Guyana_Chronicle_Epaper_10_07_2020

WEDNESDAY 7th October, 2020

’ No. 106145

E-Networks looks to increasing 5G coverage PAGE

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–– GTT upgrading to 5G, Digicel slashes data cost by 50 per cent following liberalisation of telecoms sector

Telecommunication sector open 10 for investment PAGE

Enmore produces first 09 batch of packaged sugar PAGE

E-Networks Managing Director, Vishok Persaud receives his operational licence from the Prime Minister, Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips. Digicel Chief Executive Officer, Gregory Dean and Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT), Justin Nedd also received their operational licence from the Prime Minister on Tuesday (DPI photo)

DCEO Myers ‘locked up’ for conspiracy to commit fraud 02 PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 7, 2020

DCEO Myers ‘locked up’ for conspiracy to commit fraud

DEPUTY Chief Elections Officer (DCEO), Roxanne Myers was arrested on Tuesday after she declined to cooperate with investigators as the probe continues into allegations of electoral fraud during the March 2020 elections.

She was not granted station bail, and remains in police custody.

Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield is on $450,000 bail, after he was placed before the court for alleged fraud and misconduct. His case has been adjourned to October 9.

The personal assistant to the Chief Elections Officer, Duarte Hetsberger was also questioned and

placed on $100,000 bail.

Additionally, District Four Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo was in August placed on $600,000 bail on four charges of misconduct in public office pertaining to the March 2, 2020 Regional and General Elections.

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) has launched a ‘comprehensive’ investigation into all allegations of criminal misconduct in the aftermath of the 2020 elections.

Myers’ attorney, Nigel Hughes said that having learnt that she was wanted by the police for questioning, his client voluntarily visited the Criminal Investigations Department

(CID).

He explained that after Myers exercised her right to silence, she was then taken into police custody for obstructing the course of justice.

When contacted, Crime Chief, Senior Superintendent Wendell Blanhum said Myers is being detained for conspiracy to commit fraud.

With public trust in the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) significantly eroded following events at the last Regional and General Elections, President Irfaan Ali said an international Commission of Inquiry (CoI) will be appointed to probe the weaknesses of the elections body.

“There has to have a system that people trust,” President Ali recently told reporters.

“That is why we said

we have to get an international Commission of Inquiry (CoI) to go in there, independently, to bring to us what occurred; where are the weaknesses and where the holes were,” the President explained.

He maintained that an independent CoI is not overreaching, as the aim of the exercise is to protect democracy and the will of the people.

“This is an independent CoI that goes there and looks at what took place not only on Election Day; it has to look at everything that took place. The world wants to know what took place,” the Head of State said.

The PPP/C Government came to power after GECOM took five months to declare the winner of the March 2, 2020 elections.

“This Government

Deputy Chief Elections Officer, Roxanne Myers taking the Oath of Office at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court back in October 2018 is the beneficiary of the will of the people; this Government is here because the will of the people spoke. This Government is here because the people elected this Government; we are not the beneficiary of any system,” he asserted.

While the CoI will produce recommendations to fix the system, it will not interfere with the election petition filed by the APNU+AFC.

“The CoI has nothing to do with the actions filed; the judiciary will deal with that. That’s a separate arm of Government; it cannot influence the judiciary,” the President said.

During a recent regional interview, Dr. Ali stated that the CoI was necessary to ensure the persons who attempted to obstruct democracy and the will of the people are held accountable for their actions.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 7, 2020

E-Networks looks to increasing 5G coverage –– GTT upgrading to 5G, Digicel slashes data cost by 50 per cent following liberalisation of telecoms sector

By Navendra Seoraj

FOR many years Guyana was criticised for being behind when it comes to technological advancement but government’s liberalisation of the telecommunications sector has released a 30-year ‘grip’ on the country and opened the “flood gates” for investments to flow, in this area.

Already, large companies and key industry players like E-Networks, Digicel and Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GTT) have made commitments to improving their service in light of the anticipated competition stemming from a liberalised sector.

The Government of Guyana had issued Commencement Orders on Monday, fully bringing into force the Telecommunications Act 2016 and the Public Utilities Commission Act 2016.

The orders, which were issued within two months of the government assuming office, are historic, as they align Guyana’s telecommunications regime to those found in other countries the world over, including most Caribbean countries.

It in effect has ended a 30-year anti-competitive telecommunications monopoly that has left Guyanese weary, frustrated and lagging behind in the telecommunications arena.

In 1990, the then PNC government had signed an “exclusive agreement” with Atlantic Tele Network, leading to the creation of GTT. It was reported that the first exclusive licence was for 20 years with an option of automatic renewal for an additional 15 years in

Go-Invest CEO, Peter Ramsaroop

PSC Chairman, Nicholas Boyer

2010.

“Digicel is today getting ready to bring a new era of connectivity and opportunity to the people of Guyana on the back of the news that the new Government has moved quickly to remove the 31-year GT&T telecoms monopoly which resulted in poor choice, poor quality, poor coverage and poor service,” said the management of Digicel in a statement on Tuesday. Digicel slashed data plans by 50 per cent on Tuesday.

A McKinsey study has shown that 10 per cent higher broadband penetration delivers a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) boost of up to 1.4 per cent, and Guyana is already poised to become the fastest growing economy in the world due to the country’s lucrative oil and gas sector.

Digicel believes that the potential advancement will need to be complemented by “world class” telecommunication services.

To this end, Digicel Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Gregory Dean said: “To say that this day has been a long time

coming is an understatement. For 16 long years, we have asked, requested, pushed, lobbied and pressured.

FINALLY “Today, finally, that day is here. At Digicel, we firmly believe that access to broadband is a basic human right.

Now, the people of Guyana can look forward to a brighter future with affordable access to world-class connectivity solutions that can catapult them to the forefront of the knowledge and digital economy.”

Dean congratulated the new Government for delivering on its promise and ensuring that there is a level playing field.

“We are stepping into our future with confidence and are getting ready to make the transformational benefits of high-speed connectivity a powerful reality for Guyanese.

We look forward to a short administrative process to grant us the necessary pe-rmissions to make the desired expansions and upgrades See page 9

GTT CEO, Justin Nedd

E-Networks Chairman, Rakesh Puri

Digicel Guyana CEO, Gregory Dean

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guyana CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 7, 2020

COVID-19 spread further among Trump’s inner circle COVID-19 is spreading further among those around US President Donald Trump, with White House adviser Stephen Miller and a top military official infected.

Miller, who has been self-isolating for the past five days, confirmed he had contracted coronavirus on Tuesday.

Top US General Mark Milley and other military leaders are also quarantining after Coast Guard official

Admiral Charles Ray tested positive.

Other officials are self-isolating “out of an abundance of caution”.

In a statement, Miller said he had been “testing negative every day” until Tuesday, adding that he was now in quarantine.

His wife, Katie Miller, who is Vice-President Mike Pence’s spokeswoman, contracted the virus back in May and later recovered.

In July, Miller’s 97-year-

CASES RISING AT THE WHITE HOUSE

The US Coast Guard said Admiral Charles Ray experienced mild symptoms before testing positive for coronavirus (BBC photo)

old grandmother, Ruth Glosser, reportedly died due to complications with COVID-19.

The White House denied that coronavirus had caused Glosser’s death, saying in a statement she “died peacefully in her sleep from old age”.

But Miller’s uncle produced a death certificate listing “respiratory arrest” and Covid-19 as “a condition leading” to the cause of Mrs Wednesday October 7, 2020 - 09:00hrs - 10:30hrs

Mark Milley is among those in self-quarantine (BBC photo)

Glosser’s death.

Miller - who writes the president’s speeches - is known for his hardline views on immigration.

Adm Ray, vice-commandant of the US Coast Guard, is said to be experiencing mild symptoms. While officials who attended meetings with Adm Ray last week are now quarantining, none have so far tested positive or exhibited symptoms, the Pentagon said.

It is not known how Adm Ray contracted the virus.

The admiral attended an

White House senior policy adviser Stephen Miller says he has tested positive for Covid (Reuters photo)

event at the White House about 10 days ago but it is not clear if he contracted the virus there or elsewhere, officials told the Associated Press news agency.

Trump and other White House officials have tested positive for coronavirus in recent days.

The Coast Guard said in a statement that Adm Ray tested positive on Monday and was now isolating at home. It added that any Coast Guard personnel who were in close contact with him would also quarantine.

BBC partner CBS News reported that nearly all members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff - a body consisting of senior military officials who advise the US president - were in quarantine after attending meetings with Adm Ray last week.

In addition to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Gen Milley, it said others in quarantine included the vicechief of staff, Army chief of staff, chief of naval operations, Air Force chief of staff, CyberCom commander, the Space Force chief, chief of the National Guard and deputy commandant of the Marine Corps.

Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman told reporters there had been “no change to the operational readiness or mission capability of the US Armed Forces.”

“Senior military leaders are able to remain fully mission capable and perform their duties from an alternative work location,” he said.

The Pentagon is conducting contact tracing related to last week’s meetings.

Meanwhile, since President Trump tested positive last week, a number of senior Republicans and others close to him have been confirmed as having the virus.

This includes First Lady Melania Trump, aide Hope Hicks, and a number of Republican senators.

Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany has tested positive, announcing her diagnosis on Monday, and three other members of staff in the press office - Chad Gilmartin, Karoline Leavitt and Jalen Drummond - have also tested positive.

Ms McEnany was seen speaking to journalists without wearing a mask on Sunday but said no members of the press had been listed as close contacts by the White House medical unit.

Many of the people in Trump’s inner circle who have tested positive attended a gathering at the White House Rose Garden on 26 September that is being scrutinised as a possible “super-spreader event”. Another coronavirus case to emerge from that event, at which the president unveiled his nominee for the US Supreme Court, is a Christian minister from California.

Pastor Greg Laurie, who is said to have mild symptoms, was also with US Vice-President Mike Pence earlier in that day at a prayer march in central Washington DC. Plexiglass will be used to separate Vice-President Mike Pence and Democratic challenger Kamala Harris and limit the risk of Covid transmission when they go head-to-head in a debate in Salt Lake city, Utah, on Wednesday. Both candidates have recently tested negative.

President Trump, meanwhile, returned to the White House on Monday after being hospitalised with the virus.

While at Walter Reed Medical Center, he was treated with dexamethasone - a steroid medication usually given to severe and critical COVID-19 patients - and supplemental oxygen.

(BBC)

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guyana CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 7, 2020

Jamaica: COVID-19 mental health response programme to be implemented The Ministry of Health and Wellness is to implement a COVID-19 mental health response programme aimed at mitigating the progression of mental health issues that have or are otherwise anticipated to emerge, resulting from COVID-19.

This was disclosed by portfolio minister, Dr Christopher Tufton during his statement to the House of Representatives today.

He said the intention is to provide community-based support, creating ease of access to mental health services through community engagement and mass media education to promote mental health and prevent mental illness.

“The first component of the programme will focus on increasing the skill set of our healthcare workers and community volunteers to include psychological first aid, so that they are better equipped to respond to mental health issues within communities,” Dr Tufton said.

He said the ministry is to be supported in this effort by key partners, including the Jamaica Red Cross and the Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO).

The programme will also feature targeted community interventions, notably a volunteer service that provides vulnerable community members with assistance with day-to-day

tasks, including the purchase of groceries and the filling of prescriptions.

The ministry will also organise neighbourly check-ins and provide special transport services for the elderly as they go out to get the essentials of life.

“These and other initiatives will be supported by a media and community engagement campaign, which will seek to create greater public awareness of the issue of mental health within the context of COVID-19,” Dr Tufton said.

He further assured the public that the Ministry of Health and Wellness is prioritising COVID-19-related men-

TT PM: Forex needed for medicine more than needed for cars THE Prime Minister has responded to car dealers’ complaints over measures in the budget negatively affecting the industry saying the use of foreign exchange (forex) to purchase medicine takes precedence over the purchase of vehicles.

On Monday, Finance Minister, Colm Imbert announced the removal of tax concessions on the importation of private vehicles and that the permissible age of imported foreign used cars will be reduced from four to three years, along with a reduction in the importation quota by 30 per cent.

Imbert said there were too many cars in TT with annual importation being 250,000 private vehicles which was causing “serious leakage” of forex to the tune of US$400 million.

President of the TT Automotive Dealers Association Visham Babwah said removal of tax concessions will escalate vehicle prices and cause hundreds of businesses to shut down.

Dr Rowley was asked about the dealers’ concerns on Tuesday following the opening of the Diego Martin Health Centre.

He said all cars are obtained by foreign exchange expenditure and noted the

drastic decline in foreign exchange earning. “I will simply say to the people in the car business, used car and new car and whatever, if I have a choice to make between ensuring we have foreign exchange to buy medicine for the hospital, I would restrict the expenditure on cars. Because one thing this country is not short of is motor cars. But we cannot be short of medicine for the hospitals.”

He said adjustments have to be made and all will be affected, some far more than others. “As for used cars and new cars they are not the highest on the priority list.” “(With our deficit) something has to give. And it is all about priority, the options we choose and the wider national interest.” Asked about a possible conglomerate taking over all NP gas stations, which have been put up for sale, he said that Imbert had made it clear that where NP has stations, the first option will go to the people operating it.

He recalled there was a time when the State did not own gas stations. “So let us stop behaving as though this is how it has to be and if it is not like that then ‘oh God we go dead!’”

He said the model was

being changed to better serve the country and Government will ensure the change does not worsen the situation or give any undue advantage or disadvantage. He said the consumer will now play a bigger role.

“You wouldn’t go to a gas station where the price is highest, would you? If the price of oil goes up and takes the price of fuel with it you wouldn’t run up and down in your car because you feel to drive.

You would make a decision as to when you travel, how many people you carry, how often you travel (and) how much fuel you burn.

“So you now have the lever in your hand to determine how you can influence your fuel expense. And that is how the economy changes from a benign one where Government picks up the bill, doesn’t matter how irresponsible you are, to one where you have some responsibility.

“And the same thing will apply with turning off the water, turning off the lights, driving up and down the road, because you now are going to be responsible for some of that cost,” he said. (Trinidad and Tobago Newsday)

tal health issues and will endeavour to make the required resources available to support the programme.

“The programme will be supported by a $20-million budget that will be utilised in the administration and coordination of all elements of the intervention.

Of course, we cannot do it alone. I am, therefore, urging community stakeholders and private-sector partners to come alongside the ministry to ensure the success of this most important effort,” Dr Tufton said.

Meanwhile, Dr Tufton said the ministry has heard of the elevated levels of fear, anxiety and loneliness from children and parents who access the child and adolescent mental health clinics.

