Guyana_Chronicle_Epaper_09_29_2020

TUESDAY 29th September, 2020

' No.106137

2021: Year of investments, development

–– new harbour bridge, new hotels and creation of 50,000 homes on the cards

Private sector willing to invest in sugar SEE STORY ON PAGE 16 ►

CXC commits to reviewing 2020 results

SEE PAGE 03

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Adequate chicken supply for Christmas, Poultry Association assures SEE STORY ON PAGE 18 ►

President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali receives a wooden portrait of the First Family from Marcus Shivrattan and Komal Ramnauth at State House on Monday. Inset is a full view of the portrait presented to the President (Office of the President photo)

Regional chairs, vice-chairs elected, councillors sworn in

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Man quarantined after found having sex with woman who died from COVID-19 12 PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, September 29, 2020

CXC commits to reviewing 2020 results AS pressure continues to mount due to the massive ‘backlash’ across the Caribbean Region, the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) has announced that an independent review of its 2020 examinations is expected to commence shortly, with possible revisions to follow.

This is according to a statement issued on Monday,

by CXC Chairman, Professor, Sir Hilary Beckles, who said the concerns raised are of great importance to the Council and the maintenance of public trust is “paramount”.

“Given these specific challenges, a period of review and possible revisions would follow, consistent with the regulations of the Council. It has been agreed, therefore, that an independent review team will shortly begin this work and present a report for discussion with relevant stakeholders,” Professor Beckles said in the statement.

Professor Beckles said the review would go on notwithstanding CXC addressing all officially reported cases.

“There will be ongoing dialogue with regional Ministries of Education based upon the official gathering of data relevant to all ventilated concerns. Each and every formally-reported case will be reviewed and where remedies are required they will be applied,” Professor Beckles said.

He further noted that the CXC Registrar and CEO, Dr. Wayne Wesley is carrying out discussions with the respective Ministries of Education (MoE) across the Caribbean region to identify the underlying causes of the concerns raised with a view to providing clarity to stakeholders.

“CXC is satisfied that ministers have received explanations for its positions in light of the public discourse. It is understood that while there might be policy

CXC Chairman, Professor, Sir Hilary Beckles

CXC Registrar and CEO, Dr. Wayne Wesley

and technical issues to be addressed immediately, the maintenance of public trust going forward is paramount,” Professor Beckles said.

Professor Beckles’ statement comes following a lawyer’s letter being sent to the Council, on Monday, on behalf of two school boards in Trinidad and Tobago, and at least one school in Guyana threatening to petition the government here for the country to consider leaving CXC, if the regional institution does not look into the alleged mass discrepancies in

its 2020 examinations.

Following CXC’s release of the results of its 2020 examinations last Tuesday, students reported major discrepancies such as unjustifiable lower-than-expected grades and ungraded subjects, in their results at the Council’s two major exams – the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE).

WIDESPREAD REPORTS The discrepancies were

reported by students across several Caribbean nations where the exams are administered, including Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, St Lucia and Grenada.

The students were massively supported by their parents, teachers and schools, which all agreed that all was not right with the grades given.

Several ministers of education in the region wrote CXC on behalf of the students seeking clarifications with respect to the efficacy of procedures and systems used in the Council’s computation and declaration of student performance data for 2020, given that a modified version of the annual exams was administered.

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.

The students and their supporters had called on 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.

In a press conference held on Friday to address the issue, CXC Registrar, 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. He instead sought to effectively absolve the governing body of any wrongdoing, by declaring that he was satisfied with the level of service provided to students, even in the face of widespread backlash.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, September 29, 2020

2021: Year of investments, development

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–– new harbour bridge, new hotels and creation of 50,000 homes on the cards

By Navindra Seoraj THE local economy like many others around the world has taken a ‘hit’ because of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and although the direct and indirect effects of this scourge remain a challenge, the country is expected to see a ‘flurry’ of development projects in 2021, said President Dr. Irfaan Ali. Guyana, which sits on the edge of South America and has a population of about 750,000 people, is expected to ‘boom’ with its new-found oil wealth, wealth which will drive infrastructural development and other sectoral advancements.

According to reports, the country has already raked in close to US$150 million from its oil-and- gas sector, with lots more to be earned.

But the focus, as outlined by the new People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government, will be on maintaining a diversified economy.

Progress is expected on all fronts said President Ali, noting that 2021 will be the year of investments and development.

“What you will see next year is a flurry of development… there will be active work on the new Demerara Harbour Bridge, the new four-lane road, new hotels

The private sector is expected to play an integral role in driving economic growth, but the extraordinary circumstances created

by COVID-19 has been discouraging in some cases, said stakeholders from the sector.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali

and the creation of 50,000 homes,” said the President, following an inspection of the site for the new harbour bridge, on Saturday.

He said work will commence on the construction and rehabilitation of roads in hundreds of communities; new infrastructure will be created; and there will be major developments in every sector.

Additionally, private-sector investments are expected to increase, stretching from the construction of new shore bases to service the oil-andgas sector, to new office complexes and other private development projects.

The President anticipates

that with increased construction, there will be an increased demand for quarry and construction materials and labour.

GOOD DAYS “Once we continue to push this development agenda, we are heading into good days, good winds pushing us forward… the output of these projects will be realised early,” said President Ali. 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

Chairman of the Private Sector Commission, Nicholas Boyer

implementation of measures and projects included in the $329.5 billion 2020 budget which was passed in the National Assembly last Friday.

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, taxfree 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-pro-

gramming 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.

HOPEFUL “What we are looking forward to or hoping for in 2021 is a post-COVID-19 environment… this would bring back the tourism and hospitality sector… we have seen the President talk about going out to request EoIs for four international hotels for us, but the first thing is to have a stable environment,” said Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Nicholas Boyer during an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle on Monday.

Boyer said while every industry has been affected in some way by COVID-19, there are areas such as construction and mining which remain resilient and have continued to produce positive results.

“For us, as long as we get sectors moving, plus with the construction sector and the mega projects, we are looking forward to a positive 2021,” said the PSC chairman.

Saudi Arabia seeks Guyana’s support for WTO leadership

SAUDI ARABIA is seeking Guyana’s support for its candidacy for the director-generalship of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). On Monday evening, the Arab nation’s governor responsible for Foreign Trade met President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali at State House.

His Excellency (HE) Abdulrahman Ahmad H. Alharbi was accompanied by his country’s Commercial Attaché in Washington D.C., Ahmed Abuzinadah, and Antigua and Barbuda’s Minister of Tourism and Investment, Charles Fernandez.

Senior Advisor to Antigua’s Prime Minister, Colin Murdoch, and Non-Resident Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Gilbert Boustany, were also part of the visiting party.

President Ali, along with Vice-President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, and Minister of For-

eign Affairs and International Co-operation, Hugh Todd, received the dignitaries at State House where a meeting was followed by dinner.

The party is here until October 2.

The process to become Director-General of the WTO began in July, after former Brazilian diplomat Roberto Azevêdo, who held the post since 2013, stepped down a year before his term expired.

Egypt, Kenya, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Moldova, Nigeria, and the United Kingdom are also vying for the post.

The new director-general should take up his post in a month’s time.

The WTO is an inter-governmental organisation concerned with the regulation of international trade between nations.

Guyana became a member in January 1995. (DPI)

From left to right: President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali; H.E., Adbulrahman Ahmad H. Alharbi; Ahmed Abuzinadah; Hon. H. Charles Fernandez, and H.E. Colin Murdoch, Monday evening at State House (DPI photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, September 29, 2020

Biden campaign seizes on Trump taxes before debate

Joe Biden’s campaign seized on a fresh line of attack on the eve of the Democratic presidential nominee’s first debate with President Donald Trump, accusing the Republican incumbent of gaming the system to avoid paying his fair share of taxes.

Trump, a self-proclaimed billionaire who is seeking reelection in the Nov. 3 vote, paid only $750 in federal income taxes in both 2016 and 2017, after years of reporting heavy losses from his businesses to offset hundreds of millions of dollars in income, the New York Times reported

on Sunday, citing tax-return data.

The Times also reported that Trump paid no federal income tax in 10 of the previous 15 years through 2017, despite receiving $427.4 million through 2018 from his reality television program and other endorsement and licensing deals.

Jared Bernstein, one of Biden’s top economic advisers, said the report highlighted the need to simplify the tax code and make people like Trump pay their fair share.

“The vast majority of us pay taxes and get on with life. But the richer you are,

US President, Donald Trump

the more tax lawyers you employ, the more complex you can make your holdings - all of this can, as the piece shows reduce your tax liability to zero,” Bernstein said on Twitter.

Within hours of the report, Biden’s campaign had released a video listing the thousands of dollars in income tax typically paid by an elementary school teacher, firefighter, construction manager and registered nurse, Tuesday, September 29, 2020 -- 03:30 & 14:30 HRS

before contrasting Trump’s reported $750 bill in 2017.

The campaign also started selling stickers that say, “I Paid More In Taxes Than Donald Trump.”

Trump has dismissed the report as “fake news.” On Monday, he tweeted that he had paid “many millions of dollars in taxes” but was entitled to depreciation and tax credits and was “extremely under-leveraged” in terms of his debt and assets.

White House spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany described the report as a hit job that was straight out of the Democratic playbook.

“We’ve seen this play out before ... purported tax information dropping the eve of a debate. They tried this in 2016 - it didn’t work,” she told Fox Business Network.

U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, told MSNBC the president’s reported debts raised questions of national security.

FIRST DEBATE Trump and Biden will square off in their first debate in Cleveland, Ohio, on Tuesday, five weeks before the election. Polls show Biden leading Trump nationally and in a number of key battleground states.

“I am looking very forward to the debate,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Monday.

The 90-minute televised debate is likely to focus in part on Trump’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed more than 200,000 Americans, and his push to fill the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s seat on the high court.

The re-emergence of Trump’s tax history as an election issue - in 2016 he broke a decades-old tradition of presidential nominees releasing their tax returns when seeking the White House - offers Biden another avenue of

attack Tuesday evening.

The former vice president is trying to turn the tables on Trump, who ran successfully as an economic populist four years ago and is regarded by some observers as having an edge among voters on the issue of who would best manage the economy.

In recent days, Biden has characterized the race as a clash between Scranton, the working-class Pennsylvania city where he spent part of his childhood, and Park Avenue.

Trump Tower, which serves as headquarters for the Trump Organization, is located near that tony boulevard in Manhattan.

Trump has painted his economic record in glowing terms, saying his policies were responsible for boosting growth and reducing U.S. unemployment to near 50-year lows prior to the outbreak of the pandemic.

His message, however, has been badly dented by the virus-triggered recession, which has put millions of Americans out of work.

Democrats say Trump has mishandled the U.S. response and embraced policies that favored corporations and the rich.

Biden is proposing to hike the corporate income tax and raise taxes on people making more than $400,000 if elected.

Trump, who signed a $1.5 trillion Republican-sponsored package of tax cuts in late 2017, accuses his opponent of pushing a far-left agenda that will destroy the economy.

Trump has said since the 2016 campaign that his refusal to release his federal income tax returns is because he is under audit by the Internal Revenue Service, but the agency has said there is no reason he cannot release his taxes while under audit.

Senator Chuck Grassley told reporters on Capitol Hill that it suggested the tax audits were taking too long.

“I want to wait until the IRS gets done, so I know how much he (Trump) owes,” said Grassley, an Iowa Republican who chairs the Senate Finance Committee.

(Reuters)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, September 29, 2020

Tobago councillor: Teachers must practise self-care Assistant Secretary in the Division of Health, Wellness and Family Development Nadine Stewart-Phillips has advised teachers to practise self-care and beware against burnout.

Stewart-Phillips was speaking at the Assembly Legislature on Friday during a debate on a motion that the House supports a call for private and public sector to provide digital devices for use in schools.

The Councillor said her division is ready to assist teachers struggling to cope with the stresses of online teaching.

She said, "Psycho-social support is critical and many teachers will need that support if they are to meet the needs of parents and students.

At the Division of Education, Innovation and Energy and Division of Heath, Wellness and Family Development, we will ensure the necessary support measures are in place, should it be required.

Without this and the continued strain, this can lead to burnout resulting in teachers and educators being unable to deliver."

Stewart-Phillips said teachers can assist their colleagues get through this transition.

