Guyana Chronicle Epaper 05-08-2020

WEDNESDAY 5th August, 2020

’ No. 106082

Gov’t readies to hit the ground running

President Irfaan Ali interacting with members of the business community (DPI Photo)

–– President meets key stakeholders in management of country’s business 96 cases in 96 hours 09 PAGE

–– Hinterland regions still COVID-19 ‘hotspots’

Sandy 09 gets life!

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Guyana backs the US for IDB Presidency 17 PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, August 5, 2020

‘PPP/C will fulfill Manifesto promises’ –President assures nation – plans to meet with past Presidents to begin ‘healing process’

PRESIDENT Irfaan Ali has stated that Guyanese can look forward to the fulfillment of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C)’s Manifesto and a comprehensive overview of the governance structure which has been criticised by the international community for its “winner-take-all” approach.

He relayed these sentiments in an interview with the Newsroom on Monday.

The President said that, immediately, his government will get down to fulfilling the promises within its Manifesto which will guarantee Guyanese a better life.

“We’re very committed to the Manifesto we presented to the people of Guyana. We were elected based on that Manifesto, and, of course, we are committed to a comprehensive overview of the governance structure to have a greater level of inclusiveness,” President Ali said. “We are committed to building a Guyana in which all Guyanese can see themselves as part of the future and that requires a national development pathway,” he added.

The PPP/C’s 2020-2025 Manifesto has promised development across sectors in Guyana. One of the key areas include the creation of 50,000 jobs in the next five years through initiatives such as increasing the ease in doing business; providing incentives for small businesses and young entrepreneurs; reversing Value Added Tax (VAT) on exports, building materials, land rents, data and more; promoting skills training; improving access to financing for investments; and incentivising employers to promote youth empowerment among

other measures.

The Party has also pledged to provide free education at the University of Guyana (UG) within five years; to create 10,000 house lots annually; to fight crime with greater investment; to represent society’s vulnerable, and to approach the management of the oiland-gas sector in a non-partisan manner.

Added to this are plans for the modernising and expansion of Guyana’s infrastructure in the areas of transport; utilities; sea and river defence as well as improvements to drainage; garbage collection and sanitation; health and education.

IMMEDIATE PLANS Speaking on his government’s immediate plans, the President told the Newsroom: “It is about implementation of the Manifesto; it’s about ensuring the promises; that contract made with the people; that we fulfill that contract.”

However, even as the PPP/C hopes to turn Guyana’s tide as an oil-producing nation towards greater development, the Head of State said that the government must also give ample attention to the COVID-19 pandemic which has changed the country over the last six months.

Only on Monday he met with members of the National COVID-19 Task Force along with his Transition Team, to be briefed on where Guyana stands; what are the current strategies involved; and what can be improved.

He said that the pandemic has also affected the country’s economy, which

is why he has also met with the local business community to better understand their challenges.

“All of these factors we have to now put into the equation, so as to have a full and comprehensive assessment as to where the country is; where our economy is, as we move forward towards implementing our agenda for development, growth and progress,” he said, adding: “Our country has been in an inactive state for quite some time, so we’re required to move rapidly forward. And that is why the transition is important and the Transition Team is important.”

The Transition Team is headed by Vice- President, Bharrat Jagdeo and includes Prime Minister Mark Phillips; Attorney- General Anil Nandall; and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira.

Together they will be engaging with members of the former government in the coming weeks to facilitate the sharing of information for a smooth transition.

On the matter of changing the current governance structure, President Ali said that he soon plans to meet with all those former presidents of the country that are still alive to speak on a way forward which incorporates their collective views.

“I would like to sit down with all the former Presidents of our country to have a quick conversation on a common agenda; a quick conversation as to where our country should go, and a quick conversation to speed up the healing process of our country. That’s very important,”

The President of Guyana, Dr. Irfaan Ali he said.

The President and his government also intend to meet continuously with other political parties and stakeholders of civil society and the private sector.

He stated: “It has to be a conversation that commences immediately, and one that continues throughout my presidency and throughout the life of the next government.”

He noted further that these conversations must be people-centered, and should clear up possible misconceptions of the trajectory of the country.

President’s inauguration set for Saturday THE inauguration ceremony for Guyana’s 9th Executive President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, will be hosted on Saturday, August 8, 2020.

This is according to a programme outline seen by the Guyana Chronicle on Tuesday.

According to the programme, the

ceremony will take place at the National Cultural Centre, beginning at 10:00 hours. The event will take on the customary procedure, beginning with the arrival of the Prime Minister, Mr. Mark Phillips, followed by the arrival of the President.

There will then be a review of the Guard of Honour and the 21-Gun

Salute. When the President and his entourage are escorted to their seats, the event will be blessed by prayers from Guyana’s three most prominent religions. There will also be entertainment in the form of patriotic songs from the Police Military Band, cultural dances and poetry.

President Ali will eventually give

the main and only address listed on the programme for the inauguration ceremony. Throughout the event, strict COVID-19 guidelines will be adhered to.

Ali was sworn in on Sunday, August 2, 2020 after winning the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, August 5, 2020

Gov’t readies to hit the ground running –– President meets key stakeholders in management of country’s business

CONTINUING along the path towards a smooth transition, President Irfaan Ali and the Transition Team met with members of the diplomatic corps; members of the private sector; Permanent Secretaries of all Government Ministries and key stakeholders in the national COVID-19 fight on Monday.

The meetings were all held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), and

numerous members of the business community. Among notable attendees were Private Sector Commission (PSC) President Gerry Gouveia; PSC Member Kit Nascimento; Businessman Dr. Yesu Persaud; President of the Tourism Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG), Mitra Ramkumar; and President of the American Chamber of Commerce of Guyana (AMCHAM Guyana), Zulfikar Ali.

President Irfaan Ali and team in discussion with the Permanent Secretaries (Photos courtesy DPI) with him during his engagement with the diplomatic community was Vice-President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo. Together they met and held talks with US Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch; British High Commissioner Greg Quinn; and Canadian High Commissioner, Lilian Chatterjee.

The President; Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips; Vice-President Jagdeo; Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall; and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Gail Teixeira also met with Permanent Secretaries of all Government Ministries. That meeting saw over 20 Permanent Secretaries in attendance.

The Transition Team later met with

Areas of mutual interest were discussed.

On the subject of health, the team met also met with key stakeholders in the national COVID-19 fight. As of August 3, 2020, Guyana had 268 active cases, with 80 coming from Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) alone.

Over 35 persons were present at the meeting, inclusive of Chief-of-Staff (ag) of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Brigadier Godfrey Bess; Commissioner of Police (ag), Nigel Hoppie, and Director-General (DG) of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig. Present this time, along with the team, was former Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, who

Key stakeholders in the National COVID-19 fight meet with the Transition Team

Seated from left are Canadian High Commissioner Lilian Chatterjee; US Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch; and British High Commissioner Greg Quinn. Speaking with them are the President Irfaan Ali (left) and Vice-President Bharrat Jagdeo is likely to be reinstated to the post.

President Ali is quoted as saying that the current pandemic is the single most important issue facing Guyana, and that it has serious implications for the country’s economy.

On August 2, 2020, when he took the oath of office, President Ali said that Vice-President Jagdeo will head a Transition Team comprised of himself, Phillips, Teixeira and Nandlall.

“This is a transition team, and very early in this week, you will see the full Cabinet in place, and we will, as I said, be moving towards an inauguration function where I’ll detail in a more comprehensive way the path and the way forward,” the President said.

In the meantime, he called on accounting officers of the Government to ensure that Government and State assets are protected for the PPP/C’s transition.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, August 5, 2020

Beirut blast: Dozens dead and thousands injured, health minister says

(BBC) A large blast in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, has killed at least 50 people and injured more than 2,700 others, the health minister says.

Videos show smoke billowing from a fire, then a mushroom cloud following the blast at the city’s port.

Hospitals are said to be overwhelmed and many buildings have been destroyed.

Lebanon’s internal security chief said the blast occurred in an area where highly explosive materials were stored. The exact cause is not yet clear.

A BBC journalist at the scene reported dead bodies and severe damage, enough to put the port of Beirut out of action.

The explosion comes at a sensitive time for Lebanon, with an economic crisis reigniting old divisions.

Tensions are also high ahead of Friday’s verdict in a trial over the killing of ex-Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in 2005.

Officials are pointing to an accident rather than a deliberate act as the likely cause.

The interior minister said first reports suggested what he called explosive material stored at the port had blown up.

Prime Minister Hassan Diab called it a catastrophe and said those responsible must be held to account.

He spoke of a “dangerous warehouse” which had been there since 2014, but said he would not pre-empt the investigation.

Local media showed people trapped beneath rubble. A witness described the first explosion as deafening, and video footage showed

wrecked cars and blast-damaged buildings.

“All the buildings around here have collapsed. I’m walking through glass and debris everywhere, in the dark,” one witness near the port told AFP news agency.

hearing because apparently I was too close. I lost my hearing for a few seconds, I knew something was wrong.

And then suddenly the glass just shattered all over the car, the cars around us, the shops, the stores, the build-

The streets were literally covered in glass. It’s hard for ambulances to go through there’s bricks, cement slabs.

Houses have collapsed.

“When I got to the port it had been closed off by the army. The army said to stay

Buildings were shattered, balconies ripped off

The blast was heard 240km (150 miles) away on the island of Cyprus in the eastern Mediterranean.

President Michel Aoun called for an emergency meeting of the Supreme Defence Council, the presidency said on Twitter. Wednesday has been declared a day of mourning.

‘Glass going down from all over the building’ HADI NASRALLAH, EYEWITNESS SPEAKING TO THE BBC I saw the fire, but I didn’t yet know there was going to be an explosion. We went inside. Suddenly I lost my

ings. Just glass going down from all over the building.

Literally all over Beirut, people were calling each other from different areas kilometres away and they were experiencing the same thing: broken glass, buildings shaking, a loud explosion.

Actually we were shocked because usually when it happens, just one area will experience those happenings after an explosion, but this time it was all of Beirut, even areas outside of Beirut.

SUNNIVA ROSE, JOURNALIST “Driving into Beirut early evening when it was still light, it was absolute chaos.

away in case there was a second explosion.

“There was still smoke going up into the sky late into the evening. The whole city was black. It was very hard to walk around, people were covered in blood. I saw an 86-year-old woman being treated by a doctor who had just run out of his home with a first aid kit. Cars were entirely smashed by rocks.

These old-style houses with big cuts of rock had just fallen down on the street.

“It’s pandemonium in my own flat, all the glass is shattered. The extent of the damage is extreme. Even in a mall 2km away - the whole facade was shattered.”

TikTok founder defends potential Microsoft sale (BBC) The Chinese head of TikTok has defended plans to sell its US operations, describing a deal as the only way to prevent the app from being banned in the US. In a letter to Chinese staff, Zhang Yiming said the critics do not see the “full context”.

The letter comes as US President Donald Trump has threatened to bar the social media company.

Chinese state media have said such pressure amounts to “theft”.

On social media, Zhang Yiming, founder of TikTok’s Chinese parent company ByteDance, has also been described as a “traitor”.

In the letter to staff, which was shared by the company, he acknowledged the criticism, but said “many people misunderstand the current, complex situation”.

He reminded staff of the firm’s global ambitions and noted a rise in anti-Chinese sentiment around the world, including in the US and India.

“As a company, we have to abide by the laws of the markets where we operate,” he said. “It feels like the goal was not necessarily a forced sale, but given the current macro situation, a ban or even more.”

‘MAFIA-LIKE BEHAVIOUR’ The Trump administration has threatened to ban TikTok, saying the data it collects from its users - including an estimated 100 million in the US - is at risk of exploitation by the Chinese government.

