Guyana_Chronicle_Epaper_10_10_2021

10th October, 2021

'

See Inside No.106510

Huge turnout at GYSBI career fair

PAGE

02

US$1.3B in foreign direct investments recorded 03 PAGE

–– reflects 41.6% increase when compared to first half of 2020

–– Go-Invest CEO says growth an indication of Guyana’s stable political, macroeconomic environment

The iconic shoreline that stretches across the communities of Good Faith and Novar Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara, forms an integral part of the community’s patrimony. It is for this reason that residents have been protective of its spaces. As part of their daily workout routines, they take turns ensuring that the ‘beach’ remains as clean and as picturesque as possible (Rehana Ahamad photo)

Major cattle-production PM spearheads industry beckons with 05 high-level 04 Guyana-Brazil partnership team to U.S. PAGE

PAGE

2

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, October 10, 2021

Huge turnout at GYSBI career fair

By Richard Bhainie

OVER 700 Guyanese turned up at the first Guyana Shore Base Inc. (GYSBI) career fair held at the National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD) on Saturday to be afforded the opportunity to get their foot in the door of the oil-andgas industry.

The GYSBI launched their career fair in response to the growing demand for labour in Guyana’s oil-and-gas sector; their aim is to hire 150 people to fill various positions, including warehouse supervisors, crane operators, field technicians, mechanics, equipment maintenance technicians, and fuel fa-

cility operators.

Saturday’s career fair was the first of three, with one scheduled for today at the Uitvlugt Community Centre Ground, West Coast Demerara (WCD), and the third on October 16 at the Enmore Martyrs Monument Ground, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

Applicants are interviewed on-the-spot, and must walk with their proof of vaccination, or a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, some form of identification, a copy of their resumé, and a passport size photograph. Persons with academic and other qualifications are also encouraged to walk with copies of their certificates.

Speaking to the

An applicant being interviewed on-the-spot at the GYSBI career fair at the National Stadium on Saturday

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson (centre) with GYSBI staff. Also in the photo is GYSBI Government Liaison Officer, Robin Chandarpaul (far left) Sunday Chronicle at the event on Saturday, GYSBI Government Liaison Officer, Robin Chandarpaul said that the career fair is the first of several to be held by the company, which has over 500 employees, and a local workforce of 97 per cent.

“Another aspect of what we are doing is market research, to try to figure out what skills and expertise and experience is out there, and how we could tailor future recruitment drives of what’s out there,” Chandarpaul said.

“We are so enthusiastic about what happened

today; it really bodes well for our company’s ability to find talent on the local market. And I think this is a great way of reaching out to the population,” he added.

The Sunday Chronicle also caught up with Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Charles Ramson Jr.rJ, who’d also paid the event a visit. He said he is supportive of job fairs, as many young people are searching for careers and different types of opportunities.

“The oil-and-gas industry is a new industry for us, and oil companies have to be aware of that.

So, when they have job fairs like this, I’m pleased to support it, because you got to encourage a lot of young people to enter the industry early, so that they can become experts,” Ramson Jr. said.

He explained that while many persons have expectations about how they are going to be able to participate in the oiland-gas industry, the exposure provided through opportunities provided at job fairs is a good place to start, as they can further develop themselves from there.

The huge turnout is an indication of citizens’

interest in the oil sector, Ramson Jr. opined, and he expressed that he is a strong supporter of local content policy and legislation, as the government wants to encourage Guyanese being given first preference when opportunities arise within the oil industry.

The GYSBI is a Guyanese joint ventureship made up of Muneshwers Ltd, Pacific Rim Constructors, TotalTec Oilfield Services, and LED Offshore, and has been servicing the oiland-gas sector for about four years.

A section of the crowd at GYSBI’s career fair on Saturday (Delano Williams photos)

3

US$1.3B in foreign direct investments recorded

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, October 10, 2021

_ reflects 41.6% increase when compared to first half of 2020

_ Go-Invest CEO says growth an indication of Guyana’s stable political, macroeconomic environment

By Navendra Seoraj FOREIGN interest in Guyana continues to increase rapidly, with investors not just exploring the available opportunities, but also taking the next step forward by injecting funds into the local economy, which, from January to June this year, attracted foreign direct investments valuing over US$1.3 billion (roughly G$273 billion).

US$940 million recorded at the end of June 2020.

Those investments and other key sectoral performances added to the country’s positive outcome in the first half of this year. At the end of June, Guyana recorded real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of 14.5 per cent, and a growth of 4.8 per cent in the non-oil economy.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Office for Investment (Go-In-

tions, been able to facilitate significant investment from both local and foreign,” Dr. Ramsaroop had said.

Of the 25 projects which were initiated within the established period, 16 are local, six are FDIs, and three are joint ventures.

In speaking further about those projects, he said: “These projects have all started. Local investments presented the largest portion of this investment, and I am

tion and Communication Technology (ICT), tourism, forestry, and energy.

Of the six FDI projects, three are service- related; two are in manufacturing; and one in agriculture. The joint ventures account for two in manufacturing, and one agriculture-related project.

RAPID TRANSFORMATION Senior Minister in the

rapid transformation in a number of sectors, especially since the government would make efforts to boost the non-oil economy as well.

“We’re anticipating a rapid expansion in the services sector, including transport and logistics, construction of infrastructure, including roads, bridges, office buildings in the private sector, etc, along with expansion in other services such as financial services, all of which will

CEO of Go-Invest, Dr. Peter Ramsaroop The economic performance of the country was outlined by the Ministry of Finance in its Mid-Year Report, which was released recently.

Included in the ministry’s analysis was an aggregation of the foreign direct investments (FDIs) made locally.

According to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), foreign direct investment is a category of cross-border investment in which an investor resident in one economy establishes a lasting interest in, and a significant degree of influence over, an enterprise in another economy.

Based on the Ministry of Finance’s Mid-Year Report, the exact value of FDIs in the first half of this year was US$1,332,200,000. This was 41.6 per cent higher than the

vest), Dr. Peter Ramsaroop, in an invited comment to the Sunday Chronicle, said: “Our GDP growth for 2021, and the projections for 2022 demonstrate to the nation and the world that we have a stable political and macroeconomic climate, a developing strong financial sector, our strategic location, and a productive workforce.”

The improved investment climate, in his view, is evidenced by the many agreements signed this year among authorities, the local private sector, and foreign investors.

According to Dr. Ramsaroop, within the period August 2020 to April 2021, approximately 25 projects were initiated, all of which have the potential to create 1,678 jobs when completed.

“The agency has, in spite of the COVID-19 restric-

elated to make this point.”

Based on a breakdown of the local investments, four were in the agriculture sector; six in the service sector; two in light manufacturing; and one each in Informa-

Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh had said that Guyana would this year become one of the fastest-growing economies in terms of real GDP, and see

contribute to rapid expansion in real output,” Dr. Singh had said.

On Saturday, Dr. Ramsaroop said: “Our economic transformation, led by our President, [Dr. Irfaan Ali]

demonstrates to investors that we are increasing competitiveness, and building global partnerships. We are committed to providing the investment framework in which all enterprises can develop and expand.

“I see us moving rapidly to manufacturing and agro-processing, as we bring our energy cost down, through an integrated energy plan.”

Having recorded a favourable economic performance in the first half of this year, Guyana is well on the path to ending the year on a positive note.

“The favourable economic performance at the end of the first half of 2021 in the non-oil economy bodes well for the upcoming second half of 2021 and beyond,” the Ministry of Finance related in its recent report.

It is expected that advances in key investments, in both the public and private sectors, will buttress the performance of the economy in the second half of 2021.

The outlook is, however, subject to significant risk, including the consequences of a protraction of the pandemic, as well as the fallout of a flood that is still to be brought fully under control.

Despite those vulnerabilities, the Ministry of Finance stated that continued efforts to implement preventative measures, including vaccines, are expected to support the realisation of continued growth and delivery of expanded services to all Guyanese, as the government continues to chart a path to recovery, economic dynamism and resilience.

4

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, October 10, 2021

PM spearheads high-level team to US -to conduct several ‘doing business in Guyana’ conferences

Prime Minister, Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips is leading a high-level government team to the ‘Doing Business in Guyana Conferences’ in the US PRIME MINISTER, Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips, on Saturday, started the second leg of his trip to the United States of America, where he is spearheading a high-level government team to the ‘Doing Business in Guyana Conferences’, hosted by the Guyanese American Chamber of Commerce

Prime Minister Brigadier (ret’d), Mark Phillips addresses a meeting while Ministers Gail Teixeira, Oneidge Walrond and Collin Croal listen attentively. Also in photo is CEO of Go-Invest, Peter Ramsaroop (extreme right) (GACC).

The New York phase is expected to culminate on Tuesday with the GACC conference that includes the Prime Minister, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira and Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal.

P r i o r t o Tu e s d a y ’s event, the high-level team

is expected to take part in a few other engagements, including visits to several churches and mandirs tomorrow in New York and meetings with diaspora groups in New Jersey on Monday.

FLORIDA VISIT The first phase of the event was held from last Wednesday in Florida, with the all-day GACC

conference taking place on Thursday at the Hilton Garden Inn. At that event, the Prime Minister, Minister Teixeira and Minister Croal were joined by the Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, the Honourable Oneidge Walrond and the CEO of GoInvest, Peter Ramsaroop.

During the first conference, the Prime Minister addressed a number of overseas-based Guyanese investors where he highlighted Guyana’s advances along a path to prosperity.

He also encouraged investments in the country and pointed out that the government is doing all that is necessary to create an enabling environment.

“The government is effectively working towards improving the ease of doing business within our country…we welcome

foreign and local investment to help us acquire the capital, the skills, and the technology that is needed to convert economic opportunities into economic transformation.”

Additionally, on Friday, the Prime Minister met with the Minister of Home Affairs and New Growth Industries of Belize, Kareem Musa, who is also on a visit to the USA. The meeting, which occurred at the Courtyard Marriott Hotel in Florida, allowed the two government officials to engage in discussions in areas of mutual interest.

The visiting team also met with several US politicians. The Prime Minister is accompanied by his wife, Mrs Mignon Bowen-Phillips. (Office of the Prime Minister press release)

5

Major cattle production industry beckons with Guyana-Brazil partnership

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, October 10, 2021

CATTLE production in the Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) has the potential to become a massive income earner for Guyana, according to Mr. Aluizio Nascimento da Silva, who is the Secretary of State for Agriculture, Livestock and Supply of Roraima, Brazil.

During an engagement with Guyana’s Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, on Saturday, da Silva said that Brazil sees the Rupununi-- its immediate neighbour-- as having much potential.

He said that as part of the proposed cattle production, Guyana can see Brazil being a steady market for meats, which, he said, can be exported to Roraima to be processed at one of the “big abattoirs there.”

“Once the farmers there [in the Rupununi] are able to meet the demand, they would be able to supply the Roraima market,” da Silva emphasised.

He added, “Our agriculture Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was 1.2 per cent of the state’s GDP. It has since moved to 6.8 per cent in two and a half years and I believe you [Guyana] can do the same. If we work together and continue to foster strong partnerships, we can increase our international export figures.”

According to the government’s Department of Public Information, the Secretary of State, who has been involved in developing agri-business in the state of Roraima for the last 20 years, said there was an interest by a number of agriculture businesses to develop demonstration plots in the Savannahs close to the Roraima. These plots, he said, would be used to plant corn, soya beans, and peas.

Mr. da Silva also reflected on the fact that Guyana is also working to develop its own corn and soya bean industry, which can also aid Roraima.

“I also recommend looking into doing value-added, which is what Brazil is doing now. The soya meal can be added to the feed and then what is exported is the animal proteins such as beef, chicken and pork,” Mr. da Silva outlined.

Reflecting on Guyana’s longstanding relations with Brazil, Minister Mustapha said that collaborations to develop the country’s agriculture sector are welcomed.

“We look forward to working with Brazil to develop our agriculture sector. Brazil is a trade partner around the world and exports to a number of countries.

Through collaborations with

all the challenges facing the livestock industry and approximately 5,000 small farmers and broiler producers.

Budget 2021 allocates GYD$806 million to the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA), an increase of $46 million. With the interventions of Budget 2021, the government said that it hopes to create an environment for local producers to benefit from the increasing demand for meat coming from the thriving oil and gas companies, as well of other local businesses.

Worryingly, meat import for 2019 was pegged at $20

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha (right) exchanges an investment document with Mr. Aluizio Nascimento da Silva Brazil, Guyana would be able to develop several of our agriculture subsectors like the cattle industry, and also the non-traditional crops that we’ve started like corn and soya bean,” the minister said.

Mr Mustapha also referenced the trial farm which is currently being cultivated by a group of local investors who bought seeds from Brazil.

“The government is looking to expand on that industry to be able to provide the proteins for the poultry industry from that area. The government has budgeted $500 million to develop the infrastructure in the area,” Minister Mustapha said.

Further, the minister said the government was moving ahead with the development of the deep-water harbour in Berbice and that persons from Roraima would be able to utilise this facility to export their produce, rather than having to travel up to the coast of Brazil to do so.

Minister Mustapha also noted that because Guyana is once again playing the lead role for agriculture within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), production has to be expanded in order to reduce the region’s hefty food import bill, while advancing the agrifood agenda.

