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Tuesday May 04, 2021
Kaieteur News
Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL-TEL: 624-6456 Editor: Sharmain Grainger Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
South America reels, Guyana grins If the world doesn’t stop the region’s surging caseload, it could cost us all that we’ve done to fight the pandemic. Those were the words of one health official (“After a year of loss, South America suffers worst death tolls yet” New York Times, April 29). It is bad and threatening to get much worse very soon in the region. Yet, it seems as though our own Guyanese government authorities are taking this with a yawn and treating it as though it is just a regular day in life. It is not; and though the sitting government has pushed aggressively and right ahead with widespread vaccination efforts, there is so much more that it can put in place right now, but which it somehow inexplicably refuses to do. It is no movement towards the protective steps that are so necessary and plain straightforward commonsense, except that there is no budging. Whatever may be responsible for the delay in decision-making by the Hon. Minister and his chief medical advisors, this is playing with fire and the lives of all of us, given our frail healthcare system. A frail healthcare system is one of the regional plagues that adds to this virus that is now of undeniable pandemic proportions. In this region, it is galloping in runaway fashion and in a freefall. In the capital of Columbia, Bogota, the mayor is warning residents to brace for “the worst two weeks of our lives.” “Uruguay, once lauded as a model for keeping the virus under control, now has one of the highest death rates in the world” and, as the New York Times April 29 article under reference goes on to report, “the grim daily tallies of the dead have hit records in Argentina, Brazil, Columbia and Peru in recent days.” Because of all of this occurring with such frightening intensity close to our own backyard, we are perplexed and uncomfortable that the Hon. Minister of Health and his government stand at a distance and make a pretense being in control, knowing what is going on and having all the answers. We at this paper register our disagreement and disapproval with what government is doing here in the teeth of increasing deaths on a daily basis and increasing numbers of confirmed cases. As we see it and judge it, what the government is doing is not enough, far from it. That is, in the tough decisions that must be made. Such as extending curfew hours immediately from 6pm to 6am until further notice and when a better handle would have been had on what is truly the state in which we are in, in the light of recent developments. Prime Minister, Keith Rowley of Trinidad and Tobago has moved with rapidity and authority to lockdown his society. That could not have been an easy step, given the state of the nation’s economy, and its dependency on open and free movement to and from Trinidad. But it was done, since the first consideration is protecting the lives of citizens. We would like to see and hear of such urgent and decisive leadership actions here now. We call upon President, Dr. Ali and Health Minister, Dr. Anthony to get real and get going in doing the right thing. Start with that curfew and continue with immediate cessation of all outdoor dining and gatherings. Public spaces, like places of worship should be severely limited to as a low as 20 percent of their capacity, and with strict adherence to all standing Task Force COVID-19 rules and protocols. As the New York Times reminded us, some of the more well vaccinated and wealthier countries of the world “cautiously envision” life after the pandemic. In contrast, while those visions take hold in pockets around the world, “the crisis in Latin and South America in particular - is taking an alarming turn for the worse.” Just last week, “Latin America accounted for 35 percent of all coronavirus deaths in the world, despite having only eight percent of the global population.” And in what should be of extraordinary importance to the Government of Guyana, Guyanese health officials and all Guyanese citizens, is our reality of “living side-by-side with Brazil…whose president has consistently dismissed the threat of the virus and denounced measures to control it, helping fuel a dangerous variant that is now stalking the entire continent.” We know that the Guyana Government and its Minister of Health know all this very well. What we don’t know and cannot understand, is why there is this sloth. Why is there this unmoving indifference? To repeat the obvious: this is most dangerous.
The Government is called upon to do a better job of enforcing laws against domestic violence Dear Editor, In Guyana, the level of domestic violence has once again risen sharply, almost to the level of open season on females. As we look at the state of the nation, one is forced to ask the question what in the world happened to us. Why are so many men killing women in time, on time, all the time? So many names come to mind as recent as Shonette Dover and Nichola Wilson, among many others. Notwithstanding, the focus has always been the effect of domestic violence on the primary victim, while very little to no attention is being paid, as to what effect does witnessing domestic violence has on secondary victims, such as children who live in homes where partner abuse occurs, leading to death in some cases. I state this because anything involving domestic relates to the home environment, the very same place where children are first taught and instilled the morals and values of how they will view and react to the world. As such, it is a proven fact that whatever the child sees displayed in the home will be repeated in their adulthood, if some type of empowerment or awakening transition does not take place in their mind before the full level of maturity
is attained. Research has also shown that witnessing domestic violence can lead children to develop an array of agedependent negative effects. Children who grow up in violent situations possess an instinctual “fight or flight” response to situations. In other words, such children immediately rise to anger and fight a situation (often leading them to commit violent crimes later or become abusers themselves), or simply shut down or flee from a situation. On an assumptive plane, could today’s perpetrators of domestic/intimate partner violence, be the fruit of a generation of males who were earlier witnesses of female abuse. Females who had remained silent on account of embarrassment, fear, stigma and marital obligation, hence the continuation. Young boys who grow up in a household and see first-hand abuse by male examples, often have a tendency to mature and exhibit the same behaviour. On the other hand, young girls who grow up and see abuse around them perceive this as a way of life and in some cases a display of love. Researchers, theorists and advocates working in the field of genderbased violence have suggested that a thorough
understanding of violence against women necessitates the recognition that many factors play important roles in the aetiology of such violence. Despite the efforts of the Guyanese government to curb domestic violence directly, it is blatantly evident that thus far, the government has failed to tackle successfully the intergenerational norm of domestic violence that has now become a part of Guyanese culture. The Guyana Domestic Violence Act enacted in December 1996, in addition to providing the legal framework for domestic violence cases, also explicitly details the role that the Guyana Police Force is expected to play in upholding the Domestic Violence Act. As a consequence, the government is called upon to do a better job of enforcing laws against domestic violence and also raise greater awareness about the dangers of domestic abuse for children and by extension society. It is utterly imperative that the younger generations are not only taught but also empowered, so that they can successfully navigate the world independently and have safe and healthy relationships. The younger Guyanese generations must
recognise that domestic abuse, or for that matter any type of abuse, is totally abnormal to either assert or be the recipient of. Once this is understood and takes place, domestic violence in Guyana will then be recognised as a violation of the most basic human rights, instead of a seeming cultural norm. Every single aspect of this domestic violence issue cannot be presented here and is not the principal reason for this article. The issue is dangerously affecting communities, as well as affecting the trajectory of the future generation. In fact, the issue is becoming as problematic as that of oil. Parents are the number one influencers on a child’s life. A child cannot bring change in their home environment, but parents can. Through the courage of their parents, the next generation can learn a healthier way to be in relationships and move forward in life. The call has been sounded for domestic violence to cease as we all strive to be better loving humans, with more attention being paid to what the young ones see. Yours truly, Y. Sam
China’s Belt and Road Initiative can be a useful developmental mechanism for Guyana Dear Editor, On July 27, 2018, Guyana signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) supporting China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The MoU was signed by the then Chinese Ambassador, Cui Jainchun and Carl Greenidge, former Foreign Minister, on behalf of the Government of Guyana. At the time of signing the agreement, Greenidge was quoted as saying “he did not rule out the possibility of securing finance under the BRI for the construction of the new Demerara Harbour Bridge and that seven Chinese companies had submitted tenders to prequalify for the financing, designing and building of the bridge.” Later, in September of the same year, Chinese State Councillor and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi made a brief stopover in Guyana on his way to New York to participate in the 73rd Session of the UN General Assembly. During his brief stopover, the Chinese Minister along with his Guyanese counterpart signed the official agreement
