Guyana_Chronicle_Epaper_04_29_2021

THURSDAY 29th April, 2021

No. 106345

‘More boots on the ground’ to enforce COVID-19 guidelines 15

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Blair, Persaud removed from GuyOil SEE PAGE

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Member of the Board of Directors of GuyOil, Akanni Blair

Company Secretary at GuyOil, Shawn Persaud

―system to be tightened against possible acts of fraud, says President Ali

Fire ravaged the Sharon’s Mall on King and Charlotte Streets, Georgetown on Wednesday night (Photo courtesy of News Room)

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Fire guts Sharon’s Mall

Harmon more interested in denigration SEE than dialogue PAGE ―says President Ali, considers CJ’s ruling in elections petition a reflection of Guyana’s democracy

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‘Vaccination passport’ may be used in Guyana 9 SEE PAGE

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$92M living quarters for judicial officers in Berbice commissioned

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 29, 2021

Harmon more interested in denigration than dialogue ―says President Ali, considers CJ’s ruling in elections petition a reflection of Guyana’s democracy

By Navendra Seoraj

BY resorting to attacks on the Judiciary and driving fear in the mind of citizens as part of extended efforts to deny the validated results of the 2020 General and Regional Elections, the A

Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) has proven that it has no interest in working for the development of Guyana, President, Dr. Irfaan Ali has said.

In a recent show of reluctance to accept the results

of the elections, which show a victory for incumbent People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), Leader of the Opposition, Joseph Harmon described the acting Chief Justice, Roxane George’s dismissal of Election Petition, 88 of 2020, as an attempt to pro-

tect the PPP/C administration from scrutiny.

Initially not uttering a single word when asked about possible engagements with the Coalition, President Ali, during a press conference on Wednesday, played a recording, which, from all indications was Harmon’s response to the ruling of the Chief Justice (ag).

In this recording, Harmon could be heard saying: “We will appeal… until justice is delivered to us, we must keep hope alive, you must continue to fight, work to remove this installed PPP regime. We fight against principalities and powers, but our struggle is just and righteous.”

on whether he is willing to work around Harmon, President Ali said: “Why is it that I have to work around Harmon? Why is it I have to work around Harmon? I played a tape of this man who has no

President, Dr. Irfaan Ali

Leader of the Opposition, Joseph Harmon

Further, the Opposition Leader said: “The ruling of the court must strike fear in the hearts of all the democracy-loving people in Guyana, the Caribbean and around the world.”

“That is the APNU+AFC’s response to the court ruling.

Does that give you any indication that they have any interest in working for the development of the country?” President Ali asked rhetorically.

The President said his Government’s position on the opposition is clear and premised on Harmon’s comments in the recording.

In responding to a question

sought to vitiate the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections, not based on evidence, but hinged on a legal argument pertaining to the constitutionality of the election laws.

respect for anyone including the court, making damaging statements, and I am called to ask why I don’t work around him.”

He maintained that the Government’s position is clear, since the Opposition Leader, instead of doing the “right thing”, became outraged at not only the Executive, but also the Judiciary because of the recent ruling.

In a thorough, comprehensive and well-reasoned judgement, the Chief Justice (ag), sitting in the High Court of the Supreme Court of Judicature, on Monday, dismissed the Elections Petition which

Contrary to Harmon’s description of the ruling, President Ali said: “The decision of the court is a testimony both to the independence of our Judiciary and the enduring strength of our democracy and especially in the manner and efficiency in which the court conducted these hearings.

“Even more importantly, the decision arrived at by the court is further evidence of the fact that as a people and a country, whatever our party-political differences may be, these differences are settled peacefully and within the rule of law under which we are all constitutionally governed.”

It is for this reason that the President reiterated his Government’s commitment to upholding and defending the separation of powers among the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary, which are so vital to the functioning of a democracy.

“I look forward to our courts continuing to recognise the efficacy of the last elections in addressing any future challenges on this matter,” President Ali said.

Blair, Persaud

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 29, 2021

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removed from GuyOil

―system to be tightened up against possible acts of fraud, says President Ali

By Navendra Seoraj AS investigations continue into the alleged attempts by officials of the Guyana Oil Company Ltd. (GuyOil) to improperly engage a fuel supplier and solicit his services, President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, has ordered the removal of a Director of GuyOil, Akanni Blair and Company Secretary, Shawn Persaud.

The Auditor General’s Office was called upon, on April 21, to conduct an urgent investigation of an issue related to GuyOil’s purchase of fuel from a company called Aaron Realty Inc. (ARI).

According to reports, the proprietor of ARI, a fuel dealer, had claimed that he is now left with a large quantity of fuel on hand after alleged commitments from senior GuyOil officials that the company would buy it. The dealer had claimed that he has evidence of the commitments by officials of the company to purchase his fuel.

Four days after the issue was reported across various sections of the media, alleged recordings and screenshots of conversations among the fuel

dealer and officials of GuyOil surfaced.

Blair and Persaud were identified specifically as the officials who, reportedly, not only contacted the proprietor of ARI, but also visited his house and requested his services.

President Ali, when asked, during a press conference on Wednesday, about Cabinet’s position on this matter, said: “All those who had inappropriate contact [with the fuel dealer] must be removed.”

The President later identified Blair and Persaud as the two officials who he has ordered expelled from GuyOil. In a prior report, Blair had claimed that he approached ARI following a directive from the Board of Directors of GuyOil. Chairman of the Board of Directors of GuyOil, Paul Cheong, was reported by Kaieteur News as saying, it was he who directed Blair to source a fuel supplier for two shipments that the oil company had tendered for.

Cheong said, however, that while this was the case, Blair was asked only to pro-

President, Dr. Irfaan Ali

Company Secretary at GuyOil, Shawn Persaud

vide the management of GuyOil with the information for ARI. With Persaud also implicated in the matter, the chairman related that he did not instruct either of the two officials to commence “due

Fire flattens Sharon’s Mall A MASSIVE blaze on Wednesday night has left the owners of the Sharon’s Mall and numerous entrepreneurs and lawyers in distress.

The four-storey building located at King and Charlotte Streets, Georgetown, was completely gutted by a fire suspected to be electrical in origin and has left in its wake, millions of dollars in damage.

Smoke was first spotted around 17:00hrs but fire fighters who responded were unable to access the building for about two hours. Flames were spotted around 19:00 hours.

Guyana Chronicle un-

derstands that over 30 business owners occupied the building and very few were able to salvage valuables which included documents, appliances, clothing and equipment.

Aside from clothing stores, the mall housed offices of several lawyers, salons, toy stores and stationery businesses.

This publication understands that a staffer recalled smelling smoke a r o u n d 11 : 0 0 h r s o n Wednesday but passed it off as a smell coming from somewhere outside of the building. By 17:00 hrs, the building was filled with smoke and persons

who were still there were forced to hurriedly evacuate the building.

A call was placed to the Guyana Fire Service at 17:00hrs and several fire tenders were dispatched to the scene.

Up until 19:00hrs thick dark smoke was seen emanating from the building.

Suddenly, the glass of several windows were shattered and flames were spotted. Within minutes the third and fourth floors were engulfed in flames.

Dawn Blackman who owned a stationery store in the building described the situation as “devastating”. She noted that her

Member of the Board of Directors of GuyOil, Akanni Blair

diligence” for the supply of fuel.

While President Ali has since ordered the removal of the two officials, he said that no fraud was committed because no transaction was

entered into.

“What is of great importance is to have a review of the system [fuel purchasing system] to ensure it is rigid and strong enough at every tier to deal with… a company or individual wanting to commit a fraud,” the President reasoned.

General Manager of GuyOil, Trevor Bassoo, had coincidentally tendered his resignation to the company’s Board of Directors around the same time the fuel scandal was reported across sections of the media.

President Ali has since confirmed that Bassoo’s resignation was not related to the scandal, but rather a performance evaluation that was conducted prior to reports of the issue under investigation.

“The CEO [General Manager] was asked to go on leave because of a performance-related matter. He resigned because of that and he stays resigned,” the Head of State related.

It was reported that, as a result of Bassoo’s resignation, an interim sub-committee from among the Board of Directors has been appointed

to manage GuyOil’s day-today operations.

Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, following a recent meeting with the Board of Directors of GuyOil, had emphasised the need for the company to act in compliance with the established laws and procedures, in line with good governance, accountability and transparency.

He reinforced the point that a Board of Directors is appointed to protect the interest of the Government and people of Guyana and it is what he expects of all State entities. On this note, he reiterated that his Government will not tolerate any type of unlawful practices.

President Ali, during his press conference, said his administration inherited a plethora of issues related to GuyOil; these are being investigated by the Auditor General and the police.

Among the issues the President referred to is the ongoing investigation into an alleged $300 million fuel scandal involving the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).

― dozens of businesses, law offices destroyed losses are estimated to be in excess of $5M. She recalled that when she arrived at the scene, she was able to save two printers.

The majority of stationery items were destroyed, she said.

Blackman stated that the fire had grown “tremendously” since it was initially noticed, and had left everyone, including the firefighters, in shock.

“When I came, one of the firefighters was coming from the back and he mumbled something to an officer in khaki. The officer in khaki turned around and saw me with the second printer. By

then I started to choke with the smoke …he ran up the stairs to the second flat and he ran down back because the smoke was so black. He ran down the stairs, so, for me, in my estimation, it’s worse now than when I came,” the businesswoman stated.

Meanwhile, Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn told the media at the scene that initial investigations indicated that it was difficult for the firefighters to properly access the fire as it was running through the ceiling vents and along the electrical wiring in the building.

“They may have

thought they had it under control but the wiring of the building …the fire was moving along that through the floor and the drop ceilings so it was difficult to ascertain where the fire was exactly at the point that they would have arrived,” said Benn.

When this newspaper made checks at 20:45 hours, the fire was still raging.

The Guyana Fire Service is yet to officially determine the cause of the fire. This newspaper understands that initial investigations have suggested that the fire was electrical in origin.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 29, 2021

Improved disaster management expected from CDC, Florida National Guard engagement

By Jared Liddell

THE Civil Defence Commission (CDC) as part of efforts to improve its response to disaster management, on Wednesday, met with representatives of the Florida National Guard.

The aim of the discussions was to foster future collaboration to enhance Guyana’s disaster management and preparedness strategies.

CDC’s Director-General, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig, and high-ranking members of his staff, met Adjutant General of the Florida National Guard, Major General James Eifert, and his team at CDC’s Alternate Emergency Operations Centre and Warehouse at Hyde Park, Timehri.

Major General Eifert has responsibility for the overall management, readiness, and mobilisation of both U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force elements of the Florida National Guard.

Craig called the meeting “noteworthy” in improving relations between the two coun-

Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig (seventh from left) stands next to Adjutant General of the Florida National Guard, Major General James Eifert. Also pictured are several high-ranking CDC staff and members of the Florida National Guard

tries. He said shared knowledge and training would only improve the disaster preparedness response of the CDC. He noted that since the CDC’s establishment in 1982, its mandate continuously expands with Guyana’s growth, which has seen the organisation being prepared for common natural disasters such as floods, and now with the budding oil and gas sector,

CDC’s Director-General, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig, and Adjutant General of the Florida National Guard, Major General James Eifert, during a tour of the CDC’s Alternate Emergency Operations Centre and Warehouse

oil spills has been added to the list.

