Guyana Chronicle news 04-18-2021

Entrepreneurship is alive and well among the youth of Green Valley, Linden

Eschallot cultivation is a common way of life for residents in Bath Village, West Coast Berbice ( Carl Croker photo)

18 th April, 2021

Fresh is best Living by planting, selling and fishing

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Free Inside No. 106334

Frontera plugs 03 US$19M into CGX SUNDAY APRIL 18, 2021

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–– to enable company to continue oil-exploration activities offshore Guyana –– drilling of Kawa-1 well remains on track for this year

Still in operation: Decades after Guyana stopped using trains, this locomotive has survived and is perhaps the only one in operation in Guyana. In this photograph taken by Richard Bhainie, it is transporting workers to the Blairmont Sugar Estate in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice)

Local trade not impacted by 05 volcano eruptions PAGE

Supplies from Guyana reach St. Vincent

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‘I am stronger More than 79,000 than my trials’ vaccinated 08 … former law teacher admitted to the Bar 11 against COVID-19 PAGE

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 18, 2021

‘Changing coronavirus’ attacking younger people … says Dr Ramsammy

By Vishani Ragobeer THOUGH Guyana has not been able to ascertain whether the variants of concern for the SARSCoV-2 (the virus that causes the disease COVID-19) have been imported, Advisor to the Ministry of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, explained that some mutated form of the virus is spreading locally and it is affecting younger people.

Over the past few months, three variants of concern of the novel coronavirus have emerged. These are the B.1.1.7 or the United Kingdom (UK) variant, the B.1.351 or the South Africa variant and the P1 or Brazil variant. If an individual has been infected with one of these variants that individual is still COVID-19 positive, but only after analysing the genetic sample, would scientists be able to state that a person has been infected with a variant of concern.

So far, Guyana has only been able to conduct genomic sequencing - a type of genetic analysis - on 10 COVID-positive samples, out of a total of nearly 12,000 positive cases. And, Dr. Ramsammy, during a

recent interview with this newspaper, said that the number of positive cases documented illustrates the minimum number of times the virus has been transmitted from one person to the other, since the virus was first imported in March, 2020.

“Any virus transmitted so many times will have changes and so we don’t have to determine right now that we got this variant and that variant. We should know that; virology tells us that, because it is a virus and it is transmitted, it will change,” Dr. Ramsammy underscored, adding: “I don’t think people need to get hung up on whether it is a Brazilian variant, an American variant or what.”

Cognisant of the expected changes to the virus, Dr. Ramsammy cautioned that a mutated form of the virus has been adversely affecting younger people in Guyana over the past few weeks.

“Initially, the elder people that died were all people with comorbidities - they were diabetic, they had heart diseases, hypertension. Now you’re getting deaths among people with no previous history of comorbidities,” the Advisor said worriedly.

In addition to the surge in the number of COVID-19 cases recorded daily, 34 deaths have been recorded for the month of April so far. Of those 34 deaths, six of those deaths were younger (aged less than 50 years) individuals.

On April 1, a 45-yearold female from Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and a 26-year-old male from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) died. On April 4, there were six deaths recorded in one day and a 28-year-old man from Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) was the youngest death that day.

Then, on April 5, a 44year- old man from Region Three succumbed and a 41-year-old woman from Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) died on April 10. And, on April 13, a 45-year- old woman from Region 10 (Upper Demerara- Berbice) died after contracting the novel coronavirus.

A few months ago, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention both indicated that older folks and later, older folks with pre-existing, underlying health conditions were more vulnerable to contracting COVID-19 and becoming severely ill.

Younger folks were, reportedly, more likely to be asymptomatic (infected with the virus, but not showing any symptoms) and they might also be “carriers”spreading the disease to other, older folks.

In October, last year, the Guyana Chronicle reported that there was a concerning number of COVID-19 prevalence in younger folks with positive cases recorded consistently in young people between the ages of

Dane Kennedy, a young chef, receiving his first COVID-19 vaccine on Friday (Delano Williams photo) 20 to 39.

“The observation that the 20 to 39 age group has been affected in Guyana in a way that brings us extra concern is absolutely correct because across the world that is not usually the high-risk age group,” Head of Internal Medicine at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), Dr Mahendra Carpen, told the Guyana Chronicle in October.

Dr. Carpen reasoned that this points to the prevalence of underlying and perhaps even largely undetected health issues. These include non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, heart diseases and cancers, which, according to the Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO) accounted for about 70 per cent of deaths in Guyana.

On Friday, during his daily COVID-19 update, Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony said, “Infection have always been higher in the younger population but when we review the data of the 11,000 or so cases that we’ve had of people who would’ve recovered, the 20 to 25 age group, we’ve had an excess of 1,500 in-

fections; the 25 to 30, age group, we would’ve had more than 1,600 infections; and the 30 to 35 age group, that would’ve been about 1,200 infections.”

He reasoned that the prevalence of the disease among the younger population could be attributed to how active they are. Dr. Anthony, however, stressed that younger people are no longer just affected with the milder form of COVID-19, as before.

“Our challenge over the last couple of weeks is that we’ve seen a few cases where younger people are coming into the hospital and that we’ve started analysing those cases and we’ve also seen relatively younger persons - meaning 40 and so forth - who would’ve had some amount of comorbidities but they have come into the hospital and had the more severe form of COVID and then died from COVID,” the Minister lamented.

Given that this is a matter of concern, the Health Minister assured members of the public that the Ministry would be examining the data to see how the

Ministry should respond to this “worrying trend”.

VACCINATION On Friday, the age limit for people eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine was reduced to all individuals 18 years and older.

The Health Minister said that this was due to public clamour for the vaccines but also alluded that the concern of younger people becoming affected guided the rationale too.

In fact, while speaking about the “worrying trend”, he said, “There is a real practical reason why everyone who is 18 years and older should go and get your vaccine- that is to protect you from COVID and ensure that you don’t die from COVID.” He also explained that for the country to achieve herd immunity, a large section of the adult population would have to be vaccinated.

Herd immunity to COVID-19 will occur once about 80 per cent of the population is immune to the disease. And, vaccination is a way of ensuring immunisation.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 18, 2021

Frontera plugs US$19M into CGX

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–– to enable company to continue oil-exploration activities offshore Guyana –– drilling of Kawa-1 well remains on track for this year

By Navendra Seoraj AS part of efforts to ensure that CGX Energy Inc. remains on course to drilling its first well offshore Guyana this year, Frontera Energy Corporation has injected US$19 million (approximately G$4.1B), in the form of a loan, into the company, which is the operator of the Corentyne and Demerara blocks.

Frontera Energy Corporation which, together with CGX, holds Petroleum Prospecting Licences for the Corentyne and Demerara blocks, announced, on Friday, that it has entered into an agreement with CGX for a US$19 million loan, which will enable the company to continue financing its share costs related to the Corentyne, Demerara and Berbice blocks, the Berbice Deep-water Port, and other budgeted costs, as agreed to

by Frontera.

“Our joint venture with CGX represents a significant growth opportunity for both companies and is rooted in a commitment to the Guyanese Government to develop these world-class assets with a focus on local engagement and the development of infrastructure,” Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Frontera, Orlando Cabrales, was quoted as saying in a statement which was issued on Friday.

According to Frontera, the loan to CGX will be available for drawdown in tranches on a non-revolving basis until October 31, 2021, or the date on which CGX (or its subsidiaries) enters into a binding transaction that provides funds to repay the amounts outstanding under the loan.

“The loan, together with

Map showing Guyana’s blocks (Photo courtesy of CNW Group/Frontera Energy Corporation)

all interest accrued, shall be due and payable on June 30, 2022, or such later date as determined by Frontera, at its sole discretion. Interest payable on the principal amount outstanding shall accrue at a rate of 9.7 per cent per annum, payable monthly in cash, with interest on overdue interest.

“If the loan is extended

by Frontera past June 30, 2022, at its sole discretion, the new interest rate will be 15 per cent per annum.

The loan will be secured by all the assets of CGX. The loan agreement also includes a standby fee of

two per cent multiplied by the daily average amount of unused commitment under the loan payable quarterly in arrears by CGX during the drawdown period,” Frontera said.

The loan, contemplated by the term sheet [a bullet-point document outlining the material terms and conditions of a potential business agreement], remains subject to customary conditions, including the negotiation and execution of definitive agreements between Frontera and CGX and obtaining regulatory approvals. The lending firm

said there is no guarantee that definitive agreements will be executed on the terms contemplated, or at all.

In speaking further about this initiative, Cabrales said: “Completing the loan agreement with CGX is an important step forward and the joint venture remains firmly on-track to spud its first offshore Guyana well as planned in the second half of this year.”

Executive Co-Chairman of CGX, Professor Suresh Narine, was quoted in the statement as saying: “These are exciting times for CGX,

the joint venture and our stakeholders as we get closer to spudding Kawa-1.

“We have exciting exploration plans for the Kawa-1 and Makarapan-1 wells on the Corentyne and Demerara Blocks and, as importantly, we are developing the infrastructure necessary to support and enhance broader energy and trade industry activity through the Berbice Deep-water Port Project.

We look forward to executing on our programmes and creating value and opportunity for our stakeholders.”

It was reported in Feb-

ruary that an independent prospective resource study has affirmed the world-class prospects of the Corentyne and Demerara blocks.

“As confirmed by the independent resource evaluation commission, the Guyana basin offers the joint venture access to a leading offshore oil opportunity.

We expect a robust Guyana work programme with the advancement of our exploration wells, as we continue executing on our plan to realise this value for our shareholders.

“The independent prospective resource study reaffirms our excitement about the world-class prospectivity of the Corentyne and Demerara blocks offshore Guyana,” former CEO of Frontera, Richard Herbert, said.

The independent prospective resource study and report captured the Corentyne North Area, Corentyne Main Area and Demerara Block, offshore Guyana.

Outside of the prospective projects, U.S oil giant, ExxonMobil, is the only operator, so far, which has started production offshore Guyana. This company – operator of the Stabroek, Canje and Kaieteur blocks – has made 18 discoveries since May 2015 and began production in December 2019 from the Liza Phase-1 development project. Since 2015, ExxonMobil has increased its estimated recoverable resource base in Guyana to more than nine billion oil-equivalent barrels.

With prospects at the Corentyne and Demerara blocks appearing to be favourable, Frontera and CGX is evidently looking to follow suit and move ahead with its operations.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE APRIL 18, 2021

No results yet for tests done in Aishalton

… local authorities providing supplies to families in quarantine

The community of Aishalton in Region Nine

By Vishani Ragobeer NO additional test results have been collected as yet, following the confirmation of nine COVID-19 cases and one death in the Deep South Rupununi village of Aishalton, according to Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the South Ru-

pununi District Council (SRDC), Immaculata Casimero.

This village has been placed under a month-long lockdown after these cases were recorded. This was the first set of cases recorded in the village since the pandemic last year. When the Guyana Chronicle spoke

to the village’s Toshao on Thursday last, he noted that while nine COVID-19 cases have been detected thus far, contact tracing was conducted and further tests would be conducted.

On Saturday, however, Casimero noted that those results have not been returned as yet, but he highlighted that the families have all been placed into home quarantine and are being monitored.

And to support these families while in quarantine, the SRDC -- a local non-governmental organisation (NGO)-has been working alongside the village authorities to provide supplies.

On Thursday, after an emergency meeting with the response team in the village, it was noted that a curfew starting at 18:00hrs and lasting until 06:00hrs the next day has been instituted. This curfew will be in place until May 15 and will be enforced by members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the Village Council.

Additionally, Aishalton’s Village Council, by way of public notice, has indicated that visitors or non-residents, and people from neighbouring Brazil will not be permitted to enter the community.

Individuals conducting official business, such as government officers, contractors and medical personnel, are exempt from this.

Businesses should be closed by 18:00hrs daily and all social gatherings, including sports, church services and fundraisers are suspended. Businesses are also required to ensure that their premises are outfitted with sanitisation stations.

Buses entering the village must not transport non-residents without permission from the village council and all passengers should be listed on a manifest and present themselves to gate monitors for screening.

“Residents leaving the village must first check with the doctor for screening, obtain a signed medical document and then proceed to the village council for a pass letter signed by the village council. Persons coming into Aishalton must have a signed letter from their respective village council, stating the purpose of their travel, and must follow all village measures,” the notice said.

It was noted too that there will be a system in place for the transportation of goods and services on selected days; this will be facilitated by the village council and the business community in Aishalton.

In light of these new restrictions, Casimero said also, “We are trying to do public awareness to see how they can abide by the rules.”

SUNDAY CHRONICLE APRIL 18, 2021

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Local trade not impacted by volcanic eruptions

By Navendra Seoraj

TRADE between Guyana and its Caribbean counterparts continues unhindered, despite the eruptions at the ‘La Soufrière’ Volcano, in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, has said.

The La Soufriere volcano, after years, erupted explosively on April 9, blanketing the island in a layer of ash and forcing some 20,000 people to evacuate their homes. The volcano continued its eruption on Friday sending a column of

tions have covered the island in ash and flows of molten rock and gas have gushed down the mountainside. Residents have been displaced and are left without clean water or electricity, adding a humanitarian emergency into the mix.

And, although there has been an outpouring of support for the island-nation, access to St. Vincent and the Grenadines has been restricted since the eruptions began.