Beijing and TikTok deny those claims, which the US has made against other Chinese tech firms. But a sale to a US company is seen as a way to alleviate such concerns.

On Sunday, Microsoft confirmed it was in discussions with ByteDance over buying TikTok’s operations in the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand - countries that make up four of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance.

On Tuesday, it was re-

ported that Apple is also interested.

TRUMP TURNAROUND When reports of talks between ByteDance - which has received backing from US investors - and Microsoft surfaced on Friday, Mr Trump said he opposed the deal.

But he later appeared to okay a potential sale, saying the government - which would review any takeover by a US company for national security risks - should receive a “substantial” cut of any purchase price. Mr Trump has threatened to ban the app on 15 September if there is no deal.

“The United States should get a very large percentage of that price, because we’re making it possible,” Mr Trump said.

Such a demand is highly unorthodox.

Nicholas Klein, a lawyer at DLA Piper, said generally “the government doesn’t have the authority to take a cut of a private deal through” the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, which is the inter-agency committee that reviews some foreign investments in the US. Charlotte Jee, a reporter at MIT Technology Review, a magazine owned by Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said Mr Trump’s comments were “pretty astonishing”.

Speaking to the BBC’s Today programme, she said: “I hate to say this but it is kind of almost Mafia-like behaviour - threatening a ban which pushes down the price then saying ‘oh we should get a cut of that deal afterwards to say thank you for what we’ve done there’.

“It is extraordinary behaviour as well because last week we had lawmakers in the US trying to look at whether tech companies are too big and now we’ve got Trump trying to make one of them even bigger so it is a really, really bizarre situation to be in.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, August 5, 2020

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Coronavirus: Peru allows Venezuela medics amid pandemic

(BBC) Peru is letting thousands of Venezuelan health workers who fled their country join the Peruvian health system during the coronavirus pandemic.

Peruvian President Martín Vizcarra signed a decree which exempts qualified foreign doctors and nurses from having to validate their degrees.

Peru has more than 430,000 cases of coronavirus and its health service has been struggling.

More than 830,000 Venezuelans have arrived in the country in recent years.

New start In total, more than five million people have fled Venezuela’s ongoing political and economic crisis with many seeking a new life in Colombia, Peru, Brazil and further afield in the US and Europe.

Some of those who sought a new life in Peru say they were met with xenophobia from Peruvians who fear that the Venezuelans are taking their jobs away.

Peru’s Prime Minister

Pedro Cateriano said that the emergency decree would allow qualified Peruvian and foreign doctors to practice medicine during the pandemic even if they are not registered with Peru’s medical council.

“This way, all medical personnel residing here will be able to join this national cause [of fighting the coronavirus],” Mr Cateriano said.

“Over the past days we have seen small rises in the numbers of cases and deaths.

We can’t carry on as if there was no epidemic,” the prime minister warned.

The pandemic and the desperate need for qualified medical personnel it has created has given some Venezuelan doctors a chance to move from the informal sector into regular employment.

From doctor to market vendor Felimar Luque is a Venezuelan gynaecologist who left her country in 2019. Before the new measure came into force, she told BBC News Mundo about the difficulties of being allowed to work in

making about $20 (£15) a day between the two of them.

She later found work in a pharmacy but could not afford to pay the fees to have her Venezuelan medical title validated in Peru.

Eventually, with the help of an NGO, and after having passed a number of tests and courses, Ms Luque managed to get her title validated and to have her name included in Peru’s medical register.

She says that even once she was registered, she found it hard to get a job and it was only when the pandemic struck that she was offered a short term contract.

The Peruvian government says that the new decree will make the process of hiring foreign doctors much smoother and faster.

her profession in Peru.

She recalled how when she first arrived in the capital, Lima, she had to share a room with her sister where the two of them made arepas (Venezuelan corn cakes) which they would sell at a nearby market,

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, August 5, 2020

Editor-in-Chief (AG): Linda Rutherford email: lindford2004@gmail.com

COVID-19 and the informal economy A S nations across the globe continue to tailor responses to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus and its disease, COVID-19, we are only just starting to see the effects that these measures are having on workers in the informal economy. The full or partial lock-down measures implemented in our nation and many others, affecting some five billion people globally, is having a number of detrimental effects on citizens who fall into this category of workers. According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), there are approximately two billion informal workers, with women being over-represented in some of the most affected sectors.

In Guyana, informal workers account for approximately 48.2% of the labour force, according to the most recent data from The Guyana Bureau of Statistics. With close to half of the nation’s population being informal workers, the COVID-19 epidemic stands to pose a real threat to the livelihoods of thousands of Guyanese workers.

According to a recent policy brief released by the ILO, informal enterprises are also being affected in a similar manner. With eight out of 10 enterprises in the world falling into this category, it is now clear that many more people, including many Guyanese who own informal enterprises, are being severely affected by the COVID-19 lock-down measures. The prevalence of unregistered small-scale enterprises that normally operate with few undeclared and low-skilled workers, including unpaid family members and women, now find themselves in a precarious economic position.

Whilst informal workers do not enjoy certain privileges such as social protection and health and safety measures taken in more formal enterprises, their goal remains the same: to work in order to provide for themselves and their families. These men and women cannot rely on income replacement or savings, so they must work or risk falling into further poverty. The dilemma has now become “to die from hunger or from the virus,” according to the ILO. Because those in the informal economy need to work, lockdowns and other containment measures are a source of social tension, and transgressive practices and behaviour could endanger governments’ efforts to protect the population and fight the pandemic. And without any formal announcement from the government on any type of stimulus package for this group of workers, they may further be encouraged to take their chances in order to provide for themselves and their families.

Workers in the accommodation, food service, retail and wholesale trades are among some of the most affected at this time. Additionally, the ILO estimates that some 500 million farmers who produce primarily for the urban market are also encountering difficulties. Here in Guyana, informal food markets play a pivotal role in ensuring food security, and if local farmers fall sick because of COVID-19, that could have a dramatic impact on our ability to ensure food security for many of our urban communities.

The consequences for informal workers as a result of the COVID-19 containment measures is that many would have already experienced immediate loss of incomes.

And without any income-replacement stimulus packages, grants, loans or savings to rely on, informal workers

are now facing an existential predicament. Do they try as best they can to adopt the government’s containment measures and continue working in whatever manner is possible, or do they stop working and risk their families falling into greater poverty? Surely, these cannot be their only options.

The ILO predicts that if there could be an expansion of the informal economy if formal mirco-enterprises are forced to close as a result of economic downturn, this could trigger a surge in unemployment and create even more informal workers.

Despite the gloomy outlook for the informal economy and its workers, the ILO has made a number of recommendations to mitigate the negative effects of the COVID-19 containment measures. Among some of those recommendations are: Reducing the exposure of workers and their families to the virus; ensuring those affected have access to healthcare and to provide income and food support to individuals and families. The ILO also suggests compensating for the loss and reduction of incomes as a result of the economic downturn.

Despite the widespread adoption of fiscal and monetary policies in other nations affected by COVID-19, we in Guyana are currently unable to rely on such easing measures due to the ongoing electoral process.

However, once matters are concluded, it is hoped that fiscal and monetary policies would take priority, lest all the work we have done to grow our economy over the last few years be lost. Furthermore, government must do all in its capacity to ensure that these workers are not forgotten, as they often escape the purview of the government owing to the nature of their work.

First time we got a peaceful transition Dear Editor,

H

EARTIEST congratulations are extended to the new administration that is now going into power after a quite lengthy battle. We have been taken on a road that caused much embarrassment after some don’t want to abide with the law, and we have witnessed the extremes to which they are willing to go to remain in power. Many cannot comfortably say that they deserve to remain in [office] after numerous blunders they’ve made, exposure of corruption and neglecting the population. Even though they’ve only had four years, much more could have been done. The late Desmond Hoyte took over the reins of Guyana and did way, way better than what the APNU+AFC did, even though Guyana

was in a worse condition than when the Coalition took over. The Coalition has managed to not only mismanage the country, but have also emptied the treasury with nothing to show except the various banners of promises.

The ride that they have taken Guyana for will never be forgotten, because in the process, they have managed to obtain massive lands and money. I’m highly doubtful that any of them or their children ever will be seeking employment anywhere with the wealth they have accumulated. I only hope that this administration goes after them to repossess what they have cheated Guyana and her citizens of.

Editor, whilst many would have lots of bitterness to express about the Coalition, I must praise them for prolonging the transition. In 1992, when the PNC, un-

der the leadership of Desmond Hoyte, lost the election, Guyana strayed experiencing massive discrimination, looting, sabotage etc., after every election. As the Coalition attempted to make various excuses to remain in power, many of those who usually motivate others to cause unrest gradually seem to be losing credibility in the eyes of their supporters. They’ve lost all trust in them, especially when many see and realise that in the four years they had, their only focus was to enrich themselves. I only hope that this administration steps up and ensures that voters don’t ever have to doubt their ability again.

Regards, Sahadeo Bates

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, August 5, 2020

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All Guyanese are urged to join in this patriotic call W Dear Editor,

HO would have thought that just how suddenly the election campaign began, it all would end just as suddenly, with the unforeseen declaration and swearing in of Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali as the 9th Executive President happening simultaneously. The timing coincided with Behnken and Hurley, tallying 64 days in space, undocking from the station on Saturday and returning home to land their capsule in calm waters off Florida’s Pensacola Coast on schedule at 2:48 p.m. ET Sunday, following a 21-hour overnight journey aboard Crew Dragon “Endeavor.” Was this an indication of blessings from Heaven coming down to earth, on a memorable Sunday that was the aftermath of a long holiday weekend, culminating a basic Indo-Guyanese and Afro- Guyanese religious and commemorative celebrations running consecutively. The eventuality of the ineffability effectuated an effervescence that illuminated the light at the end of the long and dark tunnel. The daunting weather was prevailing in glorious unpredictability, sending mixed signals for a sightless rainbow, and a continuity of uncertainty with overshadowed restlessness. Ole people say, “All disappointment nah bad luck,” and the soliloquy of this silent but thunderous reflection was mirrored

plausibly when, publicly, the subjective doom and gloom was objectively groomed to bloom a full moon to shine its brilliance and dispel darkness. Indeed, we need to pause and thank the stars, for “What comes from above is blessings!” Sometimes, the rain does not fall on everyone’s doorsteps, even in the same street.

In a nation of diverse reactions, diffusion replaced fused tension in some domains and a lit fire ignited the flame of unresolved intention in other areas. Such is the reality provoking censored responsibility and subversive irresponsibility.

As history has always borne testimony, you cannot please all at the same time; some people became divorced from possession to obsession, and others became married with satisfaction and compassion.

Former president Mr. Granger did rightly and commendably call immediately on supporters to conduct themselves in a peaceful and lawful manner. In defiance of over five months, he had thwarted the will of the people and refused to concede to a defeat, contending for months that the creditable CARICOM recount result was flawed with inaccuracies, despite not producing any evidences to substantiate this claim. But, thankfully, that contentious matter was finally and safely put to bed peacefully and assertively, and may now be regarded as destructive water under a constructive bridge. While one chapter of

the book was closed, the probability for another chapter being opened is potentially knocking on the door to rekindle the liveliness of, perhaps, an unending saga that needs to write a colourful story that may spill into an era of existential oblivion, characterised by incredulous persuasion and mischievous personification.