“We at the CDC have a mandate to respond to oil spills. We respond to drought,

we respond to flood, we respond to health issues all across the 10 administrative regions. It demands more, so what we try to do with these types of visit is to strengthen relationships so we discussed a number of areas where we can have further discussion for support in the areas of search and rescue and oil spill response,” he noted.

He further stated that while the visit was just to “break the ice” for future initiatives and collaboration, the CDC is happy with the response to some of what was presented to the visiting team.

“The main purpose of today is mainly to collect and start discussion for future support for Guyana. It wasn’t a meeting to make commitments, it was an engagement to start the discussion for future support and I think that we are happy in terms of what we put on the table and we’re happy with some of the responses they give and it’s just now for us to follow up in terms of planning and executing of those activities,” Craig said.

Meanwhile, Craig stated that one of the major collaborative initiates in the works between the CDC and the Florida National Guard is the opportunity for an “inter-country expert exchange programme”.

Expounding on the programme, Craig stated that it is hoped that US experts in specific areas of disaster management will be sent here to provide knowledge and training to the CDC members. He noted that Guyana’s CDC staff would also be expected to provide their expertise to the US military disaster management operations.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 29, 2021

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Call for tenders from this week for new Harbour Bridge

By Navendra Seoraj

THE nine prequalified bidders for the new Demerara Harbour Bridge will be invited, this week, to tender, President, Dr. Irfaan Ali has announced.

Bidders for this project will be expected to submit their bids within three months of receiving the bid documents, after which, construction will commence.

They were advised by the relevant authorities that they will be required to bid on two options: first, a design-build and finance option, and second, a design-build-operate and finance option.

The prequalified entities are Ballast Nedam Infrastructure Suriname BV; Odebrecht Engenharia e Construcao SA; Boskalis Guyana; Effiage Genie Civil Company Ltd (Netherlands); Rizzani de Eccher Construction (Italy); China State Construction Engineering Corp; China Gezhouba Group Company

Limited; JV China Railway International Group; China Road and Bridge Company; and China Railway Construction Corporation Ltd. Some of the companies have partnered to bid for the project.

While an estimated cost

has not yet been announced, the new ‘fly-over’ Demerara Harbour Bridge is expected to stretch from Nandy Park on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) to La Grange on the West Bank of Demerara (WBD).

This new four-lane highspan bridge, which is scheduled to be completed in two years after the commencement of work, will replace the existing structure which was built in 1976, over four decades ago.

The Demerara Harbour Bridge

“We expect the bridge to be completed and delivered within 24 months from the commencement of its construction,” President Ali said during a press conference at State House, on Wednesday.

Following an inspection of the proposed site for the new bridge, in September 2020, President Ali had said: “There is no time and we cannot have too many time lapses… the current bridge is limping along and that is a nice way to put it.”

The President, on Wednesday, again referred to the need for enhanced infrastructure, especially to alleviate the traffic woes related to travel from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) to Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica).

In his view, the existing infrastructure does not allow for an increase in productivity, as persons travelling from Region Three would spend close to three hours in traffic.

With this being the case,

President Ali reiterated his Government’s commitment to investing in transformational infrastructure like the new Demerara Harbour Bridge.

It was reported that while the bridge is the main focus, the Government’s transportation plan is not just a “connection plan” as the project will also include “service/ feeder” roads to support the main highways.

“The alignment would connect to a four-lane alignment on Haags Bosch or Bagotville Road and that will be developed into a four-lane facility between the new four-lane (Ogle-East Bank bypass road) and what will be the older four-lane,” President Ali had said in September.

The interconnections created by the new project will allow for a smooth flow of traffic and even create an alternative linkage between the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) and EBD.

GPL committed to amicably resolving issues of wages/salaries with union THE Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) has made proposals to the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employee (NAACIE) on July 20, 2020, for a three-year Collective Labour Agreement (CLA) for the years 2020, 2021, 2022.

According to a release, this proposal includes a r e s t r u c t u r e d P e r f o rmance-Based Incentive that will positively impact annual salary increases.

“All other clauses have been reviewed and retained in this proposed CLA. The current CLA was established in January 2001. NAACIE submitted its counter proposal to GPL in September 2020 and negotiations commenced in September 2020

and continued into October 2020. These sessions resulted in the mutual agreement of a number of clauses that did not include the Acrossthe-Board and Performance Incentive Award Clauses,” the release said.

It noted that, in March 2021, NAACIE submitted a revised proposal, which would result in a significant increase in salaries of 15, 17 and 19 per cent respectively over the three-year period.

Negotiations between NAACIE and GPL resumed in March 2021 and there was mutual agreement on 66 clauses except for two – Across-the-Board increases and the Performance-Based Incentive.

These two clauses, GPL said would have the largest

impact on the company’s financial position. In December 2020, the company paid all staff $25,000, despite its financial position that has been negatively impacted by the unprecedented and protracted COVID-19 pandemic.

This pandemic contributed to a significant and unbudgeted expenditure that was necessary to ensure the company’s continued operation. During the first quarter of 2021, the world market fuel prices per barrel exceeded GPL’s 2021 budgeted prices by approximately 50 per cent.

“Should prices remain at this level the company will incur additional and unbudgeted expenditure of approximately six billion

Guyana dollars ($6B). Despite this significant financial challenge, the company remains committed to amicably resolving the existing differences through negotiations and GPL expects that the union will embrace a responsible position on this matter. GPL also unequivocally refutes the statements made in relation to the annual and automatic 12 per cent increase to the basic salaries

of the Company’s Executive Directors. There is absolutely no truth in this statement,” the company said.

On the matter of the acquisition of two vehicles for GPL’s Divisional Directors, GPL categorically states that these vehicles were acquired through a National Competitive Bidding Process. Five bids were received and were comprehensively evaluated in accordance with the com-

pany’s Procurement Manual.

The tender was awarded to the lowest evaluated bidder.

“For clarity, these vehicles, which are the property of the company are utilised by the Executive Directors in the execution of their duties. GPL remains committed to amicably resolving the existing differences through negotiations,” the release concluded.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 29, 2021

People-centred leadership UNDERLYING every aspect of Guyana’s development agenda is the common denominator of improving the socioeconomic condition of individual Guyanese; of empowering every Guyanese to live to their best potential; of designing the society so that everybody achieves his or her optimal possibility. Development is not just to showcase big shiny projects, or to increase national wealth, or to become a world-class country.

Although it is all of those, more than anything, Guyana’s development is about its people; about raising the standard of living of the Guyanese nation through individual empowerment. Every morning, thousands upon thousands of public servants, nurses, teachers and people of all walks of life; farmers, labourers, construction workers, retail workers, soldiers, police, firemen and firewomen, get busy with their daily activities to make this country hum and move forward. In government, scores of State leaders and parliamentarians and officials dedicate their days to improving the lives of Guyanese. Ministers these days travel the length and breadth of the land to interact and discuss the country’s progress with local residents, practising dynamic servant-leadership in always evolving the methodology of how projects work to contribute to the welfare of every citizen.

The goal of it all, this complex operation

of society, is the empowerment of the average Guyanese citizen to live the kind of life that each person deserves in this great land of Guyana. What an absolute joy for people to go about their busy days in this country, knowing that they elected in free and fair elections, the kind of government that works in their interest; that cares about their welfare, and that is matured and experienced enough to operate the State machinery with efficiency, professional conduct, and ethical consideration for the people who elected them to office.

Just like one vote counts as an important factor in who governs in a democracy, the big development agenda and good governance, and the overall system of Guyana’s operation, it is all happening for each and every Guyanese.

In other words, national development is aimed and targeted at the individual person, rather than a faceless mass of society. Thus, when the leaders of government look into the eyes of a person in face-to-face meetings with the Guyanese public in Essequibo, Lethem, Kwakwani, Port Kaituma, Leguan, and Wakenaam, they go back to the office with that person’s personality stamped on their consciousness, and make State decisions with that one Guyanese in the mind’s eye. This kind of consideration the previous Coalition Government lacked; this connection with the people of this country.

When Vice-President Bharrat Jagdeo and Attorney-General Anil Nandlall and Prime

Minister Mark Phillips could interact with journalists, and walk through the streets of villages and towns of this country and look citizens in the eye and smile with them and listen to their views and rub shoulders with ordinary souls; people feeling a buddy-buddy relationship of camaraderie and easy relations between the elite leadership and the ordinary citizenry, one knows that the nation is at a good place; that the average Guyanese is important, valuable, and uppermost in consideration of the development agenda. Development is for people; one person by one person. Democracy serves the individual who votes; that is how votes matter. When a nation sees a government mature enough to intuitively know this; that the individual person is the most fundamental part of the process of what constitutes society, that nation is on a good, solid path.

In the housing agenda, and allocation of land to citizens, it is an individual enterprise; one Guyanese at a time. In making sure the GDP rises, it is for each Guyanese, like when the GDP exponentially jumped from US$300 per person to US$3000 per person, as noted by former Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, that is a direct individual impact on Guyanese – and indeed a world record in how fast such a big jump happened.

In considering why Guyana needs to achieve its legendary potential, and what is the common denominator of this massive

development agenda of government, it is important for the society to understand that uppermost in the minds of those who foster and set the development agenda is the individual person, each and every Guyanese citizen. The average citizen tends to feel that development is a bigger-than-life undertaking; that massive projects like the mega mall at Leonora tower above their heads. But it all works only for one purpose: To make life easier, better, and workable for the individual person. This is a perspective that inspires people; that motivates each person to get up and do their bit to make the society function well.

When people know that Guyana’s forward movement is for their individual benefit, that not only their vote matters to the body politic, but that their human resource capital is crucial to the overall national welfare, it makes Guyanese feel important, worthy, valuable. And a society that fosters a citizenry who feels valuable, worthy and a necessary part of the grand scheme of things, is a nation that hums and buzzes with a motivated human resource base; people who tackle their lives with gusto, energy, and commitment to the cause of their own development.

One Guyanese by one Guyanese, like brick by brick in building a solid concrete house, the nation rises to its glory, to make real that musical line in the national anthem, ‘Oh Great Land of Guyana’.

Granger is in the clouds Dear Editor, I AM revisiting a very detailed letter, “It is time for former President, David Granger, to come out of hiding,” (Kit Nascimento, Feb 13, 2021. KaiNews) as I want to establish the kind of character this David Granger has become, or maybe, this was how he has always been.

Let us remember that Kit Nascimento was right in the centre of the People’s National Congress (PNC) since time immemorial, so he is speaking from a very intimate position. I mean he knows what he is saying.

In the letter, it was pointed out that former President, David Granger, was still refusing to acknowledge the results of the March 2 elections, even though, during the post March 02 saga, he made the claim repeatedly that “as President of Guyana and leader of the government, it is my policy that any declaration which comes from the Chairman of GECOM would be recognised by the Coalition government.” So, what is happening even now?