Airports are shut down and maritime travel is limited, hindering some support efforts.

In the first week of the

about the effects of the natural disaster on local trade, the minister said: “Immediately, no. They are moving people to other islands, so we will have to closely examine our exports of our rice and agro-processed product. The GMC [Guyana Marketing Corporation] has dedicated staff that is monitoring the situation.”

Guyana’s exports to St Vincent and the Grenadines alone were worth US$3.6 million during 2019, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. For the time being, as said by the

minister, there is no immediate effect on trade, but the situation will be monitored closely over the next two weeks.

“Also, it should be noted if lots of people remain [on the island], imports of food can increase as a result of relief packages. GMC will be monitoring,” Minister Mustapha related.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Hugh Todd, was reported as saying that Guyana has been providing supplies to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, since that is what the country is able to do

at this time.

So far, a vessel filled with 350 tonnes of supplies and another twenty-foot container filled with water supplies

the ongoing volcanic eruptions on the island, possible repatriation arrangements are being assessed.

“We’re still assessing

Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha

have been sent to the island.

Guyana’s President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, has said that continuous support will be provided to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, as efforts in collaboration with the private sector will continue.

It was reported recently too that with some Guyanese, who have been living in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, showing some interest in returning to Guyana, following

Explosion at the La Soufrière Volcano at 6:15 hours on Friday. According to the Seismic Research Centre (SRC) of the University of the West Indies (UWI), the eruption column is estimated at roughly 8,000m high with an ash cloud seen moving towards the west of St. Vincent. The period between explosions has now lengthened to more than 40 hours (SRC photo)

ash, estimated at roughly 8,000 meters, towards the west of the island, the Seismic Research Centre (SRC) of the University of the West Indies (UWI) said.

According to a report from American independent, non-profit media organisation, the National Public Radio (NPR), periodic erup-

eruptions, Barbados too was affected by the volcanic ash, which travelled miles to cover streets and surfaces there. Though destabilising in some way or another to the affected islands, Minister Mustapha has said that there is no immediate impact on local trade.

When asked recently

those persons who might want to return and that is the case, we will make arrangements for that but right now, the airspace is closed and the focus right now, based on the request from the government of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines, is for support for food items, water supplies and sanitisation items and so forth,” Minister Todd said.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 18, 2021

Food security in Guyana GUYANA was once referred to as the “bread basket of the Caribbean” because of the country’s vast agricultural potential. Its main economic traditional crops are rice and sugar, which continue to be produced and exported on a large scale to Europe, North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.

Despite the challenges the country is facing amid the COVID-19 pandemic, works are still being done to ensure that food security remains a priority in the country. As the government seeks to diversify the economy by introducing new non-traditional crops such as soya bean and corn to produce its own feed for the poultry industry, it is also expected to reap its largest rice harvest to date, along with expanding its sugar production.

The sugar industry has seen tremendous works in the last eight months when three sugar estates were reopened for operations, contributing to a boost in employment and hope for those communities that have suffered due to the closure. The industry has alone undergone a marketing evaluation, where more focus is on value-added products such as ethanol and molasses and has completely transformed its packaging strategies to meet market demands and capture and recapture new and old markets, locally, regionally, and internationally. The industry hopes to achieve 100,000 tonnes of sugar, surpassing its actual production

in 2020 of 88,000 tonnes.

As for the rice industry, markets are also expected to be increased on a global stage and quotas are being negotiated to be increased in Brazil to 34,000 tonnes from 10,000 tonnes of rice for this year.

Guyana and Brazil are also in discussion to build a deep-water port and develop a railway connection where goods can be easily transported between the two countries, thereby benefitting both countries immensely.

The livestock industry is also on the verge of tapping into Middle Eastern markets as the country is already self-sufficient in its production. Modern abattoirs are being constructed throughout the country for processing pork and beef to improve marketable value.

Many families in Guyana are agri-dependent and as such, the government is committed to ensuring that small-scale farmers are also able to benefit from development of the sector through improved market access and technological advancement (use of drones to monitor their crops and communicating with the ministry through extension services in distant areas of the country).

The entire country has agricultural potential, and the government seeks to ensure that all have access to the resources needed to exceed and become profitable. As such, the government has allocated $50 million

into Region Nine to enhance agricultural activities in this region. Region Nine’s biggest advantage is the availability of rich farming lands to support large-scale agricultural activities. The government believes this region can contribute greatly to the country’s economy and as such, is committed to providing incentives, technical advice and other resources farmers may need to improve their production.

Since farming is a traditional mechanism in Guyana, the government is working to ensure that the next step for the sector is implementation of agro-processing facilities around the country to provide farmers the opportunity to add value to their products through packaging which will help to meet more market needs.

The biggest obstacle in this initiative is the cost of electricity to maintain the facility. To combat this drawback, the government is working on providing alternative energy sources that will be cheaper to farmers.

Despite the current agriculture educational courses provided in the country, there is still need for higher levels of education in the field of research and development, which is beyond the country’s potential to provide. However, India has provided an opportunity to have individuals pursue their masters and PhD in agriculture through fully funded scholarships. The National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) has also been given the opportunity to collaborate

with the Indian Council for Agriculture Research (ICAR) to enhance agricultural processes within the country in developing planting techniques and pest and disease management, among other areas of concern. The Indian Government has in the last year showed interest in assisting the country in whatever way it can, but much emphasis has been placed on the agricultural sector in the sugar, rice and aquaculture industries.

The sector still needs investors to provide the funding needed to transform the agricultural sector. These investments will help to create thousands of jobs for the country, which would have spin-off effects on other sectors, especially the tourism sector as hotels and restaurants also need fruits and vegetables to prepare their menus and foreigners will also want to support the local markets. There will also be lower unemployment rates, increased Gross Domestic Product (GDP); increased domestic incomes; lower rates of poverty, along with increased economic activities for Guyana.

As the government seeks to find more regional and international markets for its produce, the foreign income of the country will increase. In the coming years, Guyana will not only be able to provide food security for the country, but will also be able to comfortably supply Caribbean markets.

It is time for GECOM to be decisive!

Dear Editor,

AS our nation looks forward to local government elections (LGEs) this year, all eyes are on the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

For obvious reasons, the keenness of scrutiny is justified, given the 2020 March to August debacle at the hands of its corrupted secretariat officials. The snail’s pace of the chairperson and commissioners to make decisions and to institute corrective mechanisms that would halt its deteriorated public confidence is rather disappointing and must be condemned. GECOM must be more decisive.

The inaction and blatant pussy-footing by GECOM commissioners are exposing the lack of assertiveness in the leadership of the organisation. It is an absolute indictment of what is required and a definitive, contributory factor to the five months of ransom unleashed on our citizens. Mind-boggling is an understatement when one considers that all are aware that these undercurrents have realised the transitioning of the organisation beyond its lowest level of public acceptability.

From the foregoing, it is rational for one to conclude that failure to act appropriately is indicative of untoward intent and posture. One that confirms the overwhelming public perception that the ‘barely surviving position’ of GECOM would not have been managed, had it not been for the bold international rejection and almost national civil uprising. It is indeed lamentable that despite these most damning threats to itself and the nation it ought to be serving, they seem incapable of adrenalising some self-surviving initiatives.

There have been numerous recommendations by electoral observers from leading global democracies concerning reforms that could improve our electoral system. To these, there has been a thunderous silence regarding the chairperson and the commissioners’ consideration or reactions. However, there is no doubt that the commission has sufficient legal support to improve its internal operations and functions, and these must be used to win back the confidence and trust of our nation.

The riggers must be removed immediately as GECOM cannot continue to have the fraudsters on its payroll. While we agree

that electoral and constitutional reforms are urgently needed, we must also have a system in place to hold local government elections now. Importantly, the commission at the helm of GECOM cannot ignore the importance and necessity for the LGEs, as they play a central and critical role in advancing community development in parallel with national development initiatives. Our country could ill afford these further ransom positions and the PPP/C must not allow the PNC and its dictatorship mouthpieces to further delay the LGEs. Editor, please allow me the latitude of pointing out that constitutional reform is a big and massive endeavour that will take a very long time. Among the myriad reasons is the complex situation in Guyana, informed by a brand of political peculiarities, unlike any global other. When coupled with the PNC’s demonstrated high level of irrationality, constitutional reforms will be gruelling and time-consuming. Having lived through the struggle our nation faced during the ‘cheating’ legacy of the PNC from the 1950s, my experience and that of many Guyanese from this period provide testimony to the almost

impossible task of arriving at a constitutional position that would be fair or neutral.

Given our political framework, therefore, special arrangements regarding the scope and procedural approach will have to be attended to as a starting point to conduct meaningful and necessary constitutional reform. Accordingly, the previous chair of the special task force set up to address such matters, Attorney General Mr. Anil Nandlalall, pointed out that these are required ‘to ensure that the law is changed at various intervals so that it is always in sync with the evolutionary changes in a society, and so that the law does not become abstract and archaic, but that the law remains dynamic and is changed to meet the exigencies of an evolving society.”

While it is accepted that some measure of consensus may eventually be arrived at after some lengthy and gruelling attempts to frustrate the process by the opposition nay-saying PNC, it will be non-productive and sub-optimal for GECOM to halt all elections, including the scheduled LGEs, See page 7

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 18, 2021

Trinis were kind to Guyanese students during the dictatorship

Dear Editor,

GUYANESE who studied in Trinidad (at UWI St. Augustine) during the 1970s and thereafter would never forget the local hospitality and kindness of Indo-Trinidadians who were very helpful to them during their difficult experience on the island.

Indo-Trinis sustained, virtually fed hundreds of Indo-Guyanese male students during their stay on the island, especially during the period of the Burnham/Hoyte dictatorship.

Those who benefitted from ‘Trini’ kindness and warm hospitality are most grateful and thankful for food assistance. Without the nutritional assistance, several students would probably have gone to bed hungry, and, or not, have completed their studies. Money was not always available to purchase food; Guyanese who studied in Trinidad would often reminisce about their experience, especially the support they received from the very kind, friendly, and generous (Hindu) Trinis. The Trinis, especially from the greater St Augustine area and Central region, were very, very supportive of Guyanese students, offering them free meals and soft drinks (Solo, Lil Boy and Chubby were very popular). I am familiar with their experiences, having spent a considerable amount of time in Trinidad, since Summer 1981, and interacting with some of them. I, too, am a beneficiary of ‘Trini’ hospitality and kindness. I did not study in Trinidad, although I presented papers at or helped to organise academic conferences and or attended forums since my first visit in 1981. I used to visit Trinidad regularly, as emissary of our political grouping in New York to interact with ‘Trini’ groups on the island (mostly out of UWI, and teachers like me) that supported the struggle to liberate Guyana from the throes of Burnham dictatorship. I met many Guyanese in Trinidad since the first visit in 1981, and during the hundreds of trips made thereafter to conduct opinion surveys, or engage groups that collaborated against Burnhamism. As best as I know, there were no active Guyanese groups on campus championing democracy in their homeland. It was primarily Indo-Trinis who were involved in the struggle against Burnhamism; they were guided and instructed by

Indian lecturers in the social science departments. Those Guyanese who studied and were credentialed in Trinidad are scattered all over the Caribbean region or North America, with some still in Guyana, mostly in the legal field.

They all spoke positively of their experience, and were/are most grateful for the assistance rendered by Trinis during their student days.

I, too, had similar experience, travelling the breadth and length of Trinidad, and there is hardly a village on the island, or in Tobago, that I did not visit.

Guyanese studying in Trinidad did not have much or sufficient money for completion of their studies; they could barely meet tuition and boarding. Several shared dorms or apartments. Lodging was a major challenge, and as such they accepted free meals whenever and wherever possible. They were very frugal in their spending; access to foreign currency from Guyana was non-existent during the period of the dictatorship. During the 1970s thru the 1990s, foreign currency was not readily available in Guyana to pay tuition overseas, unless one had political connection or affiliation. Supporters of the government hit preference. One could not leave the country without any money; violations carried stiff fines. The country was virtually bankrupt, with scarcity of basic foods and in near starvation mode; many were observed with begging bowls, from Timehri all the way to the villages. Foreign currency was obtained through the ‘black market’ underground economy, or from generous overseas-based relatives who helped pay bills. So, Guyanese students in Trinidad had to economise; live a spartan life, and tightly manage their budget to last their period of studies. Several students would share an apartment; they helped each other with meal preparation, laundry, and cleaning. There was no ‘surplus’ money for entertainment or exorbitant meals. Guyanese lived on basic foods and satisfied minimal needs, and received food subsidies from generous Trinis who performed Hindu religious services or had weddings.

The Trinis knew of the difficult life of Guyanese during Burnham rule. They knew Burnham had banned basic foods, and denied them access to foreign currency to fund their studies abroad. Families of ‘Trini’ friends

It is time for GECOM ...

From page 6 until these updates are made.

Consequently, it is my honest opinion that Guyanese must at this time look immediately at electoral reform. Electoral reform, contextually, refers to the necessary legal adjustments that would ensure the removal of inhibitions to the holding of elections that are free and fair. As the responsible constitutional body, GECOM must elevate itself to an organisational status that is credible, accountable, and

fully transparent in delivering our elections.

