lynch's brother, Gregory Boyce , 35, of Durban and Smyth Streets, Werk-enRust was charged for receiving a stolen gold chain from his sibling.

It is alleged that Boyce received, from Lynch, a gold chain, property of Jewell Rajmangal, the wife of Ryan Rajmangal.

Boyce pleaded not guilty and was

Godfrey Lynch called "Follower"

released on $75,000 and will return to court on May 15, 2020.

According to police sources, Lynch, who is a career criminal, was the mastermind behind the robbery. He was released from prison, recently, after serving a sentence for similar crimes.

On April 9, 2020, Rajmangal was leaving his Republic Park, East Bank Demerara home for work, when four armed men entered his yard and held him at gunpoint.

The bandits then bound the victim’s hands and held his children at gunpoint.

They then ransacked his house and took away almost $2M worth in articles.

The businessman’s nephew, Prince, was also robbed during the ordeal.

The getaway driver sped away in the motor car leaving his accomplice to hitch a ride in a taxi to make good their escape.

The businessman reported the matter to the police and an investigation was launched.

Detectives were able to review surveillance footage from cameras inside of the businessman’s home.

Ranks attached to the Brickdam Police Station, acting on information, swooped down at a location in Georgetown and nabbed three of the four suspects. Some of the stolen articles were subsequently recovered.

Detectives were able to get a confession statement from the getaway driver who stated that he drove away after seeing the ordeal.

An investigation and the hunt for the last suspect is ongoing.

‘Raco’ dies in accident POLICE are investigating a fatal accident at Good Hope, Public Road, East Coast Demerara, which claimed the life of 32-yearold Rakesh Singh, called ‘Raco’.

According to reports, on Tuesday, April 14, 2020, about 22:00 hours, Singh was a passenger in motor car PJJ 675, which was driven by 24-year-old emergency medical technician Kelron Benjamin of Surat Drive, Triumph, ECD. Enquiries disclosed that

the motor car was proceeding west along the northern drive lane of the southern carriageway of the road, reportedly at a fast rate of speed when the front of the vehicle collided with a cow which was standing on the said carriageway.

As a result of the collision, Benjamin and Singh, who was seated in the front passenger seat received injuries about their bodie. They were picked up in an unconscious condition and taken to the Georgetown Public

Hospital Corporation.

Singh was pronounced dead on arrival while Benjamin was admitted, suffering from head injuries.

Police investigation is still ongoing.

Residents explained that the street lights from Annandale to Good Hope are not working, and the area would be "pitch dark".

"Presently they are not working, and, at night, even if your lights are on high beam, you can't see nothing" another resident explained.

Residents also complained about the number of stray animals that wander on the roadways in the village at nights, resulting in a number of accidents.

Singh, formerly of Number 46 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, worked as a taxi driver, and it was reported that he had just collected food from relatives in the area when he met his demise.

CDC continues engagement with private sector on COVID-19 response THE Civil Defence Commission, through its National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC), on Wednesday, held a virtual meeting with several stakeholders to discuss continued collaborative efforts to aid Guyana’s fight against the novel coronavirus.

Representatives of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) and the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) provided updates on several initiatives.

These included the distribution of sanitation supplies to aid the cleaning of municipal markets, mobilisation and importation of supplies and the delivery of hampers to households in vulnerable communities. Chairing Wednesday’s session was CDC Senior Response Officer, Captain Salim October, who provided clarity on the distribution exercise.

October noted that sev-

eral factors are taken into account such as the loss of income, prevalence of unemployment, and the number of single-parent households in a community. It was noted that while there is the belief that the pace of the Commission’s distribution exercise could be increased, persons must be cognisant of the fact that the Commission had the foresight to procure supplies before the situation drastically changed from then to now.

Captain October also disclosed that the Commission would shortly be executing several other distribution exercises.

Members of the private sector also expressed satisfaction to be actively engaged in the national issue. The NEOC was activated on March 31, to ensure the highest level of collaboration among all stakeholders to further prevent the spread of the disease, to enhance preparation, and strengthen the local response to the global pandemic. (DPI)

Alternative farmers’ market locations under discussion FARMERS’ markets are currently being reviewed as alternatives to ensuring there is adherence to health advisories on social distancing, in the fight to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) During a virtual meeting hosted by the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) with key stakeholders, Georgetown Mayor, His Worship Pandit Ubraj Narine, said a proposal was drafted that seeks to establish farmers’ markets across various constituencies.

This proposal which has been submitted to the Ministry of Communities will be amended and submitted for further review by the CDC, the Ministry of Finance and other stakeholders. One of the main amendments will see a measured layout of alternative farmers’ markets

for several constituencies within Georgetown.

Another adjustment will include costs associated with the sanitisation of these locations. While the number of days and operational hours are to be determined, the stakeholders proposed D’Urban Park be used as one of the sites for the farmers’ market. It was determined that the Department of Social Cohesion will be engaged in subsequent discussions since it has oversight for D’Urban Park.

It was further agreed that the market will only accommodate wholesale and retail sales of fresh produce, inclusive of vegetables, fruits and provisions. Suggestions for alternative venues for farmers’ markets were first aired at the National Stakeholder Forum, held April 6, 2020.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday April 16, 2020

TRIBUTE TO THE LATE RESERVE (GPM) COLONEL, JOHN PERCY LEON LEWIS, MSM

BY COLONEL (RET’D) CARL MORGAN IT is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of my friend and former Deputy Commandant of The Guyana Peoples Militia (GPM), Colonel John Percy Lewis, MSM. John was a quiet and unassuming gentleman. He was the longest serving reserve officer in Guyana with over 30 years of service.

John Lewis is the only reserve officer to become a full Colonel by moving up from a Reserve Subaltern in 1968. He was the only reserve officer to be awarded the Military Service Medal (MSM).

His was not an honorary rank or honorary award.

He was also awarded the Military Efficiency Medal when the reservists became eligible in 1986.