I ask this question in the light of the April 26 court ruling, in which the opposition APNU+AFC (A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change) emphatically lost its bid to invalidate the national recount of ballots, which was undertaken by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) following last year’s

contentious general and regional elections. I add that the actual GECOM work, which was disrupted by Granger and his lackeys, would have culminated in a declaration, and there would have been no reason for a recount.

The acting Chief Justice, Roxane George-Wiltshire SC, dismissed the petition filed on behalf of the Coalition, ruling that both Section 22 of the Election Laws Amendment Act (ELAA), and Order 60 which facilitated the recount, are well within the ambit of the Constitution, and therefore lawful. She made it clear that GECOM was empowered to conduct the recount. By the way, the said recount was to aid and abet APNU+AFC’s delay of the inevitable, that is, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic’s (PPP/C’s) victory.

So, what now and next? I guess it’s the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). Why do I say this?

Well Mr. Editor, Granger’s anthem has never changed. He has always been with the tune of ‘submit to the rule of law’ and yet, he keeps flouting the Constitution -- opposing the no-confidence motion, and then, when this was passed by the CCJ, acting as though the government was still in normal mode; appointing (rtd.) Justice James Patterson as GECOM Chairman (CCJ overturned this as well); departing from due legal processes with respect to the tabulation of Statements of Polls

(SoPs) which led to the recount; desperately seeking to thwart the declaration generated by the recount; and now finally, challenging the recount (which I assume will be dealt a final blow if he goes to the CCJ).

From this kind of record, what must I make of David Granger? My answer is that he needs professional help. He is far removed from reality.

In modern psychology, ‘denialism’ refers to a person’s (deliberate and willful) choice to deny reality. This is a reaction to seek to counter or avoid a psychologically uncomfortable truth. Denialism is medically described as “… an essentially irrational action that withholds the validation of a historical experience or event, when a person refuses to accept an empirically verifiable reality.”

March 2, 2020 elections qualify for this “validation of a historical experience or event” that was an “empirically verifiable reality”.

My forementioned list of Granger’s denial and outright refusal of reality proves my case.

What has happened in all likelihood is that so entrenched is Granger in his failure to accept and reconcile himself to actualities has now led to his decline, to the point he is a victim of his self-created denial.

David Granger has now indeed chalked up a most vitiated history and besmirched profile: ‘over and over and over ad infinitum,’ he

keeps saying that he’s innocent of his party’s brazen many attempts to rig the 2020 Guyana Elections, starting from the Statements of Polls for District Four by Clairmont Mingo, which was aided and abetted by Keith Lowenfield and Roxanne Myers.

In a recent APNU+AFC Live Programme, Public Interest, on April 23, Granger noted that his absence from the public eye was because he was busy doing groundwork and had to review what happened in 2020 in order to move ahead.

The world knows what happened and final pronouncements have been made. So, what is it with him?

Granger is in the clouds. He was saying on the programme that he believes other parties will join the Coalition and the APNU+AFC is going to expand. He even posited that the Coalition is the only party in Parliament that offers equality in terms of representation. The semblance of a protest following the CJ’s ruling hopefully will send a ‘wake up’ message that ANU+AFC will soon become inconsequential. What Granger, Harmon and the APNU+AFC overall should do is to officially recognise and accept the PPP/C as the legitimate government and seek a refacing.

Yours truly, Attiya Baksh

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 29, 2021

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Guyana administers more than 128,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines

― adult vaccine legislation put on the back burner AT the end of Tuesday, the local health authorities have been able to administer 128,740 doses of the COVID-19 vaccines to people across Guyana, according to Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony.

On Wednesday, during his daily COVID-19 update, the Health Minister said that Guyana’s COVID-19 vaccination rollout has been progressing well and that the country has been able to vaccinate at least a quarter of the target population with one dose of the COVID-19 vaccines.

Additionally, he highlighted that 2,941 persons have received their second dose of the vaccine and hence, would be fully immunised against the novel, deadly coronavirus. He said that Guyana is targeting about 500,000 adults in its vaccination rollout, so that the country can achieve herd immunity.

Through this, the spread and effect of the SARS-CoV-2 virus (that causes the disease, COVID-19) would be significantly reduced.

Meanwhile, responding to questions from the Guyana Chronicle, the Health Minister highlighted that the new COVID-19 immunisation legislation, which was expected to

be presented to the National Assembly early this year, has been placed on the back burner.

“We’ve had a discussion on the legislation but we believe that we don’t need the legislation at this time. With the current legal framework that we have on the books already, we can proceed with vaccination and that’s what we’re doing,” the Health Minister said.

Last December, Dr. Frank Anthony said that a draft legislation, a new immunisation bill that will allow for the vaccination of adults, would be presented to the National Assembly in early 2021.

“Our current legislation only provides for immunisation of children. It does not allow for the immunisation of adults,” Minister Anthony explained then.

The existing legislation is the Public Health (School children) Immunisation Act. This act makes provision for the immunisation of persons seeking entry into schools and day-care centres. This does not cater for adults, however.

And instead of amending this existing legislation, it was explained that a new legislation will be introduced.

Dr. Frank Anthony, receiving his COVID-19 vaccine (DPI photo)

Joint operation between Guyana, Suriname leads to drug bust A COLLABORATIVE effort between the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) and Suriname Law Enforcement Authorities has resulted in the confiscation of 902 kilograms of cocaine at Tafelberg, Suriname.

According to a statement from CANU,

this is a result of close and intensive cooperation at all levels among CANU, Suriname authorities and other partner countries in the fight against organised crime, particularly trafficking in narcotics.

Organised crime is a transnational prob-

lem and requires trusted cooperation among law enforcement authorities in the region and further afield.

The local law enforcement unit said this level of cooperation is part of the Government of Guyana’s multi-faceted approach to

suppressing and ultimately eliminating the scourge of drug trafficking in Guyana.

This strategy will continue to be enhanced to deter traffickers from using Guyana’s territory to further their illicit activities.

Irresponsible statements, Seems like the PNC never fails to remind the nation that they’re up to no good actions of the opposition Dear Editor,

THE statement of the Leader of the Opposition, Joseph Harmon, to supporters following ruling of Chief Justice on Elections Petition No. 88, is replete with double-speak, sinister in its implications and a subtle call for violent reprisals in its intent.

Assailed by the economic downturn that made thousands jobless and caused great business loss, citizens of every community are in survival mode, not receptive of inflammatory rhetoric that would negatively impact all the support systems the current government is rolling out to improve extant living conditions and to enhance the potential of achieving upward mobility for themselves and offspring.

However, there would always be misguided persons who are content to wallow in their impoverished state in order to empower

and enrich their corrupt leaders.

The rabble that strove to create mayhem in the streets in Georgetown after the court handed down its decision were obviously amassed in preparation and expectation of the judgement that was delivered; which in the eyes of any intelligent person, was in accordance with Constitutional imperatives. But the rambunctious elements that rampaged in the city after the judge’s ruling were influenced and manipulated by their uncaring, destructive, lawless leaders in efforts to create a breach of the peace and provoke the police into retaliatory action to precipitate a tsunami of violence in the nation, without caring about their health in this deadly pandemic.

Their intent and objective is the PNC brand of politics of violent aggression that is meant to bring the PPP/C President and Government to their knees and jeop-

ardise the development/ empowerment/enrichment programmes President Irfaan Ali and his government are rolling out countrywide.

And race-baiting’s always their preferred strategy.

Harmon’s message, with its covert innuendoes and threats, is not so subtle, as can be deduced from his obvious call to arms.

What form will the PNC’s X-13 Plan take this time around; and when, not if, will the rabble-rousers who are misleading their credulous supporters with baseless allegations, misrepresentation of facts and outright lies prevail?

It only takes one person to light a match, or to fire a bullet. Burnham said to the effect that only those who own the dogs can call off the dogs. So will PNC, for once, put the nation first and call off their “dogs of war?”

Yours respectfully, Erin Northe

THE PNC never misses a chance to disgrace itself, and remind the nation why it should never again be elected to office. Every time it files a spurious, contrived election-related case, the nation and world remembers their attempt at election fraud that failed miserably.

The Chief Justice, one of the best judges in recent times, again threw out the second PNC’s elections petition as having no merit. The PNC must not be tired or ashamed to lose so many elections cases in its attempts to hoodwink some gullible supporters that somehow the elections were rigged in favour of the PPP. The PNC announced they would appeal the elections petition case, so there will be another chance for them to be walloped again, and remind the nation that they are up to no good, making trouble in the neigh-

bourhood. Having traumatised the nation during the five months of attempted rigging in 2020, the PNC had a small group of supporters on Monday marching in the streets, causing businesses to hurriedly shutter their doors. Does the PNC think such strategies endear them to the hearts of the businesses and law-abiding citizens going about their daily activities?

What purpose can the PNC attain other than communicating that they have nuisance value, and can bring out their goons to terrorise the public, create disorder, and disrupt traffic and business?

The PNC is now a battered party, reeling from revelations of various wrongdoings by some top operatives facing numerous fraud and malfeasance in public office charges, apart from internal leadership divisions. Filing more court cases it knows it cannot

win, the PNC continues to shoot itself in the foot, rather than rebuilding to be the viable, responsible Opposition it was elected to be.

While the PNC continues to do more of the same that continues to drag the party down, the PPP has launched a flurry of developmental projects, winning many hearts and minds, and solidifying its support across many communities, and even winning former PNC supporters. The sad thing is, there is no one on the horizon emerging to save the PNC from itself. The country needs a vibrant, moral Opposition to critique the Government and make them accountable.

Instead, the PNC continues its clownish ways over and over. The nation and party deserves better.

Sincerely, Dr. Jerry Jailall

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 29, 2021

‘More boots on the ground’ to enforce COVID-19 guidelines ― President Ali

By Vishani Ragobeer

BY and large, it would appear as though ‘good sense’ has not prevailed in the public’s adherence to the COVID-19 guidelines, and as such, President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, has emphasised that the enforcement measures would be upped to ensure that the COVID-19 guidelines are adhered to.

“We thought good sense would’ve prevailed but it hasn’t from the population in the way they treat the pandemic,” the President lamented on Wednesday during a press conference held at the State House, in Georgetown.

Sharing just one experience of the irresponsibility of some, by flouting the COVID-19 guidelines, the President said that he received complaints of no less than 1,000 people congregated at resorts on the Linden/ Soesdyke Highway. Due to the sheer number of people gathered, it would have been difficult for members of the Task Force to arrest people,

since that action in itself would create another health concern.

Cognisant of the irresponsible behaviours, the President said that he has asked Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, to discuss other ways of enforcing the guidelines.

“If the owners and the managers allow these breaches at their facilities, then they’ll be charged to the full extent of the law,” the President stated. He also noted that there would be “more boots on the ground” as ranks from the armed forces attempt to enforce the guidelines and dissuade errant actions.

He did not indicate that there would be a change to the current curfew hours which are from 22:30 hours to 04:00 hours daily.

