Guyana_Chronicle_Epaper_08_14_2020

FRIDAY 14th August, 2020

' No.106091

President, several ministers test negative for COVID-19 SEE PAGE 03

President Irfaan Ali

Busy at work

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Prime Minister, Brigadier (r’td), Mark Phillips met with senior officials to establish an inter-agency task force aimed at strengthening the government’s response to COVID-19 in Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine (DPI photo)

Harmon, 'booted'

New GuySuCo board soon PAGE

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New GuySuCo board soon

-- says Minister Mustapha

By Navendra Seoraj GUYANA’S sugar industry has been considered a liability for years, with a poor financial standing and low productivity, but the new People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration is hoping to “lift the industry from the ashes,” starting with the appointment of a new board of directors to the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).

Reconstruction and resuscitation of the industry is expected to start with a topdown approach, and it is to this end that Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, said a new board of directors will be appointed soon.

“Well, I am working right now on that… I have to discuss it with the President because GuySuCo is a public corporation, and the same principles that apply to agencies that fall under the Ministry of Agriculture, does not apply in this case,” said Minister Mustapha in an invited comment, on Thursday.

The last board, which

Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha

was appointed by the previous administration in September, 2018, was chaired by agriculturist, John Dow, and other members of the board included John Browman, Richard Cumberbatch, Paul Cheong, Fritz Mc Lean, Vishnu Panday, Ramesh Persaud, Nowrang Persaud, Roy Hanoman and Claude Housty.

Mustapha did not say if any of those names will reappear on the list of new

appointees, but he assured that a new board will be appointed soon.

“I foresee that we will have a GuySuCo board shortly… the corporation is faced with serious financial difficulties, so the operations there need to be looked at,” said the agriculture minister.

In a letter to former President, David Granger, on May, Dow had said the sugar corporation was in a “dire financial crisis” with billions

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 14, 2020

in debt, and insufficient finances to execute critical factory maintenance.

“Despite improvements in the productivity of cane, GuySuCo’s sugar production for the last two crops has fallen short of expectations and the current COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the problems experienced in meeting the 1st crop 2020 production targets…. As a result, the cash generated from operations cannot meet the ‘outgoings’, particularly when external funding has been difficult to obtain,” Dow said as he painted a vivid picture of the financial challenges facing the sugar industry.

At the time of the complaint, GuySuCo was only able to offset labour and fuel expenses. The corporation’s financial department had estimated that it would be out of cash by the second week of June.

With its “back against the wall,” GuySuCo had turned to the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) for a “bailout” of $1 billion, but only received $550 million.

“The APNU+AFC Gov-

ernment, through NICIL, undertook a loan of $30 billion under the guise of assisting the Corporation.

To date, only $10.2 billion was made available to GuySuCo. The board received no answer as to how much was actually disbursed to NICIL and plans on repayment of the loan. To date, the corporation has a total liability of approximately $9.5 billion,” Mustapha lamented in a recent report.

MORE MONEY REQUESTED He told this publication that the request for a bailout has since reached the new administration, but has moved from $1 billion to $1.6 billion.

“They said they need $1.6 billion in order to stay afloat until the end of the year… as it relates to this request, I was hoping to meet them (management of GuySuCo) today (Thursday), but we have to wait until the COVID-19 results (ministers were tested for COVID-19) come out,” said Mustapha.

Through his meeting with the management of GuySuCo, the agriculture minister hopes for some justifications as to why $1.6 billion is needed. These “justifications” will be taken to Cabinet today, if all goes well.

GuySuCo has undoubt-

edly been in turmoil for years, and even former President Granger had said his government made “hard decisions,” which included the retrenching of workers. But, despite the scaling down of the industry and provision and future provisions of government bailouts, he said there is no guarantee that the corporation could produce sugar at world market prices and function economically.

COULD BE REVIVED Contrary to Granger’s belief, President Irfaan Ali believes that the sugar industry could be revived.

In 2017, the APNU+AFC Coalition Government had announced the closure of several sugar estates across the country, leaving thousands of those employed without a job or source of income. Without alternative measures in place, many of the sugar workers struggled to provide for their families.

President Ali, however, pledged the PPP/C Government’s commitment to ensuring the livelihoods of the sugar workers are rebuilt.

“The upliftment of those families and the rebuilding of the sugar industry are as strong as it was when we promised. I assure you that we will work assiduously, at not only securing these lives and livelihood for them; TURN TO PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 14, 2020

President, First Lady, some ministers test negative for COVID-19

-- tourism Minister tests positive

By Navendra Seoraj PRESIDENT Irfaan Ali, First Lady Arya Aly and some members of Cabinet have tested negative for the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).

The president and his ministers were tested for COVID-19, after Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd, tested positive for the disease.

The Guyana Chronicle was informed that Dr. Ali along with other members of his Cabinet received their results late Thursday evening.

In addition to the President and First Lady, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall; Minister of Housing, Colin Croal; Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton; Minister of Local Government, Nigel Dharamlall; Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha; Minister of Social Protection, Dr. Vindhya Persaud; and others have also tested negative

for the virus.

Minister of Tourism, Oneidge Walrond Allicock was, however, tested positive and has gone into self-isolation. Health authorities have confirmed that the minister will be monitored in accordance with the public health guidelines.

Suriname’s President, Chandrikapersad Santokhi; US Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch, and UK High Commissioner to Guyana, Greg Quinn, all of whom were in recent contact with Minister Todd, have since tested negative for COVID-19.

The Deputy UK High Commissioner, Ray Davidson and members of the US envoy have also tested negative for the disease.

Suriname’s Waterkant News had also reported that the entire delegation from Suriname, which had travelled to Guyana to attend the inauguration of President Ali, was tested for COVID-19 and the results came back negative.

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New GuySuCo ...

we will work hard at creating new opportunities on advancing new opportunities to full the promises we would have made in our manifesto,” the Head of State remarked.

The sustainable management of the sugar industry has always been a priority for the PPP/C administration. Moreover, the PPP/C has stood in solidary with its workers when several estates were shut without warning.

“On this point, the workers of this country – the bedrock of our nation – have been made to suffer untold hardship. Once proud men, who worked in the sugar industry from sun-up to sundown, never complaining about the back-breaking nature of their jobs, are today barely scratching a living,” President Ali said in his inaugural speech.

He said the rash deci-

sion by the previous administration has placed anguish on almost 7,500 workers to earn a decent wage as well as to feed their families, plunging many households into a financial depression.

“The sugar industry has virtually been abandoned in the past five years, and the workers have been deserted,” the President said.

He added that no attempts were made to seek a new path by which aspects of the industry could be salvaged for the production of profitable sugar-based niche products, which would maintain jobs and the dignity of labour.

“While we are still putting together the torn fragments …we intend to rise up the industry and to help it, and its workers, to resume the once proud place in our economy,” he said.

The Government of Suriname had asked society to regard this as an eye-opener and to observe all applicable COVID-19 protocols at all times.

“The Government of Guyana would like to urge all Guyanese to take all necessary precautions to protect themselves and family from COVID-19… we recommend that you continue to practice social distancing, hand sanitation and wearing your face mask,” said Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony in a press statement, late Thursday evening.

Guyana, like many other countries around the world, has been challenged by the direct and indirect effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, but President Ali had committed to keeping Guyanese informed about the fight against this scourge.

“We are dealing with a global pandemic and I assure all Guyanese that there will be transparency, accountability and openness in the way your government

President Irfaan Ali and First Lady, Arya Ali

Minister of Tourism, Oneidge Walrond Allicock

works for you,” said President Ali during a virtual message on Wednesday.

Guyana has so far recorded 631 confirmed cases of COVID-19, but 202 of those persons have since recovered and 22 persons have lost their lives. The remaining 420 active cases are being monitored by health authorities.

“I have made a commitment to conduct the affairs of the government transparently and there is no greater issue that requires transparency, at every level, than in the way we address the COVID-19 pandemic,” said President Ali. COVID-19 remains a global pandemic which must be addressed frontally, and government has since taken a holistic and comprehensive approach, which prioritised testing; increased provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE); and promote inter-agency collaboration.

President Ali again assured persons that he will do everything possible to protect them from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Harmon, Mrs. Khan 'booted' ATTORNEY-GENERAL, Anil Nandlall, on Thursday, wrote former Director-General in the Ministry of the Presidency (MoTP), Joseph Harmon stating that his position is considered to have been terminated.

Despite being a political appointee of the former APNU+AFC administration, Harmon did not resign but had instead applied for 42 days of leave.

Harmon was earning $900,000 per month plus benefits as Director-General of the Ministry of the Presidency.

In addition to his salary, Harmon received a non-taxable duty allowance of $250,000 per month; a non-taxable entertainment allowance of $100,000 per month; a non-taxable maid allowance of $128,400 per month; and a non-taxable gardener allowance of $65,000 per month.

Moreover, his housing, telephone, Internet and elec-

Joseph Harmon

tricity bills as well as security were paid for by the State. He also received a motorcar and driver provided by the State or duty free concession of up to 4000cc per three years period.

Harmon was also benefitting from a gratuity of 22.5 per cent of his basic salary every six months.

The former David Granger Administration had created the post of director- general specifically for Harmon after he was forced to resign as a

Tamara Khan

Member of Parliament and ultimately as the Minister of State in 2019.

Harmon had resigned after the courts ruled that dual citizens cannot sit as Members of Parliament.

Harmon has since been informed by the government that his services are no longer required.

In a letter, Harmon was informed by Attorney General, Nandlall that “having regard to the nature of the job, which

you were engaged to execute, and did in fact execute, it is no longer possible or practical for you to perform those tasks under the new government.”

Harmon was also reminded of the fact that he was relieved of his job as Director- General of the MotP sometime in April 2020, when he was appointed chief executive officer of the Coalition’s Covid-19 Task Force.

“Presumably, you accepted that decision, in as much as, you accepted the new assignment in lieu thereof, thereby rendering your removal as director-general, consensual and the termination of the attendant contract, mutual,” the letter stated.

Meanwhile, the services of Tamara Khan, the wife of former DPI Head Imran Khan, were also terminated.

She was hired as a consultant within the Office of the Prime Minister with a salary of $650,000 per month.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 14, 2020

PM Phillips hails Arthur as Caribbean visionary TODAY, a new government serves Guyana, thanks in no small part to the representation made by former Prime Minister of Barbados, Owen Arthur, who supported the fight to ensure democracy prevailed in Guyana after a long and hard battle.

These were the sentiments expressed by Prime Minister (rt’d), Mark Phillips at the Memorial Service of former Prime Minister of Barbados, Owen Seymour Arthur, on Thursday.

The service for the state funeral of former Prime Minister, Owen Seymour Arthur, will be held on Friday, August 14 at 14:00 hrs at St Peter’s Parish Church, Speightstown, St Peter.

In his remarks, the prime minister said Owen Arthur believed that the greatest legacy a man can leave behind is his ideas and he was undoubtedly a man of excellent ideas, passion and political vigour.

Behind him, Phillips said he has left his family and an entire country to mourn, but he has paved ahead an immeasurable example for

others to emulate; that of a true Caribbean leader and visionary.

Across the Caribbean, the prime minister said that the contributions of Owen Arthur are well known by all.

“From his fight to reduce unemployment in Barbados and his work in the island’s economic reform, to his instrumental participation in the establishment of the CARICOM single market -- Owen Arthur served with fervour, insight, wisdom and might,” the Prime Minister Phillips said.

He said Arthur brought with him a sense of duty and breadth of knowledge informed by many years of experience, appreciation for history and continued love for learning.

“These traits would lead to Mr. Arthur becoming worthwhile counsel for many in the Caribbean to seek out and to follow. Moreover, Mr. Arthur’s love of country, and his unrelenting efforts to build his nation for the betterment of his people, are lessons that politicians can carve into their own path-

Friday, August 14, 2020–– 13:30hrs & 15:00hrs

ways along their political journeys. Indeed, today, we honour a man whose work and worth will never be forgotten,” the prime minister noted.

Underscoring that Guyana owes a great debt to this stalwart, he said before his passing, Arthur ingrained himself in the hearts of the people of Guyana, serving as chairman of the Commonwealth Observer Group during the 2020 General and Regional Elections.

Arthur stood up in defence of democracy when the results of the elections were delayed for several months and Guyana’s democracy was being threatened.

In his inauguration speech on August 8, 2020, President, Dr. Mohamed

Prime Minister, Brigadier (rt’d) Mark Phillips

Irfaan Ali, praised Arthur, thanking him for his steadfast determination in ensuring that democracy did not die in Guyana.

President Ali deemed Mr. Arthur “a true friend of Guyana; a man committed to justice and rights of the people”.

“I echo President Ali’s statements, as it is in your greatest time of need that those who come to our aid are those who are revealed as persons of true honour and worth. As we bid farewell to this eminent political patriarch, let us remember his ideas. Let us reflect on his strong beliefs, staunch commitment, and inspirational prowess,” Prime Minister Phillips said.

Trump blocks postal funds to prevent expanded mail-in voting (BBC) President Donald Trump says he opposes additional funds for the US Postal Service as it would boost mail-in voting he claims would help Democrats.

Mr Trump has previously claimed that mail-in voting would hurt his campaign, which polls show to be in a tight race with Democratic

candidate Joe Biden.

Democrats denounced Mr Trump’s comment, saying his position is an attempt to prevent Americans from voting him out.

A record number of people are expected to vote by mail due to the pandemic.

On Wednesday, Mr Trump told reporters he refused to sign off on $25bn

(£19bn) in emergency funding for the Postal Service or $3.5bn for election security due to the high price tag.

Mr Trump has repeatedly condemned mail-in voting as an opportunity for fraud and election interference.

On Thursday, he said his reason for blocking the funds was due to his opposition to mail-in ballots.

“They want $3.5bn for something that will turn out to be fraudulent. That’s election money, basically,” Mr Trump said in a telephone interview with Fox Business Network.

“Now they need that money in order to make the post office work so it can take all of these millions and millions of ballots,” he continued.

He added: “Now, if we don’t make a deal, that means they don’t get the money. That means they can’t have universal mail-in voting, they just can’t have it.”

Despite Mr Trump’s claims, there is little evidence that mail-in voting - which the US military uses - is rife with fraud or that it favours one political party more than another.