This unfortunate ordeal has been a nightmare for an adventure, and Guyana needs to put it at the back of the mind and quickly move on. As the returning astronaut, Hurley, told NASA, “This has been an odyssey.” But the perturbed question of what went wrong or what went right will linger in speculation for a while, and will not fade or disappear overnight. To remind us of this provocation, there are a few pending issues that are pertinent. One of them is that Mr. Granger wants to exercise a right, as is his prerogative, to further a legal recourse in challenging the result of the election recount that CARICOM had scrutinised and accredited. Mr. Granger accepted the consequences of GECOM’s declaration, a suggestion that he conceded defeat and said his Coalition would be taking its electoral grievances to court after GECOM declares a winner in keeping with last week’s decisions by the Guyana Court of Appeal. An APNU/AFC Party statement said that “notwithstanding that declaration, the APNU+ AFC coalition maintains that the anomalies and irregularities

which have been uncovered during the recount process cannot be accepted and will form the grounds for an election petition.” With the swearing in of the president, the way is now clear for him to present his case to an election petition court, and submit the evidences he claimed he’s always had. Or, was that a bluff and a creation from desperation?

Will this event materialize, and how far are they willing and prepared to go, bearing in mind that the CCJ is not in the temperament for any fictitious and vexatious issue, especially if they have to be recalled from a holiday mood?

The other issue is that Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield was served with the court papers notifying him of three separate cases of private criminal charges instituted against him, after weeks of evading the summons issued by Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty. Mr. Lowenfield, after appearing at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court on July 24, was placed on G$450,000 bail for three private criminal charges of misconduct in public office, fraud and conspiracy to commit a felony. Candidate for The New Movement (TNM), Josh Kanhai, filed one of

the charges, and Desmond Morian, a member of the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C), filed two of the three charges against Lowenfield. “Justice must prevail,” Kanhai said, “so that the will of the Guyanese people be respected.” Lowenfield will make his next court appearance on August 14. Justice Sewnarine-Beharry had said, “If the law is on your side, regardless of the identity of the litigant, you will win. If the law and judicial precedent are against you, you will lose.” She further stressed, “Justice must never be tied to political considerations and affiliation if we, as a democratic nation, believe in the Separation of Powers.”

The nation was held ransom for five struggling months of depression and oppression, and this bitter lesson must not be allowed to surface its monstrous head ever again.

Preventative methods must be implemented and the resolution through certain dissolutions must find itself as an inclusion for any conclusion.

This reality show commands the abandonment of a carefree or careless reaction and a second thought to infiltrate the minds of Guyanese to stop and carefully

concentrate on these repercussions. This is a wake-up call to adopt a sense of direction for those who are lying by the wayside to reconsider their roles that they need to play to protect and provide for a safe society. It is also a challenge for others to redefine their purposes for serving their fellow sisters and brothers with the instruments of liberty, equality, justice and fraternity towards a common goal of peace, progress and prosperity for survival to live in togetherness as one people, one nation with one destiny.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali said at his swearing in ceremony on Sunday that, “That future requires a strong Guyana and every Guyanese to play a part in building our country and ensuring we leave a better Guyana for the next generation. We are in this together. We are not separated by class, ethnicity, religion or political persuasion. We are united in the true Guyanese spirit.” Nation rebuilding starts right now and all Guyanese are urged to join in this patriotic call. Are you?

Respectfully, Jai Lall

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, August 5, 2020

‘I was not JFAP wishes PPP/C every success charged’

–– says former minister in reaction to rumours ON Tuesday afternoon ‘sources’ of news informed that former Government Minister, Simona Broomes, who once held the responsibility for Youth Affairs within the Ministry of the Presidency, along with her driver, had been charged for assault, following an altercation with two men.

When the Guyana Chronicle contacted the former minister to confirm the charges, she noted that she would not be answering any questions as she was still processing the news.

However, in one of her live Facebook updates, just moments after speaking with this publication, Broomes stated that neither she nor her driver was charged for any crime.

Additionally, Broomes stated that she Former Government Minister, was made aware of an alSimona Broomes legation made against her and her driver; however no officer of the Guyana Police Force informed her that she had been charged.

Early Monday morning Broomes took to a Facebook livestream while she was in pursuit of two men who had ripped off ‘No fishing’ signs from her private property.

Broomes and her driver trailed the men all the way from her Meadowbrook Home to the Sophia area where she confronted them about their business at her private residence.

The former minister who appeared to be distressed at the time of the livestream said that when she had first inquired their reason for being at her home and destroying her signs, they hurled death threats at her and made an attempt to escape.

During the confrontation Broomes identified one of the men as a former schoolmate and a Council Member of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic.

Meanwhile the men, who were seen clearly in the Facebook livestream maintained their innocence of the allegations.

According to Broomes the men had made a report of an assault to the GPF.

COALITION member, the Justice For All Party (JFAP), has congratulated the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) on its victory at the 2020 General and Regional Elections, and has wished President Irfaan Ali the best of success in his term in office.

On Tuesday, a letter was sent out to the media signed

by JFAP Leader, Chandranarine “CN” Sharma and the party’s General Secretary, Savitree Singh Sharma.

It stated: “We would like to offer to you our most sincere wishes for a successful term as President as you prepare to take up the responsibilities and challenges of your high office.

As you embark upon your new responsibilities, we look forward to working with you closely to further strengthen our friendship and to advance our common objective of building a united and prosperous Guyana.”

The JFAP was formed

by Sharma and his wife many years ago, with the intention of highlighting the struggles of Guyanese, and to fight for the improvement of life for the poor and voiceless.

On June 19, the Party called for an end to the 2020 Elections, which had gone on, at the time, for 108 days.

The Party stated then: “An Election has taken place under the watchful eyes of local and international observers. A National recount

was carried out under the eyes of CARICOM. All votes were counted.

There is a clear winner.

The recount shows that the PPP/C has won the election, therefore, Mr. Irfaan Ali should be allowed to be sworn in without delay.”

Dual citizens cannot be MPs …URP leader reminds President

UNITED Republican Party (URP) Leader, Dr. Vishnu Bandhu, reminded President Irfaan Ali that, in selecting his future parliamentarians, he must ensure that none of them is a dual citizen.

In a statement to the press, on Tuesday, his party stated: “The United Republican Party leader Dr. Vishnu Bandhu is calling on the newly-elected President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, to ensure that his parliamentary selections are not dual citizens…Dr. Bandhu is adamant that former par-

liamentarians and new admissions to parliament must not be dual citizens.”

Article 155 of the Constitution states: “(1) No person shall be qualified for election as a member of the National Assembly who – (a) is, by virtue of his or her own act, under any acknowledgement of allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign power or state.”

In 2019, this led to the relinquishment of foreign citizenship by Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira and her colleagues Adrian Anamayah and Odinga Lumumba. It also

saw former Ministers of government Joseph Harmon, Carl Greenidge, Dr. Rupert Roopnarine and Dominic Gaskin resigning as MPs while Harmon and Greenidge relinquished their foreign citizenships.

Dr. Bandhu, as leader of the URP, also relinquished his American citizenship on January 16, 2020, making him eligible to contest in the General and Regional Elections on March 2, 2020.

The issue of dual citizenship came up in 2019 after former Member of the Alliance For Change (AFC), Charrandas Persaud, crossed the floor

M&CC offers amnesty

IN light of the novel coronavirus pandemic and the economic hardships faced by public servants and owners of businesses in the City, the Georgetown City Council is offering a period of amnesty on the interest on General Rates and Taxes for the remainder of the year, 2020.

This was disclosed by Georgetown’s Mayor, Pandit Ubraj Narine, via a telephone interview with the Guyana Chron-

JFAP Leader, Chandranarine ‘CN’ Sharma

icle, on Tuesday.

The Amnesty took effect from June 22 and will end December 30, 2020.

In a statement, the M&CC said that the amnesty was part of expanded tax relief for individuals and businesses as part of the city’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated financial impact caused by it. It added that while it has offered the tax relief/waiver on the interest for general rates and taxes

for the year 2020, interest owed from previous years remains unaffected.

Rate payers are asked to take advantage of the waiver on the interest for General Rates and Taxes for the year 2020.

The Public is hereby urged to contact the office of the Town Clerk, via telephone number 226- 7717, for any additional information.

During an amnesty period in 2017,

United Republican Party (URP) Leader, Dr. Vishnu Bandhu in favour of the current government in a no-confidence motion against the now Opposition, in December 2018. The APNU+AFC was later ousted through the 2020 General and Regional Elections.

Following legal challenges, the Court of Appeal ruled that a person holding dual citizenship was not entitled to be a member of the National Assembly.

the Council received over $127 million dollars in arrears. The money received was owed to the council over a period of two decades.

Non-payment of rates and taxes hinders the works of the council. Such works include drainage, road repairs, cleaning and greening of parks, gardens and open spaces, garbage collection and disposal and enforcement of compliance to the country’s by-laws and building codes, and public health and environmental services, in all local communities.

The Council is owed in excess of $22 billion

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, August 5, 2020

Sandy gets life!

FORMER Guyana Defence Force captain, Orwain Sandy, was, on Tuesday, sentenced to life imprisonment, with the possibility of parole after serving 20 years, for shooting his reputed wife to death in 2018.

Last week, Sandy, who was initially charged for the capital offence of murder, opted to plead guilty to the

lesser count of manslaughter.

Sandy, who served as Special Assistant to the former Chief-of-Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, admitted to the new charge which read that he unlawfully killed Reona Payne on March 31, 2018, at First Street, Alexander Village.

He was represented by attorney-at-law Ravindra

Mohabir while the state was represented by prosecutor Lisa Cave.

During the sentencing hearing, Payne’s ex-husband, Richard Bevany, gave a victim impact statement.

Bevany explained that he and Payne were married for 12 years and have three kids together. However, that union ended six years ago and

96 cases in 96 hours –– Hinterland regions still COVID-19 ‘hotspots’

CURTAILING the spread of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) has proven to be a challenge for the local authorities, as cases continue to spread rapidly, with 96 cases being recorded in the past 96 hours.

In the past 24 hours alone, the country recorded 23 new cases of the disease. The authorities have so far tested 4,975 persons, with 4,478 proving negative and 497 positive.

Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Shamdeo Persaud, in presenting the recent statistics, said that of the 497 persons who’ve tested positive, 186 have recovered, 22 lost their lives, and 289 are classified as active cases which are being monitored by authorities. Two of the active cases are being treated in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

In light of the foregoing figures, Dr. Persaud is urging persons to be wary of the prevailing situation, especially in the hinterland communities where the virus has been spreading like “wildfire”.

All of the recent cases, he reported, were from hinterland regions, with eight originating in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni); four in Region Eight (Potaro Siparuni); and 11 in the villages of Aranaputa and Annai in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).

Amidst the rise in cases, health authorities will be looking to “tighten” control measures in order to prevent the further transmission of the raging coronavirus disease.

As has been his wont every day to caution residents of hinterland communities about taking foolish risks, Dr. Persaud said: “I plead with you to halt the illicit cross-border movement; look out for the migrants and report their presence immediately to the Authorities. On a personal level, I ask you to cooperate and comply with the regulations of social distancing and the hygiene etiquette.”

And just in case that did not do the trick, he said: “Fellow Guyanese, I know that you have been following closely these daily briefs, and that you are aware that our cases continue to climb, especially in the hotspot areas of Regions Seven and Nine.”

That said, he sought to remind his audience that the coronavirus is not selective or exclusive. “It’s all around; in and out of Guyana,” Dr. Persaud said, adding: “So everyone, everywhere, in all the ten

administrative regions needs to make that special effort to continue playing a part in spreading the message about COVID-19.

There should be no letting up; complacency and worse still a laissez faire attitude can be our undoing.”

DISPELLING THE MYTHS Sadly, misconceptions about COVID-19 still persist, including the belief that the disease doesn’t exist; that wearing a mask causes the disease, and that even testing brings about the disease.

These are “all myths”, which, according to Dr. Persaud, need to be dispelled if Guyana is going to “break the back of the camel” not only in Regions Seven and Nine, but in every community.

