Guyana_Chronicle_Epaper_12_06_2021

SATURDAY 12th June, 2021

' No.106389

Guyana considering COVID-19 vaccine passport

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Guyana to record highest growth rate in Latin America, Caribbean 03 PAGE

–– as World Bank increases Guyana’s 2021 growth projection to 20.9 per cent

The top 20 winners of the Snap n’ Share 55 Photography competition hosted by the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce were, on Friday, rewarded for their outstanding entries by Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond (centre). Participants were asked to submit photos throughout the Month of May, showcasing Guyana’s beauty, as a creative new means of celebrating the country’s 55th Independence anniversary (Carl Croker photo)

Demand for utility 04 Some $500M in 10 Wrong COVID-19 16 services increases; contracts signed victim buried after complaints skyrocket to boost agri sector mix-up at Charity morgue PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 12, 2021

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 12, 2021

Guyana to record highest growth rate in Latin America, Caribbean –– as World Bank increases Guyana’s 2021 growth projection to 20.9 per cent

GUYANA is expected to record the highest growth rate in the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region in 2021, with its newly projected 20.9 per cent real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth, according to the June edition of the World Bank’s Global Economic Prospects report.

According to the forecasts detailed in this report for the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region, Guyana’s growth builds upon the 43.5 per cent growth recorded in 2020.

Though adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Guyana’s burgeoning oil industry contributed to the massive growth rate. The positive spillover effects were, however, dampened by a deep contraction in the non-oil economy, triggered by measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the January edition of this report, Guyana was projected to grow by 7.8 per cent. Now, with the revised projection, the country has topped the growth projection for the LAC region.

Importantly, the next highest projection is 10.3 per cent, which is expected in Peru.

Additionally, earlier this year, it was reported recently that the International Monetary Fund (IMF), in its latest World Economic Outlook report for 2021, revised Guyana’s projected real Gross

The Stena DrillMAX drillship operating in Guyana’s Stabroek block, offshore Guyana Domestic Product (GDP) gets 2020 and 2021.

Earlier, the World Meanwhile, the newly growth upward, nudging it Further, in 2022, the Bank’s semi-annual report released global prospectus from the initially reported World Bank also projects on the LAC region, said that report also noted that the 8.1 per cent to 16.4 per cent. that the local economy will while most of the region global economy is expectCommenting on that im- expand by 26 per cent, and should be enjoying strong ed to record a 5.6 per cent proved outlook, Senior Min- then by a further 23 per cent economic rebound in 2021, growth rate this year, which ister in the Office of the Pres- in 2023. Comparatively, in Haiti and Suriname are ex- is the fastest post-recession ident with responsibility for 2021, the general growth rate pected to experience neg- pace in 80 years. This global Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, for countries in the LAC re- ative growth. On the other growth, a press release from said that this improvement gion is 5.2 per cent. In 2022, hand, that semi-annual report the World Bank said, howcan be credited to the gov- it is expected that there will stated that Guyana’s growth ever, is largely attributed to ernment’s fiscal policies and be a growth rate of about 3.9 rate will remain in the double “strong rebounds” from a measures outlined in Bud- per cent. digits. few major economies.

And, it was noted that, in spite of this recovery, global output will still be two per cent lower than the pre-pandemic projections.

In the local context, the World Bank previously acknowledged that oil production is undoubtedly contributing significantly to local growth but cautioned Guyana that risks related to the management of wealth generated from the sector remain.

“Guyana will be challenged to transform its burgeoning oil wealth into human capital, physical capital, and financial assets for broad-based welfare increases,” the World Bank advised.

On Wednesday, oil giant ExxonMobil announced that it had made its 20th oil discovery at the Longtail-3 site, in the Stabroek block, offshore Guyana.

While welcoming that oil find, Minister of Natural Resources with responsibility for the Petroleum Sector, Vickram Bharrat, recommitted the government’s efforts to ensuring the sustainable exploration and development of Guyana’s Oil and Gas Resources.

“This will be done in keeping with the highest level of compliance and transparency to ensure that the benefits from this sector enhance the lives of all Guyanese,” Bharrat reassured members of the public.

Self-confessed killer appeals life sentences ORPHEUS Johnson, who had confessed to killing two men in 2015, has moved to the Court of Appeal to challenge his two life sentences.

Johnson is arguing that the sentences are manifestly excessive and severe in all the circumstances of the cases.

He was sentenced in May, by Justice Sandil Kissoon, who was presiding over his trials in the Demerara High Court He was indicted on two

counts of murder but opted to plead guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter.

He admitted to shooting a sleeping family and killing Travis Rudder Snr, on June 21, 2015, at their Lot 130 Nandy Park, East Bank Demerara home. He also admitted that on the same day and location, he discharged a loaded firearm at Rudder’s reputed wife, Mawanza Gill and their then 18-month-old

son, Jaleel Rudder, with the intent to commit murder.

On the day, gunmen, firing semi-automatic pistols through a bedroom window, pumped 12 bullets into Travis Rudder Snr, and a few more rounds into his wife and baby son, as they slept in their bedroom.

By the time the gunmen’s clips were empty, Rudder lay sprawled and lifeless on his bed; his 18-month-old son

was badly wounded as he had six gunshots to the stomach and back, and Rudder’s reputed wife was bleeding from gunshot wounds to both legs.

Johnson stood before the court and also admitted that on April 22, 2015, at Agricola, East Bank Demerara, he killed Gladstone George, called “Brother”, of Brutus Street, Agricola, East Bank Demerara, who was shot execution-style while a passenger

of a minibus.

George was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Johnson was arrested and placed on an ID parade where he was positively pointed out by an eyewitness.

Justice Kissoon sentenced Johnson to serve two life sentences for killing the two men.

He will become eligible for parole after serving 30 years.

Orpheus Johnson Johnson was further sentenced to 20 years on each of the two attempted murder charges.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 12, 2021

Demand for utility services increases; complaints skyrocket –– PUC 2018-2019 report finds

By Richard Bhainie THE Public Utilities Commission (PUC), in its 2018-2019 report, has noted that, while service providers, namely the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT), the Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) and the Guyana Water Inc (GWI) have seen an increase in demand for their services, complaints against these companies have also skyrocketed.

The PUC is a body corporate, established in accordance with the Public Utilities Commission Act which governs every aspect of regulating the electricity, water and telecoms sectors in Guyana.

Its mission is to ensure that regulated utilities offer efficient service to consumers, at a reasonable cost, without compromising their financial and operational integrity.

The commission functions in a regulatory, investigatory and advisory enforcement capacity to conduct investigations into the standards of service of the utilities under its purview, among other things.

For the stated period, the commission received and processed some 715 complaints from consumers. With the exception of Digicel, the complaints received for all utility service providers increased during the period for 2019, when compared to the previous reporting period for 2018.

The commission, in 2019, had received some 563 complaints, a 27 per cent increase from 2018. Complaints against GTT increased by 52 per cent from 239 in 2018 to 363 in

Saturday June 12, 2021 – 04:00hrs - 05:30hrs

2019; complaints filed against GWI increased by some 25 per cent from 69 in 2018 to 86 in 2019; and those against GPL increased by six per cent from 248 in 2018 to 262 in 2019.

Noteworthy, the complaints received against Digicel were reduced by 75 per cent for the year 2019.

LANDLINE SERVICE “Complaints filed against GTT for technical issues with respect to the landline service represents 37 per cent of all complaints received; 15 per cent represents tampering issues with the GPL’s service; eight per cent for billing issues against GPL; seven per cent for technical issues against GPL; seven per cent for billing issues against GTT and the remaining one per cent for issues regarding change of tenancy at GPL and other miscellaneous issues,” the report noted.

The PUC reports that the bulk of the complaints were received by its Berbice office consequent to the commission’s public awareness drive in the county; as complaints received by the Georgetown office were reduced by 10 per cent, while complaints received by the Berbice office increased by 102 per cent.

“The bulk of the increase was attributed to GTT consumers in East and West Canje, East Bank and Corentyne Berbice,” the report noted. In relation to GWI, it was noted that “the bulk of this increase was derived from consumers in New Amsterdam, Berbice.” Approximately 81 per cent of all complaints received stemmed from Regions Four and Six. The report highlighted that in the telecoms sector, Guyana’s reliance on mobile data continued to grow exponentially in 2019, with the sales for mobile data for both GTT and Digicel increasing by 57 per cent, while the combined sales of megabytes of the two service providers increased by approximately 54 per cent over the previous year, from approximately 3.7 billion megabytes to 5.8 billion megabytes.

When compared to 2018, the combined number of active mobile sets for GTT and Digicel increased by approximately 2.5 per cent at the end of 2019.

On the other hand, the number of active landline services continue to decline on a year by year basis, declining by approximately six per cent for the stated period.

SUBSCRIBERS FELL “The number of subscribers fell from 154,057 to 122,890, representing a decrease of 20 per cent over the five-year period.

The Commission is of the view that the landline quality of service, migration and affordability may have been contributing factors to this decline,” the report noted.

With the widespread availability of apps such as WhatsApp, Messenger and Skype, GTT international operations have taken a hit, as inbound minutes declined by 20 per cent and outbound minutes fell by 24 per cent in 2019 when compared to 2018.

In terms of electricity, GPL saw an increase in residential and non-residential active accounts when compared to 2018; the company also recorded a 0.1 per cent decrease of system losses (the generated electricity for which no revenue is received by the company).

“The price of fuel and the reluctance of the company to implement the fuel surcharge mechanism when prices increase above the three per cent threshold may have hindered some of the company’s developmental programmes; however, to its credit, the company has reduced its system losses from a high of 40 per cent in 2005 to its current 28 per cent,” the report noted.

In the water sector, the production of water for the GWI stood at 108,000,000 cubic meters in August 2019, and it was expected to achieve the mark of 156,000,000 cubic meters by the December 31, 2019. For the period of 2019, GWI reported an increase in collections from consumers as collections increased by approximately 29 per cent when compared to 2018.

It is expected that the water and sewage service meets the World Health Organisation (WHO) water standards.

However, the report noted that GWI has shown that its many treatment facilities continue to be affected by abnormal levels of pH, turbidity, iron and aluminum when compared to the WHO levels.

Of the 715 complaints received by the Commission, 435 or some 61 per cent were resolved. The PUC reported that of the 435 complaints, 71 per cent were resolved in the complainants’ favour, while 21 per cent were resolved in the utilities’ favour.

The Commission said with 61 per cent of complaints being resolved for the year, 2019 was a “remarkable year” for the Commission.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 12, 2021

TVET centres in Regions Four and Five to get facelift

A $186 million contract for the expansion and rehabilitation of the Beterverwagting Practical Instruction Centre (PIC), and a $1.5 million contract for the rehabilitation of the Hopetown PIC were signed on Friday at the Ministry of Education’s Brickdam Office.

The contract for the BV facility was awarded to KALLCO Guyana Inc., while Hopetown’s was awarded to M&P Investment Guyana Inc., MTSUL Construcoes LTDA, and Construtora Cobra Eireli. The consultancy firm for both projects is VIKAB Engineering Consultants Limited, in association with VIKAB (Guyana) Limited and Jain Consultants.