“Our President is the lead spokesperson for agriculture in CARICOM. He has proposed to CARICOM how to advance the agri-food agenda, how to reduce imports into CARICOM from outside of the region, more specifically agricultural products. That means we have to embark [on] producing a larger scale and Guyana is now poised to be one of the most important countries in CARICOM to move the agri-food system forward,” Minister Mustapha

elaborated.

Nonetheless, should largescale cattle farming commence in the Rupununi, it could see Guyana’s livestock earnings increasing exponentially. Already for this year, between January 2021 and June 2021, Guyana has earned in excess of $18.7 million from its livestock industry.

The breakdown, provided

by Minister Mustapha, shows that duckling sales topped $6.8 million, while the sale of black giant chicks surpassed $2 million. However, the bulk of the country’s livestock earnings centre on the sale of ducks, cattle, sheep, pigs and goats, which total $9,898,077.

In recognising the importance and the potential of the livestock industry, the Government of Guyana had pledged to not only invest in the development of the sector, but also accommodate further investments.

As it is, investments in Guyana’s poultry industry have also seen tremendous growth. Available statistics show that private injections into this industry have surpassed more than US$67 million ($14.4 billion).

Traditionally, the demand for outputs from the poultry industry has always been high, but the zero-rating of this commodity and other adjustments, between August and now, have created the conditions for wider investments and more lucrative results.

As a matter of fact, when the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government assumed office in August 2020, efforts commenced to remove Value Added Tax (VAT) on fertilisers, agrochemicals, pesticides and key inputs in the poultry sector including poultry feed, build-

ing materials and packaging; the government also gave the poultry industry zero-rated VAT status.

Since those adjustments, there has been a stark increase in investments in this industry with about 500 new farmers getting into poultry farming between August and December, 2020, alone. Minister Mustapha has said that the increased interest in the industry augurs well for Guyana, and will supplement the growth of the country’s burgeoning oil-and-gas sector.

In his 2021 National Budget speech, Mustapha said that the measures introduced in the government’s 2020 budget initiated a reversal of

million, even though Guyana is self-sufficient in meat.

Going forward, Minister Mustapha said that much emphasis will be placed on gaining access to emerging markets, especially the highend supermarkets, hotels, as well as players within the mining and petroleum sectors. An established Brazil market could possibly be an area to start.

Nonetheless, the Secretary of State, during his meeting with minister Mustapha, was accompanied by the President of NF Agriculture Inc. Mr. Yucatan Reis and Ms. Ilaine Heinz

6

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, October 10, 2021

Growth and the COVID-19 Pandemic GUYANA has recorded a growth rate of 43.4 per cent in 2020 despite the COVID-19 pandemic which has, over the past two years, wreaked havoc in many countries in the world, including the Caribbean and Latin America. According recent research done, while there has been a sharp fall in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) globally, Guyana was the only country among Caribbean and Latin American countries that recorded a positive growth in GDP. This observation was made by Food and Agriculture Organization Specialist (FAO) Dr. Gillian Smith, who noted that despite the pandemic, Guyana has done relatively well, due in part to the contributions of an emerging oil and gas sector.

This is indeed good news, especially when seen against the backdrop of a sharp decline in the global economy which shrank by some 9.1

per cent in 2020.

This is not to suggest that Guyana is immune from the debilitating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, the growth rate for Guyana in 2020 was projected to be much higher. According to the FAO specialist, despite the pandemic, the supply of food on the world market did not see any significant decline; however, there has been a general increase in food prices globally. The FAO food commodity price index has steadily risen over the past year or so. The prices of all basic commodities that are traded on the world market have continued to increase and are in fact higher by 30 per cent higher than they were one year ago.

One reason for higher food prices was increased freight charges and other forms of logistical disruptions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to mitigate the impact of

these increases on consumer items, President Dr. Irfaan Ali, had taken a decision to reduce freight charges to pre-pandemic levels, thereby relieving consumers of the burden of rising commodities prices. The measure will allow for a saving of $4.8B to consumers and to the business community. And only recently, the PPP/C administration has reduced the excise tax on fuel, in order to further ease the impact of rising fuel prices.

It will be recalled that the PPP/C administration, in February this year, had reduced the excise tax rate on both gasoline and diesel from 50 per cent to 35 per cent. However, despite the adjustment, oil prices continue to increase on the world market, moving from over US$60 to over US$80 by the end of the first week in October. Conscious of the impact of such increases on consumer prices, the PPP/C

administration has again taken a decision to further reduce the excise tax on gasoline and diesel from 35 per cent to 20 per cent with immediate effect.

According to Senior Minister with responsibility for Finance in the Office of the President, the adjustment in the excise tax rate on fuel from time to time is part of the measures that the PPP/C government is implementing to cushion the domestic impact of world market price fluctuations. The minister emphasised that the implementation of these measures is in keeping with the commitments made by President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali to ensure that Guyanese consumers continue to be protected from escalating fuel prices on the world market.

The PPP/C administration must be commended for the proactive and prompt actions it has been taking to bring relief to the Guyanese

people in this difficult period, one characterised by a pandemic that has taken a serious toll on the economic, social and physical well-being of the Guyanese people. In addition to the fiscal measures taken, the administration has implemented a slew of other measures to bring relief to the Guyanese people, which when taken together, have made a positive impact on the quality of life of the Guyanese people. Among these are COVID-19 relief cash grants, the increase in old age pension and an additional month’s pension payable this month, increased cash grants to parents of school age children in public and private schools, flood relief payments to those affected by the recent floods, and more recently the decision to pay dismissed sugar workers a one-off payment of $250,000, in addition to their severance benefits. The

PPP/C administration has also reduced value-added taxes on a range of consumer items which, when coupled with subsidies for electricity and water charges for senior citizens and the full range of other benefits, will certainly go a far way in making life easier for the Guyanese people, especially those in the lower-income brackets and our senior citizens.

As mentioned before, Guyana’s economy is on an upward growth trajectory and the benefits of that growth must redound to the people. Regrettably, a significant sum of money has to be diverted to dealing with the pandemic.

It is therefore in Guyana’s interest to bring a speedy end to the pandemic in order to direct more resources for developmental purposes and to further enhance the standard of living and safety of the Guyanese people.

Paradigm shift needed in hinterland agriculture Dear Editor,

FOR hinterland farming communities to become effective; supportive of a national food security programme, there has to be a paradigm shift in the way agriculture is done.

Historically speaking, Indigenous people knew very little about plantation agriculture and they still do. Later in the mid-nineteen hundreds, Guyana saw a shift in policy towards boosting of commercial cultivation of coffee, coconuts (for copra), and peanuts in hinterland communi ties, like in the Moruka and elsewhere. Residents briefly benefited from a United Nations’ funded programme. Careful soil analysis along with other scientific research could have aided such a laudable experiment. While some people indeed benefitted, it

could only be described as a good experiment.

Agriculture in Guyana may currently be in need of reports on such experiments to aid farmers go a step further. The analyses of agricultural experiments, not only farmsteads, but others like a cassava processing factory, should not to be thrown into the dustbins of history.

Someone, perhaps with the right knowledge, may use these findings to determine why such experiments failed; what went wrong so all could learn from the errors of the past. Was the soil rejuvenated in time; was the soil PH range at the optimum level? On business ventures, were persons only concerned about the running of the business, thus losing sight of the objectives?

Could it be that in the haste of earning quick money certain culture like the

crop rotation system, management practices, were ignored? Was government policy supportive? Why could it not be sustained, etc..? Some questions need to be answered from whence can come vital information on the way forward.

Making use of soil analyses is of critical importance when acting on basic information on the use of hinterland soils. This component of soil analysis which, if ignored, often leads to loss of time and labour, thus making farmers disenchanted, whenever crops fail.

This could be the reality in many cases.

Generally, soils in the hinterland are highly alkaline, unsupportive at fruiting stages, with 9.0--11.5 on the PH scale and a farmer without certain practical information would be like a man shooting in the dark.

Then there is the human

component. Interest groups embracing human development should change focus and embrace the paradigm shift in agriculture in hinterland communities. As long as new measures do not conflict with control mechanisms, e.g., storage and optimum usage of chemicals, there can be an aggressive growth and expanded hinterland agriculture programme.

Supportive behavioural patterns among representative groups, notwithstanding their reluctance in their support base of possible use of modern techniques, including the use of inorganic chemicals, seems to be high on the agenda.

Peter Drucker, an economics icon, once wrote, “Every few hundred years in Western history there occurs a sharp transformation.

We cross a ‘divide’. Within

a few short decades, society re-arranges itself -- it’s worldview, its basic val ues, it’s social and political structures, its arts, it’s key institutions. Fifty years later, there’s a new world. And the people born cannot even imagine the world in which their grandparents lived and into which their parents were born.”

Drucker was talking change-big change-language here, sudden bursts in history of incredible change that overwhelm every person and institution, not unlike a huge waterfall, like our Kaieteur, gushing down with devastating power. Business (farms), schools, govern ments, all institutions, families, even churches; you name It -- everyone feels the effect in one way or another.

Here’s the important thing, which is inevitable: once that burst of change begins, nothing can stop it.

We may want to resist it for a while or simply hope it’s going to go away. But finally you capitulate to it.

As Drucker said: “A new world is born.”

Sounds familiar? Editor, growth in hinterland agriculture needs a systematic approach. Not being made aware of the role of agriculture in human development is perhaps the greatest deficiency in hinterland communities.

It should embody a range of new initiatives resulting from historical analyses, detailed resource mapping vis-a-vis community needs.

In this way result can no doubt be a new focus, a new shift to support a nation al agricultural drive. A new world-outlook will indeed be.

Yours truly, Joseph C. Atkinson

7

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, October 10, 2021

A suggestion to the Indian High Commissioner Dear Editor,

INDIA is funding the Ogle-Diamond highway; it would be well in line with international and ethical standards for the Indian govern-

ment to suggest this four-lane highway to be named for Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (Mahatma).

Mohandas Gandhi is worthy of any honour Guyana or any other

country cares to bestow upon him; the honorific Mahatma (Sanskrit: “great-souled”, “venerable”), first applied to him in 1914 in South Africa, is now used throughout the world.

I look forward to a response from Indian High Commissioner, Dr. K.J Srinivasa to this suggestion.

pre-colonial period.

Both present and past governments have acknowledged the horrendous location of one of the country’s main firefighting units at the Stabroek market square which is a nightmare for fire trucks to exit their location quickly in case of a fire. The mere fact that governments have allowed the fire station to remain at that location instead of a central position is a clear example of poor planning. Any proactive government would have done otherwise to protect the resi-

dents of the City. It is worth mentioning that the population of Georgetown and its huge influx of vehicles have outgrown its narrow and outdated City streets.

Having spent huge amounts of taxpayers’ dollars on fire trucks and equipment and to train firefighters, one wonders why the performance of the fire service in wake of the Brickdam Police Station fire was so pathetic. The present government has certainly, and rather ironically, been handed a golden opportunity to utilise public funds to

build new fire stations and equip them with modern state of the art equipment so that the taxpayers could get their money’s worth. Also, the time has come for the government to haul the Durban Park Stadium down which has become an eye sore and relocate the fire station presently adjacent to the Stabroek market to the said location at Durban Park.

Vaccination of only 50 per cent of prisoners is not good.

One grave concern is the minister said the current batch of Pfizer vaccines are slated to expire in November and December. We have spent billions of dollars on vaccines so I hope the government has an aggressive plan to deploy all these vaccines so our money is not wasted. The unvaccinated must step up in larger numbers to make good use of our stock of vaccines, especially with 100,000 more doses of Pfizer received on Friday.

A bit of good news is that Pfizer and BioNTech have asked federal regulators in the USA to authorise emergency use of their coronavirus vaccine for children ages five to 11. This is good news because it would help us to keep all children safe as we seek to open up all schools to deal with learning loss and accelerate learning for all.

Meanwhile, here are some recent headlines in the USA. “Kaiser Permanente suspends 2,200 of its employees nationwide over vaccine

mandate” - employees who have refused to get vaccinated against COVID-19 were put on unpaid administrative leave. Kaiser said the number of unvaccinated workers is declining each day. Employees have until December 1, 2022 to get vaccinated to be able to return to work or risk losing their jobs.

“NY’s largest healthcare provider fires 1,400 who refused to get COVID vaccine” -Northwell Health announced it was parting ways with staff who did not comply with the state’s vaccine mandate for healthcare workers. “Northwell believes that having a fully-vaccinated workforce is an important measure in our duty to protect the health and safety of our staff, our patients and the communities we serve,” the rep said.

“Northwell regrets losing any employee under such circumstances, but as healthcare professionals and members of the largest healthcare provider in the state, we understand our unique responsibility to protect the health of our patients and each other. We owe

it to our staff, our patients and the communities we serve to be 100 per cent vaccinated against COVID-19.”

And in New York City where 97 per cent of teachers are now vaccinated, the headline - “My heart is breaking: NYC teachers who refuse vaccination prepare for possibility of being removed.”

Scientists are increasingly concerned vaccinated people may be more susceptible to serious illness than was previously thought.

One more headline, “Unvaxxed Colorado woman speaks out after hospital denies lifesaving transplant: ‘My days are numbered’.”

In September, the Colorado health system denied the kidney transplant because she won’t be vaccinated against COVID due to her religious views.

So nation, let’s make a big push to use up all the vaccines and reach herd immunity that would let us open up the country fully.

