Guyana Chronicle News 04-11-2021

11th April, 2021

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SEE inside No.106327

Significant year ahead for local oil exploration activities --Westmount Energy predicts

See story on page 03

--says Guyana one of few areas for ‘blue-chip’ interest in high-impact exploration

Guyana to dispatch emergency help to St. Vincent tomorrow ...more relief to be sent later ...PM Gonsalves says in constant communication with President Ali PAGE

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50 selected for Youth in Natural Resources apprenticeship programme See story on page 09 Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat (fourth right) on Saturday welcomed the 2021 apprentices of the Youth in Natural Resources programme during an induction ceremony at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre at Liliendaal. Among those selected for the programme are persons from Amerindian communities in Regions Eight and Nine (Delano Williams photo)

Teen mother accused of murdering baby boy

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 11, 2021

Mandatory quarantine for persons entering Suriname ––suspended travel also in effect for lockdown

A SEVEN-DAY quarantine period has now been made compulsory for persons entering neighbouring Suriname, whether by air or ferry.

“This is a decision that has been made by the Government of Suriname and we have just received notice of that,” Guyana’s Public Works Minister, Juan Edghill, announced on Saturday, during a visit to the Moleson Creek end of the Guyana/Suriname ferry service.

The revised travel requirements, effective immediately, were instituted as the Dutch country continues to grapple with the spread of the novel coronavirus. Edghill explained that even with the mandatory quarantine, persons travelling to Suriname are still required to produce a negative PCR test, taken within 72 hours of travel.

Suriname has also released a list of hotels that have been confirmed as quarantine facilities, with an attached cost. The list has been posted to Ministry of Public Works Guyana Facebook page. Additionally, Suriname will go into a full weekend lockdown from Friday April 16, 2021 from 20:00 hours to Monday, April 19, 2021, until 05:00 hours.

“Next week Sunday, the

Public Works Minister, Juan Edghill at the Guyana/Suriname ferry on Saturday

Suriname has also released a list of hotels that have been confirmed as quarantine facilities. The list, containing cost and other pertinent information, has been posted to Ministry of Public Works Guyana Facebook page (Minister of Public Works photo)

vessel will not be allowed to travel, because part of the measures, the weekend is going into full lockdown mode, so the trip that would have been Sunday of next week, will be done on Monday,”

Minister Edghill noted.

He indicated too that only Guyanese and Surinamese will be allowed to utilise the service between Moleson Creek, Berbice and South Drain Suriname.

“Diplomats and other international agencies will require special clearances through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs [of both countries],” Edghill said.

The Public Works Minister confirmed too that no exemptions will be made for persons who have been vaccinated against the coronavirus.

“I guess when sufficiently, vaccination would have penetrated the wider population, there would be some adjustments,” Edghill hoped, as he encouraged Guyanese to take full advantage of the availability of the vaccines and ensure that they become immunised.

“It is a way of protecting yourself, your family, and others,” he posited.

In addition to the weekend lockdown measures, Suriname has also implemented a strict daily curfew from Saturday April 10, 2021, to Friday April 23, 2021. During the first weekend, the curfew hours will range from 18:00 hours to 05:00 hours, and then from Monday April 12, 2021, to Friday April 16, 2021, the curfew will go from 20:00 hours and 05:00 hours.

“We regret this situation; I guess the Ministry of Health

in Guyana, at the appropriate time, will advise us about what protocols we will adopt in Guyana, as a result of what is taking place,” Edghill said.

He noted that Guyanese will be kept updated, should there be and adjustments in the travel schedules for both Suriname and Guyana.

According to the global data, Suriname’s coronavirus cases have reached 9,265 and climbing. From February 2020 to present, some 178 have died, while 8,647 were fortunate enough to have recovered. According to the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO), Suriname only received its first dose of COVID-19 vaccines on March 26 of this year. Some 24,000 doses of vaccines were provided to the country through the COVAX Facility, a global effort co-led by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), the Gavi Vaccine Alliance, UNICEF, and PAHO/WHO. “The arrival marks a historic step towards ensuring the equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines worldwide, in the largest vaccine procurement and supply oper-

ation in history. This delivery is part of the first phase of deliveries for Suriname, and more vaccines are expected to arrive successively during 2021,” an article posted on the PAHO/WHO website informed.

It explained that in accordance with the first round of COVAX allocations, Suriname is expected to continue receiving doses through May, 2021, until it reaches 79,200, the amount specified by COVAX. “Subsequent doses are expected to be received during the second half of the year with total doses deployed to cover up to 20 per cent of the population,” the article noted.

Dr. Karen Lewis-Bell, PAHO/WHO Representative in Suriname had said that the delivery of the first tranche of vaccines is a proud moment for Suriname in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The country is very committed to securing vaccines for the people of Suriname to protect the most vulnerable and reduce deaths. We will continue to work with the country to support vaccination as well as other public health and social measures that are known to help stop the spread of COVID-19, protect health services, and save lives,” Dr. Lewis-Bell added.

As is being done in almost all parts of the world, the vaccines in Suriname will be administered on a prioritised basis to protect priority and vulnerable groups inclusive of health workers and the elderly.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 11, 2021

Significant year ahead for local oil exploration activities

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––Westmount Energy predicts ––says Guyana one of the few areas for ‘blue-chip’ interest in high-impact exploration

By Navendra Seoraj w THE year 2021 is shaping up to be significant for exploration and appraisal operations in the Guyana-Suriname basin, with more than 12 exploration and appraisal wells scheduled for Guyana alone, Westmount Energy has said.

Westmount Energy, a holding company for a group of subsidiaries, which operate in the oil and gas-related industries, owns an indirect interest in the Canje block via a 7.7 per cent shareholding in JHI Associates, which in turn, owns a 17.5 per cent stake in the exploration project.

The company's current investment portfolio is now focussed on the ongoing ExxonMobil-operated drilling campaign at the Canje Block, with the drilling outcome of two additional large independent prospects, Jabillo-1 and Sapote-1, due to be revealed soon.

Its portfolio also includes exposure to other opportunities offshore Guyana, including the Bulletwood-1 well, which is confirmed to have hydrocarbons but not in commercial volumes. Data from the Bulletwood-1 well is still being analysed.

“Drilling activity in the Guyana-Suriname basin continues to accelerate, driven by the industry's focus on 'advantaged barrels as a result of the unique combination of prospect sizes, reservoir quality, low carbon intensity and low breakeven metrics (US$25 to US$35 per barrel), available offshore Guyana,” Westmount reasoned.

The Stena DrillMAX, one of the six drill ships offshore Guyana

The investment company believes that any commercial discovery in one of the “Canje wells” could result in transformational value changes for them.

It is on this basis that Westmount made its positive prediction for 2021, which follows a report from Norwegian independent energy research and business intelligence firm, Rystad Energy.

Rystad Energy had stated that 2021 holds “a lot of promise” for Guyana’s burgeoning petroleum sector.

According to Rystad Energy, ExxonMobil, in addition to the Canje Block, will

be “firming up” resources in the southeastern part of the Stabroek Block, where deeper plays have been observed underneath the existing discoveries.

The Stabroek Block is 6.6 million acres (26,800 square kilometers), with current discovered recoverable resources estimated at more than nine billion oil-equivalent barrels. The 18 discoveries on the block to date have established the potential for at least five floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels producing more than 750,000 barrels of oil per day by 2026.

ExxonMobil’s first offshore Guyana project, Liza Phase One, began producing in late 2019, well ahead of the industry’s average for development time. Liza Phase Two remains on track to begin producing oil by early 2022.

Liza Phase Two will produce up to 220,000 barrels of oil per day at peak rates, using the Liza Unity FPSO. Late last year, the oil giant, following an agreement with the Government of Guyana, decided to proceed with the Payara field development offshore Guyana.

Payara is ExxonMobil’s

third project in the Stabroek Block, and is expected to produce up to 220,000 barrels of oil per day, after start-up in 2024, using the FPSO vessel.

The US$9 billion development will target an estimated resource base of about 600 million oil-equivalent barrels.

“Rystad Energy data suggests that close to 300 million barrels of oil equivalent have been discovered on average for each exploration well (wildcat and appraisal) drilled in the country over the past six years,” Analyst attached to Rystad Energy’s upstream team, Santosh Kumar, said in a recent report.

BLUE-CHIP INTEREST According to Westmount Energy, Guyana, with its positive prospects and vast potential, remains one of the few areas of “blue-chip” interest in high-impact exploration. Investopedia defines blue-chip stocks as secure investments because they pay out dividends as well as consistently and steadily grow over time.

It was reported recently that Guyana’s role in the global petroleum industry could be bigger than it appears on the surface, as an analysis done by global energy research and consultancy group, Wood Mackenzie, shows that the country is among five nations which will produce most of the remaining deep-water oil resources.

“We found that 80 per cent of the remaining deep-water oil resources will come from five countries (Brazil, the U.S., the Gulf of Mexico, Guyana, Nigeria, and Angola). Therefore, understanding the quality of their reservoirs is key to identifying who has the best oil,” Vice-President of Subsurface Research for Wood Mackenzie, Dr Andrew Latham, is quoted as saying in a report from Wood Mackenzie.

Guyana attracted international attention after ExxonMobil made the first commercial discovery of oil offshore Guyana in 2015 and started production in December 2019. In September 2020, ExxonMobil made its 18th discovery offshore Guyana at the Redtail-1 well.

Flooding reported in Regions Three, Six VILLAGES and farmlands in various parts of Region Three (Essequibo Islands – West Demerara) and Region Six (East Berbice – Corentyne) are currently submerged due to heavy rainfall.

The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) in a statement noted that it received reports on Saturday of flooded farm-

lands at the Conservancy Dam, Canal Number Two Polder, while streets and yards in Belle West, Phase Two, West Bank Demerara, are also under water; both are communities in Region Three.

The CDC has since deployed an assessment team to Region Six and is currently working with the Region Six

Regional Democratic Council (RDC) to gather more information, while the authorities of Region Three will conduct their own assessment and subsequently inform the CDC of the situation. The National Weather Watch Centre, Ministry of Agriculture, on April 7 had issued a bulletin advising of continuous, moderate-to-heavy

showers expected between April 9 to 11.

In anticipation of the rainfall, Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, on Friday inspected drainage pumps around the city of Georgetown, to ensure that the pumps are operational and would be able to drain the land in the case of any eventuality.

A flooded area in Region Three (Essequibo Islands – West Demerara) (CDC photo)

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 11, 2021

Guyana to dispatch emergency help to St. Vincent tomorrow

–– more relief to be sent later ––PM Gonsalves says he’s in constant communication with President Ali

By Vishani Ragobeer GUYANA will be dispatching relief items to the Caribbean island of St. Vincent and the Grenadines by tomorrow, following the eruption of the country’s La Soufrière volcano on Friday, according to a statement from the Office of the President.

On Saturday, President Dr. Irfaan Ali, Prime Minister Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips, and Vice-President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo held an urgent meeting at State House with members of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) and the Private Sector to coordinate an emergency response to help sister CARICOM nation, St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

“Guyana is aiming to dispatch relief items over the next 48 hours,” the statement, which was disseminated on Saturday evening, highlighted. It was also noted that the team brainstormed the fastest possible route of getting the supplies to the islands, since flying is prohibited. The statement also highlighted that President Ali emphasised how important it is to get the relief items to the country quickly, and that he urged those present to put all systems in place to get it done in the fastest possible time.

Importantly, it was noted that this emergency response is expected to be the first of many from Guyana. A subsequent release from the Office of the President highlighted that Vice President Dr Bharrat La Soufrière, after it erupted (Photo courtesy Nick Spencer)

Jagdeo, who was also at the meeting on Saturday, was in contact with the honorary consulate in relation to Guyanese on the islands.

"We've been fairly comforted that the Guyanese there are taken care of. There is no request on movement or anything,” the President was

quoted as saying.

Already, the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry Limited (GBTI) has established the St. Vincent Disaster Relief Fund to help the island as it deals with the disaster.

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Sunday April 11, 2021 –– 03:30 hrs

Volcanic ash covering buildings and surfaces in the northern part of St. Vincent (Photo courtesy the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA)

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 11, 2021

Justice Corp targets 2,000 persons with skills

OVER 100 residents from and around the community of Black Bush Polder, Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) are currently benefitting from various skills training through the ‘IMPACT ME!!!’ programme.

The training, conducted at the Mibicuri Developers Centre, Mibicuri, Black Bush Polder, commenced in February, 2021 and being is facilitated by Justice Corp (Guyana) Inc, in collaboration with Eletra Foundation, Community Open-Door Alliance and TIVA College.

However, it is not limited to residents of Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), as it is also currently being conducted in three other administrative regions, with the intent to eventually cover each region and touch the lives of at least 2,000 individuals.

Over 500 persons from Good Hope, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon – Supernaam); Paradise, East Coast Demerara, Region Four (Demerara – Mahaica) and Number Nine Village, West Coast Berbice, Region Five (Mahaica – Berbice) are currently participating in the training.

The programme will be initiated at the St. Swithen Anglican Church, Vreed-enHoop, West Coast Demerara, within the next two weeks, and the other regions between May to August, 2021.

The Executive Director of Justice Corp (Guyana) Inc, who prefers to be referred to only as ‘Ms. Persaud’, told the Sunday Chronicle that her attention was recently drawn to a letter published in the April 4, 2021 edition of the Stabroek News, written by a resident of Yakusari, Black Bush Polder, highlighting the plights of residents of that community.

She noted that the organisation would like to encourage the author of her letter, and other residents from the locality, to make contact with the organisation so that they may be able to participate in the training, or the execution of the initiative.

The IMPACT ME project was designed to offer skills training to participants who will be equipped with life skills that can create better livelihoods through job employment, entrepreneurship and/or can help them to make meaningful contributions to their communities by taking up leadership roles.

It is open to unemployed, unskilled and semi-skilled individuals, including, but not limited to, school drop-

Participants at the Mibicuri Developers Centre, Mibicuri, Black Bush Polder, Berbice, Region Six participating in one of the skills training courses

outs, teenage mothers and fathers, slow-leaners, differently-abled individuals, single parents, stay-at-home mothers and widows, of all age groups, with specific attention to persons ages 18 to 40.

It is a two-fold project; phase one is the training aspect which has two semesters.

The first semester focuses on theoretical and practical training of each subject area, while the second semester will offer entrepreneurship and leadership training to further prepare students for the second phase.

The second semester consists of the enterprising aspect, whereby entrepreneurial skills will be learnt and applied to each respective area in a practical way by initiating small or medium-size business ventures. Phase two, entitled ‘SPREAD’ - the acronym for Specialise, Produce, Reap, Earn, Advance and Drive - focuses on the implementation of what was accomplished in the first phase.