The works for both projects are scheduled to take 12 months.

The two projects fall under the Guyana Skills Development and Employability Project (GSDEP), which is aimed at improving Guyana’s capacity to deliver TVET programmes equitably across the education sector. The projects will improve the TVET options offered to students in Region

Chief Education Officer Dr. Marcel Hutson (left) with representatives from the two contracting companies, M&P Investment Guyana Inc. and KALLCO Guyana Inc. Also pictured are MoE’s Permanent Secretary Alfred King (third right); DCEO (Technical), Patrick Onwuzirike (second right), and GSDEP Coordinator, Theron Siebs (right). (Ministry of Education photo) Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica).

The entire project is being funded through a partnership between Guyana and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

Chief Education Officer (CEO), Dr. Marcel Hutson noted that the signing of the contracts speaks to the ministry’s commitment to increase focus on and investment in TVET.

“Part of our strategic plan has to do with Technical Vocational Education and Training because we see how important this education is in terms of developing our nation and how important it is to offering an alternative pathway to our students in the school system,” Dr. Hutson noted.

When completed, each school will have five occupational areas, and offer Caribbean Vocational Qual-

Man found dead with wound to head A KNOWN alcoholic was found dead on Thursday at his 16 Street Foulis, East Coast Demerara (ECD) home, police have confirmed.

Dead is 45-year-old Kissoon Latchman. He was last seen alive at 20:30hrs, lying in a hammock at his residence.

Police said Latchman’s friend, who usually checks on him daily, came to check

on him and observed the door facing north was open.

He allegedly entered the house through the door and discovered Latchman lying on a chair. Blood was on his bed and in several areas in the house.

The friend immediately raised an alarm and Latchman’s son rushed downstairs.

Police were summoned to the scene and the body was

examined and what appears to be a wound was seen on the left side of his head.

Police said blood was also found in and below the hammock.

The body was escorted to Enmore Poly Clinic where a doctor pronounced Latchman dead on arrival.

The body is currently at Lyken Funeral Parlour awaiting autopsy.

Man accused of gunpoint robbery remanded KEVIN Ambrose, on Friday, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, on a robbery under arms charge and was remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

He denied that on May 24, 2021, at Boulevard, Albouystown, Georgetown, while being in company of another and armed with a gun, he robbed Onika Thompson of one black

Samsung S5 cellular phone valued at $40,000, one black haversack valued at $2500, $10,000 cash and a silver Movado watch valued at $40,000.

According to the prosecution, Ambrose and Thompson are known to each other for about a year. At about 00:00 hrs on the date mentioned in the particulars of the charge, Thompson was walking on Independence Boulevard, Al-

bouystown, when Ambrose and his accomplice allegedly confronted her.

Ambrose’s accomplice, allegedly pointed a gun at Thompson’s chest while Ambrose relieved her of her valuables. They them made good their escape on foot.

Ambrose was arrested on June 8, 2021 and subsequently charged.

The matter was adjourned until June 18, 2021.

ifications (CVQ) Level One certification.

Each facility will benefit from improved practical instruction departments to offer CVQ Level One training in Commercial Food Preparation, Masonry/Plumbing, Electrical Installation, Graphic Design and Home Economics/Housekeeping.

Hutson urged the contractors to be mindful of the

significance of the projects they are about to embark on, and to work within the timeline for the completion of the projects.

Also making remarks at the signing was Deputy Chief Education Officer (Technical), Patrick Onwuzirike, who also urged the contractors to be mindful of the deadlines.

According to Onwuz-

irike, the ministry has a strategic objective to offer every secondary school student options in TVET so that they can to leave the education system with a skilled certificate.

MoE Permanent Secretary, Alfred King, reminded the contractors of the government’s zero-tolerance for delinquent contractors, and emphasised the importance of timely delivery as key to quality control.

“We have been experiencing very often contractors who would win these contracts fairly but then trying to get the implementation going is always a problem,” King noted.

GSDEP Project Coordinator, Theron Siebs, in brief remarks called on the contractors to keep within specifications as this will be imperative in the facilitates’ fulfilling the requirement of the Caribbean Association of National Training Authorities (CANTA) which is the arm of CARICOM responsible for coordinating TVET in member states.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 12, 2021

Tajeram Mohabir

All hands needed on deck

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VER the past few weeks, continuous rainfall has left communities in all of Guyana inundated by the floods.

As a matter of fact, the rainfall recorded in May of this year was considered by the Hydrometeorological Agency as the second highest in 40 years.

The floods have affected more than 29,000 persons in over 300 communities directly, and thousands more indirectly.

Some communities are still reeling from the loss of crops and animals due to the heavy rains that battered their livelihoods.

Others are dealing with flooding in their homes and communities which were caused by the rainfall, and man-made problems such as the wanton dumping of garbage, non-repair of pumps and drainage and irrigation equipment, among

other things.

This led to the Prime Minister, Brigadier Mark Phillips, on Thursday, alerting and updating the Parliament on the Government’s Flood Prevention, Monitoring and Response Plan. In it, Brigadier Phillips highlighted efforts being made to cope with the rains and what donations persons can make to the flood relief fund which has already raked in some $35M dollars.

And wherever possible, the Government of Guyana, through the Ministry of Agriculture and its supporting agencies, have been assessing and monitoring the situation as well as bringing flood relief packages to the affected residents, farmers and cattle owners.

The opposition too has set up a parallel Flood Relief Centre and has been

urging affected citizens to call in and lodge their complaints. The APNU+AFC Opposition has also donated relief packages to communities which are its strongholds. It is also collecting donations and monies from citizens and organisations to do more packages but there seems to be hardly any transparency and accountability in the process.

Firstly, there should be one national response to the floods. If the opposition parties are interested in going out to the affected areas to assess the situation for themselves they can do so on their own and with their own monies. But it will be better if they work with the government to bring relief to the affected citizens since after all, we are all Guyanese.

Secondly, persons should not be expected to contribute to a fund when there

is already a national fund. Based on our past experiences with the Coalition, there is no guarantee that the donations made to them will reach the homes of the most affected, as party card and favoritism will most likely determine who benefits.

It is also important to note that the floods should not be seen as an opportunity to confuse the population with misinformation, distortions and fabrications on live shows, facebook discussions and platforms of politicians.

We all should work together as we confront the challenges posed by the floods to our collective livelihoods. President, Dr Irfaan Ali, has been leading the way in getting Guyana to navigate the floods and the pandemic.

All should join with him in the interest of Guyana at this critical time.

In honouring Rodney’s life we should all reject PNC’s racist politics Dear Editor, JUNE 13, 2021 marks 41 years since the assassination of Walter Rodney.

That murder still reverberates in our society.

The Guyanese people always knew that that dastardly act was committed by the PNC regime. That general feeling was confirmed by the Commission of Inquiry which was set up in 2014 and had done quite a lot of work, enough to conclude that it was an act by the Burnham-led PNC regime.

At the time of his brutal killing, Guyana and the Caribbean were witnessing a massive upsurge of the people in the Region.

In Jamaica, the Michael Manley government was charting an anti-imperialist course and had moved to improve relations with Cuba.

In Dominica, the semi-dictatorship of Patrick John was overthrown. In St. Lucia the people’s movement removed the government of John Compton.

The crowning success was undoubtedly the victory of the Maurice Bishop New Jewel Movement in Grenada. In Guyana on the lips of the masses was the chant “Gairy gone! Patrick John gone! Who next? Burnham next!”

At that time Guyana was in constant turmoil.

The 1973 elections saw how unpopular the PNC had become. The PNC had to do massive rigging to try to stay in power. The party had become so unpopular that they were nervous that the rigging was not enough to ensure their “victory”. They restored to naked force. The army was unleashed to seize the ballot boxes and change the people’s votes.

In the process, scores of PPP supporters were arrested and two were murdered at No.

64 village on the Corentyne. Cheddi Jagan himself was arrested on the Corentyne.

Many of his comrades had to go into hiding. One of whom, Rishi Ram Motie, recently passed away.

It was in this atmosphere that Rodney returned to Guyana in 1974. He was already well known in the country long before he arrived. That was because of his expulsion from Jamaica in 1969 for his activism among the working and oppressed masses there.

The PNC’s efforts to prevent him from returning also gave him great popularity.

The regime using their party’s control of the Board of Governors, overturned the decision of the Academic Board to appoint Rodney as Head of the History Department at the University of Guyana.

Shortly after his arrival the sugar workers led by the GAWU had called a strike to enforce its decades-long demand to be recognised by the Sugar Producers as bargaining agents for the workers.

The PNC regime answered by using the army and police to harass workers and actively recruited scabs to break the strike.

That brought the PPP into the strike to support the workers. The strike had now been transformed to one for industrial democracy.

Walter Rodney and many of his colleagues came out in strong support and assisted in solidarity with the workers. That too, endeared him to the working people.

It also inspired many to see Jagan and the PPP fighting together with Rodney and the WPA. It was realising a dream of Jagan to unite the working people of the country, going back the spirit of 1953.

The strike was “adjourned” in the words of Cheddi Jagan, and was resumed in the second crop. That led to the recognition of

the GAWU. That brought to a conclusion a struggle which began in the 1940s.

There was another very important strike by the sugar workers in 1977 that lasted for one hundred and thirty five days. That strike was called to defend workers’ conditions.

It was to force the government to adhere to agreements reached between the union and GuySuCo. In this strike too Walter Rodney joined with the GAWU and PPP in giving solidarity to the workers and their unions.

Here again, the whole state apparatus was thrown against the workers and the progressive forces in the country. This struggle was taking place at the same time when the PPP was fighting to save one of its members from the hang man’s noose. He was on the trumped-up charge of having shot a policeman at the toll gate on the Corentyne.

The joint activities continued with the joint boycott of the referendum in which Burnham was going to impose a Constitution on the Guyanese people.

All of those actions began uniting people and posing a threat to the existence of the PNC in government.

After all it must be recalled that the PNC was created by the colonial powers to stop independence under the leadership of the PPP. To accomplish its mission the colonial facilitated the PNC terroristic activities and its work to divide the working people. Racism was always at the heart of the PNC’s actions.

It is that philosophy that guide its actions even today.

The hatred for Rodney stemmed from the fact that the African-Guyanese masses were responding positively to his politics. The PNC’s propaganda had reached a brick wall and the strategies it used previously was not

having any impact on Rodney.

Recall the vicious attacks on African Guyanese PPP members and supporters.

They were attacked in two ways, violence and dismissals from jobs and other loss of livelihoods. Some enticements and bribery were also employed. Those African leaders of the PPP who refused to bow to that pressure were slandered as being “coolie strooges.”

That mentality and tactics are still being used by the PNC, now APNU+AFC. That could not be done against Rodney.

He was conscious of the PNC’s tactics. Moreover, he had acquired a lot of experience in other political and revolutionary movements.

By the time he arrived here he was already known as a strong fighter for racial equality and an end to racial discrimination. He was also known as a Marxist who saw class as very vital.

He did not join the PPP specifically to deny the PNC that racist tool of calling him a ‘coolie stooge.’

