Guyana_Chronicle_Epaper_08_21_2020

FRIDAY 21st August, 2020

' No.106098

Oil revenues

Oil revenues to strengthen productive sectors

––Guyanese will not be short-changed by oil companies, says VP Jagdeo

to strengthen productive sectors

SEE PAGE 02

These residents are busy cleaning up their homes after a problem with the koker at Market Street, Grove, East Bank Demerara on Wednesday night resulted in flooding in nearby communities (Delano Williams photo)

17,000 persons affected 08

by Ponzi scheme –– major probe launched PAGE

NCN on brink of financial collapse PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 21, 2020

Oil revenues to strengthen productive sectors --- Guyanese will not be short-changed by oil companies, says VP Jagdeo OIL revenues must be used to build the economy of the future which must feature supportive infrastructure such as good transport, deep-water harbours and modern airports as well as to strengthen the productive sectors.

This is according to Vice-President (VP), Bharrat Jagdeo, during an online radio programme Thursday evening.

He specifically noted that monies from oil resources must be used to strengthen the agriculture, manufacturing and the tourism sectors to make them globally competitive so that years from now Guyana is not totally dependent on oil.

The vice-president also emphasised that transparency in the oil and gas sector cannot be compromised because it will affect future growth and the wellbeing of Guyanese.

“The oil resources have to be spent in a fashion that that doesn’t create the Dutch disease where relative prices are changed and kills the

competitiveness of other sectors,” Jagdeo noted.

Mr. Jagdeo stressed that oil revenues will be spent to improve the lives of the citizenry and government will pass local content legislations that will address the issues of the business community and ordinary Guyanese.

During the online radio programme, the former President said enough has not been done to allow Guyanese to benefit from the developments taking place.

“Guyanese are doing the same job and they get less pay. That can’t happen in the future. Secondly, there are lots of work that can be done

by Guyanese companies that are sub-contracted to foreign companies. I understand that a Guyanese company at this time can’t build an FPSO, but they can definitely provide a whole range of services that are now contacted out to foreign companies,” the VP explained.

He is hoping that before yearend, there are draft legislations before Parliament to address local content and driving more business and jobs for Guyanese.

“We want the oil companies to prosper but Guyanese must share that prosperity,” Mr. Jagdeo said, contending that, “If we don’t, we might as well shut down the sector if we don’t share the prosperity.”

He pointed out that Trinidadian and other foreign sub-contractors receive duty -free concessions from the oil companies along with other favourable concessions which give them an advantage over Guyanese.

“A Guyanese may want to build a warehouse but never received a duty-free concession and therefore they have to compete with a company that has concessions and that has to change,” Mr. Jagdeo said.

Going forward, Jagdeo said ExxonMobil will be held responsible for the work of its sub-contractors as legislations will ensure rigid supervision in relation to local content.

There are also plans for consultation with the public, along with setting up a working group to addresses issues surrounding the oil sector.

In addition, government will ensure that technical agencies engage the oil companies on technical matters in a bid to minimise the contact between the politicians and the oil companies.

Mr. Jagdeo said the ministers will only deal with policy guidelines but negotiations will be done by technical personnel and all spending will be gazetted.

The APNU+AFC administration, he said, had destroyed the institution for contracts as many were dealt with outside of tender board.

“When you undermine the procedure for awarding contracts, you don’t advertise or selective tendering are done with only three people in your office like the Ulita Moore contract, then there is room for an enormous amount of corruption,” Jagdeo said.

The new government, he said, must now return to implement safeguards in relation to audits, tendering and regulations for contracts.

One example, he noted is that NICIL has not had an audit in five years under the APNU+AFC government.

President Irfaan Ali, Jagdeo said, has already issued a directive to all his ministers and other officials that they must act transparently.

He said many of the future oil contracts will have transparency provisions which will also show what the finances are being used for.

Mr. Jagdeo also said that the capacity of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will be enhanced and there will be an institutional approach while moving to a petroleum commission which would be a technical commission that will overlook and monitor contracts.

“So there is less ministerial and political involvement,” he noted.

Government will also provide scholarships for Guyanese to be trained and oil companies must share that cost, Mr. Jagdeo said, adding that oil companies must provide funds for Guyana to build capacity to improve and monitor the sector.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 21, 2020

NCN on brink of financial collapse -- company owed over $195M, $16M by APNU+AFC alone -- financial support not ruled out, staffers urged to redouble efforts to ensure turnaround

By Navendra Seoraj LACK of prudent management has driven stateowned television and radio broadcasting corporation, the National Communications Network (NCN), to its ‘knees’, as the company is on the brink of financial collapse.

NCN was formed in 2004 through the merger of the government radio service, Guyana Broadcasting Corporation, and the government-run television service, GTV, and since then has been reaching ears and eyes across the country.

The company is, however, faced with what might be its biggest challenge yet, lack of physical resources and financial deficit, a situation which Minister of Public Affairs, Kwame McCoy described as “frightening”.

“The situation at NCN is very frightening… large sums of money in the triple digit numbers, over $195 million owed to the company… in this particular period where the COVID-19 situation affects revenue flow… this company has been receiving government subvention and it has been so for a while, but when you examine what the company

has, in terms of finances, it is in a very terrible situation,” Minister McCoy said during a virtual press briefing, on Thursday.

This was uncovered following a rapid financial and management review of key state agencies, which was conducted by a team appointed by President Irfaan Ali. Minister McCoy said NCN is owed $190 million by advertisers alone. Among those indebted to the company is the A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition, which owes $16 million.

The coalition, which was unseated as government by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic) early this month, was the only political party on the list of debtors. There were, however, multiple state agencies and ministries which were said to be indebted to the company.

“People owe money to the company and we have since asked them (management) to intensify the effort to collect money so that we could have money to do critical things,” said Minister McCoy. He encouraged persons, who consider themselves clients and well-wishers of

Minister of Public Affairs, Kwame McCoy

the company, to help improve the financial situation.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT NOT RULED OUT The minister said government support, in the form of a subvention/increased subvention, has not been ruled out, but the company still has a huge task ahead to ensure that it “rakes in” advertising

revenue through creative measures.

In terms of other physical challenges, there has been degeneration of tools and equipment, and this affects the productivity of the company.

Minister McCoy said the company has three vehicles which could transport staff, but none of those vehicles are

COVID-19 claims 30th life in Guyana THE dreaded Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) has claimed the life of yet another Guyanese, taking the death toll up to 30.

The latest victim was identified as a 73-year-old male, who was a patient of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). According to the Ministry of Health, the victim was a patient of the transitional ward at GPHC. “Upon admission to the GPHC, a swab test was done and following his death, the results came back as positive,” said the ministry.

The ministry said they are in contact with all relatives and other contacts of the man, to facilitate contact tracing and rapid assistance to everyone who may have been exposed.

It was reported that Guyana recorded a whopping four COVID-19 related deaths on Wednesday, sending chills among the Guyanese public and leading to louder calls by the local health authority for persons to take the virus seriously.

At 9:00 hours on August 19, 2020, the Ministry of Health regrettably announced the country’s 26th COVID-19 related death. The deceased was a 43-year-old woman and a patient of the transitional

ward at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Then, at 14:00 hours on the same day, the MoH announced the 27th COVID-19 related death.

The deceased was a 72-year-old man who died in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) after receiving medical care for five days. The Guyana Chronicle was later informed that the name of the deceased man was Cyril France.

Then, only four hours later, at 18:00 hours, the MoH announced two additional deaths, bringing the total, since March 2020, to 29 COVID-related deaths. Both patients died at the Bartica Hospital in Region Seven and were identified as a male and a female, age 55 and 41 respectively.

In all four cases, the Ministry of Health indicated that is in contact with all relatives and other contacts to facilitate contact tracing and rapid assistance to everyone who may have been exposed to the virus.

The ministry encouraged members of the public to observe the COVID-19 Emergency measures put in place; to practice physical distancing of at least six feet apart; to use a facemask correctly and consistently when leaving their

homes, and practice good hand washing hygiene to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

“The Health Ministry expresses sincerest condolences to the family of these… persons and will make every effort to provide all the necessary support during this difficult time to assist the families to deal with the situation,” the ministry stated.

Persons with symptoms of COVID-19 are asked to call the COVID-19 hotline numbers 2311166, 226-7480 or 180/181 for assistance.

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.

working. Instead, the company had contracted vehicles at $7,000 a day when it could have fixed those vehicles for $80,000-$100,000.

“There has been total mismanagement… we need to look beyond those problems… we are working to find things and fix things… we are working on initiatives to get things going and make the situation better,” said the minister.

Employees of the company have since committed to working hard, in order to improve the situation, financial and otherwise that exists.

Minister McCoy, who also has oversight for the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA), the Department of Public Information (DPI) and the Guyana National Newspapers Limited (GNNL), said an assessment of those companies also revealed critical issues which need to be fixed.

“In an examination of these agencies, we found a lack of prudent financial management; nepotism where the entities were flooded with friends and family; there were poor working conditions; and polarisation of staff,” he lamented.

In the case of GNNL, the company was subject to a

period of “gross” mismanagement under two separate general managers, who were not identified. Over at DPI, there were also significant management deficiencies.

“We found levels of staff, which we will refer to as top heavy… it was just about providing opportunities to friends and family… critical matters to address were left lagging and we found a situation where we have reorganised and retooled, but we need to find new management that will take us to the level of success we desire,” said Minister McCoy. Government is actively examining ways which those agencies can be salvaged through financial management interventions. Persons have already been temporarily appointed to head NCN and GNNL, to start this process.

In the next few weeks, government will be making critical decisions and “putting in the work” to ensure that Board of Directors for NCN and GNNL are appointed, so that the “real work” can begin.

Minister McCoy’s ministry will also be examining the public relations units of the various ministries.

Guyana records 70 new COVID-19 cases --pushing number of confirmed cases past the 800 mark GUYANA recorded a massive 70 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, the highest daily record to date, while another six persons have been transferred to the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), taking the country’s total number of confirmed cases to 846.

After weeks of Hinterland Regions leading in the discovery of new cases, Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) has returned to the forefront, accounting for 26 of the new cases, bringing the Region’s total confirmed cases to date to 248.

Coming a close second is Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice) with 16 of the new cases; followed by Region One (Barima-Waini) with 10; Regions Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) with five each; and Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) with four.

Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni)

has two new cases; and Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) just one.

The 70 new cases add to the 68 cases that the country had recorded so far for this week, and comes on the heels of four successive COVID-19-related deaths, bringing the total number of fatalities to 29. There are now eight persons in the COVID-19 ICU. The new 70 cases were discovered after an additional 205 persons were tested in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of persons to have been tested to 6502. The 70 new cases were preceded by 40 new ones on Wednesday and 28 on Tuesday.

Thursday’s statistics have shown that the country also recorded 18 new recoveries, bringing the total number of recovered cases to 399.

Some 333 persons are currently on home isolation, while 77 are in institutional isolation, and another 47 are in institutional quarantine.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 21, 2020

Body of missing Canadian man discovered among burnt tyres –– suspect confesses he was hired to commit the murder

THE search for the missing Canadian man in the Upper-Corentyne area came to an end following a confession from one of the

suspects in custody, who said that he was hired to abduct and kill the young man by a member of the young man’s family.

The badly burnt remains of Nicholas Jaipaul, 23, was found among tyres in a clump of bushes, some 30 meters from the Moleson

Public Road, East Berbice Corentyne.

The suspected murderer is a son of one of the maids employed by Nicholas’

Dead: Nicholas Jaipaul grandfather, Ramkissoon Jairam, 86, a former rice miller of Lot 42, Number 69 Village, East Berbice Corentyne.

The suspect had befriended Nicholas and was at the young man’s home hours before his disappearance.

er small skeletal remains of Nicholas were found.

The Guyana Chronicle understands that the act stemmed from a matter currently engaging the attention of the court involving “Brickhead” and the victim’s grandfather.

Sources revealed that “Brickhead” owes monies for rental of rice lands and is refusing to pay. He allegedly contracted the suspect to befriend, kidnap and kill the grandson of his rival as reprisal for his decision to take him to court.

The suspect, after confessing to the crime, took investigators to the patch of land at Moleson Creek where the charred remains of Nicholas were found.

As word of the demise of the 23-year-old spread,

Crime scene investigators making their way into the area where the burnt remains of Nicholas Jaipaul were discovered Nicholas, 23, a Canadian citizen, arrived in Guyana in January and was scheduled to return in May; however, due to the COVID-19 travel restrictions, he was unable to leave the country. While in Guyana, he stayed at his grandfather’s residence.

The suspect was arrested on Wednesday, after Jaipaul went missing between 19:00 hours on Sunday evening and 05:00 hours on Monday morning.