“They admit to feeling

overwhelmed and not being able to manage the demands of online schooling. We also hear of the stressors associated with the financial challenges that have accompanied the pandemic, such as among tourism workers in the west,” Dr Tufton said.

He added that the nation’s health care workers, too, are coming under significant strain and with potentially negative implications for their mental health.

“At the University Hospital of the West Indies, for example, the COVID-19 team is working seven days straight for 12 hours minimum. Our registered and specialist nurses are doing, on average, 16 extra hours per week. Those in residential COVID-19 facilities live in for up to 14 days without rotation,” he noted.

The minister also urged members of the public who may be experiencing anxiety or other mental health challenges to access the ministry’s mental health support services. (Jamaica Observer)

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guyana CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 7, 2020

Non-traditional agricultural exports GUYANA’S economy has historically been agriculture-based, and with the advent of other industries in the socio-economic equation, this dynamic has never changed.

Under the watch of every PPP/C administration, requisite support and facilitation were provided at every critical stage, especially through promotional initiatives like the “Grow More” and “The Jagdeo Initiative”. This is unlikely to change, even with the discovery of oil.

This is largely because the large tracts of arable lands and availability of abundant fresh water Guyana possesses allow for the government to create jobs and wealth through agriculture-based industries.

During the Jagan era of the late 1950s and early 1960s, Guyana was regarded as the ‘bread-basket of

the Caribbean’, but, unfortunately, with a change of Government in the mid1960s, the sector was seemingly deliberately downgraded, and, as a consequence, there was severe food shortages in Guyana, mainly because most of the advancements that had been made in the agriculture sector were reversed.

The rapid decline in agricultural output eventuated in this country becoming a net importer of food; even sugar, rice, milk, chicken and eggs, among a plethora of food items that were once produced bountifully in Guyana, had to be imported.

Farms were obliterated through neglect as farmers emigrated en masse because of the governmental restrictions and non-support, and the punitive measures imposed on agricultural pursuits, which resulted in

foods that were previously produced in adequate quantities for local consumption, including milk, becoming scarce commodities in local markets.

Milk production had risen to such levels in the early 1960s that there was a need for the establishment of a milk pasteurisation plant, which had been established in Kingston, but which also became a statistic of the agricultural policy of a delinquent government which oppressed the farmers and suppressed the agricultural sector.

However, with the advent of the current administration, there has been a renewed emphasis on the agricultural sector, and every effort is being made to boost this vital area of the national economy. Consequently, many farmers who had abandoned their lands

have now returned, and as a result, there has arisen a revitalised agriculture sector, and this country is now once again poised to becoming a strong exporter of food, especially through trade deals with US investors as a result of resolutions emerging from bilateral discussions between US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and His Excellency, President Irfaan Ali. Presumptive upon a solid foundation for the sector having been re-established, efforts are underway to diversify and to boost the non-traditional crops which have an enormous potential to become a major sub-sector, and contribute significantly to our agriculture exports. With Government’s stated intention to reduce energy costs through alternative energy provisions, the viability of the man-

ufacturing sector will be greatly enhanced with the consequential reduction of overhead costs.

Significant advancement has been made in this sub-sector with the addition of various non-traditional cash crops, and/or derivative products being added to the export market, including North America, Europe, and, of course, the Caribbean, with several initiatives underway to further boost this sub-sector.

In 2009, the $198M consultancy contract with Italian-based company AGROTEC Spa to provide health and food safety services under the Agriculture Export Diversification Programme (AEDP) was signed. The purpose of this programme was to oversee the establishment of services and institutions facilitating a sustainable rise in earnings

from the export of non-traditional agricultural output in the aquaculture, fruits and vegetables and livestock sub-sectors.

This is a critical area, as food and health safety factors into the vital prerequisites of accessing and sustaining immensely profitable international food markets.

The previous PPP/C Government had achieved the United Nation’s MDG in food security, among others, but this had been eroded as a result of neglect of the agricultural sector post-elections of 2015.

However, the Irfaan Ali-led administration is re-vitalising the sector on various fronts; so it is not an unrealistic presumption to expect Guyana will once again become “The Food Basket of the Caribbean” in the very near future.

In tribute to Shaw Khan and other cattle farmers

Dear editor,

COW and other cattle farmers have played a significant role in the economy of villages, and in contributing to the health of villagers as well as in agricultural production (kitchen gardens). Every village had small-scale cattle farming. When I was growing up in Ankerville, a sub-village of Port Mourant, during the 1960s and 1970s, many people reared cows, and we all helped each other in cattle rearing. One particular cow herder, Shaw Khan, stood out for contributions indirectly made to the village through the rearing of milking cows.

He had several dozen cows that supplied milk to so many homes in the village.

There were other peasants

or small cow minders in the village. Shaw Khan was the largest, and stood out for his generosity and friendly assistance to others who raised cattle or kitchen crops. I learned a lot from Shaw Khan about my ancestors, and about cattle grazing.

Shaw Khan and other peasant cow minders met an important health need. Milk was among a few sources of nutrients at a time when starvation set in during the 1970s and 1980s. The economy was in shambles; milk was scarce after importation was discontinued. Canned or powdered milk were smuggled in from Suriname and Venezuela. Many people had their own cows, but not enough milk was available to meet demand. Villagers went to local herders to meet the needs of their babies, di-

ets, and religious functions.

Hindus needed fresh cow’s milk for puja and worshipping in the mandir, as well as to make Mohanbhog and for rituals. Hindus who were fasting during major festivals used to drink only milk.

Uncle Shaw Khan and other cow owners in Port Mourant understood the religious practices, and made milk available to them. People used to visit his home to purchase milk when it was scarce during the 1970s after Burnham criminalised the consumption of imported milk. When my family had jhandis, I used to purchase milk from Shaw Khan for the rituals.

I know a lot about cows, because I grew up in a home that also raised cows, and we had a few in our yard.

In fact, my great grandfather, or par aja, Ghurba-

tore (one name only), who came from Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, India, raised cows in Ankerville. After he completed his indentureship in the 1890s, he bought cattle and forested land with his savings, and cleared them for grazing and farming.

Uncle Shaw Khan, who was born in 1913, told me that Ghurbatore was the largest cattle rancher in Berbice, with hundreds of heads of cattle and thousands of acres of open ranch (in the backdam that stretched from the back of Port Mourant all the way to Canje), he had leased from the State to graze his cattle, as well as hundreds of acres for rice and sugarcane cultivation. “You couldn’t count his cows, and the amount of land he had was never-ending; as far as the eyes could see,” he said of old man Ghurbatore. Shaw

Khan continued, “My cows were just a drop of what he had, and he allowed others to graze their cattle on his leased land.” Gradually, Ghurbatore’s stock was depleted through rustling, hunting by wild animals, and dividing of the flock and land among his five children (three sons and two daughters) born in British Guiana.

All of the land was later abandoned during the 1970s, when my extended family was forced to migrate during the period of racist, fascist rule. My par aja died in the late 1940s, and my par aji, Amru, a Brahmin woman, died some time thereafter.

Shaw Khan knew my par aja and aja and his two brothers and two sisters, and my par aji quite well. In fact, he knew a lot of oral history of the Port Mourant Estate and settlement of sub-sections of

Port Mourant. As an inquisitive student of history, I used to ask him and my surviving mother a lot of questions to gain knowledge of life in the village. My mother confirms that her father-in-law and his father had a lot of cattle; too many to be counted.

Shaw Khan was popularly known as Mee-ah (an Islamic honorific clerical title just below that of a Meeji or Imam). He was somewhat of a religious man who never missed a Friday namaz, or an Islamic festival or attending someone’s Koran Sharief.

The older people called him Mee-ah. As a youngster, I called him Uncle Shaw Khan. But as I became older, I, too, referred to him as Mee-ah. He was well-respected in the vilSee page 8

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guyana CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 7, 2020

Crime is a permanent social phenomenon

Dear Mr. Editor,

CRIME is a permanent social phenomenon. Like other unethical acts such as murder, robbery, and even prostitution, criminals are finding ways to trick the system. As anti-crime mechanisms block the path of criminal propensities and preponderances, criminal and concomitant crime may evolve. And, just like that, the vicious cycle of violence, be it white or blue collar, perpetuates.

The consequence is that innocent hardworking people (children, pensioners, businesspeople, and the average man on the street) are easy targets. At times, not just their valuables but their lives are stripped away. In the case of home invasions, families are humiliated by having a wife raped in front of her husband and children; their daughters raped in front of their parents.

Recently, on West Coast Berbice, two 16-year-old girls were most viciously raped by criminals who were disguised as protesters during the latest tensions that escalated after the death of Isaiah and Joel Henry. Sadly, these incidences were applauded by certain politicians.

When I see young people involved in violence, considering the many opportunities that exist in our country, it really hurts my heart. As such, I pen this missive to focus on young offenders on motorcycles and bicycles that prey on the most vulnerable in society. Recently, I wrote two letters in the media: “We are losing our youths Parts 1 and 2”, in which reference was made of the fact that many of our young people are dying from motorcycle and other accidents. And, many of them are caught up in crimes which lead to their death at the hands of the police or by the reaction of citizens.

Additionally, many end up in prison, and in this way we continue to lose a valuable component of our population.

I do not have the empirical numbers at hand here, but I think that eighty per cent of our inmates are young people. It is unfortunate that we have no mechanism, such as boot camps, to try to rehabilitate and motivate these young people to become active members of our communities.

I know that our police commissioner, and administrative heads of police departments such as the Criminal Investigation Department are all brilliant and wise people with experience; they must have thought about what I am about to say. If by chance they were exhausted by the recent political madness that we have encountered, it is my hope that they would now try to read and listen to me, and concentrate their attention on these matters that I am deliberating on.

Recently, I saw an incident in which a police officer was mugged and beaten on the road, and another was robbed of his bicycle. Yet another was also robbed of his motorcycle. Many male and female police have been mugged on the roads.

This is complete nonsense, if you were to ask me, that our Guyanese youths who have turned offenders do not even value the uniform of a police personality. Failure to honour the uniform of a police officer is one of the worst examples of lewd conduct that people may have. The lack of respect on the part of the police itself reveals decadence in the mental behaviour of people stealing or inflicting blows on the police.

As far as this is concerned, I am of the view that a fund needs to be set up to provide incentives or benefits for people who carry information to the police. As for people who are uncomfortable going to the police, they could approach individuals identified by the police as a liaison to the police in different communities. They

may be offered a stipend or a grant of some kind.

Respected Commissioner of Police, Crime Chief, and the Honourable Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, I wish to also highlight an important issue. This issue being that there is a gang of motorcycle offenders working day and night in rotational shifts. These criminal elements seem to have their own zones of activity. To my understanding, the different teams seem to be interconnected, particularly at nights, and they will target a motorcar driver or a motorcyclist. In general, several of these victims are security supervisors.

The bandits normally call on their colleagues in various zones to block the driver, or to circle the security supervisor, the police, or the driver. In recent times, I have had cases where two supervisors have been assaulted and have lost their motorcycles.

Thank God, their lives were spared. It is not easy to be knocked off a motorcycle; not only does it cause injury, but also psychological distress and fear in the minds of these victims. And lo and behold, even police officers are now being targeted.

I am of the view that in order to assist in catching these young, seemingly good-looking, welldressed robbers is to have undercover cars make regular patrols in the cit; marked police cars or volunteer citizens’ vehicles, and/or volunteer security services patrolling with the police to stop and search.

Most of these groups are armed with guns, so the police must treat them with great caution.

They should be approached in a way that does not give them a chance to reach for a weapon, but done in the American way: Arrested, handcuffed, and then checked. The police must use the excellent training given to them by the police training and training schools that continues to evolve in terms

of the needs of the country.

I know some bleeding-heart liberals are going to object to this, but I doubt they would object if they were brutalised, beaten, robbed of their belongings, and if their wives or girlfriends were to be raped and humiliated. So, bleeding-heart liberals, please keep silent.

I am not going to use the words of former Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, but I am going to say, “Haul yourselves in a corner and shush.”

When taxi drivers and citizens travel around in their cars or in any mode of transport, they should be encouraged to keep emergency numbers on their phones. If their phones are stolen, then write them on a piece of paper or a book to call in and report these groups or gangs who are loitering in areas looking for an opportunity to pounce upon innocent and hard-working people.

Sometimes I wonder why would people dwell in strategic corners on motorcycles late at night when there is no party or event taking place? They are obviously looking to target innocent, hard-working, decent Guyanese going to work and coming from work, be it security personnel, police personnel or citizens of the nation.

The other major concern that tears my heart out is violence against children and the elderly. Old mature people earning their bits of pension are pursued and deprived of their pittance as they collect from the post office, or having been targeted as they enter their homes. When they reach their homes, young offenders on bicycles and on foot stop and rob them.

It has been observed that recently, women going to shop and going to work are being stopped on the road, and at times knocked down viciously and robbed of their cell phones, bags and valuables. As you may recall, dear citizens of Guyana, recently in the Bourda,

Georgetown area, two older women in a home were raped, murdered, and items stolen by youths who have been identified and are now facing the courts. This lack of human dignity and humanity hurts my heart.

One has to ask, what is going on with our country? Are we losing our souls? Recently, I saw an old man crossing a bridge, and when he crossed the bridge, two opportunistic young offenders passed by, held up the poor old man, limping with a stick in his hands and his back bent, and forced themselves into his bag, taking away all his valuables and bits of change.

That money may have been his dinner or his food for a month. What saddens me is to realise that these old people have served throughout their youth, and have contributed to our country. I think that our old people deserve credit, care and love. They were expected to help him by taking something out of their pockets and offering it to him.

We also see these young offenders targeting the poor, most of whom have mental problems and are sleeping on the streets.

Many of these people are frequently abandoned by their children. Many of them, because of domestic problems, resort to drugs and alcohol and decimate their lives. They are known for begging for food and change. Many dishonest employers, some in certain security services and a particular one that changed its name after being forced by the GRA to shut down, is renowned for these kinds of behaviour of denying people who work for them their NIS protection.

These young people need to be put in their place by instilling some fear into their hearts. This could be done by detaining them, frightening them, and, most of all, by using the first concept in the prevention of crime, which is prevention. Regular pa-

trols, delaying, detaining, and calling them into question with fair suspicion so that they would be afraid to leave their homes and stay at home with their friends, and eventually learn how to make a good living could also be integrated.

Criminality of young people on bicycles and motorcycles is, in my view, a significant form of criminal offence. There are several cases in Georgetown where tourists have been robbed by the seawall, or while walking on the streets of Georgetown by bicycle bandits. They were savagely robbed of their money while trying to help our country and our economy; robbed of wedding rings, valuable documents, and laptops.