John Lewis attended St Stanislaus College where he was a keen sportsman, representing the school at soccer, athletics and basketball. At Saints he acquired the nickname “Bugs”. After graduating high school, he studied at the University of the West Indies in Jamaica, where he qualified as a civil engineer earning a BSc. John returned to Guyana and joined the Demerara Bauxite Company (DEMBA) as an engineer.

It was while there that he was encouraged by Major Arnold Godette to join G Company of 2 GDF. When the British Guiana Volunteer Force (BGVF) was disbanded in 1965, G Company at Linden was the only reserve unit to remain in existence. It became an independent reserve subunit under 2 GDF, which had been expanded into a regular battalion. Later it became 23 Air Defence Company in the GPM. John Lewis was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1968 in G Company and was later promoted to Lieutenant.

John left the employment of DEMBA and moved to GRL/IDEAL Group of Companies.

There was no reserve unit in Georgetown but he maintained a link with HQ 2 GDF. When Guyana became a Republic in 1970, John was instrumental in arranging to have the Coat of Arms of Guyana placed over the E11R emblem on the hand guard of the sword hilts. He also had

the swords re-nickel plated. Later overseas acquisitions of swords carried the proper Coat of Arms. John also arranged to nickel plate SLRs and other weapons for ceremonial use. John then moved on to AINLIM where he was involved in the Tapir (locally manufactured vehicle) project. Although no longer manufactured by AINLIM, these vehicles can still be seen operating in the Corentyne.

When the GPM was formed in 1976, John Lewis was already a Captain; he had attended Study Periods, etc. with the regulars. On formation of the GPM, he joined the growing list of citizens who enlisted. He attended weekend training camps at Seweyo and together with Major Stuart Wishart, a former officer of the BGVF, took part in all the IRONWEED exercises at Tacama, commanding reservists. On Exercise GREENHEART in the Konawaruk area, they were made battalion seconds in command to regular units.

When I was appointed Commandant GPM, there was a re-organisation of the reservists. The young and the fit were placed in the Mobile Reserve and divided into two rifle battalions, 21 and 22. The Company at Linden was trained on Air Defence Weapons and designated 23 AD company. The older reservists were placed in the Regional Reserve and the specialists, doctors, engineers, etc. were placed in the Specialist Corps to reinforce regular GDF specialist units.

John should have been part of this last group but he insisted that, given his experience in the field, he wanted a rifle battalion.

Major Lewis became CO 22nd Battalion.

Major John Lewis had the distinction of being selected as one of the Majors to carry, on a cushion, one of the late President Burnham’s decorations during the march of his funeral cortege through the streets of Georgetown.

At some stage, the force managed to arrange for John to attend a short course in the UK for British Army Reserve Officers - Territorial Army Volunteer Reserves (TAVR).

Major Lewis became my adviser on civil engineering matters. He supervised the renovation

Tree Planting in Camp Seweyo. Lieutenant Colonel Lewis is third from the right

GPM’s 10th. Anniversary Church Service at the Natural Cultural Centre.

Lt. Col. Lewis is behind the then Director General of the Guyana National Service, Major General (Ret’d) Joseph G. Singh.

Veterans Rest Home under Construction with representatives of the Royal Canadian Legion. Colonel Lewis is on the left.

The Rest Home receives a donation from then GT&T CEO, Major General (Ret’d) Joseph G. Singh. Colonel Lewis is on the right.

and expansion of Camp Seweyo; including new buildings, the water and lighting systems, the rifle range and the two-storied pavilion (including a gym equipped with improvised weights and other equipment) overlooking the sports field. When we had to take part in the Joint Services Military Tattoo in 1976, John supervised the fabrication of a model helicopter, which was pulled on a cable between the stands.

The model had fire crackers and smoke grenades attached, which were activated when 23 AD Company engaged it. For the GPM’s Tenth Anniversary Torch Light Parade, John Lewis designed a torch made from bamboo with a rag soaking in kerosene in a hollow section. He had spares positioned at strategic points along the route to replace those that may go out - only a few did. GPM could not afford the battery powered bulbs normally used by the GDF, thus the bamboo torches. No task was too difficult for Major Lewis.

When Major Wishart, the other battalion commander, migrated to Jamaica, Major Lewis was made commander of the Mobile Reserve.

John was a fixture at weekend training and annual camps. He became a father figure to the young reserve officers and was held in high regard by the regular officers who had contact with him. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and when a regular officer, Lieutenant Colonel WBC Joseph, who was my deputy, was re-assigned. I opted for a reserve officer, John Lewis, to replace him.

Bugs Lewis was not only an engineering adviser to the GPM but also to the GDF. He supervised many projects including the Coast Guard HQ and other structures in Ayanaganna, Timehri and in the interior, among others. John was embodied from time to time for short periods, and in his later years he was designated Engineering Adviser to the Chief-of-Staff.

But John was the epitome of a reserve officer, most of whom had already qualified themselves in their chosen careers and joined the Reserve to serve the country and had

11

Colonel John Lewis

some fun as “Weekend Warriors”. They enjoyed being pushed to the limit.

Few joined as a stepping stone to regular service.

John had no interest in becoming a regular officer.

John was remembered by all who had contact with him, regular and reserve, as a likeable, scholarly, humble, approachable distinguished officer and a gentleman. He had a great sense of humour and an infectious laugh.

After leaving AINLIM, John joined Terrence Fletcher and Associates and then SKRN Engineering. His last project was Supervising Engineer on the Mandela Avenue/Sheriff Street Project. John was also engineering adviser to the MMC Group while I was the CEO. He worked on many interior projects with the Chairman of the group, Andrew Mekdeci. He and I had some memorable days in the interior supervising road and bridge construction. He also worked with me on the Veterans Rest Home and the Veterans Monument and Hall of Memories. John was also a member of the Guyana Association of Professional Engineers (GAPE).

Bugs Lewis was a keen sportsman, playing basketball for Eagles and later devoted his energies to rugby, representing the Hornets RC, GDF and Guyana at home and overseas. John captained the Guyana side to International Rugby Fives in Hong Kong and in the Caribbean. He was also a qualified official and administrator.