A spokesman for Mr Biden condemned the comment, saying: “The president of the United States is

sabotaging a basic service that hundreds of millions of people rely upon, cutting a critical lifeline for rural economies and for delivery of medicines, because he wants to deprive Americans of their fundamental right to vote safely during the most catastrophic public health crisis in over 100 years.”

“This is an assault on our democracy and economy by a desperate man who’s terrified that the American people will force him to confront what he’s done everything in his power to escape for months - responsibility for his own actions,” added spokesman Andrew Bates.

The US postal system is currently experiencing a slowdown in mail deliveries, which critics say is due to policies put in place by Mr Trump’s selection to run the service.

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, who donated millions to Mr Trump’s campaign and to other Republicans, has been accused of deliberately undermining public confidence in the service to deter people from mail-in voting.

Mr DeJoy is the first postmaster general in 20 years to not be appointed from within the agency’s own ranks.

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RUSAL fires more employees

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 14, 2020

-- removing items from Kurubuka mines

of Aroaima Mining Company Inc. (AMC). RUSAL holds licences for the development of bauxite fields in the Linden, Kwakwani and Ituni groups.

Since the suspension of

A barge with items that were being shipped from the RUSAL-owned BCGI Kurubuka Mines

EVEN as there continues to be uncertainty on the operations of the Russian-owned Bauxite Company of Guyana (BCGI) and its future in Guyana, the company has reportedly terminated another batch of employees, approximately 40, and has been seen shipping more materials from its Kurubuka Mines over the past few days.

At least one employee has confirmed to Guyana Chronicle that he was fired earlier this week; however, Chief Labour Officer, Charles Ogle, told this publication that he is not aware of the terminations, notwithstanding the company being required to report such developments to the Department of Labour.

This latest batch of employees would add to the 326 employees that the company fired in February when it suspended operations following industrial unrest over wage increases and compensation for two injured employees.

In January, the employees had blocked a section of the

Berbice River preventing the company from shipping materials or equipment from its mines, as rumours circulated that the company was closing down operations entirely to avoid paying the employees.

After six months and two weeks of maintaining the blockage, the employees, last Friday, removed the impediment, and the company was seen shortly after shipping a number of containers from the mines’ location.

“After we removed the blockage, they started bringing down stuff from the Kurubuka Mines to the water front and they loaded them in barges and they took them away. We notice that they packing up every single thing to take away right now. They just ship out a few containers well a couple of days ago,” informed Garfield Brutus, a former employee of the company, and workers representative.

Brutus was among the last of the employees to remove from the river, where they had been guarding the blockage.

“They said they’re packing up and go away; that is just word of mouth, we haven’t seen anything in writing.

We have informed NICIL of what is going on but nobody has come to the front to see what is going on,” he further noted.

BCGI is largely owned by global aluminum giant RUSAL, which has a 90 per cent share in the company, the other 10 per cent is owned by the government, managed through the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL).

However, earlier this year, NICIL confirmed that the company has not been paying over any dividends to the government for its shares.

In 2018, an executive for the company had told media operatives that the company had not been making any profits in all the years it has been operating here; however, many had not been buying the excuse.

The company has been operating in Guyana since 2006 after acquiring the assets

operations in February there has been no word on the future of the company in Guyana.

The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) later had confirmed, in February, that the company had shipped a number of pieces of equipment out of Guyana, after paying over $$300M in taxes that was owed to the government.

Additionally, in April, Oldendorff Carriers Guyana Inc. (OCGI), which was contracted by RUSAL to perform barging and trans-shipment operation for bauxite exports on the Berbice River, wind down its operations in Guyana after RUSAL did not extend their contract.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 14, 2020

Substance abuse

RELATIVES are convinced that the death of Rekha (name changed to protect identity) was the result of battery. However, her reportedly abusive husband claimed that her demise was caused by an unfortunate accident, and his assertions were seemingly made credible by the post-mortem results that indicated her death was from a heart attack: But the jury is out on that one, because the injuries on the woman’s body were in no way compatible with the fall the alcoholic spouse said she had, and a violent attack could very well have precipitated the heart attack from which she died.

With tragic regularity, cases of outright murder following years of spousal abuse surface almost as an everyday occurrence and, sadly, the situation seems to have become such an endemic phenomenon in the society that each instance of a life taken in violence seems to be quickly forgotten. The general public seems to have become blasé over such occurrences.

And who takes cognisance that the lives squandered were precious to their loved ones – children, parents, siblings, friends, et al? Children are often the victims, and the aftermath oftentimes produces delinquents – which is an evolutionary cycle of violence and problem-prone relationships.

Many times young men are accosted by members of the security services, sometimes ensuing in violent confrontations.

Oftentimes it turns out that the young men in question were perpetrators of violent crimes, sometimes leading to the demise of their victims, yet most times their family members encourage their criminal forays because these ventures often provide the families of the perpetrators with survival mechanisms and sometimes unimaginable riches.

There are many overnight millionaires living in this society whose ill-gotten riches were obtained from someone else’s hard work; and if they have to kill their victims in the process, then so be it. The criminals often have no qualms in behaving as though their victims are mere dispensable commodities.

But when they are caught, many persons in the society become very vocal in their defence – until they themselves become victims to these predators.

In the nation’s schools, violent behaviour is escalating, and most often the decent children bear the brunt, becoming victims of the bullies, often with tragic consequences. There have been several reported cases where children who were bullied take their own lives, or they carry lifelong scars and become misfits in society: But the real tragedy is that this behaviour is generally a duplication of attitudes and actions witnessed in home environments.

Many females in the society, including teenage girls, have such very little self-esteem and low moral compass that they allow themselves to be mistreated with great disrespect by their male counterparts, which can escalate into myriad problems, including teenage pregnancy and contraction of sexually transmitted diseases.

Moral degeneracy has become so entrenched in the society that persons who refuse to participate in lewd and abominable conduct and conversations are shunned and treated as abnormal and not part of the team – pariahs to the general community.

Unless communities begin to address these problems holistically, with everyone, especially the educational and religious authorities, as well as village elders and other authoritative figures playing an integral role in child development and the wellbeing of

members of their communities, this scourge will perpetuate itself until persons and communities self-destruct.

Those who practice the standards of yesteryear are generally mocked today, but those standards were once the trademark of the Guyanese psyche.

The products of this system were decent, well-behaved law-abiding adults, who believed in the basic principles of honour, respect for their fellow humans, and compassion for the less fortunate in society.

The system practiced then in homes, schools and in entire communities involved training in decorum, deportment, and good manners, with the requisite and necessary inputs to achieving equitable intellectual, social and physical development. These behavioral patterns and characteristic tendencies, as aforementioned, generally started from the home, and were strategically supported by a strong network involving the educational system, the religious bodies, and the community at large.

The escalation of substance abuse is directly attributable to lack of cohesion in the various caregivers/educators of the young people in society.

It may be a cliché’, but a truism nonetheless, that it takes a village to raise a child.

Single mother Mary (named changed) was horrified to discover that her teenage son was using cocaine and smoking cigarettes. She worked long hours and had sent her son for maths lessons to a neighbour who was unemployed and seemed very decent. She was very trusting and had no inkling that those neighbours were selling cigarettes and cocaine and had deliberately gotten her son addicted to those substances.

Renuka also worked long hours and her abusive husband never contributed to the

household. Years after her daughter had become an adult, she discovered that her husband had been molesting her daughter since she was a young child, causing her to drop out of school and run away from home.

The beautiful, talented, brilliant young woman, as the direct result of her father’s actions, lost her self-esteem and engaged in a series of self-destructive acts before slowly emerging out of her depressive morass, most likely because she became a mother and her focus changed to protective mode, re-orienting her focus and goals.

In the Guyana of yesteryears, children could not make a wrong move without a village elder – and ethnicity never factored into this communal paradigm-- taking that child in hand with the ‘rod of correction’, literally and figuratively.

Today, alcohol, drugs, cigarettes are being sold openly to children in schools and those same villages, with no intervention from anyone – not the village elders, not the school teachers, not the religious leaders; and certainly not the appointed authorities.

The sad fact is that the guardians of society are themselves often the peddlers of these illicit substances, and children are easy victims.

Substance abuse has gained widespread traction in every community and unless and until the relevant authorities take resolute actions to halt and heal this insidious ill in society, the social miasma will forever escalate into dark, deadly and ruinous futures for afflicted individuals and their entire families, and be a cataclysmic and continuous drain on the public purse.

Minister Edgill is right on UG appointments Dear Editor, BISHOP Juan Edgill (GC June 12) questioned the Vice-Chancellor’s appointment at UG by an interim board. The argument he advanced was not on the qualification or gender of Dr. Paloma Mohamed Martin, but a violation of the principle of academic integrity relating to appointments by an interim administration. A similar appointment was made for Chancellor (JE Greene) and a deputy VC (Dr. Melissa Ifill). Though not an academic, Bishop Juan Edgill knows the principle well by stating last June that new appointments are not made during a caretaker administration.

He displayed more integrity than others. My friend Moses Nagamootoo got it all wrong when he slammed Edgill who was right.

Nagamootoo was being pretentious as he knows that caretaker administrations don’t make important appointments especially at a university or in the civil service. When Nagamootoo became Minister of Information in 1992, all political appointments were revisited and terminated. It had nothing to do with gender or sex politics; it is an issue of principle that Nagamootoo also fought for and has reversed since forming an alliance with PNC. I am as disturbed as Bishop Edgill on why these appointments were made in the midst

of an attempt of the incumbent APNU+AFC regime to steal an election. None of the appointees condemned the fraud. When a bold attempt was made to rig an election, no appointment should have been made especially when the government lost a no-confidence motion and all court appeals relating to it, as well as the fraudulent votes were dismissed.

As Edgill correctly noted, the status quo on appointments holds pending the completion of the election. To do otherwise is to violate long held principles relating to a no confidence motion and governance of an interim administration.

During a caretaker government, all boards are considered interim and long established

principles (in fact the law) dictate that new appointments are put off till a new government is formed and new boards are appointed. Such a basic principle should not be violated at the institution of highest learning, University of Guyana.

I hope that President Irfaan Ali’s administration visit those appointments. At a minimum, I expect UG’s board to resign already. The members should do so honorably now if they haven’t tendered their resignation.

The mere fact that they made appointments during a caretaker administration disqualifies them for further membership on the board. They ought to know basic rules about governance.

They lack integrity for continuation of service in office.

I served at academic board at City College of NY for a few years when I was elected to student government. When a new chancellor for the city university or a new college president was appointed, the board resigned and a new board was constituted unless he asks for continuation.

At UG, at the time of Ifill’s appointment, a declaration of the election result was imminent that would have resulted in a new government and appointment of a new board at UG. What was the urgency to appoint Ifill two days before Ali became President? Why did VC do it? Could it not have waited especially since Ifill has long been an APNU ideologue? I applaud Dr. Irfill

for her African cultural nationalism. Nothing is wrong in championing one’s ethnicity.

But academics of other ethnic groups (in particular our Indigenous people and Indians) must be given same privileges and equity at UG. People I have interacted with at UG endorse the view of Edgill that given recent appointments are mired in controversy, it is appropriate for all the appointees to tender their resignation and a new board established for a complete start over based on academic integrity.

Yours truly Dr. Vishnu Bisram

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 14, 2020

A firm lesson must be taught, with punishment A three-pronged response to manage the for future dissonance and pursuance Dear Editor,

OUTGOING UK Envoy, British High Commissioner, honorable Mr. Greg Quinn fearlessly and vociferously declared, “I have never before seen such blatant attempt to fix election results.” What strong words to articulate a timely message and urgent advice to the APNU+AFC party, especially to a defunct leader who aided and abated in the tsunamic disaster of the last elections, bearing destructive and damaging repercussions that has left an indelible diabolic mark on GECOM Secretariat, one that must not be allowed to be repeated ever again. Guyana remains in debt to the dignified gentleman who, in his wisdom for fairness, equality and justice, joined hands with his American, Canadian and European Union counterparts to champion the cause for the restoration of democracy in Guyana, recognising and supporting the legitimate will of the people and defending the legality of the election recount result as accredited

by CARICOM. The restless days, sleepless nights and tremendous sacrifices of the entire national and international community, consisting of emissaries, individuals, societies, organisations and countries will forever be remembered by all of Guyana and the heartfelt thanks of Guya-

nese and their appreciation in humility will continue to flow like the might of the Kaieteur Falls.

“I have been around in this business for 25 years and I have never seen a post-elections process like I have seen here in those 25 years, anywhere,” he further surmised.

Perhaps, that statement summarises a conclusion that confirms that this type of behaviour and perpetration of election fraud is unheard of in any part of the world and certainly creates a unique infamous record, one that only the APNU+AFC party is culpable and remains proud of. This is their only means to forge a fraudulent win to secure power in the government, one that they so publicly admitted to (Atlanta speech). The rigging was blatantly and glaringly done in the face of the world and the diplomats themselves witnessed this escapade, executed by the Mingo’s numerical fabrication and later supported by Lowenfield’s fiasco reports and endorsed by the APNU+AFC party. GECOM accepted CARICOM scrutinised election recount result but this was again challenged more than once by the Coalition party all the way to the CCJ, only to be thrown out with their decision that the recount result is valid and has to be used by GECOM’s CEO, Mr. Lowenfield, to prepare his report that will enable the madam chair to declare the PPP/C party as the winner of the election and

paving the way for Dr. Irfaan Ali to be sworn in as the new President. After five long and perilous months, he finally succumbed to the madam chair’s directions.

Lowenfield, who is represented by Attorney Nigel Hughes and Senior Counsel, Neil Boston, was slapped with three private criminal charges regarding conspiracy to commit fraud, misconduct in public office and breach of public trust. The charges were brought by Josh Kanhai and Desmond Morian. The CEO has been accused of attempting to defraud citizens of Guyana by altering the results of the elections to hand a false victory to the APNU+AFC Coalition.

After weeks of playing hide and seek, protected by the police and hidden from public access, summons was finally served on him and on his first appearance; he was placed on $450,000 bail. His next appearance is scheduled for today. Meanwhile, his attorneys have written to the Director of Pubic Prosecution (DPP), Shalimar AliHack, S.C, asking her to take over the prosecution of the private criminal charges that were filed against their client, Chief Elections Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Keith Lowenfield, and also asking for a dismissal of all the charges.