Where this is concerned, we ought to have special laws in place for anyone who robs a tourist, whereby the punishment will be tripled immediately.

I wish to use this opportunity, as I did before, to call on the government to realise that we need to create a three-strike law.

By this I mean, anyone who commits a crime three times in their lifetime, particularly in armed robberies, they should be made to spend the rest of their lives in jail, doing hard labour. We do not have this system in Guyana, but we should learn from Trinidad, whereby inmates, for the rest of their lives work to contribute to the well-being of their victims and by also paying for their own security, nourishment, and hotel fees.

At this juncture, I wish to state that I offer myself as a volunteer to create this group, board, or committee, managed by the police or the Home affairs Ministry to help our country prepare this plan so that we may save our youths and protect our nation.

Sincerely, Hajji Dr. Roshan Khan Snr.

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guyana CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 7, 2020

Why the sudden exuberance now

Dear editor,

POCKETS of nurses are staging protest actions, calling on the government for improved pay and other allowances. I saw on social media one nurse with a placard stating that she earns some $88,000 per month. The obvious question that went through my mind was, how long she had been earning that sum. Certainly, it was yesterday or even the day before, but it must have been several months. So,

it then led to another question as to where was the exuberance we see now, and since when she was given that $88,000 she now decries. Undoubtedly, if $88,000 is too little now, and cost-of-living hasn’t changed markedly, then she was struggling for some time. Again, I ask, where was her voice and placard then? The sudden rise from slumber by our nurses has caused many to view their actions with skepticism.

I saw another nurse hold-

ing a placard talking about sugar workers benefitting from $50B. This, of course, as many know is a blatant untruth, as only 10 per cent of what the nurse claims was allocated to the sugar industry. But again, where was this nurse and her colleagues’ voices when sugar workers got not even a penny during the tenure of the last administration.

I wonder where she was when 7,000 workers were sent home, and they and their families left in the cold and on their own. I doubt she

even uttered a whimper, but now when 1.5 per cent of the budget is allocated to help tens of thousands of her fellow Guyanese, we see a big commotion. This is gravely and grossly unfair to the sugar workers who did no crime, but were made to do the time.

So while nurses may deserve more pay, I ask, don’t all workers? We all live in the same society; we shop at the same markets.

We buy the same goods; we all want to make our families happy. Why should

one group see themselves as different from others? What about our teachers, or our policemen and women, our soldiers, our public servants and so many others who toil and sweat. They are no different and are equally deserving. So while I have nothing personally against the nurses, they are not doing themselves any favours; they are alienating their colleagues rather than earning their support. They have done a fantastic job, in the circumstances, which the

government has recognised and made available tangible support.

In conclusion, I saw the Johnny-come- lately former Finance Minister Winston Jordan beating his chest and now speaking about advocating on the nurses’ behalf. He tells the nation he spearheaded efforts to bring relief. Too little too late I would say!

Yours sincerely, Patricia Persaud

In tribute to Shaw Khan...

From page 6 lage because of his age and ownership of so many cows. I used to visit him almost daily, helping with the cows and learning a lot from him. I was a friend of his grandson, Wazir, who had to complete his chores before he could play ball with me, or go swimming in the backdam. So I and even others would assist him in his chores like preparing the grass for the cattle.

During school holidays, I went to the backdam a few times to help Shaw Khan with grazing. His two sons would occasionally help with the grazing. His wife, Aunty Doolie, and daughters would go around delivering milk house-to-house every morning.

Mee-ah enjoyed rearing cows, and the rural lifestyle that came with it. He got so much joy and satisfaction in that profession. He milked the cows all by himself; dozens of them every morning, and only a few in the evening. He treated his cows as gold possession, reluctant to part with them. In the nights, he served as watchman on his verandah, armed with a flashlight and a fat bamboo stick. His flock was so large, that some were bedded on the front street and back street where there were few passersby. He would check up on his cows all hours of the night to deter theft. Rustling was a major problem

in the village, as indeed all over Guyana. Cows would be stolen and taken to West Berbice or other areas. Many branded cows were found in West Berbice and other places, and cow minders said police did nothing to recover their stolen animals. Ghurbatore’s flock was stolen in the Canje area and taken whoknows-where.

One of the things people respected Mee-ah for was his refusal to sell his cows (including bulls) to butchers.

He felt it was too cruel to see his animals sold for butchering. He raised primarily Holstein; he would only sell his animal if it was for herding purposes. Once he sold a cow to a man in Train Line, and after a few months the man returned and told him he wanted to sell the animal to a butcher in town. Meeah bought back the cow from the man, and he gave away the milk from that cow (a big bucket from two or three nights).

Besides selling milk to meet dietary needs and religious practices, Meeyah was also generous with the ‘penus’ or colostrum, that delicious cheese-like milk of the cows from the first three days after giving birth.

With so many cows in his flock, he regularly had a cow giving birth. Everyone loved ‘penus’; people would come for free ‘penus’ when word got around that a calf was born.

Meeah also helped people with free access to the manure of the cows; he was glad that people cleaned his pen and yard of cow dung.

People, including myself, would fetch dozens of buckets for gardening. Those who made deyas, like ‘Gumman’ from Ankerville, would also come to fetch cow dung, which, when dried, was needed to burn the clay deyas to give them that golden brown colour used at Diwali and for regular poojas.

As I learnt from experience, and from Meeah, it is not easy to raise cattle that can contract so many types of diseases like scours or diarrhea that are deadly, especially for new calves. For me and my brothers, it is hard work taking cows to the pasture in the backdam in the morning, and then go to school and return to get the cows in the afternoon, cutting grass and tending to the animals, and feeding them bran, dhan, and other nutrients. It is quite time-consuming, expensive, and back-breaking.

And then one has to spend so much time to combat thieving of cattle. People like Shaw Khan and other cattle farmers deserve praise for minding cows, and for their contribution to village life.

Yours truly, Dr. Vishnu Bisram

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 7, 2020

Enmore produces first batch of packaged sugar

By Rabindra Rooplall

THE Enmore Packaging Plant, which will be satisfying local demands, had a successful test run on Tuesday, producing some two tonnes of packaged sugar over a two-hour period.

While the Enmore Plant will be catering for local consumption of packaged sugar, the Blairmont Sugar Estate will focus on the overseas markets.

Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) (ag), Sasenarine Singh, told the Guyana Chronicle that the international markets will include Trinidad and other Caribbean Islands as well as Suriname and Brazil.

Given the successful test run at the Enmore Packaging facility, he said GuySuCo will now to re-launch two packaging lines at the Enmore plant this Thursday.

The aim of this initiative, the acting CEO said, is to increase GuySuCo’s competitiveness by adding value to sugar and increasing its revenue stream.

“A distinct feature of today’s activity was trying to get more of our bulk sugar into packaged sugar where the difference in revenue per tonne is more than US$300,” Singh said.

On Tuesday, on site at the Enmore Packaging Plant, Singh witnessed the production of the first batch of packaged sugar.

The company was able to package two tonnes of sugar over a two- hour period “It was tested today (Tuesday) and will be tested again tomorrow (Wednesday) with the view of launching it very shortly. The company is in the process of engaging two

GuySuCo Chief Executive Officer (ag), Sasenarine Singh, assisting in packing the first batch of packaged sugar at the Enmore packaging facility

consultants to work in the office of the CEO to craft the turnaround business strategy for the sugar company,” Singh told this publication.

The business consultancy is expected to provide options and analysis for GuySuCo over the next five years as the government is hoping to return the industry to profitability while it opens up the sugar estates closed by the APNU+AFC administration.

Singh said GuySuCo is looking to increase its revenue streams by moving up the value chain and cut out wastage by weeding out non-value added activities “We are looking to produce more sugar from the three grinding estates and by 2022 there will be more grinding estates coming on board. We are looking for additional markets to push those sugars but not in bulk form, our vision is to push it in bag and packaged form,” the acting CEO said.

GuySuCo is also looking to buy the requisite parts to repair a third packing line at Enmore and the corporation’s capital budget will address the import of a fourth packing line for the plant.

“On average those packing lines would process about a tonne of packaged sugar per hour, which would be 32 tonnes per shift, so we are going to be moving to a two-shift system which means over 65 tonnes of sugar will be packaged at the Enmore plant within the next 12 months,” the CEO explained.

Today, the CEO and other senior GuySuCo officials will be conducting a tour of the packaging facilities at the Blairmont Estate.

E-Networks looks ...

From page 3

of our services,” said the CEO.

GTT UPGRADING TO 5G Even GTT has renewed its commitment to advancing telecommunications in Guyana by upgrading its service to 5G. In telecommunications, 5G is the fifth generation technology standard for broadband cellular networks, which cellular phone companies began deploying worldwide in 2019. This is said to be the planned successor to the 4G networks which provide connectivity to most current cellphones.

“With a fibre Internet network investment that can go from Guyana to the USA and back, GTT is positioned to provide 5G and other next generation services to Guyana.

“We expect that with our planned service enhancements, our customers will not be able to discern a difference in service whether they are in New York or Guyana,” said GTT’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Justin Nedd.

GTT, he said, has been serving Guyana and supporting the ‘evolution’ of the country for almost 30 years. And, even though the sector has been liberalised, the company stands ready to provide “reliable connectivity, new services and technologies” that allow consumers and businesses to thrive and support the growing Guyanese economy.

CATALYST FOR NEW SERVICES E-Networks Inc. which is ahead of the other companies in terms of 5G service, has welcomed the liberalisation of the sector and sees it as a catalyst for new services on the company’s current platforms, including voice services which were ‘stunted’ due to the monopoly.

Chairman of E-Networks Inc, Rakesh Puri said as a 100 per cent Guyanese-owned and managed company,

E-Networks is proud to have invested in providing ICT and Internet-based services over the past 17 years.

“E-Networks operates Guyana’s fastest internet network, with recently introduced 5G services. The company’s fiber optic network also offers gigabit connectivity to businesses, which is 20 times faster than the competitors’ services, and was made possible by the launch of our new subsea international cable,” said Puri.

As mentioned, telecommunications liberalisation delivers substantial socioeconomic benefits to a nation, including lower costs, increased GDP, and more widespread social inclusion and cohesion.

COMING OUT This long ‘overdue’ development will bring Guyana out of a primitive era of monopoly, plagued by narrow choice and predatory pricing, said Puri, adding: “This move will undoubtedly enable our country to unlock the transformational power of the digital economy, as we embark on our new journey as an oil producing nation.”

The chairman, while congratulating the Government, said the liberalisation will undoubtedly lead to the delivery of advanced ICT and communication services to all Guyanese.

Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Nicholas Boyer also anticipates increased competition and improved services, which, he believes, will not only benefit urban communities, but also reach those in the hinterland and other rural areas.

The issue over the years has been related to reliability and cost, said Boyer, adding that the potential conditions created by new investors will encourage reliable services and reduced costs.

NO OUTSTANDING INVESTORS When asked if any investor is “knocking at Guyana’s door,” CEO

of Go-Invest, Peter Ramsaroop said there are no outstanding investors, but with the industry now liberalised, companies will be eyeing the local market and its growing popu-

lation.

Not only will Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) increase, there will also be room for local expansion and investments, said Ramsaroop.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 7, 2020

Telecommunication sector open for investment –– says PM, issues licences to GTT, Digicel and E-Networks

PRIME MINISTER, Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips, on Tuesday, handed over operational licences and accompanying documents to three service providers within the telecommunications sector.

He declared that the sector was now liberalised and opened for investment.

The documents were issued during a simple ceremony in the boardroom of the Office of the Prime Minister, to representatives of GTT, Digicel and E-Networks.

Agents of the Public Utilities Commission and the Telecommunications Agency also received copies of the documents.

The distribution of licences took place less than 24 hours after the Prime Minister announced the end of a 30-year monopoly on telecommunications in Guyana.

In a statement on Monday evening, he had noted that the Government of Guyana had issued commencement orders effectively liberalising the telecommunications sector by

Chief Executive Officer of Digicel, Gregory Dean receives his company’s licence from Prime Minister, Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips operationalising the “Telecommunications Act 2016” and the “Public Utilities Act 2016”.

The Prime Minister added that: “It is anticipated that Guyanese will feel an immediate positive impact from the implementation of these legislation which create a modern and competitive environment for telecommunications, and which will immediately result in greater choices, a better quality of service and lower prices for consumers”.

Managing Director of E-Networks, Mr. Vishok Persaud was elated with the decision.

“I would just like to congratulate the Prime Minister on getting the job done so fast and creating an atmosphere where we can see rapid development in ICT and telecommunications… I think it’s going to be good for the consumer and there is going to be a lot of benefits in terms of access to new technology, speed, cloud initiatives etcetera.”

Echoing the sentiments of Persaud was Chief Executive Officer of Digicel, Gregory Dean.

“I would just like to congratulate him [the Prime Minister] for getting it done as soon as possible; in fact it is probably even sooner than we expected, but I think that’s good news for us and it gives us a good problem in terms of ensuring we back up our promises on investment and improvement in services,” he said.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT), Justin Nedd, added his approval and

noted that GTT would use the opportunity to develop further.

“I want to congratulate the Prime Minister and team, and I just want to say to customers that GTT will continue to innovate… we look forward to bringing new services like 5G as we work with regulators and the Government.”

Chairperson of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), Dela Britton, added that the commission is ready to help take the sector to the next level.

“I would like to assure all the service providers present that we at Public Utilities are open for business and we are willing and ready to engage you, and we are going to adhere to the adage of regulation must not impede innovation because in truth and in fact this is perhaps the first steps towards innovatory things that will be going on in Guyana.”

The Telecommunications Bill was first introduced in the National Assembly during the ninth Parliament by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic Government in 2011, and it was then reintroduced during the tenth Parliament in 2012 after extensive consultations with both public and private operators.

According to the Prime Minister, it is inexplicable as to why the former administration denied Guyanese the full benefits of liberalisation by only enforcing small sections of the Act in 2018 and 2019 respectively, although the Bill was enacted since 2016 with bipartisan support.

Prime Minister, Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips presents a licence to Chief Executive Officer of Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT), Justin Nedd

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 7, 2020

11

Union calls for monitors, mandatory training of minibus drivers

By Tamica Garnett WITH many minibus operators continuing to operate as a law unto themselves notwithstanding the implementation of the “Minibus Code of Conduct”, the United Minibus Union (UMU) said it will be lobbying to have minibus operators be required to undergo training before receiving their licences.

The union is also calling for the implementation of full-time bus park monitors at all the bus parks in the City.