John lost his wife, Juliet, just 12 days before he passed away; they would have celebrated 53 years of marriage in June 2020.

To lose both parents in such a short space of time was a terrible blow to his children, Robert and Lisa.

The thoughts and prayers of the Morgan family go out to the relatives and friends of the Lewis family and the military fraternity. May the souls of John and Juliet, united in a better place, rest in eternal peace.

Farewell my friend and colleague.

12

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 16, 2020

Reg. 10 receives $17M river ambulance

The river ambulance for the Upper -River valued at $17M

John Adams, Technical Adviser to the Public Health Ministry, hands over the keys to the river ambulance to Regional Health Officer, Region 10, Dr. Pansy Armstrong

THE Ministry of Public Health has handed over a river ambulance to Region 10 and five passenger boats for several riverine communities.

The vessels were handed over to the respective Regional Health Officials (RHOs) on Tuesday, at the compound of the Central Supplies Unit in Kingston, Georgetown.

The river ambulance was supplied by Meditron and cost some $17M, while the five boats totalled $2.6M. John Adams, Technical Adviser to the Ministry of Public Health,

handed over the keys to the river ambulance to Regional Health Officer, Region 10, Dr. Pansy Armstrong. The five boats are to be given to Regions Seven, Three, and other areas.

RHO for Region 10, Dr. Pansy Armstrong, noted that it was the second river ambulance the Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice area had received within a year; the first was handed over in April 2019.

Dr. Armstrong said the new vessel “will be used in the Demerara River for healthcare delivery, as well as to trans-

port medical emergencies to the hospital.” She explained that it would be stationed in the Malali area which is the furthest point on the Demerara River and will help make healthcare more accessible for the residents.

Meanwhile, Technical Adviser to the Public Health Minister, John Adams, said the five boats would serve as river ambulances in the interim for far-flung riverine communities. Two have been given to the Cuyuni-Mazaruni (Region Seven), one to the West Demerara-Essequibo Islands

The five boats which are to be given to Regions Seven, Three, and other areasThe five boats which are to be given to Regions Seven, Three, and other areas

(Region Three), while the other two will be designated to other areas.

Region Seven Regional Executive Officer, Kerwin Ward, said the two boats

would serve the Middle and Upper-Mazaruni river areas. To date, river ambulances have been handed over to Region One (specifically the Moruca

sub-region), Santa Mission in Region Three, Baracara in the Canje Creek and Orealla in the Corentyne River, both in Region Six, and Bartica. (DPI)

GTT donates $100,000 in cleaning supplies to Beacon Cancer Foundation THE GTT has donated a range of sanitising agents to the Beacon Cancer Foundation, to further combat the spread of COVID-19 at the hostel and ‘do more together’.

In a release, the telephone company said the $100,000 donation is part of its monthly Pinktober initiative to support cancer patients and care providers across Guyana. “This is why we host Pinktober annually – those funds go beyond cancer awareness and treatment – funds are used to provide psychosocial support, especially in times like these,” GTT’s Pinktober Coordinator, Diana Gittens said.

“Our efforts will not stop here; we will continue to execute similar initiatives to assist cancer patients in Guyana through our Pinktober partners for the rest of year,” Gittens explained.

Receiving the items from GTT was Nurse in Charge of Beacon Hospice, Bibi Salim, who said that the items donated will benefit three patients currently housed at the hostel. “We will use these items not only to clean the hostel but also to create packages for our palliative care patients across Guyana,” Salim said. Among the items donated were bleach, soap, sanitizing cleaner, cleaning rags, anti-septic medication, soap powder, hand sanitizer, latex gloves, paper towels and other toiletries. Last month, cancer patients and caregivers received hampers from GTT to help them through this pandemic.

Nurse in Charge of Beacon Hospice, Bibi Salim, with the donated items

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 16, 2020

GRDB confident of favourable rice production despite Coronavirus pandemic

Nizam Hassan, General Manager of the Guyana Rice Development Board

THE Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) is confident of excellent rice production this year despite the novel coronavirus pandemic.

On Wednesday, GRDB’s General Manager, Nizam Hassan, disclosed that all quality assurance services continue to operate as usual since rice exportation is ongoing. Speaking to DPI, Hassan said with the expected production, his agency is confident that there will be adequate supplies for local, regional, and extra-regional markets.

“We don’t expect that there will be any fallbacks from our projections, and for this year, just as we had done last year, we expect that we will get over 1 million tonnes of paddy, which will be equivalent to approximately 700,000 tonnes rice.

“We have already harvested over 50 per cent of the crop, and the yields are just over 6 tonnes per hectare, a point one per cent more than Guyana’s national average in 2019,” Hassan said.

However, he noted that due to the current disease outbreak globally, there have been setbacks in exporting rice to some European countries, including Italy and France. But that has been offset by a 40 per cent increase in exports to Latin American

countries. “This was primarily because of the jump in our exports to Venezuela.”

“While there have been fallouts in some of the markets and some of it is linked to COVID-19, other markets are relatively stable,” the General Manager stated.

Now that most agencies are working remotely and fewer hours daily, rice millers and exporters are encouraged to inform GRDB a few days in advance about the processing of their documents.

GRDB has implemented several measures to help in stopping the spread of the virus. Hassan explained that experiments at the Burma Rice Research Station are closing off since the crop is at the harvesting stage and most of the work currently ongoing is data gathered to be analysed.

The agency’s extension services continue to operate strictly on an on-call and rotational basis. Extension officers liaise with farmers as the need arises, to obtain harvesting data, monitor for paddy bugs and advise farmers accordingly. Hand sanitisers have also been placed at entry points of the GRDB office, and the World Health Organization’s advisories are up at strategic locations where staff and visitors could see them.

Minister Norton expresses condolences on passing of literary icons

MINISTER of Social Cohesion, Dr. George Norton, has expressed sincerest condolences on the passing of Guyanese literary icons, Dr. Michael Gilkes and Mr. Samuel Rudolph Seymour, better known as 'Rudy'.