With the discovery of the deadly coronavirus to Guyana last March, large public gatherings have been prohibited and a social distance of six feet was encouraged. The prohibition and distancing, among other measures, were

A snippet from a video of officers of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) arresting patrons who were found in a local bar, in breach of the COVID-19 guidelines

instituted since the interaction of people would be conducive for the spread of virus from person to person.

“The lives of the people matter and they cannot be this reckless,” the President lamented.

The situation at the Linden/Soesdyke highway was not an isolated issue. There are constant reports of people flouting COVID-19 guidelines by organising and attending parties, fetes and other large gatherings.

Earlier in April, Covicurb patrols were conducted by members of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the Guyana Police Force (GPF), who make up the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF). Through these patrols, the officers found scores of persons breaching the national curfew and flouting social distancing guidelines, by congregating in bars, at parties and at other similar gatherings.

After these patrols were conducted, few videos began circulating on social media wherein the persons detained in the GDF and GPF vehicles, and who were later arrested, were verbally abusing the officers and engaging in other disorderly behaviours. Subsequently, memes emerged on social media labelling the GDF bus as a “party bus”, making light of the situation.

“What they were behaving with in that bus was reckless. It’s reckless,” the President lamented at the sidelines of a previous event.

On Wednesday, the President also explained that the irresponsible behaviours have resulted in the country spending resources that could have otherwise been used in a public communication campaign or to bolster mainstream healthcare.

COVID-19 cases in Region Two climbing ― RHO expresses concern

By Indrawattie Natram

AS the Pomeroon-Supenaam Region continues to record COVID-19 cases on a daily basis, Regional Health Officer (RHO), Dr. Ranjeev Singh, is pleading with residents to take the vaccine which is available to persons 18 years and over.

As of April 28, 2021, records from the Ministry of Health show that the region has 91 active cases.

On Sunday, 28 new cases were recorded; on Monday there were no new cases, while a total of 12 persons were tested positive for the virus for Tuesday and Wednesday. The region has recorded a total of 372 cases of the virus since its arrival in Guyana in March 2020.

Dr. Singh, during an interview with the Guy-

An elder taking the vaccine during a vaccination drive

ana Chronicle, said the COVID-19 vaccines are

TURN TO PAGE 9

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 29, 2021

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‘Vaccination passport’ may be used in Guyana ― President Ali says as he encourages people to get vaccinated

By Vishani Ragobeer

A ‘vaccination passport’ has been touted by many countries as a means of permitting safe, international travel once again, and President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, highlighted that this may become a tool that Guyana adopts in future.

“To get back to normalcy, the introduction of a mass vaccination passport is being contemplated by many countries. In fact, we have already seen countries lower entry requirements for vaccinated persons,” the President said on Wednesday during a press conference at the State House.

And, the President reasoned, “We here in Guyana will soon have to consider this option.”

Moments before the President made these remarks, the United Kingdom (UK) Guardian reported

that international travellers will be asked to verify their COVID-19 vaccination and testing status using a smartphone app. This is thought of as an electronic vaccine passport.

As reported in the Guardian, a professor of epidemiology at the University of Oxford, Christopher Dye, told the UK science and technology select committee on Wednesday morning that certificates or vaccine passports for international travel were likely to be in place for the long term.

These passports would be a way of verifying that people have been fully vaccinated -- that is, received all of their required doses of the COVID-19 vaccines.

In Guyana, the Oxford-AstraZeneca, Sinopharm and Sputnik V vaccines are being used. For people to be fully vaccinated, they are required to take two doses

of one of these vaccines.

While speaking about these vaccine passports, the President also emphasised that the pandemic is far from over and reminded members of the media that science has concluded that vaccination is the exit strategy of the pandemic.

“My Government has launched an exceptionally aggressive vaccination programme to achieve herd immunity in the shortest possible time frame…. As you are aware, sourcing the vaccines is a global challenge, and we have met it head-on,” the President said.

He also underscored that the government has spent millions of dollars in procuring vaccines and billions of dollars, in total, for the COVID-19 response. He also explained that vaccines come with a shelf life and carry enormous costs for cold storage and transpor-

COVID-19 cases in ...

FROM PAGE 8

available at a number of locations throughout the region. Residents, he said, can visit vaccination sites at Good Hope, Huist Diren, Suddie, Queenstown, Anna Regina, Dartmouth, Windsor Castle and Charity.

the likelihood of persons contracting severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

Meanwhile, Regional Commander, Superintendent Crystal Robinson, called on businesses operating within

A frontline worker taking the ‘jab’ at Suddie Public Hospital

To date, there have been no reports of adverse effects among those who had been vaccinated. In light of this, Dr. Singh assured persons that the vaccines are safe to take. He said too that they are effective and will lessen

the Anna Regina township to ensure that they adhered to all COVID-19 guidelines including the curfew. She said the disciplinary forces within the region remain vigilant.

She warned that persons who are seen not wearing a mask,

will be charged. Robinson also called on taxi drivers to ensure that passengers entering their cars wear their masks.

Anna Regina and Cotton Field are listed as COVID-19 hotspots. Mayor of Anna Regina, Rajendra Prabhulall, has urged all market vendors to follow the guidelines.

This newspaper understands the Aurora Secondary School was closed for two days after a staff member has reportedly tested positive.

Several colleagues were subsequently tested since they would have been in close contact with that person.

Both the AstraZeneca and Sputnik-V vaccines are available in the region. The vaccines stimulate the body’s natural defences, causing it to produce its protection in the form of antibodies. The Sputnik-V vaccine was documented as the first registered COVID-19 vaccine in the world on August, 11, 2020.

It is being manufactured by the Russia Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) in collaboration with the Gamaleya Centre.

The vaccines are usually injected into the person’s muscles and are given in two doses.

The Ministry of Health has advised those who were vaccinated to continue to take precautions. If anyone is experiencing symptoms of the virus, they should immediately book a test.

Over 7000 persons in the region were vaccinated thus far.

tation.

“While the Government is taking every step to have everyone vaccinated, it is the responsibility of every citizen, though not mandatory, to understand the importance of vaccination,” he added.

On Wednesday, Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony, said that as of Tuesday, 128,740 people had received at least their first COVID-19 ‘jab’. Additionally, 2,941 people have already received their second dose, which means that they are fully immunised.

The Health Minister explained that for the country to return to some semblance of normalcy, herd immunity -- through vaccination -- would have to be achieved. That means that about 500,000 adult people in Guyana would have to be vaccinated.

A young woman who received her COVID-19 vaccine displays her vaccination card (Ministry of Health photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 29, 2021

$92M living quarters for judicial officers in Berbice commissioned

By Richard Bhainie

NO longer will judicial officers, not resident in the County of Berbice, but presiding over matters in the County, have to endure the “stress” of locating appropriate accommodation, as they will now benefit from a $92 million investment, which will provide them with a safe and comfortable abode.

The brand-new judicial of-

ficers’ living quarters commissioned on Wednesday, situated in the compound of the Berbice High Court, Main Street, New Amsterdam, Berbice, will serve to benefit magistrates, commissioners of title and other judicial officers on duty in the Ancient County.

The building, intended to provide a safe and comfortable environment for judicial officers as they dispense justice, will also save the State some $4.5 million annually, as $375,000

is currently expended on a monthly basis to house judicial officers in Berbice.

It comprises of four apartments, each apartment has two bedrooms, one of which is self-contained, a spacious dining room, living room, modern kitchen and toilet and bath facilities, and will house three magistrates and one commissioner of title or land court judge as they are commonly known.

Present at the commissioning ceremony were Attor-

ney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, S.C; Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag) Yonette Cummings, O.R, C.C.H; Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George, C.C.H, S.C; Commander of Regional Division Six, Senior Superintendent Ramlakhan, and Officer-in-Charge of the New Amsterdam Prison, Udistair Holligan.

book of Proverbs chapter 24 verses three to four to describe the judicial officers as “precious and pleasant riches” who are tasked with dispensing justice.

“It was thought necessary for us to utilise our existing real estate and build living quarters for our staff so that they can be comfortable as they dispense justice. Some years ago, a decision was taken to build

months before I could get Internet. Within the time that I have been serving in Berbice I have relocated for several reasons twice. I rather hope and I am certain that this is the last time that I am relocating,” he said.

“Permit me to express gratitude on behalf of myself, as well as all the judicial officers, who will benefit from these accommodations and who will not

The brand-new $92M judicial officers’ living quarters commissioned on Wednesday, in the compound of the Berbice High Court, Main Street, New Amsterdam, Berbice

From left: Magistrate Renita Singh; Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan; Magistrate Alex Moore; Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, S.C; Chief Justice (ag) Madam Roxane George; Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag), Justice Yonette Cummings and Magistrate Peter Hugh

The event was also attended

by Registrar of the Supreme Court, Sueanna Lovell; High Court Judges Jo-Ann Barlow and Sandra Kurtzious; Commissioners of Title,,,,, Nicola Pierre and Priscilla Chandra-Haniff; Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan; Magistrates Renita Singh, Peter Hugh and Alex Moore, along with other judicial officers.

Delivering remarks at the opening ceremony Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag) Yonette Cummings described the commissioning as “another important chapter in the history of the Supreme Court of Judicature”, as she noted that the ceremony showcased the judiciary’s commitment of “getting the job done” with the “wellbeing and comfort” of judicial officers in mind.

As she expressed gratitude to the judicial officers present for their service, the Chancellor made Biblical reference to the

the judges’ quarters; again the same thinking resulted in safe comfortable accommodation for our staff; so we have judges and magistrates and commissioners of title in one safe environment” she said.

Endeavouring to make the accommodation a “home away from home”, the Chancellor announced that a gym, a pergola and a gazebo, will soon be constructed in the compound of the High Court, for staff to exercise and relax after a hard day’s work.

In making brief comments, Magistrate Peter Hugh, Resident Magistrate in the Berbice Magisterial District, hailed the initiative as he recalled the challenges he encountered while seeking appropriate housing accommodation when he was assigned to preside in the Magisterial District.

“Eventually I did find accommodation, then the difficulty was amenities. I had to wait

have to go through the stress and trauma of trying to locate safe and comfortable accommodation,” he added.

Attorney-General, Anil Nandlall, explained that no longer will judges be exposed to security risks and “perception of influences that would have been inimical to the best interest” of the justice system.

“By relocating them within the confines of this secure compound, we have brought that problem to an end, and in this beautiful edifice that we are assembled here to celebrate I have no doubt that they would be securely and comfortably accommodated,” Nandlall said.

The Minister of Legal Affairs noted that the Executive arm of Government is proud to continue to collaborate with the Judiciary, as the Judiciary continues to execute its mandate of delivering quality justice to the people of Guyana.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 29, 2021

Man dies after falling from Regent Street construction site

A CONSTRUCTION worker died on Wednesday, after he fell from a six-storey building under construction at Regent Street, Georgetown.

The worker was identified as Lloyd Anthony Feroze, 25, called “Tony’ of Sisters Village, West Bank Demerara.

Reports indicate that Feroze was employed by Peter Ramdoo, a foreman of Skull City, Patentia, West Bank Demerara, for the past four months as a labourer.

Ramdoo was contracted by businessman Glenn

Dead: Lloyd Feroze called “Tony”

Lall to work at the building on Regent Street.