The PNC regime then turned most of their fire on him and his comrades. The dictatorship murdered many of his close comrades, including Oheni Koama.

They were desperate to hold on to their racist tool which had served them so well, even up to this day.

Therefore they murdered Rodney in order to hold on to African Guyanese support. This was a racist assassination and designed to keep our people divided.

In honouring Rodney’s life we should all reject PNC racist politics, which is so evident in these times!

Yours sincerely, Donald Ramotar Former President of Guyana

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 12, 2021

Unsatisfactory service, poor connectivity in the hinterland

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–– among areas highlighted during PUC-organised liberalisation forum

By Tamica Garnett USE of funding from the Universal Service Fund (USF), and the need for collaboration between Guyana’s leading telecommunications service providers (TSP) in order to address the lack of connectivity in remote hinterland communities, was at the centre of discussions during a Public Utilities Commission (PUC) webinar.

The webinar, which was held on Friday, focused on “Telecommunications Liberalisation and Consumer Expectations” and saw the participation of executives from all of Guyana’s leading telecommunications service providers, including the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT), Damian Blackburn; Digicel’s Head of Business Sales, Nalini Vieira; and Managing Director of E-Networks, Vishok Persaud.

Also making remarks at the event were Director of the Telecommunications Agency, Andre Griffith; PUC Chairperson, Dela Britton; and Adviser to the Guyana Consumers Association, Yog Mahadeo.

During a passionate address, Mahadeo lamented the lack of connectivity in

several areas in Guyana, the lackluster approach to customer service and archaic state of services being provided to Guyanese due to the slothful pace with which liberalisation came into being.

“Guyanese are not enjoying technology some countries have started to enjoy some 20 years ago,” Mahadeo lamented.

Also in attendance were a number of concerned consumers who fielded questions to the telecom executives regarding their plans for future investment in the country’s telecommunications infrastructure, the need for better cyber security, and the increased regulations of the TSP. Blackburn, Vieira and Persaud unanimously emphasised that customer focus will be central to all of their business plans going forward, with improvements in customer service and quality.

“We’re all here to do the same thing, to bring the vision of 21st century telecoms to Guyana. The heart of what we do is to reliably connect our customers. We’ve set a very clear mission for GTT to pivot the business to become a 21st century customer-centric organisation,” Blackburn stated.

GTT CEO, Damian Blackburn Vieira said: “We’ve been trying to introduce a more digital focus on the customers. Our focus is around our customers to give them the technology they want at the price they deserve.”

Vieira noted that over the past few months, since the telecommunications liberalisation has come into effect, Digicel has been busy with a number of initiatives which includes looking at expanding its coverage across the hinterland areas.

“We currently have 30 hinterland sites, and another eight in the next six months. Focus on hinterland locations where we see economic viability,” Vieira shared.

Most hinterland com-

Digicel Head of Business Sales, Nalini Vieira munities in Guyana continue to lack the provision of sustained Internet and other telecommunications services due to a number of challenges affecting the economic viability of the venture, including the low density of the populations, and lack of stable electricity provisions.

But with telecommunications access slowly becoming accepted as a human right, more emphasis is being placed on how access can be brought to those communities.

“We’re a small population but that doesn’t mean it can’t be done. We recognise the challenges but, how do we put the pieces together? Some things may need the col-

E-Networks Managing Director, Vishok Persaud lective effort. We can start with coverage and move to quality, and usability,” Persaud commented.

The need for Internet access to remote communities has become a closer reality with the liberalisation of the telecommunications sector. The over 20-year monopoly on the sector, which was held by GTT, came to an end last year.

Increased use of satellite technology, and collaboration between the leading telecommunications providers are some ways stakeholders believe the problem of connectivity in the hinterland can begin to be addressed.

“In our hinterland, with the dispersal of our population we will never be

able to serve those populations economically with terrestrial mobile. We are trying to get mobile telecommunications delivered via satellite,” commented Griffith.

Blackburn agreed with the need for increased use of satellite technology, and collaboration between the service providers, and the need for the service providers to begin tapping into the USF to provide services.

“We do believe satellite is the solution to servicing these communities. We will have to collaborate as providers to address this problem along with the universal fund. I believe all providers collaborating is the way forward,” Blackburn added.

Around the world, the USF is used to provide affordable telecommunications services for low-income households and to maintain telecommunications and broadband networks in rural areas. Income for the fund is generated by the service providers paying a percentage of their revenues into the USF. Consumers present during Friday’s event emphasised the need for full disclosure on how much money is in the fund and how the money is being spent.

Guyana considering COVID-19 vaccine passport HEALTH Minister Dr. Frank Anthony says Guyana is still considering implementing a COVID-19 travel certificate, as the country continues to work towards curbing transmission of the deadly disease here.

During his daily COVID-19 update on Friday, Dr. Anthony said that while countries around the world have implemented the system, the World Health Organisation has not taken a strong position on implementation due to vaccine hesitancy.

“Many countries still don’t

have access to vaccines, and if you make that compulsory, and there aren’t enough vaccines, it can be problematic.

For those countries which have vaccines, they’re starting to put measures in place such as this travel certificate,” he said.

As more persons receive their COVID-19 vaccines, Minister Anthony said the government would have to consider the option moving forward.

“Some of these types of considerations you have to take on board especially if

countries to which the airlines here fly to, would be asking for such travel documents.

So, if that becomes a requirement, then we probably will have to follow suit, but the way things are going, it looks like a lot of countries are going to be implementing this vaccine passport or travel certificate, but there’s still that discussion that is ongoing.”

Meanwhile, Minister Anthony noted that investigations are ongoing into the alleged forgery of a COVID-19 vaccination certificate. On Thursday, police arrested a

woman who allegedly forged a COVID-19 vaccination card to travel overseas. The minister noted that there are serious consequences for falsifying documents.

“We are going to take very stringent, serious actions against persons who try to forge these certificates, because it’s a really serious matter. If you’re not vaccinated, and you then tender some document to pretend that you have been vaccinated, you should face the full brunt of the law, because you’re putting yourself at risk and you’re

putting others at risk.”

He said the ministry will be “on the lookout” for any recurrence of such incidents as it risks putting the entire COVID-19 vaccination campaign into disrepute.

To date, 216,862 persons have received the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine while 83,729 persons are fully immunised. Regions Six and One continue to lead the vaccination campaign with 52.4 per cent and 52.3 per cent respectively.

This is followed by Region Five at 48.2 per cent;

Region Four at 45.8 per cent; Region Three at 44.5 per cent; Region Seven at 43.9 per cent; Region Two at 41.7 per cent and Region Nine at 42.1 per cent. Regions Eight and Ten continue to record low numbers of vaccination at 28.4 per cent and 13.2 per cent respectively.

Minister Anthony says vaccine education campaigns are ongoing in those areas to provide relevant information to the public so that they can make informed decisions about vaccination.

(DPI)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 12, 2021

17 complete GDF administrative professional course

Senior Officers (seated) with the 17 Other Ranks who completed the GDF administrative professional course SEVENTEEN Other Ranks (ORs) have completed the Guyana Defence Force’s Administrative Professional Course 2021 despite many challenges posed by COVID-19.

During a closing ceremony earlier Thursday at Headquarters Training Corps, Base Camp Stephenson, Timehri, Best Graduating Student, Lance Corporal Daceia James, and Runner up, Private

Leyanna Charles, received trophies and prizes for their outstanding performance throughout the course.

The Grade Three Administrative Professional Assistant Course was conducted over a 12-week

period and aimed to equip the ranks with the requisite knowledge and skills necessary to function effectively and efficiently as administrative professionals.

Officer Commanding (OC) Colonel Ulric Pilgrim

Officer Cadet School (CUPOCS), Lieutenant Commander Wayne Richmond, delivered the keynote address to the new administrative professionals.

He underlined their importance to the organisation and highlighted that the skillset they bring was essential to the organisation achieving its mandate.

“Unfortunately, too often administrative professionals discount or downplay the incredible amount of wisdom, skills and abilities that they bring to the table. Eliminate the word ‘just’. Every time you introduce yourselves as ‘just’ an assistant, you set yourself up to be seen as less than a vital player in the workplace. Your roles are just as important as everyone else is in the organisation. Introduce yourselves with confidence to gain the credibility

you deserve. In this incredible position, take notice of your contributions and give yourselves the credit you deserve,” he asserted.

Lt Cdr Richmond further charged the ranks to hone the skills garnered from the course and apply the knowledge at their respective units.

He also encouraged them to aspire to reach new heights.

“Hone your talents.

Take the time to recognise how adaptable and flexible you are. Take risks more often. Take pride in your work and know your worth. Do not downplay yourselves or shortchange yourselves. Be diligent and execute your duties as professionally as possible,” he posited.

The ranks were drawn from several units of the Force.

Tradewinds security exercise commences THE United States of America’s military contingents will, this weekend, commence “Exercise Tradewinds 2021”.

The exercise is sponsored by the US Southern Command.

The exercise will see participation from 17 nations including, Trinidad and Tobago, Haiti, Canada, France and the United Kingdom.

According to the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Exercise Tradewinds is a Caribbean- focussed training exercise designed to help participants better respond to natural disasters and land and maritime threats.

It supports the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative as well as US SOUTHCOM’s goal of building partner nation capacity at the tactical

and operational levels.

All training locations provide opportunities to conduct joint, combined, and inter-agency partner nation capacity-building focussed on increasing regional cooperation in complex multinational security operations, as well as in humanitarian assistance and disaster-response operations.

US soldiers arrived this week at the Cheddi Jagan International airport to participate in Exercise Tradewinds 2021

Lusignan Prison clerk charged with ganja trafficking A 22-year-old Data Entry Clerk was on Thursday released on $50,000 after he denied having a quantity of cannabis in his possession while at the Lusignan Prison.

Joshua Sookdeo, of Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara, appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Vigilance Magistrates Court and denied that on June 8,

at the Lusignan Prison, East Coast Demerara, he had 80 grams of cannabis in his possession for the purpose of trafficking.

Magistrate Azore released Sookdeo on $50,000 bail, and the case has been adjourned until July 8, 2021.

According to reports, on the day in question, the suspected cannabis was allegedly

Joshua Sookdeo discovered in an ‘Ensure’ bottle in Sookdeo’s haversack after he was subjected to a mandatory search.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 12, 2021

CDC continues to monitor flood situation across Guyana

WITH almost 30,000 households affected by severe flooding, the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) is monitoring the situation closely, as more heavy rainfalls and high tides are expected in the coming days.

The CDC, in a draft report released on Friday, asked that citizens prepare themselves for above normal rainfall for June and July. The above normal high tide advisory is in effect until Monday June 14, 2021.

The CDC warned that precautions should be taken against over-topping of the river and sea defence.

“In view of the forecast conditions, continued rainfall will likely lead to flooding in low-lying and flood-prone areas and possibility of landslides over hilly areas,” the CDC said.

Residents are asked to take necessary precautions to safeguard against possible flooding, wind, light-

ning, and mudslides.

“Over the past 22 hours, the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) has continued to receive reports of flooding across the country. Further, the CDC has continued its verifications of flood reports, in addition to the deployment of personnel and resources to support in flood response,” the report stated.

