Guyana_Chronicle_Epaper_08_17_2020

MONDAY 17th August, 2020

' No.106094

Kuru Kururu resident 02 latest COVID-19 victim PAGE

Son kills father during argument

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‘We need all hands on deck!’

SEE PAGE 05

––Min. Anthony appeals, if Guyana is to take the fight to COVID-19 and win

Grounding with the people: President, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali interacting with residents during a visit to Canal #1 Polder on Saturday (DPI photo)

Learning kits being developed for students

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, August 17, 2020

Guyana Foundation congratulates President Ali

THE Board of Trustees of the Guyana Foundation, and numerous volunteers, have extended congratulations to President, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali; Prime Minister, Mark Phillips; Vice-President, Bharrat Jagdeo and the entire Cabinet.

The Foundation has been working in nine of the 10 regions of Guyana since 2013, bringing charitable assistance, and later, free vocational skills training and mental health counselling through its Sunrise Centre.

The Foundation seeks to empower Guyanese to rebuild their communities, bring fulfillment and well-being to their families, enable them to build relations of trust and friendship among themselves irrespective of race and beliefs.

“We are well aware of the many challenges that face the new government in

every sector of management to prepare Guyana for a good future for all. We wish them well.

“Our work has exposed the urgent need for a robust plan to be put in place to educate and skill our population to benefit from the development that must come with our new oil industry. Guyanese living in the diaspora have played a supportive role in our work over the years and in our estimation, they should be called on to make their contributions to their homeland,” the Foundation said in a release.

In battling the scourge of suicide over the years, the Guyana Foundation said it has seen the dire need to provide real opportunities for youth and women throughout the country; the need to improve the conditions and secure the involvement of the Indige-

Catering class at Wakenaam organised by the Guyana Foundation

nous peoples and the need to allow the elderly population to age with dignity and

respect for the contributions they have made.

Members of the Guy-

ana Foundation Board of Trustees are Supriya Singh- Bodden, Che Jian

Ping, Johann Insanally; Special Adviser, O’Neil Outar, and Oral Delmore.

Kuru Kururu resident latest COVID-19 victim -- as death toll climbs to 23

By Navendra Seoraj GUYANA has lost another precious life to the dreaded Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), taking the death toll to 23.

The Guyana Chronicle

was reliably informed that the latest victim is 73-yearold, Wilfred James of Kuru Kururu.

James, who suffered from hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, had contracted the disease

and was being treated in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

The elderly man did not recover despite the valiant efforts by doctors of the unit. He died while receiving treatment, on Sunday.

As seen in recent days, there has been a consistent increase in cases of the disease and deaths caused by the disease. Among the persons who died in recent times, are 74-year-old, Milton Paul; Geerjadai Jagnarine; and 76-year-old May Portsmouth, who died while receiving treatment at the GPHC. According to the World Health Organisation (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. There are, however, vulnerable groups such as persons with underlying conditions and elderly patients, who may develop the severe forms of the disease.

The Guyana Chronicle had earlier reported that the COVID-19 disease has proven to be a “real killer”, especially in cases involving persons who have co-morbidities.

This was according to doctors of the GPHC. At the time, Guyana had recorded six deaths due to the COVID-19 disease, and while the loss of life is never pleasant, doctors had said most of the persons who died had co-morbidities.

In medicine, co-morbidity is defined as the presence of one or more additional conditions co-occurring with a primary condition; in the countable sense of the term, a comorbidity is each additional condition. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that 81 per cent of the persons who contract COVID-19 will have mild symptoms, while 14 per cent will have severe symptoms, and another five per cent will need intensive care.

“Most of the people who passed, have [sic] co-morbidities; some had diabetes, hypertension, asthma, and one of them even had severe pneumonia, which, without COVID-19, can also cause death…. These, coupled with the complications related to COVID-19, can be dan-

gerous,” said Head of the Department of Internal Medicine at GPHC, Dr. Genellys Camps, during an interview with Guyana Chronicle.

Among those who lost their lives to the deadly disease are, 25-year-old Lethem schoolteacher, Donna Ambrose-Greaves; 34-year-old Abdool Khan, a resident of Bartica, who was asthmatic; and local ‘drag-racer’, Deryck Jaisingh, called “Mad Dog”.

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

Two other persons who died from the disease were Osa Collins, a 78-year-old resident of New Amsterdam and 77-year-old Colonel John Percy Leon Lewis.

Forty-five-year-old, Lennox Williams, who also had underlying conditions, died because of COVID-19. And most recently, a diabetic patient, 67-year-old Samuel Morris, also lost his life.

It was last reported that Guyana has so far recorded 709 positive cases of the coronavirus. There are 337 active cases of the virus, while 349 persons have recovered from the ailment.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, August 17, 2020

Georgetown will be greatly enhanced -- with or without support of City Council, says local gov’t minister

By Telesha Ramnarine POLITICS will no longer be allowed to affect the lives of people who live in Georgetown as the new Irfaan Ali-led Government intends to make direct investments to the City, “with or without” the support of the APNU-controlled City Council.

Towards improving the lives of Georgetown residents, the government, through the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, wants to ensure that every decision it takes going forward, is made with input from the residents themselves.

It has been said in some quarters that politics, to a large extent, dictate the fate of the people who live in the City.

The Main Street Avenue and Seawall Bandstand, for instance, are just two locations that have been maintained to a pristine state under the previous government. Since the People’s Progressive Party’s victory; however, these locations have almost been abandoned.

They are now overrun with bush and garbage.

Stephen McKenzie, a vendor Main Street over the past three years, has observed that since the PPP Government came into power, the City Council has downed tools at this location. “Since they came into power, the entire avenue has been overgrown with bushes and grass and all kinds of things,” he reflected.

The vendors have thus been paying money out of their own pockets to keep the area maintained. Among themselves, they pay $3,500 to keep a stretch of Main Street clean and presentable for their business.

“We are faced with vagrants; this morning I had to sweep up and clean up.

Every month, the previous government would have a

-- all major decisions to have input of residents

Vendor Roxanne Adams

Local Government Minister, Nigel Dharamlall

Stephen McKenzie

The Main Street Avenue is now overrun with bush

guy come and weed and blow the place up and sweep up and cut the edges; it used to be well kept,” he recalled; but not for the past few weeks.

“We do pay our fair share of taxes and we don’t really get the maximum thing from it. But as the new government is in, they will have to sort out certain things,” he offered.

Another vendor there, Roxanne Adams, told this publication that the City Council would normally do a good job at maintaining the avenue. “We can’t wait on them. We usually clean it.

Monday morning I am going to bring my rake and clean

up, because we want to sell,” she expressed.

She would like it if the City Council can assign a constable daily to ensure that vagrants are removed from benches. “You have the President living here, you have the prime minister.

We have important agencies along Main Street; persons also come to sit here during the day to relax. When persons come into the country, this is where they come and they walk.”

GARBAGE BINS Adams is also hoping for the garbage bins along Main Street to be cleared regularly.

“If someone can come and clear the bins every day, we can do the balance. For the longest while, I haven’t seen anyone come.”

But New Local Government Minister, Nigel Dharamlall, does not envision a future like this for Georgetown; where citizens have to punish on account of politics.

He has promised that every decision to be made will be made with feedback from City residents.

In a Zoom interview with Guyana Chronicle on Saturday, he said: “We have made a commitment that we will work primarily with citizens, so that with or without the

support of the Council… I think we would have to work with the residents to improve their lives.”

Georgetown Mayor, Ubraj Narine, has so far indicated, like several previous mayors, that the City Council is cash-strapped. This has prompted a review by the Local Government Ministry to determine just where resources should be mobilised to enhance the services in Georgetown.

A report coming out of such a review is expected to be completed by Monday afternoon, and then the ministry, according to Dharamlall, will determine the way

forward.

“By Monday, we will complete an assessment that will identify gaps in Georgetown in the areas of infrastructure, drainage and irrigation, safety and security, etc. Next week, I think we will be in a better position to indicate what we will do,” Dharamlall said.

The intention is not exactly to pour money into City Hall, but to look at ways of conducting direct investment. “We’re looking at doing direct investments, in collaboration with the residents and businesses of Georgetown, so that we can improve the aesthetics and environment and make Georgetown into a City we’re proud of,” he pointed out.

As soon as the report is presented on Monday, Dharamlall said his ministry will begin work. “The mayor has indicated that they will cooperate. Certainly, we will have to start de-weeding, cleaning drains and fixing potholes, fixing traffic lights, improving security, managing solid waste, etc. I see that Georgetown is going to be heavily enhanced, improved and much better looking than what it is.”

Importantly, the ministry will also have to work on a sustainability plan with the City Council. “When we make this initial investment in Georgetown, we expect that they would have a plan in place to continue such works. Whatever we’re doing, we will be using the value for money approach, so we will not be pouring money into any project without people benefitting.”

Dharamlall said he is hoping that City Hall will be more efficient, accountable and transparent in the way they expend the money paid over by citizens in rates and taxes, and also that which is provided by central government.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, August 17, 2020

Learning kits being developed for students

By Tamica Garnett

EVEN though declaring that schools will remain closed this September, Education Minister, Priya Manickchand, last Friday, emphasised that the inability to open schools by no means signify an inability to deliver education, and the ministry was working to develop learning kits for students.