This, he believes, is the only way that persons can be supportive of the selfless efforts of the health workers on the frontline who are risking their lives to prevent the further transmission of the raging coronavirus.

“This brings me to the whole question of testing, which determines our positive and negative cases, and puts in train our surveillance team to track contacts and identify additional sources,” Dr. Persaud said, adding: “Bravo to the surveillance team and lab staff working to provide us with timely results! However, on a more widespread level, I encourage all those experiencing symptoms to come forward and take advantage of our testing facilities.”

He made a special plea to young persons, urging them not to delay, but seek medical assistance at the earliest.

“Fellow Guyanese, our irresponsible actions impinge greatly on our health workers whom we need to protect at all costs.

They have families just like us; they want to enjoy life too; they deserve this, but they are making the sacrifice to protect all of us,” said the CMO. He encouraged persons to cooperate and comply with all regulations of social distancing, hygiene etiquette and wearing of the mask in public.

COVID-19 remains a serious issue not just here in Guyana, but globally as well, and according to global statistics, there are 17.9 million cases of COVID-19, with over 686,000 deaths.

And, with no approved treatment or cure, there is no assurance that persons will survive after contracting the disease.

Reona Payne Payne was involved with Sandy.

Bevany explained that Payne’s death has impacted his life and more so his children.

He explained that he had found it in himself to forgive Sandy but the family was still saddened by Payne’s death.

Sandy’s lawyer told the court that his client had a “sudden and temporary loss of self control due to provocation.”

According to attorney Mohabir, on that fatal day in question, that couple had an argument over a man named “Kwame”.

Sandy had requested Payne to call Kwame and end the affair she was having with him.

During the argument, Payne reportedly threw Sandy’s firearm out of the car window which caused him to become angry.

Sandy in his address to the court said that he has learnt a lot from the whole ordeal which has caused

him to become passionate to advocate against domestic violence and intimate partner violence.

He recounted that on the day of the killing he suffered a mental breakdown, and, that after the killing, he was haunted by suicidal thoughts.

Even though he is behind bars, Sandy promised that he will continue to serve his country by helping to bring about change in the prisons and among his fellow inmates.

Sandy also explained that he suffered a mental breakdown and during his time behind bars he was battling with depression and suicidal thoughts.

Prosecutor Cave in her address to the court said that offence such as men killing women has become a trend in society and needed to be stopped.

She also asked the Judge to send a strong message to like-minded individuals that such acts cannot be tolerated.

In sentencing Justice Kissoon considered the mitigating and aggravating factors such as a gun being used and the number of times Payne was shot.

In the end, the Judge imposed the life sentence on Sandy and ordered that he be eligible for parole after serving 20 years.

The Guyana Chronicle had reported that Sandy, after committing the act, surrendered to police at the Ruimveldt Police Station, on Saturday, March 31, 2018.

A post-mortem report revealed that Payne died from

9

Former Guyana Defence Force captain, Orwain Sandy 14 gunshot wounds to her body – 13 to her chest and one to the head.

The police have confirmed that Sandy used his service firearm during the shooting. Police sources also related that the soldier had, on one occasion, lodged his firearm at the police station, during a domestic dispute.

One source said the soldier had suspected that Reona was being unfaithful and was conversing with someone from overseas.

It was reported that Sandy had planned to drop Payne off at her place of work when she received a phone call allegedly from the same person from overseas.

When the soldier questioned her and asked her to desist from railroading their relationship, an argument ensued and in the vicinity of the masjid in First Street, Alexander Village, Reona grabbed the soldier’s firearm and threw it out of the car.

According to the source, Sandy stopped the vehicle to retrieve the weapon and Payne exited too, and, after picking up the gun, he fired in her direction, emptying the entire magazine.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, August 5, 2020

Fire destroys a section of Chase’s Academy

–– Principal says school will be repaired in time for new school year

QUICK thinking by a security guard to turn off the main electrical switch, amid a fire at Chase’s Academy on Parade Street, Kingston Georgetown, managed to keep the fire under some control until the fire service arrived.

In the wee hours of Tuesday, William Arthur, a security guard who was on duty, jumped into swift action after he observed smoke em- A section of the burnt building (Photos by Delano anating from the staff room Williams) of the secondary school.

Arthur, in an interview noticed smoke emanating turn off the main switch.”

He noted that, when he with the Guyana Chronicle from downstairs so when I came down I saw fire so turned off the main switch, stated, “ Well I was at my post on the corridor and I common sense tell me to the fire had appeared to have

The building that housed the offices of the principal and his secretary, the staff room and two classrooms that were destroyed by the fire (Photos by Delano Williams)

William Arthur, the security guard who was on duty at the time of the fire (Photos by Delano Williams) died down. He made several unsuccessful attempts to open the door to the room that was on fire.

“When I turned off the main switch the smoke died down a little not totally. I was then trying to pry open the door because at the then time it was manageable,” the man said.

Arthur related that he was unable to call the fire service. However he alerted a neighbour who contacted the Guyana Fire Service.

However, the man related that if the fire service had arrived 15 minutes earlier the fire could have been contained to the bottom flat of the building.

Meanwhile, Mr. Henry Chase, founder and Principal of the school, disclosed that his office along with his secretary’s office, the staff room and two classrooms, were destroyed by the blaze.

Mr. Henry Chase, founder and principal of Chase’s Academy (centre), speaking with Guyana fire service investigators, following the fire (Photos

by Delano Williams) He noted that the quick tion was completed so sturesponse of the security dents will not be affected. guard and the fire service Nevertheless, Mr. Chase limited the fire to only one noted that he is in the probuilding. cess of examining his losses He noted that he was and will soon commence alerted about the fire ear- repairs to usher in the new ly Tuesday morning and school term next month. rushed to his school where “We are in the process he met fire fighters battling of examining the extent of with the flames, “I got a call the damage and we will around 02:15 hours. When begin shortly repairs so that I came the fire was spread- we can finish for school ing; the fire tender and fire reopening in September,” fighters were here.” he said.

Luckily, Mr. Chase The origin of the fire stated that the Caribbean is still unknown as ranks Secondary Education Cer- of the GFS are still investificate (CSEC) examina- tigating.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, August 5, 2020

‘We have no special rights’ – local advocates call for reformation of Disability Act

DISABILITY rights advocates here are calling for an overhaul of the Disability Act to lend more accessibility and inclusion to the local education system to accommodate children living with disabilities across Guyana.

During a virtual panel discussion in commemoration of the 30th Anniversary of Americans with Disabilities last week, Ganesh Singh, a disability rights advocate and Commissioner at the National Commission on Disability stated that the Disability Act, in its present form, offers no special treatment to individuals, especially children living with a disability in the country. “A lot of persons are of the perception that having a Disability Act gives persons with disabilities special rights, Singh said, adding: “Well, it does not!”

What the Disability Act does, he said, is provide a legal framework for the protection and promotion of the rights of Persons Living With Disabilities in Guyana, who, at the last count, according to the 2002 Census, number around 49,000.

Noting however that that figure has obviously grown tremendously over the years, Singh said the time is now ripe for there to be an Act that is not only all-inclusive, but also has the scope to ensure that Persons Living With Disabilities are given the same opportunities and equal rights as every other citizen.

Using the fundamental right to an education as a benchmark, Singh said, “Every child has a right to an education; in Guyana, many children with disabilities are allowed to go to school, however, it is not just about them going into school and sitting in a classroom; it is about them learning and acquiring something substantial.”

In terms of how the Disability Act can be of help, he said, “For persons who are deaf and even wheelchair users, schools must have ramps, information must be in braille, audio, or in digital form to someone who is blind; sign language interpretation and so on should be available for children in the classroom.”

He also made the point that a more

Elderly ‘BV’ man is 22nd COVID-19 victim THE dreaded novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has claimed the life of 79-year-old Norbert Grant, making him the 22nd person to lose their life to the disease.

This publication was reliably informed that Grant, who lived in Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara (ECD), succumbed while receiving treatment in the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC)’s COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), on Tuesday.

Grant was said to be a patient of the facility for more than two weeks, but despite the valiant efforts of doctors to save his life, he did not pull through.

In just over two months, the country has recorded 10 deaths and a consistent rise in the number of COVID-19 cases. There are over 280 active cases, with two of those cases being treated in the COVID-19 ICU. Among those persons, who died recently, are 34-year-old Doodkumar Sookraj, who passed away on July 30; 74-year-old Milton Paul; Geerjadai Jagnarine; and 76-year-old May Portsmouth.

The Guyana Chronicle had earlier reported that the COVID-19 disease has proven to be a “real killer,” especially in cases involving persons who have co-morbidities. This is according to doctors of the GPHC. At the time, Guyana had recorded six deaths due to the COVID-19 disease, and while the loss of life is never pleasant, doctors had said most of the persons who died had co-morbidities.

In medicine, co-morbidity is defined as the presence of one or more additional conditions co-occurring with a primary condition; in the countable sense of the term, a comorbidity is each additional condition. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that 81 per cent of the persons who contract the virus will have mild symptoms, while

14 per cent will have severe symptoms, and another five per cent will need intensive care.

“Most of the people who passed have [sic] co-morbidities; some had diabetes, hypertension, asthma, and one of them even had severe pneumonia, which, without COVID-19, can also cause death… These, coupled with the complications related to COVID-19 can be dangerous,” said Head of the Department of Internal Medicine at GPHC, Dr. Genellys Camps, during a past interview with the Guyana Chronicle.

Among those whose demise were ruled co-morbid are 25-year-old Lethem schoolteacher, Donna Ambrose-Greaves; 34-yearold Abdool Khan, a resident of Bartica, who was asthmatic; and local ‘drag-racer’ Deryck Jaisingh, called ‘Mad Dog’.

Guyana’s first COVID-19 victim, 52-year-old Ratna Baboolall, was also hypertensive and a diabetic. Jermaine Ifill, an emergency medical technician (EMT), who had also succumbed to the dreaded disease, was also being treated for pneumonia.

Two other persons who died from the disease were Osa Collins, a 78-year-old resident of New Amsterdam; and 77-year-old Colonel John Percy Leon Lewis. Forty-five-year-old Lennox Williams, who also had underlying conditions, died because of COVID-19. And, a diabetic patient, 67-year-old Samuel Morris, also lost his life.

Guyana, last Thursday, took a major leap in the fight against the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic, with the commissioning of its new Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, at the site of the former Ocean View Hotel.

This “leap” is expected to radically improve the quality of service and infrastructure for patients and staff, as the country continues to battle COVID-19 and other infectious diseases, which may arise in the future.

reformed Disability Act will provide or facilitate the fulfillment of the rights of persons who are born and living with disabilities an equal playing field to excel, to be reproductive, and to be independent.

But for this to be a reality, he said, members and advocates of the disability community need to join forces and make a call to take the Disability Act one step further.

“Whenever we have a national assembly to call for amendments, call for the legislation in its current form, call for more anti-discriminatory, and I’m sure it will create a much more enabling environment for persons with disabilities,” Singh said.

Sharing similar sentiments as he was Leroy Phillips, who is also an advocate, and he noted that for persons living with disabilities, going to school or wanting to go to school has been and continues to be a challenge in Guyana.

Sharing his personal experience, Phillips said, “I remember when I started

secondary school back in 2002, I just went to the school and sat there. And I went up to some of my classes, not knowing how things are supposed to be done.”

Phillips, who is a broadcaster and public relations officer for the Guyana Blind Cricket Association, said that thanks to his involvement in advocacy work, and a few programmes, he’s aware of what is supposed to be done in a classroom environment to make the curriculum and other in-classroom activities accessible to Persons Living With Disabilities.

“I learned as a blind person if you are going to the school, you are going to learn like anyone else,” Phillips said, adding: “Information now has to be prepared in a proper format that meets your accessibility needs; it is something that is overlooked in society.”