President of UMU, Eon Andrews, said the union will be speaking to the Mayor and City Council about the possibility of being granted the authorisation to institute full-time bus park monitors at all the bus parks in the City, as one means of trying to address the out-of-control minibus culture that currently exists.

Management of the bus parks come under the purview of the MCC, and while City Constables have at times played a role in intermittently monitoring the bus parks, finding the man power to permanently station persons at the park continues to be an issue for the municipality.

“If they give the union certain authority to manage the park, it means the bus operators will have to conform to certain union requirements before they will be allowed to enjoy the use of the parks,” Andrews emphasised.

Over the years commuters have been continually decrying the situation that they are subject to by minibus operators, which sees many of the buses overloading, playing unbearably loud music and speeding.

Andrews said that the union will also be approaching the Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, about the possible implementation of a requirement that minibus drivers and conductors be trained before being allowed to get their licence to operate public transportation.

“There should be something that mandates that if you have not been trained as a safe driver along the lines of the “Code of Conduct”, then they ought not to be licensed to transport passengers, whose lives are in their hands,” Andrews reasoned.

“Our country is moving forward and we ought to confirm to national standards and we have to start now.”

Andrews and a team of executives from the union also, on Tuesday, met with Minister of Tourism, Commerce and Industry, Oneidge Walrond, at her South Road Office, where they entreat the ministry’s support in establishing a more structured minibus operation in Guyana.

SAFE SYSTEM Minister Walrond committed to working with the union and other arms of the government to ensure an organised and safe system for the minibus operators and passengers. Also attending the meeting was Director of the Department of Consumer Affairs, Muriel Tinnis-Duke.

Following the meeting, in an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, Andrews said that though happy for the minister’s support, handling the situation with the minibus drivers and conductors is a multi-sectoral issue, and the union will be looking to collaborate with the Georgetown MCC and Ministry of Home Affairs.

At many of the bus parks on the city, located mostly in the Stabroek area, passengers are often physically harassed by bus conductors and touts who force them into

their buses, or hound passengers as they go about their business at the Stabroek area.

Additionally while a turn system is supposed to be implemented at each respective park, many of the buses stop or park illegally, to pick up passengers at unlawful stops.

Police officers would also periodically be stationed at the parks to bring some order, however this is only done intermittently, during peak hours.

Andrews highlighted that the placement of permanent bus park monitors will work to alleviate this situation.

“We are trying to get formal permission from the City Council to be able to be responsible for monitoring these parks.

Everyone would gain because they can be a fee that City Council ask for, and it would give the [Union] Chairmen of the bus routes more authority to pull things to order.

The mayor made it clear that yes they would like something like that,” Andrews said.

RIGHT STEP Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle, Mayor Narine confirmed that he believes that such a move would be a step in the right direction to bring some order to the chaos that prevails at most of the bus parks on a daily basis.

“I agree that there should be some kind of monitoring speaking of the present situation, the system should be implemented and they should pay us a revenue at the City level,” Narine said.

He explained that there needs to be a multi-sector stakeholder committee that includes the MCC so that a way forward can be mapped out.

Andrews noted that the union has already begun to implement unofficial monitoring systems at some of the bus parks, but is looking for an official arrangement with the MCC to be able to expand the coverage to all the parks.

“The 45 Bus Park has a very effective monitor there. He maintains the order and the buses have an arrangement with him where every trip they give him something,” Andrew noted, adding that: “There is a monitor at the 32 Park at Parika and at Vreed-en-Hoop. They are members of the union and the buses have that same kind of arrangement where for every trip they give the monitor something.

There are also cases like the Route 66 in Bartica and the UG Buses, which have made great strides.”

In 2019, to address the situation somewhat, the Department of Consumer Affairs launched the “Minibus Code of Conduct”, which was created by a multi-stakeholder committee that also included representatives from the union, the Guyana National Road Safety Council, and the Guyana Police Force Traffic Department.

The “Minibus Code of Conduct” was created as guide for both the minibus operators and passengers to reinforce awareness of already-existing laws that govern the operations of the minibuses. However, Andrews said that many of the bus operators still behave as a law unto themselves.

“There are those who have been adhering to the “Code of Conduct”, individually, but the greater percentage of these [bus service] providers are not conforming.

They’re using every opportunity to defeat what is there.

A lot of persons seek every avenue they can not to confirm to anything legal.

The level of indiscipline is high,” Andrews said.

President of the United Minibus Union, Eon Andrews (left) and other union executives met with the Minister of Tourism, Commerce and Industry, Oneidge Walrond, (right) last Tuesday

12

guyana CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 7, 2020

Protected Area Profile

T

The Kanuku Mountains Protected Area

HE Kanuku Mountains, one of the stunning mountain ranges of the Rupununi Savannahs, has, for centuries, played an invaluable role in the conservation of the region’s biodiversity; and remains the ‘Mountains of Life’ to traditional Macushi and Wapishan communities that inhabit its surrounding environs. This week we will take a closer look at the Kanuku Mountains Protected Area (KMPA), focusing on its history and, natural and human wellbeing values which were reasons for it being protected for present and future generations.

The Kanuku Mountains are located in Region Nine (Upper Takutu – Upper Essequibo), the southwestern region of Guyana, one of the most ecologically diverse areas of the country. The mountains are approximately 100 km east to west and 50 km north to south and are divided by the Rupununi River into Western and Eastern Kanukus. At approximately 611,000 ha, the KMPA is equivalent to 11 per cent of Region Nine and 2.8 per cent of the total land area of Guyana. The mountains are flanked by Indigenous communities, some of which share common boundaries with the protected area. The town of Lethem, which is the administrative centre of Region Nine, is located some 24 km away.

DIVERSITY The Kanuku Mountains and the associated savannahs are relatively intact and

extremely rich in biological diversity. Approximately 70 per cent of mammal, 53 per cent of bird, and 26 per cent of plant species recorded in Guyana are found here. It is of note that the KMPA has the second highest bat diversity (89 species) of any protected area in the world, and that of the 25 bird species considered to be endemic to the Guiana Shield, 17 are found in the Kanukus. The high overall biodiversity of the region is supported by an unusually diverse array of habitats, which range from savannah, gallery forests and semi-deciduous forests in the lowlands, to lowland and montane evergreen forests in the foot hills and mountains.

The Kanuku Mountains are also remarkable for harbouring healthy populations of many species that are listed on the IUCN red list of threatened species. These include, but are not limited to, the Giant River Otter (Pteronura brasiliensis), Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja), Jaguar (Panthera onca), Giant Anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla), Giant Armadillo (Pridontes maximus), Lowland Tapir (Tapirus terrestris), Giant River Turtle (Podocnemis expansa), Black Caiman (Melanosuchus niger), and Arapaima (Arapaima gigas) – the largest Neotropical freshwater fish.

There are approximately 16,000 residents in about 60 Amerindian communities located in Region Nine. Twenty-one of these communities are within close proximity of the Kanuku Mountains and depend on its resources for

their livelihoods. Three of the nine main Amerindian groups present in Guyana exist in Region Nine. Two of these groups (Macushi and Wapishana) are known to populate areas around the Kanukus. The Macushi people are of Carib descent and occupy areas on the northern side of the Mountains, while the Wapishana, an Arawak people, are located mainly on the southern side of the mountains. Some communities, however, have mixed populations of Macushi and Wapishana as well as small pockets of other ethnic groups.

PRESSURES The population of the region has increased over recent decades and efforts to propel economic development have been afoot. With increased population, there has been increased pressures on the Kanuku Mountains and their resources.

This includes unsustainable hunting and trapping of wildlife, unsustainable fishing and logging practices, forest clearance, and illegal mining inside the protected area, as well as mining upstream in the headwaters of the Rewa and Kwitaro Rivers which are already negatively impacting on water quality and ecosystem health. At a larger scale, other foreseeable pressures on the KMPA include the Linden - Lethem highway that is on the cards to be built and will undoubtedly result in increased access to the region and as a consequence, potentially increase

resource exploitation and influence cultural change.

While tourism is a viable option for income generation for the communities and the management of the Protected Area, improperly managed tourist access to the area can lead to significant destruction and disturbance of habitats and cultural sites. Moreover, while the establishment of a protected area is a positive step towards mitigation of climate change, it is recognised that climate change has the potential to place pressure on the achievement of the goals of the KMPA. Changes have already been noted with the area experiencing shorter, more intense rainy seasons and hotter temperatures during the dry seasons. This phenomenon, if prolonged, can lead to changes in water quality, loss of biodiversity, low crop productivity and consequently a greater demand for land and other resources from the KMPA. THE APPROACH TO CONSERVATION The value to the Kanuku Mountains in conserving Guyana’s natural and cultural heritage, more so, their importance in the lives of the Indigenous communities who depend on their resources, qualified the Kanuku Mountains as one of five priority sites for protection identified in 1999.

Efforts to achieve that goal, for the benefit of the present and future generations have been advanced since then. In early 2000 - 2002, Conservation International - Guyana (CI – Guyana), identified as the lead agency to help move forward the process toward official declaration, conducted community consultations with eighteen (18) villages and carried out Community Resource Evaluations to determine what and how resources were used. This led to the establishment of the Kanuku Mountains Community Representative Group (KMCRG) in 2007, which continues to represent the interest of the communities in protected area management and decision making, and

promote overall community development.

Some of the villages benefitted from livelihood projects such as cattle ranching in Katoka which was funded by the German Development Bank (KfW) funded Guyana Protected Areas System Phase I project through the Government of Guyana and implemented by the Environmental Protection Agency - the agency previously responsible for advancing the protected areas agenda. As momentum grew for protected areas management from the government, as well as from some of the main stakeholder communities, the proposed KMPA boundaries were delineated in 2007. In 2008, CI - Guyana again led community consultations to develop a draft Management Plan, in preparation for the official declaration of the protected area, which occurred in 2011 with the passing of the Protected Areas Act. So began the journey of official protected areas management in Guyana, driven by the newly-established Protected Areas Commission (PAC) which was mandated under the Protected Areas Act with responsibility for managing, maintaining, promoting and expanding the National Protected Areas System The Kanuku Mountains Protected Area is managed in accordance with the IUCN category VI classification: managed resource protected area. This means that the Protected Area (PA) will be managed to provide natural products and services to meet local needs while also protecting natural ecosystems and maintaining ecosystem services. KMPA, like all other currently existing national protected areas in Guyana, was assigned to category VI since it has a long history of local Amerindian communities carrying out sustainable small-scale livelihood activities with minimum impact on nature such as traditional

fishing, gathering of timber and non-timber forest products, and subsistence hunting.

Under the Protected Areas Act, Indigenous communities are allowed to continue with these activities.

KMPA management strategies are guided by the KMPA Management Plan 2016- 2021, which has, as identified by key stakeholders, five programme areas: operations and management; sustainable land and resource use; benefit sharing and livelihood development; education and awareness and capacity building. Activities under this plan have been funded by the Government of Guyana, and national and international donors such as the Protected Areas Trust Fund (PATF), and Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS) and German Development Bank (KfW) respectively.

The management structure comprises the Protected Areas Commission, which is governed by a board.

A Site Level Committee is being setup, which will function in an advisory capacity to support site-level activities, promote the interests of stakeholders and advise the Protected Areas Commission on the effective management of the KMPA. At the site level, the PAC has employed a strong ranger team from the local communities which comprises of a Senior Ranger and five rangers. This number is expected to increase.

The PAC is committed to working with stakeholders at the national and local levels to manage the Kanuku Mountains Protected Area so that it remains the ‘Mountains of Life’ to serve this generation and generations to come.

In future articles, we will delve into some of our key achievements in KMPA Management, challenges and threats faced, as well as an outlook for the future of the KMPA.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 7, 2020

Four modern police stations to be built

FOUR new police stations will be built and an existing one rehabilitated to boost the capacity of the Guyana Police Force (GPF). The works will be carried out under the Citizens’ Security and Strengthening Programme (CSSP) in keeping with overall plans to improve the effectiveness of the local justice system.

CSSP Project Manager, Dr. Clement Henry, said the new, modern stations will be built at Whim and Albion, East Berbice-Corentyne (Region Six); Mahdia, Potaro-Si-

paruni (Region Eight); and Wismar, Upper Demerara-Berbice (Region 10).

Meanwhile, the Parika Police Station on the East Bank Essequibo will be renovated with repairs to the top storey and the bottom flat. While works are being undertaken, operations will be shifted to a police house in the same compound as the station.

Dr. Henry said all stations will be overhauled to help the GPF conduct its mandate.

“These stations that we are retrofitting or building brand new, they will focus on domestic

violence, case management room, witness protection room, an automotive case management system, integrated crime information system, listening room so that the perpetrators and the victim; there is no confrontation so that victims are not intimidated,” Dr. Henry said.

Under the CSSP, 18 police stations will be modernised countrywide.

To date, 12 have been completed. These include the rehabilitation of police stations at Mibicuri, Cane Grove, Issano, Suddie, Kwakwani, Annai,

Aishalton, La Grange, Mabaruma, and Port Kaituma. New stations were constructed at Aurora and Mackenzie.

The $3 billion programme, which is funded by Inter-American Development Bank, comprises three components: Community Crime and Violence Prevention, Crime Prevention and Investigation, and Rehabilitation and Social Reintegration Services.

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First Lady’s Office takes note of fake social media accounts THE Office of the First Lady has taken note that fake social media accounts are still attempting to transact business on behalf of Her Excellency, Arya Ali, First Lady of Guyana, with unsuspecting citizens.

The office, in a release, has reiterated that at no time will the First Lady or any of her staff attempt to transact government business, including but not limited to the sale of lands.

“We take this time to remind citizens to be vigilant, not to engage any of these fake accounts, and most of all, not to provide any payment or confidential information to the(se) imposture(s).”

“The official Facebook page of the First Lady bears the name ‘Arya Ali – First Lady of Guyana’ and all social media accounts bear the username: @aryaaligy,” the release concluded.

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guyana CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 7, 2020

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 7, 2020

Private investors express interest in sugar A NUMBER of private investors have expressed an interest in sugar, said Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, as he reiterated government’s commitment to get GuySuCo back to profitability and address discrepancies in agencies under the subject ministry.

“I have to ensure GuySuCo works. My main objective is to ensure we break even and achieve profitability. We have to be very transparent and accountable and as minister, I will ensure that happens in GuySuCo and other industries too. I’m looking at the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA).

There is a serious problem in the NDIA procurement system, especially in the tendering and awarding of contracts. All these discrepancies will be addressed,” Minister Mustapha said.

