Guyana_Chronicle_Epaper_09_28_2020

MONDAY 28th September, 2020

' No.106136

38,000 tonnes of sugar –– expected from Rose Hall when estate begins grinding at full capacity

SEE STORY ON PAGE 03 ►

Tourism sector will bounce back –– says President Ali amid decline due to COVID-19

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COVID-19 takes toll on fishing industry –– pandemic-induced price reduction ‘hurting’ fishermen

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One dead in Lima accident

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 28, 2020

Companies get ‘green light’ to import aircraft

By Navendra Seoraj THE Government of Guyana has granted permission for two established companies to import aircraft for their operations.

Companies in every sector have been constrained by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic but this move shows that businesses are still investing in the economy despite the existing conditions.

Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, said government recently granted the approval for seven aircraft to be imported to Guyana. Five of those aircraft were purchased by one company while the remaining two is for another player in the airline industry.

Edghill said the request for importation of those aircraft was “sitting on the ta-

ble” for a while, so the new government thought it best to grant approval.

It is likely that those aircraft will service the domestic market for now since international and regional travel has been severely affected by the necessary COVID-19 control measures, which have been implemented by countries, including Guyana, to curb the spread of the pandemic.

The Guyana Chronicle had reported that though saving lives must remain on the front burner, there is also need for an “antidote” for the ailing tourism sector, which, to some extent, has already hit rock bottom.

With 286,732 total visitors in 2018, it was estimated that travel and tourism injected approximately GY$62.6B directly into Guyana’s economy, making tourism its sec-

ond largest export sector. A replication of this is, however, looking virtually impossible, as tourism continues to take a hit because of COVID-19.

A possible solution which was proposed by Director-General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Lt. Col. (ret’d), Egbert Fields, and President of the Guyana Tourism and Hospitality Association (THAG), was to focus on domestic tourism in the absence of foreign tourists.

“If we start talking about domestic tourism, we would have healthy tourism, as we await international tourism,” said Fields.

Up to May, domestic travel remained one of the main reasons why the local aviation industry is still alive, and this

is premised on the fact that weekly domestic flights was at 92.4 per cent while weekly “overflights” have dropped to 9.7 per cent, moving from 480 in January to 47 to date. The drop in flights is also owed to the fact that Guyana’s international airports have been closed to passenger flights for just about two months.

And, with the possibility of the COVID-19 pandemic becoming endemic, with the absence of treatment or a vaccine, Fields said stakeholders will have to look at the best ways of co-existing with the disease, in order to keep the aviation and tourism sectors alive.

To this end, he believes that a number of things can be done to sustain tourism.

And, in line with his idea of

Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill

pushing domestic tourism, he advised tourism stakeholders to develop new tour packages, which target local companies and individuals, and also introduce subsidised packages for Guyanese. In order to pull this off, he believes that local operators should explore collaborations.

The arrival of seven new aircraft presents an oppor-

tunity for these options to be explored, and the mechanical assets will be supported by the creation of two airstrips, one at Mahaica and the other at Charity. Minister Edghill said government has approved the applications for the construction of those airstrips.

$70M for critical children-related services

SOME $70 million has been allocated to provide services for the care of the children of essential workers and others across the country, Human

Services and Social Security Minister Dr. Vindhya Persaud has disclosed.

Principal among these are the measures to ensure that the

more than 1,500 children of frontline workers are not left unattended while their parents are on duty.

“We will be ensuring our Difficult Circumstances Unit assist our healthcare workers, disciplined services employees, janitorial staff at various ministries among other essential workers,” Minister Persaud said.

There are 225 childcare service centres countrywide, with measures in place to extend collaboration to public and private partners who are willing to provide night-care services overseen by the ministry.

“Once children are enrolled, every month payments will be given to the day care providers. It will not at any time, be coming out of the pockets of those who are at the frontline amid the pandemic,” Minister Persaud explained.

With regard to childcare and the juvenile justice system, the minister explained that the two entities work together to protect minors and it is vital that they receive the necessary support and structure to effectively tackle violence against children.

“Before the end of the last quarter the juvenile justice system will be mapped. Rehabilitation services will be essential, because we seek to properly help these youths in

our care be reintegrated back to society with their families.

We need them to be able to find good jobs and become good citizens of this nation,” Minister Persaud said.

Children from the hinterland regions will also benefit.

“Out of this $70 million, we will be training persons in the hinterland regions to engage the people of the far-reached regions to tackle all child abuse matters and this is because the cases there are high. Twenty point five million was set aside to purchase three [all] terrain vehicles for CPA [Child Protection Agency] in order for them to reach victims in a timely manner. We cannot have a gap in transportation,” the minister explained.

The ministry will collaborate with the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs to ensure that the services reach those in need.

The allocation will also fund services for indigent persons.

They will be relocated from the streets and given accommodation at the Night Shelter, where they will be offered psycho-social support, healthy meals, and healthcare services.

The minister made these disclosures during the debate on the Estimates of Expenditure in the National Assembly. (DPI)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 28, 2020

38,000 tonnes of sugar –– expected from Rose Hall when estate begins grinding at full capacity

By Navendra Seoraj WORK has commenced at the shuttered Rose Hall Sugar Estate which is expected to produce between 8,000 to 10,000 tonnes of sugar in the first year of operation.

The Rose Hall Estate will be the first of the three estates closed by the former APNU+AFC administration to re-open and is expected to begin grinding in 2022.

In 2017, the APNU+AFC Coalition Government had announced the closure of several sugar estates across the country, leaving thousands of persons without a job or source of income. The move saw four sugar estates being closed and 7,000 sugar workers losing their jobs.

In keeping with the new People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) government’s commitment to re-opening those estates and revitalising the ailing sugar industry, the corporation has successfully started work at the Rose Hall Estate, said acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GuySuCo, Sasenarine Singh.

The Rose Hall Estate, prior to its closure, was ‘home’ to some 2,500 sugar workers, but 1,181 of those were retrenched. The remaining workers from the Rose Hall Estate were transferred to Blairmont Estate over in West Coast Berbice and Al-

bion Estate on the Corentyne.

It is expected that these workers will be rehired, and GuySuCo has already announced that it will be rehiring 400 workers by December.

“What we are doing right now is to start planting feeding materials and then use those planting materials to create more planting materials and in the process we will be able to have enough planting materials to cover 80 per cent of the cultivation… with that 80 per cent of the cultivation in the ground, we are expecting to start grinding with that amount,” said Singh during an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle on Saturday.

PRODUCTION The Rose Hall Sugar Estate is capable of producing up to 38,000 tonnes of sugar, but the acting CEO said the estate will be starting the “first grinding year” with about 8,000 to 10,000 tonnes of sugar. And, as cultivation increases, production will be ramped up to 38,000.

“Well to get back into sugar production, that's the bottom line, but what we want to do is to move more up the value chain into packaged sugar…so right across the river from Rose Hall there is a packaging plant at Blairmont, so we want to leverage that more,” said

GuySuCo CEO (ag), Sasenarine Singh

Singh.

But even as the corporation looks to initiate production and other projects, the reality remains that factories, structures and even cultivation at those shuttered estates are in “dire need” of capital intervention as they were “starved of funding”.

“The all-weather roads are in bad shape, the dams are in bad shape, the canals are heavily deteriorated, many of the bridges are not in good condition and the punt fleet is limping along so it needs urgent renewal,” Singh lamented.

He was, however, grateful for government’s budgetary support for GuySuCo. The government has allocated $5B to GuySuCo.

Of that amount, Singh explained that $800 million will support the operating factories and $2.2 billion will go towards the shuttered Rose Hall, Enmore and Skeldon estates. The $800 million allocation will fund capital work at the operational estates. And, given that the budget was approved on Friday, GuySuCo has “gone to tender” to get the capital work started.

BUSINESS PLAN Singh said a full business plan for the industry is being crafted, and is expected to be presented to the corporation’s board of directors in October.

Once the business plan is completed, the corporation will start implementing as-

pects of it ‘minutely’.

“I think the challenge in dealing with a complex situation like what we found at GuySuCo is, there are many plans, there are many feasibility studies, but where they failed all the time was at the point of implementation so that is where I'm going to pay very focused attention to.

“I want to make sure that the implementation is done because it is driving two factors: one is we want to push the revenue proposition up the ladder to be selling at the right price point and the right kind of products, not selling raw sugar but mostly selling things like packaged sugar and bag sugar and hopefully in the medium term going into a refinery,” said Singh.

The other thing he plans to focus on is the entire value chain within GuySuCo, and establish where the non-value-added activities are and weed them out. Singh believes that he will accomplish this even with the three estates which were closed by the past administration.

Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, had argued that the closure of those estates created an unprecedented economic situation, depriving the economy of billions; reducing sugar production by nearly 60 per cent, losing nearly the same amount in foreign exchange; and created a multitude of

social problems.

“The closed estates were simply abandoned, machinery and equipment sold; billions of dollars of sugarcane are now permanently destroyed; vital infrastructure has fallen apart; equipment in good condition, worth millions, was sold as scrap at certain locations; and money was withheld from GuySuCo,” Minister Mustapha lamented.

Contrary to where it is today, GuySuCo, “in its glory days,” was referred to as the backbone of Guyana’s economy, as the company employed roughly 16,000 persons, was a major source of foreign currency, and a major provider of community healthcare, drainage services, and welfare facilities.

The industry has since been reduced to a level of insolvency and instability, but the new government believes there is still hope, although there are production challenges - low productivity; high cost of production; lack of competitiveness and poor management In the next five years, starting with Budget 2020, government plans to implement measures to promote a diversified agriculture-based economy; create more jobs; and increase the income of farmers.

Global coronavirus death toll passes one million THE global death toll from the new coronavirus, which emerged less than a year ago in China and has swept across the world, passed one million on Sunday.

The pandemic has ravaged the global economy, inflamed geopolitical tensions and upended lives, from Indian slums and Brazil's jungles to America's biggest city, New York.

World sports, live entertainment and international travel ground to a halt as fans, audiences and tourists were forced to stay at home, kept inside by strict measures imposed to curb the virus spread.

Drastic controls that put half of humanity -- more than four billion people -- under some form of lockdown by April at

first slowed the ‘pace’ of the virus, but since restrictions were eased cases have soared again.

On Sunday, the disease had claimed 1,000,009 victims from 33,018,877 recorded infections, according to an AFP tally, using official sources.

The United States has the highest death toll with more than 200,000 fatalities followed by Brazil, India, Mexico and Britain.

On Sunday, CNN reported that almost half the US is reporting increased numbers of new COVID-19 cases as health experts warn of a potential coronavirus surge in the fall and winter.

As of Sunday, the number of new coronavirus cases has increased by at least 10 per cent or more compared to the week before

in 21 states, most of them in the West, according to a CNN analysis of data from Johns Hopkins University.

CNN noted that cases are rising in Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington state, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

The US could see an explosion of COVID-19 cases in the fall and winter as people exercise less caution and spend more time indoors, where there is a greater likelihood of transmission, according to Dr. Chris Murray, director of the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation

(IHME) CNN has reported.

Meanwhile, with scientists still racing to find a working vaccine, governments are again forced into an uneasy balancing act: Virus controls slow the spread of the disease, but they hurt already reeling economies

and businesses.

The IMF, earlier this year, warned that the economic upheaval could cause a "crisis like no other" as the world's GDP collapsed.

Europe, hit hard by the first wave, is now facing another surge in cases, with

Paris, London and Madrid all forced to introduce controls to slow cases threatening to overload hospitals.

Masks and social distancing in shops, cafes and public transport are now part of everyday life in many cities. (AFP)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 28, 2020

As justice, Barrett would have final say on recusal ALTHOUGH U.S. law requires justices to step aside when there is a conflict of interest or genuine question of bias, it leaves the individual justice to decide whether such a conflict exists. Aside from direct financial and personal conflicts, they rarely do so.

Trump on Saturday nominated Barrett to the vacancy created by the death of liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Sept. 18. If confirmed by the Republican-controlled U.S. Senate, Barrett would give the court a 6-3 conservative majority.

