Guyana_Chronicle_Epaper_08_27_2020

THURSDAY 27th August, 2020

' No.106104

One suspect reportedly fell ill

–– as investigations continue into electoral fraud

The team led by Neurosurgeon, Dr Amarnauth Dukhi (second left), that successfully performed the first partial skull-transplant surgery in Guyana, on Analisa Latchman, 23, (inset) of Lima, Essequibo Coast

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Clairmont Mingo

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Young mother recovering well -- after undergoing first partial skull transplant surgery in Guyana

Exxon could meet 120,000barrel target in September

SEE STORY ON PAGE 02

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 27, 2020

Exxon could meet 120,000 barrel target in September

By Lisa Hamilton

BY September, ExxonMobil is tentatively hoping to meet its full capacity of producing 120,000 barrels of oil per day as final commission to its gas compressor system is ongoing.

For the last month, ExxonMobil has been producing between 80,000-90,000 barrels of oil per day while re-injecting 85 per cent of the produced gas. The beneath-target operations have been ongoing since midMay when the company encountered issues with its gas compressor after it increased production.

At a media meeting on Wednesday, President of ExxonMobil Guyana, Alistair Routledge, said that the last part of the system that ExxonMobil is working to commission is the flash gas compressor. Flash gas compressors are used in oil handling facilities to compress gas that is “flashed” from a

hydrocarbon liquid when the liquid flows from a higher pressure to a lower pressure separator.

“That’s the last sort of little bit of gas that we need to capture in getting to the injection system,” he said.

The recently appointed president of the company’s

local office said that ExxonMobil’s team offshore is working day and night to arrive at the “pilot flare” level of operation whereby minor flaring would be conducted only when absolutely necessary.

Recent reports have highlighted that, as a result of

the faulty gas compressor, ExxonMobil flared billions of cubic feet of natural gas, a level which has been reducing over time, alleviated with the option of gas re-injection.

Key specialist technicians were required to repair the units but, due to the COVID-19 pandemic,

repairs were initially delayed to observe travel restrictions, safety and isolation protocols. The technicians had to first pass through travel restrictions and undergo a two-week COVID-19 screening process.

Though authorised by the Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA) to conduct ‘start-up flaring’ – a common practice when gas and liquids are introduced into new facilities and equipment – the issues encountered with the compressor were unexpected.

“It’s not where we would want to be at this stage, but I have to say that the crew has done a remarkable job. I’m sure we would have been on top of this earlier, had it not been for COVID, which has severely hampered the ability to move people offshore, to get equipment moved around the world; it really has slowed things down for us,” Routledge said.

Addressing when ExxonMobil could meet its target of 120,000 barrels per day, he continued: “If we resolve everything that we have and [meet] all the plans that we have in the September timeframe, by the end of the month, I’m hopeful we can get there.”

COVID-19 claims another life

By Navendra Seoraj THE Novel Coronavirus

(COVID-19) has claimed another life in Guyana, taking the death toll to 32.

Guyana Chronicle was reliably informed that the victim was 52-year-old, Alfred Humphrey. He died

while receiving treatment in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Georgetown Public Hospital

Corporation (GPHC), on Wednesday.

This publication understands that Humphrey had

respiratory distress, secondary to COVID-19, and was also a diabetic.

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.

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

In medicine, comorbidity is defined as the presence of one or more additional conditions co-occurring with a primary condition; in the countable sense of the term, comorbidity is each additional condition.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 27, 2020

One suspect reportedly fell ill

--as investigations continue into electoral fraud ONE of the three women in police custody who was held after the arrest of GECOM Region Four Returning Officer (RO) Clairmont Mingo on Tuesday has fallen ill.

Carolyn Mikhaik Duncan, 48, who worked as a clerk in Mingo’s High Street, Kingston Secretariat has been identified by police as one of the women arrested.

The arrested GECOM employees worked directly with Mingo on Elections Day, and in the aftermath that led to the five-month delay of the March 2, 2020 elections result.

Mingo, 68, is being investigated for alleged fraud surrounding the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections. Four persons in total have been taken into police custody thus far.

His arrest occurred days after the Police Force an-

nounced that it was launching a comprehensive investigation into reports of electoral fraud, as advised by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

The three women, who are GECOM personnel, have since retained Attorney-at-law Eusi Anderson as their lawyer.

“Each of my three clients has cooperated with the police, from the point of arrest to their present detention; two were picked up at their homes, and one voluntarily went in to the police,” the lawyer noted.

“None of my clients are Mingo’s assistants; they are statutory officers of GECOM discharging functions according to law, some for over 15 years without a complaint or blemish on their record. To reduce their office and responsibility to mere ‘assistants’ of Mingo is unfortunate, and pregFROM PAGE

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COVID-19 claims another ...

The WHO had said that 81 per cent of persons, who contract COVID-19, will have mild symptoms, while 14 per cent will have severe symptoms and five per cent will need intensive care.

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

Among the persons who lost their lives to the deadly disease was local drag racer, Deryck Jaisingh, called ‘Mad Dog.’ It was reported that Jaisingh was also being treated for malaria and reports are that he was diabetic. Guyana’s first COVID-19 victim, 52-yearold, Ratna Baboolall, was also hypertensive and a diabetic. Jermaine Ifill, an emergency medical techni-

cian (EMT), who had also succumbed to the dreaded COVID-19, was also being treated for pneumonia.

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

As a measure safety, the Ministry of Public Health had encouraged members of the public to observe the COVID-19 Emergency Measures put in place: to practise physical distancing of at least six feet; to use a face mask correctly and consistently when leaving home, and practise good hand-washing hygiene to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Persons with symptoms of COVID-19 are asked to call the COVID-19 hotline numbers 231-1166, 226-7480 or 180/181 for assistance.

nant with connotations that can redound in substantial prejudice to my clients,” he added.

Court Marshalls had been looking for Mingo to serve him with a warrant for his arrest on criminal charges, which were filed

March by Attorney-at-Law Charles Ramson Jr, against Mingo, and PNCR Chair Volda Lawrence in relation to the controversial results for District Four.

One of Mingo’s attorneys, Senior Counsel Roys-

Attorney-at-Law Eusi Anderson

Carolyn Mikhaik Duncan

by a private citizen, but were unable to locate him for several weeks.

The charges were filed in

dale Force on Tuesday night outside the headquarters of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) claimed that Mingo’s legal rights

Clairmont Mingo

were abused by the police by denying him legal representation during questioning.

“He was provided with no information about why he was removed from his

home; he was afforded no explanation. He had to insist to get some idea as to why he is here. I don’t believe that was put to him in any clear way,” Forde said.

Convicted GDF captain moves to the Appeal Court FORMER Guyana Defence Force captain, Orwain Sandy, who was recently sentenced to life imprisonment, with the possibility of parole after serving 20 years, for shooting his reputed wife to death in 2018, has now moved to the Appeal Court to have his sentence reduced.

Earlier this month, Sandy, who was initially charged for the capital offence of murder, opted to plead guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter before High Court Judge, Sandil Kissoon.

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

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

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

Dissatisfied, Sandy moved to the Appeal Court and asked for his sentence to be set aside and a lesser one

Reona Payne

imposed.

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

A post-mortem report revealed that Payne died from 14 gunshot wounds to her body – 13 to her chest and one to the head.

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

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

It was reported that San-

Former Guyana Defence Force captain, Orwain Sandy

dy had planned to drop Payne off at her place of work when she received a phone call, allegedly from the same person from overseas.

When the soldier questioned her and asked her to desist from railroading their relationship, an argument ensued, and, in the vicinity of the masjid in First Street,

Alexander Village, Reona grabbed the soldier’s firearm and threw it out of the car.

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

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GUYANA CHRONICLE , Thursday, August 27, 2020

Dominguez and wife for court today -- no response to government’s offer to re-open bank account

ACCELERATED Capital Firm Inc (ACFI) Financial Adviser, Yuri Garcia Dominguez and Director, Ateeka Ishmael, are expected to appear at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court, today, charged with conspiracy, even as an additional 10 persons came forward, on Wednesday, to make reports against the couple and their company.

Crime Chief, Wendell Blanhum, confirmed that the couple will be charged, noting that so far a total of 57 persons have made reports with the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), with claims amounting to over $31.5 million in investments in the company.

Dominguez and Ishmael, who are married, have been in police custody since last Thursday, as investigations continue into the company which authorities allege has been running a “Ponzi Scheme”.

A Ponzi Scheme is a form of fraud in which investors are made to believe in the success of a non-existent enterprise, and encouraged to invest because of the pay-

ment of quick returns. However, the first investors are only being paid from money invested by successive investors.

However, the company vehemently denies the allegations and, in statements issued, affirmed that “the funds necessary to refund our clients are ready to be disbursed”.

News of the charges come even as Attorney General, Anil Nandalall, said that the company is yet to respond to the offer the government made last Tuesday, to facilitate the re-opening of a bank account for the company so that it can remit monies to its clients.

DEAD ENDS Nandalall said he is not holding on to hope that the company will ever take up the offer since investigation continues to reveal that overseas companies being named by the couple as where their money is stored, continues to lead to dead ends.

“No, they have not responded and I suspect that they cannot respond. It is clear that the gentleman only wants to get out of custody.

ACFI Principals, Yuri Garcia Dominguez and his wife Ateeka Ishmael

All the promises that he has been making he has not been able to deliver them, none of them,” Nandalall said.

He added: “Of the places he has identified, as where the monies are, the monies are not there. The Financial Investigation Unit (FIU) just received a correspondence

Thursday, August 27, 2020–– 12:30hrs & 14:00hrs

from Belize to say that the name of the company - “FK Choice - that he said he has the money in Belize it is not registered in Belize, they have no evidence of it.”

Nandalall said that investigations by the police have also revealed a similar situation for a company that

the couple say they have ties to in the USA. “The FIU has its own processes and is checking.

They have access to information and the companies that he is saying they have these monies they don’t have them. There’s a company he said in Nevada, he has no connection to the company, it’s an escrow account owned by some other people in the United States, some trust company,” Nandalall related.

However, attorney for the company, Dexter Todd, said that his client does intend to utilise the AG’s offer to open a bank account, but is waiting to see how the situation develops.

“That is an offer, we will accept that offer and we are presently putting systems in place so that that can be facilitated, that is what we are doing at this point in time,” Todd said, WANT TO BE CAREFUL He further added that: “We just want to be careful with the investigation, because if we open up a situation where we publish that a bank account has been opened, people can come and collect, it will open it to abuse, people are going to turn up who don’t even have a contract, some of them their contract would’ve even

expired.”

Todd reiterated his clients’ innocence, adding that he believes that the situation is actually a civil and not a criminal matter.

“I would say it is still a civil matter. It’s not a criminal matter. I don’t know why my clients are being held.

They have made a decision to put them before the courts tomorrow, but the charges as far as I’m concerned are just holding charges to hold them in custody,” Todd said.

The police have listed Dominguez, a naturalised Cuban national, and his wife as grave flight risks given that they have no assets in the country. The pair is said to have been operating their investment company in Guyana for as far back as 2017; however, they have never been licensed to do so by the Guyana Securities Council (GSC) as is required.

According to reports, approximately 17,000 Guyanese are said to have collectively invested approximately US$20 million in the company. The company came to the limelight earlier this month, when several persons are said to have been making claims of not receiving their monies from the company.

ACFI has been attributing its failure to remit payments to clients as being due to its lack of a bank account, as several local commercial banks have closed accounts for Dominquez and Ishmael and their business over the past few months.

The company, in its latest press statement, issued on Tuesday, pleaded with the authorities to release Dominguez and Ishmael so that payments to client could resume, and for investigators to allow Dominguez to explain “how the company is structured”.

The company said that the funds are “successfully secured in three physical ‘Bitcoin’ wallets, inaccessible to outside interference and protected”, and is asking that the authorities “facilitate the opening of a bank account on behalf of ACFI in order to be able to transfer the funds from our Bitcoin Wallets into the bank which will be used to repay ALL investors in Guyana”.