Towards the foregoing, there is no doubt that the staff at GECOM will have to be men and women with integrity and candour, who MUST operate in a system of sufficient counterchecks that will facilitate audits and guarantee credible results. Towards this end, GECOM will have to objectively take decisive action against those responsible for the execution of its strategic operational delivery in its secretariat.

would entertain Guyanese students at their homes for a hearty traditional meal, especially during religious festivals, and often packed containers for them to take to their place of residency. The packed food would be shared with other Guyanese students, lasting for days, saving them time and money to prepare meals. Many Guyanese students said they hardly prepared meals during their stay, as families of ‘Trini’ friends helped them a lot. They would obtain a lot of free cooked meals, foods especially, during religious services. Whenever there was a Puja, Ramayana, Satsangh, Katha, or Bhagwat, especially in the evening, or even daytime Jhandis, Guyanese students would patronise the services when it was about to end for their meals. Students would inform each other of the religious puja. These pujas were open to the public. Food was always bountiful at the conclusion of Hindu pujas, or at weddings. In addition to getting a meal, the Guyanese students would get containers of food to take home that would last for days. As some told me: “Boy, we would ‘tote’ bags of food to the dorms or apartments for colleagues.

These foods would take us through the week or till the next religious function. We don’t have to cook; we would find out where there was a religious event in the evening and patronise it. Sometimes we listened for ‘mike’ announcements of or broadcasts of a religious service, as was the custom. We would walk miles to the religious service, because we did not have vehicle, and night ‘maxi’ bus service was not always available to that location. And at any rate, we had to conserve our funds.

Often, we get a ride back to the ‘dorm’ or our apartment from volunteers at the religious service. Hindu, Muslim, Christian students would all patronise the Hindu event, and we all looked out for one another. At times, we took Black students from Guyana or other islands with us; they enjoyed the meals and hospitality, and were shocked that people were so generous with doling out foods. The hosts of the religious services welcomed us, and invited us to come nightly. They knew the difficulties we faced in Guyana, and they were very supportive of us. Weekend was best for us, because there was always a religious programme in the St. Augustine area. The

Hindu religious services or weddings were the source of our sustenance in Trinidad. Just as in Guyana, we didn’t need invitation; we just go, and the people gladly entertained us.”

All the former Guyanese students I conversed with said Trinis were very sympathetic, having of the travails they experienced in Guyana. They remarked that often the organisers or the pandits would give instructions ‘to treat dem boys well’, meaning Guyanese students. The Pandit or others would comment, “Burnham treated dem boys bad; he doesn’t give them money. He ban food”. There was usually an assortment of dishes, including channa and alou, katahar or chatine, dhal and kharhi, pumpkin, dasheen bhajji, sahena, katchourie, and bus-up shot (paratha roti). Trinis don’t eat puri. Bottled Chubby was served, and the students tote a lot of it. And, of course, students also got a lot of parsad as take-away. Trini’ parsad is most delicious, and was or is quite different from Guyanese; theirs is made from Cream of Wheat, and includes raisin and sweet spices like elichi. The parsad bag would contain apples, grapes, and almond nuts, items banned by Burnham, in addition to ladoo, burfi, mithai, and so many other delicious sweets. Guyanese got to eat roti and other foods that Burnham banned. I loved the ‘Trini’ cuisine after a puja. The assortment of dishes was unbelievable; no other country can match their puja dishes. The food and parsad were absolutely delicious. All over the world I’ve travelled, the Indian culture of sharing and caring and distribution of meals is similar.

Not all Guyanese in Trinidad had a pleasant experience. And not all Guyanese were model citizens in Trinidad. Some Guyanese engaged in crooked and criminal activities.

As Trinis say, some Guyanese ‘skulled’ (cheated) them.

Overall, Indo-Guyanese students benefitted tremendously from Trinis during their stay in Trinidad. Several Guyanese decided to make the island their new home, acquiring citizenship, getting employment, and marrying Trinis.

We can no longer tolerate the lack of efficacy demonstrated particularly, by the Chief Election Officer Keith Lowenfield and all those who are before the courts for electoral malpractices during the 2020 elections. It is the commission that has overwhelming responsibility for the training and recruitment of the staff at GECOM, and this should never again be solely delegated to the CEO of the secretariat, while reneging on its responsibilities. Overseeing and/ or approval of same must be done by the commission and the chairperson and her commissioners must, accordingly, be held accountable.

In the preparation for timely LGEs, the chairperson of GECOM must assert herself in ensuring the absolute clean-

up of the organisation. A criteria-based system of determining and selecting staff acceptable to the commission must be instituted after the riggers are dismissed. Staff behaviour must be tenable and therefore monitored to target a team of credible players that will support the strategic agenda of the commission to hold free and fair elections.

We must not hide our heads in the sand like ostriches, pretending that we do not know what we have at GECOM. The time for GECOM to decisively deal with her internal cancers and hire honest and decent staff is now.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

Yours sincerely, Neil Kumar

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 18, 2021

Guyana called ‘Good Samaritan’ as supplies reach St. Vincent –– GMSA says $20M in relief has been raised for SVG

By Vishani Ragobeer

THE first shipment of relief supplies from Guyana to the southern Caribbean nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), which has been contending with continuous volcanic eruptions, arrived on the island on Saturday morning, prompting its Prime Minister, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves to call the benefactor a “Good Samaritan” for coming to their aid.

This first shipment of supplies was transported on board the vessel, ‘Miss Meena’, and Dr. Gonsalves and a few government officials were on site to welcome the crew and receive the items.

These relief items will be distributed to those people who have been staying at shelters in safe zones across the island.

“This is a significant shipment; it is 350 tonnes! That is a big donation!” the Prime Minister was quoted as saying. He also highlighted that he has been advised that there will be further donations coming from Guyana. He also told members of the Vincentian media that he is also aware that a bank account has been set up in Guyana to organise funds for not only emergency relief but for reconstruction as well.

“In the days where things were a little more difficult in Guyana, I used to always say that Guyana would be the head cornerstone in CARICOM,” Dr. Gonsalves said, adding: “It is almost like a biblical prophecy that has become fulfilled, and I am

It was a hive of activity on Saturday morning as Vincentian longshoremen worked feverishly to offload the ‘Miss Meena’ very happy to see that.”

While thanking the Government of Guyana and President Dr. Irfaan Ali for the relief, the Vincentian Prime Minister said, “I want to say that with the renewed bond of friendship, and this act of solidarity, one cannot help but remember in the Bible the story of the Good Samaritan.”

The supplies organised for the country include water, sanitation supplies, hygiene products and food items.

Recently, President Ali emphasised that continuous support will be provided to St.

Vincent and the Grenadines, as efforts, in collaboration with the private sector, will continue.

“Another shipment of items is being prepared for departure on Monday, April 19; that would include water, sugar, rice, assorted food items and personal care and hygiene items,” a recent release from the Office of the President stated.

Cognisant that water supplies are much-needed in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and also in Barbados, which latter Caribbean nation has

been affected by volcanic ash from La Soufrière, President Ali also committed to sending a further 50 water tanks to SVG and another 50 to Barbados in response to an appeal from that nation’s Prime Minister, Ms. Mia Mottley.

Before the supplies were loaded onto the ‘Miss Meena’ vessel on Monday, President of the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA), Mr. Rafeek Khan told this newspaper that the private sector was able to raise about $8M in cash, and about five container-loads of cargo, including food, as well as sanitation and hygiene supplies.

On Saturday, however, a release from the GMSA noted that by April 16, an approximate cumulative total of G$20,000,000 (in cash and supplies) were contributed by the membership. Khan also called upon GMSA members to donate and pledge more support to the continued relief efforts.

Meanwhile, with some Guyanese who have been living in SVG showing an interest in returning to Guyana in the wake of ongoing volcanic eruptions on the island, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Mr. Hugh Todd recently told this newspaper that possible repatriation arrangements are being assessed.

There are about 4,500 Guyanese living on the island of St. Vincent alone, which has been facing volcanic eruptions since Friday, and Guyana’s Honorary Consul to the island, Mr. Nigel Rus-

Food supplies sent to St. Vincent from Guyana as the country contends with ongoing volcanic eruptions sell, highlighted that there has been an outpouring of support among the Guyanese population to get through the crisis. The Honorary Consul noted that his priority is ensuring that Guyanese living on the island are safely evacuated and relocated from the danger zones. Having done that, he said that the consulate is now focused on taking care of the needs of the people.

“On the ground here, there will always be needs.

The biggest need is water, and what I have asked Guy-

ana, initially, is to get us some water, and to get us some goggles to deal with the (volcanic) ash, and face masks,” Russell related.

And, though individuals have opened up their homes to accommodate others, he acknowledged that eventually, personal supplies will run low, and people will require some assistance. It is for this reason that the consulate has been making a list to send to the local authorities, so that relief can be provided.

Over 79,000 vaccinated against COVID-19 MINISTER of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, has revealed that 79,200 individuals were vaccinated all across Guyana at the end of Friday, as the vaccination rollout has scaled up, allowing all persons aged 18 years and older to get their vaccine.

Recently, Adviser to the Ministry of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, highlighted that the Ministry of Health’s goal is to reach 100,000 first-dose vaccinations sometime this week. On Saturday, in an effort to increase vaccination, several See page 9

A woman receiving her first vaccination dose on Saturday

SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 18, 2021

‘Pink slip’ or not, cash grant team will revisit communities

9

–– PM tells residents of Paradise that process has started in the interior

PRIME Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, on Saturday assured residents of Paradise, on the East Coast of Demerara, that each household which was missed during the first round of the COVID-19 relief cash distribution, remains eligible for the grant and will receive it during the second phase of delivery which has started.

He was in the area to encourage residents to utilise the vaccination facility established in the community and to listen to their concerns.

In responding to a resident who said that her household received neither the grant nor the ‘pink slip’ (given to secondary households or persons renting) during the initial distribution, the Prime Minister encouraged her to reach out to the team once they have returned to the community.

He reassured the residents that the government has promised and is committed to ensuring that each household receives the $25,000 COVID-19 relief cash grant.

“Pink slip or not, the team is coming back into

every community, we have started in the interior regions already and we are going to work our way to the Coast, the money is there... we said every household, it will happen, they will get back to you,” the Prime Minister was quoted as saying in a release from his office.

Residents, during the session, raised additional concerns about security and community infrastructure, such as roads, bridges and streetlights. The Prime Minister, after listening to them at a community church, also

Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, during a walkabout in the community of Paradise, East Coast Demerara, on Saturday

Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, engages a resident of Paradise during the meeting

took a walk around the village.

He committed to solving challenges where possible, but also encouraged them to work together in community groups.

“We expect some discussion at the leadership level in the community… You have an existing Co-operative Society and I will talk with Minister Joseph Hamilton and have him come and work

with you. We are here to have a discussion with you and help you, because this Co-operative spirit is important… I’m telling you that you can have a Co-operative Society and a Community Development Council (CDC) and both groups can work together.”

Resident of Paradise, Randolph McPherson, said that he was pleased by the outcome of the meeting and was confident that the Prime

Minister would honour his commitments.

“I’m happy that the Prime Minister came to discuss many of our problems and I am totally satisfied with what he said and I know that many of the issues raised will be solved.”

The outreach to the community was organised by the Prime Minister’s representative for Region Four, Bishop Patrick Findlay.

Over 79,000 vaccinated...

From page 8 outreach activities were conducted across the country.

In a recent press statement, Dr. Ramsammy said that there will be shipments of vaccines into Guyana every week over the next several weeks, with another 262,000 doses of first and second-dose vaccines which have been acquired to be delivered to Guyana.

With the vaccines Guyana has already acquired, and once additional vaccines arrive, Dr. Ramsammy assured members of the public that Guyana will be able to fully vaccinate 261,000 A young Guyanese woman getting vaccinated persons. So far, Guyana has received a total of during a Ministry of Health outreach on Saturday (Ministry of Health Photo) 182,000 vaccines.

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony (standing left), visiting one of the vaccination sites on Saturday (Ministry of Health photos)

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 18, 2021

‘Top Cop,’ DPP file application to retrieve elections SoRs, SoPs –– say documents needed to prosecute Mingo, others charged in elections case

By Richard Bhainie COMMISSIONER of Police (ag), Nigel Hoppie and Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar AliHack, SC, have initiated legal proceedings in the High Court, seeking orders to obtain certified copies of the Statements of Poll (SoPs) and Statements of Recount (SoRs) from the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections, which are currently lodged with the Registrar of the High Court.

The Sunday Chronicle understands that the SoPs and SoRs are needed to aid the investigation and prosecution of the elections matters before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. The decision to move to the High Court came after the ‘Top Cop’ wrote the Registrar of the High Court, Ms. Sueanna Lovell to obtain the certified copies of the documents, but she reportedly informed him, by way of a letter, that she was unable to do so without an order from the Court.

Chief Justice (ag.), Roxane George, S.C., on January 18, 2021 had ordered that the SoRs and SoPs be lodged with the High Court for “safekeeping”, after she struck out one of the elec-

Court on Friday.

Commissioner of Police (ag), Nigel Hoppie tions petitions that sought to overturn the results of the polls. The request for the documents to be lodged at the court was made by Attorneys-at-law Douglas Mendes, S.C., and Kashir Khan, who brought to the court’s attention that the Representation of the People Act allows for the Chief Elections Officer to destroy all elections documents after a 12-month period would have elapsed.