On Wednesday Trump said he wanted the full complement of nine justices on the court as soon as possible in part because he believes the court will determine the outcome of the Nov. 3 presidential election.

“I think this will end up in the Supreme Court, and I think it’s very important

that we have nine justices,” he told reporters at a White House event.

The Supreme Court has determined the outcome of a U.S. presidential election only once, in 2000, leading President George W. Bush to the White House.

Trump indicated that the Supreme Court would rule in his favor with nine justices on board. He alleged they would respond to an unspecified “scam that the Democrats are pulling” in relation to increased use of mail-in ballots as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Trump has repeatedly and without evidence attacked mail-in balloting, a longstanding feature of U.S. elections.

‘ETHICAL COMPLICATION’ Senate Democrats say they will probe Barrett on the subject during her con-

firmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee in the hope she will pledge to step aside in election-related cases.

Democratic Senator Cory Booker, who serves on the committee, said on Sunday he would ask Barrett about recusal when he meets her.

“If she does not recuse herself, I fear that the court will be further de-legitimized,” he said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

There are no indications Republican senators share those concerns, with Republican Senator Mike Lee, speaking on ABC’s “This Week,” saying that recusal decisions would be up to Barrett.

During previous Senate hearings, Supreme Court nominees have routinely declined to commit on how they would approach cases that could come before them.

Federal law requires a justice to step aside from cases “in which his impartiality might reasonably be questioned.” In a 2011 report, conservative Chief Justice John Roberts said he had “complete confidence in the capability of my colleagues to determine when recusal is warranted.”

Legal experts told Reuters that under the way the law has been interpreted up until now, the new justice need not recuse herself from any election issue.

But New York University School of Law legal ethics

expert Stephen Gillers noted that should a decisive election issue come before the justice, Democratic candidate Joe Biden could be justified in filing a motion asking her to recuse.

“I believe that would be a persuasive argument in this unique circumstance,” he said.

He noted that in 2000, when the Supreme Court decided the election in favor of Republican Bush, none of the justices were appointed by either candidate, although Democratic candidate Al Gore was vice president to President Bill Clinton, who appointed both Ginsburg and Justice Stephen Breyer.

This time, there would be three justices on the bench appointed by Trump himself.

Both liberal and conservative justices have been pressed by critics in the past to recuse themselves in cases with perceived conflicts. Litigants can file motions seeking recusal but rarely do.

In 2004, the Sierra Club environmental group asked conservative Justice Antonin Scalia to step aside in a case concerning then-Vice President Dick Cheney, a friend of the justice. Scalia refused, saying his impartiality could not reasonably be questioned.

During the 2016 presidential race, liberal Ginsburg criticized then-candidate Trump as a “faker,” prompting cries by conservative critics of bias.

Ginsburg later expressed re-

gret for her remarks but did not step aside from any case involving Trump.

Despite calls from some conservatives for her to recuse herself, liberal Justice Elena Kagan participated in a 2012 ruling upholding President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act, the healthcare law dubbed Obamacare. Kagan had served as Obama’s top Supreme Court advocate when the law was enacted

in 2010 but said she played no role in its conception.

Kagan, appointed to the court by Obama in 2010, recused herself from other cases on which she had worked in Obama’s administration.

Justices routinely step aside when they have financial conflicts, such as owning stock in companies with cases before the court.

(BBC)

TikTok: US judge halts app store ban A US judge has issued a temporary injunction preventing a ban on future downloads of the TikTok app.

The app had faced being blocked from Apple’s App Store and Android’s Google Play marketplace from 23:59 Eastern time.

Existing US-based users would have been able to continue using it.

But they would not have been able to

Monday, September 28, 02:30hrs - 04:00hrs re-download the app if they deleted it from their phones, nor have been offered software updates.

Judge Carl Nichols of the US District Court for the District of Columbia issued a temporary injunction on Sunday evening at the request of TikTok. TikTok had argued that forcing it off the iOS and Android app stores would have violated the First and Fifth Amendments of the US Constitution.

It claimed that preventing some users joining the app unlawfully impinged upon their freedom of speech and that the firm’s own right to due process would have been breached by not giving it a proper opportunity to defend itself first.

“How does it make sense to impose this app store ban tonight when there are negotiations underway that might make it unnecessary?” added a member of the app’s legal team.

The US government’s lawyers in turn had described the app’s parent as being “a mouthpiece” for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

The ruling comes one week after another Chinese app - WeChat - that also faced a ban, was given its own last minute reprieve by the US courts. (BBC)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 28, 2020

TT: Keith Scotland considers legal action against CXC PORT of Spain South MP Keith Scotland has joined his daughter Adela in her Justice for CAPE campaign. The 18-year-old upper six St Francois College student launched the social media campaign days after receiving Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) results.

The Caribbean Examination Council (CXC), which is responsible for administering the CAPE and Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations, released the results on Tuesday last week.

In a phone interview with Newsday on Sunday, Scotland, an attorney, said he is in the process of compiling information on “numerous students” who have come forward with complaints against CXC. He said he is consulting with a local senior counsel and foreign Queen’s Counsel on the matter and will be issuing a formal response to the CXC board on Monday.

He said the action being taken is based on “legitimate concerns” from students across the region.

“We have seen discrepancies and we would like them addressed.”

Adela added, “I had spoken to him about pursuing legal action, but when other students from other schools started to have the same concerns as myself, I was wondering if it were possible to help all of them and he said yes, we could file a class action (suit).”

Adela said the students who have reached out expressed concerns about going into the exam with high internal assessment scores (ranging from 50 out of a total of 60) and receiving low grades, between three and four. An acceptable grade for CAPE ranges from one to five.

“We are very confused as to what happened,” said Adela. She said the methodology used to grade the exams is in question. She said she spoke to one student who received

Port of Spain South MP, Keith Scotland a high grade of 55 out of 60 and still received a failing grade of seven in one of his subjects.

She said students are also frustrated by having to pay to have queries and reviews done. “That shouldn’t happen, because the problem is obviously large scale and CXC is still charging.”

In a release issued on her Facebook page, Minister of

Education Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly said she attended a virtual meeting with the CXC board and six other ministers of education across the region to discuss the complaints received by numerous parents and students. She said one of the issues discussed was the methodology used to grade the exams.

“Assurances were given by CXC that matters advanced by ministers for further investigation at the school level will be dealt with expeditiously,” Gadsby-Dolly said.

Adela said she is pleased with the ministry’s response to the matter. “All of us are really proud of our ministry for reaching out. Our only concern is, will CXC be willing?”

She said the council said everything went smoothly, and nothing is wrong but that is not the case. “We hope that our ministry will be effective in getting that information.”

A concerned mother posted of (attorney) Scotland’s

involvement in a Facebook post to a group named Remark and Re-issue CAPE June 2020 Results. The post said Scotland was willing to take on the case without charge. The group has close to 700 members.

Denyse Ewe started the group after CXC registrar Dr Wayne Wesley denied having received complaints about the results.

“We will fight for our children,” said Ewe. She said the registrar floated around the issue of the methodology used to grade the exams. “There must be transparency.”

She said Scotland’s involvement is not the first line of action. She said schools have already taken the right channels, writing letters to the ministry and the registrar.

Parents of students who have been affected by their grades are now turning to Scotland for additional support. “He is a very well-respected lawyer and I’m sure he has a very far reach.”

She said Scotland will

prepare a pre-action protocol letter.

“Depending on CXC’s response, then we will know what is needed. Hopefully, we will not have to go that route.”

Ewe said she is confident Gadsby-Dolly will continue to pursue the matter and get the answers they are seeking.

“Our new minister is a very dynamic woman and I have no doubt that she will pursue this to the end and ensure justice for the children under her care. I see her as a strong leader, a mother and a beacon of hope.”

In addition to Adela Scotland’s efforts, there are also two change.org petitions circulating regionally: one named CXC’s Inaccurate CAPE Results which has garnered over 16,500 signatures up to Sunday afternoon, and another named We Demand a Review of the 2020 CXC Results, with over 18,000 signatures. (Trinidad and Tobago Newsday)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 28, 2020

Positioning coffee GEORGE Hanneman Bennett in his book, “An Illustrated History of British Guiana,” wrote that coffee was cultivated in the colony since 1721 after it was introduced from what is now Suriname. Inland and coastland plantations were laid out by the Dutch, where it was often cultivated alongside sugar, indigo, and cocoa. The coffee grown in the Pomeroon and other parts of the Barima-Waini region of the North West District is the oldest in the New World.

The records will show that the maximum amount of coffee ever produced in Guyana was just under 1,200 tonnes over 100 years ago and since then, the industry never got the right frame to get back up to those numbers. In 2019 coffee production was approximately 410 tonnes, most of which was produced in the Pomeroon area. The source of the trouble in this sector remains primarily marketing. Why is this so?

Timely intervention through the National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), and the New Guyana Marketing Corporation (NGMC) to position this product in the right selling space is essential at this point. And to understand how excellent quality this product is, one just has to skip on over to Amy’s Pomeroon Foods, the home of Guyana’s finest organic coffee to get a whiff of a world-class coffee. So it is not that

Guyana does not have the right quality; we do not have the market matched by the production and the question really is, why not?

But what has to be done to increase production from the mainly Amerindian farmers? It has to be a coordinated approach between seeking out the markets and matching it to the production. The NGMC can and must do more for Guyana on this front. In 2019 the size of the coffee trade from Guyana surpassed US$1 million, but studies have shown that it can easily double if the right approach can be applied to the value chain working backward from market analysis, to market discovery, to market penetration to the actual planting of the crop.

NAREI has a nursery at Charity on the Essequibo Coast that can produce seedlings for the farmers and has done so in the past. So the planting material is not the problem, it is the support on the marketing front where the biggest challenge is situated.

To kick start the demand for our own homegrown product, why can’t "Made in Guyana" coffee be brewed in every government office in Guyana? Why can’t "Made in Guyana" coffee be advertised with government support in every newspaper of Guyana once per week? Why can’t every Guyanese embassy in every capital, especially the consulate in New

York, push this product in the New York diaspora community? Why can’t major Guyanese traders such as Dave West Indian be engaged to export the product from Guyana into the “Little Guyana” communities? Again, the NGMC has to step up-- and fast.

What is being discovered here is that not much needs to be done to shift the attitude of mind on this product, but much more coordination under auspices of the NGMC can be achieved, working in partnership with the private sector to break down doors so that we can double the production and sale of coffee from Guyana.

Cash in the North-West area for many of these farmers remains a scarce commodity and rather than subject them to poverty with a handout, let us empower them into building their productive capacity and ensure there is seed financing with the help of the commercial banks.

While around the world coffee has developed a reputation for bringing a few tangible benefits to those toiling to grow it, in Guyana this view can be different if we can cultivate the market at the organic level. The vision should be to grow the crop bio-dynamically without costly fertilisers or agrochemicals and thus not hitting the farmers as hard as if it were grown using chemicals. This production model was tested in Guyana and can be done, but nothing is possible without the

marketing model being perfected and the initial financial support is provided to the farmers.

Ten years ago residents of a small village in India called Kabada Boddaput — in southeastern India’s remote Araku valley — were impoverished subsistence farmers, living in mud huts and getting by on the millet, yams, pumpkins, and greens they grew on their one to five-acre plots.

Today with the support of their government and some philanthropic help, these novice growers are producing top-quality organic coffee, some of which are being sold as “speciality” coffee to select roasters and traders from Japan and South Korea. These high-end buyers — who taste and rate each lot before purchasing — are willing to pay up to 10 times the world market price for the best of the beans. This situation has transformed the lives of the farmers in the entire valley.

Right now anyone who wants ground coffee can access it inexpensively at the Beharry Group of Companies in Charlotte Street and Amy's Coffee in Liliendaal. It is time Guyana buys more of the Made in Guyana brand since this product from the Pomoroon region is a much superior product than many of the lower-quality imports. And if you want to drink a cup of coffee, it is better to drink the real thing.

A horrible experience in Eureka laboratory

Dear editor,

ON September 23, 2020, I had the most horrifying experience in the Ultrasound Department of the Eureka Medical Laboratory on Thomas Street, Georgetown.