Nandlall said that the government’s main concern is that Guyanese who handed over their monies to the company get back their cash; and as such the government is willing to facilitate the bank account’s re-opening.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE , Thursday, August 27, 2020

TTEITI welcomes Energy Minister (TRINIDAD GUARDIAN) The Trinidad and Tobago Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (TTEITI) has congratulated Franklin Khan on his reappointment as Minister of Energy and Energy Industries (MEEI).

According to the TTEITI Khan has long been an advocate for Trinidad and Tobago’s adoption of the global EITI Standard and his previous term was marked by a commitment to transparency and accountability in the oil, gas and mining sectors.

“Mr. Khan has not only made a public commitment to the initiative, but he has elevated the TTEITI’s work in other Caricom nations through regional energy sector diplomacy. Also, as a direct result of the Minister’s efforts over the past few years, the TTEITI has

NCF:Gaming industry could be major money earner

(BARBADOS ADVOCATE) THE National Cultural Foundation (NCF) is following through with its commitment to help local game developers tap into the multimillion dollar gaming industry.

Yesterday marked the official launch of four COVID-19 pandemic games at the NCF’s West Terrace, St. James headquarters. The four chosen game developers were able to showcase their ingenuity with games which not only spark creativity, improve spatial abilities and enhance memory skills but also gives users an opportunity to fight back against the deadly global pandemic digitally.

The NCF commissioned four games to showcase local talent and to pilot a programme where development and marketing support were provided to assess the return on investment in the game development sector.

Senior Business Development Officer Andre Hoyte speaking on behalf of the Chief Executive Officer Carol Roberts-Reifer highlighted the NCF’s role in facilitating the development of these games which he says will soon be available to the public free of cost via social media. “We invite Barbados to support them by playing them and sharing your feedback with us as we move our game development pipeline further into a global market,” he said.

According to Hoyte, “For the past five months, the NCF has embarked on a journey to support gaming and gaming development in Barbados and so when COVID hit, we reached out to the gaming fraternity to encourage them to use this medium to speak to this global crisis.”

“The global video game industry generates $138.7 billion in revenue (Newzoo/ Forbes 2018) and with the recent COVID-19 crisis,

NCF Senior Business Development Officer Andre Hoyte presents a cheque to software and game developer Tabari Rudder-Fields (centre) while Khalil Francis, who produced the soundtrack for the game, looks on.

entertainment consumption is expected to rise by 60 percent. This represents a prime opportunity for local game developers to create content,” he added.

In fact, he noted that the developers were encouraged to create a gamers’ association in order to pinpoint and address challenges and to benefit from available resources as a collective.

Hoyte says many persons would be surprised to know how large the local gaming and software development industry is on the island.

He noted that efforts are being made to ensure that transactions can be seamlessly made to ensure that developers and the country as a whole can benefit from the much-needed foreign exchange that can be derived from this industry. Hoyte also remarked that there is also scope for local musicians to add music to the soundtrack of the games.

In a message from the CEO, it was noted that any opportunity to develop industry especially within the Orange economy should be pursued.

“We have proven time and time again that we are

an exceptionally gifted society. We could not allow this community of creatives to be left underserved and as part of our commitment to supporting all corners of the Arts. I am happy for us as the NCF to assist these game developers with bringing their dreams to fruition.

The NCF must be known as a place where creatives can come to see their dreams become a reality,” said Roberts-Reifer.

The four developers Tabari Rudder-Fields with his game “Attack of the Virus”, Michael Watkins with “Lockdown”, Kyrese Coy with “Keep the Distance” and lone female Shanny Singh with “KillVid-19” were also presented cheques yesterday morning.

They explained that money can be derived from the game industry through advertisements as well as microtransactions, which is a business model where users can purchase virtual items for small amounts of money. The Pandemic games will be available on Windows, Android with the game Attack of the Virus also being made available on iOs. (JH)

been able to secure from a number of local mining companies voluntary adoption of EITI reporting standards.” the TTEITI noted.

Its Chairman Gregory McGuire said “Minister Khan’s deep experience in the industry has been a boon to the TTEITI. We look forward to working with him and making progress on our transparency roadmap for the sector.”

The TTEITI is the local arm of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), an international body which is recognised as

Franklin Khan

the global standard for the good governance of oil, gas and mineral resources.

With 53 member countries, its core belief is that natural resources belong to citizens.

As a member of EITI, the TTEITI works to reveal and explain the financial records of extractive companies so that the money trail is visible and citizens of Trinidad and Tobago who benefit directly and indirectly from the country’s natural resources.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE , Thursday, August 27, 2020

Carnage on Guyana’s highways LAWLESSNESS proliferates on Guyana’s highways, where drivers who break speed limits, speak on cellphones while driving, drink and drive, overload their vehicles, play loud music continue to do so with impunity.

This newspaper is aware of the frustration of honest police ranks who capture perpetrators at great risk to themselves, only to see them set free by the courts on one flimsy pretext or another. The public has, time and again, expressed frustration and disgust over the seemingly endless carnage on the roadways and indicated a willingness to support every initiative the Guyana Police Force (GPF) undertakes to restore law and order in the land.

The carnage on the road must stop. Too many innocent lives are being lost. Too many families have been devastated by the wanton and unnecessary loss of the life of a loved one at the hands of a killer behind the wheels of a vehicle. Too many have been maimed or incapacitated in one way or another by those who use our roadways like their own private playground.

They do not stop speeding, nor driving under the influence of alcohol. They violate the traffic laws with impunity, because they can pay a high-priced, unethical lawyer and get off and consequently get a rap on the knuckles in the court because of some clever rhetorical gimmickry by their legal representatives.

Speeding to overtake another bus to get a $100 fare is a norm, so the lives of a busload of passengers are only worth

$100 in their estimation.

One minibus driver, who had been laughing as he raced a friend in a car on one of the country’s highways, was stopped by the police and issued a ticket, after he had been shown the mileage on the speedgun when he attempted to argue.

When he returned to his bus he said that there is a need for some more killings in the country so that things could get “better.” One could only surmise that by “better” he means where anarchy prevails and there is no rule of law enforced. In other words, back to the law of the jungle.

But we are supposed to be humans living in a civilised society, not a jungle where predatory beasts ravage the vulnerable. Our laws were formulated to create order in the societal construct with the intention of protecting the citizens of the land.

The GPF devised many initiatives in attempts to discourage lawlessness and carelessness on the roads over the years, to no avail. Former Police Commissioner, late Laurie Lewis, created the Police Impact and Tracor, with minimal impact on road users because the tragic loss of lives never ceased.

“Mothers in Black” evolved from a mother’s pain at losing a cherished child, and the organisation has had tremendous success in bringing road safety issues to the front-burner in the legislative processes; but enacting laws is only one step. Enforcement of those laws has to be a correlative factor for effective solutions so that the pre-

Some stranger things over at the M&CC

I am writing you as a concerned property owner in the city about the Mayor and City Council unlawful operations. A few days ago, a friend of mine who is a long serving worker there told me that the Council is working without an approved budget for 2020. If this is true them they are spending taxpayers’ money illegally.

The Council does not have to wait on the National Assembly; it has to do its own budget. Can someone say how much money they are allowed to spend without a budget?

Mr. Editor, there must be a law that says something about this kind of thing.

How can the Council know its performance without a budget? The mayor is talking about transparency and is on social media all the time but doesn’t even have an approved budget for 2020. This is the end of August, five more months

before the end of 2020 and the City Council does not have a budget. What are they doing?

They have also been giving amnesty to certain special individuals using a special committee headed by the Deputy Mayor and Finance Chairman. My friend told me that no report has been submitted to the Council on how much amnesty was given to people for 2019 and 2020. No one knows how much money was lost to the council by giving this amnesty. All of these things are going on but the council is crying out that it does not have money to clean up the city. In 2020, Georgetown looks like a cesspool in the middle of Guyana with a mayor who seems not to know basic things about being a mayor. It is hard to understand how Mr Ubraj Narine got that job in the first place

under the Granger-led Administration.

I thought that former President David Granger had much more class than that.

Maybe I was wrong. I will sue the City Council for forcing me to live in a dirty environment.

The other thing is that, the APNU/ AFC political party is complaining about the new government dismissing people but the mayor and his councillors are sending home workers who have been there for years and who supported APNU/AFC. Why are they doing that? They are knocking off their own supporters but vex when the government is moving out political appointees from government offices.

Yours sincerely, John Bever

cious human resources of this country could be safe to live productive lives and pursue goals that could contribute to nation-building initiatives.

The system needs to give the relatives of victims justice so that they can have some level of closure. With all the laws that are being flouted, with all the warnings, drivers continue to violate the laws without caring a whit that they are responsible for the lives they are endangering with their irresponsible behaviour.

It is incumbent upon adults to recognise that Guyana’s highways have become killing fields and ensure children under their care are not left unattended on roadways. Some irresponsible caregivers claim busyness and send children on errands in heavy traffic. Rather than forfeiting a few minutes of their time they risk forfeiting a child’s life instead; and in instances where a child’s life is lost through a preventable accident the driver should be prosecuted for vehicular homicide, and the adult caregiver should also be charged, because both are culpable for the loss of that child’s life.

Instead perpetrators are allowed bail and shortly after they can be seen freely roaming the streets.

The callousness of some members of law enforcement, who ignore the suffering of the victims of the lawbreakers in the land because of misconceptions and wrong perceptions of variables in society’s situational dynamics need to be addressed if the trust of the public in the caretakers of the law is to be re-established.

Is Change Guyana really dissolved?

Dear Editor, IT is noted the founder leader of Change Guyana is not a signatory to the statement, ‘Change Guyana dissolved’ INEWS August 23), purporting the dissolution of the party by majority decision.

Did he not agree with the majority decision?

It begs the question:

Is the Party really dissolved/disbanded, or just those members whose signatures appear on the statement no longer wish to be a part of and associated with CG? Maybe the founder leader should provide some clarity.

Yours sincerely, Shamshun Mohamed

GUYANA CHRONICLE , Thursday, August 27, 2020

‘Nations’ excels at AS, ‘A’ Level exams SCHOOL of the Nations again produced outstanding results at the recent AS and ‘A’ Level examinations, recording exceptional pass rates at both levels.

According to a press statement from the institution, students of Form Six sat 248 exams at the AS level, and produced an overall pass rate of 95 per cent.

In a breakdown of the results, ‘Nations’ said 100 per cent passes were recorded in Global Perspectives, Travel & Tourism, Business, ICT, Chemistry, Physics and Psychology.

Additionally, 48 per cent of all examinations written at the AS level earned either an A*, A or B Grade.

At the Advanced Level (A level), students sat 152 exams.

There were 100 per cent passes in ICT, Business, Biology, Physics, Accounts, Economics, Travel & Tourism, and Global Perspectives.

Jae-Anya, a top-achiever at the AS level examinations, said: “My first year in Sixth Form was quite different from what I’d expected, as I faced

completely new challenges, not least of which were the COVID-19 arrangements that at times left me a bit discouraged. Still, I persevered, and, thankfully, it paid off,” Jae said, adding: “Honestly, it was the undying support from my family, especially my parents, who were always by my side, my friends, old and new, who managed to turn even the hardest times into something fun and enjoyable, and my teachers who were always encouraging and approachable.

I want to especially thank my Math and Physics teacher, Sir Stefan Farier, who constantly reminded me of the importance of maintaining a positive mindset.”

Aliah Mohamed, who achieved all passes at the ‘A’ Level exams, said: “This is testament to the hard work and dedication put in, in preparation. I was extra anxious, given the COVID-19 circumstances, so I’m quite relieved and very elated to know I did well. Thank you to my teachers and family for their continued support!”

Director of Nations, Dr. Brian O’Toole

Director of ‘Nations’, Dr. Brian O’Toole, said Cambridge University offers examination in 136 countries throughout the world. It is the biggest Sixth Form examination body in the world.

“A certificate from Cambridge surely opens many doors to the best Universities worldwide. There is, of course, no question that this was a very challenging time

for students throughout the world and certainly in Guyana.