"I know there are some teachers adapting better than others. We should be at a place now where we are not afraid to reach out to our colleagues for guidance on any

Councillor Nadine Stewart-Phillips

matter that is overwhelming.

Check on your colleague just to see how the week went.

These gestures go a long way in calming the nerves of teachers who may on the peak of exploding."

She added, "Most importantly, we want you to practise self-care to make sure you are functioning. To ensure you are able to adapt.

You need to find time to recharge and re-energise to ensure you are not burnt out."

The assistant secretary said the pandemic has changed learning drastically and all stakeholders are still adjusting.

"The United Nations reported the closure of schools has impacted 94 per cent of the school's population and up to 99 per cent in low- and middle-income countries.

It is evident that this implication is worldwide. It has forced schools to close and some schools will remain closed for an extended period of time.

"This rapid shift to virtual delivery can and will be stressful on teachers, parents and students. Generally, working from home can be difficult and presents its own challenges. We have seen feedback from parents and

teachers over the last two weeks about how mentally drained they are. Especially if you are teaching a class that you must supervise and then supervise your own child.

"I understand and empathise with the students, parents and teachers because I understand the trauma, social and psychological effects that would be experienced.

As the pandemic continues, we know there is a cause for concern, fear and stress. We are reacting to a situation and parents and guardians may feel overwhelmed as they are dealing with children's learning."

Amid the uncertainty, Stewart-Phillips congratulated stakeholders for putting things in place to continue educating the nation's children.

"They are laying the groundwork, they are putting the necessary measures in place to ensure that learning at all levels, though the traditional method of teaching is disrupted, other innovative measures are in place.

There is no one-size-fits-all mechanism that can treat with covid19 pandemic, be it economical, social or educational. The situation remains fluid.

"Covid19 has impacted every community, every society around the world.

Although it is a physical health crisis, there is undue stress on the economy, the environment, our social functioning, our family functioning, the education system and in many cases, psychological functioning as persons are trying to cope with this new normal."

Stewart-Phillips said parents and teachers must work together to ease the transition from physical to online classes.

"There is greater opportunity for more collaboration with parents and teachers.

There is an opportunity to work hand in hand. Despite the challenges that lie ahead, parents and teachers must be willing to make the sacrifices."

Stewart-Phillips said her recent donation of four Samsung tablets to students at Ebenezer Methodist Primary School, her alma mater, inspired others to follow suit.

She said some detractors claimed it was politics but she dismissed that.

"We need all hands on deck at this time," she said.

(Trinidad and Tobago Today)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, September 29, 2020

Parental Neglect And Abuse EVERY ethnic configuration in Guyana evolved from strong structures where elders were respected members of the family, their advice was integral to preserving family values and traditions.

However, in the modern family configuration, older family members are banished to nursing homes where they live out their lives in loneliness – pining for the company of their grandchildren, and the familiarity of home and family; or they are left to fend for themselves, with no help proffered by their children.

A news item in a print daily of Tuesday April 12, 2011, headlined “Granny, 75, hangs self” relates that the grandmother had decided to hang herself because she could not afford to pay her grocery bills.

Reportedly, the grandmother had been living in the upper flat of her own home while her son, daughter-in-law and their children occupied the lower apartment – rent-free.

She had been eking out an existence off the small government pension, which had apparently not been enough to pay her bills and provide her with sustenance for survival.

After paying her utilities she was not left with sufficient funds to purchase enough groceries on which to subsist; so hunger drove her to take credit from the grocery store, which of course left her in debt that she could not repay.

Caught in a vicious cycle of financial straits from which she could not extricate herself, in desperation she ended her life.

Needing to go out, the daughter-in-law went to ask her to babysit and discovered the old woman’s body hanging from the rafter of her bedroom.

Only a mother knows of the travails she endures to nurture and bring up a child to adulthood, especially a single mother with no support system; and only a mother whose child abandons her in her hour of need knows the agony this mother must have ex-

perienced when she had to go hungry, even as she was providing shelter – and probably paying utility bills and property taxes for family members who did not care that she was literally starving.

Water and electricity bills had been subsidised for pensioners by the previous administration; but these were only sufficient for a single person, but property taxes are/were not subsidised, so her cumulative financial problems became insurmountable – to the extent that she saw no way out but to take her own life.

With rare exceptions to the general norm, this current generation seems to think that mothers are disposable commodities, only for use as maids and convenient babysitters, without being accorded any status of respect or care as an elderly family member.

Their treatment of their mothers is generally dictated by their spouses, who would more than likely favour their own relatives.

What is so hard about

providing a meal for an elderly parent? It is absolutely reprehensible for a child to sit at a laden table without considering that the mother who nurtured him in her womb, fed him from her breast, then from her plate; who provided the wherewithal for his every need until he could fend for himself, is going hungry – to the extent where she decides that death is preferable to slow starvation, and loss of dignity through having to credit basic foodstuff in desperation, in full knowledge that she most likely would not be able to pay for the items because her pension, which was her only source of income, was earmarked for utilities.

The society, the community, and worse of all, family members have all failed this woman and are indirectly responsible for her untimely death. No one should go hungry and become so hopeless that they take their own lives from desperation and inability to provide for themselves the most basic sustenance for survival.

Religious leaders should be pivots around which communities circumnavigate their social dynamics – and elders, single parents and children should be under community watch at all times.

It is the way of all our cultures; but, sadly, we all seem to have lost our way, as a nation of diverse cultures that once held dear the elders of our society.

The Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing and the Political Declaration adopted at the Second World Assembly on Ageing in April 2002 mark a turning point in how the world addresses the key challenge of “building a society for all ages.”

The Madrid Plan of Action offers a bold new agenda for handling the issue of ageing in the 21st-century.

It focuses on three priority areas: older persons and development; advancing health and well-being into old age; and ensuring enabling and supportive environments. It is a resource for policy-making, suggesting ways for governments,

non-governmental organisations, and other actors to reorient the ways in which their societies perceive, interact with and care for their older citizens. And it was the first time that governments agreed to link questions of ageing to other frameworks for social and economic development and human rights, most notably those agreed at the United Nations conferences and summits of the past decade.

Guyana’s interactive community lifestyles have eroded to the point of non-existence; and even religious organisations have abdicated their societal obligations, with many religious leaders proving to be charlatans who see the church as an institution to enable acquisition of quick and easy wealth.

This contretemps is the primary factor that contributes to most societal ills of which parental neglect – and even abuse -- is merely one component of sick, fractured societies.

Our true nationality is mankind

Dear editor,

ON September 21st, the United Nations General Assembly observed “The International Day of Peace.”

Mankind was asked to lay down their arms and observe 24 hours of peace and non-violence and instead, focus on harnessing each other in unity and build a bridge of friendship. Given international instability, national tension, and economic

uncertainty, it may be hard to envision a peaceful world.

We cannot all be government officials or world leaders who can take consequential actions to remedy complex challenges. However, as individuals, we can take various actions so that the seeds of peace can blossom around us. But we have to act today, for, as Gandhi rightfully pointed out, “There are two days in the year we cannot do anything, yesterday and

tomorrow.” As individuals, we all desire a piece of peace.

The absence of peace in the world is a universal cry that daily usurps the smooth flow of all rationalisations. From time immemorial, it has been man’s quest to live and die in peace. Unfortunately, very few have enjoyed this wish and it continues to dissipate from our grasp as we advance in a modern world of high technology. Probably, it is doubtful if there is any

concise or precise cure that can remedy this illness and allow peace and tranquility to prevail permanently.

Around the globe, there is gross international instability, deep national tension and unlimited economic uncertainty that have presidents and prime ministers of countries, government officials and leaders of organisations, diplomats and ambassadors, all grappling with this question and trying to work around a solution by

taking consequential actions in order to remedy the complex challenges. So many wars mankind has endured, be it physical, the Cold War, economic, social, political or personal, they all vary in diversity and carry serious consequences that remain catastrophic.

The root cause, perhaps, is this crave for power and control.

Caught in the middle are the innocent ones, be they young or old, gender and status of all kinds. So many suffer, some

paying the price with their lives. Should we assume that this is the norm of the day and accept conflict and not peace as a way of life? Or should we propagate a war against all foreign agents and factors that contribute to disrupting a smooth lifestyle? As individuals, there are many avenues we can traverse in order to achieve this goal, none of which are military programmed or involve the path of violence.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, September 29, 2020

Tackle domestic violence realistically and holistically Dear editor, THE coronavirus has led to a surge in domestic violence, leaving victims and their children struggling to find access to food, safe housing and transportation, according to a new study by Rutgers University. The study showed that some victims were met with various challenges and barriers -- including a lack of food, shelter, transportation, childcare, and opportunities for employment -- that pressured them to live in communities near their abusive partners. Others were forced to move back in with their abusers after finding themselves having to choose between being abused or being homeless.

While this study focused on the U.S., the findings are applicable globally and in many cases, such as Guyana, for example, the situation is far worse, as The Caribbean Voice has found out. And given the fact that many experts and stakeholders have repeatedly stated that the mental health pandemic that is resulting from and would follow the coronavirus pandemic would, among others things, see a dire situation with respect to domestic violence, we in The Caribbean Voice

are somewhat puzzled to read a DPI news article which stated that a certain NGO is collaborating with one the ministries to make available low-cost housing for domestic violence victims.

To date, Guyana has been able to afford one safe house or shelter for DV victims, but now they are going to build homes for the thousands who are victimised annually? And how will these victims pay for the homes, especially given that our own experience on the ground has revealed that the vast majority cannot earn that kind of money, even if they work two or more jobs.

Also, the article mentioned a care plan. Is that care plan premised on a multi- agency/stakeholder approach? For example are the police, regional administrations, NGOs and CSOs involved? Are there any plans to bring back and expand the gatekeepers programme to embrace communities across Guyana? Is this plan comprehensive enough to address the many needs of domestic-violence victims and their children? Is a safety-first-and-always mechanism built into the plan?

In effect, shouldn’t realism be the basis for making such plans, which should also be systematic and

concerted? How about ensuring that each of the 10 regions first have safe houses and shelters along with an ambulance each and rapid response “transpi” to move victims and their children to safety as quickly as possible? This way assistance can be given to all victims, since it is literally impossible for more than a handful -- if that many -- houses to be built in any single year and also because as fabulous an idea that low-cost housing seems, it does not make the victims any safer.

Thus, while safe houses would ensure safety and shelters would provide accommodation, steps can then be taken to create safety, especially through: orders of protection which must have teeth to protect victims; sensitising of all police officers and building of DV units in every region; launching a programme to develop safety-planning awareness; establishing gatekeepers in every community to help victims implement their safety plans before it’s too late; counselling (by clinically trained and experienced counsellors, not quacks or individuals given some quick courses over a few days, weeks or months) available for victims and their children; support services to ensure that they are able to meet their (and family’s)

needs for food and clothing; training/retraining to provide them with marketable skills and a mechanism to ensure job placements; viable steps to address toxic masculinity and the factors that give rise to abuse; and a campaign to address dysfunctional relationships.

During this pandemic, domestic violence victims have been falling through the cracks and the little that TCV and other stakeholders have been able to do has been but a drop in the ocean. Is it not time therefore that ad hoc, piecemeal ‘plans’ give way to holistic, viable and national efforts to address domestic violence across the nation?

That all stakeholders and all platforms be embraced and harnessed: from faith-based to mass-based institutions, from the private sector to international stakeholders, from social to traditional media, from culture to sports?

The Honourable Minister of Human Services and Social Security is a caring, compassionate humanitarian and social-empowerment activist and advocate and we believe that she does realise that a realistic, holistic approach is the way to go. Perhaps to a mechanism such as the Friendship Bench, pioneered by Zimbabwe,

Our true nationality is ...

There is an old adage which reminds us that “charity begins at home,” and “what we preach, we should practise.” The point is, if we are of a peaceful nature, only then can we expect others to be peaceful. Peace should germinate from within and then it will blossom to produce peaceful fruition.

Within this framework, love, compassion, humility and empathy lay the foundation for any individual to effectively communicate with the outer world to influence others to spread this message, so that we can share and care for each other, more so, for the less fortunate. It is so easy and important for any individual to emulate the likes of Mahatma Gandhi, Martin

Luther King, Mother Theresa, Bill Gates and so many others who have championed the cause of giving selflessly and not selfishly. Service to mankind and not worrying about the rewards can manifest a change in others who are greedy, selfish and lustful. Edith Cavell, who held no bitterness or hatred for friend or foe during the war days and, Florence Nightingale, who untiringly nursed the wounded are reputable examples for individuals to follow to extend a helping hand and to show mercy for the deprived ones.