I’ve been using Eureka to conduct most of my tests over the years and I’ve found the staff to be generally professional and polite but on the day in question, it was the first time I did an ultrasound there and it will definitely be the last.

The woman who did my ultrasound was rude, hostile, aggressive and the most unprofessional healthcare worker I’ve ever come across.

I was shocked to my core and it took me several hours to compose myself.

She body-shamed me throughout the ultrasound until I put on my shoes and left and decided to diagnose me from the ultrasound in the most hostile manner ever. Please note that she is not my doctor and it was not her place to read me my diagnosis.

All of this took place in the presence of her assistant; someone I’ve never met and who now knows my name and my diagnosis.

I left the department in total despair, unable to process what had just occurred; I headed to another

section of the lab for an X-ray of my skull when I sought to enquire who she was. I was told that she is an Indian national and it was not the first time patients had complained about her.

I went back to my office in total disbelief and after a while I still couldn’t shake what had happened; I thought I was overreacting and so I reached out to a close friend who is also a healthcare worker overseas and told her what transpired.

She assured me that I was not overreacting and confirmed that it was nothing but unprofessionalism and a breach of my medical privacy.

I was urged to contact the Human

Resources Department of Eureka Lab to lodge a formal complaint and so I did.

The person who identified herself as ‘Latoya’ suggested a meeting/confrontation with the person in question; I refused because I never want to see her face or ever be in her presence again. ‘Latoya’ apologised for the experience and that was it.

Two days later, I decided to tell a co-worker of mine who also used Eureka in the past and without even mentioning the person’s name, she too shared a similar, horrible experience she had with her a few months ago.

My co-worker said she vowed there and then that she will never use Eureka ever again for any service.

I am usually a strong, confident woman and never in my life has anyone ever made me feel the way she did. I can only imagine the other women who had the same horrible experience as I did and how it must have broken them in some way.

I hope the authorities at Eureka Lab read this letter and do something about it.

Regards, Fareeza Haniff Journalist/Editor-in-Chief

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 28, 2020

We need to atone for the sake of peace

Dear editor,

ALL religions have some semblances of similarities and Judaism is no exception. In the Jewish community, Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the year when followers of Judaism are closest to Gd and to the essence of their souls. Yom Kippur means “Day of Atonement,” as the verse states, “For on this day He will forgive you, to purify you, that you be cleansed from all your sins before Gd.” The occasion is observed on the 10th day of Tishrei (in 2020, from several minutes before sunset on Sunday, September 27, until after nightfall on Monday, September 28), coming on the heels of Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year, which is on the first and second days of Tishrei). For nearly 26 hours, Jews “afflict their souls”: they abstain from food and drink, do not wash or apply lotions or creams, do not wear leather footwear, and abstain from marital relations. Instead, they spend the day in synagogues, praying for forgiveness. Forty days before Yom Kippur, on the first of Elul, people would build an atmosphere of reverence, repentance and awe leading up to Yom Kippur. For the week before Yom Kippur (known as the 10 Days of Repentance), special additions are made to prayers, and people are particularly careful with

their mitzvah observance. Like sabbath, no work is to be done on Yom Kippur, from the time the sun sets on the ninth of Tishrei until the stars come out in the evening of the next day. The day is spent in the synagogues, where five prayer services are held. Beyond the specific actions, Yom Kippur is dedicated to introspection, prayer and asking Gd for forgiveness. After night has fallen, the closing Neilah service ends with the resounding cries of the Shema prayer: “Hear O Israel: Gd is our Lrd, Gd is one,” followed by partaking in a festive feast of after-fast meal, making the evening after Yom Kippur a yom tov (festival) in its own right. Indeed, although Yom Kippur is the most solemn day of the year, it is suffused with an undercurrent of joy; it is the joy of being immersed in the spirituality of the day and expresses confidence that Gd will accept repentance, forgive sins, and seal the verdict for a year of life, health and happiness.

There is a custom that after Yom Kippur, immediately Jews begin (planning) construction of the sukkah, which they will use for the joyous holiday of Sukkot, which follows in just five days. Devotees of all faiths can practically and sincerely associate with the significance of

this festival and apply its relevance appropriately. All of us as Guyanese need to atone for our guilty consciences, especially in the wake of our political bias, ethnic weaknesses and racial intonation. Our questionable and assumed innocence is not beyond some degree of reproach. Boy oh boy, if ever there was or is the need for us to ever feel sorry , remorseful and apologetic, the time is ripe and right, now is the moment for us to repent and, yes, kneel on our knees and beg for forgiveness. This year in particular, Guyanese have misbehaved and caused fellow Guyanese to suffer a lot, physically, mentally, financially, socially and psychologically. We can try to hide, deny and cover our mistakes, but, each action is recorded and, “what goes

around, comes

around.” Many in the world are subscribing to the momentous passing of Ruth Bader Ginsburg during the holy season as memorable and meaningful, perhaps hidden is some mysterious missive.

The greeting for Yom Kippur is, “G’mar chatima tova,” meaning, “May you be sealed in the Book of Life.”

The world is locked in the ambience of peace as institutionalised by the United Nations General Assembly in the observance of “International Day of Peace.” More than 300 people were nominated as candidates for the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize, which the Nobel Committee makes clear, should not be mistaken for an honour, in it of itself. Russian leader Vladimir Putin has reportedly joined President Trump as a dark horse candidate for the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize, which will be announced next month. A collective of Russian public figures, including writer Sergey Komkov, were reportedly behind Putin’s nomination. It’s unclear what the former KGB agent, who annexed a neighbouring country, is credibly accused of tampering in U.S. elections and has seen his adversaries poisoned, (his ri-

val Alexey Navalny), was nominated for doing. Early this month, more than 80 Nobel Laureates endorsed former Vice-president Joe Biden, Trump’s opponent in the 2020 election, for the presidency. Last year’s winner was Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Mr. Abiy Ahmed Ali. In the heat of the “Black Lives Matter” movement and all the attention this issue has captured in the U.S. and the rest of the world, Gandhi’s message of peace and non-violence is so much more relevant and pertinent as answers to mankind. Gandhi’s birthday will be celebrated on October 2nd.

Meanwhile, if we are to believe and accept the British data firm, YouGov’s annual poll released last Tuesday, former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama now hold the top spots for the most admired man and woman in the world. As Gandhi advised, “If we want to reach real peace in this world, we should start educating children.”

Let us set the record straight by building on that very foundation in Guyana. We need to atone for the sake of peace.

Respectfully, Jai Lall

Remembering Harry Bhai of Port Mourant

Dear editor,

SOCIAL and political activism plays a very vital role in bringing about social and political (and by extension economic) changes for the betterment of a society. In every village in Guyana, there are a few individuals who take a lead role in social and political activism to improve community, and by extension, national life.

They are unsung heroes never recognised or written about for the important role they played in village life. In Ankerville where I grew up, one such person was Harry Bhai, a” next-door neighbor” of the Jagans. A “four-foot” trench separates the homes of Harry Bhai and Cheddi. Harry Bhai was a very dedicated son of the soil who committed his life to improving living conditions in the village and in the nation. Just as how President’s Irfaan’s grandmother worked tirelessly for Guyana’s independence and

against electoral frauds of 1968 onwards, so did Harry Bhai.

He was a dedicated Jaganite and probably just a few years younger than the great Cheddi, whom we all admired in the village and nationally.

As a child growing up, I used to call him Uncle Harry Boy, not realising that he was really referred to as “Bhai” (meaning brother) in Indian kinship. Those around the same age group were called bhai or bahin (sister) or dada (older brother) or didi (older sister). It would be disrespectful to call an older person bhai or bahin. So Uncle Harry Bhai was used by those much younger than him.

Uncle Harry Bhai was very learned. Many would go to him for advice. He was among a few well-read individuals in Ankerville.

He read voluminously, literature from everywhere. He would devour all the newspapers. He was held in high

standing in the community.

He was among a few of his age group who could read and write English. He was also well versed in Hindi. He used to ride a bicycle selling The Mirror newspaper. He also organised night school for the younger folk to learn Hindi. I recall youngsters, including myself, walking the streets in the night with hand lamp or gas lamp during the 1960s to take Hindi lessons and to learn to sing the Indian national anthem as well as Vande Mataram.

I used to visit Harry Bhai’s family regularly; they grew a lot of vegetables and had plenty fruit trees in the yard that was in front of the paddy fields. Harry Bhai had one brother name Narine (married to Auntie Dayo) and sisters Ghulwa, Golin and Tose, who migrated to England. Their father’s name was Ballie and mother was Seelochanee. Harry Bhai dedicated his life to make life in Ankerville and Guyana

better. He helped to improve community life.

He played a lead role in political, social, and religious activism from the area. He was from the Arya Samaj reformist movement of Hinduism and had many argumentative sessions with Sanatanists. He took a leadership role in raising funds to build the Port Mourant Vedic Arya Samaj Mandir and primary school that also became a ‘typing school.’ He would organise meetings for Dr. Jagan and the PPP. When Dr. Jagan would come to Port Mourant to hold meetings, Harry Bhai would be among the first to know and he would spread ‘neota’ (the announcement or word around). Cheddi would come regularly to Port Mourant and as little children we looked forward to Jagan’s visit as his night meeting allowed us to stay out quite late, rather be tied indoor burning the midnight lamp to prepare for Common Entrance or GCE exams.

And Harry Bhai would also be in the midst of organising social events. But he himself did not mix socially; he neither imbibed alcohol nor smoked cigarettes and discouraged both and one would never see him in a rum shop or ‘messing around’.

But he would be at every funeral, wake, marriage ceremony, jhandi, bhagwat, Ramayana and even Koran Shariefs or Christian home service if invited. He would attend these events and not be bashful in giving speeches. I can’t think of a function where he did not give a speech, some a repetition.

He, himself, organised several of these programs at the Arya Samaj Mandir.

Harry Bhai’s humble origins and his commitment to uplifting the lives of others and his honesty, decency and dedication are a source of inspiration for us all. Harry Bhai was also instrumental in organising “Night School to learn Hindi, India’s na-

tional anthem, and Vande Mataram” which by extension allowed us to be grounded in our culture instead of becoming creolised.

Those of us who grew up in Ankerville and Port Mourant prior to the 1990s would know Harry Bhai well and would never forget the role he played in the independence movement, in struggle against electoral fraud, and community development. The whole community is proud of the life and service of Harry Bhai.

He is a shining example for every young boy or girl to emulate in public life today in service to community and nation. Ankerville, PPP and Guyana are forever indebted to this great son.

He deserves accolades and recognition for his work.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 28, 2020

CXC not looking to lose anyone –– says Dr Wesley as QC urges gov’t to examine options if complaints not addressed

CXC Registrar and CEO, Dr. Wayne Wesley

By Tamica Garnett OFFICIALS from Guyana’s premier secondary school, Queen’s College, are calling for Guyana to consider leaving the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) if the regional institution does not look into the alleged mass discrepancies in its 2020

examinations.

Questioned about this situation during a virtual press conference on Friday, CXC Registrar and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr. Wayne Wesley, would only say that the examination body strives to serve the Caribbean nations, and is not looking for any of them to leave.

Principal of Queen’s College, Jackie Ralph

“At no time we seek to reduce those persons that we serve. We have always been reaching out and ensuring that we provide them with the service that they need,” he said, even as he announced that the Council will not be doing a widespread review of its 2020 examinations, notwithstanding widespread call for such

by stakeholders all across the Caribbean.

Established in 1972 as an institution of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), CXC was created to administer examinations to replace those offered by the General Certificate of Education (GCE), a United Kingdom (UK) institution.

The Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) was established as the equivalent to the GCE Ordinary Level examinations while the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE) was created to rival the GCE Advanced Level examinations.

However, given the backlash over the Council’s administering of the 2020 exams, some persons believe it is perhaps the right time for Guyana to go back to GCE or another alternative.

“We did indicate our intention that if CXC does not bend we will petition to remove Guyana from the CXC. There are other examination bodies and we can very well carry our business there,” Principal of QC, Jackie Ralph asserted during a press conference on Thursday.

Ralph said the school has broached the bid with Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, when the school officials met with her on Wednesday.