The kits are expected to include curriculum material that would enable the children to be meaningfully engaged, even as they continue to remain at home indefinitely.

“We are working to deliver education on the Internet and we’re developing learning kits and

packages with print and other materials to deliver to specific categories of students,” the minister informed.

The learning kits will be among a number of measures that the ministry is exploring in order to bridge the continually widening education gap, caused by school closures that were brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Manickchand noted that it is hoped that many of the initiatives could be implemented as early as the second week of September so that more students can be actively engaged.

“Circumstances may change depending on the evolution of COVID-19.

But our commitment to providing regular and ef-

MONDAY, 17 AUGUST ― 03:00hrs ~ 04:30hrs

fective learning opportunities going forward will not.

We intend to use this pandemic period as an opportunity to begin to deliver education differently, more effectively and equitably,” the Minister said.

continuous learning had occurred in the five months that the learning institutions have been closed.

Public schools in Guyana have been closed indefinitely since March 16, and while some teachers have

Education Minister, Priya Manickchand

Earlier this year, the MoE had carried out a similar initiative whereby material had been printed and distributed to hinterland pupils in Grades Two, Four and Six, in Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine. The workbooks covered the four core areas of Mathematics, English Language, Science and Social Studies.

However, little else had been done to ensure any level of across-the-board

been implementing virtual teaching with their students, this has been limited to students with access to Internet and supporting devices. Additionally, the initiative has been a voluntary one, with no mandatory measures being worked out Manickchand recently took over the ministerial post earlier this month, following a change of government given the results of the March 2 elections.

MUCH TO BE DESIRED She said what has obtained over the past few months, has left much to be desired.

“The truth is there has been little or no decisive, coordinated approach to achieving that balance of delivering education and doing so safely. Actions needed in the months after school was closed were not taken in entirety or at all,” Manickchand informed.

Since the closure of schools many of the private schools have begun returning to functionality, utilising various virtual methods, including video conferencing software Zoom, and Google classrooms. However the future and even current affects of the learning gap on the public school students remain uncertain.

The ministry is yet to release any statistics on the exact extent of the impact on students. One official noted, however, that, while the ministry has been doing on-going assessments, many challenges were faced due to the nature of the pandemic.

The official noted that locating the students presented some level of difficulty.

“We have not completed that because we have to get into the homes, we are still actively doing that, it’s not an easy task. We have to get to the individuals.

You can’t get to the school just like that because the teachers are not there. So it is an on-going exercise; it is a tedious task that we are pursuing. We don’t have a specific figure we’re still figuring it out,” the official noted.

Notwithstanding, the official noted that this information will need to be gathered as it will have to play a crucial part of

the MoE’s crafting of any re-opening plans going forward.

TAILORED APPROACH “We will have to tailor our approach based on epidemiological patterns, physical spacing, internet connectivity, television reception and teacher availability and we’re really only naming a few of the considerations,” Manickchand elaborated.

Adding that: “No single approach will provide regular and effective learning opportunities to our children across the region …. We will have to therefore use blended multifaceted approach in the coming months. We’re also going to be retraining teachers as far as we can to deliver education differently.”

The minister had previously noted that the Learning Channel will also play an important role going forward.

“We are developing curriculum content for delivery on the learning channel and are working to get the channel broadcasting widely in geographical areas where it has stopped broadcasting or where it has never broadcast before,” she said.

Manickchand also, last Wednesday, met with officials from the National Data Management Authority (NDMA) to explore solutions to deliver education to students using technology.

Some of the persons present at that meeting included the MoE’s Chief Information Technology Officer, Yoganand Indarsingh; MoE’s Systems Development Co-ordinator, Godfrey Munroe; MoE’s Chief Planning Officer, Nicola Johnson; and NDMA General Manager, Floyd Levi.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, August 17, 2020

‘We need all hands on deck!’

–– Min. Anthony appeals, if Guyana is to take the fight to COVID-19 and win

MINISTER of Health Dr. Frank Anthony on Sunday called on each and every Guyanese to recognise that the only way to beat this coronavirus is by collectively and consistently following the health guidelines.

Sharing the ‘hot-seat’ on the televised programme, Government in Focus, Minister Anthony, who made his contribution to the conversation by way of Zoom, spoke on what his ministry has been doing since the new administration took office to ensure the safety of all Guyanese.

He said that through the generous donations of benefactors such as China and the Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO, the Ministry of Health has been able to have access to adequate supplies vital to the fight against the novel coronavirus, codenamed (COVID-19). He said that the Ministry of Health is also employing the use of government resources to purchase some additional equipment and supplies to aid in the fight.

“In terms of the mobilisation of resources,” Dr Anthony said, “the President and Prime Minister have been very proactive in that direction, talking to the varying countries, and helping us to mobilise those resources, so that we can have enough of these PPE in the country.”

He said that over the last few days, there has been an increase in

COVID-19 cases, noting that this is largely due to the fact that the ministry has significantly increased the number of tests being done countrywide.

He made the point that it’s not the number of tests being done, but identifying the positive cases there are is what really matters in the fight against COVID-19.

“I want people to understand that by finding more positives,” Dr Anthony said, “we are able to take action; and that the actions that we are taking is isolating people so that they are not in contact to continue the transmission. And this is very important.”

He further said that the general public should make a concerted effort to ensure that if they are experiencing any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19, they follow the self-isolation guideline and contact the COVID-19 hotline to seek testing.

As to how Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr. Hugh Todd, and Minister of Tourism, Ms. Oneidge Walrond-Allicock have been doing since testing positive for COVID-19 recently, Minster Anthony said he has been in touch with them both, and while they are still “asymptomatic”, they are doing fine otherwise.

He went on to explain that neither minister knew they had contracted the virus, until they did the precautionary test. He said

that since finding out their status, they’ve both placed themselves in self-isolation, so as to minimise the spread of the virus.

TAKING PRECAUTION He said that in addition to identifying who’s positive or not, precautionary measures are an extremely important in the fight against COVID-19, hence the necessity of ensuring the distribution of PPE resources to the relevant personnel.

He said that on that score, the Ministry Of Health has made it its duty to procure and distribute goggles, face shields, masks, both surgical and N-95 gowns, and foot covers to the country’s many frontline workers who would need to protect themselves so they can continue to deliver quality care.

He said, too, that the ministry has been working with the models for predicting potential positive cases here, and preparing and putting systems in place in the event of such an occurrence.

He said that while the main facility for accommodating COVID-19 patients has been the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), the Ministry of Health has been exploring regional hospitals, and looking at how it can increase their capacity and readiness to handle some of the cases, so that not all the severe cases have to come to George-

town.

Minister Anthony said that while there is no decision at this time to effect a lockdown, even with the number of positive cases rising daily, the ministry,

along with the national task force is conducting assessments and formulating strategies and systems in the event that a lockdown becomes necessary.

He said that as it

Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony relates to a budget for the Ministry of Health, he has been given every assurance by both the President and Prime Minister that whatever is needed to fight the disease and flatten the curve will be placed at the disposal of his ministry.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, August 17, 2020

Utterings of a failed leader

A

N embittered and delusional Granger has dubbed PPP/C’s promise of reopening sugar estates, which his coalition government closed, then cannibalized, as ‘fake

news’.

The commitment by the PPP/C Government to re-open sugar estates, which were closed by Granger’s coalition government after duplicitous pre-election promises of keeping sugar alive while riding on the back of PPP’s mantra “Sugar is too big to fail”, has obviously impacted his consciousness that the Irfaan Ali administration is prepared to reverse all the destructive and divisive policies and programmes that have sent tens of thousands of Guyanese families on the breadline.

He is aware that when the sugar mills are once again operationalized, it will underline, as nothing else will, except a turnaround of the economy, that he was an abject failure as a leader and a President.

Granger told APNU+AFC activist, Nicole Telford, in a Public Interest programme, that “They say they are opening the sugar factories… I don’t know if this is true. It’s fake news”.

Granger’s government, in closing four sugar estates at Rose Hall, Skeldon, Enmore and Wales, especially without forewarning, had left in excess of 7,000 direct employees of these estates jobless and unable to provide

existential wherewithal for their families; and consequently negatively impacted the livelihoods of tens of thousands in the sugar-producing communities who were dependent on the spending power of sugar workers. To add to the workers’ plight, many were denied their severance packages.

Admitting, “I haven’t seen a copy of their manifesto,” Granger scoffed at the PPP/C’s developmental/people-empowerment and enrichment promises formalised therein.

However, since acceding to office on August 2, PPP/C leaders have reiterated their manifesto promises. Last Saturday, Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha said that, before the four estates could be re-opened, a new Board of Directors has to be appointed to oversee the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and that there will be a reshuffling of the management of the corporation.

The visionless David Granger, apart from his disbelief that the current government can salvage the sugar industry and steer it on the path toward eventual viability, especially in view of the pillaging of sugar-producing lands and the cannibalisation of the factories and other estate properties, as well as the devastated social structures and bankrupted economy which his government has left in its wake, is adamant that the PPP/C Government will fail to deliver its promised 50,000 jobs.