After three days of intense interrogation by ranks of the Major Crime Unit, one of the suspects in custody told investigators of the crime. On Thursday morning, the main suspect allegedly confessed that he was recruited to kidnap and kill the young man for someone whose name was only given as “Brickhead”.

He was reportedly promised a large sum of money for the “hit” and took investigators to the site where a skull and oth-

family members gathered at the scene and a relative was able to confirm that the burnt remains were indeed that of Nicholas.

An onsite autopsy was performed by Dr. Nehaul Singh and the remains were taken to the forensic laboratory where a DNA sample will be taken to verify that it is the remains of Nicholas.

Meanwhile, relatives have expressed outrage and shock that young man lost his life in such a horrific manner.

“He now starting life and is so humble and innocent and does not trouble anyone. He did not deserve this. I hope the murderers get brought to justice swiftly,” one relative said.

The visibly shaken grandfather was unable to speak after he heard the news of his grandson’s demise.

As investigations continue, six persons were arrested, including the alleged mastermind.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 21, 2020

Grove/Diamond Residents clean up, count losses as water recedes

RESIDENTS in the northeast end of Grove/Diamond, East Bank Demerara are now cleaning their homes and counting their losses after a koker door broke on Wednesday evening causing severe flooding in the area.

On Wednesday, around 17:00 hours, the door of the koker which services the communities of the north-east end of Grove and Diamond, caved under the pressure of the rising tide, which caused water levels to rise to around approximately eight inches.

However, due to quick response from the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), and with the aid of a contractor, staff from the Neighbouring Democratic Councils (NDCs) were able to have temporary emergency works done on the koker to have it up and running, and almost immediately after the water started to recede.

The emergency works had already commenced at low tide around 23:00 hours late Wednesday night, before the 03:00 hours high tide early Thursday morning.

When the Guyana Chronicle visited the area on Thursday morning remedial works were being completed.

The NDC and the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) were also on the ground distributing cleaning and sanitation agents to the affected residents.

The CDC had also identi-

Works being done on the Williams) fied the Diamond Secondary School as a temporary shelter for those families affected by the breach at the koker, but none of the residents utilised it.

Herman Ramphal, a councillor attached to the NDC, speaking with the media, explained that government have promised that within three to four days, a brand new door will be built for the koker.

According to Ramphal, in 2018, the Koker was undermined and a construction company had to be called in to do the remedial works.

However, the company did not repair the doors of the koker, only its revetment.

Koker (Photos by Delano According to reports, four days ago the koker operator made a report to the NDIA, whereby someone visited the area.

However, unfortunately it was the brakes of the koker and not the door that he reported.

An NDC official stated that over 400 residents were affected by the flooding, which also left many businesses and farmers in the area counting their losses.

Meanwhile, the affected residents were busy cleaning up their homes, while others were busy assessing the damage.

Police visit former sport director’s house on larceny allegations POLICE, on Thursday evening, moved on former Director of Sports, Christopher Jones, on allegations of larceny.

Armed ranks turned up at his home. Jones is alleged to have collected millions of dollars in payments to undertake projects but there is no evidence that items sourced were put to the identified projects.

Audit documents revealed that professional barber chairs, a condensing unit and materials were procured for construction of a barber shop under a Social Protection Ministry programme but the said items were never used.

Attorneys for Jones prevented the ranks from entering his home as police sought a warrant to gain access.

Police in front of Christopher Jones’ home waiting to gain entry Thursday evening

One of the residents, Ramdial Lalji, who was busying sweeping water out of his home, explained that everything in his home, along with other personal documents, were damaged due to the flood waters.

“All that meh work for in my young days just gone in a second,” the distressed man said as he noted that he has been residing in the area for over 30 years.

Another resident, Parbatie Paul, was busy cleaning her apartment along with her six grandchildren.

The elderly woman explained that her refrigerator along with their clothing were damaged.

Celestine Butters estimated her losses to be in the millions, since she is currently renovating her home. Butters and her family were busy pumping water, which was around two inches high, from her home.

Butters stressed that her daughter is a medical student at the Texila American University and all of her text books were damaged.

Also, house wife Renita, who only four months ago got married and moved into their Market Street, Grove home, was busy cleaning and doing repairs to her home.

The newlywed couple were sealing up patches in the concrete walls to prevent water from coming into their home.

All the family’s groceries were spoiled by the flood along with other

household furniture and appliances.

During the floods on Wednesday, government officials on the scene were Prime Minister, Brigadier (Rt’d) Mark Phillips; Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill; Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Mr. Deodat Indar; and Agriculture Minister, Mr. Zulfikar Mustapha.

Minister Edghill, speaking to residents in the area, explained that the purpose of his being there was so

that his ministry could be mobilised to lend the NDIA a helping hand.

Minster Mustapha also explained that measures will also have to be put in place to make sure that better care is taken of key infrastructure.

The Prime Minister, who lives in Diamond, assured his fellow villagers that work will commence almost immediately to fix the problems they’re having with the koker and other D&I matters in the neighbourhood.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 21, 2020

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Convening Parliament

EXPECTATIONS of Guyanese are running high as the 12th Parliament convenes shortly.

The Eleventh Parliament, subsequent to an APNU+AFC victory in 2015, heralded a new dispensation where the incumbent government held a slim majority in the National Assembly.

However, the Eleventh Parliament was an entirely new configuration because not two political parties made up the majority, but a coalition of several parties, which had become the new governmental construct, whilst the former PPP/C government structure consequently occupied the opposition benches., The 12th Parliament would be an entirely new configuration, because the PPP/C has a comfortable majority of 33 seats, acquired post-elections of March 2020. The PPP, collated with its civic component, enjoyed a successful partnership from the inception in October of 1992 after PPP Founder-Leader, the Iconic Dr. Cheddi Jagan had persuaded like-minded Samuel Hinds from the GUARD movement to coalesce with him in a bid to involve civil society’s stakeholders in the governance of a united nation under joint political/civil society leadership; and PM Sam Hinds rose to the task of na-

tion-building in a partnership of enduring trust; not one of political expediency, as the APNU+AFC has proven itself to be.

The nation is hoping that the coalition opposition would decide to occupy their seats to use this forum for public debates and decision-making to give voice and developmental impetus that would redound, not only to the good of their own constituency, but for the benefit of the entire nation.

The National Assembly is a powerful lobbying forum; and even if there are calls for voting on a particular issue, the current opposition’s dissent – and arguments thereto, would be recorded for posterity in the Hansard whereby, if they forego this opportunity for lobbying for their concerns to be addressed at the foremost platform for national issues – the National Assembly, it is likely that their extra-Parliamentary voices would be like chaff blowing in the wind and their constituents would have no power-based national lobbying forum.

This is the conundrum facing them.

Their argument for a threatened boycott of Parliament is premised on their contention that the Irfaan Ali-led administration is a ‘de facto’ government because they claim that the general elections were fraudulent and massively rigged by GECOM in favour of

the PPP/C, thus they argue that if they participate in any national event held under the aegis of a PPP/C administration, they would be giving legitimacy to what they believe is an illegal governmental construct.

On the other hand, unless they occupy their allocated seats, the voices of their supporters would be effectively silenced in the highest law-making forum in the land.

The PPP leaders have always reminded Guyanese of their long tradition of putting the general good of the nation above any other consideration, and one hopes that this would be the defining factor that would convince the coalition parties that boycotting Parliament would be counter-productive to their oft-stated concern for their constituency.

At the convening of the 12th Parliament, His Excellency President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali would be delivering his maiden address in Parliament as Head-of-State.

This is history in the making because, for the first time in ten years, a PPP Executive President of Guyana will face the National Assembly with a depleted treasury and an entire country’s socio-economic paradigm to reconfigure and reconstruct.

However, the new Guyanese Head-ofState has had extensive exposure in the august House before facing the nation’s

Legislative Assembly as President. His proven administrative capabilities will be illustrative of his Government’s pathways to prosperity, going forward; and definitely in the assurances he will assertively define to the nation - of a progressive aggregation of socio-economic benefits that will redound to the citizens of Guyana that will incrementally enhance lives and the quality of lives in the immediate and long-term future of Guyanese under PPP/C governance.

The nation is hoping that the contentious issues that dominated the considerations of the Eleventh Parliament would find common ground for debate. President Ali has indicated his intention to work with all stakeholders for the good of all Guyanese and his speech would most certainly prove to be conciliatory instead of confrontational and contentious, thus paving the way for consensual positions that would indubitably redound to the general good.

This nation needs to exhale in the refreshing air of the newly spruced-up city and its environs, as promised by Minister Nigel Dharamlall; and there is no better start to this new configuration than a coalition – not merely between governing parties, but between all leaders in the land.

Authoritative leaders should not pre-arm the nation with follies for legitimate missives Dear Editor,

AS the names, faces, appointments and portfolios are announced, there are a variety of expressions of deep consternations, denunciations, suspicions, reservations, recommendations, acclamations and exclamations being pronounced across the board and on both sides of the fence, objectively and subjectively.

Guyanese share mixed reactions, both positive and negative, appreciating, accepting, refusing and criticising, as they vent their feelings and opinions, including, surprise, disappointment, approval, admiration, dislike, disgust, regret, sorrow, outrage, skepticism, neutrality and prejudice. The accolades and condemnations as elucidated by various enthusiasts simply reflect how favourable anxious Guyanese are to flavour their interpretations with variety, contingent upon knowledge, history, experience, performance, anticipation and projection.

Of course, how credible, accurate and pertinent or imprecise, lenient and erroneous these predictions and predicaments are, remain inconclusive and only time will tell if ventilated with opportunity. But they are vociferous if not authoritative and are not scandalous nor presumptuous. One stigma that is of great concern and constantly echoed as a recurring sore thumb is the shared commonality of “baggage carriers!” Understandably, there is a dire need for seasoned

performers as a default retreat for educated guidance and discipline, but, why revisit a minefield that can again become explosive with confrontations and an affront to administrative vanity, curried with nepotism and cronyism? Both parties can ill afford this dangerous and slanderous engagement and pursue remedial alternative that promises the freshness of cleanliness with quality and quantity. Are these preconceived attitudes too hostile in nature and uncomfortable for entertainment or too judgmental in premeditation? Should remorse lend consideration for a second chance placement and possible reparation? Yet the dissents should not cease compatibility and create the entrance of complacency that may maximise the contempt and accusation, zoning into possible error, mistake, collusion, corruption, illegality and in-transparency. One should not rule out an open mind nor ignore a blind-eye approach.

This is essentially applicable to both sides of the divide. Prevention is always better than cure and thus, authoritative leaders should not pre-arm the nation with follies for legitimate missives, but rather condescending towards a leniency for taking pride in good governance as their eager epistles.

Will the APNU+AFC Party function as a past entity or will they metamorphose into yet another innovation and again create disguised imitation of duplication? The coalition will perhaps fade into dissolution from an elimination process, trying to pretend an

aloofness and submerged in a thick cloud, only to re-emerge as a knight in shining armor but trapped in a dusty uniform. Regardless, the sum total of their inglorious and infamous carry-forward will again be their opening brought-forward balance and cannot depreciate but will appreciate due to the consolidation of the nescient bankruptcy that cannot qualify for any write-off allowance. What goes around does comes around and this idiom will stymie the characteristics of honesty and integrity in this nefarious case. How will those guilty ones qualify to debate with bravado and a straight face the government’s governance and accountability when they themselves are saddled with humongous corruptions? Will they dare challenge their own miscreants when these matters will surface for scrutiny in parliament or will they be forced to walk out and save face and embarrassment? In actuality, only the joinder seat can forcefully and respectfully represent the legitimate right to question and query such audited reports when they will arrive for discussion. Even though the personnel may be a new face, it is that very opposition party that remains guilty of fraud and misappropriation and will be on the receiving end instead of the forefront to lead the attack. They will have to adequately supply the much-needed answers which will be in great demand.

This bridge over troubled water is dangling loosely in the minds of fiddlers who are

certainly far away from the roof and would perhaps preferred to be journeying on “The Orient Express,” but even that is contaminated with criminality, driven by a “sanctimonious gangster.” Chances are, nice and spicy choices are limited and soon, “in the heat of the night” will be playing to packed audiences and dancers will have to face the music. The rhythm will be an uncontrolled beat accompanied by a melody that will not be harmonious.

The APNU+AFC Party has left the door wide open and will expose their fragility with one of their weaknesses, the lack of character for honesty and integrity. This will continue to haunt them for years to come and it is a stained blemish that remains on the conspicuous surface that will be a hall mark for ridicule and attack. With the coming of so many forensic audits, the reports will be uncomfortable for discussion and debate. There will be no recourse and the cry of shame will reverberate with a deafening echo.

The honorable attorney general, the auditor general, the revenue commissioner and the police commissioner do have sleepless nights ahead to deal with all the humongous unraveling that threatens to reveal all the illegitimate transactions from the previous administration. Good luck, the chosen few will need it.