Any individual without egotistic quality will find the comfort of being easily accepted by others. Upholding honour and dignity, giving

respect to others, recognising others for their true values, cooperating, instead of obstructing, these are all qualities that are conducive to diffusing an environment armed with hate, anger, jealousy and passion. When we place the interest of others before oneself, this paves the way towards a serene and friendly atmosphere. Right here in Guyana, the pain and agony from the gruesome deaths in Berbice produced a man of peace, Mr. Gladston Henry.

Guyanese should adopt his principle and abide with his advice. Analyzing and differentiating the significance between want versus need, makes it possible and simpler for the individual to survive within his or her limitations.

This dictates the practice of spending, saving and being thrifty. A curfew is placed on dependency, economic situation is harnessed and harmony prevails domestically.

Trying to understand oneself should be the primary goal for any one before we try to comprehend how and why another society functions and behaves. A person’s basic concern should be to attain a sound education; this will enable us to make proper judgements and know what is right from wrong.

This can assist us to vote for the right candidates in any electoral process, hoping that they will champion the cause of the poor and deprived and to unite mankind peacefully. Practising high

which provides communities with talk therapists, is a good starting point and one that can help beyond domestic violence. This training can run concurrently with the relaunch of the gatekeepers programme to maximise resource use. But even for these first steps the establishment of a database of stakeholders – NGOs, CSO, FBOs and civic entities – is an imperative to be able to reach into and connect with all communities across the nation.

A little something here and there has not proven to have any effect whatsoever, nor has the limited, individual efforts of a few entities done much to stem the tide, especially when most of the funding provided goes towards overheads such as salaries, various utility bills, rentals, transportation and the like. Most importantly, scarce resources should not be used on photo ops and pageantry, as has been the case in the past. Finally, may we suggest piggybacking as a viable, cost-effective instrument to get the most done for the least resource deployment.

Sincerely, The Caribbean Voice

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moral values can mold us to be good law-abiding citizens.

Interacting with respectful social activities, participating in competitive sports and engaging in community issues, all these are critical factors that can contribute to us being true ambassadors of the world. “We must learn to live together as brothers or perish as fools,” said Martin Luther King JR. It doesn’t hurt to understand, accept and practise a philosophy that embraces the oneness of mankind and a pathway that unfolds blissful divinity. When we consciously become aware of our true purpose on earth, we will tend to adopt a lifestyle to synchronize accordingly. An attempt

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to attach oneself to happiness through knowledge provides a person with a peaceful personality. One of the mediums through which this can be realised is with the help of meditation and yoga, a disciplined exercise for concentration, control of the mind and to explore peace within. Experiencing peace satiates the body to function efficiently and effectively. When this is materialised, individuals can blossom the seeds of peace for a harmonious surrounding. H. G. Wells reminds us, “Our true nationality is mankind.” May peace be unto you.

Respectfully, Jai Lall

8

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, September 29, 2020

Regional experts arrive to investigate Berbice murders

By Rabindra Rooplall

A FIVE-MEMBER team of investigators from the Regional Security System (RSS) arrived in Guyana on Monday to assist the Guyana Police Force (GFP) with investigations into the three high-profile murders in Berbice.

The investigators will look into the murders of Joel Henry, Isaiah Henry and Haresh Singh. The killings occurred at Cotton Tree and Number Three Village, West Coast Berbice (WCB).

The team, which is led by an assistant commissioner of police, comprises officials from countries within the Regional Investigative Management Systems (RIMS).

Their visit is within the framework of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Guyana and The Caribbean Community Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (CARICOM IMPACS). It follows a decision

by President Dr. Irfaan Ali to seek regional assistance to investigate the West Berbice murders.

The regional law-enforcement officials were met on arrival at Police Headquarters, Eve Leary, by Commissioner of Police (act-

Dead: Joel Henry

ing) Nigel Hoppie; Crime Chief Senior Superintendent Wendell Blanhum and ranks of the Criminal Investigations Department and Major Crimes Unit (MCU).

Acting Commissioner Hoppie welcomed the team to Guyana and assured them of the Guyana Police Force’s commitment to make available all the necessary resources to facilitate a conducive environment for their work.

Police Press Officer Assistant Commissioner

Dead: Isaiah Henry

Royston Andries-Junor said the visiting team will be assisting with the investigation and has been given scope to review and explore all avenues necessary to find answers relating to the murders.

On September 6, the bodies of teen cousins Isaiah and Joel Henry were found in the backlands of Cotton Tree, WCB, almost one day after they were reported missing.

They had left their Number Three Village, WCB home to pick coconuts in the backlands, but did not return

home. Their butchered bodies were found in clumps of bushes partially covered in mud, after relatives went in search of them.

The news of their deaths sparked protests across several villages along the West Coast Berbice corridor and commuters were beaten and robbed. With blocked roads,

Dead: Haresh Singh

some vehicles were also torched.

And then, on September 9, Haresh Singh, 17, was found murdered in the Number Three Village backlands.

It is suspected that his death was in retaliation for the murders of Isaiah and Joel, since he is related to one of the persons initially held

by the police.

Meanwhile, several persons who were arrested for the murder of the Henry teens were released on station bail, but no arrest has been made in relation to Singh’s murder.

Police had explained that the location where the bodies of the Henry boys were found was not the primary crime scene; that is, it was not the location where the young men were killed.

President Ali expressed confidence that the GPF, together with the expected support from the foreign team, will lead to “that justice we all so badly want.”

The President, who remains deeply disturbed over the events, plans to launch an international Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the entire West Coast Berbice events.

“The CoI is important because it was not only the murders, but what took place after. So our immediate task is to get the investigation concluded then, as I said, we’re exploring an international CoI,” the Head of State had noted.

Convicted child rapist appeals sentence

Jegede Hodge

JAGEDE HODGE, who was sentenced in December 2019 to 85 years in prison for four counts of rape, is now challenging his conviction and sentence.

Hodge, 48, filed an application in the Court of Appeal and is awaiting a date for hearing.

His attorneys, George Thomas and Everton Singh-Lammy, in the appeal, said, in part, that the sentence which was handed down by

Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall at the Demerara High Court was unfair, too severe and excessive.

Another ground is that the attorney, who represented Hodge during the High Court trial, failed to adequately mitigate the sentence.

The first indictment stated that, between May 1, 2014 and May 31, 2014, in the county of Demerara, Hodge engaged in sexual penetration with a 13-year-

old girl, a child who lived in the same house as he. He was sentenced to 18 years on that charge.

The second indictment stated that between September 1, 2014 and September 31, 2014, in the county of Demerara, Hodge engaged in sexual penetration with the same teen again. He was sentenced to 20 years on that charge.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, September 29, 2020

44 persons recover from COVID-19

–– three removed from ICU GUYANA has lost 78 persons to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and while the loss of life is never pleasant, there has been a positive development in the fight, as health authorities have added 44 persons to the list of recoveries, meaning that those persons have recovered from the disease and were medically cleared.

The country has seen a stark increase in cases over the past few months, but 1,608 persons have already recovered from the disease.

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.

Health authorities have so far tested 13,836 persons,

with 11,049 proving negative, and 2,787 positive.

Some 15 of those cases were recorded within the past 24 hours.

T h e r e a r e 1 , 1 0 1 a ctive cases which include 231 persons in institutional isolation, 861 in home isolation, and nine in the COVID-19 ICU. Prior to the Ministry of Health’s update on Monday, there were 12 persons in the ICU. The new update shows that three persons have been removed from the unit.

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

Essequibo).

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

Persons were encouraged to take extra precautions because there is no approved cure or specific treatment for the disease.

Guyanese were also reminded to observe the protocols established in the COVID-19 emergency measures.

Convicted child rapist ...

The third indictment stated that between January 1, 2015, and January 31, 2015, in the county of Demerara, Hodge engaged in sexual penetration with the victim, when she was 14 years old.

He was sentenced to 22 years on that charge.

Lastly, the fourth indictment stated that, between September 1, 2017, and September 31, 2017, in the county on Demerara, Hodge engaged in sexual penetration with the child, when she was 16 years old. He was sentenced to 25 years on that charge.

Justice Morris-Ramlall ordered that Hodge’s sentences run concurrently, which meant that he will

only serve 25 years behind bars. Hodge was also ordered to undergo counselling.

The victim in her impact statement explained that the first time she was raped by Hodge, she wanted to commit suicide and began cutting herself.

However, on the second occasion, when she was raped by Hodge, she told her friends and begged them not to tell anybody.

She recalled being picked up from school by Hodge who took her to different locations and raped her.

The victim stressed that at one time her brother saw what Hodge was doing to her, and he became traumatized. Persons in the village

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8

also knew what Hodge was doing and would harass her.

Nevertheless, according to the victim, what hurt the most was her mother taking Hodge’s side and not hers.

The mother still shares a close bond with Hodge.

Hodge, during his address to the court, begged for leniency and apologised for the hurt he caused.

However, in his statement to the probation officer, Hodge stressed the victim fabricated the story and was forced by her father to do so.

10

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, September 29, 2020

Regional chairs, vice-chairs elected, councillors sworn in

WITH the exception of Region Eight where several councillors have been affected by the COVID-19 virus, the councillors of the respective Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs) were sworn in and chairpersons and vice-chairs were elected on Monday, at their varying RDC locations.

Brentnol Ashley in Region One; Vickchand Ramphal in Region Five; Permaul Armogan in Region Six; and Bryan Allicock in Region Nine, all candidates for the People’s Progressive Party/

REGION ONE

Civic (PPP/C), were the returning chairpersons.

In Region Two, Vilma Audrey Da Silva is the only female chairperson elected thus far. Da Silva, who is also a candidate for the PPP/C, replaces Davenand Ramdatt, who is now the Regional Executive Officer (REO) for that region. PPP/C Councillor Humace Odit was elected to serve as vice-chairman of Region Two. With majority seats, the PPP/C candidates secured chairperson nods in six of the nine regions where elections were held so far. The

Seats: 15 (5 APNU+AFC; 10 PPP/C) Chairman: Brentnol Ashley Vice Chairman: Anasha Peters

REGION 6.

Seats: 30 (Allocation: 10 APNU+AFC; 20 PPP/C) Regional Chairman: Permaul Armogan Regional Vice Chairman Zamal Hussain

APNU+AFC candidates received nods to the chairmanship in the remaining three regions, where that party had the majority.

Aside from the PPP/C and APNU+AFC, Change Guyana in Region Four, and Liberty Justice Party in Region Seven and Eight, were the only other political parties that were able to earn seats in the regional elections The councillors were selected by their varying parties based on seats allocated to each party according to votes garnered in the regional elections, which were held along-

REGION TWO

Seats: 17 (Allocation: 5 APNU+AFC; 12 PPP/C) Chairperson: Vilma Audrey Da Silva Vice Chairman: Humace Odit

REGION SEVEN

Seats: 15 (Allocation: 8 APNU+AFC; 1 LJP; 6 PPP/C) Regional Chairman: Kenneth Williams Deputy Regional Chairman: Nageshwari Lochanprashad (Kamal Persaud)

side the general elections on March 2.

However, in Region Eight, with the APNU+AFC and PPP/C garnering seven seats apiece, the one seat held by the LJP just may carry the deciding weight when voting commences for that region.

The chairpersons and vice-chairpersons elected on Monday will later be sworn into those positions when they take the Oath of Office before President Irfaan Ali at a later date.

Aside from Regions One, Two, Five, Six and Nine, PPP/C candidates were also

REGION THREE

Seats: 27 (Allocation: 9 APNU+AFC; 18 PPP/C) Regional Chairperson: Ishan Ayube Regional Vice Chairperson: Omesh Satyanand

REGION EIGHT Seats: 15 seats Allocation: 7 APNU+AFC; 1 LJP; 7 PPPC) Swearing in postponed

elected to head the RDCs in Region Three, where Ishan Ayube was elected to replace Julius Faerber, who is not among that region’s councillors this year. Ayube, who formerly served as the council’s vice-chairman, will now be supported by Omesh Satyanand as the vice-chairperson.

APNU+AFC candidates were elected chairpersons in Regions Four, Seven and 10.