Yours sincerely Robin Singh

Fire station should be relocated from Stabroek Market to D’Urban Park Dear Editor,

FOR everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven… a time to tear down and a time to build up… Ecclesiastes 3:13. The time to tear down is upon the powers that be; and the time to build may not be too late for the construction of a new and modern fire station to serve the nation’s capital and its environs. We are in a post-colonial era but our current fire stations, police stations and post offices among others are from a

Yours sincerely, Leyland Chitlall Roopnaraine New York

Nice more folks are getting vaccinated Dear Editor,

WHILE many of the unvaccinated in the USA are being fired from their jobs, Minister Anthony has reported some good news that the vaccination rate in Guyana is inching up slowly as more and more resisters have seen the writing on the wall and are getting vaccinated. My friend Suresh in a chiding mood said, “Wha dem should do first, dem a do last.” I say better late than never!

The Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Narine Singh said, “Pregnant and breastfeeding women are among the groups of people who are no longer exempted from receiving the COVID-19 vaccines.”

As of October 6, a total of 365,274 adults have received a COVID-19 vaccine, representing 71.2 per cent of the adult population whereas 218,120 or 42.5 per cent are fully inoculated. I trust the government would release data on the number of people vaccinated and unvaccinated in the various state agencies, including teachers and nurses.

Yours sincerely, Dr. Jerry Jailall

8

SUNDAY CHRONICLE October 10, 2021

Politics & Society Forum We have seen more rupture than collegiality in the PNCR and the Coalition THERE has been much talk about the recently held PNCR’s 64th-anniversary event at Congress Place, Sophia in the dailies, and elsewhere.

A great deal of this talk is full of glib optimism, especially on the part of the supporters from the PNCR. This is expected. However, a few thoughts ought to be discussed before optimism is accepted. First off, it is heartening to see the PNCR emerging out

of its cells announcing “that political confrontation [internally] would lead us [to] nowhere” and that “our principles and commitment [s] to the people of Guyana” must be expanded. At the maximum level, such declaration reveals a partial maturity in that of an admission that problems do exist in the rank and file of the PNCR. The admission, however, as a yardstick, is ambiguous and subjective.

Admittedly, there are

actually two doctrines of divisions going on in the Coalition: one is within the PNCR and the other is within the APNU Coalition between the PNCR and the AFC climaxing into a double whammy.

These doctrines have shown no signs of disappearing, and have subsequently exposed a weak variegated terrain of unity in the PNC and the Coalition. Having displayed no genuine approach, based on brinkmanship dictated by reason and rationality

to resolve these divisions, brings out the incompetence and reluctance to deal with a serious straitjacket within the Coalition. We have witnessed more rupture than collegiality in the PNCR and the Coalition, and, by extension, the catapulting of its members into a tighter world of shared frustration, waiting to explode.

It is therefore difficult to accept the following shrill and mal parler tone: “our personal commitment as well as our responsibility to all of Guyana must include working to have a more organised and mobilised party, united in its effort to advocate for its membership and all Guyanese.” The rationale is that if consociational measures of inclusivity are missing in the PNCR and the Coalition, then how would their leaders wean themselves from the narrative that they are not in politics for themselves, and to their loyal followers who are complicit in this unfortunate “stewardship”?

The second observation of the 64th-anniversary event at Congress Place, Sophia, is that one recognises the evolving and evolutionary character of the PNCR. The party declared “that [it] has evolved throughout the ages and remains committed to the tenets of democracy enshrined in its Constitution, and the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. Our Congress demonstrates our strength, our vivacity, and our dynamism.” These few lines, although admirable, illustrate a des-

perate attempt to dismiss self-abasement, restore respect and credibility premised upon PNCR’s mastering of rigging elections.

The last sentence in the quote about dynamism was, in part, true.

It is worth putting on record, however, that truth was not a seminal practice or principle. The endemic weakness of the Coalition was that the daily Diem and the political fruits from the feeding trough proved too much to resist.

These so-called leaders created political reservations by themselves for themselves arising out of the need for social recreation and national pleasure, an idee fixe. In so doing, I reckon, that the Coalition leaders were enthused in moments of discernment that rigging of elections, and years of heavy-handed attitude would take them into the political nirvana of leadership. This schizoid role, coupled with the old Guyanese political game of seeking to frighten the then PPP opposition into submission, was ignominiously applied. It was “defeated”. This is why I have difficulty in accepting the following submission: “Truth must forever remain our marshal weapon,” quipped the PNCR. I think the word marshal (military officer) is confused with martial (bravery). I am questioning, however, the false conviction of leading with bravery for all Guyanese.

The final observation, in tandem with a short speech and a decorative conclusion of

Professor lomarsh roopnarine points, provides us with a quaint account of a Queen-like-monarchical style of Volda Lawrence.

The concluding points of the presentation, perhaps predictable reorientations and recalibration of past speeches, found easy accommodation in the celebratory event where everyone is a conformist to party doctrine and protocol. As much as the points might seem forward-looking, they are misleading, obscuring the reality that the PNCR has been a thorn in the side of Guyana since the founding of that party. Electoral rigging and post-election violence, to name a few, intertwined with the claim of political innocence, have brought this nation to its knees. Rising from this foisted position has been a nightmare of nightmares to keep Guyana in lain with e Pluribus Unum (One from many), to borrow an American motto, rather than living up to the undergirded motto of one destiny of this and that. More telling is that the head honcho, David Granger, an admirer of Forbes Burnham, of the PNCR was not included, although a message was dispatched later from him, according to one daily newspaper.

We have seen puerilities and eccentricities from the PNCR in the past but the exclusion of Granger from last week’s event is no laughing matter.

The truth is revealed.

Granger will not be leading the APNU+AFC Coalition into the 2025 general elections (lomarsh.roopnarine@ jsums.edu).

9

SUNDAY CHRONICLE October 10, 2021

Why Sexually transmitted infections are your business

A CASUAL sexual encounter can have far reaching consequences if you were to acquire a sexually transmitted disease and leave it untreated.

The Washington Post and CDC published that 50 per cent of persons who contracted a STD (sexually transmitted disease) interchangeably referred to as STI (sexually transmitted infections) are college students ages 15-24 years.

Why STI is your business may not be immediately obvious at that age. But later in life, when health challenges such as infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease, genital warts, genital and cervical cancer show up, then you may or may not reflect on that sexual partner who would have, either knowingly or unknowingly, been the source of your problem.

Best ways to prevent STI are abstinence, monogamous relationships with no pre-historic infection or the barrier method using either the male or female condom (which is not 100 per cent full proof). In the case of HPV (the most common STD), there has been a break though vaccine for girls and boys ages 9-26 years before their first sexual encounter with a protective period of five years.

If only parents can fast forward life’s challenges to see what pain and suffering they can alleviate for their children by proactively protecting them, then there will not be so much resistance to the HPV vaccine.

STD refers to any infection due to either a virus, bacteria or a parasite spread from one person to another through sexual contact. The treatable bacterial STDs are gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia and trichomonas, whilst the incurable viral STI are human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), human papilloma virus (HPV),

herpes simplex virus and hepatitis B Virus.

Points to highlight are that STDs are on the rise, more women than men are affected due to their anatomy, a condom does not protect you from all STDs 100 per cent of the time and not all STDs show symptoms. Specific focus today are on gonorrhoea, syphilis and herpes.

Syphilis is a chronic systemic infection which can progress in three stages; primary, secondary and tertiary syphilis. The method of transmission is via sexual contact with an infective lesion. It takes about 21 days on average to be incubated and is presented in a single usually raised firm and painless ulcer at the site of the inoculation. This chancre is usually found on the external of the genitals or the anus. In the secondary stage, about 1-2 months later, it can progress to the trunk of the body or the extremities like the palms, soles of the feet, face and scalp where there are red or pink-like boils which do not itch. The tertiary stage may be presented in five to 10 years after the primary infection, where it can affect the central nervous system.

This occurs in about five per cent of patients. It may cause changes in personality, affect intellect, orientation and impair judgement, ability to calculate and analytical insight.

Gonorrhoea is a common sexually transmitted infection and the method of transmission is via genital, anal-genital and oral-genital contact. It is more common in sexually active males. It grows on the mucus membranes and is usually detected by a lot of yellow pus discharged, at the urethra (penis area), cervix (vaginal region), or the anus (anal discharge which can also be bloody too) or throat

infections, also referred to as pharyngeal infections, which can usually be without any symptoms but also manifest as exudative tonsillitis. It takes about 3-5 days to grow and spread upwards, especially in females, and, in some 15 per cent of cases, may infect the fallopian tubes, cause scarring and later on sterility in women. Diagnosis is made via a laboratory test called a gram stain using the urethral discharge in men or a culture and sensitivity test of the cervix in women.

Genital herpes differentiated as types 1 and 2 (the latter is more common) can be diagnosed by culture and serologic (blood sample) testing since the herpes simplex virus can be found in the DNA. Before the skin lesions appear on the genital area, sometimes thighs and buttocks, the preceding symptoms usually include pain, tingling sensation and itching. Later the ulcer and crusting stages set in.

Treatment for all STI is usually prescribed by a doctor after screening with either the home self-test kits or lab tests (blood, urine and or swabs) to confirm type or organism and what drug is resistant to it. Depending on the stage, severity of the infection or classification whether complicated or uncomplicated, the appropriate antibacterials (either antibiotics or antivirals) are selected if the causative organism is a bacteria or virus. Utmost importance is not to use an antibiotic that is resistant to the micro-organism since you will make treatment options a nightmare for both the prescriber and the patient. Such medications usually have a specific duration of treatment and dosage to which you must adhere for effective treatment. However be reminded that, unlike bacteria, viruses are not completely

eradicated from the body.

The viral loads are just suppressed with treatment but will still be present in the body and can flare up from time to time depending on the immunity level of the person.

Poor compliance to the treatment can lead to recurrence of infection and re-infecting your partner.

It is usually desirable to do a contact tracing so that all persons (all partners) who may be exposed at different times can get a chance

for treatment. Otherwise they can continue to spread these infections unknowingly since some persons may be asymptomatic (not presenting with the typical symptoms).

In conclusion, careful consideration when choosing your sexual partner is highly recommended even more important than your many life choices such as university, job, career and even nutritional options.

The lifestyle choices for both yourself and your part-

ner will eventually become your business one of these days.

For further advice consult the pharmacist at Medicine Express PHARMACY located at 223 Camp Street, between Lamaha and New Market Streets.

If you have any queries, comments or further information on the above topic kindly forward them to medicine.express@ gmail.com or send them to 223 Camp Street, N/ burg. Tel #225-5142.

10

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, October 10, 2021

55% of Guyanese women experience intimate partner violence -UN data reveals

ACCORDING to recent data released by the United Nations, intimate partner violence (IPV) is pervasive in Guyana; so much so that more than one in every two women between the ages of 16 and 64 have experienced such violence at least once in their lifetime. This accounts for some 55 per cent of all Guyanese women.

The United Nations (Guyana office) has indicated that this figure represents more than the global average of one in every three, or 30 per cent of all women. The recently appointed United Nations Resident Co-ordinator in Guyana, Yesim Oruc, has pointed to the urgency with which Gender Based Violence (GBV) needs to be addressed, especially among youths, and considering the impact that the coronavirus pandemic has had on vulnerable populations such as women and children. The pandemic, Oruc reflected, has resulted in spikes of reported cases.

As a result, the United Nations has partnered with the European Union’s Spotlight Initiative and the Government of Guyana to launch a ‘Foundations Programme’ which seeks to strengthen prevention approaches to address gender-based violence in the Caribbean, specifically violence

against women and girls within the context of family violence.

Oruc, in advocating for a safer society, quoted the ‘Guyana Women’s Health and Life Experiences Survey of 2018’ which highlighted that solution to the country’s predicament must result in behavioural change in both men and women, especially since women themselves identify with beliefs that perpetuate inequality and increase the risk of suffering and violence.

“The prevention pillar recognises that tackling these beliefs at the root requires investments beyond sensitization [but] it needs us to look at this [gender-

Studies show that more than one in two Guyanese women are victims of intimate partner violence

based violence] in a multi-pronged approach focusing on the individual, relationships, families, communities and the society,” Oruc indicated.

She explained that the foundation’s programme targets youths aged 13 to 24 to become advocates for the prevention of genderbased violence. The programme is intended to support participants in understanding how to address the root causes of GBV such as socially and culturally bound concepts of the values placed on women and men, in not only their personal lives, but socially as well.

The aforementioned 2018 report, compiled by the United Nations in collaboration with the Inter-American Bank, marks the first time that Guyana has ever collected national-level prevalence data in relation to violence against women and girls locally.

The report indicated that violence against women and girls is commonly perpetrated by persons known to the victims, particularly by current or previous intimate partners. It is said that women and girls experience violence not only in public spaces,

but at home — a location that is usually thought to be the safest place for women.

The United Nations and its partners have said that addressing violence against women and girls in Guyana, particularly intimate partner violence and sexual violence, is particularly challenging owing to the mindset that these issues are “private and personal family matters.”

The UN also pointed to the fact that victims are often blamed for the abuse, coupled with the fact that violence has become “normalised as part of the Guyanese culture” and relationships among Guyanese.

Recognising the realities of the Guyanese society, Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, had called on all stakeholders to become advocates of nonviolent interactions.

Shortly after assuming office in August 2020, Minister Persaud spearheaded the launch of a ‘914’ hotline which is geared specifically to address issues of violence, especially such acts committed against vulnerable groups such as women and children.