He asserted, “It looks as if they are removing 50,000 jobs to me. So when it comes

to these 50,000 jobs, this is going to be marvelous. They started by removing people from their jobs. You cannot go on the street and recruit talented people. It’s fake. I dare them to show the Guyanese people a manifesto, identifying where these 50,000 jobs will come from.”

Granger seems to forget that his nemesis, Vice-President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo -- the architect of modern Guyana, who rescued Guyana from the morass of debt and destruction, to which it had sunk under a former PNC government, in which Granger played a vital role-- is on the Irfaan Ali team, which comprises a combination of youth and maturity, all of superior intellect to any member of his Cabinet.

The removal of jobs, to which he is alluding, is the new government’s ridding the nation of persons holding sinecure positions, who have been living in luxury at taxpayers’ expense – drawing millions under various ministries for doing absolutely nothing, even while the average Guyanese family – including coalition supporters, during the deadly COVID-19 pandemic necessitating a lockdown and a contraction of the economy, under his watch, that left many ordinary citizens unemployed, with absolutely no supporting deployment of resources for their survival from his government.

Under a Jagdeo-led Government, Guyana was among 38 countries which met internationally-established targets in the fight against

hunger, ahead of the deadline set for 2015.

In addition, the country also met the more stringent World Food Summit (WFS) goal, having reduced by half the absolute number of undernourished people between 1990-92 and 2010-2012.

The coalition government unsuccessfully tried to duplicate the former PPP/C’s “Grow More” campaign with its kitchen garden initiative. Visionless, only capable of copy-catting PPP/C’s projects, they failed to realise that talking about a project without a holistic blueprint for implementation is doomed to failure.

Agriculture was the main plank upon which Guyana’s economy was based under successive PPP/C governments. It speaks to the vitality of the sector, as well as other socio-economic factors of course, that Guyana was bestowed an award for achieving the distinction of meeting the Millennium Development Goal (MDG), relating to hunger.

However, a myopic coalition government catalysed the agriculture sector on a downward spiral immediately upon attaining office; and the sugar industry became collateral damage to its visionless, destructive governance.

Thankfully, there is a new government and there is renewed hope. And importantly, the new government has already gotten down to business to restore sugar and the livelihoods of sugar workers, many of whom underwent great sufferings since the estates were closed.

Celebrating India’s Independence Day Dear Editor, INDIA commemorated the 74th anniversary of her independence on Saturday. India’s Independence, August 15, 1947, has had a historical significance for Guyana, not only because of ethnic and cultural links, but because India’s independence paved the way for Guyana’s some 19 years later.

Guyana is some 10 thousand miles away from India, but Guyana and her Indo-Guyanese diaspora take pride in celebrating the 75th Independence Day of that country, among the earliest to obtain independence from colonial rule after WWII. The occasion is marked among Guyanese with greetings on social media. Prayers and tributes are planned in mandirs for Sunday.

Had it not been for COVID-19, flag hoisting activities and other public celebrations would have been held in New York. The India Independence Day Parade is usually held on the Sunday after August 15 unless that day is a Sunday on Madison Ave followed by a multi-cultural concert. A Bollywood star and a popular cricket personality or famous person usually serve as Grand Marshall. Guyanese community leaders, like Ramesh Kalicharran, Pt. Ramlall, and others like myself were very active from the first parade in 1981. The polit-

ical group I belonged to marched in the parade with banners and distributed Guyanese newsletters and other literature (flyers, pamphlets) to raise political consciousness about human rights abuses in Guyana. Many Guyanese pleaded for India’s intervention to put an end to rights abuses and help to restore democracy in Guyana. Vishnu Bandhu sponsored a float in the parade for a couple years promoting his URP. Guyanese by the thousands patronised all of these events. Guyanese artistes normally performed at the cultural extravaganza. One of organisers of the annual parade, Yash Pal Soi of Punjab, played a leading role in the struggle for the restoration of democracy in Guyana.

He was honored by Guyanese for his contributions for free and fair elections with the Gold Medal of Freedom award in 2016 and was also praised by President Cheddi, Janet and Jagdeo for his contributions to Guyana.

The India Day Parade in August 1981 was the first free public event that brought Indo-Guyanese together in America by the thousands. Earlier years, there were Guyanese cultural concerts and parties that charged an entrance fee. But later Guyanese activists and community leaders, including this writer would organise free Phagwah and Diwali celebrations and parades modeled after the India Day Parade.

Events like the India Day Parade and other cultural celebrations are helping Guyanese Americans to maintain “their roots with Guyana and India, the ancestral motherland of some 65 per cent of the Guyanese diaspora and 45 per cent of the country. The impact created by the India Day Parade and related ceremonies play a meaningful role in Indo-Guyanese preserving the heritage of their Indian forbearers, bringing them together, and promoting the concept of unity among them in the U.S to champion or advocate their interests. The parade also evokes memory of flag hoisting ceremonies in their villages in Guyana during the struggle for swaraj and the independence of Britain’s Caribbean colonies.

Indo-Guyanese played a meaningful role in the independence movement of their ancestral motherland. The desire for India to become a free nation propelled Indians all over the Caribbean to identify with and support the “Quit India” movement and the struggle to free India of British rule since the early part of 20th century. The older generation reminisced about their singing of the Indian National Anthem, participating in India’s flag raising ceremonies, and attending religious services in observance of India’s Independence in Guyana. They referred to the flag hoisting ceremonies as “swaraj”,

a concept initiated by the Indian Congress of Mahatma Gandhi. They paid homage to the tri-color Indian flag. It was not unusual for Indian school children to sing the Indian National Anthem instead of “Old Glory” and to say “Jai Hind” instead of “Long Live the Queen”. My grandparents and parents told me that they partook in swaraj movements in Port Mourant and flag hoisting ceremonies.

Several Indians contributed to a fund to support the movement in India. Some Guyanese also returned to India and joined the nationalist movement against British colonial rule.

Indians from Trinidad and Fiji also returned to India and joined Gandhi’s nationalist movement for India’s independence.

Later the freedom of India would pave the way for the freedom of Caribbean colonies. The Caribbean colonies began obtaining their independence in the 1960s.

The struggle for independence in the Caribbean was modeled after India’s -- peace and non-violence. India has stood on our side since independence in 1966, doling out hundreds of millions of American dollars in assistance – perhaps the largest donor in dollar value to Guyana.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, August 17, 2020

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Nandlall casts dim light on bribery, corruption ― during visit to the Deeds and Commercial Registry

... All acts of corruption at Deeds, Commercial registry will be investigated – AG Nandlall THE Attorney-General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mohabir Anil Nandlall has warned the staff of the Deeds and Commercial Registry against bribery and corruption, amid rumours that such practices occur at the agency.

Minister Nandlall issued the warning during a recent visit at the Deeds and Commercial Registry Authority offices, at the ground floor of the High Court building, and at Lot 1 High and Commerce Streets, Georgetown.

He admonished that any such incident discovered will be properly investigated and persons implicated will be dealt with in accordance with the law.

During his visit, Deputy Registrar (ag) of Deeds, Zanna Frank, and Registrar (ag) of Companies, Nicole Prince, took the attorney-general on a tour of the two locations and raised with him the challenges

that the agency currently faces, including, physical space for staff, as well as storage capacity. They also outlined other operational challenges.

The attorney-general reminded them that the authority is governed by a board and that the issues will be raised at the next board meeting.

However, the attorney-general lent his support to work with the board to ensure that the problems are addressed, including, extending the building at High and Commerce Streets.

Minister Nandlall further explained that in his previous stint as attorney-general and minister of legal affairs, it was then that the new location at Avenue of the Republic was acquired from New Building Society Limited and was retrofitted to house the Commercial Registry and the Land Registry.

He reiterated that the

Attorney-General, Mohabir Anil Nandlall, interacting with staffers at the Deeds and Commercial Registry intention then was to acquire possession of the First Federation building located on Croal Street to renovate it and use it to give additional accommodation to the authority, especially much-needed vault space to store documents. The attorney-general promised to resume that initiative.

In his address to the

COVID-19 cases exceed 700 ― as 35 new cases recorded

AFTER collectively recording a whopping 134 cases over the past week, Guyana started out the new week by recording another 35 cases on Sunday, to see the country’s cases cross another century, with the total cases to have been recorded in the country now standing at 709.

According to the Ministry of Health’s statistics, as of Sunday, four persons have been moved out of the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), leaving just three ICU patients; while another 39 persons have recovered from the virus.

To date, a total of 349 persons have recovered from the virus. For last week, a total of 121 persons had recovered.

However, the country has recorded yet another COVID-19 related death last Saturday. This brought the total number of deaths, to date, to 23.

The number of persons

in institutional isolation has dropped to 59; however, the number of persons in home isolation stands at 275.

The patients in ICU, and in institutional and home isolation represent the country’s active cases.

Another 71 persons are in institutional quarantine.

To date, some 6046 persons have been tested for the virus, the positive cases representing 11.7 per cent of those tested.