Replacing Genevieve Allen as the regional chairperson of Region Four is Daniel Seeram with Samuel Sandy elected as vice-chairperson.

REGION FOUR

Seats: 35 (Allocation: 20 APNU+AFC; 1 Change Guyana; 14 PPP/C) Regional Chairman: Daniel Seeram Regional Vice Chairman: Samuel Sandy

REGION 9

Seats: 15 (Allocation: 6 APNU+AFC; 9 PPP/C) Regional Chairman: Bryan Allicock Regional Vice Chairman: Bertie Xavier

Region Four Chairman, Daniel Seeram Region One Chairman, Brentnol Ashley

Region Two Chairman, Vilma Audrey Da Silva

Region Six Chairman, Permaul Armogan

Region Seven Chairman, Kenneth Williams

Region Nine Chairman, Bryan Allicock

In Region Seven, Kenneth Williams secured the majority to be elected chairman for that region, replacing Gordon Bradford, who was not among the list of councillors this year. The Vice-chairperson of that region is Nageshwari Lochanprashad, who is mostly known as Kamal Persaud.

In Region 10, Deron Adams was elected chairman and Douglas Gittens as vice-chairman.

The full list of elected chair and vice-chair for the respective regions is below.

REGION FIVE.

Seats: 18 seats (Allocation: 8 APNU+AFC; 10 PPP/C) Chairman: Vickchand Ramphal Vice Chairman: Rion Lancedale Peters Seats: 18 seats (Allocation: 8 APNU+AFC; 10 PPP/C) Chairman: Vickchand Ramphal Vice Chairman: Rion Lancedale Peters

REGION 10

Seats: 18 (Allocation: 15 APNU+AFC; 3 PPP/C) Regional Chairman: Deron Adams Regional Vice-Chair: Douglas Gittens

Region Five Chairman, Vickchand Ramphal

Region 10 Chairman, Deron Adams

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, September 29, 2020

Adams elected chairman of Region 10

By Naomi Marshall

DERON ADAMS was, on Monday, elected as the ninth Regional Chairman of Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), while Douglas Gittens was elected the Region’s vice-chairman.

Adams and Gittens are also among the 18 new and re-elected councillors who will occupy the ninth Regional Democratic Council (RDC), Region 10.

During his maiden speech as chairman, Adams committed to working tirelessly to effectively lead the region’s mission, and to strengthen and secure its future in the best interest of its people.

“I know it is a significant commitment, but I am prepared to contribute along with the newly- elected and returning councillors to build upon the successes of what we would have achieved over the past five years, and to fulfill the RDC’s mission to support, promote and protect our people’s interests here in Region 10,” he stated.

He went on to acknowledge the work of the outgoing Regional Chairman, Renis Morian, who he said provided the council with outstanding leadership for

Deron Adams, the ninth Regional Chairman of Region 10

over five years, handling matters with discretion and sincerity.

Adams also noted that Morian was effective at keeping politics out of the Council’s meetings, a trait he plans on mirroring during his tenure as chairman.

“I want to recognise and thank him (Renis Morian) for the trust that he engendered within the region and the bridges that he built during his tenure as chairman,” Adams added.

As Chairman, Adams

said he plans to nurture and develop respectful relationships with officials of the political, public and private sectors.

Additionally, he plans to “communicate various committee’s public policy positions to the residents and media on key issues such as the regional budget, youth empowerment, education, health and agriculture development, to address small business concerns and infrastructure and economy.”

Adams thanked God, his

Phase one of Ogle-Haags Bosch road to start before year-end PHASE one of the Ogle to Haags Bosch four-lane interconnection road is scheduled to start before the end of 2020. President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali made this disclosure Saturday afternoon during a visit to the proposed site for the new harbour bridge at Nandy Park, East Bank Demerara.

The President said he was confident that financing for Phase Two of the project would be secured once Phase One gets underway. He noted too that implementing this modern transportation plan would lessen traffic congestion along the East Bank corridor and all interconnected areas.

“This alignment would then connect back to a fourlane alignment on the Ogle to Haags Bosch road or the Bagotstown road, which will be developed into a fourlane connection between the new alignment and what will then be the older four- lane road,” President Ali said.

President Ali also raised the possibility of a third expansion at Providence.

An artist’s impression of the East Coast-East Bank linkage project

“There is also a possibility of expanding the road back to the Providence Road and then we can have a third alignment for the new fourlane highway in this small location here. There are also enough possibilities to build feeder roads to support the main highways,” the Head of State said.

A conceptual framework identifying all the connections, drainage and other issues is expected to be compiled this week, so the planning stage could begin.

To conform with the loan available to execute the major works, the Government has retailored the Ogle to

Diamond bypass road project. The new four-lane East Coast-East Bank Linkage Project will extend from Ogle to Haags Bosch, rather than to Diamond. This will see an enhancement of traffic flow along the East Bank.

During a recent interview, Minister with the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar, confirmed that India has accepted the new design for the roadworks. (DPI)

Douglas Gittens, Region 10’s newly-elected vice-chairman

family and friends for their continuous support, and the leadership of the APNU/ AFC Coalition for including his name on the regional list.

Also speaking at the event was Minister of Public Works, Honourable Bishop Juan Edghill who congratulated the newly-elected members of Region 10’s RDC on gaining their new positions.

The minister reminded the newly-elected that they are now representatives of the people of Region 10, and not representatives of

political parties, and, as such, they should work together to deliver goods and services needed by the Region’s people.

According to Edghill, the government is willing and ready to work with the RDC for the development of Region 10 and its people.

“Our administration stands willing and ready to extend the hands of cooperation, to work with you and that begins by listening to you to hear your views and concerns and for us to collec-

tively agree on what can be done together and to ensure that we move forward,” he noted.

Also at the event was Amna Ally, General Secretary of the People’s National Congress Reform; Members of Parliament, Devin Sears and Jermaine Figueira, and Mayor of Linden, Waneka Arrindell, among other regional officials.

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Gambler stabbed to death in Big Creek Backdam CO-OPERATION between public-spirited citizens and the police resulted in the arrest of two suspects at the Matthew’s Ridge Airport, after they allegedly killed a man, on Saturday, at Big Creek Backdam, North West District.

Dead is Kevin Baynes, 34, of Namrad Street, Ann’s Grove, East Coast Demerara.

Reports indicated that the 25-year-old and a 16-yearold suspects, both of Kuru Kururu, Soesdyke-Linden Highway, are in custody, assisting with the investigation.

The 25-year-old has since confessed to the crime.

“If these men would have disappeared on that flight no one would have known but cooperation between the public and police lead to their arrest before they got onto the flight,” one resident said.

Reports disclosed that, about 18:30hrs on Saturday last, Baynes and one of the two suspects got into an argument after a game of cards and he (Baynes) went into his bag, took out a knife and placed it on his left side waist. He had also taken the suspect’s cellphone and refused to return it.

Thereafter, Baynes left the area and was later approached by the suspect who dealt him several stabs about his face and body.

Baynes was taken to the Port Kaituma Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

His body bore three stab wounds to his left side rib along with stabs to the chin and head. The body is at the hospital’s mortuary awaiting autopsy.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, September 29, 2020

Driver in Lima fatal accident was speeding TRAFFIC police in G Division have confirmed that Sunday’s accident, which claimed the life of 23-yearold Khalid McNichol of Henrietta Village, Essequibo Coast, was caused by speeding.

McNichol lost control of the Toyota Axio motor car, PYY 4645, which he was driving along the Lima Public Road, Essequibo Coast and crashed into a parked lorry.

According to the police, McNichol was proceeding north along the western driving lane of the public road when he lost control, while negotiating a left bend. The vehicle ended up in the eastern driving lane and subse-

parapet.

As a result of the collision, the motor car came to a halt and the motor lorry was shifted about 10 feet to the north. The lorry came to rest on its right side in a trench on the said side of the road. McNichol was assisted out of his vehicle by ranks of the Guyana Fire Service.

He was, at the time, unconscious. He succumbed to his injures before he could have reached the Suddie Public Hospital.

His body is currently at the Suddie Mortuary awaiting a post mortem.

He was the father of one and the son of the owner of Granville hotel.

Khalid McNichols

quently collided with motor lorry, GVV 8528, which was parked on the eastern

The mangled car

Man quarantined after found having sex with woman who died from COVID-19 POLICE have arrested a resident of Train Line, Port Kaituma, North West District (NWD), on Saturday, after he was allegedly caught having sex with the corpse of a 56-year-old woman at the Port Kaituma Hospital Mortuary.

The woman, who had tested positive for COVID-19, died on September 21, 2020. She was a farmer of 14 Miles, Arakaka, North West District.

Reports indicated that the suspect was seen in the mortuary committing the offence and police were immediately summoned.

He was subsequently ar-

rested and placed in a facility for quarantine under police guard.

On Monday, police received legal advice to charge the suspect identified as Leroy Chacon with the offence of trespass with intent to commit a sexual offence.

According to a psychologist, necrophilia is a psychological condition that falls under the umbrella category of paraphilia.

Paraphilia involves fantasies and sexual urges in which people are aroused by non-human objects or pain or humiliation of oneself or a sexual partner.

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‘Listen to the people’

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, September 29, 2020

–– Minister Dharamlall tells newly elected Region Two officials –– Vilma Da Silva elected Chairwoman, Humace Odit is Vice Chairperson

By: Indrawattie Natram MINISTER of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall, on Monday, urged the newly-elected members of Region Two’s Regional Democratic Council (RDC), to be people-oriented and transparent.

He expressed these sentiments, shortly after Vilma Audrey Da Silva and Humace Odit were elected to serve as the Region’s Chairwoman and Vice Chairman respectively.

The two officials and several People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) and A Partnership of National Unity+ Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) councillors took the oath of office before the Minister during a swearing-in ceremony held in the RDC’s boardroom. A nomination process preceded the ceremony.

Minister Dharamlall, in his address to the newly sworn-in officials, said his Ministry will be pursuing Regional Economic Infrastructural Development, which will be fashioned to achieve the vision of the region.

He called on those who took the oath of office to reach out to the people to

ensure there is transparency, accountability, and good governance.

The Minister used the occasion to urge the new-

the President of Guyana, His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali does not promote corruption and therefore he called for the team to work

said.

Da Silva, a fifty-eightyear-old resident of Grant Beach Profit, Lower Pomeroon, was nominated by

Nandranie Coonjah. Both Odit and Da Silva served as councillors on the previous RDC. The newly-installed

Newly-elected Regional Chairwoman, Vilma Da Silva.

Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall, addressing the newly-installed Region Two councillors.

ly-installed councillors to hold consultations with residents and to ensure that the bills of quantities for projects are published in every community and villages before they are executed. He also reminded the councillors that

together to achieve transparency.

“The most important role of a political leader is to listen to the people. You need to listen to every concern, you must be open to every citizen,” Minister Dharamlall

PPP/C member Arnold Adams. This nomination was supported by Lloyd Pereira.

Da Silva replaced Devanand Ramdatt, who is now the Region’s Regional Executive Officer and the Clerk of the RDC. Odit replaces Ms.

Regional Vice-Chairman, Humace Odit.

PPP/C-nominated councillors are Faraz Baksh, Raghunauth Doodnauth, Melrose Henry, Toolie Narine, Verian Eleanor Rasheed, Ranjeev Singh, Shaleena Feona Sukhdeo, Ronald Thompson, Arnold

Adams, and Lloyd Joyston Pereira.

Those for APNU+AFC are Wilfred Trevor Cozier, Ciselyn Adelia Jonas, Mark Mc Lean and Yonette Nichola Obermuller. Nathram Persaud was absent.

In accepting her new position, Da Silva stressed on the need for support and said she was looking forward to working with everyone to move the region forward and towards a path of development.

The mother of six called on the newly-elected councillors to set aside differences and work together in unity.

She assured that Region Two will bloom under her leadership.

Odit in his remarks expressed similar sentiments.

He too said he was looking forward to working with all councillors and the major stakeholders in the best interest of the region.

The father of three informed that he has a wealth of knowledge about the region having served on the RDC for several years.

Also in attendance at the swearing-in ceremony were APNU+AFC Members of Parliament, Haimraj Rajkumar and Shurwayne Holder.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, September 29, 2020

‘One Guyana’ concert rocks the stage

THE ‘One Guyana’ Show that was held virtually last Saturday night has managed to achieve quite an extravagant and remarkable display of love and togetherness, with some of the best names in the local entertainment industry putting on their best performances.