on the BRI. The BRI agreement has a three-year shelf life with the possibility of a three-year extension, September this year will mark three years since the signing of the agreement, however, with a new government in office, the 2018 agreement and the prospect for entering into a new threeyear agreement hangs in the balance. More than seventy countries are signatories to the BRI including nine CARICOM countries, as well as Brazil and Venezuela. The latter two should be viewed futuristically as strategic for both China and Guyana. In a declaration issued at the end of a meeting of the CELAC-China Forum held in June 2018 in Santiago, Chile, CARICOM foreign ministers considered the BRI ‘a very important cooperation and development mechanism.’ In October of the same year, Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit of Dominica was quoted as saying; “Sometimes in our society we cause ourselves to tag on to unnecessary discussions
and so now there is talk about countries should not engage China, countries should not enter into agreements with China because China is trying to dominate the world and China is trying to advance its influence on the Caribbean.” Skerrit went on to say, “Some of us propagate this foolishness. We propagate it because we believe that it is serving our purpose.” What Skerrit said three years ago remains a hot issue to this day in many countries including Guyana. During his visit to Guyana in September 2020, former US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, put his cards on the table. In a statement made on local TV, he pointed out, “We want to make sure that foreign direct investment comes in a way that’s fair and transparent. We don’t apply political pressure connected to our commercial enterprises. China operates differently; they put pressure on countries to accept tenders from their country. That’s not how American businesses roll. We show up; we hire locally. We are great environmental stewards. We abide by the
rule of law. We respect countries’ sovereignty. Those are the things I think nations are looking out for and I think the new leadership here in Guyana is looking for.” Not surprisingly, the Chinese Embassy in Georgetown shot back, “...We advise Mr. Pompeo to stop spreading rumours and fake news everywhere to confuse people. Otherwise, he will end up humiliating himself and damage his own image.” In March this year, six Chinese along with three European companies were prequalified to tender for the new bridge over the Demerara River. And just recently, on April 29, the nine prequalified companies were invited to tender bid documents for either a design, build and finance (DBF) or a design, build, finance, operate and maintain (DBFOM). It is of interest to note, that no American company has expressed an interest in the prequalification process initiated in September last year. Should one of the six Chinese companies be successful, it is left to be seen (Continued on page 6)
Tuesday May 04, 2021
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Kaieteur News
The time has come to officially Residents are still waiting for the name May 5 as Indian Arrival Day Mahaica to Cane Grove Road to be fixed Dear Editor, May 5 was officially designated a Public Holiday “Arrival Day” in 2004 but before then and since, it has been commemorated across Guyana as “Indian Arrival Day.” How did this dichotomy come about? On April 14, 2003, the PPP government established a Special Select Parliamentary Committee of which I was a member, “To Review the Public Holidays Act, Chapter 19:07.” More specifically, it was to consider making May 26 a permanent Public Holiday (Independence Day) and May 5 to commemorate the Arrival of Indians to Guyana. The rationale for considering the holiday was stated in the introduction of the Report of the Special Select Committee, “Guyanese of Indian origin who form a large portion of the country’s population, had for a period of in excess of the past forty years been calling for 5th May
to be declared a statutory public holiday, in observance of the arrival of the first batch of Indian indentured labourers who came to the then British Guiana in 1838.” Yet the government’s Resolution (No.12 of 2003) April 14, 2003 to establish the Committee declared that it should review as a possible public holiday “Arrival Day that is to say, the 5th May, or, if that day is a Sunday, the following day.” In its conclusions the Committee noted, “While the aforesaid recommendation (on the holiday be named “Arrival Day”) is in keeping with our mandate, the Committee wishes to note that all the submissions favouring 5th May as a Public Holiday recommended that it be designated “Indian Arrival Day” as is the case in Trinidad and Tobago.” It was resent to the National Assembly on April 29, 2004 and approved. The first “Arrival Day” as a
Eshri Singh entertained the Guyanese populace in the absence of television Dear Editor, I sincerely thank all those who wrote and paid tribute to Bhai Eshri Singh, Master Broadcaster blessed by Saraswati Mata with the gift of a truly golden voice that enticed listeners to keep tuned in. As a youngster in the 1970s, I listened along with other family members to his radio programmes playing a great mix of Indian filmi and classical music at a time when GBC and Radio Demerara provided in-home entertainment to the Guyanese populace in absence of television. When Shri Eshriji migrated to the USA, it was a great loss to his multitude of radio fans and there was a major vacuum created upon
his departure. Other big-name radio personalities at the time in the sphere of Indian music were, Ayube Hamid and journalist/broadcaster Chandrapaul Persaud, to name a few. While tributes have come from mainly US-based persons, I was hoping that other colleagu e broadcasters who worked with Eshri would pay their own tributes as well as giving us some of their personal memories, a few who are still alive and here in Guyana are also well known broadcasting personalities, such as Ron Robinson, Rovin Deodat and Vic Insanally. Yours truly, Christopher Persaud
Public Holiday was officially observed on May 5 of that year. The decision was clearly actuated by a desire of the PPP government not to possibly alienate other Guyanese groups who had also arrived as indentured servants. But in the years since, none of the other groups - such as Portuguese and Chinese, whose arrival dates were respectively on May 3 and Jan 12, took the opportunity to commemorate the occasion on May 5. In fact, there were expressions from individuals from those communities expressing disagreement that their arrivals should be conflated or subsumed with a date that clearly marked the Indian Indentured arrival to Guyana. In 2017, President David Granger established a precedent when he issued a public notice in early January 2017 to the effect that Jan 12 was henceforth designated as “Chinese Arrival Day” but not a Public Holiday. Later, on February 27, 2017, he proclaimed 3rd May each year as Portuguese Arrival Day. The days have since witnessed commemorative activities by those communities. It is my considered view that the Guyanese community would almost universally support the reconsideration of the name of the May 5th holiday as “Indian Arrival Day.” And I submit that the time has come for the government to officially rectify the anomaly. Yours truly, Ravi Dev
Dear Editor, The road from the Mahaica Market to Cane Grove serves as a main thoroughfare in this predominantly agriculture area. It serves the communities of Belmonte, Supply, Vereeniging, Strathavon and Cane Grove. It is traversed by possibly thousands on a daily basis. All the farm produce from this vast agricultural area has to be taken on this road to access local and international markets. For a road of such importance, it is in a deplorable state. With the current rainy season, the situation has worsened. In some sections, multiple potholes stretch over twenty feet. It is hard to believe a main road of such significance is unpaved stretching from Strathavon to Cane Grove and the entire Vereeniging section. There is a portion in the Belmonte area that is only loam and is subjected to high tides when water flows underneath the levee from the Mahaica River and swamps that area. This road, was being prepared for repaving in 2014
under the PPP administration and upon the APNU assuming office in 2015, works were abruptly terminated. It is over six years now that no maintenance or proper road works were done. In the rainy season, the loam turns to slush, in the dry season, the loam blows into people’s home with each passing vehicle. Imagine going to work wearing high heels or black shoe and walking though the slush of loam. This problem with this road is not new. I can remember as a student doing my Geography SBA on Road Transport in 1995, during the field trip on the road, the Oxford Morris motor car kept bouncing up and down the road with its hood rattling away, our teacher turned and said to the driver, ‘like this car eat peppa bai.’ That was 25 years ago. Minister, Cathy Hughes, visited the area to solicit votes for the last local government elections and when quizzed on road works in this area, her response was, “People don’t pay their taxes and so money to do the works is scarce.” The people of
Mahaica can never pay that amount of taxes to carry out the extent of works needed. Last December, Hon. Minister, Juan Edghill, made a bold promise of urgent road works from Mahaica to Cane Grove after conducting an assessment himself. Almost five months later and the passage of the national budget there is no word on when the road will be fixed. Daily, there are tenders for road works all over the country; we have waited almost six years – how long more must we wait for such an important issue to be addressed in our community? Yours truly, B. John
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Newer firefighting techniques needed urgently in Guyana Dear Editor, I wish to offer my sincerest sympathy to the owner of Sharon’s Mall; the various store owners that operate within that building and the employees who are without a job and income. It is a sad reality that we lost a building of this magnitude – lawyers, proprietors, expatriates and local Guyanese, all operated out of that building. To think about the families who are now without an income, their families and the worry they must be going through at this time is truly saddening. I have noted from various press coverage that there were only 20 firefighters tending to the fire at such an imposing building. This, to me, is total ludicrous. A fire of such gargantuan level needed more personnel to tend to it. This horrific incident has cemented my conviction that Guyana needs to undergo a certain evolution in firefighting techniques with some suggestions as follow: 1) We need to have modern buildings equipped or installed with fire suppression systems. It must be a prerequisite for offices, commercial buildings and homes alike to have these systems put in place. 2) A great need for modernised trucks with automatic ladders that can