The Ministry of Hu-

man Services and Social Security had also created a support network for survivors of domestic violence. As part of this platform, survivors who have already dealt with most of their trauma, provide personalised comfort and guidance to those who are now going through the processes of escaping their abusers and seeking justice for the atrocities committed against them.

Only recently, the ministry also collaborated with the United Nations Population Fund to train a number of police officers as part of the CopSquad2000 initiative.

The programme saw the first batch of 21 ranks graduating from a two-week training.

The entire programme aims to train 2,000 police officers as it pertains to gender-based violence and how to deal with gender-based crimes in a manner that would protect, rather than expose, exploit or deter victims from coming forward.

These trainings will also feed into the establishment of various domestic violence units which further assists in protecting survivors.

11

SUNDAY CHRONICLE October 10, 2021

Bids open for Eccles to Great Diamond Road

WITH works progressing nicely on the Mandela Avenue-Eccles aspect of the East Coast to East Bank Demerara bypass road, the Ministry of Housing and Water has moved ahead to issue bids for another section of the project, the road from Eccles to Diamond, East Bank Demerara.

According to the bid document, which was recently published in the Guyana Chronicle newspaper, the second set of works on the four-lane highway will be divided into 12 lots, with construction expected to last for a period of 15 months per lot. Bidders who have the opportunity to bid for any or all of the lots, have until November 4 to make their submissions.

Meanwhile, the first aspect of the project, which runs from Mandela Avenue, Georgetown to Eccles, East Bank Demerara highway, is approximately 45 per cent complete, and on course to achieving its year-end deadline, according to Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal.

Croal recently informed the Guyana Chronicle that that works on bridges and other critical infrastructure are almost complete. And despite the inconveniences caused by inclement weather during the months of May, June and July, contractors were able to stay on par with their schedule.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), Sherwyn

Greaves had previously highlighted that the Mandela-Eccles thoroughfare is poised to become the first fully-concreted four-lane highway in the country.

Works on this aspect of the project commenced in April of this year.

Once completed, the East Coast to East Bank bypass road will

ara Highway.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali had said that in addition to alleviating traffic woes, the new roads, accompanied by a new harbour bridge, will also lend to the modernisation of the East Bank Demerara corridor.

The Head of State, during a recent assess-

plained.

Based on the president’s vision, the East Bank highway will also boast a modernised and technologically-advanced security system which would include the erection of police towers and a “Wi-Fi system connected to cameras which would automatically ticket

and Water during the previous tenure of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government.

This new hub was projected to be developed along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway.

As an incentive to entice potential homeowners, the then Minister Ali, at a Building

Construction moving apace on the Mandela Avenue to Eccles, East Bank Demerara four-lane highway (Adrian Narine photo) facilitate a number of alternative routes to the country’s main entry and exit point, the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

Additionally, the new road will alleviate the often overwhelming traffic congestion that plagues the East Bank of Demerara. Commuters are also expected to benefit from further relief, once a spanking new Demerara Harbour Bridge is constructed; this will also feed into a number of inter-connecting roads that will be linked to the main East Bank Demerara Public Road as well as the East Coast Demer-

ment visit to sections of the bypass road, hinted at the strategic establishment and placement of a government hub which would boast of a new school, as well as outposts for the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana Defence Force, the Guyana Fire Service, and an Emergency Medical Services unit.

“This is part of the infrastructure transformation and integration of communities, because, now Diamond, Prospect, Eccles, Herstelling, Covent Garden, Mocha all these communities will be integrated,” Dr. Ali ex-

drivers”.

“We will have tower-to-tower connection, so if someone is speeding at Tower One, that person would be caught on camera, and can be stopped by police at Tower Two. We need to look at smarter, safer and more modern ways going forward,” President Ali noted.

A transformed East Bank Demerara corridor also feeds into the president’s vision of ‘Silica City’, which is the concept of a secondary city he first introduced in 2013 while holding the position of Minister of Housing

Expo, had announced that all those who had received their acknowledgment letters for house lots, and are willing to accept spots along the highway at Silica City, would have had their applications “processed immediately”.

Fast-forward to 2021, the now President Ali remains adamant that ‘Silica City’ is the avenue to ensure sustainable housing and urbanisation in Guyana. As a matter of fact, on the eve of Guyana’s 55th Independence Anniversary, Dr. Ali reiterated his intentions for the new

city.

“We need to build new communities further [sic] inland to spread our population; reduce prices for land and housing, and cease traffic congestion. We must use the land space with which we have been blessed to create new and improved living conditions; new areas of growth and development, and new population centres,” Dr. Ali said during the pre-Independence Day observance.

During his recent visit to the United States for the 76th United Nations’ General Assembly, President Ali said that he was pleased that his vision for the secondary city did not escape the attention of international players. As a matter of fact, the president said that he and his high-level delegation were even presented with a conceptual design of what the new city could possibly look like, and what it could entail.

“Sometimes, in Guyana, when I speak about the new city, you get the impression from the media that this is a fairy-tale land,” President Ali reflected. He said, however, that on the international stage, investors are “hungry” to invest in the new city.

Moreover, with Guyana also poised for massive transformational development, many observers have reiterated the need for the country to “look the part”, and for major investments to be directed towards infrastructural advancements and modernisation.

12

Another $67.1M in flood-relief grants distributed to Region Three farmers

By Tamica Garnett

AS distribution of the government’s flood-relief cash grants continued in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) on Saturday, another $67.1 million was distributed to 361 farmers from Leguan and Wakenaam Islands.

Ninety-one rice and cash

crop farmers in Leguan received a collective $29.5 million, while the $37.6 million distributed at Wakenaam was shared between 270 cash crop, livestock and rice farmers.

Having lost more than three quarters of the produce on her three-acre farm due to the May/June floods earlier this year, 57-year-old Ra-

jpatty Dhanaat, a diabetic, has been struggling over the past few months to not only sustain herself but to pay her medical bills.

As such she could not stop praising the assistance she was able to receive from the government through the flood relief grant. Dhanaat was among 219 cash crop farmers from Wakenaam

SUNDAY CHRONICLE October 10, 2021

Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar hands over a flood-relief grant to Wakenaam farmer, Rajpatty Dhanaat (Elvin Croker photo) who received assistance.

Speaking with the Sunday Chronicle, Dhanaat shared that she recently had her toes amputated due to her condition so it has really been a tough year for her.

“I’m a diabetic and [my] husband is a pensioner, and we plant three acres but three quarter did flood out. I [was] so miserable because me nah get money to go to the hospital so I stop go for a long while but then I start go back again lately.

“So right now I am more than thankful that the government can help me with this lil assistance. May God bless the government so that we can get more,” Dhanaat shared moments after collecting a check.

Distribution of the flood relief grants on the two islands was marked by the presence of Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, and Region Three Member of Parliament, Deodat Indar. Indar was also accompanied by Regional Chairman, Inshan Ayube.

Also in Region Three on Saturday, Minister of Agriculture, Zulkifar Mustapha oversaw a series flood relief distribution in Wales, Patentia and Vive-la-Force. The distribution follows an initial $37.8 million having been distributed on Friday to several communities along the Essequibo River, when distribution commenced in this Region.

The recipients of the assistance are all farmers who would have suffered losses during the May/June floods, which was caused by unprecedented rainfall across the country.

For several of the farmers the floods destroyed dozens of acres of produce leaving them in dire financial crisis. Young rice farmer Mohammed Razack, from Leguan, lost almost 50 acres of rice, and has since had to cut back on how much he invests in his farm.

“I used to plant 100 acres but I could only plant like

15 acres this crop. The land them get bad. I didn’t even get half my rice last crop, some rotten out and the combine couldn’t even go into the field. Thankfully I get the D&I excavator to take the combine out the field,” Razack shared.

To get by over the past few months, the 37-year-old father of one said he was forced to sell some livestock; some of his animals died as well. He, nonetheless, commended the community and government agencies which came together to assist farmers over the past few months.

“Everyone tried to be helpful in Leguan. Everybody just chip in but there is just so much you could do due to the weather,” he said.

Having gotten involved in rice farming ever since he finished school, Razack said he cannot give up on the trade and has to do whatever he can to make it work. For him, the cash grant gives him financial assistance and renewed hope in being able to weather the storm.

“Since I finish CXC, I planting rice. But rice work is a hard task and when you can’t get a crop out it’s very hard. So this assistance will boost me up to go back into the next crop. Sake of this flooding, the last time I didn’t plant all my land them back this crop, but now, if the weather favourable for the next crop, I would prepare back the land and go again.

It is a great pleasure for me to receive this cheque from the government and I have to thank them,” Razack told the Sunday Chronicle.

Cognisant of what the farmers have been going through, Minister Indar and Chairman Ayube made brief remarks during the distribution exercise and offered the farmers words of encouragement, assuring them of the government’s commitment to farming, and reminded the farmers of the pivotal role they play See page 13

13

GGMC auctions 65 mining blocks

SUNDAY CHRONICLE October 10, 2021

IN keeping with the government’s goal of boosting local mining activities, the Ministry of Natural Resources in collaboration with the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) on Saturday held “Phase

1” of its 2021 Auction of Mining Blocks at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCA).

The auction, which saw 65 mining blocks up for grabs by bidders, with a starting bid of $300,000, is part of the government’s

A miner placing a bid on one of the mining blocks up for grabs on Saturday at the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) 2021 Auction (Delano Williams photo)

Another $67.1M ...

From page 12

in the country’s economy.

“We understand the importance of the agriculture sector and we will not leave you out in the cold. So we are here to give you this money to help you get back on your feet. I just want to say to you how important you are to our economy and to our daily lives as well,” Minister Indar said.

During the distribution, Minister Indar also explained that any farmer who was

missed during the initial assessments and not included on the list to receive a grant, would still be given the opportunity to speak with a representative from the Ministry of Agriculture and be able to receive their assistance.

Outside of receiving the grant, the residents were also given the opportunity to speak to the minister and the regional chairman about issues affecting them in their communities.

Young rice farmer, Mohammed Razack (right) from Leguan receives his flood relief cheque from Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar, as Regional Chairman Inshan Ayube looks on (Elvin Croker photo)

promise of providing miners with equal opportunities in the mining of gold, diamonds and other precious minerals.

The auction outlined available mining blocks within four of the six mining districts with the exception of the Berbice and Rupununi mining districts.

The 2021 auction was the

first mining block auction to be hosted by the GGMC in the past three years and was open to any Guyanese 18 years and older and companies with at least 51 per cent beneficial Guyanese ownership.

Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, highlighted the importance of the event, noting

the major impact auctions such as this can have on the lives of individual miners and companies.

The minister acknowledged the significant role mining has played in allowing for exponential and consistent growth of the country’s economy over the years; he highlighted that this is one of the many

reasons the government intends to continue investing in the mining sector, while simultaneously investing in the lives of its citizens.

“Mining, as we know it, is one of the major contributors to our Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Mining has been the See page 17

14

SUNDAY CHRONICLE October 10, 2021

COVID-19 measures lawful, do not infringe on rights of people –– says AG in legal opinion

By Richard Bhainie THE COVID-19 Emergency Measures published in the Official Gazette is grounded in the laws of Guyana and do not collide with or contravene individual rights and civil liberties as guaranteed by the Constitution.

This was expressed by the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, S.C., in a thorough legal opinion which addresses the different strands of objections to the COVID-19 measures emanating from citizens and trade unions here.

It is the contention of the unions that the measures violate fundamental rights and freedoms guaranteed to the citizenry by the State.

But in the legal opinion seen by the Sunday Chronicle, the Attorney General wrote, “Each of the fundamental rights and freedoms asserted by the workers and their unions as being trampled upon by the COVID-19 measures are subject to a list of limitations, including measures taken that are reasonably required in the interest of public health.”

In making his argument, the Attorney General cited Justice S.Y. Mohamed in his text Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of the Commonwealth Caribbean; Justice Patanjali Sastri in the case of Gopalan v The State of Madras and Chief Justice Wooding in the case of Collymore v Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago.

For context, Nandlall referenced Article 147 of the Constitution of Guyana which guarantees the right of freedom of assembly, association and freedom to demonstrate peacefully, as well as, guaranteeing the freedom to strike and the right to enter into collective agreements, which is subject to a number of limitations, restrictions or proviso.

Article 147 (4) (a) states: “nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or on contravention of this article to the extent that the law in question makes provision- (a) that is reasonably required in the interests of defence, public safety, pub-

lic order, public morality or public health…”

The COVID-19 Emergency Measures, which are made under the Public Health Ordinance, Chapter 1:45 of the Laws of Guyana, falls under the rubric of something “done under the authority of any law… reasonably required in the interest of public health and therefore shall not be inconsistent with or in contravention.”

“Almost every fundamental right and freedom in the Constitution is subject to a similar caveat expressed in like language. Therefore, the contention, mostly cantankerously expressed, that the COVID-19 measures are ‘unconstitutional, or violates constitutional rights’ simply have no legal basis and should be rejected as completely without merit, misconceived and wrong,” Nandlall wrote.

He reminded that the constitutionality and legality of the COVID-19 measures was examined in the case of Gobin et anor v The Attorney General of Guyana et al by a High Court Judge and was found to be proper, lawful and constitutional and that decision was upheld on appeal in the Full Court.

He also referenced a joint legal opinion by Sir Dennis Byron, former President of the Caribbean Court of Justice and Professor Rose-Marie Belle Antione to the Governments of the Eastern Caribbean which noted that the COVID-19 Measures do not abridge individual rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution.