Like many other examination bodies, we decided not to risk asking students to physically sit examinations; instead, they opted for a system of course work, predicted grades and statistical analysis,” said Dr. O’Toole.

This was a new system, and not without its challenges, he said, noting that they

sent a 17-page letter to Cambridge, challenging their initial grades, and were very happy to see that they accepted almost all of the institution’s challenges.

“During the pandemic, all of the GCSE, AS and AL classes were offered Online.

‘Nations’ Sixth Form begins again in two weeks. We will begin Online, and revert to the regular school classes as

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soon as guidance is received from the authorities,” said Dr. O’Toole.

Nations Incorporated, formerly Nations University, is a private tertiary education provider, which evolved from School of the Nations almost two decades ago. Nations Incorporated runs a number of schools of excellence, offering courses in the fields of Business, Management, Law, Education, Accounting and Technology Registered with the National Accreditation Council (NAC) to operate as an educational institution in Guyana, Nations Incorporated offers a wide range of qualifications, including MBA, LLB (add) LLM, MA Education, BA (Top Up) Business Administration and a number of Advanced Diplomas and Certificates from various awarding bodies, including the University of London, University of Cambridge, University of Bedfordshire, ACCA, Project Management Institute (PMI) and the Association of Business Executives (ABE).

Women’s empowerment important to social, economic and political development of Guyana Dear Editor,

Today, August 26, 2020, marks the 100th anniversary since the U.S. Congress ratified the bill that granted women the right to vote.

Although women won the right to vote on June 4, 1919, it took another year before they could elect representatives of the government.

While the United States was not the first country to grant women the right to vote, this significant milestone in the Women’s Suffrage Movement paved the way for many other countries to follow.

With the election of Eleanor Roosevelt as chair of the United Nations’ Human Rights Commission, women’s right to vote was subsequently enshrined in the

Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. Six years later, the UN General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Political Rights of Women thereby allowing equal rights of women to vote for government representatives of their choice, hold public office, and access public services.

Despite gaining the right to vote, however, women in both developed and developing countries are seldom respected or treated as “equal citizens” under the law.

Hence, equality and equity still remain elusive across the world today. This is especially the case in developing countries where women are renowned for effectuating meaningful change at home and in their local communities but are notori-

ously underrepresented in leadership positions at the national level. This directly impacts the formulation of development policies expected to benefit all citizens.

In Guyana, as in many developing countries, women are often seen as inferior instead of citizens capable of making a meaningful and equal contribution to the growth and development of their country.

This is not to say that women do not hold high public office in Guyana.

However, in comparison to their male counterparts, it seems that they often have to work twice as hard and overcome multiple obstacles to make it to the top. And even after making it to the top, they often face ridicule.

While I was hoping for broader

female representation, it was nonetheless refreshing to see ten women selected by President Ali to serve as Members of Parliament (MPs) and one to serve as a Technocratic Minister. What is impressive about the current batch of women representing the government is the delicate balance of experience and youth.

Equally important is the fact that eight of these ladies are Ministers of Government holding important portfolios crucial to Guyana’s development. Perhaps what is absolutely uplifting to see is that there are several young and assertive women in the group which bodes well for young women across Guyana aspiring to hold public office.

The opposition also boasts thirteen female MPs, several of

whom served as Ministers of Government under the previous administration. Together, this represents some serious female power in the National Assembly.

As such, it is imperative that the current batch of female MPs across the political divide distinguished themselves by being good role models for young women (and men) across Guyana. It is also incumbent on the Ali Administration to introduce policies designed to empower women in and out of government so that they can further contribute to the social, economic, and political development of Guyana.

Yours faithfully, Omchand Mahdu

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GUYANA CHRONICLE , Thursday, August 27, 2020

DPP seeks to have defamation lawsuit ‘struck out’

DIRECTOR of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack, has filed an application, in the High Court, to have the $50M defamation lawsuit, filed against her by Senior Magistrate Alex Moore, struck out.

The application was filed by Senior Counsel Robin Stoby, Jamela Ali and Kim Kyte-Thomas.

The application is contending that Moore has no suitable grounds for his defamation claims and it is an abuse of the court process.

Furthermore, Ali-Hack is seeking for Moore’s Statement of Claim to be struck out with costs awarded.

In July, Moore through his lawyer, Arudranauth Gossai, filed a lawsuit against Ali-Hack for the sum of $50M as damages for defamation for a letter which she wrote on December 5,2019 which he claimed is malicious and false.

Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack

The letter was sent by Ali-Hack to the acting Chancellor of Guyana, Yonette Cummings Edwards, who is also the chairman of the Judicial Service Commission, and the Acting Chief Justice, Roxane George, with the reference “ Conduct of Magistrate Alex Moore in the charge of the Police vs Marcus Bisam for the Offence of Murder, contrary to Common Law. The letter is allegedly claiming that Moore had a personal interest in the matter against Bisram and requested that he be removed from presiding over the case.

The report constitutes among other complaints an allegation of conduct against Magistrate Moore’s professional responsibility or office as a Magistrate and not his personal capacity, and was

Senior Magistrate Alex Moore

Young mother recovering well

By Nafeeza Yahya-Sakur

DAYS after completing yet another historical surgery, Guyana’s leading neurosurgeon has his eyes set on performing a brain surgery, where the patient is awake and responding as he operates.

Dr. Dukhi made the announcement at a press conference at the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital on Wednesday, as he told reporters about the

recent successful surgery he performed, pro-bono, on a single-parent of one on Saturday.

The patient, Analisa Latchman, 23, of Lima, Essequibo Coast was diagnosed in July 2020 with a rare Craniofacial Fibrous Dysplasia that usually occurs in 10-15 of every 100,000 persons born worldwide.

Prior to Saturday, a surgery of this nature could have only been performed in developed Caribbean countries,

or First World nations, and usually costs approximately US$200,000.

But thanks to the benevolence of Dr. Dukhi, through NeuroSpine Services Inc, St. Joseph’s Mercy Hospital, businessman Chris Fernandes and other anonymous donors, Analisa and her family just paid for the 3D replacement, which cost US$11,000, or G$ 2.3M, and a little over G$1M for hospital fees.

Analisa, according to her

cousin Dr. Sara Lall Khan, had from the age of 10 noticed an indentation on the left side of her head, which started to become more pronounced as she aged.

Gradually, her eye began to recede into her head, coupled with headaches that eventually got progressively worse, to the stage that she fainted.

Dr. Khan explained that initially, the family thought the headaches were caused by the eye, and saw several ophthalmologists, but were only told Analisa had good vision, and was given pain medications to help with the headaches. Several other doctors were visited multiple times, including a neurologist. Numerous tests and scans were performed, but none were able to properly diagnose the condition.

The family had all but given up hope after the pain medications were not helping the headaches, and Analisa’s symptoms worsened. But then they decided to reach out to Dr. Dukhi, who, after listening to her history, was able to identify the condition immediately.

TEXT-BOOK SYMPTOMS In an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, Dr. Dukhi related that Analisa displayed “textbook symptoms” of the disease, and was able to make the diagnosis immediately, but ordered a MRI to confirm.

“The patient is a 23-yearold mother of one who noticed, from around 10 to 11 her face and skull was deformed, so to speak, where the left side of her face and skull was convoluting, or getting smaller, while her right side of her head was just normal,” Dr. Dukhi said, adding: “So it provoked severe cranial facial deformity, where her left eye was being pulled into her skull. What happened was because the left side was continuing to get smaller, it was squeezing the developed brain inside her head, causing her to have severe headaches, which would have led to brain damage by the compression.

And that would have led to seizures and other complications eventually.”

He said that the disease usually starts when patients are around three years old, and gets worse in the latter teen

capable of being investigated by the Chancellor for the purposes of invoking the disciplinary procedures set out in the Judicial Service Commission’s Rules.

Moore is a Senior Magistrate in the State of Guyana and has been a Magistrate for a number of years.

Moore was assigned to the Georgetown Magisterial District, East Demerara Magisterial District, Berbice Magisterial District and Corentyne Magisterial District.

He is also an Attorney-at-Law of 14 years standing. Moore is also admitted to practise in Guyana, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada and the British Virgin islands.

Prior to becoming a Magistrate, he also practised his profession in the above-named countries.

--after undergoing first partial skull transplant surgery in Guyana years and early twenties. He noted that Analisa’s condition progressed over the past couple of years, and the disease affected the frontal bone, temporal bone on the left side, and parietal bone, which accounted for 40 per cent of her left skull.

Surgery was the only option to give Analisa a chance at having a normal life, and after the family expressed some concerns about financing, Dr. Dukhi offered to perform the surgery, pro-bono, while the family takes care of the other cost.

A CT-scan was performed, and a 3D image of Analisa’s head was reconstructed and sent to one of NeuroSpine’s international partner, KLS Martin, in the United States, where an implant was created to perfectly replace the section of the skull that was no longer viable.

The implant, according to Dr. Dukhi, arrived on Thursday, and on Saturday morning, a six-hour surgery, with a six-member team consisting of mostly females, including Dr. Anna Singh, who he has been training for the past five years, successfully performed the procedure to remove and replace the affected left section of Analisa’s head.

Dr. Dukhi noted that the surgery was a technical and tedious procedure, and as with most neuro-surgeries, any mistake can be life-altering for the patient.

“It was a very technical surgery, because we had to go all the way to the eye and the orbit. Imagine part of her eye is now into her brain,” Dr. Dukhi said, adding: “We were able to reset her orbit to where it was, and if you look at Analisa now, she will have a nice-looking forehead; not that indented forehead anymore. Her orbit is back in place… It was tedious for me, because it has two very important nerves that come out from the area where we had to work, which is the facial nerve and the upper branch of the trigeminal nerve. We were able to carefully dissect that right away, and protect the nerves. And there were no repercussions to her, in terms of who she was or her normal functions.”

RECOVERING WELL

Following the surgery, the patient is recovering well, and Dr. Dukhi is optimistic that she should be able to lead a normal life.

When quizzed by this publication on what the historical surgery meant for healthcare in Guyana, Dr. Dukhi expressed satisfaction at the progress made thus far, and optimism that the country is in strong contention with more developed nations in the field of neurosurgery.

“I personally would like to speak for neurosurgery, of which I have been the pioneer since 2015,” he said. “The procedure we would have done is extremely huge for our country, in the sense that it is now being done locally, what was previously done in more developed Caribbean islands like Trinidad and Tobago, or First World countries. I would say we are taking huge baby steps in terms of developing modern healthcare, and hence improving our health response at a tertiary level, or more specialised care. So, it’s moving ahead, and we are getting there. And I’m hoping that sooner or later, we will be on par with what is happening in more developed nations.”

Meanwhile, Analisa Latchman said she is very grateful to all the donors who helped to make her surgery a success, and looks forward to returning to work, so that she can provide for her daughter.

The surgery was a collaboration between the St Joseph’s Mercy Hospital and NeuroSpine Services Inc., which is the local partner for Vision Medical Limited of Trinidad and Tobago, and representative of KLS Martin in the United States.

They have been leaders in the field of neurosurgery and spinal care in Guyana.

Setting his sight on the awake brain surgery next, Dr. Dukhi stated that the Guyanese company was created to offer First World services to Guyanese.

“We continue to promote advanced healthcare via NeuroSpince Services Inc., and our partners internationally, so Guyanese no longer have to go look for a flight to go overseas to have these procedures done,” Dr Dukhi said.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 27, 2020

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Former UG valedictorian’s death ruled as drowning A POST MORTEM (PM) performed on Wednesday, on the body of former University of Guyana valedictorian, Michael George, 31, has given the cause of death as drowning.

Blunt force trauma was also reported, Regional Commander, Errol Watts had said, but he noted that it was explained by the pathologist that it did not point to foul play.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle, on Wednesday, Watts said the PM was performed by government pathologist, Nehaul Singh, at the Ezekiel Funeral Home, in the presence of George’s family member and the police.

The body was subsequently handed over to the family. Watts said a report will be prepared and sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), seeking advice on whether an inquest may be needed.