Accordingly, Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield on January 27, 2021 delivered the SoPs and SoRs to the Registrar of the Supreme Court. With sev-

Director of Public Prosecutions, Ms. Shalimar Ali-Hack, S.C.

Registrar of the High Court of the Supreme Court of Judicature, Ms. Sueanna Lovell

eral employees of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) being prosecuted pertaining to their conduct in the March 2, 2020 polls, the DPP had advised and instructed the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to obtain certified copies of the SoPs and SoRs as part of their investigations and gathering of evidence for presentation to the Court.

The employees at reference are Mr. Clairmont Mingo, GECOM’s District Four Returning Officer, who was charged with four counts of Misconduct in Public Office; Mr. Lowenfield, who was

charged with three counts of Misconduct in Public Office and three counts of Forgery; and Ms. Roxanne Myers, Deputy CEO, who was charged with two counts of Misconduct in Public Office.

“The Statements of Poll and Statements of Recount are necessary for the fair hearing of the charges, as they constitute relevant evidence for the prosecution to prove the commission of the offences which are charged,” the Commissioner of Police and DPP stated in their respective correspondence to the High

More COVID-19 deaths, 120 new cases FIVE COVID-19 deaths, recorded by the Ministry of Health between Thursday and Friday, have pushed the COVID-19 death toll to 268, a figure which is reflected in the Ministry’s daily COVID-19 dashboard for April 17.

The latest fatalities are three 81-yearold women from Regions Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara), and Four (Demerara-Mahaica); along with two men, ages 64 and 46, from Regions Four and Six, respectively.

There are now 35 documented COVID-19 deaths for the month of April, 2021.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health has recorded 120 new cases of COVID-19 from 1,574 tests conducted. Of this total, Region Two recorded 17; Region Three, 31; Region Four, 62; Region Five, four; Region Six, three; Region Seven, one, and Region Nine, two.

The newly infected persons were 52 males and 68 females. No other regions have confirmed new cases within the past 24 hours.

There are currently 13 persons in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 75 in institutional isolation, 1,244 isolated at home, and 21 in institutional quarantine.

Guyana has confirmed a total of 11,762 cases of COVID-19 since the discovery of the first case in Guyana. Of that number, 1,353 are currently active; and of the 10,161 recoveries, 100 were recorded within the past 24 hours.

All Guyanese are urged to observe the protocols of the COVID-19 emergency measures, which emphasise the need for correct and consistent use of a face mask when leaving home, the importance of maintaining the six feet physical distance from others, and the need for good hand hygiene to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

If anyone you know is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19, or needs any additional information, kindly contact the COVID-19 Hotline on 2311166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 immediately or visit the Ministry of Health at www. health.gov.gy.

HAS LAWFUL RIGHT The Commissioner of Police, by common law and statute, particularly Section 50 of the Criminal Law (Procedure) Act, has the lawful right to collect and recover all documents and property which are relevant to the investigation and prosecution of any circumstance; however, the Registrar has informed him that she is unable to comply with his request without a Court Order.

“With the greatest respect, Commissioner, I do not have the power to comply with your direction, for the simple fact that I am the custodian of those documents, by an Order of Court. That Order of Court DOES NOT empower or authorise me to copy, duplicate, share or otherwise part with possession of those documents to the benefit of any person or authority,” Ms. Lovell wrote telling the Commissioner of Police, in a letter dated February 5, 2021.

She then went on to inform him that should he require access to the said documents, he’d need to obtain an Order of Court with specific directions directed to her.

“Aside from that,” she said, “I cannot act outside the

scope of the extant order.”

But the DPP and Commissioner of Police have reiterated in their application to the High Court that it is imperative for them to be afforded access to the official copies of SoPs and SoRs, as the documents are relevant evidence to prove that the various employees committed the offences they are charged with.

While the documents can be easily obtained from the political parties, as they are in the public domain, the official documents lodged with the Court by GECOM would be best to dispel any doubts as to their authenticity.

“If the prosecution does not have these documents, the hearing of the charges instituted will be inordinately delayed, because hundreds of witnesses will have to testify, in their stead, in the charges instituted, causing the case not to be afforded a fair hearing within a reasonable time,” the DPP wrote in her affidavit in support of the application.

In the Court documents seen by this newspaper, the action was filed on Friday last, and lists the Attorney-General, GECOM, and the Registrar of the High Court of the Supreme Court of Judicature as respondents.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 18, 2021

‘I am stronger than … former law teacher my trials’ admitted to the Bar

By Vishani Ragobeer FAA’IZAH Hafeeza Mustafa, a 30-year-old attorney-at-law was on Thursday last admitted to the local bar to practise law by Chief Justice (ag.) Roxane George, SC, after her petition was presented by attorney-at-law Christine McGowan.

Speaking to the Sunday Chronicle, Mustafa, who has been working as a Judicial Research Officer with the Supreme Court of Judicature, highlighted that her admission to the bar was a culmination of years of dedication and perseverance, but now that she has been able to surmount these challenges, she is intent on making a positive impact in the field of law.

In 2016, she obtained her Bachelor of Laws Degree (LLB) from the University of Guyana (UG) but it was not until 2018 that she was able to start her two-year Legal Education Certificate (LEC) journey at the Hugh Wooding Law School (HWLS), in Trinidad and Tobago. This delay was due to financial constraints and also due to Mustafa not being in the set of the top 25 UG law graduates, who gain automatic entry into the HWLS. To gain entry into the law

school, the young woman had to sit the entrance examination -- a three and a half hours long examination requiring potential students to recall the content of five courses. Unforeseen challenges deterred her twice, but she was intent on becoming an attorney-at-law; and so, she persevered.

On her third try, she opted to resign from her very demanding full-time job and occupy a part-time position as a Sixth Form Law teacher at the Mackenzie High School in Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice).

“I told myself that if I did not make it this third time, then this is not for me,” Mustafa recalled. This time around, however, she had encouragement from attorney-at-law McGowan and the support of all her students motivating her to do her best.

“Realising that cutting corners would not make me successful, I practised my responses and wrote until I couldn’t even feel my fingers,” Mustafa said, adding that she diligently practised every area of law - even the areas that were not her favourite.

And as it turned out, she was successful in this entrance examination and therefore, she was accepted into the HWLS.

Attorney-at-law Faa’izah Hafeeza Mustafa's (second left) alongside Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George, SC, (second right); attorney-at-law Christine McGowan (extreme left), and Mustafa’s husband, after she was admitted to the bar (Kevin Laxus photo) Importantly too, the former teacher highlighted that her students recorded a 100 per cent pass rate at the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE).

But it was not a sweet ride through law school. In fact, the cost of attending the HWLS was still a daunting factor. What helped Mustafa overcome this was the support

given by her family and the Ahmadiyya and Shia Muslim communities in Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago, as well as some leniency from the HWLS, towards the latter part of her studies.

“At the end of my first year, I still did not have the full amount required for my second-year tuition fee, but I managed to secure a fully

funded scholarship! Or so I thought, [since] the scholarship fell through because of unforeseen circumstances that the donor encountered and suddenly, I was back at square one,” the new attorney-at-law said.

Worried that she might have to discontinue her LEC journey, she explained her plight to the HWLS. Much

Attorney-at-law Faa’izah Mustafa (fourth from left) with her family members after she was admitted to the bar on Thursday (Kevin Laxus photo)

to her surprise, the school’s administration indicated that she could proceed with her studies, but that my LEC would not be released to her until she cleared the amount owed to them.

“I found this to be extremely reasonable. This giant act of institutional compassion and kindness motivated me to learn and to study well, so that I would not waste this sterling opportunity that I had been afforded,” she underscored.

Aside from these monumental challenges, Mustafa ascertained that there were many positive moments. As a social person, she was part of many groups and found comfort from her friends and colleagues, whom she said were a crucial part of her support system. She could also always count on the support of her family- especially her mother, Faa’izah Mustafa, and her eldest brother, Mark Bentinck.

And, amid it all, she said her mantra remained: “I’m stronger than my trials.” One can only expect that this will be even more applicable when she begins representing her clients in the court of law.

“The secret to success is to be stronger than my setbacks and not to allow any bad grade or any bad experience to demotivate or deter me from achieving what I am rightly entitled to,” she said, adding: “Success is not for the frail or fickle, but for those willing to persevere while remaining faithful to Almighty God.”

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 18, 2021

MYO and GCCI donate $4M in food items to St. Vincent

THE Muslim Youth Organization (MYO) and the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) have donated $4 million worth of food items to St. Vincent and the Grenadines in an effort to lend support in wake of the recent La Soufrière volcano eruption.

The extensive donation includes 1000 packs of 1kg flour; 1000 packs of 2kg rice; 800 packs of 2kg sugar;

2700 packs of chowmein; corn flakes; mixed vegetables; face masks; Dettol soaps and hand sanitiser.

Member of the MYO, Nazar Mohamed, noted that coming together and lending support is the only way to get through a tragedy, and this fuelled the organisation’s drive to lend support to the government’s initiative of sending donations to St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Some of the packets of rice donated by the MYO to St. Vincent and the Grenadines (DPI photos)

“From the moment I saw it, I called up the President of MYO and I said we have to do something, get up some businessmen and let’s make a tangible donation to the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. This is a humanitarian effort, this has nothing to do with nothing else other than having love and compassion for our brothers and sisters who have been plagued by this terrible situation and I call on corporate Guyana to assist in this effort,” Mohamed said.

He further reminded that currently Muslims across the world are observing the holy month of Ramadan and during this time, charity is heightened in the Islamic community. He noted that even as the MYO continues to work to secure donations, another container of rice is already scheduled to be sent to St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig, Director-General (DG) of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), thanked the GCCI for their innovation to collaborate with the MYO to

Members of the CDC loading the donations from the MYO’s Woolford Avenue, Thomas Lands headquarters secure additional donations.

“I took a look at the donation here and I must say that it is in keeping with the needs of the people of St Vincent; we have a number of non-perishable food items and we also have protective masks, sanitisers and those are items that are most needed at this time, and I’m happy that the business community is moving in

this direction using the list of needs of the islands and making sure those needs are catered to,” the CDC Director-General said.

He noted that the business community continues to be a major supporter of the government’s humanitarian relief efforts to its sister state. Last Wednesday, Local auto parts importer and dealer, Japarts, donated

$1.1M in relief items to St. Vincent.

On Thursday last, a twenty-foot container filled with cases of water left on a Tropical Shipping vessel; the water supplies were donated by Banks DIH Ltd, and supplement the emergency supplies sent

by Guyana to St. Vincent on Tuesday last aboard the ‘Miss Meena’ vessel.

400 hampers distributed in Orealla, Siparuta MINISTER within the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Public Affairs, Kwame McCoy, has said the government’s support to the development of Orealla and Siparuta villagers is continuous. The Minister was speaking during an outreach to the riverine communities on Friday last.

Minister McCoy, who was joined by Minister within the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Anand Persaud, also distributed almost 400 hampers to residents, during the engagement in the East Berbice-Corentyne (Region Six) communities. Of the lot, 240 hampers were given to residents of Orealla, and 130 were shared in Siparuta.

During his engagement with residents, Minister McCoy said while the pandemic prevails, the government would not restrict itself from helping the people. He said the Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali-led administration is always keen on ensuring the welfare of all citizens.

“We are not a fair-weather Government.

We are not with you only when there are good times.

We are with you even in the bad times because we believe truly and dearly, that we have a role and a responsibility to the people of Guyana and we don’t treat it lightly,” he was quoted as saying by the Department of Public Information (DPI).

Minister McCoy also said --no one

Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister, Kwame McCoy, hands over this hamper to a resident of Orealla

Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister, Kwame McCoy and Minister within the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Anand Persaud with residents (DPI photos)

should have to relive the troubling times that followed the March 2 General and Regional Elections. As such, he urged residents to continue to stand firm “against any attempt to assault our democracy.

This is important because of what democracy does. Democracy aids us in terms of our development. It gives you, the people, your say. It allows you the opportunity to criticise, and for you, the people, to be able to hold us as a Government accountable.”

Meanwhile, Minister Persaud said there is enough evidence to show that the previous government did nothing for the two riverine villages. “It was only late January, that we gave the village of Orealla $10 million in Presidential COVID cash grant. I took an

oath because I believe that no one’s rights should be taken away from them to choose the Government of the day.

“And the oath that I took, and I want you all to join me, that as long as I live, I will work hard in every corner of this country to ensure that the APNU+AFC doesn’t go back into Government,” he said.

The Minister also said the government has begun to transform Guyana and by 2025, the nation will become a beacon for the world. In order for this status to be realised, he said, all Guyanese must co-operate.

Both Ministers McCoy and Persaud then fielded questions from residents and sought to provide remedies to the issues that were highlighted.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 18, 2021

Understanding Energy

Experienced oil-and-gas advisers should play a role in Guyana MASTERING a new skill often requires experience gained over time.

Many of us are familiar with situations where a teacher or coach with an understanding or skill was able to teach us something that would have otherwise taken many years without his/her guidance. Some painful missteps and long delays can be avoided with the right tool or the right knowledge at the right time. The challenge is knowing when to ask for help from those who have already been successful in learning that skill.