He was, at the time, speaking following a series of meetings with members of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), the Private Sector Commission (PSC), the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), where a number of issues and areas for collaborations were discussed on Tuesday.

President of the Rupununi Chamber of Commerce, Daniel Gajie, spoke of his experience in agriculture in the region. He applauded the minister’s work since taking office and encouraged him to ensure he works to address some of the issues affecting the sector in the Rupununi.

“Whatever plans have been developed in the past haven’t worked and we have to look at the entire Rupununi strategy for agriculture. It has to be done with some amount of consultations with all the relevant stakeholders. Unfortunately, some of the officers from the key agricultural agencies are not seeing consultation with the chamber as an important aspect to agricultural development in the Rupununi.

We need to work on this,” Ganjie said.

In offering a response, Minister Mustapha informed the representatives that he

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha during the meeting on Tuesday will ensure meaningful collaborations are done and that the systems of the past will not be adopted under this new administration. He also informed them that he will be visiting the region shortly and a committee will be developed in the region to ensure private sector participation.

Timothy Tucker, Senior Vice-President and Chairman of the Trade and Investment Committee of the GCCI, also highlighted some of the issues the private sector is facing as it relates to exports.

“Minister, over the years we’ve been working with persons, assisting with exports to the Region. Some of the issues, as you are aware, are with the export of our honey, pumpkins, peppers, etc. There is need for a certification facility so that our local producers can have their products tested and to a standard where it is accepted in regional and international markets,” Tucker said.

In responding to Tucker, the subject minister said government is aware of the need for such a facility.

“I know many agro-processors have to spend large sums of money to have their products certified in other countries. Government is looking towards having such a facility established so that our agro-processors and exporters can have their products certified locally.

The Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) has a certification lab and we will ensure that such a facility is established for other products,” Minister Mustapha said.

BUDGET 2020 Noting the struggles faced by many persons involve in the production of various goods and services, government through its 2020 emergency budget, immediately put systems in place to tackle some of the issues.

The removal of Value Added Tax (VAT) from water, electricity, agricultural machinery and inputs and the reversal of land rental fees and drainage and irrigation charges were just some of the interventions coming out of Budget 2020.

PSC representative, Edward Boyer, commended government for its responsive approach to addressing farmers’ hardships as it relates to increased taxes and land fees instituted by the previous administration.

“I must commend you.

From the 2nd of August to date, the changes in agriculture the sector; your approach to getting out there to understand what are the issues with the farmers and the whole industry. I’m so impressed that I must pay you my compliments. People are talking about the change.

For example, the land rates.

Your immediate interventions such as the reversal of land rentals and drainage and irrigation charges; these steps are notably bringing people back to the land,” Boyer said.

Minister Mustapha also disclosed that government is working to develop policies to address other issues faced by the productive sector such as need for technology and technical knowledge, lack See page 16

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 7, 2020

Smooth education delivery at St. Cuthbert’s Mission

THE COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way education is being delivered to our children, especially in the hinterland and Amerindian villages.

In St. Cuthbert’s Mission, the lone Amerindian village in Region Four, weekly worksheets are provided to students to assist with home learning.

Head of the English Department at the St Cuthbert’s Secondary School, Verona Persaud, explained that this mode of teaching was used since there is

limited access to Internet service and television, even though the village is located within a coastal region.

The students would uplift their worksheets on Mondays and hand in their books on Fridays to be checked by their respective teachers.

Persaud said that the Education Ministry has provided ink and paper for the printing of the materials, and the teachers along with the parents are actively involved in ensuring the students complete their work

for the Christmas term.

Persaud pointed out that a small number of students have not been uplifting their worksheets and that matter was reported to the Education Department and the Village Council. The Education Department has since advised that once a specific period has passed and the children don’t show up, the Welfare Officer will be called in. Nevertheless, Persaud reported that this new system has been working smoothly.

Because of the digital divide that exist between

the hinterland and coastland, the government has created alternative ways to engage school-aged children in the hinterland during the COVID-19 pandemic, even as school remain closed.

Over the past week, the Ministry of Education, with support from the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, distributed worksheets to students in Regions One, Seven and Eight so that classes can resume for the new school term through whatever method works best.

Private investors express ...

From page 15

of financing, access to raw materials and the high cost of production due to electricity and taxation.

TRADITIONAL AND NON-TRADITIONAL PRODUCTS The Ministry of Agriculture is in the process of developing a five-year strategy to address the developmental needs of the traditional and non-traditional sectors.

This will ensure the necessary attention and resources are injected into these sectors and that long-term and sustainable development is achieved.

Minister Mustapha, while acknowledging the importance of developing the non-traditional sector, noted that the main objective of the ministry, at this point in time, is to address the issues plaguing the traditional sector.

“It would be useless for us to dive into another sector right now when our traditional sector is not in the right place and needs attention. We are working on the policies outlined in our manifesto to develop strategies and soon we will have a draft document outlining our plans to advance the sector, which will be shared with private sector bodies for their inputs,” Minister Mustapha said.

AmCham President, Zulfikar Ally, in offering the commission’s support of the sector, informed Minister Mustapha that a lot of their members have expressed interest in investing in the sector, particularly in the sugar industry. Ally made mention of particular interest by an American company to work with government to assist with the reopening of one of the sugar estates.

Minister welcomed these interests, adding that government is open to working with private sector and international investors to ensure Guyana gets the best out of any investments made towards the sugar industry.

DEVELOPMENT IN REGION EIGHT With government looking to expand and develop agriculture in Region Eight, Minister Mustapha, during his engagement with representatives from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), informed the team that the ministry is in the process of preparing a proposal targeting agricultural development in the region.

Once completed, the proposal will be shared with the agency seeking approval in areas of funding under the Hinterland Environmentally Sustainable Agricultural Development (HESAD) Project.

The ministry is also working to strengthen Guyana’s food chain system, sustain its food security and restructure the entire agricultural system through projects that will enhance the livelihoods of all Guyanese.

Minister Mustapha also informed the IFAD team that the ministry is aggressively working have the agricultural census completed.

“We are hoping to commence the census in 2021.

We know for a fact that there hasn’t been an agriculture census since the 1950. We will be working with our international partners to ensure we get this done soon,” Minister Mustapha said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 7, 2020

Students happy with changed ‘ungraded’ results

TWO weeks ago, 16-yearold Ashley Williams was devastated after being awarded an ungraded result for one of the nine subjects she wrote at this year’s Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams.

That result was recently changed, and she is now basking in the accomplishment of having passed all of

ing subjects at the CSEC and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE).

The Council has faced widespread backlash across the Caribbean given unprecedented discrepancies, including a high number of “ungraded” results and unjustified lower than expected grades.

The affected students

Port Kaituma student, Keron Williams, is waiting to see what his final Mathematics and English A grades will be her subjects.

Williams is among 23 students of Patentia Secondary School, who received an ungraded result for the Office Administration exam.

Twenty-two students had also received the same result for Principles of Business (PoB). They have since received a grade for those subjects.

An official of the school related that most of the students have now received Grades One to Three in the subjects.

The students first saw their grades two weeks ago when the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) released the results. Students in Guyana and across the Caribbean were able to access their results via a virtual portal.

“On that night I hardly ate anything because I was so worried about my ungraded result. My mom tried her best to console me. I had to look back twice. I didn’t know if I was seeing right, I was so shocked,” Williams shared.

Patentia Secondary School is among 20 schools across Guyana that reported an unusual amount of ungraded results in vary-

believe that the discrepancies are due to the Council administering a modified version of its customary examinations, this year.

“CXC promised us that everything would have been ok, but upon seeing all the mistakes that they made, I’m questioning myself if that is what they assured us,” Williams expressed.

Last week, the Ministry of Education (MoE) announced that following queries made with CXC, 11 of the schools with “ungraded” subjects, including Patentia Secondary School, have since had the correct grades awarded. This development has brought massive relief to the affected students.

“I feel so happy because I know I would have worked so hard for that Grade One, it feels nice,” Williams expressed. She now has six Grade Ones, two Grade Twos and a Grade Three.

Aside from Patentia Secondary, students’ issues were also addressed at Port Kaituma Secondary, Annandale Secondary, New Amsterdam Secondary, Paramakatoi Secondary, Harmony Secondary, Carmel Secondary, Central High School, The

Bishops’ High School, Leguan Secondary School and Mahaicony Secondary School.

HEARTACHE At Port Kaituma Secondary, Keron Williams (no relation to Ashley) is still waiting to hear what grade he was awarded for the three subjects he has the ungraded results for.

He is all the more apprehensive because they include Mathematics and English A, which are two crucial subjects needed for the easy navigation of post-secondary

school life. He also got an “ungraded” result in PoB. “Those are the major subjects. I applied to University of Guyana (UG), and you need your Maths and English,” said Keon, who wrote 12 subjects.

He has already received eight Grade Ones and a Grade Two, but the apprehension of his “ungraded subjects” has left him unable to enjoy his accomplishment.

“My heart ached when I saw that. I thought it was me alone, but I called my friends, we were all having panic attacks, wondering

what is happening, what did we do wrong? The stress and unnecessary panic we went through, that was not healthy for our minds,” he said.

At his school, 62 candidates received ungraded results for the CSEC Mathematics and English and more than 20 students were also affected in PoB. GLAD At Annandale Secondary School, head teacher Nicholas Persaud, confirmed that his students have already received grades, after 43 students

were initially “ungraded” for Economics.

Confident in his students’ performance and the schools submission of the School Based Assessments (SBAs), there was never a doubt in Persaud’s mind that the issue was with CXC and their system. From the onset he had assured his students that the issue would be rectified.

With the situation fixed, he is glad that his school can boast an over 80 per cent pass rate in the subject, with an overall pass rate of See page 19

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 7, 2020

COVID-19 relief for 100 Kwakwani residents

DURING the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, many non-governmental organisations have stepped forward to assist families and households affected by the health crisis.

In doing their part, the directors of Parish Hill Mining Company Inc., last weekend, made a timely donation to a few Kwakwani residents who have suffered some form of financial loss during the pandemic.

Approximately 100 persons received a month’s supply of food and sanitisation items.

Speaking briefly with the Guyana Chronicle, Arthur Thorne disclosed that

he and a few other directors decided to lend a helping hand to a few vulnerable residents in the area.

He informed that they will be making monthly donations to as many families as they can, to relieve the stress and

financial strain many are facing during this difficult time.

Thorne added that the team will soon be heading to Parika where it will identify a few vulnerable households and make a similar donation.

A few of the items that were donated during the outreach last weekend.

A representative handing over a package to a resident of Kwakwani.

Gov’t gets National Oil Spill Contingency Plan FOLLOWING months of work, Guyana’s National Oil Spill Contingency Plan was completed and the finalised document handed over to the Prime Minister, Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips.

The PM, last Friday, received the document from Director-General of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig, at his Colgrain House, Camp Street office.

In expressing great satisfaction in receiving the plan, Prime Minister Phillips stated that such a strategy will assist the government’s programme of disaster preparedness in the sector.

He expressed gratitude to the CDC for the work done and singled out Ms. Anita Wilson-Layne for her coordination of the stakeholders and compilation of the comprehensive plan. He used the opportunity to assure Guyanese that with such a plan that commits the efforts of multi-sectoral agencies, the country’s preparedness and response will be to the benefit of all.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Colonel Craig informed that the work on the finished plan was months in the making and involved the input of many key stakeholders including the Maritime Administrative Department (MARAD), Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Energy, Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the CDC. He noted that with Guyana’s emerging Oil and Gas Sector, the need was highlighted for an oil spill response mechanism that will protect Guyana’s land and sea resources should the need arise.

The National Emergency Oil Spill Plan was crafted with valuable inputs from the Guyana Marine Conservation Society, Guyana Wildlife Conservation and Management Commission, the Ministry of Legal Affairs, Shipping Association of Guyana, ExxonMobil, Tullow, Guyana Oil Company ( Guyoil), Repsol, Shell, GAICO Construction and other stakeholders.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 7, 2020

Students happy with changed ...

From page 17

88 percent across all subjects.

“They [the students] are happy because it’s more passes for them, so obviously they would be happy.

I called them personally and give them the grades,” he shared.

At Carmel Secondary, an official said the new results for the more than 30 affected students have not yet been conveyed to them.

Aside from schools where students received ungraded results, 24 others have requested reviews for unsatisfactory results across 20 subject areas for CSEC and six schools submitted requests for review of unsatisfactory results in seven subject areas for CAPE. The MoE noted that a

Patentia Secondary School student, Ashley Williams, received a Grade One in Office Administration after CXC initially awarded an “ungraded” result number of factors contributed to candidates’ results being recorded as ungraded; however, no informa-

tion was provided on what exactly those factors were.

Many of the schools were requested to provide

proof that they had submitted the SBA component of the exams, leading many to believe that CXC had issues with their system.

For 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Council delayed its customary May/June examinations until July/August and modified CSEC and CAPE to exclude the regular Paper Two component.

The students and their

supporters have 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.

The CXC Chairman, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, has since convened an independent team to review the 2020 examinations, and present a report to the

Council by Friday, October 16.

The team is tasked with reviewing the modified approach used in the administering of the July/ August 2020 CSEC and CAPE examinations; the moderation process applied to the SBA for these examinations; and the grading process used for the examinations, among other related matters.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 7, 2020

Energy Chambers’ ‘special team’ to review O&G permits

By Vishani Ragobeer THE Guyana Oil and Gas Energy Chamber (GOGEC) will be creating a “special team” to review the permits issued for the Payara and Liza Phases One and Two projects, according to GOGEC President, Manniram Prashad.

GOGEC, in a statement to the media, called for the release of the regulatory permits for the Liza Phases One and Two projects of Guyana’s nascent oil and gas industry. Already, the body indicated that it has received the Payara permits which are currently being perused.

In the statement, Prashad said once the special team is set up and has been able to review the permits, the findings of the review will be released.

“There are very limited people in Guyana who have that kind of knowledge because oil is very new to us but I will get a team of private sector personnel and others to have a look at it,” Prashad said in an invited comment.

He emphasised that GOGEC President, Manniram Prashad there are Guyanese who have been keenly following the developments of the oil and gas sector here, and who he believes would sufficiently contribute to the review of the permits.

“There are already some local people who have an understanding of that and if possible, we’ll get regional people -- like Trinidad -- because we are a big organisation and people would offer suggestions to us,” the President said.

He, however, is not keen on seeking the assistance of regional or international experts before engaging the Guyanese experts.

“If we get them (regional and international experts) that’s good but we’ll use the expertise of the people that we know,” Prashad said seriously, but later added, “The more the merrier.”