Tuesday May 04, 2021
Kaieteur News
reach a minimum of 10 storeys in order to prepare for the future. 3) The Fire Station needs to be moved from its current abode, Water Street. It is surrounded by markets, vendors and bus parks thus constricting the free flow of movements, which is critical in tending to a fire in a timely manner. I believe that we are still locked in the colonial era where that has always been the base for the fire tenders in Georgetown. Incidentally, that area is called “Donkey City.” We have evolved and we have to continue to evolve away from the old way of seeing and doing things in this country. The government needs to act in haste on the following: · Consider the most modern fire system in this country. Nowadays, firefighters elsewhere are forging through the flames with high-tech gear such as thermal imaging cameras to help them see where they are going and drones to get an eye in the sky perspective. Firefighting jetpacks are not just a fantasy for Dubai, they are the real deal. The waterpropelled jetpacks were purchased by the United Arab Emirates in 2015 as a way to avoid traffic by turning to the SEA. Now, we may not be able to afford this at the moment but this is something
we can consider in maybe 5 or 10 years’ time as we progress as a nation. · To protect our firefighters with the proper gear/apparatus that does not burn in fires. · Fire trucks need to be at strategic areas, example, the National Cultural Centre, near the seawall on Vlissengen Road, Mercy Hospital, near to the American and Canadian embassies. We can also have one on the East Coast of Demerara near the Shell Service Station or the University of Guyana, Turkeyen Campus, on the East Bank of Demerara near the Demerara Harbour Bridge. Those are some of the strategic areas we can place fire stations for more effectiveness. · All homes, all businesses must be compelled to carry fire extinguishers and sand buckets. Some people may say and very well so, that they cannot afford to purchase fire instruments, but the government can use monies from the Norway Fund to help the poor acquire the critical equipment that is so needed in every home. · There must be a system set up in this country to have people trained to use a fire extinguisher. People should be educated on how to use a bucket of sand to put out small fires. The bucket must be painted in RED. This education must be made (Continued on page 17)
I stand by Amanza Walton-Desir and her words Dear Editor, The PPP and its acolytes have found a new target in their relentless attacks on leaders of African Guyanese origins. There has been a chorus of condemnations of statements made by Amanza Walton-Desir on my online program, Politics 101. They have taken two words ‘mentally lazy” and attach extreme meaning to them. The accusation is that Ms. Walton-Desir comments are racist because she meant that Indian Guyanese are mentally lazy. It is a case of much ado about nothing. Or put another way, it is a case of the PPP and their acolytes seeking to use the public media to poison their supporters’ minds against African Guyanese and simultaneously politically and psychologically lynching another African Guyanese public person. I just read reports of a statement by the Indian Action Committee calling on the Ethnic Relations Commission to take action against Ms. Walton-Desir. The statement also reported that I was shaking my head as Ms. Walton-Desir was speaking—a clear impression that I agreed with her. Let me say this, whether I agreed with her is immaterial. What is of importance is that I stand in solidarity with her as she navigates this latest onslaught by individuals and
organisations bent on psychological and political warfare against those they deem to be their enemies. I say emphatically that the offending statement is neither offensive nor racist. Let me explain. There is a whole school of thought in Ethnic Studies—the Instrumentalist School of Thought – which holds that ethnicity, is not real that it is politicians who instill this “false consciousness” in their supporters. Ms. Walton Desir was simply applying that thesis to Guyana. It is a thesis that is embraced by many Guyanese commentators, including Freddie Kissoon who started the attacks on Ms. WaltonDesir. Here is what Kissoon wrote in his column of Sunday May 2, 2021: “I could go on but from 2015, African Guyanese were betrayed by their party. But unwisely in 2020, they voted for the race of their politicians. Let’s hope they learn in 2025.” By Kissoon’s logic, we should conclude that he thinks African Guyanese are an “unwise people,” and ask the ERC to investigate him. The fact that he, Kissoon, can write the very thing that he finds as racist coming from Walton-Desir, says it all. He either feels that only one set of people can speak on that phenomenon or he simply saw an opportunity to politically and racially lynch
another. I have been on programs with top PPP leaders who say Indian Guyanese vote for the PPP because of the party’s working-class orientation while African Guyanese are being fooled by the PPP. How many times has the great Dr. Cheddi Jagan expressed that thesis during his lifetime? Doesn’t that imply that Indian Guyanese are rational while African Guyanese are irrational? Where were Kissoon, the IAC and the others when these statements are being made? If the ERC investigates Walton-Desir, they will have to investigate whole parties and numerous public people, include Freddie Kissoon who every day berates Kwayana, Hinds and others for being “mentally lazy” because they didn’t support his narrative of “rigged election” next year. According to Freddie, we chose race over democracy. He describes me as a PNC surrogate. They have clearly taken two words by a woman and substituted them for the larger point she made. Yes, words matter, but in this instance where words are being used to lynch a human being, I stand with that human being. These people are being hypocritical. I cannot be part of the political and psychological lynching of an innocent woman. Yours truly, David Hinds
...China’s Belt and Road Initiative can From page 4 whether Guyana will opt to secure financing for construction of the bridge under the BRI, since the 2018 Agreement will still be in force. Coincidentally, Article Two of the 2018 Agreement states, “The Parties will cooperate and exchange ideas regarding infrastructure connectivity and development in areas of mutual interest, including but not limited to road and railway networks, bridges, civil aviation, maritime transport, harbours and ports, energy and telecommunications.” In the meanwhile, the good news is that disagreements between Government and China
Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) over the US$150M CJIA expansion project have narrowed considerably. With 90 percent of outstanding issues resolved, Government has expressed optimism that the December 31, 2021 deadline for completion of all outstanding issues will be met by CHEC. This should clear the decks for further Chinese investments in Guyana, boost investor confidence and attract injection of new foreign capital inflows. Of relevance, here is Government’s recent revision of Guyana’s debt threshold from $400bln. to $650bln. According to Dr. Ashni Singh, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with
responsibility for Finance, “the revision of the debt ceiling will accommodate the prevailing economic reality and assure that investments can be made for the equal level of growth.” Singh emphasised that, “Government needs enough space to secure the external financing necessary to pursue its ambitious programme of development aimed at transforming Guyana and delivering an improved quality of life to all Guyanese.” As a middle-income developing nation and because of the triple impact of oil revenues, climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic, Guyana is likely to experience significant adaptations in its economic, agricultural, health and education sectors as well as in income distribution. Under these conditions, the BRI can be a useful developmental mechanism that can help Guyana to confront the challenges and open new opportunities that lie ahead. Yours truly, Clement J. Rohee
Tuesday May 04, 2021
Kaieteur News
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Tuesday May 04, 2021
Kaieteur News
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Vickram Persaud was yesterday found guilty of rape in the Georgetown High Court by a mixed 12-member jury that returned a unanimous verdict on the crime, which occurred on June 7, 2009. Persaud underwent a trial before Justice, Brassington Reynolds. He had pleaded not guilty to the indictment and was represented by attorney Nirvan Singh. The State represented by prosecutors, Sarah Martin
and Nafeeza Baig presented the case. Though the verdict was handed down yesterday, the Court has deferred sentencing Singh to May 25 to make room for a probation report to be tendered on his behalf. In the meantime, the facts of the case related that Persaud and the complainant had known each other due to close family relations. On June 7, 2009, he had forcefully had sexual intercourse with
the victim while they were en route to meet her sister, who lived up a creek. The facts related that Persaud and the victim were in a boat he was driving but he had stopped short en route to their destination along the creek, dragged the complainant from the boat, took her deep into the bushes and forcefully had sex with her. Persaud reportedly dragged the victim up a hill as she was crying and trying to
hold on to some small trees. Once at the top of the hill, he threatened to strangle her if she didn't stop crying and shouting. He then took off his jersey and told her if she wanted to go home, she had to give him some “wife.”` The woman reportedly started to cry and begged him to not do her anything but he forcefully removed her clothes. According to the reports, the victim tried to fight him off but he pushed her down, got on top of her, forced her legs open, took out his penis and penetrated her vagina. Afterwards, Persaud reportedly took the jersey he had taken off earlier and wiped the woman's vagina with it. She observed that there was blood on the jersey. The accused then left the jersey in the bush and made her promise that she won't tell anyone when he took her back home. However, the victim related the incident to close family members and the police were called in. An investigating team visited the Timehri Base Road where Persaud was arrested. At the time, he was hiding in the bushes. He reportedly denied the allegations.