Respectfully, Jai Lall

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 21, 2020

FITUG is heartened by proactive COVID-19 response THE Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) took careful note of His Excellency President Dr. Mohamed Ifraan Ally’s address to the nation as it regarded the national strategy to confront the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our grouping, since the arrival of the virus on our shores, has been keenly following the unfolding situation and has aggressively championed measures to alleviate the hardships faced by many Guyanese. During the closing days of the Coalition Government we advanced several proposals which, unfortunately, were not considered by the then administration.

It was, therefore, with some degree of comfort that we learnt from the President that his government is working aggressively to rollout measures to prevent the spread of the disease, to assist those in hardship, and to stimulate economic activity. Much of

what His Excellency shared was previously championed by FITUG. We are most pleased that the President and his team would have, obviously, been listening to our calls, soberly assessing them and now taking them onboard.

The nation was also told that there is more work being done to advance a robust programme to bring an ease to the suffering of our people who have been burdened for many months now. This for the Guyanese people must be pleasing news and we are sure that they, like us, are anxiously waiting to see what the new government will do in their interest.

We were also happy to learn too that emphasis is being placed on getting our nation’s children educational pursuits back on track. This was a matter that deeply concerned the FITUG as well given the obvious inimical repercussions this has. Clearly, unorthodox and novel solutions are required which take account of our geographic, economic and other challenges.

GuySuCo must not be allowed to slide Dear Editor,

WHILE I may be somewhat overdue, allow me to extend hearty congratulations to President Irfaan Ali and his government on their ascension to office after five painstaking months.

The new government, I see, has hit the ground running and obviously recognises the impactful damage inflicted by the Coalition.

While I am happy about these developments, as someone who is concerned about GuySuCo, it appears that not sufficient attention is being paid in this direction. I hope I am wrong but my sources inside the corporation are telling me the many expensive, high-paid, executive pensioners remain on the job while the GuySuCo continues to slide further and further.

I look to Minister Mustapha, who I know has been thrown into the deep end, to pull the company out of the morass created by his predecessor.

We look forward Mr. President to you too taking firm control and ensuring that this industry, which supports the livelihoods of so many, is not allowed to fall more than it finds itself.

Yours faithfully Patricia Persaud

We were happy to see too that daily testing has been doubled allowing us to have a clearer picture of the true extent of the situation. The FITUG had advocated many weeks ago for more aggressive testing. We felt that this would have allowed the nation to get a better handle of the situation. Unfortunately, this logical suggestion fell on deaf ears and testing was often pursued when infected persons reached a critical state. Nevertheless we expect testing to be heightened and while this may reveal a bleaker picture, it provides critical data to correctly analyse the situation.

At this time, the FITUG recognises a call from some for a national lockdown. While on the surface this seems to be prudent, we hold, such a measure needs to be thoroughly considered. We must take into account those workers who have no cushions or had their cushions already exhausted. Also the prolonged impact on the economy must be borne into account. In

as much as a lockdown may bring some respite, any lasting success can only be realised if we, the Guyanese people, act in a responsible and safe manner.

We continue to observe many persons not wearing or inappropriately wearing their masks. Also too many people continue to unnecessarily congregate, disregarding the social distancing requirements. No lockdown or curfew can cure such irresponsibility, rather it is our collective actions as Guyanese that will see us through this crisis period. We again urge, as we have before, that all Guyanese wear their masks when in the public, observe social distancing, and practice sanitisation.

It is these actions that will bring the lasting solution we seek.

Yours sincerely, Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana

Humanitarian Mission Guyana congratulates new government

THE board of directors of the Humanitarian Mission Guyana Inc., all donors and volunteers and I personally, extend warm congratulations to the H.E President, Dr. Irfan Ali; Prime Minister, Mark Phillips; Vice-President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo and the entire Cabinet.

Indeed, congratulations are due to all the people of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana — the peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of a functioning democracy for Guyana. Guyana is demonstrating to the world today the strength of its democracy despite of the many challenges we have had.

Your Excellency, our organisation is no stranger to you, we are

a non-profit established in Guyana since 2005, where we have been working tirelessly to help educate, empower and elevate the people of Guyana towards a brighter future.

Sometimes with the support of our Guyanese diaspora and through the benevolence of all our donors.

We are convinced that with you as the President, great changes are coming for the people of Guyana. We stand ready to work with you, your government, and your administration on a common goal of prosperity and stability for our nation. We will work to help rebuild Guyana, expand in serving our citizens in the field of education and empowerment, and to assist Guyana’s continued development

toward a prosperous future for its citizens.

We will continue to develop our people-to-people ties by ensuring educational and cultural exchanges, expand in serving every citizen of our nation. We will work with you and your government as it takes the steps needed to complete the makeover. We pledge to work with you and your government and civil society to move as quickly as possible toward a better Guyana.

Once again, please accept our sincerest congratulations.

Yours sincerely, Suresh Sugrim President, HMG Inc.

Not this Jagnarine Singh I, Jagnarine Singh, Bsc, MSc., the former head of the Guyana Rice Development Board, member of the PPP/C, completely and unequivocally disown the letter titled “The Honeymoon Period Is Over For Government,” published in Kaieteur News on August 20, 2020.

That Jagnarine Singh is sadly a disgruntled and misled individual who clearly hasn’t spent a minute in government. His assumptions

are based on the fact once His Excellency, Dr. Irfaan Ali was sworn in as President everything would have been reset to prior to 2015. Let me assure you I have every confidence in every decision taken thus far from the executive body of the People’s Progressive Party. Had I had a complaint about anything, my platform to speak would not be Kaieteur News, but my party’s structure and reach out directly to

the general secretary.

I would further like to emphasise how the press has a duty to ensure when it is publishing it does so as accurately as possible.

I’m sure Kaieteur News jumped at the opportunity to use my name in this manner, I would urge them to verify next time.

A proud member of PPP/C Jagnarine Singh (Jags) Dip. Agri, BSc, MSc

8

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 21, 2020

17,000 persons affected by Ponzi scheme -- major probe launched

THE Guyana Securities Council (GSC) has written to President, Dr. Irfaan Ali; Vice- President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo and Police Commissioner (ag), Nigel Hoppie, informing them of a suspected Ponzi scheme operating in Guyana, according to Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall.

Some 17,000 Guyanese have been affected by the scheme.

The AG said a number of Guyanese citizens have enrolled in the Ponzi scheme where Accelerated Capital Firm Inc. (ACFI) claims that it uses a foreign exchange platform to trade and it seems that all aspects of the scheme operate online via training webinars, WhatsApp and e-mail.

The legal affairs minister noted that the operation is unlicenced, unregulated and in violation of several pieces of legislation.

“I advise that we immediately issue a public statement so informing the public, requesting that they demand their monies back and assuring them that our Government will try to assist in this regard. In the statement, I will highlight the fact that the Guyana Securities Council informed the previous administration of this illegal operation a long time ago without any avail. The statement will also inform the public that our government has formally engaged the Guyana Police

Force, the Guyana Revenue Authority and the Financial Intelligence Unit to investigate the operations of the entity,” the AG said in the meeting with law enforcement officials.

The GSC provided the attorney-general with letters that were sent in October, 2019, to Mr. Winston Felix, former Minister of Citizenship, Ministry of the Presidency, and Khemraj Ramjattan, former Minister of Public Security informing them of a suspected illegal investment (pyramid scheme).

The scheme is allegedly operated by Yuri Garcia Dominguez and Ateeka Ishmael.

Mr. Yuri Garcia Dominguez, who is a Cuban had applied to the Minister of Citizenship for naturalisation in Guyana and the publications were seen in the newspapers giving notice.

The notices invited persons who knew of any reason why naturalisation should not be granted to be sent to the then Ministry of the Presidency.

NO PAYMENT The GSC received no response to pieces of correspondence. A number of persons have indicated that they have received no payments from ACFI and attempts made to contact Mr. Yuri Garcia Dominguez have proven futile.

Further, investigations have revealed that Demerara Bank Limited terminated

Attorney-General, Anil Nandlall, in discussion with Commissioner of Police (ag), Nigel Hoppie; Crime Chief, Wendell Blanhum; Head of the Financial Intelligence Unit, Matthew Langevine; Head of the Securities Council, Cheryl Ibbot and Central Bank Governor, Dr Gobind Ganga who joined the meeting virtually

the accounts of Ms. Ateeka Ishmael and Yuri Garcia Dominguez, and refused their request to open a corporate account as a result of their due diligence and the public notice by GSC in the print media.

The GSC had also issued Public Notices in October 2019 and January 2020, notifying the public that Accelerated Capital Firm (formerly ‘Accelerated Wealth Inc.’) is not licensed by the GSC to conduct securities business in Guyana or to solicit investments from the public.

The Accelerated Cap-

ital Firm Inc. (ACF) in its agreement establishes what is popularly referred to as a Pyramid or Ponzi Scheme.

The agreement states that the company operates on the foreign exchange market (FOREX, stocks, commodities, equities, ETFS) with funds deposited thereon by the investor who will receive the profits as indicated by ACF. The attorney-general said that he was informed that 17,000 Guyanese are affected by the scheme.

In describing how the fraud is committed, the AG noted that the investor is

told that he/she will initially receive 50 per cent of his/her initial investment at the end of the month from the date of the deposit.

The investor, he said may recruit or invite new persons to belong to the investment plan and will be entitled to commissions and profits mentioned in the payment plan.

“The payment plan as described in the agreement states that for every person you persuade to invest in ACF the investor will get 10 per cent of the amount invested by the person to be paid within five business

days of the deposit. Further, the investor can get an additional 10 per cent monthly lifetime payment if he could find three additional persons to invest in the scheme. The more persons that are persuaded by the investor to participate in the scheme, and the larger the investment that is made, the higher the percentage of monthly lifetime payments will be made to the investor by ACF,” the AG noted.

Prominent neurologist, Dr. Ramsahoye dies

NEUROLOGIST, Dr Walter Ramsahoye, died Thursday afternoon at his residence on Church Street, Georgetown.

The 78-year-old passed away at around 13:15 hours, a relative confirmed.

Ramsahoye was born on March 30, 1942 in Blankenburg, West Coast Demerara. He earned his bachelor’s degree in natural science from Cambridge University, England, 1964; a bachelor’s degree in medicine, BChir, Cambridge University, England, 1967 and a master’s degree, Cambridge University, England, 1968.

He was also a member of the Royal College of Phy-

Dead: Dr Walter Ramsahoye

sicians, London in 1970. Dr Ramsahoye was also President of the Guyana Cycling Asso-

ciation, 1977-1982, in addition to being a fellow of the American Academy of Neurology, Royal College Physicians.

Dr Ramsahoye also served in positions such as a member of the Guyana Medical Association (vice-president 19871989 and president 19891992); Sports Medicine Association (chairman steering committee 1989-1992); Cabinet Sub-Committee on Health; American College Physicians; Georgetown Cricket Club; and Georgetown Club/Guyana.

Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony said the medical fraternity is shocked at the passing of Dr. Ramsahoye.

9

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 21, 2020

No more neglect of hinterland regions -- says Minister Dharamlall

By Telesha Ramnarine AUTHORITIES have once again pledged to improve the lives of the approximately 113,000 Guyanese living in the hinterland communities; promising to ensure that every region across Guyana has the capacity to grow.

“We want to be in people’s villages and not at Fort Street, Kingston,” Local Government and Regional Development Minister, Nigel Dharamlall asserted recently, when he spoke to the Guyana Chronicle during an online interview.

For too long, Guyana’s hinterland residents have endured a substandard existence, even as 76 per cent of the country’s landmass is hinterland. Further, this publication has, in the past, pointed out how the country’s overall national growth is inextricably linked to improving the standard of living of those in Guyana’s interior.

The majority of those Guyanese are the Akawaio, Arawak, Arecuna, Carib, Makushi, Patamona, WaiWai, Wapichana and Warau Peoples-- all members of Guyana’s Indigenous Peoples.

“We are out in the fields. That is how we would be working. We have to have plans that deal with the economy of the region, its infrastructure and social fabric.

We cannot continue to have the hinterland remain remote, but we have to create greater access,” Dharamlall said.

According to him, the old programmes under his ministry were not found to be really helpful, so far as positively impacting people’s lives is concerned. As such, a number of new developmental plans are on stream for the various regions, which will be announced in the budget.

Frederick Domingo, a resident of Kamwatta Village, Moruca, Region One (Barima/Waini), shared with this publication, on Wednesday, some of the changes that he would like to see in the hinterland communities.

He stressed that provision of the Internet at these locations is key to furthering children’s education. “Wifi at all our schools and com-

munity centres will ensure that all our students across the country have equal access to updated information and don’t just have to rely on textbooks that are outdated,” Domingo pointed out.

He is hoping that the new government will pay attention to equipping hinterland schools with ICT labs, auditoriums, science labs and libraries.