A diverse range of courses are being offered as part of the initiative, including computer technology, fabric arts, sewing, entrepreneurship and leadership, catering, cosmetology, mechanics, carpentry,

masonry and foundational academics (mathematics and English language).

A number of persons volunteered with the organisation to facilitate the courses and assist with the delivery of the training, including untrained, trained, retired teachers and persons who are the holders of tertiary level degrees and diplomas.

Ms. Persaud noted that the Guyana Police Force has also played a major role in the initiative as they conduct the computer technology aspect of the training in Good Hope, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon – Supernaam).

However, she explained that one of the impediments to the execution of the programme is a lack of funding as the initiative is funded entirely by Justice Corp (Guyana) Inc, with the assistance of kind donors. Justice Corp (Guyana) Inc has written to various organisations, including the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and different government ministries, with hopes of securing funding to expand the programme.

A total of 150 participants from the community of Yarrowkabra, situated

along the Soesdyke Linden Highway, graduated from the programme in December, 2020 and received certificates to indicate completion of the courses. Persons are urged to

A display of some chicken patties during one of the catering classes

contact Justice Corp (Guyana) Inc., to sign up for the programme which is free of cost; participants are required to pay only a $1,000 registration fee.

The organisation’s office is located at Lot 102 Sandeman Place, Brickdam, Stabroek. Contact can also be made on telephone numbers (592) 603 2763 or 225 6862.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 11, 2021

Catering for the unforeseen AS the world is evolving at a fast pace and we are being introduced to new developments, we are bound to be faced with many casualties that may result in an unexpected incident, which can affect our daily lives drastically. Whether it is a businessman, homeowner, farmer or merely an individual, it is likely that you will be faced with risks. Such risks may include losses or damage to business properties; destruction of homes due to fires; death of animals due to excessive floods and health care bills. Therefore, for these reasons, an investment should be made in securing one’s greatest assets through insurance.

Insurance companies have been around for quite some time, but due to the vast development of an economy and the threat of climate change, the risks are higher.

As many young professionals are beginning their entrepreneurship journeys, they are already consumed with many responsibilities in setting up their businesses, that the thought of protecting their businesses is excluded from the preparation process. This can also be due to their lack of experience.

According to NBS News, there are two

reasons why small businesses are uninsured and that is either because they lack the capital, or they have no knowledge of what needs to be insured. One of the most needed insurance in the business industry is the “Business Interruption Insurance,” which covers a company’s losses and operating expenses such as salaries, which should be paid as normal in the event of the business running out of funds, power failures and natural and man-made disasters.

Risk management is a crucial cornerstone for young businesses. Business owners can also benefit from receiving bank loans with ease, as the lending agency recognises the individual as capable and responsible for maintaining a back-up plan and also that insurance can be used as collateral for obtaining a loan which will be used in an event that the loan cannot be repaid on time.

Homeowners and vehicle owners should also be insured. The breadwinner of a household would not want to risk his hard-earned money used to construct and furnish his dream home to be wasted in cases where an unfortunate incident occurs, resulting in the loss of property. This tragedy will also

have an impact on family members’ lives for a long time. There is the Guyana Relief Council established to assist persons in such situations; however, there are many persons who are well and capable of insuring their assets and lives from which they will be able to gain far more benefits than what the relief council would provide.

Road accidents are also on the rise due to careless driving or poor vehicle maintenance.

The cost of maintaining a vehicle is already high, so if an unfortunate event occurs, that vehicle will be of little value to the user. If the vehicle had completely been written off or if repairs need to be done, that will result in additional expenses for the user and in terms of a business vehicle, the company will also suffer losses.

Health insurance is another major area of interest, as all are bound to have medical checks and in events where serious procedures may need to be done, bring along heavy price tags, especially through private health institutions. Therefore, by being medically insured, you will be able to get back either a percentage or having the medical bills fully covered.

Insurance money may be seen as a hefty expense on a monthly basis, but the returns in cases of unforeseen circumstances are great blessings in times of need.

The insurance industry also has an impact on a country. The insurance sector generates long-term financial resources through premiums, which are invested in the building of long-term infrastructural assets e.g., roads, thereby increasing the GDP of the economy.

Insurance companies also generate a lot of taxes which play a crucial role in the financial system in having money available for circulation and state use. They also help to promote foreign exchange, resulting in higher foreign direct investment rates.

The benefits of having insurance are tremendous and with the upcoming developments of Guyana, all should be properly and adequately insured. Risks are bound to happen, but the timing is unknown and therefore we should be prepared to overcome that challenge in whatever form it may be. The insurance industry also has an extended impact on the economy of the country, which aids in further development of Guyana.

Gov’t adopted the right approach in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic Dear Editor, I AM not usually in the habit or business of responding to statements when they clearly are not factual and are made by individuals who ought to know better. This senseless game of playing pseudo-politics with a dreadful health situation is distasteful and sinister to say the least. Therefore, I will attempt being factual and concise as possible, because it’s about clearing the air and setting the record straight as opposed to scoring cheap political points and getting people worked up about the wrong things at the wrong time.

Firstly, let me say that the letter dated April 8, 2021, by Annie Baliram in the Kaieteur News is a classic example of lack of knowledge and retention about the government’s plan to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic and its even bigger inoculation programme. Baliram must know that despite the public statements, press releases and advisories issued by no lesser persons than the President of Guyana Irfaan Ali and the Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony that Guyana is not wasting any time in vaccinating every Guyanese who wants to get vaccinated. After the first vaccine administered successfully in the U.S. in December 2020,

Guyana kick-started its own plan to procure the vaccines. President Ali again reiterated that vaccines were arriving in February and soon after in limited portions.

Guyana is working with the WHO stakeholders and through CARICOM to secure more effective dosages so as to prevent a large-scale crisis here. It would appear that the system of inoculation is working fine, with a steady flow of people accessing the vaccine dosage in a structured manner. Everyone knows that Guyana’s topography and geography are things that have to be considered, along with storage constraints. Therefore, saying that the government should try to get a million doses is a bit far-fetched and far-reaching. After all, there is no shortage while the population accesses the vacancies.

The health officials are working as fast as the system would allow, considering the places that they have to reach.

As more people get tested, the numbers of the infected will go up once they are not following the guidelines and social distancing. The cases, which today stand at 10,718 with new cases responsible for 81 cases of that total, is unfortunately expected to climb again if vaccination is not helped by the guidelines for staying safe. The 250 deaths is an alarming number and the government is

taking it seriously by monitoring and upgrading its human-resource capacity. Also, capital investment is being made so as to make the hospital and outpatient facilities better able to adapt to dealing with not only inoculation, but with symptomatic cases as well.

So, it’s vaccination and testing that the government is trying to balance on one hand, while it is dealing with socioeconomic threats to the economy on the other hand. The President and his ministers are working around the clock to avert any crisis, while Guyana looks at reopening its borders for business.

Secondly, and the letter writer is correct, the $25,000 COVID-19 cash grant should be higher and the government knows this by now. I am sure that the government is working on something else or other lucrative measures that will assist the poor and vulnerable population as we navigate this health pandemic. It will make more interventions as the finances become available in areas of social assistance, social security, employment, and welfare. It must manage our country’s finances wisely or prudently, unlike the last APNU+AFC regime which left Guyana almost bankrupt. I am grateful for this assistance and expect more interventions for as long as the COVID-age lasts.

Thirdly, Vice-President Bharrat Jagdeo

appears to be getting the blame for everything that happens in government, even though these decisions are made collectively and not individually; and the COVID-19 task force has doctors, lawyers, members of the security forces and academia advising the government too.

Lastly, it was the APNU+AFC government and ministers who were living “a Cadillac lifestyle in a donkey cart economy.”

There have been no increases in their earnings nor defence of what a minister should be making now as was the case when former State Minister and now turned Opposition Leader, Joseph Harmom had his say in 2015.

There are no properties rented at exorbitant amounts as was the case for former Minister Simona Broomes.

The Irfaan Ali government will do more to fight COVID. It must be responsible while making the necessary interventions or it will lose far more persons than 1000. If the approach is not broken, don’t fix it, but improve upon it. There is no “good life” to be had in Guyana now.

There is a better life under this government.

Yours truly, Baldeo Mathura

SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 11, 2021

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Guyanese do have immense confidence in Jagdeo to execute a US$500M project Dear Editor, I AM aghast that Francis Newton, real or fictitiously named, was allowed space to pen in the Apr 08, Kaieteur News, the letter, “The general population does not have confidence in Jagdeo to execute what might be a US$500M white elephant.” This whimsical penman was referring to Guyana’s gas-to-shore project, which is under the watchful eyes of Vice-President Bharrat Jagdeo.

Seeking some form of credence, Newton cites, in a most flippant manner, a number of past projects which he simply denounces without any proper analysis, and deems them failures and attributable to Jagdeo, and by extension the incumbent People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).

The list highlights these four: the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project; the Skeldon Sugar Factory; expansion of the CJIA runway and airport; and the East Coast road-widening project.

My first query for Mr. Newton is, “Has he actually surveyed the populace to speak so authoritatively? Can he authenticate how

he arrived at his sweeping conclusion that is being reflected in the title of his letter (“The general population does not have confidence in Jagdeo to execute what might be a US$500M white elephant.”).

Time and space will not permit me a detailed response to debunk him on all of the projects he listed, but I hope that he will go back after this schooling to re-examine all the projects he mentioned.

Now let us invite our readers to revisit the Amaila Falls project.

I do recall that the said Amaila Falls project, spearheaded by VP Jagdeo, was and still is a part of a global model, in which Norway partnered with Guyana to provide up to US$250 million by 2015.

This was for the prevention of greenhouse gas emissions from Guyana’s forest.

So groundbreaking was this project that the Climate & Development Knowledge Network, the UK-based climate policy network, pronounced that this was “maybe the most progressive low-carbon development strategy in a low-income country.”

Readers can go back and trace its genesis, when in November 2009, the then

President Bharrat Jagdeo and the former Minister of the Environment and International Development of Norway, Hon. Erik Solheim, signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

So, the hasty condemnation of such a unique global-changing concept and project smacks of insult to the ‘vast majority’ of Guyanese Newton is not speaking for, and it also flies in the face of Norway. Let me add some more helpful elucidation.

In monitoring the happenings in the incipient stages, Norway actually commended Guyana on its climate-change leadership role and was expecting to conclude the agreement that was aimed at funding to help in ‘deforestation’ and the promoting of a ‘forest degradation model’ that was daily winning greater international recognition and endorsement at the time.

On the subject of the gas-to-shore project, Newton (if he actually exists), must’ve been asleep when Trinidad and Tobago’s former Energy Minister Kevin Ramnarine said that it is feasible for Guyana and is not likely to result in any significant addition to the cost-recovery pool. Cheaper Liquefied

Petroleum Gas (LPG); cheaper electricity by 40 per cent-50 per cent; savings in foreign exchange and President, Dr Irfaan Ali’s vision of Guyana establishing a gas-toshore plant and some of the many benefits Ramnarine listed. Ramnarine is not alone, as this view is shared by United States-based Guyanese financial analyst Floyd Haynes.

Haynes is quoted as saying that natural gas at half the cost of Guyana’s current Heavy Fuel Oil rate cannot only reduce environmental pollution significantly, but the benefits derived would serve as spinoffs and will also provide a boost for other developmental areas.

So, Vice-President Bharrat Jagdeo is not alone with regard to his confidence in the success of the gas-to-shore project.

There are many others like myself, who are confident in the VP’s handling of this critical venture and this confidence is a result of his track record demonstrated during 12 successful years in the country’s leadership that is unmatched.

Yours faithfully, Anson A Paul

We must reject attempts to discredit gov’t’s commendable efforts in tackling COVID-19 Dear Editor,

IT is unfortunate that such views are held by Ms. Baliram regarding the efforts of the PPP/C government in dealing with COVID-19.

Without a doubt, the PPP/C government has continuously placed emphasis on the pandemic and the well-being of all Guyanese from the moment it entered into office.

Strategies were formulated from the inception and rolled out across Guyana, ranging from the provision of personal protective gear to the distribution of masks, the COVID-19 cash grant, and more recently, vaccination of citizens. We would all recall the many images of various PPP officials distributing masks across the length and breadth of the country, during the fivemonth period when the APNU+AFC was busy trying to remain in office through fraud. Therefore, I cannot comprehend how Ms. Baliram arrived at the conclusion that the government is

“playing politics with our lives.” It is ridiculous, to say the least.

Baliram’s contention that the “Government can easily access one million COVID-19 vaccines to cover the entire Guyanese population in a short space of time” is an indication of just how out of touch she is on this issue.

It must be noted that in terms of securing vaccines for a more extensive vaccination programme across the country, there are several complexities to be dealt with as many countries around the world, even the developed ones, are facing similar challenges as Guyana with regard to securing larger quantities of the vaccines from manufacturers. The pandemic is a global phenomenon and the shortages in vaccines in countries around the world are due to the fact that demand for such is growing every day as the bigger, more advanced nations – many of whom paid millions in advance – hog the majority of the vaccines

being produced. How does a small, developing nation such as ours bully the U.S., UK, China, India, and others in order to get to the front of the line?

In terms of current efforts, if one were to examine the percentage of the population of Guyana that is vaccinated against that of many countries in the developed world, taking into consideration supply and resources, Guyana is faring very well. However, there is no denying that there is a long way to go.

It is clear that the Government of Guyana is putting measures in place to ensure that citizens are taken care of as far as possible.

The COVID-19 cash grant which Ms. Baliram notes as being insufficient for Guyanese during the pandemic is just a reflection of her personal views about the government. In fact, the cash grant has assisted Guyanese greatly and this is a fact, as against the mere opinions shared by Baliram in her letter.

L a s t l y, i t c a n n o t be overlooked that the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting countries despite their size and resources.

As we await the arrival of more vaccines, it is paramount that we prioritise our health and well-being,

as COVID-19 is a global health crisis that can only be tackled collectively. At the same time, it is equally paramount that we reject the attempts made by persons like Baliram -- who appears to have a grouse with Vice-President

Bharrat Jagdeo and the PPP -- which are geared solely toward discrediting the efforts of the government in dealing with the pandemic.

Yours respectfully Erin Northe

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 11, 2021

‘Temple of Light’ promoting harmony THE Temple of Light, an online programme that features inter-faith prayers and inspirational talks daily, has been promoting much-needed harmony and togetherness for the past year, according to daily panelist, Rosh Shiwcharran.

Shiwcharran, who is also the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Owner of Abee Chunes radio, told the Sunday Chronicle that the online programme was created after it was recognised that there was much healing that was needed for Guyanese at home and abroad, since they were battling the COVID-19 pandemic and a protracted elections period.