Dr. Gilkes was a celebrated poet, actor, playwright, director, and literary critic. Gilkes passed away, in England, on Tuesday morning, after spending three nights in the intensive care unit, fighting the Covid-19 coronavirus. He died at the age of 86.

His last piece of work was a film titled, “Maira and the Jaguar

People”, which was directed and produced in collaboration with the Makushi community of Surama.

Former Guyanese newspaper cartoonist, Rudy Seymour, succumbed in New York City at the age of 93.

“Both Dr. Gilkes and Mr. Seymour have made indelible contributions to the Cultural and Creative Arts industry in Guyana and we hope that their families take comfort in the fact that their work will forever be cherished as tangible aspects of Guyana's history” the Minister stated.

Persons on home quarantine receiving social relief hampers PERSONS on COVID-19related home quarantine have been among those receiving hampers as part of the social relief which is being provided by the government through the Civil Defence Commission (CDC).

Deputy Director of the Health and Emergency Operations Centre (HEOC), Dr. Leston Payne, explained that the authority is cognisant of the constraints faced by persons who are required to remain at home, in consideration of the health of the nation.

“We have patients identified for home quarantine which involves strict measures, so what we try to do is to facilitate those patients; we would’ve instituted the home quarantine so at least they would have some amount of rationing through the period,” Dr. Payne explained.

The CDC has been distributing the food and san-

Soldiers packing supplies prior to the distribution exercise (Carl Croker photo)

itation items to vulnerable communities across the country since earlier this month, with over 1700 hampers distributed thus far. As such, the HEOC has been coordinating with the CDC with hampers donated to those persons who are required to remain at home for the betterment of their own health as well as that of the rest of the nation.

According to reports, each hamper carries an estimated

cost of $30,000 worth of sanitisation materials and food supplies.

As of last Tuesday, some 175 persons have been on home quarantine in Guyana. Persons are mandated to go on home quarantine if displaying signs and symptoms that may be suggestive of COVID-19.

From there they do a follow -up and a determination is made if they should

be further assessed or need a test. Persons are also required to home quarantine if they have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for the virus, or is a suspected case. Persons can be ordered to go on home quarantine if they are deemed a suspected case of the novel coronavirus.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 16, 2020

Amid COVID-19 pandemic…

New WHO report urges greater investments in the nursing workforce

The COVID-19 pandemic has poignantly highlighted the critical role that nurses and other health workers play in protecting people’s health and saving lives.

A new report, The State

of the World’s Nursing 2020, calls for greater investments in nurses’ education, working conditions, and leadership to strengthen their contributions to health systems.

“Every day, we are seeing

the courage, skill, and dedication of nurses and other healthcare workers as they serve bravely on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Carissa F. Etienne, Director of the Pan

American Health Organization (PAHO). “Nurses have always been at the forefront of saving lives and caring for the people. But never before has their worth been clearer than it is now. They deserve not only

our gratitude but also tangible support to ensure they are able to contribute to the fullest of their abilities.”

The new report, released by the World Health Organization (WHO) in partnership with the International Council of Nurses (ICN) and Nursing Now on the occasion of World Health Day 2020, highlights the contributions of and challenges facing the world’s nearly 28 million nurses, who account for more than half of all health workers globally.

The report’s call to action is clear: governments need to invest heavily in nursing education, creating nursing jobs and promoting nursing leadership to ensure sufficient nurses with the right skills for effective, equitable and sustainable health systems.

NURSING IN THE AMERICAS The Region of the Americas is home to 30% of the world’s nurses, or some 8.4 million people, of whom 87% are female. On average, the Region has 83.4 nurses per 10,000 population, more than twice the global average of 36.9 per 10,000. The figure, however, masks extreme disparities in the availability of nurses in different countries.

Fully 87% of all nurses in the Americas are concentrated in just three countries: Brazil, Canada, and the United States, which account for 57% of the Region’s total population.

That translates into a density of 80 nurses per 10,000 population in those three countries but contrasts starkly with the less than 10 nurses per 10,000 population in Haiti, Bolivia, and the Dominican Republic.

The Americas Region also has major disparities in the distribution of nurses within countries. In the 35 PAHO Member States that have reported data on distribution, only 36% of nurses are located in rural areas, even though 50% of the population resides there. The availability of nursing personnel is also complicated by the fact that a number of countries, especially in the Caribbean, are net exporters of nurses.

Bridging the nursing gap In the Americas, some 30% of the nursing workforce is aged 55 or older, with nearly a quarter of nurses expected to retire over the next 10 years. While there are currently 1.2 young nurses available to replace each retiree, that replacement rate will be insufficient to keep pace with population growth.

At the global level, the report predicts that the current shortage of some 5.9 million nurses will increase, as 1 in 6 nurses worldwide is projected to retire within the next 10 years. To bridge the nursing gap by 2030, the report says countries will need to increase the number of nursing graduates by an average of 8% every year and ensure they can find jobs and be retained by health systems. This will require investments to expand educational and training opportunities, increase nurses’ remuneration and improve their working conditions to ensure better retention. Funding these measures would cost roughly US$10 per capita (overall population) per year, the report says.

The report also recommends other areas of action to strengthen the nursing workforce, including developing leadership skills in nurses and creating new roles with opportunities to exercise those skills within health systems. Gender-sensitive policies are also critical for retention, given that 9 out of 10 nurses globally are female. For example, offering more flexible working hours would help accommodate the changing needs of women nurses during their careers. “We know that transformational change is needed if we are to bridge the nursing gap and empower nurses to fully realize their potential within our health systems,” said James Fitzgerald, director of Health Services and Systems at PAHO. “This report explains not only what we need to do, but why we must do it now, to help accelerate progress toward universal health.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday April 16, 2020

Teaching during a pandemic

--- teachers share their experiences and advice

Mahindra Sharma, teacher of Grades 7, 9 and 11 at the Beterverwagting Secondary School.