In closing, he made the point that the entire school system needs to be reformed to provide the proper accessibility required for students with disabilities to move around freely.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, August 5, 2020

New gov’t to take up 33 seats in –– full cabinet to be National Assembly appointed later this week THE new People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) government will enter the 12th Parliament with 33 seats as it moves to take the country forward.

With its 233,336 votes at the March 2 General and Regional Elections, the new PPP/C government will be allocated some 33 seats in the National Assembly.

The A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) with 217,920 votes will have 31 seats while

the joinder list of A New United Guyana (ANUG), the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP) and The New Movement (TNM) with 5, 214 votes will be allocated one seat.

Parties are yet to identify their respective parliamentarians that will make up the 65-seat Legislature. The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has already requested from the parties, the names of those Members of Parliament. Those sub-

President Dr. Mohammed Irfaan Ali flanked by the newly-appointed Attorney General, Anil Nandlall; Vice-President, Bharrat Jagdeo; Prime Minister Mark Phillips and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira.

(Photo by Adrian Narine) missions are expected soonest.

Meanwhile, President Dr. Mohammed Irfaan Ali said the selection of his cabinet members will be made later this week. With those ministers in place, Dr. Ali said all ministries will also be established.

The president has already made some appointments following his swearing-in on Sunday. They include Prime Minister, Brigadier Mark Phillips, and Vice-President, Bharrat Jagdeo. Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, was also appointed along with Gail Teixeira as Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance.

Following his swearing-in, Dr. Ali said his government will be for all of

Guyana. His administration, he said, will build a country for every Guyanese, noting that there was no need for fear, or distinction based on political persuasion, religious belief or ethnicity.

Meeting with senior officials from the Ministry of the Presidency on Monday, the President said that as his government transitions, there will be changes of approach, new and emerging areas of responsibilities as well as a shift in the plans and programmes of the administration.

“Guyana requires the skills of all of us to work collectively if we are to build a strong and sustainable country, a country that all of us can be proud of,” the Head of State noted.

(DPI)

Outgoing PM hands over keys to official residence SIGNIFICANT to the transitional phase of the new People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) government, outgoing Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, on Monday, handed over the keys to the official residence of the Prime Minister.

The keys to heritage building were handed over to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of the Presidency, Abena Moore.

Brigadier Mark Phillips, who was appointed Prime Minister by President Irfaan Ali, is expected to take up residence at the property.

Prime Minister Phillips was

among several PPP/C executives who were appointed by the newlysworn-in President after taking his oath of office on Sunday.

Former Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, was appointed as Vice-President, while Anil Nandlall was appointed Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs. Gail Teixeira was also appointed Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance.

The Head of State has assured the nation that his administration will be working in the best interest of all Guyanese.

(DPI)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, August 5, 2020

13

CARICOM SG congratulates President Ali CARICOM Secretary-General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, on Tuesday, congratulated Dr. Irfaan Ali on his assumption to office as Guyana’s ninth Executive President.

In a statement, the CARICOM Secretary-General said he looks forward to welcoming the new President as a member of the Conference of CARICOM Heads of Government at its next meeting.

Dr. Ali took the oath of office on Sunday, August 2, 2020 after the Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) was declared winner of the country’s March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections following an extended period of challenges.

“The people of Guyana have entrusted you with their leadership, at a most critical juncture in the country’s development,” the Secretary-General said in his congratulatory message.

“This demonstrates their acceptance of the policies and programmes that you and your party have put forward for the future. The confidence they have placed in you should serve as an inspiration, as you undertake the task of uniting the country going forward. The patience and composure you have displayed during the prolonged process prior to your swearing-in are qualities that bode well as you embark on your term of office,” Ambassador LaRocque added.

On behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and its Secretariat, Ambassador LaRocque offered full support to President Ali and by extension the PPP/C Administration and the people of Guyana.

In congratulating the PPP/C on its assumption to Office on Sunday, CARICOM recalled that it was under the stewardship of past Chairman, Mia Mottley of Barbados and her successor, Ralph Gonsalves – the Prime Minister of St. Vincent – that CARICOM had expressed its concerns about the delayed conclusion to Guyana’s elections.

Mottley had stated that the prolonged resolution of Guyana’s elections was not only unbecoming of the political parties involved, but portrayed the entire Region in a bad light.

She had called on political parties which believed that there was evidence of fraudulent or improper conduct during the elections to take the route of an Elections Petition.

After taking up the position of Chair, Gonsalves led calls by CARICOM for stakeholders in Guyana to declare the results of the elections without further delay.

Four Prime Ministers from the Region, including Mottley and Gonsalves, had visited Guyana shortly after the elections in March to talk to both sides, and urge patience, especially after the loss of one life due to protests.

In addition, CARICOM had sent a three-member Scrutinising Team to observe Guyana’s national recount despite the COVID-19 pandemic. That team had concluded in its report that the will of the Guyanese people was expressed on March 2, and reflected in the physical recount.

Gonsalves, on behalf of CARICOM, had therefore called on political leaders here to “respect the rule of law”, and act quickly on the matter of a declaration for “a peaceable restoration to normalcy”.

Reg.7 RHO calls out nonchalant behaviour about COVID-19

–– urges Barticans to be responsible –– amid increasing numbers of COVID-19 cases REGIONAL Health Officer, Region Seven, Dr. Edward Sagala, on Monday, issued a statement highlighting the current COVID-19 situation in Region Seven.

He specifically pointed out that while health officials are grappling to control the spread of the virus, many persons insist on proceeding with their lives as usual.

“Despite the advisories on the grave situation we face with COVID-19, Barticians continue to be casual and unconcerned,” Dr. Sagala said.

He reminded that the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic demands a lifestyle change which will reduce disease spread and minimise the risk of persons becoming infected.

As of Monday, August 3, 2020, confirmed cases in the Region Seven stood at 96, with two deaths.

“The mere fact that positive cases are close to 100 (and counting) and yet our peo-

ple are unbothered is mind-boggling,” the RHO stated.

He reported that new positive COVID-19 cases have been recorded in Batavia, Falmouth and Big Hope, while the existing situation in Arrau, Oku, Arangoy, Devil’s Hole and Bartica is worsening by the day.

Dr. Sagala disclosed that recently, 15 samples were taken in Batavia and ten of those tests returned positive. He underscored that this is cause for concern.

The region’s health department is actively working to conduct screening, testing and sensitisation to various communities. A health team will be travelling to riverine areas in the region to extend this exercise.

Meanwhile, residents are reminded to observe advisories issued by the Ministry of Public Health to protect themselves from exposure to COVID-19. (DPI)

Onderneeming man placed on bail for robbing Perseverance couple TWENTY-eight-year-old Ryan Rahavida of Onderneeming, Region Two was, on Monday, slapped with two counts of robbery with violence.

He made his appearance before Magistrate Esther Sam at the Charity Magistrate’s Court.

It is alleged that he robbed Perseverance cou-

ple – Gordon Williams and Denis Mohabir – on July 29.

He was not required to plead to the indictable charge and was granted $300,000 bail for each count.

The matter was postponed for August 28 at the Suddie Magistrate’s Court.

CARICOM Secretary-General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, congratulates President Dr. Irfaan Ali following his swearing-in ceremony, Sunday

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, August 5, 2020

China’s BeiDou navigation system contributes to flood control BEIJING, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- China’s BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) has played a significant role in the country’s flood-control operations, said BDS Spokesperson Ran Chengqi on Monday.

Another distinctive function of the BDS system is short message communication, which allows users to send messages without the support of a mobile network.

The short message communication capability of the BDS-3 system has been

The BDS system has helped the country fight against floods, assisting in deformation monitoring, early warning and resident transfer, Ran said at a press conference.

Based on its constellation and ground stations, the BDS system can provide high-precision services with centimeter-level accuracy in real-time processing and millimeter-level accuracy in post-processing.

With the help of the system and auxiliary equipment, debris flow can be predicted through real-time deformation monitoring to gain time for resident transfer and rescue.

In Shimen County, central China’s Hunan Province, the BDS-based monitoring system helped issue early warnings and relocate over 60 people threatened by a landslide, thus ensuring the safety of people’s lives and property, according to Ran.

greatly improved. Users can send a message of 1,000 Chinese characters at one time, as well as pictures and voice messages, Ran said.

The BDS system can also aid international search and rescue with its bidirectional communication services. Ships in need of rescue can receive a reply from the ground station after sending a distress signal, which is a more advanced method than those used previously.

China will endeavour to provide legal and policy guarantees, and create a sound, open environment for the development of the BDS system, according to Ran. The integration of BDS with emerging technologies, including 5G, mobile communications and big data, will be further promoted to create new business models and growth points, he added.

China leads post-pandemic global economic recovery, says Ecuadorian expert QUITO, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc around the globe, China is leading the post-pandemic economic recovery thanks to its sound policies, said Ecuador’s international observer Milton Reyes.

“Worldwide, one can see that China is leading several processes of economic recovery. This is due to clear public policies and the efficiency and leadership of the Chinese government in tackling economic challenges,” Reyes told Xinhua.

For example, the Chinese government strove to compensate for losses caused by the pandemic, and supported small and

medium-sized companies that operate in essential supply chains with credits and loans to maintain employment, said the expert.

China “adopted policies to maintain domestic consumption” and support production resumption, said Reyes.

As a result, “e-commerce has rebounded, which sustains the economy. In the context of a pandemic, that is spectacular,” he said.

China’s gross domestic product (GDP) expanded 3.2 percent year-on-year in the second quarter of 2020, data from the Chinese National Bureau of Statistics showed.

Reyes, who also serves as a coordinator of the

Ecuador’s Milton Reyes Center for Chinese Studies at the Institute of Higher National Studies, highlighted Chinese government’s policies that aim to “generate a strong internal market” and support entrepreneurs in the country.

He added that China has also been working to reduce poverty and generate greater capacity for domestic consumption.

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China’s ARJ21 airplane advances in commercial services

SHANGHAI, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- The China-developed ARJ21 regional jetliner has achieved continuous progress in commercial operations, according to developer the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC).

COMAC has been exploring the commercial operations of ARJ21 by developing its advantages to better meet market needs, said the Chinese commercial aircraft maker.

FLYING INTO MARKET In joining hands with airlines, COMAC gains experience from the commercial operations of ARJ21 and optimizes its design, production and services.

According to the plane-maker, the ARJ21 has just achieved a major landmark in commercial operations by flying the one millionth passenger on July 20.

The aircraft is China’s first turbo-fan regional passenger jetliner. Designed with 78-90 seats and a range of 3,700 km, it can fly in alpine and plateau regions and adapt to various airport conditions.

As a pioneer of Chinese commercial airplanes, the ARJ21 was put into commercial service in June 2016 by Chengdu Airlines.

As the launch operator, Chengdu Airlines has been building the commercial operation systems for operations management, maintenance, and training of professionals.

By now, the airline has received 21 ARJ21 planes and used them in establishing a network connecting cities across China with both trunk and regional routes.

The airline has also opened several high altitude routes to exploit the jetliner’s advantages and explore its potential.

On Oct. 26, 2019, the China-developed civil airplane model embarked on a significant journey in commercial operations.

Chengdu Airlines used ARJ21 on the first international service between northeast China’s Harbin and Vladivostok in Russia’s Far East.

The airline is also creating international hubs

for the short and medium hauls of ARJ21, aiming to extend its network to Russia’s Far East, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Southeast Asia and South Asia.

The move has been made through the airline’s two established operational bases in Harbin and the eastern city of Weihai, and the scheduled base in south China’s pan-Beibu Gulf region.