The CDC continues to give direct support in the areas of shelter management, evacuation, relief distribution in Kwakwani, Region 10 where excessively high-water levels are being experienced, almost fully covering homes in some instances. Technical teams also continue to give support in Region Seven.

According to the report, Regions Ten, Nine, Seven, Six, Five and Two have been most impacted by the situation.

During the period of May 18 to present, a total of 17,829 cleaning hampers and 20,535 food ham-

pers have been distributed across the regions as a form of emergency relief.

A total of 300 hampers (cleaning and food hampers) were distributed on June 10.

The report stated that a total of 198 persons are currently being housed in shelters.

Meanwhile, during a virtual Disaster Risk Management meeting organised by the CDC, Local Government Minister, Nigel Dharamlall, reminded regional authorities of the need to provide daily status reports on the impact of flooding in their regions to the CDC. The minister said while some regions have been reporting to the CDC many have been recalcitrant. He emphasised that regular updates are critical to the planning of support for households and farming communities affected by the floods.

During the meeting, CDC’s Director General,

A flooded house in Kwakwani, Region Ten CDC’s Preparedness al Democratic Council Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig, also reiterated that and Response Manager, (RDC) to ensure that effective reporting will al- Major Salim October, hampers dispatched by low the CDC to better plan stressed on the need for the CDC reach those resto meet the needs of those better coordination at idents who are severely the level of the Region- impacted. who are affected.

GCSM donates face masks to Cuba

Cuba’s Ambassador to Guyana, Narciso Reinaldo Armador Socorro (centre), oversees the donation of 5,000 face masks from GCSM President, Halim Khan (at right) to Head of the Cuban Medical Brigade, Ruiz Arcia Ineldo

AS an expression of historic solidarity, the Guyana-Cuba Solidarity Movement (GCSM) recently donated over 100 boxes of face masks to Cuba as that country tightens COVID-19-related restrictions.

President of GCSM, Halim Khan, said that Cuba is reporting 1,144 new infections on average each day.

“There have been 153,578 infections and 1,057 coronavirus-related deaths reported in the country since the pandemic began,” he noted.

Khan explained that Cuba has a population of 11 million and has so far administered at least 3,016,266 doses of COVID vaccines.

He said that, as of June 5, 2021, Cuba has placed restrictions on international travel and has increased the mandatory quarantine period from five days to one week.

“This and other COVID-19 protocols will likely stay in force through early July, although domestic restrictions at the provincial and municipal levels may be adjusted based on local case numbers,” Khan added.

Currently, Khan explained that Cuba is developing two COVID-19 vaccines (Soberana 02 and Abdala) which are presently in Phase 3 clinical trials with efficacy data expected in July 2021.

However, he said Cuba has suffered as a result of a worldwide shortage of available supplies of raw materials and primary packaging material for its pharmaceutical industry.

Khan explained that Soberana, or sovereign, is how Cuba baptised its top COVID-19 vaccine, which recently completed the last phase of clinical trials. The other shots called Abdala were named after a poem by independence hero José Martí, and Mambisa, the word for 19th Century insurrectionists in the fight against Spanish rule.

The GCSM President noted that Cuba hopes to produce 100 million doses of vaccines this year and is already in talks with potential buyers like Argentina and Mexico. It has even flagged the possibility of offering Soberana to tourists.

And production can continue over the next few years to supply a likely need for booster shots.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 12, 2021

Agri. Ministry signs close to $500M in contracts

THE Ministry of Agriculture, on Friday, inked close to $500 million in contracts to enhance the work and services of its agencies and to improve the lives of citizens across the country.

During a simple signing

exercise held in the ministry’s boardroom, a total of six contracts were signed to execute a number of remedial works and for the supply of machinery and services.

Kascon Engineering Services signed a contract to-

taling $58,880,860 for the rehabilitation of drainage and irrigation channels at Black Bush Polder, Region Six. Khan’s Construction and Transportation Services signed a contract totaling $27,071,500 for repairs to the

intake Structure at Den Amstel, West Coast Demerara in Region Three.

Meanwhile, Kallco Guyana Inc, signed a contract for the construction of drainage channel and a new sluice at Abary, Region Five, to the tune of $55,880,620.

Massy Motors was awarded a contract totalling $18,670,000 for the supply and delivery of tractors.

An additional $111,443,298 was awarded to General Equipment Guyana Inc. for the supply and delivery of tractors and implements.

The final contract totaling $14,227,200 was awarded to Sheriff Security for security services at the ministry’s Regent and Vlissengen Road compound.

Subject Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, during brief remarks stated that the contracts were part of the government’s plans to enhance the agriculture sector, and would see the ministry’s work programme for the year 2021 being further advanced.

“This is an ongoing process that we are doing in terms of executing our work programmes for the year,” he said.

He urged contractors to ensure that the works that have been contracted to them are executed in a timely manner and in keeping with the specifications outlined in the various contracts.

“I want to urge you that we have to finish our work programme and these are the services that we have to provide to the people of our

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha country and in today’s contract signing we have close to $500M for works to be executed.”

Lamenting on the current climate as it relates to the severe flooding across the country, Minister Mustapha stressed that contractors must be prompt with the execution of their respective contracts.

“Some of the works that we have to do are drainage structures in very vulnerable areas and you all know that we are experiencing severe flooding across the country because of the excessive rainfall over the last few weeks and in almost all the regions of our country we have seen unprecedented high levels of water,” he said adding: “These structures in places like Black Bush Polder, Abary are very critical and important and I want to urge contractors that they must ensure that they speed up these

works and start these works on time.”

The minister further reiterated to contractors that no leniency will be granted to them since they are expected to complete their jobs within the contractual requirements and timeframe.

“We will not extend the time of contracts. Like I mentioned at previous contract signings, we want to ensue that we complete our work programme. We want the work to be done to standard.

We want all the specifications and also, we want the work to be done within the time span that is provided within the contract document,” he said.

The minister added: “People are looking forward to us to deliver these services and government will ensure that we take steps to ensure that contractors deliver and deliver on time.”

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, ministry officials and contractors at the signing ceremony

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 12, 2021

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 12, 2021

Canada-Guyana Chamber of Commerce supports flood relief-efforts CANADA-GUYANA Chamber of Commerce’s (CGCC) Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Natalia Seepersaud, on Friday, handed over a quantity of food and sanitation items as well as monetary donations to Patrice Wishart, Public Relations Officer at the Civil Defence Commission (CDC).

According to a release, Wishart expressed gratitude to the chamber for the kind gesture.

“The Civil Defence Commission wishes to express gratitude to the Canada-Guyana Chamber of Commerce and the myriad of businesses for their timely contributions toward the national flood

Canada-Guyana Chamber of Commerce’s CEO, Natalia Seepersaud, handing over some of the items to Civil Defence Commission, Public Relations Officer, Patrice Wishart, as others look on

relief effort. The supplies and funds will aid affected residents across Guyana tremendously.”

In an invited comment, Anand Beharry, Chairman of the CGCC said, “As members of Guyana’s business community, we are deeply committed to helping our colleagues and communities in Guyana during this tremendously challenging time and we

are honoured to support the disaster relief efforts of the Government of Guyana through the CDC.” The CGCC has also extended appreciation to Cataleya Energy Limited., Caribbean Container Inc., Comfort Sleep Inc., Dean Hassan, Ed-

ward Beharry & Co., ETK Inc., Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry, Wine Cellar, North American Fire Insurance Co. Ltd., North American Life Insurance Co. Ltd., and Sterling Products Limited, for their generosity.

‘Two Colours’ to face retrial AFTER four hours of deliberations, the jury was unable to arrive at a verdict in the retrial of Lennox Wayne, called “Two Colours”, who is accused of murdering cosmetologist, Ashmini Harriram.

On Friday, a 12-member jury was unable to arrive at a verdict, even after further direction was given by Justice Sandil Kissoon at the High Court. Based on this development, Wayne was remanded to prison, and will be retried at the next practical sitting of the Demerara Assizes.

He was represented by attorney-at-law Nigel Hughes and associates, while prosecutor Lisa Cave is on record for the state.

Wayne had pleaded not guilty to the charge, which alleged that on July 10, 2014, at the Lusignan Railway Embankment, East Coast Demerara, he murdered

Lennox Wayne, called ‘Two Colours’ Harriram.

The murder case was first tried in 2017 before Justice Jo-Ann Barlow and a 12-member jury at the Georgetown High Court, but ended in a hung jury.

Justice Barlow subsequently ordered a retrial, and the matter was listed to be heard during the January 2021 session of the Demerara Assizes.

In April, Wayne’s co-accused, Melroy Doris, had pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to

five years.

The Guyana Chronicle had reported that it was alleged that Wayne was the triggerman while Doris was the taxi driver who drove Wayne to the scene of the crime to execute Harriram.

It is also alleged that following the act, Doris reportedly transported Wayne back to the city where the victim’s phone was handed over to one of the two persons who contracted the duo to carry out the murderous act for a price tag of $2.5 million.

The two men were reportedly contracted by the brother-in-law of the hairdresser and an accomplice who wanted her dead after they suspected that she had snitched on them.

They believed that it was she who had informed the police of a drug operation they were engaged in, resulting in the narcotics being seized.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 12, 2021

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Brigadier Bess and team visit US SOUTHCOM

CHIEF-of-Staff Brigadier Godfrey Bess and a four-member team were over the last few days guests of the United States Southern Command (US SOUTHCOM) at its Headquarters in Miami, Florida.

The visit was geared at conducting critical leadership engagements with the US SOUTHCOM’s Commander, Admiral Craig Faller and other SOUTHCOM members.

The meeting came on the heels of a wide array of topical discus-

sions between Brigadier Bess and Admiral Faller during the Commander’s January 2021 visit to Guyana. It also served as a follow-up to the bilateral meeting between the two military leaders at the Caribbean Security Conference (CANSEC) 2021.

This was Brigadier Bess’s first visit to the US SOUTHCOM. While in the US, Brigadier Bess also met Director of Joint Inter-Agency Task Force South, Rear Admiral Douglas Fears at his headquarters.

Chief-of-Staff Brigadier Godfrey Bess and US SOUTHCOM Commander, Admiral Craig Faller (third and fourth left respectively) and other senior army officers at US SOUTHCOM Headquarters in Miami, Florida

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 12, 2021

Guyana makes Forbes Top 50 best places to visit post-pandemic

GUYANA has once again made the list of top travel destinations, this time on Forbes Advisor’s ‘Top 50 Best Places to Visit Post-Pandemic.’

In its latest edition, published last Thursday, Forbes stated that while Guyana is South America’s only English-speaking country, it has not been widely explored. It also listed some of the country’s most notable features including the majestic Kaieteur Falls and rich wildlife, and advised travellers to “strap on an adventure mindset.”

With regards to travelling post-pandemic, the article noted that “more people are being vaccinated every day and travel is already top of mind. Suddenly, the whole world feels in reach again, even if travel restrictions ha-

ven’t quite been lifted yet.”

Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) Director, Carla James-Vantull, said she is pleased with Guyana’s listing. She said it reinforces the country’s marketing message that it is uniquely positioned as one of the safest destinations in relation to social distancing. She also said the vast, pristine, open landscapes and small group numbers lend to a more intimate tourism experience which is ideal for travel in the “new norm” postCOVID travel.