By Lisa Hamilton THE COVID-19 pandemic has not only affected economies around the world but the education of millions of children globally. In Guyana, with schools closed since March 16, 2020, it is no different and many teachers are concerned about the interruption in classroom education.

The Guyana Chronicle spoke with over 14 teachers from around the country, who detailed how they’ve been keeping in contact with the students, and some of the advice they want to give at this time. Headteacher at Plaisance Secondary School, Hermione Paddy, told the newspaper that one of the key areas she worries about is skills-training at

her school which ended abruptly due to the pandemic. “I am worried because at Plaisance Secondary we just don’t prepare students for CXC but we also have another programme, the Secondary Competency Certificate Programme (SCCP), where the students at Grade 9 must complete their work before they can go on to Grade 10 and that’s a big bother to me because it’s a skills programme,” she explained.

Some students from Plaisance Secondary have been exposed to joinery and furniture making; catering and commercial food preparation and crops and soils, the latter which has somewhat affected their reaping of crops. Paddy also noted that while teachers at her school customarily work through the Easter hol-

Teacher of President’s College, Willon Cameron

iday with students preparing for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination, this too has been affected. “It’s kind of hard for the students because they would really have to double up,” she said. “They have lots of projects there to complete.”

Past papers Since the closure of schools, the headteacher has been relaxing at home while enjoying quality time with her grandchildren. She also uses her time to send links to past CSEC papers to teachers and students. She also noted that there are cases whereby some children are indeed happy to be at school compared to their situations at home. “They miss school, they miss their classmates, they miss their teachers,” she said. Leaving a few words of advice, Paddy said: “Spend some quality time with your children, get to learn them, know them, this is the time when you need to do that.

Even if you don’t know their work, you don’t understand what they’re doing, just sit with them and let them see that you’re interested in what they are doing.”

Over on the Essequibo Coast, Golden Fleece Year One teacher of the Fisher Nursery School, Genita Jawahirlall, said that since the closure of schools, she has been actively communicating with the parents of her class through a WhatsApp group created. She has been providing parents with advice on how they can continue the learning for their children and, on numerous occasions, she has also given encouragement to parents based on their complaints about their children’s behaviour.

“During the past three weeks I have been in constant communication with parents trying to assist in providing meaningful suggestions to help the children. I have spoken to most of them and they said that [their children] really miss school and their teachers,” Jawahirlall said.

“My concern about school closure is that it has an impact on the children in the completion of their term/s curriculum.

Also, the biggest constraint is that we don’t know for sure what duration schools will remain closed given the nature of the transmission of the virus. We must also weigh the actual benefits versus the consequences.”

Build capacity She advises all parents to keep working with their children to build their capacity to ensure that, during this period without academic activity, they do not become dormant. She also urged them to be safe and to wait until the Ministry of

Public Health gives the directive to facilitate school once again. Jawahirlall has been using her personal free time to rejuvenate her mental and physical health while spending time with her immediate family. She has also been using the time to come up with interesting learning experiences to implement in the next term.

Teaching grades 8, 9, 10 and 11 at President’s College is Willon Cameron who told the newspaper that he is concerned about students who hail from hinterland areas.

“I’m worried about them because of the lack of internet access. The rest of them have adjusted to the new strategies implemented by the teachers, but that’s only for the grade 11 students who are preparing for CSEC,” he said. “I would advise parents to use the time to bond with their kids whenever they can and, as for their school work, there are plenty of resources available online but if internet is a problem then maybe the kids can learn other skills like gardening.”

Grade Six Teacher at Rosignol Primary School, Onifa Arthur has been trying to remain positive while at home, by planting her own kitchen garden and relaxing with her family. On some days she really misses her class and the sounds of their laughter and amusement at learning something new. “At Grade Six, the amount of concepts the children need to master before being properly prepared for the exams is way too many for that short time, not even extra lessons are enough to get it all properly done. At this time there can’t be any gathering of children. I’m very shaken about what this year’s results would look like,” she said. Arthur understands the challenge parents now face too and pleads with them and all students to make use of every available means of education, until life returns to normal.

Mahindra Sharma, mathematics teacher of Grades 7, 9 and 11 at the Beterverwagting Secondary School, said that, as an on-the-go person, it has been challenging to stay home, but he makes up by communicating with his students via WhatsApp. When it comes to the Grade 11 students expected to write CSEC this year, he has been assisting them in working past papers and makes small videos with steps to solve problems.

However, he is still concerned about their learning as only about 50 per cent of the students participate. One challenge is that not all students have access to the internet while, for some, their data plan finishes very quickly. “While I am happy that my students are safe and indoors, I am very concerned about their exams

Grade Six Teacher at Rosignol Primary School, Onifa Arthur

being just approximately 2 months away. I am sure that some of them are not studying.

We all know of those students who forget the book when they are out of school and those are the ones I am really concerned about,” he said.

“I wish to advise parents to take the necessary precautions to protect themselves and family from COVID 19. I urge pupils to make use of the Guyana Learning Channel, the educational games, YouTube videos and learn to do stuff in the home like cooking, sewing, etcetera.”

Other teachers who spoke with the newspaper noted that some children come from households where their parents cannot read or write and this too can be challeng-

ing. They’ve urged those parents to use visuals and audio through technology to help their children learn at their individual levels. Some other educators urged parents to use the crisis to teach their children how to be responsible individuals, and proper behaviour traits such as how to respect others as opposed to being bullies. Mandatory study time each day has been advised by one teacher who noted that this will help children to remain in the constant state of learning.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education has urged persons to visit its website at education.gov.gy to access numerous resources and tips on how they can continue learning during the pandemic.

Year One teacher of the Fisher Nursery School, Genita Jawahirlall

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Arsenal to continue paying staff, casual workers until end of May (REUTERS) - Arsenal will not use the government’s furlough scheme and will continue paying employees and casual workers their full salaries until the end of May, the Premier League club said yesterday.

The top-flight season has been suspended until at least April 30 due to the novel coronavirus pandemic and the north London club had initially committed to paying employees’ salaries until the end of this month.