Shiwcharran, along with businessman Dr. Yog Mahadeo, conceptualised this online programme on April

8, 2020, and since then, it has been a space for persons of all walks of life to engage in inter-faith prayers and benefit from inspirational talks.

“This is something that breaks the physical walls of churches and temples and connects people in a virtual platform,” Shiwcharran emphasised, adding that it also allows persons to connect with their spirituality from the comfort of their homes, free from any concerns of contracting the deadly coronavirus. He also noted that persons are encouraged to light candles to pay tribute to any loved one who might have gotten sick or who has passed away. The daily shows feature various religious leaders from around the world, and also entertainers such as Terry Gajraj.

The Temple of Light session during a livestream on Facebook

“The programme has spread very well among people in Guyana and the diaspora, worldwide,” Shiwcharran posited, adding:

“A lot of people find it to be inspirational and everyone finds that message to be very welcoming and very personal to their lives.”

Cognisant of the good reception the programme has been receiving, Shiwcharran highlighted that the show will continue for

much longer. Outside of the show, he encouraged all persons to take care and love more.

Guyana to dispatch emergency help to...

Persons who wish to donate to the cause can do so by visiting any of the GBTI branches. The name of the account is: ST. VINCENT DISASTER RELIEF FUND, while the Account Number is: 011803403012.

Additionally, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) is collaborating with the CDC to mobilise support for St. Vincent and Grenadines. The supplies that are being organised will help to address the immediate needs of the people. These supplies include, inter alia: Water tanks, buckets, cots, blankets, potties, field tents and kitchens, sleeping mats, and hygiene kits.

Persons desirous of donating items can contact the CDC on telephone numbers: 226-1114, 226-8815, 225-5847, 226-1027, 600-7500, 225-5347, 225-0977 or 225-5339.

Anil Jiandani, a Guyanese businessman who resides in St. Vincent, told the Sunday Chronicle that the country is in need of drinking water, non-perishable foods and hygiene supplies, since these items are in short supply at the shelters set up in the safe zones in the southern part of the country. He suggested that these items can be shipped to the country in a container.

Speaking to the situation on the ground, Jiandani said: “Everything is blanketed with dust; they got quite a bit of ash and sulphur here… It’s quite bad, actually; the eruption is much bigger than the one in 1979.”

According to the Office of the President, Prime Minister Phillips is expected to meet the CDC again on Sunday to evaluate the progress. Director-General of the CDC, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig, noted that

President Dr. Irfaan Ali, Prime Minister Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips, and Vice-President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo during a meeting at State House, on Saturday, with members of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) and the Private Sector (Office of the President photo)

the Commission will be working around the clock to acquire the needed items.

So far, commitments have already been made to supply drinking water, personal protective equipment, hygiene and sanitation supplies, water tanks and shelter supplies.

"Banks DIH has donated water (5-gallon bottles to fill a 20-foot container), John Fernandes Limited has donated a 20ft container and a 40ft container (to ship items to St. Vincent), and Gaico Construction and General Services has pledged two charter flights to the CARICOM island," the Lieutenant Colonel noted.

DDL and several other big companies have also committed to donating items.

The press release also noted that as at Saturday afternoon,

the PSC had raised several million in cash commitments and much-needed items. President of the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA), Rafeek Khan also indicated that the association has secured financial commitments. In addition to the relief items, it was highlighted that the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) is on standby in case they are needed on the ground in the aftermath of the eruption.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, during his Saturday morning address to his countrymen, noted that he has been engaging the governments in the wider Caribbean region.

“The President of Guyana has been in touch with me quite often,” the Vincentian Prime

Minister said, adding: “They’re loading a ship to send a lot of supplies.” He also highlighted that President Ali informed him of the private sector collaboration, including the special account set up to send relief to the island. The Office of the President noted that the two leaders would engage again on Saturday night.

CONTINUED ERUPTIONS The volcano erupted at 08:41hrs on Friday, after the government issued an evacuation notice for persons living in the Red Zone, which is in the northernmost part of the island where the volcano is located, on Thursday night. This evacuation order was issued following an increase in seismic activity, indicating that the volcano would

erupt soon. The Red Zone at reference is said to be “the danger zone”, along with the Orange Zone (the section just south of the Red Zone).

News 784, in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, reported that Geologist and Professor, Richard Robertson said that more explosions are expected soon, and that the first one was not the biggest.

“If there is a much bigger explosion, the ash can spread further to the south. This could continue for days or weeks, and monitoring will continue,” News 784 quoted Robertson as saying.

It was also reported that after the initial explosion, it is likely that others will occur. Later, on Friday afternoon, at 14:45 hrs and then at 18:35hrs, other eruptions were recorded. At 05:00hrs on Saturday, yet anoth-

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04

er eruption was recorded. Videos posted on social media by residents of St. Vincent showed ash spreading to communities, covering buildings and surfaces.

On Saturday, Barbados Today reported that the ash had spread to Barbados.

Amid the unfolding natural disaster in St. Vincent, a number of other countries within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) have also affirmed their assistance to the Vincentian Prime Minister and his people.

Dr. Gonsalves was moved to tears on Friday during an emergency press briefing held after the initial eruption, due to the outpouring of support the country had received from its sister CARICOM states.

He said that Grenada, Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica should be ready to accept Vincentian citizens by Monday.

Some hotels and guest houses there have been closed to prepare for their arrival, while some have offered to let Vincentians stay at their private homes.

“Amazing, eh! On this dangerous road to Jericho, we have the good Samaritans.

To put people in their homes; strangers, brings tears to my eyes! I love this Caribbean!” he underscored, wiping away the tears. Meanwhile, Guyana’s Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon, via a statement issued on Friday, called on the government here to accommodate those Vincentians who need to be evacuated from the island. Harmon also pledged the opposition’s support to the people of St. Vincent.

9

SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 11, 2021

50 selected for Youth in Natural Resources apprenticeship programme

Participants of the 2021 Youth in Natural Resources (YNR) apprenticeship programme with Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat (Delano Williams photo)

By Mesha Sealey THE Ministry of Natural Resources has selected 50 persons from across Guyana to participate in this year’s Youth in Natural Resources (YNR) apprenticeship programmes.

The selected participants were officially inducted during a simple ceremony at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, on Saturday.

While 50 persons were inducted, the Guyana Chronicle understands that apprentices will be split into two groups of 25.

The YNR programme is one that gives young people the opportunity to experience Guyana’s interior regions, learn about the natural resources sector, and access job opportunities in the sectors.

During his charge to the apprentices, Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, highlighted the importance of natural resources to the country’s economy.

He took time to outline the cost of electricity, the earnings from gold mining, and the indirect and direct jobs

offered in the sector.

“The Ministry of Natural Resources, and the mining sector, is the sector that has been driving our country over the last couple of years, because we have seen the decline in all the other sectors, especially construction, agriculture, the bauxite industry, and many other industries would have seen a decline.

“But mining, especially gold mining, would have kept our economy going.

Maybe you don’t know—or some of you would probably know—that around 2,000 Guyanese depend on gold mining directly or indirectly; whether they work in mining operations, whether they’re miners, or suppliers to the mining camps and miners.

But mining, gold mining, contributes significantly to our economy right now,” Minister Bharrat reasoned.

Further, the minister said that one of the aims of the YNR is to generate interest in the natural resources sector at a young age, since this particular sector does not garner public interest.

Although Guyanese are paying more attention to the

country’s natural resources because of Guyana’s petroleum sector, the minister said that there is not nearly enough interest in the sector among the youth population.

SCIENCE & TECHNICAL STREAMS He believes that more youth should be advised to join the science and technical streams, so that they can be better equipped to manage Guyana’s natural resources.

“The Youth in Natural Resources programme is actually to generate interest in natural resources at a young age, because what we would have found over the years, and being a teacher myself, for a number of years, I would have found that a number of young people—the majority of young people—are not going into the science or the technical stream at secondary school,” Minister Bharrat.

The minister said that a lot of students gravitate to other fields of study due to the common perception that business, and ‘arts’ are easier to excel in than technical

and science subjects.

“You want to pass a lot of subjects. You say, ‘I don’t want to go in science because science is hard’.

Because somebody told you that, or you heard somebody say, ‘Physics is hard.

Chemistry is hard. Biology is hard.’ So you do business, accounts, EDPM, HSB, because that’s easier… I don’t believe that those subjects are hard; I believe that as young people, we put a mental block against these subjects,” Minister Bharrat opined, speaking of his experience in the teaching profession.

He urged students to adopt a more determined approach to difficult subjects, and encouraged them to challenge themselves to try areas that may appear daunting to them.

“Maybe it is hard for you, but it is not hard for me.

That is the kind of attitude we need to inculcate. When you hear someone say that, you should say, ‘maybe it is hard for you. Maybe it is not hard for me. Let me try it and see for myself’, rather than believe people and set

your mind against it,” the minister posited.

He expressed his hope that the YNR programme can help students to not only unlock new potentials and hidden talents, but also be adequately guided towards the realisation of their purpose, and thereby make a contribution to the country.

In the YNR apprenticeship programme, participants will travel through Guyana’s dense rainforest to mining camps in Regions Two and Seven, see for themselves how precious and semi-precious minerals are extracted from the earth, and interact with mentors and professionals who will impart their knowledge and experiences of working in extractive industries, including in the oil and gas sector.

Youth participants will be able to establish corporate links through networking with businesses in the sector and be enrolled as youth ambassadors for natural resources. They will also be given the opportunity to participate in the annual Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC)’s week of

activities that focus on the mining sector.

The minister assured participants that strict COVID-19 guidelines would be enforced at every stage of the programme. To this end, digital tablets were distributed to participants to avoid constant physical contact.

To make this programme possible, the Ministry of Natural Resources is collaborating with a number of agencies including IWOKRAMA, Guyana Gold Fields (GGF), Troy Resources, Wood Tech Sawmilling, ExxonMobil, MACORP, CGX, University of Guyana (UG) Science and Technology Department and Institute of Applied Science and Technology, Guyana Technical Institute, Protected Areas Commission, Environmental Protection Agency, Guyana School of Agriculture, NAREI, African Business Roundtable, Guyana Forestry Commission, Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and the Guyana Gold Board.

112 recoveries, 86 new COVID-19 cases

AS the fight against COVID-19 continues, an additional 112 persons have recovered after being infected while 86 more persons have tested positive for the virus, according to the Ministry of Health.

Following the recovery of the 112 additional persons, the total number of persons who have recovered since March 2020 is now

9,688. Meanwhile, 86 new cases were recorded from a total of 548 tests conducted; the country has now recorded a total of 11,044 confirmed cases since the first COVID-19 case was reported in 2020.

Fifty-five of the latest confirmed cases were recorded in Region Four; one new case was recorded in Region One; Region Three

accounted for 15 of the new cases; Region Five recorded three new cases. Region Six saw an increase of four new cases, while Region 10 recorded eight new cases.

Forty-four of the newly confirmed cases were females and the remaining 42 were males.

There are currently 1,133 active cases, of which 14 are being kept in the COVID-19

Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the National Infectious Diseases Hospital at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown; 71 are in institutional isolation; 1,033 are in home isolation and 15 are in institutional quarantine. Many of the persons infected with the virus are said to be asymptomatic, that is, exhibiting no symptoms.

The updated COVID–19

Emergency Measures (No. Nine) are in force from April 1, 2021 until April 30, 2021.

They may be extended or amended by notice of the Minister of Health, after an assessment of the prevailing public health conditions of the pandemic. As per these current measures, however, all persons are required to wear face masks when leaving their homes. Physical

distancing and adequate sanitisation are also important.

The current curfew is 22:30 hours to 04:00 hours.

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

21 SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 11, 2021

SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 4, 2021 10

The Science of COVID-19 Myths about The impact of COVID-19 COVID-19 on HIV/AIDS – Part 2 vaccines debunked

Contributed By: Contributed By: Dr Zulfikar Bux Dr.Emergency Tariq Jagnarine Medicine Programme Specialist,Manager Georgetown National AIDS ProPublic Hospital gramme Secretariat Corporation Assistant Professor of Emergency GIVEN the unprecedented Medicine, nature of theVanderbilt COVID-19 Medicalan Center outbreak, increase in anxiety has been prevalent worldwide.

GUYANA, Furthermore, like the rest the CDC has noted that of the world, has begun individuals with chronic vaccinating its population health as againstconditions, COVID-19.such UnforHIV, may develop a strontunately, are many ger stressthere response than rumors being spread esthe rest of the population. pecially on social media This strong stress reabout the COVID-19 vaccines. This is creating too many vaccine skeptics and is putting us all at risk of being stuck in the pandemic for longer than we should be. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), between 2010 and 2015, vaccines prevented an estimated 10 million deaths. Scientists have worked tirelessly to create safe and effective vaccines to protect us against COVID-19. Some persons called “anti-vaxxers’’ dedicate their entire lives to railing against vaccines and are mostly behind the many myths that are being circulated about COVID-19 vaccines. Today, I will share some common myths being circulated about COVID-19 vaccines so that you can be properly informed and help dispel these myths.

Myth: the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine are dangerous While the COVID-19

vaccine can have side efsponse duemajority to an infects, theisvast are creased risk of contracting very short term and are not COVID-19 as a result of serious or dangerous.

Some a compromised immune people experience pain where system.

The compoundthey were injected; ed stigma associated body with aches; headaches or fever, HIV-positive status and lasting for a day two.

SARS-CoV-2 may or lead to These are of signs that the vacan array mental health issues psychocine is comprising working to stimulate logical disorders such as your immune system.

If you depression, sleepespecially disorder, have allergies, substance anxiety, severe onesabuse, that require you schizophrenia, and perto be hospitalised, discuss sonality disorders, which the COVID-19 vaccine with may trigger somatoform your doctor, who can disorders which mayassess lead your risk and provide to failure to seek care.more Alinformation about if and how you can get vaccinated safely.

There has been recent evidence of rare blood clots in a small number of patients receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine. Experts have since advised that these are rare occurrences and the benefits far outweigh the risks and are advocating for its continued use. Thousands of Guyanese have already received this vaccine and there has not been any reported case of blood clots associated with it.

Myth: the Vaccine will alter my DNA These vaccines were designed using the RNA and DNA of the virus to create similar structures in the vaccines. These structures cannot alter our DNA in any shape or form. When our body detects them after being vaccinated, it produces antibodies that can be stored and deployed to effectively combat the SarsCov2 virus in the event we get exposed to it. It does not directly interact with our DNA in any way.

coholMyth: can lead to impaired You can get judgement, such engaging COVID-19asfrom in riskythe sexual behaviors. vaccines Risky behaviors paired with The COVID-19 vaccines an increased viral load may cannot give an individual result in people living with COVID-19.(PLHIV) Regardless of the HIV/AIDS passing typethe of virus vaccine, none contains on through unprothe livesex.