“Significant efforts were made by the GTA to develop recommended hygiene and sanitation protocols for the sector, and capacity building and technical assistance to support the implementation of those protocols at a business and community level.

These efforts, along with our conditional approval system, give us the confidence to boast that Guyana is safe for travel,” James-Vantull said.

She told DPI that the vaccination programmes in Guyana and worldwide would restart the tourism industry.

“Which is why we urge and appeal to people to be educated about the vaccine, understand it, and get vaccinated so that we could accomplish that 80 per cent vaccination of our population so that we can achieve herd immunity and that’s really what’s going to open – tourism.”

She said Guyana has seen a decline to 58.8 per cent between January to March when compared to the same period last year. However, the industry started seeing an uptick of 4.2 per cent in

Lake Mainstay March, which indicated a return to tourism and travel.

“Guyana is truly a safe place to travel. Our tours are designed with small group sizes, open spaces, small lodges so you really don’t have mass tourism or where large gatherings is an issue, so we are really well posi-

tioned on that front.

“Our tourism sector in Guyana is very resilient and we have been able to see that in how they were able to cope in this time of the pandemic. Our borders were shut down since March 18, which basically meant that they could not operate at least

for eight or nine months, until we would have worked on a reopening plan,” the GTA Director said.

Guyana’s tourism sector has been gaining more recognition over the past few years, as tourists explore more exciting places to visit. (DPI)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 12, 2021

CCJ orders release of Bisram pending appeal of murder committal –– must surrender passport, report to police every Monday

TWO weeks after Guyanese-American businessman, Marcus Bisram turned himself over to prison authorities to stand trial for murder, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has ordered his release until the determination of the appeal case that is before it.

Bisram’s lawyers Darshan Ramdhanie, QC, and Arudranauth Gossai had moved to the CCJ, seeking leave to appeal the Court of Appeal’s recent decision that the businessman stand trial for the murder.

On Friday, during a case management hearing,

the CCJ suspended the judgment of the Appeal Court until it hears and determines the appeal filed

by Bisram. The CCJ has also ordered the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack, S.C. not to take additional steps in the existing criminal proceedings to further the prosecution of Bisram, including but not limited to any steps to detain him, pending the hearing and determination of the appeal.

The CCJ further ordered that Bisram surrenders his passport to the Registrar of the Supreme Court of Judicature of Guy-

ana, and remains in Guyana and presents himself to the Divisional Commander or Deputy Commander of ‘B’ Division by 12:00hrs on Monday of every week until the determination of the appeal.

On May 31, the Court of Appeal ruled in favour of a case filed by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Shalimar AliHack, S.C., to challenge the decision made by Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall on June 1, 2020 to free Bisram.

Justice Morris-Ramlall had granted several orders which led to Bisram’s re-

lease. The first order granted by the trial judge was for the quashing of the decision of the DPP made on or about March 30, 2020, directing Magistrate Renita Singh to reopen the preliminary inquiry into the charge against Bisram, with a view to committing him for the said charge on the ground that the decision of the DPP was unreasonable, unlawful, and made by ignoring relevant considerations and ultra vires.

The second was an order of certiorari for the quashing of the decision of the DPP, directing Magistrate Singh to commit

Decomposed body of pensioner found in house THE body of 83-year-old Maud Agatha of Smythfield, New Amsterdam, Berbice was on Thursday found lying face down in her house.

Police said the discovery was made around 17:00hrs, and the pension-

er was reportedly last seen alive on Sunday, June 6, 2021.

On Thursday, a neighbour called the police complaining of a foul smell emanating from the residence. Upon arrival, ranks made the discovery,

Man charged for knifepoint robbery remanded

SAMUEL Warick, who allegedly robbed a woman of her cellular phone at knifepoint, on Friday, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and was remanded to prison.

Warick pleaded not guilty to the armed robbery charge.

The charge states that Warick, on June 9, 2021, at Water Street, Georgetown, while being in the company of another, and armed with a knife, robbed Christian Ramkissoon of one Note 9 cellular phone valued at $61,000.

It is alleged that on the day in question at about 17:30 hours, Warick and his accomplice were at Water Street, Georgetown, in the vicinity of 42 Minibus Park. Ramkissoon was robbed as he was boarding a bus.

A police officer who was in the vicinity gave chase.

Warick and his accomplice were eventually apprehended by the police and a search was conducted on their person. Warick was allegedly found to be in possession of the knife while his accomplice who is a juvenile, was found with Ramkissoon’s cellular phone. They were arrested and Warick was later charged.

The matter was adjourned until July 2, 2021.

but due to the advanced stage of decomposition, they could not say whether or not there were marks of violence on the body.

The body is currently at the Bailey’s Funeral Home awaiting post mortem examination.

Bisram for trial in the High Court. Additionally, the judge granted an order which prohibited the DPP from proffering an indictment in the High Court charging Bisram.

Following the judge’s order, Bisram walked out of the Camp Street Prison, on June 2, 2020, after the final documents were signed.

Dissatisfied, the DPP moved to the Court of Appeal seeking to overturn the ruling. In delivering the unanimous decision in May, the Chancellor (ag) of the Judiciary Yonette Cummings-Edwards said: “We are of the view that the committal proceedings by the magistrate and the direction by the Director of Public Prosecutions would not have been invalid.”

Bisram had to turn himself over to the police and was placed on remand to stand trial for the capital offence of murder before the High Court.

Bisram is accused of being the mastermind in the killing of Berbice car-

Guyanese-American businessman, Marcus Bisram penter, Faiyaz Narinedatt, on October 31, 2016. Narinedatt’s body was found on Number 70 Village road in Berbice. The next day police arrested his attackers who confessed that the flamboyant Bisram had ordered them to commit the killing. It is alleged that the carpenter refused Bisram’s sexual advances which led to him ordering the hit.

Bisram returned to the United States after the crime was committed but was extradited to Guyana in November 2019, after spending over two years in prison.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 12, 2021

Wrong COVID-19 victim buried after mix-up at Charity morgue

By Indrawattie Natram

DAYS after a funeral a funeral service for Bibi Shazeedh Jalleal, who had succumbed to COVID-19, her family was left in shock after realising that they had buried the wrong body, owing to a mix-up at the Charity Hospital morgue.

On Friday, relatives were in the middle of preparing for a religious function at the Queenstown Masjid, Region Two, in Jalleal’s memory,

when a staff of the morgue called to inform them that the woman’s body was still awaiting burial.

The Basir family, who took care of the elderly woman prior to her death, buried a body according to Muslim rites on Sunday. In keeping with the advice given by the morgue staff, the body was not viewed at the morgue or prior to the burial.

Following the telephone call, it became clear that the family had buried another

COVID-19 victim, Reynold James of Lot 41 Charity, instead of the 87-year-old Little Alliance resident.

The Guyana Chronicle was told that the pensioner died at the Suddie Public Hospital on June 5 and was transported to the Charity morgue the following day.

According to reports, her body was left in the COVID-19 ward for several hours before it was removed.

Members of the Basir family went to uplift her remains

The Charity mortuary where the unfortunate mix-up occurred on Sunday from the morgue.

While the body was being handed over they were told not to not to open the sealed coffin. The family followed the instruction and buried the body at Queenstown.

“We didn’t know. We followed the instructions and we gave our relative a grand send-off but because of the cause of death, we were advised not to open [the coffin] so we did not know,” one of the shocked relatives related.

Meanwhile, James’ rel-

atives, who also reside in the Charity area, were in disbelief when this newspaper made contact with them on Friday. They were, at the time, finalising arrangements for the man’s funeral.

Having learnt of the unfortunate incident, Commander of Region Two, Crystal Robinson, met with both families, and a mutual understanding was reached.

James’ body will not be exhumed since his death was as result of COVID-19

and it was deemed unsafe to take such action. Instead, James’ relatives will perform a prayer service with a pastor at the location where he is buried, while the Basir family will collect the pensioner’s remains and conduct a prayer and burial service.

Both families are calling on parlour officials to ensure that bodies are properly tagged when transported to the morgue so as to avoid mix-ups in the future.

Man who bludgeoned mother to death dies DAYS after a man allegedly killed his mother in Kara Kara, Linden, Region 10, he died on Friday after complaining of feeling unwell at the MacKenzie Police Station.

Dead is Hosea Ajadai, 24, of Kara Kara, Linden, Region 10. An autopsy done on the body of his mother, Wanda Patricia Wilson, 56, on Friday, indicated that she died of multiple injuries and blunt trauma to the head and body.

Ajadai was arrested on Tuesday last after police discovered his mother’s body with the head and face smashed, inside her bedroom.

An eyewitness reported to the police that he was called to make checks on Wilson and her son who

resided at the same property.

As a result, he proceeded and, on arrival, he met with the son and he observed the entire dining area ransacked and furniture and other appliances were scattered. He suspected that something was wrong and he proceeded to the McKenzie Police Station where he reported his observation and the officers accompanied him to the house.

On arrival, the ranks did a walkthrough of the house and observed that it was ransacked. The victim’s body was discovered in a bedroom on a bed with a door atop her.

The body was examined for marks of violence and the head and face appeared to be smashed. The body was escorted to the Linden Hos-

Dead: Wanda Patricia Wilson pital Complex where it was certified dead by the doctor on duty, and subsequently escorted to a funeral home for storage.

Ajadai was taken to the Linden Hospital Complex to be examined by the doctor who acknowledged that both the victim and suspect were patients at the said institution.

No marks of violence were seen on the most exposed parts of Ajadai’s body.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 12, 2021

CDC receives more donations for flood-relief efforts

THE Civil Defence Commission (CDC), on Thursday, received another donation from civil society to the national flood-relief efforts.

The donations were made in the compound of the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana.

The contribution, which comprised monetary and food and sanitation supplies,

would be used to bring more relief to persons suffering during this natural disaster.

The food and sanitation items handed over on Friday included quantities of rice, sugar, feminine hygiene products, mattresses, disinfectants, and other essential supplies.

President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, on Wednesday,

said the flooding has been elevated to a level two disaster, and Guyana would take additional steps to support its population.

During the simple presentation ceremony, Director of KGM Security Group, Hansraj Singh, said his company was compelled to contribute to the ongoing relief efforts.

“We have employees

President of the Guyana Conference of Seventh Day Adventist, Pastor Exton Clarke, hands over some of the relief items to CDC’s Public Relations Officer, Patrice Wishart, and Pastor Andrew Chichester and Treasurer, Rovena Harrinauth look on (DPI photo)

CDC’s Public Relations Officer, Patrice Wishart, and Farfan & Mendes Limited Technical Sales Representative, Neil Richards

across the country that work with firms and as a good corporate citizen, we just want to make sure that we help out the less fortunate brothers and sisters in this type of national disaster,” Singh said.

Farfan and Mendes Limited’s Technical Sales Representative, Neil Richards, said the donation of disinfectants demonstrates his company’s care for fellow Guyanese.

“I know that some one of us at Farfan and Mendes, it could be one of us going through the struggles of the

time today with the flood. So, because we care, we did this donation,” he said.