Organised by the Guyana Government, through the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, the event received thousands of views online with each performance underscoring the need for the population to strive towards a more peaceful and harmonious Guyana.

Culture Minister Charles Ramson, in his message to the viewers, repeatedly stated that the concert was only the beginning of all of the plans in place to further this type of agenda, and that the focus will be on developing the people of the country.

“We are committed to developing our people. Our President has launched an ambitious plan to drive our country towards a future we can all be proud of. Make no mistake, we can only do this together….we must guard against anyone and movement that want to sow the seed of discord and disunity that could destroy our national treasure, our culture,” he warned.

“Guyana is our home, the home we love…this is the country that we can build for the future, a future we can be proud of. We are proud to host this event where we can celebrate young Guyanese talent, talent we can call our own,” Ramson added.

The more than twohour long show, hosted by Curtis 'DJ Casual' Armstrong,

Allana Bose and WR Reaz, observed a moment of silence for the three young Guyanese boys who died tragically recently and whose deaths sparked outrage in the country, resulting in heated racial tensions.

It was described as a night of healing through prayer and performances by DJ Casual, who noted that the organisers want a country that is filled with love and tolerance for one another.

Meanwhile, in a pre-recorded message, First Lady Arya Ali offered that there was no better way for Guyanese to celebrate their oneness than through art, music, dance and other cultural expressions.

We all have a responsibility in contributing to an environment in which we can build trust and compassion and celebrate each other,” she expressed.

Well-loved comedi-

GUYANESE IDENTITY

“This event celebrates the uniqueness of that singular Guyanese identity…

ans Lyndon ‘Jumbie’ Jones, Mark ‘Chiney Man’ Kazim, and Leza ‘Radika’ Singh, put on a stirring performance as usual, full of hilarity, but also packed with important messages about unity and

First Lady Arya Ali in her message to the viewers

racism.

Their skit underscored the need for racism to be dismissed from early in a child’s life and how it is necessary to upbraid friends and family who are guilty of engaging in racism. It also showed the love that currently exists among the races, and made the point that every relationship would sometimes encounter problems.

Other performers included Jumo Primo, Timeka Marshall, Saiku, Samuel Medas, Bunty Singh, Steven Ramphal, Vanilla, Vanita Willie, Poonam Singh, Calvin Burnette, Brandon Harding, Professor, Alabama and Whiz Phillips, Daniela Araujo, Mark Batson, Super Ray and Murphys, Vaneta Wille, Big Red, Otis Drummers, Rajesh Dubraj Tassa Troupe, and other big names in the industry.

Culture Minister Charles Ramson (second, left) at the event on Saturday

Jumo’s performance with Vanita Willie

“At the end of the day, no matter what, colour, or hair texture, we are one Guyana. We must always show love and kindness for each other and that’s what I really wanted to spread tonight,” expressed Poonam Singh.

Stephen Ramphal offered that sharing music of love, harmony and positivity is close to his heart and something that his music has always encouraged.

“I’m happy we were able to do an event like this.

We wanted to give some comfort…” other performer Vanilla said, while Rajesh Dubraj noted: “Our country has been down for a couple of months but to come together as one family to perform, we’re happy to be here. Guyana is first and foremost for us.”

Jumo had told this publication last week that even from home, he wanted to have the same effect on his viewers as if they were there in person.

“I’ve been taught that even if there is only one person in the audience, I should perform as if there were 10,000 people there,” Jumo had said, adding, “So even though a virtual concert is a bit different, I still enjoy it because I know the people are watching and I know what I want them to feel.

They must sit down in front of that TV and want to come out of their seats, must want to jump and wave, sing, feel everything that is happening as if they were actually outside.”

He no doubt achieved his goal on Saturday night with his dancing and singing performance with Vanita Wille.

Comedians Lyndon ‘Jumbie’ Jones, Mark ‘Chiney Man’ Kazim, and Leza ‘Radika’ Singh, during their skit

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, September 29, 2020

Road projects expected to springboard development –– farmers see great relief; more opportunities for business persons

By Telesha Ramnarine RESIDENTS across several regions of Guyana are keenly anticipating the road projects that will be rolled out under the Irfaan Ali-led Government, which will see the construction and rehabilitation of roads in key areas that will, among other things, link communities.

Such roads, according to Local Government Minister Nigel Dharamlall, are expected to be done in Regions One (Barima/Waini), Seven (Cuyuni/ Mazaruni), Eight (Potaro/Siparuni), Nine (Upper Takutu/ Upper Essequibo) and 10 (Upper Demerara/Upper Berbice).

For some farmers, earning an income is extremely difficult as they will have to walk miles just to get to their farms. This might be because a vehicle would be unable to cross the different swamps that are found along the way.

Others are unable to make a living when it rains and the roads are flooded. Furthermore, because of the poor condition of the roads, the minibus drivers charge quite a hefty price to compensate for the amount of maintenance work that they will have to do on their vehicles.

The government, though, has so far said it is cognizant of the dilemma faced by those in the hinterland communities, as far as the roads are concerned.

“One of the most significant things about the interior is the cost of logistics, and with the upgrading of roads and airstrips and logistic facilities, it will ease the burden on our miners, loggers, cost of food going into the interior, and generally contribute to a higher standard of living, as well as a decreased cost of living,” Dharamlall expressed during an interview with this publication recently.

WILL IMPROVE PRODUCTION Enhancing and constructing roads, according to him,

will also improve production in the extractive sectors; in forestry and mining, and will provide tremendous support to these industries.

“In Kamwatta, most people farm far inland, so getting access to their farms, they have to cross swamps and so on, so the government will have to build bridges over these swamps and then open the roads again,” he posited,

Vivierous informed.

Toshao for Kwebana Village, Paul Pierre, believes that what needs to happen is steady maintenance of the roads that already exist. “They need to open up the roads so that they can get sunlight and

Bartica Mayor, Gifford Marshall

Local Government Minister, Nigel Dharamlall

Sherwin Vivierous of Kamwatta Village, Region One

Committee member for the Kamwatta Village Council, in Region One, Sherwin Vivierous, has offered that the improvement of roads in the Moruca sub-region is especially important as many persons depend on farming for a living.

villages and Santa Rosa, which is the administrative centre for the Moruca sub-region.

Pierre, also the vice-chairman for the National Toshao’s

adding, “To get to one farm, you may have to cross like three swamps and that’s very strenuous on farmers who would have to fetch their produce.”

The farms are often not in walking distance to the market. “Transportation is very expensive because the roads are not good. To maintain vehicles is very costly, so the drivers would charge a high price from passengers,”

dry off quickly because during the dry season, the road is good but just as the rain starts falling, it gets holes and you would have some amount of damage there,” he said.

The road link between Moruca and Kwebana is about 22 miles, while the link from Santa Rosa to Manawarin is about 12 miles and from Santa Rose to Waramuri, about eight miles. These roads are the main links between the

Kwebana Village Toshao, Paul Pierre

Council, said using roads is also a cheaper form of transportation, as using the river via boat can be quite expensive.

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES Bartica Mayor Gifford Marshall told this newspaper,

on Saturday, that creating roads to link Bartica to other places would not only see development, but would result in great business opportunities.

“We are passionately requesting government to do the road linking Bartica to Linden, along with the one linking Bartica to Mahdia.

What this will do is open up business not only for the miners, but for the people of the town. This road network will also impact small communities and empower them and create the level of development needed, making them easily accessible to hinterland towns,” he said.

“The road between Bartica and Mahdia was in a better state during the 60s and 70s but it was never paved. We would be very grateful if this road network can be done again. It will improve the communities along the way, like 72 Miles, and will open up better avenues for persons who have to access their mining camps,” Marshall added.

He is also hoping that the Puruni Road will be upgraded, since it is an important access to middle Mazaruni.

Coordinator for the South Rupununi District Council, Kid James, said South Rupununi is no exception to the places needing better roads, but he feels that the construction and rehabilitation of different roads so far have been “haphazard”.

James wants the communities be engaged before the roads are built so that residents can be educated on how to make the best use of them. “A lot of Guyanese feel that once the road is built, it is opened to everybody but mining equipment and heavy-duty vehicles can damage the infrastructure in place,” he proffered.

“Any road building will be welcomed in our communities,” James expressed.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, September 29, 2020

Private sector willing to invest in sugar –– PSC Chair, Nicholas Boyer

By Navendra Seoraj REVITALISING the ailing sugar industry is a challenging task but the new People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) government plans on making it a reality, even if it means partnering with the private sector.

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.

The new government plans to re-open those shuttered estates and simultaneously rejuvenate the industry through ‘innovation’ and ‘prudent’ management and

interventions which could also come from the private sector.

“We alone as a government cannot do it and that is why we are looking at the private sector to help sustain sugar,” Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, told Stabroek News.

Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Nicholas Boyer, in an invited comment on Monday, told the Guyana Chronicle that the private sector is always open to “public/private partnerships.”

“We remain open to working with the minister (Minister of Agriculture)…

The private sector is very open to public/private partnership and we want to see the country and sector develop,” said Boyer.

The chairman said the private sector will watch how things “play out” but its main hope is that Guyana will maintain a diversified economy even with the advent of oil and gas and the renewed focus on sugar.

“We hope to make sure that agriculture is a priority and we will work with the minister of agriculture,” said Boyer.

He told this publication that the PSC will be meeting soon with Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, to discuss areas of partnership and other critical issues such as the revitalisation of the sugar industry.

It was reported that the Rose Hall Estate will be the first of the three estates to be re-opened and is expected to begin grinding in 2022.

Chairman of the Private Sector Commission, Nicholas Boyer

Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), Sasenarine Singh, had 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 aspects 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.

“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 to establish where the non-value-added activities are then weed them out.

Singh believes that he will accomplish this even with the three estates which were closed by the past administration.

Albion cane harvesters protest ‘onerous’ demand by NIS

The workers who protested on Monday

SECONDED cane harvesters attached to Albion Estate are peeved over several issues which include an alleged new demand by the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) to have eye witnesses support accident claimants.

In addition, concerns over health safety, severance pay, and poor access to canefields were raised, on Monday morning, during a protest exercise at Betsy Ground, East Canje, a few villages away from the soon-

to-be-reopened Rose Hall Estate, where they previously worked.

According to 15 B Gang representative, Basher Khalil, workers, involved in accidents are required to submit claim, along with relevant documentation inclusive of the report by their supervisors and medical certificate with a doctor's signature affixed to the local branch of NIS. But NIS, in turn, is asking for an eyewitness to visit the respective office in order

to have a statement to further support the claimant.

The cost incurred to facilitate the eyewitness’ journey to NIS, which includes a day’s pay, a meal and transportation, must be borne by the claimant and that cost will not be reimbursed by NIS, a situation considered burdensome by the workers.

One of the protesters, Haridall Sookraj, told the Guyana Chronicle that following an accident last April, he complied with the demands of NIS, but his claim is yet

to be processed. He said when he inquires, he is often greeted with several excuses including his cheque is not ready.

Since then, he sustained further injuries after he fell off a punt during a collision.

And, although the claim had been submitted, it cannot be processed because he could not afford to pay the cost for the eyewitness "It’s not right what NIS is doing. They need to have their inspectors on the ground to investigate. The

detailed reports were submitted by the superintendents… why they cannot work with that,” he questioned.

This newspaper was reliably informed that GuySuCo would make weekly deductions of contributions from employees’ wages for NIS contributions, but the monies are not forwarded in a timely manner, hence the delay in payments.

Estate Manager, Shiv Prashad, told the Guyana Chronicle that management has met with the representatives of

the aggrieved workers and reminded of its open-door policy to address their concerns.

According to him, NIS was informed of the challenges encountered and same was addressed. However, he was unaware that other workers were affected. He said a follow-up correspondence will be sent to NIS. With respect to severance pay, the workers, Prashad said were transferred to Albion Estate and that issue will have to be addressed by management.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, September 29, 2020

Confessed serial rapist appeals 'severe' sentence A 23-year-old confessed serial rapist, who was sentenced to 62 years imprisonment for two counts of rape, has moved to the Court of Appeal to challenge the severity of the sentence.

Leon Jordan of Anna Catherina, West Coast, Demerara (WCD), had confessed to raping two underaged girls and a woman.

Through an attorney, he filed an appeal at the Appeal Court, Kingston.