Further, Nandlall cited Sections five and 21 of the Interpretation and General Clauses Act which states that that all proclamations, direction, rules, regulations, orders and by-laws are all subsidiary legislation and, therefore, form part of the Laws of Guyana.

“The COVID-19 measures therefore, is part and parcel of the legislative corpus of Guyana like every other statute. Like every other statute, it must be obeyed and like every other statute, refusal to obey may attract sanctions and penalties,” Nandlall wrote in his legal opinion.

“Many still have grave

difficulty in appreciating this legal reality. They perceive it as “guidelines” which they can disregard with impunity.

Stricter enforcement may bring some reprieve to this issue,” he added.

“I will opine that the COVID-19 Measures do not interfere with, or abridge the fundamental rights and freedoms of the citizenry as guaranteed by Articles 138 to 152 of the Constitution of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana,” the Attorney General noted.

Another argument advanced is that the vaccinations constitute a violation of Regulation Nine of the Medical Practitioners (Code of Conduct and Standards of Practice) Regulations No. 22 of 2008 which mandates that every person must give their free, full and informed consent to undertake any medical intervention or treatment.

This contention is manifestly wrong as taking the COVID-19 vaccine is not mandatory, and everyone who takes it must do so voluntarily, the Attorney General said.

He also addressed allegations in relation to purported violations of the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act as it relates to non-payment of wages and salaries for non-attendance at work.

“This argument is extremely difficult to understand because this Act prohibits the imposition of a monetary penalty as a disciplinary measure. However, it does authorise suspension without pay,” Nandlall wrote.

“The COVID-19 Measures is law and if deduction of remuneration flow therefrom, that is the law.

Based upon the instructions received, there is likely to be non-payment for absence.

That cannot be construed as a monetary penalty. If at all, it bears greater generic resemblance to the concept of suspension without pay,” he added.

In concluding, the Attorney General submitted that that the COVID-19 measures are part of the statutory corpus of the laws of Guyana and are binding and enforceable against all of Guyana, as every other law.

15

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, October 10, 2021

Exploring gas-to-power options

GUYANA’S entrance to international oil markets was by no means a simple feat. Thousands of hours of careful planning and billions of dollars later, there is much to celebrate. As the number of discoveries continues to increase and the recoverable barrels of oil eclipse that of many long-time producers, Guyana’s fortunes have never looked better. One of the most promising benefits in the next few years could be converting the natural or ‘associated gas’ from the Liza oil field into energy through a gas-toenergy project that could start operation as soon as 2024 and substantially reduce electricity costs for households and businesses.

One key consideration of developing new oil fields is treating ‘associated gas’ such as ethane, propane, normal butane, isobutane, and gasoline.

There are several options commonly used by producers. Associated gas can be re-injected to stimulate further oil production; flared to reduce the harmful compounds; used to power the operations of floating, production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessels; or transported via pipeline to be processed into usable products for power generation, cooking gas or other industrial applications. The government has embarked on an ambitious plan to transport the gas produced in the Liza oil field onshore to the site of the abandoned Wales Estate sugar processing plant outside Georgetown, after some twenty locations were considered.

Transporting the associated gas from the Liza oil field to shore is no small undertaking. This would

require a 160 kilometre subsea gas pipeline from the Liza Phase 1 and Liza Phase 2 FPSO vessels to the landing site, which would make it one of the most ambitious development projects in Guyana’s history.

The expected volume of gas from the Liza field would be enough to power a 250-300 megawatt power plant, well above the national demand of 205MW. Onshore, the construction of a natural gas liquid (NGL) and natural gas processing (NGP) plant to receive, process, and utilise the gas and ultimately a natural gas power plant that could then be connected to the national grid and provide enough electricity to meet the needs of Guyana for many years would follow. Such a facility could last for 25 years, provide enough electricity to meet the needs of Guyana and propel the economy into the next half of the twenty-first century.

Another option that has been identified is an offshore floating liquified natural gas facility (FLNG) similar to the design of an FPSO. Guyana’s ‘Oil and Gas Master Plan’ first prepared by the Government of Japan in 2018 and since updated – in partnership with Mitsubishi Corporation and Chiyoda Corporation – favoured an offshore facility rather than an onshore facility. The Master Plan concluded that both concepts would be economically feasible and there were no significant differences in the costs beyond a lower power selling price for the onshore plant at 6.93 cents (US) per KWH compared to 7.11 cents (US) per KWH for the offshore facility according to an April 18, 2021 story reported by

Stabroek news.

The FLNG would supply LNG to be used in the power generation and would not require the laying of a pipeline between the gas field and the shore.

The government ultimately chose to pursue an onshore plan which offers more opportunities for local content in the construction and operation of the facility as well as better options for other industries to benefit.

A gas to energy plant, whether onshore or offshore, has the potential to significantly reduce the cost of energy in Guyana, ushering in reduced household electricity costs and improving competitiveness for light manufacturing and industries that are price sensitive. Guyana ranks among the worst for electricity costs in CARICOM, with an estimated electricity cost of US 32 cents per kilowatt-hour (KWH). By comparison, Trinidad and Tobago, another regional energy powerhouse, enjoys electricity rates of US 4 cents per kilowatt-hour (KWH).

There has been some opposition to some aspects of the gas-to-energy plan, namely Guyana utilising a fossil fuel while committing to a low carbon future.

The benefits of natural gas must be examined through the lens of Guyana’s current fuel sources. Guyana’s primary source of electricity production is heavy fuel oil. Heavy fuel oil is the residual oil left over after the lighter, more volatile products like gasoline, diesel and natural gas that are distilled out of the crude oil. Heavy fuel oil is more expensive than gas and produces more polluting sulfurs and heavy metals.

Replacing heavy fuel oil with natural gas can reduce the number of pollutants

and greenhouse gases generated substantially, creating a cleaner and more reliable electric grid that is better prepared to incorporate renewable sources like wind and solar.

While no fossil fuel

is without its drawbacks, the substitution of cleaner-burning and more ecologically friendly fuels like natural gas can reduce emissions incrementally. At the

same time, Guyana will continue to procure an energy mix that consecutive governments have agreed will be driven by solar, wind, hydro, and natural gas.

16

THIS past week, there were the usual celebratory activities, albeit limited, to mark the 64th anniversary of the People’s National Congress.

A s e x p e c t e d , P a rty Leader David Granger made efforts to rally his comrades in unity and solidarity. He warned the membership about disunity and division, at this challenging time in the party’s history. He relied heavily on previous sentiments about party factionalism as he sought to try to convince party members against this route.

Additionally, he invoked sentiments expressed by the founding party leader, Forbes Burnham, at the party’s first leadership congress in 1975. Also, Chairman

Volda Lawrence expressed similar sentiments calling for unification.

Sadly, both appeals were meaningless to the membership. After all, it is these two persons who are causing all the confusion in the first place in the party.

Their leadership styles are very different and bad for the party’s growth and development.

Consequently, they are not even serious about achieving unity and cohesiveness in the PNC, or they would have started the anniversary celebrations with the “truth” about elections and the party.

Firstly, Lawrence and Granger should have said that they tried to rig the elections and offer an unconditional apology. This is the proclamation that all

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, October 10, 2021

PNC in shambles at 64

Guyanese were waiting to hear from them as leaders. And, it is not surprising, however, to learn that they did not even say what changes the party can look forward to as they negotiate this difficult period.

Much less to say, the leaders disappointed their membership and Guyanese as they seem to be playing a game of internal politics.

It is not that they did not sound good, but they were not at all serious if a proclamation to end rigging was not mentioned.

Secondly, Granger’s speech was hum drum and boring. He said nothing and offered no real paradigm shift for the members to contemplate ahead of the congress. Granger has to come to grips with the reality that his party

is experiencing internal passive-aggressive unrest, and turmoil.

This situation requires a leader who can stop the near ideological and leadership collapse of the PNC. Granger ought to know that the party requires him to act swiftly and be seen, not just heard.

In any case, this speech sealed his fate with diehard party members as he was right in the country but chose to remain concealed from the media and leadership. They will never forget this disrespectful snob.

Thirdly, Lawrence’s appearance has not escaped the attention of observant party members. She should have offered a more realistic assessment of the PNC at 64. Similarly, she should have pointed out the chal-

lenges, frontally, and admitted that the party must do better. If she believed in the party’s anniversary theme, she should have declared that the PNC was ready to publicly furnish all stakeholders with a copy of the now-infamous SoPs which will prove the PNC’s version of the truth. Too, Lawrence had an opportunity to tell the PNC members about the problems with the congress committee in organising a safe COVID-19 congress in 2021.

F i n a l l y, G u y a n e s e should not listen to them make noise on their microphones, saying a lot but not saying anything. PNC at 64 is a huge opportunity for the leadership to address young people’s problems with how de-

cisions are made by the Executive. It offered the chance for the leadership to offer insight into the ideology and thinking patterns, plans and policies, and strategy for winning the next elections. Also, the leadership should have spoken truthfully about rigging. And they could begin turning a new leaf with reconciliation and healing taking shape within the PNC. The PNC at 64 is in chaos and confusion. The party must stop, take stock, strategise, and then do battle again.

Granger and Lawrence missed a grand opportunity to carve out an image of a new PNC. It would appear that they do not possess the mind-power to steer the PNC into a new phase.

17

GGMC auctions 65 mining...

SUNDAY CHRONICLE October 10, 2021

From page 13

backbone of our economy for a number of years now. Over the last five to six years, mining has kept our economy afloat, especially with the favourable, high gold price,” Minister Bharrat said.

The Natural Resources Minister noted that since the government took office, innovative systems have been implemented to ensure that the sector continues to develop. Just last week, the government through the GGMC conducted a lottery of medium-scale blocks, whereby some 202 mining blocks were distributed nationally through mining-lottery exercises.

The lottery saw persons paying a non-refundable participation fee of (GUY) $20,000. In an effort to ensure equity within the

the mining sector, but to grow it in a responsible way, to grow it in a manner where we will have respect for the environment, where

Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, speaking at the 2021 Auction of Mining Blocks at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre mining sector, holders of medium or large-scale mining properties were not allowed to participate in the GGMC’s mining-block lottery.

Minister Bharrat further highlighted that the government, since taking office in August 2020, has removed Value Added Tax (VAT) on mining

equipment, machinery and All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) in an effort to decrease the operation costs attached to mining.

He said that while government is committed to broadening the mining sector, great emphasis will be placed on the protection of Guyana’s hinterland.

“We want to grow

we will have respect for indigenous people and indigenous communities and where we will try to use best practices to ensure we apply

our trade in a manner that we safeguard our environment and the rights of our people too,” Minister Bharrat said.

18

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, October 10, 2021

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, October 10, 2021

19

20

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, October 10, 2021

Reg. 4 pensioners happy with one-off cash grant, 2022 books _

ministry appeals for persons to utilise multiple days of the week

THE Ministry of Human Services and Social Security rolled out the massive distribution exercise of the one-off $25,000 cash grant along with the 2022 pension book delivery in Region Four and found that pensioners were extremely happy to receive such.

Being able to uplift both

the grant and book in just one trip, pensioners lauded the Ministry for this “forward-thinking approach.”

The pensioners and public assistance recipients were thrilled with the extra cash and already have plans on how to spend it.

There was some amount of crowding at several loca-

tions since the exercise got underway last Monday, and subject minister, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, had cautioned against everyone choosing to show up on the first two days of the exercise, when in fact, multiple days are available to catchment areas.

“I want to thank the pensioners for being patient with

Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, interacts with pensioners during the distribution exercise in Region Four this week us as we roll this out in a very ambitious way. We would be visiting all the locations to ensure that things run smoothly,” Dr. Persaud told reporters early last Monday at the Campbellville Secondary School.

vember 30 and can be cashed at any post office, Money Gram, or Sure Pay, all of the alternate venues.

The ministry has also noted that persons who cannot walk have been showing up at distribution sites with their

Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, interacts with pensioners during the distribution exercise in Region Four this week Persons have undoubtedly been very eager to receive their vouchers and pension books for 2022 and offered kind words of gratitude to Minister Persaud during her interactions with them. She has pledged to personally look into issues as they come up during her visit to the various locations.

As the week progressed, the process seemed to have become more orderly and simpler and persons now seem to be more willing to follow protocol and the procedures in place. However, the ministry reminded the public that it is necessary for persons to show up in the area that is assigned to serve them.

Upon uplifting their vouchers, many persons have been questioning where they can get them cashed. The ministry reminded that the vouchers are valid until No-

relatives. These individuals are reminded that they can apply for ‘shut-in’ assistance so that their vouchers and books can be delivered to them.

“We are very happy with the turnout we are seeing.

This is the first time we are distributing the books of the coming year this early and we’re happy that so many are coming out to uplift,” Deputy Director of Social Services, Hamwanttie Bisesar has said.

She pointed out that the ministry is doing its best to fast track the process and called on pensioners to understand the reason they may have to wait for an extended period of time.

“The process takes a bit longer than usual because we have to go through one list for the pension book and one for the voucher, so we’re asking everyone to bear with us because we have to go

through two lists to get them their items,” she explained.

Meanwhile, several pensioners have thanked the government and the Ministry of Human Services for making the assistance possible, noting that the extra money will help them with their bills, groceries, and other necessary expenses.

Sixty-seven-year-old Llewellyn Gardner got on the road at 05:00 hours last Monday and was therefore among the first set of persons to uplift his book and voucher at the Campbellville Secondary School. “I feel blessed.