SarsCov2 virus. Any tected people are sideAlthough effects, such as headpractising physical distancache or chills, are due to the ing, individuals who immune response and notare an quarantined infection. with a romantic partner may be engaging in sexual activities more often Myth: , which mayThe be vaccine problematic containswhose a microchip for PLHIV viral load According and to some, is suppressed who the do vaccines were designed with a microchip inside and will allow shadowy elites to track our every move. In reality, our mobile phones already complete that task effortlessly. There is no evidence that any of the COVID-19 vaccines contains a microchip especially since each vaccine would have undergone rigorous testing and analysis by many different international regulatory bodies.

Myth: COVID-19 vaccines can make you infertile There is no evidence that the COVID-19 vaccines impact fertility. Similarly, there is no evidence that they will endanger future pregnancies.

This rumor began because of a link between the spike protein that is coded by the mRNA-based vaccines and a protein called syncytin-1.

Syncytin-1 is vital for the placenta to remain attached to the uterus during pregnancy. However, although the spike protein does share a few

amino acids in common with not engageit isinnot protective syncytin-1, even nearbehaviors e.g., condom use ly similar enough to confuse or partners the whose immunesexual system and cause are not using pre-exposure abortions. (PrEP). prophylaxis It is important to note, Myth: You not however, thatshould the mental the vaccine if healthtake effects of COVID-19 mayyou’re not bebreastfeeding apparent for every You individual immediately and your breastfeedfollowing the pandemic. ing baby needs protection For thisCOVID-19 reason, it like is also against evpossible that You in the coming eryone else. cannot get years, there or will beyour an even COVID-19, give baby greater need for health and COVID-19, vacmental healthby carebeing providers cinated. of to supportThe thecomponents economic and the vaccine are not known to psychological impacts of harm breastfed infants. When you receive the vaccine, the small vaccine particles are used up by your muscle cells at the injection site and thus are unlikely to get into breast milk. When a person gets vaccinated while breastfeeding, the immune system develops antibodies that protect against COVID-19. These antibodies can be passed through breast milk to the baby. Newborns of vaccinated mothers who breastfeed can benefit from these antibodies against COVID-19.

Myth: the COVID-19 vaccine was developed quickly so its unsafe Millions of doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered and thus far, it has been proven safe?and effective. Although these vaccines were developed in record time, they would have gone through the same rigorous trials and authorization process like every other vaccine and would have met all safety standards. No steps

were skipped. The clinical triCOVID-19. als and safety reviews actually took about the same amount SOCIAL IMPACT of time as other vaccines.

OF COVID-19 Scientists utilised ON HIVexisting technologies which saved TREATMENT mostAlthough of the time that would physical dishave beenguidelines needed to develop tancing serve atovaccine from scratch.

Also, benefit one’s physical health, these may this is the firstguidelines time that there be detrimental to one’s sowas such a worldwide focus cial investment and emotional health. and into the crePLHIV be even more ation of amay vaccine.

Sufficient reluctant to engage in physfunding and collaboration ical interaction with others. meant thatbetheespecially process was This may true also much more efficient. for newly diagnosed PLHIV who do not have a full understanding of the ways in which HIV is transmitted.

Because many PLHIV areWhile part the of COVID-19 marginalized surcommunities, other vival rate is high, the social death impacts also exist sucholder as: rate is higher in the * Increased risk exists population and those with for PLHIV whose domestic other chronic illnesses. arrangements may be These risky people depend on others that or violent-Prone to genare not asviolence high risk to be der-based vaccinated so thataccess the illness * Reduced to cannot to them.

We on all drugs spread normally bought the street have loved ones that are in the Reduced access to high*risk group and we need needle exchange to look out for themschemes, and get which are Also, important vaccinated. while for the secondary HIV prevention death rate is not high, the long * Increased risk of unterm effects of COVID-19 deremployment are devastating many that * Increasedforconditions would have been infected.

It for the homeless or having ranges damage to the unstablefrom housing lungs, kidneys and liver to * Reduced access food banksissues associated numerous Reduced access to with* damage to the nervous medicalThose or pharmacy sersystem. with nervous vices asdamage a result tend of reduced system to be public transport services fearful, depressed, have unCOVID-19 has brought relenting pains and get nightthe issue of low health litmares reason. eracy for to no theobvious forefront, especially during the efforts Only risk toMyth: ensure thatthe thehigh informavaccinated by tionshould can bebeunderstood of spread your risk, all Regardless and stop the of the disease.

Zulfikar Bux Dr.DrTariq Jagnarine

you can still contract the inHIV treatment, fection and spread ittelemedito others, cine, enhanced virtual so it’s important you get supvacport groups, hamper cinated.

Once food the vaccine is delivery, increase mobile widely available, it’s recomtesting, etc. mended thatmust as many There be eligible access adults as possible get for the to COVID-19 services vaccine.

In addition, doctors vulnerable people, includare long term compliingfinding a targeted approach to reach thosethat most cations in those are left not behind removing fihigh risk and and had COVID-19. nancial barriers, such as user Myth: fees orI subsidies. can move around without a mask ADVICE FOR PEOPLE once I’mWITH vaccinated LIVING HIV Masking, * People handwashing with a CD4 and distancing recountphysical over 200, who are takmain necessary untiland a suffiing HIV treatment have cient number of people are an undetectable viral load are considered at noand greater immune to the virus canrisk spread than the general not it to others.popuThe lation.

They should best protection we canfollow offer general advice observe each other righttonow is to the curfewtohours andcurrent maincontinue follow tain social distancing. guidelines and with mask aup.

As * People CD4 more people get vaccinated, count below 200, or who experts have a better are not will taking HIV treatidea natural and ment,oforhow wholong have a detectvaccine immunity able viral load lasts. may In beany at higher riskofofthe severe illness. case, most vaccines reNonetheless, theydoses should quire you to get two and still follow same for general to wait aboutthe a month your advice. body to develop immunity. * People with a very COVID-19 can onlylow go CD4 count below 50 or who away if we all get vaccihave had an opportunistic nated.

Otherwise, are illness in the last six we months stuck in this pandemic and should follow the ministry many more lives will bewear lost of health guidelines-and negatively a mask, wash handaffected. regularly and avoidare crowded spaces Experts advising that with social pracaround 80%distancing of the populatices.needs to be vaccinated tion COVID-19 a serious before we can isbring this disease andunder all people liv-I pandemic control. ing with HIV should take therefore encourage you to all recommended prevenspread the wordtoon the real tive measures minimize facts of COVID-19 vaccine exposure to, and prevent and help debunk myths; infection by, the the virus that you willCOVID-19. be saving lives causes As by in doing this. population, oldthe general er people living with HIV or people living with HIV RECOMMENDATIONS with heart or lung problems, HIV services must con- may be at a higher risk of tinue to be made available becoming infected with the for people living with and virus and of suffering more at risk of HIV. serious symptoms.

All people living with This includes ensuring the availability of condoms, HIV should reach out to their lubricants, ARVs, sterile health-care providers to enneedles and syringes, harm sure that they have adequate reduction, pre-exposure pro- stocks of essential medicines.

Until more is known, phylaxis (PrEP) and HIV people living with HIV— testing.

Significant Argyleespecially International those with adTo preventashfall peopleatfrom Airport, following multiple vanced or poorly conrunning outSt. of Vincent medicines La Soufrière HIV disease— andexplosive to reduceeruptions the needoftothe trolled Volcano McTair) should be cautious and pay access the(Photo healthcourtesy system,of Demion countries should move to attention to the prevention the full implementation of measures and recommenmulti-month dispensing of dations by the Ministry of three months or more of Health.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 11, 2021

11

Understanding Energy – Explaining the oil market SINCE first oil in late 2019 and its first commercial lift in early 2020, Guyana has generated more than US$250 million in revenues from oil production.

While that’s an impressive number, many people may not understand how the country’s oil is marketed and sold, or how a price point is settled upon.

Crude oil is sold in a complex international commodity market with several key stakeholders including sellers, marketers (also called traders), and buyers.

Thanks to growing production in the Stabroek Block, Guyana is poised to become a sizable seller during this decade. Countries with production sharing agreements like Guyana’s can elect to receive their share of production either in cash or in physical oil cargos that they can then sell themselves, which is the option that the government chose.

As oil is produced, the government and the three oil companies that jointly operate the block each get a share. Because oil can only be offloaded to one tanker ship at a time, the four stakeholders take turns according to an established formula and receive “lifts” of oil of approximately one million barrels each.

When it is the government’s turn for a lift, it has a few options for selling the oil cargo. It can hire international trading firms and marketers to sell it for them, it can sell individual cargos in “spot sales,” or it can enter into a longer-term agreement to sell oil to a specific buyer for a given length of time. Countries can also issue a tender to invite bids from multiple buyers who agree to purchase and market the crude oil.

In mid-2020, the government issued a Request for Proposal for companies to bid on a one-year contract to market Guyana’s oil. Companies interested in marketing the crude oil submitted tenders to the government, and, according to Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, selections will be finalised this month, coinciding with Guyana’s next oil lift. The government followed a similar procedure for its first three lifts, which it sold to Shell Western Supply and Trading.

Longer term contracts like this have the advantage of securing a guaranteed buyer for future oil.

The ultimate buyers of this oil are generally large companies that own refineries or have relationships with refiners. After the process of negotiating and securing oil purchase contracts, the price-point for individual cargos is typically based on international and public benchmarks.

Sale prices and the subsequent revenues that a government receives are derived from several factors, including the grade and type of crude oil produced, type of sale contract and global supply and demand.

Crude oil is classified based on two main characteristics: being “light” or “heavy” and “sweet” or “sour”. High quality crude oil is classified as light and sweet because it requires less energy to refine. Conversely, heavy and sour crude oil has more contaminants that must be extracted, requiring more energy, in order to create a consumable final product, like gasoline.

Fortunately for Guyana, its crude oil is high quality – light and sweet – which

makes it attractive for refiners. This grade, simply called Liza Crude, now has its own international price that fluctuates alongside other well-known grades of oil like Brent Crude and West Texas Intermediate (WTI). Commodity prices for specific grades are synchronised globally and change in response to supply and demand from buyers, refiners and speculators.

While this sets Guyana up for success to win high prices for its oil, the country is still subject to swings in international oil prices. As Guyana’s Liza 1 came online in early 2020, international oil prices fell dramatically due to the COVID-19 crisis. This significantly reduced revenues for Guyana and its operators. However, as oil prices begin to recover in 2021, Guyana is generating more revenues from its oil.

Compared to the third oil lift in May 2020, revenues for the February 2021 lift have doubled, for roughly the same amount of oil.

Prices for Brent Crude, a widely used benchmark for the market, have been hovering around US $5560 per barrel, but some forecasters believe that prices could increase even further in the second half of 2021. This should continue to benefit Guyana, especially as additional projects like Liza 2 come online and nearly triples production offshore in 2022. However, commodity prices are notoriously hard to predict, which is one reason that oil companies constantly seek to reduce costs and many oil-producing countries save some portion of revenues for low-price periods.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 11, 2021

‘Living wages’ needed in public service service ―says GPSU President

PRESIDENT of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), Patrick Yarde, has suggested that workers in the public service should benefit from ‘living’ wages, which are commensurate with their workload.

In his advice to the government, Yarde, during a recent interview with the Sunday Chronicle, said that employees of the public ser-

vice should receive adequate living wages, starting with Guyana’s healthcare workers, who have been instrumental in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The government, in its 2020 Emergency Budget, had allocated $150 million for frontline workers, as a means of encouragement in their daily efforts to care for and protect those at risk of

the coronavirus.

President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, had also said, in September 2020, that he understands that every category of worker wants more, and wants better.

And, he assured stakeholders that the government has better to deliver, and that the authorities are committed to ensuring that all categories of workers have a better standard of living, better opportuPresident of GPSU, Patrick Yarde

nities, and greater prospects in the future.

Yarde, however, said: “I am very sad with the way public servants are being treated, and you would notice the COVID-19 is escalating.

I am saying without reservation that the human resources in healthcare, the frontline workers are being ill-treated, there’s insensitivity to them.”

On the contrary, the government has expended over $2.1 billion on critical items such as medical supplies, COVID-19 testing kits, sanitising materials and Personal

Protective Equipment (PPE), for frontline workers.

A d d i t i o n a l l y, w h i l e these items will continue to play a crucial role in Guyana’s COVID-19 fight; the newer phase of mitigating COVID-19 involves mass vaccination of the population.

For now, the government has prioritised the vaccination of medical frontline workers and persons over 40 years old, among other groups of people. Over 50,000 persons have been vaccinated so far.

And, while Yarde commended the government for its vaccination programme, he said that the needs of healthcare workers have increased.

It is for this reason that he believes that the government should work towards ensuring that public servants across all sector are “better paid.”

“It’s a shame when you get acquainted with the salaries of people in the public service. Imagine an assistant accountant working for less than $100,000 or a registered nurse working for less than $100,000; but these things, there seems to be no urgency

in bringing economic relief to these very valuable and hardworking Guyanese people who are putting their lives at risk,” Yarde said.

Economic relief has, however, been provided to healthcare workers, as it was reported that they benefited from a bonus which is equivalent to two weeks’ pay, the $25,000 COVID-19 household grant, among other things. Other workers in the public service were also exposed to similar benefits.

In speaking further, Yarde advised healthcare workers to remain professional and committed to their jobs.

“We have been encouraging them to go the extra mile, but in doing that we want them to ensure that they do not put their lives at risk, or their families; we want them to ensure that they protect themselves, and they must know that this union stands with them,” Yarde said.

The GPSU President said that the union is committed to engaging the government to ensure that all Guyanese in the public sector have access to better benefits.

Volcanic ash covering buildings and surfaces in the northern part of St. Vincent (Photo courtesy of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA)

SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 11, 2021

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Politics & Society Forum Backtracking and ‘boring’ the border ...a remarkable invention

I FIRST heard of the label backtrack in the mid-1970s from a high school friend. His family was from Crabwood Creek in Region Six, along the banks of the Corentyne River, who was involved in the smuggling of people and goods between Guyana and Suriname. This young man told me attractive stories of smuggling along the Corentyne River so much so that I wonder now if he was trying to recruit me to ply that lucrative trade. The label, boring the border, came to my attention a few years later when I realized that certain people in the villages would simply disappear and no one cared to look for them or even to file a report at the police station. The word got out quickly that the disappeared chose to bore the border via the backtrack route to North America since the legal immigration gates were closed to them. The concern of the villagers was not the safety of the disappeared but rather how these individuals were able to use their acerbic wits to make that “golden” contact to get them out of Guyana. Many villagers simply wanted to follow suit.