Earlier this week, the Ministry of Health had moved a number of persons from institutional isolation, to home isolation, in accordance with updated guidelines released by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Though there continues to be a steady rise in the number of COVID-19 cases, and even though the situation is grim, Health Minister, 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, Four, Seven and Nine.

However, 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.

staff, Nandlall outlined his expectation that the two registries must be continuously modernised to render their operations more efficient and expedient.

He reminded the staff that the agency is instrumental in the developmental agenda of the country, in particular, in the area of commerce, trade, industry and housing. He also reminded the staff that their duty is to serve the people of Guyana, as well as foreign investors, faithfully and professionally.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, August 17, 2020

Commander Cooper urges enforcement of COVID-19 guidelines

By Rabindra Rooplall WITH the criminal justice system vulnerable to the rapid spread of COVID-19, maintaining the status quo could result in jeopardising the lives of those connected to the system.

As such, Commander of Regional Division Five, Senior Superintendent, Edmond Cooper, along with his Administrative Team, is advising law enforcement officials and the general public to adhere to the strict COVID-19 guidelines.

Recently, the commander and team conducted a ‘walkabout exercise’ in Rosignol, West Coast Berbice and its environs, during which they interacted with members of the business community and the public.

The commander, during his engagements, listened to the concerns of the business community as well as the public, and promised to address them.

He also reminded them about the security and traffic measures currently in place in the region.

Commander Cooper also stressed, heavily, on strict adherence to the COVID-19 guidelines currently in place, and advised all to ensure they wear their mask always and for them to wash and sanitise their hands often, in order to combat the spread of the dreaded disease.

In an invited comment,

the recently-installed commander of the district noted that, in order to protect lives and wellbeing, the police will be ensuring strict adherence to the COVID-19 protocols using law enforcement.

“This begins with changing or modifying policing practices to make them consistent with public health guidelines to maintain physical distancing, which is essential for the health and safety of the public and of police officers themselves,” Commander Cooper noted.

He said the police must now apply the public health model of “do no harm first” in making decisions, from arrests to the use of force.

The senior superintendent explained that making arrests must transition from being a common tool used by law enforcement to becoming literally a tool of last resort.

“This counters the notion that the only way to hold someone accountable in our society is to put handcuffs on him, because putting handcuffs now has a different meaning, not only for the person whose freedom is taken, but for the law enforcement officer who has to come within six feet to make that arrest. We, as a society, must find viable alternatives to incarceration currently,” the commander noted.

Further, Commander

Former PPP/C Member of Parliament, Harry Gill, interacts with Commander Cooper during his outreach in the region.

Commander of Regional Division Five, Senior Superintendent, Edmond Cooper and his team interacting with residents of the division

Cooper said police commanders must make a lot of adjustment to protect their ranks from the virus.

“And we have learned over the years that simply adding more police does not equate to more public safety. It takes an entire community working with the police to sustain long-term public safety. However, the community must fill in the gaps that may exist with the reduction of police intervention—for example, increasing mental health services, drug rehabilitation, youth mentoring programmes, amongst other options as alternatives to arrests, or using technology to reduce the need for police physical interactions. In short, we must reimagine policing so that it relies less on physical interventions and more on community partnerships,” Commander Cooper added.

Additionally, the senior superintendent added that to reduce the spread of COVID-19 among police officers, officers should issue guidance to reduce in-person responses to non-emergency issues.

“They should instead reserve in-person responses for issues that present an imminent threat to public safety or instances where investigation or evidence collection is needed,” he underscored.

Young labourer stabbed to death by bully A 27-year-old labourer tragically lost his life during a vicious attack, as he was making a purchase at a corner shop at Perth Village, Branch Road, Mahaicony on Saturday evening.

Dead is Andy Mohamed called “Randy”, a labourer of New Providence, Branch Road, Mahaicony. According to information received, at around 19:30 hours, Mohamed stopped at a shop to purchase a milkshake and was attacked from behind by an assailant who stabbed him to his neck with a broken bottle.

The young man collapsed and was picked up by public-spirited persons and

rushed to the Mahaicony Cottage Hospital where he succumbed to injuries sustained.

A colleague and friend, Tejpaul Sewah 27, related while at work on Saturday, that Mohamed complained that he was being threatened by a male who he had a misunderstanding with about three days prior.

He explained that Mohamed was making his way home on Wednesday when a female stopped his car and requested a drop, saying she would pay $600.

However, her boyfriend, who was with her, became enraged, saying that a drop to where she was going cost $200.

Deceased: Andy Mohamed

“To avoid a problem, he say look, y’all take back the money but like the guy still wanted a problem. After he see him the next day, the guy would point

Dhanmattie Kumar

up he finger, show he warning sign and then on Friday he see he again and tek he hand and knock up Andy car,” Sewah said.

On Saturday night, Mo-

hamed was attacked by the same person who was making the threats.

Meanwhile, Mohamed’s mother, Dhanmattie Kumar called “Annie”, 49, of Wash

Clothes, Mahaicony, related that she last saw her son around 17:30 hours on Saturday when he came to visit her.

“I am so shock and can’t believe this, my son don’t make problems with no one.

He does try to avoid be in problems. He didn’t deserve this. I want justice for my son,” she cried.

Mohamed was described as a hardworking, kind, generous and thoughtful person, who lived well with his friends and neighbours.

Up to press time the suspect was still in hiding.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, August 17, 2020

PM Phillips resolute in battle against COVID-19

Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips

By Jared Liddell PRIME Minister Brigadier (Rt’d) Mark Phillips has said that as Guyana continues to battle the COVID-19 epidemic, the government of the day is fully committed to ensuring that it “flattens the curve” and minimises the spread of the virus.

Speaking Sunday on ‘Government in Focus’, aired regularly on State-run National Communications Network (NCN), the prime minister noted that there’s a significant amount of goodwill out there towards Guyana, both here at home as well as abroad, in terms of aiding in slowing the spread of the dreaded coronavirus.

He said that one of the major plans the government has in mind for dealing with the outbreak, moving forward, is working to ensure that the Task Force is equipped with adequate testing kits as well as Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) for frontline workers, so as

to ensure that they stay safe as they continue to serve the people of Guyana.

The Prime Minister said that since taking control of the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF), he’s begun restructuring the way the organisation functions, in that it now operates on a three-tier system so as to allow the agency to be more responsive in ensuring that the needs of the people are met. Phillips explained that one team is responsible for coordinating and liaising with the donors and international partners in terms of seeking support through organisations like PAHO, CARICOM, and the UNDP. The two other arms, these being the medical response and economic and social arms, he said, are tasked with working along with a small team that serves as a secretariat of sorts to coordinate them, and that team works out of the Ministry of Health.

“Within our first week,” the PM said, “we went

through an organisational restructuring, and because we were able to come up with a more sustainable way to function, we were able to start delivery, both on the medical side and on the economic and social side, where we are giving out hampers and sanitation supplies, masks and other resources to the people of Guyana.”

BETTER STRATEGY He went on to say that since coming up with a better modus operandi for dealing with the pandemic, the NCTF has been able to reach out and provide relief to citizens in Regions Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), both of which were initially regarded as COVID-19 ‘hotspots’ and were somewhat closed off from accessing resources during this period. He said that in the weeks ahead, it is Task Force’s intention to render further assistance to some “so-called COVID-19

GTT congratulates new government

THE Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) congratulates Dr. Irfaan Ali on his election and swearing-in as President of Guyana, as well as Brigadier (ret’d) Mark A. Philips as Guyana’s prime minister.

GTT, in a release, also congratulates all members of the ministerial Cabinet on their recent appointments and extends best wishes as their work begins on behalf of the citizenry of Guyana.

“GTT is committed to bringing technology growth and expanded connectivity throughout Guyana, and looks forward to working with the government to support its initiatives to empower businesses and people through telecommunications. Together we rise,” said GTT’s CEO, Justin Nedd.

As the largest and longest serving telecommunications and technology services

President, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali

provider in Guyana, GTT said its commitment remains to ‘improve life experiences of our Guyanese people by unlocking innovation through applications and infrastructure to every home and business’.

hotspots” in Regions One (Barima-Waini), Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Eight and Nine.

He said that the Task Force has since reached out to several Ministries of the Government, as well as the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Guyana Police Force (GPF), and Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC), and they are all working together and utilizing their resources to curb the spread of the virus through enforcing the COVID-19 guidelines.

He said that the government is well aware that although persons may not have physically contracted the virus, they are still affected by it in a major way, in the sense that businesses and persons in the private sector have not been to operate at their normal rate. He went on to explain that while many of those in the public

sector may not necessarily be feeling the economic impact of the pandemic, those who work in the private sector are largely affected.

He said that this is one of the considerations that led to the decision to have the curfew extended to 21:00hrs.

And in reinforcing the government’s commitment to ensuring that the COVID-19 curve is flattened, the prime minister drew reference to the Public Service guideline of operating with 50% of the staff on a rotatory basis.

He stated that once the business community continues to follow the guidelines for operation, they can continue to operate with some level of normalcy.