EYEING COMMERCIAL SUCCESS The real success of a commercial aircraft model is measured by its commercial success. The ARJ21 brand is developing in the market and gaining credibility by serving more routes with more carriers.

To date, COMAC has delivered 33 ARJ21 planes. They are serving routes linking 56 cities and playing the role of express air channels among second and third-tier cites across the country. This shows that the ARJ21 has initially realized the scale of commercial operations, said the developer.

On June 28, COMAC delivered one ARJ21 each to the country’s three major carriers: Air China, China Eastern Airlines, and China Southern.

These deliveries mark the arrival of the homegrown jetliner in the domestic mainstream civil aviation market.

In 2020, each airline is expected to receive a total of three ARJ21 planes.

In February, China Eastern Airlines unveiled its subsidiary One Two Three Airlines (OTT Airlines), which will mainly operate the China-developed commercial aircraft ARJ21 and C919.

Inducting the ARJ21 into the fleet helps China Eastern optimize its route network by integrating both trunk and regional routes, also paving the way to operate the home-developed trunk jetliner C919, sources with the airline said.

The C919 passenger aircraft is now under intensive test flights to verify performance and capacity in various conditions such as high altitude and high temperature environments, said the COMAC.

ARJ21 jetliners with newly-painted liveries parked at a COMAC assembly base in Pudong New Area, east China’s Shanghai, June 28, 2020. (Xinhua/Ding Ting)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, August 5, 2020

Avasant Foundation,UG roll out digital skills programme for youths

GUYANESE youths between the ages of 18 and 30 with an aptitude for learning digital skills, will have

the opportunity to attend a training programme during the month of August.

The training programme

will also target the enrolment of at least 50 per cent female candidates.

During an interview with

the Guyana Chronicle , Director of the foundation Chitra Rajeshwari revealed that the proposed programme

is applicable to Guyana , since the country’s focus is on development of technology skills required for the future , given the poverty levels , low educational attainment of the labour force and unemployment levels amongst youth and women, the proposed intervention will provide opportunities for skills training, employment, and entrepreneurship for low- income young people in Guyana.

The director said that additionally, partner companies will have an opportunity through the programme to access skills needed to transition and upgrade their business models and operations.

The infusion of new skills will support innovation and particularly the adoption of technology to improve business performance.

The Digital Skills Training Programme in Guyana will run for a period of twothree years and will commence in August 2020. The Avasant Foundation has been implementing similar training programmes within the Caribbean since 2014 and has successfully delivered training to youth in Jamaica, Haiti and Trinidad & Tobago.

The programme will equip Guyanese youth with pertinent skills required for them to participate in the new digital economy. Guyana’s youth population will be trained with industry-relevant digital skills, giving them the opportunity to productively participate in the country’s economic acceleration. The intervention will deliver a trained workforce with applicable digital skills that will help local companies in Guyana to compete and expand. In addition, our entrepreneurship training will equip youth with the tools for unleashing their creativity and tech-savvy and help them conceptualise and launch their own businesses.

Avasant Foundation (AF), is a 501(C)(3) notfor-profit organisation in the State of California, established under the aegis Avasant Foundation (AF), is a 501(C)(3) not-for-profit organisation in the State of California, established under the aegis of Avasant LLC, the foundation works to improve lives and communities by empowering high potential, deserving youth in

developing countries through education, employment & entrepreneurship initiatives in the new digital economy. We provide online and blended training leveraging the Avasant Learning Portal to provide innovative learning experiences and technologies to meaningfully engage candidates in the delivery of digital skills training which matches market demands. AF provides job matching job opportunities for graduates to be engaged in the new digital economy. Our propriety ignites entrepreneurial digital skills training empowers youth on using their creativity to start and run sustainable businesses. AF promotes gender equality by advancing gender equality and empowering women and girls with quality education and encouraging women centric startups and entrepreneurs in developing economies across the globe.

AF is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development goals 4-Quality Education, 5-Gende Equality, 8- Decent work and Economic Growth and 10- Reduced Equality The Avasant Foundation is head quartered in Los Angeles, California and Avasant Consulting LLC has a global presence with offices in the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Europe in the Caribbean in Trinidad & Tobago The company Avasant Foundation has had a long-standing presence in the Caribbean region and has played a pivotal role in fostering socio-economic impact for the region through the provision of skills training programmes. The Foundation has enabled creation of 25,000 sustainable jobs for youth through digital youth employment training, focusing on the technological needs of the current job market and has been instrumental in implementing some key projects across developing economies, especially towards developing and enhancing skills of youth and young professionals.

The Avasant Foundation director noted that Guyana is at a landmark point in its development, where its economy is becoming increasingly attractive for investments as developments occur in new See page 17

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, August 5, 2020

Guyana supports the US for IDB Presidency JUST days after entering office, the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Administration announced its support for Mauricio Claver-Carone, who has been nominated by the United States of America for the post of President of the Inter - American Development Bank (IDB).

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Claver-Carone’s experience in senior positions of the US Treasury Department, the US National Security Council and as US Executive Director of the IMF augurs well for his presidency.

The IDB will hold elections on September 12 and 13 to succeed the current President Luis Alberto Moreno of Colombia, whose term ends on September 30, 2020.

“The nomination of Mr. Mauricio ClaverCarone demonstrates the US’ commitment to leadership in important regional institutions, and the advancing of prosperity and security in the Western Hemisphere. His leadership of the IDB is expected to strengthen its ability to deliver development impact to the region,” the Foreign Affairs Ministry said.

Claver-Carone previously served as the United States Executive Director at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), where he represented the United States, as the largest shareholder, on the IMF’s Executive Board. He also served as Senior Adviser for International Affairs at the U.S. Department.

The IDB plays a pivotal role in the progress and overall development of Guyana and the Latin America and Caribbean Region.

Avasant Foundation,UG roll out digital skills ...

From page 16 and emerging sectors.

The inflow of wealth from oil will fundamentally change the level of sophistication demanded of the country’s private sector and will create new opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship.

Whilst there is a high potential for economic prosperity, 50 per cent of local firms reported access to a work force with relevant skills as a key barrier to growth and competitiveness. As an experienced provider of skills training to youth in the Caribbean region, Avasant Foundation has selected Guyana to create the digital talent pool to improve the skills of the workforce and empower youths to participate in the new digital economy.

It is critical that Guyana pursue strategies that can support rapid skills development of the current youth labour force while pursuing longer- term measures in mainstream education that will improve secondary and tertiary educational outcomes in the future. In this regard, the Avasant Foundation is prepared to partner with academic institutes to implement its model which focuses on business needs in the immediate to short term and will be a good complement to institutions such as Technical Vocational and Educational Training (TVET) institutes.

Partnership with a local training partner such as TVET will facilitate the expansion of digital skills training nationally, as they have the infrastructure and reach which can be combined with Avasant Foundation’s private partnership and content developed in the proposed project, to achieve sustainability and scaling beyond the period of this training.

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Lakers secure top spot in Western Conference for first time in 10 years THE Los Angeles Lakers

have secured the top spot in the NBA’s Western Conference for the first time in 10 years after beating the Utah Jazz.

Anthony Davis scored 42 points as the Lakers bounced back from defeat to the Toronto Raptors to overcome a stubborn Jazz side 116-108 in Florida.

As top seeds Lakers will face the number eight seed in the play-offs.

“It’s just one of the milestones of many to get to where we want to be,” Davis said.

“All the stuff we’ve been through this season, to clinch number one in the West means a lot but we’re not finished.”

It is the 20th time this season Davis has scored 20 points or more in the first half for the side since Lakers Kobe Bryant.

Bryant, who died in a helicopter crash in January, led the team to the NBA Finals crown the last time they were top seeds in 2010.

“To be in a category with him means a lot,” Davis added.

“I know he’s looking down on us, cheering us on.”

Lakers power forward LeBron James finished with 22 points and nine assists.

Monday’s NBA’s other fixtures, which are all being played in a bio-secure environment at Disney World

in Orlando, saw the New Orleans Pelicans beat the Memphis Grizzlies 109-99.

The Raptors, thanks heavily to a career-high 36 points from Fred VanVleet, edged past the Miami Heat 107-103 in their Eastern Conference clash.

The Denver Nuggets needed overtime to beat Oklahoma City Thunder 121-113 and remain third in the Western Conference standings behind Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers.

Indiana Pacers beat Washington Wizards 111-100 to stay fifth in the Eastern Conference (BBC Sport)

Spanish World Cup winner Casillas calls time on career, aged 39

(REUTERS) - Spain’s World Cup-winning captain and goalkeeper Iker Casillas announced his retirement from the professional game yesterday, ending a career that spanned over two decades in which he captured the game’s biggest prizes.

The former Real Madrid skipper had called time on his five-year spell with Portuguese side Porto last month after his contract with the club expired.

Casillas, 39, has not played any competitive football since he suffered a heart attack during a training session last year.

“The important thing is the path you travel and the people who accompany you, not where it takes you, because that comes with work and effort alone,” Casillas said on Twitter here.

“I think I can say, with-

out hesitation, that the path I have taken is the one I dreamt about.”

Casillas was given a role on Porto’s technical staff at the start of last season and was included in the first-team squad, although he was never named in a match-day squad.

He captained Spain’s ‘golden generation’ that won a maiden World Cup title in 2010 as well as two consecutive European Championships in 2008 and 2012.

The shot-stopper, who came through Real Madrid’s youth system, made his senior club debut in 1999 at the age of 18 and went on to make 725 appearances over 16 seasons, winning five La Liga titles and the Champions League three times.

However, he made a tearful exit without any fanfare in 2015 when he announced his

departure from his boyhood club at a news conference, a move for which Real were heavily criticised and led to fans chanting for club president Florentino Perez to resign.

“The best goalkeeper in the history of Real Madrid and Spanish football joined us at the age of 9,” Real Madrid said in a statement here yesterday.

“He was formed here and defended our shirt for 25 years, becoming one of our most emblematic captains of all-time.

Iker Casillas earned the love of madridismo and is a symbol of the values that Real Madrid represents.”

Casillas holds the record for most appearances in the Champions League, featuring 177 times - 150 of which came with Real Madrid - as well as the most clean-sheets in the history of the competition (57).

Fulham back in Premier League after playoff final win over Brentford

Fulham beat Brentford in the Championship play-off final to secure an immediate return to the Premier League thanks to two extra-time goals from Joe Bryan.

The left-back caught Bees goalkeeper David Raya off guard from 40 yards in the 105th minute of the game at Wembley, with the Spaniard expecting a cross and then unable to scamper back and save Bryan’s skidding low effort.

With the Bees pouring forward in search of an equaliser, Bryan burst forward and combined with Aleksandar Mitrovic before stabbing past Raya to make the game safe with three minutes remaining.

Henrik Dalsgaard pulled a goal back with a header

from eight yards out in the fourth minute of added time, but it was too late for the Bees to spark a comeback.

The goals from Bryan were two rare moments of quality and quick-thinking in an otherwise cagey encounter between the two west London rivals, which finished goalless after 90 minutes.

Scott Parker celebrated wildly at full-time after leading Fulham to promotion in his first full season as manager.

The 39-year-old was unable to save them from top-flight relegation after replacing Claudio Ranieri in February 2019, but they can now prepare for a 15th campaign in the Premier League.

Parker was unable to call on top scorer Mitrovic, returning from injury, from the start - but the Serbia international showed composure to tee-up Bryan for the crucial second goal with a slick one-two inside the box.

Ivan Cavaleiro almost made it 3-0 for Fulham in the closing stages when he was denied by Raya, and Dalsgaard’s header came far too late to set up a Bees comeback.

Bryan had only scored one goal this season for the Whites heading into the game, but proved to be the hero as his strikes s e c u re d a p ro m o t i o n which could be worth £135m to Fulham over the next three years.