This concept is directly transferable to the energy sector. With first oil just over one year ago, we have graduated into the ranks of young oil producing countries with a big future ahead. Although it has completed some key early tasks, like setting up the Natural Resources Fund, the government still needs to set up other regulatory institutions as it plans for the future. Most importantly, Guyana needs to draft, pass and enact the legislation needed to safeguard itself from some of the most prominent oil development challenges. Fortunately, the current government is focused on taking the right steps and has shown a willingness to learn from the

valuable experience of others, not just those in the government. This includes members of the private sector and international advisors.

While seeking international advice might seem contrary to the goal of keeping development local, external expertise can help countries navigate setting up institutions and policies that reduce corruption while ensuring revenues are carefully saved for the future.

International advisors can also help the government assess and carry out infrastructure and social programmes, ensuring that oil revenues lead to sustainable growth.

Few countries have the expertise on hand immediately to address the unique and complex challenges of managing a new sector to build long term wealth and prosperity while avoiding roadblocks along the way.

The government has already engaged organisations like the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank as well as individual consultants from Canada, the UK and elsewhere to provide analysis. In March, the government released a newspaper ad inviting advisors to consult with the Ministry of National Resources on drafting technical oil and gas legislation. Guyana has also used

international advisors during the auditing processes for international oil company expenditures.

This is standard practice throughout the industry and among Guyana’s neighbours. An international auditing and accounting services provider, for example, is already working regionally with Suriname to solve some of the same challenges that Guyana is facing.

The Middle Eastern Gulf States, particularly Dubai and Qatar, have long histories of employing international advisors in the areas of governance, finance and energy. International experts have helped these countries set up institutions early on to avoid potential pitfalls from oil and gas production and volatile oil prices.

Dubai is a particularly helpful example.

After oil was found in Dubai and its neighboring emirates in the 1960s, Dubai’s leadership became concerned that oil wealth would be shortlived. So, it employed a raft of experts from Europe and the US to help invest oil revenues into building a post-oil future centred around trade. Those early investments in critical infrastructure and smart policymaking helped transform Dubai.

Today, less than five percent of Dubai’s revenues come from oil, and the city has become a global financial and trade hub recognised for its stable and business-friendly governance and world-class infrastructure.

Qatar also benefitted from outside advice to carefully save its massive natural gas revenues over recent decades while using those revenues to make strategic investments in local and international companies. Advisors have also helped Gulf states set up sovereign wealth funds, much like Guyana’s Natural Resource Fund, that now rank as some of the largest in the world.

Our government is consulting with Gulf State governments and others directly so they can share their experiences and offer best practices.

It’s important to remember that the goal here is not to become another Dubai or to import the governing styles and policies of another country.

Our future is our own, but the experiences of countries and advisors who have navigated the same extraordinary set of changes can provide valuable insights that will help Guyana shape its own path.

GPL substation set for June completion THE new Guyana Power and Light (GPL) substation, which is expected to boost the power supply of the Demerara-Berbice Interconnected System (DBIS) by 46.5 Megawatts (MW), is set for completion in June 2021, according to Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar.

The 46.5 MW power supply is being generated by the five new US$41 million dual-fuel generating sets which arrived in Guyana on November 5, 2020.

The project, which is being constructed at GPL’s Garden of Eden Power plant, East Bank Demerara, was initially slated to be completed this month; however Minister Indar, during a telephone interview with the Sunday Chronicle, said that there was some “slight” delay due to the changing weather pattern and significant rainy periods which halted important infrastructur-

Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar al works.

He noted, however, that the contractors and the government have been pushing ahead to ensure that Guyanese have better access to electricity.

“The project is progressing and we are having regular updates on it. Myself and the Prime Minister have also met with the contractors that are working with GPL on the proj-

ect a few weeks back and we discussed some of the issues they had and tried to iron out some of the issues so that they can just finish the civil works.

It’s the civil works, the aboveground civil works, and the installation of the fuel tanks,” Minister Indar said.

He explained that two phases of civil works were slated for the project - above surface and below surface civil works. According to the junior Public Works Minister, based on the size and weight of the generators, there is vibration that would occur, and, as such, significant below-surface civil works have to be completed to ensure that the vibration does not reach the surface. Currently, the below surface civil works have been completed and the above surface is close to completion.

Presently, GPL falls short of the total reserves needed in the system; the 46.5 megawatts that will be added,

Civil works being carried out on the substation at GPL’s Garden of Eden Power Plant in November 2020 will be in keeping with the government’s commitment to providing a more effective and accessible electricity system.

The power company would be able to adequately handle the electricity demand.

Minister Indar said the new system would ensure revolving capacity to allow for

maintenance of the other sets that were previously in GPL’s power plants. He explained that the plant is strategically located at GPL’s Garden of Eden location which is on the other side of the submarine cable, thereby allowing for balance in electricity distribution if the submarine cable

goes out.

Additionally, it was recently disclosed that the plant is the beginning of the transition to natural gas, which will see a reduced cost to both the company and the businesses and households that utilise electricity from GPL.

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Politics & Society Forum

Atlantic Indians

ON March 4, 2021, I delivered a virtual lecture on Indo-Caribbean migration, cultural change, and continuity and identity formation to the Department of South Asia Studies at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

It was an invited lecture, which lasted about ninety minutes. If interested, the lecture is posted on the department’s website (https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMakL038Iss).

The South Asian Center is one of a kind, focusing on the Indian subcontinent and its diaspora in the United States. To jump-start my lecture, I shared the thought on how the label of the descendants of the Caribbean indentured has evolved over time but, I did not delve deeper because of time constraints. I argue here that we can now be called Atlantic Indians.

The first indentured Indians to British Guiana in 1838 were called “Hill Coolies” because they were recruited from the tribal region of Chota Nagpur, the present Indian states of West Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa. To my knowledge, this was the only shipload of “Hill Coolies” that was brought to the Caribbean region mainly because they were abused on the Guianese plantation, and so, further efforts to recruit them to provide plantation labour were discouraged. The recruitment of indentured Indians shifted from tribal regions to the North-West Provinces (Uttar Pradesh), South India, and Punjab. What is so interesting about the only “Hill Coolies”

shipload of Indians to the Caribbean was that all Indians thereafter transported to the Caribbean, and even in other indentured colonies, were labelled as “Coolie”, the Indian C-word. For this reason, I think Indians are still dragging the chains of indenture, which I call Coolieolgy.

By the 1850s, when some loopholes of the indentured system were “remedied”, the recruits from North and South India were labelled as East Indians alongside the “Coolie” label and was used interchangeably. The East Indian label made sense since the labourers were from the East, and they did not look like the Amerindians in British Guiana, also called Indians. This label avoided the confusion and the conflation of Caribbean ethnicity.

By the end of indenture in 1920, the now-settled indentured labourers, were called East Indian West Indian, or an East Indian living in the West Indies. Those who were returning after their contracts had expired were called “Tapu Walla,” meaning indentured Indians who were working in the Caribbean Islands. I should mention here that the indentured Indians conjured up their own labels to the places they were taken. British Guiana was called Damra, Damaralia, or Doomra for Demerara. Trinidad and Suriname were known as Chinidad and Sri-Ram, respectively. Mauritius was called Mirich or Mirich Desh, Fiji was called Pheegee, Natal was Naatal, and so on.

By the second World War, the East Indian

West Indian label had outlived its usefulness.

The indentured Indians have come to see the West Indies as their home, and so, the East was dropped from the East Indian and the West Indian label was rarely mentioned.

They were called Indians. The recognition of the Caribbean as their new homeland does not mean, however, the negation or abandonment of India. In fact, the cultural ties were still strong, and when Guyana became independent, diplomatic connections were established, bringing India and the Caribbean regions where Indians were the majority population closer.

By the 1980s, the hyphenated label of Indo-Caribbean was introduced, although the Indian label was not dismissed. The hyphenated label was somewhat of a copycat from the wider movement in the West, namely, to connect identities of the Old and New World, and to distinguish and define identities according to individual or group experiences, for example, African American. By 2000, there was mass confusion regarding who was an Indian in the Caribbean. I wrote the following in Caribbean Quarterly in Vol. 52. No. 1. 2006 after attending and presenting at two conferences: “At the international Indian Diaspora Conference in Trinidad in May 2004, attendees were asked who really is an Indian with regard to how one defines an Indian or what makes someone an Indian. A year later at another conference, Caribbean Migrations: Negotiating Borders, at Ryerson University

Professor Lomarsh Roopnarine

in Toronto, a similar question was asked, what does Indo-Caribbean mean? Did the term Indo-Caribbean issue from, and was it used only in, the Caribbean Diaspora? There were no definite answers to these questions, but they raised issues that are an integral part of the global trend. How do ethnic groups like Caribbean Indians see themselves in an ever-globalizing world? Have they become increasingly connected with other world cultures through forces and facets of globalization? Or have they resisted assimilation and instead show a quest for a separate identity, be racial, ethnic, or regional?”

Here I am some twenty years later addressing the same issue. I have argued elsewhere that Indian identity has been shaped by population size, migration, and geographical space based on a multipartite structural analysis grounded in physical and imaginative space. These once indentured people are no longer anchored on the plantations or in one specific Caribbean country. These transplanted people have created their own space in a transplanted world, revealing an interwoven web of connections and collaboration from the Caribbean to the United States to India, and further afield.

They are found almost anywhere in the Western hemisphere as participatory citizens that qualify them to be Atlantic Indians rather Indo-Caribbean, Indians, or “Coolies” (lomarsh.roopnarine@jsums. edu).

Over $100M awarded in contracts for Region Two –– major development works to start soon

RESIDENTS living in various communities along the Pomeroon-Supenaam region can expect tremendous transformation in the coming months as the Region Two Administration has awarded over $100 million worth in projects.

This is according to Regional Executive Officer, Devanand Ramdatt, who noted that projects will commence in almost every community on the Essequibo Coast. Ramdatt emphasised that the tendering and the bidding processes were very transparent and various contractors benefitted.

Explaining the project, Ramdatt said that several access dams will be upgraded while construction of a reinforced concrete regulator will be done at Maria Lodge at a total cost of $10,127,780; construction of a box culvert will be done at Hampton Court at a cost of $4,852,960.

To improve the lives of rice farmers, the upgrading of the Lima all-weather road to the main canal will be done at the cost of $9,011,500. Pupils in Lower Pomeroon will be able to enjoy a better access dam at Dredge Creek Primary School; a total of $9,183,080 will be spent in that area to improve the school’s infrastructure.

At Good Hope, Ramdatt said $5,208,195

will be spent to construct a revetment. He said for years, residents in that area have been asking for such and it finally materialised under the present government. The upgrading of Sandline Road at Good Hope will also be done at a cost of $13,420,010. Construction of a reinforced concrete regulator will be done at Lima Sands at the cost of $5,208,195.

Cullen residents will also be part of the development process and will be benefitting from the upgrading of Cullen Nursery School road at a cost of $11,714,050. At Affiance, upgrading will be done at the third street at a cost of $11,627,530.

Coming further into the Town of Anna Regina, road upgrade at a cost of $13,585,100 will be done at Cotton Field Mandir street; there will also be the construction of external washrooms for public convenience at Anna Regina for $1,707,740 along with the construction of the Cheddi Jagan Play Park Bridge at a cost of $3,351,960.

A $1,723,500 contract was also awarded for the construction of a drain between the Public Hospital while a $3,287,900 contract was awarded for the construction of a waiting shed at Oscar Joseph District Hospital.

The rehabilitation of the roof at Suddie Diagnostic Centre will be done at a cost of

Regional Executive Officer, Devanand Ramdatt, speaking during the statutory meeting of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) $9,262,000 and a water filtration system will be installed at Charity Oscar Joseph Hospital for $4,973,160.

The Hinterland communities will also see tremendous changes as millions of dollars will be spent there. An $11,119,184 contract was awarded for the construction of a duplex living quarter at Mainstay Lake primary school while the construction of another living quarter will be done at Mabel Sandy primary school, Lower Pomeroon River, at a cost of $12,235,505.

Another Duplex Living Quarter will be constructed at St John’s Primary in the Lower Pomeroon at a cost of $11,919,230. At Wakapoa, a timber bridge will be constructed

at Curemeru, Lower Pomeroon at a cost of $7,347,56. There will also be an extension of Ulele Nursery in the Upper Pomeroon for $9,177,566 and the construction of Maybel Sandy Nursery at Wakapoa Mission Lower Pomeroon for $12,793,538.

A $10,798,240 contract was awarded for the construction of a timber revetment at Zorg Nursery School while a bridge worth $9,214,475 will be constructed at Charity.

Ramdatt said the bill of quantities for each project will be sent to each community Neighborhood Democratic Council (NDC); community leaders and residents can play their part in the inspections and monitoring of these projects.

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The Science of COVID-19

COVID-19 and Pregnancy (Part I) Contributed by Dr. Narine Singh Chief Medical Officer Ministry of Health SINCE the first report (December 2019) of the COVID-19, the number of confirmed cases and associated mortality and morbidity has increased rapidly. Pregnant women are considered a high-risk group because of concerns about the effects of COVID -19 on them during and after pregnancy and on their neonate.