“The PM was done and there’s nothing to be alarmed about, it’s not a murder. It didn’t say that he died from any injury from external sources, he just died from drowning. We are going to do a report, because a life has been lost, and we have to give account for it, so we will do a report for legal advice,” Watts

explained.

On the issue of the blunt force trauma, Watts noted that while he cannot explain all the medical technicality of the situation, Singh had explained, at length to the family and the police, that the trauma was not from external forces and was not an indication of foul play.

“That does not lead to the offence of murder, or anything like that. The doctor explained what he meant to the family members already, it doesn’t mean that it was a homicide. The doctor explained to the family and to us that it’s not a case of murder,” Watts noted.

George, a father of two from La Jalousie, West Coast Demerara (WCD), drowned between 16:00 hours and 17:00 hours last Sunday, during a pre-birthday hang at the “Parika Back”. George, according to reports, is said to have walked into the water and went under in a deep end.

He was at the time hanging out with three other friends. The friends are said to have tried to search for him after he went under but did not find him until sometime later, by which time it was too late to save him.

Dead: Michael George

Man who allegedly assaulted sister granted bail TYSON Collins, a 31-year-old man, of Meadow Brook Gardens, charged with assault, was, on Wednesday, August 26, 2020, granted $10,000 bail

by Magistrate Delon Bess.

The charge alleged that, on Tuesday, August 25, 2020, at Meadow Brook, Georgetown, Collins unlawfully assaulted his sister.

When Collins was read the charge, he pleaded not guilty.

Magistrate Delon Bess granted Collins $10,000 bail.

The matter was transferred to Court 11 and adjourned until Monday, August 31, 2020.

However George’s family has since said that they do not believe that accounts of what transpired are adding up. Calls made to the family, on Wednesday, for a comment on the PM, proved futile.

Condolences have since been pouring in on social media as persons mourned George’s passing. He was remembered as a bright young mind. George was described as an academic trailblazer, graduating as valedictorian of the West Demerara Secondary School class of 2005, before going on to graduate as valedictorian for the UG class of 2010, where he pursued a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry. He graduated with distinction and earned the President’s Medal.

George also has a PhD in Biochemistry Engineering from the University of Alberta and was working as a lecturer at the Texila American University and also taught fifth and Sixth Form classes at the Saraswati Vidya Niketan School.

“He was an awesome person, a very kind hearted, diligent, compassionate person. He was always willing to help.

Since he returned from Canada he would always be trying to help someone in whatever way. He’s a humble young man,” George’s brother, Christopher George, had conveyed in an earlier interview.

George is scheduled to be laid to rest on Friday.

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Several municipal clinics closed

By Navendra Seoraj

SEVERAL municipal clinics have been closed by the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) after an employee of one of the facilities would have tested positive for the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).

The council closed its maternal and child welfare clinics in Albouystown, Festival City, and along South Road because the employee, who was infected, was said to be in contact with several employees from the various clinics.

The employee was not

identified, but Mayor of Georgetown, Ubraj Narine confirmed that the person would have contracted the disease and was in contact with several other employees.

“Yes one of the staff got it, but the staff was actually in contact with a lot of other staff of the health centres, so we had to put measures in place to close it down in order to do proper sanitisation and monitoring,” said Mayor Narine in an invited comment, on Wednesday.

Usually when a patient would have been in contact with other persons, authorities

would conduct contract tracing to ensure that the line of transmission is traced and curtailed if possible. This process is conducted by health workers of the Ministry of Health.

The mayor said that persons, who were known contacts of the infected person, have already been isolated and tested by health authorities.

“All of the other staff will be tested, so after sanitising those health centres, we will look at re-opening by Tuesday… we hope to have the health centre running again with staff from the health ministry,” said Mayor Narine.

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 severe forms of the disease.

Guyana has so far recorded 1,093 cases of this disease, of which 378 were found in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) alone. Georgetown, which lies in the heart of Region Four, had been listed as a ‘COVID-19 hotspot” because of the high infection rate there.

RESERVATION News Room had recently reported that Mayor Narine is not pleased with the measures in place by Central Government to curb the spread of COVID-19 as Region Four is seeing a steady increase in new cases.

Narine was critical of the 21:00 hrs curfew which was relaxed from 20:00hrs on August 15 and the approval for more businesses to re-open.

He termed the recent gazetted

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 27, 2020

― after staff tests positive for COVID-19 order “a loose one” noting that “you’re giving the businesses a more kind of open-door policy to deal with the public [but] there should be more restrictions.”

“Moving the curfew from 8pm to 9pm… if you visit the city about 9, the city is still active and the city is still active 9:30pm…in the bus park and so…you will still see people out there,” the Georgetown Mayor told the News Room Tuesday.

The steady rise has caused panic in some cases, but there are persons who remain nonchalant and unbothered by the spread. Authorities, however, continue to adjust control measures in order to mitigate the spread of the disease.

Deputy Chief Medical Officer (DCMO), Dr. Karen Gordon-Boyle, is of the opinion that some measure of control can be placed on the rapid spread of the virus through contact tracing.

Dr. Boyle, during an interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI), explained that contact tracing is used by health departments to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

She added that contact tracing involves identifying persons who would have come

into contact with someone who tested positive for the virus.

But for the process to be successful, she said, persons who would have tested positive for the virus must be cooperative with health officials in detailing their movements, and who they would have been in contact with prior to testing positive for COVID-19.

She warned that if positive cases are not forthcoming with information, the lives and well-being of many others may be at risk.

“Anything that prevents you from identifying all contacts, communicating to them their risk and isolating those persons means you are going to be less effective in controlling the epidemic,” Dr. Boyle said.

She further explained that once the contacts have been identified, they are quarantined, and at the end of a 14day (two-week) period, they are tested for the virus.

While the process may appear to be simple, Dr. Boyle noted that it is not without its challenges, as the fear and sheer anxiety surrounding the virus, as well as the nonchalant and dishonest attitude of many individuals have made it difficult for the relevant health officials to do their jobs effectively.

Bandits hijack car in vicinity of GRA TWO men on a motorcycle hijacked a burgundy Toyota Carina 192, with registration PJJ 9483, after the driver left his vehicle on Quamina Street, Georgetown, to conduct business at the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) headquarters, Camp Street Georgetown.

The owner, Derick Foo of Coverden, East Bank Demerara, said he came down to Georgetown from his home and parked his car on Quamina Street after 14:00 hours on Monday.

“I parked my vehicle on Quamina Street next to the Hindu Mandir and I leave to go to GRA and spent an hour, when I came back, I see there is no vehicle where I had parked my car,” Foo reflected.

Immediately, he said a call was made to Brickdam Police Station to inquire if any vehicle was impounded from the area.

“I know the spot where I park had no, no parking sign there, while talking to the police on the phone, a police pick-up came around in the street and I stopped them and I told them what happened. They turned to me and tell me think properly where I parked my vehicle,” the driver reflected.

The police, he said kept questioning him on his ability to remember where he had parked.

“They tell me walk around and see if is somewhere else

you park your vehicle, but I keep telling them I know exactly where I parked, so after all of that the police asked me to get into the vehicle and they take me to Brickdam Police Station where I made a report at CID,” he said.

a motorcycle that stopped at the side of the car, then they leave the motorcycle on the opposite side of the street and went to the car and broke the small glass on the back door and one of them shoved his hand into the small space and

One of the few pictures, in Mr. Foo’s possession, of the car that was stolen

He explained that two of the policemen then took him into the Police Station’s compound to visually check to see if his vehicle was in police custody.

Further, Foo said police returned with him to the scene and noticed that there was a CCTV camera in the area where he had parked his car.

“When we see the camera footage, we see two men on

opened the car door from the inside, the other one walked and go back to his motorcycle and his accomplice got the car started and drove away,” Foo reflected.

The driver is calling on members of the public to contact the nearest police station if the car is seen.

Foo said his licence and other important documents were inside the vehicle when it was stolen.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 27, 2020

Exxon, gov’t working to meet Payara approval deadline

By Lisa Hamilton

that the clock is ticking.

EXXONMOBIL is working to provide the Government of Guyana with all that is needed, so that the Payara Development Project can receive approval which would prevent further delay in the company’s goal to produce over 750,000 barrels per day offshore Guyana by 2026.

Initially, this goal was set to be achieved at 2025, but President of ExxonMobil Guyana Alistair Routledge said on Wednesday that plans have been shifted. The current hurdle is the Payara Development Project, currently under review by a team of international experts, headed by Canadian Queen’s Counsel Alison Redford.

A review of the project was previously conducted by the Bayphase Oil and Gas Consultants contracted by the Department of Energy (DE) under the previous administration, but the current government is conducting a new review to ensure transparency and accountability. The government’s plan is to see the project completed by the end of the month.

Routledge said that ExxonMobil has not been communicating directly with the team of experts, but with the government. He said that thus far, in the general sense, objectives align on matters such as the importance of protecting the environment, and ensuring that all Guyanese benefit from their resources. However, the oil and gas company is aware

A CLOSE CALL Routledge said that already, there has been some delay in the Payara Projec,t but meeting a September 2020 timeframe for approval could prevent future development projects from being delayed.

“If we can achieve the full funding, all the approvals necessary for Payara in the month of September, in the next few days, weeks, then we can keep those other projects on course.

If we see a delay, unfortunately, it's not just a day-to-day delay. If we delay beyond September, then it would be a multi-month, maybe nine to 12 months delay, because of the installation windows that we have offshore with weather systems,” the ExxonMobil Guyana President said.

Similar sentiments were shared in June by ExxonMobil’s Senior Vice-President Neil Chapman. Routledge noted, however, that on the government’s end, all efforts are being expended into seeing the project toward timely approval.

He acknowledged: “It’s very close to the deadline that we need to achieve in order to keep it on course, so we don't lose traction and have to restart the clock from the point of view of the contractors and installation windows.

But I think there's a will on all sides to make that happen; we’re working through the final details in order to reach alignment on the conditions of the licence for the developer.

Location of the Payara Project Development Area within the Stabroek Block

I would say we are getting close; we haven’t dotted every ‘i’ and crossed every ‘t’, but I think that both sides are working incredibly hard to reach that closure so that we can get there.”

Prior to present-day, Routledge said that ExxonMobil has been working on the project with the government for over a year, in close relations with the Department of Energy (DoE) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

He said that many hours of work have gone into workshops, and putting together documents and studies, all with the aim of executing the best possible project, in keeping with the latest international standards.

42 Canal # 1 residents to benefit from new water service SOME 42 households, in the vicinity of Canal # 1 Conservancy, West Bank Demerara (WBD) (Aback of the Conservancy), will soon benefit from access to potable water, following a commitment by Housing and Water Minister, Collin Croal.

The residents were first visited by President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali about two weeks ago and they raised a number of issues.

The President committed to forwarding the issues raised to the ministers of the various sectors.

Consequently, Minister Croal visited the location over the weekend, along with a technical team from the Guyana Water Incorporated,

Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal

to assess the situation and to give a listening ear to the issue which falls under the purview of his ministry.

On Tuesday, Minster Croal was accompanied by Minister within the Minis-

try of Public Infrastructure, Deodat Indar and they met with residents with the aim of bringing solutions to the issues.

Following a thorough assessment of the situation, Minister Croal committed to 42 households that, within a month, they will be having access to potable water.

The pipe-laying works will commence within the new week followed by connections to the main distribution network from the Good Hope Pump Station, Canal # 1 road.

The residents were openly appreciative of the announcement made by the minister.

This project will see the laying of a total of 1.5 kilometers of pipes.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 27, 2020

COVID-19 response a concerted, encompassing effort at safeguarding nation -- President tells emergency multi-stakeholder meeting PRESIDENT, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, on Tuesday, convened a virtual, emergency multi-stakeholder meeting to discuss urgent issues related to strengthening and advancing the National COVID-19 response. The meeting was held at State House.

“These discussions are

vital as we seek to send a singular message on national efforts. Together, we can develop a National COVID-19 response to protect and safeguard all Guyanese,” President Ali said.

The meeting discussed the need to ensure that there is a balance between the health of the economy and

the health and wellbeing of the citizens. It also examined how to enhance the capacity of the Centre for Disease Prevention and Control at Liliendaal to function as an isolation facility as well as the re-opening of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport for commercial travel.