Touching on some of the plans he has in train for the Ministry of Telecommunications and the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), both of which agencies come under

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the Office of the Prime Minister, he said that he intends to reach not just communities on the Coastland but those in the Hinterland as well, through the development of ICT hubs, in an effort to facilitate easier access to information as well as communication throughout the length and breadth of the country.

He also spoke of his intention to take a look at the structure of the CDC and its disaster response preparedness, stating that his proposal for a budget is being tweaked to support the relief of persons during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as to equip it to ensure that it is ready for any other national disaster, should one arise.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, August 17, 2020

Talking about male sexual abuse

IT was a radio phone-in programme, and the subject was male sexual abuse.

The presenter did not expect many callers; he was aware of how taboo this subject is among men. But he also knew it was a topic that needed a platform.

As long as the producers backed him, he was willing to help his potential callers discuss a matter that had touched his childhood and had affected his social-emotional development.

To look at the wellgroomed presenter, you would never guess he had a traumatic experience as a child when he found himself alone in a changing room with his football coach. The man started to touch him intimately, but the boy's quick thinking and a timely distraction got him out of that disturbing situation. He made a report, and the coach was convicted and sentenced.

Now he was grown, married with two children and another on the way. His wife, an equally successful broadcaster, was the other half of this

model couple.

The switchboard lit up as calls trickled in - each one intercepted by his assistant who checked for authenticity before allowing them on air.

The first caller, a youth aged 19 started, 'You can call me Stewart, but that's not my real name…I want to thank you for bringing up this topic because it might prevent child abuse and help people in the same position as me.'

'Well, thanks for calling Stewart' the presenter replied, 'I'm grateful you rang in, what would you like to share?

Stewart continued nervously. 'I was nearly six (years old) when a man sexually assaulted me… It was a family friend, a person who used to drink with my father from as far back as I can remember. After this thing happened, I was confused, I knew something was wrong, but I did as he told me, I didn't tell anyone.'

The presenter listened without interruption as the youth continued. “My life has felt like a burden all through my childhood and even now

… I've even thought about ending it, but I know it would kill my parents if I did something like that…” his voice wavered as he concluded his sentence. “So I just keep going.”

There was a short silence, and the presenter suspected that Stewart was holding back tears and fighting to gather composure.

After a pause, he continued. “The family friend, the one who abused me, he moved to Canada, and some time ago we heard he got jailed for indecent assault.

Next thing we heard, he'd died. I should have been happy, the monster who interfered with me was dead, but my hurt didn’t go away.

It took a long time for me to get up enough courage to tell my parents what he'd done when I was small; I'd kept it inside so long, I had to say something.” The presenter knew the courage it took for Stewart to share his experience live on radio. He interceded.

“Stewart, first of all, I want to tell you how brave

it is that you called to share your story…No child, or adult for that matter, should have to endure sexual abuse, and so many, like you, keep it to themselves for years, even decades. Secondly, Stewart, it might feel like you are the only one who has experienced such an awful ordeal.

It was a heinous irreproachable crime committed against you, an innocent child. But, I want you to know you’re not alone. There are others who have suffered sexual abuse, and they're still suffering. But you, Stewart, you're taking the first step; you are speaking out and believe me you are inspiring other people to do the same.”

“But how do they live with that pain?” Stewart questioned. “I struggle with the memory every day…

When I told my parents, they were devastated…it took them weeks to get over it, weeks of crying, not eating, praying…I tell you, seeing my parents like that were the

toughest weeks of my life.

They blamed themselves for not protecting me; my father cried like a baby.”

“Stewart”, the presenter said with empathy, “...what can I say? I'm so sorry your family had to go through that trauma, but I fully understand why you felt they had to know and somehow I think I'm detecting a little more confidence in your voice …, much more than when we started our conversation. I don't want to jump the gun… but am I right? Is there is a brighter road ahead?”

“We are taking small steps as a family.” Stewart explained. “We've been seeing a counsellor each week for the past two months; sometimes together and sometimes alone, but I know it's helping me and them… put it this way… we are getting there slowly, but surely.” “…and that's the most important thing,” the presenter concluded. “Stewart, you are a survivor. Sexual

abuse is always the adult's fault, and it doesn't make you any less of a man, remember that! Thank you for calling in, I am sure you've inspired many listeners to seek help if they need it.

Support is available; you don't have to carry around the pain of sexual abuse for the rest of your life…and parents, be careful who you bring into your homes and beware of the people you call friends; some characters have ulterior motives. We'll take a break and come back with more calls after these messages.”

If you are concerned about the welfare of a child call the CPA hotline on 227 0979 or write to us at childcaregy@gmail.com A MESSAGE FROM THE CHILDCARE AND PROTECTION AGENCY, MINISTRY OF HUMAN SERVICES AND SOCIAL SECURITY

SARA to be disbanded

THE State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA), which was established under the former APNU+AFC Coalition government, is set to be dismantled.

Vice-President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, during a press briefing on Friday, said the composition of the agency was found to be political.

Members of the unit, he said, have not done anything and are incapable of doing anything.

Headed by economist, Dr. Clive Thomas, the agency was established

back in 2017, to recover stolen assets of the state.

The State Assets Recovery Act 2017 was passed in the National Assembly on April 13, 2017. The act empowers the trace and identification of property, whether in Guyana or in a foreign state or territory, suspected to be state property, obtained or derived directly or indirectly from unlawful conduct involving a public official or any other person.

Dr. Jagdeo said while hundreds of millions of dollars are being spent, nothing is being done.

“We don’t want an agency that loses hundreds of millions of dollars per year to recover $10. We don’t want that; we cannot afford that as a country,” he emphasised.

According to the vice-president, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, will guide whether another agency should be established, the police are contacted directly, or audits are done. (DPI)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, August 17, 2020

A people’s President President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, on Saturday, took time out from his busy schedule to visit and interact with residents of Canal #1, West Bank Demerara. Below are scenes of the President’s visit (DPI photos)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, August 17, 2020

India celebrates 74th Independence anniversary

THE High Commission of India in Guyana marked the 74th Independence Day of India at Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre, Georgetown, Guyana on Saturday morning.

High Commissioner of India, Dr K.J. Srinivasa, hoisted the national flag of India in the presence of few Indian nationals. In order to follow the COVID-19 related health protocols and social distancing norms, the event was restricted to the members of the Indian High Commission and other Government of India agencies operating in Guyana.

The Independence Day2020 was live streamed through the Facebook page of the Mission for the benefit of the Indian nationals and diaspora in Guyana, Antigua & Barbuda, St. Kitts & Nevis and Anguilla. High Commissioner, Srinivasa read the address to the Nation by President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, elaborating various aspects of life in India, its freedom struggle and foundation of modern India, its fight against coronavirus, improvement of public health services and health infrastructure, ac-

celeration of developments in science and technology, e-learning and distance education and the new National Education Policy of India among others.

The President’s address also reflected upon the assistance of medicines, medical supplies, equipment like ventilators, PPEs, etc. extended

by India to various countries across the globe for combating coronavirus pandemic. Dr. Srinivasa also addressed the Indian community and friends and well-wishers of India and made brief remarks on the progress and achievements of India in various sectors and the current global profile of India.

He also referred to the assistance of medicines and medical equipment being provided by the Government of India to the Government and people of Guyana to fight COVID-19. He mentioned about the recent assistance of medicine (10,000 Hydroxychloroquine tablets) and US$1M to the Government of Antigua and Barbuda for combating COVID-19 pandemic by improving health infrastructure and capacities

High Commissioner of India, Dr K.J. Srinivasa and academician, Evan Radhay Persaud, speaking at India’s Independence Day anniversary at the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre

in Antigua and Barbuda.

Antigua and Barbuda had

also received Indian help of US$1.1M post Hurricane

Irma for rehabilitation of the Hannah Thomas Hospital, which has been officially opened by Gaston Brown, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, on August 14, 2020.

He also spoke about the recent assistance of life-saving medicines and medical supplies worth US$ 100,000 and 10,000 Hydroxychloroquine tablets to the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis as a gesture of goodwill in support of its fight against COVID-19.

Besides, India is currently working on a proposal to extend an assistance of US$1M to the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis for improving its health infrastructure and capacity to fight COVID-19. India is also providing the same level of assistance, i.e. US$1M, to each CARICOM country.

The 74th Independence Day of India was culminated with a talk by renowned academician and scholar, Evan Radhay Persaud of the Indian Action Committee on the topic “The Influence of Indian Freedom Struggle on Guyana”. The impressive talk was greatly appreciated by the attendees of the event.

Son kills father during argument AN Ithaca, West Bank Berbice family was thrown into a state of grief following a fatal cutlass fight between a father and son on Sunday morning.

The deceased has been identified as Collis Joseph called “Underdog”, a cane harvester and cattle farmer of Lot 114 Spencer Street, Ithaca.

He was dealt a fatal blow to the chest by his son, Roshane Joseph, called “Johncrow” following an argument over the use of a bicycle.

The incident occurred at approximately 07:30 hrs at the Lot 82 Morgrie Street home of the younger Joseph.