“All our employees are receiving their full salaries and we plan to continue this.

We are not currently intending to use the government’s furlough scheme,” Arsenal said in a statement.

“In addition to our employees, we are extending our commitment to pay casual workers on our payroll from the end of April to the end of May. “For our match-day ca-

sual workers this means they will be paid for all four Premier League games that have been postponed and will be paid again should they work at these games once re-arranged.”

A few Premier League clubs

had initially opted to use the g o v e r n m e n t ’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to temporarily help pay staff during the stoppage.

However, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Bournemouth reversed their decisions amid a backlash from the fans.

Arsenal said they were in talks with their players regarding “potential financial challenges” in future but had not reached an agreement with them yet on how to move forward.

Last week, West Ham United and Southampton announced wage deferrals for their players to cope with the financial impact of the pandemic.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Thursday, April 16, 2020)

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

ANSWERS TO YESTERDAY’S QUIZ:

(1) Haniff Mohammed-337 (Barbados, 1958) (2) Conrad Hunte-142 (Barbados, 1958)

TODAY’S QUIZ:

(1) Who is the first Pakistani bowler to bag a five-wicket haul against the WI in Tests?

(2) Who is the first WI to take five-wickets in a Test innings against Pakistan?

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 16, 2020

Football’s return behind closed doors ‘impossible to know’

Wilder says Fury not yet champion after ‘zombie’ fight FILE PHOTO: Boxing - Deontay Wilder v Tyson Fury - WBC Heavyweight Title - The Grand Garden Arena at MGM Grand, Las Vegas, United States - February 22, 2020 Tyson Fury knocks down Deontay Wilder during the fight (REUTERS/Steve Marcus)

(REUTERS) - Dethroned world heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder says he still does not see his conqueror Tyson Fury as the true titleholder.

The American told a Premier Boxing Champions podcast yesterday that the real ‘Bronze Bomber’ had not shown up for their last fight, and likened his performance on the night to that of a zombie.

“It’s not over. In my eyes I don’t see Fury as the champion,” said the 34-year-old, enjoying some downtime in Alabama.

“He ain’t the champion yet, we’ve still got one more fight left ... and I’m looking forward to giving the world the best of Deontay Wilder.”

“People that know boxing know that that wasn’t Deontay Wilder that night. I was a zombie that night... I wasn’t

myself, I felt like a zombie in there,” he added.

Fury overwhelmed Wilder in their Las Vegas rematch in February, seizing the WBC crown with a seventh-round stoppage. They had previously fought to a draw in December 2018.

Wilder claimed afterwards that his legs had been weakened by the 45-pound costume of full dark armour and helmet that he wore to the ring to honour Black History Month.

“He knows that wasn’t me. I know that wasn’t me.

Everyone knows that wasn’t the real Deontay Wilder, something was wrong,” said the American.

A third bout between the two heavyweights was set for July but has been pushed back due to the new coronavirus pandemic, with a likely date in October.

(BBC) - Football will “no doubt” return behind closed doors but it is “impossible” to know when that will be, says the body that represents Europe’s top leagues.

Alberto Colombo, the deputy general secretary of European Leagues, said the suspension of the season because of the coronavirus pandemic was “a huge crisis”.

“The vast majority” of the association’s members, which include the Premier League and the English Football League, are prioritising a return to action, he said.

But he admitted that “a small number” of countries, including Belgium, were now considering cancelling their campaigns.

Football is suspended indefinitely across most of Europe because of the continued spread of COVID-19.

Premier League clubs are scheduled to meet tomorrow to discuss the situation, but there is unlikely to be a resumption any time soon to a top-flight season that still has nine rounds of fixtures to play.

Last week, hopes were raised when German clubs became the first in Europe to return to training, albeit with precautionary measures in place, with talk of resumption as soon as May. But Colombo has urged caution, adding: “The priority so far has been focussing on creating conditions to be able to resume competition during the summer should we be able.

“You need to resume training and develop your own protocols. There’s no doubt it will be behind closed doors, so the competition organisers have to develop medical protocols, training protocols, match-operation protocols.

“But, of course, it’s impos-

sible to answer the question: ‘When we will be back playing?’ Nobody has these answers.

“Ultimately, we all know the governments of the countries are the ones in charge for lifting the various restrictions that apply to sport.”

Germany has carried out more diagnostic swab tests - to establish whether an individual is infected with coronavirus - than other major European countries.

The Italian Football Federation hopes to begin testing players for the virus at the start of May, in preparation for the season to resume.

“There is no doubt that players’ health comes first, and also the health of all those involved in matches - staff of clubs, media, everyone has to be safe,” said Colombo.

“Doing testing is an important component part of these health measures. But at the moment there is not a common position in every country.”

Belgium’s Pro-League has annoyed European football’s governing body UEFA by cancelling its season over health concerns and financial issues although ratification is still pending and a final decision has been delayed until April 24.

“We know there are other leagues, but really a small number, that are having these considerations,” said Colombo.

“The vast majority has been focussing 100% on the resumption of their competitions.

“One of the reasons for us to maintain this as a priority... is to safeguard the integrity of the competitions.

“And, of course, we have to avoid jeopardising the excellent work and co-operation we have developed with UEFA during the past weeks.”

Tour de France set for August (BBC) - The postponed 2020 Tour de France will now start on August 29, following the French government’s extension of a ban on mass gatherings to mid-July because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Cycling’s biggest event won by Team Ineos’ Egan Berna, last year, was originally scheduled to run from June 27 to July 19.

“Holding this event in the best conditions possible is judged essential given its central place in cycling’s economy,” said the UCI, the sport’s governing body.

Many large-scale sporting events scheduled to take place this summer have either been called off, such as Wimbledon, or pushed back by a year, such as football’s European Championship and the summer Olympics.

Four-time winner Chris Froome is set to return at this year’s Tour, which is set to start in Nice, after he missed the 2019 race, following a high-speed accident in which he broke his neck, femur, elbow, hip and ribs.