Thank God for the President.

I’m thankful for this opportunity,” he remarked.

Minister Persaud and Permanent Secretary, Shannielle Hoosein-Outar, chipped in to make the work of the volunteers at the Turkeyen site lighter last Monday. Due to the large number of persons present there, Dr. Persaud cancelled visiting the other locations she had planned and concentrated on helping those present there. She also stopped in at other locations and stayed to help with the process.

The $25,000 cash grant and electricity subsidy specifically target vulnerable groups such as the elderly, persons with disabilities, and those who rely on public assistance. It was announced recently by President Irfaan Ali. Persons eligible for the grant are urged to check the newspapers and the Facebook Page of the Human Services Ministry for regular updates and schedules.

(Ministry of Human Services and Social Security press release)

21

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, October 10, 2021

COVID-19: Adolescents, pregnant women

vaccinated at PPP/C vaccination drive

THE People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) on Saturday hosted a vaccination drive and barbecue at the party’s Robb Street, Georgetown, headquarters.

Speaking with the Sunday Chronicle on the sidelines, Minister within the Ministry of Housing, Susan Rodrigues, said the party’s Campbellville group would usually host fund-raising events annually or biannually, but the COVID-19 pandemic had affected previous activities

over the last two years.

“Because of COVID, we haven’t been doing much of that, but today we decided to do a barbecue fund-raising activity where we encouraged people to come out and get vaccinated also,” Minister Rodrigues related.

By the midday hours, the on-site representatives of the Ministry of Health had vaccinated some 80 people with first or second-dose Pfizer or Sputnik-V vaccines.

“We have seen a lot of

pregnant women and adolescents come out,” Rodrigues, who is also the Chairperson of the Campbellville group, noted.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect negatively the entire planet. As of October 9, 2021, Guyana confirmed some 33, 566 cases since March 2020 with the bulk of those cases concentrated in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), which is the most populous region in Guyana.

NGSA process benefits from historic quality checking by CXC

Officials conducting the verification process T H E C a r i b b e a n Supervisor. ducted by CXC, the examExaminations Council “These officials have ining body which manages (CXC) has, for the first checked to ensure that all the examination inclusive time since it began set- questions on the scripts of preparing the examinating, marking and man- were marked, that the tion questions, supervising aging the National Grade scores recorded inside the examination and markSix Assessment (NGSA) match what is recorded on ing the scripts. in 2016, commenced and the outside of the booklet “ A d d i t i o n a l l y, t h e completed a process of and that the tallying of Council will now, for the verification to ensure the scores is correct,” the first time, manage the enthat the scores that were release stated. tire review process, which earned by the candidates T h e s t a n d a r d i z e d said review process begins are recorded and reflect- scores were also quality immediately upon publied accurately and fairly checked by CXC to ensure cation of the results,” the in the candidates’ place- that they match what has ministry noted. ment. been given by CXC to the With the introduction Chief Examiners and National Data Manage- of these new measures, Assistant Chief Examiners ment Authority (NDMA) CXC will now be manemployed by CXC have and that the consequential aging the entire NGSA checked an appropriate standardized scores reflect from beginning to end sample of the NGSA ex- the way the candidates (inclusive of review). amination scripts, the Ed- worked.

The Ministry of Eduucation Ministry noted in “Some of this quality cation aims, with these a press release. checking was previously new measures, to conAccording to the min- done by the Testing Unit duct level appropriate istry, these scripts, which of the National Centre examinations that are were housed in containers for Educational Resource fairly and transparently specially sealed by CXC Development (NCERD) marked and that bear in a manner that would al- without the involvement the CXC mark of integlow detection of any tam- of CXC, but, for the first rity for which the exampering, have been opened time in the history of the ining body is renowned in the presence of the CXC examination, it was con- across the world.

Minister within the Ministry of Housing, Susan Rodrigues, engages Health Ministry staff at the PPP/C’s vaccination drive and barbecue

22

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, October 10, 2021

Ten more unvaccinated die from COVID-19 TEN more people who were unvaccinated have died after contracting COVID-19, taking Guyana’s overall death toll to 835, the Ministry of Health reported on Saturday.

The ministry said that the latest fatalities include four residents of Region Four

(Demerara-Mahaica) – two males ages 76 and 78 - and two females ages 32 and 51.

All four died on October 9, 2021.

Two women ages 71 and 81 from Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) also succumbed on October 8 and October 6, respectively.

The other fatalities are a 21-year-old male from Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) who died on October 8; a 63-year-old male from Region Three (Essequibo Islands – West Demerara) who died on October 9; a 67-year-old male from Region 10 (Upper Demerara –

Upper Berbice) who died on October 5; and a 90-year-old woman from Region Seven (Cuyuni – Mazaruni) who died on October 7.

They all died while receiving medical care. Meanwhile, there are currently 3,802 active COVID-19 cases in Guyana, following the addition of 229 new cases on October 9, 2021 from 1,890 tests.

Region Four accounted for 80 of the new cases; Region One recorded 11 new cases; Region Two recorded 19; Region Three recorded 48; Region Five recorded nine; and Region Six 33.

Region Seven recorded five new cases while Regions Nine and 10 recorded two and 22 cases, respectively.

The total number of new cases since March 2020 is now 33,566. Of the active cases, 29 persons are at the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the National Infectious Diseases Hospital, Liliendaal; 159 are in institutional isolation; 3,608 are in home isolation, and six are in institutional quarantine.

The updated COVID–19 Emergency Measures are in force until October 31, 2021.

They may be extended or

amended by notice of the Minister of Health, after an assessment of the prevailing public health conditions of the pandemic.

As per the current measures, all persons are required to wear face masks when leaving their homes, and physical distancing and adequate sanitisation are recommended. The current curfew is 22:30hrs to 04:00hrs.

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

23

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, October 10, 2021

Another year of coffee, comfort and community _ Oasis Café celebrates 16th anniversary

IN celebrating its 16th anniversary since its opening, the Oasis Café on Carmichael Street in Georgetown is privileged to have trusted staff who keep it going according to the standards of the owners William and Nisa Walker.

Speaking with the

“Our trusted staff did a phenomenal job in running the place exactly how we wanted them to. It was in good hands and that’s what kept Oasis going,” she expressed.

Mrs. Walker, having now fully recovered from the

Mrs. Nisa Walker at the café on Saturday Chronicle on Saturday, Mrs. Walker reflected on her recent period of illness with the coronavirus and said the café could not have continued in operation without the diligent efforts of three of her staff, particularly Alexis, Gail and Sonia.

illness she thought would have taken her life, is happy to be back in the café. She always makes it a practice to walk around and ensure that her customers are doing well.

She shared that while new plans are brewing for the café, she does not

BRIAN Joseph, a 59-year-old retired Assistant Commissioner of Police, was on Friday released on $100,000 station bail pending investigations for his alleged involvement in a fatal motor vehicle accident that caused the death of 49-year-old Isgar Esau of Goed Fortuin, West Bank Demerara (WBD).

In a press release on Saturday, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) noted that the motorcar PZZ 6015, driven

by Joseph, was proceeding west along the southern side of Meer Zorgen, WBD, when it collided with Esau’s motorcycle CH 7636.

“As a result of the collision,” the GPF release stated, “the motorcyclist fell onto the road surface where

he received injuries to his head and body.”

Esau was reportedly picked up in an unconscious state by public-spirited citizens and taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where he was examined by a medical doctor, who pronounced him dead on arrival.

The body of Esau was then escorted to the Ezekiel Funeral Parlour for storage and a post-mortem examination.

“Notice of intended prosecution was served after a breathalyzer test was conducted on the driver and .000 % microgrammes of alcohol was found on his breath,” the GPF added in its release. Joseph was held in custody at the Wales Police Station.

Ret’d senior cop involved in fatal accident released on station bail

want to spoil the surprise for now, but will release more information in the coming months. “The 16th year of Oasis Cafe was in some ways the hardest. Having already lost many friends and family to the pandemic, I am grateful that I can simply draw a breath,” she said.

She and her family had moved back to Guyana from New York and really missed the good coffees and hangout spots that they enjoyed in Manhattan. Having gotten tired of asking friends

and relatives to bring back coffee beans for them, they decided, ‘Why not let’s get our own and offer it to others at the same time?’ And that’s how Oasis Café all got started.

Mrs. Walker believes that they’ve been able to maintain high standards at the café because of the commitment they made to themselves and staff– that everyone would be treated equally.

“We know how hard our staff works [sic] and so

we treat them like family.

And some of my best friendships have been cultivated with my customers. They are no longer customers, they’re family,” she expressed, adding, “We want to be a source of comfort to our customers, so they can be sure that here is a safe and hygienic place; safety is the most important thing.”

Having started with just four workers, the business grew to include about 25, just prior to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

Mrs. Walker said the best thing for her is hearing her customers’ laughter in the café. “Everyone here should feel like it’s the extension of their living room where they can let go of their troubles and just relax. You come through the door and your loneliness goes away, because there’s always someone here to make you feel better.”

T h e c a f é o ff e r s breakfast and lunch, along with afternoon teas, cakes and pastries.

24

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, October 10, 2021

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, October 10, 2021

25

26

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, October 10, 2021

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, October 10, 2021

27

28

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, October 10, 2021

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, October 10, 2021

29

30

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, October 10, 2021

31

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, October 10, 2021

Racing Tips QIrish Racing Tips

08:55 hrs Cape Star

Limerick

09:30 hrs Fire Faerie

08:30 hrs Off Your Rocco

10:05 hrs Tempting Fate

08:40 hrs Top Bandit

10:40 hrs Hooves Of Troy

09:10 hrs Mrs Milner

English Racing Tips

09:45 hrs Loudest Whisper

Goodwood

10:20 hrs January Jets 10:55 hrs Fairyhill Run 11:30 hrs Buttons And Bows

08:45 hrs Tin Fandingo 09:20 hrs Level Up 09:55 hrs Lovely Breeze 10:30 hrs Al Jaddaf

12:05 hrs Agritime

11:05 hrs Electress

Curragh

11:40 hrs Champagne Piaff

08:20 hrs Sunset Shiraz 08:55 hrs Power Under Me

12:15 hrs Caribou

09:30 hrs Texas Rock

Newton Abbot

10:05 hrs Dewcup

09:02 hrs Ballymillsy

10:40 hrs Loingseoir

09:37 hrs Ballyegan Hero

11:15 hrs Karlsberg South Africa Racing Tips Greyville 08:20 hrs Papa C

10:12 hrs Seelotmorebusiness 10:47 hrs IL Ridoto 11:22 hrs Could Talkaboutit

32

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, October 10, 2021

England prepare to name strong Ashes squad today

ENGLAND will name their Ashes squad today, with captain Joe Root heading up a group that is as close to full strength as possible in the ongoing absence of Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer.

Fears that the marquee series would be downgraded to something of a sideshow,

with a host of first-choice players pondering withdrawal from trip due to Covid-related restrictions Down Under, have abated and there are unlikely to be any notable opt-outs.

That means Root will be joined by the likes of vice-captain Jos Buttler, Chris Woakes, Jonny Bair-

stow, Dawid Malan and Mark Wood, all of whom will be travelling straight from a month away at the T20 World Cup in the UAE and were among those whose participation was at one stage far from certain.

With star all-rounder Stokes still focusing on his mental health and recovery

England Test captain Joe Root from a second finger operation and strike bowler Archer sidelined with a longstanding elbow issue, head coach Chris Silverwood is thought to have settled on a familiar looking panel of around 18.

Those hoping for eye-catching selections may be disappointed, with the most attractive ‘Hail Mary’ picks – big-hitting all-rounder Liam Livingstone and his leg-spinning Lancashire colleague Matt Parkinson – likelier to be named next week in the

supporting Lions squad that will provide back-up in the early stages of the tour.

Instead, England will continue to rely on the majority of players that have carried them through a difficult year of Test cricket, including defeats in six of their last nine matches.

With Dom Sibley axed from the new round of central contracts, Silverwood is likely to stick with Rory Burns, Haseeb Hameed and Zak Crawley as top-order options with Malan, Root and Ollie Pope alongside wicketkeeper-batters Bairstow and Buttler in the middle order.

Fellow gloveman Ben Foakes is expected to miss out following his injury-hit season and James Bracey has drifted down the pecking order following a tough series against New Zealand.

Moeen Ali’s retirement leaves the way clear for Jack Leach and Dom Bess to take up two spinning places, though Parkinson and youngster Jack Carson

may end up with the Lions too.

Veteran seamers James Anderson and Stuart Broad head up the seam ranks for what may well be their Ashes swansong, with support from the likes of Woakes, Wood and Ollie Robinson.

All-rounder Sam Curran has been forced to pull out of the Indian Premier League and the T20 World Cup with a lower back injury and will need to be assessed.

Craig Overton and Saqib Mahmood were also in the Test squad at the end of the summer but could be fighting for one spot, with the latter hoping to become the only uncapped player to make the cut.

Possible Ashes squad: J Root (c), J Buttler (vc, wkt), R Burns, H Hameed, Z Crawley, D Malan, O Pope, J Bairstow, C Woakes, S Curran, C Overton, D Bess, M Wood, O Robinson, J Leach, S Broad, J Anderson, S Mahmood.

(PA Sport).

Australia Women clinch multi-format series win over India with game to spare TAHLIA McGrath scored an unbeaten 42 to take Australia to a four-wicket win over India in the second T20I to take an unassailable 9-5 lead in the multi-format series.