According to him, it is important the persons who will be reviewing each of the permits must be stakeholders who have knowledge in the regulatory frameworks, in the environment and the other areas of under review.

Though GOGEC will release a full statement on its findings after the review of all the permit are completed, Prashad related that from initial perusal, the Payara project seems to be more beneficial to Guyanese than the first two permits.

Prashad also highlighted how pleased he was with the government’s transparency efforts. He said the release of the Payara permits were a signal of the government’s commitment to transparency and accountability.

“We are happy that the Vice-President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, has publicly stated that the Liza Permits will be released,” he said.

He also registered his pleasure that President, Dr. Irfaan Ali has pledged that his government will be transparent and will involve all stakeholders in the oil and gas industry, including the media, and that he will ensure that the proceeds from this sector will be beneficial to all Guyanese.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 7, 2020

Mustapha ‘talks up’ investment opportunities in ‘agri’ sector WITH the diplomatic community continuing to show its support for the new administration, Chilean Ambassador to Guyana, Patricio Becker, on Tuesday, paid a courtesy call on Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, at his Regent Street office.

During their engagement, a number is areas for collaboration between the two nations were discussed.

Minister Mustapha expressed interest in collaborating with Chile in the area of food safety.

“Since the passage of the Food Safety Bill by the past administration, no effort has been made to set up the Food Safety Authority. Now that I am minister, I was able to make representation in the 2020 Budget

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, with Chilean Ambassador to Guyana, Patricio Becker for funds to be made available so that we can get the ball rolling on this. Chile has a well-established food safety system and we are open to collaborating with our international contacts to get our food safety system to a standard where our farmers and agro-processors can benefit,” Minister Mustapha said.

Ambassador Becker also spoke about areas for imports of fruits and other commodities to Guyana.

Minister Mustapha, however, informed the ambassador that Government is currently in the process of developing the agriculture sector.

“We are looking to develop the sector rather than importing products that can be and are grown locally.

We can work with your Government to have some of your technical personnel come and work with farmers to ramp up their production through transfer of technology and other skills training,” Minister Mustapha said.

Minister Mustapha committed to providing a list of areas where Chilean companies can come to invest in the agriculture sector. These companies, the minister added, would have to provide jobs and develop the areas they choose to set up their operations.

“There are a lot of investment opportunities in Guyana now with the change in Government. Investments were being stifled given the many ‘red tapes’ established by the previous administration. The PPP/C Government is open to meaningful and mutually beneficial investments in all areas, especially the agriculture sector.

In fact, there are incentives for persons looking to invest in corm and soya bean,” Minister Mustapha said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 7, 2020

‘Ghetto Flex’ murder accused freed AFTER spending the last five years on remand for murder, 26-year-old Keron Taylor, on Tuesday, walked out of the Demerara High Court a free man.

Taylor was on remand for the murder of Senassie Lewis, who was gunned down outside the Ghetto Flex Bar, James and Albouys Streets, on September 4, 2015.

His case was called before Justice Navindra Singh and a 12-member jury. Taylor, who was represented by Attorney-at-law Nigel Hughes pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Hughes made a nocase submission calling FREED: Keron Taylor for the charge to be dismissed against Taylor on the grounds that the main witness, Troy Abrams, failed to remember key aspects of the incident.

Justice Singh upheld the no-case submission and directed the jury to return a formal verdict of not-guilty in Taylor’s favour.

In 2015, Taylor was jointly charged with Clive Forde called ‘El Sinkie’ for the murder of Lewis. The men were subsequently committed to stand trial at the High Court for the offence.

However, Forde was shot and killed in 2017, after he escaped from the Lusignan Prison.

Lewis was reportedly at a dance at the Ghetto Flex bar when he was shot dead by two gunmen who fled on foot and then joined a car to make good their escape.

An autopsy report revealed that Lewis was shot 15 times about his body.

American Marine Services returns lands to NICIL AMERICAN Marine Services Inc. is the latest company to join at least three other companies in returning former sugar estate lands at Ogle, East Coast Demerara which were issued to them under the previous administration.

In a statement on Tuesday, American Marine Services Inc., said it entered into an Agreement of Sale with the National Industrial and Commercial Investment Limited (NICIL) for 20 acres of land at Ogle, East Coast Demerara for the purpose of constructing a 247-unit residential complex.

“Given the circumstances surrounding the vesting of that property, we announce that we have agreed to surrender our interest in those lands with NICIL, we look forward to working with NICIL and the Government of Guyana towards achieving our developmental goals,” the statement added.

Companies continue to renounce lands granted to them under the former A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Government to allow for a new and transparent process.

Some of the companies that returned the lands include the Corum Group, the developer of Holiday Inns; Navigant Builders, the developer of the iconic Windsor Estate and Cardiology Services Inc. The government, under President, Dr Irfaan Ali, has said it will investigate transactions involving State properties that took place after the December 21, 2018 no-confidence vote, which effectively toppled the Coalition Government.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 7, 2020

61-year-old woman succumbs to COVID-19 THE novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has claimed yet another life in Guyana, taking the death toll to 95.

Authorities identified the victim as being a 61-year-old female from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica). She died while receiving treatment at a local medical facility on Tuesday.

The Ministry of Health expressed condolences to the family of the deceased, and pledged to make every effort to provide all the

necessary support during this difficult time.

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

Meanwhile, some 45 persons have recovered from COVID-19 and were medically cleared within the past 24 hours. The number of recoveries moved from 1,972 on Monday to 2,017 on Tuesday.

Health authorities have

so far tested 15,265 persons, with 12,077 proving negative, and 3,188 positive.

While 2,017 persons have recovered from this disease, 95 persons have died and there are 1,125 active cases which include 135 persons in institutional isolation, 975 in home isolation, and 15 in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Considering these numbers, persons were encouraged to take extra precaution 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 emer-

gency measures.

Authorities have said that cases are being detected because more tests are being done. Sampletaking 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.

Dr. Anthony had stated that “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 pre-

cedence, especially with the high number of asymptomatic cases.”

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by a newly-discovered coronavirus.

Most people who fall sick with COVID-19 will experience mild to moderate symptoms, and recover without special treatment.

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

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 7, 2020

President Ali honours Cubana Air Disaster victims PRESIDENT Irfaan Ali, on Tuesday, paid tribute to the 73 persons who perished in the Cubana Air Disaster, forty-four years ago.

The anniversary of the tragedy was observed with

a wreath-laying ceremony at the University of Guyana’s Turkeyen campus.

In an interview with this publication, President of the Guyana Cuba Solidarity Movement (GCSM), Halim

Khan, recounted that forty-four years ago, a Douglas DC-8 aircraft trundled down the runway at Grantley Adams International Airport in Barbados and took off, climbing into a blue CaribPresident Irfaan Ali lays a wreath at the monument erected at the Turkeyen Campus to remember the victims of the October 1976 terrorist attack (Adrian Narine Photo) bean sky.

“As Flight 455 reached 18,000 feet, a bomb went off under an empty seat, the plane’s ascent slowed and it began to bank dangerously.

Eight minutes later a second bomb went off in the toilet at

57 Cubans, five Koreans and 11 Guyanese, six of whom were students on their way to study medicine and engineering in Cuba.

The Guyanese who perished in that tragedy were Raymond Persaud, Rawle

Cuba’s Ambassador to Guyana, Narciso Reinaldo Amador Socorro lays a wreath (Adrian Narine Photo) the back of the plane and the plane plunged into the ocean.

Everyone on board perished,” Khan said.

Further, he said that a 9-year-old girl was among the 73 victims.

The GCSM President said Luis Posada Carriles, who was identified as a CIAbacked anti-Castro movement terrorist, was never convicted or made to face any sanctions in connection with the tragedy.

“This was confirmed by the CIA in 2005. The agency had concrete advance intelligence as early as June 1976 of plans by Cuban exile terrorist groups in Miami to bomb the airline,” Khan said.

Among the victims were

Thomas, Jacqueline Williams, Rita Thomas, Harold Norton, Gordon Sobha, Ann Nelson, Margaret Bradshaw, Violet Thomas, Sabrina Harrypaul and Seshnarine Kumar. Today, we mourn this loss.

The President and officials laid wreaths at the monument which was er-ected in honour of the victims. There were no speeches at the event Also in attendance were Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jnr., National Security Advisor to the President, Gerry Gouveia, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hugh Todd, and special invitees.

guyana CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 7, 2020

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 7, 2020

Kariako residents now benefitting from improved water service RESIDENTS of Kariako, Region One, are now benefitting from an improved level of water service, following an intervention by Guyana Water Inc’s (GWI) hinterland engineers.

This is in keeping with a recent promise made by Housing and Water Minister, Collin Croal, to address the water situation in the community.

The residents related that they were receiving little to no water access. Checks by GWI’s hinterland team revealed that there was a damaged two-inch valve feeding the overhead storage tanks, preventing them from reaching their maximum capacity.

This, in turn, resulted in poor water distribution levels to the community. The valve was replaced as well as three 180-watts solar panels that were used to power the pump station. Two 330-watts panel were installed, attributing to a noticeable improvement

A GWI engineer installing the new solar panels in the water pumping capabilities.

Kariako is a very remote community and it took the GWI team almost

10 hours to travel via water transportation from Moruca to the community to provide the improvement.

The overhead storage tanks supplying the community

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 7, 2020

Albouystown woman chopped to death by partner AN ABUSIVE relationship ended in murder on Tuesday, when a mother of three was chopped to death by the father of her children, in Cooper Street, Albouystown, Georgetown.

Dead is Clarabel Johnson, 28, called “Bella”, a vendor of Lot 142 Cooper Street, Albouystown, Georgetown. She was attacked a short distance away from her home.

Johnson leaves to mourn her three children ages seven, nine and 11 years old.

The perpetrator was identified as 45-yearold Nicholas Shawn Williams, who owns a bicycle shop in the community. He was arrested Tuesday evening.

The 13-year relationship filled with physical abuse ended when “Bella” succumbed to a chop at the back of her right knee, resulting in her bleeding to death.

She was picked up Dead: Clarabel Johnson by public-spirited citizens and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where she succumbed to her injuries, while being treated.

One resident in the area said the couple shared a rocky and abusive relationship that resulted in a restraining order being granted, almost a decade ago, when she ended the relationship and moved into her mother’s house.

According to a relative, a Johnson started the relationship with the perpetrator since she was 15 years old.

She later became pregnant and moved in with him but returned to her parents’ home after he became physically abusive.

Police said the victim and the suspect lived together at the aforementioned address and around 06:15 hours the couple had a misunderstanding and the perpetrator chopped the victim on her right foot behind her knee with a cutlass.

She subsequently died at 07:21 hrs at GPHC. Investigations are ongoing.

Murder accused freed THIRTY-YEAR-OLD Desmond James, on Tuesday, walked out of the Demerara High Court a free man, after spending the last six years on remand for murder.

James of Hotoquai Creek, North West District, appeared before Justice Navindra Singh and pleaded not guilty to the offence.

He denied that, on September 1, 2014, at 4 Miles Arakaka Backdam, in the North West District, he murdered 46-yearold Glendon Cox. The trial then commenced before a 12-member jury.

James’ lawyer, Mark Con- Desmond James way, made a no-case submission calling for the case to be dismissed.

Justice Singh ruled in favour of the no-case submission and directed the jury to return a verdict of not guilty.

Reports are that on September 1, 2014, Cox of Aberdeen, Essequibo Coast, was involved in an argument with a man at Four Miles, Arakaka, North West District, during which he was fatally stabbed.

James was subsequently arrested and charged with the capital offence.

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Australia vs India Test series to start with pink-ball game in Adelaide THE four-Test series between Australia and India later this year is set to start with a day-night Test in Adelaide.

The long tour (more than two months) is likely to begin with the white-ball games - three ODIs in Brisbane followed by three T20Is in Adelaide - and then the first Test, subject to final nods from the local state governments in Australia.

The pink-ball Test, which will be India's maiden daynight Test overseas (and only their second overall), is scheduled to be held at Adelaide Oval between December 17 and 21.

Melbourne will remain the venue for the traditional Boxing Day Test (December 26-30) followed by Tests in Sydney (January 7-11) and Brisbane (January 15-19).

The Indian contingent is expected to travel directly

Captains Tim Paine Australia (left) and India’s Virat Kohli

from the UAE to Brisbane immediately after the completion of the IPL on November 10.

It is understood that Cricket Australia (CA) has pencilled in the November 25-30 period for the ODIs and December 4-8 for the T20Is. The Indians are then set to play a pink-ball warmup match in Adelaide before the first Test.

The warm-up is likely to

be an intra-squad game keeping in mind the public health guidelines in place because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Although both Cricket Australia and BCCI have internally agreed on the itinerary, they have not made it public because they are waiting for the formal nods from the state governments in Australia. One of the specific things Cricket Australia is looking for is the permis-

sion from the Queensland government, which is yet to approve international arrival and quarantine of the Indian and Australian players from the IPL in Brisbane.

Currently, anyone coming in to Queensland from overseas or even outside the state has to undergo mandatory 14-day quarantine.

With the tour scheduled to start around November 25, the two teams would want to train during the quarantine period, but that can only be done with permission from the Queensland government.

Previously, governments in Western Australia and South Australia were reluctant to waive off the quarantine period for the two teams in order for them to start training immediately after landing in the country, and that forced Cricket Australia to shuffle the venues around. (ESPN)

Why Thomas Partey's move from Atletico Madrid got messy AS soon as Thomas Partey was confirmed as an Arsenal player late on transfer deadline day, the blame campaign began.

Atletico Madrid were upset because they claim the Premier League club did not make a courtesy call to let them know they were willing to pay the Ghana midfielder's 50M euros (£45M) buyout clause.

The Gunners had wanted to negotiate a fee for the 27-year-old throughout the window but Atletico were unwilling to enter discussions, as they had no interest in accepting an offer for him.

It was not an obligation for Arsenal to get in touch on

The 27-year-old Ghana midfielder made 35 league appearances and scored three goals for Diego Simeone's side as they finished third in La Liga last season.

deadline day, of course, as all they had to do was deposit a cheque for that value in the offices of La Liga, which they did in the last hour of the transfer window on Monday.

Having recently been in discussions with them to agree a loan deal for Lucas Torreira, however, the Spanish club expected more of the Gunners, but they finally found out about it via La Liga once the deposit had been made.

In reality, they were well aware this had been more than just a possibility.

Why? Because the negotiations for a new contract with Partey had broken down a long time ago.

Atletico offered 3.5M euros net per year before the coronavirus pandemic, but that was rejected. And after football resumed the message from the club was that they could not afford even that.