He tweeted: “The news many of us have been waiting for. Some light at the end of the tunnel.”

Geraint Thomas, the Briton who won the Tour de France in 2018, told BBC Radio 5

Live: “Hopefully those dates can go ahead.

I’m super excited about that.

“The Tour is the pinnacle of the sport. If you ask anyone in the UK for three words to do with cycling, they would be: Tour de France. It would be great for the riders and the teams if it can go ahead. This is why teams exist and that’s why sponsorship comes into the sport.”

He added: “The calendar needs to be ironed out. Once we know that we can get back racing again then talks can get under way between everyone. The Tour has to take priority. That’s the main event in cycling and then hopefully we can fit other races in around it.”

Cycling’s two other three-week Grand Tour races have also been rescheduled for later this year, as part of a plan by the UCI to stage all major cycling races this season.

The Giro d’Italia - which was scheduled to take place in May - and the Vuelta a Espana, originally set for September, will now be raced after September’s World Championships.

The championships, which will be held in Switzerland, remain in their September

20-27 slot, which means the Tour de France will finish on the same day the week-long championships begin.

That means the men’s World Championship road race will take place one week after the final day of the Tour.

The postponed ‘monument’ one-day races - Milan-San Remo, Liege-Bastonge-Liege, Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix - “will all take place this season, at dates still to be defined”, added the statement.

The UCI cautioned that the calendar will remain dependent on the “world health situation”, with the body’s president David Lappartient saying “we still have work to do to finalise the establishment of an entirely revised calendar”.

On April 10, the UCI furloughed staff and cut the salaries of senior employees as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

The women’s version of the Tour, La Course by le Tour de France, was initially scheduled to take place over one day on July 19 on the Champs Elysees in Paris.

But Tour organiser ASO said it will also be postponed and instead take place “during the Tour de France 2020”.

ANALYSIS - MATT WARWICK, BBC SPORT As determined as the UCI is, it is hard to see how cycling’s governing body is going to fit all these races into this season.

It appears officials believe the financial implications for cancelling races in 2020 could be so detrimental - to teams and organisers - that they will instead try to push all major events back as far as they can.

But what is realistic in such an unpredictable situation as the coronavirus crisis evolves? Cycling could yet benefit commercially from being one of the few major sports not to call off much of its 2020 schedule until next year. However, if those events - having been moved - are then cancelled at a later date, there must be further financial implications.

And there is already much to sort out on the calendar, so when does the UCI think it can fit in a further six weeks of Grand Tour competition and five ‘monument’ one-day races around October and November, when most of Europe gets seriously cold and wet?

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 16, 2020

Yorke concerned about regional icons’ contribution

(CMC) – Legendary striker Dwight Yorke says he is “concerned” that outstanding Trinidadians like himself, Brian Lara and Russell Latapy have not been given the opportunity to contribute to the region’s sports development.

The 48-year-old former Aston Villa and Manchester United star, a member of the historic Trinidad and Tobago side which qualified for the 2006 World Cup in Germany, said he remained available to lend his expertise in the football fraternity but said he has never been approached to do so.

“I’ve been very fortunate.

Football has given me everything beyond my imagination as a young boy growing up,”

Yorke told i95FM here.

“I would always love to contribute to my country the experience that I’ve gained at the level I’ve played for so many years. You would have thought I would have been involved in Trinidad and Tobago football certainly in the future.

“For everyone who’s listening, I’ve always wanted to contribute to my country, I always want to help. I feel with the experience and knowledge I’ve got I could certainly help out in some capacity. However, that hasn’t happened, I haven’t been approached.”

Yorke, who scored 26 times in 72 appearances for T&T, said Lara and Latapy also had not been allowed to

give of their vast expertise and experience after having contributed so much during their careers.

Lara, a former West Indies captain, is considered the finest player of his era, and still holds world records for the highest Test and first class score.

Latapy, meanwhile, became the first-ever Trinidadian to play in the Champions League when he turned out for Porto, before going on to represent Scottish giants Rangers.

“It does make me feel a little bit concerned that someone like Brian Lara, who is the most accomplished cricketer in West Indies, hasn’t got a role in West Indies cricket,” Yorke

pointed out.

“Why would you not want to pick his brain, his knowledge of why he’s been such a success? I find that really baffling with people trying to undermine someone like him because of what he has done over the years and it’s probably the same for Russell Latapy who’s been out there for a number of years.

“People will say we’re friends but the reality is there is no greater accomplishment than Lara, myself and Latapy. Why would you not use that to your benefit and I find that very, very strange when other countries would love to use our expertise in trying to find out what it takes, what it means … to be out there.

“We have all this experience and knowledge and nobody has been able to put it to use.”

Yorke scored 97 goals in nearly appearances for Aston Villa to become a club favourite before joining Manchester United in 1998 for a then-record fee of £12.6M sterling.

He formed part of a famed strike partnership with Andy Cole, netting 65 goals in 147 outings for the English giants, helping them win the storied treble in 1999.

Yorke, now based in Dubai, has involved himself mostly in media punditry following his playing career but said he was currently trying to break into the world of football management.

“I’m actually trying to get into coaching here which is another challenging part of my career. It’s a different challenge now,” he explained.

“The challenge was to break in as a black player in the UK. I managed to do that and now I have to fight extremely hard and … it’s the same thing coming into management. You have to fight extremely hard to get a look-in to it.

“You just have to look around the world; it’s very challenging. I’m not ashamed to say it – the black aspiring managers are not getting a look-in.

You look in the Premier League and you look around globally.”

Austrian government not opposed to Grand Prix without fans (REUTERS) - The Austrian government is not opposed to this year’s Formula One Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring taking place without spectators, Sports Minister and Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler said yesterday.

The first nine rounds of the Formula One season - up to and including the Canadian Grand Prix on June 14 - have been called off due to the novel coronavirus outbreak.

That leaves the Austrian race at Spielberg on July 5 as the second still on the schedule after the French Grand Prix on June 28.