COVID-19 death toll surpasses 300 The country's COVID-19 death toll has surpassed 300. This materialised yesterday after the Ministry of Health (MoH) announced that four more persons who tested positive for the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) had died. Their deaths have now brought the death toll to 303. The latest fatalities are a 67-year-old man from Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); a 56-year-old man from Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni); a 72-year-old man and a 53-yearold woman both from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica). According to the Ministry, all four persons died on Sunday while receiving treatment at a medical facility. The Ministry also recorded 46 new positive COVID-19 cases, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 13,564. Its dashboard yesterday also showed that 15 patients are in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 98 are in institutional isolation, 1,701 in home isolation and nine are quarantined institutionally. To date, 11,447 recoveries have been recorded.
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Linden shallow grave murder….
Police await advice from US hands over more critical hospital DPP on way forward emergency equipment to Jamaica
- as autopsy reveals that victim died from a bullet to the head
Wanted for murder, Shaquan Alleyne. An autopsy conducted yesterday on the remains of 20-year-old Linden woman, Shonette Dover, who was found dead last week in a shallow grave after being reported missing weeks earlier by family members, has revealed that she died from a single gunshot wound to the head. Moreover, investigators are now awaiting advice from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) on the way forward. Commander of Region 10, Hugh Winter, explained that ranks are still trailing her boyfriend, Shaquan Alleyne, the prime suspect in her murder. However, he revealed that the DPP’s advice would be on possible charges for the victim’s 15-year-old sister who had led detectives to the remains and Alleyne’s father who reportedly withheld information from the police. Dover had gone missing on April 3 last. Her boyfriend, Alleyne, had informed Dover ’s parents of her disappearance, which prompted them to file a missing person’s report with police. He was even looking for her too and had posted
Shonette Dover was murdered and buried in a shallow grave.
heartfelt messages on Facebook offering a reward to anyone who can locate her. Some 28 days later, the teenage sister broke her silence and revealed that Dover was dead and not missing. She even told the cops that Alleyne was the one responsible for Dover’s death and took detectives to a shallow grave located in Alleyne’s backyard at Canvas City, Linden where the remains were found. According to the teen, Alleyne was oiling a gun when he reportedly pointed it at Dover’s face. She reportedly heard Dover saying, “you like play.” The teen claimed that she then heard an explosion and rushed out from where she was to see what was going on. She further alleged that Dover’s mouth was open and her face was covered with blood. The teen went on to claim that she insisted that they rush Dover to a hospital but Alleyne said she was already dead. The two reportedly visited Alleyne’s father some time after and related to him what had transpired. The girl
related that they later returned to Alleyne’s home where she reportedly assisted him in burying the remains in his back yard. A few days before the teen revealed her story to police Alleyne had disappeared. As police sought leads to track him down, voice recordings surfaced of him making plans to escape to French Guiana. In the recordings, he was heard begging a friend to assist him with his escape. Meanwhile, as the probe into Dover ’s murder continues there was an attempted arson attack on the home of Alleyne’s grandmother, Mary Alleyne. According to a police report, the woman’s property located at Block 22 Wismar, Linden, came under attack around 04:30 hrs. yesterday. A window curtain hanging at one of the building’s windows was set alight from the outside and a man was seen running away from the building afterwards. Neighbours, police revealed, quickly extinguished the flames before they could have spread.
...$92M judicial living quarters commissioned From page 14 it is the obligation of the State to not only ensure that a judiciary is properly resourced, but also to protect judicial independence and “in this regard I commit that the State will do all that is lawfully necessary to ensure that the judiciary is free from nefarious interferences, political attacks and from being scandalised in the public domain.” Chancellor of the Judiciary (Ag), Yonette CummingsEdwards, said that the new facility would be a “home away from home” even as she noted that there are also plans in place to have a gym and a gazebo in place for staff to exercise and relax after work. “We have cultivated an atmosphere of teamwork here
at the court and it has helped us to bring staff together and helped us to pool our ideas; and preparing for the dedication of this building was another team activity,” she added Meanwhile, Magistrate, Peter Hugh, who was sent to Berbice sometime last year, during brief remarks, stated that when he was assigned to Berbice (Region Six) he found it difficult to find accommodation since he had never lived in the ancient county before. He revealed that he eventually found a place to rent but was then faced with the difficulty of accessing certain amenities that were crucial in his delivery of justice. “I had to wait months to get internet, within the time I
have been serving here in Berbice, I have been relocated twice. My only hope is that this is the last time that I am relocating. It was difficult to find safe and secure accommodation; it is difficult to work away from home and family,” he said. Magistrate Hugh will be among those assigned to work in Berbice who will be accommodated in the new living quarters. A ceremonial ribbon was cut on Wednesday last by a staffer of the judiciary in the company of AG Nandlall; Chief Justice, Roxane GeorgeWiltshire and the Chancellor (Ag). A plaque was also unveiled and a tour of the building was conducted.
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The US Government, through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), delivered its fourth tranche of emergency equipment to the Ministry of Health and Wellness on Friday to support the country’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This support, implemented through the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), is part of the US$2 million in assistance which USAID is providing towards helping Jamaica fight the COVID-19 pandemic. “It is evident that what affects one affects all. The United States, through USAID, values Jamaica as our neighbour, partner, and friend, and we will continue to support the government and people of this country in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. I have said before and will say again, that we remain committed to helping Jamaica by providing targeted support to aid and strengthen life-saving assistance, not only in health care but also to
mitigate against the impact of natural disasters,” said US Chargé d’Affaires, John McIntyre. “PAHO is pleased to be able to partner with USAID to procure these muchneeded essential items identified by the Ministry of Health and Wellness, to scale up Jamaica’s COVID-19 response. Whilst COVID-19 is unlike anything we have previously faced, I believe that together we can overcome this common threat with national unity and global solidarity. I look forward to our continued partnership and cooperation,” PAHO/WHO Representative for Jamaica, Bermuda, and the Cayman Islands, Dr Bernadette Theodore-Gandi said. Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Christopher Tufton, in expressing his gratitude, said “The Ministry of Health & Wellness is grateful for the continued support and partnership with the US government and PAHO. This pandemic has further strengthened and shown the commitment of our
international partners and we have always emphasised the importance of partnership in public health, as a measure of success and to which a part of our success can be attributed to.” USAID’s total deliveries to date include high flow nasal oxygen devices, transport stretchers, with xr a y c a s s e t t e h o l d e r, i v infusion pumps, oxygen flow meters, digital blood pressure machines, pulse oximeters — finger-tip, 100 pulse oximeters — hand-held, nebulisers, stethoscopes, patient monitors, ECG machines with laptops, printers, and utility carts, video laryngoscopes with blades, suction machines, ICU beds, critical care beds, transport ventilators, infrared thermometers, digital body thermometers, emergency trolleys, desk-top autoclaves, satellite phones, VHF radios, cellular phones, COVID-19 infection prevention and control posters, pull-up banners for airports and ports, laptops, tablets, a multi-function colour printer and backpacks for field workers.