According to the foreman, at about 13:25 hours, Feroze was mixing cement on the ground floor and upon completion, he walked up to the fourth floor of the building which is currently under construction and has an open space with a stairway in the centre.

About two minutes later he heard a crashing sound and on checking saw that Feroze had fallen to the ground from the fourth floor, hitting his head and other areas of

the body.

Feroze was picked up by an ambulance and taken to Georgetown Public Hospital where he was examined and pronounced dead on arrival.

The body bore puncture wounds at the back of his head. His body was taken to the mortuary awaiting post mortem as investigations continue.

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The building where the construction worker lost his life

Agri. Ministry signs close to $400 million in contracts ― contractors urged to provide products and services within contractual timeframe THE Ministry of Agriculture, on Wednesday, inked close to $400 million in contracts to enhance the work and services of its agencies and improve the lives of citizens across the country.

During a simple signing exercise, a total of 12 contracts were signed between five agencies under the Ministry’s umbrella and seven companies for the supply of machinery, procurement of pumps, as well as the construction of bridges in different parts of the country. Contracts were also signed for the provision of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), refrigerated trucks, and infrastructural upgrades to the Satyadeo Sawh Aquaculture Station.

General Engineering Supplies and Services Inc. signed two contracts totalling $151,535,640 for the procurement of mobile pumps and the supply of two engines for the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA). GSK Excavation Services Inc was also awarded a contract totalling $36,804,275 for the construction of a control structure and revetment at Kamuni in Region Three which also forms part of the NDIA’s 2021 capital projects.

N&S Engineering and General Construction was

awarded three contracts for the construction of a check structure at the Burma main drain for $12,156,144, and the construction of two reinforced concrete bridges, one at Yankee, Mahaica, and the other at Basket Plimper, Mahaicony for $14,053,872 and $13,138,944 respectively. Farm Supplies Limited

by the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) to supply and deliver one specialised vehicle for disease and animal treatment. That contract sum is $9,396,878.

Doodnauth Construction and Supplies was awarded a contract totalling $39,912,372 by the Fisher-

Automobile Power Products inked a contract to supply 13 motorcycles at a contract sum of $3,185,000, and Ideal Auto Inc. was contracted to supply two new refrigerated trucks at a cost of $19,380,000. These vehicles will be used to improve the extension and other services of the New

ultimately resulted in the signing of several contracts.

“With the passage of the budget, we now have a number of programmes to implement during the course of the year in order to get going with our work programme. We are heading into the second quarter of the year and it is import-

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, (second right) hands over a contract document to one of the contractors who will be executing works for the NDIA, as Agriculture Ministry officials look on

has been contracted to supply one long-reach excavator at a sum of $64,000,000.

Those contracts form part of the budgeted projects for the Mahaica Mahaicony Abary Agriculture Development Authority (MMA/ADA) 2021 capital expenditure.

Marics & Company Limited was contracted

ies Department for the construction of concrete ponds, a fence as well as some amount of road work at the Satyadeo Sawh Aquaculture Station.

Marics & Company Limited signed a contract for the supply of three new all-terrain vehicles (ATV) at a sum of $5,950,800.

Guyana Marketing Corporation (New GMC).

CRITICAL SECTOR Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, said that, with agriculture being one of the most important sectors in the country, several interventions had to be implemented, which

ant for us to ensure these works are completed in a timely manner. We’ve had some very bad experiences in the past with contractors not completing the projects within the stipulated time frame. Only recently, I’m sure by now all of you would be aware of the situation that occurred in

Little Diamond on the East Bank of Demerara where a contractor was awarded a contract since 2017 and still hasn’t completed it.

I’m hoping that, by signing these contracts today, we can work together to form a partnership and deliver excellent service to our citizens. You’ve all expressed an interest to supply these goods and services, and, as a ministry, we have to ensure these projects are executed to enhance the lives of the people of this country,” Minister Mustapha said.

The subject minister also said that the products and services that are to be provided are seen as critical. He told contractors that they should work to meet their contractual obligations within the given timeframe, as the ministry does not plan to extend any contract period.

“The equipment that you have to supply is very important; the works are critical, so I’m hoping that you will put your best efforts forward to have them done within the given timeframe. We do not desire to have any of these contract periods extended and we’ll also be monitoring the execution of these works to ensure they are done according to the required specifications,” Minister Mustapha said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 29, 2021

Essequibo women to benefit from free business development training

By Indrawattie Natram

TWENTY-FIVE women in Region Two will soon benefit from free business development support and mentorship.

This will be made possible by the Academy for Women Entrepreneur (AWE) which is preparing to rollout its 2021 training programme for Guyana. The programme will be facilitated by WeLead Caribbean.

President of WeLead Caribbean, Abigale Lockne, said the programme offers a unique opportunity for women in Region Two and will assist them to create and develop sustainable businesses. The programme is being sponsored by the U.S Embassy in Georgetown.

“This programme gives each participant one-on-one business development support and mentorship along with financial guidance. I am extremely excited to see how the participants’ lives are going to change and for the Essequibo Coast to have

25 new businesses,” Lockne told the Guyana Chronicle during a recent interview.

According to Lockne, training programmes, as well as the community, equip women with the practical skills needed to create investable and sustainable businesses.

At the end of the fivemonth programme, the participants will be equipped with the required tools to launch their business ideas.

The application process for entry into the programme ended on Wednesday. “ We h a v e r e c e i v e d closed to 100 applications.

This shows the interest the programme has generated.

We are overwhelmed by the applications but we can only select 25 persons. The ladies will receive mentorship from persons outside of Guyana, who will guide them on the way forward…it’s a complete package free of cost,”

A WeLead training session

Lockne added.

The training programme begins on May 11, 2021.

Applicants had to be between the ages of 20 to 35 and were required to have a business idea or plan. It was open to both Spanish and English-speaking women.

All the materials for the

training and transportation will be provided at no cost to the participants.

Forty-five women recently benefitted from a similar training programme facilitated by WeLead Caribbean.

Persons requiring more information can contact Lockne on (592) 648-4302.

President of WeLead Caribbean, Abigale Lockne

Soldier dies after crashing Judges must be able to rule without fear of their reputation being tarnished into pedestrian, car

By Richard Bhainie

A GUYANA DEFENCE FORCE (GDF) rank died on Tuesday after crashing into a pedestrian and a car on the Liliendaal Railway Embankment, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

Dead is Lancelot Giddings, 26, of Prince William Street, Plaisance, ECD. Reports indicated that the GDF rank was proceeding west along the roadway when, in the vicinity of Pump Road, a pedestrian attempted to cross the road and walked into the path of the motorcycle, resulting in a collision.

The pedestrian, Sheldon Booker, 45, fell onto the road and received injuries about his body.

However, as a result of the collision, the motorcyclist lost control and subsequently crashed into motorcar PMM 309 which was proceeding in the opposite direction.

The GDF rank fell onto the roadway receiving injuries about the body.

Both the motorcyclist and pedestrian were picked up in an unconscious state

by Emergency Medical Technicians and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where Giddings was pronounced dead.

The pedestrian is receiv-

ing treatment for head injuries in the Critical Bay of the Accident and Emergency ward.

A breathalyzer test was conducted on the driver of the motorcar but no trace of alcohol was found in his system.

Police are reviewing CCTV footage of the accident as investigations continue.

Dead: Lancelot Giddings

JUDGES, in their administration of justice, must be able to deliver rulings fearlessly, without the apprehension of their reputation being tarnished by parties to litigation, especially those who are not satisfied with the rulings.

These were the sentiments shared by Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, S.C, as he condemned recent attacks against the Judiciary, particularly Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George, C.C.H, S.C., and pledged the Government’s commitment in the protection of the Judiciary, within the confines that is permissible by law.

“Our system is adversarial and therefore one litigant will lose and one will win.

The loser has a right to appeal, which he must resort to if he wishes; he has no right to scandalise the judge or ascribe a sinister motive to the Judiciary,” Nandlall said.

This comes against the backdrop of the recent disdainful critique of the Judiciary by Leader of the Opposition, Joseph Harmon, after the A Partnership For National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) second Elections Petition, 88 of 2020, was dismissed by the Chief Justice, in the High Court on Monday last.

“I am appalled by the barrage of verbal attacks recorded in the media against the Judiciary and in particular the

Honourable Chief Justice as a result of a recent decision rendered. This type of scurrilous attack on the Judiciary strikes at the heart of the administration of justice and must be condemned in the strongest possible fashion,” Nandlall said.

rights and freedoms guaranteed under it. The Judiciary interprets and applies laws enacted by Parliament and it is the Judiciary that is tasked with resolving disputes among litigants and punishing deviancy.

He further explained that

Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, S.C. speaking at the opening of the Judicial Officers’ Quarters at the High Court Compound, New Amsterdam, Berbice on Wednesday

The Judiciary, as part of Montesquieu’s ‘Trias Politica model’ which is also known as the doctrine of the Separation of Powers – the basis of Guyana’s constitutional structure, forms one of the three pillars of the State’s Government, along with the legislature and the Executive, all separate and independent.

GUARDIAN Nandlall explained that the Judiciary is the “guardian” of the Constitution, including the fundamental

an efficient and impartial Judiciary is an indispensable condition for any democratic society governed by the rule of law, and is also conducive to social and economic prosperity; therefore, there is an onus on the State to protect the Judiciary.

“In this regard, I commit that the State will do all that is lawfully necessary to ensure that the Judiciary is free from nefarious interferences, political attacks and from being scandalised in the public domain,” Nandlall said.

UNPARALLEL POWER He also reminded that the law has facilitated and endowed an “unparallel power” in the Judiciary, to protect itself and its processes from abuses and charged that those powers must be fully utilised when necessary.

However, in addition to acknowledging these protections, the Attorney-General recognised that the judicial arm of Government is not, and should not be, exempted from constructive criticism.

“Indeed, justice is not a cloistered virtue and must suffer the scrutiny of the ordinary man. However, there is no right vested in any quarter to bring judicial administration into disrepute, in particular when it delivers decisions which do not favour some in our society,” he said.

The Attorney-General, representing the Executive arm of the Government, assured the continued collaboration with the judicial arm within the constitutional cannons and committed that the Judiciary will enjoy the financial and functional authority guaranteed to it by the Constitution.

“We recognise the premium role that the Judiciary must play in the maintenance of law and order and the developmental agenda of our country,” Nandlall said as he assured the Judiciary that it has a “willing development partner and a functional partner in the Executive”.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 29, 2021

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Guyana/Suriname ferry service Guyana/ reopened to weekly repatriation trips ―medical evacuations will also be accommodated

THE Canawaima Ferry Service, which plies the Guyana/Suriname route, will only be opened to weekly repatriation trips and health emergency evacuations, according to Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar.

The new arrangement follows a full suspension of the service instituted earlier in the month by the Government of Suriname, in its bid to curb the surge in COVID-19 cases being recorded in the neighbouring country.

“Effective from today to May 2, 2021, only one round trip per week will be facilitated to allow for repatriation. This means that only Guyanese in Suriname can cross over to Guyana and only Surinamese will be able to cross into Suriname,” Indar emphasised.