Guyana would recall the DPP dismissing the frivolous and vexatious charges

brought against GECOM’s chair, Ms. Claudette Singh.

Private charges were filed for misconduct in public office and in the midst, there was a threat to her life.

Of paramount importance is the fact that the entire national and international community condoned the call for free, fair and creditable election, respecting and accepting CARICOM’s recount result and the support for the madam chair instructions to Lowenfield.

Again, they were the front runners who condemned undermining democracy and thwarting the popular will of the people. This led to visa sanctions being placed on many guilty ones and similar commitment by the BCEU partners.

Lowenfield and Mingo, instigated and supported by the APNU+AFC party are solely responsible for the election process being dragged out for five months, placing a country at sea and in economic shambles, the refusal of monetary aids and risking the safety of the nation. A firm lesson must be taught, with punishment for future dissonance and pursuance.

Appropriate justice must be served accordingly and Guyana awaits this matter to be dealt with swiftly and condignly.

Respectfully, Jai Lall

We need better Internet in Berbice Dear Editor TRUTH be told, I am not sure how long it will take this letter to reach to your respectful publication. To the readers, the reason I said that is not because this letter was posted by Guyana Post Office Cooperation, no, but because the quality of the internet in Berbice is atrocious, to say the least.

Imagine for the past several months, the internet connection is so bad, we’re lucky to get 512KB on our 10MB

connection and so on and so forth. Doing exams with these internet blackouts is terrible, to the point where one would have to spend money to purchase a mobile data plan, from the same company since our family use GTT sims, and having to complete exams. Even with the 3G data plan (They don’t offer 4G, just taking advantage of marketing gimmicks), we still would have to hope, pray and swear so that our documents and messages are sent by mobile data, which itself is woefully inconsistent.

Just last night Editor, I sent messages on WhatsApp that were not delivered until the next morning, as well as receiving messages sent last night, because the mobile data connection is so bad. It’s not like I am located is some nowhere place, but rather just over a mile away from the town of New Amsterdam, across the Berbice River.

I know the Hon. Minister of Education and her team are looking to implement online programmes to compensate for schools being closed for so long,

but the fact of the matter is that GTT does not have the capacity to facilitate it’s needs right now, much less the needs of such a forward thinking project.

I urge all in power to look into the services that GTT provides in Guyana, outside of Georgetown and push forward the Telecoms Bill to put this company out of its misery and end our frustration.

Regards, Amir Khan

COVID-19 pandemic

Dear Editor, THERE seems to be a new and welcomed wave in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. Government and particularly, the Ministry of Health has indicated its intention to approach the management of the pandemic in a more systematic, direct and technical manner.

The management of a pandemic, particularly in a developing country with a labour intensive economy such as Guyana, should take into account the delicate balance of social protection, public health and economic activity. These socio-economic aspects are not mutually exclusive in this unprecedented global crisis. Similarly, political involvement is not reserved in the approach and it is critical that the effects are positive and far reaching.

It requires adept leadership to carefully manage and bring relief to the country which has already been burdened. The new response must encompass the appropriate public policy, adequate enforcement, availability of medical and technical expertise, equitable dispensation and mobilisation of resources, and cross-sectoral, institutional and civil cooperation.

Any public health policy must take into account the social and economic fallout that may occur as a result of the exclusion of mitigating measures for same. It is my hope that with the enhanced procurement of medical supplies and equipment that the government has undertaken, this will see the exponential access to testing and front line response in an effort to effectively tackle community transmission.

Other technical processes such as treatment procedures and management of active cases including isolation facilities management have to be sensibly re-examined. The models of some of the successful countries such as Barbados and New Zealand have demonstrated how appropriate public policy can be employed in a deferential way to bring relief to our people.

While it is vitally important to ensure the safety and health of our citizens, their social and economic wellbeing must be taken into account. The debilitating effects that the country have been exposed to must be taken in earnest for a new road to recovery and building resilience. The re-opening of the economy must continue and private sector employees must be given the chance to work and earn once again. The engine of growth must shift from neutral to drive, we must be given the right to once again put food on the table.

At this time, the news of the sourcing of four billion dollar funding is most welcomed. Appropriate spending measures should target improved social assistance to vulnerable groups, introduction of innovative fiscal tools and measures, support for hard hit sectors and fostering ICT opportunities in public service delivery.

Some specific measures should include food and ration stamps, utility rebate, rescheduling of loans, drugs and medical supplies provisions, enhancement in infrastructure for online schooling and teleworking, small business support for continuity and creative development and improvement in essential services.

It is prudent that there is equitable distribution of resources in a period when the country is affected by socio-economic disruption due to the pandemic. Programs and policies must identify and be in alignment with country needs and be tailored to strengthen inclusiveness in the recovery.

While it is critical to pursue normalcy it must be done with caution and to avoid complacency. This pandemic is here to stay for the short and medium term, our way of life and doing business must adapt and we must become creative in finding ways and means of dealing with the new normal.

With best regards, Recovered COVID-19 patient

7

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 14, 2020

A firm lesson must be taught, with punishment A three-pronged response to manage the for future dissonance and pursuance Dear Editor,

OUTGOING UK Envoy, British High Commissioner, honorable Mr. Greg Quinn fearlessly and vociferously declared, “I have never before seen such blatant attempt to fix election results.” What strong words to articulate a timely message and urgent advice to the APNU+AFC party, especially to a defunct leader who aided and abated in the tsunamic disaster of the last elections, bearing destructive and damaging repercussions that has left an indelible diabolic mark on GECOM Secretariat, one that must not be allowed to be repeated ever again. Guyana remains in debt to the dignified gentleman who, in his wisdom for fairness, equality and justice, joined hands with his American, Canadian and European Union counterparts to champion the cause for the restoration of democracy in Guyana, recognising and supporting the legitimate will of the people and defending the legality of the election recount result as accredited

by CARICOM. The restless days, sleepless nights and tremendous sacrifices of the entire national and international community, consisting of emissaries, individuals, societies, organisations and countries will forever be remembered by all of Guyana and the heartfelt thanks of Guya-

nese and their appreciation in humility will continue to flow like the might of the Kaieteur Falls.

“I have been around in this business for 25 years and I have never seen a post-elections process like I have seen here in those 25 years, anywhere,” he further surmised.

Perhaps, that statement summarises a conclusion that confirms that this type of behaviour and perpetration of election fraud is unheard of in any part of the world and certainly creates a unique infamous record, one that only the APNU+AFC party is culpable and remains proud of. This is their only means to forge a fraudulent win to secure power in the government, one that they so publicly admitted to (Atlanta speech). The rigging was blatantly and glaringly done in the face of the world and the diplomats themselves witnessed this escapade, executed by the Mingo’s numerical fabrication and later supported by Lowenfield’s fiasco reports and endorsed by the APNU+AFC party. GECOM accepted CARICOM scrutinised election recount result but this was again challenged more than once by the Coalition party all the way to the CCJ, only to be thrown out with their decision that the recount result is valid and has to be used by GECOM’s CEO, Mr. Lowenfield, to prepare his report that will enable the madam chair to declare the PPP/C party as the winner of the election and

paving the way for Dr. Irfaan Ali to be sworn in as the new President. After five long and perilous months, he finally succumbed to the madam chair’s directions.

Lowenfield, who is represented by Attorney Nigel Hughes and Senior Counsel, Neil Boston, was slapped with three private criminal charges regarding conspiracy to commit fraud, misconduct in public office and breach of public trust. The charges were brought by Josh Kanhai and Desmond Morian. The CEO has been accused of attempting to defraud citizens of Guyana by altering the results of the elections to hand a false victory to the APNU+AFC Coalition.

After weeks of playing hide and seek, protected by the police and hidden from public access, summons was finally served on him and on his first appearance; he was placed on $450,000 bail. His next appearance is scheduled for today. Meanwhile, his attorneys have written to the Director of Pubic Prosecution (DPP), Shalimar AliHack, S.C, asking her to take over the prosecution of the private criminal charges that were filed against their client, Chief Elections Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Keith Lowenfield, and also asking for a dismissal of all the charges.

Guyana would recall the DPP dismissing the frivolous and vexatious charges

brought against GECOM’s chair, Ms. Claudette Singh.

Private charges were filed for misconduct in public office and in the midst, there was a threat to her life.

Of paramount importance is the fact that the entire national and international community condoned the call for free, fair and creditable election, respecting and accepting CARICOM’s recount result and the support for the madam chair instructions to Lowenfield.

Again, they were the front runners who condemned undermining democracy and thwarting the popular will of the people. This led to visa sanctions being placed on many guilty ones and similar commitment by the BCEU partners.

Lowenfield and Mingo, instigated and supported by the APNU+AFC party are solely responsible for the election process being dragged out for five months, placing a country at sea and in economic shambles, the refusal of monetary aids and risking the safety of the nation. A firm lesson must be taught, with punishment for future dissonance and pursuance.

Appropriate justice must be served accordingly and Guyana awaits this matter to be dealt with swiftly and condignly.

Respectfully, Jai Lall

We need better Internet in Berbice Dear Editor TRUTH be told, I am not sure how long it will take this letter to reach to your respectful publication. To the readers, the reason I said that is not because this letter was posted by Guyana Post Office Cooperation, no, but because the quality of the internet in Berbice is atrocious, to say the least.

Imagine for the past several months, the internet connection is so bad, we’re lucky to get 512KB on our 10MB

connection and so on and so forth. Doing exams with these internet blackouts is terrible, to the point where one would have to spend money to purchase a mobile data plan, from the same company since our family use GTT sims, and having to complete exams. Even with the 3G data plan (They don’t offer 4G, just taking advantage of marketing gimmicks), we still would have to hope, pray and swear so that our documents and messages are sent by mobile data, which itself is woefully inconsistent.

Just last night Editor, I sent messages on WhatsApp that were not delivered until the next morning, as well as receiving messages sent last night, because the mobile data connection is so bad. It’s not like I am located is some nowhere place, but rather just over a mile away from the town of New Amsterdam, across the Berbice River.

I know the Hon. Minister of Education and her team are looking to implement online programmes to compensate for schools being closed for so long,

but the fact of the matter is that GTT does not have the capacity to facilitate it’s needs right now, much less the needs of such a forward thinking project.

I urge all in power to look into the services that GTT provides in Guyana, outside of Georgetown and push forward the Telecoms Bill to put this company out of its misery and end our frustration.

Regards, Amir Khan

COVID-19 pandemic

Dear Editor, THERE seems to be a new and welcomed wave in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. Government and particularly, the Ministry of Health has indicated its intention to approach the management of the pandemic in a more systematic, direct and technical manner.

The management of a pandemic, particularly in a developing country with a labour intensive economy such as Guyana, should take into account the delicate balance of social protection, public health and economic activity. These socio-economic aspects are not mutually exclusive in this unprecedented global crisis. Similarly, political involvement is not reserved in the approach and it is critical that the effects are positive and far reaching.

It requires adept leadership to carefully manage and bring relief to the country which has already been burdened. The new response must encompass the appropriate public policy, adequate enforcement, availability of medical and technical expertise, equitable dispensation and mobilisation of resources, and cross-sectoral, institutional and civil cooperation.

Any public health policy must take into account the social and economic fallout that may occur as a result of the exclusion of mitigating measures for same. It is my hope that with the enhanced procurement of medical supplies and equipment that the government has undertaken, this will see the exponential access to testing and front line response in an effort to effectively tackle community transmission.

Other technical processes such as treatment procedures and management of active cases including isolation facilities management have to be sensibly re-examined. The models of some of the successful countries such as Barbados and New Zealand have demonstrated how appropriate public policy can be employed in a deferential way to bring relief to our people.

While it is vitally important to ensure the safety and health of our citizens, their social and economic wellbeing must be taken into account. The debilitating effects that the country have been exposed to must be taken in earnest for a new road to recovery and building resilience. The re-opening of the economy must continue and private sector employees must be given the chance to work and earn once again. The engine of growth must shift from neutral to drive, we must be given the right to once again put food on the table.

At this time, the news of the sourcing of four billion dollar funding is most welcomed. Appropriate spending measures should target improved social assistance to vulnerable groups, introduction of innovative fiscal tools and measures, support for hard hit sectors and fostering ICT opportunities in public service delivery.

Some specific measures should include food and ration stamps, utility rebate, rescheduling of loans, drugs and medical supplies provisions, enhancement in infrastructure for online schooling and teleworking, small business support for continuity and creative development and improvement in essential services.

It is prudent that there is equitable distribution of resources in a period when the country is affected by socio-economic disruption due to the pandemic. Programs and policies must identify and be in alignment with country needs and be tailored to strengthen inclusiveness in the recovery.

While it is critical to pursue normalcy it must be done with caution and to avoid complacency. This pandemic is here to stay for the short and medium term, our way of life and doing business must adapt and we must become creative in finding ways and means of dealing with the new normal.

With best regards, Recovered COVID-19 patient

8

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 14, 2020

PSC Chair tests positive for COVID-19 -- says he’s asymptomatic

Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Gerry Gouveia, in discussion with President of Guyana, Dr. Irfaan Ali; President of Suriname, Chandrikapersad Santokhi; and US Ambassador, Sarah-Ann Lynch, on Sunday

By Navendra Seoraj CHAIRMAN of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Gerry Gouveia, has tested positive for the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), and has since gone into self-isolation.

Gouveia has committed to isolating himself for the next seven days, as he is asymptomatic- symptom-free.

“In preparation for my travel to Barbados for the funeral of the late former Prime Minster, the RT. Hon. Owen Arthur, I undertook, as required, to take a COVID-19 PCR test.

Unfortunately, the test has returned a positive result,” said the PSC chairman in a post on his Facebook page, on Thursday.

Gouveia, who is the Barbados’ Honorary Consul in Guyana, regretted that he would not be able to attend the funeral, but assured that he will observe all the required protocols, including two COVID-19 tests after the isolation period is over.

“I have already advised many of those with whom I have been in contact in recent days, to get tested as well,” said the PSC chairman.

Gouveia had recently attended a “breakfast meeting” hosted by President Irfaan Ali, at State House.

Just Wednesday, President Ali had advised members of his Cabinet to work remotely, after Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd, tested positive for

COVID-19.

Guyana, like many countries around the world, has been challenged by both the direct and indirect effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, but President Ali had committed to keeping Guyanese informed about the fight against this scourge.