Efforts to contact Minister Manickchand for a comment on the situation proved futile.

Also speaking on the issue, at the Thursday press conference was the school’s External Examinations Coordinator, Samantha Liverpool, who said the suggestion was

Queen’s College External Examinations Coordinator, Samantha Liverpool

not a mere empty threat.

NEED COMPETITION “We need a competition for CXC. We as a school are willing, many of our students have left here to write SAT and GCE; we can prepare them for it,” Liverpool established.

The Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) is administered by the College Board in the USA. SAT as well as GCE are currently offered at a number of schools and institutions in Guyana but not as widespread as the CXC examinations.

For 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which effected school closures across the Caribbean since March, the Council delayed its customary May/June examinations, and instead, administered them in July/ August. The examinations were modified to exclude the regular Paper Two component.

Customarily, students are scored in the exams, based on their performance in a multiple-choice Paper One, the Paper Two, and pre-exam School-Based Assessments (SBAs) or internal Assessments. Each component accounts for a separate percentage of the student’s overall score.

SCORING METHOD The students and their supporters are calling for the Council to explain how the percentage was redistributed this year, given the omission of Paper Two, and what the weighting and scoring methods for this year’s examinations were.

This was after CXC re-

leased the 2020 examinations results on Tuesday. Students from varying Caribbean nations said there were major discrepancies which included lower-than-expected grades and ungraded subjects seen from the results garnered from this year’s CSEC and CAPE. “I am seeing results I’ve never seen. I asked [CXC] for the marking scheme.

What is the weighting of the Paper 1 to the Paper 2. It's my take, along with our PTA, old students, and current students, to say that we demand a regrading. We are asking that they prove our school did not meet the criteria based on their moderation.” Liverpool said.

On Friday, Dr. Wesley refused to explain how the weighting was done, and in contradiction said that the weighting remained the same as with previous years, despite continuous probing of how that could be possible when the previous years included a Paper Two. .

On Thursday, students from three of Guyana’s Grade ‘A’ schools- Queen’s College, The Bishops’ High, and the St. Joseph High School held protests to campaign against the situation.

Dr. Wesley said that CXC will only be working with official complaints received through its established query/review channel and encouraged affected students to ensure they submit their reports.

The deadline for submitting the complaints is October 29, after which the official results will begin being declared from November 6.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 28, 2020

$54M allocated for training over 1000 youths –– financial literacy, employment readiness among focus areas

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson.

MINISTER of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr., has announced that $54 million of the Ministry’s $2.7 billion budgetary allocation will be used to execute several training programmes for youth.

The Minister made this known last Thursday to the National Assembly. He informed that over 1,000 youths will benefit from training in several areas such as financial literacy, employment readiness, small business, night school 362, music, renewable energy, robotics, micro-computer and digital education, cognitive behaviour, peer education and edutainment, monitoring, problem-solving and life skills and parenting.

He explained that the government is working to ensure that all youths in Guyana have the necessary skills to become productive adults.

According to Minister Ramson, all the relevant training will be done virtually so as to observe the COVID-19 guidelines and to allow more persons the opportunity to take part in these training sessions.

He said while the COVID-19 pandemic has posed major challenges, it has pushed innovative and critical thinking, which has provided many opportunities.

“I think in many ways there are many opportunities which exist to get where

we can streamline the training being provided so that it is standardised, professionalised, that there is no limitation on its production or delivery so that the same kind of quality is given to all,” he said.

The government plans to re-open the economy and provide training virtually for now, through the Department of Youth.

The Minister assured that the Ministry will continue to work and coordinate with the relevant authorities, as part of efforts to facilitate a transition to a safe physical space.

“We need to continue to have training and education programmes delivered to our young people. We will do it first in the virtual environment and then ensure to provide a safe environment as possible in the physical sense,” the Minister said.

He expressed that through these initiatives members of the country’s workforce can be prepared and equipped to efficiently function.

The units which fall within the purview of the Department of Youth are Administration-Youth Empowerment Unit, President’s Youth Award: Republic of Guyana (PYARG), Kuru-Kuru Training Centre (KKTC), Vryman’s Erven Training Centre and the Sophia Training Centre (STC).

Tourism sector will bounce back –– says President Ali amid decline due to COVID-19

WITH the tourism sector being one of the hardest-hit

by COVID-19, President, Dr Irfaan Ali, has assured the tourism industry players that his government is committed to supporting all stakeholders through the very critical recovery process.

“The Guyana Tourism Authority continues with their marketing efforts to promote nature, adventure and eco-tourism both locally and internationally, and, with the support of the private sector, we have no doubt that this will allow the sector to rebound with strengthened resolve and greater results,” the President said in a message to mark World Tourism Day 2020.

Emphasising that his government recognises the important role that it will play in this process, the President noted the introduction of a series of measures in the Emergency Budget that are geared in this direction.

These, he said were crafted to bolster the sector’s recovery process and include the reversal of VAT on hinterland travel and special incentives for new hotels and businesses, among others.

“We will also implement policies to strengthen and grow the workforce in the tourism sector to cater to the influx of visitors expected as a result of the focused market-

President, Dr. Irfaan Ali

ing as well as the emergence of the oil and gas sector. This will also help to create more opportunities, which will lead to the economic empowerment of men, women and youth in rural communities,” the President noted.

The tourism sector is a major source of employment, government revenue and foreign exchange earnings.

“We, therefore, have an opportunity to transform our approach to the continued development of the sector to ensure a balance among people, nature, and the climate.

We are confident that, over the next few years, our country will witness a more inclusive, sustainable and resilient development of the tourism sector,” the President said.

UNIQUE ROLE World Tourism Day is celebrated under the theme “Tourism and Rural Development”, and the President highlighted the role of tourism in development.

“Today, we join the rest of the world to recognise the unique role that tourism plays in providing opportunities outside of big cities, while, at the same time, preserving cultural and natural heritage around the world,” the President said.

Adding that this year’s theme is all the more relevant to Guyana, Dr. Ali said Guyanese have traditionally placed high regard on the celebration of their unique natural and cultural heritage and the preservation of the environment.

This year, the world

grapples with the effects of COVID-19, which have caused significant disruptions in the global economy.

An estimated 30 per cent of those employed in the sector have lost their jobs, and an additional 36 per cent had been furloughed or placed on unpaid leave due to COVID-19.

Here at home, as of April 2020, the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) reported that the sector lost an estimated 46 per cent of its total revenue over a six-month period.

This, the President said is in contrast to the revenue earned for the same period in 2019.

By the end of the first quarter of 2020, the Head of State said the COVID-19 pandemic had brought international travel to an abrupt halt and significantly impacted the tourism industry.

Over the last two years, he said Guyana recorded its highest visitor arrivals, during which time it also won six international awards (four of which were tied to sustainable tourism).

“We therefore resolve to build on that by supporting, from a policy level, the continued promotion of our community-led and owned experiences,” he said.

Despite the disruption caused by COVID-19, the President said it is important for the sector to regroup.

Rice expected to ‘boil over’ in second crop

WITH government’s swift intervention into Guyana’s rice industry, the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) has reported that rice production in the East Berbice-Corentyne, Region Six is expected to be a record-breaking one for the second crop of 2020.

While the paddy bug damage is pegged at about four to five per cent so far, approximately 20 per cent of the crop has been harvested across the country. Farmers are also reporting an increase in yields.

In Region Six, farmers are enjoying yields of 6.10 tonnes per hectare with about 25 per cent of the harvest completed to date.

President of the Rice Producers’ Association (RPA), Leakha Rambrich, said he anticipates an excellent and memorable harvesting period.

“Presently on the ground we have over 60,000 acres

Region Six farmers are enjoying yields of 6.10 tonnes per hectare with about 25 per cent of the harvest completed to date

of rice to be harvested in the next two months. We have about eight per cent harvested in the region and the outlook in terms of quality is looking very good. I feel that this crop will be one of the best,” Rambrich said.

Important remedial works on damaged thoroughfare and other infrastructure will be completed, he added. This would allow them to respond appropriately if there is any

adverse change in the weather.

The prompt interventions follow visits to the region by Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, who listened to the farmers concerns and committed to help.

Meanwhile, GRDB’s General Manager, Nizam Hassan, noted that although Region Six is leading the projections for the second crop, other rice producing regions

are predicting an exceptional harvest.

Based on observations, Hassan disclosed that more than 500,000 tonnes of paddy is expected in the second crop.

The GRDB’s Special Report stated that with just 20 per cent of harvest completed in Region Two, there is a record of 5.12 tonnes per hectare.

Region Four has a record of 6.2 tonnes per hectare.

That amount is expected to increase once the harvest is completed in other areas including Cane Grove, Mahaica.

Further, with 10 per cent of the harvest recorded, Region Five is reporting a yield of 5.75 tonnes per hectare.

The GRBD said overall paddy production for the second crop 2020 is projected at just under 1.1 million tonnes. (DPI)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 28, 2020

A day in the life of a boy

THE BOY: “It is no fun living in a children’s care centre. Well, there is some fun, but it is not the same as the fun I had when I lived with my family. All the children in the centre have a type of family problem, or they wouldn’t be there.

Some children know the reasons why they are there, but others have no idea because they are too young to understand.

For my sister and I, one minute we were with our mother in a small apartment in a yard, and the next, we were sitting in the office at the Childcare and Protection

Agency. I am Raphael, aged eight, and my sister Rose is five. People were bustling around, doing their work, while we just sat there. I was hoping my mother would come soon to collect us, when she reached home and found us gone, but she was taking a long time, and I was hungry. By now I would have gone to a neighbour and asked for something to eat, Miss Dunes always gave us a tennis roll or puri if she had; she never turned us away like some people in the yard.

The lady who brought us there approached, ‘I’m taking you to the child-friendly

room where you can have something to eat’ she said.

We still haven’t heard from your mother; do you know where she is?’ I shook my head, no in reply. Our mother left us every day, sometimes into the night, for a long time. When she came home, she brought food, and if she didn’t, we drank sugar water and ate plantain chips. I held my sister’s hand while we went to the child-friendly room where we had tea with bakes and sausage. When we’d finished, the assistant in the room let us watch a movie.”

THE OFFICER: The

Child Protection Officer sat in the Assistant Director’s (Miss Shaw) office with folders on her lap and notes about the family in question. Along with her colleague, she collected the brother and sister earlier that morning. It was time to explain the case to her superior.

‘Neighbours have called the hotline on two occasions to report the mother; she is not providing proper food, clothes or supervision for those children. When we got there this morning and knock, the little boy opened the door, it could have been anyone and he and his sister in there alone; no sign of the mother.

The whole place was in a mess and there was hardly any food; the children steady begging the neighbours. Both of them look malnourished, they really need some attention.’

Miss Shaw asked, ‘Do you have the father’s name?

Can he be contacted? She can’t be leaving those children like that.’ The officer continued, ‘The children nor the neighbours could help us with a name, no one has seen him, everywhere we turn, it’s a dead end. I left the number and address with the neigh-

bours, so the mother knows we have them, but we haven’t heard from her all day’.

Miss Shaw evaluated the facts and made her decision in the best interest of the children.

‘Take them to the Children and Family Care Centre in Sophia. It is the safest place for them right now.

We need to process them, let them get their medicals and start the ball rolling with an assessment and care plan.

Whenever the mother turns up, call me, we need to find out what is going on with this woman.’

The officer tidied her folders and rose, ready to leave the room; she knew it was going to be a long evening. The procedure of taking children into care had many protocols and the Children and Family Care Centre was the first stop for children in difficult circumstances.

THE BOY: “It was evening, and my mother still hadn’t come for us. We watched two movies, the second one had a car chase and fighting, but I was feeling sad inside. The same lady who brought us to the agency told us she couldn’t find our mother, so she was going to take us somewhere to stay.

I wanted to go home, I was sure my mother would turn up soon, but the lady said we had to go with her.

My sister was crying, ‘Mum- my, I want mummy’; I wanted to cry too. It was a long drive to the care centre, we sat in the back of the car with the lady, by now it was dark, I had no idea where we were, or where we were going. I let the tears roll down my cheeks.