According to information, for several years, the father and son would be involved in heated arguments which would, from time to time, turn physical.

On Sunday, however, the father saw his son at the shop with a juice and other items in his hand and went up to him and destroyed the items he was holding.

An argument then erupted between the two with both threatening to kill the other.

Moments later, the father left and turned up at his son’s home armed with a cutlass.

The Guyana Chronicle was told the father was warned by Roshane and his younger brother, 17, to go home but he stood with the

Deceased: Collis Joseph

cutlass in front of the house, verbally abusing his sons.

“Them boys lock themselves in the house and didn’t come out. After that he (Collis) left and jump the back fence, someone see he and call out to Roshane saying that he daddy coming from the back, so he (Roshane) rushed out the house with the cutlass too,” a relative recalled.

During the confrontation between the father and son, the father threw his cutlass to his son which missed him and ended up in a trench.

Roshane, on the other hand, pelted his cutlass towards his father which struck him in the region of the chest.

The relative, who asked

not to be name, continued: “Collis fall to the ground and start pant for breath and when they turned him over, they see the cutlass bore he and his heart punch out.”

The son, who committed the act, ran from the scene but was arrested at around 13:00 hrs. He remains in police custody as investigation continues.

Collis was picked up and rushed to the New Amsterdam Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Toannia Wayne, 41, the mother of Roshane, told Guyana Chronicle that her husband and son were always at war. She said for many years she felt her son tried to protect her from his abusive father.

“Every time my husband drink he does cause problems, he does beat me bad and my son does say go to the police for he; when them fight and me try to help, nobody listen,” the mother related.

She added that even though her son had moved out, every time they (father and son) see each other, the two get into an argument.

The mother described the incident as unfortunate.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, August 17, 2020

Hinterland CSO programme to be reinstated

Amerindian Affairs Minister, Pauline Sukhai

MINISTER of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai, on Saturday, announced that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government will be re-establishing the Community Support Officers (CSOs) Programme.

This is an initiative aimed at developing young Amerindians in the various villages and communities through the creation of job opportunities and building capacity and strengthening their individual interests and skills.

Speaking at a virtual press briefing, Minister Sukhai said the Amerindian communities can expect the programme to get back on track by the end of the year.

“That is something we are working on right now and are hopeful that the preparation will take off expeditiously and before the end of the year we may be able to address some communities that are ready to adopt the programme.”

Given the COVID-19 restrictions, Minister Sukhai explained that specific areas will be targeted in the initial stages of the programme.

“We will see before the end of the year, attention being paid to prepare those villages to get back on track through the engagement of young people to support community development,” she emphasised.

The CSOs engagement was launched in 2014, under the Youth Entrepreneurship and Apprenticeship Programme (YEAP). It targeted some 2,000 youths between the ages of 16-40 in Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine.

YEAP was part of the then PPP/C Government’s commitment to youth development and advancement,

and investment in the lives of the Indigenous People.

The reintroduction of this programme will replace the Hinterland Employment and Youth Service (HEYS) programme, which was introduced by the former APNU+AFC Coalition Administration, which came to a halt in 2019.

When the new PPP/C Administration assumed office earlier this month, it found that while there were a few successful businesses under the HEYS programme, however, the overall objective of the programme was not being realised.

“There are few successful entrepreneurial initiatives that survived but, in the majority, we found that the funds invested in this project have not been a success,” the minister relayed.

She explained that the unit established under this programme was not active for the past year. Staff members were reporting to work every day but were not engaged in any work. There was no work plan, no approved budget.

“This unit had no provisions, and they continued the unit and staff turned out every day to work. It was only in June 2020 that the ministry received approval for payments to be made, to the staff, through the tender board for the unit, to be paid under the line item in the budget referred to as ‘other’.

Minister Sukhai reiterated the PPP/C Government’s commitment to improving the lives of the Indigenous Peoples through enterprise, entrepreneurship, and job opportunities. (DPI)

Agriculture, infrastructure, tackling COVID -- among key issues discussed between President Ali and head of Islamic bank PRESIDENT, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, on Sunday, met virtually with President of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), Dr. Bandar Hajjar, and the two discussed a number of important issues.

The issues discussed included financing solar energy, agriculture, infrastructure, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and containing the Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

IsDB) President, Dr. Bandar Hajjar

President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, August 17, 2020

CGX Energy joins fight against COVID-19

CGX Energy Inc handed over G$14M worth of food supplies in the form of Rice Cereal meal replacements, manufactured locally by Morning Glory Inc. under the auspicies of the Institute of Applied Science and Technology (IAST), to the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) on Sunday.

The good gesture is part of the company’s assistance to Guyanese during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Speaking at the handing-over ceremony at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue, CGX Energy Inc., Executive Director, Professor Suresh Narine, said the donation is a “collaborative initiative between his company and their partner, Frontier Energy, in response to President Ali’s call for the private sector to step forward and assist his clear priority in addressing the Covid pandemic”.

He noted that CGX decided to include a local food product “to help sustain local

CGX Energy Inc. Executive Director, Professor Suresh Narine; Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar; CDC Director-General, Lieutenant-Colonel Kester Craig and others pose with some of the items that were donated

food processors that are hard hit” at this time.

Professor Narine disclosed that the company will also be making a monetary donation of G$10M in the new week that will aid the CDC’s task of addressing the needs of the

citizenry during this time.

On hand to receive the donation was Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar, who expressed thanks on behalf of Prime Minister, Mark Phillips, who has been tasked with overseeing

the CDC’s Covid-19 response.

The minister expressed thanks to the businesses that have been assisting citizens over the past four months but stressed that “this kind of initiative needs to be ramped up so that it can be more broad-

based to reach more of the depressed and hinterland communities”.

CDC Director-General, Lieutenant-Colonel, Kester Craig, in expressing thanks to the private sector in the National Relief Response to

bring meaningful relief to citizens, noted the importance of corporate responsibility of companies – especially those in the oil and gas sector.

“Those companies that have come on board so far are ExxonMobil, Tullow Offshore, SBM Offshore and today, CGX Energy Inc. It is good to see the oil and gas companies supporting humanitarian efforts,” the director-general said as he called on the private sector to continue supporting this vital effort that can help to flatten the curve.

He noted that CDC will work closely with the new task force and Cabinet sub-committee to ensure the items donated reach persons who are most affected by the virus.

Also present at the handing-over exercise was the IAST’s Chief Accountant, Nonieka Daniels; CDC’s Deputy-Director-General, Major Loring Benons and other officials.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, August 17, 2020

Six-year-old needs urgent eye surgery

Young Katara Williams (centre) and her mother, Joycelyn, with Champions of Change President, Sabrina Craig (left)

CHAMPIONS of Change, a relatively young Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), is seeking the assistance of the public in aiding six-year-old Katara Williams in undergoing emergency eye surgery.

According to Jocelyn Williams, the child’s mother, she first became aware that there was something wrong with Katara’s left eye last December. Turns out the child has a tumour in the eye, which doctors at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) have diagnosed as cancerous.

“I noticed her eyeball was pushing out Christmas Eve of last year. I came off of work, and when I went to collect her from her grandmother, I see her eye looked different; like funny, and I take her to Diamond Hospital,” Katara’s mother said.

“But I thought they were moving too slow, so I end up bring she to Georgetown Hospital, and the doctor said there is something behind the eyes,” she told the Guyana Chronicle.

She said that after Katara underwent a ‘head-scan’, the funding of which, in the sum of $170,000, was undertaken by the Ministry of Health and the child’s father, the doctor confirmed that there was a tumour behind her eye, and requested that she undergo a biopsy, the result of which proved that the tumour was

malignant. Williams said that having been advised that the cancer is spreading rapidly, and realised that the child has already lost sight in the left eye, she’s left no alternative but to plead with members of the public to render her whatever assistance they can. “I would really be happy for help for Katara, because the tumour is still there and spreading, and the only treatment for it would be abroad,” Ms. Williams said.

Champions of Change President Sabrina Craig says what she likes about Katara is her remarkable resilience; that even though she is in obvious pain, she doesn’t let that get her down. “There is a light about her; she’s strong, and I hope the public is able to help her get the treatment she needs,” she said.

Persons willing to donate to Katara’s cause can make contact with her mother, Ms. Joycelyn Williams on: 6306805; or with Champions of Change President Ms. Sabrina Craig on: 673-3120.

Champions of Change has been in operation since 2010, and has been instrumental in helping several children to get funding for various medical treatments since its establishment.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, August 17, 2020

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, August 17, 2020

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, August 17, 2020

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, August 17, 2020

Hamilton wins in Spain to extend lead (BBC) - Lewis Hamilton dominated the Spanish Grand Prix to take his fourth victory in six races so far this year.

The Mercedes driver led every lap from pole position and was simply too fast for Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who was unable to challenge.

Hamilton’s team-mate, Valtteri Bottas, took third, failing to catch Verstappen despite Mercedes’ efforts on strategy.

Hamilton’s win extended his World Championship lead to 37 points over Verstappen, who is six ahead of Bottas.

It was the 88th victory of Hamilton’s career and he is now just three from Michael Schumacher’s all-time record of wins.