By the late 1970s, at least one household member in the Corentyne region, if not the entire Guyana, had left using the backtrack route to enter some foreign country, preferably Canada or the United States. The word had gotten out that going to America was no longer a distant dream. The belief that the one percenter of Guyanese could only enter the United States, the land of plenty and promise, had become a figment of the imagination.

A fresh terrain of hope for disillusioned Guyanese had developed into a culture of illegal out-migration pregnant with a well-organised groundswell of networks in which Guyanese paid thousands of US dollars to get them out of Guyana. The ambition of Guyanese took volte-face from centering on saving and investing for their family to have a good life in Guyana to paying their way to some foreign country.

We knew that a culture of out-migration had begun, but we were not sure of the magnitude of this Guyanese post-independence out-migration.

Various studies have placed the out-migration figure to be around 600,000 since independence. An estimated 200,000 out-migrated to the Caribbean region while 400,000 went to Europe and North America. Of this total, it is safe to say that an estimated 100,000 Guyanese might have entered North America via the backtrack

route, paying around US$3000$6000 per person. The decision of these 100,000 Guyanese to out-migrate was myriad, ranging from personal ambitions to political turbulence to economic deprivation. Despite the varying reasons, they all shared a foundational similarity in that they left not on their own free will. They were uprooted, if not un-homed.

I opine that the method – the pooling of family resources and risking of lives – Guyanese used to get out of their homeland was one creative invention of the post-independence Guyanese experience. It matched the PNC dictatorship and represented a remarkable desire to have a better life anywhere outside of Guyana amid adversity. Yet, we are not sure how the historic backtracking and boring the border coda has panned out for the thousands who were forced on that route.

Some academic studies exist, but they are largely buried somewhere, inaccessible to the layperson. Conversations and testimonies in public and private spaces have expanded our understanding of Guyana’s overseas branch communities.

These perspectives have revealed, on the one hand, the success stories of academic and material achievements, as well as despair and despondence on the other hand. This experience is, of course, the imminent and immanent enigma of the immigrant experience.

I postulate that this backtracking and border boring generation is now on an average over fifty years old. Some have stayed on in their new-found homeland and raised families, leading to the procreation of children and grandchildren, and perhaps forgotten Guyana.

They appear unspoiled by the pains of out-migration. Others have migrated back to Guyana either occasionally or permanently. Whatever has been their journey, these individuals arrived in a new place with no roots. Some died in a land they struggled to assimilate that did not understand their human existence. Some have been stuck and torn between nostalgia and realism. Some have replaced missing family bonds and kinship with steady work.

I suppose that at some point they might have asked, is it worth spending the most tender part of life in a land where the anchorage of homeland sentiments appears so elusive? Is it worth replacing a community of openness with a community of four walls?

I conclude that the post-independence exodus of backtracking and boring the border may never happen again as in the past. Some

movements will occur, and we will be informed of triumph and tragic stories. Guyana, however, will depart from those backtracking days

because it is on a verge of experiencing enormous growth and development generated from oil revenues. The country will be an importer rather than

an exporter of people to meet the aforesaid demands. The backtracking and boring the border movement will be transformed into “front

Professor Lomarsh Roopnarine tracking” namely, that thousands of immigrants will pour into Guyana’s porous borders. It has already begun (lomarsh. roopnarine@jsums.edu).

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 11, 2021

Some $1B for second phase of COVID-19 cash grant – over 16,000 ‘pink slip’ recipients to benefit

MINISTER of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall, has said close to $1 billion is expected to be disbursed during the second phase of the government’s $25,000 per household COVID-19 relief cash grant.

This distribution will focus on ensuring the 16,000 holders of the pink slips/ query forms are served. As happened during the first phase, residents in hinterland communities will benefit first. Minister Dharamlall said once the process has been completed in the outlying regions, distribution will start along the coast.

“The reason [we started] at the hinterland regions because they are much more vulnerable households. It is very expensive to live in those areas and they are not so accessible to services of the government as other regions, and so we thought

that it would be best to start paying in those regions first,” Dharamlall was quoted as saying by the Department of Public Information (DPI).

The $1 billion, the minister said, would ensure that all households benefit, honouring the pledge made by President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali to help families affected by the pandemic. Minister Dharamlall is urging the public to co-operate with the distribution teams to ensure a smooth process.

“It is quite a few thousands of persons who had to fill out the pink form, but I can assure you that as long as you are eligible then you will receive the Covid cash grant… We expect it will be close to one billion dollars [to conduct this phase],” he said.

In 2020, $4.5 billion was allocated for the first phase of the grant, which started in September. During the distribution exercise, prima-

A resident of Region Four received her COVID-19 cash grant earlier this year (Photo: DPI)

ry households received the grant, while tenants or other families residing at the same address, were issued a ‘pink slip’ for follow-up during the

second phase.

In December, the National Assembly approved an additional $2.5 billion to continue the cash grant

relief efforts. In addition to this measure, the government also distributed $1.73 billion to Amerindian communities as part of its

one-off COVID-19 relief investment fund aimed at promoting entrepreneurship and revitalising hinterland economies.

Brazil donates ARVs to Guyana’s Health Ministry

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, and Brazil’s Ambassador, Maria Clara Duclos Carisio, (fourth and fifth from right) and other representatives at the handing over ceremony (DPI photo)

THE Ministry of Health, on Friday, received a quantity of antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) donated by the Government of Brazil. Subject Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony, said he was grateful that the neighbouring country responded to Guyana’s request for assistance.

“A big thank you to Brazil for stepping forward and

assisting us with this much needed ARVs … We’ve all been following the challenges that COVID has posed to all countries around the world…

There has been restrictions and disruption in the logistics [of] supplies of medicines and other pharmaceuticals,” Dr. Anthony was quoted as saying by the Department of Public Information (DPI).

Dr. Anthony said this can easily disrupt programmes such as the HIV response programme, that positively impact people’s lives. According to DPI, the minister told the Brazilian officials that he looks forward to strengthened collaboration between the two countries’ health ministries.

Brazil’s Ambassador,

Maria Clara Duclos Carisio, expressed similar sentiments; she said she looks forward to the continued partnership, especially as the pandemic prevails, and given the closeness of the countries’ borders. She also anticipates strengthened cooperation in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Meanwhile, Pan American Health Organisation/

World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) representative, Dr. Luis Felipe Codina, said the simple presentation was an excellent demonstration of the co-operation between the two countries.

He said the partnership is a typical model of South-South co-operation.

Brazil Deputy Head of Mission, Minister Paulo

Eduardo Borda Silos; Programme Manager, National Aids Programme Secretariat, Dr. Tariq Jagnarine, and representatives of the Ministries of Health and Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation also attended the ceremony.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 11, 2021

2300+ Guyanese hired in O&G sector in 2020

–– Minister Bharrat urges countrymen to build capacity for sector

By Vishani Ragobeer THOUGH 2020 was a year marked by several employment constraints and uncertainties, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic and Guyana’s protracted elections period, 2,338 Guyanese were hired to service the oil and gas industry at the Stabroek block, offshore Guyana, according to Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat.

“In 2020, local employees under the Stabroek Block grew by 23 per cent with 2,338 persons being hired in the following areas: managerial professionals such as lawyers, engineers, business executives, and other skilled technicians such as plumbers,

electricians, crane operators, and welders, to name a few,” the minister said, while delivering remarks at a virtual forum, on Friday.

With the influx of businesses and visitors to Guyana, the Natural Resources Minister noted that there will be a greater demand for logistics, accommodation, transportation, medical and relocation services. Welding and fabrication skills will be in growing demand, too. Guyana’s burgeoning oil and gas industry, and the spin-off industries, is expected to garner significant revenues for the country, the minister said, too. These revenues, he posited, will be used to enhance the country’s national development.

Currently, the Stabroek

Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat

Block - the first offshore oil block wherein oil is being extracted from - is estimated to contain more than nine bil-

The Liza Destiny Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel

lion oil equivalent barrels of recoverable resources. After a year of production, the Liza Destiny -- the Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel offshore -- has been able to reach its capacity of 120,000 barrels of oil per day. Meanwhile, the next FPSO-- the Liza Unity-- is expected to commence production in the first half of 2022.

Over the next few years, extraction and production offshore is expected to increase exponentially. In fact, the Nat-

ural Resources Minister highlighted that by 2027, Guyana will have at least seven FPSO vessels, operating offshore.

“With more development to come on stream, and (as) other operators discover oil, the demand for skilled workers will only increase,” Minister Bharrat said, emphasising: “I urge you today to enhance your skills, build capacity, establish partnerships and learn from each other and be innovative.”

He also noted that the government has recognised

that private sector investment is crucial in developing the local capacity and in tapping into the opportunities presented for local businesses to offer services to the industry.

Additionally, he said that the government has recognised its role as a developmental partner in facilitating investment.

He underscored, however, that while investment is welcomed, emphasis must also be placed on local capacity to ensure that Guyanese are managing the sector well.

“It is a new sector to us and in building capacity, we have been bargaining for strong local content in the oil and gas industry and other sectors, but at the same time, as a country and as a people, we need to build capacity and we need to ensure that we have the resources available to ensure that we truly realise the potential from the oil and gas sector,” Minister Bharrat explained too.

Importantly, he noted that there is no better way to learn and build capacity than by learning from those already involved in the industry. It is for this reason he emphasised that the local content framework must make provisions for backward, forward and lateral linkages which will allow for the transfer of skills and the inclusion of local suppliers and businesses.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 11, 2021

STARR Computer introduces BioSafety Department

The STARR Computer BioSafety Department

WHILE the new strain of coronavirus is causing disruptions to the travel industry and broader economy, heightened concerns about germs have resulted in STARR Computer investing in a BioSafety Department.

The technology giant, located at 59 Brickdam, Georgetown, has also introduced its own protocol by demonstrating its UV and touchless disinfectant technologies to help its employees feel safe to work and customers to shop on it premises. President of STARR Computer, Mike Mohan, said everyone entering the store are invited to walk through a disinfectant channel for a 30-second four-step touchless disinfection experience.

This tunnel, he explained, includes an infra-red artificial intelligent wrist reader that alerts if

someone has a fever, touchless hand sanitizer, safe sanitizing body mist and shoe sole sanitizer.

“And when retrofitted with our programmable tablet, it can remotely monitor real-time activities. This advanced professional disinfectant channel version can support facial recognition to sound alarm for missing mask as well as conduct body count on human traffic inflow. This application can be further configured to support employee’s time clock system. And, if the market requires, we can retrofit a disinfectant channel for shopping carts and baskets sterilisation for supermarkets. As we bring products to market, we will be able to offer customers multiple sanitisation options as needed,” Mohan explained.

At the BioSafety Department, he said a free demonstration is available.

He explained that UV and touchless disinfectant technologies will be effective in hospitals, schools, shopping malls – stores, professional offices, homes – wall mount accessories, hotels, banks and exhibition sites.

Mohan explained that the disinfection tunnel is a special construction with roof and sidewalls, which is equipped with a nozzle system. The stainless-steel nozzle line is connected to an external pumping station, which directs the decontaminator into the individual nozzles. These ensure the dispersion of the sanitizer into many tiny particles, which form a very fine mist that settles on all surfaces such as clothing, shoes or other objects in the tunnel.

As such, he noted that persons are disinfected completely from head to toe.

This reliably eliminates any bacteria, viruses or fungi that

Robbery convict escapes Mazaruni Prison Police are on the hunt for a 25-year-old convict who escaped from the Mazarui Prison on Friday afternoon.

Police Headquarters, in a statement, noted that Kevin LaFleur, “made a run for his freedom into the bushes aback the prisons,” at around 13:15hrs. LaFleur, whose last known address is Lot 84 Providence Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, was serving a sentence of 56 months for robbery under arms.

Prison escapee, Kevin LaFleur

President of STARR Computer, Mike Mohan

stick to clothing, shoes, bags or other objects.

Mohan also noted that some machines use fog, mist, vapour or UV (ultraviolet) treatments that

are suitable options to help control the spread of coronavirus. The COVID-19 pandemic, he said, triggered the launch of a number of innovative research and

development projects aimed at integrating smart technology into a wide range of disinfection processes in the hope of mitigating the spread of the virus.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 11, 2021

$38M project targetting Guyanese youth in the diaspora

By Vishani Ragobeer

AS part of the government’s efforts to strengthen ties with the diaspora, a $38M project is being finalised to encourage second and third generation Guyanese youth in the diaspora to volunteer their knowledge and skills.

According to the Foreign Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Robert Persaud, the project is being crafted and rolled out in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

During a recent engagement with members of the media, Persaud highlighted that the aim of the project is to encourage young Guyanese in the diaspora to return to Guyana and volunteer their knowledge and skills.

It is envisioned that these youth would be able to serve

either the government, civil society, the private sector and/or Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).

“We don’t want to lose the second and third generation of Guyanese living overseas and missing out on the opportunities here and also to attract their skills, capital and to support what is taking place,” the Foreign Secretary emphasised.

While the allocation towards this project is concrete, the Guyana Chronicle understands that the components and logistics of the project are still being finalised. As such, it is not yet known how many youth in the diaspora will be targetted. With a population of less than a million people, Guyana, which sits on the edge of South America, has been losing some 30,000 persons annually due to emigration, said the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), which is

based in Washington DC, in a recent report, following an analysis of the Guyanese diaspora. The CSIS report is a comprehensive analysis of the Guyanese diaspora and highlights some of the perennial challenges of brain drain and high emigration rate that Guyana faces.

For context, emigration is defined as the act of leaving a resident country or place of residence with the intent to settle elsewhere. And the CSIS report noted that Guyana’s socio-economic environment; the political climate, which the report deemed “unstable” and social unrest particularly influenced Guyanese educated elites to seek opportunities elsewhere.

The CSIS quoted a 2010 Aljazeera report titled “Guyana’s brain drain,” which stated: “The brain drain in this poor nation has been going on for many years as people emigrate to America,

Foreign Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Robert Persaud (Delano Williams photo)

Canada, and Britain in search of a better life.”

This is evidenced by the findings in the CSIS report, which show that the Guyanese diaspora profile is classified as being an “educated and skilled” community.

The Guyana Chronicle understands that harnessing the knowledge and skills of the Guyanese youth was one of the contributory factors that led to the creation of this

$38M project.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Secretary highlighted that the project is one of the many projects that are externally funded, which add to the government’s efforts to pursue diaspora engagement.

In fact, he highlighted that in this year’s national budget, an allocation of almost $50M was made to facilitate enhanced diasporic engagement. The government has

also been working alongside the IOM to develop the Guyana Diaspora Engagement Strategy and the Plan of Action, which are expected to place specific emphasis on re-migration and the establishment of a well-functioning structure for re-migrants.