(BBC Sport)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, August 5, 2020

Tallawahs call up Blackwood, Lewis … as COVID-19 bowls 3 players out of CPL

THREE players will miss out on the upcoming Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) because one of them has tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19) and the two others were in close contact with him.

St Kitts/Nevis player Dennis Bulli, a Jamaican tested positive and because he was practising with Jamaica Tallawahs players Andre McCarty and Javon Royal they had to miss out as well.

This was confirmed by manager of the Jamaica Tallawahs Jefferson Miller on Monday. Speaking to Guardian Media Sports he said: “None of my players has the COVID but because two of them practised in close quarters with Dennis Buli of the St Kitts/Nevis Tallawahs they were removed from

our team out of caution.”

Miller added that he has already gotten two replacements on his lineup for the tournament that will be played entirely in Trinidad and Tobago from August 18 to September 10.

He said, “We have decided to bring in Jermaine Blackwood and Ramaal Lewis in their places and they will be coming into T&T for the tournament.”

The government of T&T has adopted strict COVID-19 guidelines for the players entering the country and hence none of the franchises is taking any chances. The players were due to touch down on a chartered flight from St. Lucia at 23.55hrs yesterday from St Lucia which was chosen as a hub for the international players.

They all gathered at San-

dals Resorts International and have been there for varying amounts of time over the past week. They were expected to be shuttled straight to the Hilton Hotel where they would go into self-quarantine for the next seven days.

After this, they will be tested and then allowed to mingle in small groups. After 14 days they will then be tested again and then they will be able to join up with the rest of their team to prepare for the tournament.

On Monday, some of the local players on the TKR team trained at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port-of-Spain. They will continue to train by themselves until they are joined by their international teammates.

Assistant coach of the team Imran Jan will be putting the

TKR through their drills until coach Brendan McCullum comes out of quarantine.

Last Friday Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley made it very clear that the cricketers coming in will have to abide by the strict quarantine policies or face the possibility of being thrown out of the tournament.

negative before and even in the hotel groups of seven (will be required) and after seven days they will move on.

“They will then go to the venue where they will not be able to mix with the population. It is just like the way we re-opened factories and cloth stores. It is being operated in a

West Indies batsman Jermaine Blackwood has joined the Jamaica Tallawahs CPL squad (Courtesy CWI)

“The CPL is a bubble that will not be affecting the population and hence a player cannot leave that bubble and go down the road for a drink. We are very serious about this. Everything that will go on around the CPL will go on in a bubble that does not interact with the national population. They would be coming into the country under the protocols of entry all having tested

bubble and it will be just that, away from the population.”

Meanwhile, Commissioner of Police (CoP) Gary Griffith, who chaired a security meeting of all stakeholders involved on Saturday for the 2020 edition, is advising the public that all measures are being put in place to ensure the health and safety of all local and international players.

In a news release follow-

ing the meeting, Griffith stated: “All teams will have to undergo a quarantine period of 14 days during which they will be monitored and tested by officials of the Ministry of Health. All teams will be staying under quarantine at the Hilton.”

T&T will be hosting the entire tournament and Commissioner Griffith said, “That all teams will be kept in sanitised zones which are termed “bubbles”. He points out that fans and family members will not be allowed to visit training sessions, matches, or the hotel. No spectators will be allowed at the venues during the games.”

The tournament will feature six franchise teams - the Barbados Tridents, Guyana Amazon Warriors, Jamaica Tallawahs, St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, St Lucia Zouks and Trinbago Knight Riders - will play matches at Queen’s Park Oval, Port-of-Spain, and at Brian Lara Academy, Tarouba, South Trinidad.

The opening match takes place between Trinbago Knight Riders and Guyana Amazon Warriors at Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, San Fernando from 10:00hrs on August 18, followed by defending champions the Barbados Tridents against St Kitts and Nevis Patriots from 17:30hrs.

(Extracted from Trinidad Guardian)

Nadal to skip U.S. Open due to COVID-19 concerns, entries announced NEW YORK, USA (Reuters) - World number two Rafael Nadal confirmed yesterday that he will not defend his U.S. Open crown this year at Flushing Meadows as organisers released the singles entry list for the Grand Slam.

Spain’s Nadal had said in June that he had reservations about travelling to the U.S. amid the COVID-19 pandemic and he joins women’s world number one Australian Ash Barty in skipping the tournament due to COVID-19 concerns.

“After many thoughts I have decided not to play this year’s U.S. Open,” Nadal said on Twitter here “The situation is very complicated worldwide, the COVID-19 cases are increasing, it looks like we still don’t have control of it.

“We know that the reduced tennis calendar is barbaric this year after 4 months stopped with no play, I understand and thank (everyone) for the efforts they are putting in to make it happen. We have just seen the announcement

of Madrid not being played this year.

“This is a decision I never wanted to take but I have decided to follow my heart this time and for the time being I rather not travel.”

The Madrid Open, which was scheduled to take place from September 12 to 20, was cancelled yesterday due to the rise of COVID-19 cases in the Spanish capital.

The United States has the highest tally in the world with more than 4.7 million confirmed novel coronavirus cases and nearly 156 000 deaths, according to a Reuters tally.

World number one Novak Djokovic, a three-time champion in New York, headlines the men’s list along with last year’s runner-up Daniil Medvedev and other top 10 players including Dominic Thiem, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alexander Zverev.

Swiss Roger Federer, a five-time U.S. Open champion, will also be absent after the 38-year-old was forced to undergo knee surgery in June that prematurely ended

his 2020 season.

Nine of the top 10 women’s players, including 23time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams and holder Bianca Andreescu, are on the entry list along with 2018 champion Naomi Osaka.

As many as 13 Grand Slam champions are in the women’s draw including Romania’s Simona Halep, the reigning Wimbledon champion and 2018 French Open winner, and this year’s Australian Open champion American Sofia Kenin.

The United States Tennis Association (USTA) said eight additional wildcard entries would be selected in both the men’s and women’s fields.

Organisers said the seedings would be announced closer to the start of the tournament which is scheduled for August 31.

A number of players are also set to take part in the August 20-28 Western & Southern Open in New York, which serves as a warm-up event for the U.S. Open.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, August 5, 2020

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‘Hard to justify it’: Ponting on the Edgbaston toss … Fifteen years on, Australia’s former skipper reflects on his decision to bowl first in the memorable 2005 Ashes Test at Edgbaston want, and they can. That’s a part of life and a part of history that people will talk about for a very long time.”

The dramatic morning on August 4, 2005 paved the way for one of the tightest Test matches in the game’s history.

Having weathered a strong start by England in the opening Test at Lord’s, Australia grabbed a 1-0 series lead and Ponting wanted to heap more pressure on the home side’s batsmen by sending them in on a pitch that had been under heavy covers for much of the week due to cyclonic weather in Birmingham.

Even when Ponting’s spearhead Glenn McGrath trod on a stray cricket ball

Ricky Ponting and Shane Warne in the opening session at Edgbaston (Getty)

FIFTEEN years on from one of the most memorable Tests in Ashes history, former captain Ricky Ponting stands by the logic that led Australia to bowl first in the 2005 Edgbaston Test, although he concedes England’s scoring rate in their first innings makes his call “hard to justify”.

Ponting controversially sent England in to bat in the second Test of the famous 2005 campaign, and the hosts responded by clubbing 407 runs on an exhilarating first day, including 132 in the opening session against the new ball.

In a recent interview with cricket.com.au, Ponting said his decision at the coin toss came after days of discussion with senior members of his squad, adding his side’s nail-biting two-run defeat decided the outcome of the series.

Asked if he stands by

Glenn McGrath was ruled out of the Test on match morning (Getty)

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TODAY’S QUIZ: Which England bowler took most wickets in the recent ENG/WI Test series?

Which WI bowler took most wickets in the series?

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

the decision to bowl first, Ponting said, “Yeah, I do.”

“It was one run, wasn’t it? I’d love to find another run there somewhere through the course of that Test match!

“I stand by the reasoning behind it but when you look at the overall result and what actually happened on the first day, it’s probably hard to justify it.

“But it’s not like I just turned up, had a look and said, ‘we’re bowling’. We’d talked about it for a while, what we were going to do and what we thought was the best way to win the game. And we got close.

“And people will make whatever (judgement) they

and rolled his ankle in the warm-up, ruling him out of the Test, the skipper believed his bowlers – including McGrath’s replacement, Michael Kasprowicz – could further expose England’s batting frailties.

But it wasn’t the case; England raced along at better than five runs an over on a pitch Ponting admits he misjudged as Australia were left to rue dropped catches and taking wickets off no-balls.

“The weather had been shocking in the lead-up,” Ponting recalled. “Cyclones had gone through the place and the wicket had been under covers for a few days.

“We also knew that our bowlers had a real edge

on the England batters after that first Test match at Lord’s. So I made my mind up with all of that taken into account that we were going to bowl.

“The wicket, we expected it to do quite a bit on the first day … (but) it didn’t do much.

We bowled no-balls, we got wickets off no-balls, they were 0-120 (1-132) at lunch on day one and I thought, ‘This is getting away a bit, here’.

“As history will tell you, it was an unbelievable game of cricket where one run decided that Test match and probably ended up deciding the series, to be fair. That was how close it turned out at the end.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, August 5, 2020

Moments In Time:

Remembering 1997, 2005, the Reggae Boyz and the Soca Warriors

DESPITE a rich history in football, the Caribbean has not had many moments to savour on the World stage, making them, interestingly, all the more special.

bean began to take note. Maybe now other islands could dare to dream.

While Haiti’s football has ebbed and flowed and they have not quite gotten back

of becoming the first English-speaking team from the Caribbean to make it to the World Cup. But standing in their way were the mighty Mexico. Ja-

Haiti, World Cup 1974

Cuba provided the first of the moments, making the quarterfinals of the FIFA World Cup all the way back in 1938.

Cuba had always been a little special island, long proving itself self-sufficient and able to compete with the rest of the world, despite any political or financial issues that could serve to slow its development.

That self-sufficiency and ability to achieve despite significant odds meant that Cuba’s entrance to the FIFA World Cup was not a emblematic moment and the rest of the Caribbean felt no closer to the possibility of making it on the world stage.

Thirty-six years later, Haiti provided the second moment, getting to the FIFA World Cup in 1974.

That feat, for a country, which had long-standing political issues and an overbearing poverty problem, was immense.

Now the rest of the Carib-

to those heady heights, the moment was important.

All of a sudden, the possibilities for Caribbean football were immense.

But it took another 20 years before the Reggae Boyz were on a similar journey. For the first time, CONCACAF had more than the obligatory two spots that would go to Mexico and the United States.

Now there was hope for someone else to join the fray.

Still there were obstacles.

In 1997, the Reggae Boyz were up against it. In the final round they were winless, until a series of three games, 1-0 wins over each of El Salvador, Canada, and Costa Rica.

After finishing winless in the first four games of the final qualifying round, Jamaica recorded three 1-0 wins over El Salvador, Canada, and Costa Rica, giving them a chance at history.

Jamaica were on the cusp

maica needed to avoid losing to a team they had lost to 6-0 earlier in those qualifiers. There was hope but it was slim.

History has a funny way of staying the same and no matter how many times this story gets told, the 0-0 draw the Reggae Boyz achieved against the attacking juggernauts that were Mexico still seems unlikely.

An entire nation celebrated, but so did the rest of the Caribbean. After all, there were other countries in the region that had proven worthy adversaries for the Reggae Boyz and that meant somebody else could make it too.

In 2006, somebody else did.

Trinidad and Tobago, still with two of its legends, Dwight Yorke and Russell Latapy, in tow took an ageing team, and proved the Caribbean were now becoming a force to be reckoned with.