For a better healthcare delivery system in the hinterland, Domingo said there is need for equipment such as ultrasound and X-rays machines in hospitals, along with more doctors and nurses.

“In Moruca, patients have to be transferred on the coast for these services, which adds pressure on the patient.”

In Moruca, there is a solar powered water system that is only supplying half of the community. As such, there is need for a better water system. “Water is a basic necessity. The hinterland needs potable, running water in communities.”

As for electricity, most of the families and businesses in the hinterland rely

also have to ensure greater training and development of our hinterland people,” he added.

According to him, trails into the villages will have to be constructed and improved to reduce the cost

and time of traveling to them. “We have to work on the roads, communication, and health facilities immediately, because when people get sick in those areas, it is very difficult to get them out into a central location.”

Kamwatta Village resident, Frederick Domingo

on generators, but the fuel needed to operate such can prove very costly to them.

“Government can do well to provide electricity for hinterland communities, and since more hinterland communities are developing in transportation, paved roads are needed.

This will ensure easy and faster transportation of supplies from the coast to the hinterland,” Domingo noted.

Meanwhile, according to Dharamlall, government will be keen on providing support to the hinterland that is specific to their needs. “We have to enhance communications in the hinterland and provide more utilities and support in terms of their economic wellbeing,” he offered.

“We have to ensure we upgrade their health facilities, as well as their transportation and airstrip. We would

Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall

Amerindian Affairs Minister, Pauline Sukhai and Minister Dharamlall (second and third from right) during their visits to Kurukubaru and Paramakatoi recently

10

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 21, 2020

Government committed to liberalisation of telecommunications sector -- Prime Minister Phillips assures GCCI members Dead: Leon Gobin

Sour relationship between Kwakwani couple took sad turn Prime Minister, Mark Phillips, meeting with representatives of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Thursday

PRIME MINISTER, Mark Phillips, has expressed the government’s commitment to continue working towards the liberalisation of the telecommunications sector which will lead to the overall economic and social development of Guyana.

The prime minister made this commitment during a courtesy call by executive members of the

Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) at the Office of the Prime Minister, Colgrain House, Georgetown on Thursday.

The need for speedy liberalisation of the telecommunications sector was among the main interests raised by attendees at the meeting. The GCCI also expressed its commitment to contin-

ue its contributions to the work of the Civil Defence Commission’s COVID-19 emergency response efforts.

Prime Minister Phillips welcomed this gesture and encouraged that the private sector also extends its assistance in this regard to vulnerable people in the hinterland while also contributing to raising awareness among citi-

zens about how they can protect themselves against the Novel Coronavirus.

Present at the meeting were President of the GCCI, Mr. Nicholas Deygoo-Boyer; Vice-President, Timothy Tucker and other executive members: Anjie Lambert, Kester Hutson, Ambika Ramraj and Eusi Evelyn.

Container with suspected cocaine intercepted in Germany not loaded in Guyana --- Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit THE Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) has reported that it has found no conclusive evidence that the suspected cocaine found in a container of rice shipment intercepted

by German police earlier this month was loaded onto the container in Guyana.

CANU, in a release, however, noted that following an extensive investigation into the handling, shipping and export of the shipment of white rice, it has unearthed loopholes and irregularities regarding the local handling of the shipment.

This has resulted in a collaborative investigation by CANU and Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) seeking to amend same.

Some 1.5 tonnes of suspected

cocaine found in a container with rice was intercepted at Hamburg Port by Germany police was on August 10, 2020.

The suspected narcotic was found in one 20-feet container containing several bags of white rice shipped from Guyana.

The said container was one out of a shipment of a total of 12 20-feet containers. That entire shipment of the 12 containers comprised 6,000 bags of white rice intended for export to a company in Poland.

The vessel intended to transport the said 12 containers was loaded and sailed from Guyana between May 25 and 26, 2020.

It was confirmed that all 12 of the said containers were scanned locally by GRA operatives and

no narcotic was detected, nor were their seals appeared to have been tampered with.

It is key to note that the said vessel, which departed Guyana, arrived on June 7, 2020 in another territory where the 12 containers were reportedly off loaded in that territory and remained in – transit for a total of six days, after which those 12 containers, which included the one later found to be contaminated, were then re-loaded onto another vessel different from the vessel that initially transported those 12 containers from Guyana.

That said second vessel with the 12 containers and its other cargo then arrived in Hamburg, Germany on June 27, 2020 and discharged the containers the

following day, June 28, 2020.

The 12 containers remained at their boarded location in Germany for several days after which they were then searched and the suspected narcotics were intercepted on Monday, August 10, 2020.

Importantly, newspaper clippings out of the territory in which the said 12 containers remained in-transit in, were found to have been used to wrap some of the bundles of suspected narcotic intercepted in Germany.

CANU said its investigation continues and it will continue to participate in inter-agency collaborations to tighten the grip on narcotic distributors throughout the country.

A relationship that turned sour and was heading for a separation has resulted in a 27-year-old Kwakwani, Upper Berbice River welder being dead and his reputed wife injured.

Dead is Leon Gobin of Kwakwani Park, Region 10. He was found dead after reportedly stabbing his 37-year-old reputed wife when she threatened to leave him during an argument at their home.

According to reports, at approximately 23:00 hrs on Sunday, the couple had a misunderstanding and Gobin told his wife that he will cease to exist if she leaves him.

When questioned by investigators, the woman said Gobin, on Sunday last, broke a beer bottle and dealt her a stab to her upper neck behind her ear.

She managed to escape from the house and went to her cousin’s home situated at Kwakwani, First Phase Housing Scheme.

Her cousin then took her to the Kwakwani Hospital where she was treated for her injuries and admitted a patient with her condition listed as stable.

On Monday, at approximately 09:00 hrs, the woman’s 14-year-old son, who lived at the same address, went to the house which was tightly secured with a padlock from the outside.

After gaining access, he saw the lifeless body of Gobin. The teen then ran out the house and informed the police.

The man’s body was examined and a laceration was observed around his neck and right palm.

An autopsy performed at the Memorial Garden Funeral Home and Crematorium Mortuary on Monday gave the cause of death as asphyxiation compression injuries to the neck consistent with suicide.

If you find yourself in a challenging emotional situation and need to speak to a trained counsellor, calling a helpline, crisis line, and or a suicide hotline offers a great way to be heard and get sound advice. You are not alone.

Inter-agency Suicide Prevention Help Line offers 24-hour emotional support to those who are struggling with depression in Guyana: 223-0001; 223-0009; 223-0818; 600-7896 and 623-4444.

11

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 21, 2020

DJs, entertainers agree to work with MoH --on spreading message of how to beat COVID-19

Seated from left at Wednesday’s meeting between the Ministry of Health and the entertainment industry are: Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister, Kwame McCoy; Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony; and former Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy

DJs and entertainers at Wednesday’s meeting with the Ministry of Health

By Jared Liddell HEALTH Minister Dr. Frank Anthony on Wednesday succeeded in convincing members of the entertainment community of their importance to helping stop the deadly novel coronavirus (COVID-1) in its tracks.

The rapprochement was reached during a meeting between the two parties at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre at Liliendaal, where the historic recount of the ballots cast at the March 4, 2020 general and regional elections unfolded, and cemented the triumphal return of the current People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) administration to office.

What the Ministry of Health essentially did was encourage entertainers to join in the fight against COVID-19 by using their platform to educate and share information to the general public on how to beat the coronavirus at its own game, so to speak.

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony touched on the importance of working together, as everyone has a significant role to play in prevent the spread of this virus.

Noting that is it of the utmost importance that persons are aware of accurate and timely information about the virus, how it works, how it is spread and how its spread can be prevented, he said that the entertainment industry has a significant level of reach that the ministry of health may not have access to.

“We need a massive public education for the people here. Our PR department might try their best; we are a health ministry; we know how to find sick people and help

them; we don’t know how to break down the message so that people could understand and get it to the people. And that’s where you come in; you have different segments of the population that would relate to you, and that is why we are working with you,” said the Minister.

Speaking to the importance of testing, Minister Anthony said that identifying the number of positive cases there are is what really matters in the fight against COVID-19, as it enables the ministry to take action, in terms of advising persons to isolate themselves, or otherwise providing them with isolation options so as to minimise the spread of the virus.

And to do so effectively, he said that health authorities have shored up on the number of COVID-19 testing kits they have on hand, so as to prepare for more rapid testing. To put that into context, he said that the country is now in possession of 50,000 testing kits, thanks to the generous donations of benefactors such as China and the Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO), as well as the ministry’s mobilization of its own resources.

He said what the ministry is essentially aiming to do through the proposed collaboration, is to have the entertainment industry encourage citizens to follow the three main preventative measures, namely: Sanitizing their hands, maintaining the six-foot distance in public spaces, and wearing a mask at all times in all public places.

HELP EXTEND OUR REACH “Today,” he began, looking squarely at the sea of

entertainers seated before him.

“Our appeal is simple: If each one of us wants to remain safe, we have to ensure that all of us are doing the right thing.

We need you to extend our reach to different people and different audiences, so that we can get our message across,” Minister Anthony said, adding: “All of us are in this fight together, and together we can make a difference. This virus is going to be with us for many more months; until we have an effective vaccine, we have to ensure that everyone lives by these rules.”

Also at the meeting was Minister of Public Affairs, Kwame McCoy, and he readily agreed with his colleague that the entertainment industry is potentially one of the largest conduits where the dissemination of information is concerned, with its thousands of listeners daily through varying programmes and platforms.

And he, too, stressed the importance of everyone having knowledge of the coronavirus works, and how pivotal it is to ensure that they are able to protect themselves and their loved ones from contracting and spreading it.

Former Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy said that he knows only too well how important it is to engage DJs and entertainers, having worked with them closely during his time in office in the fight against HIV and AIDS. He said that with the aid of the unique partnership they enjoyed, and the easy and relatable access to information, persons were able to gather much-needed information on HIV/AIDS, so much so that Guyana soon became the world’s go-to model for how DJs and entertainers

Popular radio personality Malcolm Ferreira takes the floor (Photos by Adrian Narine)

could help in the fight against HIV-AIDS. In closing, Dr. Ramsammy stated that if the citizens become more aware, more engaged, and take on the personal responsibility of stopping the virus, we can win the

fight against COVID-19. He said that the ministry wants to engage every citizen in battling this virus, hence its call for a collaborative approach to beating this deadly virus.

Before the meeting was over, the DJs and entertainers

all committed to continue aiding in the fight against COVID-19, adding that many of them are already involved, and have been lending a hand in getting the word out there on preventative measures, as well as safety guidelines to quell the spread.

Popular radio personality, Malcolm Ferreira reiterated his commitment to using his platform to promote the safety of all Guyanese citizens through the distribution of information, while stating, “The information needs to be clear, precise and simple. We don’t need the ‘big-English’ words right now; we need some good Creolese in these messages that would get across to the people.”

He stated that the message needs to be crafted in an authentic Guyanese way.

12

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 21, 2020

Additional contractor to assist in sealing 100-meter sea defence breach PUBLIC Works Minister, Bishop Juan Edghill, and a team from the sea defence department, on Thursday morning, conducted a fresh assessment pertaining to ongoing sea defence works at Content/ Dantzig, Mahaicony.

There was a 100-meter breach in the sea defence.

Also in attendance were local authorities inclusive of Regional Chairman, Vickchand Ramphal.

Residents complained about the harsh effects of flooding in the area.

Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill, interacts with Mahaicony residents and regional officials on the way forward

After these consultations and receiving recommendations from the residents, along with the urgency of the works, a decision was made to have another contractor on site.

A meeting with the technical team and local authorities established another route to access the site to transport machines and materials contrary to the previous advice

given.

Minister Edghill said he is aware that residents are expecting the two present contractors, BK International and A&S General Contractors Inc., to complete their work that is ongoing in a timely manner.

He pointed out that he will not be accepting any excuses for further delays.

Men guilty East Ruimveldt of simple man charged with ‘robbery larceny under arms’ sentenced granted bail to 6 months in prison RICHARD Singh, of Dairy, West Bank Demerara, and Michael Elliot accused of simple larceny, were, on Wednesday, August 19, 2020, sentenced to 6 months in prison by Magistrate Delon Bess.

Singh and Elliot, on Wednesday, August 19, 2020, appeared before Magistrate Delon Bess at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and pleaded guilty to the charge, when it was read to them.

Particulars of the charge stated that, on Thursday, August 13, 2020, at Lamaha Street, Georgetown, both Singh and Elliot stole one 100-pound gas cylinder valued at $50,000, property of Colette Ramalho.

TROY Glasgow of East Ruimveldt, was, on Wednesday, August 19, 2020, granted $150,000 bail by Magistrate Delon Bess, having been charged with robbery under arms.

Glasgow appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and pleaded not guilty to the charge, when it was read to him.