Having been set 119 to win, Australia stuttered in the first half of their chase and found themselves 46-4 in the 10th over and even at 94-6 in the 17th over, the game was in the balance but McGrath held her nerve to get the home side over the line with five balls to spare.

India had Pooja Vastrakar to thank for making the game as competitive as it was.

The 22-year-old bowler scored 37 not out from 26 balls and dominated a last-wicket stand of 37 to take the tourists from 81-9 after 17 overs to 118-9 at the end of the innings.

Ultimately, it proved in vain as, despite that early wobble, Australia got home in the chase to clinch the series ahead of today’s third and final T20 Having won the toss and chosen to bowl, Australia got just the start they were after by taking three wickets in the powerplay, Tayla Vlaeminck (2-18) removing openers Smriti Mandhana (1) and Shafali Verma (3) before left-arm spinner Sophie Molineux had Jemimah Rodrigues (7) caught at mid-on.

Harmanpreet Kaur (28 from 20) was keeping the scoreboard moving for India despite those early wickets but when she fell to Georgia Wareham (1-14) in the ninth over, the runs dried up and the

wickets continued to tumble with two run-outs adding to the visitors’ troubles.

India were in serious danger of posting a sub-100 total when Molineux (2-11) bowled Renuka Singh to end the 17th over, but some strong hitting from Vastraka in the last three overs ensured that the bowlers had something to defend.

Australia recovered from losing Alyssa Healy (4) second ball, bowled by a beauty from Shikha Pandey that jagged back, and suffered no further losses in the powerplay However, three big wickets in the space of four overs brought India right back into the game with Meg Lanning (15), Ashleigh Gardner (1) and Ellyse Perry (2) gone.

McGrath joined Beth Mooney with 73 runs still needed to win and just as the pair seemed to have got Australia back in control, Rajeshwari Gayakwad (3-21) had Mooney (34 from 36) stumped and then dismissed Nicola Carey (7) in the same manner three overs later to keep India in the hunt.

McGrath, playing in only her second T20I, remained calm throughout though, and with the help of Wareham (10 n.o. from 7) and some lack-lustre India fielding, put the home side back in the ascendency.

Back-to-back McGrath boundaries at the start of the 19th over all but sealed the deal for Australia and the right-hander was left to hit the winning run off Vastraka from the first ball of the 20th. (Sky Sports)

33

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, October 10, 2021

IT may only be 14 years old, but the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is already one of the world’s great sporting events and is set to light up our screens for the seventh time in the United Arab Emirates and Oman.

Whether it’s Yuvraj Singh’s golden over, Umar Gul taking five for six or Carlos Brathwaite making sure we will always remember his name, the biggest T20 moments invariably happen at the World Cup. Five different teams have lifted the sleek and slender trophy and, after this tournament, an impressive 21 nations will have appeared at some stage, making it a proven petri dish for the growth of the global game.

We have seen teams score 260 and 39, combine for 459 runs in a single night, the Netherlands beat England and Zimbabwe beat Australia. It’s as unpredictable as it is compelling.

Eight men who played in the inaugural tournament in 2007 are in the squads for 2021 and they have seen the game change beyond compare.

The World Cup is at the heart of T20’s tug of war between bat and ball and fans are the biggest winners in that battle, with another chapter waiting to be written in the Middle East.

Tournament History – 2007 The first ICC Men’s T20 World Cup was always going to be special - we just didn’t know how special.

Two unforgettable weeks in South Africa began with Chris Gayle striking the first-ever international T20 century in the opening game.

The Universe Boss plundered 10 sixes against the hosts in a brutal 117, coming off 57 balls and in a stunning partnership of 145 for the first wicket.

Two days later, Gayle fell for a third-ball duck and West Indies slipped to a shock defeat to Bangladesh, who

Several high points to reminisce about over the past 14 years

chased down 165 with two overs to spare.

The upsets didn’t end there as Zimbabwe stunned Australia to claim their first win over an ICC full member in four years, with Brendan Taylor to the fore with an unbeaten 64.

Pakistan won all three of their games in the Super 8 stage, as skipper Shoaib Malik led from the front and Gul was potent with the ball to down New Zealand and reach the final.

Yuvraj Singh was the defining player of the tournament, starring with 70 from 30 balls in a semi-final win over Australia that set up a final between cricket’s greatest rivals, won by India by just five runs.

Meanwhile, his six sixes in an over against England made Yuvraj an international superstar.

Herschelle Gibbs was the only batter to have done it in international cricket before Stuart Broad bounded in to bowl to Yuvraj in their group stage clash.

An altercation with Andrew Flintoff served only to fire up the Indian legend and Broad’s bowling was soon carted to all four corners of Kingsmead.

The first maximum was arguably the best, a crushing blow over wide long-on that flew more than 100 metres.

Yuvraj reached 50 in 12 balls and wrote a chapter of still unmatched T20 history.

Tournament History – 2009 T20 cricket was born in England and that was where it returned for the second edition of its biggest tournament.

But simply saying the word ‘Netherlands’ is enough to send a shiver down the spine of any English cricket fan.

For the standout moment of the 2009 World Cup, you only have to look as far as the first game when the Dutch claimed an incredible four-wicket victory at Lord’s.

Later on, Gayle would be a headline act once again, thump-

Flashback: Yuvraj Singh was the defining player-of-thetournament as India won the T20 World Cup in 2017.

ing 88 from 50 balls against Australia with sixes that broke records for the furthest Oval crowds had seen the ball travel at the historic ground.

Packed English crowds watched on as Australia were beaten by a Kumar Sangakkara-inspired Sri Lanka to fall at the first hurdle in the group stage.

Ireland downed Bangladesh by six wickets to reach the Super 8 stage on their maiden World Cup appearance, where they were placed in a tough group alongside both eventual finalists.

The hosts claimed a thrilling three-run win over India in the Super 8s but finished third in their group to miss out on the final four.

A ll of the youngs te rs watching tried to recreate the ‘Dilscoop’ as Tillakaratne Dilshan lit up the event, making an unbeaten 96 to down West Indies in the semi-final and ending as top run-scorer.

Shahid Afridi hit his straps with bat and ball in the knockout stages and made half-centuries in the semi-finals and final as Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by eight wickets in a low-scoring Lord’s affair.

Tournament History – 2010 England ended their long wait for a win in an ICC-sanctioned global limited-overs event as they dispatched arch-rivals Australia to be crowned champions in the West Indies.

Kevin Pietersen was named the man-of-the-tournament for his contribution to England’s triumph, finishing with 248 runs from six matches despite getting off to a slow start.

His vital stand of 111 with Craig Kieswetter against Australia was his most decisive contribution, scoring 47 from 31 balls to help England claim their first major ICC tournament win.

In the group stages, Paul Collingwood’s side progressed from Group D in second behind the West Indies after a Duckworth-Lewis induced loss to the hosts and a no-result against Ireland.

But England came alive in the knockout stages, topping their Super 8s group with victories over defending champions Pakistan and one of the pre-tournament favourites, South Africa.

Pietersen missed England’s final Super 8 game to attend the birth of his first child but returned for their semi-final against Sri Lanka and struck an unbeaten 42 off 26 balls in the victory.

On the other side of the

draw, Australia also topped their group to progress along with Sri Lanka as the West Indies and 2007 champions India bowed out.

Australia then won a thrilling contest against Pakistan to reach the final where they came up short against England, who chased down 148 to take the title with a seven-wicket win.

Tournament History – 2012 The first T20 World Cup to be held in an Asian country delivered another first-time champion as the West Indies stunned the host nation to clinch their maiden title.

Having honed their skills in the sub-continental conditions of the IPL, Gayle, Kieron Pollard and Sunil Narine transferred them to the biggest stage in sensational fashion.

Darren Sammy’s men were consistent from start to finish as they ended an eight-year wait for global silverware following West Indies’ ICC Champions Trophy victory in 2004.

Windies finished second in their group behind Australia before also finishing runners-up in their Super 8s group behind Sri Lanka, who won their first meeting by nine wickets.

The other group saw table-toppers Australia progress along with Pakistan, with the latter falling at the semi-final hurdle to Sri Lanka in a narrow 16-run defeat.

The West Indies turned on the style in their last-four encounter with Australia, with Gayle’s electrifying unbeaten 75 from 41 balls helping his side storm into the final with a 74-run victory.

But it was Marlon Samuels who took centre stage in the silverware showpiece, striking 78 from 56 balls in Colombo to fire Windies to a memorable 36-run success.

Tournament History – 2014 Sri Lanka finally shed their reputation as the ‘nearly men’ by winning the 2014 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, beating India by six wickets in the final in Bangladesh.

Since lifting the 1996 50over World Cup, Sri Lanka had lost in the 2007 and 2011 finals while also finishing as runners-up in the 2009 and 2012 T20 editions, the latter on home soil.

It was Englishman Paul Farbrace who steered them to glory with the whole team chipping in.

In the final, it was the super death-bowling of Lasith Malinga and Nuwan Kulase-

FLASHBACK: Marlon Samuels took centre stage in the silverware showpiece, striking 78 from 56 balls in Colombo to fire Windies to a memorable 36-run success in 2012. kara that restricted India to 130-4 and an unbeaten 52 off 35 balls from Kumar Sangakkara saw his side home.

Virat Kohli had made a half-century of his own with 77 off 58 in India’s innings and finished the tournament as the leading run-scorer with 319 at a mightily impressive average of 106.33.

South Africa’s leg-spinner Imran Tahir and Ahsan Malik, of surprise package the Netherlands, jointly topped the leading wicket-takers with 12 apiece.

Alex Hales blasted 116 to register England’s first T20I century in a victory over eventual champions Sri Lanka but it was their only win of a disappointing tournament that ended at the Super 10s stage and included another defeat to the Netherlands.

Tournament History – 2016 The West Indies entered unchartered territory with a sensational T20 World Cup win in 2016 in India, becoming the first side to claim the title twice.

Marlon Samuels had blasted his nation to glory in 2012 and he was at it again four years later, scoring 85 off just 66 balls to pick up his second player-of-the-match gong in a T20 World Cup final after the four-wicket win over

England.

Samuels may have been player-of-the-match but there was no question who had the champagne moment in the final.

Big-hitting all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite went from virtual unknown to cricketing superstar as he smoked Ben Stokes for four consecutive sixes in the final over.

After 2014, 2016 was the second tournament to feature 16 teams and Afghanistan were the main beneficiaries as the only associate nation to make it to the Super 10s.

All-rounder Mohammad Nabi topped the bowling rankings with 12 scalps and bowled expertly in tandem with 17-year-old leg-spinning sensation Rashid Khan who claimed 11 victims.

India’s Kohli was again in supreme form making 82 not out against Australia to ensure his side made the semi-finals.

In the last four, he struck an unbeaten 89 and although his team came up short against West Indies, he was named player-of-the-tournament having made 273 runs at 136.50 in five innings.

B a n g l a d e s h ’s Ta m i m Iqbal pipped Kohli to top spot in the batting rankings with 295 runs at 73.75. (ICC Media)

FLASHBACK: West Indies’ Carlos Brathwaite celebrates hitting the winning runs during the 2016 ICC World Twenty20 final vs England. (Getty Images)

34

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, October 10, 2021

Eight countries prepare for T20 challenge in Antigua HAMILTON, Bermuda (CMC) – Bermuda are gearing up to face seven other teams in Antigua from the Americas region for a twice-delayed tournament that is a pathway to next year’s ICC Twenty20 World Cup in Australia.

The ICC T20 World Cup Americas Qualifier is scheduled to be held from November 7 to 14, having twice been postponed because of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, in August 2020 and then in July this year when Canada was unable to host the event.

Bermuda, who will meet Argentina, Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Cayman Islands, Panama, and the United States in two groups of four, have 18 players in training before the selection of a 14-member squad to travel to the Caribbean.

Selectors are also considering calling up overseas-based players Delray Rawlins and Kamau LeThe Bermuda cricketers are gearing up for verock. the 2022 ICC Twenty20 World Cup qualifier in Cal Blankendal, the BerAntigua. (File photo) muda Cricket Board’s executive director, admitted it require all visitors to Antigua to be in St John’s from November 3, four days before was a challenge following to be vaccinated.

The teams are required the opening matches.

COVID-19 protocols, which

Nigeria in shock after home loss to lowly Central African Republic

ABUJA, Nigeria (AFP) — Nigeria are reeling after a shock 0-1 defeat to lowly ranked Central African Republic in a World Cup qualifier, the first time they have lost at home in the competition for 40 years.

Substitute Karl Namnganda snatched a late winner to give the Wild Beasts of Central African Republic, ranked 124th in the world

by FIFA, a famous victory in Lagos last Thursday.

Angry fans in Lagos booed the Super Eagles, with some even throwing objects at the players at the end of the match.

It was Nigeria’s first home loss in a World Cup qualifier since October 10,

1981, when they lost 0-2 to Algeria in Lagos.

Coach Gernot Rohr said the team was disappointed by the shock defeat and promised changes when both teams clash again today in Douala, Cameroon.

“The players are still disappointed and still can’t understand why we could lose this match,” said the 68-year-old German, who has been in charge of the team since 2016 and led the Super Eagles to the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

“We dominated possession of the ball, we had several opportunities to score, but we did not score and very often in football, there was a counter and our

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Sunday October 10, 2021) COMPLIMENTS OF CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1)

Evin Lewis-125* (Jamaica, 2017)

(2)

Rohit Sharma-111* (Lucknow, 2018)

Today’s Quiz: (1) Which WI bowler has claimed most T20 Int’l wickets against IND to date?