Until 2018 when Iceland

made their World Cup bow, T&T were the smallest nation to ever play in the tournament.

But it wasn’t easy either, and Trinidad and Tobago, after finishing fourth in the final round had to contend with the unknown quantity that was Bahrain.

The tiny twin-island republic had to play against a team, who had financial resources that would dwarf it.

Things looked even bleaker for T&T after the first leg of the home-andaway tie on November 12, 2005, played at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, ended 1-1.

This meant, T&T had to go away to win against a team they couldn’t get the better of at home.

Again, the Caribbean beat the odds and a 1-0 win at the Bahrain National Stadium on the 16th of November 2005 again changed the course of history for the Caribbean side and the region around it.

The Caribbean has, since those moments made great leaps in the transport of its players all over the world, even if those marginal improvements have yet to bear fruit in terms of consistent Caribbean representation at the ICC World Cup. But the improvements continue as can be seen with the large number of locally grown players, now turning out for the national teams of countries all over the region.

Today there is more and more competition from the rest of the Caribbean and neither T&T nor Jamaica have a free run of the region anymore.

It is interesting that the success of the three over the last 46 years is what has created a competitive Caribbean and destroyed the spectre of their unquestioned dominance. (Sportsmax)

Bangladesh board denies not paying players ICC prize money

Bangladesh’s Liton Das celebrates with team mates after taking the catch to dismiss Afghanistan’s Gulbadin Naib Cricket - ICC Cricket World Cup at The Ageas Bowl, Southampton, Britain - June 24, 2019 (Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley)

(REUTERS) - The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) yesterday dismissed allegations from a players’ body that its international cricketers have not been paid all their prize money.

The Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FICA) said in a report that the Bangladesh players have not been paid their share of the prize money from events organised by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

The BCB said it has often given additional incentives to its cricketers, topping up what has been due to them from the ICC prize money.

“The BCB has completed prize money payment to players from all previous ICC events including the last, which was the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 in England and Wales,” the board said in a statement.

In its ‘Men’s Global Employment Report 2020’, FICA also listed the Bangladesh Premier League as one of the events where players have faced payment issues.

The first few editions of the BPL, which started in 2012, were marred by irregular payments to players but the BCB subsequently restructured the payment system to address the problems. “... the only unresolved/disputed payment from the BPL concerns four persons - three overseas players and a coach, of one particular team that had participated in the sixth edition of the BPL held in 2018,” the BCB said.

“This is an isolated case in a tournament where more than 170 local and overseas players and support staff were contracted.”

The BCB said it has also initiated legal proceedings against the team, which it did not name, to clear pending payments and resolve the issue.

The FICA report also listed unresolved payment issues in Twenty20 and 10-overs leagues in several minor cricket-playing nations including Canada, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

Australian women stars slam timing of India’s T20 Challenge SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) - Some of Australia’s top women’s cricketers yesterday blasted a decision by India to schedule its T20 Challenge during the Big Bash League as a “huge shame” and “sad for the game”.

Indian cricket bosses on Sunday said the women’s T20 Challenge will take place in the United Arab Emirates, comprising three teams with four matches during the playoff week of the cash-rich and globally popular men’s Indian Premier League (IPL).

That would see it clash with the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL), widely considered the top women’s Twenty20 tournament, which is due to be held between October 17 and November 29.

It would effectively mean Indian players will not be available for the WBBL while overseas stars face having to pick between the competitions.

“So during the WBBL ... cool,” Australian wicketkeeper Alyssa Healy tweeted sarcastically.

“So the Indian players who’ve already signed WBBL con-

tracts will Australian wicketkeeper Allysa Healy do what?

- And all the international marquee players that will be in AUS for WBBL? Good luck with it...”

Fellow Australian Jess Jonassen, the world’s top-ranked oneday bowler, was equally bemused, sayingm “I have no words for this”, while batting stalwart Rachael Haynes said, “If true, it’s a shame.”

While the game continues to grow, premier domestic competitions do not need to compete against each other,” Haynes added.

Trailblazing former New Zealand captain Suzie Bates echoed similar sentiments.

“What a huge shame for both the WBBL and WIPL competitions - there is a clash,” she said.

Both the IPL and T20 Challenge, also known as the women’s IPL, have had to be rescheduled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

They were due to be played earlier in the year with the new dates finally set after the postponement of the men’s T20 World Cup, which was scheduled to start in Australia in October.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, August 5, 2020

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Ireland complete Pakistan must hit the ground running massive chase to stun England in third ODI against England, Misbah says FIRST TEST MATCH

(REUTERS) - Pakistan will have to hit the ground running if they are to have any chance against England in their three-Test series which starts today, coach Misbahul-Haq said.

Six months since their last Test match, Pakistan go into the games at bio-secure venues in Manchester and Southampton against an England team that beat the West Indies 2-1 last month as international cricket returned from the COVID-19 shutdown.

“We have to really come in this Test series right from the word go at our best if we want to win a Test series or a Test match,” Misbah told reporters.

“We’re aware that England have a slight advantage, but if we’re alert and go 100% in the first Test, that’s the only way we can beat England ... otherwise we will find ourselves in difficulty.”

England have lost the first game in eight of their last 10 Test series, including against the West Indies, but Misbah said the hosts’ latest defeat could have been due to the long break amid the novel coronavirus outbreak.

“That was their first Test in a long time and obviously after that they played consistently,” said Misbah, adding, “...we should be ready for an England team that have had three matches of experience and won their last two Tests.”

Misbah said his players

were mentally fresh ahead of the series. “But Test cricket is different,” he added. “Once you’re in, pressures build sometimes, but we’ll try to keep it so they’re mentally fresh regardless of the results.”

Skipper Azhar Ali told a news conference his team were looking forward to the challenge, having drawn their last two tours to England,

most recently under Misbah in 2018.

“We’ve prepared as best as we could in the time we had.

The players have put in a lot of effort and we believe we’re ready for the Tests,” Azhar said.

“Everyone is raring to go...

We have to be on top of our game in all departments against a team like England. We have to have a clear mind and positive

attitude that we can win matches here.”

Squad for first Test: Azhar Ali (captain), Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Shan Masood, Sohail Khan, Yasir Shah, Abid Ali, Fawad Alam, Asad Shafiq.

Six months after their last Test match, Pakistan will play at bio-secure venues in Manchester and Southampton against England who beat West Indies 2-1 last month as international cricket returned from the COVID-19 shutdown (Reuters photo)

SOUTHAMPTON, England (Reuters) - Ireland’s Paul Stirling and captain Andy Balbirnie struck superb centuries as the tourists chased down a daunting target of 329 to stun world champions England with a seven-wicket win in the third and final One-Day International at the Rose Bowl on Tuesday.

England, who had already sealed the series, batted first and recovered from early trouble to post 328 all out one ball shy of their 50 overs with captain Eoin Morgan providing another classy century against the country of his birth.

But Ireland never looked intimidated in their chase as Stirling smashed 142 from 128 balls and Balbirnie 113 from 112 to put on a record 214 for the second wicket, and the second highest partnership for Ireland in ODIs as they reached their target with one ball to spare.

The series is the first in the International Cricket Council’s 13-team Super League that serves as the qualifiers for the 2023 World Cup in India, where the hosts and the leading seven sides will play at the finals.

England slipped to 44-3 at the start of their innings, but Morgan, who previously played 23 ODIs for Ireland, took the attack to the bowlers and was well supported by Tom Banton (58) as they put on 146 in 18.2 overs for the fourth wicket.

David Willey (51) and Tom Curran (38 not out) added 73 more for the eighth wicket to see England past 300.

Ireland raced along in their reply, aided by a poor length from the home bowlers, with Stirling reaching his ninth ODI century and captain Balbirnie his sixth, but neither could see their side home.

The visitors needed eight off the last over bowled by Saqib Mahmood, and were aided by a waIst-high no-ball that provided an extra ball and a free hit.

Ireland’s only other victory over England in 13 matches came at the 2011 World Cup when they scored 329 for seven as Kevin O’Brien scored a century.

He was at the crease to hit the winning runs in this latest victory to seal another famous Ireland success.

Matthew Nandu slams brilliant 146 as cricket returns to Ontario

By Frederick Halley

TORONTO, Canada Cricket returned to Ontario in a blaze of glory as the Scarborough Cricket Association (SCA) wasted no time for its players to get back into action following the Province’s “Return To Play” announcement last Monday.

The long-awaited season, which was hampered by the Covid-19 pandemic, got underway last Saturday and the talented 17-year-old Matthew Nandu immediately showed glimpses of his batting prowess, slamming a brilliant 146 as Kaieteur International B made light work of Durham in their First Division encounter, played at the Ellesmere Number one ground, Scarborough. The game also marked a welcome return to the venue after an absence of three years because of infra-

structural works.

The Canadian-born son of former Guyana and West Indies Under-19 leg-spinner, Arjune Nandu, who was also the youngest player to be drafted in last year’s Global T20 Canada for the Vancouver Knights, and who also represented Canada and Guyana at the Youth level, was in scintillating form, plundering 15 fours and three sixes as Kaieteur International B reached 312 for three in 47 overs in the 50-over affair after being asked to take first strike in brilliant sunshine.

Durham were restricted to 160 in 37 overs, going down by 152 runs.

The left-handed opener shared in three useful partnerships, adding 79 for the first wicket with Navin Nauth, whose 26 included a four and a six, 90 for the

second with Arjuna Sukhu, who made 30 with two fours before being run out, and a further 66 with his elder bother, Marcus, whose con-

tribution was a quick-fire 35 (three fours).

The new-look Durham side were never up to the challenge, losing wickets at

Marcus Nandu (right) and Arjuna Sukhu following their 90-run second wicket partnership

regular interval as Trevor Jerrick (three for 54) and skipper Vinaksher Khemraj (two for 32) made early inroads. They were supported by fast-medium bowler, Nigel Ramsaroop, who ran through the middle and lower-order to finish with the impressive figures of four for 19 from 6.1 overs. Leg-spinner Marcus Nandu took one for 25.

Middle-order batsman, Kevin White, ended on a patient unbeaten 33 (four fours and a six) while Nero Phillip, with 28 (one four and two sixes) and opener Kashique Yorke (24 with four fours) were the main contributors for the losing team.

Manager Vish Jadunauth, who is also the SCA Junior Coordinator and Treasurer, was delighted with his team’s impressive victory in the season opener, pointing out his charges

were raring to go.

Hailing the commencement of the season as exciting news, the Scarborough Cricket Association (SCA) Board of Directors urged players to follow the amended rules, cognisant of the Covid-19 pandemic guidelines which go hand in hand with the playing conditions.

“These include rules such as social distancing on the field will be enforced by the umpires.”

Players are not allowed to play across multiple teams/ divisions this year while player transfers were only permitted up to last Friday.

“We are excited to get this season started finally, however let’s all prioritise our health first and play cricket responsibly this season. Best of luck to all of you and most of all, have fun and stay safe,” the SCA disclosed in a release.

Anthony Davis (right) scored 23 points in the first half against the Utah Jazz - the 20th time he has achieved that this season, matching the feat of Lakers legend Kobe Bryant

Lakers secure top spot in Western Conference for first time in 10 years

PAGE 23

Spanish World Cup winner Casillas calls time on career, aged 39 PAGE 23

23

FIFA president Sepp Blatter (2nd R) and South African President Jacob Zuma (R) hand the World Cup trophy to Spain’s team captain Iker Casillas (C) during the award ceremony at Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg July 11, 2010 (REUTERS/Michael Kooren)

PAGE 24

Fulham back in Premier League after playoff final win over Brentford PAGE

Championship Play-Off Final - Brentford v Fulham - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - August 4, 2020 Fulham’s Joe Bryan celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs

Tallawahs call up Blackwood, Lewis

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2020