President of the Guyana Conference of Seventh-day Adventist, Pastor Exton Clarke, expressed similar sentiments.

“We as a church, the issue of welfare of humanity and disaster is something that is at our heartbeat and today we are happy to make this contribution of food supplies to the tune of $2 million as we seek to bring help and hope to the many individuals

who have been affected by this national flooding disaster,” Pastor Clarke said.

Guyana Islamic Trust, Kissoon Furniture Store and the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation also made contributions. Two other entities, both of which requested anonymity, also made monetary donations.

Since the flood began on May 18, the private sector has been contributing to the government’s flood relief See page 18

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 12, 2021

Guyana’s elderly leading countrywide COVID-19 vaccination HEALTH Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony, says older Guyanese have been responding positively to the government’s countrywide vaccination campaign with almost 73 per cent receiving their COVID-19 vaccines.

Updating the National Assembly on the government’s vaccination programme Thursday, Dr. Anthony said more than 297,490 persons have received their first dose of the vaccine. Of that amount, 81,729 persons have been fully immunised.

The amount represents

10.6 per cent of the total population, or 16.8 per cent of the country’s adult population. He commended the older population for leading by example, both locally and across the globe.

“Seventy-two-point five per cent of persons 60 years and older have had at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. In terms of the elderly population, this represents one of the highest rates of the first dose for the elderly population anywhere in the world.

“We are hopeful that

soon all these persons would return for their second dose and, thereby, be fully vaccinated,” Minister Anthony said.

The minister told the National Assembly that many countries would like to implement a vaccine programme within their territories; however, they are challenged by the unavailability of vaccines.

“There is a global vaccine scarcity. That is, the demand for vaccines has outstripped the supply. According to the WHO, worldwide, as of the

June 9, approximately 2.12 billion doses were given. Of these, 458 million persons are now fully vaccinated, representing 5.9 per cent of the global population.

“We still have much ground to cover. In the 40 to 59 age group, we are at 41.2 per cent, while for persons 18 to 39 age range we are at 38 per cent. We need to encourage more young people to get vaccinated, especially in the latter age group since we have seen a higher percentage of confirmed cases within this age group, approximately 9,760 persons. We have seen more hospitalisation, and deaths within this age category.

I will therefore urge the younger population to get vaccinated.”

Dr Anthony said since Guyana’s first patient was recorded on March 11, 2020, the country has had some 18,088 confirmed cases, with 15,898 persons having recovered to date. Current active cases number 1770,

Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony while 84 persons are hospitalised. Some 419 persons have lost their lives to the dreaded disease.

“I would like to express my sincerest condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones. COVID- 19 is a serious disease. Our case fatality is at 2.3 per cent, or put another way, for every 100 persons infected with the virus, two would lose their

lives. Let’s change vaccine hesitancy to vaccine enthusiasm by encouraging every eligible person to take the vaccine,” he said.

Minister Anthony also thanked the country’s healthcare workers for being at the forefront of the pandemic.

He also commended their resilience during the recent floods in communities countrywide. (DPI)

CDC receives more ...

From page 17

efforts.

Ministers, led by President Ali, have been visiting flooded communities countrywide making assessments and interventions by putting measures in place to lessen the flooding. The government has also been supporting several affected persons by providing

food, sanitation supplies and shelter.

Vice-President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, on Monday, said the government would be approaching the National Assembly for $10 billion in supplementary funds to aid its flood relief efforts. He said the money would go towards repairing

damaged infrastructure and lending support to farmers and families severely affected by the flood.

Persons interested contributing to the national relief efforts can contact the CDC on telephone numbers: 226-1027 or 600-7500 (WhatsApp).

(DPI)

Director of KGM Security Group, Hansraj Singh, and CDC’s Public Relations Officer, Patrice Wishart, at the handing over ceremony (DPI photo)

19

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 12, 2021

Murder convict appeals 60-year sentence

LES Charles Critchlow, who was sentenced to 60 years’ imprisonment for killing his 56-year-old brother-inlaw, has moved to the Court of Appeal to challenge his sentence.

In March, Critchlow was sentenced by Justice Navindra Singh, who had presided over the case at the Demerara High Court. A jury had earlier found Critchlow guilty of murdering Terrence Adams, called “Uncle Terry” or “Sleepy”, on May 12, 2016, at Haslington, East Coast Demerara.

Dissatisfied with the court,

Critchlow filed an appeal claiming that the sentence was too severe.

According to reports, Adams, 56, of North Haslington, was found around 20:15 hours on the roadway with stab wounds about his body.

Adams had been stabbed to the left and right-side chest, and his neck was partially slashed. He was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where he was pronounced dead.

According to reports, Adams had made a derogatory remark to Critchlow, and a

subsequent altercation turned deadly.

Adams had reportedly

Les Charles Critchlow

Teen charged for illegal firearm, ammunition remanded ANTHONIO Hawker, who was allegedly found with an illegal firearm and matching ammunition in his possession, on Friday, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and was remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

The 18-year-old South Ruimveldt resident pleaded not guilty to the two charges and will make his second court appearance on July 9, 2021.

The charge states that Hawker, on June 7, 2021, at High Palm Road, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, had in his possession a .38 Taurus revolver and four live matching rounds of ammunition without being the holder of a firearm

licence in force at the time.

It is alleged that on the day in question, at about 16:30 hours, police, who were on motorcycle patrol duty, saw two males on motorcycle CK6414, riding at a fast rate. In response to their observation, they signalled to Hawker, who was the driver, to stop. Hawker, failed to comply and kept riding. The ranks gave chase and Hawker eventually lost control of the motor cycle.

Police conducted a search on both young men who were lying on the side of the road and reportedly observed a firearm in Hawker’s crotch.

He was arrested and later charged.

said, “You don’t even wuk no more, and can’t maintain my sister.” Critchlow

reportedly became enraged and stabbed Adams repeatedly.

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Irish Racing Tips Downpatrick 08:30 hrs Hanoi Jane 09:05 hrs Itsalonglongroad 09:40 hrs Newtown Perry 10:15 hrs Natural Breeze 10:50 hrs Oryx Hustler 11:25 hrs Ask Cory 12:00 hrs Robin De Roost 12:30 hrs Winning Kate English Racing Tips Sandown 08:35 hrs Saafeq 09:15 hrs Nelson Gay 09:50 hrs Latest Generation 10:25 hrs King Of Clubs 11:00 hrs Betty Crean L A 11:35 hrs Sulochana Chester 08:40 hrs Rebel At Dawn 09:10 hrs Glory Fighter 09:45 hrs Psyche 10:20 hrs Man Of Riddles 10:55 hrs Robjon 11:30 hrs Maori Knight York 09:00 hrs Nicholas T 09:35 hrs Dazzling Dan 10:40 hrs Jadwal 11:15 hrs Bond P[ower 11:50 hrs La Trinidad 12:25 hrs Soul Seeker South Africa Racing Tips Greyville 08:50 hrs vWylie Wench 09:25 hrs Jet Dark 10:00 hrs Light That Loose 10:35 hrs Siege Ram American Racing Tips Belmont Race 1 Predetermined Race 2 Southern Flag Race 3 Hammerin Aamer Race 4 Big Everest Race 5 Danebury Race 6 Infinite Potential Race 7 Entreat Race 8 Fierce Lady Race 9 Battle Station

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 12, 2021

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Supreme Court rules Copa America can take place in Brazil (BBC) - The Copa America, which is set to start tomorrow, can go ahead in Brazil, the country’s Supreme Court has decided.

Judges held an emergency session on Thursday to consider requests to halt the competition because of the coronavirus pandemic.

It was argued that hosting the tournament would endanger the lives of thousands of people.

Their movements will be restricted and they will travel to host cities aboard chartered flights.

The tournament, postponed from 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic, was originally to have been staged in Colombia and Argentina.

But Colombia was removed as co-host on May 20 because of domestic civil unrest, and Argen-

President Bolsonaro said the decision to host the tournament was not up for discussion

The judges said that the Brazilian constitution did not give the court the power to block it. But they said that state governors and city mayors should do more to ensure “appropriate health protocols” are respected.

They also expressed their dismay at President Jair Bolsonaro’s last-minute decision to stage the tournament, which will be held with no fans in stadiums.

Teams face mandatory testing every 48 hours.

tina was then stripped of its host status on May 30, with organisers citing coronavirus concerns and the “present circumstances”.

Earlier this week, Brazil’s players criticised the decision to hold the tournament in their country.

Brazil has recorded more than 475 000 deaths attributed to coronavirus, the second highest number in the world after the USA.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER SATURDAY, June 12, 2021

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

(1) Chris Gayle-1258 runs (12 Tests) (2) Ross Taylor-1136 runs (14 Tests)

TODAY’S QUIZ:

(1) What is the highest individual Test score made by a WI player against NZ to date?

(2) What is the highest individual Test score made by a NZ player against the WI to date?

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

36

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 12, 2021

Tsitsipas reaches historic grand slam final (BBC) - Stefanos Tsitsipas became the first Greek player to reach a Grand Slam final after holding off Alexander Zverev’s fightback from two sets down in a tense French Open semi-final.

After losing all three of his previous Grand Slam semi-finals, fifth seed Tsitsipas won 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 4-6, 6-3.

Tsitsipas rediscovered his level in the decider, halting Zverev but missing four match points before serving out.

The 22-year-old faces Novak Djokovic or Rafael Nadal in tomorrow’s final.

Serbian top seed Djokovic and long-time Spanish rival Nadal, who is the defending champion and looking for a 14th French Open title, met

later yesterday.

After sealing victory with an ace on his fifth match point, Tsitsipas triumphantly raised both arms in the air before sharing a warm embrace with his opponent at the net.

The Greek then sat back on his chair to contemplate what he had just achieved before being overcome by emotion at the start of his on-court interview.

After taking a few moments to compose himself, Tsitsipas said: “All I can think of is my roots, and where I came from. I came from a small place outside Athens.

“My dream was to play here, to play on the big stage of the French Open one day. I never thought I would do it.”

TSITSIPAS OVERCOMES WOBBLE, ‘INTENSE’ FINAL SET TO WIN Tsitsipas and Zverev have long been two of the upcoming stars in the men’s game and when the ‘Big Three’ of Djokovic, Nadal and Roger Federer eventually retire, this scenario promises to develop into one of the key rivalries for the sport’s major honours.

Both young men have already won the season-ending ATP Finals and the Masters titles in their burgeoning careers, but are yet to land one of the four biggest prizes.

Tsitsipas is now one more win from achieving that goal after preventing Zverev from recording another memorable victory from a two-set deficit.

The Greek has been the leading player on the ATP Tour this year, winning more clay-court matches than any other player and claiming

titles on the surface in Monte Carlo and Lyon.

Playing smartly and confidently, but without being truly tested by Zverev, Tsitsi-

Tsitsipas is the youngest man to reach a Grand Slam final since Andy Murray finished runner-up at the 2010 Australian Open

Djokovic moves into French Open final

(BBC) - Novak Djokovic ended Rafael Nadal’s reign at the French Open with a fourset win in a classic semi-final which will be ranked among the all-time great matches on the Roland Garros clay.