The fact is that Partey felt he had been badly treated by Atletico. He was the worstpaid player in the squad, with a modest 1.8M euros net per year, and he felt he deserved more, considering that by the summer he had played at least 42 games over the previous three seasons.

Atletico are, in reality, more upset with him than they are with Arsenal.

(BBC Sport)

Ninvalle walks from...

From backpage to hold discussions with AIBA Presidential Candidates.

This resignation also takes immediate effect. Both resignations are for personal reasons which will remain private at this time. In leaving the Steering Committee I find comfort knowing that I am temporarily handing over to the competent and respected hands of vice-chairman Cecil Forde of Trinidad and Tobago.

The other committee has a wealth of experience in Jose Rosario and company. I wish to thank the entire Caribbean for having the confidence in me during the one year and seven months life of the Steering Committee and for the support provided. I wish the two committees and members the best in future endeavours and assure that I can be called upon at any time, if support or advice is needed,” the letter stated.

Contacted yesterday, Ninvalle chose not to go into details regarding his resignation but rather expressed gratitude to the region for electing him to serve in such a high office.

“It’s an honour to have been chosen to serve in such a capacity and I extend gratitude to all who would have given me support throughout my tenure. It’s not about me leaving but rather the Caribbean moving on from here. There is work to be done and the earlier the better.” Ninvalle said.

The president of the Guyana Boxing Association (GCA) was elected unopposed to the Steering Committee in February last year. The body’s mandate was to chart and promote the development of boxing in the region. His tenure was expected to last for four years.

Ninvalle is widely regarded as the person who held the Caribbean together during tough times. In 2014 he was elected the region’s first Executive Committee Member of AIBA and three years later was elevated to the Executive Bureau. In February 2019 he was appointed chairman of the AIBA Youth Commission and one month later elected vice-president of the Americas Boxing Confederation (AMBC).

As news of the resignation spread several boxing administrators expressed surprise. Secretary of the Grenada Boxing Association, Neil Roberts, said the Caribbean has suffered a great loss. “I have seen the passion and love that he (Ninvalle) has for the sport and the development of the region. His leadership quality is second to none. It is a great loss,” Roberts stated. Meanwhile, president of the St Lucia Boxing Association, David `Shakes’ Christopher, likened the resignation to a phantom punch.

“It’s a shock to us and a dreadful blow and hurting blow.

It’s a phantom punch that no one saw coming. The work that Mr Ninvalle was doing and his leadership were second to none. But when they are people around who do not value the input of other people and feel that they can do a better job, then the best way is to give them a chance.

Mr Ninvalle’s passion for the Caribbean and its development is also second to none. I don’t think there is anyone around who can fill his shoes. However, if he goes left then I go left also. He will not go left and I go right. There is no doubt about that. He is still my leader and I will follow,” Christopher declared.

Meanwhile, Chronicle Sport was reliably informed that vice-chairman of the Steering Committee and president of the Trinidad Boxing Association Cecil Forde has also resigned from the body yesterday.

NBA players may not be available for Olympics (REUTERS) - The NBA is not likely to have a break next season when the postponed Olympics are held, league commissioner Adam Silver said, casting doubt on the availability of NBA players at the Tokyo Games.

The Olympics were postponed by a year, to July 23 to August 8 next year, because of the novel coronavirus, which also led to the NBA season being suspended, a

delay to the start of the new season and the conflict in schedules.

The NBA season usually runs from October to June but with the 2019-20 Finals series now finishing this month, the new season is expected to begin in January with plans for the usual 82-game campaign and playoffs to follow.

“We’ll consider it. I think it’s unlikely at the end of the day that, if we start late, we

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver

would stop for the Olympics,” Silver told NBA TV.

“It’s not just a function of stopping for the period in which they are competing over in Tokyo, they require a training camp and then they require rest afterwards.”

Since professional players were allowed to compete at the Olympics, beginning with the 1992 Games in Barcelona, the United States have won six out of seven gold medals with star-studded squads made up primarily of NBA play-

ers.

With more than 100 international players in the NBA, Silver added that he also had concerns for other countries – some of which have yet to qualify for the Olympics and will be competing in qualifiers next year.

“There are so many incredible players, beginning with the USA team, we’ll be able to field a very competitive team,” Silver said.

“I’m a bit worried about

some of the international teams, because some of their stars play in our league and their absence would make a huge difference for those national teams.

“I’d only say these are such extraordinary circumstances that, even if we set out to plan for the Olympics, how can they even know what the world is going to be like next summer and whether they can go forward?”

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BCB/Brian Ramphal Cricket Programme

BCB continues to invest in the development of youths “EVERY time we invest in our young cricketers, we are investing in the future.

Too many cricketers with natural talent are forced to quit the game due to their inability to obtain their own gear.

continue to organise coaching and personal development sessions across Berbice.” Those were the words of BCB president Hilbert Foster as he handed over cricket gear to young cricketers under the Brian Ramphal

Three of the young cricketers pose with gear they received under the Brian Ramphal programme.

“Poverty should not be the reason why a promising talent remains unfilled. As long as I remain president of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) every talent would be identified and if assistance is required, it would be provided.

“Additionally, we would

Developmental Programme.

Ten junior cricketers received a piece of cricket gear. The players were drawn from Edinburgh, Mt Sinai, RHTYSC and the Central Corentyne, Upper Corentyne areas. The gear included batting gloves and wicket-keeping gloves.

… Ten more cricketers benefit Since the election of Foster to the presidency of the BCB, hundreds of young cricketers have benefitted from donations of cricket gear, bicycles, educational materials and school bags.

The BCB has also assisted clubs and sub-associations with millions of dollars’ worth of cricket gear, stumps, cricket balls, scorebooks, raincoats, bicycles, educational materials, water pitchers among others.

Brian Ramphal, over the last two years, has contributed close to $2M of his own funds towards the development of Berbice cricket. The Texas-based businessman has described BCB as a very successful and progressive cricket board and that he would support it as long as he can afford. Meanwhile, the BCB last Thursday held its first executive meeting since the coronavirus pandemic started in March.

The meeting, under the supervision of BCB boss, was held using the strict COVID-19 guidelines. Foster provided members with a

comprehensive report on the activities of the board over the latest months. Among the other topics discussed at the meeting were the Dr Tulsi Dyal Singh Coaching Programme, Basil Butcher Cricket Trust Fund, the reopening of the BCB Office, Cricket Administration Act, support for clubs and several upcoming meetings with government officials.

Members also agreed that the Berbice cricket season would continue to be put on hold until the government gives permission. The executives also approved a list of cricket grounds in Berbice that would be submitted to the Government for possible upgrading.

Among the venues identified are Edinburgh, Port Mourant, Sisters, Kendall’s Union, Lochaber, Guymine, Kilcoy, Whim, Goed Bananen, No.5, Bath, Cotton Tree, Bush Lot and Lovely Lass. The BCB would also undertake the restoration of its washroom as the upgrading of the board’s office continues.

Australia's IPL stars to be short of red-ball practice before India - Paine

MELBOURNE, Australia (Reuters) - A number of Australia’s leading Test players, including batsman Steve Smith and paceman Pat Cummins, look set to face India in the home series without warming up in the Sheffield Shield due to quarantine restrictions, captain Tim Paine said yesterday.

Smith, Cummins, opening batsman David Warner and leading quicks Josh Hazlewood and James Pattinson are playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) which runs until the final on November 10.

The opening four-round block of Australia’s domestic Sheffield Shield starts this weekend, with the last match of the block between New South Wales and Victoria starting November 17. Australia has mandatory 14-day quarantine for international arrivals to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Paine said there would not be enough time for IPL players to play Shield cricket ahead of the first India Test at the Gabba, which is pencilled in for early-December.

“I wouldn’t have thought so, with restrictions coming back into the country,” the Tasmania skipper told reporters in Hobart yesterday.

However, Paine dismissed concerns that they would go into the four-Test series against Virat Kohli’s India underprepared.

“These are guys that have transferred from white-ball to red-ball, from Test cricket to Twenty20 cricket, within a matter of days,” he added.

“It’s never been an issue and we wouldn’t expect it to be.”

Australia had planned a one-off Test against Afghanistan in Perth in November before the India series, but it was postponed last month.

Wicketkeeper Paine will lead Tasmania against Queensland in their first Shield match this weekend and said he had no plans to reduce his workload behind the stumps, having recovered from a hamstring strain.

“I feel like the more I do it, the better my body feels,” he said.

Praim Persaud inducted into USA Cricket Hall of Fame

By Frederick Halley THIS year marked the 39th since the USA Cricket Hall of Fame was established by the committee based in Hartford, Connecticut. It recognises those individuals who played the sunshine game at the highest level and those who dedicated their lives to the promotion and preservation of the ideals of cricket.

However, unlike previous years when honorees and guests were treated to sumptuous dinners and graced the dance floor, the ongoing coronavirus pandemic forced the organisers to stage the ceremony via Zoom on Maq TV last Saturday night.

Among the honorees was Guyana-born Praimnauth ‘Praim’ Persaud. His wife Rose and sons Robin and Darren were also part of the ceremony from the comfort of their Brampton, Ontario home.

Persaud has been a servant of the game both as a player and administrator for the past 45 years and still continues to do so at various levels. He is credited to have contributed to the growth, development and visibility of cricket in two Canadian provinces – Montreal Quebec, for almost 10 years and Ontario, mainly in the Brampton, Mississauga, Toronto, Etobicoke and other cities and districts for the last 35 plus years and counting.

Persaud is also a Special Adviser on Cricket to the Mayor of Brampton, Patrick Brown, and has successfully forged a very rewarding partnership with city council and all respective stakeholders of planning, development, infrastructure and funding, as well as parks and maintenance – all of whom are now committed to working on the current and future growth of cricket in the

Praimnauth Persaud with wife Rose enjoying the ceremony in the comfort of their home

City.

Currently the vice-president of Cricket Ontario after serving previously as president, Persaud pointed out that he intends to continue his voluntary services to the sport at both the League and Cricket Ontario at the Provincial Level.

In an eloquent thank-you speech on Saturday night, Persaud expressed thanks to the executive members of the Hall of Fame for considering his contributions to the sport in Canada and in the USA

as being worthwhile of an induction in the prestigious body.

According to Persaud, a major part of his life has always been driven and occupied by his work and career, “as well as my dedication, commitment and passion for the sport of cricket – both as a player and administrator.”

The new inductee pointed out that during his almost 45 years of being involved in cricket, “I have many individuals that I have had the good fortune

to have met and worked with for the betterment of our sport and I will like to take the time to say ‘thank you’ for your assistance and contribution on that journey.”

Persaud was also supportive of the executive board members of the Brampton-Etobicoke & District Cricket League (BEDC) which he has led for the past 35 years, listing Arsalan Baig, Gokul Kamat, Rumi Jasavala, Denny Eapen and Manish Tomer.

Persaud took the opportunity to congratulate the other Inductees as well as the Special Awards recipients for their recognition and contribution to the sport of cricket in their respective territories.

“I will also like to acknowledge and thank my friend Shah Zafar (Cricket Ontario president) for sponsoring my application and forwarding it to the Cricket Hall of Fame for due consideration.

Former Brampton Mayor Susan Fennel, Director of Parks Don Doan and current Mayor Patrick Brown were also praised for their assistance for the growth, promotion and development of cricket in Brampton.

Members of Cricket Canada - Persaud had the privilege of working with them -, were also lauded for their efforts for developing the game at the national level.

Among the other Hall of Fame inductees were former India batting star Dilip Vengsarkar and Pakistani Shoaib Mohammad, son of the great Hanif Mohammad.

The Cricket Hall of Fame was founded in 1981 to honour those who have made outstanding performances in the sport, helped to foster the game’s growth and development in the USA and also those who have made recognisable contributions in their communities.

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Qatar hails Gold Cup:

'This tournament will help us grow' - head coach Sanchez Bas

MIAMI, Florida – The start of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar looms on the horizon and one of the many ways that the host nation are preparing for their first-ever World Cup appearance is by gaining experience playing in other international tournaments.

For that reason, it made perfect sense for Qatar to accept the invitation to play the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup as guest participants, and Qatar head coach Felix Sanchez Bas knows next summer’s 16-team tournament will be a great testing ground for his side.“We are a team trying to grow. Playing tournaments like the Gold Cup is a way to get international experience outside of our region. We find ourselves at a moment in which we can compete against everyone, but going abroad to different continents to play official competitions is important for the team to continue growing,” Sanchez Bas in an exclusive interview with CONCACAF.com.

For fans in the CONCACAF region who have not seen Qatar play, they can expect a team that will seek to impose themselves against their opponents.

“We are a team that always tries to come out and compete against any team we face, whether they

Qatar head coach, Sanchez Bas knows that a tall task awaits them against a pair of Central American powers and a Caribbean nation that is on the rise. (Photo courtesy of Qatar Football Association)

are a global powerhouse or a more modest team. We always try to play with an idea that makes us competitive. We like to dominate all phases of the game and I think that’s required of any team right now that wants to be competitive, but the players feel more comfortable and are capable of taking the initiative and being protagonists in the game. But we know that we’ll have to adapt to different scenarios and I think our players understand that,” said Sanchez Bas. Drawn into Group D with Honduras, Panama and Grenada, Sanchez Bas knows that a tall task awaits them against a pair of Cen-

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Wednesday October 07, 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) (2)

Virat Kohli-973 runs (RCB, 2016) Dwayne Bravo-28 wickets (CSK, 2013) Today’s Quiz:

(1) What is the highest individual score made in IPL cricket to date?

(2) What are the best bowling figures in a single IPL game to date?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

tral American powers and a Caribbean nation that is on the rise.

“If they have qualified for a tournament of this magnitude, that means they have a high level. Panama and Honduras are national teams that have played World Cups, they have players from their domestic leagues but also in big leagues in Europe. They are players with a lot of experience.

“Grenada we don’t know as well, but now we have time to analyse them thoroughly and get to know them. We know that it is a tough group and we are going to try to go into it in the best possible condition with the hope of having a very good tournament,” said

Sanchez Bas. Sanchez Bas also discounted the idea that Qatar’s lack of Gold Cup experience could catch opponents by surprise.

“Nowadays with the resources and the technical personnel that each staff has in the national team, I think there are no more surprises.

I think we are going to try to see and study the strong points and the weak areas of each of the opponents we are going to face, and they are going to do the same.