In a recent broadcast update, the minister explained that only persons authorised

by Surinamese officials will be allowed to travel after receiving prior approval.

“No International incoming or outgoing travel will be allowed during the weekends

in Suriname due to the lockdown,” Indar noted.

On April 10, the Surinamese Government announced implementation of the mandatory seven-day quarantine

A week later, Suriname announced a full suspension of the ferry service altogether, and went into full lockdown mode. However, as part of the latest measures, neither

had said that the situation was regrettable and that, at the appropriate time, persons will be advised of the protocols that Guyana plans to institute, given the ongoing situation.

Persons returning home to Suriname will no longer be required to quarantine or produce a negative PCR test

Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar

period for any person entering the country, whether by air or ferry. Persons were also required to produce a negative PCR test, taken within 72 hours of travel.

the mandatory quarantine nor the negative PCR test will be required for Surinamese to return home at this time.

Previously, Senior Public Works Minister, Juan Edghill,

According to the global data, Suriname’s coronavirus cases have surpassed 10,000; recording over 200 deaths, and the figures continue to climb.

Those offering police bribes equally culpable as much money and resources as possible but that alone will never bring results; only management, oversight, accountability and a personal commitment can bring desired results.

“You know when we talk about the police being corrupt and police officers taking bribe, what about the man who is giving the bribe, that person is not corrupt? We forget them from the equation, so how do we ensure the laws hold those persons accountable too who are corrupting people,” the President stressed.

Last month, the Head of State, at the Guyana Police Force’s Annual Conference at the National Cultural Centre, underscored the importance of good police- community relations and the need for a better image of the Police Force.

the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), the Gavi Vaccine Alliance, UNICEF, according to the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO).

“The arrival marks a his-

President, Dr Irfaan Ali

President Ali also said that the Force’s approach must be re-engineered to lead to greater efficiency and the upholding of high standards and professionalism.

That he will “support the best for the Force” adding that “I will work every day to get the best outcome, but there are some boundaries that inherently all of us must swear to uphold and protect.

There is no compromise on those principles and boundaries”.

In addition, he told the lawmen that moving forward, they need to embrace change.

“We have to be in a state of readiness; a readiness to embrace change, to embrace new ways, to embrace goals, vision, strategic thinking that add to the betterment of the Force and greater service to the people.”

The Police Force, he said can look forward to recognition, reward and respect from the Government.

toric step towards ensuring the equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines worldwide, in the largest vaccine procurement and supply operation in history. This delivery is part of the first phase of deliveries for Suriname, and more vaccines are expected to arrive successively during 2021,” an article posted on the PAHO/ WHO website informed.

It explained that, in accordance with the first round of COVAX allocations, Suriname is expected to continue receiving doses through May 2021 until it reaches 79,200, the amount specified by COVAX. “Subsequent doses are expected to be received during the second half of the year with total doses deployed to cover up to 20 per cent of the population,” the article noted.

As is being done in almost all parts of the world, the vaccines in Suriname will be administered on a prioritised basis to protect priority and vulnerable groups inclusive of health workers and the elderly.

Man kills self after stabbing lover in neck A THIRTY-FIVE-year-old man killed himself on Tuesday, after he attacked and stabbed his 27-year-old lover at Black Bush Polder, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

D e a d i s Tr o y Sandy.

Reports are that

― President Ali PRESIDENT, Dr Irfaan Ali, said that both sides of the equation must be looked at when dealing with corruption, while emphasising that condign action and oversight are needed to address this scourge in society.

Speaking at a press conference at State House on Wednesday, Dr Ali said the time has come for a new oversight mechanism to address the problem, and noted that technology will be used more in police work.

He said that the Smart City Programme will be fully activated and will be on stream shortly.

The Smart City Project is among initiatives which have been identified to reduce crime. The project is part of the Citizen Security Strengthening Programme (CSSP).

He explained that Government can give any agency

As it relates to vaccination efforts, Suriname only received its first dose of COVID-19 vaccines on March 26 of this year. Some 24,000 doses of vaccines were provided to the country through the COVAX Facility, a global effort co-led by

t h e woman and her two children were en route to her home in a hire car when the vehicle was blocked by motorcar PKK 2541 which was being driven by Sandy.

Sandy exited the car with a cutlass in his hand and began to behave disorderly towards the woman.

The hire car driver and another man in the area tried to deescalate the situation when the man attempted to chop the victim.

He then threw the cutlass aside, whipped out a knife and stabbed the woman to the mid-region of her neck. He

then went into his motorcar and sped away, making good his escape.

The victim was assisted by the taxi driver to the Mibicuri Public Hospital, where she was treated and transferred to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital for further treatment.

She is currently admitted a patient in a serious but stable condi-

tion.

Sandy was subsequently found at the Mibicuri Public Hospital where he was admitted after drinking a substance. He later succumbed.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 29, 2021

Human Services Minister Passing of a legend – Eshri Singh meets virtually with Gender Affairs Committees

By Neaz Subhan

―strategies on service delivery for the vulnerable developed

IMPROVED delivery of assistance to vulnerable groups across the country, and strategic programmes to target social issues peculiar to regions, are among the priority areas that will be addressed expeditiously by the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security.

This declaration was made by subject minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud, on Monday, following a virtual meeting with members of the Gender Affairs Committees (GACs) in Regions One (Barima-Waini), Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), and Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

During the meeting, the Minister stressed the need for the GACs to work closely

with the ministry to highlight problematic areas, and thereby improve the delivery of services to the most vulnerable.

with communities.

Critical areas to be addressed will include the prevalence of teenage pregnancy, child abuse, domestic

Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr Vindhya Persaud

Emphasis will also be placed on gender mainstreaming in programmes

violence and the “alarming increase of mental health cases”, which were high-

lighted by members of the GACs. Minister Persaud made a number of recommendations, and gave assurances that corrective steps to upgrade facilities, and the stationing of adequate officers at each regional location would be ensured.

She expressed her appreciation for the openness of the members and noted that regular meetings would be held with the GACs to make certain that progress is made.

“It is imperative that we establish an action plan on what we can accomplish, and troubleshoot the problems as a collective group,” Minister Persaud reiterated.

Members of the GACs will also benefit from intense training to ensure that they are informed on the ministry’s programmes and how gender issues and responses can be inculcated in their programmes.

IT was with a profound sense of sadness I learnt of the death of veteran broadcaster, Eshri Singh last Sunday. While I knew he was ailing, even in those circumstances as hope for recovery is rife, death is extremely painful for relatives and, in his case, fans across many countries.

Eshri was an icon with a commanding presence on radio. His rich, unique and baritone voice, was a fixture on the airwaves and few may have missed a segment, if any at all. As a boy, I grew up listening to his powerful voice early in the morning and for an extended period on Sundays. Our alarm clock was fixed at 04:30 hrs -- when he was on. As my dad prepared for work, me for school and my mom ensuring meals, Eshri’s regular time checks and sharing of relevant information, were extremely useful; not forgetting the comfort he provided through music.

Guyana Innovation Prize winners 2021 announced

THE Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) and the Guyana Economic Development Trust (GEDT), a U.S. and Guyana-based initiative that supports science and technology startups, have announced the 2021 winners of the Guyana Innovation Prize.

It is no secret that innovation contributes to economic growth by creating more meaningful goods and services.

“Guyana’s economic development comes from more than just our abundant natural resources. We have outstanding human capital; our people are the real source of our wealth, in every and all industries. This year’s Guyana Innovation Prize winning ideas are a perfect example of how our citizens are creating a scientifically - and technologically-oriented society that will help us to further advance as a country and larger world.

We’re proud to support them

through this initiative,” said Orson Ferguson, Chief Marketing Officer, of GTT. “The breakthrough nature of this year’s Guyana Innovation Prize winning ideas is just awesome.

We’ve been doing this for four years now, and each year, I am more and more impressed

with o u r fellows.

They come from all over Guyana, including our Indigenous communities in Guyana’s rainforest and savannah regions. We’re excited to announce them

and their potential contribution to sustainable economic development in Guyana,” Oslene Carrington, CEO of GEDT, shared excitedly.

This year’s winners are: Greenway: A Household Indoor Farming System. A compact household farming system

(HFS), which is a clean, space efficient, self-watering, self-draining device that has the capacity to grow up to 60 shallow-root edible plants in the home-no land needed.

Medicine from Trees: Rainforest Skin Care Products. All-natural, environmentally sustainable skincare products, containing

extracts of rainforest trees, made in and by traditional communities, using traditional knowledge.

Bio-Diamond Enterprises: A Biological Control Agent for Plant and Soil Health. An eco-friendly, non-toxic and all-natural approach to soil fertility that works by strengthening plants to fight disease.

Universal Stone Wall Diamond: Antimicrobials and Antidiabetic Products.

An all-natural treatment for skin infections caused by bacteria that results in, for example, dandruff, abscesses and other skin conditions.

Plus, a natural tincture with plant-based glucose lowering properties.

DROVER: A Solar-Powered Autonomous Farming Vehicle. A driverless farming vehicle that can also communicate, analyse data, and use that data to drive further intelligent decisions and actions in the farming process.

Neaz Subhan

I recall many, from various backgrounds in the village, including sugar workers, tuned in. I knew people across the country did likewise. On Sundays, during that period when there was no Internet or computers or cellphones and when landlines seemed for a privileged few, the radio, whether transistor or “tabletop”, blared for the three-hour period from 1-4 pm when Eshri dominated.

Whilst original Bollywood songs and information on films from India and the much beloved stars were anticipated, there was a segment that featured and promoted local talent – “Local Indian Performers”. Many of our legendary singers, musicians and budding artistes, were on show.

My parents, having introduced me to Indian music at a very early age, generally ensured that the radio had batteries; Berec and Everready were the popular brands then. When the batteries suddenly lost power and timely replacement could not have been afforded, placing them in the sunlight was a desperate short-term remedy for “re-charging” so not to

“miss out”.

On Sundays, I would sit on the front steps listening hoping I would not be distracted by being asked to do a chore. Sometimes when I was unceremoniously commanded to perform a task, not only did I have to hide my frustration, but had to grapple with the fact that my much anticipated and momentarily “existence” in the world of Bollywood, ended, especially when the task was to purchase something at the shop.

In the evenings I would sing some of the songs played, or tried to, loudly and much to the annoyance of those around. They forgave me, or so I felt, having known my passion for the music. Eshri might have unknowingly been one of those responsible for me constantly tormenting those within earshot.

Then, cinema and its derivatives of songs and stars, were the main form of entertainment for many. It was integrally woven into the culture and Eshri ensured interest never waned. Very often, conversations about Bollywood films, dominated in the village and Eshri was a reference when doubt crept in. He had a part to play in driving my interest at an early age of wanting to become an actor given how seemingly obsessed I was with Bollywood films and music. I am sure many others were influenced by him.

Listening to Eshri, I never dreamt that one day my own voice will be coming through radio and hosting programmes related to Bollywood music and films.

Through his voice, he touched many throughout the country and he continued to do so in parts of the Diaspora after he migrated to the USA. There, he became a fixture on television thereby increasing his influence.