The charge alleged that, on Friday, July 31, 2020, at East Ruimveldt, Georgetown, Glasgow being armed with an offensive weapon, a knife, and his accomplice, with a cutlass, robbed Prasram Singh of one Samsung cellular phone valued at $65,000, one Driver’s Licence and $143,000 in cash.

Magistrate Delon Bess, granted Glasgow $150,000 bail.

The matter was adjourned until October 14, 2020, and was transferred to Court 2.

13

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 21, 2020

Former crime chief now Region Eight commander FORMER Crime Chief (ag), Senior Superintendent Michael Kingston, will now take up the post of commander in Region Eight, replacing Senior Superintendent, Ramesh Ashram, who is now traffic chief.

Kingston was removed from the daily operations at the Criminal Investigations Department in the aftermath of Senior Superintendent, Wendell Blanhum, taking command as crime chief.

The hierarchy of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has seen major transformation with the reassignment of a number of senior ranks under the stewardship of the new Home Affairs Minister, Robeson Benn.

Kingston has spent most of his life in the investigative field and has worked in a number of regions and

divisions of the Force before being appointed crime chief.

While performing the duties of crime chief as a senior superintendent, Kingston was given a letter of appointment which stated that although being a senior superintendent of police, his scope and responsibility are to be regarded as that of an assistant commissioner of police.

Minister Benn had noted that more changes are expected.

Recently, the Home Affairs Minister outlined, at a briefing with members of the Joint Services, the need to implement a mechanism that allows feedback from members of the public as to their perception of the quality of service offered, especially by the Guyana Police Force.

He also noted that there needs to be an assessment

Senior Superintendent, Michael Kingston

and improved treatment of prisoners.

Minister Benn also noted the need for police to exercise impartiality and sensitivity in the execution

PPP/C flags fake Twitter account

THE People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) is urging the public to be aware of a fake account on social media platform, Twitter, professing to be an official account of the party and its leaders.

The party, in a release, said the fake account, which operates under the handle @

PPPCIVIC_Guyana, is not in any way affiliated or connected to the party or its members.

“The public is, therefore, advised that the Twitter account is fraudulent and that they should refrain from engaging the page,” the terse statement concluded.

of their duties, noting that Guyana is made of people from diverse religious, social and ethnic backgrounds.

The minister stated that all, without exception, be

treated fairly and equally, embracing Guyana’s motto of “One People, One Nation, One Destiny” and the need for police to continuously re-assess their performance and set targets to consistently improve their output and effectiveness.

He also emphasised that a 10-point improvement strategy for all divisions, branches and departments within the Joint Services will be implemented.

He urged that the strategy be cascaded to every station and every section within the three services as well as the need for consistent individual improvement through introspection and appropriate corrective action.

Deputy Commissioner of Police, Paul Williams, on Monday, proceeded on 192 days annualised vacation leave as a matter of “Public

interest”.

Earlier this month, Deputy Police Commissioner, Maxine Graham, was also sent on pre-retirement leave and Assistant Commissioner of Police, Clifton Hicken, will head operations of the Guyana Police Force.

Commissioner of Police, Leslie James, is also on pre-retirement leave.

James was appointed Commissioner of Police back in August 2018, along with four deputy commissioners of police in the persons of Lyndon Alves, Maxine Graham, Nigel Hoppie, and Paul Williams. Alves was sent off the job in the public’s interest in 2019.

14

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 21, 2020

‘Sentinel’ guards not paid for July --Labour Minister promises to intervene

By Tamica Garnett

we have to wait.”

SENTINEL Security Inc. is in the habit of not paying its Region Three (Essequibo Islands–West Demerara) security guards on time and currently owes them for the month of July, causing many of them to suffer unspeakable hardships.

The situation has since prompted Minister of Labour Joseph Hamilton to declare on Monday that he will be reading the riot act to many a security firm, letting them know in no uncertain terms that they have to pay their employees on time.

Some of Sentinel’s guards have complained of being behind on the payment of their bills and that the situation is even affecting them mentally.

One said things are so bad, he cannot even afford to eat.

“It affecting me greatly, because right now is only me alone for my house working,” he said, adding: “I really depending on the money. Right now I down; I feel very much stressed out.

This is another month coming, and we ain’t get paid yet; we don’t know how long

FEAR OF RETRIBUTION Many of the guards are afraid to speak out, while those who are willing to speak have asked that their identities be withheld, for fear of retribution.

Late payment has been dogging Sentinel since earlier this year, and one employee was even fired after he’d filed a complaint with the then Regional Executive Officer, Jennifer Ferreira-Dougall.

Aside from their pay, the employees are also asking about annual leave to which they are entitled, as there has been no word on the matter to date.

Though he did not name the company at a virtual press conference held Monday, Minister Hamilton said he is expected to pay a visit to a security company in Region Three which is currently behind in paying its employees.

Sentinel has a history of being behind in paying it Region Three employees, ever since it was awarded a $666.5M contract by the then Ministry of Communities back in November 2017, to provide security services at public buildings in the

Region.

Over the years, the company has been blaming the situation on the arrangement it has with the government.

The guards say they do not understand why they should be the ones to suffer, when the company has difficulties in its transactions.

“Nothing they ain’t telling you about yuh money; nothing,” one guard said.

“They don’t know how you eating, or how you even getting money to reach to work, ‘cause they not paying you.

But you still got to go to the job; and you want the job ‘cause you need the money.”

Minister Hamilton clarified that regardless of the company’s agreement with the government, security companies have an obligation to ensure they have sufficient cash-flow to pay their security guards on time, adding that he will be saying as much when he visits the company this Friday.

Minister Hamilton said he was made to understand that some of the employees have not been paid for as much as three months.

FRIVOLOUS EXCUSE “Their excuse is they are waiting on the government

Sentinel Security Inc. headquarters on downtown Lamaha Street

to pay them, but when you have people working with you, you have to pay them,” Minister Hamilton said, adding: “I will seek to say to them, ‘You have to pay these people.’ The visitations will start, and I will continue engagement with all the stakeholders, for them to have an understanding of the outlook and vision going forward of the Labour Ministry,” When contacted, the Company Operations Direc-

Africo Selman appointed adviser to education minister THE Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, will be looking to drive growth in the education sector, with the support of newly-appointed ministerial adviser, Africo Selman.

Education is a key component of any successful economy, but, like any other sector, it will only bear fruit if there is efficient management, something which Selman is expected to deliver, given her professional and academic background.

According to the Ministry of Education (MOE), Selman, a Queen’s College alumna, holds a Bachelor of Social Sciences Degree in International Relations from the University of Guyana (UG). She also lectured Political Science, part-time, at the same university.

Additionally, Selman has

Adviser to the Minister of Education, Africo Selman

a wealth of teaching experience at the primary level. She holds a deep passion for children and education. In this regard, she coordinated the Health and Education Relief Organisation (HERO) literacy programme from 2008 to

2014 in Sophia, Georgetown and Den Amstel, West Coast Demerara.

She is a former Member of Parliament (MP), serving in the National Assembly from 2006 to 2020-- firstly, as an MP for the People’s National Congress (PNC) and subsequently as a People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) MP. Minister Manickchand, in welcoming remarks, expressed delight that Selman is now a part of the MoE family.

“She is an amazing teacher and has over 23 years of practical experience that will serve the nation well. She taught at the West Ruimveldt Primary School and at Success Elementary School, where she functioned as a Grade Six Teacher and the Grade Six Level Supervisor.

Outside of that, she is also a lovely person who is an avid reader, and I look forward to us working to take the sector to new and modern heights that will meet the needs of the children of today and tomorrow,” Minister Manickchand remarked.

Selman expressed her gratitude at the opportunity which has been presented to her. She gave the commitment that she will be working tirelessly to improve the quality of education in Guyana and to ensure that all of the nation’s children are given equal educational opportunities.

She eagerly looks forward to working collectively with all educators to transform the education sector. Her office will be at the ministry’s Lot 26 Brickdam location.

tor, Christopher Thompson said he knows nothing of the matter.

Many of the security guards say that they believe that their situation could be vastly improved, if only they had a trade union to represent them. They also say that they have been warned by their superiors that if they are ever approached by anyone about joining a union, they must decline or they will be dismissed.

“They seh don’t join no union; anybody ask if you want join a union, say you don’t want join,” one of the guards revealed.

Minister Hamilton, however, said that employees cannot be denied their right as provided for by the Constitution, particularly their right to belong to a union of their choice, and employers must respect the rights of their employees and the Constitution.

Man kills self after wife reportedly refused to engage in sex A toddler, on Thursday morning, allegedly witnessed his father killed himself. Dead is Dexter Weekes, 33, a miner of Sophia, Greater Georgetown. Police said that the incident occurred around 05:30hours in a Region Eight district.

Enquiries revealed that the now deceased man and his reputed wife retired to bed about 20:30hrs on Wednesday night and, after doing so, the man requested sexual intercourse from his reputed wife and the request was not granted.

Reports indicate that about 05:30hrs Thursday morning, his reputed wife woke up and saw Weekes drinking from a cup and then soon after, she heard a loud explosion. When she looked to see what hap-

pened, she saw him lying motionless on the floor.

She then noticed their little son staring at his father.

The police was contacted and the reputed wife related that the motive behind Weekes’ actions seems very strange.

If you find yourself in a challenging emotional situation and need to speak to a trained counsellor, calling a helpline, crisis line, and or a suicide hotline offers a great way to be heard and get sound advice. You are not alone.

Inter-agency Suicide Prevention Help Line offers 24-hour emotional support to those who are struggling with depression in Guyana: 223-0001; 223-0009; 223-0818; 6007896 and 623-4444.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 21, 2020

‘We are reaping what we sow’ --Belle West farmers say they’re in for the long haul, as farming’s not only therapeutic but the way to go these days

By Naomi Parris FOR the last three months or so, Guyana, like other countries the world over, has been feeling the pinch, due largely to the many stringent measures that have had to be implemented to help slow the spread of the deadly novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Those measures and the uncertain political clime at the time notwithstanding, several farmers from the Belle West, West Coast Demerara community in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) have yet managed to keep themselves afloat and still spare a thought for those not as fortunate as they.

The farmers at reference, who all belong to a community-based group called the Farmers Advanced Network (FAN), have also managed to provide employment for quite a few persons.

During an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, Malika Deokarran related that despite the anxieties occasioned by the COVID-19 outbreak here and not having a steady income, she has been able to put a meal on her family’s table and provide some work for a few youngsters in her community.

“So far, it has been a real blessing, because in terms of the situation with the country, the COVID-19 and stuff, I’ve been able to provide work for persons,”

Mrs. Deokarran said, adding: “And it’s also been good for me, because you can’t go anywhere and work. You have the piece of land; you could plant it and do something for yourself, so you don’t have to go out there.”

Presently, she said, she has about ten persons in her employ, and their job is to assist her with her daily affairs of the homestead.

And while, admittedly, sales have dropped a bit, she has still been managing with the little she is earning to provide for herself and employees.

Another farmer, Joy Beharry, told this publication that she has always had a liking for farming, but had only gotten into it seriously two years ago when she encountered some personal problems which forced her to quit her day-time job.

“I started some two years ago,” she said. “I had a little incident at home, where my mom got sick, and I needed to be at home now.

I couldn’t work anymore; so I needed something that could generate income to assist my husband.”

Beharry disclosed that she was granted a piece of land through the FAN programme, and has since been able to feed her family and others, even during all the hardships associated with the coronavirus.

“It was something that I had a long interest in, but never had the access to have

Son on $200,000 bail for killing father RASHANE Joseph, 18, called “John Crow” was placed on $200,000 bail after he was charged with manslaughter.

Joseph is accused of killing his father, Collis Joseph, called “Underdog”, 42, of Spencer Street, Ithaca, West Bank Berbice, on August 16.

The teen made an appearance on Wednesday, August 19 at the Fort Wellington Magistrate’s Court.

On the day in question, the father and son had an argument over the use of a bicycle.

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

Last Sunday, however, the father saw his son at the shop where he had a juice and other items in his hand.

He then went up to the boy and allegedly destroyed the items.

This resulted in an argument between the two, with both threatening to end each other’s life.

Moments later, the father left and turned up at his son’s home, armed with a cutlass. During the confrontation between the father and son, the father threw his cutlass at 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 his chest. The older Joseph fell to the ground and was then picked up and taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital where he died.

The son then ran from the scene but was later arrested on the same day.

lands to cultivate,” Mrs. Beharry said. “I was given a plot of land, and since then,

get into some cash crops,” she added.

Dhanpaul Samaroo Joy Beharry Malika Deokarran

I have been cultivating some red beans. Now I want to

The Guyana Chronicle also caught up with Dhanpaul Samaroo, an ex-sugar

worker from the Wales Estate, and he noted that he, too, has been able to reap the benefits of his hard work amid the COVID-19 crisis.