“When we arrive there, they will know us and know the characteristics of our play and the individual characteristics of our players, so I don’t think there will be any surprises,” concluded Sanchez Bas. (CONCACAF)

Schwartzman grinds down Thiem in five-hour battle to reach French Open semis PARIS (Reuters) - Argentina’s Diego Schwartzman outlasted Dominic Thiem in a brutal claycourt war of attrition to prevail 7-6(1) 5-7 6-7(6) 7-6(5) 6-2 and reach his first Grand Slam semi-final at the French Open on Tuesday.

Schwartzman had never beaten a top-five player at a Grand Slam and had lost his three previous quarter-finals, including one at the French, but the 28-year-old was relentless in his pursuit of victory.

Both players appeared to be running on empty at times as they slugged out endless rallies from the baseline for five hours and eight minutes on a windy Court Philippe Chatrier.

Third seed Thiem, the U.S. Open champion, saved a set point in the third before moving two sets to one ahead and when Schwartzman saw three more set points disappear at 5-4 in the fourth, the third one after a sensational running forehand winner by Thiem, it appeared he was going to fall short again.

But the 12th seed showed incredible resilience to come back from 3-1 down in the tiebreak and drag it into a final set.

Schwartzman looked the fresher player in the decider and Thiem, who was bidding to reach a fifth successive French Open semi-final, began to look ragged as he dropped serve to love in the sixth game with a netted backhand.

After so many momentum shifts in a gruelling contest featuring 19 breaks of serve, a Thiem comeback was still on the cards but Schwartzman was rock solid in the closing straight, sealing arguably the biggest win of his career when Thiem dumped a weary-looking dropshot into the net.

“Dominic is one of the best players in the world right now, two times in the final here and winning the last Grand Slam,” Schwartzman said on court.

“We are friends and I have a lot of respect for him.

But this match was important for me. This was the third five-setter I’ve played here and this is the first one I’ve won.

“I think tonight I deserved it.”

Schwartzman will have to recover quickly as 12-times French Open champion Rafa Nadal could be waiting in the semi-final if he overcomes Italian teenager Jannik Sinner.

If that is the case he will go in with confidence having beaten the Spaniard on his way to the final of the Rome Masters in the build-up to Roland Garros.

England cricket great Botham takes up seat in Lords LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) - England cricket great Ian Botham - a vocal supporter of Brexit - took up his seat in Britain's House of Lords yesterday.

He wore the traditional scarlet and ermine-trimmed robe for his brief formal introduction ceremony as a peer in the Upper House of parliament, which is unelected.

Botham, who will sit as a non-party-political cross-bench peer, swore the oath of allegiance to Queen Elizabeth II as part of the ceremony.

Lord Botham told the chamber: “I, Ian Lord Botham, do swear by Almighty God that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, her heirs and her successors, according to the law. So help me, God.” Botham, who played 102 Tests for England between 1977 and 1992, is considered one of the finest all-rounders in the history of the game.

The 64-year-old, who became a leading commentator after he stopped playing, was knighted by The Queen in 2007 for services to cricket and charity - he has raised millions of pounds, mainly for leukaemia research.

A video grab from footage broadcast by the UK Parliament's Parliamentary Recording Unit (PRU) shows former England cricket legend Ian Botham taking his seat in the House of Lords in London yesterday. (Photo: AFP)

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Legal battle looms as players seek commercial rights protections from ICC

By Daniel Brettig ANOTHER International Cricket Council (ICC) battlefront has opened up in the form of the world's players seeking recompense for their exploitation in third party commercial deals with ICC partners, at a time when the global body is beset by issues around COVID-19, wrangles over the board's next chairman and a decidedly murky picture for global events and bilateral tours beyond 2023.

ESPNcricinfo has learned that the Federation of International Cricketers Associations (FICA) has written to the ICC management, expressing an intention to take a range of issues around the players' commercial rights into the grievance process set out in the terms for squads participating in global events.

This would be a precursor to a formal legal dispute, after talks between the parties in recent months failed to get close to a resolution of the

FICA chief executive Tom Moffa

issue.

The increasing exploitation of the commercial and intellectual property rights of female players - fast emerging as ever more saleable names for sponsors and broadcasters off the back of this year's wildly successful T20 World Cup in Australia – is believed to be particularly problematic in terms of the examples that FICA has raised.

Tom Moffat, FICA's chief executive, recently contacted players across the globe to update them on the dispute and a resolution to act collectively.

ICC chief executive Manu Sawhney

"We are in the process of challenging the unauthorised use of player images/ attributes/content by the ICC and its commercial partners, including in: a fantasy cricket game, individual player content used by an ICC sponsor, and a documentary featuring players and individual player content," Moffat told the players. "This follows a similar issue with trading cards in 2017.

"These types of products are important in promoting the game, but are also commercially valuable to the ICC and their partners largely because your attributes, ap-

Minister Ramson begins re-engagement with sport associations today

By Rawle Toney

MINISTER of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr, will begin his re-engagement with the various sport associations and federations from today.

While Ramson, during his first week in office after being sworn-in as minister would have met with various sports bodies, this time around, he explained, will be with the intention of setting up engagements which will lead to the consultation process for the implementation of the country's National Sports Policy.

"We've got to do our sports policy. That's happening right now. We can get this done in three weeks if we really were to put our minds towards it, but it will exclude a lot of people and a lot of organisations. We don't want to do that; we want to involve as many people as possible," Ramson said.

Speaking on the sidelines of the remembrance ceremony for the Cuba-

the future of sports in Guyana.

After taking his Oath of Office from Head of State, Dr Irfaan Ali on August 5, Ramson had called the approach to sports in Guyana “ad hoc”.

“In order to create a sustainable sport development programme that is a sport economy as well, because sport is a business too. We need a system that is sustainable and that can only be Minister of Culture, Youth and done through organised Sport - Charles Ramson Jr stakeholders and people who are connected to the na Air Disaster yesterday, overall development trajectoRamson revealed that the ry of the country,” the Sport meetings will take the form Minister said. of a "working session, Ramson was adamant where we want to frame that “sport is more than our mutual goals and how just hobbies and staying fit; we improve the overall it is far bigger than that. It management of their asso- is one of the largest sectors ciations." in the world and it could During his engagement very well be transformawith the sport media on Au- tional for the country as gust 15, Ramson was ada- well, by being able to draw mant that the Sport Policy on our human capital and was crucial, since it will help our talents as young peoto make better decisions for ple.”

pearances, data and content are used in them.

“We believe players should be getting a fair share of these arrangements, and that the ICC were required to negotiate terms of access to, and use of, players with FICA. This is provided for in the Squad Terms you sign prior to competing in ICC Events.

"The ICC had previously argued that because players will receive prize money for performances in future ICC events, that covers these sorts of commercial products. Clearly that is unfair, and was not the intended basis of the Squad Terms or global arrangements for players.

Taking a legal path is not our desired approach and we have tried to resolve these issues with the ICC over a number of months to ensure players are treated fairly.

We have unfortunately been unsuccessful given the way the ICC continue to approach you FICA on these issues."

The exploitation of commercial rights and property for players has long been a tetchy issue between players associations, boards and the ICC, with governing bodies ever eager to protect the interests of their sponsors and broadcasters, while the players, their managers and associations equally stern in trying to ensure their images and content are not used without fair compensation.

However, FICA's decision to raise the issue at this juncture can be interpreted as a change in tact from more convivial approaches to the ICC, and a growing sense of frustration at a mounting pile of problems on the agenda for the global governing body and its board.

The ICC's management, headed by chief executive Manu Sawhney, is in open dispute with member nations about the shape of the global calendar and specifically the number of ICC events to populate it from 2023 onwards.

Moffat told the players

that commercial opportunities needed to be carefully managed, with strong ground rules laid down before the next cycle. "It is important that we take up these issues for players now," he said.

"Having discussed the issue with senior men's and women's international players, players from across countries have offered to assist so that FICA can lodge the grievances on behalf of all players.

We thank those players and acknowledge it's not easy to do that.

"Protecting players collectively in this area will continue to be a major focus for us as we prepare for the next ICC Events cycle as well. FICA is supportive of fair, win-win, non-exploitative commercial opportunities. We would welcome any further player feedback or queries as we continue to work through these processes in conjunction with players' associations."

The ICC declined to comment.

Mumbai Indians complete hat-trick of wins, beat RR by 57 runs

MUMBAI Indians with unbeaten 79 (MI) completed a off 47 balls with hat-trick of wins 11 boundaries and in Indian Premier 2 sixes.

League (IPL) 2020 Surya got as they beat Ragood support jasthan Royals from Rohit Shar(RR) by 57 runs to ma (35), Hardik clinch the top spot (30 not out) and from Delhi CapKrunal Pandya as itals. they managed to Chasing a chalpost a total which lenging 194 for vicwas about 20 runs tory, MI bowled RR more than the Suryakumar Yadav scored an unbeaten 79 out for 136 in 18.1 par score on this while Jasprit Bumrah scalped 4 wickets in overs at the Sheikh Mumbai Indians’ win over Rajasthan Royals. ground.

Zayed Cricket staIt was Surya dium yesterday. and Hardik's un10 overs, and had even manJasprit Bumrah picked up 4 aged to put the team back on beaten partnership worth 76 wickets while Trent Boult track in the run chase but his off 38 balls which pushed and James Pattinson got 2 dismissal for 70 in the 14th their target closer to the each. Rahul Chahar and Ki- over proved to be the final 200-run mark and ultimateeron Pollard also contributed nail in their coffin. ly proved to be enough for with a wicket each.

Jofra Archer entertained them.

Bumrah's figures of 4 in the final stage of the game Shreyas Gopal bagged 2 for 20 from his 4 overs are with 24 off 11 balls but the wickets for RR while Jofra the best by any bowler this equation went too far out of Archer and debutant Kartik season and also his person- hand for the Royals to make Tyagi took a wicket each. al best in the IPL, bettering a comeback as yet another Royals have now lost the 3 for 7 he recorded poor batting performance led 3 games in a row and against Kolkata Knight to their downfall. dropped down to 7th on the Riders in 2017.

Earlier, Mumbai Indians table. They need some inJos Buttler waged a lone posted 193 for 4 after opting spiration from somewhere battle for RR after they lost to bat first with Suryakumar to get their campaign back wickets in a heap in the first Yadav top-scoring for them on track in IPL 2020.

Holder still in charge for NZ

Captain Jason Holder has led West Indies in 35 of his 43 Tests.

Tests, says Harper P

ORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – World number one all-rounder Jason Holder will be retained as Test captain for the tour of New Zealand which bowls off next month.

Convener of selectors, Roger Harper, confirmed that the 28-year-old Barbadian would continue in the post for the twoTest series, despite the recent struggles of the Caribbean side.

West Indies have won just seven of their last 20 Tests and currently languish eighth in the ICC Test rankings, only above Bangladesh and Zimbabwe “We have discussed a lot of things and all of those things (leadership) we discussed but I think at this point we’re not thinking of changing the captaincy at all,” Harper said.

Holder was appointed captain in 2015, replacing wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin, and has since led West Indies in 35 of his 43 Tests, winning 11, losing 19 and drawing five.

He was relieved of the one-day captaincy last year after

five years in charge and replaced by veteran Kieron Pollard, who also assumed leadership of the Twenty20 unit.

That move followed West Indies’ dismal campaign at the 50-over World Cup in England when they won just two of their 10 matches, in their worst-ever outing at a global showpiece. Harper, who took over the selection panel last year, said Holder remained the first choice captain since there was a dearth of leadership qualities not only throughout the ranks of the Test side but across the regional game.

“I looked at a lot of the four-day championships. I had the opportunity to see most of the captains on show and I think that there are some decent captains out there but there is also a lot of improvement that can be made,” Harper pointed out.

“I think some of our captains need to know when to attack, when not to attack, how to defend and how to put pressure on the opposing batsmen and those sort of things. These are the areas we need to improve on.”

He continued: “But I think one of the things that is lacking from a West Indies team perspective is that a number of players in the West Indies team do not have the opportunity to play a lot of regional cricket and therefore do not have a lot of captaincy experience, so that is a challenge.”

Despite the team’s struggles, Holder has excelled personally to become the world’s leading all-rounder and is the highest-ranked West Indies player in both the batting and bowling rankings at 43rd and fifth respectively.

Holder enjoyed an outstanding campaign in 2018 when he snatched 33 wickets in six Tests at 11.87 runs apiece – the best average by any fast bowler with a minimum of 30 wickets in a calendar year in 100 years.

Last year, he smashed a sensational maiden unbeaten double-hundred against powerful England at Kensington Oval to lead West Indies to a shock 381-run victory, laying the platform for a 2-1 win in the three-Test series.

President of the Guyana Boxing Association Steve Ninvalle

Ravichandran Ashwin has played 228 times for India.

Ashwin gives 'final warning' after Aaron Finch non-Mankad RAVICHANDRAN Ashwin has given a "first and final warning" for the rest of the Indian Premier League (IPL) after reigniting the controversial 'Mankad' debate.

The bowler opted not to run Aaron Finch out at the non-striker's end in Monday's match between Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bangalore when the Australian left his crease early.

Ashwin hinted he would complete the dismissal if other opportunities arose.

He did complete a Mankad in last year's IPL to dismiss England's Jos Buttler.

The dismissal - named after India bowler Vinoo Mankad who ran out Australia batsman Bill Brown in a similar manner in 1947 - is within the laws but there is debate as to whether it is within the spirit of the game.

After Monday's game, which Ashwin's Delhi won by 59 runs, the India spinner tweeted: "Let's make it clear!!

"First and final warning for 2020. I am making it official and don't blame me later on. @RickyPonting."

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting is Delhi coach and before the tournament warned Ashwin against completing a Mankad and said he had held discussions with his player on the issue.

Ponting could be seen smirking in the Delhi dugout after the incident.

Before Ashwin had delivered the ball, RCB opener Finch had left the crease when backing-up at the non-striker's end.

Ashwin held on to the ball rather than complete the delivery but chose not to complete the run out. (BBC Sport)

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Ninvalle walks from C/bean Boxing Steering Committee

C

HAIRMAN of the Caribbean Steering Committee for Boxing, Steve Ninvalle, resigned from the position with immediate effect on Monday.

The shocking declaration was made via a letter to Caribbean presidents and has left the regional boxing fraternity in a quagmire.

Ninvalle also resigned from a five-man committee appointed on Sunday to hold discussions with presidential candidates for AIBA elections. That also took immediate effect.

In the letter seen by Chronicle Sport the widely respected administrator claimed personal reasons for his resignation. ”Dear Caribbean Presidents and colleagues, I hereby inform you that I have resigned from the post of Chairman of the Caribbean Steering Committee for Boxing with immediate effect. I also wish to inform that I have also resigned from the five-man committee appointed See page 44 WEDNESday, oCTOBER 7, 2020