I have learnt a lot about the Children and Family Centre Since then. We have three meals a day; we get school supplies and uniform and they take us to school. We have our own bed, toothbrush and towel and play in the yard. That’s when we have fun, but it’s not the same as the fun I had when I lived with my family.”

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

Pensioner struck down by speeding car at La Grange AN 85-year-old pedestrian was, on Saturday afternoon, struck down by a speeding motor car, as she attempted to cross the La Grange Public Road, West Bank Demerara.

The woman, who was identified as Latchmini Bisnauth of Independence Street, La Grange, is currently a patient at the West Demerara Regional Hospital. The driver of the car, a 38-year-old male of Westminster Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara, is in police custody.

Enquires disclosed that the car was proceeding south along the eastern side of La Grange Public Road at a fast rate of speed around 15:55 hours, when, according to the driver, the pedestrian, in

an attempt to cross the road from west to east ran into the path of his vehicle.

As a result, he applied brakes, but the front centre of his car struck the pedestrian who fell onto the road surface. She was picked up in a conscious state by the driver of the said motor car and taken to West Demerara Regional Hospital where she

was seen and examined by a doctor on duty. She was treated for a fractured left arm and hip and later admitted as a patient in a serious but stable condition.

A breathalyser test was done on the driver, but no alcohol was found in his breath.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 28, 2020

Balgobin uses his struggles as inspiration for success

–– secures nine subjects at CSEC

By Nafeeza Yahya-Sakur THAVINDRA Balgobin, 18, stands testament that encouragement, dedication and hard work can overcome any situation when he secured nine subjects at the recently concluded Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations.

Balgobin also topped the Port Mourant Secondary School at those examinations.

He achieved grades one in Principles of Business, Biology, Integrated Science and Human and Social Biology; grades two in Agriculture Science, Mathematics and English A; and grade three in Information Technology and Social Studies.

Balgobin, of Lot 514, Belvedere Squatting Area, East Berbice, Corentyne said that during his childhood, he faced many obstacles, including poverty and a broken home. His father had permanently abandoned his family and the young man used these bad experiences as a motivating factor to work harder to achieve his dreams and ambitions in life.

With the encouragement of his teachers and his mother, Arlene Bhola, 42, by his side, he decided that education will be his vehicle out of poverty.

“It was very difficult going to school, some days no passage or no food. I was afraid that I thought my hopes were crushed but my mother assured that she will see me through school. She said son, you can do it and that was the hope I needed,” he related.

Bhola, a single mother, related that she began working as domestic worker to ensure that her son, her only child, is able to receive an education.

Despite her meagre salary, she did not give up but jumped at any availability of jobs. She added that her father, who is a pensioner, also assisted and from time to time. The pastor at the Peniel Outreach Ministry also provided support to the family.

The woman said when her son wrote the National Grade Six Examinations Assessment (NGSA), he attained a place at Bush Lot Secondary but due to lack of finances, she had to transfer him to Port Mourant Secondary. His enrollment there did not disappoint as she met a team of dedicated and hardworking teachers.

The Port Mourant Sec-

ers, who were willing and sacrificed a lot of time,” Balgobin told the Guyana Chronicle.

Meanwhile, the Humanitarian Mission Guyana Inc. having recognised the young man’s potential, is seeking to provide funding in order for Balgobin

Thavindra Balgobin

ondary School is considered one of the low grade schools on the Corentyne. However, overtime, the team of teachers led by Headmaster, Mark Lyte, has been transforming the image of the school by helping the students to reach their full potential.

In addition to academics, the school has a dynamic Allied Arts Department.

REMEDIAL CLASSES Balgobin spent six years at the school; his first year was in remedial classes.

During preparation for the CSEC examinations, he was met with the difficulty of not having finances to do his SBAs. A teacher saw his struggle and was able to assist and through the Humanitarian Mission in Guyana, he was given a stipend to cover transportation and SBAs expenses.

“I knew the exams were not going to be easy but I believe in myself, I had strength. I had believe that I would do it, I will not just try but I will put my best foot forward. I was determined that I must study and I worked hard. When I received my results, I was very surprised and so excited. I couldn’t believe that my hard work paid off. I am very thankful for all the help and for everyone who believed in me,” Balgobin said.

He dreams of becoming a teacher and is hoping to obtain a scholarship to continue his studies at the University of Guyana. With a smile, he said, he was inspired by his teachers as such he wants to inspire others to achieve their dreams.

“I want to inspire other students that despite their struggles, they can make it in life with an education. Put a lot of emphasis, be serious and be determined. I can show them inspiration, how to be determined when it comes to school work. I was inspired by all my teach-

to further his studies and ultimately achieve his dream.

Against this backdrop, the mission is seeking donation to make his dream a reality. Donations can be made at the mission’s bank account number 4000196.

Representatives of the mission can be contacted on telephone number 6152433 or 973-868-6163 or email: contact@hmgy.org

Thavindra Balgobin and his proud mother, Arlene Bhola

Meanwhile, Bhola is urging parents to encourage their children to take their education seriously

“It’s their future. Even after we are gone their education will always be there with them,” she said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 28, 2020

COVID-19 takes toll on fishing industry –– pandemic-induced price reductions ‘hurting’ fishermen –– fishermen’s co-op request subsidised fuel, other measures to cushion effects

By Navendra Seoraj IN cricket, the phrase “catches win matches” is synonymous with victory, but ‘catches’ in the fishing industry have been no victory for fishermen in recent months, as the widespread economic effects of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic have effected a sharp reduction in the price for fish.

Guyana’s fishing industry has been a key contributor to the local economy, valuing approximately $8.3 billion of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employing over 15,000 persons directly and indirectly.

Fishermen would often rejoice after seeing their ‘catches.’ which are earned after almost 10 laborious days at sea, but the pandemic has turned joy into quandary because the profits have “dried up” due to the necessary control measures implemented by countries to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Assessments have shown that almost every sector has been affected in some way by those measures, and the effects stemming from one sector would spread to other sectors and industries.

Such is the case in the fishing industry, as hotels, bars, restaurants and other food establishments have limited their consumption because indoor dining is prohibited in some cases, or customers just prefer to dine in their homes.

Chairman of the Upper Corentyne Fishermen’s Co-op Society (UCFCS), Pameshwar Jainarine, explaining the situation, said: “Over 95 per cent of the fish we land here would normally go to the export market… about 50,000lbs of fish come every week to this landing or sometimes twice that amount.

“Most of this fish goes to the exporters such as Pritipaul Singh Investments Inc. and R and S shipping… the middlemen buy here and carry it to those companies… since COVID-19 came, a lot of exporters have cut back because hotels are being closed, restaurants and bars are also affected, because tourists are not coming in, so the demand

for fish has dropped.”

Past reports indicate that local fish is exported to countries in the Caribbean, the United States of America, Canada and parts of Europe.

for the past five-six months to make a living; the impact of the price has been too much for us,” said Jainarine, adding that alternative jobs to supplement their earnings are not around.

the captain…this is done to encourage the captain to bring in the best quality of fish, because he has to be responsible for the boat out there,” said Jainarine.

So after subtracting these

PROPOSED SOLUTIONS Considering their risks and the existing challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic, Jainarine believes that government should examine relief

Chairman of the Upper Corentyne Fishermen’s Co-op Society (UCFCS), Pameshwar Jainarine (Adrian Narine photo)

After more than 10 days at sea, these men return to the wharf at Number 66 Village (Adrian Narine photo)

Some of these countries have been hard-hit by the pandemic, recording thousands of cases and deaths, making it difficult for businesses to function effectively because of safety measures. The US, for one, has recorded over seven million cases and over 204,000 deaths.

“This [reduction in exports] is why our industry has taken so much licks… we usually get a lot of small exporters, but they have stopped buying because the consumption has dropped,” said Jainarine.

The surplus of fish on the local market and the reduction in exports have evidently contributed to the sharp reduction in prices.

The UCFCS, which accounts for more than 900 fishermen, deals mainly with Grey Snapper, Trout, Shark and ‘Koffum,’ and while these species are usually in high demand and attract a “decent” price, the situation as outlined

by Jainarine has been different.

The price for Snapper has moved from $400 per pound to $150 per pound, a decrease of $250 or 62.5 per cent, while the cost of Trout has moved from $250 per pound to $120 per pound, a 52 per cent decrease.

“It has been difficult for us

The constraints are debilitating, because the operational expenses for fishermen and boat owners, remain the same.

MOUNTING EXPENSES The fishing boat used mainly by fishermen attached to the co-op is a “Cabin Cruiser” which costs between $5 million to $6 million (complete set-up). In addition to the maintenance of this boat which costs close to $130,000, fishermen utilise 50 gallons of gas on every trip, which lasts for 10 days or sometimes more.

For every ‘trip,’ the boat would need four drums of fuel; $70,000-$80,000 worth of “greens” and other food items; and 10,000 pounds of ice which costs close to $80,000.

“So your expenses could run up to about $250,000 to $300,000…during normal times, if you load with $300,000 expense, and you sell $600,000, the remaining money is split between the owner of the boat and the fiveman crew which includes the captain.

“There is a system where the captain collects an additional share, so out of the owner’s half you take out about five per cent and give to

expenses, a boat owner would make between $100,000 and $200,000 after a 10-day trip, but since the pandemic, profits have been less than $50,000.

This also leaves the average fisherman with very little to sustain his household.

One boat owner, Rypen Mootain told the Guyana Chronicle that he is barely making enough to pay his crew, but the economic situation provides limited opportunities at this time. His hope is that the economy will be revitalised soon and the markets will reopen, so that business could return to ‘normal.’

Multiple fishermen told this publication that they have been struggling to get by on their reduced earnings; and, this has forced them to seek out any available job just to boost their incomes and help them support their families.

When fishermen leave their homes to go out at sea, they are uncertain what they will encounter out there, said Jainarine. Some of risks associated with being ‘at sea’ include piracy, which the chairman said has reduced significantly; harsh weather conditions and rough waters, among other things.

measures, even temporary, which would improve the situation.

The chairman said fishermen do not plan on being ‘lazy,’ but government support, especially in reducing operating expenses, would be welcomed.

Jainarine and other members of the co-op said government should examine the possibility of subsidising fuel costs.

“We know the government collects a lot of money from consumption tax for fuel, so if they can ease some of the taxes from the fuel and make it cheaper that would be great… they could probably look at taking the price down to $500 per gallon, that would make us breathe,” said the chairman, adding that government should also examine the removal of value added tax (VAT) on fishing equipment.

The chairman said there are a number of zero-rated items already, but he claimed that stores are still charging VAT on these items.

“We were fortunate to meet the new minister (minister of agriculture) and he made commitments…we raised the fuel subsidy because the trawlers association in Georgetown have a subsidy on diesel and obviously the operating cost went down…and another concern we raised was the VAT

on fishing equipment… the minister had committed to addressing these concerns,” the chairman said.

TIMELY HELP Government recently announced the removal of VAT on agricultural equipment and outlined a number of measures geared at stimulating the economy and revitalising the productive sectors.

These measures and projects were included in the government’s $329.5 billion budget which was passed in the National Assembly on Friday evening.

There is no doubt that businesses have struggled to break even; persons have lost their jobs and even their livelihoods, but President Dr. Irfaan Ali had committed to getting the economy back on track, starting with the implementation of measures and projects included in the 2020 budget.

Budget 2020 includes a $25,000 cash transfer to every household; a $15,000 cash grant and a $4,000 uniform voucher for schoolchildren; $800 million for the Amerindian Development Fund; $5 billion for the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo); a two-week, tax-free bonus for members of the Joint Services; and $150 million for frontline workers, among many other benefits.

President Ali had also said that the government, after re-prioritising and re-programming fiscal measures, has managed to add $20 billion in relief to the “pockets” of Guyanese at a time when the nation is faced with the effects of COVID-19, and the recently concluded protracted electoral process. The conduits of relief include revised tax measures, and sweeping incentives.

The broad objectives of those measures which feature in government’s emergency budget, are to stimulate economic activity; get persons back to work; increase Guyana’s productive capacity; reduce the cost of doing business; improve efficiency; and facilitate growth and development of businesses.