Samaroo said that

through FAN, with which he has been associated since it was founded back in 2016, he was been able to acquire a few acres of land, and to date has been producing several crash crops and fruits.

“From the inception,” he said, “I’ve always had a love and passion for farming… As the closure of the estate began, NICIL/ GuySuCo they gave us this opportunity to have this access, and we worked along with Mr. Charles Browne in getting the lands allocated to farmers and so forth. And here we are today, with a lot of produce coming out from that area, and few persons employed already.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 21, 2020

Vincent Alexander, others to fork out $4.3M -- after losing defamation case against former GECOM deputy CEO

JUSTICE Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, on Tuesday, awarded over $4M to former Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO) of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Vishnu Persaud, in a lawsuit filed against GECOM Commissioner, Vincent Alexander, then Guyana Chronicle Chief Editor, Nigel Wil-

liams, and the Guyana National Newspapers Limited (GNNL) for the defamation of his character.

Persaud took GNNL-the printers of the Guyana Chronicle-- and its former Editor-in-Chief, Nigel Williams, to the High Court for an article which was carried in the June 14, 2018 edition of the newspaper with the front-page headline, “Poor

past ... Alexander says Vishnu Persaud’s past performance sank him -- Myers emerged the more qualified for the top GECOM post.”

On page 4 of the said newspaper, Williams published or caused to be published a photo of Persaud along with the headline above and the following words: “Former Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO) of

Former GECOM Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO), Vishnu Persaud

GECOM Commissioner, Vincent Alexander

the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Vishnu Persaud was rejected from rehiring on the grounds of his past performance, his alleged history of faking his qualifications to the commission… ‘He (Justice Patterson) objected to Vishnu based on past performance, based on the other candidate having better qualifications and based on the history of misrepresentation of qualifications to the commission’, longstanding commissioner, Vincent Alexander told the Guyana Chronicle.”

These words were published in the online version of the Chronicle Newspaper and republished by www. theworldnews.net/gy-news/ poorpast, an online newspaper which quoted the Guyana Chronicle as a ‘trusted source’ in relation to this article.

Additionally, the said newspaper along with its then editor-in-chief, on June 20, 2018, on page 8 of the print version of the Chronicle Newspaper and the online version published or caused to be published an article entitled ‘I Challenge Jagdeo to a Face off on the Facts”, which contained the following words: “On that matter, I stand by my word and hereby restate emphatically that Vishnu Persaud’s candidacy was opposed by me on the grounds that the other candidate is superior, in addition to the fact that Vishnu was appointed as the PRO of GECOM when he was not qualified for the job. He was elevated to the DCEO on the pretence of being the holder of a first degree, here again, he was appointed to a position for which he was not qualified.”

Persaud, in his court documents, had contended that the words published in First Article, Comment and Second Article (the Statements) were defamatory.

Moreover, the natural and ordinary meaning of the

Former Guyana Chronicle Chief Editor, Nigel Williams

words in the First Article was that Persaud faked his qualification to GECOM; and in the Comment and Second Article was that the Claimant was elevated to DCEO on the pretense of being the holder of a first degree.

Persaud, the claimant, also contended that the statements were formulated based on assertions of fact that he misrepresented or faked his qualifications while applying for the DCEO position and clearly referred to him and were published both locally and abroad by the Chronicle Newspaper.

“The Claimant contended that the statements were defamatory because his esteem was lowered by the average Guyanese who read them.

He claimed that the words imputed that he was corrupt, dishonest and put his professional reputation in disrepute. He claimed that the words published affected his social and personal relationships negatively and caused irreparable damage to his professional reputation and employability prospects,” the court document said.

Justice Sewnarine-Beharry, in her ruling, said that the publication of the defamatory statements tarnished the Claimant’s professional and personal reputation which he garnered over the years through educational pursuits and work experience at GECOM and would have affected his ability to secure future employment opportunities.

Additionally, the judge stressed that the publications were made locally and on the World Wide Web. The extent of the damage was compounded by the fact that the publications were made by Alexander, who was a long standing GECOM Commissioner and a significant figure in civil society and who, the average Guyanese, would tend to trust and believe, more so because he was well placed to know the facts.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 21, 2020

‘Night Shelter’ slated for major overhaul

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--replete with new amenities, more staff, the whole works

By Alisa Lashley MINISTER of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud announced Tuesday that she’ll see to it that the Night Shelter, a State-run safe haven on the edge of the city for the homeless, is restored to the sanctuary it was intended to be. Coming shortly after a tour of the facility the said day, Minister Persaud said that while there, she was able to evaluate the kitchen area, sleeping quarters, sanitary block, and the recreational hall, and immediately came to the conclusion that the place is badly in need of a major overhaul.

“The facility needs to be upgraded, along with more staff being brought onboard,” Minister Persaud said. “The residents, as well as the current staff have expressed a number of concerns, such as having access to medication and medical care in the facility, because we are now operating under a new normal, which is the COVID pandemic,” she added.

In the circumstances, she has committed to ensuring that the facility has more amenities, such as beds, mattresses, pillows, sheets, and healthy meals, in the immediate future.

“Coming from a med-

ical background,” she said, “I know the elderly have different health issues. As such, their needs will be different, depending on if they are hypertensive, diabetic or they have any other chronic disease conditions.”

Plans are also in train to upgrade and add new washroom facilities, and those facilities will also cater to persons who are living with disabilities.

In closing, Minister Persaud said that not only are those upgrades to the facility vital, through programmes and activities such as board games, reading material and television to provide more recreational options for the residents.

A suggestion box is expected to be later installed at the facility, so that residents can put forward their ideas on how it can be made to make the atmosphere of the shelter more uplifting.

While on the road, Minister Persaud also paid a visit to the Family Enhancement Services Department, which falls under the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security.

On her appointment to office, Dr. Persaud solidified her commitment to ensuring that her ministry is more effective and efficient in dealing with members of the public, in order to proFROM PAGE

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Vincent Alexander, others ...

Having considered the aggravating and mitigating factors above, the judge ordered Alexander to pay damages in the sum of $2.5M towards Persaud.

Alexander was also ordered to pay costs to Persaud in the sum $150,000 on or before September 30, 2020.

Meanwhile, GNNL and Williams were ordered to pay damages in the sum of $1.5M jointly and several-

ly. They are also ordered to pay Persaud $150,000 jointly and severally on or before September 30, 2020.

Persaud was represented by attorney-at-law, Nicholas Caryll, with Devindra Kissoon while Alexander was represented by Attorney Roysdale Forde. GNNL and Williams were represented by Attorney, Asa Shepherd Stewart.

vide a better quality of life for all Guyanese citizens.

Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud and members of her fact-finding team examining one of the sleeping quarters at the Night Shelter during their visit there on Tuesday (DPI photo)

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The evolution of a young visual artist

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 21, 2020

Practice makes perfect

J

UST like the old saying goes, practice makes perfect Masecimo Hartman a young visual artist has been practising and perfecting his craft since the day he put his talents on paper.

To date, the young man is a living testimony that the proverb is more than just an old saying.

Hartman who is 20 years old told The Buzz that he has been drawing for the past five years and is still amazed at his own talents and ability to sketch someone’s face on paper.

“My interest in art started when I visited my aunt in St Vincent five years ago. Her children, who are my cousins, love drawing, one day I got bored pick up a pencil and book and started drawing, and never looked back,” he said.

After realising his talents, Hartman noted that his moth-

Masecimo Hartman er and other family members had started to encourage him to draw more often giving him the push he needed to better himself in the art field, “My mom saw how great I was doing and encouraged me to continue. Thanks to her, I am where I am [today],” he said.

Hartman told The Buzz that his love for art started it out as a bet with his cousins, who were deemed as one of the best visual artists at the time by others.

The young man noted that he surprised himself and cousins after he turned out to be really good at drawing, especially at portraits despite not knowing what he was doing at the start of the bet.

“The first thing I drew was a girl. I love drawing portraits, not sure why. I saw a picture of the girl and made a bet

One of Hartman’s most recent portraits

with my cousins that I am going to draw her. Both of them laughed.

To be honest, I didn’t even know what I was doing, thank God she looked just like the picture when I was finished,” Hartman told The Buzz.

The young man added that due to his introverted nature, most of his time is spent perfecting his craft. He noted that during his Hartman’s very quiet or spare time first drawing he would sit for hours and draw without a care in the world.

“I will describe myself as an introvert, and I do get bored easily. The only time I don’t get bored is when I am drawing.

I can draw for hours. I tend to be quite detail-oriented, so I notice things other people might not,” he said.

Hartman disclosed that one day, he hopes to open his own art studio giving artists like himself to showcase their work as well as provide them with art tools that can at sometimes be tedious to purchase in Guyana.

“My future plans are to open an art studio, selling art tools and my drawings, of course. I would also like to help and encourage young people like myself to never give up on their dreams,” he said.

The young man stated that he also hopes to, one day, spare head several art programmes to teach the upcoming artist that will follow behind him the different art techniques to perfect their craft.

A few of Hartman’s pieces

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 21, 2020

Promoting Guyanese Culture

Locally developed Card Game takes youth community by storm

A

Local games development business has recently launched its first game using the diversity of Guyanese culture and language for its basis.

The company, Slaters Gaming Inc. saud that ‘JUS DRINK’ is a family-friendly game which is a fun way to challenge your friends and family on their understanding of Creolese words and phrases.

The Buzz reached out to Owner and founder of the company Jermaine Slater who stated that he was happy to have the first of many games to come launched and available to the public.

He said that he saw the need for this sector of entertainment to be ventured into since most of the board and card games he grew up playing were created and developed outside of Guyana, and said that See page 21

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 21, 2020

‘Night of Film’aims to support the arts T

HE annual ‘Night of Film’ Caribbean film screening goes virtual in 2020 and aims to support the

arts by showcasing the work of local and regional filmmakers while using the proceeds to fund the development of the arts programme at Queen’s College school.

This event, which will be held via Zoom on Saturday, August 22 from 18:00 hours, was conceived by the Queen’s College of Guyana Alumni Association New York (QCAANY) in collaboration with the Caribbean Film Academy (CaFA). This year, one-hour short films will

the development of the arts programmes at Queen’s College.

“There is potential for extended positive impact on or collaboration with other secondary schools, based on our track record of partnership with other institutions when sponsoring youth programs,” Campbell related, highlighting also that the association hosts a yearly Student Conference at the school, not only for students of Queen’s College.

Campbell also noted

be screened, which were all chosen on their artistic merit.

According to President of the QCAANY, John Campbell, the initiative aims to bring both the Guyana and Caribbean communities together in celebration of the arts and culture. Additionally, he posited that this will increase the visibility of the short films, the filmmakers and the actors and also provide opportunities for collaboration and discourse on the films and the sector at large.

“We expect a global audience including students from the Theatre Arts Department at Queen’s College,” Campbell said highlighting, “There will be a discussion after each screening and the audience can look forward to a very informative discourse with the filmmakers and other industry experts.”

This year, as well, the proceeds from the screening will be used to fund

that the QCAANY is also in communication with the leadership of QC and the school’s Old Students’ Association to determine what other areas need additional support, particularly as schools everywhere try to adapt to the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

QCAANY was founded in 1991; it is a nonprofit organisation that exists to assist in the rehabilitation and revitalization of the Queen’s College of Guyana. The Association recently assisted with the development of the school’s Robotics clubs, and has been providing supplemental educational programmes notable through the Student Conferences and the Summer Math Institute.

Interested persons can RSVP for the screening at: https://tinyurl.com/ NightofFilm2020 or can contact the association by emailing nychapter@ qcaany.org

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 21, 2020

‘Days like dese’ returns to local TV with COVID-19 theme G

Sean Thompson, part of the production team

EMS Theatre Productions will be continuing its popular TV sitcom, ‘Days like dese’ from Friday, August 21, 2020 with the intention of airing a new episode weekly, on all TV stations, nationwide.

The sitcom, which was aired on local television for two seasons in 2017 and 2018, will return with a new message. It will now be 15 minutes long and its theme will be based on COVID -19, its effects on daily lives and coping with it, while still being entertaining.

Each episode will feature two or three actors and filming them apart in respect to social distancing. Filming would also be done mostly in open spaces.

Producer, Gem Madhoo-Nascimento will be teaming up with Sean Thompson in scripting the episodes.

Thompson will also film and edit the series.

Episode One will feature two of Guyana’s most popular actors, Sonia Yarde and Simone Persaud.

The original ‘Days like dese’ was set in the living room of a mixed Guyanese middle-income family of good standing and moral ethics. There were children, friends, grandparents, uncles, neighbours and cousins of various income levels and living standards. Social cohesion was reflected deeply in the component of the extended family. Issues affecting our everyday life, for

“Days like dese” producer, Gem Madhoo-Nascimento example, domestic abuse, climate change, recycling, trafficking in persons, conservation of basic everyday utilities all played a major role in the series. Education through comedy was its focus.