...Newer firefighting techniques From page 6 available to the public via all social media platforms, and posted at all RDCs and NDCs. Even the primary and secondary school aged children should be taught how to extinguish a fire by using an extinguisher or a sand bucket. They can in turn train their parents. The relevant fire personnel can also make special effort to visit schools to offer training. In fact, one person per household should be trained as a firefighter in this country. Every business, both public and private sector should hold training seminars for its employees as a precautionary measure. Members of the
Guyana Police Force can greatly assist in getting this proactive measure into speedy effect. In reference to the Sharon’s Mall fire, I believe that three-wheelers vehicles can be very effective in Guyana given the narrow, congested roads we have in Georgetown. These vehicles are very popular in China, India and other parts of Asia. In Egypt, these three-wheeler extinguishers are highly used and have come in for high praises. One of my corporations can easily supply these vehicles. They can carry chemicals and even small amount of water to tend to small fires and in the interim
of large fires before the fire trucks get to the burning building. Had we been a forward-thinking nation, maybe that fire at the Mall would have been halted to an extent. It is contemptible that once again, fire trucks turn up at a burning building with damaged hoses, low or no water and fire hydrants not in good working order. Where is the preventative maintenance mentality? How many more losses do we need? Are we really moving forward as a nation? We can do better. We must recover and triumph! Yours truly, Haji Dr. Roshan Khan Snr.
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Tuesday May 04, 2021
Jayawickrama’s 11 debut wickets seal Sri Lanka win over Bangladesh AFP - Sri Lanka spinner Praveen Jayawickrama enjoyed a dream debut as he claimed 11 wickets to seal a 209-run victory over Bangladesh in the second Test at Pallekele yesterday. Chasing a daunting 437 to win, Bangladesh were dismissed for 227 in the first session of the final day after resuming at 177-5 as Sri Lanka wrapped up the match, and the series 1-0, after 90 minutes of play. The 22-year-old left-armer Jayawickrama was named player of the match after claiming 11-178 on his first Test appearance as he added five second-innings wickets
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to his six in the first. Jayawickrama said it was a dream come true just to get a place in the Test team. “It was a childhood dream to play for Sri Lanka one day,” Jayawickrama said. “To get 11 wickets in the game is simply unbelievable.” He thanked senior players for their encouragement. “They just told me not bother when the batsmen go after the bowling, just to be patient and do the basics right,” he said. “I am glad that it all worked today.” Skipper Dimuth Karunaratne, who was named player of the two-match series for scoring 428 runs in
three innings, said Jayawickrama and offspinner Ramesh Mendis worked well as a team. “Ramesh also gave him (Jayawickrama) a lot of help from the other end, in terms of building pressure,” Karunaratne said. “That bowling partnership was good, and they had an understanding because they also play for the same club.” Off-spinner Ramesh Mendis dismissed four batsmen as all 10 Bangladesh secondinnings wickets were taken by slow bowlers. Jayawickrama struck in the third over on Monday, taking his ninth wicket of the match when he trapped Liton
Tuesday May 04, 2021 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You might not be able to concentrate on your work today. Your head may be in the clouds and your eye for detail could fail you somewhat. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Are you an artist, writer, or musician? If so, your work may take on a more symbolic or impressionistic tone. Today you're probably more interested in conveying feelings and impressions than details. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Innovative art forms might seem especially appealing today, Gemini. Stay out of gallery shops unless you're prepared to take home a carload of merchandise. CANCER(June21–July22) Do you believe in ghosts? Some strange phone calls, emails, or other communications may come your way today, Cancer. One may come from someone who thinks you're someone else. Phone calls may be hang-ups, wrong numbers, or phantom rings. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) An unexpected sum of money could come your way today. It probably won't be large, but it will be welcome nonetheless. Perhaps someone has owed you money for a long time and finally repays it. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Have you been exercising too rigorously lately? If so, you might feel some little aches and pains. Stay off your feet for most of the day. When you exercise, concentrate on stretching. Spend some time soaking in a hot tub if you can.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) The feeling that someone is coming to visit you might be with you throughout the day, Libra. Your intuition is probably right, except for one thing - it's probably more than one person! SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Are all of your friends into astrology, divine science, or spiritual matters? It might seem like most of them are today, anyway. You may have many new friends in those fields. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) A love partner may host a social event or meeting of some kind. It might be interesting to get acquainted with friends of your mate you haven't yet met. CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Are you contemplating a trip, perhaps to a place you've always dreamed of visiting? If you're in doubt as to whether or not you can do it, work out your budget and you might be surprised. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Material values may pale beside spiritual ones today, Aquarius. You might consider giving up the rat race and retreating to the wilderness. This would perhaps make a good vacation, but you probably aren't ready to chuck it all just yet. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) A current or potential romantic partner might seem like the most perfect, wonderful person in the world to you. Your romantic nature could get the better of you today.
Das lbw with a ball that went straight on and setting a Sri Lankan record for a Test debutant, surpassing Akila Dananjaya’s 8-44 against the same opposition in Dhaka in 2018. Mendis was replaced after a 15-over spell during which he took two wickets and the bowling change worked immediately as part-time spinner Dhananjaya de Silva struck with his second delivery. Taijul Islam, on two, attempted a late cut, but only managed to edge it to wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella. Mendis returned to have Taskin Ahmed caught by Dimuth Karunaratne off a top edge as the fielder moved to his left from cover point. Jayawickrama then mopped up the tail. Mehidy Hasan fell first to take the young bowler’s match haul into double figures, before Jayawickrama sealed the Test and the series three balls later when he trapped Abu Jayed leg before. Bangladesh skipper Mominul Haque said despite the series defeat, he was pleased with the team’s batting in the first Test. “There are certainly a lot of positives,” the Bangladesh skipper said. “Losing the series doesn’t mean I lost everything. T h ere will of course be criticism but we did well as a batting group in the first Test.” He said winning the toss was also crucial as the wicket did not offer much for the bowlers on the first two days when Sri Lanka batted. “From the third day onwards, there was lot of help for bowlers,” he added. Jayawickrama is the 16th Test cricketer to take 10 wickets or more on debut but only the second this century after Australia’s Jason Krejza, who took 12 wickets against India at Nagpur in 2008. The first Test was drawn after an avalanche of runs, the two sides scoring 1,289 for the loss of just 17 wickets over the five days. Scores: Sri Lanka 493 for 7 dec. (Thirimanne 140, Karunaratne 118, Taskin 4127) and 194 for 9 dec. (Karunaratne 66, Islam 572) beat Bangladesh 251 (Tamim 92, Jayawickrama 692) and 227 (Jayawickrama 5-86, Mendis 4-103) by 209 runs.
Elaine ThompsonHerah runs season-best 10.78 for impressive 100m-win in Florida SportsMax - Defending Olympic 100m champion Elaine Thompson-Herah ran a season-best 10.78s to win the 100m at the Pure Athletics Elite Meet in Clermont, Florida Sunday. Thompson-Herah’s time was the second-fastest in the world this season. Only the USA’s Sha’ Carri Richardson has run faster with her time of 10.72 at the Miramar South Florida Invitational last month. It was a Jamaica 1-2-3 in the race as Natalliah Whyte clocked 11.08 for second place with Ashanti Moore third in 11.10. The men’s 100m was won by Antigua’s Cejhae Greene who ran 10.02 to win ahead of Jamaica’s Yohan Blake who was given the same time. Incidentally, both men ran the same time, 9.98s, the preliminaries. The times were run with a trailing wind of 2.7m/s. The wind in the final was
2.1m/s also over the allowable limit. Devin Quinn was third in 10.03. Nickel Ashmeade, making comeback after a couple of years out after undergoing groin surgery, was seventh in 10.11. Meanwhile, the Women’s 200m race was won by Shawnti Jackson in 23.15s. Natasha Morrison, fresh off her personal best 10.87 in the 100m last weekend, was second in 23.21. Kristina Knott was third in 23.31. Nathon Allen ran 46.85 for second in the 400m won by Michael Mathieu in 46.80. Musa Isah was third in 46.94. In the women’s equivalent, Shericka Jackson was a comfortable winner in 52.01 over Kaylin Whitney 52.29. Tiffany James clocked 52.67 for third with Christine Day fourth in 53.57. Janieve Russell won the 400m hurdles in 56.02.