One dead in Lima accident

KHALIL McNichol, 23, of Henrietta, Essequibo Coast, a father of one, died in an accident on Lima Public Road, Essequibo Coast, on Sunday.

The accident occurred

around 19:30 hours and involved a car and a canter, police in G Division have confirmed.

According to information received, the drivers wrongly negotiated the turn on the

road and ended up colliding. Public-spirited persons rushed to the scene and took McNichol to Suddie Public Hospital but he was pronounced dead on arrival.

McNichol was the son

of the owner of Granville Hotel. The driver of the canter is hospitalised at the Suddie Hospital in a critical condition.

The car involved in the accident

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 28, 2020

‘Change your cavalier approach to COVID-19’

–– Health Minister urges public to be cautious of post COVID-19 illnesses MINISTER of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, is cautioning the Guyanese public to take heed of the long-term effects of coronavirus and to change their cavalier approach towards the disease.

The minister, in an interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI), noted that while the severity of the post COVID-19 illness varies, some people suffer severe long-term effects weeks and even months after the disease should have subsided.

Dr. Anthony said that he is concerned that many are flouting the COVID-19 protocols because they see many persons who fell ill with milder forms of the disease and many who are asymptomatic, recovering well.

However, some ‘recovered’ patients have also been experiencing symptoms weeks and months after the illness is supposed to have worn off.

“The latest one, may-

address these issues.

In the meantime the minster is urging the public to safeguard themselves from contracting the virus.

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony

be about a week ago that emerged, is that they are seeing cases where persons who had COVID-19, three months after, now have myocarditis which means that the muscle of the heart is being infected or there is some inflammation there and they are attributing that to the virus. They are also seeing that with many of the other organs in the body,” Dr. Anthony said.

Blood clots, blood vessel

problems and mental health disorders are a few known health issues that have been recorded post COVID-19 recovery.

The minister further noted that conditions like these are now emerging and has prompted global research by scientists to determine the actual long-term effects of COVID-19 and as such the Ministry of Health (MoH) is working on a protocol to

Two more persons succumb to COVID-19

By Navendra Seoraj THE novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has claimed the lives of two persons within the past 24 hours, taking the death toll to 78.

Those persons were said to be two women, ages 55 years old and 45 years old, from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica).

Authorities said both persons died while receiving treatment at a local health facility on Sunday.

The Ministry of Health expressed condolences to the families of those persons and pledged to make every effort to provide all the necessary support during this difficult time.

Officials of the ministry have since contacted all relatives and persons to facilitate contact tracing and rapid assistance to everyone who might have been exposed to the victims.

Health authorities have so far tested 13,589 persons, with 10,817 proving negative, and 2,772 positive. Some 47 of those cases were recorded within the past 24 hours.

Of the total positive cases, 1,564 persons have recovered, and 78 have lost their lives. The remaining cases include 230 persons in institutional isolation, 890 in home isolation, and 12 in the COVID-19 ICU. Authorities have said that cases are being detected because more tests are being done. Sample taking was also increased across the country because the authorities believed that many cases were going “under the radar”.

This suspicion had prompted the au-

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

“We are sending out more kits, so there will be an increase in sample collection….

The testing itself has components; one is sample collection, and then there is the processing of samples,” said Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony in a recent report.

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

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

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

MENTAL HEALTH Meanwhile, a study conducted by UNICEF Guyana, in collaboration with the MoH, revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic has been negatively impacting the mental health of children and young adults across the country.

In a statement on Saturday, UNICEF said the study, which included three rounds of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) surveys, disclosed that the pandemic is having a grave impact on the mental health of Guyanese youths, which has seen a hike in drug use.

“The three main concerns that contributed to stress during the current pandemic were concern about the risk of being exposed

to the coronavirus (57.6 per cent), uncertainty about the future (44.9 per cent) and adapting to a different lifestyle (41.7 per cent),” UNICEF explained.

Through the surveys, some adolescents indicated that they have been affected emotionally and mentally by the lifestyle changes due to the pandemic. Fifty-seven (57) per cent of the respondents indicated that they were unable to sleep while 54.8 per cent feels fearful; 51.1 per cent worried while 48.9 per cent are experiencing loneliness (48.9 per cent) and 48.1 per cent are often irritable.

“Due to the changes consequent to the pandemic, 44.4 per cent of adolescent respondents communicated that they were frequently anxious, 41.5 per cent reported that they were crying often, 38.5 per cent divulged that they had increased drug use, 34.8 per cent said they withdrew from others, 34.1 per cent said they were regu-

larly depressed, 31.9 per cent said they felt hopeless, 25.2 per cent frequently considered acts of self-harm, and 20.7 per cent reported persistent disturbing thoughts,” UNICEF further detailed.

Dr. Anthony said the study will help the ministry to better respond to the needs of Guyanese during the pandemic.

“These studies have helped us to identify people’s behaviours concerning COVID-19. It has assisted us in segmenting the population and identifying those persons who are most vulnerable, such as older persons and those with underlying comorbidities, and their perception of their risk,” he said.

Minister Anthony again reiterated calls for the public to observe the COVID-19 emergency measures, including, the correct and consistent use of masks, practicing social distancing, and practicing good hand hygiene.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 28, 2020

Potable water for more Mahaicony residents AN additional 15 households within the Esau and Jacob community, Mahaicony, Region Five, will be accessing potable water for the first time from the Guyana Water Inc (GWI), according to the Housing Ministry.

In keeping with its mandate to deliver potable water to unserved communities, the project is being executed to the tune of some $2.6 M and the work is being done by the staff of Guyana Water Inc, with assistance from Pure Harvest Inc. Following complaints from several residents in the area, about no access to potable water, Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues, asked for an assessment to be done.

Once a source to supply these households with potable water was found, work in the area commenced immediately.

The project started about a week ago with a connection from the Strath Campbelle Pump Station at

New pipelines being placed underground to benefit Mahaicony residents

Branch Road, Mahaicony.

Some 71 lengths of pipes are being installed with a total of 15 individual service connections.

According to the ministry, the installation and connection to the main distribution network are expected to be completed within another week.

Over the coming months, a number of communities in the 10 administrative regions will be served with potable water as the government continues to place emphasis on reaching unserved areas.

A number of major water distribution projects have been budgeted for in the recently-passed 2020 national budget.

GWI has received an allocation of $2.8B and provisions have been made for sanitation interventions, drilling of new wells, water supply improvement projects on the coastland and hinterland, as well as water treatment plants for a number of communities.

Motorcycle bandits shoot businessman A BUSINESSMAN was shot and injured during an attempted robbery at his Roxanne Burnham Gardens, Georgetown home on Sunday.

He was identified as Floyd Duesbury of Roxanne Burnham Gardens, Georgetown. The businessman was reportedly shot to the neck after the armed men attempted to relieve him of his gold chain.

Reports indicate that he was cleaning the roadside, in front of his yard, when the men pounced on him. They

grabbed the chain and shot him in the process.

The businessman managed to run inside his yard and grabbed his firearm and returned fire, causing the bandits to flee on foot.

Residents in the area said they heard rapid gunshots and saw the two suspects escaping on foot. The men left their motor cycle behind and the slippers of one of the robbers were also left behind. Police visited the scene as investigations continue.

The motorcycle that was left behind by the bandits

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ECCC vice-president Gainda endorses Cricket Administration Act … lauds AG, Minister of Sports for passing Act

By Clifton Ross EAST Coast Cricket Committee (ECCC) vice-president Lalta Gainda is fully endorsing the recent passing of the Guyana Cricket Administration Act (GCAA), adding that the rule of the

law must be respected as the fraternity gears up for possible elections.

The East Coast has been plagued with a number of legal battles and tussle among sub-committee clubs namely the East Coast Cricket Board (ECCB) and the ECCC, a

main contributing reason for them not unlocking their full potential despite having more grounds that any other club or association in Guyana, coupled with a star-studded batch of players.

Gainda, who is also a Guyana Cricket Board

(GCB) executive holding the post of Marketing Manager, told Chronicle Sport during a recent interview that he was happy to see the Act, which has been a subject of discussion for a number of years; being activated last Tuesday.

With fresh elections on the horizon for the Demerara Cricket Board (DCB) and the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) respectively, the ripple effect will touch the local sub-committees with the ECCC being one of those association who according to Gainda, is prepared to work along closely with whoever is elected for the betterment of East Coast and Guyana cricket overall.

“First of all I want to thank Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandall and Minister of Sports Charles Ramson Jr. for finally bringing some closure to this issue and passing the cricket act. I believe this is the right way to go and I also strongly believed that the rules of the law must be respected”. Said the ECCC Executive.

Adding that the journey now beings for cricket in Guyana with the passing of the act, Gainda further stated, “I’m extremely happy the act has been passed but now it’s about respecting the remainder of the process. It’s also important to

comply with whomever the elected Ombudsman will be as we head into elections and the other side has to pass the scrutiny of that future Ombudsman”. He noted.

Gainda said the ECCC, formerly known as the East Coast Cricket Board of Control before it was legally changed following court battles with the East Coast Cricket Board (ECCB), has huge plans post-elections and post COVID-19; as it relates to development and tournaments.

“East Coast has a lot of positives, apart from politics, we have more clubs and grounds than anyone in the country. We just need better management because every village has a ground and my plan is to ensure that every club in every village on the coast becomes more vibrant and active”, Gainda said.

Also, with the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) will be unveiling their NEW mini, multi-purpose complex stadium at LBI, Gainda has confirmed that the facility will be the new home for both the ECCC and the community’s LBI Cricket Club.

He said the facility is a massive boost to the East Coast, having such a stateof-the-art ground at their disposal as they can now host tournaments under floodlights, which he said will be on par with that of the Guyana National Stadium.

He further explained that

Date in History: Michael ‘Tyson’ Benjamin MICHAEL `Tyson’ Benjamin will remain one of the most exciting boxers to have come out of Guyana. He won and lost in the same fashion, spectacularly.

A fearless warrior, Benjamin’s courage in the ring was unmatched locally during his era.

Benjamin needed just two rounds to get rid of Trinidadian Desbourne Seaton when the two met at the National Sports Hall on September 28, 1991. The orthodox fighter was 25 years old at the time and had loss only three times in 21 fights.

The TKO victory over Seaton served as ample preparation for Benjamin’s next fight which was against the slick Anthony `The Pearl’ Andrews. In the first month of 1992 Benjamin put his national welterweight title on the line against Andrews who was two years his senior.

East Coast Cricket Committee (ECCC) vice-president Lalta Gainda in the days to come the Committee will also publicly release their Performance and Accomplishment Reports for the period of 2015-2020. Regarding the future as it relates to COVID-19, the cricket executive said they will be keeping things on a pause until further word from the country’s Task Force.

“In cricket its usually about 11 to 15 persons grouping at a time so it’s impossible for us to try anything cricket without breaking the Covid-19 rules. No way we can host cricket and not adhere to rules so right now we are basically in a Sit & Wait mode, waiting until the COVID-19 Task Force gives the necessary permission”. He ended.

Michael Benjamin

The packed National Park fell silent after he TKOed the skilful Andrews in the fourth round. Benjamin was crowned Guyana lightweight champion following a win by Majority Decision over Jeff Roberts in November 1987.

The stocky boxer added the World Boxing Council Continental Americas lightweight title to his collection when he defeated, via unanimous decision, former World Boxing Association (WBA) lightweight champion Ernesto Espana of Venezuela. The fight was held in Guyana in August 1988.

At one time Benjamin was the quintessence of true grit and determination.

He was the total package and could be a slugger in one instance and a master boxer in another. His record reads 23-8-2 with a 42.4 percent knockout average. He will turn 55 in March 2021.

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LeBron James leads Lakers to their first NBA Finals in ten years LEBRON James helped the Los Angeles Lakers reach the NBA Finals for the first time in 10 years with a 117-107 victory over the Denver Nuggets.

It gave them a 4-1 win in the best-of-seven series.

They were led by a triple-double from James, who scored 16 of his 38 points in the third quarter and added 16 rebounds and 10 assists.

The 35-year-old has now reached the NBA Finals for the 10th time - this is the first time with the Lakers.