“We are dealing with a global pandemic and I assured all Guyanese that there will be transparency, accountability and openness in the way your government works for you,” said President Ali during a virtual message, on Wednesday.

To this end, the president said Minister Todd came into contact with an individual who tested positive for COVID-19, and subsequently found out he was positive, after being tested for the disease.

Minister Todd, since being sworn in last week, has attended Cabinet meetings and was even part of a meeting among President Ali; the President of Suriname, Chandrikapersad Santokhi and other government officials.

“I have since advised him (Minister Todd) to inform all individuals whom he came into contact with and to work with the minister of health to facilitate contact tracing and possible testing,” said President Ali. Further, the president has advised Cabinet members to undergo a COVID-19 test, as a precautionary measure. Ministers have also been advised to work remotely until they receive the results of their tests.

Guyana has so far recorded 623 confirmed cases of COVID-19, but 191 of those persons have since recovered and 22 persons have lost their lives. The remaining 412 active cases are being monitored by health authorities.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus. Most people, who fall sick with COVID-19, will experience mild to moderate symptoms and recover without special treatment.

Social ills in society 200 ICT hubs for hinterland, poor and remote communities to be addressed ...Ministry of HS&SS to collaborate with relevant agencies MINISTER of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindya Persaud, has committed to restructuring and reorganising the Ministry to deal with the social-ll issues in the society.

During a visit to the Mayor and City Councillors of the city of Georgetown, Minister Persaud made it clear that she intends to utilise the existing structures such as the Hugo Chavez Center, the Palms and the Night Shelter.

Minister Persaud indicated that the night shelter must have an open- door policy to address people who have specific needs and require special service.

She made mention that she will be working on having more persons accommodated and added that they will receive better care, and persons will be equipped with the necessary skills, if they are capable of working.

In addressing the issue of mental health and overall care for the elderly, Persaud made it clear that persons who have problems with

drugs and substance abuse will be directed to the Hugo Chavez Center for treatment.

It has been a passion of Minister Persaud to get the homeless and children off the street, and, as such, she pledged to work along with staff and programme managers to find solutions to the present unacceptable situation.

Meanwhile, Town Clerk (ag) of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC), Sherry Jerrick, made mention that the M&CC had been in constant communication with the Ministry for a number of years.

Jerrick expressed the view that, based on several stakeholder meetings, a holistic approach was needed to address the issues. She added that meetings must be scheduled on a regular basis.

The Mayor and City Council and the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security have agreed to collaborate and are looking forward to a strong and Healthy relationship.

PRIME MINISTER Mark Phillips, on Wednesday, gave the directive for the commencement of the installation of equipment for the establishment of 200 fully-functioning ICT hubs under the ICT Access and eServices for Hinterland, Poor and Remote Communities Project.

The prime minister emphasised that the establishment of these hubs is especially important, given the need for remote forms of communication in light of the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Prime Minister Phillips’ directive was made during a meeting with representatives from the United Nations, the United Nations Development Project (UNDP), the World Bank, the National Data Management Authority (NDMA) and the ICT Access and eServices for Hinterland, Poor and Remote Communities Project at the Office of the Prime Minister.

The project is a joint initiative between the UNDP and the Government of Guyana and is also funded by the UNDP. The Project Management team was established in January 2019 and since then, 70 communities have been equipped with very small-aperture terminal (VSAT) satellites which provide

Wi-Fi to those locations.

Prime Minister Phillip’s instruction will ensure that equipment is installed in all 200 communities in the near future and that these locations are also outfitted with the necessary infrastructure to make them fully functioning ICT Hubs. The prime minister stated that, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, citizens are still expecting the timely delivery of services, and, as such, work cannot be held at a standstill. Representatives from the UNDP as well as the ICT Access and eServices for Hinterland, Poor and Remote Communities Project expressed their commitment to having the project move forward efficiently.

In attendance at Wednesday’s meeting were UN Resident Coordinator in Guyana, Mikiko Tanaka; UNDP Resident Representative in Guyana, Jairo Valverde along with representatives from the World Bank, NDMA and the eServices for Hinterland, Poor and Remote Communities Project.

The UNDP representatives expressed their willingness to work with the new government to achieve common goals in key sectors such as energy, the environment and climate change.

PM Mottley nominated to serve as DC Chair

Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Amor Mottley

MIA Amor Mottley, Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, Economic Affairs and Investment of Barbados, and Mesdames Azucena Arbeleche, Minister of Economy and Finance of Uruguay, have been nominated to serve as Development Committee Chair.

In line with the nomination by the Chairs of the Latin American and the Caribbean Region, the Board of the World Bank has approved Prime Minister Mottley and Minister Mesdames Azucena Arbeleche to serve as Chair of the joint World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund Development Committee (DC).

Prime Minister Mottley is nominated to serve as Chair for the period November 2020 to October 2021, and Minister Arbeleche for the period November 2021 to October 2022. The first term will become effective following the October 2020 Annual Meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

THE NOMINEES STATED: “We are honored by these nominations. We are aware of the challenging times all countries, especially developing ones, are facing, and the relevant role that Multilateral Organisations, like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, must play in supporting all client countries during this health and socio-economic crisis.”

The DC is a ministerial-level forum of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund for inter-governmental consensus-building on development issues. Known formally as the Joint Ministerial Committee of the Boards of Governors of the Bank and the Fund on the Transfer of Real Resources to Developing Countries, the Committee was established in 1974.

This is the first time that the Chairmanship of the Development Committee is split at the nomination step. The Prime Minister and Minister have agreed to undertake the duties of the Chair as a team. They are planning to share the different tasks of the position in a cooperative way, allowing for more consistent and significant efforts in relation to the DC agenda. This is an innovative arrangement, which will leverage nominees’ experiences and diverse perspectives of the Caribbean and Latin America sub-regions, while at the same time embracing the region’s similarities. (Source: www. pmo.gov.bb)

9

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 14, 2020

Prime Minister, Phillips busy at work — meets key officials on COVID-19 response, telecommunications projects

PRIME MINISTER Mark Phillips, since assuming office, has held multiple meetings with key officials from agencies that fall under his portfolio. The meeting was held to receive updates on ongoing projects and to decide on strategies of forging forward steadfastly with their agenda.

The prime minister first met with officials to establish an inter-agency task force aimed at strengthening governmet's response to COVID-19 in Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine.

Present at the meeting were Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony; Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn; members of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), and the Guyana Police Force (GPF); former Health Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy; representatives from the Ministry of Natural Resources, including the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, and other attendees.

The meeting was a pivotal occurrence, given the current situation of increasing COVID-19 cases in those regions. The government’s

Prime Minister, Mark Phillips

priority is to sensitise citizens in those areas as to the measures that need to be taken to counter the spread of the disease while increasing testing and tracing, through medical interventions.

This initiative is ever more imperative given that these regions also share bor-

ders with Brazil, which has the second-largest number of COVID-19 deaths in the world, surpassing more than 100,000; and Venezuela, which currently has more than 25,000 deaths, and an ongoing refugee crisis.

The prime minister has also held a familiarisation

meeting with telecommunications officials from various agencies whose duties will now fall under the Office of the Prime Minister.

Attendees at this meeting included general manager of the National Data Management Authority (NDMA), Mr Floyd Levi; Project Manager of the UNDP-funded ICT Access and eServices for Hinterland, Poor and Remote Communities Project, Phillip Walcott; Deputy General Manager of the NDMA, Francis Simmons, and other officials from the Guyana Post Office, Telecommunications Agency, and the Industry and Innovation Unit, which came under the former Ministry of Public Telecommunications.

The prime minister will continue to host similar familiarisation and project-based meetings in the coming days, as he continues to undertake his mandate.

Convicted ex-soldier appeals severity of sentence A FORMER Guyana Defence Force soldier, Dwayne Tappin, who is currently serving a life sentence for the murder of his uncle in 2017, has moved to the Court of Appeal to have his sentence reviewed.

In November 2019, High Court Judge, Sandil Kissoon, in handing down the sentence, ordered that the convict serve 40 years behind bars before he is eligible for parole.

Tappin was found guilty by a 12-member jury and was convicted for killing 51-year-old Randolph Seenauth, on August 6, 2017, at Lot 125 South Better Hope, East Coast Demerara.

He recently moved to the appeal court seeking to appeal his sentence and not his conviction. Tappin is asking for a lesser sentence. The case comes up for hearing on September 2, 2020.

According to reports, Seenauth and his nephew had lived in separate apartments on the plot of land.

However, the family had a dispute over the plot of land which the dead man’s mother had occupied before she died.

On August 6, 2017, around 04:30 hours, neighbours heard a loud ‘commotion’ coming from one of the apartments, but then there was silence for a few minutes

Dwayne Tappin

which led them to suspect something was amiss.

Neighbours called out for Seenauth but got no response and later contacted the Sparendaam Police Station.

Police ranks arrived shortly after, and, upon pushing the front door to Seenauth’s apartment, found his head lying in a passageway between the living room and kitchen.

Further checks were made in the apartment and the rest of the man’s body was discovered on a mattress in the bedroom. The murder weapon was not recovered despite searches in both apartments. Tappin, hours after the murder, turned himself over to ranks at the Sparendaam Police Station.

Agri Minister meets with Cuban Ambassador, IICA Head CUBAN AMBASSADOR to Guyana, Narciso Socorro, on Wednesday, said his country will continue to support Guyana in the Agriculture and Health sectors.

He made this disclosure during a courtesy call to Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, at his Regent Street office.

During their dialogue, Minister Mustapha thanked the Ambassador for Cuba’s continued support: “I must take this opportunity to thank the Cuban authorities for resuming the importation of rice from Guyana. This government will work towards ensuring greater diplomatic ties are established to further trade relations between the two nations. I also want to express gratitude to Cuba for playing such a significant role in the development of Guyana’s health sector.

Every year batches of welltrained doctors return to Guyana after studying in Cuba and I look forward to continued collaboration to propel, not only the Agriculture sector, but the Health and other sectors in

Guyana,” Minister Mustapha said.

Ambassador Socorro said that he looks forward to partnering with the Agriculture Ministry moving forward, adding that Cuba remains committed to maintaining a mutually beneficial relationship with the Government of Guyana.

As government works towards rebuilding relationships with international donor agencies, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha also met with Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) country representative, Mr. Wilmot Garnett, and discussed new areas for collaboration.

During their dialogue, Minister Mustapha informed the IICA head that he plans to work closely with the agency to improve the state of the sector.

“IICA has always been a long-standing partner of the Ministry of Agriculture, working with our agencies to improve the infrastructure on farms, which would ultimately lead to greater market value for farmers’ produce and strengthen the value chain. IICA has also

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha (right), pictured with IICA Country representative, Wilmot Garnett.

assisted greatly in the areas of food security, recognition of small scale farming and education, in several areas.

I am especially pleased with the training seminars hosted to educate farmers about pests such as the Carambola Fruit Fly,” Minister Mustapha said.

The IICA head indicated that he anticipates a better working relationship with the Ministry under this new administration, in hopes of the Ministry having a more hands-on approach to collaborating with the organization.

He alluded to the fact that, over the last few years, there were several missed oppor-

tunities for collaboration between the Ministry, and that IICA looks forward to new systems being put in place to ensure the sector is able to fully utilize the capabilities of the organization.

Minister Mustapha assured Mr. Garnett that, under the new administration, the lackluster approach taken by the previous Government to working with donor agencies is a thing of the past, as the present administration plans to maximize on all opportunities for collaboration with partnering agencies, such as IICA, for the benefit of all Guyanese.

Minister Mustapha meets with Cuban Ambassador, Narciso Socorro

10

Solid waste management high on the agenda --as new gov’t mobilises to address issue countrywide

LOCAL Government and Regional Development Minister Nigel Dharamlall last Monday highlighted that the new government will be placing emphasis on putting in place a practical countrywide solid waste management plan to tackle the issue in Guyana.

Speaking at his first press briefing since taking up his ministerial portfolio last week Wednesday, Minister Dharamlall highlighted a number of issues that the government intended to tackle head-on, and solid waste management was among them.

“One of the critical areas of this country has to do with solid waste management programme. It is our intention, from the local government level to the national level, that the government will play a greater and a more critical role in enhancing solid waste management in the country; across villages and throughout the length and breadth of Guyana,” he said.

Guyana has been struggling throughout the years to work out a comprehensive plan that tackles solid waste management across the country. Last year, the ministry’s Sanitation Unit and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had collaborated to carry out a countrywide assessment so as to initiate plans for the creation of a number of regional and municipal landfills in all but one of the country’s ten administrative regions.

As it is, Guyana has only one engineered landfill, and that facility is located in Region Four (Demerara-Ma-

Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall

haica). There are, however, a number of controlled dumpsites countrywide, but they are nowhere near enough to handle Guyana’s growing waste management issue.

The Haags Bosch Landfill, which became operational back in 2011, had an estimated lifespan of 25 – 28 years, with just under half of its 150 acres being dedicated to the storage of waste.

However, when the facility was designed around 2004, it only catered for an estimated intake of 250 tonnes of waste per day, some 150 tonnes or so less than the in excess of 400 tonnes it’s processing today.

Following the countrywide assessment which was carried out last year, a report was expected to be submitted, which would then be used to set out a Terms of Reference (TOR) for the procurement of a consultant to carry out a further Environment Impact Assessment

(EIA).

EIA AND REGIONAL LANDFILLS The EIA is then expected to guide the creation of the regional landfills. Those regional landfills were expected to be patterned after the Haags Bosch as the model to follow.

In Guyana, waste collection is supposed to be handled by the individual local democratic organs (LDOs), such as your Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs), and municipalities, but many struggle because of a lack of resources to collect the waste and put systems in place for its disposal. Hence the situation is being overseen by the Ministry of Local Governmnent and Regional Development.

The Ministry has controlled dumpsites at Lusignan, on the East Coast Demeraraa, in Region Four; Byderabo in Bartica, Region

Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni); Rose Hall, in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); Esplanade in New Amsterdam, also in Region Six; and Bon Success in Lethem , Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).

That leaves a number of Regions with little options of disposing of their waste, which currently sees many residents burning their garbage, or creating smaller, unregulated dumpsites.

Aside from the regional landfills, a number of municipal sanitary landfills are also in the works. The designs have already been drawn up, and are expected to be presented to the Ministry of Communities (MoC) shortly for sanitary landfills in Bartica, Linden, Mahdia and Lethem.