President Ali noted that

President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali during the virtual, emergency multi-stakeholder meeting on advancing the National COVID-19 response at State House (DPI photo)

while such a step is integral to the stabilising and re-energising of the economy, a decision will not be taken without considering the safest and most practical model moving forward.

Vice-President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, who also attended the meeting, emphasised the importance of a comprehensive analysis of the situation to the creation of sound policies to guide the national COVID-19 response.

Meanwhile, Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony outlined Guyana’s current status regarding testing and positive cases. The minister also reiterated the importance of finding the right balance moving forward.

Additionally, PAHO/ WHO Country Representative, Dr. William Adu-Krow, noted the key role of effective monitoring systems in dealing with the pandemic, emphasising the importance of testing, enforcement and education.

Private Sector representatives and members of the media also attended the meeting.

These stakeholders were also given the opportunity to offer their suggestions and input on key aspects to be included in a coordinated plan moving forward.

These suggestions centred around strengthening the enforcement of safety measures and protocols, enhancing the training of health personnel; access to

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE); the importance of strengthened inter-agency communications among all stakeholders and the adoption of the best strategy moving forward.

Following the discussions, the President pledged to continue engaging all stakeholders as his government moves towards formalising a concerted strategy to take the country forward. He also assured that all the concerns raised in the discussions will be examined. The President also informed the meeting that sub-committees will be established to tackle pressing COVID-19-related issues head on. (DPI meeting)

Exxon wants to settle environmental fines outside court

By Lisa Hamilton

NEWS that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had planned to take ExxonMobil to court over its refusal to pay environmental fines in relation to “non-toxic” spills offshore Guyana has drawn a conciliatory approach from the oil giant.

President of ExxonMobil Guyana, Alistair Routledge said on Wednesday that the two parties may come to an amicable solution on the matter, even as ExxonMobil does not believe that it has erred.

On August 20, 2020, Stabroek News reported that

EPA Director, Dr. Vincent Adams

President of ExxonMobil Guyana, Alistair Routledge

the oil-and-gas company refused to pay two fines, according to EPA Director, Dr. Vincent Adams. Though the fines are meager compared to the company’s earnings,

Dr. Adams said that the Laws of Guyana state that the company must pay up.

He said that the company was fined TURN TO PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 27, 2020

Police had cleared alleged Ponzi Scheme operator of unlawful activities --Ramjattan says he had forwarded letter on the Scheme to Commissioner James but never received a response

By Tamica Garnett THE Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) said Wednesday that the legal advice which cleared the way for Yuri Garcia Dominguez to be granted naturalisation status was based on the file sent by the police, which showed that the Cuban national was not involved in any unlawful activities.

Former Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan also confirmed on Wednesday that he’d received a letter informing of a possible Ponzi scheme run by Dominguez.

The former minister said that upon receipt of the letter, he instructed then Commissioner of Police Leslie James to investigate the allegations and report back to the Guyana Securities Council (GSC).

“I think a letter was indeed sent to me last year; I can’t recall the contents of the letter, but like every other letter that comes that requires investigations, I sent it off to the police. The police made their report, I think, back to the persons who sent me the letter,” Ramjattan informed, in a telephone interview with the Guyana Chronicle.

NEVER CHECKED BACK Ramjattan said nothing was ever sent back to him, and he never checked up back on the situation.

“I don’t know what it was, because it wasn’t sent back to me. Every day you get allegations, and the letter, as far as I can recall, was sent to the commissioner of police. And I indicated to the commissioner, ‘Please take action on this matter, and report to the relevant stakeholders.’ That is it; that is what you do all the time as minister,” Ramjattan related.

Nonetheless, the former minister said he believes a report was sent to someone or the other.

“The report was asked to be sent to the Securities people; they would’ve gotten a report, too, in my opinion, from the police, if he [Dominguez] was doing any of whatever the report was about,” Ramjattan said.

The GSC, however, has since informed that it has never received any response to earlier correspondence sent. Efforts on Wednesday to contact James for a comment on the situation proved futile.

Dominguez, who’s Financial Adviser and principal for Accelerated Capital Firm Inc (ACFI), is currently in police custody, being at the centre of a police investigation into allegations that his company was running a “Ponzi scheme”.

Dominguez and his Guyanese wife, Ateeka Ishmael were arrested last Thursday as thousands of Guyanese who invested in the couple’s company await word of what has become of their monies.

A Ponzi Scheme is a form of fraud in which investors are

made to believe in the success of a non-existent enterprise, and encouraged to invest because of the payment of quick returns. However, the first investors are only being paid from money invested by successive investors. Due to its structure, Ponzi Schemes are destined to collapse when new investors dwindle.

According to reports, Dominguez has been operating his company in Guyana as far back as 2017, with some 17,000 Guyanese being said to have collectively handed over approximately US$20 million during the company’s existence here.

There is indication that the company has been on the radar for some time now, and efforts were made to have the relevant authorities investigate the company earlier. However, from all appearances, nothing was done.

The situation has since evolved into a series of back-and-forth blame-and-shame, as hapless Guyanese stand to suffer over $4 billion in losses.

The Guyana Securities Council (GSC) has revealed that it had written both former Minister of Citizenship Winston Felix and Ramjattan, informing them of possible dubious operations by Dominguez through two companies, “Accelerated Wealth Inc” and “Forex Trade”.

NO RESPONSE GSC said it received no response from either party.

Felix, in a statement issued last Saturday has since denied that GSC ever sent him any correspondence, saying that he was only informed of the allegations via an undated and anonymous letter in August 2019, alleging illegal financial trading, which he then sent to the commissioner of police in September 2019.

The GSC, however, has since hit back by posting the letter that it said was sent to Felix in October 2019, as well as sharing a signed delivery note which acknowledged receipt by Felix’ Ministry.

In his statement, Felix further said that a naturalisation application for Dominguez was processed and approved earlier this year, but only after he’d received correspondence from the police saying that based on advice from the DPP, “This matter be treated as closed, and that Yuri Garcia Dominguez… continue the process of applying for citizenship.”

The DPP said that the advice it proffered was based on what was contained in the police file it was sent, which did not implicate Dominguez in anything of an illegal nature.

“Legal advice was given based on the information contained in the statements. We herein state categorically, the statements in the police file did not disclose that Mr. Garcia was involved in any unlawful activities,” the DPP statement conveyed.

The DPP, in its statement

ACFI Principals, Yuri Garcia Dominguez and his wife Ateeka Ishmael

on Wednesday acknowledged that the Chambers was sent a

Former Minister of Citizenship, Winston Felix

file from the police in November 2019, and asked to give ad-

Former Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan

vice on a situation pertaining to Dominguez. However, based on

the statements it received in that police file, the file was returned to the Guyana Police Force (GPF) for further investigations.

The file was then returned to the chambers in February 2020.

“The complaint which sparked the investigation was made through an anonymous report and based on the investigations conducted by the police, there was no evidence of the commission of any offence by Yuri Garcia Dominguez,” the statement further explained.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE , Thursday, August 27, 2020

Multiple COVID-19 vaccines may be required

-- says UWI COVID Task Force, advises persons to take safety measures seriously

By Vishani Ragobeer in Trinidad and Tobago

VACCINES for the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, are being developed at an unprecedented rate.

However, Director for the UWI’s Centre for Biosecurity Studies, Dr. Kirk Douglas, highlighted that multiple vaccines may be needed to treat with COVID-19.

According to the World Health

Organisation (WHO), vaccination is a simple, safe, and effective way of protecting against harmful diseases. Vaccines contain only a killed or weakened form of viruses or bacteria (which do not cause

Graph showing the cumulative number of cases recorded in Guyana (up to August 25) since the first case was recorded in March, 2020 (Image taken from UWI COVID-19 website. Graph prepared

by Ian Hambleton, Professor of Biostatistics, George Alleyne Chronic Disease Research Centre)

Cumulative COVID-19 cases for countries in the Caribbean region (Image taken from UWI COVID-19 website. Graph prepared by Ian Hambleton, Professor of Biostatistics, George Alleyne Chronic Disease Research Centre)

the disease or put you at risk for complications) and they train the body’s immune system to create antibodies and build resistance to specific infections.

“Ideally, we would like to see antibodies produced to that vaccine (a COVID-19 vaccine) and (for) it to have a long time in duration, in terms of the antibodies being produced for a long time, but this is not always the case and with COVID-19 and several other respiratory viruses,” Dr. Douglas said, speaking at a recent forum organised by the University of the West Indies’ (UWI’s) COVID-19 Task Force.

He further explained that much like many of the respiratory diseases (like influenza, for example), the immune response (the body’s ability to resist the infection) wanes over time. “And this is what many researchers have seen with COVID-19, with the normal infection,” he said.

It is for this reason he posits that multiple vaccinations and even different types of vaccines- depending on the existing infrastructure within the specific region- may be required to treat with COVID-19.

He also posited that a combination of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), therapeutics and those vaccines may be required to varying degrees PRODUCTION SCALE-UP Cognisant of the devastating effects the COVID-19 pandemic has had on countries all over the world, Dr. Douglas also highlighted that these vaccinations are being developed in various countries at unprecedented rates.

According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, the general stages for the development cycle of a vaccine are: the exploratory stage, the preclinical stage, clinical development, regulatory review and approval, manufacturing and quality control. This process takes a number of years.

The Director related that during the development of other vaccines in the years gone by, the manufacturing scale up of vaccines occurred around the time of the clinical phase. However, with COVID-19, he said a “different strategy” was employed; manufacturing development started in tandem, or just after the pre-clinical trials.

“This is well in advance of clinical development,” Dr. Douglas said.

According to the latest reports on the development progress of a COVID-19 vaccine from the

WHO, as reported by the Guardian Newspaper, 139 vaccines are in the preclinical phase (that is, not yet in human trials); 25 vaccines are in small-scale safety trials; 15 are in expanded safety trials; and, seven are in large-scale efficacy trials.

None of these vaccines have yet been approved for general use.

Across the globe, massive financing has gone into the development of this vaccine. Vaccines are also being developed in the Caribbean, in Cuba.

“Vaccines have historically been proven to be an effective tool in public health,” the doctor said, while advising that persons see it as a help to mitigating the pandemic rather than being fearful of them.

ADMINISTRATION CHALLENGES Once these vaccines have been approved for use and have been produced, Dr. Douglas foresees that there will be additional challenges to surmount. These include a myriad of administration challenges.

Considerations must be given to whether sufficient quantities of the agent, adjuvant and even packaging materials can be produced, and whether the demand for the COVID-19 vaccine will result in a decline in the production of other vaccines.

Then, there are also concerns for the distribution of vaccines from manufacturers to countries and even the administration by the public health sectors to citizens.

There is also the possibility of the emergence of counterfeit products onto the market.

Importantly, he said, “One of the possible mitigation actions and possibly for the future, perhaps the Caribbean may want to look at developing its own research and manufacturing capacity within the region.”

However, the larger ethical consideration, according to him is: If the public is unwilling to have vaccines administered, then what?

Earlier this year, the University of the West Indies (UWI) launched a Task Force to assist with the mobilisation of the region’s public health providers to help mitigate the effects of COVID-19 with a particular focus on research and surveillance. The Centre for Biosecurity Studies, at the Cave Hill campus, is part of this Task Force.

As of August 25, there were about 23.7 million COVID-19 cases worldwide, with more than 814,000 deaths recorded. Guyana recorded 1,029 cases, with 31 deaths.

15

GUYANA CHRONICLE , Thursday, August 27, 2020

Temporary relief for Onderneeming residents

Residents who attended the meeting

By Indrawattie Natram

THE Region Two Administration, in collaboration with the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), on Tuesday, brought some relief to residents of Red Village, Onderneeming, Region Two, who have been affected by water woes in the community.

According to Region Two Chairman, Devanand Ramdatt, tanks filled with water will be distributed to the area as a temporary solution to assist the residents.