Actors were Mark Kazim, Nathaya Whaul, Simone Dowding, Ron Robinson, Lavonne George, Mark Luke-Edwards, Rajan Tiwari, Simone Persaud, Kirk Jardine, Michael Ignatius, Joel Gansham, Makayah Smith, Safira Abrahim-Williams, Paul Budnah, Olivia Rodrigues and Kaylee Liverpool.

As the show begins filming its new episodes, the team will continue to tell the story of this family, representatives said, adding that most of the actors listed will also be retained.

Locally developed Card Game ...

From page 19

he was determined to have an authentic Guyanese card game that would represent the diverse and interesting cultures of Guyana.

The Jus Drink game takes some of the most common words and pushes its players to say what is the creole equivalent in a space of six seconds. Slater told The Buzz that the fun of the game is that the cards have no answers on them, so it is up to the other players to decide if that word is accepted as the creole equivalent.

He highlighted that although it is a drinking game, it does not necessarily mean alcohol, explaining that the players are in control of what beverage they wish to consume.

“We wanted to make the game fun by encouraging a little engagement. It will be fun because we know some parts of the country use the same word to mean something different, so the engagement is fun and it’s interesting to see how everybody goes through the game. For instance one of the questions is one of the Guyanese creole words for “push”, and one person said “shove”, and another said “chuck”, so it’s a variation of words that can be used and it makes the game continuously fun to hear what words other people use,” explained slater.

He stated that the rule of the game is once the phrase or word is not accepted the person has lost and needs to take a drink of whatever beverage they have chosen to consume. He further explained that the game consists of several segments including, “Riddle, my riddle Marie”,

and a history section. The game comes with 91 cards in the deck, one roll card, and a stopwatch timer. The rules of the game are when the game starts, everybody would take a cup of whatever the drink would be and whoever finishes first gets to pull and ask the questions first questions and the players determine the answer, making for ever-competitive gameplay.

Slater said that being able to produce the game has been a great achievement of his and added that he will continue to work to create more additions of creative authentic Guyanese games that can showcase the talents of Guyanese as creatives, as well as showcase and promote the diverse culture of Guyana as a nation.

He added that he would encourage any young creative to continue perusing any vision they have to showcase the great creativity that emanates from the Guyanese people advising them to pay keen attention to networking and partnering with other Guyanese creatives, stating that they should stay committed to putting Guyana in view of the world, for the positivity and their creativity.

Persons interested in the game would be able to purchase from Elite Fragrances on Regent Street, Express Delivery to have it delivered across Guyana; 592 tees through its website so persons in Guyana as well as in the diaspora can have access to the game and also persons can contact @Slatersgaminginc directly through its Instagram page.

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Zouks deal champions Tridents first defeat in DLS affair AROUBA, Trinidad, (CMC) – Lacklustre batting coupled with rain dealt reigning champions Barbados Tridents their first defeat of the Caribbean Premier League, as they went down to St Lucia Zouks by seven wickets under Duckworth-Lewis-Stern here Thursday.

The rains arrived following the first ball of the penultimate over with Tridents struggling on 131 for seven after opting to bat first at the Brian Lara Stadium, and kept players off the field for the next two hours.

When the skies finally cleared, Zouks were left with a revised target of 47 of five overs and they outplayed Tridents to get home with five balls remaining.

The affair remained an open one with Zouks on 24 for two in the third over but Andre Fletcher (16 not out) and Mohammad Nabi (15) struck some lusty blows to erase any doubt over the result.

For the Zouks, the victory was their first following Wednesday’s defeat to Jamaica Tallawahs, and it left Tridents once again pondering a shambolic batting approach that also nearly failed them in Tuesday’s opening day victory over St Kitts and Nevis Patriots.

Choosing to bat first, Tridents got 35 off 19 deliveries from opener Johnson Charles and a cameo 12-ball 27 from captain Jason Holder but again lost wickets in clusters with happy-go-lucky batting.

Charles blasted three fours and two sixes as he scored all 35 runs in an opening stand with Shai Hope whose 19 came from 16 deliveries and included three fours.

After already having belted seamer Scott Kuggeleijn over long on for six off the first ball of the fourth over, Charles then failed to clear mid-off with the third ball and found captain Darren Sammy’s safe hands at head height.

Tridents quickly slipped to 64 for three in the ninth over as New Zealander Corey Anderson (2) drove a high full toss from Kuggeleijn to Roston Chase at cover in the sixth over and Hope picked out deep square with Afghanistan off-spinner Mohammad Nabi.

Holder then counter-attacked in a 34-run, fourth wicket stand with Kyle Mayers (16), striking two effortless fours and sixes, to push the scoring along.

He had blasted seamer Kesrick Williams to the cover boundary off the previous delivery when he tried to clear the ropes at long on off the next ball – the last of the 12th over – but succeeded only in holing out to Sammy.

Holder’s dismissal triggered the slide as four wickets perished for 11 runs in the space of 16 deliveries.

Jonathan Carter holed out in the deep off Chase’s off-spin for five, Mayers found Kuggeleijn’s lap at square leg off the next ball before Raymon Reifer (1) feathered a slash at off-spinner Mark Deyal’s third ball of his only over.

Needing to score at just over nine to win, Zouks got the start they needed when Rahkeem Cornwall (14) whacked three consecutive boundaries in the first over from pacer Holder.

And even though he, along with Najibullah Zadran (5) fell in quick succession, Nabi and Fletcher easily put the finishing touches on the short run chase.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 21, 2020

NBA roundup:

Doncic, Mavs pull level with Clippers LUKA Doncic had 28 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, and the Dallas Mavericks earned a 127-114 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday near Orlando to even their opening-round Western Conference playoff series at one win apiece.

Kristaps Porzingis added 23 points and seven rebounds, Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 17 points, and Trey Burke finished with 16 points as the Mavericks leveled the best-of-seven series.

Seth Curry chipped in 15 points and Boban Marjanovic, a former Clipper, hit 6 of 8 shots on his way to 13 points. Marjanovic added nine rebounds.

Kawhi Leonard had 35 points and 10 rebounds for the Clippers. Lou Williams contributed 23 points, while Paul George, who was limited by foul trouble, had 14 points and 10

boards. Marcus Morris Sr. had 14 points and eight rebounds.

Toronto Raptors 104 Brooklyn Nets 99 Norman Powell scored 12 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter, Fred VanVleet had 24 points and 10 assists and Toronto rallied to defeat Brooklyn to grab a 2-0 lead in the first-round series.

The Raptors, who raced to a 33-point first-half lead in Monday’s win, fell behind by 14 in the first quarter of Game 2 in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference clash.

The Nets still led by six entering the fourth quarter, but the defending NBA champion Raptors opened the period with a 19-5 run to lead 93-85 with 6:21 remaining.

Utah Jazz 124 - Denver Nuggets 105 Donovan Mitchell scored 30 points and Jordan Clarkson add-

ed 26 to help Utah run away with a victory the Denver in Game 2 of their first-round Western Conference playoff series.

Mitchell also dished out eight assists to help the Jazz even the series at 1-1. Utah finished with 32 assists on 45 baskets and shot 20 of 44 (45.5 percent) from the 3-point arc.

Royce O’Neale chipped in a career-high eight assists to help fuel the offense. The Jazz turned the ball over only eight times.

Nikola Jokic scored 28 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and dished out six assists to lead Denver. Michael Porter Jr. added 28 points for the Nuggets, who trailed the entire second half.

Boston Celtics 128 - Philadelphia 76ers 101 Boston recorded a second straight comfortable win to begin its playoff series against Philadelphia, getting 33 points

Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) drives between LA Clippers guard Lou Williams (23) and guard Paul George (13) during the second half in game two of the first round of the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports. from Jayson Tatum for a 2-0 series lead.

Equaling the most 3-pointers in their heralded postseason history, the Eastern Conference’s third seed outscored the 76ers

57-15 from beyond the arc to successfully follow up on a 109101 win in the opener.

Kemba Walker added 22 points and Jaylen Brown 20 for the Celtics, who had lost

three of four to the 76ers in the regular season. Joel Embiid led all scorers with 34 points for the 76ers.

—Field Level Media

U.S. Open organisers pleased with lineup, despite tournament dropouts

Rafael Nadal is one of the top players to have dropped out.

(REUTERS) - U.S. Open organisers said on Tuesday that they were happy with the slate of competitors for this year’s tournament, despite numerous dropouts by high-profile names amid the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak.

One of tennis’ four Grand Slams and the crown jewel of the U.S. tennis calendar, the U.S. Open usually attracts the world’s greatest players to Flushing Meadows every year.

This year, however, several of the

sport’s top athletes have dropped out of the 2020 campaign, including defending champions Bianca Andreescu and Rafa Nadal, and world number 1 Ash Barty and fellow Australian Nick Kyrgios.

Mike Dowse, CEO and executive director of the USTA, said the field “exceeded our expectations,” given the challenges of putting on the event.

“In context of the times and how different the world is, I couldn’t be happier,” said Dowse.

Dowse said that the women’s competition will see 10 former Grand Slam champions, including 23-time major winner Serena Williams, along with 81 of the top 100. In the men’s event, seven of the world top ten are competing.

After winning the Prague Open, world number 2 Simona Halep became the latest big-name competitor to back out of the tournament on Monday, citing concern over travelling to New York amid the coronavi-

rus pandemic.

The hard court tournament, which begins Aug. 31, will be held without fans and with safety measures in place to mitigate the risks associated with playing in the COVID-19 era. The Western & Southern Open, which usually takes place in Cincinnati, Ohio, will play out starting this week in New York.

Organisers said approximately 90% of players are already in town or in the tournament bubble.

CSA confirm two COVID-19 cases in national squad CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - Cricket South Africa (CSA) on Thursday reported two positive COVID-19 tests among national team players who were due to participate in a squad camp taking place this week.

CSA tested 50 players and officials prior to the camp, which began on Tuesday and runs to Saturday, and confirmed two positive cases among the group, without naming those infected.

The camp is focused on team bonding and was arranged after CSA came under

heavy criticism from some former players who claimed there was a culture of racism within the side.

“There were no replacements made for the two players who tested positive. All those unable to attend the camp will join the proceedings virtually,” CSA said in a statement on Thursday.

Another absentee is former captain Faf du Plessis, due to the imminent birth of his second child.

Former captain Graeme Smith, now CSA Director of Cricket, has denied the accusations of racism and says he was unaware of any such incidents during his 11 years in charge of the side.

South Africa have this year missed a mix of test and limited overs series against India, Sri Lanka and West Indies due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A number of their leading players are contracted to play in the Indian Premier League, which is due to start next month.

CSA Director of Cricket Graeme Smith

34

FIFA ethics committee drops Infantino case

FIFA President Gianni Infantino Lausanne , Switzerland (AFP) — FIFA’s ethics committee yesterday decided to close its case against President Gianni Infantino who is facing a criminal probe in Switzerland over suspected collusion with the country’s top prosecutor.

“After examining the relevant documentation and evidence, the chairperson of the investigatory chamber has decided to file the complaint and close the case due to the evident lack of a prima facie case regarding any alleged breach of the Fifa Code of Ethics,” Fifa said in a statement.

Infantino, in charge of world football’s governing body since 2016, is the subject of an investigation by the Swiss prosecutor over suspected collusion between him and Swiss Attorney General Michael Lauber, who resigned last month over his handling of a corruption investigation targeting Fifa.

FIFA’s investigatory chamber had opened a preliminary investigation into Infantino, following reports of alleged ethics breaches, “including the booking

by Fifa of a private flight from Suriname to Geneva and meetings between the Fifa President with Michael Lauber”.

But the independent judicial body determined there was insufficient evidence to warrant further pursuing the case.

“Based on the information available to date, no aspect of the conduct analysed constitutes a violation of the FIFA regulations – some aspects do not even fall within the provisions of the Fifa Code of Ethics, or justify the adoption of any kind of measure, including that of a provisional suspension,” the statement added.

Infantino had already insisted he

had “nothing to hide” despite Swiss prosecutors launching a criminal probe against him.

In a letter sent to FIFA’s 211 members, Infantino said there were no “factual grounds for the opening of a criminal investigation”.

Infantino and Lauber are said to have held a series of secret meetings in 2016 and 2017, but the Fifa head said the meetings were about restoring “public trust in our institution” after a series of scandals.

Infantino claims that those meetings “were in no way secret and most certainly not illegal”.

An anti-corruption lawyer representing Infantino said earlier yesterday he believed the case would be dismissed.

Jean-Pierre Mean, an anti-corruption specialist hired by Fifa on behalf of Infantino in May, told AFP: “There is nothing wrong with meeting with a lawyer, even informally. It is quite usual and absolutely not criminal.”