Guyana’s emerging oil and gas sector has opened doors for new areas of investment, while strengthening traditional sectors. In January, during an interview with US-based radio personality Farook Juman, President Irfaan Ali said there is “great potential” for the diaspora to bring their capital resources back home.

To this end, the Foreign Secretary clarified that the government’s focus on enhancing diasporic engagement is not meant to disadvantage Guyanese who live and work in the country; he emphasised that there is no competition between the two groups.

Instead, he said, “It is complementing the progress being made here, to support the vision and developmental drive to transform the country.... It is not giving preferential access or to disadvantage anyone here.”

Baby with heart defect receives timely support –– flown to U.S. medical facility for treatment

Little Rodas Lakhan

SUFFERING from a cyanotic congenital heart defect, little Rodas Lakhan was in a battle against time which ended recently with him receiving much-needed support from the Saving Hands Emergency Aid (SHEA) foundation through its donors, to travel to the U.S. for life-saving treatment.

According to the foundation in a post on its Facebook page, the baby arrived safely at a medical facility and has started the necessary treatment evaluation.

“His initial review had shown all positive signs and his doctors will continue to monitor him into early next week, which is when they plan to operate once it is safe to do so,” the foundation said.

According to the University of Michigan, cyanotic heart defects are defects that allow oxygen-rich blood and oxygen-poor blood to mix. In cyanotic heart defects, less oxygen-rich blood reaches the tissues of the body. This results in the development of a bluish tint (cyanosis) to the skin, lips, and nail beds.

Most importantly, without proper treatment and care, critical cyanotic congenital heart disease could be deadly. In baby Lakhan’s case, he is suffering from Tetralogy of Fallot (ToF) with pulmonary atresia. This, according to the Boston’s Children Hospital, is a more severe form of ToF. It is a congenital condition, which means it is something with which one is born.

Before being transported to the U.S., Lakhan was a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC), where the necessary treatment was not available.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 11, 2021

A brighter future beckons for Guyanese youths

BY MICHAEL YOUNGE

YOUNG people during the lead-up to the 2015 elections were promised that they would be further empowered to take their rightful place at the decision-making table by the politicians who made up the Alliance For Change and the A Partnership For National Unity, which has the People’s National Congress as its lifeline.

They were promised that if they were to vote for their ticket, the APNU+AFC Coalition would bring renewed hope and change that would see youth benefitting from skills-training, apart from what was being done by the then government. Youths were promised jobs and all sorts of entrepreneurial help.

These youths were told that their future would be in good hands that understood their general needs to food security and homeowners, so that they could start a small family and thrive in Guyana. They were feed outright untruths about the crime situation in Guyana before the polls, only to get them worked into a frenzy so they could vote race and against the government, which admittedly was not doing enough to impact their lives in meaningful ways.

This led to the APNU+AFC clinching power, even though the PPP had doubts about the legitimacy of the outcome of the polls that year. Now being in government, the APNU+AFC

politicians forgot the youths who were with them during the years in opposition. They disbanded every youth initiative that the PPP had started up, thereby sending thousands of young people on the unemployment line. Scores of young people in positions of power lost their jobs, including more than 4, 000 indigenous persons. The David Granger administration continued its public assault on young people by appointing a novice to the post of Education Minister after Dr Rupert Roopnaraine’s less than honourable stint in the post. There was no Ministry of Sport, just a director handpicked for the job.

Over the years, 2015 to August 2020, the APNU+AFC grouping did nothing for the development of education, culture, youth and sports. There is not one initiative which was birthed under that government that wasn’t conceptualised or started by the PPP while in office. A simple check with the policies and plans adumbrated by the minister responsible or any politician of the APNU+AFC’s ilk would confirm this. Youths soon found out the old proverb that promises are indeed a comfort to a fool.

So the young people quickly changed allegiance in 2020, but the master of trickery and deception wasn’t done just yet. The APNU+AFC started appealing to young people again,

this time it was emotional and psychological. They backed up their efforts by making certain claims subliminally, which would later morph into them attempting to rig or steal the polls.

But youths have been taken for granted far too long in this country. Certain political elites and grassroot politicians see them as a bargaining block to whom they can appeal, use and abuse in the lead-up to, during and after electoral cycles. The young people have learnt now, so they know which way the wind is blowing.

They can recognise who is by their side and who is the real opportunist. It took them a long time but they are going to break away from the traditions that held them in place and saw them exercising their franchise a certain way.

Finally, 2020 is the year when a person whom young people respect, trust and with whom they have something in common, was elected to serve in State House as the President.

President Irfaan Ali appears to be concerned about youth development and change. You can tell because he has appointed many youths to key positions in his Cabinet, including Charles Ramson, Susan Rodrigues, Hugh Todd and Nigel Dharamlall to name a few. His party, in power, appointed political newcomers who in some cases

Teen mother accused of murdering baby boy AN 18-year-old woman, identified as Martha Miguel, is in police custody following allegations that she murdered her one year, ninemonth-old baby boy, whose body was found floating in a drain at Jango Street, Parika Backdam, East Bank Essequibo, on Friday.

Dead is Ekron Miguel. A police report noted that the baby boy had two disabilities – he could not walk or speak.

It is alleged that the mother was on her way home with the child and while in the street, he started to cry at around 19:00hrs and she assumed he was hungry.

The young mother told the police that she decided to sit on the parapet of the road with the baby wrapped in a blanket

Martha Miguel is accused of murdering her son

but later decided to leave him in the grass so that she can visit a friend, identified as “Brian” for assistance.

At Brian’s house, she asked for some tea for the child and noted that he will die if he doesn’t get anything

to eat. According to the police report, the mother was then questioned by Brian as to the whereabouts of her son and that was when she made an attempt to run away and jumped into a nearby canal.

She was quickly apprehended

by Brian, who informed her [Martha] brother about the incident.

The brother summoned the police and it was only then that the mother took the cops to Jango Street where they found the baby boy floating in the drain.

He was immediately rushed to the Leonora Cottage Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The body is at the Ezekiel Funeral home awaiting an autopsy.

were not entirely new to the parliamentary circle, including Sonia Parag, Kwame Mc Coy and Collin Croal.

Ali’s administration is doing more for the education of Guyanese now than the Granger administration ever did. To date, house lots, scholarships and business grants appear to be within the reach of the masses, the poor and young people once

more. The appointment of young professionals to serve in interesting yet significant portfolios is also a welcome and shocking change from his predecessor.

A Youth Policy Committee and Council are once again in the pipeline. A framework that will look at the state of Guyana’s youth population is being touted in certain circles of pow-

er. Almost all the plans for developing this grouping is already in sharp focus.

The President’s position is clear when it comes to the potential of young people, what they could do and will do in the future.

A brighter future beckons for the Guyanese youth from all walks of life and political persuasions.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 11, 2021

Child labour prevalent on coconut estates in Pomeroon River

–– says Labour Minister MINISTER of Labour, Joseph Hamilton, says he has observed several breaches in occupational safety and health regulations at popular coconut estates in the Pomeroon River in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supernaam), including the prevalence of child labour, lack of protective gears for workers, and employees being paid less for more hours.

Minister Hamilton and a team from the Ministry of Labour are on a three-day visit to the region to examine Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) guidelines and to ensure they are properly enforced at existing estates in the Pomeroon River.

“The issues of child labour, as I speak to you, Guyana is now being reviewed by the ILO [International Labour Organisation) regarding the issue of child labour, and not just the ILO; the American State Department review and I have been in conversation… right now we are in the process of filling up the questionnaire to deal with the issue of child labour at both levels,” Minister Hamilton said.

Another breach he noticed on the coconut estates was employers not issuing

Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton, during his visit to a coconut farm in the Pomeroon River

protective gear to employees working under hazardous conditions. During interactions with workers, it was revealed that they were not paid for the hours they worked nor were they given overtime.

“The law says that if you work eight hours a day, anything beyond that must be calculated as overtime and

must be calculated as time and half on ordinary days, and double time Sundays and statutory holidays,” Hamilton emphasised.

He explained that certain work environments are considered as ‘factory’ and, as such, the coconut estates fall under that category. He said that employers are creating a

A coconut estate in the Pomeroon River

narrative where they consider overtime after a person works 40 hours, but he noted that is unlawful.

The Labour Ministry will, therefore, be working to rectify the issues and to ensure that workers are treated fairly. It was agreed that officers from the ministry will revisit the coconut estates

and engage the employers and remind them about the rules and regulations relating to Occupation Safety and Health (OSH).

Hamilton urged employers to pay attention to safety culture, pointing out that the government is aiming for zero workplace fatalities and accidents.

Currently, Region Two has one OSH officer with plans on stream to hire more. There are also plans to acquire boats and engines for officers to effectively execute their duties in the remote communities of Region Two.

Too many accidents at Middle Road and Hunter Street –– no one wants to stop THE number of vehicular accidents occurring at the corner of Middle Road, La Penitence, and Hunter Street has been too many to count recently with one common complaint by residents: ‘No one wants to stop at the intersection.’

Almost every week sees one accident or more at this location, and recently there has even been two in one day. The area can be quite dark at nights with hardly any street lights in the vicinity. The latest accident occurred on Saturday around 15:00 hours. when PZZ 6950, proceeding west along Middle Road, failed to stop at Hunter Street, crashing into minibus BXX 371,

which was heading south along the right of way on Hunter Street.

Several minibuses along route 47 have been cited for their recklessness along the roadways. Saturday’s accident, though, was blamed on the car, which was allegedly attempting to jump the main road without stopping. The minibus, driven by Sherwin Mayers, was carrying 12 passengers at the time; the car was being driven by a woman. It is not clear how many persons were inside the car, but onlookers at the scene reported that they saw a young child bleeding from her face.

Mayers told Guyana Chronicle that he was glad to be alive. “I thank God

because it could’ve been worse,” he expressed. He’s been working this route for more than 20 years now and said he’d never been in an accident of this nature.

A resident, who lives on the corner and carries on a business there, said accidents on this corner have been so many over the years that he’s simply lost count.

“Everybody fails to stop here; everybody. I don’t know what it is at all.” The man said his friend was moments before standing where the vehicles crashed and only left to go across the road for a cigarette. If the gutter at the end of the road wasn’t there, the vehicles would have invaded his premises.

PZZ 6950, proceeding west along Middle Road, allegedly failed to stop at Hunter Street, crashing into minibus BXX 371

“The police always say it’s the ministry responsible for here, but you gotta do something too.

They waiting for about 10 people die at this corner here before they take action,” the man remarked.

A police officer on a motorbike arrived moments after the crash.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 11, 2021

Ten-man Leeds beat Man City in stoppage time STUART Dallas scored an injury-time winner as 10-man Leeds United beat runaway leaders Manchester City at Etihad Stadium.

Dallas gave the visitors a surprise lead three minutes before the break with a low shot that went in off the inside of a post.

However, the dismissal of skipper Liam Cooper for a tackle on Gabriel Jesus before the opening period was over appeared to have given the visitors an impossible task.

City predictably dominated the second period but were made to wait until the 76th minute for their equaliser, when Ferran Torres drove home his first Premier

League goal since December.

Instead of City completing a triumphant comeback, however, it was Leeds who came up with the winner as Dallas ran on to Ezgjan Alioski’s through ball before sending a shot past Ederson from the edge of the area.

It completed Leeds’ best win since their return to the top flight and means Manchester United can cut City’s lead at the top to eight points if they win their games in hand against Tottenham and Burnley.

City must take 11 points from their remaining six games to guarantee a third league title in four seasons.(BBC Sport)

SOUTH AFRICA RACING TIPS GREYVILLE 08:30 hrs Ruby Sky 09:05 hrs What A Splash 09:40 hrs Rise 10:15 hrs Princess Anastasia 10:55 hrs Master Of Destiny

LEOPARDSTOWN 08:40 hrs HMS Seahorse 09:10 hrs A Case Of You 09:40 hrs Mehnah 10:15 hrs Turbine 10:45 hrs Bolshoi Ballet 11:20 hrs Sir Lamorak 11:50 hrs Samaritaine 13:20 hrs Munfallet

IRISH RACING TIPS

ENGLISH RACING TIPS WARWICK 08:50 hrs Onagatheringstorm 09:23 hrs Raffle Ticket 09:55 hrs One More Fleurie 10:28 hrs Ayr Of Elegance 11:00 hrs Goodnight Charlie 11:33 hrs Imperial Knight 12:03 hrs Hurricane Mitch KELSO 09:00 hrs Presentandcounting 09:31 hrs Against All Odds 10:05 hrs Not The Chablis 10:36 hrs Empire De Maulde 11:10 hrs Democratic Oath 11:41 hrs Roderick Random 12:11 hrs Well Educated PLUMPTON 09:15 hrs Gylo 09:45 hrs Aheadfullofdreams 10:20 HRS South Terrace 10:50 hrs Ding Ding 11:25 hrs Cold Shoulder 11:55 hrs Away For Slates 12:30 hrs Credo

24

SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 11, 2021

Aussies win rain-affected match to complete ODI series sweep

AUSTRALIA completed a clean sweep over New Zealand with a 21-run victory in a rain-affected final one-day international of the series.

The match was reduced to 25 overs a side after rain in Tauranga.

Australia posted 149-7, with White Ferns off-spinner Leigh Kasperek taking three wickets in five balls to disrupt their progress.

However, New Zealand once again struggled for impetus with the bat, finishing on 128-9.

Alysaa Healy top-scored for Australia with 46 but she, Ashleigh Gardner and Rachael Haynes all fell to Kasperek in one over.

New Zealand slipped to 51-4 and 77-6 in their chase, Megan Schutt taking 2-22 as the hosts struggled for runs.

Georgia Wareham also took 2-25 on her one-day debut as Australia extended their record-breaking winning streak to 24 matches.

(BBC Sport)

Australia overcome a mid-innings batting collapse to record win No.24 in a row and sweep the Rose Bowl series.

Mayor of London wants to bring IPL to Lord’s … Surrey are currently in talks with BCCI and IPL authorities, who have not yet indicated any desire in favour of the move

SADIQ Khan, the Mayor of London, wants to bring the IPL to the city, with Surrey said to be in preliminary talks with authorities in India to explore the possibility.

London hosts NFL (American football) and MLB (US baseball) games regularly, but Khanm who is seeking re-election as mayor, believes IPL matches in the city - and eventually around the country - could tap into a more diverse audience than the sport does currently.

“Surrey are speaking to teams in India and colleagues in the BCCI and IPL,” Khan said at a cricket club in southwest London.

“The first step will be friendlies and exhibition matches.

We want to get them going, maybe even this year if we make progress as we are doing with the pandemic. It has

to be COVID-safe, of course.

We have to bang the drum for our city, and sport is one way to do this.”