Due to changes in their bodies and immune systems, we know that pregnant women can be badly affected by some respiratory infections. The overall risk of COVID-19 to pregnant women is low.

However, pregnancy increases the risk for severe illness with COVID-19.

Pregnant women who have COVID-19 appear more likely to develop respiratory complications requiring intensive care than women who aren’t pregnant. Pregnant women or recently pregnant women who are older, overweight, and have pre-existing medical conditions such as hypertension and diabetes, seem to have an increased risk of developing severe COVID-19.

LATEST RESEARCH New research findings published in the September 2020 edition of the BMJ help to shed light on the risks of COVID-19 for pregnant women and

their babies.

The paper suggests that pregnant women seen with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 are less likely to experience a fever or muscle pain, but if they develop severe disease, they are more likely to need intensive care than non-pregnant women with COVID-19.

There is currently no data to suggest increased risk of miscarriage or early pregnancy loss in relation to COVID-19. It isn’t yet known how frequently COVID-19 causes problems during pregnancy or affects the health of the baby after birth.

Some research suggests that pregnant women with COVID-19 are more likely to have a premature birth and their babies are more likely to be admitted to a neonatal unit.

MOTHER TO CHILD TRANSMISSION It is still not known for sure if a pregnant woman with COVID-19 can pass the virus to her fetus or baby during pregnancy or delivery.

Early studies indicated no evidence for vertical transmission of COVID-19 from mother to child in late pregnancy, but more recent reports indicate that vertical transmission may occur in some cases.

To date, the active virus has not been found in samples of fluid around the baby in the womb or breast milk. Community efforts to control the spread of

the COVID-19 virus might affect your access to routine prenatal care.

It is strongly advised that antenatal and postnatal care should be regarded as essential, and that pregnant women will continue to need at least as much support, advice, care and guidance in relation to pregnancy, childbirth and early parenthood as before.

It is recommended that in-person appointments be deferred by seven days after the start of symptoms of COVID-19 or 14 days if another person in the household has symptoms.

Where in-person appointments are required, pregnant patients with symptoms or confirmed COVID-19 who require obstetric care are advised to notify the hospital or clinic before they arrive in order for infection control to be put in place.

REMOTE APPOINTMENTS To minimize the risk of infection, some appointments may be conducted remotely via teleconferencing or video conferencing, where possible.

This is being done especially for those in the early stages of low-risk pregnancy by the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Department of the Ministry of Health in several regions.

Talk to your health care provider about whether the use of virtual prenatal care is an option for you, if it’s available in your area, and how it works. Ask your health care provider if there are any tools that

Dr. Narine Singh

might be helpful to have at home, such as a blood pressure monitor. To make the most of any virtual visits, prepare a list of questions ahead of time and take detailed notes during the visit.

If you have certain high-risk conditions during pregnancy, virtual visits might not be an option. Ask your health care provider about how your care might be affected.

Contact your health care provider right away if you have COVID-19 symptoms or if you’ve been exposed to someone with COVID-19.

It’s recommended that you are tested for the virus that causes COVID-19, if testing supplies are available. Call your health care provider ahead of time to tell him or her about your symptoms and possible exposure before going to your appointment.

If you have COVID-19 and are pregnant, your treatment will be aimed at relieving symptoms and may include getting plenty of fluids and rest, as well as using medication to reduce fever, relieve pain or lessen coughing. If you’re very ill, you may need to be treated in the hospital.

In Part II next week, we will look at labour and delivery, breastfeeding, postpartum guidance and safe medical treatment to conclude this topic. Do not miss the conclusion!

This article is submitted as part of the Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 public information and education programme. For questions, email ministersecretaryhealth@gmail.com.

COVID-19 cases increasing in Region Two –– 37 active cases –– persons urged to get vaccinated

THE Regional Health Officer for Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Dr. Ranjeev Singh, is encouraging his fellow Essequibians and Guyanese in general, to get vaccinated against the deadly novel coronavirus, following an increase of 17 positive cases as of April 17, 2021.

The region currently has 37 active cases with 300 persons positive. Dr. Singh, during an interview with the Sunday Chronicle, disclosed that the vaccination drive has intensified and the region’s vaccination teams are at various communities administering the jab.

The vaccines are currently available for persons 18 years and older; those with chronic illness are also eligible. Permanent vaccination sites were established at Good Hope, Huist Diren, Abram Zuil, Queenstown, Anna Regina, Windsor Castle, Darthmouth, and Charity Health centers from 08:00hrs to 16:00hrs daily.

The Regional Health Officer is therefore encouraging community, political and religious leaders to ensure that they support the vaccination drive by assisting to mobilise persons to take the vaccines.

Recently, the region had a massive vaccination drive at the Anna Regina Mandir compound where over 350 persons were vaccinated, taking the total to over 4,246 persons receiving vaccines in the Pomeroon-Supenaam Region. The vaccination campaign targets close to 500 residents per day.

Both the AstraZeneca and Sputnik V vaccines are available in the region.

The Ministry of Health has advised that although persons are taking the vaccines it is important that they continue to adhere to the COVID-19 guidelines by wearing a

Flashback to when Regional Health Officer, Dr. Ranjeev Singh, took his first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine in February mask, avoid crowds, clean hands and surfaces regularly, keep a distance of six feet and self -isolate.

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The 'great duel' for PNC’s leadership LAST week, the pressure came to bear on the People’s National Congress, in the public domain, to say definitely when it will stage its 21st bi-annual Congress which is long overdue.

Also, a group of PNC supporters staged a very damaging picketing exercise outside of the party’s headquarters calling for answers about the Congress. Among their placards were messages according to one News Agency that read, “Joe and David stop denying democracy” and “Mr Granger, your knee is on our neck, time for congress.”

Another placard read “Your time has passed stop dividing the party, retire peacefully,” and “Mr Granger, you’re fighting to delay congress but couldn’t fight fraudulent votes.”

That aside, the ‘handpicked’ Opposition

Leader Joseph Harmon told the media that the PNC congress is the PNC’s business until it decides to issue a public statement as he played down public concern about the scheduled timings of the congress. Harmon, appearing perturbed and vexed by attempts to influence the outcome of the still-to-be planned congress this or next year, suggested the picketing exercise was not done by the PNCR or the APNU. He resisted any attempts to ‘divide’ the party ahead of the decision on the courts of Guyana about the election petition.

Truth be told, that is a classic sound of someone trying to stop the wave of change, a thinking that has reemerged in the rank and file of the PNCR. Harmon’s downplaying the issues, which those protestors tried to bring to the party’s attention, is symptomatic

of a leader who is in control of the party’s machinery but is hanging on by a weak and decaying thread. That thread is his old-time GDF squaddie and partner, former President David Granger, whom it appears from the look of things, has gone into hiding until he reemerges sometime later in the PNC’s story with another 4-point plan and excursion on history to ‘fix’ the party in his image.

Harmon and Granger are trying to hold on to the only semblance of power that they currently enjoy – the APNU as a party for elections.

But they are not really in control of the independent thinkers in the PNCR who blame them for the loss of the elections of 2011 and 2020. Party members and supporters are agitated at the leadership because they feel an attempt is afoot while this elections petition is being determined in the court to set up the process internally so they can win the votes of the ‘selected’ delegates.

Mr Harmon knowns the public doesn’t want him as the opposition leader in the same way they do not appreciate Mr Granger’s leadership technique which appears even now as Laissez-faire, weak and meaningless. He is holding on to a PNC which went through changes in name, personnel and purpose only to go back to its initial purpose – rigging by any means to win.

And Volda Lawrence has smelled the fear and weaknesses of the Granger’s men as has every single political novice in the game of politics. She appears quite waiting to strike at her first chance to get back the PNC out of Granger’s grip and save it from the wounds that are being inflicted by President Irfaan Ali, Bharrat Jagdeo, Anil Nandlall and the PPP. Harmon knows that compared to his one-time former Public Health Minister that he doesn’t

stand a chance in the PNC circles.

And Amna Ally, who was selected by Granger as General Secretary, is unable to help him and Harmon like Oscar Clarke helped Robert Corbin fight off any battle when he was in his last days of active politics.

Harmon cannot rely on the influencers and shapers of public opinions in the media landscape either because they are on Lawrence’s side of the political divide.

There is a sense of confusion in the PNC and its camp. There is no real focus on the body of policies which the opposition has adumbrated to the public in its drama-filled Budget presentations. There is no leadership and instead of fighting this losing election petition case, they are not focused on addressing the needs of their grassroots people that put them there.

Say what you will about Desmond Hoyte and Robert Corbin, at least from them the people’s needs were part and parcel of their agenda. Whatever happened to the People’s Parliament? Or leaders being a real part of the parliamentary committees that hold government accountable? Or the many debates and programmes for the PNC or opposition instead of hiding behind the clout of facebook. Why not go directly to the people and hear what are their needs and bring legislation to parliament?

Why not stop trying to preserve the David Granger’s style of politics and legacy because that is marred in political debauchery.

The great duel has indeed begun. Harmon might not accept it but the race for future of the PNC and the making of its next candidate that will lead the party at the next election is taking place right behind closed doors - where the battle of rancour, politics of entitlement and politics of hate are brewing.

Welfare Officer fined for publicly humiliating teacher THIRTY-EIGHTYEAR-OLD Nicola Nickram, a Welfare Officer attached to the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), was, on Wednesday, fined for publicly humiliating a secondary school teacher in the region.

Nickram made her first appearance before Magistrate Esther Sam at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court. The court heard

that she used her Facebook account to publicly defame the character of Anna Regina Secondary School teacher, Taysheena Beepat.

The Facebook post was made on December18, 2020, and alleged that the teacher was having an intimate relationship with a student.

Nickram pleaded guilty to the charge and was fined $50,000; she was also instructed to apologise to the victim

Nicola Nickram using her Facebook account and failure to do so will result in two months’ imprisonment.

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GFF not ruling out formal protest against TTFA ― FOLLOWING the revelation by Inside World Football that Trinidad and Tobago might have fielded an eligible player in the Dominican Republic, during the opening round of matches in the FIFA 2022 Qatar World Cup Qualifiers, president of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), Wayne Forde, said they’re duty-bound to file a protest to CONCACAF and FIFA once they can validate the report.

Trinidad and Tobago are drawn alongside Guyana, St Kitts and Nevis, Puerto Rico and The Bahamas. Having opened with a 3-0 win against Golden Jaguars, Soca Warriors followed up with a 1-1 draw against Puerto Rico, and in doing so brought on registered player agent Andre Boucard.

Boucard, 36, who last featured for Trinidad and Tobago in March 2017, had not played for at least seven months before his call-up by coach Terry Fenwick.

The Inside World Football report stated that Trinidad and Tobago registered Boucard as playing for Maidstone United in England’s sixth tier, though a search of records shows no indication of his registration.

However, Inside World Football noted that he was registered as a player intermediary with the English FA. English FA rules expressly prohibit an agent playing competitively in the elite professional and semi-professional tiers of the game.

Rule 1.2 of Appendix II in the English FA rules states; “An Official (as defined by the FIFA Statutes or any successor here to) or a Player cannot be an Intermediary. An Intermediary becoming

an Official or a Player shall have his Registration suspended for as long as he remains an Official or a Player.”

Boucard was subsequently pulled from the list of English FA player agents and his licence temporarily suspended.

In an interview, first published on NCN Sport News, Forde said GFF has been “busy trying to ascertain the facts, based on the report and once those facts are confirmed then we will do our due diligence in checking the regulations to see whether the issued raised in that article are legitimate and represent sufficient grounds for a formal protest.”

“Once we would have established those grounds then clearly we have an obligation and responsibility to submit a formal protest to CONCACAF and FIFA,” Forde said.

The English FA say their rules mirror those of FIFA and while the conflicts that would arise with a player also being an agent are obvious, FIFA’s own rules don’t specifically mention players cannot be agents, though the wording implies that is the case.

However, FIFA’s rules are very clear over sanctions that would be applied if an ineligible player took part in an official match. In this case the sanction would be to forfeit the game.

FIFA’s rules on eligibility reads: “1. If a player takes part in an official match despite being ineligible, his team will be sanctioned by forfeiting the match (cf. art. 31) and paying a minimum fine of CHF 6,000. If a player takes part in a friendly match despite being ineligible, his team will be sanctioned by forfeiting the match and paying a minimum fine of CHF 4,000.”

Decentralising tennis atop new GLTA president’s list

Lewis extremely proud of table tennis team’s performance in Argentina

By Rawle Toney THE expansion of tennis to far-flung areas and outside of Region 4 is one of the top priorities for the new Guyana Lawn Tennis Association (GLTA) president, Cristy Campbell.

Campbell, who is also Guyana’s reigning National women’s champion, having won the last five consecutive titles, was voted in as president on Friday evening, when GLTA hosted its General Meeting and Elections at the National Racquet Centre, on Woodford Avenue.

Coming up against Anabel Sharma, the former Queen’s College standout student won 11 votes to three from the nine participating clubs present.

Only recently, Tennis was named as a Core Sport

by Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr, which means that it qualifies for special attention and funding from his ministry, to help advance the game in Guyana.

“With tennis being categorised as a core sport, it makes the shoes a lot bigger to fill,” Campbell said when asked about how GLTA intends to handle the renewed focus being placed on the sport by the government.