The procedure against Infantino, Mean continued, “only mentions an anonymous complaint”.

“We still haven’t seen it. We will have access to the file when Mr Infantino is heard.”

FIFA also revealed yesterday that the impact of the novel coronavirus pandemic on its revenue was expected to remain “comparatively low”, with much of the organisation’s commercial rights having already been sold.

It predicted a positive result of US$100 million (83 million euros) in its revised 2019-22 budget, with the cancellation of next year’s Confederations Cup and postponement of the revamped Club World Cup partially offset by other revenue streams.

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Answers in tomorrow’s issue

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 21, 2020

Liverpool to begin Premier League title defence against Leeds (REUTERS) - Liverpool will begin defending their Premier League title on Sept. 12 at Anfield, according to a fixture list for the new season, when they play newly promoted Leeds United, who return to England’s topflight for the first time in 16 years.

Manchester City and Manchester United will not participate on the opening weekend after they were guaranteed 30 days of rest following the end of their European seasons.

City were due to open their season against Aston Villa and United against Burnley but those games have been moved.

United will now kick off the season at home to Crystal Palace on Sept. 19, according to the fixture list released by the league on Thursday, and City will travel to Wolverhampton Wanderers for their opener on the same day.

Mikel Arteta will begin his first full season in charge of Arsenal with a trip to newly promoted Fulham on Sept. 12, while north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur host Everton.

Elsewhere on the opening weekend, Crystal Palace host Southampton, while West Ham United face Newcastle United at the London Stadium.

Chelsea and Wolverhampton Wanderers’ opening matches are both

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Chelsea Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - July 22, 2020. Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson with teammates celebrates with the trophy after winning the Premier League Pool via REUTERS/Phil Noble

scheduled for Sept. 14, with the Blues travelling to Brighton & Hove Albion and Wolves visiting Sheffield United.

Juergen Klopp’s Liverpool then travel to Chelsea for their second game of the season before hosting FA Cup champions Arsenal.

The first showdown between title rivals Liverpool and Manchester City will take place on Nov. 7 at the Etihad Stadium with the other game scheduled

for Feb. 6.

The first major derby of the season is set for Oct. 17 when Everton host Liverpool, while the two Manchester derbies are scheduled for the weekends of Dec. 12 and March 6.

The season, which will not have a winter break, will conclude on May 23, less than three weeks before the start of the rescheduled European Championships.

De La Hoya, 47, confirms boxing comeback Oscar De La Hoya sported a 36-9 record with 30 knockouts in jis career.

OCAR De La Hoya is ready to make a return to the ring.

The 47-year-old De La Hoya told ESPN on Wednesday that he plans to come out of retirement to make a professional comeback.

De La Hoya is nearly 12 years removed from his last fight against Manny Pacquiao, one in which he quit on his stool after the eighth round in December 2008. De La Hoya announced his retirement a few months later, but now insists he is ready for a return.

“The rumors are true, and I’m going to start sparring

in the next few weeks,” De La Hoya told ESPN. No opponent has been determined and no date has officially been set for The Golden Boy’s return. He said the plan is to compete between 154-160 pounds.

De La Hoya’s announcement comes on the heels of the planned returns of former champions Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr. “It’s a real fight,” De La Hoya said. “I miss being in the ring, I love boxing. Boxing is what gave me everything I have today, and I just miss it.”

De La Hoya sported a 39-6 record with 30 knockouts in his career. He won gold at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona for the United States and captured world title belts in six different weight classes.

—Field Level Media

35

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, August 21, 2020

Bayern Munich vs PSG: A true final of champions awaits in Lisbon

By Simon Evans

LISBON (Reuters) - After four thrilling quarter-finals, the upsets stopped at the last four stage in the Champions League, setting up Sunday’s final between Bayern Munich and Paris St Germain(PSG).

Bayern, five-times winners, are back in the final for the first time since 2013 after ending a streak of four losses in the semi-final stage with Wednesday’s comfortable 3-0 win over Olympique Lyonnais.

PSG are in the big game for the first time, having struggled to translate their dominance of the French league into a real challenge in Europe until wins here over Italian club Atalanta and Germany’s RB Leipzig secured their place.

For the first time since

1998, the Champions League final will feature two teams who entered the competition as domestic champions, a throwback to the day’s of the old European Cup when only a country’s title winners were allowed to enter.

While no fans will be present to witness the clash at the Estadio da Luz, home of Portuguese club Benfica, millions across the globe will watch the game which is the most-watched annual sports event in the world.

And there is plenty of interest for those outside of Germany and France.

PSG’s attack is led by Brazil’s biggest star Neymar, the exciting French World Cup winner Kylian Mbappe and the crafty Argentine winger Angel Di Maria.

It will be fascinating to see if the French side can expose Bayern’s high defen-

sive line which was breached several times by a wasteful Lyon.

“Paris are a great team,” said Bayern coach Hansi Flick, “We will analyse some things, we know they have quick players. We will look to organise our defence, but we know our biggest strength is putting our opponents under pressure.”

Bayern’s top scorer is Polish striker Robert Lewandowski, who leads the tournament’s scoring charts with 15 goals this season and has found the target 55 times in all competitions.

The club’s 19-year-old left back Alphonso Davies has been the most exciting young player in the tournament and was born in a refugee camp in Ghana before moving to Canada, who he represents at national team level.

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Champions League - Semi Final - RB Leipzig v Paris St Germain - Estadio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal - August 18, 2020 General view of the Champions League trophy before the match, , as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) David Ramos/Pool via REUTERS

On a tactical level, the final pits two German coaches against each other for only the second time in the tournament’s history.

PSG’s Thomas Tuchel, the ex-Borussia Dortmund coach, has managed to give the French champion’s expensively assembled squad the balance and steel they have lacked in recent years.

Flick only took over as Bayern coach in November but has had an astonishing impact. Since mid-December, Bayern have enjoyed 28 wins and a solitary draw, scoring 97 goals and conceding just 22.

Bayern, who thrashed Barcelona 8-2 in their quarter-final, also have experience on their side.

The Bavarians have already featured in the European Cup or Champions League final on ten occasions, winning their fifth title in 2013.

PSG have only reached the last four once before and their best performance in Europe came in the old Cup Winner’s Cup which they won in 1996.

Joe Root calls for ‘one big push’ ECB confirm revised

By Stephan Shemilt

CAPTAIN Joe Root has asked his England team for “one big push” in the third and final Test against Pakistan.

The match in Southampton will be England’s sixth bio-secure Test in seven weeks, but Root’s men have no more scheduled this year.

“We have one more week of really hard graft,” Root told BBC Sport. “We have to give everything to the badge, the team and each other.”

England, looking for a first series win over Pakistan in 10 years, lead 1-0.

The coronavirus pandemic forced a rejig to the international summer, with England defeating West Indies 2-1 in July before the matches against Pakistan began.

A different England side beat Ireland 2-1 in three oneday internationals in between the Test series, and though more limited-overs against Pakistan and Australia will complete the summer, the Test players are not set to feature.

The T20 World Cup that was due to be played in Australia in October and November has been postponed, and no dates for any of England’s proposed winter tours of India, Sri Lanka and South Africa have been confirmed.

“My message to the guys has been quite simple,” said Root. “We don’t know the next time we will play Test cricket, so let’s throw everything into this week.

“We’ve not got Test cricket until next year. We’ve got no excuses, every opportunity to go out there and throw everything into this last game.”

England have named an unchanged 14-man squad from the drawn second Test which was ruined by bad weather.

With Ben Stokes again missing after travelling to New Zealand for personal reasons, the hosts’ top six is likely to be unchanged, with decisions over the bowling attack to be made on Friday morning.

More rain in Southampton has kept the pitch under cover, so England must decide whether to retain off-spinner

start times for EnglandPakistan third Test

England captain Joe Root

Dom Bess, who has played in every Test this summer, but barely bowled.

Whether they field four or five frontline fast bowlers, at least two from the 14 will miss out. Jofra Archer was rested for the second Test, with Sam Curran offering batting depth in the absence of Stokes.

After so much time was lost to the elements during the second Test, the playing conditions for the third have been altered to allow earlier starts if required.

If time is lost on a particular day, play on the following day may now begin at 10:30 BST, rather than the usual 11:00. Previously, Tests in England have only made up time at the end of a day, when the light can become an issue.

“It’s a sensible idea,” said Root. “This will enable us to play a little bit more cricket. It seems a really good way of maximising the hours of play.” (BBC Sport)

(REUTERS) - The third Test between England and Pakistan that begins today at the Ageas Bowl will feature revised playing timings to accommodate for poor weather conditions, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said on Thursday.

Play can begin at 1030 local time (0930 GMT), 30 minutes earlier than the scheduled 1100 start if time is lost due to bad light or rain earlier in the Test, the ECB said in a statement.

The decision comes after just 134.3 overs were possible across five days of the second test at the Ageas Bowl due to rain and bad light.

“Following positive discussions with the ECB, the International Cricket Council (ICC) and various stakeholders... the ECB and the ICC have agreed to revised start times ahead of the third test,” the ECB said in a statement.

“The flexible approach will enable the prospect of making up time for inclement weather during the morning session of subsequent days rather than at the end of the day.”

The ECB said that after the conclusion of play on the first day, the match referee, groundstaff and ECB Match Manager would discuss the start times for the next day and if the forecast looked good, play could begin at 1030.

The morning session would last two and a half hours if the start times are adjusted, while a total of 98 overs will be scheduled for the day.

The ECB also said match officials would ensure that light is monitored to maximise playing time.

England won the first test by three wickets before the second match ended in a draw.

Mohammad Nabi celebrates the dismissal of Shai Hope (CPL T20 via Getty Images)

Zouks deal champions Tridents first defeat in DLS affair 32 PAGE

Local coaches for AIBA Virtual Course on September 20 THE Chairman of the Caribbean Steering Committee for Boxing Steve Ninvalle has organized a virtual seminar for coaches to be conducted on September 20.

The seminar will be conducted by respected chairman of the AIBA Referees/Judges Commission American Ray Silvas.

Ninvalle explained that Silvas will work with Caribbean coaches to update them on what Referees and Judges look for during fights. “We think it is important for our coach-

GBA president Steve Ninvalle

FORMER West Indies and Barbados batsman, Philo Wallace, believes the combative leadership style of former CWI president Dave Cameron means he will never get the support of the current board, in his bid for ICC Chairman.

Cameron has written to CWI, seeking its nomination to stay in contention for the position.

The former CWI boss had already received the nomination of The United States Cricket Hall of Fame for the post.

The Cricket West Indies (CWI) board is, however, yet to decide on backing its former chairman, with current vice-president Dr. Kishore Shallow suggesting the body’s support for Cameron would be unlikely. Nor does Wallace, for that matter, believe it should be expected, based on the often-stormy tenure of Cameron’s presidency.

“I think it is going to be difficult for Cricket West Indies to support Dave Cameron in his bid to be ICC Chairman. First of all, there is animosity between Cricket West Indies and Dave Cameron.

es to be equipped with the knowledge of how Judges score fights and what are considered infringements by the referee.

Many coaches are not fully aware of some of these rules which can result in an “unconscious” defeat of our boxers,” Ninvalle said.

This is the third such seminar to be organized by Ninvalle in a short span of time.

Just last weekend Silvas completed a two-day seminar for R/Js from the English-speaking Caribbean, Haiti, Curacao and

Suriname. Over one hundred and fifty officials participated in the event which marked the largest gathering of Caribbean referees and judges ever.

In July, Ninvalle who is also Vice President of the 43-nation Americas Boxing Confederation organized a virtual seminar for coaches in the English Speaking Caribbean which was conducted by Puerto Rican Jose Lauren. Eighty officials from the Caribbean participated.

Wallace says ‘disrespectful’ former CWI boss will never get support for ICC chairman Those who are members or directors of Cricket West Indies will say there is, and he will find it very hard to get their support,” Wallace told the Mason and Guest radio programme.

“I honestly believe that Dave Cameron should just tell himself ‘i’ve run West Indies cricket for six years’ and just leave it out and just be an observer now, because going up for the ICC job and looking for the West Indies support, it can’t work,” he added.

The ICC is yet to finalise a nomination route for selecting the successor of Shashank Manohar following his resignation from the post of ICC Chairman after a two-year tenure. Should he receive support, Cameron could go up against Former England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) head Colin Graves and president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and former Indian skipper, Sourav Ganguly.

“It’s like trying to get a dumpling up a hill.

Unfortunately, he isn’t going to get the support of Cricket West Indies and we all know it. It’s very sad that a former president has come to this, a former president of West Indies cricket, but sometimes the way that you rule comes back to bite you, there is something called karma…he disrespected leaders and prime ministers in the region and that cannot work.”(Sportsmax)

Former Cricket West Indies president Dave Cameron

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