In June 2019, Jordan had opted to plead guilty before Justice Brassington Reynolds to the three charges saying, “Is better to talk the truth before you regret not talking the truth.”

Particulars of the first charge stated that, on February 2, 2012, in the county of Demerara, Jordan engaged in sexual penetration of a child under the age of 16.

The child was seven years old, and Jordan was 15.

Jordan is said to be known to the victim and her family. On the day in question, while on his bicycle, he rode up to the little girl while she was on her way home from school and told her that her mother sent him

raped her and made good his escape.

The victim was hospitalised for several days and had to undergo several rounds of corrective surgery to save her eyesight.

Justice Reynolds at the

Leon Jordan

to buy chicken and he would take her home when he was finished.

He then grabbed the child and forced her onto his bicycle and whispered to her “If you scream I will juk you with a knife.” He then pulled her into a bushy area and raped her, while placing the knife to her neck.

Jordan left the child under a bus shed, and she made her way home and collapsed.

The child was bleeding and told her mother that Jordan had raped her.

The second charge stated that, on January 13, 2013, in the county of Demerara,

Jordan engaged in sexual penetration of a child aged 14 years. He was 16 at that time.

The third offence was committed on October 25, 2016, when Jordon, then 19 years old, engaged in sexual penetration with a woman without her consent.

On the day in question, Jordan accosted the woman, dragged her into a bushy area and forced himself on her. The woman put up a fight, and Jordon bit off one of her eyelids and then spat it onto the ground. With blood gushing from the woman’s eye, the defendant

Non Pareil man arrested with illegal gun

The gun and ammunition seized by the police

A 21-year-old machine operator of Non Pareil, East Coast Demerara (ECD) was arrested on Sunday after he was found in possession of a .38 revolver and six live matching rounds on the Coldingen Public Road,

ECD. Police ranks during a mobile patrol on the said public road about 20:30hrs observed the suspect standing on the roadway and acting in a suspicious manner.

As a result the police

approached him and carried out a search on his person, during which the firearm and ammunition were found concealed in his right-side waist of his pants.

The suspect is being processed for court.

Demerara High Court sentenced Jordon to 12 years for raping the 7-year-old girl; 15 years for raping the 14-year-old girl and 35 years for raping the woman, the sentences to run consecutively. He will have to spend

17

62 years behind bars, with the possibility of parole after serving 30 years.

In his appeal, Jordan is claiming that the Judge did not live up to the plea bargain and imposed a severe sentence on him.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, September 29, 2020

Adequate chicken supply for Christmas, Poultry Association assures THE Guyana Poultry Producers Association (GPPA), on Monday, announced that there will be adequate supplies of chicken available locally for the Christmas season at reasonable prices.

The GPPA, in a statement, thanked the Guyana Revenue Authority, the Guyana Livestock Development Authority and the Ministries of Business and Agriculture for the support it has received during the

COVID-19 pandemic.

Over the last few years, the production and supply of locally produced chicken was quite stable.

However, in March 2020, the association said the adverse economic ef-

Consumers would not have to worry about lack of chicken supplies this Christmas, says the Guyana Poultry Producers Association

fects of the COVID-19 pandemic began to significantly affect the industry.

“There was a severe reduction in the consumption of poultry as the closure of restaurants, bars and fast food businesses reduced operating hours for convenience and a nightly curfew

all became mandatory,” the GPPA noted, pointing out that this resulted in reduced income of consumers and subsequent reduced spending, causing farmers to lose money and the poultry industry having to make substantial cuts in production.

“With the marketplace settling into a new normal, the industry has made its own adjustments, including the increased importation of hatching eggs. This has already resulted in an increased supply of broiler meat,” the GPPA noted.

Mystery fire guts Essequibo Coast house –– owner moved out two weeks prior

TWO weeks after Judgah Jewan moved out of his New Road, Essequibo Coast home to take up residence in another community, the property was, early Monday morning, destroyed by a fire of unknown origin.

The forty-nine-year-old man related to the Guyana Chronicle that he and his mother, Nandaie Etwaro, lived in separate houses in the same yard. He moved out of his home, but left some of his personal belongings behind.

At around 00:01 hours on Monday, policemen were on patrol duty in the vicinity of New Road, and observed that a house was on fire. Checks revealed it was Jewan’s property.

Neighbours, who were alerted by the smoke, quickly made contact with the fire service at Anna Regina. On arrival, the firefighters, found the 15x20 wooden structure completely engulfed in flames.

Jewan estimated his loss to be approximately $350,000. Among the items destroyed were beds, electrical appliances, and clothing.

The distraught man was un-

The house on fire.

able to say what might have caused the fire.

Police are currently investigating.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, September 29, 2020

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, September 29, 2020

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, September 29, 2020

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, September 29, 2020

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday September 29, 2020

Golden...

FROM PAGE 24 “It remains a symbol of the strength and fight we have shown over the years in all walks of life as Caribbean people,” Bravo added.

Bradshaw also recalled how it felt at the time and how it has remained with him 16 years later.

The outpouring of emotion at the end of the game at the ground was reflecting West Indian pride for another moment to show the world our ability. Having come into the game as underdogs, it seemed that every other nationality other than English was behind us. We believed in our strength from the beginning but had to prove it every step along the way,” he said. “I have been told countless stories about how our fans back home across the region had followed the tournament and the elation that was felt when that winning shot was made.

It’s those moments that every West Indian cricketer lives for.” (CWI Media)

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Bakewell renews Naeem Nasir Memorial sponsorship with RHTYSC

… Kelvin Sinclair sponsors 30th anniversary activities

THE Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTYSC) and its ten cricket teams have already distributed close to six thousand food hampers to residents in the Ancient County of Berbice. That amount is expected to increase by a few hundreds as the result of the long-standing relationship between the club and Bakewell.

The company last Wednesday renewed its sponsorship of the annual memorial programme for its late Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Naeem Nasir.

Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster stated at the presentation that in 2020 due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, no cricket tournament would be held; instead the sponsorship would be used to provide over five hundred less fortunate families with a two-week supply of food items. An essay competition would be held for the youths. The topic will be ‘How can youths assist in the development of Guyana’.

The food hampers would consist of twelve food items including flour, sugar, cooking oil, potatoes, onion, garlic, chowmein, blackeye peas, channa and split peas .

The club’s Bakewell Under-17 and Second Division cricket teams would spearhead the distribution of the hampers in memory of the man, who agreed to come on board as an official sponsor of the club in March 2000 and who became one of the main reasons for the RHTYSC’s success to date.

The Bakewell teams won over 20 cricket tournaments over the years. RHTYSC has produced dozens of players for Berbice and Guyana including Assad Fudadin, Royston Crandon, Esaun Crandon, Delbert Hicks, Shemaine Campbelle, Kevin Sinclair, Kevlon Anderson and Khemraj Mahadeo.

Foster stated that the top three winners in the essay competition will receive attractive financial prizes along with trophies, medals and gifts.

Assistant Secretary/CEO Simon Naidu expressed thanks to the company for its assistance over the years

RHTYSC Hilbert Foster receives sponsorship from a Bakewell representative. and for renewing the sponsorship of the memorial programme in memory of Mr Nasir, who died on October 9, 2012 at the age of 52.

Meanwhile, last Thursday, RHTYSC, with financial support from Amazon Warriors player Kevin Sinclair, hosted a senior citizens breakfast programme and provided a box of food to hundreds of children as the club continues to observe its 30th anniversary.

Dozens of senior citizens in Rose Hall Town were pleasantly surprised when the popular Sinclair turned up at their homes, along with a team of fellow club members, to serve them breakfast early in the morning. The feeding programme was held later in the day.

A ten-member delegation led by executive Robby Kissoonlall distributed hundreds of boxes of food to less fortunate children in the township. Kissoonlall expressed thanks to Sinclair for his support and for participating in the club’s anniversary celebrations.

Barca board set up committee as no-confidence vote looms

MADRID (Reuters) - Barcelona have announced that they have created a committee in order to ascertain whether or not they are required to hold a vote of no confidence against the current board and its president Josep Bartomeu.

Earlier this month “Mes que una mocio” (More than a motion), a group of members supported by candidates for next year’s presidential election, gathered over 20,000 members’ signatures in order to set up the vote.

“In guidelines with the Club’s Statutes, a Committee for the Vote of No Confidence, formed by two members of the club’s board, the first two members who signed the petition and a delegate from the Catalan Football Federation has been created,” a club statement said on Monday.

“They will meet on Tuesday 29 September at 9:30AM, and in a maximum of 10 days will check that the motion meets the requirements to hold a vote, especially regarding whether it is filed for the right reasons and the

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu .

REUTERS/Albert Gea support of the required number of members.”

Should the committee not find anything untoward, the board will be required to make the arrangements for the vote of no confidence to take place between 10 and 20 days after the announcement.

If the requirements to hold a vote are not met, the motion will be rejected.

The cries for a vote of no confidence came about in the af-

termath of talisman Lionel Messi requesting a transfer in August after their humiliating exit from the Champions League, losing 8-2 to Bayern Munich in the single match quarter-final.

Fans cited a lack of sporting direction and financial mismanagement as the main reasons they want to see change.

Provided at least 16,520 votes are deemed valid by the committee, a 66.5% majority of the club’s 150,000 members is required to see the current board removed.

If the motion goes ahead, Bartomeu will be the third president to face a vote of no-confidence after Josep Lluis Nunez in 1998 and Joan Laporta in 2008, with the vote failing to pass on both occasions.

Bartomeu’s time as club president is coming to a close regardless of whether the vote goes ahead, as he will be unable to contest the elections that will be held in March after serving two terms.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday September 29, 2020

Golden Jaguars to meet Guatemala in...

DO you remember? The 25th night of September? The year was 2004, sixteen years ago last Saturday, and the entire cricket world had its eyes glued to The Oval in London. England had just snatched the crucial wicket of Shivnarine Chanderpaul for 47 priceless runs and in walked Ian Bradshaw to join Courtney Browne.

The home side was now two wickets away from celebrating the ICC Champions Trophy title and the visitors were still 71 runs adrift. The England fans were jumping in the stands eager to take home the coveted prize; the West Indian faithful had their heads bowed, awaiting the death knell.

However, the resilience and fighting spirit showed on that day by the indefatigable Bradshaw and the equally unflappable Browne, combined to created one of those truly memorable moments in West Indies Cricket history. Sixteen years later, fans still Remember The Names. As expressed by Bradshaw, he was becalmed by the presence of Browne at the other end – they were teammates for Barbados and in club cricket.

Bradshaw said at the time: “When I walked out to bat with Courtney, it was just one of these games. We’d played a lot of cricket together, he was my captain for so many years.

I just joined in and said, ‘Skip, what do we do now?’ He said that we have a lot of overs to

bat and the asking rate was not anything challenging. Honestly, I felt that it was our game to win once Courtney and I batted close to the end.

Speaking to CWI Media last Friday, he added: “The significant percentage of crowd has been very much in our corner and the atmosphere created an energy that we just rode on. We had played against the English earlier in the summer and knew what were the threats that we had to overcome. Once we stood firm from their initial attack, the pressure was more on them than us.”

At the time, Bradshaw averaged a mere eight runs per innings in ODIs for the West Indies and had a best score of 12. However, he showed his mettle and by the end of the night, the West Indies players and staff rushed the field to celebrate the famous victory.

Head Coach, Gus Logie, said he felt the emotions of “elation and relief” in the winning moments. He also credited the belief and discipline of the squad, along with the commitment to team values shown by the players, as being integral parts of forming that championship winning unit. The moment when captain Brian Lara hoisted the trophy brought immense joy to many across the Caribbean after Hurricane Ivan had swept through the region and left a path of destruction.

“We had introduced a system where players were given the opportunity to meet in the

gym each morning (for a group session) and have breakfast together afterwards. The two players who stood tall in the finals, Browne and Bradshaw, were the two players with the highest attendance. I don’t think that is a coincidence.”

This was actually the West Indies’ third global win in limited overs cricket following their triumphs in the 1975 and 1979 World Cups under the leadership of Clive Lloyd. It marked one of captain Brian Lara’s finest hours of his illustrious career.

It was two weeks before his 21st birthday, and Dwayne Bravo, was a livewire allrounder in this team. He enjoyed his first global triumph. As a rookie he idolised the great Lara, and would later go on to play a leadership role when the West Indies scored other major victories in the ICC T20 World Cups in 2012 and 2016 under the leadership of Daren Sammy. According to Bravo, his first international tournament win definitely makes it into his top moments in maroon.