“It means we have a lot more work to do and I hope we can decentralise tennis because I don’t want people to feel tennis is only for central Georgetown, and in the other regions they have never heard about tennis.

So I would like to see how best we can have it played throughout the country,” Campbell said.

Since the onset of COVID-19 last year, tennis, like other sports in Guyana, was at a standstill. And even though disciplines such as cricket, track & field and

motor racing would have seen a return to action, tennis remains in the group of other sports that are still awaiting approval from Guyana’s National Task Force for resumption.

According to Campbell, until GLTA is given the green light, we cannot really preempt what would happen to tennis.”

“As long as facilities are open and it’s safe to play, we are looking at the Inter-Guiana Games (IGG) which was scheduled for last year, and then the GBTI Open, which is our premier slam.

So hopefully things ease a bit and we can host one or both of them by July,” the women’s tennis champion said.

A lot was happening behind the scenes in the leadup to Friday’s elections, as Campbell pointed out that while there might have been some flared tempters she’s hoping that everyone can still work together in the interest of the sport.

The GLTA, the new president said, “will need the players, parents, coaches, stakeholders, everyone to come on board. I’m open to dialogue with anyone who would have something meaningful to add to the development of tennis.”

Nigel Niles is GLTA’s First vice-president, winning the post 10-4 over Patrick Mentore, while Surendra Khayyame was unopposed for the position of Second vice-president.

Delon Fraser and Patricia Hope were tied on seven votes in the run-off for the position of the secretary. Hope withdrew her contention, giving Fraser the position.

Ramesh Seebaran is treasurer. Jamal Goodluck, Kimberly Conway, Marlin Henry and Renate Jordan are committee members.

COACH of Guyana’s senior table tennis team, Idi Lewis, said yesterday that he was extremely proud of the side, who ended their campaign at the Latin American Singles and Mixed Doubles Qualification tournament yesterday in Rosario, Argentina.

After falling short in the singles, Guyana’s hope of qualifying for this year’s Tokyo Olympics rested on the mixed doubles pair of Shemar Britton and Chelsea Edghill, but they could not get past their round of 16 clash.

In that game yesterday morning, the former Caribbean U-21 singles champions were defeated by the Ecuadorian pair of Alberto Mino and Nathaly Paredes.

The game was close, but Mino and Paredes were able to surge ahead 11-9, 11-8, 11-7, 11-9.

Overall, the national players (including Joel Alleyne and Natalie Cummings) all proved their might, but they came up against quality opponents.

Britton showed fight in the singles knockout round of 32, but he failed to advance.

Edghill, who plays for the Lourosa Table Tennis Club in Portugal, registered Guyana’s lone victory when she surged past Paraguayan Leyla Gomez 4-1 (11-8, 117, 17-15, 7-11, 11-5) in the round of 32 (knockout two).

Edghill also looked solid in her round of 16 clash against Guatemalan Mabelyn Enrique and even stormed to a ferocious 11-2 victory in the second set, but her opponent was ex-

perienced and composed and she made the necessary adjustments when necessary, That game finished 4-2 in favour of the Central American.

EXTREMELY PROUD According to the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA), Lewis said that the team, scheduled to wing out of Argentina today, represented Guyana well.

“I’m extremely proud of my team’s performance. They did extremely well under the circumstances. With the exception of Chelsea who plays professionally in Portugal, the other members haven’t seen international competition in two years due to COVID-19 and other reasons and we were still able to be competitive against seasoned professionals with access to all necessary resources from their private and public sectors.”

Lewis a former player himself noted that with the right support Guyana could excel internationally.

“What is consistently clear from engagements like these is we are right there skill-wise. Imagine what’s possible with the level of support and exposure the other nations have available.”

Lewis also thanked the Guyana Olympic Association, GTTA and its proactive president Godfrey Munroe, who he said “went beyond and above to have Guyana represented at these trials”.

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Chelsea reach FA Cup final to end Man City’s quadruple hopes

By Phil McNulty

CHELSEA ended Manchester City’s hopes of winning an historic quadruple as they edged a closely-fought FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.

City and Chelsea had both secured their places in the last four of the Champions League this week - but Pep Guardiola’s side had their sights set on a unique haul of four trophies as they close in on the Premier League title and also face Tottenham here in the League Cup final on April 25.

Chelsea had other ideas, however, and they deserved the victory given to them when Hakim Ziyech slid home Timo Werner’s pass in the 55th minute, to set up an FA Cup final against either Leicester City or Southampton.

Ziyech had a goal ruled out for offside before he scored but that was enough to beat a leFour of Hakim Ziyech’s five goals for Chelsea have come in cup competition thargic City, who made

eight changes from their Champions League win against Borussia Dortmund and now have the added worry of the sight of Kevin De Bruyne limping off injured in the second half.

Chelsea had a very late scare as keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga clawed away Rodri’s injury-time header but manager Thomas Tuchel can now reflect on a hugely satisfying week as his impressive start at Stamford Bridge gathers momentum.

CHELSEA FINISH A HUGE WEEK IN STYLE Tuchel faced a huge week as his fine start to life at Chelsea would be further shaped by the Champions League quarter-final second leg against Porto before this FA Cup semi-final meeting with a Manchester City side in hot pursuit of all four major trophies.

And it was no wonder Chelsea’s German manager was sporting a beaming smile at the final whistle, as this part of his mission was accomplished in excellent fashion.

City were seen off after Porto were beaten over two legs to leave Chelsea moving towards the climax of their season contemplating a Champions League semi-final against Liverpool’s conquerors Real Madrid and an FA Cup final.

No-one could begrudge them this victory as Chelsea, from the first whistle, showed more purpose and drive than a laboured and much-changed City side.

Ziyech’s pace and finishing power troubled City from the start and it was fitting the man of the match slid in the winner from Werner’s pass, the latter getting his reward for tireless work.

There is organisation, efficiency and threat about this Chelsea side and they have put themselves in with the chance of climaxing what started as a troubled season with silverware.

MAN CITY RUN OUT OF ENERGY, INSPIRATION Pep Guardiola always played down the chances of what many regarded as the Holy Grail of winning all four big trophies - the Champions League, the Premier League, the FA Cup and the League Cup. And he was proved right as City finally ran out of energy and inspiration at Wembley.

City are back here in eight days to play Spurs in the League Cup final, the Premier League is effectively sewn up, and they face Paris St-Germain in the Champions League semi-final.

This still has the potential to be magnificent campaign - the most spectacular and successful in Manchester City’s history - but there will be no quadruple.

Guardiola made eight changes here after the win away to Borussia Dortmund, although you could hardly describe the side he sent out as weakened.

City, however, just lacked spark. Raheem Sterling was subdued once more and Guardiola will anxiously await the medical report on the injured De Bruyne.

Guardiola has huge faith in Ederson’s deputy Zack Steffen, his FA Cup keeper, but he was caught in noman’s land when he came to solve the problem caused

by Werner’s run for the goal.

The bottom line is that even a side as outstanding as Manchester City cannot produce results every time - and this was one of those days.

Embiid makes Philadelphia 76ers Bartlett, Doggett put Queensland within history in win over LA Clippers touching distance of Sheffield Shield title

JOEL Embiid scored 36 points and added 14 rebounds as his Philadelphia 76ers side defeated Los Angeles Clippers 106-103.

The 76ers extended their lead at the top of the Eastern Conference while defeat ended Clippers’ seven-game winning streak.

Embiid became the first 76ers player since 2006 to score more than 35 points in three consecutive games.

“I think he’s clearly the MVP this season,” said teammate Ben Simmons.”I don’t think teams really k n o w what to do when guardi n g

Joel Embiid helped 76ers to their fourth straight win

him.”

Western Conference leaders Utah Jazz beat Indiana Pacers 119-111 but lost two-time All Star Donovan Mitchell in the third quarter as he limped off with a sprained right ankle.

Norman Powell sealed victory for Portland Trail Blazers with 22 seconds remaining as they came from behind to beat San Antonio Spurs 107-106.

There was a narrow win for Washington Wizards as Russell Westbrook scored two free throws with one second left in overtime to clinch a 117-115 result over New Orleans Pelicans.

Julius Randle matched his season-high of 44 points to lead New York Knicks to a 117-109 win over Dallas Mavericks, while Nikola Jokic made his 50th double-double of the season in Denver Nuggets’ 128-99 win over Houston Rockets.

Brooklyn Nets second in the Eastern Conference - eased past Charlotte Hornets 130-115 with Joe Harris and Kevin Durant scoring 26 and 25 points respectively.

There were wins too for Detroit Pistons, Toronto Raptors, Memphis Grizzlies and Minnesota Timberwolves. (BBC Sport)

… Labuschagne finally falls for 192 after nine-hour innings

QUEENSLAND were on the brink of claiming the Sheffield Shield after another dominant display left New South Wales struggling to avoid an innings defeat.

(Scores: New South Wales 143 and 5 for 140 (Bartlett 3-31) trail Queensland 389 (Labuschagne 192, Abbott 4-71) by 106 runs) Whereas in the first innings it was nine wickets between Michael Neser and Jack Wildermuth that dismantled the visitors, this time it was Xavier Bartlett and Brendan Doggett who shared the five wickets to fall - including four in the final session as it briefly looked as though Queensland could wrap things up on the third evening before bad light intervened.

They had earlier extended their first innings to 246 with Marnus Labuschagne finally departing for 192 off 353 balls - eight short of his second double-century. At 351 for 4, Queensland might have wanted an even greater advantage but New South Wales were finally able to get some reward for their toil as the last six wickets fell for 38. The next-highest score after Labuschagne was Bryce Street’s 46.

New South Wales’ second innings started positively as Daniel Hughes and Mat-

thew Gilkes added 64 in 16 overs before a brilliant catch by Usman Khawaja at the second of two gullies intercepted Hughes’ drive and provided Queensland their opening.

ies that shaped back in.

At that point New South Wales were 121 for 5 with 20 overs remaining but Sean Abbott and Baxter Holt survived until the early close, although it was a close-run thing for

edged Lyon to slip the innings rather lost its way - although all things are relative. Wildermuth nicked a good delivery from Abbott and Neser got an inside edge to short leg before Labuschagne’s nine-and-a-half

Xavier Bartlett helped work through New South Wales’ top order (Getty Images)

Doggett struck in quick succession after tea when Kurtis Patterson’s poor season ended with a booming drive edged to first slip and Gilkes was squared up, the edge carrying to Joe Burns who was stationed close at second slip to counter the slowness of the pitch.

Bartlett then made inroads in consecutive overs as he won lbw appeals against Jason Sangha and Jack Edwards who were both caught on the crease by full deliver-

Holt who was beaten by ripping leg-breaks from Mitchell Swepson.

Queensland had resumed on 286 for 3 and Matt Renshaw departed relatively early when he inside-edged a drive into his stumps off Trent Copeland.

Labuschagne, who had been 160 overnight, was the quiet partner in a fifth-wicket stand of 52 with Jimmy Peirson who struck eight boundaries in his 46.

However, when Peirson

hour marathon ended when he late cut into the hands of a wide slip. His career-best remained the 215 against New Zealand at the SCG last year.

Abbott was reward for an extended spell with the last two wickets as he finished with four (and the biggest workload of the quicks) but while it stopped the lead being as hefty as it might have been, the task of rescuing the game, beyond a miracle was too much for New South Wales. (Cricinfo)

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE APRIL 18, 2021

World 100m champion Coleman to miss Olympics despite ban reduction

WORLD 100 metres champion Christian Coleman has had his two-year ban for missing three drug tests reduced by six months following an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

The 25-year-old American will still miss the Tokyo Olympics starting in July as the ban runs until November 14.

He can, however, defend his world indoor and outdoor titles next year.

CAS “partially upheld” the Athletics Integrity Unit’s (AIU) ruling but found his “degree of negligence to be lower”.

Coleman, who won 100m gold at the World Championships in Doha in 2019, was first provisionally suspended in June 2020 after missing a

third test in December 2019.

The indoor 60m world record holder did not contest his first missed test on January 16 2019 but disputed his filing failure on April 26 2019 and whereabouts failure on December 9.

The AIU investigation into his rule violations said there was no suggestion he had ever taken a banned substance.

However, Coleman’s attitude towards his anti-doping obligations was described as “entirely careless, perhaps even reckless”, by the AIU in October.

According to the AIU’s out-of-competition testing guidelines, athletes are ac-

West Berbice cricketers to receive BCB/Dr Puran Singh cash grants

Christian Coleman became the sixth-fastest man in history in 2019

countable for missed tests if they are not at their specified location for the one-hour period they have stated. The tester must wait for the full 60 minutes before leaving.

Coleman said he was Christmas shopping “five minutes away” from home, and that the tester made no effort to contact him during his third whereabouts failure.

CAS said Coleman “should have been on ‘high alert’ on that day” considering

his previous whereabouts failures, but decided “he would have been able to return” in time to do a test if contacted.

“Although a telephone call during the 60-minute window was not required by the rules, it was nevertheless reasonable for the athlete to expect such a call, as a matter of standard practice among other doping control officers,” CAS said in a statement. (BBC Sport)

A NUMBER of youth players within the West Berbice Cricket Association (WBCA) will receive their educational grants, courtesy of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB)/Dr Puran Singh Educational Trust Fund.