In an interview last year, Chairman of the Ministry/ EPA Committee Gordon Gilkes, who is also head of the Sanitation Unit, had explained that inasmuch as Guyana needs a solution to its solid waste issue, a lot of research has to go into it.

“The [first] assessment is a physical assessment of the location; the closest receptors, waterways, housing and schools and so on,” he’d said, adding: “The EIA, now, will cover all of that and more. The EIA will look at biological receptors; will look at the effects on air pollution, and remedial actions to lessen effects. The EIA would look at more extensive system of the landfill, and examine all the issues, and provide mitigation efforts to mitigate potential issues.”

Essequibo mother of five missing THE Danpat and the Pretaam family, of Golden Fleece and Onderneeming villages, Region Two, are calling for the safe return of Monita Danpat, 23. She was last seen on Sunday according to family members.

According to her husband, Vijay Danpat, his wife, last Sunday, left him and her

five children to conduct some business at Suddie. The husband said it is normal for her to go to the market on Sundays, but this time around she did not return.

A worried Vijay said he made several calls but none of the persons whom he spoke with had a clue about the whereabouts of his wife.

Vijay is appealing for her safe return. A missing report was lodged at the Suddie Police Station. The family is therefore asking anyone who sees Monita to contact relatives on telephone numbers 6727094 or 6796236 or the closest police station. Preetam is 23 years old.

Monita Preetam

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 14, 2020

‘West Front Road’ already showing signs of ‘wear and tear’

--after taking a whopping $69M to fix just a few short months ago

A few of the defective areas along the recently-rehabilitated ‘West Front Road’

NOTWITHSTANDING having been completed just a few months ago, the $69M rehabilitation works done on the West Ruimveldt Road Front has begun to show signs of defects and holes.

The contract, which had been awarded last September to H. Nauth & Sons, was among $714.5M worth of construction and rehabilitation works effected on urban roads in Regions Four (Demerara-Mahaica); Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); and 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

The project was executed under the former Ministry of Public Infrastructure, now Ministry of Public Works, and is said to have been completed around last December.

A Company representative said it’s yet to be ascertained whether the “Defects and Liabilities” period on the contract is still in effect or has already expired.

“I can’t say offhand right now; we finished it in December, I think,” a Company Engineer said, adding: “If there’s any defects on the road, and it isn’t up, then the contractor would have to fix it. If it’s not up, we have up until the Defects and Liability period to repair it; but if it’s up, I’m not sure how the ministry would treat that.”

The Company official noted that he would not be able to say what could have possibly caused the corrosion, as tests would first need to be done to assess the situation.

Residents in the West Ruimveldt community through which the road runs, had just this February praised the repairs that had been done on it, particularly given the state of other roadways in and around the city.

“It is perfect. I think this is a good way forward for the government; recognising a community like this, and fixing the road for the people,” Joel McRae, a taxi driver had shared with the Department of Public Information (DPI) back in February.

For Mickey Niles, who’s been a roadside vendor in the community for the last four years, the repaving of ‘West Front Road’, as the roadway is popularly known, has resulted in a reduction in transportation costs when using a taxi.

Mickey had told the DPI, “At least at nights when you go out and have to come back in, they [taxi drivers] won’t have to call a whole set of money…

Now that the road is done, everybody wants to go up and down it.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 14, 2020

Caribbean’s first virtual oil and gas summit planned for September — innovative event inspired by high interest in regional energy sector VALIANT Business Media (UK) and Valiant Business Media (Guyana) will host the Caribbean’s first virtual oil and gas summit from September 15-17, 2020 in response to fast-growing interest in in the Region’s energy sector among prospective investors and other stakeholders.

The first-ever ‘Caribbean Virtual Oil and Gas Summit (CARIVS) 2020’ will bring together an extensive network of senior decision makers and business leaders from the Oil & Gas industry over the course of three days. It will connect entrepreneurs, investors, operators, prime subcontractors, government bodies, and many others who have a keen interest in existing, growing and prospective Oil and Gas industries in the Region.

A core objective of CARIVS 2020 is to provide a forum for a crucial exchange of industry-related information and perspectives among stakeholders from nations in the Region with a well-developed Oil and Gas sector and those with budding industries. It will also allow participants to discuss and explore promising oppor-

The first-ever ‘Caribbean Virtual Oil and Gas Summit (CARIVS) 2020’ will bring together an extensive network of senior decision makers and business leaders from the Oil & Gas Industry over the course of three days

tunities in emerging Oil and Gas industries in nations like Guyana, Trinidad, Barbados, Suriname and The Bahamas.

Describing the Summit, Director of Valiant Business Media, Shariq AbdulHai said, “CARIVS 2020 will be presented as a top level virtual experience with real-time interactions among key stakeholders. Investment firms, oil companies, industry experts and more will get an extended opportunity to network and in-

teract directly with businesses and persons of interest.”

As such, CARIVS 2020 has been designed as a fully-integrated virtual platform to facilitate high-level interaction and networking opportunities among participants categorised as presenters, exhibitors and delegates. Exhibitors have been invited to create virtual booths to promote industry-related products or services, and participants will be able to make virtual tours and interact

closely with booth holders.

Presentations and exhibits at CARIVS 2020 are expected to generate significant buzz about existing and emerging opportunities in the Caribbean’s energy sector. Participants will have unique opportunities to cultivate beneficial business relationships.

In this way, CARIVS 2020 will provide valuable insights and highlight exciting opportunities for entrepreneurs, established businesses, potential in-

vestors and job seekers. It will allow participants to explore these prospects at a forum that facilitates a free flow of vital information and maximises interpersonal communication.

In particular, the Summit will enable prime contractors and established operators in the industry to make new business connections and hold discussions with a large and varied assortment of aspiring service providers seeking to take advantage of various upstream, midstream and downstream opportunities.

Oil giant, ExxonMobil Guyana will participate in the event, coming on board as a Foundation Partner and Sponsor. Sol Petroleum will participate as a Gold Sponsor.

Significant players in the industry—Saipem, Halliburton, PWC Caribbean, Tony Seesahai Oilfield Consultants and Global Maritime Consultants Group, among others—have also confirmed their participation.

The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry has confirmed its participation as a Principal Supporting Partner.

Presenters include Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana and Ambassador to Suriname, Lilian Chatterjee; Democracy and Gover-

nance Adviser to USAID, Jemel Liverpool; Petroleum Engineer and Co-founder of Bridgefield Consultants Ltd. Tom Bradform; Senior Petroleum Engineer and Technical Solution Consultant at Halliburton, Celia Garcia-James Snr.; Chief Executive Officer of Sol Petroleum, Pierre Magnan; Vice-Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Paloma Mohamed-Martin; Managing Director of Saipem Guyana Inc., Thuranthiran Nadarajah; and Oil & Gas Adviser to the Brazil-Texas Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Armando Cavanha; Shell’s Project Lead Well Engineer, Joy Joyeze and Adviser to the General Director, Brazil’s National Agency for Oil, Gas and Biofuels, Pietro Mendes.

“The organisers of CARIVS 2020 have done a remarkable job in designing a particularly effective virtual platform for the promotion of oil and gas opportunities in the Caribbean.

This summit is likely to have a very far-reaching and positive effect on the development of the industry in the Region,” Mr. AbdulHai said.

12

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 14, 2020

India, Guyana to deepen relationship, cooperation THE Government of India was thanked for the financial, technical and other support it had given to Guyana over the years while Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mohabir Anil Nandlall expressed the hope that this support will increase over the coming years.

This was discussed, on Wednesday, when the Indian High Commissioner, Dr. K. J. Srinivasa, met Mr. Nandlall at the Attorney General’s Chambers and Ministry of Legal Affairs.

The two Officials discussed various ways in which the Government of Guyana and the Government of India can continue to deepen relations and cooperation to the mutual benefit of their citizens.

Specifically, the Attorney General informed the High Commissioner that Guyana and India share many common areas in jurisprudence and law, as was reflected in the many Indian cases cited by all parties in the recent spate of cases, following the March 2, 2020 elections.

Youth innovation at heart of STEMGuyana projects --in its quest for solutions to everyday problems

Attorney General Mohabir Anil Nandlall in discussion with Indian High Commissioner, Dr. K. J. Srinivasa

He expressed the hope that Guyana can benefit from law books and legal literature emanating out of India.

The Attorney General also recalled that, in the past, Indian legal experts served in the Attorney General’s Chambers in various capacities and expressed the hope that this initiative can be resumed.

The Indian High Com-

missioner committed to working closely with the Government of Guyana and the Ministry of Legal Affairs, in exploring all avenues of cooperation.

He informed the Attorney General of many scholarship programmes available to Guyanese to study and be trained in various areas, including, law.

He further informed

Minister Nandlall that, over a year now, an Information Technology programme, sponsored by the Government of India, is being offered at the University of Guyana, free of charge, and he requested that Minister Nandlall encourage young Guyanese to take advantage of the programme.

SINCE its launch, STEMGuyana has been working to create innovative technology solutions to modern-day issues, as well as to integrate the use of technology into everyday situations.

Ever since the COVID-19 outbreak, half of the world has had to change the way they work, breaking the barrier of location as a primary staple for many jobs. This week, 15 Guyanese students who are the first cohort of STEMGuyana’s recentlylaunched ‘4-4-4’ programme.

“Whether they are building robot solutions, creating mobile ‘apps’ or building websites, our young people are talented enough to meet the needs of the global marketplace,” says STEMGuyana co-founder Karen Abrams. “We hope that this programme becomes a resounding success so that we can train more young people, and engage them to earn a

decent living without having to move to more populated regions for employment. Ideally, technology should allow young people to stay in place and develop their own communities,” Abrams said in a news release.

The ‘4-4-4’ programme is the successor of a Website Development course hosted last summer by STEMGuyana in collaboration with Specialists in Sustained Youth Development and Research (SSYDR) and ExxonMobil.

Over 200 teenagers aged 15 – 19 across Guyana completed the course, and gained skills in developing WordPress websites. Fifteen of those teens who attended the course now have the opportunity of using their talents and providing their services to businesses in Guyana and the diaspora through the ‘4-4-4’ programme.

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13

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 14, 2020

More sample taking to be done countrywide -- Gov’t suspects increased testing for COVID-19 will reveal the ‘real’ situation

By Navendra Seoraj THERE continues to be a steady rise in the number of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases, and even though the situation is grim, Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony believes that cases have been going “under the radar.”

Many persons have tested positive for the disease in recent times, but a large number of those persons were asymptomatic, meaning they did not show symptoms of the disease.

This discovery has since prompted authorities to distribute more sample kits across the country, especially to regions where the infection rate is high. Most of the cases have so far been recorded in Regions One (Barima-Waini), Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).

“We are sending out more kits, so there will be an in-

crease in sample collection… the testing itself has components…one is sample collection and then there is the processing of samples,” said Minister Anthony in an invited comment, on Thursday.

The actual testing will be done centrally, at the National Reference Laboratory because regional facilities lack the capacity and technical skills needed to get it done.

While government hopes to improve capacity in those regions, the immediate need for sample testing takes precedence, especially with the high number of asymptomatic cases.

“We will be doing it in hotspot regions, but we will also do it in regions which have not shown any cases because we suspect that it is because we are not testing in those regions, it is showing zero.

“Technical people believe once we start testing in those regions or giving people an option to come in and get

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony

tested, we might see there are positive cases,” said Minister Anthony.

Health authorities have so far tested 5,638 persons, with 5,007 being negative and 631 positive. Every administrative region expect Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), has recorded at least one case of

COVID-19.

Of the positive cases, 202 persons have recovered and 22 persons have lost their lives. The remaining 420 active cases are being monitored by health authorities.

With there being no immediate end in sight to the COVID-19 pandemic, per-

sons have been advised to take the necessary precautions, follow the guidelines of the health ministry and wear masks in public, and adhere to social distancing guidelines.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus.

Most people, who fall sick with COVID-19, will experience mild to moderate symptoms and recover without special treatment.

“So fellow Guyanese, let us act wisely and be responsible as we start another exciting week. We can continue to do all the things we need to do safely and in a way that does not compromise public health in Guyana,” Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Shamdeo Persaud had advised.

He reminded persons that COVID-19 is in Guyana and will not go away by denial or ignorance. It is real, said the CMO, noting that it is evidenced by the many persons

who died and the agony and sadness of their families and friends.

The control measures in place are often hard to cope with, but considering the prevailing circumstances, persons must be cautious and vigilant, as they continue to do their part in the fight against COVID-19.

“We are stronger together.

So, stay vigilant, observe all the measures, wear a mask in public, maintain physical distance and practise good hygiene for a safer and healthier Guyana,” the CMO advised.

COVID-19 remains a serious issue not just here in Guyana, but globally as well, and according to global statistics, there are 20.1 million cases of COVID-19, with over 737,000 deaths.

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

Abraham-Ali, Ramotar in charge of NCN, Guyana Chronicle MINISTER of Public Affairs, within the Office of the Prime Minister, Kwame McCoy, has appointed Finance Manager of the Guyana National Newspaper Limited (GNNL), Moshanie Ramotar, to act as general manager of the State company.

The services of GNNL acting General Manager, Ganesh Mahipaul, were terminated on Wednesday.

Minister McCoy has also appointed Michella Abraham-Ali as acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Communications Network (NCN).

Both appointments take immediate effect and will

GNNL acting General Manager, Moshanie Ramotar

last until a substantive CEO and general manager are appointed to those two organisations.

The appointments of Ramotar and Abraham-Ali follow the termination of the contracts of NCN Executive Chairman, Enrico Woolford and Depart-

NCN acting CEO, Michella Abraham-Ali

ment of Public Information Director, Imran Khan. They received their letter of termination on Wednesday.

The Office of the Prime Minister has responsibility for communication.

The letter issued to Ganesh Mahipaul

Youth innovation at heart of STEMGuyana ...

According to Abrams, the programme offers businesses a four-page website built within four days.

Domain name hosting and registration for one year are included in the final product for a flat rate of US$400.

A 50% deposit is required up-front after the details between the business own-

er and a business analyst are discussed and finalised.

Business owners interested in using the services the programme offers can fill out a form to be scheduled for an interview to speak with a business analyst.