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Covid-19 effect - Capitals players isolate, Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers skip practice
Tuesday May 04, 2021
Some members of the groundstaff at the Kotla have tested positive for Covid-19. (BCCI)
- Two KKR players, three CSK members - including L Balaji - test positive ESPNcricinfo - The fallout from the Covid-19 cases - confirmed and suspected - within the IPL bubble was felt through the day yesterday. The Delhi Capitals, the last team to play against the Kolkata Knight Riders - two of their players have tested positive - have been asked to isolate themselves at their hotel in Ahmedabad. In Delhi, neither the Mumbai Indians nor the Sunrisers Hyderabad, who are scheduled to play each other today, trained at the Feroz Shah Kotla ground after suspected positive cases among the ground staff. Yesterday started with the IPL confirming that the K n i g h t R i d e r s ’ Va r u n Chakravarthy and Sandeep Warrier had tested positive in
Ahmedabad, and cancelled their match against the Royal Challengers Bangalore, scheduled for yesterday. Within hours, in Delhi, the Chennai Super Kings had reported three positive cases including that of Laxmipathy Balaji, who was in the dugout during Saturday’s match against the Mumbai Indians. Delhi, currently the most severely affected city in India, has already hosted four out of its eight scheduled matches. But there is concern among the franchises after reports emerged that some of the groundstaff at the Kotla had tested positive for Covid-19. R o h a n J a i t l e y, t h e president at the Delhi & Districts Cricket Association, which manages
the Kolta, said that none of the groundstaff that were present for the two matches over the weekend were among those who had tested positive. “There’s no one who is on duty at the matches who has tested positive,” Jaitley told ESPNcricinfo y e s t e r d a y. “ S i n c e t h e numbers (in Delhi) peaked we had put them (groundstaff) in-house in a bubble and they were staying at the stadium. Since it is a taxing job, they get drained out. So we have groundstaff that are off-site tested and quarantined. After every few
matches we rotate them.” It is understood that at least two members of the groundstaff that were not at the ground over the weekend had tested positive and had been placed in quarantine. Jaitley said that the testing had been done as per the standard operating procedures put in place by the IPL and he was confident Tuesday evening’s match would be held on schedule. In Ahmedabad, while the entire Knight Riders’ contingent is now in five-day quarantine, the Capitals put on hold all activity on Monday afternoon after they
were asked to isolate in their hotel rooms. There is no clarity yet on whether the squad can train on Tuesday, their first day back at practice after Sunday’s match. Their next match, ironically, is again against the Knight Riders, in Ahmedabad on May 8. It is understood that the Capitals also moved their regular testing, scheduled originally for today, to yesterday. The IPL had, from the start of the tournament’s second leg played in Ahmedabad and Delhi, asked teams to get tested every two days. Teams have
conducted these tests on non-match days and the Capitals underwent testing on May 1 before yesterday. The reason behind the franchise taking such a step is believed to be because of the faster rate of transmission in India, which is currently recording close to 400,000 new cases every d a y. A l l s i x v e n u e s shortlisted by the BCCI to conduct the IPL Ahmedabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru and Kolkata have been among the worstaffected cities in the past month.
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Ramson bullish on restoring grounds to accustomed quality as well as expanding accessibility By Franklin Wilson
M
inister of Culture Youth and Sport, the Honourable Charles Ramson Jr. is unapologetic in his and government’s quest to restore grounds across Guyana to its glory days as well as expand its uses to be more multi-purpose, allowing members of the communities to have access. Since being appointed to the very important position of Sports Minister almost ten months ago, Ramson’s presence and will to take sports to new heights in all spheres has been seen and felt across this nation. From his many meetings w i t h s p o r t s associations/federations to share his vision and also to hear from their respective representatives, to his intervention in bringing back cricket to some semblance of normalcy after years of administrative combat to his visits to grounds and following that up with tangible support to improve infrastructure, Minister Ramson has brought an energy to the Sports Ministry arena that has never been seen in decades, if at all. Ramson has noted that improving the infrastructure of grounds and making these facilities more accessible is deliberate as many of the venues have played a role in creating and developing many sportsmen and women who have gone on to represent Guyana with pride and even the West Indies in terms of cricket. Just last week, Success, Buxton and Enterprise grounds on the East Coast of Demerara each received ten
million dollars each to further boost their upgrading and refurbishment and on Sunday last, Enmore Community Centre received their shot of 10 million to bring it back to what it used to be, a top class cricket venue which also hosted athletics and football. Other grounds to have the 10 million booster donation are Rose Hall Canje, Port Mourant, Line Path in Berbice as well as Affiance, Reliance and Queenstown in the Cinderella County of Essequibo. Also this past weekend, Minister Ramson made timely visits to the West Ruimveldt, Better Hope and Plaisance grounds. Also under construction is the Racquet Centre Tennis Court and the National Gymnasium among other facilities. “We’ve got a lot more grounds to do and there are a lot more communities that would need, and will also receive my assistance. But how we’ve been programming our work is that, when I go and I assess, I take a report back to the President, I take a report to the Vice President, the Cabinet and the Government of Guyana is involved in making the decision; these grounds are the heart and soul of these communities and so that’s one of the reasons why, it’s not just one of these very shallow allocations to grounds anymore, it’s far more substantive.” The young Minister has been stressing that the uses of these facilities must go beyond just sports: “We also want it to be used for leisure,
Minister Charles Ramson Jr. sharing plans with members of the Buxton Community on rehabilitative works to enhance the ground. exercise and re-oriented in that way if it could be. There are some grounds that can’t be really, but the main thrust that the Ministry has been pushing and the entire government including the President, has a very strong emphasis on families. It’s for people to be able to have a safe space to come and use within their community.” Ramson also posited that community grounds have a strong and profound link to the members of those communities as opposed to residents in the city going to grounds and facilities within their jurisdictions. He noted that doing what he has been doing brings joy to him as he has been going beyond to ensure success. “You know I’ve been waking up sometimes in the middle of the night just trying to assist with drawings and ides of how funds can be used in the most prudent way so that you can
get the most out of the money that you’re going to spend. Because if you spend on certain things all of your money could be gone and you wouldn’t really get the same kind of effect; so we’ve been playing with ideas, I’ve been consulting with all of the engineers, just talking to people generally, store owners, private sector on how we can use the money to get the best value for the community and for your money.” People centered development Delving deeper into the ultimate aim of making grounds accessible and maximising its uses for the people, Ramson stated that President Ali has been directing in a particular way, people centered development. “It’s the community that we want to make sure that they have maximum value for being able to use the grounds. It’s not only about
the facilities; it’s about accessibility to the facilities and user friendliness of the facilities. So that’s really the point.” The approach to the M i n i s t r y ’s f a c i l i t y infrastructure development programme has also been varied Ramson said. “I’ve been doing it different because it’s about building with people. I’ve said this when I came in and if you noticed the trajectory has not changed, the message hasn’t changed it’s the same thing. It’s nine m o n t h s i n a n d i t ’s continuing. Some people thought that this was just a hot and sweaty start and they were questioning whether we would have been able to sustain this type of effort; I’ve told people I’m not even really putting my foot on the gas as yet, this is a cruising pace for me. It’s a very energetic government; it’s being led by
an energetic President and the orientation that we’ve been building is really along the lines of partnership; Building a partnership with the people of the country.” The focus Ramson shared in not just on one area: “The President when he came in said he wanted to be for all people, regardless of who you voted for, regardless of your race, regardless of anything he wanted to be a President of all people.” Wi t h t h e l e v e l o f investment being made, Minister Ramson also stated that follow up in terms of ensuring that the facilities are properly taken care of will happen continuously. Donation of equipment and gear would also take place. “We’ve already started to donate some equipment to various grounds, slashers, brush-cutters and driving lawn mowers, some of these grounds are going to get that too.”