His daughter, Tanuja, and I were classmates at St. Joseph High School. She had a catalogue of cassettes featuring songs from Bollywood films and my dad, after my insistence on occasions, gave me a treat by providing the necessary money to purchase a few over time. My choices for cassettes were made easy by the songs Eshri played and conversations about the stars and upcoming Bollywood films, were regularly with Tanuja.

Eshri’s death has left broadcasting poorer. However the legacy he has left, his invaluable contributions to help preserve aspects of our culture, the influence he had on many and the wonderful memories he has imprinted, will live on. I wish to extend my sincere condolences to his immediate and extended families.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 29, 2021

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Daily COVID-19 Tests for Tokyo participants (BBC) - Competitors will have daily COVID-19 tests at this summer’s Olympics and Paralympics in Tokyo.

They will also need to wear face masks except when they are “eating, drinking, sleeping, training or competing”.

And those travelling from outside Japan will be given a phone with apps for health reporting and contact tracing.

There will be no international fans but a decision on whether local fans can attend the Games will be made in June.

There is no requirement for athletes to be vaccinated but they will need to undergo three-day quarantine on arrival.

An updated version of the athletes’ playbook, which lays out the guidelines for the Games, was released yesterday.

It stated that persons travelling from outside Japan will have to take two tests before flying and athletes will be given daily tests “to minimise the risk of undetected positive cases”.

Other Games participants will be tested for the first three days after they arrive and will then receive regular tests.

No participants can use public transport and will instead use designated Games vehicles. Passengers in the vehicles must refrain from conversation.

Those at the Games can eat only in catering facilities at on-site venues, restaurants at their accommodation or in their room An athlete who “intentionally refuses” to take a test

could be sent home.

Japan is in a state of emergency until at least May 11 after a rise in coronavirus infections.

“We are confident that compliance with these regulations will ensure the safety and security of athletes, Games officials and spectators, as well as the people of Tokyo,” a statement from the tournament’s organisers added.

The Olympics are due to begin on July 23, with the Paralympics set to start on August 24.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Thursday April 29, 2021) COMPLIMENTS OF CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville,Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158)

Answers to Tuesday’s quiz:

(1) Sanju Samson-119 (RR vs Punjab Kings) (2) Harshal Patel-5/27 (RCB vs MI))

Today’s Quiz:

(1) Who scored the first ever ODI century?

(2) Who is the first WI to crack an ODI hundred?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

SOUTH AFRICA RACING TIPS Vaal 08:20 hrs Thumbs Up 08:55 hrs Emerald Crest 09:25 hrs Roger The Dodger 10:25 HRS Countfonic Legacy 10:45 hrs Manterio AMERICAN RACING TIPS Belmont Race 1 Holy Emperor Race 2 Big Boy Mo Race 3 L’Indiscret Race 4 City Temper Race 5 Miss Tourista Race 6 Mystery Messenger Race 7 Hometown Race 8 Mr Alec Race 9 Disciplanarian IRISH RACING TIPS Punchestown 10:40 hrs Five Helmets 11:15 hrs Entoucas 11:50 hrs Some Neck 12:25 hrs Flooring Porter 13:00 hrs Capodanno

13:35 hrs Energumene 14:05 hrs Magic Daze 14:35 hrs Dystart Dynamo ENGLISH RACING TIPS Chelmsford City 12:10 hrs Tippy Toes 13:10 hrs You’re Cool 13:40 hrs Happy Romance 14:25 hrs Tritonic 14:45 hrs Final Fantasy 15:15 hrs Aliomanna Lingfield 08:30 hrs Tahitian Prince 09:00 hrs Wurlitzer 09:30 hrs Al Saariyah 10:00 hrs Shecando 10:35 hrs Marshall Plan Musselburgh 08:50 hrs Soapys Sister 09:20 hrs Fae The Port 09:50 hrs Perfect Soldier 10:25 hrs Bluella 11:00 hrs Twice Adaay 11:35 hrs Dreamsther 12:05 hrs Propriety

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 29, 202129,

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CSK beat Sunrisers to take top spot

(ESPNCRICINFO) - Four contrasting half-centuries told the story of Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) seven-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad, with the victors climbing back to the top of the IPL 2021 points table. The vanquished, meanwhile, remained in last place.

David Warner chose to bat in the tournament’s first game in Delhi, saying he did so “because we haven’t done it yet”, in an effort to change the Sunrisers’ fortunes. However, a middling effort with the bat gave the team only a par total of 171 for 3. Warner himself scored a laboured half-century while the returning Manish Pandey made 61 off 46, but both left the strong feeling that some runs had been left out in the middle.

That was proven true when Ruturaj Gaikwad continued his resurgence with an incandescent 75 off 44 - not hitting a six but hitting 12 fours - while Faf du Plessis contributed a robust 56 off 38.

Both the Super Kings openers’ strike rates were far superior to those of the Sunrisers’ half-centurions, and their stand set the game up for Super Kings.

Despite a Rashid Khan-induced late wobble, the three-time IPL champions motored home in 18.3 overs.

WARNER STRUGGLES, PANDEY DAWDLES Warner did score a fifty, but it was the slowest of his T20 career - he got there off his 50th ball.

He also crossed 10 000 T20 runs, only the fourth man to do so, but both of these landmarks came in an innings he might not look back on too fondly.

Warner didn’t lack intent, but his timing was all awry. And when he did get some meaty shots away, they found the fielders as often as the gaps.

Warner’s frustration was visible through his innings, with self-recriminatory screams and angry swishes of the bat when he had failed to send the ball where he wanted to. He tried to go deep, tried to go straight, tried to go across the line, but that he ended up with 57 off 55 speaks of how little of what he tried worked.

At the other end, the returning Pandey was more fluent but, until the last tenth of his innings, Pandey didn’t exhibit any sense of urgency, even with Warner noticeably struggling. Pandey was happy to nudge and tickle the ball around with the occasional boundary attempt. He was a lot more stable at the crease than Warner, but given Warner’s inability to force the pace, there was a case for Pandey to be more adventurous.

The duo added 106 runs for the second wicket, but took 13.5 overs to do so. Only three century partnerships in the IPL have been slower, and only one since 2017.

WILLIAMSON FINISHES IN STYLE

It fell to Kane Williamson to show there were no demons in the pitch or the bowling. Williamson stroked his way to 26* off 10 balls, somehow managing to score runs all around the park even though he was there for such a brief while. He had walked in at 128 for 2 in 17.1 overs, with ESPNcricinfo’s Forecaster tool predicting a final tally of 156 at that point.

It was Williamson’s fireworks that pushed the total beyond 170, aided by a good finish from Kedar Jadhav against his old team - the duo put on 37 off the last 13 balls.

GAIKWAD, DU PLESSIS AT IT ONCE AGAIN Sunrisers’ top-order struggles were made more stark by Super Kings openers’ ease. While Williamson had provided a brief sparkle, Gaikwad and du Plessis had an extended feast on a placid surface. They batted 13 overs, five balls fewer than the Pandey-Warner association, but their partnership was worth 129 runs to the latter’s 106.

Sunrisers bowlers weren’t able to get any significant movement in the air or off the deck, and both Gaikwad and du Plessis got their drives flowing freely. The two complemented each other perfectly too: while Gaikwad took on the spin of J Suchith and Rashid Khan, du Plessis punished the pace trio of Sandeep Sharma, Khaleel Ahmed and Siddarth Kaul.

Gaikwad taking the attack to Khan was perhaps the most crucial byplay of the chase.

Khan’s four overs were always going to be the most crucial in Sunrisers’ defence, but Gaikwad neutralised that threat by taking full toll any time Khan erred. Three times in his second and third overs Khan dragged the ball short, and each time Gaikwad found the boundary.

RASHID’S REVIVAL Not that Khan bowled badly. On the contrary, he had his usual array of leg-breaks, sliders and googlies operating despite some dew.

He showed just how potent he could be by first fizzing a leg-break past Gaikwad’s forward-defensive push to knock back off stump, then getting Moeen Ali out on the slog with a wrong ‘un, and immediately after pinning du Plessis in front with another googly. While he had ended up conceding 36 - Ali too followed the Gaikwad template in taking the attack to Khan - he still took three crucial wickets.

The speed and dominance of the opening partnership, however, meant that Khan’s quota of overs had finished by the 15th over. His wickets meant Super Kings’ canter to victory slowed down, but it couldn’t be stopped.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 28,2021 2021 GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, April 29,

Canada to be replaced by Turkey in F1 calendar (BBC) - The Canadian Grand Prix has been cancelled and will be replaced on its June 11-13 date by a race at Turkey’s Istanbul Park track.

It is the second successive year the Montreal event has been cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Travel restrictions made it impossible to enter Canada without a mandatory 14-day quarantine, said an F1 statement.

Meanwhile the contract for a race on Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve has been extended by two years to 2031.

Canada is experiencing a rise in cases, with Ontario - neighbouring province to Quebec - particularly badly affected.

Turkey returns for a second successive year as a stand-in race because of disruption caused by the pandemic.

Last year, it returned to the calendar for the first time

since 2011, and was the event at which Lewis Hamilton clinched his record-equalling seventh world drivers’ title.

F1 president Stefano Domenicali said: “While it is disappointing we cannot be in Canada this season, we are excited to confirm that Turkey will host a grand prix in 2021 after an amazing race last season.

“I want to thank the promoter and authorities in Canada for all of their efforts in recent weeks but the travel situation made our plans impossible.”

HOW IS IT LOOKING FOR OTHER RACES? Last season’s calendar was almost entirely based in Europe, apart from a brief trip to the Middle East at the end of the year.

This year, F1 has planned a record 23-race schedule with all the usual events, and the addition of a new event in Saudi Arabia, but

the abandonment of Canada raises further questions about other long-haul races later in the season.

These fall into two broad categories - events in countries where the virus is under relative control but the government is using immigration restrictions as part of its model to keep it so; and nations that are struggling to contain the virus, or where it is running out of control.

Singapore, Japan and Australia all fall into the first category, with the added complication that the Japanese government has imposed emergency restrictions in the capital Tokyo and second city Osaka as a result of a spike in cases.

These restrictions are raising questions about the viability of holding this summer’s Olympics, which have already been delayed from 2020.

Singapore and Japan’s races are scheduled for consecutive weekends on Octo-

ber 1 and 8.

The Australian Grand Prix has been postponed from its season-opening slot in March until November 21, but the country would probably have to waive its strict immigration restrictions, at least for F1 personnel, if it was to hold a race.

Of the countries struggling to contain the virus, Brazil is the one whose race is most at risk, and its desti-

West Indies trio snapped up for PSL

(ESPNCRICINFO) - The Lahore Qalandars have picked up all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan as their replacement for Rashid Khan for the remainder of PSL 2021.

The Karachi Kings snapped up Martin Guptill to fill in for Colin Ingram, while the Quetta Gladiators picked Andre Russell to replace Tom Banton, and Islamabad United brought in Usman Khawaja to cover for Alex Hales in their top order.

These were some of the biggest signings made on Tuesday night, when the six PSL teams met to choose replacements for the players who will miss the remainder of the 2021 season, which is set to resume on June 2.