Another service offered by the programme is the option for business own-

ers to learn how to update their website pages for an additional US$50. If they prefer, they can purchase an annual service plan for $US100, which comes with one monthly update.

So far, two accounts have been registered through the 4-4-4 programme, and four of the 15 students are cur-

rently working on it. The team at STEMGuyana expects that this quantity will increase with more outreach.

This expected increase seems inevitable, as the various programmes being offered by STEMGuyana have been expanding. The STEMGuyana team has confirmed that since its inception in

FROM PAGE

2016, the organisation has reached over 15,000 students across Guyana through various STEM programmes.

Also, before COVID-19, the team says that about 6000 students were actively enrolled in activities, including those on the National Grade Six App (NGSA). This app provides practice past Grade

12 6 exams to students.

Businesses interested in the 4-4-4 programme can complete the application form, or send an email to stemguyana@gmail.com.

To get involved with the clubs or learn more about the programmes on offer, visit www.stemguyana.com

14

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 14, 2020

British envoys, public works minister, discuss major projects DISCUSSIONS about the oil sector, renewable energy, Linden/ Mabura Road, along with the Stabroek and Vreed-en-Hoop Stellings were engaged in when the British High Commissioner, Gregory Quinn, paid a courtesy call on Minister of Public Works, Honourable Bishop Juan Edghill, on Wednesday.

Ambassador Quinn was accompanied by Deputy British High Commissioner, Ray Davidson.

The High Commissioner congratulated the Minister on his appointment and listed a few projects that were put on hold, due to the political situation that loomed for four months.

The envoy also offered support in the renewable energy sector, even as he suggested that oil funds be in-

vested into renewable energy to boost the green economy.

The High Commissioner explained to Minister Edghill that the United Kingdom has been providing support to Guyana, to aid in the fight against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), through the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

Minister Edghill, nonetheless, noted that he looks forward to technical exchanges with the UK in the area of infrastructural development, so as to create an environment of innovative thinking.

According to the Minister, one of his aims is to implement a strict maintenance plan to avoid deterioration before works are done, as this is way more costly.

When questioned about commercial flights and the

Suriname Ferry Service by Mr. Quinn, Minister Edghill said, “plans for the re-opening of the airport are in compliance with the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) to have it open in the shortest possible time and the same can be explained for the Suriname Ferry Service.”

Mr. Quinn was also curious about what the Ministry had planned for the Demerara Harbour Bridge.

Minister Edghill said that the Government is committed to building the new bridge; however, the fine print of details was never seen, only the design.

He said, “We are committed to building a new Demerara River crossing so that is going to happen…I’m not sure which proposal we will be going with…. but with

Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill, discusses areas of mutual interest with the British High Commissioner, Gregory Quinn, and Deputy British High Commissioner, Mr. Ray Davidson.

respect to the location and feasibility, Minister Robeson Benn had done pre-feasibility that had shown three possible

spots and one of the venues was right where the current bridge is.”

In conclusion, Minister

Edghill reiterated thanks to the UK for its profound support to Guyana in the fight for democracy.

Sole breadwinner among Montrose accident victims SEVERAL families were, on Wednesday afternoon, thrown into a state

of mourning, after four of their loved ones were killed during a gruesome accident

on the Montrose Public Road, East Coast Demerara.

Dead is Chris Bradshaw,

Lynden Pryce and Latoya Jones (Newsroom Photo)

35, of Laluni Street, Queenstown, Georgetown; Lynden Pryce, 54, of South Vryheid’s Lust, ECD; Leknarine Seupaul, 40, of Da Silva Street, Newtown, Kitty and Latoya Jones, 31 of South Better Hope, ECD. The men were all employees of the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) and were also friends. Jones was a friend of Pryce The friends were consuming alcohol at a bar located at La Bonne Intention (LBI), celebrating Pryce’s re-retirement leave.

They then left the bar and headed to Georgetown in Toyota Premio motor car, #PRR 2569, which was driven

by Bradshaw. Jones was in the front passenger seat while Pryce and Seupaul were in the back seat.

However, around 17:55 hours, while on Montrose Public Road, the motor car was involved in an accident motor lorry GJJ 7150 which is registered to Industrial Steel Fabrications (InFab).

Reports indicated that the motor car was proceeding west along the northern

Chris Bradshaw

driving lane of the southern carriageway, at a fast rate of speed, and, while negotiating a right bend, the driver lost control of his vehicle, collided with the median and ended up on the northern carriageway into the path of the motor lorry which was proceeding east on the southern driving lane, on the northern carriageway.

As a result of the collision, everyone in the motorcar died, while the driver of the motor lorry and the other occupants received injuries about their bodies and were taken to the Woodlands and Mercy hospitals for treatment. The injured persons are Marvin Hardy, Nigel Andrews, Terrence Chance, Eshawn Simon and Okacho Josiah, all employees of InFab. On Thursday, August 13, 2020, the Guyana Chronicle visited the residence of Seupaul and spoke with his wife Juliet, who was being comforted by other relatives.

The grieving woman explained her husband was the sole breadwinner for her and their three children ages 12, 6, and 2.

The widow explained that

Leknarine Seupaul

the last time she saw her husband alive was Monday and he was on his way home when he met his demise.

“It feels unreal… I’m still in disbelief” the grieving woman said.

Meanwhile, when this newspaper visited the Laluni Street home of Bradshaw, his relatives were still in disbelief and puzzled over the incident.

The father of one was described as a hard-working man who had a love for cooking, especially when it comes to barbecuing on his grill.

Hours before the accident, Bradshaw borrowed his cousin’s motor car and dropped his wife at a location in Ogle, ECD while he went further up the corridor with his friends.

It was while he was on his way back to pick up his wife Bradshaw met his demise.

A post mortem is expected to be done on Friday, August 14, 2020, as the police investigation is still ongoing.

15

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 14, 2020

House of Pearson

to represent Guyana at Karib Nation’s

Christique Clothing (Trinidad & Tobago)

‘Virtual Fashion Showcase’

For the past few months, COVID-19 has caused a paradigm shift in the way the world operates, leading to the cancellation of social gatherings, delayed plans, conferences, and summer travels. Guyanese-owned culture brand Karib Nation Inc. is hosting a three-part virtual fashion showcase in place of the 11th annual Caribbean Style and Culture Awards and Fashion Showcase, featuring acclaimed designers from the House of Pearson – Quinton Pearson, (Guyana), The Cloth, Robert Young, (Trinidad & Tobago), Kimya Glasgow (St. Vincent & Grenadines), Eliette Lesuperbe (Guadeloupe), Jeilyne Santana, Santana Swims, (Puerto Rico), David Andrea Collection (Haiti), Ayanna Dixon, ASD (Jamaica), Thalassa Swimwear (Trinidad & Tobago), Shakad Eco Wear (Barbados) Trefle Designs (British Virgin Islands) and Elizabeth Francis, Christique Clothing (Trinidad & Tobago).

The event will debut today, August 14, 2020, at 20:00hrs and will continue on August 21 and 28. The runway part of the show will feature models wearing creations from the designers’ private collections on tropical sceneries bringing us a taste of the Caribbean.

The programme is also slated to include words from some key contributors. In addition, designers will be able to share their stories and designs with a wider global community.

The event is open to the public and is designed to support the ingenuity and contribution of the featured designers. Karib Nation in a press release stated the following: “This is a challenging time for many, including the fashion industry, with social gatherings at a halt. In times of great uncertainty, our support for one another is more important than ever. Embracing

fashion as the creative expression through which to support the health and safety of our global communities, we hope this show can offer a small moment of hope, inspiration, nostalgia and uplifting connection for those who are doing their part to self-isolate. A modest contribution as our world unites to collectively weather the storm of this pandemic together.”

The event will be streamed live on Karib Nation Inc’s YouTube and Facebook pages.

)

adeloupe

erbe (Gu

sup Eliette Le

House of Pearson – Quinton Pearson, (Guyana)

16

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 14, 2020

Massiah and his team in an exclusive photo on set of one of his music videos before the COVID-19 pandemic

A different sound, a different wave

Local artiste promoting afro-beats music in Guyana G

Afrobeats artiste, Martin Massiah

uyana’s music industry is mostly dominated by the sounds of soca, calypso and dancehall music, however, local artiste Martin Massiah is bringing a different sound wave to the stage with the afro-beats-inspired sounds of vibrant drums and vocals to empower afro-Guyanese and other ethnicities.

Massiah, who grew up singing in his local church choir, related that his music and persona surround positive energy and motivational messages that encourage persons to be the best versions of themselves.

“I’m generally a positive person who focuses on motivating persons, inspiring people getting them to fulfill their purpose, that is my general persona and it’s been a pleasurable journey trying to figure out this music thing,” he said.

While, Massiah has been singing for most of his life, his career really took off when he approached a well-known Guyanese producer in hopes of producing an idea he had for a song.

To date, the song ‘Luv Yuh Bad’ which featured another local artiste received a lot of buzz with over 23,000 views on the internet.

Looking to build an empire, the 26-year-old noted that is music career is not just about his talents, but also the talents of every creative that works along with him, whether it be dancers, directors, stylist or producers.

“It is no longer about an artiste M.A it is about the community, the Guyanese community supporting the idea that Guyanese culture doesn’t have to be just dancehall and soca. We have the power to create international quality cultural products that have the ability to touch the world,” he said.

He noted that he wanted to create a sound that would put Guyana on the map similar to its Caribbean neighbours. “Jamaica is seen as the [home] of dancehall and reggae music. Trinidad is seen as the [home] of soca music, and I thought what can we do in Guyana that is different? And Guyanese culture we are very diverse and I wanted to see if there is an area that I could help develop a culture around a specific

style of music,” he said.

Massiah’s music is centred on his love for culture and diversity which he believes can produce the next big superstar that can be birthed from Guyana. “I want us to not only build a brand across Guyana or across the region, I want us to really have an international presence,” he said.

A unifying sound Afrobeats is jubilant party music that draws on West African sources — hybrid languages, propulsive rhythms — and mixes them with delivery and tone from across the Americas, referencing hip-hop and Jamaican dancehall.

Massiah noted that, in the recent years, many Afrobeats artiste originating from various countries in Africa have been creating a wave across the world which he believes is something Guyana or any other country should not be left out of.

He noted that African people are faced with many challenges in life, one of those being having representation of themselves in the mainstream media as well as persons adapting parts of their culture to sell a trend. However, with many international artistes adapting and featuring various artistes from the genre of music, it provides a larger scale for recognition and opportunities for a creative like himself.

He added that the sounds of Afrobeats are to remind persons of African descent that although they are marginalised daily, their talents and creativity that they bring to the table are reminders that they are strong and beautiful in everything that they do and with a unified approach they can conquer the world.

“It is our duty to stand up and work together to really push ourselves to the next level and I think that it really comes over in many of his songs,” he said. “It is not a crab in the barrel mentality where you try to pull people down.

Rather than seeing ourselves as competitors, we need to complement each other’s work and that is something that needs to spread across not only in this music arena where you see different people collaborating but in everyday life.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 14, 2020

A passion for fashion

Teen unlocks creative talent during COVID-19 pandemic

It’s been some four months now since Guyana implemented a partial lockdown which saw the closure of schools across the country as well as a halt on all social events and gatherings to curb the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

For many, being confined to the walls of their homes for the last few months has awakened a new level of creativity.

This is the case of 19-year-old Seonnae Destinee Naughton, who has been ‘flipping’ some of her old clothes into fashionable summer pieces.

Dubbed the seamstress of her household, Naughton told the Buzz that at a very young age she found solitude in the art of fashion during a difficult time in her life.

“I was born and raised in the city of Georgetown by my mother who played the role of a single parent after my father walked out on my siblings and I when I was about three years old,”she said.

“Growing up in a household with many other siblings, it has been challenging but my mom worked hard, making many sacrifices to ensure that we got what we needed

and that we were all happy. Amidst all the challenges, at a very young age I found comfort in expressing myself through fashion.”

Naughton stated that she started making clothing for the dolls she would receive as Christmas presents and would often play around with any material she could find in the house to make an outfit.

“My expressive nature was always unique. I remember styling my sister’s hair with clothespins and making a skirt out of a kitchen curtain my mom took down during Christmas cleaning but these occasional urges grew into a personal passion. I was able to truly explore my gift and skills whenever my siblings had events. From prom dresses to Christmas costumes, I was dubbed the seamstress of my home,” she said.

Naughton, who is currently pursuing studies in Architecture at the Government Technical Institute (GTI) noted that she began exploring with her talents while at home during the pandemic.

“My mom went through her clothes and clothes that were sent for us from cousins and aunts living in the states- most of which were too small or too big,” she

said.

Naughton admitted that given her introverted nature it took a while for her to share her talents with the rest of the world. She added that worrying that her artistry might not be good enough and the fear of negative criticism held her back for quite some time.

“This all happened unexpectedly. I’ve been holding back on myself for quite some time knowing that I have a collection of talent and I’ve been letting the thought of what people might think or say determine how I would go about my life,” Naughton told the Buzz.

“I prayed about it more times than I can count and I just decided to leave it to God. My family encouraged me time and time again to chase my dreams but something in me always made me doubt myself hence I never bothered to elevate myself.”

Nevertheless, the young woman noted that with time she eventually decided to share her pieces on social media with her friends and the rest of the world though still having doubts.

Positive feedback However to her surprise the responses and messages she received

Seonnae Destinee Naughton sporting one of her handmade dresses

One of Naughton’s pieces where she ‘flipped’ one of her old dresses into a bag

Naughton’s piece that she made for Emancipation celebrations 2020

were all positive ones that made her consider utilising her talents to becoming an entrepreneur.

“I was about to delete the posts I made. I checked my page and I was totally speechless. My stories received 1,000 views, so many reactions and words of encouragement. I was told to start a page, a business and persons were even offering to purchase my pieces,” she said. “I got absolutely no negative feedback and that alone instantly boosted my confidence. For me, it was simply amazing. I have thought about the idea of starting a business occasionally and due to the responses I secured, in future I do plan on following this up for it is one of my many passions.”

Naughton noted that in celebration of Emancipation this year, she recycled one of the original pieces she made into something fit for the season and the summer.

“Emancipation was around the corner and I thought to myself, why not celebrate the holiday quarantine style? It was quarantine that inspired my first piece. An African print hoodie that I made by hand from my high school prom dress.”