He will also be engaging stakeholders to see if containers can be dispatched to

conducted by regional officials in the community, residents said as of the beginning of 2020, the community has been suffering from water woes. They related that they only receive water from 22:00hrs (10:00pm) until 05:00 hrs in the mornings. Residents, predominantly housewives, are severely affected since they cannot conduct their routine chores.

A resident has also related that because the area is not metered by GWI, a fixed cost of $1950 is charged. They are, therefore, calling on the minister of housing and water to review the bills until the metering system is introduced.

“We pay for the water

The well that is presently down

the area to assist residents to store water until the well in the area is fixed. Speaking at a community meeting on Tuesday evening, the regional chairman assured the residents that the regional administration has heard their concerns and is taking a multi-stakeholder approach to deal with same.

He, therefore, called on the residents to assist each other during the water woes until a permanent solution can be made. Ramdatt, having learnt of the issues, immediately convened a meeting with the manager of GWI and the region’s works committee after which a meeting was organised in the area to advise residents of the temporary solutions.

According to residents, the community has not been receiving a constant flow of water, which poses major challenges to their daily lives.

During a public meeting

we are not receiving; we can’t even shower in the night. It’s a real struggle because we don’t have a container to store the water; our livelihood is affected; we need help,” a resident related.

In responding to the residents’ concerns, GWI Regional Manager, Brionne Gangaram, said that efforts are being made to fix the well in the community. He explained that the delay in the supply of water is as a result of a rupture in the casing of the well and that repairs are currently ongoing to rectify the issue.

He, therefore, said that GWI will be working to improve the quality of water and also the flow. He also assured residents that potable water will be made available to them until the well is fixed and thanked residents for their patience.

Residents, therefore,

thanked regional officials and GWI for their intervention and look forward to more development changes in the community.

Region Two Chairman, Devanand Ramdatt speaking at the meeting with residents

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High Commissioner of India, Dr K J Srinivasa met Education Minister, Priya Manickchand at her 26 Brickdam office, Georgetown on Wednesday. The high commissioner discussed various avenues of possible cooperation and exchange of best practices in the education sector between India and Guyana

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 27, 2020

‘Equal pay for equal work’ – labour minister tells ExxonMobil

Labour Minister, Joseph Hamilton, in discussion with a representative of ExxonMobil on Wednesday (DPI photo) Minister of Labour, Hon. Joseph Hamilton in discussion with a representative of ExxonMobil

LABOUR Minister, Joseph Hamilton has emphasized, during a meeting with representatives of ExxonMobil on Wednesday, that equal pay for local workers in the oil and gas sector is a priority of the government.

The meeting centred on payment of Guyanese workers employed by the oil giant and the adherence to local labour laws.

“I expect that workers must be paid equal pay for equal jobs and I have indicated to ExxonMobil that there are allegations in the industry that expatriate employees are presently being paid more than Guyanese employees,” Minister Hamilton told the DPI. The labour minister said he learnt that the allegations often referred to their sub-contractors. “I have said to them ‘you have an obligation and responsibility to ensure that the sub-contractors and contractors follow the principle of equal job-equal pay’,” he emphasised.

The other matter raised by the minister was the ability of workers to form unions, which the Constitution of Guyana allows.

“They have to facilitate the employees to be unionised if they want to be unionised, to join unions if they want to, or if they just want to have workers representative organisation within the company, so that their interests can be represented to the company,” Minister Hamilton noted.

He posited that rather than having all the workers meeting with the manager to address issues, it was more prudent to have an organisa-

tion that met with management quarterly or monthly to work out any unresolved matters. Hence the need for unions The Labour Ministry is investigating the allegations and seeking ways to resolve the matter amicably.

The facilitation of Labour and Occupational Health and Safety officers to conduct inspections both offshore and onshore was also discussed.

The minister disclosed that “Exxon has a department that deals with these matters in the industry and we will have them sit down at the technical level with our people – that is Labour Department and with the Occupational Health and Safety Department-- so that they can together work out the protocols how this will happen and I indicated to them I need for this to happen expeditiously.”

The minister hinted that there may be a need for more training since the Occupational Health and Safety officers have been trained for land-based assessments.

He added that very soon the Chief Labour Officer, Charles Ogle, will be meeting with representatives of ExxonMobil to begin developing protocols, concerning visitation on the offshore vessels and training.

Minister Hamilton noted that this will be the first in a series of engagements he will be holding with all the companies in the oil and gas sector in Guyana. (DPI)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 27, 2020

CEMB looking to assist school dropouts -- get on their way to university, finding a job

THE College of Excellence, Management and Business (CEMB) wants to help students who have dropped out of school before sitting the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) Exams, so that they may be able to pursue a university education.

The college is located inside the compound of Critchlow Labour College, Woolford Avenue, in Georgetown.

“CEMB is inviting the general public, especially young persons, to avail themselves of the opportunity and join their Ministry of Education and Public Service recognised, ABE endorsed and awards, high school diploma in matriculation studies,” Principal Dr. Stanley Paul said in a statement on Wednesday.

His programme offers CSEC level Grades Seven to Nine in English, Mathematics, Law, Principles of Business, Accounts and

Dr. Stanley Paul

Management.

The aim is to put young persons, especially persons who left school without good grades and before completing school, on a path to university and the world of work.

Paul said the institution recognises the plea and cries of this “neglected” segment of the country’s population and designed the high school diploma as a prestigious and credible solution to reduce, if not eradicate, this trend.

“We realised there is a

segment of public servants, Joint Services personnel and students who exit the secondary school system, at Grade Nine, without any formal qualifications. So CEMB has decided to develop this high school diploma and got the renowned, ABE-UK involved to give the qualification local and international recognition and prestige,” Paul expressed.

Moreover, not being satisfied with ABE’s endorsement alone, although same

is adequate for the purpose, CEMB wrote to the Ministry of Education and Public Service and asked them to recognise the qualification.

As a result, they did a comparative study of its curriculum and quality assurance of delivery that culminated in them formally recognising the qualification as a ‘Grade Nine Exit Qualification.’

In addition, Paul said efforts were also made to recruit lecturers from Queen’s College and President’s College who are Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE)-trained and University of Guyana qualified with good grades in the respective subject areas for which they were recruited. They also possess post graduate degrees, he said.

“Because the qualification is awarded by ABEUK, students can seamlessly transition over to ABE level

four/level five diploma or matriculate straight into a bachelor's degree programme from one of ABE’s hundreds of affiliated universities,” Paul explained.

According to him, students also have the option, subsequent to graduating with the diploma, to spend an additional six months and write four CSEC’s subjects since the diploma curriculum is a peg to CSEC or move on to the world of work.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 27, 2020

Over 100 Lust-en-Rust residents now have potable water CLOSE to one hundred residents of Lust-en-Rust, West Bank of Demerara, are now receiving potable water to their homes, thanks to an intervention

by Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues.

Minister Rodrigues vis-

ited the community recently, after being made aware of some issues facing residents as it relates to their water supply.

Based on advice from the Director of Operations, Guyana Water Inc., Dwayne Shako and Well Engineer, Kerene Gordon, the min-

ister committed to having the issues remedied by last weekend.

During Tuesday’s visit, residents reported that they are now enjoying a better quality of service and their day-to-day life is made much easier.

Meanwhile, Minister

Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues speaking with residents of Lust-en-Rust, West Bank Demerara

Rodrigues took the opportunity to thank the residents for their patience, as she commended the GWI team for working towards the deadline they committed to.

“We did fulfil our commitment and we did so within the deadline we had given ourselves, we want to thank the residents for their cooperation,” Minister Rodrigues noted.

In addition to the households which have been connected to the distribution network, an additional number of residents have been

invited to apply for connection in the coming days.

Speaking of a more long-term solution to increase water pressure, the minister noted that an independent well is needed in that community. To this end, the ministry, through GWI, will be working on accessing funds for that project.

Meanwhile, residents expressed their satisfaction over the level of service they are now receiving.

One resident, Carl Lewis, who has been living

Exxon wants to settle ... for the months of March through May, but only paid the fine for March.

Public and Government Affairs Adviser, Janelle Persaud had subsequently explained that ExxonMobil was fined jointly with two of its contractors for three hydraulic fluid spills which occurred earlier this year.

She said that the spills of the non-toxic, biodegradable fluids were as little as 2.5 liters in one instance, and were reported to the EPA in a timely manner.

On Wednesday, Routledge updated: “The fine, we believe, is not applicable to us. Now, that said, we also believe that it's not the best use of the government's money nor our money to take such a relatively small issue to court, and so, that's why I asked Dr. Adams that our lawyer get together with

his, and that we try to work through those details and come to a solution which is more constructive for both parties.”

He maintained ExxonMobil’s position that the water produced from the reservoirs is treated on the vessel to international standards, and what is discharged causes no damage to the environment.

Even so, there is a discussion ongoing between the company and the EPA about whether the water should be reinjected for the Payara Development Project, pending approval. In this case, ExxonMobil believes that many issues will pose threats.

“There are some potential risks to doing that; some chemistry issues between the produced water and the reservoir fluids into where we would inject, which can

in the community for the past five years, said this is the first time he is accessing water from GWI to his home. Over the past five years, Lewis said it has been burdensome on his family as they have been pumping water from a nearby canal for household use, and harvesting rainwater for drinking purposes. “This will ease us greatly because we wouldn’t have to be spending money on gas for the pump,” Lewis said.

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cause problems, potentially raising fractures in that part of the reservoir. There are also, potentially, additional environmental aspects of treating and injecting that water, in addition to sea water, in the sense that you can have more air emissions because of the additional energy that's needed for the treatment of that water,” the ExxonMobil Guyana President explained.

He stated further that, as in all cases, environmental issues are quite complex, and “balancing acts” must be considered by the authorities in charge to manage how they can assure minimal impact to the environment, while maximising the return to the State.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 27, 2020

Repositioning, rebranding and redesigning -- vital to drive tourism businesses in light of COVID-19, says senior tourism official GENERAL-Secretary of the Region Three Tourism Development Association, Dennis Mayers, has contended that in order for the tourism sector to recover and develop, supporting agencies must adapt to technology and embrace training and retooling of staff.

He also underlined the importance of repositioning, rebranding and re-designing of businesses to drive market consumption, in the short and long-term.

“That has to take place for them to more or less come alive with what’s going on across the region,” the general-secretary of the Region Three Tourism Development

Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister, Oneidge Walrond

for technological transitions would be needed.

Minster Walrond said the government is committed to assisting relevant stakeholders and the meeting provides a platform for an equitable response to the tourism sector.

“I can assure you that this [meeting] will be significantly considered, as government finalises its plans for a national response to the recovery and development of the sector,” Minister Walrond said.

It was reported that several restaurants in Region Three that catered specifically for indoor dining were closed because of their inability to adapt to changing demands.

“It is estimated that 35

Aerial view of Parika, Region Three (DPI photo)

Association said.

He was, at the time, speaking at a virtual meeting hosted by Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister, Oneidge Walrond and included representatives of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), the Tourism and Hospitality Association of

Guyana (THAG),) and the Regional Tourism Committees on the way forward for tourism, amid the COVID-19 pandemic Mayers told the minister and other representatives that to revive the tourism sector in Region Three, major financial support would be required.

He also noted that training

per cent of restaurants have closed, specifically those who catered for indoor dinning and were unable to provide delivery services or outdoor dining,” Mayers said.

This resulted in major restaurants that were able to provide alternative services flourishing, including one fast

Over 100 Lust-en-Rust ...

FROM PAGE

Another resident, Vanessa Peters, said she moved into the community six months ago, and she is now enjoying potable water to her home. According to Peters, in the past, they were forced to visit friends and family miles away to get water.

“Prior to last week, we depended mainly on rainfall, or we had to resort to going to standpipe far away just to get water for day-to-day

use,” Peters lamented.

According to Executive Director of Operations, Dwayne Shako, the services delivered to Lust-en-Rust residents are as a result of rehabilitation works which were carried out on the Westminster Number 2 well station.

He said the water company was forced to re-adjust its distribution network and, in some instances, remove services from unoccupied

12

land as this contributed significantly to leakages and ultimately losses to the company.