It is the 32nd time the Lakers have reached the championship series and they will face the winners of the Eastern Conference final between the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat, with the Heat leading 3-2 going into game six today (00:30 BST).

The Lakers’ last NBA Finals success, which was against the Celtics, was led by Kobe Bryant, and James again paid tribute to the star who died in a helicopter crash in January.

“Every time you put on the purple and gold you think about his legacy, you think about him and what he meant to this franchise for

of guys,” he said.

“We battled through a lot this year, starting

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) is defended by Denver Nuggets forward Torrey Craig (3) in game five of the Western Conference Finals at the AdventHealth Arena — (Reuters pic) 20-plus years,” he said. in person,” he said. “It was “We’re going to enjoy remarkable.” it tonight, but we underThere were also plaustand we’ve got bigger dits from James’ former fish to fry. We understand team-mate Dwyane Wade there’s a bigger goal. and from Lakers legend “I’m extremely proud Earvin Magic Johnson, to be a part of this fran- who won five NBA titles in chise getting back to where the 1980s. it belongs, and that’s playJames’ team-mate Aning for championships.” thony Davis, who scored 27 Lakers coach Frank Vo- points in the series-clinching gel praised James’ display win, was celebrating reachagainst the Nuggets, who ing the Finals for the first had come 3-1 down twice time in his first season in already in the play-offs.

Los Angeles, after his move “I don’t know if I’ve from New Orleans. ever witnessed a guy take “It feels good. It’s good over a game the way he did to get something like this acin the fourth quarter tonight complished with this group

Vardy hat-trick inspires Leicester to 5-2 win over Man City MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - A Jamie Vardy hat-trick coupled with goals from James Maddison and Youri Tielemans steered Leicester City to a stunning 5-2 win at Manchester City on Sunday and kept them top of the Premier League with a maximum nine points from three games.

City had not conceded five goals in a home game since February 2003 against Arsenal and it was the first time their boss Pep Guardiola had seen a side he is managing concede five in what was his 686th game in the dugout.

With injured strikers Gabriel Jesus and Sergio Aguero unavailable, City lacked bite as Raheem Sterling looked uncomfortable on his own up front while a porous defence was unable to contain Leicester’s lethal fast breaks.

City, however, looked to be in cruise control after a sublime volley from Riyad Mahrez against his former club gave the home side a fourth-minute lead, as Leicester were barely able to break out of their own half in the opening stages.

Mahrez unleashed an unstoppable shot past goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel after the visitors failed to clear a corner but

Vardy turned the match on its head with two penalties either side of a deft back-heel finish.

The striker drove his first spot-kick into the top right corner in the 37th minute after he was fouled by Kyle Walker and then gave Leicester the lead in the 54th after a low cross from the right by Timothy Castagne.

Vardy completed his hat-trick four minutes later with a second penalty, drilling his shot into the bottom-left corner this time after Eric Garcia had hauled him down in the area.

Substitute Maddison made it 4-1 when he curled a brilliant shot from 20 metres into the top left corner before centre back Nathan Ake pulled one back for City with a header.

With Vardy limping off with a hamstring strain in the closing stages, Tielemans converted Leicester’s third penalty of the match in the 88th minute to put the icing on the cake for the visitors.

The defeat snapped City’s 11-match unbeaten home run in the league dating back to last season, while it was also their first defeat in an opening top-flight home game since a 2-1 loss to Southampton in 1989.

with the beginning of the season. We know the job’s not done. It’s a great feel-

ing, but we got four more to win for the ultimate goal.”(BBC Sport)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 28, 2020

Russian Grand Prix

Bottas wins as penalties put Hamilton record bid on hold

By Alan Baldwin

(REUTERS) - Valtteri Bottas won the Russian Grand Prix for Mercedes on Sunday after team mate and Formula One championship leader Lewis Hamilton picked up time penalties for infringements before the race had even started.

Hamilton, who had started on pole position in Sochi

hoping for a 91st victory to equal Ferrari great Michael Schumacher’s all-time record, finished third behind Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.

He accused stewards of trying to stop him winning and said the “ridiculous” sanctions were excessive but to be expected: “They’re trying to stop me, aren’t they?” the Briton told Sky Sports television.

Windies booked for New Zealand tour THE West Indies cricketers are expected to embark on a tour of New Zealand in the coming months after the country’s government gave the approval for quarantine arrangements to the cricket board.

The West Indies became one of the first teams to resume international cricket, in wake of the coronavirus pandemic, when they toured England in August.

The entirety of the tour was conducted within a biosecure environment. New Zealand officials had said last month that they were examining the series with the hope of staging a similar version. Pakistan is also expected to be invited to tour the country.

New Zealand Cricket chief executive David White said the tours would help the sport through the coronavirus pandemic.

“It’s a huge boost for us, it’s our financial lifeline,” he told reporters on Friday. “International cricket funds the whole game of cricket in New Zealand, so it’s very, very important for us.”

White said the teams would fly to Auckland then catch a charter to Christchurch, where they would stay in quarantine while training at NZC’s high-performance centre in Lincoln University. White said all players would follow health and testing protocols set down by the government.

“It’s not going to come cheap; we will be footing the bill but we are happy to do that and fully understand it’s a user-pays model.”

New Zealand has been one of the world’s most successful nations at containing the new coronavirus and the country’s borders remain closed to almost all visitors.(Sportsmax)

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Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

(1) CSK defeated Mumbai Indians by 5 wickets (2) Ambati Rayudu (CSK)

Today’s Quiz: (1) Who were the inaugural IPL champions?

(2) Who were the inaugural losing IPL finalist?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

The Briton’s lead over Bottas shrunk to a still healthy 44 points after 10 of 17 races, with the Finn collecting a bonus point for fastest lap.

“Never give up. It’s a good day,” said Bottas, who addressed his critics in more basic terms over the team radio as he took the chequered flag.

“It’s nice to get a win, it’s been a while and I need to try and keep the momentum... there’s still quite a few races to go, so you never know.

I’ll keep pushing, I won’t give up and we’ll see how it ends up.”

The win -- by 7.729 seconds -- was the Finn’s second of the season, and first since the Austrian opener in July.

‘RIDICULOUS’ PENALTIES Bottas said he had been lucky but he might have

won anyway, with Hamilton starting on the higher-wearing softs after a fraught Saturday qualifying while the Finn was on the mediums -- the better long-term strategy.

Hamilton’s hopes were in any case dashed when stewards issued two five-second penalties for making practice starts outside the designated area as he headed to the grid.

“I’m pretty sure no-one’s got two five second penalties for something so ridiculous before,” said the Briton, who had won six of the nine races before Sochi and had been authorised by the team to practise a start.

“I didn’t put anyone in danger. I’ve done this at a million tracks over the years and never been questioned on it.

Hamilton also collected two penalty points on his licence, leaving him just two away from a one-race ban

Valtteri Bottas took advantage of Lewis hamilton’s penalty to take the Russian Grand Prix in Sochi.

Photograph: Yuri Kochetkov/EPA triggered if a driver gets 12 in a 12-month period.

In a dull race after two exciting rounds in Italy, with lonely races for the top three, Mercedes continued their record of winning every Russian Grand Prix since the first held on the streets around the 2014 Winter Olympics venue.

Mexican Sergio Perez was fourth for Racing Point with Australian Daniel Ricciardo fifth for Renault and Charles Leclerc sixth for Ferrari.

Frenchman Esteban Ocon took seventh for Renault with Russian driver Daniil Kvyat eighth and pleasing the first real crowd of the season after the first eight races were held behind closed doors due to

the COVID-19 pandemic.

AlphaTauri team mate Pierre Gasly, a surprise winner at Monza, was ninth and Red Bull’s Alexander Albon took the final point in 10th.

The safety car was deployed for four laps after the start when McLaren’s Carlos Sainz went off and misjudged his return to the track, hitting the wall hard.

Leclerc also tagged Lance Stroll’s Racing Point, with the Canadian spinning out.

Hamilton served his two penalties at the same time, returning in 11th place but moving up to third after others pitted. “This is just ridiculous, man,” he said over the radio.

French Open 2020:

Konta beaten by Coco Gauff in first round BRITISH number one Johanna Konta’s hopes of another deep run at the French Open were ended by American teenager Coco Gauff in the first round.

Konta, 29, lost 6-3 6-3 to the talented 16-year-old, who put in an assured performance in her first Roland Garros main draw appearance.

A 2019 semi-finalist, Konta was error-prone against a youngster tipped by many pundits as a future major winner.

Konta’s was the third British singles defeat of the opening day in Paris.

Her loss followed exits by Andy Murray and Dan Evans on a cool day in the French capital that drew complaints about conditions from some players, as the tournament got under way four months later in the year than usual.

Gauff bounces back from US Open exit Gauff has been one of the most promising players on tour following her runs to Wimbledon and the Australian Open fourth rounds in the past 15 months.

She put behind her a disappointing first-round exit from this month’s US Open to put in a confident display against Konta, who never found her stride in blustery conditions under the floodlights on a near empty Court Suzanne Lenglen.

There were some nerves at times - with the American serving

back-to-back double faults on set points and needing six set points before finally taking the opener when Konta sent a forehand service return into the net.

She then went an early break down in the second set before breaking Konta’s usually strong serve four times in a row as the Briton was let down by 41 unforced errors, including several on the drop-shot that had been so effective last year.

Konta briefly threatened to stage a fightback when she broke Gauff for 5-3 but then succumbed in the following game when she netted a backhand on the American’s second match point.

“I’m definitely happy to come out with the win, it’s difficult to play in these conditions. She’s a great competitor so I had to stay on my game,” Gauff said.

Gauff, who will play Italian qualifier Martina Trevisan next, is far from the finished article and her 12 double faults gave Konta chances that could have been heavily punished.

But Konta, who split from coach Thomas Hogstedt earlier this month, failed to convert a single of her five break points in the first set and was unable to find an effective gameplan.

“I think nothing was working consistently enough,” Konta said.

“I think I was trying to do good things, and I think I had kind of semi opportunities to try and kind of get

something going, but I just didn’t find a good enough level to be able to kind of, I guess, get where I wanted today. So I don’t think it was anything specific.”

Konta’s departure leaves Heather Watson as the sole Briton in the women’s singles draw at the claycourt Grand Slam.

Halep celebrates birthday with win (and water!)

Romanian top seed Simona Halep celebrated her 29th birthday with a 6-4 6-0 victory over Spaniard Sara Sorribes Tormo.

“The perfect present was that I won today,” the Wimbledon champion said.

“I cannot celebrate much, because I have to stay in the room, so I will just have a bottle of water!”

Halep will meet compatriot Irina-Camelia Begu for a place in the third round.

There were also wins for fellow seeds Victoria Azarenka and Elise Mertens but Estonian 17th seed Anett Kontaveit was beaten 6-4 3-6 6-4 by France’s Caroline Garcia.

Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams was knocked out 6-4 6-4 by Slovakia’s Anna Karolina Schmiedlova as the 40-year-old suffered her fifth firstround loss in the last six Grand Slams.

Asked if she expected to be back in 2021, Williams replied: “Yeah, definitely.”(BBC Sport)

23

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 28, 2020

Essex draw with Somerset but take inaugural Bob Willis Trophy title

By Adam Williams

slip off Lewis Gregory for 13 and captain Tom Westley departed without scoring in the following over to leave them 26-2.

The prize wicket of Alastair Cook continued to elude them until just after lunch, but Gregory snared the former England captain for a second time in the match to put the brakes on again.

ESSES defied Somerset’s bowlers to draw the Bob Willis Trophy final but take the first title after they had secured a first-innings lead of 36 runs.

The county champions were set a target of 237 to win, but after being reduced to 98-4 batted out for a draw.

Ryan ten Doeschate (46) and Adam Wheater (14 not out) survived for almost two hours under the floodlights before Essex finished on 179-6.

It means Somerset’s wait for a first red-ball county title continues.

In a repeat of the County Championship-deciding fixture of last season, it was again Essex taking the silverware at Somerset’s expense.

They proved the only team throughout the competition able to keep Somerset’s four-pronged seam attack, plus England spinner Jack Leach, at bay as they restricted them to just 14 wickets over the two innings.