On March 4, the tournament was suspended mid-season when a number of players tested positive for COVID-19.

The teams’ rosters of local players remain intact but most of the overseas players, who were around before the postponement, will not be available for one reason or another. The English players will be busy with the Vitality Blast T20 tournament, while some others will be on national duty.

The six teams were given a list of over 135 players across all five categories. Lahore took a big hit, losing their middle-order core as well as their ace spinner Rashid. They picked up five players at the replacement draft to fill their vacant slots.

Peshawar Zalmi suffered a big blow to their roster too, with key players Mujeeb Zadran, Saqib Mahmood and Ravi Bopara unavailable. They plugged the gap by signing three West Indian players in Fabian Allen, Rovman Powell and Fidel Edwards, with all three available for the entire remaining leg.

Karachi and Multan Sultans picked up four players each while Quetta picked just one replacement.

The order of picks was settled through a randomiser, and Lahore won the first pick in the Platinum category. Russell was a high-profile option, but since he will only be available for a part of PSL 2021’s remainder, they went with Shakib instead.

Other than Hales, Islamabad will miss Lewis Gregory and Phil Salt but the franchise roped in Khawaja and the South Africa batsman Janneman Malan. They will welcome back Colin Munro, who missed the initial leg due to New Zealand’s quarantine rules.

Quetta have picked only one replacement so far but may look for more once the availability of Chris Gayle and Dale Steyn become known.

The PSL will clash with several other series, making it tricky for the franchises to choose their combinations. An initial seven-day mandatory quarantine in the last week of May will directly clash with the IPL playoffs. This will be followed by an

ODI series between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

West Indies and South Africa, meanwhile, are playing a Test and T20I series in June, while England will host New Zealand and Sri Lanka in the same timespan.

ESPNcricinfo understands that the newly picked players won’t be considered for retention for the next edition of the PSL. The nineteen players picked so far will be treated as provisional while the original roster (before the postponement) will be effective for next year’s pre-draft business.

The remainder of the tournament will be played in June, with all matches in Karachi, in a bio-security bubble being put in place by a UK-based company.

The teams will assemble by May 23 to begin their mandatory seven-day quarantine, and action will resume on June 2, with the final on June 20.

ny may hang on whether the UK government keeps it on its red list of countries, meaning travellers have to quarantine in hotels for 14 days on their return to Britain.

Eight of the 10 F1 teams

are based in the UK so under those conditions the grand prix would probably be untenable.

F1 faces a similar situation, to a lesser extent, in Mexico.

Man City pull off come-from-behind win against PSG (BBC) - Manchester City produced a superb display to come from behind and take control of their Champions League semi-final with victory against Paris St-Germain in France.

Pep Guardiola’s side fought their way through a scintillating early PSG surge when they fell behind to Marquinhos’ header, glanced in from Angel di Maria’s corner after 15 minutes, to dominate after the break and turn this first leg tie in Paris on its head.

City, who had threatened before the break when Phil Foden missed a great chance, were much more positive and got the reward they deserved after 64 minutes when Kevin de Bruyne’s menacing cross evaded everyone in the penalty area and drifted beyond motionless PSG keeper Kaylor Navas.

PSG, with Neymar fading and Kylian Mbappe subdued, were ragged and Riyad Mahrez put City in a great position to reach their first Champions League final when his left-foot free-kick went through the wall to beat Navas seven minutes later.

And to complete PSG’s misery, former Everton midfield man Idrissa Gueye was rightly shown a red card late on for a dreadful challenge on Ilkay Gundogan.

Manchester City have craved triumph in the Champions League as confirmation they are a European superpower - and this magnificent display brings that ambition closer than it has ever been before.

The Premier League leaders had to show all their qualities before finally overpowering their hosts, who ran out of steam after showing real class in the first half, with Neymar and Di Maria pulling the strings.

Ruben Dias and John Stones were prominent as City held firm in the first half, while after the break, as they showed greater ambition, Joao Cancelo and Kyle Walker carried real attacking threat, and the visitors played with enormous maturity as they pinned PSG back in their own half.

Their menace grew throughout and it was no surprise when De Bruyne levelled then Mahrez put them ahead indeed PSG ended so beaten and disorganised they may almost feel grateful they only lost 1-2.

City’s Champions League history is littered with disappointments in the latter stages of the tournament, often mired in tactical confusion or ill-luck - not so here.

Those experiences mean they will take nothing for granted when this dangerous PSG side come to Etihad Stadium in six days but City have never been in better shape to reach a Champions League final.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, AprilApril 28, 2021 GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, 29, 2021

Adams and Friends T20 Cricket Development clash …

Drakes leads Golden Fleece XI to victory over Invaders Masters

AN aggressive hitting display by former Essequibo U-19 all-rounder Travis Drakes propelled Golden Fleece XI to a 66-run victory when they met Invaders Masters in reduced overs of the Adams and Friends T20 Cricket Development clash at the Golden Fleece ground.

The 15-over match was a second-week clash last Sunday in the Adams and Friends T20 Cricket Development competition.

The event, which is organised by national left-arm spinner Anthony Adams is being used to give the Es-

sequibo teams much needed playing time.

In the clash, Golden Fleece XI batted first and lost their openers cheaply, but Shane Wong played a few shots at number three. His 22 runs included three fours.

After Wong departed, Drakes came to the crease and he steered the team to a respectable total.

He struck eight huge sixes and a four in an unbeaten score of 60.

With Drakes firing, Ramlochan Nankishore, 19, (2x6s, 1x4) and Chandra Lall 17 (2x6) also played a few shots, which helped to push

Travis Drakes was in an ultra-aggressive mood. the score to 125-6 before the overs expired.

Ramesh Narine was the

pick of the bowlers, with 2-20 from three overs. His opening overs were almost flawless, but in his third, he went for 17.

Needing to score at 8.4 runs per over to secure a victory, Invaders could not get on top of the bowling. In fact, throughout their innings, they managed only a single six with five fours.

Narine’s 16 was the most by any of the batsmen as Invaders were restricted to 59-7 when the overs ran out.

P Singh finished with 2-9 from three overs, while four other bowlers, including Drakes, took a wicket each.

GFF scores MACORP industrial training for footballers

MACHINERY Corporation of Guyana Ltd (MACORP) and Guyana Football Federation (GFF), yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to offer industrial training for footballers in an effort to improve career opportunities for sportsmen and women beyond their playing days.

Under the agreement, MACORP – the sole distributor of Caterpillar products in Guyana – will provide 10 excavator operators and technicians for the Caribbean training for footballers.

The participants will receive thorough safety instruction before advancing to simulator drills, examinations and practical training in the use of excavators.

The GFF will identify suitable candidates above the age of 18 from its pool of players in accordance with criteria stipulated by MACORP. “This unique initiative will impact significantly on the lives of footballers as they transition to the world of work,” said GFF president Wayne Forde, adding that the “transition is not always

GFF president Wayne Forde and MACORP CEO Guillermo Escarraga easy for many of our players so we are delighted to be able to partner with MACORP to offer 10 lucky individuals this opportunity for valuable skills training.”

“On behalf of the Guyana Football Federation, I would like to extend our gratitude to our MACORP partners for having the vision and commitment to support our young players in this way.

We look forward to selecting the players and starting the

programme as soon as possible,” Forde said.

It is the first time MACORP has partnered with a sports federation in Guyana to deliver training opportunities; something the company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Guillermo Escarraga is passionate about.

Escarraga told the gathering of media, MACORP executives and GFF officials at the company’s Providence headquarters,

that “when this project was presented to us, we found it very suitable for us to support because there was a specific goal and a plan.

It is very important for the country as a whole. Being an education and training provider, we knew this was the right move for us because it would benefit a lot of people in the country.”

“We have a lot of hope that other companies will see this as a way to bring some of those players that were trained into their operations, because that is what will make a big impact – that after the training, the players find jobs that would help them continue their development,” he said.

The excavator operator, as explained by Weneta Pooran, MACORP’s Training Administrator, will see the participants over a threeweek period use the classrooms as well as stimulatory and practical training on the machines.

However, the 18 courses for the Caribbean training will be done virtually and on any device, at any time as long as there’s access to the internet.

23

Golden Jaguars hunting for ‘home’ venue to face Puerto Rico on June 8

By Rawle Toney THE Golden Jaguars’ June 8 home game against Puerto Rico, in the FIFA 2022 Qatar World Cup qualifiers, will take place in another country.

Having already faced Trinidad and Tobago, as well as The Bahamas in their quest to Qatar, Golden Jaguars are now down to face St Kitts and Nevis on June 4, and Puerto Rico on June 8.

However, with several COVID-19 international travel restrictions in place as it relates to persons coming to Guyana, Wayne Forde, Guyana Football Federation (GFF) president, told Chronicle Sport yesterday that the Federation is now actively looking for a suitable and cost-efficient venue for the country’s home fixture against the Puerto Ricans.

“The main factor there is the international players; if they come here (to Guyana) they will have a difficulty going back to their respective destination because of how Guyana has been categorised, so that is one of the most challenging issue that we haven’t resolved as yet and we’re looking at all options because travel is not easy either,” Forde said.

In March, when GFF was placed in a similar position, they were forced to move their home match against The Bahamas to the Dominican Republic; a move which came at some additional cost.

The overall estimated operational figure, according to Forde, saw GFF spending a total of $27M, plus an additional US$10 000 which was paid to the Dominican Republic Football Association.

Because of the dates involved and ongoing travel challenges, Forde revealed that the GFF had to charter a flight to and from the Dominican Republic, at a cost of $12M (included in operational cost).

“To use commercial flights to get around these parts is becoming increasingly challenging so we’re still working towards confirming where that home game will be.

Even though we have made a submission to CONCACAF to play home, we had to do that because that’s what we had in hand but from all appearances, it looks like we will be playing that game outside of Guyana,” the GFF president explained.

COVID-19 protocols across the Caribbean have forced the various football associations and federations to make adjustments to their home fixture for the World Cup Qualifiers.

The CONCACAF campaign kicked off in March, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, Montserrat, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago, all played their home games in other territories since FIFA permits countries to use neutral venues if they cannot play at home for a variety of reasons.

The Golden Jaguars were drawn in Group F of the Qualifier alongside Trinidad and Tobago, The Bahamas, Puerto Rico and St Kitts & Nevis.

Guyana went down 0-3 to Trinidad and Tobago, but bounced back to claim a four-nil victory over The Bahamas.

The team is currently in preparation for their encounter against table-leaders St Kitts and Nevis on June 4.

CSK beat Sunrisers to take top spot see story on page 21

Chennai Super Kings openers put on 129 together. (BCCI/IPL)

GFF scores MACORP industrial training for footballers see story on page 23

Man City pull off come-from-behind win against PSG

Golden Jaguars hunting for ‘home’ venue to face Puerto Rico on June 8 see story on page 23

Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

see story on page 22

Mahrez’s winner was his second direct free-kick goal in the Champions League - his first coming for Leicester.

The Golden Jaguars will have to roar once again in unfamiliar territory.

THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021