(2) Which IND bowler has taken most T20 Int’l wickets against the WI to date?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue …………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………

Central Africa Republic defender Saint-Cyr NgamNgam (right) challenges Nigeria forward Moses Simon during the 2022 Qatar World Cup African qualifiers Group Three football match at Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere, Lagos State, on Thursday. (Photo: AFP) opponents scored.

We have to recover and we have to make some changes in the team.”

Nigeria Football Federation president Amaju Pinnick said the loss was “a huge shock” but expressed confidence that the Super Eagles will still qualify for the 2022 World Cup. Former international Godwin Okpara said the team lacked “spirit”.

“The approach to this game was very poor. We only started chasing the game when we conceded a goal,” he said.

Rohr was the main target of the fans’ anger, with some

demanding he be sacked.

“We have an ordinary team with a coach who cannot take us any farther,” said Sunday Okoro, a supporter who watched the game at the Teslim Balogun Stadium.

“Rohr has overstayed his welcome.”

Nigeria still top Group C with six points from three matches, two points ahead of closest rivals Cape Verde and Central African Republic.

The overall winners of the group will advance to a final play-off to be played on a knockout basis in March 2022 for a spot at the finals in Qatar.

“We are managing all of our protocols under the COVID-19 regulations for the safety of the players, and also adhering to all government guidelines,” Blankendal told the Royal Gazette newspaper.

“We have a squad in training, keeping in mind that the training squad is subject to all players being available at the time of departure based on any government regulations for pre-departure testing.”

Two teams will advance from the Americas group to another round of qualifying

in early 2022, from which two teams will advance to the World Cup. “Training started in late August, but of course training was stopped due to (COVID-19) restrictions in September,” Blankendal said.

“Training resumed just after the government advised that you can train with up to 20 people. Anything more than 20 would need a large-group exemption, but we had less than 20 due to five or six being overseas.”

Afghanistan name Andy Flower as consultant for T20 World Cup

FORMER England head coach, Andy Flower, has been named as a consultant for Afghanistan for the T20 World Cup. Flower captained Zimbabwe as a player and led England between 2009 and 2014, winning the T20 World Cup in 2010.

“We are delighted Andy has joined. His experience will be beneficial to the team,” said Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) chairman Azizullah Fazl.

The tournament, which runs for a month from October 17, will take place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman..

Flower, 53, left the England and Wales Cricket Board in October 2019 after 12 years in various coaching capacities.

England won three Ashes series as well as the T20 World Cup during his tenure as head coach, and reached number one in the Test rankings in 2011.

He also spent two years as assistant to Peter Moores, and five as coach of the England Lions.

Flower, who played 63 Tests and 213 ODIs for Zimbabwe between 1992 and 2003, has held T20 franchise coaching positions including in the Indian Premier League (IPL), He will support Afghanistan head coach Lance Klusener and the country’s bowling coach Shaun Tait.

Afghanistan are in a group with Pakistan, India and New Zealand plus two of the four teams to emerge from the pre-tournament qualifying event.

The participation of Afghanistan in the T20 World Cup had been called into question after concerns the Taliban would ban their women’s side. (BBC Sport)

Andy Flower averaged 51.54 in 63 Tests as a batter for Zimbabwe.

35

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, October 10, 2021

Persevering through a pandemic – The story of Jared Ramnaryan

Jared Ramnaryan FOR most, 2021 was not a year of triumphs; many spent their days in lockdown due to the global pandemic that is COVID-19. But that isn’t the case for overseas-based Guyanese Jared Ramnaryan.

From his entry into the Canadian Karting scene when he was first featured in the Guyana Chronicle Sports Section, Ramnaryan has been putting in the hard work.

So much so that he bagged the 2021 Open shifter class of the Motomasters Ron Fellows Karting Championship (MRFKC), a trophy which was presented to him earlier this year.

According to his father and former grass track champion, Keith Ramnaryan, this is something of which the family is very proud.

“First of all, I’m a very proud father and I am very happy for him. All the hard work and sacrifices that he made, it’s paying off right now. For me, the sacrifices that I made as a father, I felt that I have achieved something (through him).”

Completing his studies at the Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) in Canada, the youngster had decided in 2021, once racing resumed to focus fully on the sport.

Tracking his progress through his early years in 2018 and

his exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle in 2019, the younger Ramnaryan has grown exponentially, according to his father.

“I would say, from then to now he is much better. He is 90% better than where he was in 2019 when we first spoke, because of his experience driving in the US. “Last year both myself and Jared went to the United States (Florida and Miami) for the winter tour and the experience he gained from the US drivers and the European drivers as well as former Formula 1 driver Rubens Barrichello,. I think driving against those guys he got a lot of experience. I think that’s one of the reasons he is where is today.”

“Secondly, he is more involved in the driver development programme and all those things contributed to his success during the year,” Ramnaryan continued.

Discipline and Fitness Another key factor in Jared’s rise to the top was his focus on fitness and discipline.

“When he wasn’t in on track racing, he was working on his fitness, day in, day out. It isn’t an easy thing to have that sort of fitness. It’s a discipline to ensure that you are ready both physically and mentally to go out there and compete with guys who are looking for the same result as you are,“ the senior Ramnaryan said.

“And on race weekends, we would have to wake up early to ensure we got to the track in time, sometimes as early as 05:30hrs, because we had team briefings and other things before the actual race started. Over time (from 2019) we got used to it but it takes an amazing amount of discipline to ensure that it works.

“And I don’t have to tell you about the physical aspect of the actual weekend,” Keith said, underscoring that some races are more gruelling than others.

“There are times where we would have to just relax for a few days after a karting weekend or just do light training because it isn’t easy. But there is where I saw the thirst in his (Jared) eyes and I knew that this is what he wants to do and I have to support him.”

Future Plans With COVID-19 here to stay, the senior Ramnaryan has had to re-evaluate his plans, saying, “One of his plans for 2022 is that he will continue racing in Canada, more driving in the United States as well but that depends on COVID-19.

“At the moment, however, that’s our target. Driving in the United States with those drivers, you gain more experience, you gain more aggression and there is always something for you to learn.”

When asked where he sees his son ending up if he continues along the current path of growth and development, the senior Ramnaryan said, “Our ultimate goal is to get him racing in Europe. As you know, the sport is very competitive out there, the standard of racing is to the highest level and there you have drivers from all over the world.”

“And if possible, we may be able to get him into car-racing. But again, we have to see what happens with the pandemic. But that is my dream, to see him go from karting to the touring cars in Europe.”

Jared Ramnaryan in the PRO racing team’s shifter kart

Green Machine to ‘scrum off’ RAN 7s against Belize

By Rawle Toney

THE ‘new-look’ Green Machine will ‘scrum off’ their quest to reclaim their Rugby Americas North title against Belize next Saturday, October 16, in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Organisers released the tournament’s fixtures on Friday evening, which will see nine countries vie for the coveted title.

The two-day tournament, set for the Meridian Fields in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, will see Guyana in Group C alongside Bermuda and Belize.

Three-time winners Jamaica were placed in Group A with the British Virgin Islands and the Turks and Caicos, while in Group B, Mexico will come up against Barbados and Curacao.

The Green Machine, seven-time winners of the prestigious tournament, will send a 12-man squad blended with youth and experience.

Jamal Angus will lead coach Theodore Henry’s team of experienced players which includes Godfrey Broomes, Osei McKenzie, Rondel McArthur, Lancelot Adonis, Avery Corbin and Peabo Hamilton.

Phibian Joseph, Tyresse Prescod, Oniel Charles, Jonathan Garnett and Lionel Holder are the other players on the team that will seek to return the RAN trophy to Guyana since Guyana surrendered the title to Jamaica

(28-24) in 2017.

According to Henry, with the exception of Jamaica and Mexico, the other nations including Guyana have not seen any competitive action since the 2019 RAN Sevens tournament which was won by Canada.

Nonetheless, the team’s head coach is accepting nothing short of a top-four finish, adding “given the situation of how we’re seeded, it is highly likely that we can make the finals of the tournament. And in this tournament, getting into the finals of this tournament is anybody’s game.”

With Rugby, like many other sports in Guyana, not given the ‘okay’ by the local COVID-19 authorities to return to training, let-alone see any competitive action, Henry believes “this team has been thoroughly prepared in terms of fitness, but, match fitness is a totally different scenarios all together.’

“Like I’ve mentioned before, had we had the opportunity to play some better opposition, we would’ have been in a better position in terms of match fitness,” coach ‘Theo’ noted.

He added that “the fact that we’ve been doing this for quite a long time. This team has not experienced that as yet. I’m hopeful, that the fact that I’ve been there and experienced a lot of those hear-breaks, a lot of my teaching is going to rub off on them and we don’t have to start from zero.”

Henry thinks everything “depends on

the mind-set that they (the players) enter this tournament with - if they’re going to go there and bring out that big game mentality, or they’re going to fold under pressure. We’re hoping that they bring out this big game mentality that people know Guyana is capable of doing.”

This year’s RAN tournament marks the return of international rugby to the Caribbean for the time since the COVID-19 global pandemic began in 2020 and also acts as a qualifier for next year’s World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series.

FLASHBACK! Guyana’s Avery Corbin (left) is about to tackle his Jamaican counterpart during the last RAN 7s Championship.

36

The late president of the Guyana Badminton Association (GBA), Gokarn Ramdhani MINISTER of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr, National Sports Commission (NSC) and Guyana Olympic Association (GOA), in a statement yesterday, expressed their deepest condolences to the wife, children and family of president of the Guyana Badminton Asso-

Sport Minister, NSC, GOA pay tribute to late GBA president Gokarn Ramdhani

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, October 10, 2021

ciation (GBA) Gokarn Ramdhani.

Ramdhani, father of Caribbean Badminton Champions, Narayan and Priyanna, according to information reaching Chronicle Sport, suffered a heart attack in Canada, where he was head coach of Olds College badminton team.

“The sporting fraternity and Guyana have lost a true patriot who dedicated his life to the development of badminton,” Minister Ramson and NSC stated.

Meanwhile, GOA, where Ramdhani served as a Council Member, described his death as a “shock and great sadness”.

The GOA said Ramdhani will be remembered for his passion and dedication to sports and more especially the development of badminton in Guyana, the sport that was dearest to his heart and was the father and coach of two of the Caribbean’s most outstanding badminton players.

“The GOA has had the distinct pleasure of working with Mr Ramdhani during his time as a Sport Council member and for his sterling and outstanding contributions made over the years to the activities of the Guyana Olympic Association.

Ramdhani has represented the GOA on several occasions with distinction at Regional and International Games be it as Chef de Mission, manager or coach,” the association said.

Ramdhani was also a Council Member at the Caribbean Regional Badminton Confederation.

He was also Vice-President Communications at the Badminton Pan American Confederation, and Second Vice-President at the Confederation Central American and Caribbean Badminton Association.

Packed field expected for Kadir Mohamed Memorial Woodroffe claims two gold, (Ounce of Gold) cycle race one silver at BSA International International

Invitational

Flashback: The winners of the 2019 edition of the race.

SOME of Guyana’s top cyclists will battle this morning for an ounce of gold in the 10th edition of the Kadir Mohamed Memorial 69-mile road race.

The event, which is sponsored by the Mohamed family of Bartica and organised by the Flying Stars Cycling Club, will pedal off at 07:30hrs in front of Thirst Park. Cyclists will make their way to the Coca-Cola sign at Dora on the Linden/Soesdyke Highway, before returning to the starting line for the finish.

Executive of Flying Stars, William Howard, told Chronicle Sport that some of the country’s top cyclists will be in action, including the dominant Briton John and Jamual John who are back home from a stint in the U.S. Other top challengers include the likes of Christopher Griffith, Walter Grant-Stuart, Paul DeNobrega and Marcus Keiler.

Cyclists are expected from the capital city, Berbice and Linden.

When the race was held in 2019, Briton John won the event. He defeated Michael Anthony, while former champion Jamual John finished third.

Howard noted that along with the seniors; juniors, ladies and veterans will also battle today. The U-50 veterans, the older juniors and the senior cyclists will race the full distance, while the ladies and youngest racers will journey to the Yarrowkabra Junction and back.

Prizes will be given to the top six seniors, first three ladies cyclists, first five veterans under 50, first three juniors, first three veterans over 50 and first three pre-juniors.

Howard noted that all protocols will be observed as prescribed by the National COVID-19 Task Force. As an added precaution, the presentation of prizes will also be done later in the day - time and venue will be announced prior to the start of the race.

FOURTEEN-yearold Vladimir Woodroffe, represented the Dorado Speed Swim Club at this year’s Barbados Swimming Association (BSA) International Invitational where he claimed two gold and a silver on day one of the prestigious event.

Vladimir, who is accompanied by his father, Christopher Woodroffe, won the 400m open freestyle and clocked 32.12 seconds to finish second in the 50 metres backstroke.

However, he went on to win the 200m individual medley swim in a time of two minutes 13.54 seconds.

Woodroffe is the lone swimmer from Guyana at the two-day event which includes competitors from St Lucia and host country, Barbados.

Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

Vladimir Woodroffe is the lone Guyanese swimmer at the BSA International Invitational.

SUNDAY,OCTOBER 10, 2021