“I was closest to Brian Charles Lara, because he was my idol growing up and the captain of the team. I was elated to be a part of his team and be able to share such a moment with him,” he said.

The iconic imagery of Courtney Browne and Ian Bradshaw hugging after that match, remains etched in his memory.

TURN TO PAGE 23

Whitewash beckons after Windies ...

CONTINUED FROM BACKPAGE

ner Karishma Ramharack’s spell and was lbw for 27, England were struggling at 45 for three in the ninth.

The turning point came at the start of the next over when Amy Jones, on two, tugged off-spinner Stafanie Taylor to short mid-wicket where Lee-Ann Kirby put down a sitter.

Jones cashed in to top score with 55 off 37 balls, striking five fours and two sixes before she was run out in the last over.

She put on 65 for the fourth wicket with captain Heather Knight who made

42 off 30 balls and a further 49 for the sixth with Katherine Brunt (25 not out).

In reply, once the series leading scorer Deandra Dottin was bowled by seamer Brunt (2-21) off the fourth ball of the innings for four, the Windies always faced an uphill battle and eventually declined to 122 for nine off their 20 overs.

Only Chedean Nation with 30 off 25 balls, provided any resistance as England easily controlled the run chase.

Pacer Sciver bowled Kir-

by for four in the third and left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone trapped Shemaine Campbelle lbw for 11 in the fifth over, leaving West Indies Women reeling on 35 for three.

Captain Taylor (13) and the out-of-form Hayley Matthews (11) tried to rebuild in a 24-run, fourth wicket stand before leg-spinner Sarah Glenn (2-15) removed both and Nation posted 38 off 32 balls for the sixth wicket with Alleyne (15) but by then the game was long gone.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday September 29, 2020

Miami Heat see off Celtics to reach NBA Finals against Lakers

The Miami Heat reached the NBA Finals for the first time since 2014 as a 125-113 win over the Boston Celtics wrapped up a 4-2 series victory.

The three-time NBA champions will play Western Conference winners Los Angeles Lakers in the best-ofseven finals, with game one on Wednesday.

Bam Adebayo topscored for the Heat with a career-high 32 points and 14 rebounds, while Jimmy Butler added 22.

Defeat was the Celtics’

third Eastern Conference finals loss in four years.

Adebayo had shouldered the blame for the Heat’s loss in game five but “left it all on the court” to redeem himself on Sunday.

“I had to realign myself with who I really want to become and I showed that tonight,” he said.

“Being in that moment and embracing it and taking over as we win the conference finals is a great thing for me.”

Head coach Erik Spoelstra led the Heat to back-to-

back NBA titles in 2012 and 2013 when LeBron James starred for the franchise.

James will be on the opposite side of the court this time around having led 16time champions the Lakers to their first NBA Finals in 10 years.

“The main key, and it’s been like this for a very long time, if you want to win, you’re going to have to go through a LeBron James-led team,” said Butler.

“At the end of the day, that’s what it normally comes down to, and that’s what we

Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra hands the Eastern Conference Championship trophy to forward Bam Adebayo (13) after defeating the Boston Celtics at AdventHealth Arena. Photo by Kim Klement /USA TODAY Sports

got to focus in on. Honestly, we can’t just focus in on him because he has so many really

good players around him.

“But you’re going to get the same test over and over

again until you pass it. That test is LeBron James.”(BBC Sport)

Nadal & Thiem cruise through Paris openers

Dominic Thiem lost to Rafael Nadal in the 2018 and 2019 finals

SPAIN’s 12-time champion Rafael Nadal encountered few problems as he started

the French Open with a three-set win over Belarusian Egor Gerasimov.

Nadal, 34, wrapped up a 6-4 6-4 6-2 victory in two hours five minutes against the world number 83, who was making his main-draw debut in Paris.

American Mackenzie McDonald, ranked 211th, is Nadal’s next opponent.

US Open champion Dominic Thiem also moved into the second round with a 6-4 6-3 6-3 win over Croatia’s Marin Cilic.

The 27-year-old Austrian, who won his maiden Grand Slam title in New York a fortnight ago, has lost to Nadal in both of the past two finals at Roland Garros.

The pair have been drawn in the same half of the men’s singles, meaning they could only meet in the semi-finals this year.

Nadal is seeded second behind Serbia’s world number one Novak Djokovic and says

the rearranged tournament will provide the “toughest conditions” yet for him.

The 19-time Grand Slam singles champion, who is aiming to move level with Roger Federer’s all-time leading men’s tally, has only played one clay-court event going into Roland Garros and the cooler conditions are not as beneficial to his game.

Although the scoreline against Gerasimov was comfortable, he was given a decent workout by the Belarusian.

“I’m not going to make a mistake - the attitude and motivation is always here,” Nadal said.

“It is a different Roland Garros to the one we are used to and the conditions are very challenging. I’m happy to be in the second round - it is a good start.”

Thiem took the upper hand in his match

against former world number three Cilic when he broke in the ninth game on his way to sealing the first set.

Cilic, who made 39 unforced errors, was flustered by Thiem’s defence, suffering two more breaks in the second set.

Two poor volleys in the sixth game of the third earned the two-time runner-up the crucial break en route to victory.

The third seed will play American qualifier Jack Sock in the next round.

Thiem said he was happy he managed a successful transition from playing on hard courts in the heat of New York two weeks ago to performing on clay in damp 13C conditions in Paris.

“I’m from Austria so know how it is to play in cold conditions,” he added. “When I was in the juniors I played in 10 degree weather.” (BBC Sport)

Premier League clubs to vote today on how to end season if Covid-19 sees it cut short

By Laura Scott

PREMIER League clubs will vote on Tuesday to decide how the season would be ended if it cannot be completed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Clubs agreed in principle on the main points of action if it is cut short at their last meeting in August.

The wording of the new rule has been developed over the past few weeks.

Clubs will vote at a shareholders meeting on Tuesday and, if the motion is passed, it will be written into the Premier League rules.

Another vote would then take place at a future date on how many matches will need

to have been played for the rules to be applied.

BBC Sport understands the range will be around two thirds to three quarters of matches played. If the season has not reached that agreed point then it would be voided.

Meanwhile, the issue of any bailout for the English Football League is not a specific proposal on the agenda for today’s meeting, and there will be no vote.

BBC Sport has been told there will be a focus on what happens next, given the different financial picture facing clubs following the announcement about fans last week.`` How might the rules work?

Liverpool won their first league title in 30 years last season after the restart - but there were calls for the 2019-20 season to be ended because of the coronavirus pandemic.

If five games have been played and a new set of re-

strictions are introduced because of the coronavirus pan-

demic, then the league would not fall back on these plans.

If it got to the end of December and about 45% of the season had been played, then that is still not likely to be enough for the plans to kick in, and the season would be voided.

If the clubs agree that 66% of games is a sufficient number to fall back on the curtailment plans and the country then faces another lockdown, forcing football to be halted after 70% of the season has been played, there would be a set of rules to determine who would be crowned champions, who would finish in European qualification places and which teams would be relegated.(BBC Sport)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday September 29, 2020

Liverpool maintain 100% start with win over Arsenal LIVERPOOL, England (Reuters) - Premier League champions Liverpool maintained their 100% start to the season with a 3-1 win against Arsenal at Anfield on Monday leaving them level on nine points with pacesetters Everton and Leicester City.

Liverpool created the early openings with Trent Alexander Arnold causing the visitors problems down their left. His cross was headed goalwards by Virgil van Dijk

but Arsenal’s David Luiz cleared off the line and then another ball from the fullback was volleyed straight at goalkeeper Bernd Leno by Sadio Mane.

But in the 25th minute, totally against the run of play, Arsenal grabbed the lead when they broke down the left and Andy Robertson miscontrolled Ainsley Matiland-Niles’ cross, the ball falling to Alexandre Lacazette whose scuffed shot deceived keeper Alisson.

Liverpool responded swiftly though, drawing level three minutes later when Mohamed Salah burst in from the left and Leno parried his shot straight into the path of Mane who made no mistake from close range.

Robertson then made up for his mistake when he was picked out by Alexander-Arnold at the far post, chested the cross down and flicked the ball past Leno to make it 2-1 after 34 minutes.

Arsenal made life more

Former Wolves forward Diogo Jota is the 13th player to score on his Premier League debut for Liverpool

difficult for the home side after the break and should have drawn level in the 63rd minute when Lacazette sprung the offside trap but his shot was too easy for Alisson, who parried it to safety.

But new Liverpool signing Diogo Jota, the Portuguese forward signed from Wolverhampton Wanderers, marked his debut from the bench with the goal that made sure of the win as he struck a

well-taken volley from the edge of the box.

The Gunners, who won their first two games, have now gone 28 games without a win away from home against ‘Big Six’ opposition.

CA to keep cricket clean with Dettol deal AUSTRALIA’s cricketers will show clean hands in more ways than one this this summer after Cricket Australia (CA) announced a new four-year sponsorship deal with hygiene brand Dettol.

Along with supporting elite men’s and women’s cricket, Dettol is set to supply hygiene products to the 3,455 cricket clubs around the country as Australia continues its battle with COVID-19.

Dettol will now be front and centre during men’s one-day and T20 internationals on Australian soil as the naming rights partner for the white-ball formats, as well as featuring on the kit of the support staff and supporting the Australian Women’s Cricket Team.

With hygiene more important

than ever during a global pandemic, CA has been exploring the use of disinfectant on cricket balls following the International Cricket Council’s move to ban the use of saliva to shine the ball.

Dettol got wind of this move and will now work with CA to develop hygiene protocols for players, staff and community cricket.

“Dettol is such a well-known and trusted brand with a long heritage, both here in Australia and around the world, and their support will give confidence about protecting the return of community and elite cricket this summer,” said CA interim CEO, Nick Hockley.

“Beyond this summer, we look forward to working with Dettol to help embed hygienic behavioural

Keeping it clean: Cricket Australia has joined with a new sponsor (Cricket Australia).

change into schools, clubs and communities through cricket.”

The new ball-shining rules

were first in place during England’s Test summer against the West Indies and Pakistan.

Players predominantly used sweat to shine the ball, but old habits arose a few times when players instinctively used saliva.

In those instances, the umpires cleaned the ball and returned it to the bowling side. However, should a player repeatedly use saliva during a match, they will be given a warning from the umpires, with two warnings resulting in a five-run penalty to the batting team.

Australia’s international summer began on Saturday with Meg Lanning’s side facing New Zealand in Brisbane.

The men’s international schedule is yet to be finalised, but men’s domestic cricket returns from October 10 when the Marsh Sheffield Shield begins in South Australia.

Jamaican Kelly nets 11th goal, T&T’s Fortune helps North Carolina to surprise win CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Tuesday September 29, 2020)

COMPLIMENTS OF THE XTRA ENERGY DRINK – STABROEK BAZAAR (Tel: 683-9500) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83

Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Rajasthan Royals (2008) (2) Chennai Super Kings (2008) Today’s Quiz: (1) Who was voted Man of the Match in the IPL 2008 final?

(2) Who was declared Man of the Tournament in IPL 2008?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

TAMPA, Florida, (CMC) – Jamaican Dane Kelly scored his 11th goal of the season but in a losing cause as Charlotte Independence suffered a shock 3-1 defeat to bottom dwellers Memphis 901 FC in the United Soccer League last weekend.

Playing at the Sportsplex at Matthews in North Carolina on Saturday night, the 29-year-old scored a first half goal to put the hosts ahead but then watched as Memphis went 2-1 up at the break before adding a late second half goal.

The defeat saw Charlotte miss an ideal chance to take top spot in Group G especially after leaders Birmingham Legion also suffered a surprise loss to North Carolina FC. Both Charlotte and Birmingham have 25 points but Birmingham possess a superior goal difference.

Kelly was on target in the 24th minute when he found

Jamican Dane Kelly

himself unmarked in the box and nodded Jake Areman’s cross past goalkeeper Jimmy Hague from close range.

However, the tide turned quickly when Jose Baxter and Cal Jennings scored in the space of three minutes on the stroke of half-time, to hand Memphis the lead.

First, Guyana international Keanu Marsh-Brown set up Baxter for a superb volley from the edge of the 18-yard box in the

41st minute and just moments later, Trinidadian Leston Paul put through Jennings for a cool finish.