It was also his 156th podium finish, a new record, beating the previous mark, also held by Schumacher.

Total control for Hamilton In temperatures of 30C, the race was gruelling physically for all the drivers, but there was no sign of the expected challenge to Hamilton from Verstappen.

Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff had said on the eve of the race that Verstappen was favourite because he had shown stronger pace when the teams were doing their race preparation in practice.

But once converting his pole position into a lead at the first corner, Hamilton was always in command.

He took it easy in the opening laps, to ensure he could make his required pit-stop

schedule but after 10 laps started to increase the pace and Verstappen could not keep up.

“I was just in a daze out there,” Hamilton said. “It felt really good. It was a surprise because we had this problem with the tyres [at the last race] and the work we did was what meant we could do this.”

With Hamilton in control, Red Bull’s focus now became ensuring Verstappen held on to second place from Bottas, who made a poor start and dropped to fourth on the first lap, behind Verstappen and Racing Point’s Lance Stroll.

Bottas was past Stroll within five laps but Verstappen was able to hold the Finn just out of range through the first pit stops.

Mercedes decided to run Bottas longer than Verstappen in the second stint, in an attempt to give him a tyre off-set in the final stint.

But although stopping seven laps later than Verstappen and switching on to the soft tyre compared to the Red Bull’s mediums, Bottas was unable to gain any ground.

Bottas’ consolation was the point for fastest lap, but with a 43-point deficit to Hamilton - a gap edging close to two clear wins - the Finn’s title hopes are already effectively almost over.

A FRENETIC MIDFIELD BATTLE Another bad day for Ferrari saw Leclerc’s race ended due to engine problems Hamilton lapped everyone up to fourth place, so far ahead were the front three from the rest.

The Racing Points of Sergio Perez and Lance Stroll crossed the line fourth and fifth, but the Mexican was handed a five-second penalty for ignoring blue flags when Hamilton was lapping him and dropped behind the Canadian in the results.

McLaren’s Carlos Sainz drove a strong race on his home track to take sixth, ahead of the impressive Sebastian Vettel, who made a one-stop strategy work to move up from 12th on the grid to finish seventh.

Vettel’s team-mate Charles Leclerc was running ahead of him and was also aiming for a one-stop but spun when an electrical fault cut his engine on lap 36.

He managed to get the car going again at the second attempt, and did a lap without his seat belts secured to get back to the pits, where he had to retire.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, August 17, 2020

Koeman could take over Barcelona (BBC) - Barcelona manager, Quique Setien, is to be sacked on Monday and Netherlands coach, Ronald Koeman, could be the man to replace him, says Guillem Balague.

La Liga runners-up, Barcelona, were humiliated in an 8-2 loss to Bayern Munich as they crashed out of the Champions League at the quarter-final stage on Friday.

Setien, 61, was hired as Ernesto Valverde’s replacement in January.

However, he failed to

lead his side to a trophy in 2019-20.

Spanish football expert, Balague, says former Tottenham manager, Mauricio Pochettino, has “been approached”, but ex-Barca player, Koeman, would be a more popular choice.

“The board will meet tomorrow and [Setien] will be sacked,” Balague told the BBC 5 Live Euro Leagues podcast. “They have to choose a manager because in two weeks time, pre-season starts - and the talk is

Koeman could be the man “He said no to an offer in January, but this is different. I think his health situation may have played a part. Discussions may be taking place, we may hear tomorrow, but he will need to separate from the national side so there is still a wait for that to happen.

“He is a name who will, more or less, make everybody happy.”

Former Everton and Southampton manager, Koe-

man, 57, who was appointed as Netherlands manager in February 2018, was rushed to hospital in May with chest complaints but said afterwards he felt “fit as a fiddle”.

Pochettino, who has been out of work since being sacked by Tottenham after five years in charge in November, is also being linked with the role.

According to Balague, the Argentine is in the running but his appointment

Balague told BBC BB Radio 5 Live on Friday that Quique Setien was only Barcelona’s fourth choice to replace Ernesto Valverde would not be well-received by the fans, due to his history as both a player and manager for local rivals, Espanyol.

Instead, Koeman may

Rossi, Vinales cheat death as morbidelli, Zarco crash (BBC) - MOTOGP riders, Franco Morbidelli and Johann Zarco, crashed at the Austrian Grand Prix, with Valentino Rossi narrowly avoiding a collision as their bikes careered across the track.

Yamaha’s Morbidelli and Johann Zarco of Avintia Ducati were up and walking after the incident.

The two riders came together on turn three, with Maverick Vinales, another rider close to hitting their bikes.

“It was so scary, it was terrifying,” Rossi said.

“Franco’s bike passed me at an incredible speed and also the bike of Zarco jumped over Maverick.

We were very lucky.”

Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso won when the race resumed after a 20-minute pause.

Nine-time world champion Rossi, 41, who re-

oversee a “year of transition” before ex-Barca midfielder, Xavi, currently in charge of Qatari club, Al Sadd, would arrive.

Maverick Vinales ducks under the flying wreckage of one of the two bikes

cently said he does not have a “clear deadline” for retirement, looked visibly shaken after the crash.

The victory was

Dovizioso’s third at the track and meant Ducati have won every race since the circuit was added to the calendar in 2016.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Monday August 17, 2020) COMPLIMENTS OF XTRA ENERGY DRINK – STABROEK BAZAAR (Tel: 683-9500) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

(1) 34 matches (2) Jason Holder (Tridents); Shoaib Malik (Warriors)

Today’s Quiz:

(1) Who was declared Man of the Match in the CPL 2019 final?

(2) Who top-scored in CPL final 2019?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

21

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, August 17, 2020

Rain ruins day four in England (ESPNCRICINFO) More rain sent the second Test squelching towards a damp-squib draw, made even more disappointing by the fact that the small amount of play possible on day four teased at an enthralling contest.

Despite squeezing in 10.2 overs of compelling cricket - more than on the washed-out third day - the players left the field after an hour as the rain arrived, remaining so heavy that stumps were called shortly before 4:00pm with the outfield too wet to even attempt a mopping-up operation.

While play was allowed, England claimed the one wicket they needed to wrap up Pakistan’s first innings and lost one of their own when Rory Burns fell to Shaheen Shah Afridi on the fourth ball of the reply.

Pakistan resumed on 223 for 9 with Mohammad Rizwan unbeaten on 60 and

Shaheen Shah Afridi struck early Gareth Copley / © AFP Naseem Shah not out 1.

Rizwan came out swinging but failed to connect with James Anderson’s first ball. He scored a four in each of Anderson’s next two overs, the first charging down the pitch and getting a thick outside edge to an intended straight hit that

Kei Nishikori was runner-up at the 2014 US Open (BBC) - Japan’s Kei Nishikori has tested positive for coronavirus and will not play in the Cincinnati Masters, with the US Open two weeks away.

The 2014 US Open runner-up, 30, says he is “feeling well” but will now isolate and get tested again on Friday.

Defending champions Rafael Nadal and Bianca Andreescu have already said they will not compete at Flushing Meadows.

“This morning while still in Florida, I got tested for Covid-19 and tested positive,” said the world number 31.

“I will have to pull out of the Cincinnati tournament at this time. Me and my team will get tested again on Friday at which point I

sailed over gully’s head, the second a more controlled jab through backward point.

But he fell a short time later, having added 12 to his overnight score, when he shovelled the ball to Zak Crawley at cover to give Stuart Broad his fourth wicket.

Nishikori tests positive for COVID will have another update.”

America’s public health authority states that those who test positive must isolate for 10 days.

Under those rules Nishikori’s isolation would end on 26 August, five days before the US Open begins in New York.

World number one Novak Djokovic has confirmed he will play at the major, but fivetime winner Roger Federer is recovering from knee surgery.

Women’s world number one Ashleigh Barty, Elina Svitolina, Kiki Bertens and Nick Kyrgios have also withdrawn, while Andy Murray is expected to compete after being granted a wildcard.

Afridi made the early breakthrough for Pakistan, dismissing Burns for a fourball duck. He almost had a wicket first ball but Burns’ nick to Asad Shafiq at second slip didn’t quite carry. Shafiq gobbled up the catch a short time later though, to send Burns on his way and put England at 0 for 1 in reply to Pakistan’s first-innings 236.

Dom Sibley and Crawley both wore body blows from Mohammad Abbas who, like Afridi, was finding sublime movement to keep the batsmen under intense scrutiny before the weather had the final say for the fourth day in a row.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, August 17, 2020

Sevilla wrecks United’s Europa dream Luuk de Jong’s winner was his first goal in 12 games (BBC) - Sevilla wrecked Manchester United’s hopes of ending the season with silverware as they edged a hard-fought Europa League semi-final in Cologne.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s

side lost their third semi-final this season despite taking the lead when Bruno Fernandes scored their 22nd penalty of the season after Marcus Rashford was fouled by Diego Carlos.

Sevilla, Europa League specialists, equalised before the interval when former Liverpool forward Suso swept a finish past David de Gea at the far post.

United’s fate was sealed

when they missed a succession of chances early in the second half as Sevilla keeper Yassine Bounou emerged as the hero, denying Anthony Martial several times.