Serbian top seed Djokovic won 3-6 6-3 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 against Nadal, champion in

each of the past four years.

Nadal, going for a record-extending 14th title, lost at Roland Garros for only the third time in 108 matches.

Djokovic, 34, must now recover to play Stefanos Tsitsipas in Sunday’s final.

The 22-year-old Greek reached his first Grand Slam

final by beating German sixth seed Alexander Zverev in a five-set epic earlier on Friday.

Fifth seed Tsitsipas must surely have been watching, like the rest of the tennis world was, as two of the all-time greats fought out a brutal battle for the right to face him in the showpiece.

pas eased into a two-set lead.

Tsitsipas was domi nant from the baseline as a lost-looking Zverev failed to change his tactics and was

“It was one of these matches you can remember forever. It was one of the top three matches in my life,” said Djokovic.

The high-quality match was full of drama and suspense, twists and turns, as it was played in front of 5,000 fans, who were allowed to stay

despite France’s 11pm curfew as part of its coronavirus restrictions.

That decision came after a remarkable 98-minute third set which saw Djokovic hold his nerve to win a tie-break on which the whole match seemed to hinge.

Spaniard Nadal, 35, did break serve in the first game of the fourth set and led 2-0, but could not cope with Djokovic’s sky-high level as he quickly won the next six games to wrap up victory after more than four hours on court.

Djokovic looked shattered as he raised his arms in celebration, then wearily broke into a smile as he prepared for the on-court interview given by the winner.

“To win against Rafa on this court you have to play your best tennis, and tonight I played my best tennis,” said Djokovic, who could now win his 19th Grand Slam title to move one behind Nadal and Federer’s all-time record.

“It’s hard to find the words to sum up how I feel. You tell yourself there is no pressure but there is. Pressure is a privilege - to test my game and my character in matches like this.”

Djokovic’s victory extended his advantage in the headto-head with Nadal, having claimed his 30th win in their men’s record 58th meeting.

Djokovic maintains composure as he recovers from slow start Beating Nadal on the Roland Garros clay is widely considered one of the toughest tasks in sport, but if anyone was going to achieve that this

drawn into errors which he could not rectify until the third set.

Suddenly the German sixth seed improved his level and tightened up his game to haul himself level. The first game of the final-set decider proved pivotal in the eventual outcome of the match.

Tsitsipas fought off three break points to hold serve, halting Zverev’s momentum and going on to earn what was the decisive break in the fourth game.

“The opening game was nerve-wracking and so intense - it was the most important game in the fifth set,” said Tsitsipas, who won in three hours 37 minutes.

“I came back, stayed alive and had the crowd with me. They gave me energy.

“I still felt there was hope and opportunities to fight back. That’s what I did.”

year then it felt like Djokovic was the man to do it.

The world number one had been hitting cleanly and precisely throughout the tournament, moving well and playing aggressively on his way to the last four.

Nadal blew Djokovic away in a fast start when they met on Chatrier in last year’s final and, after seeing off two break points in a nine-minute opening game, again managed to get the scoreboard quickly moving in his favour.

Unable to find his rhythm, or his touch with some early drop-shots, Djokovic fell 5-0 behind in another extraordinary start which few would have expected.

Djokovic saved the bagel with a hold, settling down further to get one break back but unable to nab another.

Third seed Nadal served out at the second time of asking, taking his seventh break point of an enthralling first set lasting almost an hour.

The ferocity of the exchanges continued in an equally exhausting second set.

Djokovic was unable to consolidate an early break at 2-0, but did back up another in the sixth game with a mammoth hold where he saved three break-back points.

Pressure told when Djokovic attempted to serve out the set, producing a double fault to give another breakback point to Nadal.

The Serb was let off the hook when Nadal batted a return long and saved another on his way to restoring parity at one-set all.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 12, 2021

37

Conway,, Young frustrate England bowlers Conway

(ESPNCRICINFO) - New Zealand boasted an embarrassment of riches for a second day running as Devon Conway and Will Young frustrated England’s bowlers and moved to within 74 runs of England’s first-innings total with seven wickets in hand at Edgbaston.

Conway, who cemented his place in the side with 200 on debut in the series-opener at Lord’s, produced another valuable, though not chanceless, innings of 80. And, while he would have been disappointed not to press on to triple figures again, a gutsy 82 from Young - in the side as a replacement for injured captain Kane Williamson mitigated the damage.

Stuart Broad bowled superbly for his 2 for 22 from 15 overs, including six maidens, but he was the only England bowler to reap any reward for his considerable efforts - until Young’s dismissal by part-time off-spinner Dan Lawrence on the last ball of the day.

England had resumed on 258 for 7 with Lawrence on 67 and Mark Wood 16. Wood provided serious entertainment as he pushed his score up to 41. He hit Trent Boult for three fours in six balls across two overs followed by back-to-back boundaries off Matt Henry as he punished New Zealand’s persistence with short-pitched bowling.

Wo o d e v e n t u a l l y fell, bowled by a Henry out-swinger which found an inside edge onto the stumps.

Lawrence remained not out 81 to share top-scoring honours for England with Rory Burns, while Boult polished off Broad and James Anderson to end as New Zealand’s leading wicket-taker with 4 for 85.

When Broad had Tom Latham, New Zealand’s stand-in captain, out lbw in the sixth over of the innings, the visitors were 15 for 2.

Young ground out eight runs from 45 balls to begin before settling into his stride, unfurling a beautiful on-drive

to the rope off Olly Stone and then lacing another past third slip. In Stone’s next over, Young jabbed another four through point, his feet leaving the ground as he latched onto a short ball.

Having survived on seven when Joe Root juggled and dropped a standard-looking slips catch off Stone’s bowling, Young brought up his maiden Test fifty with a single off Anderson’s late-moving in-swinger.

Conway had earlier done

(ESPNCRICINFO) I n s c e n e s r a re l y s e e n at a top-level cricket match, Shakib Al Hasan’s temper flared up on two different occasions in one Dhaka Premier League (DPL) match on Friday. He first kicked the stumps and later uprooted a whole set of them and flung them to the ground.

Shakib, the captain of Mohammedan Sporting Club, in the game against Abahani Limited, was furious at the umpire’s decision to turn down his lbw appeal against Mushfiqur Rahim, and was then angered by the umpires calling for the covers with one ball remaining in the sixth over as the rain came down.

As the players walked off the field in the rain break, photographs and video clips on social media showed Shakib also getting into a war of words with Abahani coach Khaled Mahmud, who is also a BCB director.

It appeared that Mahmud had to be pulled away from what looked like a shouting match with the Mohammedan camp.

The match duly resumed

and Mohammedan went on to win, but even at the point the players went off due to the rain (five balls after the five-over mark, which constituted a completed match), Shakib’s team was well ahead of the equation as per the DLS method.

So exactly why Shakib reacted in that way is unknown.

Shortly after the match, Shakib wrote an apology note on his official Facebook page. “Dear fans and followers, I am extremely sorry for losing my temper and ruining the match for everyone and especially those who are watching from home,” the message read. “An experienced player like me should not have reacted that way but sometimes against all odds it happens, unfortunately. I apologise to the teams, management, tournament officials and organising committee for this human error. Hopefully, I won’t be repeating this again in the future. Thanks and love you all.”

Off the last ball of the fifth over, Shakib struck Rahim on the pads, only for umpire Imran Parvez

to turn down the appeal.

Shakib immediately kicked the stumps at the non-striker’s end and argued with the umpire, with some of the Mohammedan players surrounding the pair. Then the fielders moved on as it was the end of the over.

the stumps at the non-striker’s end. Conway, who was advancing, tracked the ball like a hawk and managed to turn and stretch his bat back to safety.

That was positively skillful; whereas his next nervous moment - on 22 - fell more in the lap of for-

tune. Having edged Broad towards Zak Crawley at third slip, the soft signal given on the field was notout, suggesting the ball had touched the ground first. Broad was incensed but, upon review, there was enough doubt for the decision to stand - and spark debate over the existence of the soft signal.

Conway and Young put on 122 runs together before Conway holed out to Crawley at deep backward square leg, giving Broad his second wicket, having conceded just 18 runs to that point midway his 12th over. Conway’s scores of 200, 23 and 80 meant he had scored more runs in his first three Test innings than any other New Zealand batter.

Broad gave Ross Taylor a thorough examination, beating the bat on numerous occasions while Anderson provided excellent support from the other end. It was Anderson who had Taylor given out lbw shortly after Broad

had wrapped up his spell but the decision was overturned on review, which showed the ball was missing leg stump by a distance.

Taylor managed to grit his way towards a half-century and was 46 not out at stumps when part-time off-spinner Lawrence finally broke through in the last over of the day. Lawrence ended Young’s knock with his ninth ball, finding an inside edge onto the pad, which Ollie Pope swallowed diving forward at short leg.

Young was playing just his third Test - he earned both his previous caps in the home series against West Indies in December - and had scored two centuries in three innings for Durham in the County Championship in the lead-up to this match, earning his place among six changes to the New Zealand side which drew at Lord’s.

Based on his performance at Edgbaston, he has given selectors plenty to think about going forward.

out all three stumps from the non-strikers’ end and flung them on the ground.

After a short argument when other Mohammedan players gathered around and some seemingly gestured that it was not raining hard enough for play

the BCB sub-committee that oversees all Dhaka leagues - termed the incident “unfortunate”, and said he expected the umpires to submit their report by the end of the day (Friday).

A decision on what action will be taken was likely

book and YouTube, so I am sure all of you saw it. It is unfortunate.

“We expect players to keep their emotions under control even in the heated moments in cricket,” Ahmed said. “This is not the example we want to see from Bangladesh’s professional, international players.

“Like international matches, we also have a playing-control team, which consists of the match referee and umpires. We expect their report by tonight (last night).

The rules are in place, so whatever comes (out), we will act accordingly.”

This is not the first time S h a k i b ’s M o h a m m e d a n has been in the news for non-cricket reasons this tournament. Earlier this week, the BCB had issued a slap on the wrist to the club over a bio-secure-bubble breach that occurred on June 4.

T h e i s s u e re v o l v e d around the club bringing in two net bowlers from outside the bubble to bowl to Shakib at the indoor facility of the Shere Bangla National Stadium.

well to make it back to his crease when Latham struck a Broad delivery straight back down the pitch and the bowler, following through, managed to get his fingers to it before it crashed into

Will Young cashed in on his opportunity (Getty Images)

Shakib Al Hasan flings the stumps after umpire Mahfuzur Rahman calls for the covers (Walton)

Then, after the fifth ball of the sixth over, umpire Mahfuzur Rahman indicated to the groundsmen to bring on the covers as a light rain had begun. Shakib ran in towards the umpire from his fielding position and ripped

to stop, Shakib once again picked up a stump and speared it into the ground at the umpire’s feet.

After the game, Kazi Inam Ahmed, the chairman of the Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis (CCDM) -

either late yesterday or early today.

“We saw there was a lot of excitement in this Abahani-Mohammedan game, and there were some incidents involving Shakib Al Hasan.