Skilled with her hands, Naughton noted that it takes her about a day or less to complete a project.

“Whenever I got a new idea, I sketch it out on a piece of paper, choose a suitable wear and convert it into what would be more likely to catch the eyes of the public. I’d

17

stay in my room and on my bed, with my phone reading my book or watching a lifetime movie while sewing. It never took me longer than a day to come up with my end product and I know with the use of a sewing machine I’d be able to produce five times more than I can by hand. Sewing had always been a part of me.”

The young woman noted that a local seamstress had gifted her a sewing machine to pursue her talents, but after some time the machine stopped working and due to the lack of finances she was unable to repair it or purchase a new one, so until she can, she continues her work by hand.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 14, 2020

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 14, 2020

Negative second tests pave way ...

From back page starting next Tuesday.

“The rigorous testing that we did before people travelled, along with other protocols we put in place in conjunction with the Ministry of Health and the CPL’s medical advisory committee, have put us in a fantastic place,” Hall said.

“However, this is just the start of the process and we will continue to be vigilant as we look to put on a successful tournament.

CPL would like to thank all members of the cohort for working so hard to get us to this position.”

Six teams – reigning champions Barbados Tridents, last year’s losing finalists Guyana Amazon Warriors, along with hosts Trinbago Knight Riders, Jamaica Tallawahs, St Kitts and

Nevis Patriots and St Lucia Zouks – are all poised to clash over 33 games in the August 18 to September 10 tournament.

And Hall said with just days left before the start, teams had begun official practice sessions in a bio-secure environment at the UWI St Augustine Campus.

“We have created a separate secure environment based on protocols established by our medical committee and approved by the Ministry of Health,” the Jamaican said.

For the first time this year, the CPL is being staged in one country and behind closed doors because of the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic which has forced the cancellation of all other international cricket in the Caribbean.

The tournament will be played at Queen’s Park Oval in the capital here and the Brian Lara Stadium in Couva, central Trinidad.

And while the buildup has been relatively smooth, Hall reiterated that success would continue to be defined by the attaining specific targets as the tournament progressed.

“We have to measure our success in staging this year’s tournament as we pass certain milestones,” Hall said.

“Obviously the first hurdle that we had to cross was getting everyone here and we’re grateful to the government of Trinidad and Tobago for accepting our proposal, and we’ve worked very hard with the authorities here to put everything in place that would keep everyone safe.

“It’s been a series … of bridges that we’ve had to cross. These are unchartered waters; nobody has ever tried to do this in the Caribbean before. We are the first franchise league that will be trying to put on a tournament in this strange time but we have a great team. It’s a small team but it’s a dedicated team.

“Everyone is pulling together to make this thing happen because I think it’s going to bear a great reflection on the Caribbean and on Trinidad and Tobago and the tournament if we manage to pull it off.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 14, 2020

Serena Williams comes from behind Bowlers put to beat sister Venus at Top Seed Open

England ...

From back page

with Abid stranded on 49. He brought up his fifty shortly after the resumption with an edge off Anderson that pierced the cordon and went for two.

Curran removed Abid for 60 with an excellent ball that jagged away after shaping into the batsman and found a thick edge, again snapped up by Burns.

As if to prove he was well and truly back, Anderson put his 38-year-old body on the line to stop Babar Azam’s drive off good mate Broad, diving to his left at mid-on. Broad bowled very well and and claimed his reward when he had Asad Shafiq caught low by a bending, relieved Sibley at third slip.

Shafiq’s departure brought Fawad Alam to the crease for the first time in a Test since 2009. But his long-awaited return was so very short-lived when he fell for a four-ball duck, lbw to Chris Woakes via the DRS after umpire Richard Kettleborough gave him not out but Hawk-Eye showed that the ball, which pitched just on leg stump, was going on to strike the top of middle.

Fewer than two overs followed with Azam not out 25 and Mohammad Rizwan on 4 when the rain returned and bad light ultimately brought about stumps with half the overs for the day bowled.(ESPN Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD PAKISTAN 1st innings Shan Masood lbw James Anderson 1 Abid Ali c Rory Burns b Sam Curran 60 Azhar Ali c Rory Burns b James Anderson 20 Babar Azam Not Out 25 Asad Shafiq c Dominic Sibley b Stuart Broad 5 Fawad Alam lbw Chris Woakes 0 Mohammad Rizwan Not Out 4 Extras 4b 7lb 0nb 0pen 0w 11 Total (45.4 overs) 126-5 Fall of Wickets : 1-6 Khan, 2-78 Ali, 3-102 Ali, 4-117 Shafiq, 5-120 Alam To Bat : Shah, Abbas, Afridi, Shah Bowling: James Anderson 15 - 3 - 35 - 2, Stuart Broad 13 - 4 - 31 - 1, Sam Curran 10 - 2 - 23 - 1, Chris Woakes 7.4 - 1- 26 1

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Friday August 14, 2020) COMPLIMENTS OF THE XTRA ENERGY DRINK, STABROEK BAZAAR (Tel: 683-9500) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

(1) Shoaib Malik-272 runs (Barbados Tridents, 2013) (2) Krishmar Santokie-16 wickets (GAW, 2013)

Today’s Quiz:

(1) How many games were carded for the initial CPL tournament?

(2) How many players have represented the GAW in CPL cricket to date?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

FORMER world number one Serena Williams came from a set down to beat her sister Venus 3-6 6-3 6-4 and reach the quarter-finals of the Top Seed Open.

Serena also trailed 4-2 in the deciding set but claimed four straight games to win a high-quality match in Kentucky.

It was the 31st competitive singles match between the sisters, with Serena now having won 19 times to Venus’ 12.

“I honestly don’t know how I was able to pull it out at the end,” said 23time Grand Slam champion Serena.

“I have been losing a lot of those tight sets so I said to myself that I really needed to win, just for my game and my confidence.”

Top seed Serena broke seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus, 40, in the first game of the match but

The Williams sisters touched racquets after their match in Lexington, Kentucky faded to lose the first set 6-3 in 41 minutes, before taking the second by the same score in 50 minutes.

Serena, 38, broke first in the final set but Venus fought back and looked to be on course for victory at 4-2 up.

However, Serena, who also had to come from behind against Bernarda Pera in her opening match, hit some crucial winners to reach the last eight of her first tournament in six months.

She will face either fellow American Shelby Rogers or Canadian Leylah Annie Fernandez in the quarter-finals of the behindclosed-doors event.

In Thursday’s first last16 tie, Switzerland’s Jil Teichmann beat Ukrainian fifth seed Yulia Putintseva 6-2 6-2.

“I didn’t come here to win for the first time in my career, I just came here to get some matches and see what happens,” added Serena,

who is preparing to play in this year’s US Open, which starts on 31 August.

Her chances of winning a 24th Grand Slam singles title in New York have been boosted by several top-20 players withdrawing from the event.

Defending champion Bianca Andreescu, who beat Serena in last year’s final, became the latest to pull out of the tournament in New York on Thursday.

(BBC Sport)

FA Cup replays scrapped in 2020-21 to ease fixture congestion LONDON (Reuters) - The FA Cup will not have replays for the 2020-21 season to help ease fixture congestion caused by the COVID-19 crisis, England’s Football Association (FA) said on Thursday.

Next season’s competition is scheduled to begin on Sept. 1 - only a month after the 2020 final - with the showpiece match at Wembley set to take place on May 15, 2021.

“In order to assist in easing pressure on the football schedule, there will be no replays for the 2020-21 season,” the FA said in a statement, as it announced the schedule.

The FA added that the prize fund would return to 2017-18 levels because of the financial impact of the novel coronavirus outbreak after two seasons of record payment levels.

The winners will receive 1.8 million pounds ($2.36 million), down from 3.6 million pounds last season.

Arsenal beat London rivals Chelsea in the 2020 final on Aug. 1 for a record-extending 14th triumph in the competition.

Soccer Football - FA Cup Final - Arsenal v Chelsea - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - August 1, 2020 Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang with teammates celebrate with the trophy after winning the FA Cup, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pool via REUTERS/Adam Davy Meanwhile, the English tion in the second or third the full schedule detailing Football League (EFL) said round if they are competing all 380 matches set to be rethe two-legged semi-finals in European competition in leased no later than Aug. 21. of the League Cup will be the 2020-21 season.

Liverpool won the 2019replaced by single ties to be The draw for the first 20 Premier League title in played in January 2021. round will take place on June with seven games to The first four rounds of Aug. 18. spare after the season rethe competition will take Manchester City beat As- sumed following a threeplace on consecutive weeks, ton Villa 2-1 in March to win month suspension due to the kicking off in early Septem- the trophy last season. novel coronavirus. ber.

The new Premier League The EFL season is also Premier League clubs season will begin on Sept. 12 scheduled to start on Sept. will enter the competi- and finish on May 23, with 12.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 14, 2020

Who failed West Indies rising star Shaquana Quintyne?

By Donald Oliver

SEVEN years ago I was watching this T20 series involving the hosts West Indies women, England women and New Zealand women in Barbados.

The West Indies won the triangular tournament in which Deandra Dottin was named MVP. Stafanie Taylor was named player of the final as West Indies defeated England by a resounding eight wickets.

However, during that tournament, a 17-year-old girl impressed me, and I just knew she was going to be a superstar.

Against England, Shaquana Quintyne almost single-handedly won a match for the West Indies that we had absolutely no business winning. England were 69 without loss, chasing 141 to win with openers Charlotte Edwards, England’s skipper and the number two batter in the world at that time, and Lauren Winfield going great guns.

Shaquana, however, with her leg-spin, picked up both openers and also added the world’s best batter at the time Sarah Taylor as another scalp.

The much-vaunted England batting wilted under the pressure, and the girl from Barbados had stolen my heart and garnered admirers all over the world as she picked up a career best 5-16 off 4 overs. I still remember her beaming child-like toothy smile during that game.

The following March, she was ranked the second-best bowler in all of T20 cricket.

But this story does not have a happy ending.Shaquana Quintyne at just 24 years old and she cries herself to sleep.

She cries not just because of the pain she endures in her leg but she’s haunted by a future she now knows she will never have.

In March 2017 while fielding in a West Indies squad practice match at the Coolidge cricket ground in Antigua, Shaquana did some damage to her right knee. She felt the pain immediately.

What happened afterwards was a laid

Shaquana Quintyne in happier times back, negligent response to her plight.

After all, what does a 21-year-old girl know about serious injury? It must be an exaggeration. She’s fine. Give her ice and Cataflam, that’ll do it.

Neither the Cataflam nor the ice worked.

A month later, when the pain became unbearable, she took it upon herself to get an MRI scan done. And the scan showed she had a full-blown posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) grade three tear. Then and only then did the medical team of the then West Indies Cricket Board take it upon themselves to advise her to have the urgent surgery needed… three months later in Jamaica.

And so the up-and-coming star, who was at this time, the captain of the Barbados team, had to go under the knife on June 8, 2017, and do surgery, (by a WICB recommended doctor) which could take her out of the action for about a year.

However, while in Jamaica in the immediate aftermath of her release from the hospital, she experienced more pain. Ripped stitches and blood made for a dramatic scene at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel before she was rushed back to the hospital.

And although she was put on a first-class

Brazil clears four COVID-positive footballers to play SAO PAULO, Brazil (AFP) — The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) cleared four footballers who tested positive for the new coronavirus to play last night against reigning Brazil and South American champions Flamengo, saying they were no longer contagious.

The four players from Atletico Goianiense were initially barred after testing positive Sunday, but the club successfully appealed the decision to the CBF’s medical committee.

The committee reversed the players’ medical suspension late Tuesday, saying their infections were more than 10 days old, that they had observed the necessary quarantine and that they were no longer contagious.

The ruling came just in time for Goianiense’s season debut against Flamengo, the current holders of the Copa Libertadores and Brazilian league titles.

The head of the CBF medical committee, Jorge Pagura, said the decision was based on recommendations from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that

have been endorsed by the World Health Organization.

“After a positive PCR test result, 10 days is sufficient to release the patient” from quarantine, Pagura told news site Globoesporte.

The CBF did not say when the four players were initially diagnosed.

Pagura said they did not need to undergo another test.

“In a lot of cases, the test results keep coming back positive... even when patients aren’t transmitting the virus anymore,” he said.

“We are not clearing anyone to play infected. This is safe, there’s no risk.”

Brazil has the second-highest number of infections and deaths in the pandemic, after the United States: more than 3.1 million and 103,000, respectively.

It nevertheless became the first South American country to resume professional football matches on June 18, with empty stands and a series of health protocols for clubs.

More than 160 players in the first division have tested positive for coronavirus so far.

flight from Jamaica to Barbados, one week after that intrusive surgery, it wouldn’t have helped being on a plane for 12 hours, and in high altitude making stops in Antigua and Trinidad.

Back in Barbados… more pain.

Shaquana was told it was all in her mind.

However it was clear she needed another surgery.

And four months later, an independent surgeon from Barbados, removed one of the screws implanted and found out that the graft from the first surgery did not take hold. The doctor also noticed her right knee was not positioned properly back into the socket. There was nothing the doctor could do for Shaquana then and there. The recommendation was to go to Canada.

By the time the third surgery came around in Canada in April of 2018 at the Fowler Kennedy Sport Medicine Clinic, the doctor informed her that based on the damage in her knee, and the lack of cartilage, she would not play cricket again.

And this is when the support of Shaquana

by Cricket West Indies (CWI) stopped.

Previously, according to the board, the Total and Permanent Disablement policy,

which did not exist for the women’s tea m in 2017 was extended to the young Bajan, in light of her injury.

Since the third operation in Canada, however, she has had to fend for herself. She went under the knife for a fourth time, in Canada where she spent six months in rehab. In total her expenses have exceeded US$30,000.

There has been radio silence from Cricket West Indies since June 14, 2018 under the previous administration led by Dave Cameron. Not a call. Not a bit of inquisition. Not a care in the world. And nothing has changed under the new administration led by Ricky Skerritt.

I once had empathy for sporting associations which, based on the economic climate in the Caribbean, can do little to help athletes. However it is bordering on cruel to totally abandon one of your brightest stars, a young star, a girl, in her hour of need.

The call by chairman of selectors Courtney Browne informing her she would not have been offered a central contract for 2018 to 2019 despite the fact she was injured on the job, wreaks of the injustice many in this world are fighting against today. At the first opportunity, she was forsaken.