The scoreline held until the 86th minute when Jennings completed his brace courtesy of a brilliant solo effort off the left wing.

In St Louis, another Jamaican Devon Williams netted his fourth goal of the season to earn Louisville FC a narrow 1-0 win over St Louis at the West Community Stadium.

The 28-year-old’s strike

came in the two minutes before the break when he squeezed in Oscar Jiminez’s corner at the far post.

For Louisville, the victory was their fifth on the trot and carried them to 32 points to continue top of Group G, also confirming their place in the playoffs.

Trinidad and Tobago international Andre Fortune also found himself on the scoresheet with a franchise-leading fifth goal of the campaign to earn North Carolina their 2-1 win over Legion at BBVA Field in Birmingham.

The 24-year-old scored from the penalty spot in the 26th minute to double the advantage for the visitors after Manny Perez had opened the scoring in the seventh minute.

Jaden Servania’s 67th minute strike added some interest to the contest but North Carolina saw out the game safely to move to 16 points with two games in hand on the leaders.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday September 29, 2020

RCB clinch nail nail--biting Super Over What drama, what action. What a match!

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Mumbai Indians (MI) played out the second Super Over-thriller of Dream11 Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 and it was Virat Kohli and Co. who emerged triumphant to win the game at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Monday.

RCB, who made two changes to their playing XI, bringing in Adam Zampa and Isuru Udana, made a solid start after put into bat.

While he was hit into the box on the fourth delivery he faced and there were a few hits and misses, Aaron Finch made his intent clear. The right-hander creamed a Trent Boult delivery for a six in the third over before hitting four fours across the next two overs.

In the final over of the powerplay, RCB moved past fifty, with Finch batting on 40 and Devdutt Padikkal batting on 14.

The Australian limited-overs skipper brought up his fifty in the eighth over, powerfully sweeping a Rahul Chahar delivery for four.

But, a slower ball from Boult did the trick as MI managed to get their first breakthrough, dismissing Finch for 52 in the ninth over.

MI kept the things tight over the next couple of overs and it helped them scalp a big wicket of Virat Kohli in the 13th over.

Chahar got the RCB skipper out as Kohli’s counterpart Rohit Sharma held onto an easy catch.

RCB needed to break the shackles that MI applied over the last few overs, and Devdutt Padikkal answered that call, clobbering two sixes off James Pattinson in the 14th over as RCB moved to 110.

Devdutt Padikkal, who completed his second fifty in the last three games, and AB de Villiers hit two fours, each across the next two overs before ABD went after Jasprit Bumrah for two sixes and a four in the 17th over to take RCB past 150.

The 62-run stand, though, was broken on the first ball of the 18th over as Boult dismissed the left-hander for 54.

However, ABD continued to take on Bumrah as the Indian pacer’s final over and the innings penultimate over went for 17 runs, with ABD hitting a four and a six to go past fifty, and Shivam Dube hitting a four to push his side past 180.

Dube, then creamed three sixes in the final over off Pattinson as RCB posted 201/3 on the board.

Needing 202 runs to win, MI required a strong opening start, but it was not to be as Washington Sundar struck in the second over to get the big scalp or Rohit. RCB debutant Isuru Udana, then, dismissed Suryakumar Yadav in the next two over.

RCB continued to apply pressure in the powerplay, with Washington Sundar keeping things extremely tight. The rightarm off-spinner conceded only 7 runs in his three overs.

RCB introduced Yuzvendra Chahal

into the attack in the seventh over and the leg-spinner got Quinton de Kock out in his first over. Hardik Pandya and Ishan Kishan then added 39 runs together, but Zampa broke the stand, dismissing Hardik in the 12th over. Kishan, who was playing his first game of the season, then, went on to bring up his fifty. By the time 16 overs were over, MI were 122/4, needing 80 off the last four overs.

(Brief Scores: Royal Challengers Bangalore 201/3 (AB de Villiers 55*, Devdutt Padikkal 54; Trent Boult 2/34) tied Mumbai Indians 201/5 (Ishan Kishan 99, Kieron Pollard 60*; Isuru Udana 2/45) Kieron Pollard, then, turned it on and how. He went after Zampa in the 17th over, hitting him for 27 runs with the help of three sixes and a four.

Three overs to go and MI now needed 53 runs to win and Pollard, who marched past fifty in 20 balls, slammed two sixes while Kishan tonked one as Chahal’s final over of the night went for 22 runs, reducing MI’s target to 31 off 12 balls.

While Navdeep Saini kept his composure, conceding just 5 runs on the first four deliveries, Kishan hit a six off the fifth ball before scoring a single on the final ball of the 19th over.

MI needed 19 off the final over, with Isuru Udana bowling that over. The first two balls went for two runs, but Kishan hit a six on the third ball as Gurkeerat Singh Mann dropped catch at long-off.

Following a thrilling Super Over-win against Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore returned to winning ways in the Dream11 IPL 2020.

The MI left-hander then hammered one more on the next ball to move to 99. With MI needing 5 from the last two balls and Kishan needing 1 for his ton, he went for another big hit, only to be caught at deep mid-wicket.

MI required 5 to seal a win on the final ball and Pollard sent one past the boundary rope for a four to tie the scores and push the game into the Super Over.

Mi batted first in the Super Over, with Pollard and Hardik being the first two batsmen. Saini, though, did remarkably well to limit the opposition to 7 runs, picking up a

wicket of Kieron Pollard.

RCB needed 8 to win the Super Over and out came ABD and skipper Kohli as MI picked Bumrah to bowl the over.

There was no shortage of drama.

After Bumrah conceded just two off the first two balls, ABD took a review to overturn the decision on the third ball. RCB needed 6 off the last three deliveries and ABD did well to hit a four off Bumrah’s bouncer to bring down the target to 2 off 2. Although the match went to the final ball, Kohli hit a four to take RCB home.(IPL)

Derrell is a leader on and off the court -No surprise PC’s basketball captain excelled at CAPE --opines coach

AKINYELE Derrell excelled at CAPE (The Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination) not just because of his intellect, but because he was able to do the leg work.

The captain of the President’s College(PC) basketball team finished with four grade ones (Biology Unit 2, Chemistry Unit 1, Chemistry Unit 2 and Pure Mathematics Unit 2), one grade two (Communication Studies), and one grade three (Pure Mathematics United 1).

These grades complement his first year CAPE grades, which included: Caribbean Studies (grade 1), Integrated Mathematics (grade 2) and Biology Unit One (grade 2).

His coach, Willon Cameron, said that the youngster is known for his dedication and commitment.

“He is as balanced as they come, as diligent as they come and extremely disciplined…. He really balanced his sports and his education; you never ever got a complaint from any of the other teachers about him not doing his work.”

Along with his own studies, Derrell was also opened to tutoring the younger players in the team.

Cameron, who coached ‘PC’ to the Youth Basketball Guyana-organised National School Basketball Festival U-18 male title last July at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, added that Derrell was an integral part of that success.

“As a coach, I could not have wished for a better player to be that extension of myself with the rest of the team…

When he started to teach at ‘PC’ a few years ago, Cameron was instantly impressed by Derrell’s selflessness.

“When I joined ‘PC’ in 2017 and started coaching, I met some talented players with a lot of potential but no one wanted to be the point guard; a discovery I made after being introduced to the team at a game before we had a chance to practice.

“I told them after that someone has to step up and take that responsibility and no one but this young man

did, He became not only our point guard but our captain and leader that took us home to a few championships, including the big one!”

Cameron said that Derrell was always a professional in the side, especially when four of the five ‘PC’ starters were selected for the All-Star Game. “…Even though he wasn’t one, he didn’t let it affect the way he played and lead his team. “He is a kind of leader that made sure that the team was always in line and did what they had to do both on and off the court.”

In a Facebook message to Derrell, his coach added: “You often thank me for making you a better player, but I must let you know that you have made me a better coach!”

Along with basketball, Derrell also represented his school at ‘Nationals’ in triple jump and distance running (800M, 1500M and 3000M) last year.

Derrell is hoping to study medicine next with the aim of becoming a doctor.

Akinyele Derrell is now hoping to study medicine with the intention of becoming a doctor.

Serena Williams beats Kristie Ahn at Roland Garros SERENA Williams began her quest for a 24th Grand Slam singles title with a hard-fought win over Kristie Ahn in the French Open first round.

Sixth seed Williams, who turned 39 on Saturday, overcame a rusty start to beat her fellow American 7-6 (7-3) 6-0.

Once she came through a 74-minute opener, Williams began to play with more belief and clarity as she swept Ahn aside in a 27-minute second set.

Williams will play Bulgaria’s Tsvetana Pironkova in the second round in Paris.

Pironkova, 33, was handed

a wildcard by Roland Garros organisers after a memorable run to the US Open quarter-finals - where she lost to Williams - in her first tournament since 2017 after giving birth.

Pironkova set up the rematch with a 6-3 6-3 win over Germany’s Andrea Petkovic.

Williams might have cele-

brated turning an age at which most players have long retired, but she has lost none of her appetite when it comes to trying to land another Grand Slam title.

One more major triumph would allow her to equal Australian Margaret Court’s long-standing record and be-

come the fourth mother to win a Grand Slam singles title.

The passion of the American is undiminished, saying in the build-up that she would not play on the clay courts in Paris if she did not believe she could win.

Going out in the semi-finals at the US Open was - by

her standards - regarded as a disappointment and even though she is not considered one of the favourites on her least comfortable surface, anything other than victory at Roland Garros will also be viewed by her as another failure.(BBC Sport)

The Golden Jaguars will first clash with Guatemala in the CONCACF Gold Cup in 2021 THE Guyana Golden Jaguars (GGJ) will first meet Guatemala in their quest for a second consecutive appearance at the prestigious CONCACAF Gold Cup to be staged in USA, beginning on July 2nd next year.

In last night’s historic and unprecedented live draw from Miami for the CONCACAF Premier biannual tournament and viewed by millions around the world, the Jaguars were drawn against the Central American Guatemalans in their opening fixture of the 12-team Preliminary knock out round where 3 teams will advance to the finals.

In their 2nd match up, should they get past Guatemala, the Jaguars will meet the winner of the Guadeloupe versus Baha-

mas for a place in the 16- team finals.

The 166th ranked nation, according to the latest FIFA, earned qualification to the 2021 Gold Cup Preliminary round after finishing 2nd in their B League group competition of the second edition of the CONCACAF Nations League.

In their final game against run-away winners of the group, the Golden Jaguars were held to a 1-1 draw by the Reggae Boyz in Montego Bay to clinch the runners-up spot ahead of Antigua and Barbuda and Aruba.

In the home-and-away ties played late Last year, the Jaguars scored a 1-0 win and lost 1-2 to Aruba and Antigua and Barbuda abroad, while securing big wins at home by 5-1 and 4-2 margins versus the Antigua’s and Aruba so respectively.

The Guyanese were however rolled over 4-0 by their Jamaican counterparts in the first home game.

Golden Jaguars to meet Guatemala in CONCACAF Gold Cup 2021

Players and coach recall famous Champions Trophy victory in 2004

PAGE 24

Fast bowler Aaliyah Alleyne celebrates one of her two wickets during Monday’s fourth T20 International against England.

Members of the Champions Trophy celebrate their famous victory.

Whitewash beckons after Windies Women slump to fourth defeat DERBY, England, (CMC) – A docile West Indies Women lay on the brink of a third straight series whitewash in Twenty20 Internationals when they limped to a 44-run defeat to England Women in the fourth game of the five-match rubber here Monday.

In a low-key affair at the County Ground, the Caribbean side once again produced a lacklustre run chase and never once threatened their target of 167, suffering their fourth straight defeat in the series and their 12th in as many outings.

Last November, they suffered a 5-0 drubbing at the hands of India Women in the Ca-

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ribbean to follow on from their 3-0 defeat to Australia Women two months earlier.

West Indies’ best period of the game came over the first 10 overs, after England opted to bat but then found themselves stalling at 54 for three at the half-way point.

Fast bowler Aaliyah Alleyne, the visitors’ best bowler with two for 25 from her four overs, claimed Danni Wyatt without scoring in the second over and Natalie Sciver for six in the fourth as England slipped to 22 for two.

When the dangerous Tammi Beaumont missed a sweep at the first ball of off-spinCONTINUED ON PAGE 24 TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2020