It was streamed live on Face-

38

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 12, 2021

RHTYSC cricket teams donate to church,, Humanitarian Mission church

THE eleven cricket teams of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTYSC) over the last week continued their community developmental programmes by reaching out to two organisations in the Ancient County.

The teams are Poonai Pharmacy Under-12 and Under-13, Farfan and Mendes Under-15, Bakewell Under-17 and Second Division, Pepsi Under-19 and Intermediate, Vilatity Inc Under-23, Metro Females, Namilco Thunderbolt Flour Under-21 and First Division.

The teams handed over six overhead fans to St Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church of Port Mourant and a grass-cutter to the Humanitarian Mission of Babu John, Port Mourant.

The teams also donated 60 food hampers to the Mayor and Town Council of Rose Hall Town for distribution to residents of the township affected by flooding.

Assistant Secretary/CEO Simon Naidu stated that the Catholic community of Port Mourant holds a special place in the history of Guyana’s leading youth and sports club as it was the church youth club that founded the RHTYSC in 1990.

Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster also remains a com-

mitted Roman Catholic, who is determined to return his church in Port Mourant to its former glory. The fans were handed over to Parish Priest Ramesh Vanan, who expressed gratitude to the club.

Head of the Humanitarian

Mission, Suresh Sugrim, contacted the club for assistance in the form of a grass-cutter and his request was granted within two hours.

Foster and Organising Secretary Robby Kissoonlall handed the grass-cutters on behalf of

the teams to Administrator of the Mission, Ms Raj Sugrim, who explained that with a very large compound, the mission is forced to use limited funds to clean the compound on a regular basis.

The donation of the

grass-cutter would be a major boost to the work of the Mission and he wished the 11 cricket teams of the club all success on and off the cricket field.

Foster who is also the president of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) and

vice-president of the GCB, stated that no other club in the history of cricket in Guyana has made a positive difference like the RHTYSC and he called on his fellow members to uphold their proud record of serving others.

(ESPNCRICINFO) - SOUTH Africa were six wickets away from an innings victory in the first Test in St Lucia after Quinton de Kock’s career-best 141 not out gave them a lead of 225. In his first innings since being relieved of the captaincy, de Kock batted with freedom and assurance to take South Africa to their third total over 300 in their last nine Tests.

After de Kock brought up his sixth Test century, and first since October 2019, Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje took two wickets each to leave West Indies well behind on a surface that had improved for batting.

Though there was early seam movement on offer, it lessened as the ball got older and the West Indies’ attack was unable to cause the same problems it encountered on day one.

The hosts were also less disciplined in line and length than their visitors and only Roston Chase conceded fewer than three runs an over. Contrastingly, across both West Indies innings so far, only Nortje’s economy rate was

above three runs an over. And West Indies had to contend with the brilliance of de Kock, who appeared unburdened from last season, when leadership weighed on him. de Kock set the tone when he cut the first ball of the day, short and wide from Kemar Roach, through point for four and then drove the last ball of the over, full on middle, past mid-off for four more. It took West Indies five overs to find their rhythm and they conceded 24 runs in that period, before Jayden Seales sent down a maiden.

Kraigg Brathwaite took that as his cue to introduce spin and brought Chase on at the other end. In his second over, Chase almost got rid of de Kock, who missed a sweep, was hit on the pads and given out lbw by Gregory Brathwaite, but reviewed. replays showed de Kock, on 23 at the time, gloved the ball onto his pad and the decision was overturned.

Jason Holder kept the pressure on with a tight line outside off and was rewarded with the

wicket of Rassie van der Dussen, who outside-edged to gully before Brathwaite brought back Roach and Seales for bursts before lunch. Seales was particularly impressive, testing Wiaan Mulder with outswingers and inducing the edge, but the chance fell short of Holder at second slip. Mulder made it to lunch but was dismissed in the third over after the break when he half-heartedly attempted a backfoot punch off Holder and was caught behind. de Kock brought up his 50 in the over after that, with a push through the covers, off 98 balls. He almost lost another partner in Keshav Maharaj five balls later when Rahkeem Cornwall reviewed for a catch at short leg but the ball had ballooned up off the front pad. But the bowler didn’t have to wait long to get the same dismissal: Maharaj inside-edged the next ball he faced from Cornwall to concussion substitute Kieran Powell, who took a superb one-handed low catch and brought the South African tail in to bat.

West Indies took the sec-

ond new ball as soon as it became available and de Kock duly drove Roach for four.

Rabada was less convincing and managed to clear Seales over the slips for a boundary but edged Roach to Holder at second slip four balls later.

It could easily have unravelled for South Africa from there and de Kock shifted gears in anticipation. He slogged Seales for four and then plundered two sixes off the next three balls to suggest he wanted to get big runs quickly. But Nortje hung tough and worked well to keep de Kock on strike, with the pair refusing singles more than taking them.

They shared in a stand of 79, the joint-highest of the match so far.

Nortje was at the other end when de Kock smashed Kyle Mayers over square leg to reach his century. He celebrated the milestone in the same way he did his 50, with a gesture for rhino conservation, in which he held his bat sideways to show a Rockwood sticker - an organisation involved in saving the

rhino - and made a signal with his hand, with ring finger and thumb joined and the other three fingers spread. de Kock was the only South African in the XI not to make a gesture for anti-racism at the start of the match.

Reaching the hundred freed up de Kock even more and he cleared the rope twice more against Cornwall. Then, on 118, he top-edged Holder to fine leg where Mayers took the catch, but Holder had overstepped. To add insult to injury, de Kock went on to his highest score in Test cricket with a pull over deep square leg, off Holder.

Holder had some cheer when Nortje lobbed a catch to Shai Hope at gully and Lungi Ngidi nicked off. In-between those dismissals de Kock boshed him over extra cover for six, his seventh of the innings, the joint-most by a South African in Tests with AB de Villiers. de Kock did not initially take the field with South Africa and Kyle Verreynne stood in as wicket-keeper for the

first six overs. Verreynne was behind the stumps when Dean Elgar called for a review after Rabada hit Brathwaite on the front pad and Joel Wilson gave it not out. Hawk-Eye showed that the ball would have gone on to hit middle stump.

The gloves had returned to de Kock when Powell ducked into a Rabada short ball and had to be checked for concussion. Rabada would not let up and hit Powell on the knee roll with an inswinger - Elgar reviewed again, but without success. Rabada eventually got what he wanted when Powell missed a flick and was given out lbw, confirmed on review.

Nortje’s spell had started by then and he was soon in on the action. He had Hope caught at third slip, surprised by the lack of bounce on a back-of-a-length delivery, and Mayers going the same way to leave West Indies 51 for 4. Chase and Jermaine Blackwood took West Indies to the close, but have plenty more to do on the third day.

RHTYSC Secretary Hilbert Foster and Organising Secretary Robby Kissoonlall hand over the grass-cutter to the Administrator of the Humanitarian Mission

RHTYSC Hilbert Foster hands over donation of electric overhead fans to Father Ramesh Vanan of St Francis

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 12, 2021

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Shepherd inks National female hockey team gets $2M boost from GTT six-month contract with Ginseng Up WEST Indies and national cricketer, Romario Shepherd, signed a six-month sponsorship contract with Ginseng Up yesterday.

Shepherd will be the newest face of Ginseng Up as both the brand and Shepherd look to build a relationship that will last well into the future.

During the contract-signing, the Guyana Amazon Warrior noted that this was a positive move by Ginseng, “I’m really excited to be representing this great product and I’m even happier because it’s something I would normally buy and enjoy.

“So, I’m hoping that this would be the start of a great relationship with the brand and myself,” Shepherd said.

Brand Manager for Ginseng Up, Gabriell Lopes shared her delight in having Shepherd as the face of Ginseng Up. “We are delighted to sign Romario Shepherd as our Ambassador for Ginseng Up. Romario is a great role model for youths who aspire to excel in

sport as he exemplifies dedication and focus in Cricket. We would like to wish Romario the very best in his upcoming games,” Lopes noted.

Meanwhile, Country Manager of Carib Brewery Limited (CBL), Kelvin Singh, was excited for the partnership with the talented right-handed medium pacer.

“The team is extremely proud and happy to welcome Mr Romario Shepherd as a Brand Ambassador for Ginseng Up. Romario is one of the most improved and exciting cricketers in the region …he has proved this on both regional and international stages.

On behalf of the wider team, I would like to wish him a successful regional and international season,” Singh said.

Shepherd is expected to head out to St Lucia where he will be in training for the upcoming tour of Australia to the West Indies before joining the Guyana Amazon Warriors for their CPL campaign.

GUYANA’S female hockey team received a timely boost from GTT to help in the quest for gold at the 2021 Women’s Indoor Pan American Cup. Orson Ferguson, GTT’s Chief Marketing Officer, handed over $2M to the team that will travel to Feasterville, Pennsylvania, USA for the June 25–27 tournament.

Ferguson, while handing over the cheque to the Guyana Hockey Board (GHB), said the company is delighted to provide support to the local women’s hockey team as they prepare to represent Guyana on the international stage.

“Over the years, GTT has endorsed the National Indoor Hockey Championships through various initiatives that showcase the local talent in Guyana. We are elated to see the senior women’s hockey team qualify for such a global event and we look forward to the team’s success as they represent our country and our brand internationally,” Ferguson said.

The CMO further applauded the team and the GHB for rising above the COVID-19 challenges in preparing for the grand event.

President of the Guyana Hockey Board, Philip Fernandes, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the telecommunications giant for its

continued partnership.

A c c o r d i n g t o F e rnandes, “GTT has been one of the local organisations which have been supportive of our efforts in the past, and GTT is responsible for some of our success in development of

the sport. One of our goals this year is to participate in IPAC and GTT has made this a realisation and for that we are grateful,” Fernandes said.

He added, “Our ultimate goal is to participate in the Central American and Ca-

ribbean Games (CAC) in October, 2021. The CAC qualifier is our best path to the Olympic Games and the IPAC is the most effective way to develop our teams and best possible opportunity to qualify for this world level event.”

Thank You GTT!

Fernandes noted that while the team was tasked with completing daily exercise routines to keep fit and remain in regular contact for remote meetings to discuss tactical aspects of the game and other purposes in 2020;

it has resumed training with limitations that follow the recommended COVID-19 guidelines to further prepare for the event.

Guyana will face defending champions USA, Trinidad and Tobago, Can-

ada, Uruguay and Argentina.

The Guyana Hockey Board hosted the last Women’s Indoor Pan American Cup in 2017 at Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, where the local ladies finished sixth place.

De Kock punishes West Indies SEE PAGE 38

Jason Holder made the breakthrough on the second morning (© AFP/Getty Images)

Quinton de Kock gestures to the dressing room on reaching his century (© AFP/Getty Images)

Shepherd inks six-month contract with Ginseng Up SEE PAGE 39

National female hockey team gets $2M boost from GTT SEE PAGE 39

Romario Shepherd and Brand Manager Gabriell Lopes stop for a photo opportunity after their contract-signing

Orson Ferguson, GTT’s Chief Marketing Officer (R), hands over one of the jerseys sponsored by the company to Philip Fernandes

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SATURDAY, JUNE 12, 2021