The BCCI have not indicated any desire publicly and the only times they have played the IPL outside India is when they were compelled by circumstances. In 2009, they moved the tournament to South Africa because general elections were ongoing in India at the same time; In 2014, for the same reason, they played the opening two weeks of the tournament in the UAE; and last year, they first postponed the event and then staged the all of it in the UAE because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rajasthan Royals did play a game against Middlesex in 2009 at Lord’s in the British Asian Cup but that remains the only game played by an IPL franchise

in the UK. Rajasthan do have a number of England players as well as an academy in Surrey.

“This is part of my plan to build a better London after the pandemic,” Khan said. “I know Londoners are hungry to see more of the likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant and, with two of the world’s greatest cricket grounds in Lord’s and The Kia Oval, London is ideally placed to host IPL matches. I know we can see our capital confirmed as the undisputed sporting capital of the world.”

Surrey have long been interested in hosting IPL games at The Oval and the effects of the pandemic with counties expected to be hit with a combined £100M loss - have sharpened ambitions.

“We would love to bring

the IPL to London and other areas of England,” Surrey chairman Richard Thompson recently told the Daily Mail.

“We think that’s the silver bullet in terms of reaching a more diverse audience for cricket in this country.

“We could stage games in the same way Jacksonville Jaguars, for one, play legitimate NFL games in London.

The windfalls that staging the Champions Trophy and World Cup provided for English cricket were huge and we see the IPL on that level.

“This could be worth tens of millions to the English game. We have all lost so much money through COVID-19 that we have to be more creative and provide cricket that generates revenue you wouldn’t otherwise have made.

That’s why I think IPL is a no-brainer.” (Cricinfo)

GFF to develop comprehensive compensation policy for Lady Jags THE Guyana Football Federation (GFF) intends to develop a comprehensive compensation policy, consistent with international best practices, which will cover key areas such as out-of-pocket allowances, stipends, match fees, and bonuses for the senior women’s football team. According to the GFF, this policy is expected to be fully implemented ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifiers in November this year.

The proposed policy comes hot on the heels of the senior women’s football team, Lady Jags, calling on the local governing body to treat them the same as the men’s side. They dispatched a letter to First Lady Arya Ali and Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr asking them to intervene on their behalf.

The Golden Jaduars are given remuneration and pay, but the Lady Jags have never received anything, although they are more successful than the Golden Jaguars on the international stage over the years.

In their letter to Mrs Ali and Minister Ramson, the Lady Jags said they are “writing to express our frustrations around the unfair and inequitable distribution of resources and support provided the female participants in comparison to our male counterparts”.

“We feel the impact of years of systemic bias. We have been relegated to second-class citizens because of our gender even though our records and accomplishments are amongst the best across the Caribbean region”, the Lady Jags said in a signed letter by members of the team.

The release from the GFF pointed out that it “acknowledges the concerns raised by team in a letter shared with the Government of Guyana and the media last week.”

According to GFF president Wayne Forde, “It is regrettable that this highly valued group of players did not avail themselves of the opportunity to raise their concerns directly with the Federation’s executive or dministration.”

Forde said GFF recognises the seriousness of the issues raised and is deeply concerned that some of Guyana’s most valued players feel disenfranchised in this way. He further pointed out that “the Executive Committee will be reaching out to the players to meet and discuss the matter in the coming days.”

The GFF release also referred to the relaunch of women’s football in 2017, pointing out that a critical element of the re-launch was the establishment of the International Support Group (ISG), based in North America that serves as the interface between the Federation and the international coaching staff and players.

The ISG, it said, is composed of eminently qualified persons and plays a critical role in identification and selection of international players for the national women’s team as well as coordinating team camps and preparations.

Blackmore wins on Minella Times to make Grand ...

From back page

landmark success at last month’s Cheltenham Festival when becoming the first woman to be the meeting’s leading jockey.

She demonstrated perfect poise and timing to guide Minella Times expertly round the 30 fences over more than four and a quarter miles for victory by six and a half lengths.

The closest a female jock-

ey had previously come to winning the race was Katie Walsh on Seabass in 2012 when she finished third.

“I cannot believe it,” Blackmore said. “He was a sensational spin. It is unbelievable.”

There were no spectators at the Merseyside track because of COVID-19 protocols, but the historic moment was not lost on the jockeys, trainers and owners in at-

tendance who cheered the pair back into the winner’s enclosure.

The 1-2 for de Bromhead sealed his own remarkable story, having won the Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase and Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

One of the 40 runners, The Long Mile, was euthanised after suffering an injury while running on the

flat between fences. It was the second equine fatality in eight editions of the race since safety changes were introduced in 2013.

Jockey Bryony Frost was taken to hospital after being unseated from her mount Yala Enki.

How the race unfolded Amateur jockey Sam Waley-Cohen, who has won six times in other races over the

National fences, led the way with an enterprising ride on outsider Jett.

The favourite, Cloth Cap, followed on the inside and travelled well for a long way before fading as McManus runners Any Second Now and Minella Times entered the picture.

Mark Walsh did well to stay on Any Second Now after nearly being brought

down at the third-last and the challenges of Burrows Saint and Discorama waned as Balko Des Flos and Minella Times pushed ahead.

As Blackmore and Minella Times safely jumped the last, it became clear a piece of racing folklore was being created and the pair passed the winning line clear of their rivals. (BBC Sport)

25

SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 11, 2021

Delhi Capitals beat CSK by seven wickets after Shaw, Dhawan 138-run opening stand ON a night of comebacks, Prithvi Shaw’s return to IPL form trumped Suresh Rai’s homecoming at Chennai Super Kings (CSK).

The Delhi Capitals fast bowlers did enough damage with the new ball and the old to make sure Super Kings’ fabled-already depth had to stretch itself - Raina scored a fifty himself - to get them to a strictly competitive total.

Shaw and Shikhar Dhawan pretty quickly took out any competitive sting out of that total with 65 in the powerplay, only a brief slowdown after, and a 138-run opening stand at over 10 an over.

Dhawan played his part to perfection, getting off to a quick start to allow Shaw some time at the top and then carrying on at a high strike rate even after Shaw got out.

These are two important ticks for Capitals’ plans.

ABOUT THE DEPTH… All the talk going into

the match was around the Super Kings’ batting depth, with Dwayne Bravo batting at No.9, and it was to be tested immediately.

The new ball swung for Chris Woakes and Avesh Khan, and they both bowled full enough to make use of it.

Avesh got Faf du Plessis lbw, Woakes got rid of Ruturaj Gaikwad, and suddenly the depth didn’t seem to matter. But thanks to Raina and Moeen Ali, Super Kings went from 7 for 2 at 2.1 overs to end up with 33 in the powerplay.

THE DEPTH DOES MATTER, THOUGH However, the middle overs were unlike what Super Kings are used to, especially when both left-handed batsmen started taking on the off-spinner R Ashwin. It was mostly Moeen, though, with successive fours in Ashwin’s first over, followed by successive sixes in his next.

By the time Moeen got out

It wasn’t just the wickets, it was good defensive bowling, handcuffing the batsmen.

Sam Curran got the better of his brother Tom in the 19th over to provide Super Kings the finishing kick, but it was still below-par on a flat Wankhede surface.

Prithvi Shaw (left) and Shikhar Dhawan put together a 138-rub opening stand for Delhi Capitals. reverse-sweeping Ashwin, he had set Super Kings on their way. Raina grabbed hold of the baton and ran at Amit Mishra and Ashwin. The Capitals were forced to go back to pace, but Raina welcomed Marcus Stoinis with two sixes to bring up his fifty.

WICKETS AND BRAKES Tom Curran and Avesh

Khan, though, managed to slow Super Kings down enough before the death overs.

Curran got Rayudu out with a slower ball, MS Dhoni played Avesh on for a duck. Add a Raina run-out in the middle with Ravindra Jadeja running into the bowler and turning down the second, and you had 38 runs in five overs starting with the 14th.

DHAWAN, SHAW MUST GO ON Ricky Ponting might be in for some throwdowns to Shaw between games. Before the start of this IPL, Ponting revealed Shaw doesn’t like batting when out of form but is difficult to keep away from training when he is in the runs.

And he has been in the runs for a while. However, Vijay Hazare trophy runs came with no one watching.

Shaw would have wanted to show everyone he was back.

And he announced it with the second ball he faced, whip-pulling Deepak Chahar for a four.

Dhawan made the first

big assault, though, hitting Sam Curran for a four and a six in the fourth over. Shaw joined the party in the fifth over, taking Shardul Thakur away for three fours. Shaw kept going, taking down the spinners after a couple of quiet overs just after the powerplay.

Shaw scored at two runs a ball, allowing Dhawan the freedom to be at a more sedate 150 strike rate at the time he got out.

There were times when each one of them looked good for a century. Shaw needed 28 out of 51 when he holed out to a Bravo slower ball. Dhawan then kicked on to make sure there was no all-too-familiar late drama.

The last 10 balls he faced brought Capitals 20 runs.

He needed 15 out of 22 for a century when he was caught plumb by a Thakur yorker.

There was no drama indeed as Capitals got there with eight balls to spare.

(Cricinfo)

Stanton Rose Jr in exalted company

By Charwayne Walker PROBABLY only three players in Caribbean basketball could boast of scoring 40 or more points in a CARICOM Championship game.

The players with that distinction are Jamaicans - former NBA pros Andrew Kennedy and Rumeal Robinson.

The other is unknown in international basketball circles.

His name is Stanton Rose Jr from Guyana’s Region 10, the same region that produced two-time CARICOM All Star guard Auric Tappin.

Unlike his two more illustrious 40-point colleagues, Rose’s rise to stardom was without international exposure.

Andrew Kennedy was the first to register a 40-point game at the CARICOM Championship level when he scored 45 points against Martinique at the YMCA Hard Court in Bridgetown, Barbados in 1985.

Andrew Kennedy studied at the University of Virginia and was drafted by Dallas Mavericks in 1987. He was the 43rd pick. He also played professionally in Israel for 12 years, Spain and Italy.

His compatriot Rumeal Robinson scored 40 points against Trinidad & Tobago in the 1996 CARICOM Championship final at the St Paul’s Gymnasium in Port of Spain, Trinidad. Robinson went to

Stantom Rose (Jnr) the University of Michigan and was drafted by Atlanta Hawks in 1990 with the 10th pick.

He also played for New Jersey Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Portland Trail Blazers, Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers.

Stanton Rose scored 41 points against St Vincent and the Grenadines at the Anthony Nesty Sports Hall 2018 in Paramaribo, Suriname.

Strange enough, unlike

his predecessors, Rose was just 18 years old, the youngest at the Caribbean Basketball Championship to achieve this feat.

Here are some other individual performances for Guyana at FIBA-sponsored tournaments.

Keron McKenzie - 38 points vs St Vincent & the Grenadines, Isaacs Kennedy Gymnasium, Nassau, Bahamas (2011) Stanislaus Hadmon – 34

points vs Barbados - Sports Hall, Georgetown, Guyana (1981) Gordon Klaiber - 34 points vs Antigua & Barbuda, Puerto Rico (2007) Ray Victor – 28 points vs Suriname, Anthony Nesty Sports Hall, Paramaribo, Suriname (2018) Auric Tappin - 27points vs Jamaica, National Arena, Kingston, Jamaica (1991) Steven Nurse – 27 points vs Trinidad & Tobago, Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, Georgetown, Guyana (1994) Lorenzo Withrite – 27 points vs Jamaica, St Paul’s Gymnasium, Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago (1996) Rawle Marshall -28 points vs St Vincent & the Grenadines, Multipurpose Gymnasium, Tortola, US Virgin Islands (2014) Lugard Mohan - 26points vs US Virgin Islands, St Garfield Sobers Gymnasium, Bridgetown, Barbados (2000) Lugard Mohan – 26 points vs Belize, Sir Garfield Sobers Gymnasium, Bridgetown, Barbados (2000) Nigel Hinds – 25 points on Debut vs Barbados, YMCA Hard Court, Bridgetown, Barbados (1985) Auric Tappin – 25 points vs Antigua & Barbuda, National Sports Hall, Georgetown, Guyana (1988) Keron McKenzie – 25 points vs US Virgin Islands, Isaacs Kennedy Gymnasium, Nassau, Bahamas (2011)

Ray Victor – 25 points vs Barbados, Anthony Nesty Sports Hall, Paramaribo, Suriname (2018) Leon Christian - 24 points vs Suriname, Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, Georgetown, Guyana (1994) Lugard Mohan – 24 points vs Jamaica, Sir Garfield Sobers Gymnasium,

Bridgetown, Barbados (2000) Gordon Klaiber - 24 points vs US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico (2007) Kevon Creppy – 24 points vs Bahamas, Puerto Rico (2007) Gordon Klaiber – 24 points vs Bahamas, Puerto Rico (2007)

Rizwan stars as Pakistan win Twenty20 opener WICKETKEEPER Mohammad Rizwan hit an unbeaten 74 as Pakistan chased 189 with a ball to spare to beat South Africa in the Twenty20 series-opener.

Pakistan required 11 from the last over, and three from two balls, with an overthrow sealing a four-wicket win.

Rizwan, who hit nine fours and two sixes, shared 41 with Babar Azam, 45 with Fakhar Zaman and 48 with Faheem Ashraf.

Earlier South Africa made 188-6 with opener Aiden Markram making 51 and captain Heinrich Klaasen 50.

Left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz took 2-21 for the tourists, while Hassan Ali, who hit nine off three balls to guide Pakistan home, claimed 2-28.

Pakistan needed 52 from four overs, and 38 from 18 balls, before left-arm pace bowler Beuran Hendricks’ (3-32) 18th over went for 16 to leave Pakistan in control.

The second match in the four-match series takes place tomorrow, before games on Wednesday and Friday. (BBC Sport)

26

SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 11, 2021

Malaysia to host Global T20 Canada in June-July

THIS year’s Global T20 (GT20) Canada will be played in Malaysia between June and July, 2021.

With the travel and health restrictions currently in place, there was considerable uncertainty as to whether this year’s tournament could be held in Canada in June–July as scheduled, hence the decision to have it moved to Malaysia. The tournament will return to Canada next year for its fourth season.

Commenting on the decision to have Malaysia host the 2021 tournament, which was made jointly by Cricket Canada, the Malaysian Cricket Association and the tournament’s owners Bombay Sports, Cricket Canada president Rashpal Bajwa said: “Cricketers and fans of cricket within Canada will naturally be disappointed that this year’s third edition of our

The inaugural version of the tournament was held in 2018 . (GT20 Canada). world class GT20 tournament cannot be held in Canada due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the Canadian health guidelines.

Cricket Canada, however,

understands and fully supports our health authorities.

We are also very positive in looking forward to hosting the tournament in Canada, once the pandemic is suffi-

ciently ended and the safety of all concerned can be assured.