Amid Covid-19 concerns, IPL may shift entirely to Mumbai
E
SPNcricinfo Relocating the IPL to Mumbai has emerged as a serious option for the BCCI as it looks to minimise the risks after several Covid-19 related cases were reported from both the venues currently hosting the tournament. If things go to plan, Mumbai could be hosting matches as early as the coming weekend. This will necessitate a rejigged tournament schedule, with multiple doubleheaders. There is also a likelihood of the IPL final being moved from May 30 to early June. The biggest challenge
for the BCCI in making its Mumbai plan work is to create the IPL bubble, which mainly entails finding hotels for the eight teams to be housed in and preparing the stadia. Luckily, in terms of match fitness, all the three key grounds in Mumbai Wankhede, DY Patil and Brabourne - were utilised during the first leg of the IPL in April. While the Wankhede hosted 10 IPL matches, the other two grounds, and the Mumbai Cricket Association’s ground in the Bandra-Kurla Complex, were used by various teams for training purposes. It is understood that the
BCCI team made calls yesterday to various big hotels in Mumbai to verify if they were capable of satisfying the various SOPs needed to create a team bubble. No BCCI and IPL official was available for comment. Franchises, too, have not heard of the plan formally, but some say they will not be surprised if the Mumbai plan was acted on. It would mean ditching the two-venue caravan model and reverting to the BCCI’s original plan, when it was working out the IPL schedule, of having Mumbai as the hub. The schedule eventually released, on
March 7, had six venues Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai. Chennai and Mumbai hosted the first leg while the second leg is being played currently in Ahmedabad and Delhi. The IPL’s next stage is meant to be in Bengaluru and Kolkata, from next week. However, with India being enveloped by a second wave of the pandemic and the first cases emerging of the IPL bubble being breached, franchises, players and even some within the BCCI remain concerned about the pitfalls involved in travelling. When the IPL began,
Mumbai was the worstaffected metro in India, with almost 10,000 new cases every day. It is now acknowledged that a corner has been turned in this respect - Monday’s case count was 2,662, the lowest daily tally since March 17. It was a steep drop from a month ago 11,163 covid-19 cases on April 4, the highest-ever number in the pandemic. The impact on the WTC final If the IPL is stretched beyond May 30, it is bound to potentially have an impact o n t h e Wo r l d Te s t Championship final, between India and New
Zealand in Southampton from June 18-22. With the UK recently blocking travel from India, the ICC, the WTC host, is currently negotiating quarantine norms and exemptions with the British government for the members of both teams who are currently playing in the IPL. One BCCI official, though, pointed out that moving the IPL to Mumbai could offer the advantage of the Indian and New Zealand players flying direct to England instead of the potential two-leg journey if the IPL final were to be played in Ahmedabad, as scheduled.
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Chinese swimmer Sun Yang handed Tokyo Olympics lifeline
Naomi Osaka is out of the Madrid Open.
China’s Sun Yang was suspended for eight years - the maximum penalty - by the Court of Arbitration for Sport last year for destroying a sample during a surprise doping test in 2018.
AFP - China’s star swimmer Sun Yang, who is fighting to save his career after a doping controversy, has been given new hope of competing at the Olympics after China said reigning world champions were eligible for Tokyo. The China Swimming A s s o c i a t i o n ’ s announcement came as the three-time Olympic champion prepares for a new tribunal hearing over his refusal to give a doping sample when testers visited his home in September 2018. Sun, the 1,500m worldrecord holder, won the 200m and 400m at the 2019 world championships in South Korea, where he faced protests on the podium from
fellow swimmers over his doping record. The China Swimming Association laid out its eligibility requirements for the Olympics on Thursday, saying all gold medallists at the 2019 world championships can participate. The 29-year-old is not taking part in this week’s Chinese championships and Olympic qualifiers in Quingdao, according to Chinese media. Sun was suspended for the maximum eight years by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in February last year after refusing to give samples during a surprise doping test where a vial of his blood was smashed with a hammer.
But Switzerland’s top court overturned the ban in December, in a surprise decision in which it said the CAS was guilty of bias. Sun will reappear before the sports tribunal from May 24-28, just two months before the Tokyo Olympics. Sun has fiercely protested his innocence in the testing affair, claiming the inspectors did not produce documents proving their identities. It was not Sun’s first doping controversy: he was suspended for three months in 2014 after testing positive for the stimulant trimetazidine, in a case that was only made public after he had served most of the sentence.
Walsh targets for greater can’t be the consistency from - “Itsame three Windies Women all the time!” SportsMax - West Indies Wo m e n ’s h e a d c o a c h Courtney Walsh plans to focus on improving the mental and technical skills of the 30 players currently encamped in Antigua for the next month in preparation for international matches including the World Cup qualifiers later this year. According to the former West Indies fast bowler turned coach, the upskilling of the women will be a continuation of what began when the women were called to camp in January this year. Over the past few years, West Indies Women, world champions in 2016, has fallen down the pecking order in world cricket, struggling to make high scores when players like Deandra Dottin, Stafanie Taylor or Hayley Matthews fail to make big scores. This was evident when the West Indies were swept
5-0 during a five T20 series against England in September 2020, when the side failed to achieve a score of 140 runs in any of the matches. England, meanwhile, scored over 140 runs in all but one of the matches. Walsh believes that for that trend to end the team cannot rely on just two or three players. ”Consistency can’t be just three players. If we are playing six or seven batters, not everybody is to come off all the time but we need to have four or five batters to be consistently producing. It can’t be the same three all the time,” said Walsh, who also indicated that there are other areas in which they have to improve as well. “They also have to be aware of the game situation, so we are going to combine both as we are going to have the batters being a lot more consistent and not just
Tuesday May 04, 2021
depend on two or three players.” Walsh revealed that there are signs that the camp in January had already begun to yield positive indicators of the change required. “We started some drills in the last camp so it will be a continuation of that. We saw where we were getting a little more consistency. We saw where we able to bat 50 overs because in the first game that didn’t happen but in the last two games that happened,” Walsh said referring to three intrasquad practice matches played while in the camp that month. “I also think it was the mindset as well so those areas we are going to be working on, with the mental skills we are going to stay there (at the crease) and we want them to be technically sound as well to be able to deliver.”
Associated Press MADRID — Second-ranked Naomi Osaka is out of the Madrid Open as Karolina Muchova won 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 in the second round. Muchova eased through the deciding set to earn her third win against a top 10 opponent this year. The 20thranked Czech was a semifinalist at the Australian Open, which was won by Osaka in February. “It was a tough match
Osaka loses to Muchova at Madrid Open today, but we had some preparation,” Muchova said. “I was ready to play with all I had today, and to use all the weapons I could and (do) what I can.” Osaka was coming off a quarterfinal loss to Maria Sakkari in Miami. “On the third set I felt I just started off really bad and I couldn’t afford to do that,” Osaka said. Muchova next faces 16th-seeded Sakkari, who
defeated Anett Kontaveit 63, 6-1. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova beat sixthseeded Karolina Pliskova 60, 7-5, while fifth-seeded Aryna Sabalenka defeated Daria Kasatkina 6-3, 6-3. In the men’s draw, 11thseeded Denis Shapovalov won 90% of his first-serve points to beat Dusan Lajovic 6-1, 6-3 and reach the second round. American Tommy Paul defeated Pedro Martinez 6-4, 7-5.