The selected youth players who all hail from various parts of the Ancient County district of West Berbice, will each be future beneficiaries of a $10 000 educational voucher which will be used to obtain material from Metro Office Supplies.

Among the selected players are (Blairmont) Razam Koobir, Altav Balman (Paradise) Keywan Mingo, Sheniya Mangra (Achievers), Christopher Webster, Tamara George (Bath), Saif Hargobin (Cotton Tree) Shivnarine Ragerbeer, Arif Bacchus with (Bush Lot United, yet to name a player) The aforementioned cricketers were selected from clubs that are playing in BCB Youth tournaments. Players alongside a parent are asked to report to the BCB Office on Wednesday, April 21 at 15:30hrs to uplift their vouchers.

Meanwhile, BCB president Hilbert Foster has now fulfilled his commitment to provide educational assistance to young players in the four major sub-associations.

Joshua wants Wembley to host Tyson Fury fight

BCCI gets ‘government assurances’ to provide Pakistan visas for T20 World Cup Pakistan have not toured India for a bilateral series since 2012 (Getty Images)

PAKISTAN’S cricket players will get visas to compete in the upcoming T20 World Cup in India this October, the BCCI’s apex council has been told by the board secretary Jay Shah following

“government assurances”.

Shah spoke to the council in a video conference meeting, held on Friday, where it was also decided that the mega-event will be staged across nine venues, with

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ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium hosting the final.

The other venues are Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Dharamsala and Lucknow.

“The visa issue of Pakistan cricket team has been sorted. However, whether the fans can travel across the border to watch matches is still not clear,” a council member told PTI. “It will be decided in due course of time. However, we had promised ICC that it will be sorted. The secretary announced during the meeting.”

India and Pakistan have not played bilateral cricket for close to a decade now due to diplomatic tensions between the two countries; Pakistan last toured the country for a bilateral series in 2012. (Cricinfo)

British pair, Tyson Fury (left) and Anthony Joshua, between them hold all the world heavyweight titles

ANTHONY Joshua says Wembley Stadium would be the “ideal” venue when he faces fellow British champion Tyson Fury in their world heavyweight clash.

A two-fight deal between the pair was signed last month but the venue and the date have not yet been announced.

Joshua said finding the right venue in a global pandemic had caused the delay.

“We want to have people coming to the venue. It’s just finding the right location.

For me, Wembley would be ideal,” he said.

Joshua, 31, beat Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley in 2017 and Alexander Povetkin there the following year.

The fighters’ representatives are understood to be looking at several offers to host the fight, with Saudi Arabia considered a front-runner.

Earlier last week, Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn told iFL TV, “We have had an offer that we are all happy with. We have an offer that both fighters, both teams, accept. We are now closing that contract with that site.”

Joshua’s IBF, WBO and

WBA titles and Fury’s WBC belt will all be on the line in the first contest for all four major belts at heavyweight.

Fury, 32, said this week the fight will “100% happen” and Joshua has echoed that. He told ITV’s The Jonathan Ross Show, in an interview to be shown on Saturday: “He wants the fight, no doubt about it.

“So do I, and more than me and him, the whole public wants it. I put my crystal ball out there and I say it’s going to happen this year, 100%. End of July, early August.” (BBC Sport)

SUNDAY CHRONICLE APRIL 18, 2021

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Barcelona thrash Athletic Bilbao 4-0 to win Copa del Ray trophy BARCELONA scored four goals in 12 minutes including a brilliant strike from Lionel Messi - to thrash Athletic Bilbao and win the Copa del Rey. Barca were frustrated until the 60th minute when Antoine Griezmann turned in Frenkie de Jong’s cross before De Jong headed in himself three minutes later.

Messi then drove from his own half, exchanged twice with De Jong and found the bottom corner for Barca’s third.

Messi added his second four minutes later, sweeping in Jordi Alba’s cross.

Victory gives Barca their first trophy under manager Ronald Koeman and their first silverware since 2019.

“To win a title is important for me,” said Koeman, whose side are third in La Liga - two points behind leaders Atletico

Barcelona won the Copa del Rey for a record-extending 31st time

Madrid.

“Despite the changes at the club and the young players, at Barca you have to always fight for trophies.

“We have the first one and now we are going to fight to the last game in La Liga.”

For Athletic is was a second Copa del Rey final defeat in two weeks after they lost to Real Sociedad in the delayed 2020 final on 3 April.

MESSI STARS ON GOOD NIGHT FOR BARCELONA This has been a

strange season for Barcelona which began with Messi saying he wanted to leave the club and has since seen a team in transition both impress and underwhelm.

In Seville, however, they were by far the better team and would have scored earlier but for two excellent saves from Unai Simon.

As ever, Messi was at the forefront of their attacking play and he capped the win with two trademark goals.

His first included the dribbling, vision and fin-

ishing we have come to expect throughout his stellar career and the second was a first-time, left-footed strike into the bottom corner also seen so often.

The question now - one posed to his team-mates at full-time - is whether this trophy, Messi’s seventh triumph in the competition, is enough to convince the Argentine to stay. (BBC Sport) It boosts Koeman’s chances of remaining into the second year of his contract, whether or not his side succeed in their title race with Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.

Georgetown Dominoes Association Guyana to close-out FIBA 2023 World Cup Pre-Qualifiers tonight charts plans for next two years THE Georgetown Domino Association (GDA) is in the process of keeping members up to speed with its plans for the next two years, while taking a look at its code of conduct and mode of operation for the organised and structured way for the indoor game.

At a meeting held last Sunday at Dynasty Sports Club, the association also took the opportunity to introduce the new executives who were elected the previous Sunday.

President, Lyndon Boston officially introduced the new executives of the association which are as follows: President - Lyndon Boston, vice-president Hazim Hakh, Secretary Ann Thompson, Treasurer Earl Mars, Asst. Secretary/Treasurer Rodwell Phillips, Senior Organising Secretary Mark Wiltshire, Organising Secretaries Barbara Marshall and Chris Anthony Pasramen, Public Relations Officer Roderick Harry,

English County Cricket Run-scoring dominated a day of April sunshine in the County Championship as England batsman Ollie Pope, with a double century, captain Joe Root and Adam Lyth all reached three figures.

Pope’s Surrey team-mate Jamie Smith and Lancashire stalwart Steven Croft hit tons too.

But they were all upstaged by a young Welshman, Glamorgan’s Kiran Carlson, who hit his second century of the match against Sussex - a total of 256 runs and yet to be removed.

Pope’s 245 in Surrey’s massive 672-8 declared against Leicestershire at the Oval may be a match-winner.

The same is likely to apply for Yorkshire pair Root and Lyth against Kent at Canterbury.

But, despite knocks of 127 not out and 129 not out, all

Committee Members Andrea Mars, Dhyan Carter, Colin Boyce, William Orrin Boston and Erwin Chapman.

The new vice-president, who also heads the Discipline Committee pleaded for full cooperation and discipline within the venues as it was seriously lacking over time.

Burning issues were raised by the captains and their representatives and these were dealt with by the executives. Most were satisfied with the friendly interactions in dealing with the issues at hand.

Among the decisions taken were that venues are to be issued a Certificate of Approval once they adhere to all guidelines set by the GDA. All organisers were asked to publish the dates of their competitions in order for consideration to be granted by the appointed committee for approval. COVID-19 measures will and must be continued to be implement-

ed.

Raymond Ali of All Seasons/All Seasons Angels Sports Club gave the undertaking to donate 50 packs of COVID-19 masks and 25 bottles of sanitisers in keeping with the guidelines set out by the Task Force, to play in a safe environment and to quell and eventually eliminate the spread of the virus.

Among those in attendance were immediate Past President Colin McEwan and President of the Guyana National Domino Federation and Vice-president of the World Council Domino Federation Faye Joseph.

Teams represented at the meeting were: FIB/Gangster, Turning Point, R&R/ B13, F&H, Gold is Money, All Season/Angels, OPKO, Phantom, Players, Spartans, Lions, Mix-Up/TNT, C6, C7, Executives, 300/Strikers, Sius Warriors and Big Boss Girls.

...will face Costa Rica in must-win game

Team Guyana before jump-ball against Jamaica

GUYANA will close out their campaign at the FIBA 2023 World Cup Pre-Qualifiers today, when they come up against Costa Rica tonight from 18:00hrs.

Having lost back-to-back to Nicaragua (73 – 84) and Jamaica (87 – 107), Guyana played their

third game against El Salvador last evening.

The Jamaicans sit on-top of the five-team table with two wins out of as many matches and they faced Nicaragua in last night’s opening game of the double-header.

Costa Rica, on the other hand, would’ve lost their opening game against Jamaica (67 – 69) but bounced back to win 78 – 58 against El Salvador.

The top three teams will advance to the next round of the qualifiers in July.

Double century for Ollie Pope, tons for Joe Root, Adam Lyth & Kiran Carlson 22-year-old Carlson has done is hold up Sussex.

Glamorgan go into the final day just 62 ahead with five wickets remaining - and unless Carlson can keep up his heroics a little longer, cruelly, he looks likely to end on the losing side.

Group One An intriguing double finale is on the cards in Group One if Nottinghamshire win and Essex lose.

Notts are on course to end a near three-year wait for a Championship win after building a big lead over Warwickshire, who they then reduced to 85-3 by the close at Trent Bridge, chasing 333 to win.

The hosts’ hopes are further boosted by the likely absence of Bears and England opener Dom Sibley with a fractured finger.

Their last red-ball win was

back in June 2018 when they beat Essex at Chelmsford and bizarrely, in the 1,029 days since, Essex have not lost either.

E s s e x ’s g a m e w i t h Durham is beautifully balanced. Set 168 to win, Durham quickly slumped to 0-2, losing Will Young first ball, then Alex Lees eight balls later.

It took six overs to get their first run, but they had reached 60-3 by stumps, needing another 108 and with Simon Harmer so far wicketless after a first-innings ‘five-fer’.

Worcestershire were finally all out for 305 at Derby - 85 behind on first innings.

Matt Critchley, having so far hit a century and taken five wickets, starred again with 84 to help Derbyshire earn a 353-run lead.

Group Two Surrey and England bats-

man Ollie Pope’s 245 was his highest score in the County Championship - and just six short of his career-best of his career-best Surrey batsman Pope, 92 overnight, made 245 his highest Championship score, bettered only by his 251 against the MCC in the champion county game in Dubai in March 2019.

Fellow centurion Smith also got a tonne that day and the pair were at it again, in a 234-run fifth-wicket stand as Pope completed the Championship’s third double century of 2021 - the highest score in English red-ball county cricket since Lancashire’s Dane Vilas made 266 against Glamorgan at Colwyn Bay in 2010.

Leicestershire, who made 375 themselves, ended up 297 behind on first innings, but closed undaunted on 21-0.

Hampshire remain on

course for two wins from two, having set Middlesex an unlikely 531 to win at Southampton.

The visitors have so far made a game effort, closing on 208-4, needing another 323.

But Gloucestershire need only 125 more to beat Somerset and complete a first West Country derby win at Taunton since 1993.

The teams looked well matched on first innings, Gloucestershire on 309, replying to the 312 posted by the hosts.

But Ryan Higgins then took 4-29 to help bowl out Somerset for 149. Chasing 153, the visitors closed on 28-1.

Group Three Carlson, meanwhile, became only the first homegrown player to score two centuries for Glamorgan in

16 years.

But his second ton of the game against Sussex in Cardiff still appears in vain, having earned only a small lead.

Northamptonshire need a further 366 runs to beat Lancashire at Old Trafford and they did not end the day too well when Saqib Mahmood struck twice to reduce them to 59-3.

Earlier, 36-year-old Croft had finished on 103 not out - the former skipper’s first Championship century in four years - after the hosts declared on 296-7.

There was a declaration too by Yorkshire who came in on 330-5 against Kent after centuries for Lyth, Root and a fifty for Harry Brook.

That set the hosts 445 to win and already they are 33-2, including the wicket of England’s Zak Crawley.

GFF not ruling

Wayne Forde - GFF president

out formal protest SEE PAGE

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TTFA

... Guyana ‘gathering’ information on Soca Warriors fielding ineligible player

Andre Boucard, the TT player being labelled as ineligible

Double century for Ollie Pope, tons for Joe Root, Adam Lyth & Kiran Carlson SEE PAGE Coach Idi Lewis said that the national table tennis players did well in Argentina. From left: Joel Alleyne, Chelsea Edghill, Shemar Britton, Natalie Cummings and Lewis

SEE Coach Idi Lewis said that the PAGEnational table tennis players did

well in Argentina. From left: Joel 24 Alleyne, Chelsea Edghill, Shemar Britton, Natalie Cummings and Lewis

Lewis extremely proud of table tennis team’s performance in Argentina

Decentralising tennis atop new GLTA president’s list SEE PAGE

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Surrey and England batsman Ollie Pope’s 245 was his highest score in the County Championship - and just six short of his career-best

SEE PAGE

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Cristy Campbell (seated second from right) is joined by other members of her new GLTA executive (Photo compliments: Newsroom)

Guyana to close-out FIBA 2023 World Cup Pre-Qualifiers tonight

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, APRIL 18, 2021