Cook was given out caught behind for 31, but showed his disappointment at the decision as he stood for a while with a hand on his hip, perhaps suggesting to umpire Russell Warren the sound had been his bat clipping his front pad rather than outside edge.

His departure saw Essex retreat into defensive mode as Dan Lawrence (35) and Paul Walter (21) stood firm.

But the introduction of slow left-armer Leach had an immediate impact for Somerset.

Lawrence was trapped leg before from his second delivery as Leach took his first wicket for almost 10 months since dismissing New Zealand’s Tim Southee in England colours in a Test match at Mount Maunganui in Essex have won four domestic trophies in the past three years.

November.

As the last session began, Somerset still needed six Scores :Somerset 301: Byrom 117; S Cook 5-76 & 272-7 dec: Lammonby 116; Porter 4-73 wickets and Essex another 109 runs.

Essex 337-8: Cook 172; Gregory 6-72 & 179-6: Ten Doeschate 46; Leach 3-38 But Walter lasted just a couple of overs into the evening as Leach came around the Somerset began the fifth and final day with a lead of 191 and three wickets in hand, wicket and pinned him on the front pad, putting Somerset back in the driving seat. knowing they had to give themselves a chance of bowling Essex out to win the title.

Essex had around another 30 overs to survive and all-rounder Ten Doeschate and wicketThey had 81 overs to defend 236 after adding 45 runs without losing a wicket, after dekeeper Wheater had few alarms in doing so. claring their second innings on 272-7.

Ten Doeschate fell just before stumps as Leach claimed 3-38, but shortly after both sides Craig Overton (45 not out) and Josh Davey (16 not out) negotiated the opening half an hour and Essex appeared content to let them set up a run chase rather than take the remaining shook hands as Somerset knew their victory chances had passed.

Bob Willis’ widow Lauren Clark then presented Essex captain Tom Westley with the three wickets.

Essex started that chase positively, but Nick Browne was well caught by Tom Abell at third trophy, the county’s third first-class title in the past four seasons. (BBC Sport)

Football coaches, managers label United TTFA selfish ‘SELFISH’ is how some coaches and managers have described the United T&T team, the elected administrators of the T&T Football Association, saying they do not care about the country and the sport of football, only themselves.

The comments by Travis Mulraine, Randy Hagley of Guaya United, Shawn Cooper the former national youth coach and Ron La Forrest, came following a decision by the TTFA, to resume its fight against the FIFA in the High Court, just a day after the FIFA suspended them on Republic Day, September 24.

William Wallace, president of the TTFA, whose second vice president Susan Joseph-Warrick resigned on Friday as part of the fallout from the FIFA suspension, said in a release on Friday that the action by the FIFA showed that they were always going to ban the TTFA. As such, he said he instructed his attorneys to file an emergency appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), challenging the sole issue of the suspension of TTFA in the face of illegal threats and coercive acts by FIFA. The attorneys Dr Emir Crowne, Matthew Gayle, Crystal Paul, and Jason Jones, were also asked to make an application for Injunctive Relief so that if successful this would allow Trinidad and Tobago to participate in the Gold Cup draw carded for Monday 28 September.”

Speaking to Guardian Media Sports on Saturday, the coaches and managers believe this decision to further challenge FIFA could have detri-

TTFA president William Wallace mental consequences. Both La Forrest and Mulraine said the action of the TTFA is an indication of their incompetence to run TT football in the first place. “They are on an ego trip while the entire country and the people who depend on it are suffering.”

The quartet has also expressed a concern that the TTFA members are blatantly disregarding the rules of the FIFA, but yet are bold enough to challenge it. According to the coaches and managers, the United TTFA group was given a deadline which they failed to honour, and still with a revised deadline, they failed to live up to it.

“That is disrespect,” Hagley said.

The Guaya owner and manager noted: “The actions of the TTFA will put the country in further turmoil, rules are rules. This decision to return to court and challenge the FIFA in the CAS will make an already bad situation worse. Remember that in

the T&T Super League teams cannot take the league to court also, so why do you have a member of the TTSL fighting against a similar rule in the FIFA Statutes.”

Mulraine question why Wallace and company would want to return to the CAS which they initially described as bias. “They do not have the interest of the sport in this country at heart, and while all this is happening here, in the US young players are going on contracts in the Spanish League, and these are the people we will have to play against. “ Mulraine believes the decision by the FIFA to replace the TTFA with a normalisation committee was because there were people involved in the TTFA election who the FIFA did not approve of.

He calls on the delegates of the TTFA to convene an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) and vote out the TTFA members.

Meanwhile, Cooper is calling for answers why the TTFA is continuing its battle with the FIFA. “What would the end result be. Are they going to fight someone that they need financially and otherwise? This comes like we are fighting a war with the USA, we are taking on a fight we just cannot win, so it’s time for the TTFA to study the young players.”

Cooper who also coaches at Presentation College in the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) said the FIFA suspension was a slap on the wrist for the TTFA, one that they could have worked with easily.(Extracted from Trinidad Gaurdian).

Ronaldo double earns point for 10-man Juventus at Roma ROME (Reuters) - Cristiano Ronaldo’s second goal of the night rescued a 2-2 draw for 10-man Juventus away to AS Roma in Serie A on Sunday, after Jordan Veretout had twice put the capital club in front.

Veretout and Ronaldo netted penalties before the break after both teams were penalised for handball, before the French midfielder struck his second of the night in first-half stoppage time.

Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot was shown a second yellow card to leave his side a man down for the Juventus Cristiano final third of the match, but a towering Ronaldo header Ronaldo earned a point for the Italian champions in Andrea Pirlo’s second game in charge.

The result leaves Juventus in fifth place, with four points from their opening two league games.

Roma are down in 13th on one point, as their opening day 0-0 draw against Hellas Verona was changed to a 3-0 defeat by Serie A because they fielded an ineligible player.

Tewatia, Samson star as RR register highest-successful chase in IPL history

Rahul Tewatia smashed five sixes off Sheldon Cottrell.

(IPL/Twitter)

THE desert city of Sharjah is not unknown to batting storms.

The most famous of them all, of course, remains Sachin Tendulkar’s bashing of Shane Warne in 1998.

The Australian great is back in the UAE as the mentor of Rajasthan Royals (RR, and from his resort in Dubai, where he is undergoing one week quarantine, saw his team at the receiving end of another storm, brewed

by Kings XI Punjab’s Mayank Agarwal (106 -- 50b).

For Warne’s solace there was another storm waiting to happen. Chasing KXIP’s mammoth 223/2 after Agarwal’s ton, with frontline batsmen Jos Buttler, Steve Smith and Sanju Samson back in the dugout, Rahul Tewatia took it upon himself to turn the tide. With 51 needed off 18 balls, he struck five huge sixes against Sheldon Cottrell to take the equation to 21 off 12.

Next over by Mohammed Shami saw 19 runs scored with Tewatia and Jofra Archer doing the damage as RR needed just two of the last over.

The job was completed by Tom Curran

with a four against spinner Murugan Ashwin as RR recorded the highest successful chase in IPL history.

On any other day, KXIP could have breathed easy after putting up such a big score. Not at Sharjah and not against a team like RR which has the likes of Buttler, Smith and Samson, who had scored a 32-ball 74 at this very ground in his previous match.

Buttler departed early, but Smith and Samson fired. The duo helped RR score the highest runs in the powerplay this season (69/1), surpassing KXIP’s 60/0 in the first innings.

Smith and Samson reached their half-century off 26 balls and were involved in an 81run second wicket stand in 40 balls. Once Smith was caught at deep cover by Shami off Jimmy Neesham in the ninth over, RR’s pace of scoring slowed. Samson kept going despite Tewatia struggling at the other end before he eventually fell for a 42-ball 85. Tewatia then suddenly found his range of shots.

Agarwal scored the second fastest century by an Indian in IPL, off just 45 balls, and was involved in the third-highest

opening stand ever in the tournament, 183 with KL Rahul. Those batting highlights catapulted KXIP to 223/2 in 20 overs.

Agarwal’s knock stood out because he strived for it. Having shown penchant for age-group tournaments with an aggressive style, the Karnataka batsman was expected to do well in limited-overs cricket.

After tons of runs in the domestic circuit and a long wait, Agarwal made his international debut but first in Tests. With a consistent display, he has sealed his position in the whites. As far as limited-overs go, Agarwal is yet to showcase his mettle.

Early signs show the 29-year-old has chosen this IPL to make a point. At the 2019 IPL, Agarwal scored 332 in 13 matches. This edition, he already has 221 in three matches.

“There is always risk involved, just that in T20s you have to take them a little more often,” Agarwal told this paper before the tournament. The intent to tilt the risk-reward balance in his favour has clearly showed.

And what better place to take risks than the Sharjah Stadium, the smallest of the three grounds where IPL 2020 is being

played. With KXIP captain and statemate Rahul playing the anchor at the other end, Agarwal went all out.

Anything short and wide, and there were many of those, the KXIP opener would hook over the mid-on and if there was any length ball he would loft it over mid-off. When his timing was not perfect, Agarwal’s placement was.

Generally, teams rely on left-right combination to break a bowler’s rhythm. Here two right-handed openers achieved that objective with non-chalance. Except seamer Ankit Rajpoot (9.80) no RR bowler had an economy of less than 10.

Agarwal was most ruthless against RR spinners Rahul Tewatia and Shreyas Gopal. The former was taken off the attack after one over after conceding 19 runs while Gopal got hit for two sixes in the ninth over. Agarwal reached his maiden century in IPL with a lofted drive over extra cover. He was greeted with a hug

by Rahul.

In the end though, IPL twists and turns had the final say. (Hindustani Times)

T&T to remain in Gold Cup prelims – for now MIAMI, Florida, (CMC) – Trinidad and Tobago will feature in today’s draw for the preliminaries of the CONCACAF Gold Cup despite being slapped with a ban by football’s world governing body, FIFA. However, if the Caribbean side does not have the suspension revoked by FIFA by December 18, Antigua and Barbuda will replace them in the 12-team tournament scheduled for next July, continental governing body CONCACAF announced Friday.

The decision followed an emergency meeting of CONCACAF’s council late Thursday night, and offered T&T a ray of hope of still competing in the confederation showpiece.

“For the purposes of the 2021 Gold Cup draw, scheduled to take place on Monday September 28, at

Trinidad and Tobago will remain in the preliminaries for today’s draw.

8:00 pm ET, Trinidad and Tobago will be drawn in the Prelims as planned,” the CONCACAF statement said.

“However, they will

Football coaches, managers See story label United TTFA selfish on page 23

only participate in the competition if the suspension imposed on the TTFA is lifted by FIFA by 5:00 pm ET on December 18, 2020.

“If the suspension imposed on the TTFA is not lifted by FIFA by 5:00pm ET on December 18, 2020, Trinidad and Tobago will be replaced in the Gold Cup

Prelims by the Antigua and Barbuda Football Association as the next highest ranked team based on their 2019 CONCACAF Nations League performance.”

T&T were last week banned by FIFA for what the governing body termed “grave violations of the FIFA Statutes”.

The TT Football Association (TTFA) had provoked FIFA’s ire by taking them to court over their decision to remove the William Wallace-led administration and install a normalisation committee last March.

And the stand-off reached crisis stage last month when the Trinidad and Tobago high court ruled against FIFA, saying that the dispute between them and the former TTFA executives could be heard in the local jurisdiction instead of the Switzerland-based Court

of Arbitration for Sport, as contended by the world governing body.

FIFA subsequently warned the local FA their court action had “greatly [endangered] the overall football structure in the country and [endangered] the position of Trinidad and Tobago football internationally”.

T&T, ranked 93rd in the FIFA rankings, are among 12 teams including the Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Cuba, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Montserrat and St Vincent and the Grenadines, expected to do battle for the last three spots in 16-team group stage of the Gold Cup. T&T qualified for the preliminaries as the thirdplace finishers in Group C of League A when they failed to win any of their two matches.

ECCC vice-president Gainda endorses Cricket Administration Act … lauds AG, Minister of Sports for passing Act

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2020