Shako said for the remainder of the year, his team will continue to work in the area with the aim of improving service delivery.

The aim is to ensure residents get increase water pressure to the first-floor level by the end of 2020.

food restaurant, which opened a new branch in the region to fill the gap.

“For those restaurants that have been closed, our discussions with a few of them is with the hope of providing some form of delivery service or some courier service coming on stream, to assist them

with delivery, so that they can begin re-opening,” he added.

Moreover, all major events from April–September 2020 have been cancelled.

Despite not being able to have the events physically, the region is opting to introduce a technological solution.

“We are trying to see how

we can adapt a virtual approach and have some events online,” Mayers said.

Unfortunately, the discussions were not as productive as hoped due to some stakeholders’ reluctance to adapt to technology. (DPI)

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Maguire’s legal team lodges appeal

(BBC) - Harry Maguire’s legal team has lodged an appeal against the guilty verdict that led to his suspended jail sentence of 21 months and 10 days in Greek court, Manchester United say.

In accordance with Greek law, the appeal nullifies Maguire’s conviction and there will be a full retrial in a more senior court.

The sentence, given on Tuesday, is suspended for three years.

The 27-year-old is likely to remain as United captain for the upcoming season.

A Manchester United statement said: “An appeal against yesterday’s verdict was lodged this morning by Harry’s legal team.

“This means that Harry has no criminal record and is once again presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Accordingly, he is not subject to any international travel restrictions.”

Tuesday’s trial came after Maguire was arrested following an alleged altercation on the Greek island of Mykonos.

The England defender

was named United’s permanent captain in January after the departure of Ashley Young to Inter Milan.

On Tuesday, Maguire was named in the England squad for September’s Nations League matches against Iceland and Denmark.

But he was withdrawn from the squad a few hours later after he was found guilty of repeated bodily harm, attempted bribery, violence against public employees and insult following his arrest last week along with his brother Joe, 28, and family friend Christopher Sharman, 29.

Both Joe Maguire and Sharman were sentenced to 13 months in prison, also suspended for three years.

All three men denied all charges.

After the verdict of Maguire’s trial, Manchester United released a statement confirming his intent to appeal, adding that he continued to “strongly assert his innocence”, with his legal team wanting “a full and fair hearing at a later date”.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER Thursday, August 27, 2020 COMPLIMENTS OF XTRA ENERGY DRINK – STABROEK BAZAAR (Tel: 683-9500) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD – 83 Garnett street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) ANSWERS TO YESTERDAY’S QUIZ:

(1) Brandon King-72 sixes (2) Barbados Tridents

TODAY’S QUIZ:

(1) Who has captained the Warriors in most CPL games to date?

(2) How many sixes were struck on the opening day of Hero CPL 2020?

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

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Afghanistan have won two of their first four Tests, including an impressive upset of Bangladesh on their own turf (BCB)

(ESPNCRICINFO) - Afghanistan are likely to play their first-ever Test against Australia from December 7 to 11 in Perth.

ESPNcricinfo understands both Cricket Australia (CA) and Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) are in an advanced stage of negotiations before finalising the schedule for the one-off Test. The only question that remains to be resolved, it is believed, is whether the match can be played as a day-night Test, with a final decision likely to be made soon.

According to the ICC’s

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 27, 2020

Afghanistan NBA games likely to postponed after play in teams boycott in BLM protest Australia

Future Tours Programme, Australia were meant to host Afghanistan in November, immediately after the now postponed men’s T20 World Cup. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, numerous bilateral engagements have had their dates adjusted.

In the tentative schedule announced in May, Cricket Australia pencilled in the Afghanistan Test from November 21 to 25 at the Perth Stadium.

However, that plan needed to be changed once BCCI announced that IPL

would be played from September 19 to November 10, soon after ICC postponed the T20 World Cup. With Australia imposing mandatory 14-day quarantine on anyone entering the country, CA has been forced to revise its international summer schedule, which also includes a full tour from India comprising three T20Is, three ODIs and four Tests.

It is understood that during their last call with CA, ACB officials reasoned that since Afghanistan had never played a day-night Test, it would not be possi-

ble to play one now. It is understood that Afghanistan are looking to play a couple of practice matches during their tour and will carry an extra set of fast bowlers.

The one-off Test is not part of the ICC’s World Test Championship, which is limited to the top nine teams and does not include three Full Members in Afghanistan, Ireland and Zimbabwe.

T h e A u s t r a l i a Te s t will be Afghanistan’s fifth after the country gained Full-Member status in 2017. They have lost Tests to India and West Indies, but have already picked up two wins, against Ireland and then an impressive upset of Bangladesh on their own turf last September.

As far as Australia are concerned, they would effectively treat the Afghanistan Test as part of their preparations for India’s visit.

The Afghanistan series schedule is another indication that the India tour is likely to begin with limited-overs games. India were originally set to open the series with the first Test starting December 3 in Brisbane.

However, both CA and BCCI have been discussing the option of starting the tour with the limited-overs leg, to ensure all matches that formed part of the original schedule are completed.

It is likely that the India series will be played across a limited set of venues, with most of the India players flying to Australia directly from the UAE where the IPL will end on November 10.

The NBA postponed We d n e s d a y ' s t h r e e play-off games after the Milwaukee Bucks boycotted their fixture in protest at the shooting of Jacob Blake.

Blake, a black man, was shot several times in the back by police on Sunday.

The incident took place in Kenosha, Wisconsin, 40 miles (25km) from Milwaukee.

In baseball, the MLB's Seattle Mariners announced they had decided not to play the second game in the series against the San Diego Padres.

The decision was based on a unanimous vote from the players, Mariners' player Dee Gordon tweeted.

The Milwaukee Bucks' senior vice president, A l e x L a s r y, t w e e t ed: "Some things are bigger than basketball.

The stand taken today by the players and organisation shows that we're fed up. Enough is enough."

He added: "Change needs to happen. I'm incredibly proud of our guys and we stand 100% behind our players ready to assist and bring about real change."

The Bucks were due to play the Orlando Magic.

After the postponement, a statement on behalf of the Bucks' owners read: "We fully support our players and the decision they made. Although we did not know beforehand, we would have wholeheartedly agreed with them.

"The only way to bring about change is to shine a light on the racial injustices that are happening in front of us. Our players have done that and we will continue alongside them and demand accountability and change."

The Houston Rockets' game against the Oklahoma City Thun-

der and the Los Angeles Lakers' match-up with the Portland Trail Blazers were also postponed, and will be rescheduled.

The Lakers' LeBron James tweeted: "We demand change. Sick of it."

Karl-Anthony Towns of the Minnesota Timberwolves added: "Shoot hoops, not people", while Denver Nuggets player Jamal Murray said: "We demand justice!"

LA Lakers honour Kobe Bryant in play-off win over Portland Trail Blazers Prior to the scheduled game, Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said: "Myself, my players and our organisation are very disturbed by what happened in Kenosha.

"It is a great challenge to have an appreciation and a desire to want change, to want something different and better in Kenosha, Milwaukee and Wisconsin, and then to go out and play a game."

NBA players are scheduled for a meeting in Florida later on Wednesday to determine their next steps, with NBA TV saying that some players are contemplating leaving the NBA bubble near Orlando.

The Milwaukee Brewers' Major League Baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds o n We d n e s d a y h a s also been postponed.

Earlier in the day, NFL's Detroit Lions cancelled their practice session.

Players then gathered in front of the team facility, holding signs which read: "We Won't be Silent" and "The World Can't Go On." After the NBA boycott, the NHL are expected to hold a 'moment of reflection' before the games between the Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning in Toronto, and the Dallas Star and Colorado Avalanche in Edmonton.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 27, 2020

England trio rise in ICC rankings (ESPNCRICINFO) - Three England players made big strides in the rankings in the rainhit third and final Test against Pakistan.

James Anderson’s seven wickets in the match - which took him to 600 Test wickets, the first seam bowler to get to the mark - put him at No. 8 among bowlers, while Zak Crawley and Jos Buttler rose in the batsmen’s chart after hitting 267 and 152 respectively in England’s only innings.

Anderson’s reaching the 600-wicket milestone was the story of the Test match, but Crawley was named Player-of-the-Match for his mammoth double-century - his first three-figure score in his eighth Test.

It was the second-highest maiden Test century by an English batsman and the seventh-highest overall, and gave him a lift of 53 positions in the list for batsmen to No.28 with 605 rating points, both career highs.

Only Ben Stokes (No.8), Joe Root (No.9)

and Buttler who got to the 21st position after hitting his career-best score, are ahead of Crawley for England in the rankings.

Anderson had dropped out of the top ten, but the former world No.1 got right back in to slot in at No.8. In Southampton, not only did Anderson reach the 600-wicket mark in Tests, he also recorded his 29th five-wicket haul in Tests, in Pakistan’s first innings, before striking twice more in the second innings.

There wasn’t much joy for Pakistan, apart from Azhar Ali and Mohammad Rizwan moving up the batsmen’s rankings. Ali’s 141 in their first innings took him up 11 spots to No.23, while Rizwan, who hit 53 in the first innings to build on the 72 in the previous Test, got to the 72nd spot - a jump of three positions.

At the end of the series, which England won 1-0 after winning the first Test by three

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No fast bowler has gone where James Anderson has in Test cricket (Getty Images for ECB)

wickets, the home side’s prospects of reaching the final of the World Test Championship had taken a hit.

The WTC schedule is not halfway through yet, with 14 out of 27 series remaining, but England, after four series, are in third place behind India and Australia with just two series left - in Sri Lanka and in India.

Pakistan are further behind, at No.5, with the second Test of their home series against Bangladesh, a tour of New Zealand and another home series against South Africa still to be played.

Barcelona still trying to keep Messi Celtic suffer early Champions League exit (BBC) - Barcelona still plan to build a team around captain Lionel Messi and are trying to convince him to stay, says sporting director Ramon Planes.

The 33-year-old Argentina forward told the club he wishes to exercise a clause allowing him to leave for free.

The six-time Ballon d’Or winner is Barca’s record goalscorer on 634 goals.

“What’s happened has happened and our idea is to build a team around the most important player in the world,” said Planes.

“We want to build another winning cycle led by the best player in the world, the best in history.

“Barca and Leo are like a marriage, where both have given so much to each other, and have brought so much joy to the fans. I think the future is positive. I am an optimist.”

Messi - who has only ever played for Barca wants to leave after a trophy-less season which ended with an 8-2 thrashing

by Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals.

Barcelona believe the

clause has now expired and Messi is contracted to the club until 2021 with a 700 million euro buy-out clause.

“We need experienced players like Leo Messi, as well as players for the team’s future. We are putting every effort into ensuring that the relationship between Barca and Messi will continue. We are working internally t o convince Leo,” said Planes, who was speaking at the unveiling of signing Francisco Trincao.

“Barca has rebuilt itself many times in the past years and it always comes back stronger and right now we are at that stage.”

Some consider the only thing that could

plac a t e Messi is the resignation of president Josep Maria Bartomeu and early elections.

Barcelona’s Argentine forward Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring a goal during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second-leg football match against Napoli at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on August 8, 2020 (Photo by LLUIS GENE/AFP) (Photo by LLUIS GENE/AFP via Getty Images)

But that may not be enough to keep a player who has won 10 Spanish titles and four Champions Leagues with the club.

Planes said: “We have to be very respectful. We can’t make this a public discussion between Leo Messi and Barcelona because neither of the two deserves it.

“I don’t think Leo deserves that and neither does Barca. And we will do a lot of internal work; we have done it and will keep doing it to build a winning Barca.”

Tokmac Nguen scores the winner for Ferencvaros

(BBC) - Celtic suffered their earliest Champions League exit in 15 years after falling to a shock defeat at the hands of Ferencvaros in Glasgow.

It seemed Neil Lennon’s side had recovered from David Siger’s early goal for the Hungarian champions, when Ryan Christie’s deflected strike levelled the one-legged tie.

H o w e v e r, To k m a c Nguen’s breakaway goal snatched victory for Ferencvaros and ensured Celtic’s worst performance in the competition since Artmedia Bratislava knocked them out in 2005.