In the interim we are now very excited to share with all Canadians and

cricket-lovers across the world that our good friends at the Malaysian Cricket Association have stepped up to help us host this year’s GT20 Season 3 in Malaysia, with the necessary local health approvals.

We are looking forward to a very exciting Third edition of GT20 Canada in Malaysia!”

Owned and managed

by Bombay Sports Co, Ltd. GT20 is currently North America’s only annual professional tournament. The GT20 League features six teams each composed of ten international cricketers from ICC full and associate member nations and including two world renowned marquee players.

Each of the six participating 2021 GT20 teams will also include three Canadian national team members and an identical num-

ber of Canadian emerging cricketers. There will also be one Malaysian national player on each team.

The Malaysia-hosted 2021 GT20 third season will consist of 22 matches played over 18 days. All matches will be played at the Kinrara Oval in Malaysia’s capital city Kuala Lumpur.

GT20’s first two Seasons, played in Toronto during the 2018 and 2019 summer months, attracted some of global cricket’s very best T20 players. Chris Gayle, Yuvraj Singh. Lasith Malinga, Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell, Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, David Warner, Steve Smith, Brendon McCullum, Thisara Perera, Dwayne Bravo and Sunil Narine were among the many world renowned T20 players who participated in GT20’s first two seasons. (Cricket Canada)

T&T men stay 103rd in FIFA rankings, 11th in CONCACAF THE rankings for T&T, who had the highest ever of 29th in the world in 2000 and a worst of 104 in 2019, represent points gained from their last 16 matches played, inclusive of their 3-1 win over Guyana and a 1-1 draw with Puerto Rico last month, in their opening two matches in their Qatar 2022 World Cup CONCACAF Group stage qualifiers, ahead of matches against The Bahamas on June 5 and St Kitts & Nevis on June 8.

T&T are also scheduled to face Montserrat in a CONCACAF Gold Cup preliminary round encounter on July 2, ahead of the potential play-in match four days later, against the Cuba/ French Guiana winner ahead of the Gold Cup main draw competition.

The ranking for T&T does not reflect the national team’s inactivity for almost the entire 2019 due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic but includes their first match of 2021 - a 7-0 drubbing at the hands of the USA on January 31.

With matches to come against 201st ranked The Bahamas and St Kitts & Nevis, ranked 135th in their World Cup Qualifiers as well as a CONCACAF Gold Cup Preliminary Round tie versus Montserrat, ranked 180th, there is a big chance for the Terry Fenwick-coached Soca Warriors to move back into the top ten of the CONCACAF rankings as they currently sit at 11th best,

behind Caribbean Football Union (CFU) nations Jamaica, Curacao and Haiti, who are ranked fourth, eighth and tenth, respectively.

Mexico remains CONCACAF’S best team ranked 11th as they slipped down two places followed by the USA (20th) and Jamaica at 45th.

European giants dominate the top 10 with Belgium in first, France second and Brazil in third. England sit fourth, Portugal fifth, Spain sixth, Italy seventh, Argentina in eighth, Uruguay are ninth and Denmark are tenth.

Among the women, T&T are ranked 67th in the world and eighth best in CONCACAF behind the USA (No 1), Canada (No 8), Mexico (No 28), Costa Rica (No 35), Jamaica (No 50), Panama (No 59) and Haiti, ranked 67th in the world.

Top 20 FIFA men’s world rankings (April 7, 2021) 1. Belgium 2. France 3. Brazil 4. England 5. Portugal 6. Spain 7. Italy 8. Argentina 9. Uruguay

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Sunday April 11, 2021) COMPLIMENTS OF XTRA ENERGY DRINK – STABROEK BAZAAR (Tel: 683-9500) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD- 83 Garnett street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

(1)Charles Bannerman-165 (AUST vs ENG, Melbourne, 1876-77) (2)Billy Midwinter-5/78 (AUST vs ENG,

Melbourne, 1876-77)

Today’s Quiz:

(1)Who is the first batsman to crack an ODI hundred?

(2)Who is the first bowler to claim a five-wicket haul in an ODI game?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

T&T’s midfielder Duane Muckette, centre, plays the ball forward as he fights off two challengers from Puerto Rico during the teams’ CONCACAF 2022 World Cup Qualifying match at the Estadio Jose Antonio Figueroa in Mayaquez Stadium in Puerto Rico on March 28. The match ended 1-1. (Courtesy TTFA) Media 10. Denmark 11 .Mexico 12. Germany 13. Switzerland 14. Croatia 15. Colombia 16. Netherlands 17. Wales 18. Sweden 19. Chile 20. USA Top 30 CONCACAF rankings: 1. Mexico (11th) 2. USA (20th) 3. Jamaica (45th) 4. Costa Rica (50th) 5. Honduras (67th) 6. El Salvador (69th) 7. Canada (70th) 8. Curacao (76th) 9. Panama (78th)

10. Haiti (83rd) 11. T&T (103rd) 12. Guatemala (127th) 13. Antigua & Barbuda (128th) 14. St Kitts & Nevis (135th) 15. Suriname (136th) 16. Nicaragua (147th) 17. Dominican Republic (156th) 18. Grenada (160th) 19. Barbados (162nd) 20. Guyana (165th) 21. St Vincent and the Grenadines (167th) 22. Bermuda (168th) 23. St Lucia (176th) 24. Puerto Rico (178th) 25. Montserrat (180th) 26. Cuba (181th) 27. Dominica 188th) 28. Cayman Islands (184th) 29 Bahamas (201st) 30 Aruba (205th)

27

SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 11, 2021

Caribbean teams to battle for spots in CONCACAF Group Stage, July 2-6 HAITI will take on St Vincent and the Grenadines, Guatemala will face Guyana. while Trinidad and Tobago will go up against Montserrat, when Round One of the preliminaries of the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup kicks off on July 2 and 3 at Inter Miami CF Stadium in Florida.

Cuba will tackle French Guiana, Guadeloupe will battle The Bahamas and Bermuda go up against Barbados in what will be the first time ever that the competition will have preliminaries that will see three teams qualify for the 16-team Group Stage.

“We look forward with great anticipation to this summer’s Gold Cup, which will undoubtedly be enhanced by this new Preliminary Round,” said CONCACAF president and FIFA vice-president Victor Montagliani.

“The past year has been very challenging in our region and our thoughts are with all the communities that have suffered. We hope the opportunity to watch the best men’s national teams in CONCACAF compete in our flagship tournament can provide fans with some hope and enjoyment All 12 of the competing nations in the Prelims will get a full Gold Cup experience at the excellent Inter Miami facilities and we look forward to a great set of games.”

“We look forward to hosting the Gold Cup Prelims tournament in our stadium,” said Inter Miami CF Managing Owner Jorge Mas. “Our facilities in Fort Lauderdale were built with the intent of giving our fans opportunities to enjoy the world’s game knowing that our vibrant culture and sports-centric region

Round One of the Preliminaries of the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup kicks off on July 2 and 3. would be attractive for global teams and competitions. This is just the beginning of the great things that lie ahead.”

Round Two will begin on July 6 when the winner of the Haiti/St Vincent clash will take on the winner of the

Real Madrid top table after Clasico win REAL Madrid moved top of La Liga with victory over Barcelona in an El Clasico played in torrential rain at the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium.

Karim Benzema broke the deadlock with a sublime near-post flick - his ninth goal in his past seven La Liga games.

Real doubled their lead before half-time through Toni Kroos’ deflected freekick.

Oscar Mingueza pulled one back for Barca before Madrid’s Casemiro was shown a late red card.

Barca midfielder Ilaix Moriba’s well-struck shot came back off the crossbar in stoppage time as the hosts held on.

The result takes Real level on points with Atletico Madrid and Real go ahead of their city rivals because of their superior head-to-head record.

Atletico, who led La Liga by 10 points as recently as 31 January, can reclaim top spot with victory at Real Betis today.

Real survive tense finale Manager Zinedine Zidane’s “every game is a final” mantra has served Real well in recent weeks - they had dropped only four points in their previous

Bermuda/Barbados matchup.

The winner of the Guatemala/ Guyana encounter will play the winner of the Guadeloupe/ Bahamas match. And finally, the winner of the Cuba/French Guiana match will tackle the winner of the Trinidad and Tobago/Montserrat clash.

The winning nation in each of the three Round Two matchups will advance to the Group Stage of the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup, where they were drawn into Group A, B and C as follows: Group A: Mexico, El Salvador, Curacao and Winner Prelims 9 Group B: USA, Canada, Martinique and Winner Prelims 7 Group C: Costa Rica, Jamaica, Suriname and Winner Prelims 8 Group D: Honduras, Panama, Grenada and Qatar.

The 2021 CONCACAF

Gold Cup group stage will kick off on July 10 and run through August 1, 2021, and will feature 16 national teams, of which Canada, Costa Rica, Curaçao, El Salvador, Grenada, Honduras, Jamaica, Martinique, eighttime and defending champions Mexico, Panama, Suriname, six-time champions the United States, are already qualified to the group stage of the tournament. Additionally, Qatar have been invited to the tournament as the current champions and representative of the Asian Football Confederation.

The remaining three countries will qualify through the Gold Cup Prelims, in which 12 Member Associations will compete for the final three spots, to be played July 2-6 at Inter Miami CF Stadium in South Florida. (Sportsmax)

Mayers could be genuine Windies all-rounder –Prof’ Edwards '

… but needs to drop 20 pounds

Karim Benzema’s 25th goal of the season gave Real Madrid the lead in El Clasico nine La Liga outings going into Saturday’s crucial game.

Benzema’s goals have been key in helping them cut the gap to rivals Atletico at the top of the table, and the Frenchman produced another exquisite finish to give Zidane’s side an early lead.

The 33-year-old was first to Lucas Vazquez’s low cross towards the near post, squeezing a backheeled flick past Marc-Andre ter Stegen for his 25th goal in 35 appearances this season.

Barcelona, who had revived their own title aspirations with 16 wins and three draws from their previous 19 La Liga fixtures,

dominated possession but fell further behind when Kroos’ free-kick took a deflection off Sergino Dest on its way past Ter Stegen.

Federico Valverde could have made it 3-0 before half-time, but his fierce drive across goal came back off the inside of the far post.

Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman switched from a 3-5-2 to a 4-3-3 formation in the second half and the move paid off 15 minutes after the restart, Mingueza turning Jordi Alba’s cross past Thibaut Courtois to set up a tense finish.

Vinicius Junior was denied by the post as Real threatened to restore their two-goal advantage, be-

fore Lionel Messi - who had rattled the woodwork in the first half with an inswinging corner - struck the wall from a free-kick on the edge of the box.

Barcelona had a penalty appeal turned down when Martin Braithwaite went to ground under Ferland Mendy’s challenge, before a late tackle on Mingueza earned Casemiro a second yellow card.

The visitors almost snatched a draw in second-half stoppage time when Moriba thumped a loose ball against Courtois’ crossbar, but Real held on to record three consecutive El Clasico wins for the first time since 1978.(BBC Sport).

FORMER West Indies fast bowler turned analyst, Richard ‘Prof’ Edwards, believes batsman Kyle Mayers could blossom into a genuine all-rounder for the regional team, buts needs to consider shedding a few pounds.

The 28-year-old has had a splendid start to his Test cricket career for the West Indies, bursting on stage with 210 on debut against Bangladesh. The innings helped lay the foundation for an expected away series win and catapulted the player into the spotlight.

In the recently concluded Test series against Sri Lanka, he again garnered some attention this time with the ball. His brisk medium pace accounted for batsman Oshada Fernando and later Dinesh Chandimal at a cruKyle Mayers cial period on the third day of the opening Test.

The wickets were the first of his international career. Overall, Mayers ended with 28 overs, 13 maidens, and four wickets. On the back of such displays, Edwards believes the player could have the makings of a solid all-rounder.

“He did well. He was a surprise package to the Sri Lankans. They didn’t expect him to get the ball to swing and by the time they realized it was too late and he had wickets,” Edwards said in assessing the player’s performance on the Mason and Guest radio program.

“I’m saying that if he goes on and develops his bowling, he won’t trick batsmen as early as that again and he would have to consistently bowl well, but he can, he has the natural ability to bowl. However, he has to lose about 25 pounds. He is too young to have all that weight carrying around on him,” he added.

“He is a big strong guy, but he has got to drop 20 pounds at least. He will bowl faster and he would be the genuine all-rounder in the side. We wouldn’t be looking to get four overs out of him or five overs but he would be a fellow you can throw the ball to when you are looking to get wickets in a spell of eight overs are so.” (Sportsmax)

The Lady Jags

GFF to develop comprehensive compensation policy for Lady Jags

See story on page 24

Blackmore wins on Minella Times to make Grand National history

Lusignan Golf Club to host special Colin Ming memorial competition today

Rachel Blackmore’s Grand National win comes three weeks after she was the first woman to be the leading jockey at the Cheltenham Festival.

RACHEL Blackmore made sporting history by becoming the first female jockey to win the Grand National with victory on Minella Times at Aintree.

The Irish rider scored a thrilling triumph aboard the 11-1 chance, trained by Henry de Bromhead who also saddled runner-up Balko Des Flos.

“I don’t feel male or female right now. I don’t even feel human,” 31-year-old Black-

more told ITV. Any Second Now was third, with Burrows Saint fourth.

The 173rd running of the world’s most famous steeplechase provided a story for the ages as Blackmore won in the colours of owner JP McManus.

Blackmore had already achieved a See page 24

THE Lusignan Golf Club (LGC) will celebrate the accomplishments of Colin Ming, the golfer, with a special tribute and competition from 09:00hrs today at their nine-hole course.

The event will tee-off with a nine-hole shotgun-start competition in his honour, followed by tributes, a presentation and a celebration ceremony.

According to information from the club, golfers will also take part in a celebratory meal and drinks, while observing all COVID-19 protocols.

By yesterday morning, 29 golfers had registered for the competition with the

possibility of more turning out to play.

Members of the Ming family are also expected to journey to the country’s lone golf club.

After welcome remarks

by MC Anasha Ally, several members of the club are expected to pay tributes, including LGC president Pur Persaud, captain Patrick Prashad, vice-president Paton George, his good friend Brian Glasford, groundskeeper Mike Guyadin, followed by an ‘Open Mike’ session.

“Our hearts and prayers continue to be with the Ming family during this period of loss and mourning,” infor-

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

Colin Ming was a respectable golfer, who had won his share of competitions. mation from the club stated.

Ming, who was involved in a road accident on Thursday, April 1, died the following day. He was a giant in the sporting world and was buried last Thursday.

At the LGC, he was a respectable golfer, who won several competitions over the years. He last played with a handicap of 13.

See story on page 25 SUNDAY, APRIL 11, 2021