And Sevilla, who saw off

Wolves in the quarter-final, secured their place in the final when Luuk de Jong swept home a cross from Jesus Navas with 12 minutes left, United punished for poor defending which led to

recriminations as Fernandes confronted Victor Lindelof in the aftermath.

Profligate Man Utd pay the price Manchester United’s long season came to a bitterly disappointing conclusion as they missed out on the chance to lift their first trophy since they won this tournament under Jose Mourinho more than three years ago.

And they have only themselves to blame for a lack of killer instinct in front of goal, especially in that opening phase of the second half when Bounou denied them, especially Martial, but United simply had to take one of those chances.

It left Sevilla in the game and, as this talented side have proved before, they are experts at finding a way to win in the Europa League.

And so it proved with De Jong’s late goal, helped by awful United defending as they switched off from Navas’ cross, with Lindelof and Aaron Wan-Bissaka culpable.

United could not respond as they looked heavy legged, Solskjaer waiting until late on before introducing a raft of chances more in hope than expectation.

Livingston stops Ranger’s perfect record (BBC) - Livingston halted Scottish Premiership leaders Rangers’ 100% record as Steven Gerrard’s side missed the chance to go eight points clear of Celtic.

With their city rivals id le, R an g er s h ad th e chance to push further clear but were frustrated by an obdurate Livingston performance.

Max Stryjek made a stunning save from a Borna Barisic free-kick and Ryan Kent twice came close for the visitors, but the point was enough to return Rangers to the summit ahead of Hibernian on goal difference.

Livingston, without striker Lyndon Dykes sidelined after a club-record bid was accepted, claimed an unlikely second point of the season.

They even came close to snatching more, when Craig Sibbald almost caught out Rangers keeper Jon McLaughlin with an audacious attempt from his own half.

Rangers’ frustration was

Borna Barisic almost gave Rangers the lead late on felt from early on when referee Nick Walsh decided there had been no infringement after Kent’s shot appeared to strike the arm of Jon Guthrie in the Livingston box.

Kent tried to take matters into his own hands with a run and shot from the left that was dealt with by

Stryjek, who had replaced on-loan Rangers keeper Robby McCrorie.

The introduction of Brandon Barker and Kemar Roofe did little to unsettle the home side, who lost Marvin Bartley to injury before the hour, and Alfredo Morelos made way for Cedric Itten after nodding

over.

In one of few forays forward, Sibbald spotted an opportunity to catch McLaughlin off his line and the midfielder’s almighty chip was palmed away gratefully by the goalkeeper.

Barisic had opened the scoring in the midweek win over St Johnstone with a free-kick and was given

another chance after Jason Holt fouled Glen Kamara, but Stryjek got his hand to the shot before the home team scrambled clear.

One further clear opening came Rangers’ way with Kent getting into a shooting position on the edge of the box but he curled wide.

WHAT DID WE LEARN? With Dykes’ exit imminent, the role of bustling centre-forward will fall on Jack Hamilton and the 20-year-old caused the Rangers defence problems in the first half even with limited service.

Livingston’s defensive unit was much more reminiscent of last season, dealing with countless dangerous balls into the area as Gary Holt’s side secured their second draw in four games.

Rangers had the kind of dominance in possession they enjoyed in their previous three league matches but it did not translate into pressure until the second half.

Swedish defender Filip Helander, making his first start of the season, looked uncomfortable on the artificial surface after coming in for the injured Leon Balogun. However, Rangers remain the only side in the top flight yet to concede a goal.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, August 17, 2020

Seven big players for CPL 2020 AFTER months of downtime, a galaxy of T20 stars and specialists will return to action in CPL on August 18. That will be followed by IPL on September 19. ESPNcricinfo picks out seven players for whom this CPL could mean a big deal.

Sunil Narine (Trinbago Knight Riders) “You can’t let a guy with a broken finger win games.” That was the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots coach Robin Singh talking about Narine after the offspinner claimed 2 for 10 in his four overs to help Trinbago Knight Riders secure a home qualifier in the last CPL. That was in October. Since then Narine hasn’t played top-flight cricket, thanks to that finger injury.

The Knight Riders went down to eventual champions Barbados Tridents in the second qualifier and subsequently Narine missed West Indies’ tour of the subcontinent.

Narine has warmed himself up by playing the Central Super League (CSL) - a T10 tournament - but is he fit and ready for the CPL, and then the IPL? Can he also rattle off quick runs at the top? If Narine is indeed back to top form, he could play a key role for Knight Riders on the usually spin-friendly tracks at home in Trinidad and carry that form into the other Knight Riders franchise in the IPL. Carlos Brathwaite (Jamaica Tallawahs) He just turned 32, but Brathwaite must know his

career is at crossroads. In 2019, he not only lost the T20I captaincy but also his spot in the West Indies team across formats. Then the Patriots, where he had played from the team’s inception four seasons ago, did not retain him despite his leading them to playoffs in 2019 CPL. Luckily, the Tallawahs have picked him for this CPL, allowing him another opportunity to prove his worth and regain his position in West Indies squads. The T20 World Cup will now be played in October 2021, but Brathwaite knows he will face stiff competition from not just Kieron Pollard, West Indies’ white-ball captain, but the

Carlos Brathwaite played a key role in his side’s win, St Kitts and Nevis Patriots v Trinbago Knight Riders, CPL 2019, Basseterre, September 17, 2019

Sunil Narine celebrates a wicket CPL T20/ Getty Images

Asif Ali pulls through the leg side, England v Pakistan, 2nd ODI, Ageas Bowl, May 11, 2019

two other senior allrounders in Dwayne Bravo, who came out of T20I retirement earlier this year, and Andre Russell.

Shimron Hetmyer (Guyana Amazon Warriors) The 23-year-old is among the most exciting batsmen in the Caribbean, so much so that Andy Roberts recently picked him out as one for the future. However, Hetmyer probably hasn’t had enough game-time in the lead-up to the CPL, having pulled out of the England tour, citing concerns around the Covid-19 situation. Earlier, in IPL 2019, he got only five games at Royal Challengers Bangalore and managed only 90 runs at an underwhelming strike rate of 123.28. A productive stint on the spin-friendly tracks in Trinidad & Tobago may not be a bad way to tune up for the IPL, which will be played on fairly similar pitches out in the UAE. Chris Lynn (St Kitts & Nevis Patriots) The hard-hitting Australian opening batsman missed last CPL after he signed for the Euro T20 Slam which has failed to take off. Subsequently, Lynn lost his place in Australia’s T20I side, which led to his taking a swipe at the selectors.

But Lynn did bounce back, blasting 113 not out off 55 balls in PSL 2020. He will now reunite with his Lahore Qalandars team-mate and fellow Australian, Ben Dunk at Patriots. Can Lynn regain his big-hitting form and then make a seamless switch to Mumbai Indians in the IPL later this year?

Chris Green (Guyana Amazon Warriors) The 26-year-old off-spinner has taken over the captaincy of Amazon Warriors from Shoaib Malik, who has pulled out of the league, but their rivals Knight Riders may keep an even closer eye on him. Green was suspended from bowling due to an illegal action in January, earlier this year, after Kolkata Knight Riders had snapped him up for his base price of INR 20 lakh in the IPL auction.

Brendon McCullum, who is head coach for both Knight Riders’ teams, had also backed Green to overcome the setback.

After undergoing remedial work, Green’s action was cleared in June, but with the Covid-19 pandemic disrupting the cricket calendar, he’s yet to test it out in a high-profile game.

Rovman Powell (Jamaica Tallawahs) Another all-rounder, who is in West Indies’ mix, Powell will have to juggle batting, bowling, and captaincy this CPL. After shellacking a 38ball century in the Super50 Cup in 2019, Powell was back in West Indies’ T20I side for the Sri Lanka tour. However, he did miss a major chunk of the CPL that year due to injury, and Tallawahs finished at the bottom, with just two wins from ten games. The Chris Gayle-Ramnaresh Sarwan controversy has soured Tallawahs’ build-up, and the onus is now on Powell to rouse the team.

Asif Ali (Jamaica Tallawahs) After a hot streak in PSL in 2018, when he helped Islamabad United win, Ali became a T20 globetrotter, earning gigs in the Mzansi Super League, Bangladesh Premier League, and Global T20 Canada.

This, however, will be his first taste of the Caribbean Premier League.

Ali doesn’t quite have recent form on his side: he scored a mere 81 runs in seven innings in PSL 2020 at an average of 16.20 and strike rate of 150.

Having also been jettisoned from Pakistan’s white-ball sides, can Ali serve a reminder of his power-hitting?

Seven big players for CPL 2020

Shimron Hetmyer became the youngest player to score a century in the CPL, at age 21, Jamaica Tallawahs v Guyana Amazon Warriors, CPL 2018, Lauderhill, August 18, 2018

Chris green is the Guyana Amazon Warriors captain

See story on page 23

Hamilton wins in Spain to extend lead See story on page 19

Record breaker: Hamilton now holds the record for the most podiums in Formula 1 history with 156 appearances

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MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2020