Man United to punish fans who committed criminal acts in protests
General view of Manchester United fans on the pitch in protest against their owners before the match. (Action Images via REUTERS/Carl Recine)
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e u t e r s Manchester United will punish fans who committed criminal acts during the protests on Sunday which led to the Premier League game against Liverpool being postponed, the club said yesterday. United fans protesting against the club’s American owners, the Glazer family, stormed into the stadium which was closed to fans due to COVID-19 restrictions. “The majority of our fans have and will condemn criminal damage, along with any violence towards club staff, police or other fans, and these now become a police matter,” United said in a statement. “The club has no desire to see peaceful protestors punished, but will work with the police to identify those involved in criminal activity, and will also issue its own sanctions to any season ticket holder or member identified, per the published sanctions policy,” the statement added. A flare was thrown at the broadcasters podium as fans ran on to the field and protesters clashed with police outside the ground. Greater Manchester
Police (GMP) said two officers were injured with one requiring hospital treatment after he was attacked with a bottle and suffered slash wound to his face. STRONG FEELING The Premier League said it recognised the strength of feeling among fans. “We are committed to maintaining close dialogue with supporters and their representatives, as we work w i t h T h e FA a n d Government to identify solutions, but ask that all protests are peaceful,” the Premier League said in a statement. “The actions of a few clubs cannot be allowed to create such division and d i s r u p t i o n . We a r e determined to establish the truth of what happened and hold those clubs accountable for their decisions and actions.” The fan protests against the Glazers, which have been taken place since they bought the club in 2005, have been reignited since United’s involvement in the attempt to create a breakaway European Super League. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who publicly opposed the Super League
plans, said he understood the motives behind the protests. “I don’t think it’s a good idea to have disruptive behaviour, demonstrations of that kind, but on the other hand I do understand people’s strength of feeling,” Johnson told reporters. Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham also expressed support for the aims of the protesters. “I fully understand the long-standing concerns of Manchester United supporters about both the ownership and financing of their club and the wider running of football,” he said. “It is important to make clear that the majority of supporters made their protest peacefully...however, there is no excuse for the actions of a minority who injured police officers and endangered the safety of others.” No decision has yet been made on the rescheduling of the match or about any sanctions. “Information on the rescheduling of the game and any possible implication on other fixtures will be announced after discussion and agreement with the Premier League,” United said.
Kaieteur News
Tuesday May 04, 2021
Chase Thompson pleased to represent Guyana, looking forward for more opportunities
Dhanpat cops best net title at Massy Group golf tourney
Chase Thompson at the recent event.
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wimmer Chase Thompson has e x p r e s s e d pleasure at the chance to have represented his country, Guyana, and is hopeful of more opportunities to do same. In a release to the media, the US-based Chase noted his joy at being able to have the distinction of representing his homeland, Guyana, at the UANA Tokyo Qualifier Meet this past week in the United States. “I am beyond grateful to have represented the country of Guyana at the UANA Tokyo Qualifier Meet this past week. Although I have been swimming for a club team from Guyana (Dolphin Speed Swim Club Coached by Paul Mahaica), this was my first time officially competing on the National Team under the flag of Guyana. This was a very high-level international meet with over 60 countries in attendance,” Thompson stated. He further disclosed, “I was able to break two Guyanese National Records in the 50 meter breaststroke and the 100 meter breaststroke. The previous times were a 30.40 in the 50
Chase Thompson (left) and his colleagues at the recent event.
meter and a 1:09.11 in the 100 meter. I swam a 30.29 in the 50 meter and a 1:06.73 in the 100 meter. I swam the 50m breaststroke in a Time Trial event, but would have place 17th in the meet if I had entered during the regular heats. In the 100m breaststroke, I placed 23rd overall. These swims were also my highest FINA points ever as my 50m breaststroke is valued at 628 FINA points and my 100m breaststroke is valued at 620 points. In all honesty and humility, this is the best accomplishment of my athletic career.” The swimmer further informed, “I want to, first and foremost, thank God for giving me the opportunity to love a sport so much. I want to thank my parents, Clifford and Bibi Thompson, who were born in Linden, Guyana and Georgetown, Guyana respectively, for instilling a love for our country in me since I was young even though they raised me and my brother in the U.S. As someone who is full-blood Guyanese, I am grateful to be a dual-citizen and call Guyana home.” “I also want to thank my brother Brian and his wife Maddison Thompson for
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their love and support. Additionally, a big thank you to Coach Paul Mahaica, Coach Shyka Gonsalves, Coach Tim Leonhart, Coach Bill Bailey, and all of my other coaches in Guyana and Utah as well as President Dwayne Scott of Guyana Amateur Swimming Association and the whole Guyana Olympic Committee/Guyana Council Committee. Last, but not least, to my wife Karlie: thank you for your love and support, especially when I didn’t think I could ever swim faster than I once was; you always believed in me and pushed me to never give up,” the US-based swimmer concluded. Andrew Fowler, Jamila Sanmoogan, Leon Seaton and Thompson accompanied by Coach Paul Mahaica participated in the event with Fowler and Seaton competing in similar events, (50M Freestyle, 100M Freestyle and 50M Butterfly events), while Sanmoogan took part in the 50M freestyle and 50M Butterfly events. Thompson made his debut for Guyana at this level in the 100M freestyle and the 100M Breaststroke.
Respective prize winners with their accolades. On Saturday last, the Massy Group held a Shot gun Medal play Golf Tournament at the Lusignan Golf Club in which 44 golfers participated. Naro Dhanpat won the best net overall title, while Mike Guyadin placed second. The full results are as follows; Best net overall - 1st Naro Dhanpat hc-9 gross 78 net 67 won on having a better back nine than Mike Guyadin Best net overall - 2nd Mike Guyadin hc11 gross 78 net 67
Best net overall - 3rd Naresh Sarwan-hc 16 gross84 net 68 Best net-front nine Anand Persaud with 28 points and Best net back nine Naro Dhanpat scoring 32. On hand for the presentation was Massy Director Laknarine Shivraj along with staff members Samantha Fernandes and Lindon Williams who assisted in the distribution of prizes and “Holiday” brand snacks. The Lusignan Golf Club is appreciative of this kind gesture of sponsorship to the club.
Sheltez Independence Junior Tennis Tournament motors on with weekend action T h e S h e l t e z Independence Junior Tennis Tournament which was launched at the Le Ressouvenir Tennis Club with matches also contested at the GBTI Court in Bel Air and commenced last week Saturday with five matches and concludes Independence Day (May 26) say action on day two on Sunday. Day two action saw Nathan DeNobrega beating Altav Ahamad 4-0, 4-0 in the Boys U-12 at the Le Ressouvenir Tennis Club where Gabriel Felix also beat Alex Abbo 4-0, 4-2, Hayden Mentore defeated Denzil Luther 4-1,4-0 in the Boys U-14, Nathan DeNobrega got the better of Gabriel Felix 4-0, 4-2 in the U-12, Elwyn Levius beat Denzil Luther 0-4, 5-4(7/5)11/9 in the U-14 and Menikshi Jaikisson got past Norella Jordan 4-0, 4-2 in the Girls U-14. Over at the GBTI Court, Paula Kalekezi beat Malia Maikoo 4-1, 4-0 in the Girls U-14, Renola Jordan beat Menikshi Jaikissoon 4-0, 4-0 in the Girls U-14, Ricky
Ricky Romascindo (left) & Gerald Scotland. Romascindo beat Navendra Arjune 4-2, 5-3 in the Boys U-14, Gerald Scotland defeated Isaiah Cambridge 4-1, 5-4(7/5), Norella Jordan got the better of Malia Maikoo 4-2,4-0 in the Girls
U-14 and Renola Jordan beat Paula Kalekyez 4-1, 4-0 in the Girls U-15. The tournament continues today with game also set for Saturday and Sunday.