“We don’t want to get in the way,” Kogler told reporters when asked if the government would allow the race to take place.

However, he said it was different to staging a football match without fans because of the number of technical staff involved.

The 10 Formula One teams each have around 60 people in the paddock on race weekends while Formula One staff, plus technical and safety officials as well as media and broadcast per-

sonnel, would bring the total attending the race to more than 1 000.

The number would in-

crease further if the usual support races, such as Formula Two, are also run.

Kogler added that travel

restrictions could be a bigger hurdle than social-distancing rules.

“This must then be

The drivers pose for the F1 Class of 2019 photo before the F1 Grand Prix of Australia at Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit on March 17, 2019 (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

considered within the framework of the existing restrictions on entry and exit (into the country),”

he said. “I don’t want to anticipate if an exemption will be needed here or there.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 16, 2020

Sri Lanka series win ‘encouraging sign of development’ - Pollard

(CMC) – CAPTAIN Kieron Pollard says West Indies’ aggression in their series win over Sri Lanka last month was an encouraging sign of development ahead of this October’s Twenty20 World Cup in Australia.

However, with upcoming series against New Zealand and South Africa under threat because of the outbreak of the novel coronavirus pandemic, Pollard believes it has cost the Caribbean side the chance to further enhance their team building and overall preparations.

“The way that we played and the power we had in our lineup with that pace and aggression, our athleticism in the field, it brought a smile to my face the way we performed in those last two games,” Pollard said.

“And I think we’re getting there and it’s

just unfortunate what has taken place now in terms of the pandemic all around the world because we had a couple series coming up against New Zealand and South Africa that would have helped tighten the grip a bit more.

“Again, those things are out of our control; we can’t think about that but it excites me thinking about the World Cup. Hopefully we can continue to put the pieces of the puzzle together.”

West Indies produced two dominant performances in Pallekele, to whitewash Sri Lanka 2-0 in the T20 International series.

They won the opening game by 25 runs courtesy of a Lendl Simmons half-century and shot-filled cameos from Pollard and Andre Russell, while fast bowler Oshane Thomas blitzed the opposition with an

aggressive five-wicket haul.

The tourists won the second game by seven wickets with three overs to spare, thanks again to Russell’s brutal hitting.

Pollard said the return of Russell and veteran all-rounder Dwayne Bravo had been a definite boost for the side.

“I thought the guys that we had – Russell coming back in, Brav coming back in (was a plus), and still there are a couple guys around the setup that we’d love to have with us to make that complete 22-man squad that we can pick from,” he noted.

The T20 World Cup is scheduled to run from October 18 to November 15, though the COVID-19 outbreak has also threatened to put the showpiece in doubt.

West Indies will arrive as defending

champions following their sensational win four years ago in India but Pollard said team-building and planning needed to be the immediate focus.

“I think the immediate goal for us would have been trying to put some wins on the board and getting a consistent group of guys to play together and understand their roles and their responsibilities,” he stressed.

“I think that’s the major thing before you go into a tournament so that’s the immediate goal right now.

“The goal is there: yes, you want to go participate in the World Cup but you want to go there winning and so you need to plan how you’re going to do that; so we’re in that stage right now.”

IPL suspended indefinitely

(ESPNCricinfo) - The BCCI has suspended the 2020 edition of the IPL until further notice because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is understood that the BCCI has not set a new window yet for the tournament, which was to be held between March 29 and May 24 originally.

Yesterday morning, all eight franchises were informed of the decision by Hemang Amin, IPL’s chief operating officer.

Amin told the franchises that, following the extension of the nationwide lockdown till May 3 by the Indian government, there was no possibility of hosting the event in the regular summer window.

The decision follows a meeting among the BCCI’s top brass over a conference call on Tuesday evening.

Among those involved in the discussions were BCCI president Sourav Ganguly, secretary Jay Shah, IPL chairman Brijesh Patel, BCCI treasurer Arun Dhumal, and Amin.

This is the second time the BCCI has been forced to defer the IPL. Last month, just before the government put the country in a three-week lockdown, the board had pushed the start date of the tournament back to April 15.

On Tuesday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an extension of the lockdown until May 3, even as all domestic and international travel in and out of the country remained blocked.

This made it apparent that there would be no chance of hosting the IPL in the foreseeable future.

Although it was preparing for this scenario for some time, the BCCI had also been optimistic about conducting a month-long IPL with the final scheduled in the first week of June.

Also, as part of its contingency planning, the BCCI was looking at staging all the matches behind closed doors in limited centres.

All those plans had to be pushed to the backburner after a spike in COVID-19 infections around the country.

As of yesterday, over 11 000 people have tested positive in India with deaths inching towards the 400 mark. With several restrictions put in place by the government in terms of social-distancing and travel bans, and overseas players unable to participate with their own countries in lockdown,

the BCCI was left with little choice but to put off the IPL. This leaves the tournament’s stakeholders, including the players, facing a big setback. At the auction last December, a total 62 players were bought by the eight franchises, who spent INR 140.30 crore (US$18.4M approx.) overall.

Australian fast bowler Pat Cummins became the most expensive overseas buy in IPL’s history after Kolkata Knight Riders bought him for INR 15.5 crore (US$2M approx.).

None of the IPL players will receive any money until the tournament actually takes place.

As per the norm, franchises make payments in two instalments: the first a week before the tournament starts and the rest after the season is over.

The franchises, too, will feel the pinch as they rely heavily on the IPL’s commercial revenue, which also includes broadcast rights which were bought by Star India for a record sum for a five-year period in 2017.

Every franchise, since then, was assured a minimum share worth INR 150 crore (US$19.7M approx.).

Sri Lanka series win ‘encouraging sign of development’ - Pollard PAGE 23

West Indies T20 captain Kieron Pollard

Tour de France set for August PAGE 21

The 107th edition of the Tour will start in Nice and finish in Paris

Yorke concerned

about regional icons’ contribution PAGE 22

Trinidad and Tobago legend Dwight Yorke

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THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2020