The Scottish champions now drop into the Europa League third qualifying round, the draw for which takes place on Tuesday.

Questions will likely be asked of Celtic and Lennon, just as they were before the game when it emerged that

Odsonne Edouard was injured and Christie would be deployed in his place.

The manager insisted that strikers Albian Ajeti and Patryk Klimala were only fit enough for the bench.

Nevertheless, the hosts looked to have plenty of attacking threat as James Forrest forced an early parry from goalkeeper Denes Dibusz.

Ferencvaros head coach Sergei Rebrov had sacrificed striker Franck Boli from their 2-0 win over Djurgardens in the previous round, but his side were not intent on sitting back and replacement Siger made an instant impact.

Hatem Abd Elhamed was posted missing as Nguen, who scored a double against the Swedes, broke quickly and fed Somalia to win a corner. When it reached Siger, the midfielder was allowed too much to time to pick out the far corner from 18 yards.

Ferencvaros’ lack of match fitness began to tell as they defended ever deeper and Celtic peppered their goal with shots that failed to seriously trouble the goalkeeper.

Half-time allowed the Hungarians some respite, but the flow of possession continued after the break and a lovely spell of passing around the edge of the visitors’ box ended with Christie’s side-footed effort clipping a defender’s head and soaring over goalkeeper Dibusz.

Dibusz turned a Ntcham volley off the underside of the crossbar and then a low Christie drive wide as Celtic turned the screw.

But then came the goal that proved their downfall. Nguen outstripped Elhamed to a long ball out of defence, outmuscled the full-back, and slipped a finish past goalkeeper Vasilis Barkas from a narrow angle.

26

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 27, 2020

TKR win comfortably over St Lucia Zouks (ESPNCRICINFO) - Either side of rain, which cut St Lucia Zouks’ innings to 17.1 overs and left Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) only nine overs to bat, the Bravo brothers took the match by its collar and ensured a comfortable Knight Riders victory.

Dwayne Bravo took his 500th T20 wicket en route to extraordinary figures of 2 for 7 off three overs, before Darren Bravo hit 23 not out off 13 balls to help TKR to their target of 72 off nine overs, with a full over to spare.

The victory maintains the Knight Riders’ fourmatch winning streak, while handing the second-placed Zouks their second loss in five games.

Dwayne Bravo ploughs through a milestone No other bowler has got even 400 T20 wickets, and yet here was Dwayne Bravo taking his 500th.

Easily one of the top five cricketers in this format, he set the tone for this game with his opening spell, from which Zouks never recov-

some sort of fight with the ball, taking the first four wickets off the first 3.3 overs of the innings to leave TKR at 34 for 4.

Darren Bravo ensured Dwayne’s work with the ball was not for nothing, hitting 23 off 13 balls to drive the Knight Riders home.

In the course of that knock, he hit his 100th CPL six - one of those shots launched so far that it landed on the stadium roof and a new ball had to be called for.

A moment worth the wait: Dwayne Bravo picks up his 500th T20 wicket (CPL T20 via Getty Images)

ered.

Dwayne claimed two wickets - having Rakheem Cornwall caught, before bowling Roston Chase.

But almost more impor-

tantly, he also only conceded five runs from those two overs, delivering seven dot balls - including the two wickets - and conceding only singles from the remaining

deliveries.

Dwayne returned for a third over, and was arguably even better at the death. He conceded only two singles from the 17th over.

Darren Bravo propels Knight Riders across the line Although 72 from nine overs seemed initially like a cakewalk, Zouks did muster

Nabi’s all-round show Zouks seemed to be in arrears for the majority of this match, but the man who was most relentlessly dragging them towards parity was Mohammad Nabi. He hit 30 not out off 22 with the bat, and later claimed the wicket of Lendl Simmons with the second ball of TKR’s innings.

He conceded a six and a four to Colin Munro later in that over, and finished with figures of 1 for 15 from two overs.

Without Nabi, Zouks’ loss would have been even starker.

FEDEX Chelsea sign Chilwell on board with CPL

THE Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) is delighted to announce that FedEx Express has returned as the Official Courier and Express Delivery service of its cricket tournament.

For the second consecutive year, the world’s largest express transportation company is working with Hero CPL to ensure the movement of the tournament equipment during these trying times caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jamie Stewart, Hero CPL’s Commercial Director, said: “We’ve been faced with many challenges in staging the tournament this year, not the least logistical ones. We’d like to thank FedEx Express for being with us every step of the way and helping to make Hero CPL 2020 a reality.”

“At FedEx Express safety is our priority, and we support this tournament which has gone to extraordinary lengths to make this event safe for the topflight players and teams representing the West Indies,” said Rakesh Shalia, VP of Marketing and Communications for FedEx Express Latin America and Caribbean.

“We are very proud to sponsor the Hero CPL, which will deliver welcome entertainment to the millions of cricket fans in our region and around the world.”

(BBC) - Chelsea have signed England left-back Ben Chilwell from Leicester on a five-year deal for £45M. Chilwell is Chelsea’s third addition of the summer after the arrivals of winger Hakim Ziyech, 27, from Ajax, and striker Timo Werner, 24, from RB Leipzig.

The defender, 23, is a Leicester academy product who made his debut for the club in 2015, and had a contract with the Foxes until 2024.

He missed the final five matches of the 2019-20 season with a foot injury.

Chelsea took fourth place and a Champions League place at the expense of Leicester on the final day of the Premier League season in July.

“I’m looking forward to being a part of this young, dynamic squad led

by Frank Lampard as we challenge for honours next season,” said Chilwell, who has 11 England caps.

“He (Lampard) does play the younger players if they are good enough and just from speaking to him, I’m really excited

to be here. I think the way the gaffer sets his teams up suits my game perfectly.”

Chilwell made a total of 123 appearances for Leicester and scored four goals, three of them coming in the Premier League last season.

er and with the fixture programme for 2020-21 especially busy, he is a fantastic addition to the squad needing to challenge for honours.”

Chilwell joining fellow Foxes Danny Drinkwater and N’Golo Kante at Chelsea continues a model of

2017, Riyad Mahrez went to Manchester City in 2018 and Harry Maguire joined Manchester United in 2019.

It balances the books and allows reinvestment for Leicester - on what is not a bad return at all.

Those five players cost a total £24.1M. Leicester

Ben Chilwell was under contract at Leicester until 2024

Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia added: “We are confident Ben will adapt very quickly to being a Chelsea play-

selling one of their ‘stars’ every year since Kante left for Chelsea in 2016.

Drinkwater followed him to west London in

sold them collectively for £250M over four years and still finished above Arsenal and Tottenham last season.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 27, 2020

27

Local archers continue to shine in virtual World Cup competition ARCHERY Guyana’s Qualification round of the World Archery Americas’ Online Archery Cup of the Americas DC continued with more top performances from some of Guyana’s veteran archers.

Action continued on the 23rd and 25th, with 3 males, Umasankar Madray, Nicholas Hing and Robert Singh along with 2 females Talitha Kissoon and Samira Duncan, competing in the recurve 18m distance shoot.

While the competition was strong among the archers, Umasankar finished the match with 298 points.

He experienced some difficulties with his new equipment, resulting in an unusually low-scoring sequence.

Hing started off strong but faltered under the sweltering heat and ended the match with a total of 338 points.

Senior Indoors and Outdoors Champion, Singh, was able to sustain a rea-

sonable average under the adverse conditions, ending the match with a total of 404 points.

The 2 female competitors Junior Female Champion Talitha, showcased her natural talent hitting the 10 spot 5 times but was obviously affected by a lack of match practice, ending with a score of 245.

Duncan, also affected by lack of practice, had a slow start but her scoring gathered momentum

during the match and closed with a total of 347.

The Online Archery Cup of the Americas is a World Archery Americas-sanctioned competition seeking to advance the spirit of competing on a virtual arena, whilst abiding with the COVID-19 safety measures across the Americas (North, South & Central America and the Caribbean).

Guyanese archers Robert Singh (left) and Nicholas Hing

Misfiring Amazon Warriors batsmen pressuring bowlers’ efforts … Comprehensive win over table-leaders TKR needed tonight

By Clifton Ross THE out-of-sorts Guyana Amazon Warriors face their biggest challenge in the CPL bubble yet, when they face Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) under lights in a mustwin match at the Queen’s Park Oval (QPO) ground.

It’s been a mixed journey to date for Chris Green and his team, who need to win at least the next 3 out of 5 games in order to lock down a favourable spot as the 33-match season gets into the tough stages.

Warriors lost their last two games - the first to St Lucia Zouks by 10 runs, followed by another low-scoring encounter versus the Jamaica Tallawahs by 5 wickets.

TKR will have the obvious edge today. Having this battle in their backyard could play a factor for Kieron Pollard and company, who whipped Zouks yesterday in their Duckworth/ Lewis-affected game.

Coming up against TKR, who are currently on an unbeaten streak having won 4 from 4, Warriors will have to try a new approach to their batting structure.

G u y a n a ’s l e a d i n g

run-scorer, Shimron Hetmyer failed against Tallawahs and as a result lost his number one run-getters’ spot to St Kitts Patriots opener Evin Lewis who now has 160 runs as well as the tournament’s highest individual score.

Green will need more than ever the most from his bowlers who have been the real unsung heroes this season, helping their side defend some pretty low totals while bagging a number of wickets along the way.

But TKR will cer-

from the home team.

Darren Bravo has the third most sixes this season so far (8) while Munro has (7), putting two of TKR’s premier batters in the top-5 list of players with the most sixes.

The in-form Sunil

TKR will be seeking to maintain their unbeaten run, against the Warriors

TKR’s Colin Munro, number 3 on the runs chart with 133 thus far, is just 10 runs behind Hetmyer and could play a big role tonight given his current form.

tainly be on a mission to out-bat Warriors and due to the poor outing which the entire batting department - apart from Hetmyer - has exhibited, more can be expected

Narine at the top of the order has been a huge plus for the Trinidad franchise, as his newfound love for batting has helped to space out TKR’s lineup.

Chandrapaul Hemraj and Brandon King are in need of runs and should look to Narine for some inspiration on how to approach the batting inside the first 5 overs.

TKR will rely heavily on their middle-order with the Bravo brothers, Pollard, Munro and overseas player Sikandar Raza while opener Lendl Simmons could come to the party this evening.

Apart from Hetmyer and Nicholas Pooran who hit 68 recently, Warriors will be sweating after the performances of their openers, power-hitters like Sherfane Rutherford, Keemo Paul and Romario Shepherd and most importantly Ross Taylor.

Ta y l o r h a d b e e n tipped to play a big role with the bat for Guyana this year but his lack of runs and being intent on playing aggressive cricket has left Warriors in a rough spot, as none of their other batters has shown any resolve to go all the way.

Rutherford should be pushed up the order and have a better chance to get his eyes in. King should be pushed to 3 with Hetmyer getting a chance to open

with his Guyana Jaguars partner Hemraj.

Warriors should opt to bat Taylor at 5 or even 6 to help take pressure off him, while Shepherd should make his way back into the side at the expense of Anthony Bramble.

Green, Imran Tahir and Ashmead Nedd are the key in the spin department for Guyana and will have to match skills with the likes of Kharry Pierre, Fawad Ahmed and the 49 year-old Pravin Tabme, all of whom are in good wicket-taking form for TKR. Looking at the conditions at QPO, TKR may look to bat first and put Warriors under lights where pacer Ali Khan and possibly Pollard and Bravo might have some say with their medium-pace.

Should TKR snap up another win it could help them to secure that number one spot, as they head towards crunch time. Meanwhile, should Warriors suffer another defeat they could slip further down the table from the 3rd place spot which they currently occupy.

The match bowls off at 17:30hrs.

Misfiring Amazon Warriors batsmen pressuring bowlers’ efforts … Comprehensive win over table-leaders TKR needed tonight PAGE 27

Maguire’s legal team lodges appeal

PAGE 23

Maguire joined Manchester United from Leicester in August last year

SEE PAGE 26

TKR win comfortably over St Lucia Zouks

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 2020