Where is the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) in all this? Their last call to her was on her birthday in January of 2019… wishing her all the best. No solid representation from an association of which she is still a member.

There is no argument which can be made stating that enough was done. The loyalty of our regional cricketers should never be questioned until this travesty is addressed.

Who failed Shaquana Quintyne? There are so many dirty hands at the moment.

(Donald Oliver is a football and cricket commentator and a senior producer at SportsMax. Learn more about him at www.thedonaldoliver.com or email him at doliver@sportsmax.tv.)

CPL partner with ICSS to combat match-fixing, fraud PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, (CMC) – Caribbean Premier League (CPL) organisers have collaborated with independent non-profit body, the International Centre for Sport Security, to tackle corruption in the upcoming tournament bowling off here next Tuesday.

Through its Sport Integrity Unit, the Qatar-based organisation will provide technical assistance to the CPL throughout the tournament to help combat match-fixing and betting fraud.

A sports integrity hotline will be set up to detect and trace corruption and will be part of a monitoring system implemented for each of the tournament’s 33 games, which will target “suspicious betting patterns and manipulation of sports results”.

“We are delighted to welcome the ICSS as an integral part of our overall security and competition integrity management,” said Andy Murphy, CPL’s head of security.

“The Hero CPL will benefit immensely from the professional support that the ICSS offers, and

we are delighted to welcome the ICSS as an additional layer of security and oversight.

“The ICSS will become an integral part of our operational planning and will support our extensive network of partner organisations throughout the Caribbean and beyond to ensure we have a successful competition.”

The CPL has emerged as one of the high profile Twenty20 franchise tournaments on the international cricket calendar since its debut in 2013.

Featuring six franchises, the tournament attracts some of the world’s leading players and last year boasted over 300 million in combined broadcast and digital viewership.

And with corruption now a focal point in the modern game, the ICSS said the partnership with CPL reflected foresight and awareness on behalf of organisers and also served as a warning to potential threats.

“The Caribbean is an important region for the ICSS and it is a privilege for the ICSS team to have this opportunity to work

with the CPL, and their partners, to support them in the protection of their competition,” said Fred Lord, director of the SIU’s Anti-Corruption and Transparency Operations.

“This proactive action taken by the CPL sends a strong message to the organised criminal syndicates who are focused on corrupting and manipulating sport for their own financial gains.

“It shows that the CPL is aware of the imminent risks it faces and is prepared to ensure that the highest levels of safeguards have been put in place to deter corrupt and criminal behaviour.”

For the first time this year, all matches in the CPL will be played in Trinidad due to the limitations on travel imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Queen’s Park Oval in the capital and the Brian Lara Stadium in Couva, central Trinidad, will serve as the two playing venues, with fans barred from attendance as per health protocols governing the tournament.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 14, 2020

NexGen Academy/Survival Shopping

Complex Hit & Win golf tourney…

Golf ace Mangal cops top prize IT was easy pickings for ex -Guyana Open Men’s Golf Champ, Mike Mangal who starred in the maiden Hit & Win tournament sponsored by NexGen Golf Academy / Survival Shopping Complex.

Mangal beat off a filed a 55 other golfers to claim the top prize while rookie female golfer Michelle Codrington also took top honors, with prizes for first time players in all categories which included male, female and children.

Parshuram Arjune, Director of Survival who was present to hand over some of the prizes, said “This was my first time playing the game with my sons, and it was an absolute joy to share this experience with them, especially since my work schedule is so hectic. But with the lighted facility, we were able to enjoy (the game) late into the evening.”

He added that this would be an ongoing activity, and relationship with the Academy has great potential to further develop the sport while helping to encourage the younger generation to fully get involved in golf.

Meanwhile, the Academy wrapped up its 2-day clinic on Tuesday at their Woolford Avenue location. Facilitator Colin Ming hosted children’s evaluations camp for youths aged 3-14.

Jayana Butts (right) Parshuram Arjune (center) hand over the winning trophy to Michelle Codrington (left) Director of the Academy Rudy Ramalingum, said in a statement regarding the success of the camp, “It is our goal to provide as many children as possible the opportunity to learn the sport without the cost normally associated

with the game.”

Meanwhile, President of the Guyana Golf Association (GGA) and NexGen boss Aleem Hussain, regarding the camp said, “I am elated with the results and the mix of players we have seen in the past month, with more women and children, families and couples taking advantage of the location to learn the game and experience something only seen on television”, He ended.

Children’s category 1st place: Navishram Arjune 2nd place: Shriram Arjune 3rd place: Arasely Bobb-Semple.

Women’s category 1st place: Michelle Codrington 2nd place tied: Ashley Chu and Kavita Albert 3rd (three-way tie) Abigail Joseph; Ms. Gowrie Albert and Ms. Bibi Zarina Bissessar.

Men’s category 1st place: Mike Mangal 2nd place: Deno Bissessar 3rd place: Adrian Barrow 4th place: Leaknaraine Shivraj.

Leipzig stun Atletico to reach Champions League last four

By Simon Evans LISBON (Reuters) - RB Leipzig stunned Atletico Madrid, with a 2-1 victory in their Champions League quarter-final on Thursday, to reach the competition’s last four for the first time in their club’s short history.

With two minutes of normal time remaining, United States midfielder Tyler Adams snatched victory with a deflected shot from outside the box to set up a semi-final clash with Paris St Germain.

The German side had taken the lead in the 51st minute with a header from Spanish forward Dani Olmo but a disjointed Atletico were shaken into life when record signing Joao Felix came off the bench, earning and scoring a penalty to level in the 71st.

Atletico, runners-up in 2014 and 2016, looked more likely to score the next goal but it was the club founded only eleven years ago who were left celebrating in front of the empty seats of the Estadio Jose Alvalade.

Now the team, built up from the lower leagues and owned by energy drinks company Red Bull, will come up against Neymar and company with a chance at a place in the Aug. 23 final.

As with all games in this ‘final eight’ mini-tournament, there were no fans to witness the drama but it was clear from the outset that Leipzig felt at home among European football’s elite.

They fired an early warning shot when

RB Leipzig v Atletico Madrid - Estadio Jose Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal - RB Leipzig’s Tyler Adams celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Miguel A. Lopes/Pool via REUTERS Marcel Halstenberg was picked out at the back post but his difficult volley flew off target.

Atletico responded with Yannick Carrasco bursting in from the left and firing goalwards but Leipzig keeper Peter Gulacsi reacted well to push the effort wide.

Julian Nagelsmann’s side quickly settled though into the brand of attractive passing and movement that has earned them many admirers.

Kevin Kampl was busy in the centre of midfield and left wing back Angelino was

enjoying plenty of space down the flanks but it was the performance of French central defender Dayot Upamecano that was the most impressive.

Solid defensively, taking care of Atletico’s over-isolated striker Diego Costa, he also had the confidence to bring the ball out of the back and be the starting point for Leipzig’s moves.

BREAKTHROUGH It was impossible not to wonder how different the game might have been if

Leipzig had not sold their top scorer Timo Werner to Chelsea in June, given the lack of a real threat in attack.

But six minutes after the interval, they found a way through - Marcel Sabitzer’s cross from the right was met by Olmo, the Spaniard’s angled header flashing past Jan Oblak and into the far, bottom corner.

The goal prompted Atletico boss Diego Simeone into a change, with Felix, the 20-year-old Portugal international and club record signing, introduced in the 58th minute.

The move paid off when Felix glided into the box and was brought down by an ill-timed tackle from Lukas Klostermann for a penalty.

Felix hasn’t had the most impactful of debut seasons but he had the confidence to get to his feet and bury the spot kick to get the Spaniards back on level terms with 19 minutes left.

Atletico sensed the momentum had shifted and they pushed forward in search of a winner, which looked the more likely outcome, possibly in extra-time, as Leipzig struggled to regain control of the game.

But with two minutes of normal time remaining, substitute Adams tried his luck with shot from outside the box, which deflected off defender Stefan Savic and beat the wrong-footed Oblak.

Atletico piled on the pressure but Leipzig had the belief and the fortitude to hold on for their most famous victory.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 14, 2020

Chemistry among players, franchises will be tested during CPL 2020 –– Teams will need to seek cohesiveness after time away from training together

By Clifton Ross WITH the 2020 Bio-secure Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) just a few days’ players will relish their time spent over the last few months training and staying fit during lockdown, but will be keen on gelling as a unit ahead of the August 18 start to the tournament.

All the franchises including their players and staff, along with the technical guys and a lot more have been in the Trinidad & Tobago ‘Bubble’ for more than a week now, settling in and adjusting to what will be their new lifestyle over the new few weeks.

A few days ago, the lid blew and whistleblowers, most notably Darren Sammy took to social media in order to air their views on what they felt was favoritism being shown to the local Trinidad players and those in the Trinbago Knight Riders franchise.

The allegations were that the local players were permitted to train and move around outside the ‘Bubble’ while other teams were relegated to their hotel rooms, thus having to adhere to social-distancing regulations.

With the local players having the edge to train and have match simulations and further familiarize themselves with the already accustomed conditions; means other players will now have to double up on the work they have been doing indoors recently.

It’s obvious that no amount of training in the next few days can erase the possi-

ble months of live preparation and team training which plays the most important role in freelance T20 cricket. Although franchises would have retained almost all their key pieces from last season, they have not gotten the opportunities to run scrimmages and try out their various combinations.

Also, with not that much overseas players to go around this season, spotlight and responsibility will be on the shoulders of the Caribbean stars.

Again, it is possible that TKR will have an edge over most teams, despite a number of Trinidadian players being scattered around the various franchises.

The former champs have the key Trinidadian stars the likes of the Bravo brothers, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard and Lendl Simmons; renowned T20 world-beaters. If those key players along with their overseas teammates managed to actually sneak in some type of work out and practice while their opponents were kept in the Bubble; then TKR’s gelling factor will outweigh that of the other teams.

Sizing up the odds, talent and form alone won’t get any team over the edge this season especially coming off of 5 months of no cricket and no time spent with coaches and teammates. Ironically, the gelling process could likely be smoother than it has ever been over the years.

With a minor influx of international stars this year due to the pandemic,

teams gelling quickly is crucial after no proper encampment acquaintances among the West Indian players could play a pivotal role for the franchises. Most, if not all the players involved in CPL this season are well-known to each other, either from playing for the West Indies or franchise teammates during Cricket West Indies’ (CWI) Regional senior season.

Coaches might see it a bit more strenuous, particularly those who might be coming in from overseas or might be coaching a specific franchise for the first time. But being stuck in the Bubble and not being able to practice could result in players bonding more off-field over the next few days.

That newer chapter of comradery

could be the X-Factor team’s need when action starts, as player will be more comfortable with their new teammates while old mates will have time on their hands to formulate and strategize team tactics.

In all, it is expected that all players some having documented their time spent during lockdown, will be in the best playing shape physically after putting in sessions indoors.

Ideally, it will be left to see if teams are on the same page while cricketers should also be fully-healed from any injuries or niggles they may have been carrying prior to the pandemic running amok; making for one of the most intriguing CPL’s in history.

Pakistan’s Azhar Ali has so far top scored for Pakistan with an innings of 60..

Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images

Bowlers put England on top in second Test

JAMES Anderson repaid England’s faith, doing all he could to demonstrate he was back in rhythm even if a rain-hampered opening day of the second Test against Pakistan at the Ageas Bowl was far more erratic.

Anderson’s two wickets on a day when a heatwave-breaking storm allowed only 45.4 overs helped England close in a comfortable position after a frustrating start, caused by their own poor fielding rather than the weather.

Anderson played the role of starved attack dog to perfection, snaring a wicket with his eighth ball of the match to remove Shan Masood for a seventh time in five Tests.

Masood top-scored in a losing cause for

Pakistan at Old Trafford, while Anderson had a torrid time with match figures of 1 for 97, which he said left him hungry for wickets to put things right.

England believed Anderson, their veteran seamer who is now just eight away from claiming 600 career Test wickets, deserved every opportunity to do so and he was effectively the first name on the team sheet if Joe Root’s pre-match comments were anything to go by.

He responded almost immediately with a curving inswinger that left Masood with no alternative but to lay bat on ball and, when he failed, he was out plumb lbw for just 1.

A tough period for England ensued as the

bowlers beat the outside edge several times for no reward and, worse, watched two chances go down in the slips cordon and another couple of near misses.

With Pakistan having won the toss, opener Abid Ali received two lives, first on 1 when he was dropped by Dom Sibley at third slip off the bowling of Stuart Broad, and then on 21 when Rory Burns made a meal of a juggled catch at second.

Sam Curran, in the side for a resting Jofra Archer but also to bolster England’s batting in the absence of Ben Stokes, almost had Azhar Ali out for 11 but the edge failed to carry to Root at first slip.

After rain brought an early lunch, Anderson then lured Azhar, unbeaten on 20, into

James Anderson celebrates after taking the wicket of Pakistan captain Azhar Ali. (Stu Forster /Getty Images an extravagant drive, and appeared to find an edge for caught behind but England declined to review. When replays indicated a small spike on UltraEdge, it looked like another opportunity lost.

Azhar and Abid put on 72 runs together but their luck finally ran out. Anderson broke through when Burns held on to an edge and Azhar departed for 20, extending a lean run for the Pakistan captain who has managed just one score of note - a century against Sri Lanka - in 17 innings since late December 2018.

The storm that was expected to end southern England’s week-long swelter duly arrived and play was held up for 80 minutes See page 20

Negative second tests pave way for tournament to bowl off: Hall

CPL has emerged as one of the high profile Twenty20 franchise tournaments

CPL partner with ICSS to combat match-fixing, fraud

See story on page 21

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PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad ,(CMC) – Caribbean Premier League (CPL)organisers have confirmed that all 162 persons who arrived here last week for the tournament have returned negative results in the second round of COVID-19 testing, paving the way for team practice sessions to begin in earnest.

The players, staff and administrators all tested CPL tournament operanegative on arrival two tions director, Michael Hall Mondays ago and have been in quarantine at the official tournament hotel ever since, as per the government-approved health protocols.

Testing was also conducted prior to members of the contingent leaving their respective jurisdictions.

Michael Hall, the tournament operations director, said the latest results now provided the platform for the six-team championship to proceed as planned See page 19 FRIDAY, AUGUST 14, 2020